I apologize in advance for the changed POV. I couldn't seem to write this particular chapter in third person ^^; Gomenasai!

Chapter Six: Journey

I woke groggily. When my vision cleared, I realized I had been dumped into a forest clearing. When I looked around, I spotted Nara. And Nara didn't have the same clothes on as last time I had seen her. Now she was clad like a poor farm brat, instead of a goddess. Except for one little problem. Around her neck lay a glittering necklace, made of gold and gems and a complete thief magnet.

What the hell have I gotten myself into this time? I couldn't help but wonder.

Nara's POV

I woke up sleepily. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes as woodsmoke blurred them. I opened smarting eyes to see Jiraiya busily adding twigs to a small but very smoky fire. I coughed raspily, and he looked over at me. In our sign language, the one I had to explain to my mother and grandma, he asked *Are you alright?*

I nodded, "Where are we?"

He shrugged. I sighed, muttering, "Just like Grandma to drop us off with no explanation..."

His lips twitched a little, and I was oddly relieved. Maybe because I hadn't seen him crack a grin since I woke up. Jiraiya was always grinning. Or was supposed to be.

I felt his hand tap my shoulder, and I jumped. I wasn't used to him wanting to talk when I got spacey like this. He seemed OK to talk whenever I wanted to back home.

*Did your mother tell you about the necklace?*

I blinked befuddledly, "What necklace?"

Jiraiya made a frustrated noise, smacking a palm to his face. I didn't notice more because I could feel the cool metal smacking against my chest, now that Jiraiya had mentioned it. Plunging my hand down my new shirt- which was a lot itchier than the old one- I took out an intricately made necklace.

I frowned worriedly when I recognized it. It was the one Mom always kept inside her clothes, never showing it to anyone but me. The disc charm contained three pearls, one each carved into our symbols. Mom's was a half-normal, half black pearl; Grandma's was a fully black pearl; and mine was the fully white pearl. Running a finger over Grandma's symbol, I tried to figure out what would make Mom send this with me.

It hit me like a lightning bolt a second later. Those things are painful, by the way.

Oh no.

Not that.

Mommy! This better not be what I think it is... I'm too young for shrine-duty!

My grip tightened on the necklace's golden chain until my knuckles whitened. No no no! I can't! I don't know the first thing about shrine duty! Mom and Grandma said they were gonna teach me, but they haven't even started yet... Why would they send me out now? Now, of all times? Wait. Now that I had started to think about it, things had been looking bleak ever since that Pein guy had appeared on the scene. I had heard Mom and Grandma talk worriedly long into the night.

They couldn't think... No, it couldn't be... I started to tear up.

Jiraiya's POV

Hell. Looks like she's gonna cry... I hate it when girls do that, I thought, a little frustrated with her for doing so. I stood, moving over to where the little redhead sat, and reached my human arm out to her. Nara scrambled into my lap, sobbing and clinging to my robes. Paitiently putting up with it, I gently rubbed her back until she wound down.

"Momma... Momma and Obaa-san... They didn't want me to die in the attack that's coming. And after it happens at my home, he'll go after Konohagakure..."

I froze. From what I had observed in my visits to the viewing pool, Pein had passed on. So what was this new threat to my village? What was something that could threaten goddesses for Pete's sake?

"Renko, h-his name was. He... He controls an aspect of the One Power, though he doesn't know it yet I think. Everything is drawn from the One Power. Every Tailed Beast was made from it, even the Ten Tails. I don't know which aspect this Renko controls, but... but its bad. It could... It could really endanger both Mom and Grandma. Renko... Renko has already been influenced by the One Power, through... Through... Well, through his parents. That's all I know..."

I sighed deeply, reflecting on this. It sounded like Nara knew more than she was letting on, though...
"Nara."

Even I winced at the croak in my voice and the pain that followed. But it would always be there, Anemone told me- not even goddesses could fix everything, I suppose. Nara still clutched me tight, and I gently ruffled her hair with my wooden hand. Now that I knew her better, she didn't remind me so much of Naruto.

She had a hot temper and red hair, rather like Kushina, but cried like Minato did when he lost it over a technique he failed too many times. Mostly, she was a blend of many of the people I had known, culminating in her own self.

I shouldn't have associated her so deeply with Naruto, I guess...

