183 The Presen

In Minato's room,

Minato stared at Naruto's clone.

"So that's what Konan said, huh…" Naruto murmured.

"I guess, Akatsuki does not plan to make any moves yet,"

"And even if they do, they'll have to start with Gaara," Naruto said.

"Indeed," Minato nodded.

"As long as I am there, I won't let anything happen to Gaara," Naruto answered firmly.

"…"

"Naruto," Minato called out.

"Hm?" Naruto looked at Minato.

"What do you think about Deidara?" Minato asked.

"…" Naruto thought back to all the experiences he had in this world ever since he had met Deidara.

The battle between both which had been avoided by turning it into a fun competition of explosion.

The way Deidara introduced him to Sasori.

How Deidara considered him as a friend despite being in the Akatsuki.

"When it comes to explosion and art, it is great to get along with him…" Naruto said.

Minato, on the other hand, knew the conclusion to the sentence.

Deidara was in the Akatsuki, a criminal organization. This also meant that Deidara had a troublesome past. From his previous experiences, Naruto knew that Deidara bombed many to their deaths, which included hundreds and thousands of innocents, which brought him the fame that garnered Akatsuki's attention.

"He has yet to do any harm from being in the Akatsuki,"

"As for his reputation, they were accomplished when he was in the Hidden Stone's Bomb squad,"

"The only time he had ever caused casualties were when he stole that jutsu from the Hidden Stone," Minato explained.

"True,"

"Even Zabuza-san managed to change, and with Deidara Aniki, I believe it is more possible," Naruto said.

"Deidara Aniki," Minato mentioned with a smile.

"Hehe, he told me to call him that," Naruto immediately defended.

"It's all right,"

"After all, You had already planned to do this once it had worked out back in that battle, didn't you?" Minato asked.

"Looks like you already knew," Naruto scratched his head, after all, at the end of the exam Naruto had Shū transfer his memories to people who were in the Hokage's office at that time.

"All right then, get some good sleep," Minato said.

"Good Night, Dad," Naruto said, following which he dispelled himself.

…

Back in Naruto's room,

The clone's disappearance transferred the recent conversation to the main body. Naruto, who was sleeping on the bed, turned to face Deidara, who was sleeping on the floor.

("I'm gonna have to try my best with this one…") Naruto thought.

Naruto then turned to face the ceiling once again.

A few moments passed in silence before Naruto reminisced about his experiences in the Limited Tsukuyomi.

His children in that world Hanato and Azumi.

Boruto and Himawari.

At this point, all four were the same to him, even if he was with Boruto and Himawari for an almost incomparably longer time.

Silently he longed to go back to the previous world, but at the same time, he was already aware of what he had to do next.

Naruto closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

("For now, I must live to my best in this world,") Is the last thing Naruto thought before he passed out for the night.

…

Sarutobi's Residence…

Four figures were gathered in the living room.

They were Four most respected Leaders of the village; the First though the Fourth all had gathered in a single place.

"Not bad," Hiruzen laughed.

"Great to see the Seventh thinks like me," Hashirama praised from the side.

"…" Tobirama stared silently at the pair laughing.

Minato smiled silently, seeing the two laugh upon hearing Naruto's plan to befriend Deidara.

"Anything else?" Tobirama asked suddenly.

"He's planned to give Naruto and his friends, rides to the Sports Festival," Minato said.

"…" Tobirama was shocked.

"Haha,"

"That's the spirit," Hashirama cheered.

"…" Hiruzen, on the other hand, remained silent this time.

Minato and Tobirama observed Hiruzen's actions; thus, he knew there was a question coming up.

"What is it? Lord third?" Minato asked.

"…"

"Do you think the boy will leave the Akatsuki?" Hiruzen asked.

"…" Minato chose to remain silent on the matter from which Hiruzen understood that the result was unknown at this point in time.

…

"How's Danzō-sama doing?" Minato asked.

"Danzō, huh…" Hiruzen murmured.

"He's a tough nut to crack,"

"That boy, Ibiki gave up, The roots are all the same case,"

"They have their seal, while Danzō, who leads the root also has capabilities to keep his lips sealed," Tobirama said.

"I see…" Minato murmured.

"Then, Orochimaru-san…" Before Minato could speak Hiruzen held up a scroll,

"That's?" Minato asked.

"A report from Jiraiya,"

"Looks like their plans have changed,"

"And so has the Akatsuki's," Hiruzen said, following which he handed over the scroll to Minato.

Minato quickly read through and understood the gist of it.

"So they won't be coming back anytime soon…" Minato murmured.

"Yeah…" Hiruzen said.

However, on the other hand, there was one thing running in the four people's minds. It was the sudden appearance of Nagato and the others.

The information put together with what Minato and Tobirama had overheard had them arrive at a conclusion.

"The Akatsuki plans to go into hiding," Minato suddenly said.

"Indeed," The other three nodded at the same time.

"Looks like the Sports Festival will be one of their last acts before they go into hiding," Hiruzen continued.

"…"

"Looks like we'll have to leave this to the seventh then," Hashirama said.

Hiruzen and Minato felt a bit embarrassed upon understanding the meaning behind the sentence.

"mm," Hiruzen and Minato nodded, seeing that they once again had to depend upon the one and only Uchiha Itachi, who Naruto had planned to meet at the festival.

"Get some sleep, Lord Fourth,"

"You'll be heading for the Hidden Sand tomorrow with the others," Tobirama reminded.

"Mm," Minato nodded following which he wished the three Good Night before leaving.

Tobirama looked towards Hiruzen.

"Sarutobi,"

"Is something bothering you?" Tobirama asked, seeing Hiruzen with his head lowered.

"…"

"It's nothing Lord Second,"

"…" Tobirama could only stare silently.

…

Outside Hiruzen's house,

Hashirama and Tobirama prepared to head out.

Before they could leave, Tobirama turned back.

"Sarutobi," Tobirama called out.

"Hm?" Hiruzen looked up.

"What's happened cannot be changed,"

"But we can change the future," Tobirama said, following which he started to walk.

Hashirama gave a nod with a smile, following which he turned around and left as well.

Hiruzen from his doorstep, stared at the duo's back, wondering what choice they would have made when they faced Itachi's report on the Uchiha's plans to revolt.

"Would it have ended the way it did…?" Hiruzen questioned himself. However, the next second, he was reminded once again of Tobirama's words.

What mattered was the present and not the past.