PROLOGUE

"You're sending me away?"

Uzumaki Naruto's sapphire eyes were wide open with shock and dismay.

"Don't be ridiculous," his mother replied. "Of course I'm not sending you away. You're just going to transfer to another school which so happens to be in Konohagakure, sweety."

Naruto's mouth fell open. "But… why?"

Uzumaki Kushina shifted uncomfortably in her hospital bed. "I just think that you ought to challenge yourself a little more, that's all."

"In Konoha? Why there? What's wrong with my school?"

"There's nothing wrong with your school, sweety. It's the people you've been associated with is what's the problem." She cleared her throat a few times and sat upright.

"But–"

"I don't see why this is such a hardship. Didn't you say that you wanted to know your father more? Konoha Academy is where your father and I met. And we also both graduated from there. Your father is also a very well known man there too. The people there may know your father better than I do–even though I'm positive that I've known him best."

"I don't care! It's not like I'm not challenging myself here as it is."

Kushina crossed her arms. "You're flying to Konoha and will go to Konoha Academy, and that's final. Go to Konoha, sweetheart. Have some fun."

He narrowed his eyes. "Do you hate me that much?"

"Of course not! I just think a change of scenery and lifestyle will do you good. You're older now, and a little independence from me won't hurt."

"No way! I disagree. There are a million reasons why I can't leave Uzushiogakure now."

"Really?"

"For one thing, it's the middle of the semester and midterms are coming up. How do you expect me to catch up?"

"Oh please. It's not as if you pledge your undying loyalty to that school or anything. And sweety, don't give me that 'it's the middle of the term and midterms are coming up' crap. I've seen your grades and your teacher's are all very pleased with your performance in all your classes, I think you will do just fine. You are our son, after all."

"Che. Then what about the apartment? Who's going to take care of it?"

Kushina smiled indulgently at her son. "Sweety, have you seen your room? I think it's best if you leave the maintenance up to Mito-san."

"Ok then. Well, what about my friends? They'll miss me!"

"For God's sake, Naruto! You said so yourself, that you don't have any friends here. You have bullies not friends."

"But they've already stopped. And I think they are starting to warm up to me–well, eventually they will."

"Naruto, you and I both know that's never going to happen. And I'm not going to fall for another one of your 'I just slipped and accidentally hit myself' excuse again. Do you think I'm stupid? You're small, weak looking, smart, and every one of your teacher's likes you that's why those boy's love to beat the crap out of you."

"Geez, mom. Your concern for your only child is touching," Naruto muttered.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt, sweety." Kushina finished gently. "You're too nice, sweetheart. You always try to see the best in people despite how they are treating you. That's why it's all the more reason for you to leave the country. If you're an ocean away, they won't be able to hurt you anymore."

"It doesn't matter. I don't mind."

"But I do," Kushina countered, her voice bordening on exasperation. "Do you know how much it hurts me to see that my only child is suffering and I couldn't do anything about it? Please, understand me, sweetheart. I'm doing this for your own good."

Naruto swallowed and caught his lower lip nervously between his teeth. "What about you?" he said softly.

Kushina sighed and sat back. Finally, the real reason why Naruto didn't want to leave Uzushiogakure. "I'll be fine, sweety. I'll still be here when you come back."

"No. I refuse to leave you like this. What if you had another attack? What if something bad happens to you when I'm gone? What if… What if–"

"Naruto, you and I that we can't escape the inevitable," his mother said gently. "And Lord knows how much I want to be with your father again. But I just simply can't leave you and let you go through what I had gone when I lost your father."

Naruto closed his eyes, knowing it was true and nearly ready to cry over the unfairness of it all.

"Believe me, when I say that I know what you are going through now." Kushina continued. "I was also scared. Scared of being alone. Being unwanted. I was so devastated and was about to give up on all hopes of ever becoming happy again. But then someone saved me. Do you know who it was?"

Naruto shook his head, curious to who his mother was talking about.

"It was you, sweety. You saved me." Kushina smiled sweetly at her only child.

"Then why are you sending me away?" he said sullenly.

"Haven't I already told you? It's for your own good."

"No! I refuse to leave you here and go through all this suffering alone!" Naruto's sapphire eyes were clear and deadly serious.

"Oh, for the love of God, Naruto. You don't give up, do you?"

Naruto caught his lower lip between his teeth and stood his ground.

Kushina sighed. "Did I ever tell you about the time you had influenza?"

Naruto shook his head, confused by the sudden change of subject.

