Me: Be prepared my peeps, for some fluff and stuff...or stuff and fluff...whatever...JUST READ THE DAMNED CHAPTER!

Kurama: I had to come all the way over her from Seeing Red to make sure he's not drinking too much caffeine...too late for that. Sorry, folks.

Me: There's no such thing as too much caffeine!

3: Who You Really Are


"So you haven't been to see him, yet?" Ino asked as she and Sakura made their way through the hospital, "I would've thought that was what you'd do first thing?"

Sakura bit her lip, "I know, but you didn't see them when Kakashi-sensei brought them back," she said, sighing, "Both of them looked so horrible, and neither one of them was conscious."

"Yeah, but Sasuke-kun is- "

Sakura stopped her with a sad look, "You don't get it, Ino-bunta, Sasuke and Naruto fought," she said, trying to drive her point home, "I know we both say that no one could hope to beat him, but looking at those two when they came back...they were both half-dead."

Ino looked more than a little shocked, "But...Gods, Sakura, you can't be serious! I've seen them, and they're both strong, but they wouldn't go that far!"

"They did," Sakura sighed, "And it wasn't the first time. Back after the attack on the village, they fought on top of the hospital, and if it wasn't for Sensei, they would have killed each other right there and then."

Ino sighed and looked ahead of them as they neared Naruto's room, "Okay, I get it...how bad off was - "

A bed pan flew out the door as the blond in question came tumbling out of the room, "Ya missed again, Tayuya!" He laughed as barreled down the hall, followed by a young woman in a wheel chair, brandishing an IV stand.

"Get your ass back here, ya dip shit!" She roared, wheeling after him.

"Naruto, what the hell - ?!"

"Hey, Sakura-chan, Ino-chan, bye!" Naruto blew passed them like a whirlwind, totally fine for the most part.

"When I get my hands on you," the girl shouted, wheeling by just as fast, "I'll shove this so far up your ass they'll have to hook the IV bag up through your fuckin' nose!"

"You gotta catch me first!" Naruto laughed.

"Come back here!"

Ino and Sakura looked after the pair as they rounded the corner, Tayuya going up on two wheels as she sped after him. "What...the hell was that about?" Ino asked of her friend.

"I don't know," Sakura said, "But whoever that girl was...I really don't wanna get on her bad side."

Ino nodded, and hefted the bouquet of flowers she held, "Should we just leave these in his room?"

"I guess," she said, "I don't think he'll be back for a while, though."

Ino nodded, "Naruto makes the weirdest friends."

Sakura giggled, "What does that say about us?"

"Well," Ino said, tapping her chin, "Weird can be hot, right?"

"True," Sakura smiled, and went into Naruto's room, placing the flowers in the vase beside the window. Ino did the same, and headed down the hall, "Off to see Choji?"

"Yeah," she smiled, "I've been worried about him ever since they came back a few days ago." With that, she strode down the hall toward their friend's room, leaving Sakura behind.

Sakura gave her a small wave as she went her way, and turned to leave...

"Sakura."

The rosette froze in place as she turned to face him. Like Naruto, he was covered in bandages, his arms and legs completely concealed, his face slightly covered. "Sasuke..."

Sasuke did not meet her gaze. It was apparent why. Their last encounter had been anything but pleasant. The memories of that night flashed through the girl's mind like lightning. "You look...horrible..." she said, mentally kicking herself for such a comment. But to her surprise, Sasuke actually chuckled out a laugh.

"I feel horrible," he said, smirking.

"Are you here to see Naruto-kun?" Sakura asked, pointing down the hall, "If so, you just missed him."

Sasuke looked over his shoulder for a moment, and sighed, "I did come to see him, but...would you...take a walk with me?"

For a moment, Sakura considered refusing. The last time she had tried or said anything to the Uchiha, it hadn't ended well for her, or anyone for that matter. But the way he was looking was...downright out of character. Normally, the Sasuke Uchiha she knew was stoic, and...cold. This Sasuke was...beaten was the only thing that she could think of to describe it. "Uh..sure, but are you okay to move around?"

