Okay, I know that I haven't updated this fic since June 28th, which was like nearly two months ago, but... I don't really have an excuse, but, that is why I have decided to try and update this fic some more now… But, in a way, this break could be seen as a time skip, but it was just me not writing an update

So I hope that you'll all enjoy this chapter…

Disclaimer: Naruto is yet to be in my clutches…

A year had passed where Kyuubi's intense training regime for Naruto had continued and increased in difficulty and effort. Kyuubi knew that Naruto had improved a lot in this time, but he didn't let him know that, he wasn't the type of person (demon) to do that openly. Also, Naruto's personality had changed quite a bit as Kyuubi was quite tired of how he was always shouting and complaining. He had been taught how to remain calm and when he had to be serious. His hair had changed from being outside so much; his once bright-yellow-blond hair now had streaks of lighter blond from the sun and was also longer, covering slightly over his eyes as Naruto didn't wear his head band, and simply let the hair droop over.

Due to the fact that Naruto had finished his last ramen cup after only a month, he hadn't been able to have anymore. However, this wasn't a bad thing as Naruto had finally begun to grow to just above Sasuke's height from a year ago, though he had no doubt that the teme was still taller then him, but he didn't mind, he wouldn't see him again… But whenever he thought of this, he became saddened, therefore, changing the subject abruptly. He had missed a lot of people greatly, but was, in a way, relieved, to be away from Konoha. But one thought had crossed his minds more then any other.

"Kyuubi-sensei?"

Kyuubi lifted his head from his paws, as he had been resting, as usual. "What is it that is so important that you had to disturb me from my slumber?" He demanded, though his voice had softened ever so slightly over the past year, but Naruto didn't want him to know that.

"You remember when… About a year ago, when you convinced me to leave Konoha… You suggested that I changed my dream… Aiming to become another Kage… But what I was wandering, was… Did you have any specific ones in mind?"

Kyuubi somehow adopted his own thinking pose, and began to think out loud. "Wind Country is no good as they are allies with Fire Country, so they would quickly find out there… I don't really know how Earth Country is going to respond, so there si no point at risking it there… Wave Country… hmm, well, you've been there before and they liked you there… So that could be a choice. And Lightning Country… well, they despise Fire Country, so I doubt that you would want to go there… However, they would also embrace you there due to your one-of-a-kind bloodline, and Konoha would never find out that you were there…" The Kyuubi paused. "I guess that either Mizukage or Raikage would be best, so it's your choice, though I think I know which one you'll choose…"

Naruto thought for a while, using his new thinking pose, where he would just close his eyes and block out everything around him, clearing is mind so that he could think without being influenced by anything or anyone else. After a few minutes of silence, Naruto opened his eyes, only to find that Kyuubi had gone back to sleep. Naruto's eyebrow twitched for a few seconds, before he got in under control.

"Um, Kyuubi… KYUUBI!" Said fox immediately woke up again, narrowing his eyes at Naruto before remembering the conversation that they were having before he feel asleep. He then raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I guess that I'll be seeing Inari soon. I did, after all, promise that I would come and visit."

The fox grinned. Mizukage… I knew it… "I advise that you should make your way there, though… I'm not quite sure what'll happen… But hey, you don't know until you try…"

The two then made their way back home; to their cave, which was now properly furnished thanks to Naruto's bloodline; he had made everything that he could with the unknown metal; ranging from simple bowls to a cooker (which was similar to the first one except that it was now a metal slab instead of the rock and the edges were raised along with it having legs to stand on, with enough room underneath for the small fire needed). Indeed, It wasn't a half bad place to live in. But… they would be leaving soon for their next destination, so this would be left where it was, everything in its place, if it was ever needed again, by either them… or perhaps someone else who was lucky enough to find it.

They had talked on the way to their cave of what they were going to do, and they decided that they would leave the following day after a good nights sleep. They would make their way to wave country swiftly, avoiding places and routes were they could come across people who might recognise them.

Back in Konoha…

Tsunade was sitting at her desk, just staring at the two piles of paperwork on her desk. The one on the right was very tall, whilst the other one was only a couple centimeters high, that was the pile which contained the completed paperwork, whilst the larger contained the uncompleted paperwork.

She let out a sigh, as her hand reached down into her secret draw, where she kept her sake, away from Shizune. However, it wasn't a bottle she pulled out, but a small photo album, one of her, if not her most cherished possessions. In it, she had six photos, each of them containing memories which she would always want to keep. The first photo was of the first and the second Hokage's; the second was her team photo, taken back when she was just a genin and when Orochimaru was still on their side; the third was of Dan, smiling the smile which she had loved; the fourth one was of Nawaki, her brother who had before his time; the fifth was of Shizune, Tonton in her arms; whilst the final photo was of Naruto, the last person in which she had gotten attached to. He was now gone, and she hadn't heard from him since he had sent the kunai along with Iruka's letter. With every passing day, she had grown more worried, afraid that he hadn't sent anything else because something had happened to him, or worse. She didn't even want to think about the possibilities.

