"Up! Come on, you've asked for this," There was a sense of desperation in the man's voice, although acted. It was discernible once you saw the smile on his face.

If only the other figure could gather the strength to even gesticulate, to simulate being in the mood to smile like that…

He was bruised, fruitlessly tired.

"Brief break needed here, sensei," he was panting, resting on the floor face down, gathering all the strength he could to solely attempt to raise his torso. It proved challenging. "I didn't think this was going to be this maddeningly difficult."

"Did you say difficult just so I couldn't say phrasing once you said hard?" Jiraiya was having a laugh at the expense of his pupil. It was amusing, why lie?

"Yes," remarked the panting youngling.

He was still rational. Shouting "phrasing" was his thing, there was pride and an identity-defining quality in there, his version of that's what she said.

He knew better than to lead others so they could copy it or emulate it, the typical mockery.

"All fucking morning yelling in my ear, nonstop," persistent wouldn't cut it, "Telling me you wanted this. I told you you weren't ready, but did you hear me? No" The figure walked near his sixteen-year-old student, offering him a hand that he wasn't ready to accept yet, wanting to rest longer. "Where is your bragging self now, Shiraki?" Asked Jiraiya with a smile before the chunin.

"On the verge of coughing my lungs out. Of kissing the floor. Trying to catch my breath," Shiraki said in between coughs. "Just give me a fucking second."

Jiraiya bend, crouching, standing closer to the teenager. Shiraki had been so adamant all day about learning the technique Jiraiya had recently taught Minato, that the Sannin had no option but to budge and accept.

He was not playing favorites, or at least not that much.

There was an honest wonder as to why they were doing this right now. When he called it a day earlier than usual, Minato and Mikoto complied happily as they trailed off, both to search for Kushina without talking to each other.

Shiraki just remained there instead.

Leaving the fun for later, Jiraiya asked.

"What brought this on, Shiraki?"

The boy's stare didn't leave the floor. Jiraiya honestly had no clue.

Shiraki took his time to open up.

"When we faced that Iwa shinobi, Tahaya, the one that was involved in the killing of all of Team 9," Shiraki looked up just to see if Jiraiya was following. If he knew of who he was talking about, when Jiraiya nodded he proceeded, "early on our match I realized that I had no chance. I couldn't match her ninjutsu, nor get close enough to reach her one damn time. Fuck, I couldn't even trap her in any gentjustu." The frustration was evident, as his desire for vengeance when looking back at the fight. "I realized the only way I could get out of it was to delay her enough so that Mikoto or Minato could fucking appear and save my ass again," what ended up happening, "every other thing I did she counter it with ease."

"And seeing as Minato could reach her with that technique, you wanted me to teach you," stated Jiraiya, realizing what was happening.

Shiraki nodded. Both took deep breaths. One for health reasons, the other to gather the right state of mind to illustrate things.

Saying that the enemy was simply a terrible match wouldn't cut it. Less when that woman had hurt them all so badly, scarred them with a mental image they won't forget. It was a point, a point worthy of being mentioned because one wrong matchup could lead to it being the last, but not one fitting to say out loud when this was clearly beyond that.

Jiraiya took a seat next to Shiraki, both amidst the Death Forest.

"Shiraki, you know there's a reason why I taught you three differently, ever since you passed the chunin exams. In what regards your capacities you three are very divergent," Jiraiya meets Shiraki's gaze, knowing the boy to heart went with it. "Shiraki, if I were to say to you right now in your training that I don't play favorites, what would you say to that?"

"Bullshit", Shiraki answered immediately with his characteristic tone.

It was a knock on Jiraiya; they were all aware of the fact. What honored his sensei was that he had neglected none of them. In many's eyes, he was the best teacher, by a mind-bending margin. Ranking beyond the others arranged in the academy.

All senseis had predilections, he wasn't blinded by them.

Just look at the results of their team training. Three of the four current top members of their generation, among the still surviving members of that crew.

"Right? You're an aware person Shiraki and you know the core of who I am as a teacher. You cut through the disguise. You acknowledge that I would have taught you that technique if I thought you were capable. If it fitted the style and moves you've already developed," Jiraiya didn't want to mince words. "You know that your inherent chakra capacities are not on par with those other two, nor do you or Minato have any dōjutsu like Mikoto. You are not them nor should you desire, not only because in many senses you can't currently, but because altogether you know how far beyond them you are in other areas. That's why I told you to train with Niko while Mikoto went with the Uchiha and I worked with Minato on his techniques, but you didn't want to listen." Jiraiya didn't understand his reasons. It was maddening. He knew that there had to be something, Shiraki was not led by ego or pride, so why. Niko was the perfect fit for Shiraki's style and needs, and Jiraiya had already arranged everything.

"Yes, because I already knew what I do best and wanted you to help me in it, but you fucking said no to me," Shiraki said, not yet raising his voice.

"Again with this?" Jiraiya asked. How many times did he have to answer this? He knew Shiraki fit the mold. He was fluent in many languages and aware of many cultures, savant of things a boy his age shouldn't, but there was no way he was going to go along with this.

"Yes again. Just let me be a part of it. You told me your spy network is already set and working. It's what I do best. Gather information, deceit, infiltrate... You know it's true. When in need in missions, I have proved it time and time again. You confessed being surprised. Just teach me that or tell one of your spies to give me a hand so I can get a hold of it," Shiraki repeated for the thirtieth time in the past year.

"So you find how fulfilling that life is? No. I wouldn't wish that life on anybody Shiraki, least of all help one of my students to experience it. Given that they have so many other chances. You are already a chunin Shiraki, you've got many other paths to follow." Jiraiya said as he helped Shiraki to stand up.

"It's my call," Shiraki honestly and truthfully claimed.

"And it's mine to accept and offer you the chance, and I say no," when looking in the boy's eyes, Jiraiya saw the endurance Shiraki had when pursuing the chance. "Do I have to show you what becomes of someone when they live that life?"

Shiraki paused, looking down before answering. He meant for this chance to occur before accepting what he had been shortly propositioned. Seeing as his sensei didn't want to listen.

"I'm gonna enlist on the Anbu," He blurted out. Jiraiya mentally stumbled back, physically just opening his mouth, slightly. "Mikoto and Minato are already Jōnin, and after the spectacle I made when Mikoto said that the chances of the team continuing are slim to none. And like you said, given our differences, I doubt they will put us in similar assignments. I have to find my way." He paused as he handed Jiraiya a letter. "One captain saw the reports of what we did in the retrieval mission of the archives and offered me a position. The Hokage approved it already. All that's left is for me to go to the headquarters and sign."

It shocked Jiraiya.

'You better have a reason to accept this and not tell me, sensei' Jiraiya thought, having in mind paying a visit to Sarutobi. They didn't grasp what could result from this in the Sannin's mind.

He wanted better for his student.

"You're making a mistake, Shiraki. You know much better than this."

Two weeks before Akatsuki's attempt to kidnap Fū...

The thing was, he didn't. Clearly.

If he volunteered to re-enter this world after all he had endured in it and struggled to leave it, he clearly didn't.

Jiraiya had warned him of the sacrifices he would have to make, working full time. Partaking casually half your time in a job and a life that ain't yours so you could take part in that other world, where your aim laid, in the remaining time without causing suspicion.

Drawing people and their loyalty… Sometimes squishing mentioned people, their lives, with them not having a clue of who was responsible. Seeing the hurt in their eyes when they knew. Having people you trusted ending or destroying your life can't be pleasant. Or learning that they pretended all along, which was not always true.

The danger, the stakes. How ungratifying all was.

You could not step in this world with one foot, either you did so fully or you risked a prompt death.

Death was a topic in mind for the now older Shiraki as he walked down the corridor of the base. The topic of how to avoid it.

'That snake...' Shiraki didn't know how to frame his astonishment better. Despite how low he thought of that particular Sannin, he underestimated how unpredictable and uncaring he could be.

'Where is the fucking room?' He thought with certain knowledge of where it was. It was his frustration talking as he hoped to arrive promptly at it. 'Let's see if I recall where all those records are… Ough!' His trail of thought was stopped once a giant man collided purposely with him.

"Better be careful," he claimed as he looked down on Shiraki. "Watch where you are going next time."

Rather than playing his game, Shiraki smiled, it was decided then. A light bulb switched in his mind.

This was not the kind of espionage Shiraki was used to. Most of his work could solely rely around basic human psychology, knowing what interested people, their motivations. Studying and analyzing for whatever purpose they had, leading each figure to what a place he wanted, where he could operate to his purpose. When most of those figures either want to kill or to be free of the shackles of the madman you can't lunge at, it puts you in a precarious situation.

The construct of morality out the window.

He had to change his accent, his attire and his hair, leaving it as long as he could with his decaying quantity, growing a beard, wearing lenses...

