Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto.

I will have to say, even though I didn't get that many reviews in for that last chapter, to the ones that did review and bothered to answer back my inquiries; I greatly appreciate it. Because of your honest words, InfinityAtmo and RE5 Forever; here's a new chapter, two days later.

Also, Merry: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza to everyone out there.

Chapter 3 – Friends or Foes?

Grand Summoner Rydia had finally returned from The Summit of High Callers; a political assembly that reinforced the relations between Callers and the beasts that fought for them. As the appointed Grand Summoner, the jade-haired, pearly skin maiden Rydia was the head of all the mages in her order, and thusly had to attend as the liaison between them and the beasts that answer to their call.

She was fully briefed upon her return about the matters at hand; although she already had felt an unknown being brought into existence several times in the past month, and was now highly interested in the blond man and his companion.

For the past two weeks, they had scryed the boy and were impressed…no, amazed by his training methods. It was simply unbelievable the amount of physical copies he could make of himself and the high amount of dedication that he placed unto improving himself was astounding….but then, the man with fiery hair came to existence on the last day of the second week of the second month, and Rydia trembled at the strength of the presence he emanated. Verre, the Green Mage, recoiled when she felt the disturbance caused in the spirits in the area; whereas Maria licked her lips at the power he exuded.

Silence reigned within the chambers of the Council of Seven. The monitoring of the blond and his actions led them to learn of the climactic fight that had eventually brought him to the continent of Ivalice, and it further explained the powerful energies that emanated from the east that had originally forced them to convene in order to prepare for the worse.

The silence lasted for quite a while, as the mages simply observed the quiet conversation between the summoner and the summoned one on the roof of the villa. It wasn't until the man known as Kyuubi unsummoned himself at Naruto's command that uproar happened amongst the mages.

"Did you see that?" exclaimed the mage dressed in red. Throwing the hunter's hat that topped her head, the platinum blonde motioned to the orb once more. "He's aware we were scrying!" Her hand waved in front of the orb, and the images repeated themselves in a slower manner.

"There! Right there!" her finger pointed to the scrying tool.

Lo and behold, while Naruto wasn't looking at Kyuubi when they spoke to each other; in Kyuubi's nod they could see that he turned his eyes to where the scrying was taking place. The tiniest twitch in his lips made it all too clear.

They were allowed to listen in.

"No one has ever detected my scrying! To think that we have someone in the land who can do so…"

"Calm down, Celes" Olan's tired voice spoke "He is one of great power. According to the retelling of how they both arrived, Kyuubi was the one who dragged the boy onto shore. He could've been aware of our power and possibly thought of this happening ever since he was nearing the coast…"

"His presence as a summon is incredible; there's a possibility that even the High Summons could have trouble taking him on one-on-one, though if multiple attack at the same time, he might be brought down…but still," Rydia commented "I don't want either of them as an enemy." she spoke the last part almost as a whisper, yet it was heard by everyone in the wall-less room.

"And I can assure you that everyone here agrees with you, Rydia." responded Celes. The red mage turned back to the now still frame of the red-headed male that was staring intently with slitted pupils at the seven mages in the room. Her left thumb reached her mouth, to where her teeth bit her nail – a nervous habit she developed, only appearing when presented with a real challenge…and this was a true challenge before her.

"Strago, do you have anything you want to add before we plan the course of actions?" asked Gray Mage Olan.

All eyes turned to the man garbed in a blue robe, who had his bare feet on the table and pushing his chair back, balancing it with the back legs. His white hair was styled in a sort of mohawk and his large bushy eyebrows and white moustache complemented his beard. Grinning, he turned to the rest of the mages in the room and dropped his feet of the table, letting the massive chair fall forwards to its stable position with a resounding 'boom', a clear display on how heavy the piece of furniture really is.

He stood up as he walked next to Olan and patted him on the back.

"Oh…I dun' tink dere's much t' add, m' boy…odder dat I be itchin' fer a gud brawl wit dem two young'uns!"

Snorts and chuckles broke throughout the rooms as the tension that circled around them all was broken by the simple words of the Blue Mage. Everyone sported a smile or a grin of some sort, and quieted down just enough for Olan to clear his throat and began speaking in an authoritative voice. "Then so be it. Let the Council convene and decide on the manners to approach the summoner and his summon."

And as Olan waved his hand, the other six mages closed their eyes as the surrounding light was engulfed by darkness, sound was drowned by silence; and all that remained were seven figures standing in a dark and soundless room.

