Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate them and also thanks for sticking with me in this story. It's really nice when you have many readers who enjoy your story. Now please enjoy!

"They're massing," an ANBU reported over a short wave radio.

"Yeah," a voice replied, "Go back to the Hokage and report. I'll stay here and see if anything new turns up."

"Yes sir."

He turned and quietly slipped from his hiding spot.

"Hold on," the voice came back over the radio.

The ANBU stopped, "Yes sir?"

"Someone is among the sound ninja."

"Akatsuki?"

"No, the person is in a red armor with a purple cape. I can't see his face, he has some sort of helmet. What the! My kunai…!"

"Sir?...Sir, are you there?"

"Get out…of…here!"

The ANBU flicked off his radio and disappeared from his hiding spot.

"Are you sure it's safe enough to take Naruto back to your world at this time?" Logan asked.

Jiraiya and Kakashi nodded. "It is best to do this now rather than later. Otherwise Naruto could get restless and now that the Kyuubi is working with him, I don't want to imagine what the two could do," Jiraiya reasoned.

Kakashi nodded in agreement and added, "Plus the Akatsuki will not expect him to be taken within their line of fire."

"I believe he'll be safe enough with these two, Logan."

"Alright Chuck. Do you want me to go along?"

"No, I believe it would be better for you to remain here."

"Good," Jiraiya said, "now since that is taken care of we'll go round up Naruto and summon a toad to bring us to Konoha."

"You'll find him out front talking to Laura," Charles said.

The two ninjas nodded and left through the open window. They made their way to the fountain and Naruto was indeed talking to Laura on the side of it. Naruto looked up at their arrival and waved in greeting.

The two ninja stopped a few feet away and walked up to them.

"Hey, I take it we're going to Konoha?"

"Yep," Jiraiya replied, "Now are you sure you want to do this? You may not like what you see."

"I'm sure." And to prove his determination Naruto summoned Gamakichi.

"You all ready?" Gamakichi asked.

The ninjas placed their hand on Gamakichi's back and they disappeared in a poof of smoke. They reappeared in the same spot that they normally did. Naruto glanced around at the trees and then turned around to come face to face with the crater that was now Konoha.

"Who…did that?"

"Deidara," the two answered.

"Come on Naruto," Gamakichi said, "there's nothing more here."

Naruto followed Gamakichi deeper into the forest.

"Kakashi? Jiraiya?" a voice asked.

"It's us," Jiraiya replied.

Sakura came out of hiding and she spotted Naruto as well.

"Naruto!" she exclaimed.

Naruto smiled, "Hey Sakura. How've you been?"

"I've been better, but then so has the village. What are you doing back here? I thought these two were keeping secrets from you."

Naruto chuckled, "Yeah they were until Laura let me in on it not realizing what she was saying and then I went and punched out the truth from these two. It took the Kyuubi to talk to them as well."

Sakura then noticed his tails and ears, "You really have become one with the Kyuubi."

"Yeah. If you want to meet it, just tell me and I'll let the fox take over for a little bit."

She seemed confused at that statement. "What do you mean let the fox take over? Like you take a backseat and the Kyuubi can use your body?"

"Yep, like this," Naruto replied. His body began showing more signs of the Kyuubi as his eyes turned red and his whiskers became more pronounced. The Kyuubi came into control.

"Hello," the Kyuubi greeted, "I'm the Kyuubi."

Sakura's eyes were wide in alarm, "Is Naruto okay?"

"Oh yeah he's perfectly fine," the fox replied.

Don't you dare do anything stupid Kyuubi!

Don't you trust me?

Not always.

That's harsh Naruto.

Yeah, well get over it.

Just for that I may just do something stupid.

Don't. You. Even. Think. About. It.

"So shall we?" the Kyuubi asked.

"Kyuubi, it might be better if Naruto was himself when we enter the camp. There are still many ninja who hate you and would attack you," Kakashi reminded.

"Ugh, fine. All right Naruto, your turn."

Naruto came back through the bond and seemed to be arguing with himself.

"You stupid fox. You had me worried there for a second," he said.

I would stop talking to yourself. The others might find it a little weird even from you.

Even from me? What's that supposed to mean.

…

What? Now you're ignoring me?

…

Fine, stay silent! It's not like I care or anything.

He looked up at Sakura who was looking amused at the transition. Naruto's tails and ears flicked in frustration and he looked at the others.

"Are we going or what?" He started walking past Sakura.

Sakura giggled and walked alongside him asking about the X-Men and what he thought of them. The other three ninja merely followed smiling at the reunion of the two team mates.

Logan found Laura on the roof of the mansion looking up at the stars.

"Hey Logan," she greeted quietly.