For this work, he needed something beyond what he had previously done.

He continued walking…

He was more the blending type, not wanting to stand out. But he had to improvise if he wanted to put a stop to this and rescue Sasuke, if he was to destroy Orochimaru's plans, therefore needing to climb the ladder. Raising among the ranks.

Earlier that morning all those members of the high echelon were threatened, with that hissing tongue running inches away from their earlobes as that monster promised death to all their leaders where they to be the traitors, or where they to not find them.

Having random shipment attacks stopped one by one, depriving him of some needed resources, was getting on Orochimaru's nerves. 'Bad luck freak' Shiraki thought.

Shiraki thought, in relative terms, that he was safe. Not having made mistakes so far.

Only problem was that Orochimaru killed his most trusted man after Kabuto, in cold blood this morning. Just when they all thought the pep talk was over, and just to show how little value the personnel in his command had for him. The most loyal and valuable person of Orochimaru's military staff, innocent of being the mole, and he was killed with no afterthought.

If Orochimaru could murder that one, the prospect of Shiraki being next was not so unlikely under this random set of events. Even more so with Kabuto's gaze always focused on him, having not fooled the man, nor gained any information or trust of him. He was a conundrum and for now not that much of a danger if not by his master's side.

The clock was ticking, and he had to play the game to stay on it.

You could hear the door open as he entered the filing area, a second like kind of headquarters. With his clearance, those at the door had no problem with him going by. Obviously a door with such content was not unguarded.

Tricking these people, meaning Kabuto and Orochimaru, was more difficult than it seemed. Most people don't expect to be lied to, so there ain't this natural feeling of distrust. As long as you kept things close to the truth so you could naturally follow your own story.

To lie to a rational, analytic and cynic mind, prove them right. That was what his captain told him. There was nothing those individuals desire more than to prove their aim and wisdom. Give them a trail of clues towards rational judgments and they will walk down that road happily. Show them evidence and they will follow to where you point them.

The problem with Shiraki's current position was that if he altered anything, the few people with the capacity to do so if discovered would be judged and face the chance of being killed gruesomely. In Shiraki's case, failing his mission.

So what better thing to do than deal with what you got by revising the current state of affairs, and deal with the hand you're dealt.

The previous gentleman that had collided with Shiraki had the misfortune of awakening his mind and recalling him of the fact that he particularly had the habit of leaving his guarding post to visit a girl in the nearest town. It was endearing for a joyous killer, actually. Takai was his name.

In the last month, with the spread rumors of suspicions of a spy among them, with his casual record of disappearance, Takai was utterly terrified. Acting according to everything demanded of him. Where you to ask him to bend and clean the whole installation by hand or knees even and he would do it with no reprisal.

In his efforts of portraying loyalty he may have not seen his acquaintance for what? The entirety of two months. He seemed in the break of losing something.

Shiraki had seen the letters he wrote to her and didn't dare send yet. If Takai only could work on his writing, as he did in his menacing look… Shiraki was thinking of how to do it best. Sending her those letters with a direction to the base with an intention of meeting her in person would force him upon surprise to protect her, upon discovery he would be caught and killed, her too sorrily.

Takai fitted the profile of a man stupid enough to do that.

Of being gullible enough to do things of this nature for the promise of money.

Maybe think of another thing, some way to lure him out to her arms, therefore missing another post, all too soon after something of value was stolen. Returning with a smile to his death, it was better than he deserved.

Shiraki posed thinkingly as he looked at the reports and the turns. Smiling, he picked up an insignificant scroll of another matter, as if this was the thing he was searching all along, and left, not before making the guard laugh wholeheartedly when mocking the clothes of a man that just passed before them in the hallway.

As he turned the corner he almost collided with the mentioned man, rather boy.

"Sasuke," Shiraki said as he looked down at the kid in his new attire, quite presumptuous and arrogant to not wear a vest to protect you, with loose clothes instead, he thought. Sasuke was not his master nor one of the raikage, he ought to know that. All matters aside, Shiraki had not seen him here ever, "What are you doing here?"

Annoyed by the fact that Shiraki just dared to talk to him, Sasuke passed him by.

Given that he was untouchable according to Orochimaru, he could not even portray a desire to venture into the boy for his lack of manners. His prick demeanour.

"Trying out the hot-springs collection," Shiraki chuckled to himself as the boy slowed his pace in his adamant walk. Sasuke was easily teased, having himself in too much of a high regard.

In a matter of less than a second Sasuke was next to him, his arm rose, with his sword drawn upwards as it tried to reach Shiraki's neck. His three dot sharingan activated.

The boy saw Shiraki undaunted and upon casting a genjutsu with his Sharingan became surprised when he shortly after eluded it. Looking down at the boy smiling.

"Get ongoing, boy. I think you have been too long without your leash, I recall Orochimaru-Sama whistling for you," Sasuke was about to slice his throat when the man that just uttered those words disappeared before him. A clone, all that remained was mud running down the wall.

A provoking whisper continuingly sounding, bouncing on the walls.

Shiraki looked back, having lost the boy. There was no way of getting to Sasuke's good side for now. The youngling didn't desire any bonds. Shiraki knew Sasuke's motivation and when planning on how to draw him, he realized that it would be for the challenge Sasuke thought Shiraki posed that the boy would pay him the least bit of his time. How handy Shiraki could come in his training to kill Itachi being the determinant factor.

Leaving him startled like that was a good start.

There was no scenario where if he told him who he was, his mother's former teammate, he would come back to his senses.

Presently…

In every house or dorm, even mind, there's a place you are reluctant to look at during the night, afraid that in that hollow or dark space remains the embodiment of all that you're afraid of, waiting to lunge at you. Lurking.

Where the most silent whisper or feel of movement makes you look away or tuck stronger in your bed sheets, as if they were a tool of comfort, protection.

Well, the shinobi world had one too many of those sites, yet this one was one where they shouldn't take their eyes off, if they only knew where it was at.

"I think you're not grasping the urgency here," Kakuzu interrupted for the tenth time. "I think we should..."

"I think you're the one here that doesn't grasp things, Kakuzu," Konan said before the seemingly disoriented Kakuzu. It was rich, all this coming from him. Although she knew perfectly under whose orders he did it. "You're the one that went after the seven tails out of the blue when I stated that we weren't ready and somehow was defeated by a bunch of middle tier shinobi."

They would not kill Kakuzu in response. What good could that do?

"I got the report of this man's attempt and what he gathered. It was far too good a chance to pass," Kakuzu knew better than to blame Madara for this. As he talked he pointed out Hōichi's corpse, his chakra already extracted after a useless questioning.

"How did you get that information before my sources?" Sasori said, surprised because his info network didn't warn him sooner of what happened, given that it happened in his birthplace, the place where he had the best informants.

"Who cares?" Utter Deidara in provocation.

"Would you rather we address all this Kakuzu? You think what you managed is worth the risk you've taken? Worth losing Hidan?" Mentioned the voice in the dark. Only his Rinnegan is discernible. "Were you to have brought both the seven and the nine tails and it would be undoubted, but you were nowhere near out of arrogance."

"That's what we should address," Kakuzu said, forgetting that last part, "They have him. We should do something about that." He had no afterthought of his partner's health but the danger that him talking posed. The knowledge he had in the bounty network Kakuzu relied on.

"We are not gonna do such a thing," Said Konan.

"And let them question Hidan?" Deidara questioned. It felt like they should be in a hurry.

"Have you talked to him about anything that should be of concern? If this once you did as told, what he knows should not be a problem," said Konan.

They kept Hidan in the dark, purposely, of much of the information and plans they had. His only care was for his killing, so when not needed they didn't fill him in.

When first reading his records, and after seeing him in those first months of action, hearing Kakuzu's reports, Konan acted. His demeanor was a risk, a wildcard. Every time he stepped on the field, with his rushing tendencies, he was likely to end up in the position he was in, captured.

The fear of being captured, for eternity, with no range or freedom of movement… Anyone could talk if given the chance. She warned Pain and Madara, good thing they listened for she was being proven right.

Hidan didn't know of Amegakure, never had been there, nor many of the hideouts. Matter of fact, he had no clue of the contacts. He was not the sharpest tool, and his single-minded orientation was a plus for her plan. If tortured there were precautions put in place.

Without his knowledge and with a certain genjutsu specialist's help, they planted blocks inside his mind, those inspired in every body Pain had. Although more complex and dangerous if you were to venture in them.

A variation of a curse seal planted unconsciously in that fool, were he to talk, to even remember certain subjects and he would suffer, not die given his nature. But suffer. And it was all activated.

"He knows who each of us are, maybe not your abilities," since he only saw Kakuzu and Orochimaru fight, "but he knows of mine and our appearances. The ritual of the extraction and the location of at least three of our hideouts. And no, I didn't share with him anything of our economic structure, who funds us or who we have given money too. Nothing short. He knows the major goal of capturing all Jinchūrikis and… I… I think that's it." Kakuzu tried to recall everything. "Which is more than enough."

