Naruto: Genesis of the Nindo

by Bloody-Mad

Inspired by Reading the Future: Naruto's True Nindo. . . The future is not set in stone. Every action has a reaction. The people of the past have a chance to change things- hopefully, for the better. Join Team Minato, The Slug and Toad Sannin, and the parents that started it all! Hopefully, a different kind of Naruto! TEMPORARY HIATUS

25. Chapter 25

OK folks! Here we have the extra to Crescent Moon? Remember the scenes they'd show us in the end credits of the movie? It really made me wonder what they did during the two week vacation duty. So, this is my little chapter just for that. Well, it's not little, it's about 70 pages. Still, this was just my way of letting the creative juices flow, a sort of drabble thing, you know?

Everyone needs a break, even Chosen One's like Naruto. So enjoy, my light hearted chapter. Next Chapter: the first (and only canon) "filler" chapter! Which filler you ask? Ngh. Nah, fond out for yourselves. Expect an update . . . meh. Whenever. Middle of April perhaps? That should do nicely.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. Similarly, i do not own any songs english or japanese.

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"Oh, looks like another extra to the chapter!" Obito pointed out, and then promptly thrust the book to Tsunade.

"Take this part please, Tsunade-sama." Obito requests cheerily, and Tsunade smiles as she grabs the book.

"Great, I get a good part to read!" She chirps, and then takes a deep breath as she starts to read.

Naruto awoke slowly, peacefully, to sunlight gentled by the silk curtains in his room. At first, he was confused. He certainly didn't remember buying silk curtains for Katsu (and he'd remember shelling out the cash for that), and while comfortable, the bed they had never felt like a cloud . . . and then he remembered where he was.

After saving their kingdom from that evil what's-his-face, Michiru in all his generosity and awesomeness, granted them the use of rooms in the castle whilst they were in two-week vacation duty for Kakashi's recovery.

"Hell yes!" Obito and Kakashi yell high-fiving.

Hell yes.

Naruto arose, glancing down at the rich blues and golds of the sheets he had been practically swathed in just a little while ago. He surveyed his room, just to see what he'd missed from last night. He slept in a large bed, easily king-size or bigger, with detailed posts on each corner. Next to the beds rested nightstands with wood lamps on either side, detailed designs of waves carved into them. The room was as big as the living room of his home back in Konoha, and on the wall opposite his bed were large glass doors leading to a balcony. In one corner stood a table with a couple chairs around it, and in the other corner was a writing desk, close to the balcony.

Naruto only gave this a few moments thought before he slipped out of bed, walking towards the door that would lead to the hallway. Right as he opened it, a maid froze outside his room, hand raised to knock.

"Oh! Good morning, Uzumaki-san, I . . ." the maid glanced down then quickly back up with a red face, eyes averted from Naruto's shirtless form. "I t-trust . . . you slept well?"

Kushina's head tilts back as she laughs. "Honestly, it's not his fault this time is it? Poor sochi just has his father's luck."

"Well that luck got me you, so I'm not complaining." Minato murmurs, rolling his eyes playfully.

Naruto realized he was shirtless at the same time the maid did, and was privately amused at her sudden bashfulness. He was only thirteen, what was there to blush about quite yet?

"That's an excellent question." Rin giggles, and Tsunade laughs.

"Exactly." Kakashi mutters in an exasperated tone. Obito hears him and is quick to swoop in on the opportunity for teasing.

"Poor Kakashi-kun . . . too good-looking for your own peace of mind, have to look over your shoulder every minute to make sure you don't get molested!" Obito simpers, eyes widening to large, watery puppy dog eyes. Kakashi's right eyebrow twitches and he swipes at Obito, who dodges with a laugh.

"He just doesn't understand sensei." Kakashi sighs.

"I know, my student . . . he is lucky." Minato commiserates, nodding his head sagely.

"Yes, it was wonderful thank you."

The maid took a deep breath and nodded, sternly reminding herself of her job. "I came to inform you that breakfast is served, and while you can take it up here, the royal family insist that you join them in the dining hall. I shall escort you if that is your wish."

"I think then, I should probably freshen up . . . but I don't wish to trouble you." Naruto said.

"Not at all Uzumaki-san! I will just wake up your friend in the room next to you— the others of your group are being awoken by other maids." The maid cheerfully replied, though she still wouldn't look at him.

"I see. Thank you, er . . ."

"Hanazuki Kaede, Uzumaki-san." The maid gave her name with a curtsy.

Naruto smiled. "Thank you then, Hanazuki-san. I won't be long." With a smile Naruto closed the door and started to get ready. Instead of a bath with a connecting shower, there was just one very large shower, with the toilet and sink next to it. Though it slightly intrigued him that a castle would have a western style bathroom, Naruto found he enjoyed the several shower heads far too much to really focus on it.

"Ooh that sounds wonderful." Kushina sighs, a dreamy smile on her face.

He put on orange swim trunks and a black A-shirt. He brought his usual stuff with him, just in case a good opportunity for a fight arose.

"But he's on vacation duty!" Rin protests.

"Unless you're home in Konoha, you never lower your guard. Vacation duty or no, it's caution— you can call it paranoia if you want— that keeps you alive." Minato warns his students, not looking away until they'd nodded or given some verbal agreement.

Once he left the room, he paused; hearing footsteps in the room next to him get closer. The door opened to reveal Hanazuki and Katsu, who looked refreshed and perky in a blue sundress.

"Ohayou Naru!" Katsu chirped, skipping to his side as soon as she saw him. Naruto grinned at her.

"Ohayou! Let's head down for some breakfast shall we?" Naruto invited, and Hanazuki escorted them down the winding flights of stairs to the incredibly huge, indescribably elegant dining room. The ceiling stretched up far above their heads, and the room stretched to house an impossibly long table, where everyone else sat.

"Naruto!" Hikaru chirps his name, and Naruto greets the little boy with a big grin and a peace sign before addressing everyone else.

"Ohayou everyone, what's the plan for today?" Naruto greeted them all. With a murmur of thanks to Hanazuki, the two found their seats next to Sasuke.

"Well, I feel like I've been trampled on by five elephants and then put through a wood chipper— as opposed to the horde of elephants, being chewed on by a tiger, and then pulverized and ground by a meat grinder. So Sakura suggested we stay in the garden today." Kakashi answered in a casual tone, thanking the butlers who laid out breakfast before them, opening the silver trays and bowing as they discreetly moved away.

"Can I be as cool as you one day Kakashi?" Obito asks earnestly.

Kakashi thinks about it, then slowly nods his head. "If you really work for it, you can achieve it."

"That's cool. Katsu and I are going to the beach. We'll probably be there all day, so if you get bored of the garden come find us." Naruto informs them.

"We might head over there in a couple of hours." Kakashi proposes, smiling at the excited cheers from Sakura and Lee.

"You, of course, won't be swimming. Forget about tanning, that milk white skin of yours would only boil." Obito teases, whining at the slap from his silver-haired friend.

"If you walk to the town square there's a nice shop to buy some beach supplies to make the day more enjoyable." Michiru— The King, Naruto reminds himself— tells them, smiling at the way the children's faces brightened.

"We will head there straight after breakfast, Your Excellency." Naruto thanks Michiru. Once he and Katsu have finished, with a quick chirp of thanks and a bow, they hurry to leave the castle and get their day started.

Throughout their walk they are greeted, almost lauded by the citizens of Tsuki, which is quite the embarrassing novelty to Katsu, and a minor pleasant distraction to Naruto. The shop is full of other beachgoers, and they link hands to keep together. Naruto grabs a cooler, two red-and-white striped beach umbrellas, and a large donut ring float. Katsu grabs two beach towels, and eyes the rack of surfboards contemplatively before grabbing the air pump and a beach ball.

"Sure it'd be cool to learn surfing, but they'll likely never have another opportunity to surf after they leave. Plus it'd probably take two weeks to learn anyhow." Kakashi rationalizes.

They slip into another store a few doors down and stock up on food, certain they'd eat it all after a full day, and make sure to get some for the others who will come.

There are just about thirty different beach sites they can go to, and it's both an adventure and a hassle finding out which one they should visit first. They eventually decide to go to the beach directly behind the castle, but keep in mind a lagoon on the west end of the island for tomorrow. A spot just in front of two palm trees is chosen, and once everything is settled a dress flies and a top is chucked as two laughing teen's race towards the crystalline waters of the ocean.

"The ocean . . . yeah, it is pretty cool." Obito sighs, eyes misty and faraway.

"How crude . . . that doesn't do the ocean justice. It's so . . . beautiful!" Rin sighs dreamily, hands twisting fanciful curls and waves in the air to describe the apparent beauty.

"Heh. You guys enjoy the ocean?" Kushina asks with a knowing smile. She used to live on an island after all, and after being moved to Konoha her memories of it were that much more precious.

"Yeah! It must have been pretty wonderful living by it every day, huh Kushina-san?" Obito asks thoughtlessly, only realizing how insensitive it might be to bring up her childhood home when Rin elbows him in the side rather harshly.

"I'm sorry . . ." he trails off.

"Nah, you're right! It was awesome, couldn't have wished for a better childhood than swimming from the moment I could crawl, searching for sea glass . . . it was wonderful." Kushina answers, her smile carrying only a trace of melancholy.

"Aiee! It's cold!" Katsu shrieks, giggling as she forces herself to wade into deeper waters.

Naruto laughs and dives into the waters, immediately popping up again. "Ack! You're right, but the shock fades . . ." He shudders, but shakes it off and smiles.

Another dive affords him a beautiful new world, crystal clear and beautiful. There were no fish around in the shallower waters, but farther out in the darker depths he could see colorful flashes dart to and fro, wary of the human legs and feet that entangle far from them.

He swims past Katsu, brushing against her leg and grinning when she jumps, and swims a little further ahead before he surfaces. Katsu pouts at him, the water now waist-high as she walks forward.

"Just dive in! Real quick, like a Band-Aid." Naruto promises her, and Katsu shakes her head, preferring her slow and easy way.

Kushina hums in disagreement. "Much better to just jump in, it's easier that way."

Naruto splashes a little water her way, laughing at her hasty backpedals, before he resumes his exploration of the underwater world. He swims around and torpedoes for Katsu, who spots the quick flash of orange heading her way and raises her leg to stomp him into the sand— but Naruto is too quick, and with a roar he jumps out of the water and traps her in his arms, falling backwards into the water.

"AHH! DAMN IT— NARUTO!" Katsu wails, surging up and shaking her head like a, well, wet dog.

"Ugh, hate that." Kushina and Tsunade grunt with a shudder for good effect.

"See? Easy right?" Naruto asks with an unrepentant grin, and Katsu growls, splashing him. They swim and play in the sea, sometimes floating and sometimes going back to lie for a bit on the beach towels, snacking. Naruto and Katsu make a game out of racing to climb the palm trees— far more difficult with the rule of no chakra— and grabbing as many coconuts as they can. They are surprised at the taste of coconut water, but find it pleasant after a few swallows.

"Oh, I haven't had fresh coconut in ages. There's a meat inside," Kushina explains to the kids, who look mystified, "it's a bit of an acquired taste, but the water inside the coconut that's flavored by the meat makes it great. It's a . . . think of it as a large nut. It grows on palm trees."

"I suddenly wish I'd grown up on an island." Obito murmurs much to the amusement of the adults.

"Hey you guys!" Naruto and Katsu turn at the sound of Sakura's voice, and Katsu struggles not to choke on a combination of coconut water and laughter. Naruto shoots her a look and a reproachful mutter of, "Don't be petty," but she can't help herself. Sakura in her red bikini— whereas she is dressed in a more conservative white and blue tankini— just tickles her funny bone.

It tickles Rin's funny bone to, because something between a low guffaw, and a gasp escapes her mouth. She claps a hand over her mouth when she sees everyone looking at her, and there is a muffled, "Sorry."

Minato gives her a disappointed look. "Rin, there is no need for that. What Sakura chooses to wear is her choice."

Kushina can't help but add in, "I don't really see what a thirteen year-old needs with a bikini anyway."

"Girls are vicious to each other." Obito remarks with a mildly bemused look on his face.

"But they're even worse when they band together against a common enemy, so take care to never let it be you." Jiraiya advises him with a chuckle.

Lee dashes towards them in green swim trunks, reaching them before Sakura, and salutes them with an enthusiastic greeting.

"Yo, Lee, how about some coconut water? Then we can race a couple laps." Naruto challenges the bowl-cut boy with a wicked grin, and Lee grins back.

Kakashi saunters towards them in a sleeveless top with an attached mask, and his jounin pants. "You've been having fun I take it?" he asks the two, eyeing their messy hair, drying in wild ways from the saltwater. Their bright eyes and bodies tensed with energy yet to be exhausted by the sun and surf.

"The ocean is so cool nii-san!" Naruto exclaims, hands moving rapidly as he recaps what he and Katsu have done, what they've seen and noticed. ". . . and I swear I glimpsed a dolphin but Katsu doesn't believe me!"

"He's so excited." Kushina giggles fondly.

"You'll have to take him on trips to the ocean before he goes into the Academy." Tsunade says.

"Well now, I'm sure you can see another dolphin more clearly with those eyes of yours over the course of our stay here Naruto." Kakashi cuts in smoothly, ruffling the slightly crisp hair of Naruto, who wrinkles his nose a little at the action.

He's still just a kid. He's seen a lot, he's done a lot . . . but he's not ready to push into manhood just yet. Kakashi realizes as he watches the blonde and ginger run into the water after their friends, shouting happily. He sighs and flops down on the beach towels, grabbing a coconut and cracking it open as he watches over the kids.

"Hatake Kakashi," Obito deepens his voice and speaks in an announcer's tone. "He cracks open coconuts . . . with one finger."

He glances up at the sun, high in the sky but starting to sink into late afternoon and resides himself to waiting a long time for dinner.

For two days after Naruto and Katsu hit the water hotspots of the island, the lagoon holding a special place in their heart. They took Hikaru along with them to the lagoon on the second day, even managing to get out of taking guards with them as Naruto assured he was more than enough for any straggler rebel. By the morning of the fourth day Kakashi figured it was time to curtail the beach visits, if only to save himself the exhaustion of having to look all over the island for them, to make sure they were safe.

"Oh, they're just trying to get in as many memories as they can. It's not like the beach is close to home." Kushina allows, a fond smile warming her features.

"It's best to take a break before they catch a fever from the sun, or heatstroke, or . . . something." Kakashi argues, only stumbling when he realizes how much he sounds like a fretting mother. Judging by Minato and Kushina's sly smiles, they realize it too.

"You've been going to the beaches from morning till night, for three days already. How about trying something different? We're here for eleven more days, the beaches aren't going anywhere." Kakashi persuades, observing the kids— already naturally tan, they'd taken on a shade or two from their excursions and their bright eyes and hair seemed to glow against their skin. Naruto and Katsu look at each other for a minute before shrugging and turning to Kakashi.

"Well what else is there to do?" Katsu asks.

Michiru answers. "There's the marketplace, it's always very cheerful and bustling— every day down there is like a festival! I remember you also telling me you enjoy karaoke . . . there's a place for that where you and your friends can go!"

"There is also the hot springs owned by the royal family." Hikaru added.

"Hot springs after a dip in the sea? Just heavenly." Kushina sighs.

"Not to mention the casinos—"

"Which they are too young to go to." Kakashi cuts in with a stern look to Naruto and Katsu.

"Right. Oh, and the mall—" Michiru was cut off by the loud clattering of a fork as it fell to a plate out of boneless fingers. As one they all turned to look at Katsu, whose bloodless face and saucer eyes scared a good few of them. Sakura, though she had no fork to fall as dramatically as Katsu's in her hands, still looked rather manic.

"Ugh." Minato groaned. "My son's poor bank account."

"Hey!" Kushina snaps, poking Minato's side.

"There's a mall?" Katsu whispered, head turning slowly, like something out of a horror movie, to hold the royal family in her stare.

Michiru gulped, stuttering out a reply. "Y-yes. Just about a thirty minute drive by carriage."

"So close? A real mall?" Sakura piped up this time, voice awed. "The nearest mall to Konoha is a two day walk. We only have marketplaces and little shops in Konoha . . ."

"That mall . . . my first time there was like . . . reaching Nirvana, or something." Rin recollects with an uplifted face, eyes closed in the bliss of the memory.

"Nothing— that's nothing compared to the mall in, of all places, Tea country." Tsunade tells her wisely.

"My money . . ." Naruto muttered, tears streaming down his face. Kakashi makes a sympathetic noise and pats him on the back, but there is little he can do.

"Ooh, can I come with you?!" Hikaru pleads.

