Atop the Hokage's Mountain, Naruto lay on a grassy knoll, hands cushioning his head. He looked at the clouds floating above, but didn't really care. There were more important things to think about.

A warm presence touched him, a presence he knew well.

I am truly sorry for that, kit. I am.

Naruto rolled over, knowing it was useless. No amount of rolling over could stop the voice.

Kit… Please speak to me. I am so sorry. The touch of it's presence increased until it seemed like it had filled up the whole of his back.

Please kit, just speak to me. It pleaded with him just like it had the entire journey, just like it had as soon as the nightmare had stopped.

Nightmare. Pff! That was no nightmare. Nightmares you wake up from. Nightmares… they aren't real. That was no nightmare. That was something worse. It's presence had increased, and Naruto hadn't fortified his thoughts. It heard him.

Naruto! It was shouting, or the equivalent of, at his mind. Damn it, Naruto! I refuse to play this game any longer! Now speak to me!

Enough was enough.

GAME?! This is no game! What the hell was that? What the hell did I do? WHAT THE HELL AM I?!?!

Even I don't fully know Naruto. Now please just listen-

Listen?! Like hell I will! What the hell was that, 'cause I sure as hell have no idea?! But I do know that whatever I became wasn't me! It wasn't even human! Don't you get it? I nearly killed someone and I could only watch as you did that with MY body!!

NARUTO! Listen to me for one minute! It's presence flared like a fire, and Naruto's thoughts caught in his head. I don't fully understand it- Oh, that's just freaking great!- But I do know that your mortal peril pushed me to action. That seal was strained unlike before. Your body wanted to take more of my power, but your mind didn't want to be engulfed with it. I got pushed in during your battle with yourself, and when I was forced into your body during that fight, I was driven mad by the confines.

And what's that supposed to mean?

Basically, when the seal was strained over those unique circumstances, we both temporarily lost our sanity. But now that we are back to normal and we have solved the problem, that form of augmentation can be reached without the side effects from before.

So what? I'm not going to let that happen ever again!

Naruto, that incident saved your life!

And if Kakashi-sensei hadn't stopped me, I could have killed him!

He was trying to kill you!

He was blinded by devotion!

And that sort of blindness leads men to fight without concern for their own lives, and they become an even greater danger. Especially with his kekke- genkai. If that hadn't happened you would be dead, and so would Sasuke!

And if Kakashi hadn't intervened, everyone could be dead!

Naruto, this kind of stuff can happen on a mission. You must be ready to accept that, or you will never be a ninja, or Hokage for that matter.

But- He didn't deserve to die!

He sacrificed his life! That choice was his, not yours, and your going to have to live with the fact that he wanted to die!

But that doesn't seem right! Why would you die for someone like him?!

He didn't have any other reason to live. At least now he can rest in peace!

He died in vain!

He gained his freedom by his death. That act of suicide was the will for him to escape his prison, to make his own choice!

Then if it's so logical to you,why doesn't it make sense to me?

It will, in time. After you grow. But for now, you should train. Forget the boy. He is happy.

How can you be sure?

I have encountered many men like him in my time. It was best that it ended like this.

But why?!?!

His life was hollow until that monster gave it meaning. He was going to defend it with his life. And he did. And that sacrifice made that monster see what he had done with human eyes; also, I must add that rousing speech you gave.

I feel like an idiot everytime I think about it. I must have sounded so stupid!

You did. But you moved Kakashi and Sakura and Sasuke and all the others. Even those villagers. You have quite a way with words. Unfortunatly, you seem to have no control over when your silver tounge can move mountains or make others want to crash the mountain down on your hard little head.

Heheand without even thinking, Naruto rubbed his bright yellow scalp, and then, with his trademark smile, collapsed again onto the grassy knoll, staring up at the clouds.

"Glad to see your back to your normal self. However troubling that may be." Shikamaru walked up from behind Naruto and sat down next to him. He stared intently at the grass for a moment, then reached out and picked a long weed stalk, twirled it for a moment between his thumb and first finger, then, apparently satisfied, put it in his mouth and caught the stem with his teeth.

"Shikamaru? What do you want?"

"I come up here to stare at the clouds when my parents are being to troublesome. What are you doing here?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking."

"About that kid?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"Well, don't beat yourself up about it. Kakashi told Asuma you were fantastic on the mission."

Naruto's smile nearly ripped his cheeks. "REALLY?!"

"Yeah. Sure. Just don't quote me on that, okay?" But Naruto's star-lit eyes and small traces of drool left douts as to whether or not he had heard Shikamaru. In truth, Kakasi had walked into Asuma's meeting area for his squad. Ino was shopping and Chouji was eating out at, and eating out, B-B-Q House, so it was empty except for Asuma and Shikamaru. While the leader enjoyed a smoke, Shikamare feigned sleep. Through that, Shikamaru heard that Naruto had nearly killed two very powerful ninjas in a matter of seconds.

He nearly fell off the couch.

But then Kakashi had pulled Asuma outside, and Shikamaru couldn't follow them.

'So, Naruto... are you really the loser who everyone thinks you are?'

"Well, I'll see you around, Naruto. And whatever happened out there, we're here for you. You'll get over it someday." He slapped him on the shoulder, then got up and walked away. "You sure your going to be okay?" he called out to Naruto.

"Yeah," Naruto turned his head and called back. Then he looked back down upon the village and said to himself, "I have a feeling things are going to be great."

He stood and prepared to jump down back into the townof Konoha, but stopped and looked up at the sky.

Haku... I won't forget you.

Then he jumped.

I am VERY sorry about this. My mom broke her leg, so I was distracted over the course of Friday onwards. I couldn't get any work done, so I have to just go with what I already had done.

REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please?

The next update will be better, I promise. And hopefully that will be Monday. Sorry for disappointing yall! I hope you forgive me with my following updates!!