Disclaimer: Naruto and All It's Characters Are Owned By Masashi Kishimoto

A Song of Sorrow

(Naruto's Home)

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* A alarm clock goes off startling the blond haired ninja. "What? ... what time is it?" Naruto turning on his side looks over at the alarm clock which reads 6:30. Time to get training then Naruto hoping out of bed runs into the bathroom leaving behind a pile of clothes.

Naruto walking out the bathroom, dressed in his usual orange jumpsuit is rubbing at his head with a towel. Man, nothing beats a hot shower in the morning Naruto stops in his kitchen and looks at a white and spherical container. Well ... except maybe a cup of ramen Naruto snatching the cup throws in the microwave and watches as it begins spinning. "Ramen ... ramen ... oh how I love ramen." Naruto begins chanting as the cup begins to steam. Naruto after hearing the beep of the microwave grabs the cup along with a pair of his favorite chop sticks and begins eating happily.

Hopefully that pervy old man will have some thing else to teach me today. Naruto finishing the last of the ramen throws the container in the trash. Cause as cool as summoning Gamabunta is ... it won't help me in the third round. Naruto adopts a confident looking smile and bounds out the door looking for Jiraiya.

XxX

(Hokage Mansion)

"So ... only three days left til the third round." Homura announces to Hiruzen and Koharu all next to each other, in front of a paper filled desk.

Koharu nods. "It seems we have a very strong crop of candidates this year." Hiruzen nods while stamping documents. "Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, Shino Aburame, and Naruto Uzumaki ..."

Homura flips through the documents in front of him and lifts one up. "Seems Naruto has signed the toad summoning contract and used Gamabunta last week."

Hiruzen chuckles. "Like father like son."

Homura clicks his tongue. "Hopefully Jiraiya taught him how dangerous it is for him and anyone else near him to use summons of that size."

Hiruzen nods. "I trust Jiraiya taught him everything about it."

Koharu paper in hand gasps in surprise before handing the paper over to Hiruzen. Homura confused asks. "What ... what is it?"

Hiruzen hands the paper back to Koharu and says. "I was aware."

Koharu asks. "Should we not send some Anbu to go pick him up ... he is and has always been a wildcard."

Homura grabbing the document reads it over and then jumps to his feet. "This is very serious we need to send some one to pick him up now!"

Hiruzen still calm as ever begins stamping more papers with his seal. "I don't think that is necessary."

Koharu asks. "How is that not necessary ... he is not one to drop a grudge."

Hiruzen shakes his head. "He will behave himself ... trust me."

Homura still standing asks. "How much longer does he have?"

Hiruzen looking up at his old teammate answers. "I believe he has til tomorrow."

Koharu stands up and walks over to the tea pot. "So it really has been five years already."

Hiruzen nods. "Five years since the Uchiha massacre."

Homura shouts. "And when Minori showed himself to be a gutless coward."

Hiruzen grinds his teeth in anger. You all no nothing of his pain "He should be around 18 now."

Homura spits out. "Pity he did not die ... for all we know he could have sold out secrets of the village."

Hiruzen shakes his head. "He would never do that."

Homura about to continue is stopped when Koharu hands him a cup of tea and gives him a stern look telling him to be silent.

Hiruzen standing up from his chair asks. "I have some other business to attend to today ... so if you may?"

Homura and Koharu both bow and exit the room, leaving Hiruzen to himself. I wonder how he will react when he hears Orochimaru has returned as well Hiruzen ponders.

XxX

(Hot Springs)

Naruto walking past the largest hot spring in Konoha hears incessant cackling from behind the fenced in area. Looks like I found that dirty old man Naruto smirking to himself crouches down and begins sneaking around the springs. I'll scare that old man ... maybe I can teach him a lesson about peeping Naruto spotting the frog sage looking through a hole in the wall begins sneaking up behind him.

"HEY YOU-" Naruto's mouth is quickly shut by a incensed looking Jiraiya.

"What do you think you're trying to do get me busted!?" Jiraiya whispers.

Naruto struggling to remove Jiraiya's hand says. "Get you dirty hand off my mouth you pervert, I don't know where it has been."

Jiraiya with a annoyed look begins peeping again and giggling.

Naruto annoyed asks. "Can you stop your perviness for for awhile, it's time to start training again."

Jiraiya not taking his eyes off the peephole states. "Too busy kid. I have alot of research to do for my next book."