"Hikaru, remember you had your holiday. Now you've lessons to work on with your tutor." Michiru reminds him patiently. Hikaru wilts and agrees with a wistful look and a mumbled assent. Naruto smiles and ruffles the child's hair, silently appealing to the boy to perk up.

"Well," Katsu swallows a gulp of orange juice, a thoughtful look on her face. "We can just hang out wherever today!"

"YOSH! Let us go and fan our flames of youth with the culture of this beautiful island!" Lee exclaims, shooting a fist into the air.

"Oh Lee, if you'd just tone down the volume and your eyebrows you'd be a wonderful catch." Katsu sighs, making Lee and Sakura gawk and Naruto splutter with laughter into his cup of oolong tea.

"I don't think she was saying that to tease either . . . does she really believe so?" Rin wonders.

"Well, Gai does lots of exercises right? Lee must follow suit . . . and I once heard Gai proclaim he'd do a hundred push-ups with his tongue. Judging by his downright repugnance to all things flavorful the following three days afterwards, I assume he completed his task." Kakashi informs her.

"With his tongue?" The woman all mutter, heads tilting to the side in consideration.

"Um, right here? Remember me? Handsomest non-Uchiha in Konoha?" Minato waves his hand in front of his girlfriend's face, looking perturbed.

They spend the day taking a group trip down to the Royal Gardens— a breathtakingly beautiful testament to landscaping and design. There were all sorts of flowers in bloom, archways made from the hedges, vines and clusters of flowers that hung overhead. There was even a maze in the garden that they turned into a race course, marveling over the hidden alcoves and fountains surrounded by benches hidden away in the maze.

That evening they, with the exception of Kakashi, headed out to the Karaoke bar Michiru had spoken of, and they tried to dress it up a little. Sakura had on her usual pink dress that she took along, her hair pinned up in a bun with her bangs down and slightly curled; Lee just wore his ninja uniform, the only thing flashy about him was his extra bright white teeth that sparkled in any light; Naruto had on a deep blue button-up— and blue was apparently his color, if the blushes of the females he passed were any indication—

"See, I told you blue is a perfectly acceptable color." Minato taunts, lightly poking Kushina's cheek. She slaps the offending appendage away with a faint scowl.

"Sure for you, because it doesn't look quite so boring on you. For everyone else? Well, that's all perspective isn't it?" Kushina argues.

shirt and faded blue jeans; Katsu went for a long fluttery yellow skirt that swished around her ankles at every movement, and a sleeveless off-shoulder black and yellow top. The place wasn't empty but nor was it terrible packed, so they were able to find a nice booth to order and watch others come up and perform. Sakura insisted they all sign up to sing, and put them all up.

"Ah!" Katsu mewled, stretching like a cat after she'd finished her meal. "That was delicious, and . . . ha, Lee is really giving it his all." She says this with an indulgent tone, smiling at Lee as he wows the crowd with a flurry of kicks and punches in time to "Kung Fu Fighting."

"Perfect song." Rin, Obito, and Kakashi chime.

"He's terrible but his showmanship more than makes up for it." Sakura agrees, giggling at Lee's double backflip.

"He sounds like a dying animal, but . . . I love it." Naruto mumbles around a bite of seasoned potato.

Lee finished with a grand sweeping kick, the applause for his performance loud and pleasing enough to the boy for him to backflip off the stage and rush over to their booth.

"Guys! How was that?!"Lee asks them, eyes shining.

"Oh, it was awesome." They all agree, nodding their heads. They chuckle at Lee's enthusiastic shout, and watch as Naruto goes up for his turn.

"Oh, can't we hear him? Please?" Kushina begs the TV, but pouts when it gives its answer.

Not this time . . . you'll surely be more entertained later.

"Well, we'll just have to imagine it. We heard his voice before, we just have to imagine that voice singing!" Obito says optimistically.

"Is he any good?" Sakura asks Katsu, figuring she'd know best.

Katsu gives her a secret smile and a lofty, "He's alright."

Naruto was better than alright— Lee and Sakura's jaws dropped— he was amazing. He had the voice of a devil— where an angel's would be smooth and pure, Naruto's was an almost rough purr, loud and full. He belted out "Akai Hana" with a confidence, almost arrogance, that had the whole place crowing.

"Oh, those missed opportunities for research." Jiraiya mumbles sadly, shaking his head at the sheer waste of it all.

Kushina's eyes shine like stars, her smile sappy yet undeniably sweet. "My baby— my perfect, wonderful baby. But I wonder where he gets his singing from, certainly not me . . ."

"I've never heard you sing . . . I just can't see you being bad." Minato confesses with a thoughtful frown.

Kushina spears him with a sullen glare. "I bet he gets it from you. He got just about everything from you."

"Just his looks. And probably some of his intellect— he does have to actually think about things." Tsunade reminds her.

"LET YOUR FLAMES OF YOUTH BURN BRIGHTLY NARUTO-KUN!" Lee shouts exuberantly as Naruto serenades the crowd.

Naruto returns to the table afterwards, laughing at the all-encompassing blush on Sakura's face and the ever excitable Lee still crowing. "I take it you enjoyed?" he asked rhetorically, but they answered anyway.

"Ah, I just love Last Alliance! You picked a good song, though I thought Prometheus was more your style." Katsu sighs.

"N-Naruto . . . that— that was . . ." Sakura mutters, tongue twisting for the right words.

"Don't go falling in love with him now Pinkie, he's taken." Rin chides, chuckling.

"Amazing? Fantastic? Freaking awesome?" Naruto supplies.

". . . Yeah." Sakura says faintly. She doesn't have too long to be faint though, as it's her turn on the stage, so she skips up after a couple deep breaths and gives the audience a cute smile. Her choice is "Itazura na Kiss," a cute bubblegum pop song that suits her, and her sweet voice.

"Itazura na Kiss . . . hmm. I feel like it's familiar . . . or maybe I'm thinking of another kiss song." Rin mumbles.

"Huh, so she can sing." Katsu murmurs thoughtfully, tapping a finger to the beat.

"You sound shocked?" Naruto asks, ducking out of the way of Lee's flaming windmill arms of youth.

"Well with the way she can screech— you just never thought something so nasty could turn into something so nice." Katsu explains. Naruto looks at her for a moment before sighing and shaking his head.

"Too true." Rin and Tsunade agree, nodding their heads in a solemn fashion.

"She's thirteen. You're terrible." Minato scolds them.

"I never noticed . . . but she made as bad an impression as Kakashi somehow, didn't she? Only unlike nii-san . . . you have yet to grace her a trial period." He deducts correctly. Katsu merely shrugs, clapping along with everyone else when Sakura finishes her song and bows with flushed cheeks, rushing back to their table.

"My turn now!" Katsu chirps, throwing up a 'V' for victory before climbing up to the stage. Their table has been recognized now for good entertainment, so the rest of the room is eager to test her. Katsu doesn't disappoint with her pick of "Love is War (Future Retro Remix)" that she hits perfectly, her voice just as enthralling as Naruto's.

"Ooh, I love karaoke! We definitely must come here one more time before we leave." Katsu exclaims as she bounces back to her seat, eyes bright.

"And we definitely want to hear!" The group shouts.

"Oh definitely. And now, we must go, it's getting rather late." Naruto points out, and after clearing their bill they return to the palace, eagerly awaiting the newest adventure of the next day.

"Why are we here?" Sakura asks with an annoyed scoff, lounging on a beach towel draped over hard stone. Sakura's main annoyance is the fact that instead of lying on softer, white sands, they're probably hurting their backs on the hard cliffs.

"What are they going to cliffs for?" Rin asked, wrinkling her nose.

"You'll see." Kushina said vaguely, smiling.

"Lee and Katsu wanted to check out the cliffs, and I didn't care either way, so you were outvoted." Naruto reminds her, just barely able to hear her over the blaring of his own music. Heavy metal was just so much more appreciable on cliffs, really.

"What for?" Sakura pushed, but she scoffed when Naruto didn't answer, realizing he'd turned his volume up. She turns on her side to watch Katsu and Lee huddle together, discussing something. Then looks over to see Kakashi-sensei snoozing on a large rock, Icha Icha book covering his face.

"That's showing a great deal of trust, isn't it Kakashi?" Obito asks.

"Not like they'll ever see what's under my mask, right, Obito?" Kakashi asks in a needling tone, smirking at the boy with a pointed look. Obito grumbles and looks away angrily, not answering.

She leans up on an elbow and reaches for the picnic basket, grabbing a bottle of chilled pineapple juice. Sitting up and folding her legs to the side, she takes a swig.

Only to promptly spit it out when Katsu makes a running leap off the cliff.

"They wanted to go cliff diving? That's dangerous if you don't know how to properly do it, isn't it?" Tsunade asks Kushina.

The Uzu princess shrugs. "Not hard, just feet first into the water. The only tricky part is if you wanna do tricks before you hit the water. Then timing's important."

"N-Naruto!" Sakura shrieks, gesturing wildly as Lee follows Katsu with an excited yell. Kakashi picks up his book and looks over to where she's indicating, snorting when he realizes what's happened.

Naruto's head pops up, looking around as he pushes the headphones down again. He frowns. "Did they just jump off the cliff?"

"Yep." Kakashi mutters, settling in for another satisfying snooze under the baking sun.

"I hope you slathered on sunscreen milky." Obito sniggers, yelping in pain when Kakashi's fist nearly dislocates his shoulder.

"Why are you being so calm?!" Sakura yells, scrabbling up to run to the edge of the cliff. All she can see is the foam ripple left behind by two bodies that plunged into the briny depths— no bodies. "They just— just jumped!"

"It's called cliff diving Sakura, they'll be fine." Naruto sighs, scrolling through his songs. As Sakura gapes at him, Naruto fishes through the picnic basket for a strawberry juice and a sandwich.

"How do you know?" She demands.

"Well, Lee is just too damn tough to die from . . . heights. Also, Katsu and I dived off the smaller cliffs around the watering hole. Remember that lake?" Naruto asks her.

Tsunade snorts in amusement. "They still call it the watering hole?" she mutters, with a look to Jiraiya.

"No one ever bothered to make a better name for it?" Jiraiya questions back, chuckling.

"The watering hole is perfect. Perfectly describes that little lake." Obito states.

"Got to love the watering hole." Minato and Kushina echo, nodding their heads.

Sakura snorts. "Yeah, I do. But those cliffs were like, ten feet up! These are more like ten miles!"

"Psh— physics," Naruto waves away her arguments like smoke clouds. "Just watch, you might be tempted to try yourself."

"How are they getting back up?" Sakura asks.

"Cliff walking, my dear. Now, uh, just relax." Naruto murmurs, lying back and putting his music back on.

The next day: Hide-and-seek in the castle.

There's no adequate way to describe it to the readers. Things happened that should never be mentioned again, and . . . things were seen that could not be unseen. But above all, there was much fun and laughs to be had.

The new morning sees Sakura pausing outside of Naruto's door, chewing her lip nervously.

I have to know . . . do I really want to know? No . . . I need to know, it'll explain so much! Sakura tells herself determinedly. However, her gearing up does not help her fist move any closer to the door.

Naruto heard her outside his door when she stopped in front of it roughly ten minutes ago, and decides to put her out of her misery. He opens the door and feigns a surprised look. "Oh, Sakura . . . ohaiyou, what can I help you with?"

Sakura takes a deep breath. "I was wondering if we could talk . . . about you, and . . ." she trails off uncertainly.

Naruto's eyes widen. He'd thought for sure she'd just push it away until whenever. "I've been waiting a while. Come on in then, this conversation is better done in privacy." He opens the door wider, allowing her to slip in. Naruto closes the door and they take a seat at the table in the corner. Sakura perches at the edge of her seat and sits tensely, her level of discomfort showing itself plainly. Naruto thinks about taking pity on her again, but shakes the thought away. This was her problem, not his.

"You . . . in Yuki no Kuni, you said something about the Kyuubi." Sakura begins. She clears her throat. "You told me to figure it out, and I wondered what you meant. What connection you could possibly have to a demon, and that demon in particular."

"Have you come to a conclusion?" Naruto speaks after an awkward pause.

"A few theories, that you can confirm." Sakura hedges. "Are you . . . a relation to the Kyuubi?"

"Nope. Interesting how you came about that, but I'll leave it for later." Naruto muses.

"Then . . . I thought about that word you used in the Chuunin Exams. Jinchuuriki, which literally means human sacrifice. And your birthday is the same day as the Kyuubi's death. Were you meant to be a sacrifice for it? Like, some sort of meal?" Sakura feels stupid and incredibly dreadful just speaking the theory aloud, but she's running out of steam.

Naruto laughs. "What could a baby do to quell that demon's hunger? No . . . but you're close with the jinchuuriki thing. I have already been sacrificed."

"Already . . ." she murmurs, looking to the side. "I'm out of ideas."

"I'll tell you then." Naruto settles back into his seat, getting comfortable. Of all who he wondered about telling this too, it was Sakura he was the most doubtful of. Not because he considered her that shallow, or a bad person, but simply because of her civilian upbringing.

"Kyuubi is a being of chakra, and therefore he is unable to be killed. Still, he needed to be stopped, so there was little else the Yondaime could do but seal the great demon inside a newborn baby. A newborn who had no chakra system properly defined, otherwise it wouldn't work."

"And he chose you." Sakura whispered.

"Yes." His voice had dropped too.

"Why?"

"He had no other . . . well, he had choices. I was easily available at the time though." Naruto answers.

"But then . . . all the times you got in trouble at school, even when you hadn't said anything, or done a prank? And the way people glared— still glare? They . . . think you are Kyuubi don't they?" Sakura whispers, horrified. All those times her own parents had warned her against Naruto, and the way everyone had just sneered and rejected him. She thought it had been retribution for pranks, but even she knew at times that those stares and whispers were undeserved. She just never knew.

"Whether it's because they think I am Kyuubi, or I am just a memory they wish could fade away, is debatable. I am a reminder of something so very painful. Every breath I take is a slap in the face of those whose loved ones lost in the attack, can never breathe again. It hurts, and I get that." Naruto explains simply.

"That's no excuse." Sakura states lowly, staring at the marble top of the table in front of her. Naruto's soft laugh makes her look up to his grinning face.

"As long as you think so." Naruto assures her, and Sakura understands.

The day after that? Naruto has discovered three different waterfalls on the island, and he quickly scoops up Katsu and makes for them with the intent to get some opportune training in with his wind chakra.

"Good use of your time." Jiraiya commends.

". . ." Katsu's head tilts in contemplation as she watches her best friend— and about twenty other copies, fifty at the other two sites— try to split a waterfall in half with their chakra.

"How does this help?" she asks.

"I told you— the sharper my chakra, the cleaner and longer the cut. Once I completely split it, I'll know I've completed this phase of training." Naruto reminds her, focused on the task set before him.

"Oh. Well, you should be able to do this second nature right?" Katsu insists.

Naruto sighs, "Yes, hime, I should."

"So . . ."

"Katsu. Busy. Entertain yourself, take some pictures or something!" Naruto cuts her off.

"That's rude Naruto." Kushina frowns, crossing her arms.

Katsu huffs and throws a pebble at his shoulder. It hits target and the flinch breaks his concentration.

"What the hell?!" Naruto asks her.

"Concentration training." Katsu shrugs, bored. She couldn't swim and enjoy the waterfall with all of them taking it up, and the water was too cold for such a windy day. Why not take out her boredom on Naruto.

Naruto growled. "Quit it brat, and just keep quiet. You can still swim!"

"Too cold." Katsu complained.

"And you do care about her health, don't you?" Tsunade asks with a raised blonde eyebrow.

Naruto's head tilts back, a growl begging to be released. "How . . . is that my problem?"

"You brought her there." Obito and Kakashi point out.

A snarl of "You brought me here!" and two more pebbles to his lower back is the response.

Katsu is still mad at Naruto the day after, so she takes Sakura in the early, golden dawn hours out to breakfast before they start their mall excursion so that she can avoid Naruto.

When Naruto awakes a few hours later at a more normal time, he only rolls his eyes when he sees her and Sakura's spots open at the table.

"Second fight, his fault." Rin murmurs, as if keeping tally.

"So they left this morning?" Naruto asks, digging into his plate of poached eggs.

"Yes, but not to worry!" Michiru chirps, poking at his breakfast of fruit and a cream-cheese bagel, a large leafy green salad. It was decided that he ought to lose weight, to keep their new King as healthy and vital as possible— and while he appreciated the thought, he never quite imagined he'd have to . . . suffer. "I gave them an allowance, seeing as Katsu was inconvenienced by our rebellion, and her vacation was put on hold."

"An allowance?" Naruto echoes, giving Michiru a quizzical look.

