Disclaimer in Chapter 1: Prologue

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One Month

It has almost been exactly one month since Maiko and Jiraiya had come to an agreement on Naruto's training. During this time she visited the hospital every day to visit Hinata and Lee, provide emotional support for their senseis who so happen to be two close friends, set up a spy network, and updated the hunter-nins on Kabuto's treachery.

She hoped that something would come from it but the kid just disappeared into thin air like his bastard of a leader, Orochimaru. Every day with the lack of news, her worries grew. She wished she knew where Kakashi took Sasuke but if she looked and found them she would just be putting them in more danger. No, she needed to trust Kakashi and his abilities to hide Sasuke. Instead she focused on being there for her friends and keeping Naruto in shape for his training sessions with Jiraiya.

Naruto told her all about his first summons and how Jiraiya told him that even though he was finally able to summon an actual frog, he needed to summon one that was stronger than the two he can summon. Jiraiya told him the only way to do this was to use the "red chakra" and not his regular chakra reserves. So Naruto has diligently been trying to access those reserves. It seemed as if the kid was exhausted from trying to control his chakra and then bring out the Kyuubi's, and yet it still wasn't working out for him. Maiko could tell how upset Naruto was getting and wished she could do something to help but nothing came to mind short of loosening the seal herself which would be hard since she didn't have the key. Maiko would have to create one from scratch and that could take her months to years because she had so little to go off on in regards to what Minato-sensei imbedded in the seal originally, let alone how powerful the key would have to be to loosen it.

However, this didn't stop Maiko from thinking about all of these things night and day for the past month. It was distracting when she tried to train herself with her tiger summons and then with Anko later on but she struggled through it. Thankfully she was just working on cleaning the house for the day, so Maiko let her mind wander freely from topic to topic. She was in the middle of cleaning the counters in her kitchen when she heard Naruto whistle. Her heart stopped for a moment and her breath hitched as her legs immediately took her to wherever Naruto was. Knowing there was no time to summon Michi she began building up some chakra in her nose she was able to track Naruto's scent all the way to some training grounds near the local springs most female villagers liked to use instead of paying the bathing houses.

Figures Jiraiya would bring him here, but what the hell is happening? Hold on Naruto. She mentally prayed and picked up some speed by putting some more of her chakra into her feet to propel her further faster. She also activated her kekkei genkai and used the trees around her to let her see where Jiraiya and Naruto were and if there were any possible enemies surrounding them. She was surprised when she couldn't detect any other chakra signatures or see anyone else other than Jiraiya and Naruto in the clearing. Maiko was certainly confused when she hurtled into the clearing and stood next to Jiraiya her daggers in her palms, ready for anyone who could jump them.

"What's going on?" She asked and once more checked the surrounding trees, hell she stretched her radius to the entire training ground but didn't see anything suspicious. Jiraiya ogled her for a brief moment, taking in her regular ninja wear, and was about to say something when she felt a wave of pain erupt from her shoulder.

She whimpered but remained standing as Maiko clutched the space between her shoulder and her neck to stop the pulsating pain. She recognized the feeling immediately and felt dread well up inside of her. The ground began to shake underneath her and then the pain stopped.

Both strangely looked at the cavern. Jiraiya smiled and Maiko was even more confused at what the Sanin was looking at. So she hesitantly followed his actions and looked down to see Naruto on top of the head of none other than the boss toad of the frog summons: Gamabunta.

"YAY!" Naruto screamed with glee. Maiko was curious as to why Naruto was down there and how he was able to gather enough Kyuubi chakra to summon one of the most powerful frog summons.

"YOU LIL PUNK! WHAT'CHA DO'IN ON TOP OF MY HEAD? SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!" Gamabunta shouted up at Naruto as the boss toad hung onto the walls of the cavern. Naruto was taken aback by the summons as Jiraiya and Maiko had little smiles of amusement at how Gamabunta hadn't changed a bit in twelve years.

"I finally get some fresh air and… what the hell is this? Hey punk! Where's Jiraiya!" Gamabunta grunted and narrowed his eyes on Naruto who was so conveniently on the ridge of his snout.