Naruto stomping his foot says. "You said you would train me."

Jiraiya shakes his head. "I did ... I taught you how to summon frogs didn't I?"

Naruto screams in a whisper. "Ya, by tossing me into a pit and then leaving me alone to deal with that giant frog."

Jiraiya with a annoyed look back at Naruto says. "Are you telling me, that a summon, good enough for the Yondaime and myself is not good enough for you...?"

Naruto quickly shakes his head. "I'm not saying that but ... I can't exactly use Gamabunta in arena of that size."

Jiraiya looking thoughtfully at Naruto states. "I guess thats true." Reaching into his pockets, he thrusts out a open hand with five slips of paper.

Naruto simply stares at his hand before Jiraiya clears his throat making Naruto grabs the paper. "What the heck are these?" Naruto asks.

Jiraiya sighs. "Man ... what did you actually learn at that academy anyway?" Jiraiya takes one of the slips back from Naruto. "These papers help you find your affinity."

Naruto still oblivious asks. "What do you mean affinity."

Jiraiya still shaking his head explains. "An affinity is what elemental Jutsu a ninja specializes in." Jiraiya holding out the slip of paper shows Naruto as it ignites and turns to ash in his palm.

Naruto with wide eyes full of glee asks. "So your's is fire right?"

Jiraiya nods. "Yes, people with fire affinities after sending chakra through the paper will watch it burn and turn to ash."

Naruto continues. "So what if I have lightning like Kakashi-sensei?"

Jiraiya begins explaining. "Well if you had lightning, then the paper will wrinkle. Wind and the paper will split in two. Earth affinity forces it to turn to dirt and crumble. And finally water will make it damp."

Naruto nods, memorizing the explanations. "So you said I have to channel chakra into it?"

Jiraiya nods. "Exactly, and just encase you ruin any of those papers, you have some spares. So if you would be so kind ... buzz off."

Naruto, excited at the prospect of learning how to shoot fire balls and using Chidori begins skipping happily away towards a training ground.

Jiraiya taking one final look towards Naruto thinks. Probably a waste of time and paper, the chance of him having anything but Wind is low, but I suppose that will give him some enjoyment until the finals ... and more importantly, keep him off my back so I can peep. Jiraiya letting out a hearty chuckle clamps his hand over his mouth remembering where he is.

"Hey Kunie stop splashing me!" A girl laughs out in the hot springs.

Jiraiya internally screams. SCORE! Before looking back through the hole.

XxX

(Training Ground 7)

Naruto walking into a unfamiliar clearing begins grumbling to himself about all of the former training grounds being occupied. I've never even been here before Naruto finding a comfy looking tree plops down against it and grabs a slip of paper from his pocket. So Jiraiya said that if I channel my chakra into it, it will change Naruto shaking in effort begins trying to channel chakra into his palm.

After nearly 10 minutes Naruto opens his eyes and sees the paper still in pristine condition. "Damn it's not working." Naruto frowning in anger pockets it and retrieves another piece of paper. Maybe this one is not defective

Naruto channeling chakra through his palm is dismayed to see it still left in it's base form. "WHY WON'T IT WORK!" Naruto screams in further anger.

XxX

(Hokage Mansion)

Jiraiya knocking on the window slides it open. "Hey Sensei ... heard you called for me?"

Hiruzen still sitting at his desk calls over his shoulder. "Yes ... may you please take a seat Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya scratches the back of his head. "If you don't mind I kinda like it up here."

Hiruzen nods. "As you wish." Hiruzen takes a quick sip of tea. "I assume you have been keeping some tabs on Minori."

Jiraiya smiles. "So that's why I'm here." Jiraiya breathes out. "He has certainly been living quiet an adventure these last three years."

Hiruzen picking up on Jiraiya's clever words asks. "What about the other two?"

Jiraiya sighs. "His first two years are a mystery even to me ... after the first three weeks he went east of the Sunagakure border and I lost track of him."

Hiruzen nods mentally remembering to asks Minori about that later. "And the three years you could track him?"

"Well, after he returned he looked much older. And according to a sensor I talked to, his chakra was very dark ... which was a strange contrast to his cheerful and kind nature they said he exhibited."

Hiruzen standing up from his seat looks back at Jiraiya. "Are they sure he is the real Minori?" Jiraiya nods in response. "What do they mean ... by dark?"

