Hello, Murayama Tsuru here. I have returned with the third chapter. But before that, I'd like to make a small announcement. I got a rude review last week. I'd just like to say in response that Rinrin Kouryu has nothing to do with Rin, Kakashi's old teammate. My character's name is written like this: 凛々コウリュ. Rinrin means frigid or awe inspiring or breathtaking and Kouryu, though I misspelled it a little, means ice dragon. I named her this because…well…you'll find out in this chapter. Now that I've explained it, the name's not all that clever anymore to me…SO, I guess what I mean to say is that if you don't like my story, please don't review. I'd love to hear constructive criticism, but if you don't have a nice way to say it, then kindly keep your trap shut. Well, that's all I have to say on the subject. So, enough with my ranting, please enjoy this chapter as well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (again, I wanted to and almost did type in Gintama); it is the property of Kishimoto Masashi-Sensei.

In late afternoon, Naruto arrived home tired and happy. There had been no missions today, which was a little unusual; but Naruto wasn't complaining. Spending time with Sasuke and Sakura was nostalgic in a way that almost made tears come to Naruto's eyes.

When Naruto walked in his front door, his mother came over to him and wrapped him up in a bear-hug. After a happy moment, Naruto realized that he was no longer able to breathe. He started flailing when he started feeling light-headed. His mom, getting the message, let go and smiled at him. Naruto, suddenly feeling embarrassed, scratched the back of his head and said shyly, "Kaa-chan, what was that for?"

Uzumaki Kushina laughed heartily, "What's wrong with hugging my son?" Naruto's eyes widened, and he looked away from his mom, mumbling an incoherent 'no'. Kushina laughed again and ruffled her son's hair then motioned him to come over for dinner.

The rest of the evening went on rather calmly. It was a peaceful evening, Naruto just spending, what seemed to him, like well-deserved time with his parents. They both told him stories from the times they were kids; Naruto fell into stiches at many of the stories and marveled at many feats they did during their time they were active Ninjas.

Eventually, the conversations ended and they all went to bed. Naruto fell into his bed felling extremely tired and happier that he had felt in a long time.

But after a while of peaceful sleep, the almost-nightmares began. It started in the middle of what seemed to be an important battle; there was a familiar looking man in an annoying orange mask and a Sharingan, Kakashi looking aghast and sad, Gai looking…well…like Gai, and another man with long hair and a Sharingan. Naruto tried to move as the two Sharingan users started attacking his teammates. But, his legs were stuck and he couldn't move an inch. Also, he tried to use the Kyuubi's chakra but nothing happened. In utter despair, Naruto watched as the two Uchihas, because that's all they could be with the Sharingans, killed his comrades.

And then Naruto woke up, drenched in a cold sweat and gasping for breath. Hearing footsteps, he sat up preparing to tell his parents there was nothing to worry about, it was only a dream. But his door never opened and his parents never came in. Naruto still heard the footsteps, though, so he listened to them more closely. The footsteps sounded rhythmic, like some form of dance, coming from somewhere above him.

Naruto got out of bed and climbed out the nearby window. He then walked up the side of his house to the roof. As Naruto scaled the wall, the footsteps got louder. He thought himself lucky because tonight was a full moon so he would be able to see whoever it was easily. When he hopped, as silently as he could, onto his roof, he saw her.

Kouryu was on his roof doing what looked like some sort of ritual. She was weaving hand-signs and walking in a circle. Then, every once in a while, she would stop and look at an image that Naruto couldn't see. After looking at the image for a while, she would rearrange things, take things out of, or put things into the image. Naruto couldn't actually see what she was doing, but he could feel the power of her blue Sharingan from where he stood.

Naruto must have made some of sort of sound then, because Kouryu started guiltily. She turned around and leveled a cold glare at whoever was behind her. But, seeing it was Naruto, she sighed and said tiredly, "Naruto, what are you doing here?"

Naruto blinked, "What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? This is the roof of my house, if anything, that's the question I should be asking?"

"Yes," Kouryu nodded in agreement, confusing Naruto, "You're right, this is the roof of your house. I probably should tell you what I'm doing up here. But…"

"But what?" Naruto snapped, feeling irritable from sleep deprivation.

Kouryu seemed to be having an internal debate with herself, but after a while she said, "I'm not sure what effect it will have on this Jutsu."

"What?" Naruto said, alarmed now that Kouryu was a Ninja spy, "You cast a Jutsu on us? What kind of Jutsu is it?"

