Journey of Naruto

"Dreams portray our heart's greatest desires, but beware. Sometimes dreams send us to other worlds entirely. When this happens, you can be returned to your own world, or be trapped there forever…"

"Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you."-Marsha Norman

"In dreams, we are more intelligent, wiser and capable of better judgment when we are asleep than when we are awake."-Erich Fromm

"Dreams are, but portraits of our heart's greatest desires."-Proverb

Around 3:30 in the afternoon

I walk out of the door of my apartment smiling as I lock the door behind me and set the key in the gutter, my secret hiding spot. I breathe in the early October air and laugh. "Today's gonna be a good day!" then I look at the sun in distance, already setting. Oops… make that afternoon!" I say. "I guess I slept in!"

I take a step and laugh to myself. "Well that's what happens when I stay up late, training," I scratch the back of my head, "how could I sleep in today? I must be a bigger idiot than I thought!"

I step down the stairs watching the leaves fall off the trees and the kids playing in the streets. It makes my heart feel warm inside, seeing all these little kids happy and carefree. I walk down the street happily looking for some of my friends this afternoon. I grin wildly and look around for some of my friends. I hear the beat of paws on the cobblestones and turn around. I see Kiba, carrying a large box on his back and riding on Akamaru, coming my way. "Kiba!" I shout. "What's going on?"

Kiba rides past me and slows down enough so that I can hear him. "Sorry Naruto," he says. "I don't have any time right now, I'm on an errand for my mom! If I don't get it done soon she'll have my rear end and Akamaru's tail!" Akamaru whimpers and they sprint off down the street.

I sigh. "Kiba's such a jerk," I walk on to try and find more of my friends walking around. I am sure that the next person is going to be thrilled to see me today. I see Rock Lee walking down the street on his hands. I run forward and wave to him. "Hey, Bushy Brow!"

He looks up at me, but keeps going. "Hello Naruto!" he says giving me the thumbs up sign. "I'm sorry, I cannot talk right now. I lost a match against Neji and I must walk around the village one-hundred times on my hands!" Lee speeds off down the street with onlookers questioning his doing such eccentric things. I'm surprised that they are, Gai has done those things for years. It is only natural that his student does the same.

"Bushy Brow and his stupid made-up rules…" I keep on walking and see someone I know will appreciate seeing me today.

I see Sakura down the street walking out of a bakery. "Sakura!" I shout. "What's going on?" I run up next to her and she rolls her eyes at me.

"Sorry Naruto," she says. "I can't talk right now, I'm bringing this cake to Sasuke!" she holds up a cake so that I can see it. "We're celebrating his coming back home!" she smiles at me, but I scowl.

I step forward with my hand out. "But it's-"

Sakura runs off and waves behind her. "Like I said, no time to talk!" she shouts. "I'll see you tomorrow!" she runs off towards Sasuke's house leaving me in a slump.

I walk away feeling abandoned. "Nice way to treat me…" I say. "…on my birthday" I kick a can down the sidewalk in depression. It figures nobody remembers my birthday; they're all busy doing other things. "It's always been this way, why should I expect anything different?" I ask myself. "Anyway, I like being by myself on my birthday, it's how it always has been…"

"Who else could I go see?" I ask. "Sasuke is on lockdown in the Uchiha estate, so he's out, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino are out on a mission so I can't go see them, I'm not that good of friends with Neji or Tenten, Shino's…" I stop and think for a second. "I actually have no idea where Shino is… I don't even know what the guy does in his free time..."

I continue to kick my can and as the sun set the lanterns all around town light up. I turn the corner and see a familiar face standing down the street. "Is that…?" I walk farther to see if I'm right and as I get close I see my assumption is correct. "Hinata," I say, she turns around and sees me walking up behind her. "How's it going?"

Hinata blushes being taken off-guard by my sudden appearance. I grin, Hinata is just the person I need to cheer me up! "Oh… well… good…" she pokes her fingers together awkwardly probably trying not to pass out. "How about you?"

I sigh. "It seems like everyone's so busy they forgot what today is…" I slump against the fence and Hinata looks saddened at my depression then she gets an idea on her face. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small box.