Sasuke nodded, "I have a detail of Anbu tailing me, so I'll have more than enough support if I need medical attention." He said, looking at her, "And you'll be safe from me as well."

Sakura shook her head, "I wasn't worried about that."

Sasuke sighed, and made room for her to pass, "Are you sure about that?" He asked her, "After all the trouble I caused, I figured you'd be more worried about the De- er, Naruto more than me."

Sakura shook her head, "He seemed fine just now, but...I don't know what happened between you two, but can you tell me that it's done with, now?"

Sasuke looked at her sadly, "Yeah, it's all over...he beat me completely, and finally knocked some sense into me...so...about that walk?"

Sakura smiled, and looped her arm through his, "I'd love to."

=x=

"Come back and let me fuckin' hit you!" Tayuya roared as she and Naruto practically flew through the streets of Konoha, leaving dust trails in their wake.

Naruto laughed, keeping just ahead of her enough to keep her chasing him, "Wow, you're tenacious, you know that, -tebayo!"

"You want tenacious, I'll show ya tenacious!" Tayuya yelled, throwing the IV stand at him, "Get back here!"

Naruto ducked under the thrown stand and grinned, "Nyahaha, you missed again!"

"This isn't kunai practice!" Tayuya snapped, "Now stop running!"

"Stop chasing me first!" Naruto laughed.

Tayuya was only too glad to oblige as chasing the blond through and out of the hospital had tired her out, badly. The only problem was that she had forgotten about the piece of metal she'd thrown had landed in the street ahead of her, too late for her to stop in time. "Oh shit!" The rod tangled in the wheel chair, and sent the girl flying. Naruto saw this and bolted back as the girl threatened to hit the ground.

Tayuya closed her eyes, ready for pain, but felt herself being caught by a pair of strong arms. She opened her eyes and found herself staring straight into the Naruto's blue orbs. "You okay?"

"Uh..." the girl felt her stomach flutter, "Yeah...fine...couldn't be better."

Naruto nodded, and fixed her wheel chair, sitting her back into it properly. And then got smacked for it. "Hey, what the hell was that for!?"

Tayuya smirked at him, satisfied, "For being an ass to an injured girl, schmuck!"

"Hey, I saved you from falling!" Naruto pointed out.

"You're the fucking reason I was falling in the first place, dumb ass!" Tayuya retorted, taking another swing at him which Naruto dodged. "Hey, hold still! I still wanna hit you!"

"Not happening!" Naruto snapped, crossing his arms in a negative gesture. "I get smacked around enough by my teammates, and my jerk sensei, I'll be damned if I let a girl with broken legs do it to me!"

Tayuya had a very snappy comeback planned, but...her stomach growled instead. She blushed as red as her hair as Naruto grinned at her, "Hungry, huh?" He asked, gaining a slow, embarrassed nod from her. "Alright, how about I take you for some real food, then? That hospital food is worse than field rations, at least they taste good."

"Where you gonna take me?" Tayuya asked, "And won't the doctors get pissed about us being gone?"

Naruto shrugged, stepping behind her chair, and began pushing, "You kidding? I've broken outta that place so many times it stopped being funny." He said, smirking, "And there's a great ramen stand around the corner that makes the best ramen you'll ever have!"

"Ramen?" Tayuya gave him a questioning look, "You know you're supposed to take girls to fancier places than a ramen stand for meals, right?"

Again, he shrugged, "It's one of two places that let me eat there, and the barbecue place is clear across the village." He said, smirking, "Besides, the ramen is really good."

Tayuya sighed, too hungry to put up a good argument when he was offering to pay for a meal.

"Hey there, brat!" A boisterous voice called out. Naruto turned and grinned.

"Hey, Pervy Sage!" Naruto called out in greeting, making Tayuya snort at his name.

"Dammit, brat, how many times have I told you not to call me that?!" Jiraiya roared at his apprentice, "What will the ladies think of me then?!"

As Tayuya turned around in her chair to look at the person who had arrived, Naruto just laughed, "That you're nothing but a little pervert!"