Shaking myself out of the daze, I gently ruffled her hair. She looked up, smiling at me. I spoke, "Nara... I have a feeling you haven't told me everything."

Nara looked away, but I tilted her chin so she would have to look at me. Throat scars and all. Her lower lip trembled as I steadily looked into her green eyes. Green as the leaves of the trees in my village. Everything seemed to be sending pangs of homesickness through me.

"I... Renko's parents were Konan and Pein!"

Shockwaves ran through me. Nagato... And Konan? Oh man... They had a kid together? I mean, I knew Konan had a crush on Nagato... And Yahiko had a crush on Konan... But them having a kid? I groaned aloud. It made my head hurt. I mean really hurt. Worse than when Tsunade punched me directly in the head.

Thoughts of Tsunade reminded me of where and when I was.

"Nara... Where is he? Why is it bad that he's... Why is that bad?"

"He's been affected by Pein's negative use of The One Power. He used... Well, he used that jutsu to seal the beasts... To try to recreate the Ten Tails. But... Mom wasn't sure whether or not he would actually be negative, since Naruto... Since Naruto intervened. And now... The reason they handed me the pendant was that," Nara whispered, "They think they're going to die. Die when Renko comes to take their powers. They want me to guard Konohagakure... Since Naruto pretty much holds the making or the breaking of the world."

I went back to signs with my wooden hand, * I already knew that Naruto held that in his hands.*

"But we don't know that he can survive this..."

"Of course he can!" I was more than a little ticked at her implication that someone trained by me couldn't survive. But a voice louder than a whisper hurt like HELL... Apparently the throat healing-thing had gotten weaker in the outside world. I thought, Well that sucks. My hand rubbed at my sore throat.

Nara pawed over her clothing, and then she espied the hip pouch she now wore. Opening it with a little bit of fumbling, she drew out a small green sphere that I recognized. Cough drops. I made a face, determined not to take the things. Not even a goddess could make a cough drop that tasted good, apparently.

She plopped it in my hands, with a mulish look in her eye. Making a face, I popped the cough drop into my mouth, sucking on it. It did ease my throat, but it still tasted horrible...

Nara giggled, "You look super sulky, Jiraiya-sama."

I gave her my best haughty look, sticking my nose up in the air in pretended affront. I needed someone to laugh, to smile... I wasn't used to being so damn serious all the time. And I hated to see little kids cry.

It worked. Nara was squealing with laughter, wriggling and writhing excitedly. I stood up, holding her upside down with one arm and tickling her with the other hand. For one golden moment, we were the only two in the forest.

Tsunade's POV

I was working at my desk. Paperwork had been piling and piling up since the war wore on. Despite Naruto's slaying of Pein, there had been another enemy discovered- Tobi. And he was leading a new fighting force against the Shinobi alliance. I was half in, half out of a sort of paperwork daze, signing here and there as approved. I sighed, rubbing an aching temple and realizing I needed a breather. Even if it was just pacing my office to relieve built up tension in my legs.

I stood up, facing the door as I got out from behind the desk. With a sigh, I reached upwards and stretched luxuriously. Ohh, that feels good... I never felt him coming until I heard him.

"Hey!"

With a start, I whirled around, my heart in my mouth. Was it him? Could I apologize to him? Could I finally give him the chance I had been so cruel as to withhold from him for so many damn-

No. It was the blonde gaki. His mannerisms were all Jiraiya, however... But he looked oddly serious as he stood up. Apparently he had hopped in through the open window.

"Lady Tsunade... Uh, Hokage-sama... My Lady? No, no, no," Naruto groaned, "None of those sound right..."

I was extremely nonplussed as to what the teenager- no, man was doing here. He was currently dating the Hyuuga heiress, and should have been busy with her for hours today. Those two were about as in love as Sakura and the Uchiha brat, despite the fact that the Uchiha was once a missing nin.

We had to take Sasuke on because of war-related reasons, but Sakura was overjoyed to have him back anyways. Naruto was too, and I felt that the blond gaki had lost a sensei but regained a brother. But why was he here?

I had been avoiding the gaki, because that silly boy reminded me too much of… Of Jiraiya. Besides, I thought Naruto hated me. I would hate me for what I'd done to him... And it wasn't Naruto I had done "it" to.