"That reminds me," she says handing me the box. "Happy birthday!" she smiles at me and I'm surprised. She's holding out a box with wrapping paper and a ribbon on top. Why would she be giving me a present, when no one else did?

I mumble to myself, still angry at everyone else. "Humph, seems like she's the only one who remembered…" I look at the present then back at her and smile. "Thanks Hinata!"

"Open it," she says, trying to keep a straight face.

I go to unwrapping the ribbon and getting the wrapping and ribbon stuck on me like a child. I shake my hand around to get the sticky ribbon off me and to the ground. I brush the remnants off of my jacket and open the box. The sight is breath-taking. "It's…" I'm so amazed that I can't even finish my sentence.

"A once-in-a-lifetime deluxe ramen pack only to be sold at the Pasta convention in The Hidden Mist Village," she says.

"This is… amazing!" I say. "I wanted to go, but I had a mission so I missed out on it! Thanks Hinata! How did you get it?"

Her smile grows wider at my joy. "I was on clan business in The Hidden Mist Village and I thought I should pick some up just in case," she says. "Do you like it?"

"Like it?" I ask. "I love it!" Out of pure joy I turn and hug Hinata. Her color turns from a light pink to a dark red. "Thanks for remembering my birthday, Hinata."

"Y-y-you're w-w-w-welcome," she says turning a darker rd by the second.

I pull away and smile even wider. "I'll see you tomorrow Hinata!" I run back to my apartment finally feeling like somebody cares about me. I open my door and set the ramen down in the kitchen. I lay down on my couch with a smile on my face. "I can't believe Hinata is the only one who remembered," I look back at my ramen again and laugh. "But I'm glad she did!" I stay on the couch and for some strange reason I fall asleep even though I have jsut woken up about an hour ago.

I wake up in strange surroundings. There's a wax candle next to my bed and all the walls are made of high-quality wood; other than that, my eyes are too blurred to see anything else. I look around and find a note it reads...

Hey Naruto,

I have some important research I need to do for my next book. We'll have to postpone your training until I get back. They serve free breakfast downstairs, make sure you get some. Remember, breakfast is the most important…

I crumple the note and throw it at the wardrobe. "Damn you, Pervy Sage!" I shout. "Going of 'researching' and leaving me… where am I anyway?" I look around and shrug my shoulders.

"Oh well, I'll figure it out soon enough," I get my clothes on and look for my orange jacket, but all I see is armor hanging on the wall. "Don't tell me that Pervy Sage took my jacket by accident!" I grumble and sling my backpack over my shoulders. "Next time I see him I'm gonna beat him into last week…"

I walk down the stairs into the main room and sit at the counter. The innkeeper sets down a plate of Salmon, bread, and a cup of coffee I remember from the time I spent near The Hidden Sand Village. I also remember the drink can be quite bitter, so I add some honey. I take a sip… perfect.

I continue to eat my meal and more people pour in and out of the inn. I still don't know where the hell I am so I decide to try and get some information on this place.

I tap the counter to get the attention of the innkeeper and he walks toward me with a cloth he's using to wipe down the counters. "So tell me about this place," I say. He looks somewhat reluctant to talk to me, until I give him a coin I take out of my pocket. It doesn't look familiar to me and I wonder where I got it, but he takes it nevertheless.

"Well," he says while cleaning the counters. "Leaf Town has been at the base of our king's, or queen's in this case, castle for many years ever since its creation over one-hundred years ago. It has always been a place of great commerce and tourism. Though there is a…" he leans down next to me so that only I could hear. "…darker side to this lovely place. We have been the site of many different battles, black marketing, campaigns, and revolutions."

"Leaf Town?" I ask myself. "King? Revolutions? Campaigns? What is this guy talking about?" I don't mention that I haven't heard of any of these things because he might think it's a bit strange I don't know where I am. I decide I might be able to hear about The Leaf Village or somewhere else that I actually know about if I continue to listen.

"Other than that, if you're looking for places of interest then you should try the old ruins if your into that old stuff, the theater if you enjoy a play every now and again, Wise-Man Hill is home to a man who knows the answer to every question he's asked." he starts chuckling. "Or if you're a noble then try the castle I hear it's full of good times." He laughs and rolls his eyes.

"Thanks," I say. I toss him another coin and get down from the stool. "Will my room be there for another day?"

