Changing the River of Time

The Rabbit

I don't think we can save them. Their deaths made a huge impact on us, and I don't know what kind of ninja I'd be without it.

Then don't save them.

But having their aid in the war would be such a huge help- especially if they keep training and getting stronger.

Then save them.

But Zabuza may not follow Haku then! Might never realize how shinobi aren't tools.

Then don't save them.

But-

An annoyed growl erupted in the mindscape, cutting off Aki's next thought. Make up your mind.

But what if I make a mistake? The thought was nearly silent, filled with such worry and self-consciousness that it was surely a subconscious one.

You've made mistakes before. One more won't hurt much. And if you're that worried about it, make a seal or something to keep them alive long enough for treatment.

That's it! Thanks, Kura!

The ginger snapped up from his seat, startling the other occupants at the dinner table. Well, minus Naruto, who sighed in resignation. "We're so dead. Aki-nii pro'lly figured out his big seal or something."

The red-head grinned foxily, his eyes bright. "Relax, it's not a seal for the Prank War."

Naruto snorted, elbow coming to rest on the table so he could point at the jonin. "The last time you said that, you filled the house with invisible walls. Yuki and I were running into them for months! I still don't think they're all gone," he stated, narrowing his eyes in well-earned suspicion.

"And it wasn't during a Prank War," Aki reminded in a sing-song tone of voice with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"You called that training, but wonder why Yuki's still getting revenge! You know she lumps it with the Glitter War."

The two Uzumaki shuddered, flashbacks of the monstrous little girl wreaking havoc with every passing second. Dread filled Aki's eyes, and his face paled as he realized something. "We're here for over a month," he near-whispered.

Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what that meant, the color draining from his face, too. "How long does the-"

"A little over a month..." The blond stood up hurriedly, full-on panic in his face. The first panic anyone had ever seen from him in this timeline, all because of... a time frame?

"We gotta go! She'll destroy the whole village!"

Aki held up a hand, slightly less panicked. Slightly.

"She knows I can teleport back home any time. She wouldn't do anything with that threat."

"Unless she knows you'd say that and planned on that satisfying our panicked states," Naruto nearly shouted, waving his arms around as he talked. "She might do it anyway!"

"What are you talking about?"

The Uzumakis froze, then turned to the voice- coming from Sasuke, of course. They chuckled nervously and sat back down. "Well," Aki started. "I... May or may not have...createdahuge explosivesealtesteditinthedessertcausingamassivesandstormandtaughttwoimpulsiveyoungtalentedUzumakihowtomakeit."

The table was silent for a moment before someone said, "What."

"Explain again, but slower," Kakashi said, narrowing his eyes at the red-head. Now, Kakashi was a war veteran, active shinobi, and from a clan who had very strong ties and similarities to wolves. He learned to trust his instincts before he could walk, and right now?