NARUTO:A CHANGE IN TIMELINE

"Why her, of all people?"

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The harsh sounds of the argument and the earlier scuffle seemed distant, muffled by the quiet embrace of the cave's far corner. Hinata, seeking solace from the uproar, had found a small, secluded spot.

She sat against the rough, cool stone wall, her knees drawn up, and both hands pressed gently over her face, eyes tightly shut. A soft groan had escaped her lips earlier from the impact of the fall, but now she was trying to compose herself, breathing slowly, her pain a private thing.

A small, hesitant voice broke the silence, soft yet clear in the quiet.

"Umm....are you okay?"

Hinata's eyes fluttered open, slowly lowering her hands. Before her stood Mini Sasuke, his small form a stark contrast to the tall, imposing figure of his older self. His dark eyes, usually so sharp, were wide with a genuine, if shy, concern.

"Ohhh, you are here," she murmured, her voice surprisingly calm, a gentle ripple in the still air. She offered him a weak, soft smile.

Mini Sasuke shifted his weight, his gaze dropping to the cavern floor, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. He fiddled with his fingers, the embarrassment of being caught showing concern evident in his posture.

"I saw that you were hurt," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper, "so I thought to check on you."

A warmth spread through Hinata's chest. 'He's so small and thoughtful.' Her smile deepened, a genuine, radiating warmth.

Without hesitation, she gently reached out, taking both of his small hands in hers. She pulled him a little closer, just enough so he was comfortably in front of her. His hands felt so tiny in her grasp.

"Aww," she cooed softly, her eyes twinkling with tenderness. "That's sweet of you. I really appreciate it, but no need to be worried about me. I'm completely fine."

Her voice was like a calming melody, washing away the last remnants of the earlier chaos.

Meanwhile, the main group – Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Neji, Ino, and Lee – now sat in a loose circle in the cavern's center. The air still hummed with the echoes of their recent conflicts, but a tense silence had fallen, each person seemingly unsure of how to break it or where to even begin.

It was Lee who finally shifted, clearing his throat. "See everyone," he began, his voice earnest, "we can't get out of this cavern like this..." He gestured vaguely at their disheveled state and the lingering tension.

Naruto, ever the first to jump on a point of agreement, sprang up. "Exactly! Bushy Brows is right, dattebayo!" he declared, pumping a fist. "If we keep fighting like this, there's no way. I mean, everyone needs to be together, think same, and act together!"

Ino, who was kneeling behind Sakura, her hands glowing faintly as she applied medical ninjutsu to her friend's slapped cheek, sighed. Sakura sat patiently, her eyes still a little weary.

"I'm sorry everyone, this happened because of me..." Ino started, her voice tinged with guilt, "I mean, but Tenten, she just..." She trailed off, unable to fully articulate her frustration without reigniting the spark.

Neji, his eyes still sharp, cut her off. "Enough of these baby talks," he stated, his voice firm and devoid of emotion. "I don't know what happened with Tenten. But if anyone else fights now, then believe it, it would be like wasting our own precious time."

Sasuke, ever pragmatic, nodded. "Now then," he said, pushing himself to his feet, "let's start with trying to get out of the cavern."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Okay! Let me make my Shadow Clones, dattebayo!" he chirped, already forming hand signs.

"No, before that," Sasuke interjected, holding up a hand. "Neji, by using your Byakugan, why don't you try to get a glimpse of what is above?"

Neji paused, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly. "You're right..." he murmured, the realization hitting him. 'Why didn't I think of it before?' He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, the veins around them visibly bulging as he activated his Byakugan.

He concentrated, his gaze piercing through the rock ceiling above. "Above us," Neji began, his voice steady as he described what his Byakugan perceived, "I can see... a dense canopy. Thick, interwoven branches, dark green leaves, and the trunks of massive trees reaching high. It's a very thick jungle, almost completely obscuring the sky, but there are patches of light filtering through the foliage. The ground looks uneven, covered in roots and undergrowth. It's truly a vast forest extending far in every direction."