He nods. "Yes, the old man rented it out for another night," he says. "And we also serve a delicious supper, tonight's special is boar stew." He goes back the cleaning the counter and inspects the coins I gave him.

"Thank you," I say. I walk out of the inn and try to find my way around. The buildings don't look like anything I've ever seen inside a village. They're made out of white stone and the city seems to gleam in the morning sunlight. I like it, but it doesn't remind me of anywhere I've ever been before. Just like always, it's not long before trouble starts up around me.

"You!" I hear a shout behind me and an armed man walks up to me with a shepherd dog trailing behind him. His helmet is inlaid with gold and his sword looks large and powerful, not to mention the steel shield slung over his back. "You are ordered to come with me this instant!"

I scowl at him. "I'm not ordered to do anything!" I shout. I scowl at him sizing him up. He doesn't look like he would be much of a challenge for me, but then again, no standard ninja really is; I'm not even sure this guy is a ninja though… I walk away from him, but he persists and grabs my arm.

"You shall come with me at once!" I turn around and kick his helmet off his head. He falls to the ground and his dog attacks me I grab the dog's head and put him to the ground. I look back over to the guard and I cannot believe who I see.

"Kiba?" I ask. "What are you doing?"

"How dost thou know my name?" he shouts. "I don't remember meeting you before today." He rubs his head in pain from my kick. "Now as I said come with me, or I shall be forced to use deadly force!"

"Really?" I ask. "I've known you for however many years now! What kind of joke are you trying to pull?" I cross my arms and tap my foot waiting for him to come out and say "Dammit, you got me!" but he does no such thing, only gets off the ground and glares at me.

"This is no jest," he says so matter-of-factly. "I am required to bring you in for the unorthodox courting of a fair lady!" He brushes the dust off his armor and pets Akamaru to calm him.

"Well whatever this is," I say. "You aren't getting me!" I make the hand signs for the Shadow Clone Jutsu and two clones appear behind me. Kiba is so startled he falls back down to the ground and drops his weapon.

We race off away from Kiba and behind me, I hear calls of, "Sorcerer! He's a sorcerer!" People gasp and scream at his accusations, looking around to try and find someone casting spells to destroy the town.. "He must work for The Dawn! Guards! Guards! I need help!"

"Well that was strange," I say and I land around another part of the high-end district and release the jutsu. I look around to find somewhere to stay and wait this out. "I should probably stay low until the heat dies down." I see a small store and duck inside as I start to hear more guards running behind me.

Before I can breathe, I hear someone shout out behind me. "Welcome to Lee's Training Hall!" he shouts. "We have the finest training in all of the Fire Country!"

"Oh no…" I sigh. "Well at least this is the Lee I know and not some ultimate martial arts fighter, out to kill me." I wave my hands at Lee in apology. "I'm sorry Lee I don't have time for a sparring session." I look outside again to try to see if the guards are still there. It appears they've moved on to somewhere else to look, so I dart out. Instead of letting me go Lee grabs my collar and pulls me back into the training hall.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he says. "My master is the greatest teacher in the world, and I, his student!" he says. "If you learn from me, and when he returns my teacher, I guarantee that your skills with quadruple in level!"

"I don't need my skill quadrupled!" I shout, but his grip is still like iron and he drags me to the middle to a circular arena and brings out a weapons rack. The arena has trophies lining the shelves and has even more weapon plaques hanging up. Closer inspection would show they all belong to Bushy Brow.

"Pick your preferable weapon, but don't tell anybody we're using these, we may be legalized to have them, but we're only suppose to be using these to train nobles. You look trustworthy, though!" Lee does his famous glistening smile and offers me the weapons rack.

I sigh, accepting my fate philosophically. I scan the rack and the weapons look strange, things I have never seen before. I have only seen a few of them, but they are things Tenten uses and obviously aren't standard issue. "What's with these?" I ask myself. "I have never seen any standard-issue weapons like these before." I decide on an average-enough looking weapon that shines in the light.

"Ahhhhh a broadsword!" he says approvingly. "That's a very good choice of weapon. It's normally used by knights, but I'll let you use it since the old man told me to!" He stares at the weapon approvingly and grins.

