Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Hello again, my dear readers. This update took time due to lack of time.

For my CG readers, I do greatly apologize for my inability to update NaF and PW. If you are really that interested in finding out why, I'll tell you:

All of my fics represent a side of my personality, or a different style of thinking I may use; which fics represent what is up to you.

I am deeply sorry to those waiting for my CG fics, especially those waiting for Perfect World, since it will be that fic that will suffer the most now. I am currently in a, slightly, darker emotional state, and I can only write if I am in the correct mindset. So, until I can psyche myself into being bright and humorous, PW will have to wait.

Ok, with that down, time to get to the review responses:

First, the decided pairing is narusaku, regardless of what any of you say.

KCWolfman and fanfic addict lady, I will stick to narusaku, but I have taken note of what you have said, and it may, it will, influence the outcome of my story; although, I just don't like naruhina. Naruto feels too far ooc in that pairing. Why? He is far too gentle, and the prince of rain is anything but.

To those that answered the questions, It appears that many of you have not figured it out. Whether it's because of the clues or lack thereof, I am glad that I will be able to surprise many of you to a degree.

Paladin13 and dbzgfan2004, Thank you, and, yes, narusaku forever.

To everyone else, the questions are there for a reason; please answer them when you review. They serve as feedback for my writing as they tell me if you have the idea I want to send, or if I am hiding certain things enough, or lack thereof.

To all of you, thank you.

Sincerely,

Toph the Trickster

Chapter Two:

The Flower, the Prince, and the Shadow

During the years succeeding the Ame civil war, the country's new kage was said to have been too busy to tend to international affairs in person. Merely meeting the Amekage already meant that one held high standing in the shinobi world since he was usually far too much to do to leave Ame for long periods of time. It was also during these times, that the fabled "Prince of Rain" had made his reputation among the shinobi nations. The prince had a hand in many international affairs, and was, at times, even sought by other kages for who desired to do business with the hidden rain, which was beginning to gain a reputation for being one of the most powerful villages.

It was also during the three years since Ame had gained a kage, that people saw that a visit from the Prince of Rain was as good as a visit from the Amekage, himself.

~TtT~

"Ah, Haruno-san, Uchiha-san, what are you doing here?" the shocked genin turned to see Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, looking down at them. The said genin, still in a mild state of shock, just stared at the old man with stoned faces.

Hiruzen, sensing something wrong, felt it best to ask them.

"Are you two alright? Is something wrong?" he gave the pair a once over, hopeful that he might be able to uncover something from their appearances.

The Uchiha had, more or less, a blank expression; the only difference that Hiruzen could find would be the utter disbelief that his eyes radiated.

Looking to the Haruno, he found a different story. Her lower lip was quivering, and he swore he saw a tear streak down one of her cheeks.

Whatever this is about, it surely has had an impact on these two.

Sasuke was the first to give the Hokage a form of response. He turned back to where he was facing earlier, and gestured to the person conversing with the guards.

After looking at the stranger, Hiruzen said the first word that came to mind:

"Uzumaki Naruto, is that you?"

~TtT~

"Excuse me?" the boy said, turning into the direction of the call. "Forgive me, but were you, by any chance, calling me, Hokage-sama?" he asked politely, his purple eyes reflecting the summer sun.

It was only after the boy turned to them, did Hiruzen notice the forehead protector of the hidden rain.

Ame? No… don't tell me this boy I the Amekage? And his appearance… it's so similar to Naruto's. Hiruzen told himself. But I guess it's better to be safe then sorry, right? Ame could be a great asset to Konoha and it wouldn't do us any good to accidentally insult a kage for his age.

Hiruzen began to make his way toward the purple-eyed teen, deciding to ignore the two genin that pointed out the blonde's presence in the first place.

"Greetings, Amekage-san; I trust that your journey here was a pleasant one?"

The blonde just looked at the kage, and gave the latter a pleasant smile and a curt nod.

"There were no problems on my way here Hokage-sama, but I wish to tell you that I am not the Amekage." Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at the statement.

If this isn't the Amekage, where is the man?

"I regret to inform you," the boy continued. "That the Amekage will not be with us in the meantime as something has turned up in the homeland, and he will not be able to come here to discuss the terms of the treaty." The manner in which he spoke made Hiruzen feel that he was in the presence of an experienced politician, one who had seen a lot of deals made, and treaties signed.