"I concur. The prospect of being a captive for eternity is motivation enough for him to not shut his trap," Deidara sided with the 91-year-old.

"As long as we relocate those two hideouts and we replace him I think we will be okay. It's not like we haven't done it before," Argued Kisame, it didn't seem like that much of a danger if he spoke. The shinobi forces already knew most of who they were and yet till now they weren't capable of stopping them.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Konoha's interrogation and torture force have a reputation that we would be wise to focus on. I know little about the Yamanaka clan, but if the rumors I heard about their mind abilities are true, then we should act," Sasori warned, "Hidan is not hard to crack."

Yes, he was.

Konan turned to Itachi, who was too quiet, even by his standards. Given who was guarding Hidan's head and body… Her suspicions grew.

"What do you think of this, Itachi? Should we fear? After all, you probably know everything about them," Pain asked, thinking like his companion.

"I do," Itachi said with his undaunted tone.

"Then why keep quiet?" Questioned Deidara.

"I wrongly presumed you knew," Itachi added.

"Be it the last time," Pain said. There was no sense of tension reigning yet outside of Kakuzu's for his failing and Konan's when staring at the Uchiha. The leader resumed, "Tell us all about them."

"It has not been that long since I saw them in action. They're led by Ibiki Morino. Worry about the names because only three of them could be cause of worry if deployed. Ibiki himself, Inoichi Yamanaka and Aoba Yamashiro," Itachi said. Without the Uchiha in their teams anymore, the rest were almost inconsequential.

"Why should they worry us?" Konan asked, implied was the question. If they could go past the safes they planted.

"The Psycho Mind Transmission technique they can perform can allow them to enter a target's subconscious. During an enemy leader's pursuit we lost the trail but captured one of his soldiers," Itachi shared his memory trip, "They liked to explain things as they did them, apparently they can even venture into memories the subject has blocked, even forgotten."

Upon hearing that, most begin dealing with the fact that they had to intervene. The leading voice meanwhile only focused on Itachi, "Would you go if it was up to you?" Asked Pain.

"No. It's too big a risk for the little information they will find."

The opposition's voices erupted.

The discussion didn't end there, but that last point endured the rest of the meeting, argued over the counterpoints.

As the connection ended, Pain and Konan walked towards the principal building, not before noticing Madara beside them.

"For someone who likes to make the calls and not listen to anyone else's, you've made a horrible one," Konan said.

Madara concurred silently, although sighed loudly. Before he could respond.

"This mess is yours, do you have a plan on how to deal with it?" Pain asked.

"Not exactly. For one, Zetsu is trying to find where they are. As soon as he does, we will wait till they move him to act and ambush them. I have a place to store that senseless bastard if I don't find his body."

"Doesn't sound like much of a plan to me, don't rush when we are not in such need" Pain said, without showcasing worry or hurry. Hidan was their weakest member, so they ensured that the weakest link couldn't be their downfall. "How do you know they will move him?"

"I simply do. If Kakuzu's report is right, they're probably in the nearest hospital and with them the head. In the Sanin's reach. As soon as he goes back with his jinchūriki and loses his sight on Hidan, we will get him," Madara said with an acted sense of certainty before recalling. "Has Kakuzu told you about the boy's sudden progress."

Both nodded. It surprised them. Even Itachi's eyes widened a bit in relative terms during the meeting. Underestimating their enemy's in this manner was foolish.

"It would be wise if we kept our eyes on him this time," Konan advised. "If it's too much of a danger, don't engage, you have already blurted out enough to the enemy."

"Certainly," responded Madara before excusing himself, "Now, pardon me, I have to search for Kakuzu, I would like to have a chat with him. Tell me if you find a replacement for Hidan, if not, I might have a candidate in mind."

Impatience had a sound in function of the setting where it was displayed. Had it been in a studio and you would hear the utensils being swept off the table, something being broken.

Instead, in this object free place, standing beside a window glass in another accommodated setting, like Tayuya's although this one for interrogation purposes, all that could be heard was Jiraiya tapping his foot as he looked at the recently arrived crew of the interrogation unit struggling with Hidan's head.

It had been two hours, and they had not been able to find anything yet. It was getting on his nerves. He was no impatient man, but they advised him to leave the room once his frustrations were hindering the work of those who were in deep dive through that madman's mind.

They had asked Hidan at first. He seemed to be an idiot, shouting something about a guy named Jashin and a few more sentences. Not responding to anything they asked. It was a given in the crew's mind.

Jiraiya fears grow.

Not knowing anything about Hidan's condition or if he could die or weaken when dismembered, Inoichi advised trying to enter Hidan's mind, to which Jiraiya accepted.

They had found nothing out so far.

Inoichi stepped out of the room, approaching Jiraiya, a bit scared if he was honest with himself. One fact that many forget of the Sanin, given that he is often outside the village, is his height and presence when angry.

Outside the comfort that it brought to see him with his usually goofy self.

"What is it, Inoichi?" Jiraiya said without taking his eyes off the living head. Not grasping how this could be real.

"It's more complex than we thought. His mind is… Is all messed up and sealed, protected. We can't do anything from here. It's too risky." Inoichi confessed.

"How long?" Jiraiya asked.

"I don't know, a normal procedure of this kind could take a week, two or three days if we used the amplified machine in our quarters. I can't tell you anything yet outside the fact this ain't no normal case. We've to take him home in order to do anything," Inoichi looked at Aoba, turning from Hidan and raising his hands as if he had no clue. He was the most proficient user of this technique, so if he had his reservations… "I only spent a few seconds in there, but I could already see worrisome bits. There are not only blocks. If there were traps and we were to fall for them, it could spell trouble," and there were few too many capable of using that technique.

Jiraiya had a bad feeling about this.

"Do what you must, Inoichi, but this can't be inconsequential. We've a fucking member of the Akatsuki here with no fucking way of escaping. There won't be another chance like this, I grant you," Jiraiya turned as he just dropped that weight on the seasoned Jōnin. "Don't think there ain't a clock counting down because he's immortal, we're not.."

As he turned, he didn't even hear Inoichi's response, although it was a formal one.

Jiraiya walked back to Naruto's room. He was so fiery that if bothered or provoked he could spit fire with no hand signs.

He almost did when someone tucked his robes when not capable of getting his attention when calling him for his name. Jiraiya was just three feet away from Naruto's room.

"What the fuck do you want?" He questioned, with the rudest tone he could manage, as he turned.

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to with that tone?"

That voice! Jiraiya completely spun to the perpetrator of those words. Shock was not the word. When looking at her blonde hair and brown eyes...

"Tsunade!"

Just a day ago...

Tsunade was wrapping up her paperwork before departing with Konoha's delegation towards Sunagakure first thing in the morning.

With so many of her young shinobi in the finals, it would be unwelcome to not do so.

When was the last three kages reunited? Not in a war setting.

Ōnoki had confirmed his attendance this very morning.

Tsunade didn't have him in high regard. His erasing technique, that particle jutsu of his, resumed his approach to problem solving. Were that problem to actually live and breathe and you have a dark turn worth of terrors.

Her grandfather disproved the figure's teacher, and her great uncle thought of him as an unwise figure in what related to ruling. A great shinobi but an awful ruler were Tobirama's words.

Seeing his record, she agreed. Reasoning, while something Onichi would claim aloud that he possessed while the rest didn't, was not something he attended to. Ōnoki was part of no vanguard, but the very main keeper of the "old ways".

She hoped that he was succeeded by someone better, not that it was hard.

Shizune walked by with a full felt smile, lighting the tired and bored room. Tsunade did so too in response while looking at her with wonder and admiration. How she had enriched her personal life so much and found balance with the tiresome schedule she had was beyond Tsunade's imagination. It was not Iruka only, but her growing bonds with old acquaintances and new. Anko, Kurenai, Yugao… Tsunade was indeed invited to take part and when her schedule allowed it, which was rare, she enjoyed herself… She just couldn't find the balance.

In her mind she jokingly teased Shizune saying to her that it will wear off. She did not say that out loud because she didn't want for that to happen. God knows that if anyone deserves all of this, it was Shizune.

When reading the reports she came upon a warning, a report of activities that happened near the Odo river. As she continued reading she swiftly decided what was to happen.

"Shizune, tell the delegation that we will leave sooner than expected."

"You have a minute to explain yourself or may the gods save you," she said in between her teeth. Rolling up her right sleeve.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what I'm doing here?" Tsunade questioned, baffled.

"I..." Jiraiya was so surprised that he didn't know what to say.