"Wait a second," I say. "You mean the Pervy Sage?"

Instead of answering my question, Lee takes out a spear with a leaf-shaped tip and gets into position. "Prepare yourself!" Lee charges surprising me, and we begin to spar. I have no desire to spar so I immediately start looking for an opportunity to escape, but Lee is too fast so I have to go offensive.

We are about evenly matched. I have never used, or even seen, such a weapon before in my life, but it seems so natural in my hands as though I was born to do it. As I get used to the motions I begin to push Lee back toward the wall and in return he pushes me back toward my end. It continues like this for five minutes and by that time we are drenched in sweat, neither one giving any ground to the other.

I keep fighting and on an instinct, I attack an opening he had left me. I shove my broadsword in between his hand and hilt and twist my blade in order to force him into drop it. His weapon clatters out of his hand and finally seeing an opening I drop the sword and jump out the window with Lee chasing behind me.

"Sorry Lee!" I shout. "Told you I didn't have time!" Lee shrugs philosophically and ducks back inside.

I keep running as I hear the sounds of guards getting closer and closer. I enter an even richer part of the city filled with men and women in colorful clothing and in my normal clothes people easily notice me. I turn the corner and run into someone else.

"Sakura!" I shout. She turns around and frowns at me, followed by a slap to the face.

"How dare you!" she says. I fall to the ground and rub where she slapped me.

"What was that for?" I ask. "What did I do? I don't remember anything!" Before she can decide whether to believe me or slap me again the guards come forward and point to me.

"There he is!" their captain shouts. "Get him! Get the sorcerer!" I run away, not looking for a fight at the moment. As I turn the corner I run into another squad of guards.

"Wrong way!" I shout and I turn sharply in the other direction. Now with two groups chasing me it's causing even more of an uproar in the streets. Before I know it there are five more squads chasing me. I turn into an alleyway hoping to lose them, but I run right into a trap as I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head and I slump to the ground unconscious.

I wake up in a small cell with my ankle chained to the ground. I pull on it, but it doesn't budge. I look around the small room and see only a large caged door. I get up, immediately realizing I made a mistake as my vision swims and I crash back to the ground. Apparently, the guard outside my room hears and he looks inside. I see it's Iruka and shrug, if Kiba is a guard, Lee is a warrior trainer, and Sakura is a 'High Lady' then Iruka can be my cell guard.

"You're the sorcerer who courted the fair lady aren't you?" he asks in some sort of admiration.

I shake my head. "No Iruka," I say. "I'm not a sorcerer, and I don't know about any 'courting' whatever that is."

"Then what are you?" he asks. "And how do you know my name?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," I say.

"Try me," he says grinning. Well it looks like everyone is pretty much the same person as before. I grin back at him, but before I can say anything, I hear the door at the end of the hall open and Iruka comes to attention. "Morning Captain Kakashi!"

I lean forward hoping to maybe see Kakashi without his mask in this reality, but curse as I see he has a full-face helmet on and that he also has that damn perverted book of his. "Stand down Iruka," he says. "We're friends here, no need for formalities." Kakashi puts his book down and holds his hand out. "Keys please."

Iruka hands Kakashi the keys and he opens up the door. Then her walks inside and unlocks my chains. "Now come on, and don't even try anything it may not look like it, but I can see everything you do."

"Whatever," I say. I follow Kakashi willingly trying to inspect my surroundings. It seems I am in a place of great importance when I see the stain-glass windows and priceless tapestries.

Kakashi steers me into a larger room with a woman sitting in a fancy chair behind a desk and that woman is…

"Tsunade!" I shout. Normally I would call her "Granny-Tsunade" but in this situation I thinks it's best not to annoy anyone else.

"You are the one?" she asks.

"Yes," says Kakashi. "The girl's father has asked for his head, but I think that a slap on the wrist would suffice."

Tsunade sighs. "I wish it were that simple, but if I don't give him something severe I'll have the entire family on my head, not to mention the reports of him also being an evil sorcerer under control of Dawn. If I let him go after that thought I might as well submit the crown now."

Sakura walks in carrying some papers and smiles at Tsunade. "Hello Lady-Tsunade," she says. "I have those papers you requested." She hand Tsunade the papers and browsing through them Tsunade nods with approval.