"Yes, of about . . ." Michiru quote the number. Naruto chokes on his swallow of orange juice, Lee drops his slice of melon, and Kakashi snorts, shoulders shaking as he presses a fist to his mouth.

"Why?!" Naruto whimpers. Michiru doesn't answer, just gives a confused and nervous smile in replacement.

"You all are welcome to the same, when you decide to go souvenir shopping." He mutters.

The day drags on, and without Katsu and Sakura the boys see no reason to go out, and merely spar. Naruto has sent out thirty clones to each waterfall, and he's working in one of the gazebos in the Royal Garden. He is sure he's near a breakthrough with the letter communication seal he'd been working on . . . if it worked, it would change communication between ninja teams, hell the ninja world! Hmm . . . quick mail sent via seals . . . maybe s-mail? He sighs . . . Katsu hadn't yet seen this part of the Garden, she should like it when he shows it to her . . . after he apologized.

"Uh-huh." Kushina and Tsunade hum, glad Naruto's seen his wrongs.

He is brought out of his work by a heavy, troubled sigh and heavy footsteps that approach the archway in his section of the Garden. To his surprise, in walks King Michiru, who is looking stressed? Naruto rises, and the slight scuffling noise makes Michiru jump, yelping.

"Oh!" Michiru sighs. "Naruto, it's you. Did I disturb you?"

"Never, Your Highness." Naruto demurs, and gestures to the seats in the gazebo. "Looking for a good place to rest? The wind is perfect today; it practically tastes of surf and the barbeques on the beach."

"Um, don't mention barbeque!" Obito whimpers, looking at the snacks on the table out before them. PB&J just does not compare to barbeque.

"Don't mention barbeque in front of me." Michiru groans, dropping into the seat, making the wood creak.

"Something troubles you Your Grace?" Naruto asks, sitting back down and picking up his ink brush again.

"You could say that . . ." Michiru mumbles, rubbing the top of his capped head, looking out among the bright blooms around them. Naruto waits patiently, for Michiru to speak. The man came out here for solitude, but it was clear as day that he could also use an ear to unload on.

Michiru sighs. "This King business— well, I knew it was hard just looking at my papa. But this! He depended on me to handle all of this! And everyone has differing opinions that they unsuccessfully try to curb for the sake of what my father died for . . . I don't know who to listen to, or even if anyone is willing to listen to me. They still see me as that stupid prince who didn't care about responsibilities and maybe they're right. I just . . . don't want to disappoint anyone, especially Hikaru! He looked at me like I was really cool that night you guys defeated the Tsuki nins. I don't want to lose that look.

On top of that, I'm just . . . I am not cut out for King! It seems every word out of my mouth is wrong or ill-suited. I don't have any sense of grace or subtlety . . . the whole business of politics is too much!" Michiru stops, panting slightly after his rant.

"Tell me how you really feel." Kakashi mutters.

"Well, putting it like that, without his father to help him, I bet it seems pretty scary." Tsunade sighs.

"Sink or swim in that kind of business, huh?" Kushina asks no one in particular.

Naruto does not respond immediately, eyes tracing the whirls and characters of his prototype seal. He speaks quietly, "No one was ever born for leadership. Despite what anyone says, I don't believe it. What I believe, is that we are born for lives of purpose, of intent. And, slowly, in one of every hundred men or women . . . that purpose matures and shapes them into leaders. Their purpose is to not to lead— but to protect, to persevere and to change. The people around them recognize this, and lift them to the position of leader, whatever the title may be. Perhaps they choose to lead, or maybe they are chosen. Either way, rather than seeing it as a job, they see it as a responsibility they must take care of, as something valuable rather than worrying."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Minato swells with pride, and says with a smile.

"You're not born a natural leader?" Obito asks.

"Well, I can kind of understand that . . . like Inuzuka. They're born with instincts to lead the pack and protect, to guard and keep. That doesn't make them Hokage material, or even Clan leader material. That's just their way . . . not their intent?" Rin struggles to make convey her own instinctive understanding.

"Exactly, Rin." Tsunade nods, smiling at the girl.

Michiru is quiet, staring at Naruto. After a minutes passes, Michiru laughs. "I wish I was more like you Naruto. You'd make a good King— no, what was the leader of your village? Ah, yes, you'd make a good Hokage."

"That's what we've been saying this whole time!" Obito laughs.

Naruto blinks. "What makes you say that?"

"You're everything anybody would want in a leader. What I wish I could be . . . smart and confident, you don't let anyone shake you and see it. Even when we met, you looked at me not as a prince or even a client who controlled your mission— but an equal man who you would judge the worth of. You never backed down from those ninjas! You're eloquent and graceful, and you probably never fumble your words in front of your leader right?"

"The fear of a stapler to your head is powerful indeed." Naruto murmurs, before shaking his head. "You got it all wrong! I am what I am, not just because my parents were very strong people, but because my experiences . . ." realizing he was about to contradict himself, Naruto tried a different tactic.

"Oh sochi, sometimes Fate shouldn't be fought against. Sometimes, it knows what it's doing." Kushina chuckles.

"My experiences leave me ill-suited to lead a population. I am a leader, in my own right. I protect my family, and one day I'll have a team to lead and guide, like Kakashi-sensei does. We can all be leaders in our own small way, I was just saying that in the case of leaders like King or Hokage, it is a matter of belief and conviction. Michiru, do you want to be King?"

Michiru sighs. "I'm not sure . . . I have to be."

"Why? Why can't you just up and leave, let someone else take the reins?" Naruto presses.

Michiru gasps, looking scandalized by the very idea. "I could never! My papa wanted me to become a good King! And Hikaru! One day he also might sit on this throne, and I want to give him that chance."

"That's not obligation, that's responsibility." Jiraiya pinpoints, nodding. He smirks at the confused look on the kid's and Kushina's faces.

"You're adamant on that? You won't abdicate the throne, because your tou-chan wouldn't have wanted that?" Naruto asks.

"Yes." Michiru states firmly.

Naruto smiles. "Then, you have your conviction."

"Huh?" Michiru asks dumbly.

"You are firmly set in your belief to see this thing through. It is your conviction, why you will keep getting up to learn the ways of Kingship, because there are people who depend on you. The previous King, your son." Naruto answers.

"Oh, okay." The previously confused ones echo each other now, nodding in understanding.

Michiru thinks about this for a few minutes, before smiling. "You sure you don't want to be Hokage? We'd have lots of fun making treaties."

Naruto laughs. "Denied."

They laugh and walk back to the castle together at Michiru's request, parting ways at the staircase. Michiru went down the halls to return to his office, while Naruto went to his room, to put away his notes, brushes and ink.

"I can only hope Jiraiya will be back when I get there, it seems like I'll need his help for this last bit." He murmurs to himself. He looks out the window and sighs upon spotting the afternoon sun. Still so many hours left . . . he knew for a fact Katsu wouldn't be back until evening— huh?

He cocks his head to the side when the loud sounds of girlish laughter and whinnies from horses reaches his ears. They're back already? Curious, Naruto walks down to the courtyard to see Katsu and Sakura.

Outside, the scene is quite tamer than he'd expected. Only one carriage filled to the brim with packages, the two girls walking alongside it as they reach the palace. In their hands are a few bags, and Naruto wonders if they couldn't fit them in the carriage.

Kakashi gulps. "That's tame?" he repeats incredulously.

"I didn't expect to see you until dinner," it is his way of greeting them, once they look up and see him leaning on the stone column at the top of the stairs.

"We . . . decided not to waste all our money today." Sakura answers, sharing a look with Katsu. Naruto raises his eyebrows— he thought they weren't very friendly, but apparently shopping is a big enough truce.

"A very temporary truce that can break at any moment depending on who wants what." Rin corrects.

"Okay." He shrugs simply. Sakura skips past him trilling something about lunch, and he waits for Katsu to walk up to where he is.

Katsu looks at him briefly, then looks away. Naruto knows he will have to apologize before she gets any madder—

"Here." She mutters, pushing a blue gift bag with yellow gift paper into his hands.

"Aw!" The females coo.

"For me?" he asks dumbly, looking at her. Katsu looks at him, nods, then looks away again.

He looks into the bag, and pulls out a small cerulean gift box. He opens it, and laughs softly. "You got me some sea glass too," he teases good-naturedly, taking out the ring.

A gentle blue sea glass, looking almost like a pinkie-sized stone, wrapped around in real gold wire. He smiles and puts the ring on his right middle finger.

"Aww!" they go again, longer and higher-pitched than the last one.

"You knew my ring size?" he asks with a curious look. Katsu was looking at him now, and nodded as if it was perfectly normal. The best friend excuse covered quite a bit, Naruto realized with some private mirth.

Naruto sighs. "Thank you . . . and I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have been like that yesterday."

"I'm . . . sorry too." Katsu mutters, but she looks directly into his eyes so it's sincere. He smiles— wickedly— and the glint in his eyes sets a chill down Katsu's spine. She hastily steps back, but too late as Naruto lunges forward and traps her in a bear hug, cheek rubbing onto the top of her head as he practically strangles her in his hold.

"Ack!"

"You are soo cute!" Naruto gushes with a big, goofy smile and a blush, eyes scrunched closed happily shut as he rocks exaggeratedly from side to side.

"I've seen that before . . . when Obito found an abandoned kitten. It was hilarious!" Rin laughs as she recalls the sappy look and cherry rush across Obito's face, as he tenderly snuggles the affectionate kitten.

"I still have her." Obito informs her.

"Oh you kept it? That's nice of you, Obito!" Kushina congratulates, smiling prettily.

"Young miss, shall we put these in your room?" an attendant asks with a sweat drop as he watches the young girl be smothered by the enthusiastic blonde. She manages to give a brief thumbs up before she returns to trying to pry herself from Naruto's grip.

Naruto final relents and laughs when Katsu takes a big gulp of air.

"So, what was with the shopping day? I thought you were going to bankrupt the King." Naruto asks her. He is greatly unnerved by her secret smile.

"You know I always look for the better opportunity Naru-chan." Katsu says merrily, and skips into the castle to get some lunch.

Naruto stops an attendant walking by laden with bags, and enquires, "Did the girl with orange hair . . . did she act strangely at any point in the day? Made any seemingly normal gesture or sound that made you uneasy?"

"Are you really that concerned?" Minato asks with a sweat drop.

"That's a rather funny question . . ." the man starts suspiciously, but then he pauses. "Actually, there was one time today."

"Well?" Naruto prompts.

"Well, she and the pink-haired girl were obviously very excited. They looked about ready to fly off the handle when they entered the mall. They flocked straight over to the directory— a list of stores and restaurants in the mall, and they were marking "hits", what they called the stores they were going to go into. But then the young miss froze, and looked very carefully at a store. She asked us about The Hammock Emporium. It's a furniture store, and we told her so. We took her there to look around, and there was such a look on her face . . . like one of peace, but it . . . set my nerves on edge." The man seemed flustered to have revealed so much, and quickly troops into the castle with the rest of the attendants.

Naruto has gotten the information he needs, and quickly drops his face into his open palms. So that was her plan . . . Katsu was going to use the King's dime to get new furniture for the entire house.

"That's very clever!" Kushina defends.

"Just how big was the allowance the King gave her?" Jiraiya mutters, shivering at spending that amount of money.

"That's also taking considerable advantage . . ." Kakashi makes a rather unkind statement, but his smirk and the look of approval in his eyes is a total contradiction. "Well done." He chuckles.

"Oh Katsu . . . if you weren't so clever with your selfishness, it would be a problem." Naruto mutters, then walks into the castle to try and convince her not to buy a whole new house on the King's dime.

The next day, Katsu leaves immediately after breakfast, Sakura asking to come along, and they don't return until noon. Katsu wears a look of accomplishment on her face— like one who has climbed a mountain with only a rope, an ice pick, and a sandwich. But she has nothing with her, not a bag or box in sight, and Naruto shivers as he realizes she shipped everything back home to Konoha, because the King could afford it. Sakura looks cheerful, and carries a few bags and a box, containing a pretty driftwood lamp she bought for her mother.

"You can stop looking at me like that, you know," Katsu informs Naruto rather waspishly. "I bought everything, within budget."

That just makes Naruto pale more, if anything. If it was so much that she had to haggle prices for it . . . ?

The days pass with beaches, barbeques and fun. It is the last week of their vacation. What will the Konoha group do next?

Funnily enough, it is Kakashi who supplies the answer. Or at least, he points them toward it.

The entire group decided to go into the Marketplace, and do a little souvenir shopping. There was only a brief hitch in Kakashi's gait, the smallest pause that lasted half a second. Naruto saw it though, and zeroed in.

"Did you see something, nii-san?" Naruto asks, looking toward the shop window Kakashi had glanced briefly at, and then glanced very quickly away from.

"Nah, nothing important." Kakashi dismisses.

"You never get things for yourself." Rin sighs, shaking her head.

"Don't really need it." Kakashi answers.

"What was it sensei?" Sakura asks, she and Lee pausing just in front of the group when they realized they weren't walking with them.

"Come on Kakashi, you don't ever look around for something for yourself. You did get something for Gai though," Katsu murmurs innocently.

Kakashi drops his fist onto her head, smirking at her yelp, but keeping a wary eye on Naruto's glare. "I got Asuma and Kurenai something too smartass. If you must know . . . it's that." He points to the object of interest.

They turn and look at the object in a comparatively normal store in the glitzy, lavish shopping plaza. In the window is a normal, red scarf.

"A scarf?" Minato echoes.

"I remember you wearing a scarf when I first saw you," Jiraiya recalls. "Sakumo was bragging about you, and your face was nearly swallowed by that thing. But, it wasn't red?"

"Oh, I remember that faintly. Was it blue, or green?" Kakashi struggles to remember. More importantly . . . "We met before?"

"Why did that catch your eye Kakashi-sensei?" Lee asks, big eyes blinking in confusion.

"Well," Kakashi pauses. Really, why did it catch his attention? "I had one very much like it— probably exactly like it— when I was in ANBU. I didn't wear it often, but it was something like a character staple."

"A red scarf . . . in ANBU." Minato says this very slowly, expression perfectly conveying what he wasn't saying.

Kakashi shrugs. "Beats me."

"I thought ANBU were supposed to be secret shadows. You know, invisible." Rin supplied.

"With that hair?" Kushina snorts.

Katsu tilts her head in consideration. "It's pretty."

Sakura gives Kakashi a considering look. "I can't imagine it . . . is red really your color?"

"You wanna try my hair and see Kakashi?" Kushina jokes, lifting the heavy weight of her hair with one hand.

"Pass, before sensei hits me." Kakashi cracks, the others snorting as Minato blatantly rolls his eyes.

Kakashi gives Sakura a flat look, but ruffles her hair. ". . . irrelevant."

"Why did you wear a red scarf?" Naruto asks.

"It was a gift from someone I knew, when I got into ANBU. Even though she wasn't supposed to know . . . and I mainly used it when guarding the village or Hokage, and I wore it to the Yuki mission. She bought it as a joke, such a bright color for me." Kakashi answers.

"She?" Rin and Obito drawl with matching leers. Similarly, Kushina and Minato give the boy teasing glances and snickers.

"She? Was she a friend sensei?" Sakura asks teasingly.

Kakashi's gaze slides over to Naruto as he answers. "Hmm . . . not like you're thinking Sakura, she was taken."

Naruto doesn't understand the look at first— like he should know who Kakashi is talking about. So what if some lady gave him a red scarf? Hmm. Red?

Ah. He smiles in understanding, and Kakashi smirks as he looks away.

"Oh," Kushina draws out, a blush on her cheeks as she sheepishly knocks her knuckles against her head. "I gave it to you."

"Ew," Minato crinkles his nose. "I just inadvertently suggested you and Kushina were more than friends. Ew."

"Well then, let's keep going— where did Katsu go?" Kakashi sighs in exasperation, looking around for a flash of tangerine. The sound of a bell brings their attention to the door of the store they had just been looking at, Katsu opening the door as she walks out with a red bag in her hands.

"You found something quick." Kakashi comments. Katsu smirks, but she gives the bag to him.

"I'm not your valet." Kakashi points out.

"I bought it for you, stupid." Katsu rolls her eyes.

"You and her are like the you and me from before." Obito tells Kakashi.

"I doubt I hate her quite as much as I hated you." Kakashi counters.

"True." Obito nods.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow, and reaches into the bag, feeling something very soft and almost silky, but it was cotton he could tell. He pulls it out, and dangling from his hand is the red scarf. He blinks twice, then looks down at something that catches the light at the end of the scarf. On the end are two plain, button-like pins one in orange, the other in gold.