"I got your letter, a report from one of the posts, and I had to pass this place regardless towards Suna. What was I supposed to do? Not come?" Tsunade was still waiting for Jiraiya's answer. When Jiraiya looked outside the window, Tsunade sighed. "No Jiraiya, the delegation ain't outside, not everybody knows where you're at. Calm down. I know what the stakes are for god sakes." You lunatic, she added in the back of her mind.

Jiraiya looked at her and tried to do as she said. He had been gruelling to others with his recent attitude.

"Who knows?" Jiraiya questioned.

"Outside of everyone involved in the action, the rescuers and the two squads you've asked…" She could go on… "Naruto is safe, they know he's in the Fire Country, Jiraiya. It's unavoidable given what happened," Tsunade said.

"How much have you been told?" He questioned again to her annoyance.

"Almost everything along the way from that Onishi boy. Except, of course, the report coming from the two most important sources," Tsunade said as her stare intensified. "I miss the reasoning and explanation to why Naruto was with some Shimogakure shinobi, how that came to be, how is it you're here. And how in almost two months the only thing I received from you was a letter that said that you two were fine, in fucking code."

Tsunade did not understand how she had been capable of not hitting him yet.

"You see.." Jiraiya raised his hands in defense. Not furthering or aiding his cause. The look in her eyes, she was disappointed, angry, and a bit hurt too. Disappointed being the chief ingredient in that recipe. "Let me explain, come with me." He said as he led her to Naruto's room, closing it as they entered.

Tsunade to manage appearances had to travel slowly with the delegation, not being able to lead Inoichi and the others to the place in question faster. It was the first time she had seen Naruto since they departed a year and a half back.

He has changed so much.

"He's grown taller than you," Jiraiya said, smiling as she gazed at the boy quietly sleeping in the bed. Lightly bandaged.

His case was one of bother line chakra exhaustion.

"Already?" She questioned in disbelief. Having not seen the process. To think that loudmouth midget was no more.

Tsunade approached him.

As she looked down she saw his hair, and his broader features. His not so childlike face.

"He looks so..." Tsunade started for Jiraiya to end.

"Different. Yes."

"How is he?" She questioned with worry, although knowing that if he was in danger they would've called for her aid in a hurry.

"He's been out since the fight, more than an entire day. He had a wound in his leg. By now you can check it, it's almost healed. He didn't take that much damage. He lost a bit of blood, was exhausted, depleted after everything he had done. I heard most of what happened before we arrived and Kakuzu escaped. I'm waiting to ask him, but apparently he saved their lives," Jiraiya said as he looked at Tsunade and her extended hand as she unwrapped the bandages to heal the wound finally herself. "He should wake up any minute now."

"I want to know everything Jiraiya," having been left for so long without needed answers… She found it troubling that they had to be face to face, her using this order tone for him to share the most subliminal thing. Just in case he didn't grasp it. "Everything."

"How long do you have before proceeding with your..."

"I have enough time," Tsunade's emotion filled stare was on him, telling him all he needed to know. Warning him he better answer and not try to get out of this. Not understanding why he should want to do that.

Jiraiya silenced the room with a jutsu.

Naruto awoke in the middle of the night.

He raised his torso, realizing soon enough that he was in a hospital after glancing at the white sheets that covered him, the bandages on his leg after he lifted them.

It was dark, and no one was beside him. At least they had the decency to leave him some water on the side table. As he grabbed it, he could see in the glass a light being reflected. Turning to the door, he rose in worry, seeing it wide open, his fears of ghosts still not over.

Reckless as always, unbeknown of his own limits, he followed it, without bothering asking for help given that he never saw a trace of life in the first steps he took out of the confinement of that unpleasing grim room.

It was a bright yellow light, rather fast for him to keep track of, but as soon as he lost it in the hospital, each time, it seemed to wait for him. He continued to track it until it stopped at the entrance of the Hokage office.

He was unaware of walking that long of a distance. Matter of fact, he didn't know how he even got to Konoha. He didn't bother knocking.

He entered in hopes of knowing what that was.

He reached for the knob and slowly began to open it, without asking himself questions. As the door opened, a noise, a rattle noise, familiar yet not placed somehow, after that a scream.

With force he opened the door at once, ready for whatever awaited him, or so he thought.

In the office two bodies lay at the ground, Tsunade and Jiraiya's, ripped apart, limbs spread on the floor. Tsunade stabbed in the heart with the one blade she took before for him, while lifeless both staring at him, with tears and blood streaming from their faces.

Naruto's rage was uncontrollable. The second after he could already feel himself lose control, he couldn't help but watch as his body seemed to move and transform on its own, the skin boiled and all features that resemble what he usually was vanished.

His eyes move up front, above the bodies of those who showcase any love for him. In the picture he saw the Hokage chain turned, not facing him, and at the sides two lapdogs, Kabuto and fucking Sasuke. The moment he jumped towards them, something threw him against the wall with extreme force.

He didn't double down, immediately ready to streak again. That was until he heard Orochimaru's voice.

"He's here as you said he would, Sasuke," He said as he turned. Nodding to Naruto, or rather above him, to those who just entered the room. Naruto was so obdurate in those in front of him he didn't notice Itachi and Danzo closing the door behind him. Just as he turns to gaze at them, becoming shocked to see them here, he hears Orochimaru commanding. "Do it now."

The second after, Sasuke swiftly was inches away from his face, with his three tomatoed eyed Sharingan facing him closely, directly.

Shortly after an emotion, a phenomenon that couldn't be explained in any other manner than in an emotion of emptiness and hollowness. Naruto found himself unable to attack any of them, his body remaining still.

Their smiles widened beyond imagination to the rhythm of his angst and Orochimaru's sudden percussion as he clapped with full joy.

"The power of the nine tails is in our control," Danzo said, smiling as he looked down at the quadruped, animal-like, Naruto.

A storm of laughter resounded before Naruto's impending scathing.

"A shame. A true waste, all this power, and is caged in something so dull and unproductive. No more," Orochimaru turned to see the village through the window, "This village has stopped my plans way too many times. Without their Sannin and their Jinchūriki, their days are numbered. They won't stand in my way ever again. You're free to keep what remains Danzo," Orochimaru said as Danzo disappeared from the immediate picture, "Sasuke, you already know what to command him."

Sasuke nodded. Vocalizing nothing, he directed Naruto, who felt he started moving without yet grasping how or why. He was truly lost and scared. He just grasped that his body moved, and he was helpless in the effort to stop any of it.

Expeditiously finding it all inescapable,

Not able of seeing at first, the only thing he could do is hear as a monstrous roar, that resembled no creature he had ever known or heard of, resounded, feeling the effort in his throat simultaneously.

The screams and the cries arrived shortly after in response, being each distinctive enough. Both children calling for their parents utterly terrified, sobbing with no control, incapable of finish their sentence out of pure horror, and parents pleading mercy and telling their children to not look up, saying embracing and warming things like "you're going to be okay", "I'm here, everything is going to be okay, you hear me", or cries to silent ears as they all run away looking out for themselves "help, please somebody help", "after him", "monster". A familiar lyric he has heard all his life, the second one that is, for he never heard the first. Why didn't he?

Suddenly he felt his arm going through something solid without difficulty, hastily regaining his capacity to see clearly.

He stared at his fired arm and cried once he realized it went through someone rather than something. On the feet of that someone was the bloody face of a lifeless Shikamaru. It was Ino's chest he stabbed without a second thought, her terror-struck face was replaced by nothing, absolutely nothing, those green eyes suddenly didn't hold neither hopes nor love, even hate or fear, they were empty. Naruto couldn't do anything but start crying and shouting non stoppingly for it all to end. As her body dropped, his sight moved right to a corner where a chubby teenager, Choji, was crying his heart out and not moving. Naruto realized as he inadvertently dawdled towards his friend, once again, that he couldn't do anything to stop it. Banging on the walls of his mind. Pleading in it, warning and shouting, "Choji, move, please. Come on… Please, please. Move!"

Before he could shout his name again, a blast that emanated below his eyesight disintegrated the poor boy. Naruto couldn't look away.

Naruto was present but far away at the same time. He was there, he could feel everything yet act upon nothing. Never had he felt this. One by one, second by second, frame by frame, he endured the destruction of his home by his own hands. And one by one, and each one in a more terrified, gruesome and soul-crushing manner, he stole the life away of everyone he had ever known in the presence of the persons he was aware care for each one the most. Akamaru before Kiba, Lee before Guy, and Neji before Hinata. His eyes darkened and his soul broke time after time, after time.

The raw feeling of this unsayable abomination. To kill is hardly manageable, but to kill those you hold dear the most is indescribable. He was out of words, emotions, tears. He just wished to be stopped, killed, to think he could cause this pain and destruction...

Just as he laid another lifeless body on the ground, freeing his feet from the rubble that fell down on him for the destruction he caused, when looking to the destroyed structure, in an alley that led to the still standing houses of the vicinity, he suddenly glimpse a trace of pink among all this mostly red.