The man known as Pervy Sage was a big man at an even six foot, and built strong, with long, wild spiky hair tied back into a tail, the word oil etched into his headband. He clutched at his heart as if wounded, "Aw, now that hurts, Naruto, how many times have I told you this?" He asked dramatically before striking an odd Kabuki pose, "I am no mere pervert," he said, grinning, "I...AM A SUPER PERVERT! Haha!"

Naruto and Tayuya both deadpanned at him, "And this, ladies and gentlemen, is my second sensei, Legendary Perverted Toad Sage, Jiraiya." He said, giving a mock applause. "How lucky am I..."

This is Jiraiya? Tayuya thought, I'm starting to see a pattern with these three ninja. They're all batshit insane!

"Mommy, that old man is funny."

"Hush, dear, we just ignore people like that, remember?"

"Yes, Mommy."

Naruto felt his eyebrow twitching at his sensei's antics, "Really, could you get anymore humiliating?" Naruto asked, rubbing his forehead. "Anyway, what are you doing here, Pervy Sage, I thought you were out of the village again?"

Jiraiya placed his hands on his hips, "Well, I couldn't very well stay away when I heard about all this chaos you and that teammate of yours caused, now could I?" He asked, smirking, "And I have to say, you two really put each other through the ringer, I hear. Got a new Doujutsu, right?"

Naruto nodded, "Yeah...Granny said you could...tell me about my dad?" He looked up at the man solemnly.

Jiraiya returned the look, and sighed, "Honestly, Naruto, I wanted to tell you the first time we met...but, Sarutobi-sensei forbade me to do so until he thought you were ready to know." He said, ushering them down the streets to Ichiraku's Ramen, "If the village itself knew about it, you'd be seen as near royalty, but if people outside the village knew that your father sired you, then there would be people coming after you more and more because they hated or feared him."

Tayuya looked back over her shoulder at him, "Not that I need to know, or anything, but was the guy really that powerful of a shinobi?"

Jiraiya nodded, and pointed up, "Fourth from the left, and you'll see him."

Naruto whipped around, following his finger...toward the Hokage monument. "Fourth from..." his eyes landed on the man he had looked up to the most for the longest time; the Fourth Hokage. "You...you're joking!" He looked back at the man, "You've got to be joking!? He was my dad!?"

Jiraiya nodded, "He was, and he was my finest student, as you well know,"Jiraiya said, sighing, "I understand if you don't believe me, but know that you are Minato Namikaze's son."

Naruto turned a snarl on the man, his eyes turning blood red, "Then tell me something," he growled, his voice suddenly booming, "Why, in all of creation, did he seal that damned Nine-Tails inside of me?!" He growled again, drawing the attention of the passing crowds, all of whom knew the boy for what he held, but shrunk back in fear as they saw his blood-red eyes gleaming, and heard the sound of his thunderous voice.

Jiraiya sighed, and placed his hand on the boy's head, dispelling the out of control Genjutsu that was being cast. "You really need to learn how to control those eyes of your, Kid." He said as Naruto's eyes returned to normal, "Seriously, Naruto, do you know just how loud your voice was becoming because of that Genjutsu?"

Naruto looked at him in confusion, "But I suck at Genjustu?"

Tayuya reached back and smacked him on the shoulder, "Not anymore, Shithead," she told him when he turned, "Remember, those new eyes of yours cast a Genjutsu that's almost as powerful as the Sharingan that your pansy-ass Uchiha pal has." She stuck a finger in her ear, "I think the whole village might have heard you talking if the ringing in my ears is anything to go on."

"She's right," Jiraiya said, sighing, "Not that I mind the village finding out who you are, honestly, these fools need a wake up call." He said, and started down the street, "Come on, we'll talk more over a few dozen bowls of ramen...sound good?"

"I'm all for it," Tayuya crossed her arms, "After a few days of that tasteless gunk they call food, a bowl of ramen or two sounds like a fucking feast!"

Jiraiya chuckled as he lead the way, the two younger shinobi trailing behind him slowly, since Naruto was still pushing Tayuya's wheel chair. Tayuya looked up at him for a moment and saw his eyes downcast. "Hey...you...you gonna be okay, Shithead?"