"Jiraiya? Huh? Who?" Naruto asked and Maiko had to stifle a giggle at the fact that Naruto still didn't know his sensei's birth name even after a month of training under him. Then again, "Ero-senin" does suit the Sanin better.

"That perverted geezer," At this Maiko made a choking noise in attempt to not laugh, especially at Jiraiya's pout, probably at being called old.

"Calling me to such a place. Even putting some weird punk on my head."

"No… Well… Um… I summoned you… I thought you could help…" Naruto explained sheepishly and Maiko smiled proudly at the boy who was still ignorant of her presence.

"You?" Gamabunta asked in obvious disbelief.

"YES!" Naruto exclaimed loudly and saluted the boss toad.

"GAHAHAHA! You shouldn't lie punk! There's no way in hell a lil shrimp like you could summon me!" Gamabunta replied and Maiko could see Naruto narrow his eyebrows at the frog. As Gamabunta continued to laugh she could see the determination and annoyance mount on her otuoto's face.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT TOAD! HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH THINGS!" Naruto yelled and everyone except Maiko looked surprised at his audacity to talk back to Gamabunta. Maiko was more concerned with the fact at Naruto cursing, then again she couldn't talk.

"I'M THE ONE WHO SUMMONED YOU, SO I'M YOUR MASTER! GOT THAT, STUPID TOAD?" Naruto continued on without hesitation. Maiko and Jiraiya frowned knowing this wasn't the way to get on the boss toad's good side and convince him that he should listen to Naruto. Her frown deepened when she saw Gamabunta narrow his eyes at Naruto.

"What the… Who the hell do you think you are talking to…? HEY! Some little kid is saying he is the master of boss toad, Gamabunta-sama? YOU WANT YOUR HEAD RIPPED OFF? EH? " Gamabunta exclaimed and at the end his voice shook the cavern walls once more.

"I'm sorry boss toad." Naruto apologized as he clung onto Gamabunta's nose.

"Well, calm down. Then I'll make you my underling, be thankful!" Gamabunta replied as Naruto stood up properly.

"Yes boss toad!" Naruto responded and now it was Jiraiya's turn to stifle his own laughter.

"Gyahahaha! It's switched around!" He chuckled/whispered to Maiko and he turned around to leave.

"Where are you going?" Maiko asked as she saw him a walk away from the cavern, then lay out a scroll on the ground.

"Well, I guess I'll disappear now. It will be a hassle if the toad sees me. Now, back to work." Jiraiya explained oddly and gave a small wave before leaving the clearing. Maiko was curious so she made her way over to the open scroll to see what he left behind. It was the frog summons' contract and written in blood was Naruto's name right after the Yondaime's.

She smiled sadly at how proud Minato-sensei would be to see his son working alongside the same summons as him and to call Gamabunta at such a young age. She also wondered if Naruto even looked at the names before him and recognized his father's as one of the four Hokages of Konoha. Maiko highly doubted it but she couldn't help but let her mind wonder at how fate was giving Naruto a little piece of his father. All thoughts were cut short though by the ground shaking from Gamabunta preparing to jump. Maiko quickly hid herself in the strongest tree in the area and held on tightly as the boss toad launched himself into the air and then crushed the ground he landed on. She noticed how the scroll was just out of range and still in Gamabunta's point of view.

Smart, Jiraiya. She mused and then came out of the tree to make her presence known by the great boss toad. Gamabunta after studying the scroll put the now unconscious Naruto on his nose.

"Long time no see Maiko." He replied gruffly.

"Yes Gamabunta-sama. How have you been?" She asked politely and rolled up the scroll before releasing the jutsu on it that would automatically return it to either Jiraiya or the world of the frog summons' (it varies from animal summons to animal summons).

"I was doing ok until I was summoned out of the blue by this punk. I still have a hard time believing it." Gamabunta stated and Maiko nodded her head in understanding.

"Naruto is stronger than he looks." She responded and the boss toad looked at her curiously.

