Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura quickly bid their goodbyes before they left to go back home. As soon as they got there Sasuke continued working on his training with Takeo while Sakura went to check the mail. After she opened the door she saw an orange envelope attached to a package wrapped up in the same colored paper. She found herself full of curiosity as she grabbed the envelope and tore it open. Sakura gasped as she unfolded the note and saw that it was written in her (and Naruto's) mother's handwriting.

To My Dearest Daughter,

If you are reading this I just wanted to apologize to you and Naruto for not telling you your true relation. I realize that I should have done that sooner and that I was wrong to hide it from you for so many years. There are so many mistakes that I have made in my life, but the biggest one that I've ever regretted is by telling you that I'm the one who told Iruka to tell you that I was dead even though I am really still alive. I realize that you must find this hard to believe but if you read the book that I sent with this letter you'll understand why. Please don't go after me when you find out where I am, I don't want you or Naruto to risk your lives to come after me especially since you have children of your own, and Naruto is the hokage now. I also regretfully tell you that you must not share any of this information since I don't want to upset him. Please know that you both are always on my mind, and that I will always love you and the triplets even though they don't even know that I exist.

All My Love,

Your Mother Kushina Uzumaki

Sakura finished reading the letter silently to herself. Then she set it down back on top of the package and took it inside to unwrap it. When she did she found a thick black book all about the shadow lands and the trapping jutsu. That's when she realized that Orochimaru and Akuma probably had something to do with this. She didn't care what her mother had written inside the letter, she knew that she had to save her before it was too late. So she scribbled a note for Sasuke before she grabbed her backpack off the chair and swung it around her shoulder before she set off on her adventure to the shadow lands.

As soon as Sasuke came inside for lunch he spotted the note that his wife had written him and gave a loud gasp before he took out his cellphone and pushed the speed button for Naruto. "This better be important Sasuke I have a lot of work to get done!" Naruto's voice snapped from the other end of the line. "It is, Sakura's gone." He told him. "What!? Where'd she go?" Naruto asked him as he picked up the note with his free hand. "Some place called the shadow lands. Do you know anything about it?" Sasuke asked him.

"Yes it's a second dimension where a living soul can trap a dying soul before they have a chance to cross over." Naruto answered. "But I wonder why she would go there." He said with uncertainty and Sasuke wondered why too until he spotted Kushina's letter. "Here's why." He began. "She's going after your mother." He explained. "You mean to tell me that my mother is still alive!?" Naruto exclaimed with disbelief. "But who would_" he began. "Orochimaru." He finished answering his own question. "I bet Orochimaru trapped my mother's spirit once the Nine-Tailed Fox failed to murder everyone in the hidden leaf village." Naruto said.

"Yeah and since Madara and Tobi were Orochimaru's S ranked ninjas, I bet that Orochimaru had a lot to do with it as it all went back to getting revenge on Konoha." Sasuke realized. "So all this time, my mother's really been alive." Naruto said and by the sound of his voice Sasuke knew that he was starting to get emotional. "Hey, it's okay." Sasuke reassured him. "We're going to find her and Sakura and find a way to save them both." He promised. "Really? You would do that for me Sasuke?" Naruto questioned. "Of course I will Sakura is my wife and you're my brother. There isn't anything in the world that I wouldn't do for you." He answered.

"Actually technically we're brother in-laws." Naruto said. "It's all the same to me we grew up together and we look out for one another. Now meet me outside in front of my house. You probably know more about the shadow lands than me and how to get there." Sasuke told him. "Alright just give me some time to get ready. I'll meet you there in ten minutes." Naruto told him before he hung up.

….

Meanwhile Konohamaru and the rest of the squad three had just made it back from the city of Atlantis. Konohamaru had opened the underwater portal for them, opening a gate through a jutsu that had made an island appear in the middle of the ocean. They had never seen so much gold, jewels, and treasures in their lives. The kage thanked them graciously as they returned the treasure to her and the rest of her family. "It was nice to meet you Sasame Uchiha." Prince Haru told her. "It was nice to meet you too Prince Haru and I really hope that we get a chance to come back here." Sasame told him before they started on their journey back home.

Next Time on Naruto The Next Generation; Will Naruto and Sakura be Reunited With Their Mother?