"One more time, I swear to KAMI if you make that stupid, 'aww' sound!" Jiraiya warns the women. His masculinity takes hits with each coo and squeal of the ladies, he was just too close to their estrogen fests!

"But that is very nice of her." Minato maintains, smiling nervously when he practically feels Kushina bristle by his side.

"And the pins," Rin adds. "Orange for— Naruto? Gold for her. Now it can remind Kakashi of Kushina and sensei, Naruto and Katsu!"

Katsu puts her hands on her hips and leans back on one foot. "As I thought, it suits you." She sighs and puts a hand to her cheek delicately. "You're so lucky Kakashi— pale with silver hair, and red still suits you? What a girl would give for that kind of versatility. It's from me and Naru, by the way."

Kakashi looks at the two carefully, putting the scarf back in the bag.

"Just in case you're ever without your mask, that scarf is big enough I think to cover you." Naruto jokes, grinning.

Kakashi smiles. "Thanks. That's my souvenir then— now onwards ducklings!" he orders cheerfully, inwardly sniggering at the affronted looks on all but Lee's face, who shouts enthusiastically and troops forward. They carry on, but are stopped again by Kakashi.

"What now?" Katsu asks in annoyance, growling when she sees the perverted look on Kakashi's face, who is looking at a line of bikini-clad, generously endowed women on a stage.

"Wet Tees!" Obito whoops, only to get smacked upside the head with a pillow by Rin.

"What's going on over there?" Sakura wonders.

"Wet T-shirt contest? Who cares," Naruto shrugs, starting to walk forward.

Jiraiya gasps dramatically, hand clutching his chest. "No, my young protégé! Such thoughts— they cannot be allowed! Care, and DEEPLY!"

"No, wait!" Katsu says quickly, grabbing onto the hem of his t-shirt. "Look, at the flyers their handing out."

"If I'm looking up there, it's definitely not for the flyers." Naruto chuckles.

"Much better." Jiraiya sighs in relief.

Katsu scoffs in annoyance and lets him go, boldly rushing straight into the crowd and immediately being swallowed up by it.

"Oh dear, I hope she doesn't get trampled." Naruto sighs. She was just so small!

Katsu reappears a moment later, scurrying back to them and giving the still leering Kakashi a sharp kick to his shin. She brandishes the flyer to the other three, looking interested.

"Look! It's some sort of competition, for boys and girls, on the other island site." She informs them.

Naruto reads through it quickly and looks up to notify them of the full details. "It's tomorrow— it's called Skins. They compare it to capture the flag, but there's going to be a lot of flags and . . . the flags are going to be your clothes. More details are given at the site, but girls will use their swimsuits and guys will use their swim shorts."

"Sounds interesting." Kushina and Jiraiya muse in unison, the others choking on air or beverages when they hear Kushina say it.

"Got your competitive streak going, Uzumaki?" Jiraiya asks with a smirk.

"You know it . . . Ero-sennin." Kushina grins evilly as Jiraiya twitches.

"Man, that nickname really is annoying." The sage grumbles.

"Sounds embarrassing!" Sakura complains. "Who would ever want to join up?"

"I did/I do." Coming from Katsu and Naruto respectively. Hearing that Katsu had already joined, Naruto cackled and raced into the throng of people signing up, returning quickly with a challenging look in his eyes.

Tsunade grumbles under her breath. "This story is not light on the flirtation is it."

Jiraiya wiggles his eyebrows. "No pupil of mine is anything less than a red-blooded male . . . even if Minato won't admit it."

"Shut UP sensei."

"Sounds like a lot of fun." Kakashi comments, then sighs. "Too bad I have to be checked out by the Royal Physician tomorrow, despite my insistence that I am fine."

"It's completely stupid!" Sakura scoffs, flouncing off. Lee looks rather conflicted as well, wishing to congratulate Naruto and Katsu on their Flames of Youth, but actually understanding what the contest was about. So he simply walked off after Sakura, Katsu and Naruto following and dragging Kakashi with them.

"Prude." Rin mutters. Minato raises a brow, and Rin wisely keeps her mouth shut and face innocently open.

Naruto and Katsu left early in the morning, before breakfast to the dock where their ferry for the contest would be. Already there was a crowd, milling around and chatting excitedly, sounding almost like a low chirps and tweets of a flock of birds. The young men and teenagers, like Naruto, were mostly wearing board shorts in every color under the sun. The young women and teenage girls were all in bikinis.

"When did you buy that?" Naruto asks her, gesturing to the royal blue rashgaurd and bottoms.

"Last week— there was a sale at the beach shop, so . . ." Katsu shrugged. "And I thought for sure you'd wear your orange trunks."

"Well, why be predictable." Naruto shrugged, looking down at his red trunks.

"I'm sure you look good in any color Naru-chan." Kushina chirps proudly.

"I hope this isn't a bust." Katsu sighs, hopping up to sit on the railing of the dock.

Naruto was about to respond, when a burly, sun-tanned man of at least late twenties or early thirties appeared from the ferry, grinning widely. He waved in a grand fashion and shouted, "How are you guys doing out there?!"

The crowd responded with more enthusiasm than ones who woke up that early really should. The man was apparently pleased with this and nodded enthusiastically.

"That's great! Now, the rules will be fully explained when we get to the island. Make a note of this folks: just because you signed up, does not mean you are required to play. If you think the rules will be too difficult or uncomfortable to follow, then you are free to back out! Now without further ado, let's load you all up and head over to the Jewel Cove!" the man unclipped the rope that separated the crowd from the ferry, and let the cheering, excited crowd through.

"Man I'm sort of envious. Konoha is just too stuffy and traditional to have cool things like this." Obito huffs.

"Festivals aren't enough for you?" Rin asks.

"We only have like, one festival. And the only reason the future has two is because of the Kyuubi's attack, a pretty poor way of memorializing that day in my opinion. Other places have cool night parties, or something. We only have a girls-choice dance, and a festival . . . why the hell don't we even celebrate Tanabanta?!"

"Ah, the elders disapproved of the fanciful tale back when I was a girl. No one cared enough to change it." Tsunade answered.

"But we can do it now. You're right, Konoha is way too stuffy!" Kushina advocates.

The ferry ride takes about twenty minutes to get to the Jewel Cove, a little island untouched by man and seemingly a relic of a long ago past when the Earth was just born. Naruto loved it upon sight.

Since there is no dock, the captain of the ferry asks the contestants to wait while he pulls out the dinghies. The crowd of excited youths crow with laughter and just jump off the boat, diving into the crystal blue waters to make the short swim to the island. The shoreline is taken up by milling bodies, flitting to and fro as they wait for the contest to begin. The burly host joins them after a few minutes, having waited for the little boat. He walks onto the golden beach and makes a tut sound in mock chiding as the crowd faces him.

"You guys sure are excited!" he hollers, the crowd responding back with fervor. He raises up a hand, calling for silence. Once he has gotten it, he lowers the hand and projects his voice.

"I'm glad Naruto can have so much fun in his life . . . I fear it will be harder to come by as he grows older." Minato murmurs, his words a bittersweet compromise.

"Ok, listen up to the rules! Now, we will give you all a five minute grace period to either find or at least get a head start on finding a good spot to call your own for the game. This will be your flag site, and though you are not required to stay within your flag sight I wouldn't suggest leaving it all day. The objective of the game is to acquire the other contestants' flag. What is the flag, you ask? Simple! It's your clothes."

The man grins, laughing raucously at the surprised and bug-eyed looks on many of the people's faces, grinning wildly at the few brave souls who whooped approvingly.

"Yes, ladies and gents! And ladies, I mean everything. Boys you will take off your swim shorts and set it up as a flag, and ladies you will take off your bikinis or one pieces or what have you. You set up your flag, taking care not to make it too noticeable, and it is your job to both defend your flag and acquire the flags of the other contestants. The games will last until sunset, so you have all day! If a flag has been captured, you can fight to get it back up until sunset, then it's your loss. The winner is the one with the most flags, and still has their flag. Any questions?"

"Naruto, you lucky bastard!" Obito whoops, hopping up from the couch to lunge at Jiraiya, the man reciprocating. They meet in the middle for a bro hug and an intense high-five.

"I hope he shares the details with me. Icha Icha: Touch of Paradise!" Jiraiya makes a shot for the title of a new Icha Icha book, cackling.

Naruto raises his voice, "Yeah, is there anything we can't use?"

"No violence," the man answers firmly. "Nothing that can harm another. And I heard about you and your fancy jutsu, so only one! Otherwise, get creative! Now on your marks . . ."

The crowd tenses, eyes brightening and grins unveiling full teeth up until the molars.

"Get set . . ."

Naruto and Katsu exchange wicked grins, nodding in acknowledgement of each other— may the best brat win.

"GO!"

Screams and whoops fill the beach as the contestants sprint into the jungle, splitting up or forming small groups as they make the most of their five minutes. Many of the contestants are repeat players, so they are quite familiar with a few prime spots in the jungle, though they don't dare to venture too far.

For Naruto and Katsu, there is no such hesitation. The two have split up, and Naruto grins as he jumps through the trees, eyes roving the landscape. There were some mountains and cliffs, and he was sure that like the main island there were some grottos and dens. Naruto grins, heading further to the eastern shore. The island was not very big at all, there would be no trouble for anyone to find each other so he had best get to high ground.

He has to hurry though, he reflects, as he only has a few minutes left. Maybe two. Truthfully, he is on his last minute when he finds his hiding spot. A large tide pool with a small cluster of trees by it, though not near enough to shadow the pool from the dazzling sun. Naruto drops down onto a large rock just above the tide pool. He leans down until his nose practically touches the water's surface, marveling at the beauty of the tide pool. Starfish pepper the rocky surfaces just under the water, and a little further away starts a veritable forest of brightly colored sea anemone with little colorful flashes darting to and fro. Naruto smiles.

"Perfect place," he breathes, tapping the inside of his wrist where a storage seal is inked, taking out his camera. He takes pictures of the beautiful sight, and he creates a clone to take a couple with him in it just to appease Tsunade.

"It sounds marvelous . . . Kushina what's a tide pool?" Rin asks.

"A shallow pool that is seen in low tide, when the water is caught in the bowls of the land from high tide. Little habitats grow there for the fish that are caught in low tide . . . it's a natural fish tank." Kushina answers, working hard to recall the few tide pools she visited with her family before moving to Konoha, and during the rare visits back before Uzu was destroyed.

"Lucky spot for him to find." Jiraiya mutters.

Naruto cocks his head to the side as he scrutinizes his clone. Said clone raises an eyebrow.

"Nothing you haven't seen in the mirror before." He quips, making the original snort.

"I'm wondering if I should use a clone for this game, or just rely on myself." Naruto muses quietly.

"Well, we are ninja. Ninja use whatever is at their disposal, but that's—"

"For missions, and seeing as this isn't a mission—"

"But winning is really a must especially in Katsu's case—"

"Who would indeed look down on me for the use of clones—"

"It makes sense then that you restrict your use to one clone, in other words just me." The clone finishes perkily.

"When did he start doing that?" Kushina asks with curiosity. She had never switched through sentences with her shadow clones.

"Once again, Naruto has a unique mind frame. This could be a manifestation of his ease and comfort with himself, and it never even occurred to him that this might be weird. No doubt he's done this around others and they just accepted this because he is Naruto." Tsunade answers.

"That was easy," Naruto snorts. He gets up, sighing. "Okay, so I better set up the flag."

"Should I take mine's off as well?" The clone asks curiously, as Naruto deftly strips off his swim shorts and hitches them up to the branch, the shorts hidden from obvious sight by the leaves.

"He's pretty comfortable being naked isn't he?" Kakashi mutters.

"It's just himself. Seriously, even with the clone it's just himself." Jiraiya points out.

"Yeah, but he's still out in the forest with other people running around looking to get your flag. Doesn't he wonder if maybe somebody stumbles on him . . . in his birthday suit?" Rin argues.

"Maybe that's just a personal thing. What do you think Minato?" Jiraiya asks, deceptively cool. Minato just narrows his eyes at his sensei and snorts as if to say, you're not tricking me that easy.

"Um, it'll disappear anyway . . . no. We'll keep this as fair as possible." Naruto decides. "This feels stranger than I thought."

"Just standing around naked?" The clone offers. Naruto nods in agreement.

"Yeah, I mean . . . it'll be kind of awkward just jumping on someone and grabbing their flag, but I'm . . . that's too much flashing for my taste." Naruto admits with a small furrow of his brows.

"So he does feel awkward." Jiraiya murmurs.

"Well, there's vines and some large leaf plants around you could fashion something out of," the clone points out.

"Get me some vines?" Naruto asks, and the clone nods, disappearing and then reappearing with a loop of vines. Naruto grabbed them with a mutter of thanks and began to loop them around his hips and upper thighs, tying vines around vines and making sure they would cover everything necessary. It feels a little less ridiculous to walk around with a sort of skirt made from vines than to walk around naked, but it's still a little ridiculous he thinks as he glances at the trailing vines around his outer thighs.

"It's something at least. Very resourceful, musuko." Minato compliments, smiling proudly.

"It's important to keep modesty in your life. As a ninja, it's very easy to lose our modesty, morality, and ethics to our jobs." Tsunade looks directly into the eyes of the kids as she says this, eyes serious and intent on making them understand.

"What's our plan of attack boss man?" the clone asks, idly dipping a finger into the water and making circles in the water.

"You stay and guard the flag, and I'll go hunting." Naruto informs.

"We leave her for last?" the clone asks with a wicked grin, canines sharp against his bottom lip.

"The very last." Naruto agrees, eyes bright. With a last salute, Naruto sets out into the trees.

It's rather awkward to tree hop in vines, he discovers. Still, he puts it out of his mind and concentrates on finding others.

Don't forget your extra senses, Kyuubi reminds him, and it'll be easier to balance in your vines with your tail.

"Oh, right!" Naruto realizes. He closes his eyes and brings up that special chakra, feeling the familiar tingle as his ears pop out, and his tail unfurls. Immediately his stance shifts with the addition of the tail, and he feels . . . even, for lack of a better word.

Naruto pauses on the branch he is in, crouching. His ears twitch, swiveling minutely to and fro as they attune themselves to the sounds of the jungle. He focuses in on any human-like sounds— laughter, heavy footsteps or muted voices of people unable to control their enthusiasm. He was especially looking out for groups.

And, just his luck . . . he grins toothily as he leaps east, becoming a blur to any who might glimpse up. It takes only three minutes to find his target— three girls huddled together, blushing and giggling madly as they huddle together and cover their bodies, their bikinis now tied together and hanging over a branch of the large tree they are by.

"It is the aim of the game, Kushina-koi," Minato soothes his outraged lover. "He's a thirteen year-old boy, honestly this is going to happen no matter how much respect he has for women. Which you know he has a healthy amount of."

"I know," Kushina sighs heavily. "It's a fine line for ninjas though, from regular red-blooded guy to . . . Jiraiya."

"I take that as a compliment." Jiraiya boasts, unaffected by her slight.

Naruto considers just grabbing it and go without being noticed, but . . . then this wouldn't be as entertaining a story would it? He hides his ears and tail under a henge.

He jumps forward from the shadows of the trees, reclining leisurely against the trunk of the tree as he sits on a branch, legs swinging. "Good day to you, ladies." Naruto greets with a soft smile, head tipping forward in a greeting nod.

The girls squeal, diving behind a large boulder to cover themselves from the sudden intruder in their camp.

"They were just milling around," Rin sniffs. "They could've found something, just like he did."

"Not his fault at all." Kakashi agrees.

"Pervert!" one girl exclaims as she pops up, cheeks blazing. Naruto eyes her shoulder length honey hair, and then her intense stare.

"Who's really the pervert— the guy who stumbled upon you girls already naked and had the decency to present himself graciously, or the girl who's currently sizing me up like a prize rack of lamb?" Naruto points out with a laugh, and the girl in question tears her gaze away to stare at the boulder with a nervous giggle.

"Ah, another point in his favor." Minato notes in a sagely tone of voice.

"Any silver-tongued devil can twist a situation to his benefit. Good thing my sochi has a platinum-tongue." Kushina lets up, smiling wryly.

Slowly the other two come up, nervous giggles occasionally bursting out as their eyes try to roam, but land on Naruto more than anything else. Naruto rolls his eyes, and flips down to the ground. The girls freeze, then giggle again as he saunters forward.

"Now ladies, I have a proposition for you." Naruto starts, and then suddenly he's in front of them, his speed too fast for their eyes. They shriek, huddling closer together and to the boulder as the blonde boy sprawls on the boulder top.

"He's doing this on purpose." Jiraiya giggles perversely, fingers tapping together like a mad scientist.