Jiraiya shrugs his shoulders. "He said it felt like death and misery which ... apparently chilled him to the bone."

Hiruzen averts his eyes to the floor. Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea ... if he's turned into Orochimaru 2.0 Hiruzen fixes his gaze back on Jiraiya. "So his outward appearance and attitude seem ... cheerful I think you put it."

Jiraiya nods. "It's funny we both take the part about him being friendly, more concerning then his dark chakra, aye."

Hiruzen nods. "The last time he was anything other then cold and quiet was before Minato and Kushina were died."

Jiraiya interjects. "Also when he met Naruto ... you told me."

Hiruzen nods. "Anything else you've learned?"

Jiraiya placing his hand on his chin pauses before replying. "Apparently he's attempting to gain his own spy network."

Hiruzen nods. "Makes sense ..."

Jiraiya continues. "They haven't seen him in combat yet, so thats still a mystery."

Hiruzen rubs his temples. "Knowing him he should at least be a mid rank Jonin by now."

Jiraiya shakes his head. "That would be a disappointment ... no no If anything he should at least be high rank Jonin."

Hiruzen nods. "Well, I plan to have a chat with him when he arrives."

Jiraiya sighs. "I heard he was only three hours away, seems he's staying for the night though ... but we could go meet him today if you want?"

Hiruzen shakes his head. "We can't leave the village during the Chunin exams and especially when Orochimaru is here."

Jiraiya chuckles. "Well if you'll excuse me I have some research to conduct for my next book."

Hiruzen sighs. "Well try not to get caught again ... some village girls have complained already."

Jiraiya just laughing, drops from the window sill leaving Hiruzen alone in the dark room.

XxX

(Training Ground 7: 10 Hours Late)

Naruto panting in sweat is in a squatting position with his palm extending trying to manipulate the paper. I'm almost there, I know it Naruto clenching his teeth, digs his heels into the dirt and screams in anger releasing a large burst of focuses chakra into the paper.

Naruto falling over on his face, begins panting as his eyesight fades. Damn I'm so tired Naruto forcing himself through the pain opens his palm and sees the slip of paper sliced neatly down the middle.

Naruto jumping back onto his feet begins jumping up and down screaming in excitement. "I DID IT! I'M AN AIR USER! I DID IT-" Naruto finally being hit with the full brunt of his chakra exhaustion falls over into a deep sleep.

Jiraiya climbing out of the bushes smiles down at the sleeping blond. Poor kid ... completely exhausted himself just learning his affinity, he really needs more practice with his chakra control. Maybe it was to early to have him learn his affinity

"OH WELL!" Jiraiya roars out in laughter before throwing Naruto on his shoulders. He should be up by tomorrow or the day after, just in time for the competition Jiraiya readjusting Naruto's sleeping body onto his back begins walking towards town.

Naruto still in a deep slumber rubs his face against Jiraiya's shoulder warmly, forcing a blush on Jiraiya's face.

"You're lucky your cute kid." Jiraiya quietly says, oblivious to Naruto drooling on his shoulder. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner for you

XxX

(Roadside Inn)

"Sir, you ordered the dango and chilled black tea ... correct." A cheerful looking girl asks a man seated on the second floor balcony.

The man turning around with a smile answers. "Ya that was me, thank you very much." The brunet man grabs 200 hundred ryo and hands it to the girl with another smile.

The girl grabbing the money counts it. "Sir it was only 150 ryo though."

The man taking a sip of his tea shakes his head. "Keep the rest as a tip ... now if you would please, I would like to be alone."

The girl blushing, bows and leaves the room. Closing the door quietly.

The brunet man with near black eyes grabs a stick of dango and looks wistfully off towards the glowing city in the distance. Home ... here I come

Here you go guys, sorry it is so very short but I wanted to have a break between last chapter and the Konoha Invasion Arc.

Tell me how you feel about Naruto learning Wind Style Jutsu before Shippuden, and I will be giving him one other element eventually. I was thinking about Water just because it is usually under utilized and I think combined with Wind it could cut rocks and break earth so ya.

As I said before the Konoha Invasion Arc will be next chapter and might make two, but I will eventually add a meeting between Sasuke and Minori so I'll be thinking of that for the next few days.

BTW drop me a review or pm if you have questions or anything like that.

Thanks for reading