Running away, noticing a few of the hairs as she turned the corner.

Naruto prayed for the first time in his life, "let it be Kizashi, not her please, everyone but her," as he pursued her route he saw her. "Stop, stop!"

She found an empty ally, drained and without chakra she turned to him, to face him, aware of who he was and therefore showcasing the most emotions.

Naruto felt a tingling on his fingers. Run with the chance. He started to do, to be, to be something, to regain some power, at least enough to open a window for her to retreat or at least kill him. He seethed as he tried doing everything he could grasp.

But he was nothing short of useless.

She got in the stand and the moment she did, one of her legs crumbled, losing her balance; he had severely injured her. Nonetheless, she stood up, prepared to face him. In a flash, he forced her against the wall before reaching for her heart.

She spit blood on him, each single drop evaporating on him.

Her breath slowed and her mouth sang a silent yet acute cried of desperation and defeat. She looked him in the eyes and Naruto for certain felt like everything inside him rotted and died. When she uttered why and with it her last breath, he no longer had doubts and felt to his knees.

There may be a thousand people crying and running away, but as he grasps what he had just done, looking at her, he only heard silence.

A hand found its way to his shoulder, looking up was a smiling Sasuke and up above, on a rooftop a proud Orochimaru, in his elliptical, snake eyes you could see the reflections of the lights that came with the flames, and the thousands of lives it destroyed.

"Good job, Dobe. Didn't think you had it in you. I have to admit this was overboard. I didn't know what interests Orochimaru had in you, but believe me, I don't have those doubts anymore. As a present, here, I untie you of my will," he said like he was showcasing mercy, actual kindness.

Bringing his right hand to the height of his face, with both the index and the middle fingers raised, Sasuke released energy and with it the shackles that held Naruto. The second he did that, a consent and still possessed Naruto grabbed him by the throat violently, with all intentions to kill him.

Rather than scared, Sasuke was comically inviting him to do it with an insulting smile. As if he knew he would not do a thing. He even taunted him. "Do it. What is one more, right? Look around you. Do you know how many people you killed today? Do you think this will bring you back none of them back? Sakura?" The moment he told her name, Naruto automatically broke his neck.

Sasuke's body disappeared. A substitution. "You are nothing more than a tool to harm and destroy. You have never and will never be loved, you are useful and convenient, nothing more. You can't beat me, so don't even try," he said from the heights of the building.

In the scrap a shining thing cast a reflection, a sharp piece of glass. Naruto carefully grabbed it, and then he saw it. He saw his reflection upon the piece of mirror, his blood craving lustful eyes and savage features, along with 6 tails. All his body covered in the blood of his peers.

With no diligence he grabbed it and pointed towards his own neck and drove it there with angered force. As he was about to hit it, committing suicide….

He woke.

He woke up in some hospital room, not the one he seemed to lie upon each time he got hurt back then. Unlike the vicious and nervous movement that a dream like that awakens, he just opened his eyes as if not shocked to the core by what he just experienced.

He just had a sudden spasm kind of movement, imperceptible.

He had that dream one too many times. Only new thing was Danzo's new appearance in the cast. Long gone were the times where he hyperventilated shortly after his eyes opened in the realm of reality.

'Sorry Kurama,' Naruto said just in case he thought this was something against him, it was not. Kurama just huffed.

He heard two voices he would recognize everywhere arguing. Surprised of the second to be present given the circumstances.

"Don't you think you've gotten out of this yet, you aren't as alluring as you think. Besides, as if. I say frogs will grow hair before that happens," their banter was interrupted by her chuckle, stopping Jiraiya from answering, as she just finished the set up towards a punch, "Oh wait, they already do, silver for that manner. Seen them, or rather him all my life. Predatory, lurking, not that good looking or smart now that I think about it. I mean, I saw him talk to his kind before non-stop. Seemingly being the less rational of all of them," She laughs, well not alone, for Naruto was riding right along with her silently.

He didn't understand when none of this came from, but he found it charming. He attempted to not be noticed, so he didn't disrupt this.

Jiraiya smiled at the eased tension, looking at her as he thought she must find herself amusing. He was thankful. Just ten minutes ago he braced at Tsunade as she made her best effort to not kill him, again. This time after confessing to her how he told Naruto of his parents, where, without furthering in detail and not rearranging the perception of history and of what remained in that place. He told her about it like it was just a stop, like any other ruins they encountered in their time.

He was just at the half point of their story in the last two years, a heavy detail tale of their adventure.

Jiraiya responded, not in kind, sagely.

"Oh, funny! Look what a smile," she blushed a bit at the man's comments, his joyful tone. Jiraiya approached. "You see Tsunade, I would clap but we are not playing a fair game here, not only because this is not the first time you made that lame joke, but because if I dare opened my mouth and compared you to your summon animal, you will strike me the second after," he gave her a stare that told her that there was no point arguing that, "You're not fair."

Tsunade entered like she didn't know him better. "What? How come? Come on, say something, I promised I will not hit you," Her daring, enticing attitude, was not only painted in her eyes but upon each of her fiery characters, all known to him.

'No sir,' Jiraiya wisely thought to himself as he just laughed.

"Not falling for that, Tsunade. Besides, for once the so-called less rational needs to pace himself, for someone asked me to brief her on an entire year's story, telling each step if I remember correctly," Jiraiya added.

"Mind if I interlude and tell another version?" Naruto said as he smiled at the two Sarutobi pupils. Each in shock as they spun to look at the boy raising and resting on both his elbows. Looking at them with a smile and a half-opened eye, "just in case he tells a perverted version of it."

Tsunade approached Naruto and hugged him.

"How are you, Naruto?" She asked after realizing his voice deepened a bit. Seeing him conscious for the first time. She hoped he didn't give up his revel and cheerful ways, not all of them.

Her mind told her that there was a fat chance of that happening as his smile widened and he called her by the name he alone had the guts to utter out loud.

"Ba-chan," Tsunade smiled in response as he did. "I'm good. What are you doing here?" He questioned, he didn't expect to see her till he returned.

"I was just passing by. Going to see the rest of your class and Gay team fight in the finals," She confessed to Naruto as he opened his eyes surprised, as he recall.

He questioned Tsunade on it, and when briefed of all who succeeded, he smiled. As soon as he heard that Neji and Lee would fight he turned to Jiraiya to see if somehow they could watch it. Jiraiya shook his head. Of course not.

'Dammit,' Naruto thought. Even pouted. That was one hell of a fight he could learn a lot from.

Seeing them interact was wholesome. Both chuckling at each other. They had chemistry. Jiraiya hated to put a stop to their banter, but Tsunade had confessed having limited time and he didn't want people looking for her and noticing them; not briefing her on what was important.

"What happened Naruto?" Questioned Jiraiya.

Both Tsunade and Naruto stiffed a laugh forcefully, their demeanor changing in a matter of seconds after both turn, their smirks fading, to Jiraiya, noticing him serious and focused on the subject. Tsunade switched to her Hokage mod while Naruto saddened, having to recall briefly that Sora and Kegon perished… Fū!

"Where is Fū?" He asked as he fully stretched his arms. Ready to stand and look for her.

Jiraiya calmed the boy.

"She and Yōrō are on their way to their village accompanied by a whole Jōnin squad, Naruto. They couldn't wait. She told me to thank you, to say for her how she cannot wait to meet you again," He explained.

"And Tadashi and Noguchi?"

"Noguchi is dead Naruto, I'm sorry," Naruto looked down again, cursing in his head as he had to lament another death. That meant Tadashi was alone, that he had lost both his teacher and his partner. He didn't want to grasp what he must be feeling. "Tadashi is still recovering. A team will come for him, and the bodies, so they can be buried appropriately in the White Willow monument."

Tsunade didn't foresee the action Naruto saw during this trip, neither did the boy or Jiraiya. All wanting to postpone facing the Akatsuki way beyond the ending of this journey.

Naruto told them what happened from his eyes, the details they didn't already know. From the first instance, what happened on Suna, to the encounter when he ambushed them.

There were some vital points of information in there.

"... The Suna traitor team was not the only team carefully watching Ero-Sennin. There was an Amegakure squad there, and it shouldn't have. I reached Gaara and Fū because I eluded the rescue teams after the storm. Those three went out of their way too to get there. They didn't approach the teams that escorted us to the tower either. Two girls and a boy, watching from a distance. I could distinctly sense them," Naruto briefed, the sannins looking at each other.

Amegakure was an important part of their history. The birthplace of their titles, when they faced Hanzo, their leader, and survived. What interest could that old man have on the jinchūriki?

"Interesting," Jiraiya solely added. "Any idea, clue?" He questioned the Hokage, who shook her head.

