Disclaimer: I do not in ANY WAY own Naruto or Naruto: Shippuden.

A/N: I really liked writing this chapter too! Hope you all enjoy!

Also, please review!

Never Yield (Chapter 13) – Gossip and Plans

Naruto's P.O.V.

Three Days Later

"Let's see here." Jiraiya-sensei says as he examines my latest seal. Just because we're on the verge of international crisis, doesn't mean I can slack on my fuuinjutsu training!

It feels like an eternity ago where I was discussing my seal with Yamato when I decided to make my seal produce more water rather than have more force behind the water...but that was barely a week ago.

So much has happened in the past week, and right now we are just waiting for Kurama to come back from his dissociation where he is talking with his siblings about my idea (more of a plan now, really) for all of us to go to Whirlpool to be safe from Akatsuki.

He said it should be about two days long, and now it's been three days. I'm not worried this time as I know Kurama is fine now after he explained the whole dissociation thing, but I'm just anxious for him to come back. I don't like this empty feeling I have when he's not with me.

"Very good. I see you went with the quantity over force route. As a water user with teammates and summons who use lightning, I believe it's a wise choice. And your calligraphy has improved some, and the symbol combinations are nearly perfect. You are on the right track so far." He examines my work, and I smile at his evaluation.

I know my penmanship sucks and I have been working at improving it (that's what I hate most about sealing – you don't need to just know sealing but you have to draw it well, too) and I know it still needs more work.

To hear that my symbol choices were 'nearly perfect' makes me feel very proud of myself. I've been taking it slow and methodically and thinking about all the possibilities before I make a choice. It's what Shikamaru says he does when he plays Shogi – it's all logic.

(Now, I'm glad that I don't play Shogi. Not only would I feel Sasuke's wrath for taking time away from being with his boyfriend, but Shikamaru would probably consider me a good enough opponent to train off of...)

"Now double the amount of water and increase the force by twenty-five percent." Sensei says and hands me back my seal without even letting me thank him for the praise.

And that's going to be really tough. Fuck.

"Yes, sensei." I say, and get to working on my new assignment.


One Day Later

"That was great, man! Thanks!" I tell Choji as I finish my lunch. He invited me over today to his clan compound for a home-cooked lunch.

It's a bit odd – usually he likes to have group meals and if he cooks, then he brings it to the park or training grounds for everyone to have. But today, he invited just me over.

"I'm glad you enjoyed! I, uh, just wanted to thank you." He says, clearly nervous. What does he have to be nervous about?

"Thank me? You're welcome! But...what are you thanking me for?" I ask. If he feels I did something for him that he's grateful for, I want express that I'm happy to help. But I really have no idea what I did.

"You telling me to accept Yamato-sensei's offer! I know everyone was happy for me, but when I looked to you and you nodded, I knew it was the right choice. You're really an amazing friend and I just wanted to thank you for believing in me. It may sound dumb, but after what happened in the Forest of Death...I look up you and your opinion really means a lot to me." He tells me, first looking at the empty bowls of food and then having some eye contact.

I'm not that shocked anymore to hear this, after everyone elected me as the leader of the Skulk, but it still gives me a strange feeling.

"Oh...then you're even more welcome! I'm honored you think so highly of my opinion. But I was able to see you wanted to do it. You don't need me or anyone else to validate your feelings. We both had a rough childhood and that's fucked with our minds a bit, and a little extra support always feels good, so I'm honored you look to me for that support." I say, reaching over and clapping him on the shoulder.

"And...there's one other reason I asked you here alone. This is...a little embarrassing...but I need some advice." He says, and I can see the blush on his cheeks.

Is he asking me for...?

"Whatever it is, I'll do my best. Shoot!" I don't let my surprise show in my voice. In fact, I feel a bit giddy for what will be normal teenage gossip and that has nothing to with impending world doom...

"Since I've started my training, Tenten has been sparring with me. And I know it's only been a week but we've been talking a lot more than before and it's just the two of us and...I think I like her. She was impressive as hell during the preliminaries and the finals, but now actually getting to know her..." He trails off, and I am able to take a second to process.

"Oh, I see. Well...not that I don't appreciate you coming and asking me for advice, but why me? I haven't exactly had the best track record with girls..." I say. Everyone from our academy class remembers my crush on Sakura from so long ago, and then how utterly oblivious I was to Hinata's feelings and how speechless I was when she confessed after Suna's invasion.

"Well I would normally ask Shikamaru about something like this, but he's with Sasuke. And that guy isn't normal – no normal person likes tomatoes that much. Ramen I can understand, but tomatoes? I had to ask you!" Of course his reasoning has to do with someone's food preferences...but it's funny he says that because it was actually Sasuke who told me say something after Hinata confessed and who told me to kiss her then too!

Maybe Choji should be asking Sasuke instead for love advice!

"But your relationship with Hinata is so strong and you both really love each other. I'm not asking for a way to get her to fall in love with me or anything like that. I just...what would you do if you were in my situation? If it was Hinata, what would you do?" He follows up and getting my train of thought back on track.

"I know this will sound meaningless, but...just be yourself. Really. I mean, you made this amazing meal for me just to thank me for being a friend. You train yourself so hard to make sure nothing happens to your team or friends. You are an amazing person. You're funny as hell too – you make Sasuke laugh more than I have ever seen him. Just be yourself with her." I say, listing out all the good qualities everyone in the Skulk sees about him.

I just wish his self-confidence wasn't so low. I know it's improved a lot since we graduated from the Academy – and that's really saying something – but just like how he felt like he needed my approval to take Yamato's offer, he feels like he needs my approval to just be himself.