One by one, each opened their eyes, displaying different colored energies in them; and in a blink of an eye, they were gone.

Scene Change—

Heavy banging caused a blonde to stir in a foreign bed. She heard muffled voices on the other side of the door, but made no move to open it up, simply sitting up and letting her hair shield her face from the rays of light that intruded into the room.

"Mistress! Mistress Agrias! Please open the door! You are pressed in time to reach the Knight Academy! And remember your appointment with Princess Ovelia!"

'Ovelia…might as well get up. It would be extremely disrespectful if I were late with her royal highness.' "I'm up, I'm up." mumbled the blonde as she edged to the bed and made haste to the locked door. "Let us hurry…"

As the door creaked open, coming eye to eye with mainly the maids who were present last night at the retelling of Naruto's life by his summon. "I apologize for being so late, but there were things weighing on my mind…as I can see, there are still weighing on yours…"

Signs of unrest, bags under their eyes, tear streaks on their cheeks, and disappointment; made it all too clear to Agrias that she wasn't the only one with a restless sleep the previous night, for the help that stood in front of her displayed the same symptoms as herself; for in the month they had taken care of him, nursed him back to health, talked to him, learned from him…they felt as if their heart had been torn when he left, and the pain became almost unbearable when the Demon Lord had explained to her and her staff the hardships that he had to live through his life; although Agrias seemed to have taken the story the hardest over everyone that had been present.

Stepping into the hallway, Agrias took one last look at the now empty room before mouthing a 'goodbye' and a 'please come back' before silently closing the door and making her way to her room to clean herself up and make the appointments and events she had planned for the day.

Scene Change—

"So, any objections on what will be done and how it shall take place?" silence reigned in the darkened room where seven cloaked figures stood. Taking that as the answer to the questions, the tired voice once more spoke.

"Then so be it. Let the trial begin. And do remember to not underestimate them…"

And with that, one of the cloaked figures' eyes flashed with green energy and disappeared from the room.

Scene Change—

"You've heard what I wanted to tell you; now, do you have any questions, Naruto?"

The blond male sat upon a rock in the middle of the ocean as Kyuubi stood by his side, standing on the water as if it were solid ground, speaking to him, explaining what he believed would cause them some unwanted attention and unnecessary violence. All the while, Naruto sat still, Sage Mode activated, scanning all the living beings beneath him, counting them, extending his senses farther and farther; slowly but surely also extending the duration in which he could be channeling the natural energies.

"I hear you, A., but I don't understand what you're trying to say." he said with a calm voice. "You said we were being watched, observed, ever since we stepped foot in this continent and they were noticed by you when you entered the waters of the Black Coral Sea, dragging me to shore, but with the extent of out injuries, you couldn't inform me until today. But…why do we need to fight again? For what cause? For whose?"

Naruto opened his eyes. The telling marks of a sage clear on his face and pupils. All the while, his serene face never changed, he simply pondered what he had been told.

"It is how they will weigh our value to this land, 'ruto. We will have to fight sometime sooner or later so be ready for the trial by combat. Remember, both you and I hold great power within us, they will approach us and test our allegiance…if any…to the one who nursed you back to health. In the laws of this continent, you are technically, her slave until your debt is absolved."

Naruto 'hmmmed' at Andalarán's explanation, his expression never changing, save for a slight twitch of the corner of his lips. "Kyu, I believe we begin now. I'll take care of things, and will ask for your physical assistance when pressed to…or would you rather do otherwise?" He said with a small smirk. Kyuubi simply grinned and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The summoner sat still in silent scrutiny of the solemn silhouette that skimmed the sea's surface in front of the sinking sun. (A/N: 12-Hit combo Alliteration!) Said cloaked figure had manifested itself a few feet behind Kyuubi, but both he and Naruto had detected the presence approaching a moment or two before it had made an appearance

"Well?" asked Naruto. "Why are you so far away? Take a seat with me; I don't want you to get tired." He said as he patted the rather large stone he sat on, as he scooted over to the edge, his feet uncrossed themselves from underneath him, one dipping into the ocean's cold water, the other propped up against his chest.

Adjusting his eyes a bit more, he made out that the figure was cloaked in a green made of high quality material. The fact that he didn't sense any chakra coming from said individual, and it simply stood on the water made him realize he wouldn't be tested by ninjas, or any chakra-using being.

The silhouette stood still for a few more minutes, but then began moving forward; not walking, simply floating over the crashing waves, the hood covered the person's face. Naruto never flinched nor showed a sign of nervousness as the figure approached him and slowly took a seat next to him.