At seeing Sakura I get down and do something, I never thought I'd ever do… beg. "Sakura," I say. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize what I was doing, please tell Tsunade to spare me!"

Sakura looks at me confused. "What are you-" before she can finish someone yells at the top of his lungs form the next room.

"Everyone on guard! The evil sorcerer Orochimaru is attacking!" Behind Tsunade the stain-glass window break into tiny shards as a giant dragon flies into the room. The dragon is about the size of the Hokage's Mansion and an attitude to boot apparently.

"The dragon!" shouts Tsunade. She lift her desk up and throws it at the dragon-I guess she still has monster strength-but the dragon shoots out a column of fire and not only burns the desk to a crisp, but also explodes sending everyone sprawling to the ground.

The dragon goes to attack Tsunade, launching a column of flame at her, but I jump in front of it and make the hand signs for a summoning jutsu. "Oh no you don't!" I shout. I summon Gamabunta under me and he's surprised to see a dragon.

"Whoa!" he shouts. "Toad Flame Bullet!" Gamabunta sends his own chakra-enhanced flames at the dragon and overpowers it. Despite the size of the dragon, he looks like a sparrow compared to Gamabunta. When the flames reach the dragon there is a huge explosion and even Gamabunta is thrown off his feet. The dragon opens his wings, most likely attempting to fly away, but the blast doesn't spare him. The dragon roars and falls to the ground struggling to get back up. Before I can finish it off, he spreads his wings despite his disorientation, and flies away.

"Get back here you over-sized lizard!" I jump out the window after it, determined to get revenge for it trying to kill Lady Tsunade. I look around for the dragon and see the same one, and seven others, torching the town.

"Damn it, boy!" shouts Gamabunta. "Where'd you bring me?" He unsheathes his sword and prepares himself for any of the dragons to attack him.

"Hell if I know!" I shout. "I woke up here and all of a sudden I have guards chasing me and dragon attacking the castle!" I make even more hand signs for a mass summoning jutsu. "By the look of these I'll need reinforcements!" I continue the hand signs and jump off his back. "I need you guys to cover me while I try to take on Sage Mode!" I slam my head down on the ground and summon all the fighters I know from Mount Myoboku: Grandpa Toad Sage, Grandma Toad Sage, Gamahiro, Gamaken, Gamakichi, and Gamatatsu.

When everyone is summoned, I'm somehow wearing my old cloak and the scroll I had when learning the Sage Mode. Grandpa Sage questions having been summoned here. "Huh?" he asks. "Why'd you summon us Naruto-boy?"

"Awwww and we were just about to have dinner!" says Grandma Toad Sage.

Gamaken stumbles around then regains his balance. "Why have I been ungracefully summoned here?" he asks. "I trying to learn greater balance…"

As usual, Gamahiro just sits there and doesn't say anything, waiting for orders from Grandpa Toad Sage.

Gamakichi looks toward me, and waves. "Hey Naruto," says Gamakichi. "What's up?

"Hey everybody, why am I here?" asks Gamatatsu. "Is it snack time?"

Gamabunta answers all their questions by pointing ahead. "That's why," he says quite simply. "We need to cover Naruto so he can enter Sage Mode!" Gamaken, Gamahiro, Grandma, and Grandpa Sage prepare to attack the dragons.

"Okay!" I shout. "Let's do this!" I sit on the ground completely concentrating on gathering Nature Energy. Despite the sound of explosions and columns of fire blasting around me, I must completely focus on the nature energy around me. Simple, right?

Around me, everyone I summoned is trying to fight off multiple dragons each. Despite all of their skills they aren't doing so well. A dragon is a dragon after all, they don't go down easy.

After another minute of complete focus, I finish gathering the sage chakra and my eyes have turned gold. I sit up ready to get into the fight. I set my sights on the biggest one that Gamabunta is fighting. He's just as big, if not bigger, than Gamabunta and he's having trouble. They're near the wall and I focus my Sage Chakra around my feet to give me a boost of speed.