"I presume you don't have one either," when Jiraiya nodded she posed thinkingly. "There's not been a single file in my table since becoming Hokage related to that village. I don't know… It could be nothing."

"Lets act as there was something. Hanzo is too old to be pulling a stunt like this," Jiraiya added. "I concur that it has been quite in the last two years, maybe too quiet given their story."

They made a mental note out of it as they told Naruto to proceed.

With the abilities exemplified, the way he used them and his decision making… As she heard those first minutes of Naruto's briefing, Tsunade looked at Jiraiya. She had no clue that threatening her fellow Sannin to beat him was the boy to come back with only better control of his chakra would cause this.

This exponential growth.

Jiraiya told her when she asked earlier to not bother yet to upgrade Naruto's status to chunin, not being nowhere near in the teacher's eyes for that of jōnin was she to think about it. The Hokage had fought alongside Jiraiya enough to see him in Sage Mode. If the boy had perfected it… He was no gennin.

'What has happened on that trip, really? To you two?' She thought.

Jiraiya in that latter part recognizes Naruto displeasing with how he performed. Given the results. Like he was searching for his mistakes as he progressed with his narration. So far, Jiraiya could only pick two majors. The boy had done very well so far.

That was till he told him he warned Shimogakure's team and told them to run off.

At that point, Jiraiya facepalmed. 'You're not ready to lead yet, Naruto. How do I make you understand this?' The elder thought.

...

"... and then is when you made your only true grand appearance," Naruto said, mocking Jiraiya's habit of praising himself as he entered the scene.

Tsunade smiled before looking at the boy's jaw widened lightly. He was clenching it. His fists, too.

"You did good, Naruto," Jiraiya stated. He himself couldn't have done nothing like that at the boy's age.

Naruto could hardly agree. He had only one explanation as to why they were still alive.

"He was toying with us."

"Huh?" Jiraiya muttered.

"Kakuzu," Naruto said, stating facts upon what he saw, "We only survived because he underestimated us. As soon as he saw the flare and realized that there were reinforcements coming, he destroyed us. It only took him five minutes," when looking at the boy he didn't seem hopeless, but frustrated.

"Maybe there was no better course of action, Naruto. You can't save everybody, although it speaks to your person that you tried so hard," Jiraiya said solemnly, Naruto gave him a look in response, knowing full well that there was. "You were outmatched, severely so. Thanks to your actions four people got out of there alive, the Akatsuki lost a member and they couldn't get their hands on Fu. Given the odds, learn to see things for what they are Naruto. You slowed them down, gathered information that you then shared to your team as you led them. Had the presence of mind to ask for help, highlighting your position in allied territory and endured till I arrived, defeating Hidan in the process and completing your mission," Jiraiya was not gonna clap and kneel before every action Naruto committed, he just had to make him see things. Shikamaru himself couldn't have come up with this because he didn't have the capacities to follow such a script. "As I hear you explain things Naruto, I only see one major flaw."

"Losing track of them and allowing them to surprise you," Tsunade added.

"Exactly, you should have kept a clone at a distance so he could have followed them, therefore being able to update you where they were," Jiraiya claimed. "That brilliant plan of yours could have killed anyone, Naruto. Anyone, but not those two. You had the info that Hidan was immortal and you rationally tested it, although doing things believing it was nonsense given how unlikely it was, been proven wrong. You engage them with the only mentality of stopping them and gaining distance, and it would be unfair to blame you for focusing on that rather than gathering more information with your clones given who they were. You beat the crap out of them, to the point Kakuzu lost two hearts, but you weren't able to incite Hidan to show that ability of his nor realize that Kakuzu had that many chakra affinities. He just showed them to you because as you said he was not taking you seriously, which will not happen again." Jiraiya thought better to leave the necessary and serious scolding about telling Shimogakure's shinobi to disappear for later. If they didn't stand their ground and remained, probably they would all be dead. Two jinchūrikis more in Akatsuki's grasp. "Which should teach you to never do it, with no regard of who you are facing."

'So much for not being a better course of action,' Naruto thought.

"We just have to keep improving, Naruto, as I said back in Mount Myōboku," Jiraiya said.

Naruto was eager and ready to face the challenge, ready for the hard road, not giving up… All that stuff he already had interiorized, yet stopped to think back on one thing.

'What does that mean, though. Reach your level?' Naruto thought about Jiraiya's speech after he defeated him the first time he used Sage Mode. Naruto heard Itachi warn Kizame that they should retire when seeing he was being guarded by the Sanin himself. If Jiraiya could inspire that, what fucking level Naruto had to reach, honestly. Two of the more fearsome shinobis and one had to warn the other they stood no chance.

"It's a good thing we still have a year, and what? Two months more of training in our aim for that," Jiraiya added.

They heard someone knocking on the door, interrupting their chat.

"I bet I know who they're searching for," Said Jiraiya as Tsunade went to open it. Looking sideways at the suddenly poking elder.

She opened a bit of it to see who it was. When she saw it was a Jōnin from the village, she sighed. Telling him to wait a second outside till she finished with whatever was the matter at hand.

"I should be going," She approached Naruto as he smiled, happy to see her at least this once. She reciprocated the effort. "I will see you then. Don't forget about the wedding."

"What wedding?" Asked Naruto as he rose to hug Tsunade.

"Iruka's and Shizune's. Didn't he tell you about that?" She said as she gazed at Jiraiya.

"What?" Naruto screamed in shock. "What? How? When?" Repeating those three words for the next seconds, altering with no control of the order.

He could have never guessed. Naruto recalled Iruka blushing when he asked him how come he got to know Shizune during a dinner in Ichiraku they had before he left.

Naruto made nothing of it, didn't even notice anything outside of a quick stammering.

Tsunade started laughing. "Yeah, my reaction when they started dating was something like that."

Naruto's head turns at blazing speed to Jiraiya, looking at him incisively.

"Come on, Ero-Sennin, we can't miss that. It's Iruka and Shizune-neechan's wedding," Naruto could start to beg if necessary. He could not miss that.

For longer than they should with Tsunade needed presence, they argued.

"Sorrily we've to." He said as the two people before him look disappointed, Naruto berating him and claiming he was going, regardless. "Naruto we have to disappear again, they know you're in the country, we've to train and gain more time. I'm sorry."

Tsunade knew better than to argue with Jiraiya and say that it was just a day. She didn't want to interlude. She didn't like this spoilsport, apprehensive and control freaked current version of him. It got on her nerves, just like in the old times. Jiraiya was a moody person and when he got on this one, particularly, she didn't appreciate it.

Naruto argued to no avail, he was troubled with the idea of not being there in moments of such importance for the people he cared for most. When Tsunade told him he could send a letter, a gift even with the toads, Naruto curtailed his last point, begrudgingly.

There was one more thing he wanted to say. It rushed in his head as soon as Tsunade went to grab a hold of the knot.

"Ba-chan wait!"

It was an inadvertent call. When his brain got a hold of his emotion he recalled.

"What is it, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.

He wanted to tell her that they were related, that they were family… He just recalled he couldn't say it. Saddened by the fact. Jiraiya noticed. Not telling even her about the Uzumaki was something both promised and Naruto, till he could, will do his best to uphold.

"Wish everyone good luck," Naruto portrayed a smile as he said that.

"Will do, Naruto," Tsunade said as she opened the door. "Get stronger and stay healthy, you two". As she closed the door, she told the Jōnin to follow her as she continued smiling, thinking on the back of her mind fondly 'Idiots.'

She closed the door behind her. Jiraiya was about to give Naruto a sympathetic look, knowing full well what Naruto wanted to say when he just noticed him smiling directly at him.

"What?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.

"Oh, nothing," Naruto said with a grin that Jiraiya didn't know where it came from. "Glad to see Ba-chan is all."

Jiraiya hummed. Something was on Naruto's mind, the brat was having a good time at his expense.

"Where off to now?" Naruto asked.

"Not so fast, I have things to take care of. I have to brief the squad that will secure Hidan's peaceful travel to Konoha," Jiraiya said, before reaching into his pockets. "Meanwhile, you look at this, it should light you up even more, I will tell Tadashi where you're at."

Naruto was handed a letter.

"Burn it after you read it," Jiraiya said as he left the room.

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto said dismissively as he opened it, searching for the name of who sent it.

'Miwari!' Naruto shouted in his head. He was expecting this letter. She had ventured into the continent, near the frontier of Konoha with a sole purpose, the fulfillment one Naruto's request. The letter started like this, "I've solved it..."

Naruto raised his fists in celebration. 'Yatta, I love you Miwa, you're a genius.'

Jiraiya marched back to the room where Hidan was, and in the corridor noticed the person who he personally requested led this retrieving team.

"It wouldn't hurt you to talk to him, Kakashi," if there was one person Jiraiya trusted to be secretive about it, it was this man.