"Well . . . it's good practice for any seduction missions he might do." Rin points out, giving a feeble reason. Honestly she was just trying to appease his parents; she was having a blast reading about Naruto's hot seduction skills!

"You give me your flag, I'll find you some nice and thick, long . . ." he drawls slowly, grinning at their suddenly dazed eyes.

"Vines, ladies. Focus." Naruto pouts, snapping his fingers for effect. They jump and blush crazily, but giggle madly.

Tsunade shivers, laughing. "This is too weird to read! We're family!"

"Then give me the book, I will be more than happy to read!" Obito demands, hand shooting out.

"Hey, you had your turn buddy. I'm reading now." Tsunade slaps his hand away playfully, returning to the book.

"Vines to cover us?" the next girl speaks, a sweet strawberry blonde. Naruto nods.

"You could just take it," the pixie cut girl points out suspiciously.

"I figure I need one good deed for today to counteract all the sin I'm about to commit." Naruto sighs.

"What kinds of sins?" The honey-haired girl asks flirtatiously, beating back a blush.

Naruto sighs, as if deliberating as he reaches up and plucks the tied bikinis from the tree branch. He sinks back down and leans close as if parting with a secret. "All kinds." He whispers, and then he's gone again, his speed making him disappear in the eyes of the girls.

When Naruto has gone far enough from their camp that their shrieks of laughter aren't heard anymore, he looks to his left where a clone sits with his camera.

"You got good pictures?" Naruto asks the clone. The clone merely smirks and tosses him the camera, popping. Naruto snorts and seals the camera back, heading back to his camp. He drops the bikinis off with the guard clone and after asking it to untangle them, is off again.

"Ero-sennin will love these," he murmurs. "Might be inspired to write another book with them."

"Ever the thoughtful, kind child!" Jiraiya sobs, chest puffing out proudly.

He decides not to be quite so obvious this time with the other victims. He nabs ten shorts, and three more bikinis before he starts to hear nervous laughter and shrieks of amused outrage coming from both men and women alike. He pauses to investigate. There are flashes of naked flesh through the brush and foliage, people who have already had their flags stolen. None of them are his victims, and he smiles as he hears others call out to each other, swearing revenge and promising vengeance for others who have been hoodwinked.

More importantly, he hears increasing mutters and whispers of a Shadow Fairy, and the only indication she's visited you is your lost flag and a flash of orange before she disappears. Apparently she was hitting a lot of people.

Maybe I'll have to hit your spot sooner than I thought, Kurohime-chan, Naruto muses to himself.

Are you sure you're ready to go that far? She's still only twelve . . . Kyuubi snickers. Naruto frowns in annoyance, realizing the double meaning of his words.

Screw you, furball. He snorts derisively, but he can't control the smirk that grows.

"Score for Kyuubi!" Obito mutters, fist pumped up.

On the other side of Jewel Cove, Katsu reclines in the crow's nest of her flag site, watching the clouds roll past. She reminds herself to get Shikamaru something, perhaps some sea salt peanut brittle. Or a bracelet of sea shells, the color of the clouds . . .

She had found this spot ten minutes after the game started. Not one person had ventured near here— perhaps this was a scary local legend? The wreck of an old pirate ship in the bay, old and decrypt and very dangerous looking.

Absolutely perfect.

"Absolutely awesome!" Rin enthuses, eyes sparkling.

Since no one was coming near, that meant her swimsuit was free and clear, flapping in the breeze on the mast of the ship, a replacement for whatever used to be its flag. Katsu had explored the ship, found things good and bad. For every interesting find there was a skeleton or a few strewn about bones. Some vines around the ship and old nets served as her only means of covering in a makeshift dress. She had found a gold telescope that had rusted over but still worked, several antique maps, and some interesting old trinkets. Putting them all in a makeshift rucksack, she hid it up with her in the crow's nest.

The game was also going quite well. People had started to get bold, darting in and snatching flags, sometimes managing to keep them away from the people who wanted to recover it. She herself had quite a few trophies under her. Katsu leans up and glances down at the steering wheel, where she has carefully piled the fifteen trunks and four bikinis she acquired.

"She's in the lead so far?" Obito muses thoughtfully.

She had set up traps around the deck for the certainty of a visit from her much loved demon brat. The orange hime knew the blondie would be arrogant enough to leave her last, and she had made preparations for it. Naruto wouldn't be winning that easily, she'd make him work for it.

Katsu leaned back, gazing up at the sky again. The sun was no longer at its zenith. The bright orb of life-giving light was sinking and she figured it to be around three o'clock in the afternoon right about now. She thought about taking a swim . . . Naruto wouldn't come for a while longer.

"Ah, this is the best vacation ever." Katsu sighs blissfully, hopping up and shedding the dress with a shimmy. One chakra-enhanced leap and she's swan diving towards the cerulean waters below. It's a cold shock after sunbathing so long, but once she gets used to it, it's absolutely wonderful. Eyes adjusting to the waters, the coral reefs and sea anemones dazzle her eyes as she spins.

"I really want to take a vacation right now . . . to a nice beach resort." Rin murmurs dreamily.

"After the war . . . maybe I can arrange a mission to Tea?" Minato muses, smiling at his students' cries of joy.

She gets a devious idea, remembering a group of five boys who had made camp by the shore not too far from her spot. Just a swim around the cliff corner and she'd be on them. Surfacing for breath, she takes three deep ones, then submerges deep and swims to her next target. She makes use of the trick Hinata taught her— one the pale-eyed beauty had said was a simple technique any kunoichi was taught for infiltration. She extended her breath with chakra so she would not have to resurface until she returned to the ship.

"Not just for underwater missions, right?" Tsunade murmurs to Kushina, the redhead giggling as she nods shyly, the barest blush on her cheeks.

Naruto cocks his head to the side, floating on his back in the middle of his tide pool. What he wouldn't give for something like this back home! Spending time on this island, made him wonder what his okaa-chan felt on her island . . . did she enjoy the scenery? Or was she too used to it, bored? Did she miss it when she traveled to Konoha? She was, after all, a young kid upon arrival.

"Think you can answer that?" Minato asks.

Kushina hums, looking up at the ceiling. "I was always fascinated with the ocean . . . my home was beautiful. And as I was taken to Konoha young, it was still a novelty so I missed it like crazy when I was sent here. For a while it was totally depressing . . . smelling the air, with not a hint of the saltiness like a sea breeze brings. Not hearing waves crash outside your window on the craggy cliffs, and the rocks . . . leaves in the wind just didn't cut it for a long time."

"That is sad." Obito admits.

Kushina shakes her head. "It's not. Otherwise I would have never met everyone, and I'd be dead if I had stayed."

The light filtering down is beginning to darken into gold. The time is passing— he judges the position of the sun to mean it's about five o'clock. Sunset was in about two hours . . . he knew he would win. No matter how quick the Shadow Fairy was, he would win by at least a slim margin.

His victory was not complete though.

He needed the final prize . . . this time, it was personal.

"This is it," Kakashi said lowly.

"The final battle." Rin agrees.

"The Black Tide versus the Orange Whirlpool." Obito declares in dramatic solemnity.

"That actually sounds kick-ass, if they would actually fight." Kushina observes.

He sighs, a low hum in the back of his throat as his hands push and pull through the water. He straightens, body sinking below the waterline as he treads water. "If the Tsuki nins I encountered weren't such dicks, I'd give serious thought to a transfer."

His clone huffs a laugh from its spot submerged from the waist down, sitting on a rock that leads to a dip before giving way to the anemone forest. "We'll just have to make our own ecosystem when we get back home. A waterfall, perhaps create an extension from our lake to the river . . . it'd be excellent practice."

"Right," Naruto agrees quietly, taking in a deep breath. He gets out of the pool, sluicing water off his body.

"Is it time?" the clone asks, looking up to his original.

"Yeah . . . it'll take a long while . . . when I come back, dispel. We've won." Naruto grinned. The clone nodded, giving him a thumbs-up. Returning the gesture, Naruto takes off, intent on finding his wayward Kurohime.

He extends his senses, opening them fully and inhaling the island. He searches for a lantern's glow in the radiance of later afternoon, the warm sparks that crackle along his spine and pleasantly warms his stomach. Her scent of amber wood should be easy to find, and her consumption of large amounts of pineapples and coconuts has stuck to her scent.

A spark. He looks right.

Naruto perks up, loosening up his crouch but never fully leaving it. His tail waves from side to side as he tastes the chakra signature coming from the west end. Immediately it is gone.

Is she cloaking herself? Naruto wonders. He has nothing to lose to investigate, even if it is the wrong direction. He's fast enough to correct the mistake if nothing else. He bounds away, a ghost flitting between the trees, a flash of gold that melds with the dapples of sunlight from the canopy. He goes further west and she feels closer. Yes, he has gone in the right direction. Funnily enough, she is the only soul he senses around . . . she has chosen a wonderful hiding spot. He himself was almost ambushed, but he made quick work of his would be ambushers and stole their flags for his own.

The sound of waves cashing against rock catches his attention. There is a sound of creaking . . . like wood in a storm. Did she make a shelter? Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised.

He slows the close he gets to what seems to be the end of the forest line. The sun is bright over there, the setting sun providing her just as much light as he got in the early afternoon hours. He approaches the edge slowly, and his eyes widen as he takes in her hiding spot.

"Abandoned pirate ship in the sunset . . . totally badass imagery." Obito sighs in envy.

"You never do things halfway, hime." Naruto laughs softly to himself. He looks around, hoping to spot her . . . there! In the crow's nest. He spots her swimsuit fluttering in the sea breeze above her like the flag of the ship she resides in. This would take planning . . .

Wait.

He chuckles, rising up to stretch.

This is Katsu. Whether or not she senses him, she will know he is there.

That is simply their nature.

Creating a clone to disable her traps, he waits. When the memories of the all-clear come to him, he nods in satisfaction.

He leaps down from his tree, stretching luxuriantly. Katsu spots him immediately, with her gold-rust telescope. She grins and waves at him, smirking. He waves back, and then suddenly he's on her ship deck.

She frowns. "I hope you didn't kawarimi with anything important Naruto."

"Me too." He agrees. When he catches sight of what's covering her . . . or rather what's doing a very shaky job of it, he blushes and looks away. Even when her feet touch the floor he only looks at her eyes, firmly demanding his traitorous hormones to not show up.

"So there's something you haven't seen?" Kakashi snorts.

"One would think, with them bathing together . . ." Obito catches on, his tone sly.

"Accidents happen." Kakashi agreed lightly, carefully keeping his face smooth.

She hops down, and then they're only separated by distance. They stare at each other, neither moving.

"Nice skirt." Katsu gestures to his vines.

"Burn." Rin mutters.

"Nice . . . scraps."

"Touché." Kushina grins.

"My traps?" Katsu asked.

"Disabled them."

"That fast."

"Yeah." He shrugs, the picture of modesty. She needn't know about the clone he sacrificed.

"Give up." Naruto blurts out suddenly.

"Kill me." Katsu jokes.

"Not funny." Naruto disapproves, sighing when Katsu merely shrugs.

"Trade . . ." She murmurs.

"You give me your flag . . . I'll massage your feet every night after work for a month, and be your dress-up doll for a full day when we get home." Naruto offers.

"Interesting deal." Tsunade muses with a huff of laughter.

"To give up a game for that? No," Rin shakes her head. "He can do better."

Katsu sighs, looking to the side. "That's not enough . . . I'm giving up the game you know? I figure we're tied . . . I have twenty flags."

Naruto nods. "Me too. What terms do you offer then?"

"If I give you my flag . . . you don't argue with my paint choices for the house—"

"Katsu we cannot paint the kitchen purple, come on—"

"Hey I'm not finished and I wouldn't paint the kitchen purple! Shit, man, I was eight. Excuse me for using my imagination!" Katsu scoffs, flipping her hair as she looks at the sun, nearly at the horizon. "You don't argue, you are my model for a day . . . and you buy me five sweets from Sugar Drop Shoppe."

"Ooh!" Kushina's uninhibited feminine squeal of pleasure startles the others. Minato starts as Kushina seems to glow at the mere name of this sweet's place in his arms. "I just love Sugar Drop!"

"You know it?" Jiraiya asks in surprise. He never took her to be a sweets kind of girl.

Kushina trills happily, "Oh yes! Papa got it for me whenever I completed a particularly difficult seal. It wasn't often . . . and he bought me their famous triple chocolate whip delight before I left to Konoha as a going away present. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten . . . I miss the Sugar Drop Shoppe." She sighs, but it's more sweet with warm memories than bitter with what never can be.

"You should have said so before." Minato chuckles quietly. "I'll be happy to get you some when we go home."

"No," Kushina denies but she can't completely hide the wistful look in her eyes. "There's more important things going on now, and it doesn't suit me anymore."

"You can never grow out of sweets." Tsuande declares firmly, waving away Kushina's feeble excuses. She raises a hand to stall any other conversation, and continues reading.

Naruto chews his bottom lip in thought. Sugar Drop Shoppe wasn't in Konoha, so the sweets would have to be from catalogue . . . and it was far. The sweets themselves were unnaturally sweet and delightful, and expensive. He'd made the mistake of buying her two cakes from there once for her birthday . . . she was like an opium addict; without her main source she had gorged herself on other cakes and sweets hoping to substitute.

Nothing was the same for her though, and it ended with both him and Nami-baba staging a full scale intervention involving wire (she chewed through the ropes), a god awful amount of vegetables, and some seriously nasty pictures from the dentist. They never spoke about it.

"Well then." Kakashi mutters, clearing his throat.

"If you don't prepare yourself it can get ugly." Kushina nods in complete understanding.

"Three sweets." He compromised.

". . . three," Katsu whispers in consideration, tilting her head. "I don't know."

"Katsu either we compromise or we fight. You know very well I will pull out all the stops." Naruto reminds her.

Katsu shivers, resisting the urge to take a step back. She didn't fancy the thought of being deflowered on a ship wreck.

Minato chokes on a laugh that mixed with a gasp in his throat; coughing yet somehow it still came out like cackles.

"How does he fight?" Obito asks with an exaggerated look of mock awkwardness.

Still, how long had it been since they sparred? Once he got the hitai-ate, he hadn't sparred with her once. Something about being a man, and ethics . . .

"Oh, the old: A man should never hit a woman," Kushina mocks deepening her voice to imitate a man's voice. "How old and cliché."

"How perfectly acceptable for a young man who respects women." Minato corrects. "Maybe it hits a kunoichi's pride, but Katsu is a civilian young woman."

"True." Rin pipes up.

No. If it got too serious, there would be no Iruka or Kakashi to run to for help. Her chances were worse than a snowball in hell.

"Okay, I accept your terms. Well played, Uzumaki." Katsu sighs. They walk forward, meeting in the middle for a proper hand shake.

"You . . . there's got to be something else here you can wear." Naruto motions to her vines and fishnets that covered nothing except the most important things.

Katsu frowns looking down at herself. Despite its risqué scarcity, she thought . . . "It's cute."

"It's asking to get attacked." Naruto snorts.

Katsu shrugs stubbornly. "Nothing else around."

Naruto sighs, shaking his head. "Okay, game's nearly over in an hour. Come with me to my spot, it's awesome."

For the hour that lasts until sunset they float in his tide pool, watching the sky darken and morph, until a loud sound blares throughout the entire island.

"That's one way to let us know." Katsu murmurs as they step out of the pool. Naruto snorts, picking up the flags, as well as discarding his vines and putting back on his trunks as they tree hop to the island shore they'd been dropped off of.

As they emerge from the shadowed canopy of the jungle, they see others slowly emerging as well, either with the most ridiculous leaves ensembles, or with nothing except their hands. Only one or two managed to keep their clothes, and they sent grateful looks to Naruto.

The burly host bursts into deep guffaws, leaning forward to put his hands on his knees. "I can see who's been busy and who's been had! Good on you kid," he congratulates Naruto who nods.

"Okay," the man takes a deep breath and straightens up. "Everyone on the ferry! For the losers who couldn't work something out like that group or the orange miss over there," he gestures to Katsu and the first group Naruto attacked. "Then we have something for you guys. Once we get back to the island, the victory bonfire starts!"

Obito's face lights up, but he wisely remains silent. However, Jriaiya is all too keen to pick up on anything that could get the brats scolded like little Rin— seeing Minato go parental on her was hilarious.

"Bring back good memories there Obito?" Jiraiya asks with a smile.

Obito blushes under the curious stares of the others, especially Kushina and Minato. "One could say that . . ." he answered vaguely. Honestly half the night was lost to his low tolerance of alcohol, even diluted in punch.

---

Kakashi sprawls on the balcony of his room, looking out at the sun sinking into the ocean, but not really seeing it. He wondered what the future would bring for his students, for Konoha. They were strong in their own rights, but was it enough for the storm that brewed on the horizon?