"I see," Hiruzen said as he fingered his pipe. "Then I assume that you are here to negotiate in his place?" I might as well assume such as he seem to have come here alone.

The boy nodded. "That would indeed be the case, Hokage-sama. My father will be here in time for the signing; if it is my age that worries you, do not fret for he will read through the terms, and will discuss them with you. I am merely here to lay the groundwork."

Out of the words that the boy spoke, it was a lone statement that called his attention.

"Your father," Hiruzen said, slightly overwhelmed as he made his conclusion: "You're the-."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." The boy never let him finish. He placed his hand in front of him; it was in a black glove, with silver knuckle caps and metal tips at the fingers. His hands looked like claws with black skin as Hiruzen looked at it. "It is nice to meet you; I am the Prince of Rain."

~TtT~

The Prince of Rain…Sasuke had heard of him: the prince had gained a lot of popularity during the three years after the Ame civil war. The kid was, what, the same age as Sakura and I? And his appearance… is he Naruto, or someone else who just looks like him? Could he really be alive?

These thoughts went through the prodigy's mind as he and Sakura went their separate ways after the Hokage and the prince left for the tower, the latter pair ignoring the genin completely.

I need to know, he thought, deciding to turn in the direction of the kage's tower. If he really is the damned fool, and if he is…

He leapt of the road, and took to the rooftops.

… I'm giving him a piece of my mind.

~TtT~

"So I presume that you would like to begin the negotiations now?" Hiruzen sat down on his chair in the tower's office. They decided to walk to the tower, and it took them a good half-hour to arrive.

The prince just shook his head. "Please don't be, too much, in a hurry, Hokage-sama." He took one of the seats in front of the desk, and sat down. "Father won't be here for another two weeks, and besides," he looked to the pictures of the hokages, the prince's gaze lingering on the portrait of the fourth Hokage. "Don't you need to discuss Konoha's terms with the council and the clan leaders first?" he gave the old kage a small, but friendly, smile.

Hiruzen returned the smile before speaking. "It seems that you are acquainted with some of Konohagakure's customs, but I, regretfully, inform you, that it would take a week, at best, to prepare the terms of the treaty; are you sure you can wait that long?" The kage's expression remained friendly, but his thoughts were swirling with worry. Many political visitors did not like to be kept waiting; he just hoped that Ame would be more accommodating than others.

The prince just raised an eyebrow as though Hiruzen said something senseless.

"I see nothing wrong with your doing so; it is procedure, after all. Besides, as I said, we have two weeks to prepare for my father's arrival." The teenage prince intertwined his fingers, and rested his elbows on the armrests of his chair.

He continued: "after all, it would do neither of us any good to make use of a rushed and loosely-made treaty, right?"

Hiruzen nodded. This person is very patient, if the Amekage is anything like this son of his, then I am sure that things will go very smoothly in two weeks. Hiruzen stood up, and walked to the window while the prince just remained in his seat, but looked out the window, nonetheless.

"I give you my thanks, prince-san." The kage looked to his guest who met his gaze. "But now that we have settled that, I think that we should take care of the current, more immediate, matters."

"And what would those be, Hokage-sama?" the prince raised an eyebrow at this again.

The boy is quite mild. Hiruzen told himself. All of his words and actions seem to be calculated, and he keeps his reactions in check. Is this person really fifteen?

"Those matters would be your accommodations, prince." The Hokage walked to his seat, and sat down once more. "You will need to find a place to stay for the next two weeks, will you not?"

The prince smirked at hearing this, and gave the older man a friendly nod.

"Yes, it would be too much of a hassle to travel back to Ame while waiting for Konoha's terms." It was the prince, this time, who stood up; but, rather than going to the window, he decided to take in the sight of the room. Afterwards, he looked back to the kage, and spoke again: "I would also like to see what has happened to this village over the years."

Hiruzen's eyebrows furrowed slightly at hearing the prince's words. "You make it sound like you have been here before, prince-san."

The prince just looked at him, and smirked again. "I actually have, Hokage-sama." He sat down again, and crossed his legs. "But that is a tale for another time;" suddenly, all the humor disappeared from the prince's face as a red fox jumped through a window, and took perch on the prince's shoulder. "I have something important to tell you, and I have a feeling that you will want to hear this."

