Kurumu spent a couple hours relating everything she had found out to him. Unfortunately she did not have as much information on Akatsuki as he would have hoped. Apparently despite much effort the organization remained largely a mystery. Jiraiya had no idea who their leader was, what its goals were, or event the reason why they had acquired the demon lords. Among the things that were known was the fact they seemed to operate in two man teams made up of ninja of A or S rank. Despite the fact they were a secret organization they seemed to have a, 'uniform.' Its members usually went out dressed in black robes with red clouds on them. Only a few of the members were known including Deidara, Kisame, and (most alarming) Uchiha Itachi. Naruto had still been in the village when the Uchiha massacre had occurred. Any ninja that could single handedly exterminate an entire clan was definitely someone to be wary of.

Kurumu also gave him other pieces of information. Such as the fact his village had been at war for the last four years. One of the reasons the Hokage was so eager to recall him was his hope that Naruto would be the, 'secret weapon' that would finally bring the war to a victorious conclusion. He also learned that it had been Orochimaru who had killed the Third Hokage. Naruto made a special point to file that information away.

"That's everything I was able to find out." Kurumu looked at him. "Did it help?"

"Are you kidding me? It helps a whole lot. I haven't heard a thing from my village for the last four years. Now thanks to you I have a whole lot of valuable info. Including the little fact that there's an organization of elite ninja looking for me." He gave her an appreciative nod. "I truly thank you for helping me Kurumu, especially since you had no reason to."

"It's all right. Even though I know you can't forgive me I'll still do whatever I can to help you. If you ever need me all you have to do is let me know. I'll go ahead and leave now." She was about to go when Naruto surprised her. He reached out and took hold of her. He pulled her close and squeezed her tight. There was nothing sexual in the embrace. It was just his way of expressing his genuine appreciation of what she'd done for him. She had never been held so strongly, had never been so happy just to feel the simple physical connection. He did not say the words, but as he held her it felt as though he were forgiving her, at least a little. She shut her eyes and simply enjoyed the feeling. Naruto-kun, I would walk through fire for you.

"Thank you," he whispered to her as he finally let her go.

She nodded and put her head down. She turned to the window and let her wings and tail emerge. "Naruto?"

"Yes?"

She did not turn around. "Those boys I hang out with. You know they don't matter to me right? They're fun and a distraction, but nothing more. I could never love any of them."

He suddenly felt a little warm and a little nervous. Why did she tell me that? "Kurumu I…"

"You don't have to say anything Naruto. I just wanted to make sure you knew. Good night." She leapt out the window and was soon gone from sight.

XXXXXXXXXX

The following morning Naruto was there as Jiraiya exited his room.

"Good morning godfather," Naruto called in a cheery voice. "Sleep well?"

Jiraiya looked very uncomfortable. "Please don't call me that. I think I'd rather you went back to just calling me a pervert."

"Why? Does it bother you being reminded of the responsibility you ignored? Here," he handed Jiraiya a sealed envelope. "Please deliver that to the Hokage."

"What is it?" Jiraiya looked at the thing suspiciously.

"It's a formal rejection of his request that I marry his daughter."

Jiraiya looked at the young man unhappily. "Speaking of Hinata I stopped in to check on her last night after my, uh, evening out. She was in tears. What the hell did you do to her?"

"I did her a huge favor. I made it real clear to her that she shouldn't waste any more of her time dreaming about me. Given the situation it was the nicest thing I could have done."

"Did you have to make the poor girl cry?"

"Don't you try and tell me how to deal with people." He turned around to go

"You are making a huge mistake."

"I doubt it," he left without another word.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So that girl is gone and won't be coming back right?" Yukari asked.

"That's right," Naruto said and then took a bite of his food.

"I wonder why she came out here for just one day." Yukari said.

"I guess the Hokage was hoping I'd fall in love with her or something."

Yukari snorted, all the worries from the other day were forgotten. "Like that would ever happen."

"Hinata wasn't a bad girl. I'm sure she'll make someone very happy." He shrugged.

"But not you," Moka stated. "So what type of girl would make you happy Uzumaki Naruto?"

He was about to proclaim no such person existed when he was interrupted by a loud commotion.

"Yahoo! So who wants to bring me my lunch today?"

The dozen or so boys trailing behind Kurumu all loudly started pleading for the honor. As was her habit she led her entourage right past their table while refusing to even glance in their direction. She took them to a couple tables all the way at the other end of the courtyard.

"She does that on purpose," Yukari complained. "She is so annoying! I'm glad we don't have to put up with her anymore."

"I agree," Moka said. "She is nothing but a spoiled little girl who never thinks about anyone but herself."

Naruto glanced over in her direction, but said nothing.

XXXXXXXXXX

Three students gathered around a table in a small room. One was a polite looking fellow with glasses. Another was a young man who was calmly reading a book as he sat down. The third was a cute dark haired girl who looked a bit jittery.