"A Jutsu of protection of sorts…" Kouryu answered thoughtfully

"What does that even mean?" Naruto asked, more confused than ever. But it seemed as though Kouryu hadn't heard him. She looked like she was having a silent conversation, and Naruto became even more confused because he couldn't see anyone else around.

After a moment or two, Kouryu nodded to herself then walked over to Naruto. Naruto confused and apprehensive started backing up. Kouryu rolled her eyes at Naruto and waved her hand out in an arc in front of herself.

Naruto scoffed when nothing happened after a few seconds. But soon, Naruto heard a strange whooshing-crackling sound. Not thinking much of it, Naruto turned to leave. But he found his feet were stuck to the ground. He then looked down to see why, and found that a thick layer of ice had formed around his feet.

Naruto looked up again, alarmed, and saw that Kouryu was advancing toward him again. He struggled to uproot his feet from the ice, but to no avail, he was stuck fast.

Naruto shrank back as Kouryu reached a hand out toward him. Kouryu touched Naruto's forehead with her outstretched hand and with the other mad a fist with two fingers pointing up and said "Kai."

Naruto felt like he was falling into a deep lake. The memories of events past flooded into his mind and threatened to drown him. He now knew that he was right; his parents and Jiraiya were dead, the man in the mask was Tobi/Obito Kakashi's former comrade, and Sasuke had left Konoha. There were so many memories, that eventually they overwhelmed him and he passed out.


When Naruto came to, the ice was gone and Kouryu was sitting across from him, looking at him intently. Naruto jolted upright, then and yelled, "What the hell did you just do to me!"

Kouryu pressed a finger to her lips, "Not so loud, Naruto-kun. You wouldn't want to wake the neighbors or your parents, would you?"

"How could I wake my parents, they're dead aren't they?"

Kouryu looked hurt and nodded sadly, "Yes, unfortunately your parents are dead. But some illusions were necessary in making this Jutsu more complete."

Naruto glared, "What are you talking about? What Jutsu? What illusions?"

Kouryu nodded and started explaining, "You see, in order to forestall Obito and Madara's plans, I sealed Konohagakure away from them. But in order for the residents not to become suspicious that the war they were fighiting in suddenly ended, I had to cast a Jutsu that would manipulate their memories. The Jutsu is called Kioku Sousa no Jutsu…"

"But wait," Naruto interrupted, "Why would you need to create illusions of dead people if you had this Jutsu is place? And how did you even do it?"

"Well," Kouryu said and her eyes darkened into the blue Sharingan Naruto had seen earlier, during the training excercise, "I have an ocular Jutsu similar to the Sharingan of the Uchihas. But, unlike the Sharingan, this Aojaringan of mine can only make illusions absolutely solid. It can see through other Gen Jutsu, but it can't copy other Ninjas' attacks."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully and Kouryu continued, "As to why I did it. There are some people that seem so important to you people that I had to create them for you. Like your parents, or Sasuke's brother, or your friend's teacher…"

"That…makes sense," Naruto said after a pause, "So, did you bring back pervy sage too, then?"

Kouryu shook her head. Naruto, shocked, was about to ask why. But Kouryu responded before he could, "I would have brought back Jiraiya. But when I looked into your memories, it seemed to me that you had accepted his death. But I did make it so that you guys think he's out wandering, if that's any consolation."

Naruto sighed deeply, but didn't contradict her. The two then sat in silence for a little while, Naruto absorbing everything he just learned and Kouryu seemed to be having another silent conversation.

Naruto then asked, out of the blue, "So why are you doing this Kouryu?"

Kouryu smiled, "Because we're similar, you and I."

"Huh?"

"You see, I'm also a Jinchuuriki, for a frigid ice dragon."

So that's it for this chapter. No, I'm not sorry for leaving you guys hanging ^_^ it's just like an actual Naruto chapter, ending at a crucial point. So now it's time to explain Kouryu's Jutsu. 記憶操作の術(Kioku Sousa no Jutsu) means memory manipulation Jutsu. It's kinda self-explanatory in English, but if you didn't notice it's the title of this story ^_^. And Aojaringan, if you couldn't guess means blue Sharingan. well, I hope yo see you guys next chapter as well. Until then, please review, I love to hear what you guys think. But, if you have some criticism of my story, please tell me nicely, or I will be forced to retaliate in kind.

-Murayama Tsuru