"I assume you know why I am here…" a sweet female voice spoke calmly.

Naruto simply nodded at the figure. He had taken note on the height of the woman that had walked to him and sat where he had offered. She was tall. Compared to everyone that he knew from the elemental nations, she was two, to possibly three heads taller than the average ninja; around the same size as the former Akatsuki, Kisame; except her frame was lithe, not muscular.

"…then I would like to ask you something." She said as she took hold of her cloak and removed the covers from her head, revealing to our blond hero her rabbit-like facial features on a tanned, slightly furry skin. Her long ears were down and tied to the back of her head, woven into a dark green ponytail that reached her shoulders. Her eyes were a golden yellow.

"What do you plan to do in Ivalice, Maelstrom?"

Taken aback for a moment due to the looks of the female next to him and her calling him by his alias; he quickly regained his composure and turned to view the sunset. "I owe Lady Agrias Oaks a debt of Life. She saved me, and by default my ally, Lord Kyuubi…." he spoke with practiced ease. "I will make sure her enemies fall. I will always protect her from the shadows from this day forth until my debt to her is settled…" he extended his arm to the setting sun before him, fingers wide open. "…my arm is her blade, my body her shield, my techniques her own…." closing his fist at the sun, Naruto slowly turned to the green mage. "May I ask you a question, miss?"

"You may." So far, Verre had been contemplating what he had said. In all honesty, she felt he was being sincere, but sensed that he wasn't completely at ease with his statements. There was something else bothering him, and she might find out what it is now.

"What right did you all have to eavesdrop on the private conversation my friend held with the people he chose to speak it to?" a slight undertone of anger was laced to his words. Verre detected them immediately and fell completely silent, understanding that he wasn't done talking.

"Kyuubi had my permission to speak my story to them, the people who took care of me when I was dying on the shores of your continent, and as powerful as he is, he can't comprehend the nature of your abilities, so he wasn't able to prevent you all from interfering, but he was aware…now, I can sense you and the energy that courses through you. I know that you are extremely nervous of Kyuubi…am I right?"

Verre's breath hitched in her throat at the mention of the man Naruto called his friend.

Naruto let out a long, drawn-out sigh as he relaxed his posture and leaned back on the rock, using his elbows as a means to prop himself up so he could still be able to see the sun. His other foot dipped into the cold waters, and finally released his Sage Mode.

"Listen; Kyuubi told me that you all might be planning something, and to be honest, I don't like to be kept in the dark about things that are related to me in any way, especially when it might endanger my own life; so let me ask you one last thing."

The green robed mage simply nodded.

"You know that I lost everything…" his voice turned unnaturally quiet. "My village, my…my wife…the only thing that I have left for me is this life that was returned to me by Agrias and the clothes that I have on me. I was hurt, deeply, both physically and emotionally. What I went through could drive a man to do things he would have never expected himself to do…" with another sigh, he turned from the almost drowned sun to the mage who stared intently at him. "I don't care for whatever you have planned…I'll do whatever you want me to do…just…"

Naruto's voice broke, and she could see tears form in his eyes. It took a moment, but they started to flow freely, and the blond boy silently wept. Verre once more contemplated what he was saying and respected his mourning with a nod.

It wasn't for a few more minutes when Naruto was able to form words again. He addressed the Viera once more. "All I want…is for a few more days…just allow me three more days to mourn the deaths of my loved ones."

Verre inspected the visage of the broken young man who sat weeping next to her, and stood up in one graceful movement, her feet never touching the waters of the ocean. "I believe our conversation has come to an end." she said. "We have no business here with you anymore, but I would like to extend a request on behalf of the Council…"

Taking Naruto's silence as the signal to continue, Verre spoke once more.

"We witnessed your rough ways of channeling the different energies in this world, and were impressed on how you can freely interchange them from the different properties we all specialize, into something completely opposite of what they're intended to do."

She cleared her throat before continuing her speech.

"The Council wishes to learn how to convert the destructive forces that you channel into healing arts. This request comes from the White and Black Order. The High Summoner wishes to speak with your friend, Kyuubi, as you've called him, on behalf of the Order of Summoners. The Blue Order simply wants to have a match with both of you, whereas the Red, Green, and Grey Order wish to be at peace and not have you as an enemy. We are all aware of your exploits, Maelstrom; we just were not aware of your story. All we wish to do is talk."

Finishing her explanation, she waited with gaited breath the response of the young man that held power enough to shake the foundations of Ivalice if he so wanted to. It was but a moment later when he gave her a simple nod, indicating that he agreed to meet with the council.

