All through their meal Naruto didn't say anything. He just kept staring at the sky after every bite. Even his eating habits were none existent as he chewed his food slowly in deep thought and swallowed just as quietly. "That near death experience must've improved your manners Naruto. You're not talking with your mouth full or anything." Sakura pointed out. Naruto swallowed and looked over to her. "Huh? Oh, sorry."
"Don't apologise. It's good to see you have some manners." She said trying provoke him in an argument but still he didn't do anything. His cell members were growing concerned but Naruto didn't seem to care. He was still thinking about Sujin and where he had seen this place before.
But all this thinking made him tired and he decided to turn in early. "Naruto? You're not getting sick or anything are you?" Kakashe asked bringing Naruto out of his thoughts. "Hmm? Err…no, I'm fine. Goodnight." He said in a dreamlike state as he turned his back to the glare of the fire. 'I kept my promise Sujin. Will I ever see you again?' He wondered slowly falling asleep. Sakura and Sasuke followed suit an hour later. Their teacher was the only one who was awake now, he made sure they were completely knocked out before getting up and walking away. He went to the edge of a clearing and waited.
For over an hour he was there listening to the night until the sound of a large amount of air rushing over his head caught his attention. He came out to see five or six people in dark hooded cloaks land in the middle. They rode on different coloured broomsticks. Some were brown, red-brown, black, dark blue and one was even a dark green colour. But the one that really caught his attention was the one on the white broom. His cloak was white too and seemed to be carrying a long white staff with a diamond as big as your fist at the top. It had elaborate carvings from top to bottom and appeared to have a soft glow about it. 'So…he's the Grand High Wizard.'
Kakashe bowed in respect when the white robed man came forwards. He raised a hand and shook his head. "Please, let's skip the formalities." He sounded old but had a good strong voice and his aura was just as intimidating. "We are all friends here." Kakashe raised his visible eyebrow and glanced at the robed people behind the old wizard. He chuckled at the Shinobi's disbelief. "I am sorry. They insisted on protecting an old man because the demon fox is near."
"I fear the seal on Naruto might be getting weaker. Lord Hokage told me to find you if the fox started showing itself. He's starting to remember things from that creature's past."
"Hmm, that's very worrying. Bring the boy and I'll do everything in my power to strengthen the seal. If I cannot then…" He paused and heaved a heavy sigh. "…we know what must be done. I have no wish to take the boy's life but I have to protect my people. We barely managed to hold it off last time. Should it break loose and try again then my power might not be able to hold it back. I still haven't recovered fully from the last ordeal so I won't want to face that thing in my current state. I would explain to your students where they are going when you reach the gate of our city." Kakashe looked up at the huge mountain and sweat dropped. " My apologies. It is traditional for all Shinobi to make it up on their own steam. The only ones we can offer our service to are old Hokage's. Please don't let this put you off."
"I'll try my best to get them up there. But I can't guarantee they'll be there in one day." He said bowing again. "Before you leave…I believe Naruto had a near death experience today?"
"Yes." Kakashe said slightly taken aback. The old man chuckled again. "I take it lord Hokage didn't tell you I can see in to the present and the future?" Hatake shook his head. "I gave him that crystal ball as a present for reaching Hokage. That way if they wanted to come to us I would send one of my people to retrieve them. It doesn't seem fair to travel all this way I know but tradition is unbreakable." The old man chuckled again seeing the look on the Shinobi's face. "So." His tone had become serious again. "Did he tell you what happened?" Kakashe seemed a bit confused as to why he was so interested in the antics of a complete goofball. But he didn't ask and just told him what Naruto had said. The old man chuckled again and came closer to him. He motioned for Kakashe to come forwards so he could whisper in to his ear. "He is a very honourable young man." Kakashe couldn't believe what he was hearing and let the old man continue. "The truth is, one of our young trainee witches was out of bounds tonight and saved your young friend from a very nasty accident. She probably asked him not to tell you and he never did. Now that I know what kind of boy he is…there might be a chance I won't have to strengthen the seal after all. It seems to me he has his own strength and should never be underestimated. Do you agree?"
"Uh…"
"That's a question I would like you to answer after he has been to the city. Until then this is between just you and I." The old man said, flicking his eyes at the three behind Kakashe. "Take good care of that boy. From what I have seen so far, he'll make a great Hokage one of these days." Kakashe didn't open his mouth to argue and just watched them fly back up the mountain. 'Tomorrows going to be a loooonnggg day.' He thought and headed back towards camp with what the old man said still fresh in his mind. 'Naruto? A Hokage…well stranger things have happened.'
"You can come down now Sasuke. Did you get a good view up there?" At first glance you'd think he was talking to a tree. But then something moved in the leaves and jumped down before him. "It's a good thing you're a talented Shinobi or they would've seen you. So did you hear everything?"
"Apart from when he whispered to you." Sasuke mumbled, he was angry he'd been found out. "Don't look too angry. I probably wouldn't have known you were there until I walked past this tree. The grand high Wizard knew you were there the whole time." Kakashe said and smiled at the surprised look on his pupils face. "That has to be the most emotion I have ever seen from you. Let's go back and sleep as much as we can. By the look of the mountain we have to climb tomorrow, we're gonna need it."