Logan raised an eyebrow and leaped up off of the balcony railing and landing on the roof edge.

"Did I take Laura home or some other girl?" he asked.

Laura flashed a glare at him and went back to staring up at the stars. Logan came up the roof and sat down leaning back on his hands. He gazed up at the stars allowing silence to come between them.

After a few minutes of silence passed Laura sighed and asked, "What do you want Logan?"

Logan didn't answer right away causing her to lose patience and revert back to her old self.

"If you're not going to say anything about why you're bugging me, then I'm going to go back inside," she told him.

Logan smirked still gazing up at the stars. He looked at her and replied, "That's the girl I remember."

"What were you expecting?" she snapped.

"I'm not sure actually," he answered. "Naruto was getting you to do some surprising things."

"He's my age and he understands what I'm feeling," she replied. "That's all there is to it."

Logan grinned and stood up. He walked down the roof to the edge and before he jumped down he responded, "I think there's more to it between you guys. Don't dismiss him like the others Laura. He truly does understand you better than many of the people living here."

He hopped off the roof leaving her staring after him speechless.

"Damn," she cursed. "Why did I get dragged into all of this? And what the hell did he mean there's more between us?"

She lay back on the roof again pondering her thoughts and feelings through the night.

"Hey Granny!" Naruto called outside the tent. "You got some explaining to do!"

"Naruto!" Sakura said in a scolding tone.

"Come in Naruto," Tsunade called out.

Naruto entered the tent and Sakura followed close behind. Tsunade was in the tent alone with maps that had markers all over them displaying where they knew the enemy was last. The two ninjas settled down on the ground.

"When did you find out?" Tsunade asked.

"After Logan, Kakashi, and Laura came back. I don't think Laura was let in on the whole secret of the fact that I wasn't supposed to know about the fighting," Naruto explained.

Tsunade nodded, "how did I know that girl would be trouble. Ah well, can't change what's happened. Nice look by the way."

Naruto's tails flicked involuntarily and Tsunade couldn't stifle the giggle that came out at the movement. Naruto frowned in frustration and his tails went flat on the ground.

"Stupid tails," he muttered.

Hey! Don't diss the tails. They are quite lovely!

Maybe in your opinion. I think they are just an annoyance attached to me.

You won't think that one day.

And what is that supposed to mean

…

Naruto's face must have shown his irritation at the Kyuubi because Tsunade gave him a questioning look.

"I've got a critic," was all Naruto said.

Tsunade smirked in amusement. "How has it been since you've been on speaking terms with the Kyuubi?"

"Good and bad. My training has been progressing, but fox is full of remarks and obnoxious opinions."

Hmm? Did you say something?

Naruto ignored the comment and said, "Granny I know I'm impulsive sometimes, but isn't that what has saved my life and others many times? I would rather know next time. For now I'll stay with the X-Men, but in the future I would like a decision in the situation."

Tsunade didn't reply, but sat there in thought. Naruto waited for her answer holding back his impatience. Sakura also waited for the answer, but waited patiently watching Naruto as he struggled to not let his impatience show.

A puff of smoke appeared in front of them and cleared away to reveal an ANBU Black ops ninja in front of them.

"Report," Tsunade ordered.

"Sound ninja are massing for an assault once again and they have someone new with them. My partner saw him and described a man wearing red armor with a purple cape and with a red helmet. He was taken down after that."

"Tell Jiraiya to mass our ninjas and then come back here," she ordered.

"Yes Hokage." The ANBU disappeared in smoke once more.

"Sakura stay with Naruto here and don't do anything stupid Naruto," she requested

Tsunade tore out of the tent leaving the two alone.

"So how many attacks have you guys had?" Naruto asked turning to Sakura.

Sakura hesitated, "At least fourteen attacks so far."

"Don't try and stop me Sakura," he said getting up.

"Naruto! You're their target and we can't risk letting them getting their hands on the Kyuubi!"

"They can't beat me and the Kyuubi combined. This time I have the Kyuubi on my side and I've learned a few tricks from the old fox." Naruto smiled at her stopping her in her tracks to stop him.

"Naruto, please don't. What would happen to Konoha if you were taken?" Sakura asked as he slipped out of the tent. "Ooooo, I'm going to kill you Naruto!"

"Wait until after the battle," Naruto replied outside.

Naruto sped off in the direction that Tsunade had gone. He wouldn't be kept out of anymore of the fighting. The Akatsuki and sound ninja were here for him well they would get him in full force with the Kyuubi on his side.

Author's Note: I know it's slightly shorter than usual, but I think this is a good stopping point, so there you have it. I'm guessing everyone has figured out who the new mystery man is…right? If not you'll find out. Please review and thanks so much for reading this far into the story! I really appreciate it!