I run forward at around one-hundred mph and plunge a well-placed kick right into the dragon's left eye. The dragon roars and falls to the ground-crushing a few houses and the wall I might add-but he starts to get back up and I curse. "Dammit!" I shout. "Even if that didn't kill him that should have sent enough shockwaves throughout his body to turn him into dragon stew." Gamabunta goes back to trying to restrain him while I think of another strategy.

Gamabunta jumps atop of him and shoves his sword into his tail. "Down you!" he shouts. The dragon roars and throws Gamabunta off him, sending Gamabunta into a field of crops outside the city.

I scowl and sigh to myself. "I guess I have to try that," I make two shadow clones and try out my new jutsu. First I make a Rasengan, then I add my Wind Nature and it turns into a spinning death wheel. Then I coat it with my nature chakra to keep it contained. "Now…" I say. "WIND STYLE: RASENSHURIKEN!" I throw it at the dragon and shout. "Gamabunta! Out of the way!"

Gamabunta uses his Toad legs to propel him away from the jutsu. The Rasenshuriken wizzes through the air and I pray the dragon does try to fly away. The dragon realizes what's happening, but it's too late. My Rasenshuriken impacts him dead-center in the chest and after it impacts it expands and engulfs his entire torso. The dragon roars in pain, shaking the earth with the soundwave, and falls to the ground.

Tsunade, Sakura, Kakashi, and Iruka ride into the square on some large horses as I go to inspect the carnage, but as soon as I get close, it spreads out its wings and knocks me into one of the pillars holding up a nearby building. Then it grabs Sakura off her horse and flies off into the sky. The dragons seeing the largest one fly away; follow him, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

We start to get up and helplessly watch the dragon fly away. "Damn it!" I shout and I punch a hole in the wall. Normally I would have been less destructive, but in this case, I think there are two reasons why I can be. With all the other destruction I really don't think anyone will care about one tiny hole, and I'm pissed that I let the dragon get away with Sakura.

Tsunade and Kakashi stare at me as if I am some divine god that just flew down from the sky. I realize everyone is staring at me so I turn my head and raise one eyebrow. "What is it?" I ask.

"What did you just do?" asks Kakashi.

"Oh…" I say. "Sorry about the collateral damage, thought it was better than the whole town being destroyed."

"No," he says. "When you were fighting the dragon. What was that?"

"My Rasenshuriken?" I ask. "It's something I use to fight with. It's dangerous, so I only use it during emergency situations. Like this one." I point to the torched town square and assume I made my point. I realize I'm still in Sage Mode and decide to deactivate it for now. My eyes turn back to normal and I feel like I'm coming off of a sugar-high with all the nature energy leaving my body.

"And your eyes?" asks Tsunade. "What happened to them just now?" They seem to be completely mesmerized by the powers I displayed.

"It's called Sage Mode," I say. "It's a kind of power-up it increases my strength and power by a very high amount. Very few people can learn to use it though." I look down at my hand and make a tight fist.

Kakashi looks over at Tsunade and they silently speak with each other and flash a glance every now and again at me. A soldier walks around checking on the carnage and the civilians and she motions for him to come closer. He follows and she points over to me then points towards the castle. He nods and walks over to me.

"You are to come with me, chosen one," he says.

"Chosen one?" I ask, but before he can respond, more soldiers come in to escort me up to the castle. They take up to a-somewhat destroyed-room and they place highly armored guards outside my room. I hear the occasional shout downstairs while I wait for someone to talk to me about what's going on.

"Figures," I say. "The strange always seems to come my way…" I pace around my room waiting for something to happen, I look out the window and try to find some sign of being let out and knowledge of what's happening, but no such luck.

I decide the best way may be to ask the soldiers who're guarding my door. "Hey," I say. "Do either of you know what's going on?"

No response from either of them.

"Hello?" I ask. I kick the door and walk back to the other side of the room. "Why is nobody talking to me? I saved the town, why have I been locked away?" I punch he wall again, only to cause the room to shake. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but I may not have a choice if I wanna get out of here."

"I have to find out what's going on," I look out the barless windows and say, "Reconnaissance time!" I walk over to the window and use my Shadow Clone Jutsu to fool the guards into thinking I'm still inside. Then I jump out of the window and start scaling the wall to get down to the-probably charred-conference room.