Floating over the sea, the Green Mage moved away from the rock, heading towards shore. "My name is Verre; Lusj Verre. I am the Head of the Green Order. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and I will be extending the invitation to visit us as you asked of me, in three days time." And with that, as her body began floating higher and higher, Naruto saw Verre phase out of existence.

The young Toad Sage moved his arms to the back of his head, effectively laying down on the rock. The cooling sea breeze colder now without the suns' warming rays, revealed Naruto's hot breath, as white puffs every time he exhaled. His eyes were closed, yet his senses were extended. Gathering the natural energy of his surroundings, the blond entered Sage Mode once more. "Do you think it's a trap?" he asked seemingly to no one.

Kyuubi emerged from the waters, stepping onto the rock, he and his clothes completely dry. "I think we should go and listen to what they have to say; but I will tell you this, I don't know how long it will take, and Agrias is still depressed. I think she fell for you, kit. Hard."

"Well, I can't help that, Kyu. I just lost Suri. I can't believe she's gone. I still love her with all my heart, so I can't do anything about someone else having fallen for me." His voice sounded aggressive, yet Kyuubi knew better.

'The kit is hurting. Who knows when he'll be able to get out of this depression?' "Look, 'ruto. I know it's hard, but at this moment, there's a girl that's crying her eyes out because of your story. She knows you lost a wife, yet she cares for you. It doesn't mean that you have to respond her feelings. Just talk to her and tell her that you're not ready to commit to anything. I'm sure she'll understand."

"Whatever, Kyu; now come on. We have to get ready for tomorrow."

"What's happening tomorrow? More training, I assume?" asked the Demon Lord.

Naruto opened his Sage eyes and smiled sadly at his adopted uncle figure he learned to get along with a few years ago. "You are correct, there is more training to do and I need to see if I can enter into the Brahmin stage of energy gathering once more. But before that, we need to cleanse early in the morning, for we prepare the funeral rites for the victims in the Village of Waves, and for Suri."

"So be it, Naruto." 'You need to snap out of it, kit. I'll have to try and get you out of your depression in any way I can.' "Race you to the campsite, Kit."

"You're on, Fox."

The summoner and summon disappeared from the rock in a burst of speed, heading deep into the forest where they had set up camp the past few days, ready to collect some additional items left there the night before they had returned to the villa for Kyuubi's telling of Naruto's story. The race ended in a couple of minutes, with a bit of verbal abuse from one to the other.

"Cheater…"

The mood during the race changed from solemn to exciting to fun, with Kyuubi trying to work Naruto's sour mood out of him with whatever way he could. Apparently, hurling a handful of wild blackberries was enough of a distraction to get the blonds' trickster persona out from whatever shell it was hiding under.

"Hey, I wasn't the one who didn't specify the rules of the race. There wasn't a 'No Technique' clause anywhere in your 'Race you to the campsite, Kit' phrase you made, so now the boar flank is mine!" exclaimed the excited ninja.

"EXCUSE ME!" the shocked, booming voice of the Demon Lord resounded deep into the woods, scaring the wildlife senseless, scattering them from the epicenter of the racket. All the while, Naruto laughed and jumped away from a swipe from the Fox's enhanced clawed hands, as he made way with the piece of boar he had claimed for himself. "YOU'D BETTER SHARE THAT, FLESHBAG!"

"Make me, you mangy mutt!"

"I'M A VULPINE YOU PATHETIC MORTAL! YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT INSULT DEARLY!"

The booming voices and laughter coming from deep in the forest had nothing to do with the rousing of the sleeping villagers, not adding to their nervousness for the better part of the night; nor the stampede of wild animals that were trying to leave the accursed woods as soon as they could; nor the fact that the laughter and yelling disturbed the farm animals and pets.

Nope. It definitely didn't add to the legends of the Laughing/Cursing Forest in Southern Ivalice that will be passed on from generation to generation of farmers and workers in the area.

Scene Change—

"Mistress Agrias…" came a soft voice from across the closed oaken door. "It is time to rise up and fulfill the appointments for this day."

It had been almost a week since Naruto had left, and Agrias felt like her heart had been torn. Every night, she would think of Naruto; and every night, pain filled her heart. It was similar to what she felt when her parents' lives were taken away at the last altercation against the Knights of the Southern Sky, but the meaning behind it was different. She new it was love, but how could she tell him? How could she bring herself to tell the blond that she had fallen in love with him, knowing that Naruto had become a widower not two months ago, and just being conscious enough to grieve about it not three weeks ago?