"You were four, I think. Such a tiny little thing," She looked up at her only child, warmth and affection shining in her eyes. "You were very small and very cute as a child–you're still are though, but when you were young–oh, you were so, so tiny I didn't think it possible that you'd have the strength to fight the illness. I was so scared that you were also going to leave me too."

Naruto sat down, deeply moved by his mother's choked words–but was also upset of the 'you're still are' part.

"But you pulled through," she said suddenly. "And then I realize what saved you. You were simply too stubborn to die."

Naruto wasn't able to suppress a tiny smile.

"And I," his mother continued, "I was too stubborn to let you." She straightened her shoulders as if banishing the sentimentality of the moment. "In fact, I may be the only person on this earth who is more stubborn than you are, son, so you may as well accept your fate."

Naruto groaned. It was time to face it–there was no way to avoid going to Konoha. Not that a trip abroad could be considered punishment. He did go there once and had instantly fallen in love with his father's homeland. But still, he had to think rationally, and Naruto didn't want to neglect his self-imposed commitment in nursing his mother back to health. He glanced back over at his mother. She was sitting on her hospital bed, arms crossed, looking implacable. Naruto sighed, resigning himself to a temporary setback. "Okay, fine!" He got up to leave–to pack, he supposed, since he'd be leaving one the first flight to Konoha. "But I'll be back."

"I'm sure you will."

"You better be fine and healthy by the time when I come back to visit you here during the holidays."

"Yes. Yes. I will try my best."

"And don't think that I won't call you everyday to check up on you. Cause you know I will."

"Must you call me everyday?"

"Believe it!"

Kushina sighed. "Oh, all right. Then I will be expecting your call everyday then."

"Good."

"Oh, and Naruto."

He turned around.

"Don't forget to have a little fun while you're there, all right? And try to make some friends along the way."

Naruto flashed his mother his most mischievous smile. "Really, mom, who do you think I am? You don't think I would deny myself a good time in Konoha just because I didn't want to be there? And who wouldn't want to become friends with the great Uzumaki Naruto?"

"Of course, sweety. How silly of me."

Naruto put his hand on the doorknob and opened the door a few inches. "Why don't we both just transfer to Konoha together, mom? Didn't you say that you met dad there? And that you love to stay there? I'm sure the medical treatments there are far more advance there then here in Uzushio. That way we'll both still be together? And that both of us won't get lonely?"

"Naruto, you know–"

"That's impossible! Do you want your mother to die early?" Shizune, Kushina's doctor and good friend, exclaimed, suddenly barging into the room.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that eavesdropping is impolite?" Kushina asked mildly.

"Nonsense. I was walking down the hall doing my rounds and I happen to hear Naruto-kun speaking. He had the door slightly open, you know." She turned to Naruto. "Now Naruto-kun, you do know the reason why your mother was simply transferred and can not leave Uzushio, right?"

"Yeah, sorry. I was just–"

Shizune sighed and patted Naruto gently on his shoulder. "Don't worry too much about your mother. I'll be here monitoring her twenty-four seven. And I'll even call you and report if there are any changes of her condition, okay?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Shizune smiled at him sweetly.

Kushina just simply rolled her eyes.

"Now that we have this settled, however, what is all this I hear about you punching a thief in the nose today?"

"Oh, that," Naruto said, sheepishly.

"Oh, what?" Kushina demanded.

"Well, about that. You see, on my way here, there was this old lady, right. And I saw someone trying to take her wallet. She was very old and feeble looking, and didn't notice that she was being robbed."

"So you punched him? What if he had a knife or worse–a gun? Couldn't you have just screamed?"

"Geez, mom. If you haven't notice–I'm a guy. What would that have accomplished? Do you even have faith in your own son? If I haven't known any better I think that you're deliberately lowering my self-esteem on purpose."

"Of course not. I was just being concern. If you haven't notice–I am your mother. Well, then, did you at least throw a good punch?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "I wouldn't be an Uzumaki if I didn't. I actually broke that damn bastard's nose!"

Shizune chuckled. "I'll try not to get to your bad side then. And I hope you won't get yourself into too much trouble while your there in Konoha. I won't be there to take care of your wounds, you know."

"Of course Shizune-neechan. You don't need to worry about me. Who do you think I am?" Naruto laughed embarrassingly. Shizune was the closest thing Naruto had to a sister. She was always there to take care of him, making sure he eats right, and nursing some of his wounds whenever he visits his mother's hospital.

"That's why I am worried. Because it is you."

Naruto groaned audibly.

Kushina chuckled. "Did you by chance get the old lady's wallet back?"

Naruto tried to throw her a haughty look, but he couldn't stop his lips from turning up at the corners. "Of course."

Kushina beamed. "That's my boy!"