After a moment, Neji deactivated his Byakugan, the veins receding. "When I came here, I came falling from the middle of the hole, so does anyone else remember how the forest looked like above, from where everyone reached first and then fell?"

"Yes, I did..." Sasuke began, his eyes narrowing in thought as he recalled the chaotic descent. "I remained for some time, and that..."

His voice trailed off. His gaze had drifted past the group, landing on a small figure in a distant corner of the cave.

Mini Sasuke was sitting beside Hinata, who were talking very enthusiastically as if doing an important conversation. There was a soft smile on her face.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed further, a faint, almost imperceptible twitch in his brow.

'Boy...'

Without a word, he just got up and started walking towards them. Neji didn't even look his way.

'Another one of the Uchiha's arrogant little strolls, no doubt,' Neji thought, a dry, sharp observation that held a flicker of amusement at Sasuke's constant need to simply be.

He just couldn't stand Sasuke's self-important attitude, and frankly, he wasn't wasting a single thought on where Sasuke might be off to now. His mind was fully on the escape plan.

That's why he didn't know that where Sasuke was going was Hinata herself.

"Hey!" Lee's voice suddenly boomed, cutting through the strange quiet.

The cavern's general hum seemed to fade into the background as Hinata and Mini Sasuke sat side-by-side in their quiet corner. The earlier tension of the main group felt miles away, replaced by a gentle understanding between them.

Mini Sasuke, still a little shy, looked up at Hinata, his small voice soft. "I mean," he began, his gaze briefly meeting hers before darting away in a flicker of embarrassment.

"I just wanted to thank you for saving a complete stranger like me."

Hinata's eyes widened slightly, her head shaking almost imperceptibly. "No, no, it's not like that..." she murmured, her voice soft and humble. "I just wanted to make sure you were safe, that's all."

Hinata watched him, a soft, puzzled look in her eyes. 'I save everyone, including strangers also. Why is he saying it like that?'

Mini Sasuke, meanwhile, felt a warmth spread through him. 'Nee-san is so nice,' he thought. 'She's actually listening to what I'm saying. Should I tell her how much lighter I feel, in my heart and my mind?'

He took a deep breath, his small resolve strengthening. "Hey, Nee-san," Mini Sasuke whispered, "shall I tell you something?"

Hinata looked at him, her smile gentle. "Sure, go ahead," she said warmly. "Feel free to tell me anything you like." She then paused, correcting herself with a soft chuckle. "If you wish to."

Mini Sasuke opened his mouth, ready to speak. "I—"

A sharp voice suddenly cut through the air, coming from right in front of where they were sitting.

"You..." The voice was cold and demanding. "...What are you doing here?"

Hinata and Mini Sasuke both flinched, their heads snapping forward. Standing before them was Sasuke, his dark eyes narrowed into slits, a storm cloud of anger brewing on his face.

"What are you doing here!?" Sasuke demanded, his voice low but razor-sharp.

A shiver of fear ran through both Hinata and Mini Sasuke. The gentle peace of their moment shattered under the weight of his furious gaze.

Before either of them could utter a sound, Sasuke moved. He reached down, grabbing Mini Sasuke's small hand in a grip so tight, so sudden, that the child, still sitting, was yanked roughly to his feet by the sheer force.

Sasuke's eyes, cold and dismissive, flicked to Hinata. "Just ignore whatever he spoke to you, Hinata. I bet he spoke something rubbish to you."

Mini Sasuke's face, already pale with fear, crumpled. His small shoulders slumped, and his eyes, brimming with unspoken hurt, fixed on the ground.

Sasuke turned his savage glare back to the child, his grip tightening painfully. "When I told you from the start to stay by my side, why did you come here, huh?!! And can't you see that she's hurt?! Then why are you here, disturbing her?!"

"No... Sasuke-kun, it's not like..." Hinata began, her voice trembling, trying desperately to shield the boy. "He... he didn't distur—"

Her voice was brutally cut off as Sasuke's fury erupted further, directed entirely at the small boy. "Why aren't you saying anything?!" he snarled, giving Mini Sasuke's hand a hard shake, rattling the child's small body.