"Why are you here, Uzumaki?"

Naruto gave me an "are you really asking that" look. I scowled; I was used to GIVING those looks. Not being on the receiving end of them...

"Because I'm checking on you, Granny Tsunade."

Somehow, I wasn't irritated as I would have been when he called me that. A lump rose to my throat. Rubbing my eyes-hopefully he would think I just hadn't slept much, which was true- I coughed, "M' fine, gaki. Just fine."

I turned away from him, planning to exit. That was when I felt a hand on my arm. I turned my head back, angrily planning a rebuff to the touch. It felt like Jiraiya's hand- only smaller. My breath hitched as I looked into the familiar cerulean eyes. His face was creased in concern, his eyes focused on mine.

"Granny Tsunade… Are you okay?"

I wanted to scream, Of course I'm not alright! I killed my best friend! My only… The only one left who knew me, and I killed him…

Curtly, I said, "I'm just fine, Naruto. Just the usual paperwork load."

He scowled, "Don't feed me that B.S, Granny! Shizune and Sakura are worried out of their minds for you. You've barely been eating, and… And…" He trailed off, a flicker of- was that fear?

And then it clicked. He was afraid for me. Worried about me. Maybe only for Sakura and Shizune's sake, but it hurt to realize that the one remnant I had of Jiraiya felt that I needed saving. Why am I worth so much? I wondered, not for the last time, nor the first. Naruto would likely be Hokage after me- if he hadn't inherited too much of Jiraiya's chronic laziness.

"Spit it out, Naruto."

"I'm sorry I went off, okay? It was…. Stupid and wrong of me right then. But I don't regret what I said. It's true," Naruto sputtered all in a rush, looking a little panicky, "But I don't hate you! I… What I said was crappy to say right then, and I was upset, and I missed him and and and-"

I interrupted the panicking savior of the Leaf Village, "Naruto. Shut your mouth and listen to me."

He abruptly shut his mouth, looking sheepish. His hands were twiddling just like his girlfriend's hands used to do when he was around her. Inwardly, I smiled a little bit at how habits can transfer. Outwardly, I managed to stay calm.

"I don't hold a grudge over it, Naruto. As you said, if I'd stopped him he might be alive today. And so might Pein be alive. What you said is water under the bridge."

Naruto looked slightly suspicious, as if he didn't believe me. I put on my best façade- all I could manage in front of him with the surprise visit- and said, "Don't you have a girlfriend to be with right now?"

"Pervy Sage made me promise I'd look after you. Make sure you didn't work yourself into oblivion."

The candidness of the statement surprised me. When I looked into the cerulean eyes, they were clear and calm. No hint of lying there. His jaw was set into the stubborn tilt that his father before him had. Even Kakashi had shown me that stubborn jaw more than once.

I sighed, looking away, "Naruto, it was an illusion. The dead don't naturally come back to life."

"It wasn't an illusion, it was a dream. Pervy Sage showed himself and asked that I keep an eye on you."

My eyes widened in confusion. If he had visited Naruto… My heart squeezed as I thought Why hasn't he visited me, then? Does he hate me that much for not saying what should have been said? Will… Will I never get to give him the chance I should have given him so long ago?

To my horror, I realized there was a lump in my throat and my eyes were prickling. Turning my eyes away from Naruto, I grabbed the windowsill to distract myself from the idea that I was nearly crying in front of Naruto. Jiraiya's last student. Taking and releasing a deep breath, I turned back to Naruto, without the tears that had been threatening. Calmly, trying to seem serene, "Naruto, I've made it fifty odd years without you, and almost thirty years without Jiraiya before. I don't need anyone to take care of me." I'm the one that takes care of people now. I can't afford to show weakness. Not to anybody. Despite the body that's failing me at last.

"Granny Tsunade," Naruto said, frowning, "I know you're gonna think I'm nuts, but-"

"Mommy Mommy Mommy!"

A small white blur blasted into the room, completely disregarding any propriety. Well, she had a right to. She was my daughter, after all. I knelt some, wincing inwardly as I caught the seven year old. Somehow, she had ended up with my abnormal strength even as she wasn't biologically mine. I knew I had never borne any children, but it seemed as if Hisako was almost a dead ringer for Jiraiya and yet had more of my characteristics. It was a bit of a puzzle that I hadn't had time for lately. After Jiraiya's passing, however, she had been a great comfort. She was six when I found her, and once I got her cleaned up, fed properly and adopted her, she had fast become the light of my life.