~TtT~

"Hi, Naruto-san;" a pink-haired girl said as she stood before a stone memorial in Konoha cemetery. She held her arms to herself as she read the words that had been written:

~ In Memory of Uzumaki Naruto, the friend who died for his nation and his friends. ~

The stone was plane, but on special request of Jiraiya, a fox was carved above the Naruto's name, and an additional line bellow the first.

~ In memory of Konohagakure's greatest protector, the jailer who held the world on his shoulders. ~

She shuddered once before she spoke again. "I bet you're wondering why I'm here now, aren't you?" she flashed the stone a feeble attempt at a smile. "I know that I haven't visited you much in the last three years, but I guess that you must not want me to.

"I'm sorry that I've only come here now; I guess it must be pretty lonely since, just about, no one visits you here." Sakura really didn't know why she decided to pay the memorial a visit; it had been well over an hour and a half since she saw the boy who looked like Naruto, but turned out o be the Prince of Rain.

"I saw someone who looked like you, did you know that?" she let out a hollow laugh, one void of any actual happiness. "Yeah, he did. It turns out that he was the Prince of Rain! Can you believe that?

"A person spoken as a legend by the shinobi who have worked with him; he came to Konoha today; imagine that!

"He was the son of the Amekage, and, like I said, he really, really looks like you. He was even the same age as Sasuke and I!" … and you too if you were still here…

"… but you are still so different from him though, Naruto-san." No, I don't have the right to be familiar with him anymore. No, not after everything that's happened.

"… the prince was so mild; he didn't act like his age at all. And the way he spoke to Hokage-sama, it was like he was talking to an equal. But then, if I think about it, you did so too, didn't you?

"I still haven't thanked you for saving me three years ago, have I?" She fell to her knees, and clutched her arms a little tighter; her eyes were starting to water. "You saved me from Gaara then; do you still remember that?

"… I guess you do; it was then that you managed to prove that you were stronger than Sasuke; it was then that you showed how much you cared." She was shaking violently now.

"… but still; why did you have to go and get yourself killed? Why had you left us there to join the battle? You could have lived; you could still have been here with us right now.

"Your death affected us a lot. If you take a look at Sasuke now, I don't think you would recognize him by anything other than appearance. He really changed; and do you know what he told me, Naruto-san, when I asked him why he was having a sudden change attitude?

"… You know what he told me?

"… He told me that he wants to honor your passing, you died protecting others, surpassing him in the process. He said that he wants to keep your sacred your last wishes before you left to help on the frontlines…" it was at this point that she finally caved; her tears began to cascade down her smooth face as she shook all the more.

"… You weren't planning to come back, were you?…

"… Sasuke never really told me what you said to him, but it changed a lot of things. Even our friends have been affected by your death. Like-." Sakura was interrupted by a yip she heard from behind her. A fox? She froze before she turned around to see a red fox staring at her, the same fox that followed the prince as he entered Konoha.

She just stared at the little mammal, her tears still flowing.

The little thing looked back with equal intensity; Sakura felt like its gaze pierce through her, like it was gazing directly into her.

Another thing that she noticed was the color of its eyes:

Purple eyes? That is not a natural eye color for a fox to have.

She was interrupted from her mental musings when the fox stood up, and began to walk away while Sakura just stared at it.

It looked over its shoulder, and stared at the girl; Sakura felt the unnatural eyes pierce through her again. She felt rooted, entranced by the sparkling amethyst eyes the fox had.

The two remained that way until the fox yipped again, catching her attention. It was at that time that Sakura figured out just what the animal wanted from her.

You want me to follow you…echoed through her mind.

Deciding to submit, she followed suite, her tears never really stopped flowing then.

They continued to walk, heading deeper into the burial grounds. Sakura had already managed to stop the tears, and wiped the trails away with her arms. It was at that point in time, when she saw the three stone monuments, did she realize where the fox was leading her.

"The Hokage memorial, we're going there?" She said; the fox must have felt the question directed at it for it yipped one more time before running toward it. Sakura was going to follow suite, but she saw a person standing in front of the fourth's memorial, holding a black, crystal orb in one hand while his other was in his pocket.

She went closer to the place, and only when she saw the blonde hair did she know who it was.

That ends chapter two.

Now, on to the questions:

What info do you think he prince has for Hiruzen?

What is your opinion on the prince's character?

What was Naruto's last request to Sasuke?

What do you think of the fox?

What is with the purple eyes?

What do you think of Sakura's scene in the graveyard?

Who is the Amekage? (twice now)