"Somehow I knew that's what you'd say. But thank you, for saying those things. Sometimes I feel those things like you said, but other times I just feel like it isn't me, you know? That maybe you all are just trying to humor me, that you just don't want to hurt my feelings. I know that isn't the case, but it's what I feel sometimes." He says, and I just nod.

Because I know that feeling all too well. I often feel like some kind of imposter, even now. But as time continues, those feelings come less and less frequently. Well, since my last mission they have been coming back a bit, but before that I've been doing well.

"You just need to keep surrounding yourself with your friends, family, and loved ones. If you ever feel like that, just come find me." Well, assuming that I'm actually in the village and not on some stupidly-risky mission I shouldn't be on. I don't say that last part, but it's kinda the truth.

But I'll always be there for my friends if they need something. If they just need someone to be around, I'll gladly do it. If they need me for a mission, I'll do it. I'll do anything and everything for my friends and the Skulk. Because they are my family.

"I will. Thank you. And the same goes for you, too!" He says, and I thank him back for his offer.

Soon, we say goodbye after a small desert of homemade ice cream, and when I am a few minutes away from his home I suddenly don't feel that emptiness from the past three days anymore.

'Idiots, I swear. Now I remember why I hate most humans.' Kurama says to me, and I feel relief at him being back, humor at him not referring to me, but also anxiety because of course nothing can be easy for once for us.


One Day Later

It's already Sunday again – this past week kinda flew by. At least, in comparison to the week before it has anyway...

It's not that it went by quickly, but except for worrying about Kurama before he first came back and told me about his dissociation, it has been rather..uneventful. It's been training, hanging out with friends, and just waiting while Kurama did his best to start putting the plan into action.

And normally I wouldn't be one to complain about things being uneventful – because so much of this past year has been a shit-storm – but with another shit-storm coming up I hate not being able to do more.

I've always been a guy of action. My pranks were a way of dealing with loneliness as a kid. I've always done things for some goal, and the waiting for most of this week has not been a step in reaching any sort of goal.

But now that it's Sunday again, and that Kurama came back yesterday and gave us all an update on what's going on, it's time to once again inform the Skulk.

Last week they elected me their leader, and it felt really good! But I'm still terrified of anyone getting hurt. I know I can't control what happens and I know that I would do the same for them and would be insulted if they said otherwise (which reminds me of Ino's anger too...).

Is it too much to just want to live in peace with all my friends and family safe and happy?

(Of course it's too much, because life in general just sucks and isn't easy.)

Jiraiya already sent out a message to Sikona about the plan and asking for permission. Kurama made sure to let his siblings know that Whirlpool itself isn't a sure thing, but that some place is necessary.

"Hey, everyone, so I got an update on everything." I announce early on into the meeting rather than waiting until the end. If they have to know, at least we can all be together to ease some of the tension rather than ending with it and everyone going off on their own.

I tell them about everything that''s happened this past week. Sensei's update about the other jinchuuriki that was attacked, how Kurama confirmed he will actually be okay. How he dissociates to talk to his siblings. About my idea for everyone to go to Whirlpool for protection, assuming Sikona says it's okay. How Kurama told Team 8 and Jiraiya his name.

"Kyuubi says all of the other biiju and jinchuuriki, except for the current Mizukage Yagura, are accepting of the plan. Yagura's bijuu wants to come, too. Sugigetu – someone we rescued on our mission and who's from Hidden Mist – says Yagura is a 'maniac' and doesn't even want to go back while he's in power. But at the very least it's eight of us nine who want to do this and trust me and Konoha because Kyuubi trusts us." I explain all the new information Kurama gathered during his dissociation.

He spent so much extra time dissociated because of Yagura. They spent nearly two whole days trying to devise a way to convince him, and the bijuu will try but is sure it'll be futile. He claims he is not mentally sane at all.

"Is that...safe? Nearly all the tailed beats in one area? If Akatsuki finds out, all their targets are in one area." Neji asks, concerned.

"Nothing with this situation is safe. Naruto and everyone else will always be a target until we can kill them. But Whirlpool is guarded and protected. And even if they do manage to find us and break in, we have the combined power of the bijuu, a sannin, Whirlpool's own forces." My godfather says in response.

"You better not forget to put 'the Skulk' on that list." Sasuke demands, and I just shake my head.

"Of course not. The plan has always been you guys going with me wherever I go, no matter what happens with anyone else. I'm going where Kyuubi needs me, and I need you guys with me too. I'm not leaving you all again. That's one mistake I won't repeat." I say, and they all know what mistake I'm referring too.

"This is most youthful! Villages and jinchuuriki coming together in solidarity!" Lee cries out, pulling Tenten and Sasuke (as they are next to him) into his chest and starts crying in joy and pride.

"Itachi has some outdated information, but it's still been useful in tracking the organization's movements. We are getting close to be able to launch an attack. But we need to get everyone safe first. That's why Tsunade has temporarily removed everyone here from active duty as of a week ago." Jiraiya adds, and things really are counting down now.

I'm terrified...but I can't do anything about that. All I can do right now is surround myself with the people I love, keep training, and wait for Sikona's response.

I kiss my girlfriend before grabbing a plate of food and sitting with my friends.

A/N: So yeah, I wasn't quite sure about how to end this chapter. Like the last couple, it just kind of had a good stopping point yet at the same time one that didn't make for a good written ending?

Anyway, so without intending to at all I started a new relationship in this story! I swear that section wrote itself.

This marks the first/second chapter in the "Jinchuuriki Coalition" arc. A note about that: the reason that's the arc's name won't really become apparent for quite a while...

I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for Chapter 14!

Also, don't forget to review!