"Such serious thoughts Kakashi. You'll go prematurely white." Kushina jokes, but her smile is a little too forced for Kakashi to take her joke as it is.

Kakashi sighed. "What a burden we're leaving on to this generation."

"The whole point is to give them a clean slate and see how they run with it, not leave them to clean up our debts and take care of our messes." Kakashi sighs.

The blare of a fog horn catches his attention, and he looks up. A ferry was coming towards the island. Kakashi makes a low noise in recognition. The ferry Naruto and Katsu had gone on for that Skins game. When he had mentioned it to King Michiru, the king had informed him that afterword there was always a bonfire down on the beach to celebrate the Skin King— basically, a flimsy excuse for a blowout party.

Shrugging, Kakashi thought he had nothing else to do, so why not watch some drunken idiots prance around in a little crown, maybe sit at the front of the table? With this in mind he rises, and looks for his other student, and Lee. Sakura is berating Lee for overdoing his training, her hands losing the leftover glow from her medic jutsu, as Lee bows over and over in apology.

They look up, seeing Kakashi. "Is something wrong sensei?" Sakura asks.

"Mm, not really. Naruto and Katsu are back, and there's usually a party to celebrate the winner. Why not go down and join the fun?" Kakashi prompts.

Sakura's brow furrows in hesitation, but before she can deny the invitation Lee bowls her over with his enthusiastic, "Yosh! Let us see how our comrades fared, and enjoy an excellent celebration of sportsmanship!"

"She'll need to learn how to blow off steam, and take opportunities when they are presented." Rin sighs.

Jiraiya nods. "Being a shinobi is a tough job, and if you don't have some sort of outlet or quirk to help you balance it all out, you'll crack faster than a jaw from Tsunade's punch."

"Gee, thanks." Tsunade drawls.

"That's the spirit." Kakashi chirps cheerfully, turning around and pointedly ignoring Sakura's dubious stare. "Let's go to the beach then! I'm kind of excited; I've never been to a beach bonfire before." He adds, leading the two genin behind him as they exit the castle and make the trek to the beach.

"What do you think it will be like sensei?" Sakura asks, breaking the silence of the group as they walk through the marketplace.

"If he's never been to one, how do you expect him to answer that?" Rin asks amusedly. Obito and Kakashi stifle sniggers on either side of her.

Kakashi shrugs. "Well, it's a bonfire so I don't expect anything . . . extravagant. Then again, this is Crescent Moon so perhaps it's best to assume nothing and take advantage of everything."

Sakura mulls this over. "It'll probably be just some big fire with people sitting around it, maybe some music . . . nothing too big right?"

Obito winces in sympathy for Sakura, chuckling under his breath. Not always . . .

Oh how wrong she was.

The beach was currently being crowded up by the raucous, energetic party goers as they prepped for the arriving procession. Running, laughing, preparing for the big bonfire where others from the island would come to join and celebrate the Skins King. Already, a pit was being built to cook the caught boar, girls were throwing around circlets of flowers around people's heads and necks, long tables were being set up, and the Sin King's throne was being set up.

And what a throne— carved of wood so old it looked silky to the touch, ornately decorated and as large as the real throne of the Crescent Moon King, bedecked in wreaths of all sorts, and strings of seashells.

Sakura and Lee gazed around with wide eyes, drinking in every sight and every sound. Kakashi was more interested in just who the Skin King was though, and looked around for anyone who would fit the description.

"They're coming!" A high, girlish voice screams over the din of the others and immediately their cheers fill the air. Kakashi can see the crowd ahead of them parting in the direction of the throne, cheers and screams, catcalls and whistles piercing the air like so many wild animals of the night.

"Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, Skin King." Rin tries out, frowning at the awkward rolls of her tongue, the almost sharp cut off. "I don't like it . . . doesn't sound very good."

"King Naruto though, you have to admit that sounds cool." Obito supplies.

"Emperor Naruto." Kakashi adds with a small smile.

"Rokudaime Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto," Tsunade corrects with a cheerful smile.

"Perfect." Minato approves.

"Rolls of the tongue don't it?" Kushina agrees with a nod.

"Who is it sensei? Who?" Sakura begs, straining up on tip toe but still unable to see over the crowd.

"I don't know," Kakashi murmurs. "I don't . . . oh."

"Oh?" Sakura repeats. Her gaze swivels to the throne, then widens as her jaw drops. "OH!"

Reclining upon the throne as if he was born for such a seat, a robe of royal blue velvet and snowy fur draped over his shoulders and held by a single gold cord, was Naruto. Perched on the arm rest next to him in scraps of fishnet and gold silk ribbons is Katsu, blushing yet grinning wickedly. A gold scepter with a crescent atop was held loosely in one hand, his crown of roses tilted to one side on his head, pushing his bangs down to shadow his left eye.

Rin and Obito look at each other. Obito bows his shoulders just a little, arm gesturing in a slow, grand gesture for Rin to go first. "Ladies first," he demurs placidly.

Rin grins, thanking Obito politely. "Like . . . a . . ."

They take a deep breath together. "BOSS." They sigh out in unison.

"Nicely done." Minato approves.

What really got Kakashi's blood boiling was the line of nearly naked, very lovely ladies on either side of him giggling and blushing— blushes that certainly did not stop at their necks— as they held themselves comfortably in wraps of silk ribbon in various colors, the only substantial covering being the bikini bottoms graciously given back to them by Naruto.

Tough they gave no outward indication; inwardly every male except Minato was cursing Naruto. Lucky little bastard!

He was thirteen— he had little to no idea how to properly utilize this opportunity.

The injustice.

"I know!" Obito agrees in voice high with indignation.

"The losers get better and better each year!" A pockmark faced youth crows to his overweight friend, eyeing the "losing" ladies hungrily.

"Yeesh," Kushina and Rin mutter in disgust, shivering as they force away bad memories of more insistent, weirdo admirers.

The cheering and catcalls continue, until Naruto looks up at the crowd with a bored expression on his face and raises the scepter. Immediately the crowd is hushed. Naruto gazes over the crowd for a long minute, seemingly gauging them. Then, he smirks, and raises both arms with a flourish, as if welcoming them.

"Ladies and gentleman," his voice isn't overly loud or soft, but the silence carries his words and the weight that accompanies them. "I humbly accept the crown of the Skin King, and hope you all enjoy a wonderful evening here."

He pauses, smile widening. "Commence blackout!" he booms, to the approval of the crowd. Immediately the crowd moves, seemingly as one entity. There is food, and drink— ladies and music. Anyone who doesn't help themselves are fools, and those who are too into helping themselves soon find themselves underfoot of the unforgiving crowd.

It's chaos and utterly beautiful.

"KAKASHI!" Said jounin's head pops up, looking over the crowd to see Naruto beckoning to him. Motioning to Sakura and Lee, Kakashi guides them through the crowd to the throne on the raised driftwood dais.

"Your majesty," Kakashi murmurs teasingly, giving a brief and shallow bow.

Naruto dips his head in acknowledgement. "Lesser mortal."

"Me." Katsu mumbles, waving to Kakashi. Kakashi eyes Katsu for a brief moment before turning to Naruto.

"You really letting her walk around like that?" he asks.

Naruto sighs regretfully at the same time Katsu scoffs, flipping her hair. "I was lucky to get them to leave the fishnets and bottoms. Girls who lose are only supposed to wear ribbons. Not that I'm complaining much, you see . . ."

"Oh, of course. Criticizing other lands' traditions is just rude." Kakashi agrees, nodding his head. Katsu tries to share a look with Sakura, but the girl tosses her head and refuses to look at Katsu. Sakura contains her snort— isn't that girl the least bit ashamed to be walking around like that? At least show some more humility, don't just sprawl like that!

"Sore losing bitch." Obito mutters sourly, his nose scrunching up with a grimace.

"Let she who is without sex appeal cast the first stone," Rin intones, garnering snorts from the others.

"Naruto, I'm hungry. Let me go." Katsu suddenly speaks, interrupting Naruto and Kakashi.

"Okay," Naruto sighs. He relinquishes his hold around her waist, watching her scamper off and melt into the crowd.

"So . . . good vacation? We start packing tomorrow after all." Kakashi murmurs.

"Best vacation ever onii-san." Naruto says firmly, smiling contentedly at Kakashi. Not one of his big grins, or his benign smiles, but a curl of the corners of his lips and a twinkle in his eyes that hints to his inner bliss.

Kakashi nods. "Good . . . hey, are they serving alcohol to everyone here?" he asks this because he's suddenly noticed the absence of one of his genin. It wouldn't do for Lee to boast about the youthfulness of drinking or some such ridiculous things to Gai. The man would never let it go.

Naruto snorts. "Uh, duh. What do you think I'm drinking?" he lifts up his goblet, swishing the liquid inside.

Obito laughs. "As if he'd drink anything else!" he jokes.

Kakashi narrows his eyes as he sees a familiar bowl-cut bobbing and weaving in the crowd in a decidedly drunken manner. "Do you recall exactly when Lee hit the refreshments bar?"

"Eh, a few minutes ago. I saw him; this is like his second drink." Naruto answers, lifting himself up a little from his elegant slump to see Lee. "Why?"

"He looks drunk." Kakashi comments bluntly.

"Yeah . . . and?" Naruto prompts.

Kakashi doesn't answer, because Lee has suddenly come to the front of the crowd, and a group of teenagers are urging the boy to kick through a sheet of plywood. An easy feat for any genin, and mere child's play for Lee. But the way he's stumbling, and that unfocused look in his eyes . . .

"Mmkay!" Lee slurs excitedly, taking a very sloppy and shaky taijutsu stance. One second he's stumbling to the side, the next the entire group of teenagers is flying away from the force of the kick, the entire sheet of plywood becoming flying projectiles.

"Doesn't know his own strength." Jiraiya laughs.

"Doesn't know up from down at this point, I bet." Tsunade adds with a smirk.

"Lee!" Naruto shoots up, glaring at the boy. "What the fuck man?!"

"I've got a bad feeling about this . . ." Kakashi murmurs.

Lee just turns, almost falling as he looks at Naruto. He stares confusedly at the sunny blonde for a moment before a blinding smile nearly cracks his face.

"N-Nawusho!" Lee is a terrible drunk, Naruto notes. He hasn't heard anyone slur that bad since the "Double Dare" incident at Raidou's place.

"Fight me!" Lee demands, and Naruto has to scramble back from the sudden fist that would have blown out his face, tripping back into his seat. Before Lee can even touch the throne, Kakashi has tackled the boy to the sand, growling as Lee throws him off like he was some lightweight genin.

"You've been slacking on your training quite a bit, it seems to me, Kakashi." Minato chides teasingly.

"Naruto, little help here!" Kakashi growls as Lee tears off in a whirl of kicked up sand and green blur, cutting paths through the crowd and destroying two tables set up for people to eat on. Naruto huffs, before he and Kakashi sprint off to the gaggle of screaming girls as Lee obliterates a totem pole.

Tsunade's eyebrows nearly leave her face. "He's a destructive drunk?"

"Somehow, I think it's more than that." Minato refutes quietly, but he is also unsure.

"Lee, control yourself!" Kakashi grunts as he tackles the boy again, and Naruto lands on top of them to add extra weight.

"Hold him and I think I can put a sleeper seal on him!" Naruto orders breathlessly, Lee having just sent a full blown kick to his midsection.

"You have your sealing equipment?" Kakashi asks, redoubling his efforts. Sakura and Katsu have run up to help, holding down an arm each and not doing so great a job of it. A drunken Lee seemed to be ten times stronger, and even faster.

"Yeah!" Naruto pants, tapping a seal just above his inner left elbow, where he sealed his sealing ink and brush. He leans away from the fray for a steady hand as he uncaps the ink and dips the brush into his own handmade mix of blood and ink.

"Kakashi, Sakura, Katsu keep him as still as possible!" Naruto snaps, brush poised.

"Just hurry the hell up!" Katsu snaps, groaning when Lee's arm flails and slams her into the sand.

Naruto swiftly, surely draws the seal on Lee's forehead. "Done!" he declares, and no sooner does he say that then Lee starts to slow. Eventually, he flops to the ground, unmoving and sleeping soundly.

Kakashi sighs heavily, rotating his shoulders to loosen the muscles that bunched up from trying to contain the Blue Beast of Konoha. "Damn it never thought I'd have to deal with that."

"A drunken student?" Jiraiya asks with a raised brow.

"The way I said it makes it seem like more." Kakashi agrees, racking his brain.

Minato snaps his fingers, smiling pleasantly. "Aha, I've got it. Lee is a practitioner of the Drunken Fist style."

"Eh? Never heard of it." Kushina complains.

"Yeah, I—" Naruto pauses as he stands up, blinking rapidly when all the party looks to them with confusion.

"Heh," Naruto snickers, readjusting the crown that threatens to slip. Playing it up, he puts a careless hand on his hip and smirks devilishly. "Some people just can't handle their liquor. Next loser to lose it gets trussed up and feathered!" Naruto roars out.

The crowd responds exactly as he intended, enthusiastically and agreeably, thinking Lee was either just a performer or a crazy kid who couldn't hold his liquor.

"Get back to your throne Skin King!" A voice shouts out, others rising up to agree with him.

"Hai, hai!" Naruto calls back lazily, raising a hand up. "Walk with me people."

"What about Lee?" Sakura asks, looking at the sleeping genin.

"He'll be fine, just leave him there. Someone will throw a beach blanket over him later." Naruto assures her.

Once he's situated back on his throne, savoring the slow-roasted boar Katsu had brought before running to help them; he asks Kakashi, "What the hell was up with Lee?"

"Well, it's rare but there's a style called the Drunken Fist." Kakashi pauses, taking a swig of vodka. "Whoa, burns better than sake . . . anyway, like the name suggests it's only accessed when drunk off your ass."

"Vodka?" Minato asks, brow furrowing. He knew what it was, but it wasn't often seen in this part of the Elemental Nations.

"What's vodka?" Kakashi asks.

"A new age drink, clear liquor." Rin and Obito answer off handedly. That was their mistake, which they realized when pinned to their seats by the intense stare of their sensei.

"My, my . . . we have much to talk about." Minato murmurs, eyeing his students with a carefully guarded gaze.

"How can you fight with a known style while drunk? I heard you get dizzy and clumsy when you're drunk, though I've never been drunk myself." Naruto recalls.

"Out of curiosity, what drink are you on?" Katsu asks.

"My . . . er, either twenty-fifth or thirtieth." Naruto answers sheepishly.

"Goodness." Kushina mutters in disapproval.

Jiraiya however, views this in a different light. "Always good to build up your alcohol tolerance, otherwise it could be used against you." He mentions.

"You could die of alcohol poisoning!" Sakura shrieks, immediately moving to grab his drink. Naruto holds it out of reach, wagging a finger at her.

"Ah ah . . . the perks of being a demon's host." Naruto sings, gulping down the rest of his drink with relish. "Someone get me a bottle!"

A bottle came soaring from the crowd, and Naruto catches it in his hand.

"Thanks!" he calls, uncorking it. "Anyone?"

"I'll take some." Kakashi and Katsu answer, holding out their cups. Naruto fills them up graciously, and then downs a mouthful straight from the bottle.

Rin laughs. "What a lush!"

"Ah!" Kakashi realizes. "Like I was saying before, that's just the way it is . . . it's why it is such a rare style to see. I was definitely not expecting to see that . . . I wonder if Gai knows."

"I'm sure he does." Naruto mumbles. "Ooh, conga line . . . got to go!"

Kakashi and Sakura watch Naruto zip off, shouting something about a King's privilege.

"Well, Sakura why don't you go on and enjoy yourself?" Kakashi encourages the wilting blossom.

"Ah . . . well, maybe I'll go play Limbo with those other girls!" Sakura concedes, and then rushes off with a small, playful smile.

Kakashi chuckles, and is about to step away from the dais to find a nice quiet spot to watch his students make fools of themselves, when he is stopped by a man around his age with long black hair.

"Hey, buddy got some time to kill? We're having a drinking contest, and I'm the reigning champ." The man boasts.

Kakashi's eye narrows in consideration. Peace and solitude, or a chance to humiliate someone? Decisions, decisions . . .

"Sure!" Kakashi chirps, following the other man's lead.

Naruto is laughing freely, having just stumbled away from the Conga-line-turned-grind-chain.

"All hail the Skin King!" a drunken youth hollers as he stumbles past Naruto. Naruto inclines his head mockingly, but continues on his way. He makes a bee-line for the DJ's booth, stepping up to speak to the guy.