The cavern floor suddenly felt colder beneath Sakura. Her gaze, despite the lingering ache on her cheek, was fixed on Sasuke. He was no longer by the main group, but instead standing over Hinata and a small child, his words sharp enough to cut through the cave's lingering quiet.

'He just walked away,' Sakura thought, a bitter knot twisting in her stomach. 'He didn't even care to ask if my wounds were okay. Not even a glance. He just saw Hinata and that kid and rushed over. It's like I'm not even here.' A fresh wave of hurt, sharper than the slap, washed over her.

Just then, Naruto, having quickly made his usual burst of Shadow Clones, plopped down heavily beside Sakura. She didn't look at him, her eyes still glued to Sasuke and Hinata. Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with a sadness she couldn't hide.

"So... you think Sasuke-kun?" she asked Naruto, the question laced with a deep, personal pain.

Naruto frowned, confusion clouding his face. "Of course he trusts you, Sakura-chan! Why wouldn't he trust you? And why wouldn't he talk to you?" His voice was firm, full of loyal conviction. "And if he doesn't," he added, a familiar spark of defiance in his eyes, "I'll teach him a lesson myself!"

He then leaned closer, his voice dropping slightly. "Hey, Sakura-chan, since you are fine now... from which time are you?"

Sakura blinked, tearing her gaze from Sasuke. "'Time'? What do you mean by 'Time'?" she asked, genuinely confused.

Naruto slapped his forehead. "Ohhh, I see! You were unconscious, that's why you don't know, dattebayo! Listen, we're all here from different times. For example, Hinata, Bushy Brows, and Tenten are from the time when they were about to enter the second round of the Chunin Exams. And Ino and Neji are from the time when the Chunin Exams are already finished..."

Sakura's eyes widened, a chilling dread creeping up her spine. Her mind raced, piecing together the impossible puzzle.

'No... No, please don't tell me... The Naruto and Sasuke-kun I'm seeing right in front of me... are they from a different time too? From the past?!' The thought hit her with the force of a physical blow.

"And me and Sasuke," Naruto continued, completely unaware of the terror dawning on her face, "we're from the time of the Chunin Exams final round!"

The words landed in Sakura's mind like heavy stones, crushing her. Her breath hitched. She couldn't believe what Naruto had just said. All the emotions she had been holding back – the pain, the fear, the confusion – surged to the surface.

Her eyes, suddenly swimming in a blur, filled with tears that overflowed, silently tracing paths down her cheeks.

Naruto, noticing her sudden stillness, turned fully to her. "Sakura-chan, is something the matter?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. "Are you... are you crying?"

Sakura quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide the tears. She had to change the subject, fast. "So, Naruto," she managed, her voice a little shaky, "who is that little boy that Sasuke-kun is holding?"

Naruto looked over at Mini Sasuke and then back at Sakura. "Ohhh, about that... I'll tell you later, Sakura-chan."

Sakura's gaze hardened, her eyes locking directly into Naruto's, holding a sudden, intense seriousness, mixed with a flicker of anger. "Why, did Sasuke-kun asked you not to tell me?" she demanded, her voice low and challenging.

Naruto squirmed, looking away nervously. "Noo... I mean, kind of..." he stammered, caught off guard by her directness.

'Things will never change,' Sakura thought, a wave of bitter resignation washing over her. 'Not between me and Sasuke-kun. Not even if he's from the present, the past, or let it be the future. It's always the same.' A deep, emotional ache settled in her heart.

Naruto's cheerful expression slowly faded as he saw the profound sadness on her face. 'Oh no,' he thought, his own thoughts growing serious. 'Looks like this topic has upset her even more. But... telling her won't actually cause any harm now, will it?'

He took a deep breath, looking straight at Sakura. "Sakura-chan," he said, his voice surprisingly firm and serious, "I'll tell you who he is. But promise me that you won't tell anyone."

That firm, serious tone from Naruto made Sakura listen closely. He moved even closer to her, his head bending down, and whispered directly into her ear.