"We need to do something," the girl began as soon as they were all seated. "Naruto definitely suspects you Hokuto."

The boy with the glasses nodded ruefully. "I'm afraid you're right Mako. Looking back on it what he said to me was obviously bait for a trap. I should have ignored it, but at the time it seemed a good idea to act."

"The fact that Mizuki was so late to the Committee meeting will definitely be noticed." Mako said. "They might be hesitant to arrest you since you're the Committee President and have such a sterling reputation. But they might be a lot more willing to arrest Mizuki. If he talks it's over."

Hokuto let out a regretful sigh. "I am afraid I have to agree with you. It's a shame as he is not only fairly powerful but as a class representative he has his uses. Still, as things are he is too much of a liability."

"I'll take care of him then," Kiria offered without bothering to look up from his reading.

Hokuto grinned over at his best friend. "You're actually going to take an active role for once?"

Kiria flipped the page. "It might be entertaining and I have some free time this afternoon."

"Well that takes care of one problem," Mako said. "But we still have to get rid of Naruto."

"Won't that bring added suspicion on Hokuto?" Kiria asked.

"He is already under suspicion," Mako argued. "If we do nothing Naruto will just keep digging. He seems to be the only one on the Police Committee who is actively trying to investigate us. If we get rid of him Kuyou and those other elitist bastards will go back to just terrorizing the student body."

"Are you volunteering to kill him?' Hokuto asked.

Mako nodded. "Leave it to me. I'll even do it when you're in class or in a meeting so you'll have an alibi."

Kiria looked up from his book. "Some of our people swear he has a demonic aura and that he killed Midou with just one blow. Are you sure you can handle it?"

She grinned. "Leave it to me. I already know exactly how to do it."

XXXXXXXXXX

In Konoha the Hokage was sitting behind his desk alone in his office. Jiraiya had delivered a letter to him from Naruto which he'd stated contained a formal refusal of the marriage alliance. A very blunt rejection letter had been in the envelope. But there had been a second letter which Jiraiya apparently did not know about. Hiashi was reading it carefully.

To the Fifth Hokage of Konoha,

Greetings Lord Hokage. I have decided to write this to you based on the assumption that you still hope to have me serve you willingly and of my own volition. Jiraiya informed me of all the plans you have in store for honoring me and giving me a high place within the village. I tend to have my doubts about your good will however given past treatment and especially given the second seal you had placed on me. Nevertheless, I have recently come to understand that men in your position often make decisions that they view as necessary for the greater good, even when it means inflicting evil on the undeserving.

My father wrote me a letter asking me to forgive him. I have done so. Before confronting my godfather I gave him an opportunity to confess to me and ask my forgiveness. Had he done so I would have been willing to forgive him as well.

I have decided to give you and the entire village the same opportunity. I am making to you a very special onetime only offer. Please consider it well.

I am ready to give up all claims to the Namikaze estates and fortune. I relinquish all claims to a seat on the Council. I will not accept my father's name or any connection to his clan. As I was denied the Namikaze name as a child I have no wish to take it now. I will not marry or father any children, so the Yondaime's line will end with me. I will ask for no special treatment or consideration of any kind from the village. I will only expect the same conduct afforded every other ninja of the Leaf. I will serve both you and the village faithfully and to the best of my ability as a loyal Leaf nin.

In short, I will forgive everything that has been done to me by yourself and the village in general. In return for all this I ask only one thing, that the seal placed on me by Jiraiya be removed and no further acts of coercion be made against me. I ask only to be treated like any other ninja. If you truly desire to have me serve the village of my own free will I ask you send Jiraiya to meet with me sometime in the next seven days.

If he does not return within the next week I shall view that as a rejection of my offer and as proof that you prefer to use me simply as a tool or weapon. If that is your choice please understand that it means you are permanently forfeiting any chance of ever earning my forgiveness or friendship. I will instead become your unwilling tool, a tool that will be bound to you only by the threat of the seal that was placed on me.

I ask you to seriously consider this offer and the value of my forgiveness and friendship.

With respect,

Uzumaki Naruto

The Hokage reread the letter and shook his head. Did Naruto really believe he was in any position to dictate terms? When he returned to the village he would take the Namikaze name and his proper place on the Council. He would marry Hinata, thereby tying the Namikaze wealth and power into the service of the Hyuuga clan. He would serve Konoha as its greatest weapon and bring not only victory but a secured peace to the war weary village. And he would do so whether he wanted to or not because of that seal. That seal was enough to guarantee Naruto's obedience.

"He is still just a boy," Hiashi said to himself. "He has no sense of reality." Without formality he tossed both letters into the trash and promptly moved on to new business.

Though he did not suspect it, with his decision Hiashi had literally tossed aside the last chance to save Konoha.

From that moment on Konoha's fate was sealed.