"Hey man, how about something to really get the party going? I want to see people on the dance floor!" Naruto requests.

The DJ gives him a crooked grin. "You got it, your majesty." With a deft flick of his wrist and a few turns of some dials, the beat abruptly changes and morphs into something new. The base pounds through bodies, and thrums through the blood. A few people in the crowd howl like wolves at the moon.

Naruto grins and bounds back to the throne where he is sure the others are for a break. Sure enough, Katsu is teasing Kakashi on his rum-blush, and Sakura is watching the sudden change of the crowd form frenzied to pulsing dance beats with wide eyes.

"I guess you won, huh Kakashi." Kushina chuckles.

"I bet Sakura's never seen dancing quite like that." Obito muses. "Your first time at a club or a party like that, can definitely be a shock to the system."

"Well don't just sit there losers!" Naruto shouts, bounding into their view. "Let's dance!"

"Let's go Ru!" Katsu whoops, jumping up and taking his hand. The two whoop, diving into the sea of practically melded together bodies as the dance floor grows and grows.

"Sensei . . ." Sakura gulps, watching the crowd. "Shouldn't you have stopped them?"

"Mm?" Kakashi mutters in confusion, eyeing a bottle of beer contemplatively. He'd already drunk about two bottles of sake in that contest alone . . . well, why stop? He downs it.

"Everyone is dancing . . . really . . . close." Sakura explains with a blush on her cheeks, gesturing to the dancers.

Obito and Rin snort, coughing to hide their laughter.

"Honestly, they're teenagers, it's not as bad as she makes it seem." Kakashi mutters.

"That's club dancing . . . or dirty dancing if you prefer," Kakashi explains with a touch of slur. "Nothing bad about it. We're all adults here, with this headband, so why not? I'm not . . . not his keeper."

Sakura cuts her eyes to Kakashi, eyeing him with amusement. "You're drunk sensei."

"Yes." Kakashi states clearly, nodding his head.

"I am drunk." Kakashi realizes when his future self just brazenly, yet simply admits it.

The music changes to a lively, fast and fun club beat. The silver-haired jounin vaguely remembers it playing from the radio in Naruto and Katsu's house. Speak of the devil, Katsu jumps out from the crowd, Naruto running behind her.

"Switching partners!" she declares, grabbing Kakashi's hand in a vice-like grip and pulling. Surprised by the action, Kakashi lets himself be drug forward.

"I hope you can dance drunk Kakashi!" Katsu laughs, pulling him into the crowd.

"Don't get too close now Kakashi," Minato warns the boy with a wag of his finger and a sharp-edged smirk. "Drinks, and pretty girls? That's just asking for trouble."

"That's like . . . no." Kakashi says in disgust.

Sakura, who was laughing as she saw her sensei stumble into the crowd, stopped and blinked uncertainly at the brown hand offered to her. She looks up uncertainly at a grinning Naruto. "I don't know how to dance to this."

"I'll teach you, it's super easy." Naruto assures her. Without giving her time to answer he sweeps her up and pulls her to the crowd in one smooth motion. Sakura blushes, stuttering as Naruto steps close and laces the fingers of both their hands together, guiding her arms as he pulls her along.

"Come on, just follow my lead and mind your feet!" Naruto laughs. "That's always what my piano teacher said, and I found out gradually it applied to dancing too."

Sakura spins around Naruto under his guidance, coming in even closer than before. Blushing heavily, yet starting to feel a little disappointed— if only I could do this with Sasuke, she laments— she asks him, "Where'd you learn how to dance?"

"How can you even think about Sasuke in this situation?" Rin mutters in annoyance, running a hand through her hair.

"Oh? Sasuke is her crush after all." Jiraiya points out.

"Yes, but its girl etiquette to not think about your crush, unless the crush is progressing into something good, while being with another handsome guy! And Naru-chan could totally rival Sasuke-chan in cuteness." Rin explains.

"She's right." Kushina and Tsunade agree. "He deserves her full attention." The slug princess adds.

Naruto regards her with some surprise. "You don't exactly go to a class to learn do you? Well, you can, but not like this. It's just . . . the more you do it, the easier it gets. Whether you're good or not is an opinion of anyone who watches you."

"So what about me then? You're watching me." Sakura asks.

Naruto smirks. "Not bad, but you could use more practice." On the last word he spins her away from him, letting go of her hand.

Sakura squeaks, blushing up a storm when she lands in the arms of a smiling stranger, who leads her through an enthusiastic step.

Naruto watches her start to relax into the dance, and smiles in satisfaction when Katsu is suddenly spinning his way.

"So, you look like you did a good thing." Katsu prompts as they spin around each other.

"Yeah, wasn't Sakura looking too tense?" Naruto asks.

"Oh, totally. Hey, we totally love this song!" Katsu squeals when they recognize the beat.

"You can't go wrong with Globe . . ." Naruto agrees.

"You're blushing something heavy, but you're not embarrassed." Katsu eyes him twirling with a switch and sway. "One a scale of buzzed to all fucked up, where are you right now?"

"Tipsy as fuck." Naruto admits with a carefree smile. "I hope that clone stayed sober though, I counted on him to take pictures."

They dance through five more songs, and Naruto goes through ten more bottles.

Then someone set up a beer pong game, and Naruto shares fifteen shots with Kakashi.

Katsu challenges him to horseshoe and after purposely losing (and drinking the penalty shots) five times, he trounces her and she is forced to drink the penalty shots.

"He sounds like an alcoholic here, but really it's just the hype of the party." Tsunade mutters thoughtfully, fist propping up her head.

The night disappears in a swirl of fire, drinks, and moonlight.

"Ugh . . ."

Piercing sunlight nearly blinds Naruto, even though his eyes are glued shut with sleep and gritty sand. His body feels like a heavy weight he wishes he could shed.

His head feels like death.

"Oh . . . my Kami." He breathes, rubbing his eyes. They blink rapidly, and he cringes at the too-bright morning, the extra light exacerbating his hangover. He tries to move his arms, and finds one trapped under soft flesh. One arm is trapped beneath Katsu, and another is trapped underneath him.

"Oh," he mutters stupidly. He gently removes his arms, struggling up on shaky arms and legs. His entire body aches, especially his back. Stumbling, he registers the surroundings.

Bodies. Bodies everywhere, just . . . piled one atop the other. The traumatic carnage of a massive party from the night before. Bodies strewn across the sand, stuffed into makeshift hammocks shoddily set up by drunks; bodies stretched across the dais below his feet, as he had slept in the throne, the velvet cloak covering him and Katsu.

"Dear Kami." Obito sniggers, pressing a fist to his mouth.

If he looked far enough he could even see people sleeping in trees, under trees . . .

Naruto sighs, his head pounding. He brings up his hands, and rubs them harshly up and down his face. "Why did I drink so much last night?" he moans painfully, voice cracked and groggy harsh.

"Let this be a lesson to you." Kushina lectures sternly, though a small smile of amusement flits across her face.

"You wouldn't listen to me last night, that's why." Katsu grumbles as she pushes herself up, feeling the pains that accompany sleeping in a wooden chair.

Naruto closes his eyes against the pang of pain, waiting until the headache ebbs a little before he tries to speak again. "How . . . how much did I drink last night?"

"I never kept track. Where do you remember leaving off?" Katsu shoots back, stretching her limbs, nearly curling in on herself to ease her spine.

"After . . . man there was just too much." Naruto mutters.

You had ten bottles of sake, a bottle of vodka, thirty-two shots, and one body shot each on and from the redhead twins over by the totem pole, Kyuubi rattles off the list.

"What the fuck." Kakashi utters dumbly.

"That could rival me in my heyday." Jiraiya whistles.

Tsunade snorts. "You mean the week before we came here?"

"That's too much," Minato says sternly. "Drinking to excess like that is dangerous— Kakashi, I hope you straighten him out."

"Redhead twins though, did anyone else catch that?" Obito asks with a grin.

"Twins . . ." Jiraiya sighs, shaking his head. "What luck."

"Sweet Lord." Naruto mumbles. He steps off the dais, immediately tripping and falling flat on his face in the sand.

Katsu cackles, using his body as a stepping stone to the ground. "Bitch!" he spits out, along with a mouthful of sand as he lifts his head up.

"Ugh . . . man I am shattered," Katsu admits, yawning and stretching to touch her toes.

"Oi, I'm down here don't stretch like that idiot." Naruto advises her tiredly.

"Whatever, I'm too drained to care." Katsu shrugs it off, looking around as she gulps in the early morning sea breeze. "Should we look for the others? Or go freshen up and get some breakfast?"

"Door number two, please. We'll come back in an hour. It's way too early; everyone will sleep for a while longer." Naruto grunts as he rises up precariously. "Help me over there; I've suddenly forgotten what equilibrium is."

"Little punk's going to just leave me there?" Kakashi mutters.

Katsu chuckles and sidles close, slinging his arm around her shoulder, putting a steady hand on his waist. They make their slow way to the castle, enduring the stares and quiet laughter of the townspeople on the wharf on the way to the castle.

"Fuck is wrong with them? Never seen kids sleep on the beach before?" Naruto grumbles, pushing his face into the crook of Katsu's neck, eyes still very sensitive.

"I'm wearing fishnets and a ribbon. You have rose petals in your hair from the lost crown. We make quite the sight." Katsu explains shortly, sighing in relief when the castle looms closer.

"Taking, 'The Walk of Shame' to a whole new level." Rin sniggers.

"Wait, I can get us to our rooms faster. Hop on, I'll walk up." Naruto offers, stopping them inside the castle gates.

"You good for that?" Katsu asks dubiously.

"We'll never know until I try. If we fall, I'll land first and my broken corpse will cushion you." Naruto assures her with a wry smile. Katsu huffs, slapping his shoulder, but gets on his back anyway. She, at least, knows he could never stumble no matter how drunk he got.

"That's nice and all you believe in him, but he is nursing a hangover and not at his best concentration-wise." Tsunade frowns.

Naruto concentrates, grimacing as the effort of concentrating makes his head pulse with pain. Nevertheless, he runs up the wall swiftly, running to his room where the balcony door was left open as per his instructions to the clone he made last night. He alights upon the balcony railing, letting Katsu get off and scamper to her room.

Once Naruto's door has closed, he lands on the floor and trudges over to his bathroom. Sighing heavily, he turns on the water to the shower and then walks back out, hoping to catch a maid or butler walking through the halls.

As luck would have it, the maid Hanazuki was waiting with a patient smile and a platter in front of his room as he opened the door.

"How'd you know?" Naruto asks, rubbing his eye.

"I'm your maid for your stay here Uzumaki-kun! It's my job to know." Hanazuki explains with a cheeky grin. She lifts her right hand up, where the silver platter is, allowing Naruto to see the wonderful things she's brought him. Pain reliever pills and a glass of ice cold water.

"Might as well be the Holy Grail." Obito jokes.

"Would it be inappropriate to say I love you Hanazuki-chan?" Naruto jokes, giving her a grateful look as he takes the pills and the tall glass of water.

"Oh my, I do believe so." Hanazuki chuckles. "Breakfast will be awaiting you and Kuroshio-chan upon your arrival downstairs."

"Excellent. See you downstairs then." Naruto closes the door with his shoulder, swallowing the pills and chasing it with half the glass of water. The cold, refreshing water soothes his throat and sends a chilly tingle down his body. He places the glass down, feeling a little better and anticipating the relief for his headache once the pills take effect, and without pausing kicks off his shorts and steps under the near-scalding spray.

"Ah!" he winces, adjusting the temperature to something below skin-boiling. With a sigh, Naruto sinks down to the floor and just sits under the spray, eyes closed for a few moments. Soon enough he rises and works shampoo into his hair, making sure to get every bit of salt water and sand that has crusted his hair into wild peaks. He cleans himself leisurely, neither in a rush nor with a care.

"Hmm . . . I wonder if they sell shower heads like these in Konoha?" Naruto mumbles to himself as he steps out the shower, toweling off with the all-too-plush rich crimson towels.

"Really likes them huh?" Kushina mumbles, with a look to Minato.

"I know we said we'd give him anything, but we really might spoil him rotten." Minato sighs, neither denying nor approving.

He walks into his room and puts on his clothes swiftly, now feeling far better, his hangover now just a distant memory. Oh, the perks of a bijuu! No risk of alcohol poisoning, and a short-lasting hangover.

"You ever tried it out, Kushina?" Tsunade asks.

"I doubt it'd work as well for me, Kyuubi likes my son way better." Kushina admits with a laugh.

You're welcome brat, Kyuubi pipes up modestly.

Oh, generous King of Bijuu! What miracle shall ye bestow upon my unworthy hide this morn? Naruto mockingly rejoices.

Kyuubi sniffs. Nothing if you're that ungrateful.

Naruto chuckles as he is suddenly alone in his head. Walking out to the hallway, he greets a fresh-faced, yet still weary Katsu who merely smiles at him. Not everyone has advanced healing properties like him, and so Kurohime must endure her headache until the pain pill kicks in.

"When you fill your belly, you'll feel better." Naruto chirps, looping an arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, sure." Katsu sighs out, and Naruto wonders if she'll fall asleep again at the table.

The breakfast table wasn't a very good place to rest on, as Katsu would find out. The two severely partied out kids are the source of quiet amusement for Hikaru and Michiru, even if the young boy doesn't exactly know what's wrong with it. They aren't much for small talk, and every clank and scrape of cutlery against plates is agony for Katsu whose pain relievers have yet to fully kick in.

"Poor little thing." Rin coos, the only sympathetic voice amongst the sniggers and titters of the others.

"Can't we go back to sleep?" Naruto groans tiredly, his full meal making him drowsy.

"No," Katsu is firm as she pushes away from the table, and with a bow and a murmur of thanks to the King and Prince, strides out. Naruto huffs and follows after her, jogging to catch up before slowing to match her pace.

"We have to find your teammates, and your brother." Katsu reminds him, smoothing down the folds of her skirt as the wind kicks up for just a moment.

Naruto laughs. "How unusual, Kakashi is a much better sport than this . . . what was he doing last night?"

"Now that is an excellent question, Naru-chan," Obito pauses and sends a searching, teasing look to Kakashi. "What is your aniki doing?"

"Piss off." Kakashi grumbles, pushing the boy.

Katsu hums, head tilting back as she pushes her hair back over her shoulders. "As I recall . . . drinking, drinking, and . . . a little flirting? Some dancing if my memory hasn't been too terribly tampered with by the drink."

"Oh my." Naruto chuckles, a mock moue of surprise on his face.

They walk down to the beach, still the same field of destruction it was upon first sight of the morning. Naruto and Katsu picked through carefully, mindful of the sleeping people.

"How hard can it be to see a pink-haired girl?" Naruto mutters, craning his neck to see his pale-skinned teammate. Katsu laughs, but stops and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"I've found Lee." She informs Naruto, her voice shaking with laughter. Naruto turns to where she looks and claps a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Lee was sleeping in the carved wooden arms of a totem pole, and Naruto was sure the poor boy would have some terrible kinks in his body to work out. The funniest thing however, was the green body paint coloring every inch of skin on him, shadowed by the giant hat and bright blue plastic sunglasses askew on his face. Combine that with the large t-shirt that read, "I like to PARTY HARD" and the two were having trouble keeping quiet.

"The unfortunate casualty of an awesome party." Obito declares solemnly, hand over his heart.

"Wake him up, Naruto." Katsu urges him, giggling quietly. Naruto takes a deep breath to ward away the chuckles, and walks forward. Without pause he slaps Lee off the totem pole, and on to the sand. Lee doesn't even wake up immediately— his eyes flutters open, and he groans in confused realization of the pains throughout his back.

"What a wakeup call!" Tsunade mutters, rubbing her own cheek as if rubbing away a ghost pain.

"Naruto?" He yawns, rising up on his elbows. "What a strange dream I had, my friend! I dreamed I was thrown into a . . . a vat of green goo and a large smiley face gave me something burning to drink."

"Oh really?" Naruto asks, and the knowing tone makes Lee blink. The boy gets up, struggling as his back and sore neck protests.

"I feel terrible! Did I not do enough exercise yesterday? Unacceptable, I must recover my flames of youth!" Lee declares.

"Kiddie, I got a piece of advice for you— flames and hangovers do not mix." Kushina advises with a laugh.

"I suggest some limber stretches before you go running 200 laps up and down the beach." Naruto suggests.

Lee smiles, winking knowingly. "Ah, but of course! And if I cannot do 200 laps, I shall do 300 pushups horizontally on a cliff face! And if I cannot—"

"If you cannot help us find Sakura within the next five minutes, then I'll give you a real workout Lee." Katsu interrupts sternly, marching up to the boy. She points an imperious finger to the side, stretched to the vast party grounds. "Now get to it!"