"He's Sasuke," Naruto breathed, his voice barely audible, "but from the past. Six years ago, before his clan... before the massacre."

Sakura's eyes flew wide open. A gasp caught in her throat. The words hit her with a new wave of shock, making her body go cold. Her voice was just a shaky whisper. "Then... why didn't Sasuke-kun tell everyone?"

Naruto pulled back slightly, his eyes serious as he explained in a hushed tone. "Because he's scared, Sakura-chan. He's just a young kid, right? He might accidentally let out secrets about his clan to everyone. And if people talk to him, they might reveal everything about the clan massacre, and that would really hurt his mind. Sasuke's trying to protect him. He's also keeping him super close because he's worried. He thinks if something bad happens to his younger self, then something bad might happen to him too, dattebayo!"

Sakura could only stare, completely stunned. The new information piled on top of everything else, leaving her speechless and even more shocked.

Meanwhile, back with the others, Neji's patience finally snapped. He was annoyed that Sasuke didn't came back but he didn't cared to look for him. "Go call Sasuke back," he said to Naruto, his voice sharp with frustration. "Where has he gone?"

Naruto looked up. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!" he agreed. "I'll go and call him." He gave Sakura's shoulder a quick tap. "I'll be right back." Then he stood up and headed off towards Sasuke, Hinata, and Mini Sasuke.

Sakura was still sitting there, frozen in shock, watching him go. She then slowly became aware that Ino was waving her hand at her from where she sat in front of her. Still feeling a little dazed, Sakura slowly got up and walked over to sit down next to Ino.

Mini Sasuke struggled in Sasuke's tight grip, his small face contorted. "Let go of me!" he yelled, trying to pull his hand free. "I want to stay with her!"

"No, you don't," Sasuke snapped back, his voice cold and firm. "You're coming with me."

Mini Sasuke's eyes, filled with desperation, darted to Hinata. Hinata, seeing his distress, quickly spoke up. "Umm... Sasuke-kun," she began, her voice soft but clear, "he didn't do anything wrong... I mean, I'm not disturbed at all from my rest."

Sasuke's grip on his younger self remained iron-hard. 'Tch! Idiot, who cares about your rest?' he thought, his gaze briefly flickering over Hinata. 'This girl... does she always have a habit to believe what others say so quickly, or is she playing games with me?' He dismissed her words instantly.

"No," Sasuke said out loud, looking at Hinata, "I mean, he's from the future, like I already told everyone. So if he reveals anything about the future..."

"No, I didn't!" Mini Sasuke quickly cut in, his voice rising in protest. "I didn't reveal any information! You can ask from Nee-san!" His eyes pleaded with Hinata.

Hinata felt as if she was stuck to die in a mission. 'Oh, how did I get dragged into this situation?' she thought, a wave of dread washing over her. 'Arguing with Sasuke-kun is the worst thing I could ever imagine.' Despite her fear, she managed to give Sasuke a small, reassuring smile.

"He's right, Sasuke-kun," Hinata confirmed, her voice calm and steady. "He's a very smart boy. He didn't reveal anything about the future. We were just talking in general about this place, and he just came to ask about my wound, that's all."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Don't force me to do anything to you," he warned, his voice dangerously low.

To everyone's surprise, Mini Sasuke fired back, his small chin jutting out. "And you also don't force me to say anything!"

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly in disbelief, then narrowed into a savage glare, fixed entirely on his younger, defiant self.

Just then, Naruto arrived, panting slightly. "What's the matter here, dattebayo?" he asked, looking between the tense trio. "Sasuke, I'm waiting, my clones are waiting, and everyone else is waiting! What's the ruckus about now?"

Sasuke just gave Naruto a quick, pointed look, his eyes darting towards Mini Sasuke. Naruto understood instantly. He reached out, putting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and gently pulled him a little further away from Hinata and the boy.

"Sasuke, let him be like this," Naruto whispered. "I'm sure he won't say anything bad."

"Of course he would!" Sasuke muttered, clearly not convinced. His eyes flickered back towards where Mini Sasuke was. To his shock, he saw Mini Sasuke had already moved closer to Hinata and was now hugging her gently.

