TheAngelKonan Remade the cover for me, and its lovely it not! A bit dark yes, but is still gorgeous, so my many thanks.

For his part, the man who stood opposite him gave nothing away but the twitch in his chest, a slight of his eyes, and a flick of the head, all very subtle signals, however impactful. Although the realization of what he had said, out loud indeed, did fill him with the slightest perspective of dread twinging within his chest.

Physically he attempted not to react, the urge to back his foot even an inch away would be enough to cause alarm. So, he stilled himself as best he could, refraining from extensive movement, moving only his head jerking it in the direction of the open paper door wherein the same violet haired kunoichi stood, blade unsheathed, a red flicker in her eyes, the sharingan still activated, while even with shadow over her face from the sun behind her back, a scowl could be seen plainly unvexing her fair features.

Within a simple movement the large blade was planted firmly in front of his neck, directly in front of his neck, which was of concern considering the fact that he was not of proximity to the door as a normal blade would reach. Such a revelation lead him to stare down at the blade attempting to fastly categorize it from one of Iruka's lectures.

The scabbard was on the floor he noted, and the loop for the sword was on the hip instead of the back in a slash, but it was tilted upward towards the back at an angle, which lead him to believe that it was a ōdachi. A type of blade which was not commonly used in modern shinobi practises, as they had fallen out of favour just before the end of the Second Great Shinobi War. It being simply to difficult to draw fastly if ambushed, and too difficult to carry with ease. However, apparently during the early Waring period it had been used commonly by the Senju clan. Naruto, for his part, could hardly imagine himself carrying a katana, nevermind a ōdachi which was usually around ninety centimeters, sometimes more.

He backed up this time, feeling a dampness at the back of his neck, sweat gathered from punctured fear, Kou, he knew could outcry at him, state onto the woman that he should be smeared by his own red blood. Still, he forced his eyes to remain open, no doubt freckled in fear, yet hopefully, nonetheless firm and unyielding. The moments stretched long, and the woman stretched her arm ever further, the blade now where it had been previously. Her leg twitched, and Naruto felt something coil in his chest, as she clearly held the intention of moving forward and holding the deadly embrace tighter.

"Naori." Kou spoke, and despite his circumstance, Naruto flickered his eyes to the brown haired man, his eyes first laying open the twisting fabric of his hitori. Nervous, he realized.

"He-he, is not, n-not a threat." Although stuttered out, the statement contained nothing but assurance, clarity. The woman, Naori, clearly heard it as well, for the blade was drawn back quickly and without hesitance. And Naori herself moved back, picking up the scabbard left of the floor from where it had been dropped, and shifted her weapon quickly, placing it within the two pieces of ninja wire that hung from the ceiling. Normal, he recalled for polishing. She then turned to him, the impression of a smile managing to tilt her lips ever so slightly, and her eyes had turned a charcoal black.

"Apology's, one can never lower their guard in such a panic, you understand?" Her voice was something different then he expected, he had been expecting the voice he heard from Sakura and Ino, high pitched and sweet, not quite as much as Hinata, but something to a similar manner. He had not foreseen her sounding more like Tsunade, and even then that there was more of strength to it, a force. Something he was hesitant to call dangerous by design.

She gave a brief bow, which was the downward tilt of her head and her left arm being crossed her abdomen, her right foot bent so that it only remained on the ball of her foot and placed behind her body. Unsure he clasped his hand before him his right holding his left wrist and then bowed at the waist in response.

"Of course, it was a rather bad situation to be caught in the middle of." Her lips gave a small twinge, which the young man took as the beginnings of a smile.

"Naruto-kun I imagine? Madara-sama explained to me your unique situation." She said while making her way over to her spouse, carelessly stepping over the body of the knocked out Hatake. Wrapping her arm around Kou's waist and pulling him in closer to herself, her body relaxing from its tense posture. "Uchiha Naori, pleasure." He gave a large smile in return, and in an attempt to dissipate the tight coil of fear in his gut that the woman invoked, he gave into the urge to tease.

"So you are the one that Kou keeps swooning over." He giggled as Kou gave out a gasp. Hand flying to his chest in indignation.