"I'll be out in a moment, Mána." was Agrias' response to the voice that roused her from her sleep. She noted the slight pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the closed windows and simply sighed.

She forced herself from her lying position to sitting up and threw her legs over the side of the bed, letting her feet touch the cold stone floor. Trying to fall asleep had been progressively more difficult since he disappeared, and when Kyuubi showed himself two nights ago, it was the roughest night since the passing of her parents. She had berated herself for shamelessly crying herself to sleep that night. Placing a hand over her heart, it crumpled her night gown as it tightened into a fist, using that to help fight back the tears that began forming in her eyes.

It wasn't until about fifteen minutes later that she stepped out of the room, her hair in a messy bun, sporting a loose blue colored cotton shirt, brown leather riding pants, and black leather boots; and made her way to the dining room to eat her morning meal, which would signify the beginning of another long and painful day. Tear streaks down her porcelain cheeks gave away her recent thoughts.

'Mother, Father, please tell me what to do…'

Scene Change—

'Talk to her, Naruto. That's all you need to do.'

"Damn it, Kyuubi…why do you have to be right about this?"

The water fell from the heavens, as if the floodgates that were holding back the downpour broke and released all at once. Garbed only with a dark green cloak he had bartered in town for some labor work and the clothes on his back, Naruto was on his way back to the villa; all the while, Kyuubi's words echoing in his mind.

The usually smiling blond had been serious after that small bicker with the nine-tails. Their conversation after dinner the previous night was still very fresh and present in his head.

-Flashback-

As the roughhousing ended for the evening, Naruto and Kyuubi ended each on the other side of the fire they had used to reheat their meal. Both were on their backs and were staring at the stars through the clearing in the forest treetops.

Naruto was unnaturally quiet for his usual behavior, which led to a conversation start with the red-headed man. "What are you thinking about, 'ruto? Is it Suri again?"

The blond tensed at the mention of his deceased wife's name. Every time she was brought up, the feelings of hate, anger, and helplessness filled his being; tears formed in his eyes and spilled freely, as did a trickle of blood from where he was biting deeply into his lip.

"Look, Kit; I know how much you two loved each other…" he said sitting up from his position."…and I can tell you that she wouldn't want you to stay in the same path as Sasuke…" Suri was never very fond of the Uchiha and the stories that she had heard throughout the year of courting with Naruto and the two of being married to him. "Now, me on the other hand, you know I enjoy getting my hands dirty and exacting wrathful vengeance upon the just and the wicked alike, but that's not you. We'll take our revenge on the ones who took your current life away from you…just don't take your future one away from yourself."

The demon in human form stood up and stretched for a moment, before giving him a final piece of advice. "Talk to her, Naruto. That's all you need to do." Kyuubi left to walk along the forest and didn't return throughout the night; the blond was alone when he went to sleep and woke up alone in the campsite and without a demon sealed in his gut.

-End Flashback-

'What should I do, Suri? What do you want me to do? I can't simply allow myself to fall in love again.'

Trudging on the muddy ground, the blond made his way slowly to the house of the girl – no, woman who saved his life, and Kyuubi's by default. Too focused was he in his own thoughts that he failed to notice the shadows that trailed him from afar.

"Report." A monotone voice echoed in a dark, damp, un-worked cavern.

"Yes sir. We had received reports from several of the citizens that live in the land provided to the Oaks Family, of a golden-haired man, roughly in his twenties, that accurately resembles the 'Spiraling Maelstrom' from across the sea. It is apparent that he has been staying under the care of the late Valene and Gallant Oaks' daughter, Agrias Oaks, from the lineage of Royal Bodyguards. We have agents shadowing the man as we speak, but we do not know how dangerous he is." A man cloaked in a white cape with a blue lion as a crest spoke. He donned a black, full-plate armor, a helmet rested against his side, held by his armored arm. He was kneeling upon wet stone, seemingly to no one.

The sound of water dripping from crevices in the ceiling was the only disturbance in the otherwise silent and tense environment, and it stayed like that until the voice spoke once more.

"Continue to track the man known as the Maelstrom. If he seems dangerous, smite him down. The will of Ajora be done."

"Yes, my liege." And with those words, the lion-crested knight, rose to his feet and walked out through a tunnel that became dimly illuminated by a soft yellow glow.