"Guess what guess what," Hisako babbled, her eyes shining happily, "I'm gonna graduate from the academy this year! I managed to do the clone technique PERFECTLY during my training today!"

She had been training non-stop at a spot I had shown her, one of my favorite private training spots when I had been without a team (I didn't always want to train with Jiraiya and Orochimaru on hand to laugh if I occasionally screwed up). Some days, I had to fetch her home from the spot. She'd conked out during training because of chakra drain.

"Hey, no hug for me?" It was Naruto, grinning like a goof.

Hisako detached from me long enough to give Naruto a perfunctory hug, then came right back over to me.

"That's very good, Hisako," I said, gently ruffling her mop of white hair that reached her waist. She gave me a huge grin in return, letting go of all of me but the hem of my coat.

"Sweetheart, Naruto and I have something to disscuss."

At that, her face fell, "Grownup stuff?"

"Yeah, Sorry, kiddo."

"Awww, but I'm nearly grown up! I can hear it!"

Just as stubborn about growing up as me, too. Somehow, I wish that she'd never REALLY grow up.

"Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, Hisako," I scolded gently while pushing her out the door, "You don't need to hear this. It's private between Uncle Naruto and I."

Once I had her out of the room, I turned to face Naruto again with a big, relieved sigh.

Crap. He had a huge, goofy grin on his face. I coughed, cheeks heating slightly, "Back to the matter at hand before that little interruption..."

"It's good to see you with her, Granny Tsunade. Smiling again."

His eyes had softened when he said that, and I sighed. His smile reminded me of a certain pervert's smile. Everything about him reminded me of Jiraiya. Ugh.

"You're not gonna believe me, but I saw Jiraiya. He asked me to keep an eye on you."

I shook my head, "Naruto... I don't need looking after. How do you know it was him? And Jiraiya is dead. Dead and long gone."

"That's where you're wrong, Granny."

Jiraiya's POV

I yawned a little, shifting the child in my arms. Nara was curled up in my arms, asleep. Tired from so much walking, probably. She was still a kid and hadn't built up her endurance yet.

We had been walking for hours, but I still had energy to burn. It was strange... As if the visit to a goddess' realm left me hyper. Then again. Tsunade would argue, I'm always hyper. Chuckling softly, I continued along the forest path. Some inner sense guided me on, like it always had done during my time as a roving hermit. I trusted that sense.

Musing on what Nara had told me, I walked in a slight daze. Nagato and Konan had a kid. This kid was supposed to be able to slay goddesses. And what was this "One Power" business? What One Power? Was it the power the Sage had made the tailed beasts from? Or something entirely different? Why is it so important that Nara be brought to my village? Why would the kid WANT to kill goddesses, unless they had done something or another to his family?

What did the kid even look like? Did he have Nagato's eyes? Did he have Konan's hair? Which parent did he act more like? Why did he take up his father's mantle in attempting to destroy Konoha? I had a nasty feeling that these and other questions would be keeping me up at night for a while to come.

Trudging along, I comforted myself with the knowledge that I was headed in the right direction toward Konoha. I'd be there in... Well, however long it took to get there from wherever the hell I was.

Don't you worry anymore, Tsuni. I'm coming home.

Okay, okay, I'm a meanie for not updating sooner. Life got to me, alright? I WAS REALLY HARD PRESSED TO MAKE EVEN THIS CHAPTER-

Alright. Now I got the panicked rant out of my system.

Thank you all! Twenty reviews! :D I'm so happy! So many people reading my story makes me really happy ^^ And you guys really cheer me up when you leave a review. It means you liked the story enough to leave a review :D So happy!

What did you think of Nara revealing the reason she was made to leave? What do you think of Naruto's declaration to Tsunade? What do you think of all the questions this chapter raised? When will Renko appear in the story? What do you think of me shipping Nagato and Konan? What do you guys and gals think of this chapter all round?

Leave a review please!

Love, hugs and virtual cookies to all who review!

-June

P.S. Tell me if you like the changed viewpoints! *heart* I need to know for when I'm writing the next chapter!