'How dumb... how unbelievably dumb,' Sasuke thought, a vein throbbing in his temple. 'Why in the whole world did he have to go to her only?!'

Naruto, seeing Sasuke's frustration, quickly reasoned, "See, Sasuke, we can't really force him. If we do, he might just say something really important to Hinata, and if Hinata understands that the boy in front of her is you... Dattebayo, the word would spill fast! And then it would get to Neji, and you know what that means: a big clash! And then boom, no way to get out of this cavern!"

Sasuke let out a frustrated "Tch!" He glared at Mini Sasuke one last time. "Useless dumb brat," he grumbled.

Naruto, taking this as a sign of agreement, clapped Sasuke on the shoulder with a short, friendly thud. "Alright then! It's decided. You stay over here with Hinata, little man."

Mini Sasuke's face instantly lit up, a joyous gleam in his eyes.

Sasuke, still glaring, pointed a finger at his younger self. "And don't you dare speak anything about the future!" he warned.

Hinata, seeing the funny side of the situation, let out a soft, melodic giggle. "Oh, if he would, I will just close my ears!" she chuckled. She then looked at Mini Sasuke, a warm smile on her face. "Right?"

Mini Sasuke blushed, nodding eagerly.

Naruto grinned, giving Sasuke another pat. "Of course he won't, Sasuke! Trust him!"

Mini Sasuke, feeling brave and happy, puffed out his chest.

"Usuratonkachi is right—"

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Chapter 14: "Interrupted by Himself" — aka Sasuke vs. Mini Sasuke... with Hinata caught in the middle 😭💥

We went from sweet cave vibes to Uchiha meltdown real fast. One minute Mini Sasuke is being all polite like, "Nee-san, you okay?" 🥺 And the next? BAM—Sasuke storms in like an angry dad who caught his son talking to his crush. 💢🧍‍♂️

Seriously, imagine being so annoyed… by your own childhood self. 💀

Hinata just wanted some peace, Naruto was trying his best to hold the group together (as always), and Sakura? Ohh she had her heart shattered in real time 💔⏳—poor girl thought this was the present-day Sasuke. Big oof.

And the moment Mini Sasuke hugged Hinata? Yeah… Sasuke internally combusted. 🔥💢

Anyway... next time, maybe Sasuke will take a chill pill before yelling at himself again. Or not. Who knows. 😮‍💨

📜TEASER FOR NEXT CHAPTER:

Sasuke may have interrupted himself… but now reality interrupts everyone.

The cavern grows darker. The air gets heavier. And the way out? Still missing. ⛰️🔒

As new secrets surface, so do old grudges—and not everyone wants to play nice anymore.

One unexpected bond will be tested.

One silent observer will make their move.

And when tempers snap again…

It won't be kunai that cause the deepest cuts. 💥👁️‍🗨️💔

🔍 SNEAK PEEK LINE:

"Can someone please ask the Hokage to send help?! We can't get out of here!"

"Hmph. Do you really think Lord Rokudaime would come all the way here just to rescue a bunch of lost brats?"

💬 TALK TO ME!

🫠 Did Mini Sasuke just say that?! The one word he wasn't supposed to say?! Right in front of Hinata?!

😱 Did your jaw drop like Naruto's when he realized the "forbidden nickname" had been unleashed?

😂 Be honest—did you feel Sasuke's internal "I'm-going-to-implode" face? Or were you just giggling at Hinata's confused little "Usurawhat now?" moment?

💥 This chapter had everything:

• Hinata being the softest nurse ever

• Mini Sasuke melting hearts (until he didn't)

• Big Sasuke interrupting HIMSELF and being his own worst enemy

• Neji silently judging everyone like it's a sport

🎭 From emotional tension to dramatic rescue ops to one very suspicious nickname drop, this chapter was chaos dressed in Uchiha colors.

👇 Tell me your theories, fav lines, who you're siding with, and if you screamed at the ending. I'm reading EVERYTHING.

—With love, one forehead poke away from collapse,

Sakura Shinomiya 💫

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