The famous Jōnin looked up from his read to stare at the Sannin, noticing the rest of the team leaving the room ready to depart.

"We will have plenty of time for that," Kakashi added as the team formed to listen to their orders, "Trust that you have trained him well." He whispered that last part.

Jiraiya smiled, stifling a belly laugh, looking forward to Kakashi's firsthand experience of the boy's progress as Naruto faced him, fueled with a bit of resentment for not telling him who Kakashi's sensei was to him.

"Oh, you have no idea."

Somewhere in the continent, in a hideout previously visited...

You could hear fists colliding.

Sasuke was having a sparring session with two massive shinobis that at least doubled him in weight and height.

Not that it matters, given the difference in speed and his Sharingan capacity to trace their movement.

He was in the middle of two of them, both looking to strike him simultaneously, rather than jump away he awaited till the two of them were close enough, and leapt, kicking the two of them in the head with some unbelievable move mid-air.

As he landed he didn't give them time to breathe, striking at each precise blow that knocked them down.

He didn't even break a sweat.

He heard Orochimaru clapping in the background, the sun behind him, highlighting his figure.

"Well done, Sasuke-kun. Your reflexes, your taijutsu, are beyond many Jōnin," Orochimaru said as the boy wandered off. Rather than let him, he called for him one more time. "You still have one last match."

Sasuke turned to the door, saw a man he rarely ever saw entering. Kabuto going to the mentioned entrance and laying on the side of it. As in covering it. Sasuke questioned what was going on.

"Now, Takai here will be your last opponent Sasuke," Orochimaru smirked darkly. "Be both aware that only one of you will walk out of this alive. This is a death match." He simply put.

Sasuke frowned. What was that snake playing at? As he activated his sharingan, he saw this Takai man standing there shocked. Orochimaru's stare was not one that invited questioning nor to think he was joking. Sasuke saw this doubt-filled man turn to look at the door behind him as Kabuto stood up and occupied the middle of it.

Takai rotates to Sasuke, giving in to the situation they forced him into. Only a couple of words utter in surprise, what and why. Both incomprehensible as they left his mouth.

Lunging at the undaunted Sasuke Takai tried to land a blow, he was fast but not fast enough, when throwing a punch Sasuke eluded it, deviating the path of the next incoming with his forearm and landing two punches on Takai before this one retrieved.

Takai forms some hand signs.

"Water Style: Water Cannon Jutsu" Out of his mouth, projectiles of water aim at the Uchiha.

Who again eluded them, not before blasting with his fire the last one, the one that had just been performed and was two feet away from Takai, creating a small window.

Aware, Takai tried with slightly reduced visibility to counterattack Sasuke's moves.

A pinching pain arrived before any punch. As he tried to move, he couldn't.

"Chidori Senbons: Needles of a Thousand Birds," Sasuke had hit the man's pressure points with lightning needles? Takai had never seen that move before.

Takai grunted. That not being a source of surprise, the sound was expected, what shocked all the present was where it emanated from, from Sasuke's right rather than the man that appeared before him.

"It is always that tiresome jutsu," Sasuke said from behind the original person. A hoarse voice that elucidated how fed up he was with that move.

Takai vision cleared, realizing it was all a genjutsu, the moment he stared at those eyes at the start… One second before he was going to ambush the confident youngling as he was focused on a clone and the next one he was the one surprised.

The real Sasuke was not before him but behind him, his senbons hitting him, too. They already faded but their effect remained.

As Takai turned his head, expecting death, he found a punch instead coming to his head.

Knocking him down, unconscious as his head bounced upon the first touch with the floor.

Orochimaru notices Sasuke turning his back to the man. Erasing whatever smile the elder had shortly after seeing his apprentice performance.

Sasuke realigned his clothes as he restarted his path to his quarters, this once with no care for any of Orochimaru's orders to not do so. This training was pointless, rather read on something of use than this.

"Sasuke, you are defiling the point of this exercise, kill him," Orochimaru commanded with an angered face, to no avail. The teenager just brushed off whatever he claimed.

"I'm not your puppet," he passed Kabuto, not bothering to look at him as he interposed in his way, for he had already done it without the medic realizing it, planting another genjutsu on him. 'There's other people I want to kill.'

He disappeared.

Both Orochimaru and Kabuto approached Takai.

Kabuto knew better than to point out the Uchiha's behaviour before Orochimaru, this one being blind to the danger the boy posed. He just cursed him in his head.

"Are you sure it was him?" Orochimaru questioned.

Kabuto nodded, "Money, lists, I found everything. Very well hidden… A list of meeting places and our plans. He apparently left his post time and time again. The times fitting with Konoha's attack on our retrieving parties..." Kabuto trailed off, happy with his work. "And yesterday he vanished again. Shortly after one of our scrolls in medical ninjutsu disappeared, you know which one. I followed some clues and found a hiding shed nearby, and in there the scroll."

Orochimaru didn't need to hear any more. He killed the man where he laid, didn't bother to savour his dread as he waked, killing him while conscious… The Sannin had no time.

"Don't rest on your laurels, Kabuto."

"I won't." Kabuto added just because.

Of the people that came to clean the mess Sasuke had managed, the bodies lying around, one of them was Shiraki, who noticed the only one fatal victim.

He didn't know if to celebrate silently; he had to give up his own shed for this to happen, after cleaning a bit of it. It was the best idea he could come up with, not needing much of what it stored anymore. He could not search for a replacement, though.

As he picked up one body, he speculated. With Takai's death, he was cleared for a bit of time. Better to not raise many eyes now and focus mainly on Sasuke without causing suspicion for the upcoming months. 'I'm sorry, Jiraiya-sensei, you are on your own.' He had already kept his bargain and complied with his sensei's last two wishes.

The thought of what happened, noticing the mortal wound on the man's body, motivated Shiraki. He had eyes on the whole affair.

It was not Sasuke that ended him. 'Maybe there's hope after all.'

Back in the hospital…

Naruto barely limped when walking. He was almost fully healed, he just lacked a good meal. Bad thing he was ordered to not leave this room. He read the letter once again, may be the tenth or the eleventh time by now.

He just couldn't believe it.

Who better than Miwari to do this, to find out how the curse mark worked and how it could be erased. The fucking curse mark!

He jumped up and down. The part where one subject died or the part of how they got those subjects in that first place didn't figure in there, so the words that did figure in the letter had an upbeat tone to it.

Naruto wants to thank her personally. She was back safely at the island with Ashira, who accompanied her, not having been noticed according to their claims.

Writing something along the lines of "three months, it was child's play", as if dismissing what they accomplished. She better not say that in Konoha to some of their elite forces, might feel insulted after years of trying to do just that.

Thank Jiraiya too, since he was the major contributor, the one who orchestrated it all. The payment he offered for that service? To do something Naruto would have asked him to do nonetheless. Use his network to trace the Uzumaki left in the continent, adding to the mentioned network the contacts New Uzushiogakure had here all along.

His joy and cheer prolonged. At the top the techniques he wanted to learn reign whatever that marvelous genius, in his words, had developed. Over mixing his chakra affinity with the Rasengan and ending developing another major jutsu he had in mind.

It was a welcomed sight to see the boy that pleased given all that occurred, his demeanor dimming a bit that last month.

It was just the picture of his old self. In his happiness fest he didn't forget to incinerate the letter.

He couldn't help feeling like he was forgetting something. He didn't have to wait long to realize it was someone, rather. He heard a knock on the door to interrupt it all. As he approaches, he stated who it ought to be.

He opened the door to Tadashi. The radiant smile disappearing before just out of touch, awareness. What to say? He couldn't picture himself losing Sakura or Sasuke and Kakashi both on the same day… And Tadashi and company were older, so they shared more time together.

Tadashi smiled sincerely as he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder before going past him.

"I'm sorry, Tadashi." He said as he closed behind him. Given the circumstance, it should be him going to Tadashi's room instead of this.

"You should be," responded in between chuckles, disorienting the blonde. "You've heard?" Tadashi walked to the window. He was covered in bandages all over. Maybe he should not be up. Naruto nodded as his brief partner looked out. "Don't worry Naruto, I'm not here to berate you or anything like that, although maybe you're one of those who wants the blame upon his shoulders to punish himself. Get off on that." Tadashi didn't think it was the blonde's fault.

Naruto shook his head before sitting next to him.

"What happened?" Naruto questioned, he was facing Hidan when all happened.

"You saw Noguchi, right? He didn't survive his injuries," Tadashi briefed before turning to the next chapter, "In what regards to Sora… I… You know what's fucked up?"