"So you know this punk huh?"

"Yup, he's my otuoto." Maiko said fondly and then Gamabunta picked her up with his tongue and put her on his snout alongside of Naruto.

"What's up Gamabunta-sama?" She asked wondering why he was now moving towards Konoha.

"He is suffering from chakra exhaustion; he needs to get to the hospital." He explained as she made sure that Naruto would not fall off.

"Yes but you could have just handed him over to me. I could have taken him to the hospital all by myself and you could have gone back home sooner." Maiko countered and felt the boss toad's chuckle instead of hearing it.

"This punk is one of my underlings now and I take care of my underlings when they don't annoy me too much." He replied in the same gruff tone and Maiko turned around to look the toad in the eye and smiled.

"That is what makes you a wonderful boss toad, Gamabunta-sama." She conceded and when she turned around she found herself in front of the hospital. Gamabunta used his tongue once more to lower the two ninjas to the ground.

"Good-bye Maiko, make sure that punk stays out of any trouble that he would have to call me for." Was the last thing the boss toad said before disappearing. Maiko chuckled as she picked up Naruto, groaning at how big and heavy Naruto was getting. A flood of hospital staff rushed out to greet her and she fended off their questions as to why there was a huge imprint of a toad's foot.

"Naruto is suffering from chakra exhaustion and was externally knocked unconscious. Please just help Naruto first and stop worrying about minor damage to the ground." Maiko commanded and was thankful that they did just as she said. About an hour later she was sitting and watching Naruto sleep peacefully wondering how his match with Neji was going to go.

The kid has only trained on controlling his chakra and nothing else. Especially nothing else that would help him against the Byakugan. Maiko has been pestering him about it, trying to get him to work out with her at night so she could teach him a few pointers. But he kept telling her no, exclaiming that he should put 100% of his attention and energy with Jiraiya's training, and as soon as he finished his meal he went off to practice his chakra control and then off to bed. Maiko worried that because of this he was going to be in massive trouble when fighting Neji and if he didn't win he would be devastated.

She knew he had the potential to win, he just needed the right training and she wasn't sure if he got that, or at least enough of it. Maiko realized where her train of thought was going and she had to physically shake her head to get rid of those thoughts. She needed to have faith in Naruto and that he knew what was best for him to keep his promise of avenging Hinata's honor and proving that she wasn't weak just because she wasn't a genius like Neji. Because if anyone could do it, it would be Naruto.

Three days passed and Maiko made sure to visit every day to do her usual of checking up on Lee, Hinata was released about a week prior, and then to sit with Naruto for about an hour. During these times she would be visited by anyone who wanted to know what happened to the ground in front of the hospital. She waved most of them off but when it came to her friends and the Hokage, they wouldn't take no for an answer. So she told them that Naruto was learning how to use the frog summons and he used too much chakra that the toad he did summon took pity on him and helped take Naruto to the hospital where he left an imprint.

That was enough for her friends, but Maiko could tell that the Hokage suspected more of it and was probably close to the truth of the matter. But she didn't give the old man Jiraiya's name nor Gamabunta's because she knew that Jiraiya wanted to remain in the shadows during his stay and no one would really believe her if she said that Naruto summoned the boss toad, one of the most powerful frog summons.

"Hey Maiko-chan." Gai broke her from her thoughts as she entered the hospital. She looked up to see her friend standing dejectedly at the reception desk, logging in to see his student. Maiko knew just what to do, so she went up to the man and hugged him.

He really needed someone to just hug him and tell him that everything will be alright with Lee. She has been doing that for the past month and yet even though it gave him hope, that hope only lasted until the next day when he came to sit with Lee until visiting hours were over. So that is what Maiko did, she hugged Gai and said the same thing she has been telling him for the past month. She didn't care what people would think of this and focused entirely on her friend and not the stares she was receiving.

"Thanks Mai-chan." Gai finally replied, even though it was more of a sniffle, and released her from his embrace.