Naruto shrugged, "Not sure...I guess it's just too much for me to take in all at once." He sighed, looking up at the monument, "Lord Fourth had always been my idol as a shinobi...I mean whenever I heard about what he did in the war, and how he gave his life to defeat the Nine-Tails, I always thought that if I wanted anyone to be my father...it'd be him. He was my hero...and now I find out that he's..."

"Your dad," Tayuya sighed, "Yeah, guess I could understand that alright. I mean, I never knew my parents, so I always thought about what they'd be like when I was little."

"Did they want me?" Naruto supplied.

"Did they love me?" Tayuya short back, "Or would they even care about what happened to me?"

Naruto nodded, sighing a little as he did, "I've wondered that everyday of my life since I found out I even had parents." He said as they came up on the ramen stand, "But I still don't understand why he would do something like this to his own son?"

Jiraiya heard him and sighed, gesturing for them to go inside. Naruto helped Tayuya out of her chair and onto a stool, "Old man Ichiraku!" Naruto called out, smiling as the man came out of the back, "Five bowls of pork miso ramen with all the fixings, please!"

"Shark fin for me," Jiraiya smiled, "Two super-sized bowls."

The old man smiled and got to work, "Comin' right up, boys, and what will the little lady be having?"

"Uh..." Tayuya looked at the pair, "You're really gonna eat that much?"

Naruto nodded, "You kiddin'? This is just the start!"

"Order anything you want," Jiraiya smiled at her, "It's all on me, and I doubt even Naruto could eat enough to break my bank."

"That a challenge, Pervy Sage?" Naruto grinned, "I still hold the record of thirty bowls in one sitting!"

Jiraiya grinned at him, "I was wondering who broke my old record," he laughed, "I should've known. Your mother had a love a ramen, just like you did," he said, startling the ramen chef, "It's alright, it's high time he knows." He turned his attention back to the boy while Tayuya made her order, "Your parents came here a lot after they married."

"Really?" Naruto asked.

"Sure did," Jiraiya chuckled, "Especially after she became pregnant with you," he reached inside his coat, and pulled out a picture, showing it to the blond, "That's them there, and me, too. Even after Minato became a Jonin, we were all as close as family." Naruto took the photo, and had to bite his lip. He'd never seen anything like a family picture, but the sight of the red-haired woman, obviously pregnant, sitting in between the white-haired sage, and the blond man, all of whom were smiling hugely, made a lump grow in his throat.

"How come you never showed up when - "

"I didn't know," Jiraiya said, sighing, "Sarutobi-sensei, bless the man, thought it best that I didn't know about you until everything had calmed down after the Nine-Tails attacked, and when I found out, you can bet I rushed back here double quick...it was just thirteen years too late to be anything but a mentor to you." He said, looking down at the boy, "Don't blame the old man for this, because I'm sure he had his reasons. I'm here now, and that's what's really important."

Their orders arrived, and Naruto began eating slower than he usually did, while Tayuya slurped away at hers. "So, how close were you to my parents...and my mom, what was her name?"

Jiraiya sighed and set his chopsticks down, "That's a loaded question...well, your mother was Kushina Uzumaki, the last full-blooded Uzumaki I ever knew, and Naruto, I have to tell you that you look almost identical to your dad, but everything else is your mother!" He laughed at the boy's expression as he blushed, "As for how close we were..." the man grew quiet, and looked down at his meal, then at his apprentice, "It was practically me that named you...they made me your godfather."

Naruto looked up at him, his eyes widening, "You mean..."

"We're family, Naruto," Jiraiya confirmed, "Even while training you to use Rasengan, I thought of you as my own, just like Minato. Had i known you were alive all this time, nothing would've stopped me from taking you away from all of this pain...but I didn't, and nothing I can do will ever make up for it."

"You can stick around," Naruto said, his eyes brimming, "I mean, there's other Uzumaki around, sure, but who's gonna tell me more about my mom and dad?"

As the pair spoke, Tayuya could only listen, and feel like she shouldn't even be there. Really, it was none of her business if the blond moron had more family, or if his old man was a famous war hero...

