Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, his face a mask of drunken confusion. He let out a small burp that sounded like a dying bird. With a groan that knocked him backward, Jiraiya took another drink from his flask. "Girl, please tell me that he's just messing with me because he doesn't want to go back to Konoha because he's fallen madly in love with you."

"Hey wait! You know who I am you're looking for me, right? Can't you tell me anything?" He sounded afraid and fearful, the earlier excitement he had when talking to Inari was gone.

"Fuck," Jiraiya groaned sitting up. "Hey to bother you more Tazuna, but do you think we could stay for dinner? I have a feeling it's going to be a lot of storytelling going on."

"By all means, the more the merrier, just watch the language around the kid will ya Tsumi's a bit sensitive about that." Tazuna smiled holding up his bear towards Naruto. "Don't worry brat, we'll set ya straight, by the way, who's your girlfriend?"

"I'm Karin," Naruto guided her down to sit beside him at the small table, he tried to let go of her hand. But, part of her refused to let go. She squeezed his hand hard under the table feeling the texture of the top of his hand with her thumb. He needed to know that she was there for him. And that she needed him, no matter who he was. "So, what can you tell us about Naruto's past?"

"Blah," Jiraiya stuck his tongue out at a new bottle of beer before he took another drink of it. "No way, I'm not going to go off spewing the brats whole life story until after you two tell me why the hell you two had me travel halfway across the goddamn continent looking for you!"

Drunk, mad, an old, such a wonderful combination, why on earth did this drunkard of all people have to know Naruto? Karin sighed, she really hoped that Naruto wasn't actually related to this bastard. "Basically, I found Naruto half drowned in a river - lost my glasses saving him - we went looking for a village or something, found a hut, crazy old lady that lived there used to be a gang leader, old gang attacked, one of them recognized Naruto from here, so we decided to come here, got on a boat, it broke, we ended up stranded near the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools, I became the queen of the Uzumaki and I think the Island sunk or something."

She took a breath and groaned. "Then we ended up here. And I still don't have my glasses!"

"What she said," Naruto pointed towards her.

Silence followed afterward only interrupted by the sound of beer guzzling. Then Jiraiya roared in laughter. "I thought that necklace was familiar! Man, that brings back memories!"

"You were there? Do you know someone called Kushina Uzumaki? She owes me a scroll!" Karin barked glaring at the man, it was like this man was trying his hardest to make her dislike him.

"Yep, I was there with her, she had me digging a tunnel underneath that damn dome to get that scroll. The throne kept rejecting her even though she was an Uzumaki! Boy was she mad, said stealing the scroll was her birthright and it wasn't like a bunch of old ghosts could stop her."

Yep, Karin hated this guy.

"Wait wait, tell me did the brat get zapped by the throne too?" Jiraiya gave them a toothy grin.

"Hey, that thing freak'n hurt!"

"Yea, but why does that matter? It's not like Naruto is an Uzumaki, of course, the throne would zap him." Or at least that's what she thought, it could just be that she was female and the throne was inhabited by a sexist old man or something.

Jiraiya roared with laughter once again. "Ha, He's an Uzumaki alright!"

"Wait really?" Both Naruto and her shouted, slapping their hands on the table.

Wait, why did that even matter? It didn't make him less Naruto. "Besides, why didn't the throne thing work for Naruto?"

"Pfft," Jiraiya snorted. "Who knows, might be because he's a mutt, or has none of the Uzumaki traits. I couldn't tell ya."

"I can't believe I'm an Uzumaki!" Naruto cheered, "Oh hey wait? What about my parents? Are they in Konoha? I can't wait to introduce Karin to them. I-"

"You don't have parents." In a heartbeat Jiraiya became sober, and all joy died in his eyes. There was no spark of amusement, no joy, just the sad simple truth. "They died the night of the Kyuubi attack."

"Oh, well do you know who they are then? I feel like." Naruto tapped on his chest right above the heart. Whatever joy had been in the room vanished, leaving nothing to replace it, just an empty hole. "I feel like I should at least know their names."

"Can't say," Jiraiya scratched the back of his head. "I only really got to know you until six months ago when I made you my apprentice."

"Wait, you're my teacher? Are you some kind of super awesome ninja or something?" Great, that meant Naruto was going to be spending more time around this drunk old man.

"Of course I am!" Jiraiya slapped his own hand on the table, causing it to rattle. "From the east to the west, north to the south, even the spirits know this mighty sanin's name! Jiraiya the toad sage!"

Sanin, sanin… wait… Jiraiya? Sanin? That… he… that… "You're one of the legendary three ninja from Konoha?"

"Ahh," Jiraiya smiled drawing a finger along his chin, "I see that you've heard of me."

This… This…. This was amazing! Naruto - her thick-skulled idiot - was actually an apprentice to one of the most legendary Ninja this side of the Mogami! That meant he was practically famous! And probably rich, or on his way to becoming a powerful and important ninja! Jackpot!

She was going to get that home in no time flat!

"So, can you tell me what you know about me then?" Naruto asked, his tone still lacked that sense of joy.

And that emptiness sucked away her own joy. It was one thing to know that he didn't have parents, but to find out that he was like her, an orphan with no family had to be worse right? To hope that he might have something, only to have it viciously torn from him. She leaned in next to him so that their shoulders were touching. She tried to say words, but they failed her then, but what could she say that she hadn't already said?

Jiraiya leaned back and let out a grunt. "I could, or you could wait until we get you back to Konoha where Tsunade can fix you up. She can probably fix your memory loss, especially if it's because of some kind of a physical trauma like hitting your head or drowning, which from your story sound very probably."

"I'd rather you just tell me if you could," Naruto placed his hands and forehead on the ground, bowing to Jiraiya with as much respect as he could muster. "Master."