"It's the truth Gai-kun and don't you lose hope. Now let's go see how well Lee is doing, eh?" She guided her friend to Lee's room. What she saw next, she did not expect. Shikamaru and Naruto were facing off against the red-head ninja from Suna. Naruto was shaking as Shikamaru was struggling to gather up enough chakra to use his shadow possession technique and the Suna genin was surrounded by sand that Maiko assumed came from the gourd on his back.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Gai commanded and all three genin turned to look at the jounins.

"The finals start tomorrow, don't get so antsy." Maiko said.

"Or do you want to stay here, starting today?" Gai added coldly. The Suna genin seemed to be surprised at the sight of the two of them and couldn't decide which one to stare at. He then clutched his head as if a headache had overcome the kid. So he walked past the jounins and stopped at the door to say one last thing.

"I'll definitely kill you guys… Just wait…" And with that, the genin was gone. Maiko wondered what that was all about and couldn't shake off this feeling of dread that the kid meant what he said. There was something about him that threw her off and she struggled as to what it was. But she saw Naruto trembling and she put all thoughts about the Suna genin in the back of her mind.

"Come on Otuoto and Shikamaru, Gai wants to be with his student." Maiko said gently and ushered the two boys outside before hugging Gai as her farewell. The three of them walked silently back to Naruto's room.

"Thank you Shikamaru for coming to sit with Naruto." Maiko broke the silence and Shikamaru's head snapped towards her. She smiled and Shikamaru returned it as his arms went up to behind his head in his usual walking pose.

"Like I told Naruto, I was coming to visit Choji and thought to stop in and check on up on him." He said and Maiko quirked an eyebrow at this.

"How long ago was this?"

"Oh crap, Ino is going to kill me!" Shikamaru stated and ran the opposite direction to what she assumed was Choji's room. She laughed at that and when she didn't hear Naruto's laugh accompanying hers, she frowned.

"What's wrong otuoto?" Maiko asked, worry swam through her voice. Naruto at first didn't answer her, he didn't even look at her. She stopped walking and he continued on as if he didn't hear her. Naruto made it all the way back to his room and he plopped himself on his bed, in the seated position, staring at an invisible spot on his sheet.

"What is wrong Naruto?" She asked once more but this time she sat on his bed facing him and cupped his face in her hands, making him look at her. In his blue eyes she saw sadness and hesitancy.

"He… He is just like me." He croaked and her confusion mounted.

"Who is just like you sweetie?"

"The red haired genin, Gaara." He replied solemnly and she felt her eyebrows furrow at what Naruto could mean that the Suna genin was just like him.

"How so?" She finally voiced her question.

"He has a monster inside of him too. A monster so terrible that his own father sent assassins to kill him." He answered her. Naruto's blue eyes never left her green ones, so she could see the whirlwind of emotions the boy was experiencing. All Maiko could do was stare back at him in shock. If what Naruto said was true, then that meant that there was another jinchuriki out there. Another poor child that had to suffer the same things that Naruto had to go through as he grew up. And then it hit her.

That was why she had felt such a strange connection to the Suna genin. He has within him a tailed beast and just like her great grandfather, she inherited the ability to sense them. To connect with them. And Gaara could feel it too by the way they first looked at each other in the preliminaries. And then another epiphany dawned upon her.

When he said he would kill them all, he had the power to do so. Just like Naruto, Gaara has chakra reserves that not even the third can fight against. This kid could kill anyone he pleases, he could kill Naruto if those two ever got into a fight. Because the kid could keep going just like Naruto. Fear settled in the pit of her stomach as the thought of a possible fight between the two flitted to her mind. Both were in the finals so there was a huge possibility that two would fight.

Oh Kami, have mercy on anyone who fights that kid tomorrow. She thought and attempted to keep her face neutral. Naruto did not need to see how worried she was at this bit of news.

To hide it further, just in case she was failing, she pulled Naruto into a tight hug. She rubbed his back and said soothing words. She said he didn't have to worry about that kid until they actually had to fight one another. All he had to do was focus on beating Neji. Maiko did her best to take Naruto's mind off of Gaara despite the fact that is all she could think of.