"N-Naruto-kun!" He laughed fully, Kou joining soon thereafter, a smooth chuckle added to the mess of their loud laughter for a moment before-

"Madara-sama." Both pairs of boisterous laughter stopped, and Naruto snapped his head to gaze at the man, who was now in the room, which was amazing because he was taller than the doorway so surely he would have made some noise. Still, being so tall he blocked the light from the sun with his vast visage, his hair, Naruto concluded, had to be absorbing some of the light into itself as it was far too dark in the room now, though some sunray's sneaked around the man. Highlighting his shoulders in a bright orange seeming glow.

"Naori, Kou, are you well?" Out of the corner of his eye, he saw them nod, Naori however, gave a small motion with her head, inclining it.

"We are, although Naruto-kun was choked rather brutally by Karimaru." Quite immediately after she said that, did Naruto find his neck cradled into a large palm.

It wasn't warm, it was cold but not exactly as one would expect, as it felt comforting rather than unnerving. Unsure, he looked upwards, not quite startled to find the man bending down, but he had shifted his angle so that he no longer covered the doorway, and as a result the sun shone down on his face glowing on the right side. His face now more visible than it had ever been to Naruto's eyes. It lit the eyes, and his once onyx orifices became a deep encompassing, but smooth brown. The illusion the light cast on the man's skin made him seem tan, and Naruto could envision it as a reality, in his mind's eye, it looked far better than the ivory tone that he truly held.

"May I assess the damage?" The baritone, for some unfathomable reason stilled his mind, and the only thing he could do was nod mutely. The man's other hand was already at the zipper to his jacket, cold resonating through the fabric, creating a chill that seemed to absorb into his very skin upon contact.

The man's fingers were as slight frozen metal, freezing the burning on his neck, and just as frozen metal the contact felt brittle, Stranger still, even with the prickle of fragility, Naruto held an compelled urge to lean forward, remain ever closer to the fragility of the bitter cold. It was ever so slight a movement, a simple bend of the waist as he found himself drawn closer to the cold. The grip at his neck had become something closer then a simple brush of the fingers, and instead there was a pressure present.

"Madara-sama! You must let go of him! Immediately!" Intruded a female baritone, and he turned colours blurring his vision as he did so, but he could not focus, he did register the warmth of a smaller hand on the cusp of his elbow, and it felt so strange he reeled back, his skin was near on fire for some reason. Had he caught fire again?

"I apologize Madara-sama, I should have known he was only just-"

"Kou, calm yourself, you could not have known, very few rarely ever do. Consider it to be the gift that it is, nothing more. I will speak with Hashirama, unfortunately there are many more angles to consider now then in the past. Keep him here during my absence, see if you can explain, if only partially." He heard the words, deluded though they did sound, he felt like he should answer, one should always respond right?

Deep within himself, he felt something resonating beyond the impossible heat, underneath the turning of his guts, lying just behind his very own chakra swarming and coiling in confusion, there was a vibration. It took a moment for him to understand that it was Kyuubi, letting out a resonating all encompassing growl.

~*~

Madara had always considered himself a man of great resilience, so much so, that it bordered on his definition of valiant. However, the child he had just had contact with was someone he found a challenge. The further he got, ever closer to the Hokage tower the more his body chilled, and his hands where he had briefly held skin-to-skin contact remained warm, as if he were wearing gloves of war and nothing else. However unfamiliar the feeling, he certainly could not say it was unpleasant, for there was no way it could be classified as such, uneven though it was.

To be certain, he had not anticipated this turn of events, although he knew it was his own ignorance that caused this misstep. He had seen it before, had he not? The boy had boiling chakra of his own, with a constant fire from something foreign only fanning the flames of the embers, but with all the more force it could become a melting heat of its own. That, was the thing that plagued his mind, the child was warm, hot, even, in his own right, but whatever lurked beneath was more somehow. He could hardly fathom the scale, as the boy was near a the sun's heat nearly on a constant basis, what could be more than that?

Resilience be damned, his skin was near numb from the lack of warmth, how could he have been made vulnerable in such a humiliating way? Attempting to regain himself through his clansmen was not an option, it would in fact make the situation all the more impossible. In comparison, they would remain chilled. Perhaps Hashirama would lessen the bite, but even he, could hardly compare.

Still, even with this knowledge as a parasite within his brain, he remained ever hesitant upon his conclusion. It was not as if the boy was trustworthy, he held all the manner of someone of compassion, yet, he himself lacked the knowledge needed to make a full conclusion. In battle it was simple. One must remain focused on task, not blurred by another. But, his reasoning he knew, was unstable at best. He had to act. The questioned remained was that of; how? He was never one for such things, he could approve and disapprove others all he liked, but he had himself no experience.