She let out another sigh. Konoha was too quiet without the hyperactive blond. She missed him dearly, but somewhere inside of her, she knew it was for the best that he left. He hadn't been treated right here, the people of Konoha didn't deserve him. That was what she told herself everytime she looked at the photo of Naruto.

At team seven's old training grounds…

Ever since he had learnt that Naruto had left, Sasuke had decided that he would get stronger, not to kill his brother, but to get the dobe back. At the Valley of the End, when he had said that Naruto had become his best friend, he was telling the truth. Naruto was the only person who saw him how he wanted to be seen, not as an Uchiha, not as the guy who every girl in his academy class had fallen for, not as the rookie of the year, but simply as himself.

He missed the blond a lot, though he was annoying sometimes, but brothers were like that. Indeed, Naruto was also like a brother to him, and somewhere he hoped that Naruto felt the same way about him. Sasuke was determined to find the blond, but he had been told that he would have to be at least a jounin, like Ino had been told, though he didn't know, and so, that was why he wanted to get stronger, that was why he had to get stronger.

He had been at it for a few hours that day when he finally decided to take a break. He sat down under a large tree, enjoying the coolness of the shade it was providing. He sat there for a moment, just thinking. Why did Sakura have to go and shout at him like that… She's so… so… I don't even know what!... Over the past year, he and Tsunade and gotten to know each other better. They weren't close but they could enjoy each others company. His respect for her had also gone up when he had found out about Sakura's 'punishment', which he thought that she deserved, also, it had helped to keep her busy so that she couldn't pester him. But now, she stayed away from him.

FLASHBACK…

"Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun! Wait for me… I have to ask you something…" The pink haired kunoichi shouted as she tried to keep up with Sasuke, who didn't stop to wait for her, but simply carried on walking, hoping that she'd somehow miraculously got the message. But, sadly, she had not as she was now clinging to his arm, with a wide smile on her face.

"Sasuke-kun… Would you like to go out on the date sometime? I know this grea-…" She was interrupted as Sasuke had finally snapped

"Sakura! How many times do I have to tell you that I. Won't. Go. Out. With. You! There is no chance that I ever will… especially after you drove Naruto away! Do you have any idea of how much pain that caused me?! No! You don't! You have no idea! None whatsoever! If you really paid attention to anything that had happened back then, then you would have realised something! You think you're so clever! But, in reality, you're only book smart and nothing else!" Sasuke's breath was short and deep as he had barely inhaled any air throughout his speech.

"Bu-… But what about w-when he hurt you back then. He shouldn't hav-…" But she was interrupted.

"No Sakura! Naruto was right back there! I was the one in the wrong! So why don't you just… just leave me alone!" He had meant every word which he said and was glad to have it out. He didn't even care when he saw the tears form around Sakura's eyes or when they began to flow down he cheeks. He didn't even care that she ran away, her sobbing echoing through the street that they were in. He was glad that he had gotten that out of his system. But, in a way, he was also saddened. Not because of Sakura, but of all of his memories of Naruto, flooding back into his mind.

END FLASHBACK…

Sasuke began to rub his eyes with his left hand. It was quiet without Naruto… or even Sakura bothering him the whole time. He had always thought that silence was what he wanted, but now, he would have preferred everything to be as they were before the chuunin exams.

The chuunin exams. That was when it all began, in Sasuke's mind. Sure, he was set on killing Itachi and would want power. But it was during the exam that he had been bitten and given to opportunity for power, though he now realised that that power would not be his, and besides, he knew that there would always be a price for things like power. And what the snake bastard wanted from him, he didn't know.

It was also during this exam that he had seen Naruto in a new light. Though he was a dobe during training and meaningless D-ranked missions, during battles and times where it really and truly mattered, Naruto was strong, stronger then most of the people that Sasuke knew, but he had a feeling that he hadn't seen how far Naruto could go. No, he knew that there was a lot to Naruto.

After he had seen Naruto's power, he had become jealous, though he wouldn't admit that to anyone, Uchiha's don't do that. But jealousy, that was something that close people shared. He would not let himself be blinded by his want for power or his jealousy anymore. No, now he would do things without the influence of others, except maybe Naruto, but without the jealousy of course.

He had decided that he had been resting for long enough now, so he stood up and carried on with his training.

One week later…

Naruto and Kyuubi were standing on the edge of the border of the Fire Country, with nothing but open water in front of them. They would have to cross the water if they wanted to reach Wave Country.

"You sure about this kit?"

Naruto didn't reply, but simply nodded, though it was determined nod. There was no looking back now.

Naruto applied chakra to his feet and began to walk across the water, running as soon as Kyuubi had done the same.

Sorry that this chapter wasn't very long, but I kinda just had to get to this point, so I ended it here, where I would be able to carry on from in the next chapter. Which I will try and get out as soon as I can, though, as I said in my bio, my prep is my priority, which I am very sad about… Until next Time…