I'm finally released from the hospital after a good week of healing. Naruto had found an apartment for me near his, which was very fortunate for me. The apartment is in a rather secluded area of the village but that is how I prefer it. I really don't like being in the spotlight and I definitely like my privacy. A lot of the village people give me looks of pity but I returned those looks with scowls and glares. They all feel sorry for me because I'm being helped by the so-called demon of the village. Funny that they can't tell the difference between a human and a demon but they are so narrow-minded and so stuck in the past that it's really pathetic. Hell, it's really disgraceful. The tall boy just ignores their hateful stares as he shows me the sights of the Leaf Village. He's just happy to be jabbering away about his favorite spots around the area, like the ramen shop, for example. He decides to treat me there-which was really strange to everyone in the shop, since he usually left the tab on someone else-and the ramen is quite good for an anime show. I have to admit that I was just a tad bit disgusted at first when I witnessed him practically breathing his food in, but I was left giggling by the time he finished all nine bowls of ramen. It's just so funny to watch him. Just seeing Naruto's face, though, brought me some joy. His blue eyes were wide with shock before he started to laugh with me. His laughter is a very pleasant sound and I hope I can hear more of it.

We spent most of the day getting to know each other. I already knew most of his likes and dislikes, just based on the earlier episodes of "Naruto." Come to think of it, I'm not exactly sure what timeline I have landed in. So...I subtly study Naruto's jumpsuit, which is black and orange, and that clearly indicates that I am currently in Shippuden. If I had been in the first timeline, he would have been wearing a straight orange jumpsuit and he would have been a whole lot smaller than he was now.

And twice as goofy. I thought.

I have to wonder where exactly where I am in Shippuden. From the looks of it, it seems that I landed towards the beginning of the new series. There is no sign of Sai anywhere and there was definitely no sign of Sauske. Lady Hokage had told me that this place and time is reality and not a dream. If that is the case, then there is a very good and very high chance that my presence here could easily alter events of the Narutoverse. Case in point, Naruto actually paid for the ramen that he had devoured, along with my bowls which is something he never did before. It seems like a minor detail at the moment, but even the smallest of details could affect something big, like the future and the world for that matter.

"Hey, Mina!" Naruto yells. "Snap out of it!"

"Don't be rude, brat!" A male voice demands.

"Whatever, pervy sensei." Naruto snarks.

That was followed by a loud thud, which sounded very much like a punch to the back of someone's head. I came out of my thoughts and came face to face with none other than the pervy sage himself, Jiraya. I instinctively hugged my moderate sized bust. A sweatdrop appeared over Jiraya's head, along with a look of rejection, and I heard an obnoxious chortle from Naruto. Of course, that chortle earned him another whack to the head and a cry of pain escaped the blonde. A huge lump appeared on his head.

"I never seen her before. Is she your secret girlfriend?" He asks in a conspiring tone. "You dog!"

Naruto gives the legendary sanin a dirty look before replying in the negative. He explains the entire situation, sparing me the unnecessary attention. Thankfully, he leaves out some of my personal history, though I could sense that Jiraya had been looking at my healing injuries. When I had left the hospital earlier, I checked to see if my bruises were completely gone. To no surprise, they weren't. They're healing, though, but they obviously relate a powerful story and seeing that I'm not a ninja of this village, he could only guess as to what my history is. The serious look on his face told me that he had correctly guessed exactly what my circumstances had been. I forget that ninjas can read people.

"You were beaten, weren't you?" Jiraya asks in a soft voice.

"Yeah." I said dejectedly.

Jiraya seems to understand my pain. I guess he would understand because he's also aware of Naruto's history as well (who wasn't?) and he knows exactly how the boy was treated in the past. Naruto places a comforting hand on my shoulder, which is a really strange feeling. It's kind of hard not to shrug it off, per my habit when I lived at home. It's just so really new to me. Being touched by someone in a comforting way is definitely something I need to get readjusted to. If I had shrugged one of my parents off, it would have resulted in a severe punishment. Most of the time, that punishment was usually an ass-kicking and being locked into my room like some prisoner. Apparently, my fist had curled into a fist because the sanin then goes on to say:

"You resent those who hit you. That much is clear. I'll tell you what. I'm more than willing to put you through some training. How's that?"

Training is something I hadn't considered. Of course, my thoughts revert back to the alteration of the Narutoverse. If I do become a ninja, just how much of the Shippuden Era will I change? I've seen the entire season and the results of the episodes of Shippuden. My presence here could easily change the entire story line in my world and what then? This is something serious that I have to take into careful consideration. Should I do this for me? I mean, I really would like to make a new life for myself away from my parents and here is an excellent opportunity to do so. However, to do so would mean the alteration of an entire world (if it was even real) and I don't really want to be responsible for whatever consequences that I would face. This is quite a dilemma...though the temptation to stay here with Naruto and the crew is very strong.

"Give it a few days." Jiraya says. "No need to decide right away."

"Right. Thanks." I say.

He nods before departing towards the Hokage's office. Naruto commences chattering into my ear, promising that he would introduce me to all of his friends and that they were cool once I get to know them...though he admits to the fact that a few of them are quite annoying. I sigh contently, even though being treated kindly and with respect is going to take some getting used to.