Chapter 3

Naruto sat with some of his friends eating at Ichiraku when he started getting that panicky feeling again. Lately, he'd have random attacks of stomach twisting itchiness that made him just want to run as far away from the village as he could. This had been his signal to go out and burn off some energy (aka train) but it had started to come more frequent as his healing had progressed.

Now, with the urge to run somewhere twisting his insides he found himself trying to find a way to leave Kiba and Choji without seeming like he was running for the hills.

"I just can't believe they chose Kakashi-sensei to be the next Hokage…" Kiba's loud voice broke him out of his stupor. He ranted that there were ninja that were better at being on time than the soon-to-be Hokage.

"Naruto, aren't you going to defend your sensei?" Choji asked confusedly while he finished off his next bowl of ramen.

"It's true that he's always late…" Came Naruto's quiet reply and Kiba smirked in victory. "But, you're wrong Kiba." Kiba choked on his ramen that he had just taken a sip of and Choji burst out laughing. "Kakashi-sensei is one of the best when it comes to thinking strategically and politically. And though he's lazy…" It was Choji's turn to choke in surprise of Naruto's slight bashing of his sensei, "he'll work tirelessly to make sure the will of fire is protected."

"Hmph! I don't know Naruto…I mean I still think they should've had you take over. I mean, you are the hero of the village."

"Hero?"

"Yeah! You're unbeatable!"

Naruto took a moment to look at Kiba before he started to rise "I'm not a hero…I'd be dead if it wasn't for my friends." Kiba looked away guiltily as he thought of Neji. "And the village doesn't need 'unbeatable' it needs 'stability'. Kakashi-sensei can give that right now…and in a few years…so will I."

"You heading out Naruto?"

"Yeah." Naruto placed the money for his ramen on the counter. "Sorry Choji. I'm working on something and need to get to it. We'll finish catching up later." Naruto waved as he walked away.

A little farther away, Paku spoke into his headset.

"I know you're busy being trained as the village leader but, you wanted to know when Naruto was acting strange. Well, I've got him acting strange."

"Thanks Paku. Track him for now and relate the directions to me as soon as you can. I'll be there this time."

"Here's hoping I can keep him in my sights this time…his shadow clones threw me for loop last time."

Kakashi waited for Paku to send him directions. He'd just relayed to Lady Tsunade what was happening. She was concerned about Naruto and dismissed Kakashi from what they'd deemed "Hokage Training" so he could follow.

When the quiet directions came Kakashi sped out after Naruto. This time, they were going to see what was wrong.

Kakashi came to the clearing to watch Naruto and several clones (they still weren't sure on how he was summoning those) working on several different things.

One group of clones seemed to be working on taijutsu. Another seemed to be working on forming rasengan with just one hand. And the last seemed to be working on something new…that seemed almost like a barrier.

Paku came up beside Kakashi. "Which one is the real one?" came the almost silent whisper.

Paku looked up at his master before looking back at the real Naruto. The only reason he knew was because he'd watched him summon the clones. "He's the one sitting on the log with the rasengan group."

Kakashi looked over at him. While most of the Naruto's were slightly pale and sweaty from their efforts, this Naruto was ghostly pale. Though his body seemed just as tense as all his clones around him it was his eyes that troubled the teacher. They were jittery, as if he was 10 years old and being questioned by the ANBU again.

He continued to watch in silence, making sure to mask both his and Paku's presence. As the Naruto's continued to train he noticed every so often the real one would hunch over slightly and rub his stub of a right arm as if in pain before continuing where he left off. I wonder what's wrong with his arm that he keeps rubbing it…is that why he keeps skipping out on his check ups?

After several hours the shadow clones started to disappear. Once it was just Naruto left Kakashi thought he'd have to start his run after the boy. But, once again, he was surprised. The blond ninja just sat there staring off into space, his left hand once again returning to where his right had been cut off. His blue eyes clouded for a moment before clearing and Naruto standing up and slowly heading back to the village.

They made it back just as the sun was starting to set behind the trees, casting the village in an orange glow. He walked past the gate guards with a smile and wave before continuing towards his apartment. Once Kakashi was sure he was safely inside he went to find Lady Tsunade to report his findings.

Tsunade was not happy. She was a medical ninja at heart and when the boy who she thought of as a son did not take proper care of himself, she became irate. She set off after the last of her paper work was done to head to his apartment. She could've sent for him to report to the tower but she wanted to speak with him in the privacy of his home. There were to many people at Hokage tower getting ready for the transfer of power…No, she wanted absolute privacy.

When she arrived she didn't bother knocking. Instead she sent her chakra into the lock and manipulated it until it sprang free and opened quietly. She stepped inside.

As she quietly looked around she noticed the utter silence. Either he was dead or he wasn't home. "Dammit!" She walked into his room to see the covers strewn across the bed and the pillow thrown across the room. She went to his open window, and, knowing her boy as she did, stepped out to make her way to the park.

She rounded the corner and saw Naruto sprawled out on the slide. His legs on the higher incline while his head hung off the edge. His eyes were closed but with how taught his muscles were, she knew it wasn't from sleep.

Tsunade walked quietly up to sit on the swing closest to the slide. Not saying a word until the blond haired boy sighed quietly. "You need something Grandma Tsunade?"

"Nope."

Naruto looked over at her then. She could see the nightmare still in his eyes, making him look haunted and a little frazzled.

"If you're looking for a stiff drink and a gamble, you're in the wrong playground."

She smirked. "You're starting to sound like Jiraya."

Naruto looked away at that. When she thought he wouldn't say another thing about it he surprised her. "Why did you ask Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei to help monitor my chakra during the surgery."

Tsunade looked at him without answering. She wanted him to explain the reason behind the question.

Naruto saw her look pointedly in his direction. He sighed, "Iruka-sensei hasn't been a part of my training in a very long time. Him being able to help my body adjust will be to difficult for him in such a short amount of time. And Kakashi-sensei…though he was the leader of our team…he was always more concerned with helping Sasuke when it came to training. Or helping me train only when Pervy Sage asked him to…"

Tsunade closed her eyes. He was more observant that she gave him credit for…and more pessimistic about his own personal worth than she ever thought he could be.

"They are the two people in this village that understand you best." As Naruto's eyes met hers she felt her heart tug. "They are the two that has changed the most because of you." Tsunade stood and walked over to crouch in-front of Naruto. "They are the two that I trust most not to let anything happen to you."

As Naruto absorbed her words he slowly got up off the slide. He turned to look into her brown eyes. She was the closest thing he had to a mother. He could trust her with what he was about to say…

"I'm having night terrors." Tsunade's eyes softened in sympathy as he continued to tell her what they were mostly about. When he finished she reached out a hand to run it comfortingly through his hair. She brought him closer so he could bury his face against her shoulder. Wiping the tears he hadn't known was falling she murmured quietly that he would be okay and that it was a natural reaction, calming his racing mind for the first time, in what seemed to be weeks.