...she just...wanted to know...what happiness felt like.

=x=

"The leaves are starting to change color," Sakura noted as she and Sasuke strolled around the park, "Winter's not to far off, is it?"

Sasuke shook his head, "No, it's not...hey, what do you think about taking Naruto around the Rinne Festival when it rolls around?" He asked, surprising her with his question. He scratched the back of his head, "I kinda said you and I would go with him, and maybe drag Kakashi with us, just so he'd have someone to go with...it's fine if you don't - "

"That sounds nice," Sakura smiled at him, nodding, "I think I'd like that. After all, you two have been through so much together." She said, recalling a few of their missions. "Remember our first time catching Tora?"

Sasuke shivered, "Actually, I try not to."

Sakura giggled, "Well, I remember it perfectly." She said proudly, strolling over to a bench, "You two were so gung-ho about catching that silly cat that you got in each other's way so much that Kakashi had to step in and catch him instead. Then he threw the cat on both of you!" She laughed as Sasuke took a seat beside her, scowling at the memory.

"I had scratches all over me," he grumbled, "Stupid Kakashi..."

Sakura shook her head, smiling still, "You guys were always so far ahead of me in strength...I always felt like I was holding you back until we went to Wave, and I got the tree walking exercise down so fast." She leaned back as a breeze kicked up, enjoying it for the moment.

Sasuke sighed and leaned back as well, "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"Not strong enough to make you stay," she said, remembering the night of his departure, "I was such a weakling, I still am, compared to you and Naruto."

"You're good for other things," Sasuke said.

"Like what?" Sakura asked with a slant-eyed glance.

"Uh..."

"Go on."

Sasuke gulped and said, "Well, you're really good at explaining things, even to me and Naruto, and you know how we are."

Sakura eyed him for a moment before letting it go, "I guess you're right about that. If I weren't around, you two would be helpless."

Sasuke smirked at her, "I wouldn't go that far."

The girl giggled, "You know, this is the first time we've talked like this," she said, smiling at him, "I always thought that you found me annoying, but here we are."

Sasuke shrugged, "Things change," he said simply, "And I...I wanted to apologize...for hitting you that night..." he said, blushing as the girl blinked at him in surprise, "You were just trying to protect me, and I...I had no right to do that to you...I'm so sorry, Sakura...chan." He almost swallowed his tongue as the affectionate came out, sounding like he was gagging.

Sakura blushed lightly for a moment, then broke out laughing, making Sasuke growled. "Sasuke-kun, you don't have to force yourself to be nice, you know?" She laughed, "Just be yourself, that's always worked before."

Sasuke shook his head, and looked at her sadly, "Being myself nearly got three people killed, Sakura...and one of them was my best friend, and closest person I had to a brother left in this world other than Itachi...I don't want to be that anymore."

"Who said you have to be?" Sakura asked, reaching out to take his hand in hers, "Sasuke-kun, you need to know now, that you don't have to take everything on yourself. You want to take down your brother for what he did your family, I get that, but you don't have to do it alone. Naruto and I will be there for you, whether or not it's chasing after your brother." Sakura smiled as he gripped her hand in return, "Ask us for anything, and we'll do our best to help you do it...but all of us," she said, rising, and pulling him with her, "from this point on, need to get stronger. That's why I'm going to ask Tsunade-sama to take me on as her apprentice."

"You are?" Sasuke asked, surprised, "But you hate training?"

Sakura shook her head, "Doesn't matter. I'm tired of being useless to you and Naruto, so I'm going to do my best for both of you, as your friend and teammate, and for myself...I'm tired of being left behind, too."

Sasuke was more than a little stunned, but smiled nonetheless, "Of all the people to actually say they're weak, it's both of my teammates...you're both stronger than I am...you've got wills made of steel, where mine is shattered as easily as glass..."

"Then you just have to get stronger, too, right?" Sakura chirped, giving him a tug, "Come on, let's go see if we can find Naruto?"

Sasuke nodded. It was high time he and Naruto settled their differences, even if it meant getting punched again.


And done! Next time, Naruto and Kurama come face to face again!

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