I go slowly as to not attract attention and I almost slip once or twice, but it doesn't faze me. I spent my life on rooftops and high places, if you're there all the time it doesn't bother you. I move down the wall and thankfully, the guards are all distracted repairing the town that they don't see me. I eventually reach a window and I hear the faint voice of Tsunade shouting. When I'm next to the window I can hear them clearly.

"-is still wanted by our family for courting the heiress!" I hear someone shout.

"I don't care!" I hear Tsunade shouting. She sounds annoyed, kinda like after I call her 'Grandma Tsunade'. "You cannot kill the person of prophecy unless you want us all to die from Orochimaru's attacks!"

"I don't like it any more that you do My Lady!" he shouts. "But if I don't secure his imprisonment, then the head of the family will have my head!"

"Well, tell him that I wish to talk to him. I will make sure he understands that this boy must live and save us from Orochimaru," she shouts. "Is there anyone else in opposition of releasing him?" she shoots a few glances around the room, but nobody dare crosses her.

"Good," she says then she points to Kakashi and Iruka. "Kakashi, you and Iruka go to Naruto's quarters and retrieve him, we will tell him what he must do!"

"No need," I just into the room through the window, surprising everyone. "I'm already here!" The guards point their weapons at me, but I roll my eyes. "Tell your guards to put their weapons down."

"Guards!" shouts Tsunade. "Stand down!" They look back to her and reluctantly lower their weapons. Then going angry at my sudden appearance she looks my way in questioning. "Where did you come from?" asks Tsunade. "Were you listening to our conversation?"

"Well if I told you that, then it wouldn't be a secret would it?" I ask. "And yes I was." I glare at everyone. "I wasn't pleased with being locked in that tower. I wanted to know what was going on!"

Tsunade glares at me, apparently unhappy with the fact I'm able to sneak around her castle so easily. "Well I guess you heard everything," she says. "So you it has been decided you are not to be executed and you are to attack Orochimaru's castle and free us from his tyranny. That, is your destiny."

I hear mumbles around the hall as though not everyone was unanimous in this decision. I hear the occasional word of 'Prophecy' and 'The Chosen One'. That reminds me, I have to ask what all this chosen one stuff is about.

"Wait," I say. "What are you talking about? What's this about destiny? And why does everyone keeping calling me 'The Chosen One'?" everyone looks up from the table toward me, and Tsunade stands up, ready to explain everything..

"Long ago," she says. "There was a prophecy that a warrior with strange skills of magic would come here with the accusation of a crime, and afterwards there will be an attack on the castle by an incredible sorcerer, where many important people are taken hostage. That hero shall then take the challenge of killing the Sorcerer, go to the castle, fight the greatest evil sorcerer in a thousand years, and free us of the torment and tyranny of his rule."

Everyone looks at me expecting me to say something like, "No problem, I'll get this done in three seconds flat!" but I didn't. I just stood there, surprised. First I'm sitting in an inn with no recollection of where I am, next I'm on the run from the guard, then I'm sitting in a cell, then there's a dragon attack, now I find out I'm 'The Chosen One' and have to fight an evil sorcerer. That's almost a normal day for me, but I'm still surprised.

"So… I'm suppose to travel to an evil castle?" I ask.

"Check."

"Get past any traps, monsters, or other obstacles he might have?"

"Check. Check. Check."

"And confront the most powerful sorcerer in a thousand years? Then bring back everyone he took?"

"Check and check."

"Well," I say. "This isn't any harder than what I normally do. I'll do it!" I grin and hear sighs of relief, and tension releasing throughout the hall apparently, some people weren't sure I would accept this, but if that's truly what they thought, then they never met Naruto Uzumaki!

"Well," says Tsunade. "If you're going to confront Orochimaru then you're going to need armor, weapons, and a team."

Kakashi stands up and makes sure nobody sees that he had been reading a book the whole time. "I will start putting together a team immediately," he says. "We will collect the best-"

"No need," I say. "I already have a few people in mind." Everyone looks at me somewhat surprised, but Tsunade immediately questions me, as I guessed she would. It may be a different reality, but if Kiba is still stubborn, and Lee is still his somewhat annoying self, then Tsunade will still question everything I say do.

"And who would these amazing warriors be?" she asks. I grin, already thinking about how she would react to me picking the people I did.