"Madara! I was not expecting you to visit so soon! I take there is not to much a penalty to your clan." Dim warmth permeated his skin, and he felt himself ease slightly, it was hardly comparable, but it was pleasant nonetheless. Now he only had to broach the tender, rather sore, subject without being victimized by the flare of joy that his friend always conveyed.

"Rare as it may be. I must seek your, questionable, guidance." Hashirama widened his eyes, and stared at him blankly for a moment, his shoulders quaking in restraint. He did of course spring from his comfortable seat and prance around the room, something damning about victory leaving his mouth every second or so. Madara expected nothing less.

~*~

"I DID THAT!?" The pitch in which he found himself scaling too was certainly unexpected, as he had all but forgotten he held the capability to do so. Mortification only increased by his own lack of control, never minding the fact that he had all but forgotten he had become some sort of complaint basic animal whence Madara-sama had touched his skin. Truthfully he held near nothing of the memory of the incident himself, only a remembrance on his skin of some sort of chilled sensation.

Although his two informants did appear rather abashed for a reason he could not fathom. Eyes shifted over the other, with a silent conversation a couple of their caliber could have silently. After only a mere moment, before Kou shifted and moved back to the kitchen, stepping around the unconscious man a grace that could have only been born of possession.

Despite his urge to watch as the man made tea -as he had been attempting, and failing, to figure out how in this time period without seeming suspicious.- However, he remained hyperly aware that Naori was gazing upon him with the appearance of Tsunade preparing to lecture him on an imperative mission. Which held his rampant attention.

"Naruto-kun, you have held residence within the village for nearly fourteen days and nights, yes?" He nodded, slight confusion marring his thoughts, but he was understanding their strange manner of speech for better as the days drew on. "Have you, by happenstance, noted upon the difference between our clan and the Senju?" Countering her calm deliverance the Uchiha remained with the fidgeting finger every so often drawing to her mouth as plain sign of her nerves. Something personal was hidden in this conversation he knew then. That being understood, it made his own nervous nature rile, for were this of a characteristic particular to the Uchiha clan him not understanding the nature of the question could be quite disastrous.

"How do you mean?" In order to empathize his point he tilted his head, wanting to appear as oblivious as he could, for perhaps the woman would take pity on him, and explain rather than quiz for him for answers. Naori only sighed, but still she seemed more reclined than she had, and a small smile crossed upon her face, that gentled war hardened edges.

"Ah, I suppose it is to be expected. I am told that such oddities must be something you're consciously aware of in order to find or see." She paused, eyes drifting to the open door, the sun blazing on her face, and Naruto could recognize she was a very attractive woman, her hair seemed so brightened under the orange glare.

He admired not for long, as he shook herself in so slight a way, he was near convinced she hadn't moved at all, but no, because her long hair had shifted over her right shoulder as it hadn't been before. She gazed at him, seemingly in evaluation, thinning her lips for but a moment but they smoothed themselves quickly, and she gave a silent nod, only to herself he acknowledged, but still he could not help but be convinced that he had passed some sort of quiet test.

"Notice how me and Kou wear fabric that differs so greatly in quality, in make." She started, although it was not where he had expected the conversation to turn, he nodded. "I wear material suited for battle, toughly woven in many layers, a belt for tools, bandages and sandals. See how Kou dawns material of common people, merchants fabric. Easily maneuvered, comfortable, and stylish." He looked to both of them quickly, unsure, it was not something he had missed.

"Naruto-kun. I know this is unseemly. However, I must ask, for I cannot fathom beneath the strength, the heat more of, that your Chakra possesses..." Here her cheeks flushed ever so slightly with a light pink flush that gave her a more feminine appearance then he could ever imagine to attribute to the woman. She coughed. "You are of the Uzumaki of the Senju, so you must be aware that your heritage is rather domineering, genetically speaking. That is, ahem." Again she hesitated, and this time Kou hit her over the head with his free hand. Which despite the serious nature gave him an excuse to smile. Naori continued with a more straightened stance. "That is, are you an- ahem- an Omega?"

He suddenly felt the smile melt from his face, he was not expecting such a question from her. For although she had said it would be an inappropriate question, he had not expected this whatsoever. For it was not something to be discussed in public setting. Not to mention it was considered in more propitious circles, rude not to know prior to conversation.