Lee jumps up immediately, wincing only slightly at the crack of his spine. "Yes ma'am!" he salutes, then zips off to hunt for his cherry blossom crush.

"I love it when you get all commanding." Naruto muses with a raised eyebrow.

Katsu is not impressed, and gives him a stern look. "You— march!" the snap comes with such force that Naruto takes a step forward before he even realizes it.

"Yes, my princess." Naruto murmurs obediently, marching off as she instructed.

"Smartass!" Katsu snaps dryly, making Naruto chuckle. They comb the immediate area, searching carefully for any strand or flash of pink. As they search, slowly people begin to awake. First one, then five, then another three and so it goes . . .

"Where could she be?" Naruto wonders, starting to grow worried. Maybe he should have kept a closer eye on her, that party was wild and she was obviously a newbie to the scene. Would she have known to get back to the castle once they were too far gone?

"No, and that is a serious thought." Minato murmurs.

"I hope she is alright." Kushina murmurs.

"Oh, come on, nothing too serious can happen. No matter how drunk Kakashi is, or gets, he wouldn't allow anything to happen to his students. He always has an eye out for them." Rin argues, patting Kakashi's shoulder.

"Naruto!" Katsu's shout makes him turn his head. Katsu is waving to him as she runs forward.

"Oh Naru, I just remembered!" Katsu laughs, waving her hands in apology. "You won't remember this, but I left you after our fourth dance to get something to drink. I found Sakura looking uncomfortable, and I told her to go back to the castle, she'd need a head start packing all those shopping bags anyway. She agreed, but she had some drinks and I know that was probably her first time . . . I bet you anything she's sleeping them off at the castle."

Naruto wants to believe her and leave it at that, but he'd best be sure. He creates a clone, and the copy sets off to the castle just to make sure. Katsu smiles approvingly, and claps a hand on his shoulder.

"Good boy." Kushina and Minato approve.

"Now all we need to do is find Kakashi." Katsu says optimistically. Naruto nods.

"My friends! You look happy, have you found Sakura?" Lee asks as he suddenly zips forward in a whirlwind of youth and optimism.

"Shut the hell up!" a stumbling teenager snaps at the loud boy, Lee's fires of youth like nails down a chalkboard in his mind.

"Walk it off asshole." Naruto advises with a scowl, picking up for Lee.

"As a matter of fact, we have. So you, Lee, can go back to the castle and freshen up. Start packing too." Katsu says, smiling gently.

"We must still find Kakashi-sensei!" Lee counters.

"I'm sure whatever state Kakashi is in, he'd appreciate fewer people seeing him." Naruto assures him.

". . . Very well." Lee backs down, and with a wave of his hand he's off to the palace.

Naruto takes a deep breath and blows it out, nodding his head to a few people who blearily wave to him. He blinks rapidly as the memories of the clone come back to him, and he relays to them that Sakura is indeed in the castle.

"Such a relief, but we really must focus. Where shall we start?" Katsu asks.

"Mm . . . the beach is clearing up now. The breeze cleans up the air enough I can probably use my nose. If everyone leaves I can perhaps pull out my . . . extra senses." Naruto allows.

"The nose should be enough for now. We looked around the beach, so that only leaves the forest." Katsu beckons to Naruto, and they walk from the water's edge to the line of trees.

"Now I'm very much interested in where you are Kakashi." Minato chuckles, teasing the boy.

"Kakashi!" Naruto calls out, into the shadows of the forest, a cool spot in the quickly warming day. There is no sound.

"Perhaps . . . we should go into the forest?" Katsu asks nervously, glancing at Naruto.

"Yes, I suppose so." Naruto mumbles. They step inside the forest, walking deeper from the forest's edge.

"Kakashi!" Katsu calls long and low, a carrying note through the chirps and rustles of the forest.

Katsu sighs and makes to walk forward, but Naruto catches her arm and pulls her back to his side. Katsu looks at him quizzically, but Naruto places a finger to his lips and tilts his head.

What is he listening to? Katsu wonders.

"I hear," Naruto murmurs, as if answering her unspoken question. "A rustle of silk ribbons, and the groan of a man."

"Please let me be just waking up." Kakashi pleads under his breath; hiding is face behind his hands as the others all turn to look at him with, much-too-shocked faces.

"Oh, my Kakashi." Kushina giggles. Kakashi just mumbles something, pressing his hands closer to his face.

Katsu at first thinks they should move to another section of forest to avoid a private scene, but there is a smug tilt at the corner of Naruto's lips, and a twinkle of mischief bright enough to only mean big trouble.

"Oh, you don't think . . . ?" Katsu gasps, her voice hushed from the surprise of it all. Naruto grins insanely wide and nods, before grabbing her hand and creeping forward.

"Ugh, maybe you don't want to see anything. It's Kakashi— knowing him, he still has his mask on." Obito sniggers.

"Oh, gross!" the women squeal, shuddering.

"Fuck you, man." Kakashi growls.

Past three bushes, and around a tree . . . push back the brambles of a thicket and arrive upon a most curious scene.

"Oh my, oh me!" Naruto trills, leaning against a tree with an air of utmost satisfaction. "My dear brother, what scene do my eyes glean?"

". . ." Kakashi's eyes crack open, and he yawns large enough to make his jaws crack. Not that the kids could see the jaws crack, the ever present mask still up. "Shut up brat. Katsu, don't look."

"So you are just waking up. Not . . ." Rin blushes, looking away. Kakashi can't look at her or at Obito, and certainly not at his smirking sensei or his girlfriend with shoulders shaking from suppressed laughter. To compensate, he stares quite hard at the table, not blinking.

"You're covered enough and so are those girls thankfully." Katsu reminds him.

"I'm so proud onii-san!" Naruto sniffles, wiping away imaginary tears from the corner of his right eye. "Two girls!"

Minato and Jiraiya whoop, and Kakashi's head hits the table with a sensible thud.

Kakashi's brow furrows, and he looks over the tangle of slim limbs and soft flesh. "There were three that I remembered."

"Ah, so that scent on the blonde was you." Naruto realized.

"Oh . . . my . . . KAMI." Kakashi groans, his words muffled terribly by the wooden table.

"Damn, Kakashi!" Minato laughs, leaning forward to slap the boy on the shoulder.

"Don't be so embarrassed Kakashi," Tsunade murmurs gently, feeling some sympathy for the clearly embarrassed boy. "It's perfectly natural—"

"And we're just happy you can still enjoy life." Minato intercepts with a gentle smile, winking cheekily at the boy.

"Way to go Hatake." Katsu cheers, but quietly because it would be far too awkward for Kakashi's midnight friends to wake up and see them.

"We have much to do today," Naruto sighs, standing straight now. "Nii-san, wake up your friends and let's go."

"Alright, hold your horses." Kakashi sighs, rising up before pausing. "Ah, turn around."

Naruto and Katsu let out twin snorts of amusement. "We'll see you back at the castle nii-san; take your Walk of Shame alone."

Kakashi's quiet chuckles follow them as trailing echoes when they leave out of the forest, walking up the beach.

"So, you think he kept the mask on?" Naruto asked.

"For those girls' sakes, I hope not." Katsu laughs.

"Them too." Kakashi mutters, still hiding from the rest of the group.

The day is passed quickly and mostly silently. Sakura is a miserable bundle in her bed, weak and achy from the party last night so Katsu takes pity on her and helps her pack. Lee is alternating between his insane workouts, icing his aching muscles, and packing his things. Kakashi . . . is perfectly fine.

Relaxed, even.

"And we know why!" The group choruses before descending into fits of laughter (except, of course, for Kakashi who is trying to suffocate himself with a pillow).

Though he does tend to twitch whenever he catches the eye of either Naruto or Katsu, and both children look away and giggle.

Bags are packed, last minute checks are done, rolls of film are developed, and a last dinner with friends is had.

Their boat leaves in the evening, and soon after dinner the carriages come around to pack them up and take them to the docks. Michiru and Hikaru accompany them one last time, and Hikaru is quietly miserable.

"Don't be that way, Hikaru-chan." Naruto soothes the boy, running gentle fingers through the black hair. "We'll always be friends. You think of me, when I think of you— and we'll know we're both doing okay. Right, guys?"

"Of course!" Sakura chirps.

"Most definitely!" Lee assures.

"There is nothing wrong with writing letters." Katsu reminds the boy.

"Will we ever see each other again?" Hikaru asks, as the boat makes the call for them to come aboard.

"I'm sure we will." Naruto is positive.

"How can we if you don't become Hokage?" Michiru asks slyly.

"A good point." Minato chuckles.

Naruto shoots him a dirty look, smirking. "I'll become a wandering toad sage."

"An even better one!" Jiraiya exclaims.

While Michiru and Hikaru look confused, Kakashi snorts in amusement.

"Come on— it's time to go." The silver-haired jounin tells them all softly.

Hikaru's eyes water, but he holds back the tears as he smiles. "I'm going to miss you guys."

"And we'll miss you." Katsu says softly. They give Hikaru one last hug, and a bow and a smile to Michiru before they troop up the plank to the ship.

Crescent Moon Island disappears in the distance.

---

"Sasuke!" Naruto crows happily, bounding up to cuff the boy on the back in greeting.

"Again with the time skip, just like in Nami." Obito mutters.

"Well what all would have happened?" Rin retorts.

"Ow— watch it idiot!" Sasuke grunts, shoving Naruto, but not as hard as he would normally and he allows Naruto to chatter away while the rest of the team files in. He draws the line when Sakura scurries toward him and tries to swoon all over him like usual. She's particularly persistent from the near month long break she had from Sasuke.

A break that ended all too soon, in the boy's opinion.

"Team Seven," Tsunade catches their attention. They stand at attention, even Sasuke who she brought here because she knew Kakashi would bring those kids home today. She observes them all for a moment. Kakashi has caught a bit of sun, going from pale to fair-skinned, and he seemed relaxed too. Perhaps getting injured so badly on the mission was a blessing in disguise for the normally veiled jounin.

Jiraiya opens his mouth to speak, but stops when he sees Minato shake his head with a small smile.

Sakura was still pale, but her eyes were bright and she seemed to glow— though Tsunade suspected that was more the presence of the Uchiha then anything Crescent Moon did for her. Lee seemed no different, as . . . youthful as ever.

Naruto and Katsu however, was the biggest surprise. They left tanned and came back with caramel skin and glows about them that brought attention. Naruto's hair had darkened a shade, still sunny yellow but with a golden tinge that brought back memories, and Katsu's hair was a burnished orange that suited her— they were the sun, Tsunade thought.

"Oh, could we . . ." Kushina wonders, before being cut off by Rin and Obito.

"Oh, please Kushina-san!" Rin stops her.

"Couldn't we finish this? We'll look at Naru later! If only we had a photo album." Obito mumbles the last part.

"How was the mission?" Tsunade asked, smiling faintly.

"The mission was a success, Hokage-sama." Kakashi answered with a bow, his team bowing with him.

"Good, good . . . I have some questions Kakashi, but we'll talk about all those later. For now, dismissed!"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" the team answered.

"Sasuke," the raven-haired boy turns to look at his blonde teammate. "I've got some souvenirs for you, come on over and you can get them. I've got too many things sealed up to just get it out right."

Sasuke's lips thin in annoyance, but just as quickly he acquiesces. "Hn. Fine then."

"Such good friends they are turning out to be." Rin chuckles.

"Great! You won't believe all the great stuff we saw, the things we bought." Naruto shouts happily, slinging an arm roughly around Sasuke's neck.

"Get off!" Sasuke snarls, pushing him off roughly, but Naruto just laughs it off. The two walk out, but Naruto pauses at the doorway.

"Ah! Nade! Come over when you're done working too so you can get your souvenirs— yours and Shizune's." Naruto tells the woman.

"Will do Naruto." Tsunade confirms. "And where are my pictures?"

Naruto grins mysteriously. "Is Ero-sennin here?"

"Yeah?" Tsunade nods, tilting to her head in an obvious question.

"Bring him over too. He'll like my pictures." Naruto grins wickedly, then laughs as he runs out and pulls a loudly protesting Sasuke with him.

"He did think of me too! Ah, my new book will be the bestseller!" Jiraiya rejoices, hitting the air with his fist.

Tsunade blinks in confusion, but then just shakes her head. "Weird kid." She mutters fondly, signing paper after paper.

"And, we are done!" Tsunade declares, placing the book down on the table.

"Ah, it is nice to just enjoy a chapter where my child is happy and unhurt." Minato sighs, stretching luxuriously. Kushina hums in agreements, arms snaking around his waist as she leans closer to him.

"Well, I do wonder what will happen next. Back in Konoha— back to business." Jiraiya grunts.

"We'll never know till we pick up the book. And we can wait until morning to do so." Rin mutters, yawning as she walks to her room.

"Ah, not yet Rin and Obito." Both kids pause and flinch as Minato's stern voice grabs hold of them like iron shackles.

"Ah, man," Obito whines. "Can't we just skip this?"

"Nuh-uh." Minato smirks. "It's your turn to tell a story now."

"You deal with the brats, I'm going to bed." Kushina tells him, kissing his cheek. Minato turns quickly when she moves back and leans forward to catch her lips in a sweet peck.

"Night." He smiles. Kushina blushes and mumbles a goodnight back, walking away and reigning in her temper when she hears him chuckle. She has more important things to think about anyway.

She bathes hurriedly, and quickly slips into bed, trying to go to sleep as quickly as she can.

She opens her eyes to her mindscape. In front of her, chained and pinned down to a slab is the Kyuubi. It isn't growling and snarling as it usually does upon seeing her, just looks her steadily in the eye. Kushina realizes she preferred its wild hatred, its base instincts to this calculated, cool gaze.

It made the Kyuubi seem like an actual opponent, as opposed to a destructive force of nature.

And a bijuu as an opponent, was definitely a death sentence.

Kushina starts off what will most likely be a one-sided conversation with an uncomfortable clearing of her throat. "It's . . . been a couple years since I was down here."

"As you can see, nothing has changed." Kyuubi growls sarcastically. Kushina blushes, self-conscious.

"I . . . I just wondered if you've been listening to the whole story. My son's story." Kushina tries again, injecting a false bravery into her voice.

Kyuubi is silent for a moment. Kushina takes this time to realize he's panting rather heavily, his breaths deep yet somehow labored.

"I have." He admits.

Kushina frowns. "You're rather reticent, aren't you?"

Kyuubi snarls, snapping his jaws at her, though he cannot move so the show of force is lessened. "It's hard to carry conversations with a giant pole in the center of my chest, in every tail, not to mention my hands and feet!"

"O-oh." Kushina stutters, eyes wide. "I'm not sure . . . how much I can change."

"You can at least take out the stake from my chest, it's damn hard to breathe." Kyuubi mutters, head flopping back onto the slab tiredly. "Fool girl." He mutters.

Ignoring the remark, Kushina concentrates, just like her son did. She concentrated on removing the stake from Kyuubi's chest.

A sigh of relief makes her open her eyes, and Kyuubi now has one less restriction.

"Sorry about that." Kushina apologizes.

Kyuubi looks at her, annoyed. "Just because I seem to have a positive relationship with your child, does not mean we can be friends."

Kushina grits her teeth, but takes a deep breath. "I wasn't trying to suggest that. I came here to ask you something."

"Spit it out." Kyuubi grunts, turning his head to look at her.

"Why did you answer the question?" Kushina asks.

"What question. You're ignorant mind asks a lot of questions." Kyuubi clarifies bluntly.

He's a jerk! And what's worse, he's teasing me! Kushina growls. "You know which question!"

Kyuubi snorts. "Alright, I repay my debts. If this is all you wanted, I can do this much. I answered, for your son."

"What do you mean?" Kushina asks, confused.

Kyuubi snorts, grumbling something— most likely unflattering to her or the human race as a whole. "I answered . . . for clarification. It seems I will be close enough to your son to share some details of my life. You could at least know this much. I'm sure more will be revealed later, no matter how much I don't want it to be."

"Why?"

"Foolish child— because there is no part of my life I wish to share with any of you!" Kyuubi roars. "And yet, I'll tell that toddler?! Feh. I've gone crazy from all my years of imprisonment."

Kushina decides it is time to leave, before she says or does something she regrets— like putting back the chest stake. "Thank you." She grinds out, and turns to leave.

"Thank Minato for me."

Kushina blinks, turning back to look at Kyuubi with wide eyes. "Thank him? What for?"

"For the seal that is far more comfortable than this piece of shit." Kyuubi grumbles.

Kushina pouts, flustered. "You're such a jerk, -ttebane!"

---

See you in April! :D

Love,

Bloody Mad~3