Jiraiya beamed, lips curled into a smile, nostrils flaring, he was enjoying this far more than he should. "Well if you insist, I guess I can tell you what I know."

XXXX

Karin flopped down onto the bed it felt like forever since she had a warm safe bed that wasn't moving, and a belly full of delicious food. Something she hoped to be making a habit of once they got to Konoha. Naruto had his own apartment, that meant that they had their own apartment, which meant so many wonderful things. Privacy, a kitchen, baths, and a nice cozy bed.

She couldn't wait to get back to Konoha.

Just the thought of having a new home, a new safe home with a roof that didn't leak was enough to make her squeal and kick her legs in excitement.

Best of all the Hokage - legendary healer and strongest woman in the world - was apparently fond of Naruto so she could probably convince him to convince her to let her stay even if they found out that she was technically a missing-nin at this point.

A knock sounded on her door. "Karin?" It was Naruto.

"Whats up?" She didn't dare to get up, not want to disturb the elusive comfort she was feeling.

Naruto opened the door, blanket, pillow, and matt in his hands. "Jiraiya snores. loud. do you mind if I sleep in here with you?"

"Sure, not like we don't normally spend the night next to each other." Karin gestured towards the empty space next to her.

Naruto tossed down his bed for the night, looking extra tired. "Thanks, Karin."

"You should call me your highness from now on," Karin turned to Naruto, who flopped down beside her.

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"Cause you're an Uzumaki and I'm the Queen of the Uzumaki." She rested her head on her chin, staring at her travel companion, he was by far the best thing she'd ever pulled out of a river. "Don't worry, as my lone subject I promise to treat you well but a bit of respect and dignity."

Naruto snorted, "Pass."

Karin smiled, burying her face in the soft pillow that Inari's family had provided them. She should be happy, Naruto should be happy, but he wasn't. "Hey, are you okay? You're kind of down or something."

"Yea I'm fine," He didn't sound fine.

She rolled her eyes. "You don't sound fine."

"It's nothing really."

Karin scrambled up to her knees, gripping her pillow tightly she stared at the vague form that was her best friend. Then she rained down righteous pillowy fury upon him, once twice, three times.

"Ow hey! Dammit, is there bricks in that thing?" Naruto flailed under her assault.

For her finishing move, she pushed the pillow onto his chest and landed on top of him, keeping him pinned against the ground. She flicked his nose. "Tell me Naruto."

He struggled and probably could have broken free if he really wanted to - she wasn't that strong - but, even if he did escape she would get the answer from him. They had been through too much to keep secrets from each other. "Tell me."

Naruto stopped and sighed, he refused to look her in the eyes. "I'm just worried okay?"

"About what?" she relaxed resting her head on her pillow, arms pressed forward so that her hands rested on either side of Naruto's head.

"About me, what if I get my memories back and I turn into somebody else?" Their eyes met for just a moment.

Karin felt her smile growing. "That's what you're worried about? Honestly, you heard what Inari and Jiraiya said, you're an idiot now, you were an idiot then and you're going to be an idiot after you get your memories back."

"What about you?" He held her gaze longer this time. "What happens now? I'm going back to Konoha and you don't have a home anymore, and I don't want to just leave you." He sighed, head flopping to the side. "You're too important to me."

Her smile grew wide and she pressed down onto him harder knocking the air out of him with an oof. "If you think it's that easy to get rid of me Naruto you're sadly mistaken, face it you're stuck with me from now on."

"Thanks, Karin." He took in a deep breath and smiled, it felt good knowing that she could dispel his fears so easily. He swallowed and the smile vanished, "So umm when we get back to Konoha, do you think you'd be okay with living with me?"

Karin blinked, scrunching her face up like she just eaten a sour lemon. That was actually her plan from the get go. "What made you think we weren't? You still owe me a home, I don't mind borrowing yours until you provide me one."

He gave a wheezing laugh that she felt. "Hey, Karin?"

"Yea?"

"Do you think you could get off me?"

She smiled and snuggled into her pillow more. "No way, to comfy."

Naruto groaned in protest.

XXXX

Despite what people said, there was no building up an immunity to a hangover, and there was no magical cure-all otherwise Tsunade would have found it already. But the killer headache that sounded a successful night's drinking did not prevent stiffen Jiraiya's good mood.

No today was a great day. After a month of following Naruto's trail, he had finally found the brat, well… the brat found him, but he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth! But the girl. The girl put an interesting twist on things.

What was her name again? Oh right, Karin! Karin Uzumaki, apparently the queen of the Uzumaki. Poor Kushina must be rolling in her grave. She was close to Naruto, really close, offering him strength when he didn't need it, and relying on him a great deal. Almost like a parasite. Though that was probably a bit harsh considering how by Naruto's own account she saved his life several times.

He could bring her to Konoha no problem, and the girl seemed keen on doing that, her face lighting up whenever the village was mentioned. But dragging her around the world while he trained Naruto to use the Kyuubi's chakra was not something he was to keen on.

"We'll cross that road when we come to it I guess," Jiraiya grumbled scratching the back of his head. "Damn brat is probably going to throw a fit if I try to separate them."

With a yawn that smelled like low tide he paused in front of their room, he should probably leave Tazuna with something considering how hospitable the family was. Maybe a sample chapter of his next book and a bottle of toad brew, yea that sounded fair. With another yawn, he slid the door open. "Alright brats-"

Yep. They were both Uzumaki that was for sure. The two of them had somehow managed to squirm out of their respective beddings and were now sprawled around the room like twin starfishes, with Karin's foot pressing into Naruto's face. "So much for walking in on them cuddling like two adorable idiots."

AN: Not going to lie, that scene was super fluffy and I love it. Anyways, hope you all enjoy I'm going to go work on... I don't know.