The pitter patter of the raindrops on her dark leather cloak did little to faze her. Agrias was like a drone, simply following the pre-ordained agenda for the day; and was now heading to the local temple of Glabados. Her eyes were glazed, directing her steed by instinct more than by sight; but her attention was snapped to a figure that appeared on the side of the road, several yards away from were she was.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the recognizable clothes, the wet blond hair that matted his face, the whisker-like scars that the man had on his cheeks, and those blue eyes that conveyed a feeling of sorrow she saw only when he was reminiscing about his wife.

The rain picked up, the light raindrops came down with more force and in higher quantities. The lightning flashed in the heavens and a thundering roar deafened the surroundings.

But that didn't matter to her. All she could hear was the deafening thumping of her beating heart as she commanded her horse to hurry up, to take her to the man she fell in love with. She knew she wasn't thinking straight, she knew she would have reached him if she hadn't increased her mount's speed.

Is this what love does to a person? Make them irrational?

She didn't care that her steed was still racing down the muddy path when she jumped off, her arms extended to him, her tears mixing with the rain that fell from the heavens; her voice calling his name in happiness as a glistening blade of lightning and a resounding boom struck not far away, drowning her sobs as he caught her and she cried in his arms.

Naruto stood still, holding a girl in his arms the same way he held Suri when he came back wounded from a mission. They were tears of worry, tears of happiness for him being alive. His chin was resting on her head; her hands on his sides, gripping the fabric of his shirt as she wept and sobbed into his chest. His arms were around her, holding her like a frail doll made of china, too afraid to hold too tight and breaking her, yet holding with enough grip to not let her go.

The thunder roared over the heavens, drowning Agrias' cries, the rain mixed with her tears; but as she calmed down, the storm died down.

When she stopped crying, the rain stopped drizzling.

When her sobs ended, the thunder quieted down.

Agrias couldn't bring herself to look upwards. She couldn't seem to muster the courage to even talk to him; so she stayed quiet, reveling in the embrace they were, taking in the scent of the forest he carried on himself due to his time training outside for the past week.

"Agrias…" he interrupted her thought process. "…I want to tell you that I know how you feel about me,"

Her body became rigid, and her breath hitched in her throat. Never it had crossed her mind that he would be the one to strike up a conversation that regarded this subject.

"I can't return those feelings for you…at least not at this moment,"

At first, she felt her body grow deathly cold, she felt like her reason to live had been taken away from her…but as he continued, a warmth flowed from her chest filled her body with hope. She dared to turn upwards and felt Naruto's chin move out of the way, allowing her to look at his face.

"I have something to take care of in my homeland," he said in a deep and soothing voice. "And until then, I cannot allow myself to fall in love once more. When I make the ones who killed my wife and the village I lived in pay, then I will return to you; and if you still feel the same as you feel now, then allow me to court you…is that feasible?"

Even though he had a small smile of his face, his eyes lacked the shine that they usually had.

Closing her eyes and resting her forehead on his chest once more, she spoke softly, to which Naruto smiled a genuine smile, tightened his embrace for another moment, and disappeared from her grasp, leaving the girl standing alone in the middle of the road, with a longing stare to the horizon.

Scene Change—

"I said three days, but I am done mourning. I know you are out there and aware of each and every one of my moves until we finish our talk, so let's talk."

Naruto spoke to the wind, sitting once more on the same rock in the middle of the crashing ocean waves, his Sage Mode engaged; but as he finished, seven robed figures of different builds and sizes shimmered into existence.

"Are you ready, Son of the Elements?" said the one dressed in grey robes with a sand clock design on his back.

Naruto simply nodded and stood up. "Let's go, Kyuubi. I assume you've taken care of the two who were shadowing us?"

The red-headed man manifested behind Naruto, his back pressed against his summoners'; his claws drenched in the crimson, vital fluid that pumps in living beings.

"That is correct, Naruto. They seemed to want to figure out how dangerous you are. I guess they weren't aware that you don't travel alone." He spoke as he licked the blood off his fingers and finished washing his appendages in the water below them. "They will never find them."

"Good."

As Kyuubi stood up once more and faced the seven nervous mages, Naruto flashed a grin.

"Shall we?"

As the seven mages chanted a spell, Agrias' last words to him rang deep in his soul, and smiled as he stepped into a blue gateway made by the seven magi combined power.

'I...I think this is how you say it…aishiteru, Naruto.'

Chapter Three – End

A/N:

Chapter Three – Spell Checked, Grammar Checked, and Slightly Modified.

Don't have a Beta, so if you find any mistakes, let me know, and I'll fix it. Thanks.

Please Read and Review.

-seilif.