That is, he was not offended by the question, not entirely. It was not as if he broadcasted such a nature. Simply that in his time second gender was nearly always that of Beta, and he had been the only one within Rookie Nine with the exception of Sasuke with a second gender different from the normality.

Apparently Tsunade had expected it, she had said near all Senju had a dominate Omega gene, so it was far from impossible that it wouldn't present in him. As it had in her. She gave no indication of her second gender however, many held more prejudice against it then one would expect for a diverse Village, such as Konoha. Besides, it wasn't as if it defined him, it just meant that he held a preference to Alphas, it wasn't like he had heats or anything, one had to possess a mate for such things as procreation, at least Omega's did.

"Well, uh, yeah- I mean, yes." Naori seemed to deflate with the news, while Kou simply giggled, and did a happy little mutter under his breath which sounded like 'well indeed, twas obvious.' But that was all Naruto could make out. Kou served their tea all to joyfully after that, and Naori gave a snort at the large grin plastered to her love's face, which the shinobi both found charming, and adorable at once.

"I apologize for my discourteous questioning. I am afraid it was obligatory. You see, as Senju, the Uchiha have a remarkably persistent dominating gene. Although in the opposite side of the spectrum, all Uchiha are born Alpha. And I do mean all, I have not even so much as heard tale of an Omega born Uchiha. While for the Senju, the occasional Alpha will occur, such as Tobirama, or his late late brother Kawarama, as I hear." They both took a sip of their yet still hot tea, it was sweetened, yet fresh like mint, and Naruto was sure he had found a new favourite beverage. Even still, while learning, or rather, being taught was not his strangest of suits, he found himself paying scrupulous attention to what the woman was divulging.

"Unfortunately, our Sharingan brings forth an entirely different set of misfortune. While it is a great asset. It is born of a torrid chakra, the Kyuubi No Yuko's chakra to be particular. While our own inherent chakra is chilled at best. So we are cursed with two conflicting Chakra's and in order to create an equilibrium betwixt the imbalance we use our Omega's to warm our chakra temporarily." At this point he found himself rather lost in the middle of the explanation. Thankfully, Kou seemed to have picked up on this.

"Think of it as this Naruto-kun; Say you are really cold in one place, your arm for instance, but warm everywhere else, do you warm the rest of your body, or leave your arm to succumb to frostbite?"

"Ohhhhh! That makes sense, so it's like the opposite for the Uchiha?" Kou nodded jubilantly, while Naori only shook her head, fondly. "So your Sharingan can burn you, in a way if you don't try to warm the rest of your body once and awhile? And your Omega's do this by sharing their Chakra?" He was near certain he had grasped the basics of the situation. Bearing a large grin when the Alpha in the room nodded her approval.

"Yes, basically."

"So that's what Kou meant by fertility problems! Your Omega's aren't allowed to fight due to caution!" He jumped from his sitting position darting his hands into the air. A revelation! He smiled, elevation at being able to fully comprehend something. Or perhaps it was the fact that he had simply connected the predominance of the crumb trail left by previous conversations in order to put the big picture into place in his mind. Then again, that sounded like the beginnings of a revolution. Which he found concerning, but it wasn't his battle to fight. And as long as the Omega's were all presently happy with their situation then it didn't matter, right?

"Naruto-kun!" Kou laughed, clutching at his chest, as he did so, the sun was still bright and it shone over his skin. As it gleamed over Naori's smile and over her eyes. It was a harmonious atmosphere.

Even still as Naori drug the poor unconscious Hatake out of the house to be collected by others on duty, they all laughed as he flopped from the patio hallway and into the sand garden ungracefully. The Uchiha chuckling as she steered the body, Kou pointing out the odd patch of stone, so that Naori could either 'unintentionally' drag the man a cross it or avoid it.

Just ahead of them, many Uchiha were cleaning up the street from stray weapons, some young children aiding, and examining each of the different shaped tools. Sometimes running to an adult to show off what they had found. The sun shone brightly in its now purple hue onto the grey stone pathway of the Uchiha district, and the first peaks of stars shone through the waning light. Vastly different from how he typically spent his evenings, yet, he found that this. Laughing with his friends, watching the children run back and forth from different places in excitement was far better than the usual anyway.