Naruto added nothing, given the last hours he had many things from which to pick from. And knowing he was not to respond…

"I was aware of all that was happening. I was trapped in the rubble but I was not out those first moments, I've heard Sora's fight and him finally pleading for his life," Tadashi sat down, trying to catch Naruto's gaze as it fell down. "He was always the bravest, that little fucker. No matter how fucking scared he was, which was most of the time, if the motives and the persons he was doing it for were worthy enough, he would try to cast those fears aside and fight for that cause. While trembling, always managing to not be blinded by that fear. I always admired his capacity to en..."

"Endure," Naruto added by inertia.

"Despite the overwhelming odds, yeah," Tadashi said, chuckling. "Noguchi-sensei was like him in that ultimate sense, fighting for just causes. Having fought in wars for little more than my country's interest in riches, later realizing they were the bad guys and that those who they dehumanize were just innocent people caught in a fire that should have never been lighted up… Talking about how if he had to die, he would cherish being for something he believed in… I mean, he chose this," Much to Naruto's fear. "I look at his words and maybe find the meaning that he searched for." He paused. "I hope I don't have to make a speech for their burial…" They all felt hollow, without meaning for Tadashi, the moment he heard gods or spirits they lost him. "I'm not a believing person, I don't know what I would have to say in one of those things. Talking below the White willow monument with both's coffins opened, saying something about an afterlife where they will find the fulfillment they did not in this life, that they turn into energy… I guessed that brings people closure or ease, but I can't honestly speak about any of that. I don't believe any of it." Raising his stare, he asked, "Do you?"

Naruto didn't, actually. "No." It was not a topic he argued much about, it was just an internal feeling. He had never worshipped in any shrine.

"Big help you are then," Tadashi mockingly said, furthering Naruto's unease. What was with all the smiling? Tadashi continues to mock the recurrent speeches given in these affairs by reciting them in mocking fashion, "What is the point then? Then claiming after that that because they've died for a just cause their lives therefore had worth, like we shinobi only find fucking meaning in that death and how glorious it is, instead of years of fucking fight, of love…" Naruto added the words bonds. Tadashi refused to believe it, he was not alone in that. "Death is a part of life, but I can't see how being no more could cause celebration. To bask in the word legacy? Give me a break."

Naruto looked at it.

"In one of Jiraiya's books one of his characters says that the true measure of a shinobi is not how he lives but how he dies. It's not what they do in life but what they did before dying that proves their worth," Naruto thought of it at first as asinine. It might be as a shinobi, but not necessarily as a person. They were something beyond just warriors. "I can't help but oppose it. I presume that sentiment might come given that if we have to live by what this world preaches, what we are ordered to, it is upon death and when facing it, when we prove alone who we are, upon our only choice of facing it instead of running away, how and for who we did remained and face the end. If I have the choice and the capacity I will rather fight alongside those I care that die for them. Striving to be strong enough to ensure that first scenario."

"For those who suffer are the ones that remain," Tadashi added. He jokingly liked to quote the line that being stupid was just like being dead, it was only painful for others. He felt that now. "If only it was that easy. If we had that much power for who we sacrificed. When."

Naruto conceded. What he wouldn't do for those he cared about? For Iruka, Tsunade… Sakura. Even Sasuke.

They were just venting with not much knowledge of all there was. Didn't have that much experience or emotional intelligence to deal with the matter at hand.

"Yeah, don't think they can give much of a fuck anyway," Tadashi said, raising his hands to his forehead, resting both elbows on his knees. Rising his stare shortly after. "I rather think that what is left is to celebrate the time they had, for as brief as there was. If not for anything for their families, to be able to move on since you cannot change what happened. Continuing to work so that no one has to suffer that anymore, continuing even if we occasionally fail."

Tadashi looked at Naruto. Both resumed talking. Vengeance shortly mentioned without a violent tone, just a plea. They didn't necessarily have to honor their comrades' lives, not because they already did that themselves, as in Sora and Noguchi, but because Tadashi and Naruto didn't know what their motivations and aspirations were, how they thought to carry it best. If it was up to simply reproduce that punctual vow to protect Fū and therefore the world, then they were both on board.

What they did have to do was to restore a timeline where Sora's heart was within his actual killer, giving him life as he continued to destroy more souls. They had to free it, even if doing so by destroying it. It withering in unison with the rest of Sora's body.

They trailed off for minutes, hours as they amounted. During them they talked about what Tadashi would do once he got back, his plans for the future, what he wanted to become. A jōnin promotion and a position in Konade's main squad, ready to aid Naruto if the Akatsuki threatened the world, being first in line to kick their ass back. The topic of Naruto's side promptly appeared. Tadashi questioned the blonde if he was going to become the lone wolf, wanderer type of shinobi like his sensei. Naruto didn't catch much of a mocking tone there, he really had left the wrong impression on them.

He refused the mere idea. If he was who he was was because of the people that were there for him. If it could not be helped, if their safety relied solely on him not being in the village, then he would act accordingly. If not, and they could lead with what he attracted as a team… He would rather fight alongside friends than alone. Wanted to give them their call, having all progressed in their own way, scared to death of making Sakura's decisions for himself and what she could do when aware.

Just like he hoped they acted as if somehow they faced something that resembled his case.

Besides, he needed an outside and different perspective that questioned his own during his path before he became so self righteous to realise that he was wrong, that like in many occasions in history, those with unmovable motives, while them laudable and worthy, can cause the most damage when they pursued them. He recalled the saying that hell is filled with good intentions. The chance of becoming a type dictator himself and imposing peace… Fuck no!

They resumed talking for two hours, till Tadashi called it a day, wanting to rest before a complete day of travel. Almost decades with no Konoha and Shimogakure interactions… They realized that it will be long before they meet each other again.

They acknowledged each other, their abilities, the hope to meet in better terms and upon the most likely chance they didn't, that they were ready for the challenge as older and more capable men. Changing the course of what happened this time. Tadashi warned Naruto of what came with his abilities and prowess, what that entailed, the dangers that would gravitate around him. Wish him luck.

Offering him his hand, Naruto reciprocated Tadashi, nodding seriously at first and smiling as they ended that. It was the least thing Naruto could do.

Tadashi left and Naruto slept.

The next morning arrived…

Naruto washed his face, helping him regain his senses. Eager to leave the hospital. As he, automatically, went to grab a hold of some robes he remembered he had none outside of the hospital's. His Shimogakure ones were broken.

Ah!

He had stored his previous ones in a scroll, clearing the bed to put the scroll on it to make them appear. The sun had already risen. He knew well that Jiraiya ought to be in his way. Any minute now... He picked up his pants.

He then heard someone knocking on the door. Again. Erupting shortly after without him answering. He was just in his underwear.

"Are you already dressed up," Jiraiya said as he raised his sigh from a scroll he was reading, when seeing Naruto just standing there, "What are you doing putting those on, and not fully dressed? Come on! Didn't you notice them?"

"Huh?" Naruto was not at his brightest.

"Would you look at your left baka," Jiraiya said as he pointed to a table in front of the bed. On it was a full attire.

As Naruto reached for the clothes, he asked, "What's this?"

"A present," Jiraiya responded.

"I don't turn fifteen in like two months," Naruto responded as he picked it up, liking it.

"Think of it as an early present, then," Jiraiya said.

"Thank you, Ero-Sennin," Naruto sincerely said. While putting them on he asked to see if they fit, "Where are we going?"

"I think we've traveled enough already. Sulk in the view because we are getting out of the continent." Jiraiya stated like he couldn't wait. It had been quite the frantic stay.

He continued briefing as Naruto cleared his things and organized them, both setting their feet in motion as they took the road again.

"Anything you've in mind to train in first?" As Jiraiya asked and saw the boy's face, having read the letter, "Beyond that."

"In surpassing your Rasengan," He replied to the elder smile.

"There will be time for that," Jiraiya looked at the horizon and then to the boy with a smile and a weird joyous tone, awaiting tone, "Say, are you and Kurama ready to train together or you've not reached that level yet?" Because if so he had to send a letter to Yugito.

Naruto subtracted to his subconscious and just waited for Kurama to answer, knowing full well he heard.

Seeing he didn't answer.

"Well?" Naruto enticed the furball. Who snorted, creating a current that rearranged Naruto's hair and actually make him realize that the giant's breath did not smelt.

Kurama only opened one eye, Naruto could swear he saw him smile. He asked Naruto to trust him and he did so with no doubt about it; it was honest. Some progress they had obviously managed…

"We ain't there yet, boy," Figures. Naruto fell to the floor rather than facepalmed. They may be both knuckleheads. Kurama did smile while the boy cursed on the floor. "Which doesn't mean we ain't approaching it, Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto raised his head and jumped, just when he was about to shout out in happiness, as Kurama's face rose with both eyes opened warningly, staring at him, he doubled down and celebrated more quietly.

This was a milestone in their journey.

As he came back to reality, he didn't hide his smile, only thinking about the chance.

"There you go again with those smiles. Are you sure they cleared you? You certainly hit your head hard," Jiraiya provoked as the boy at first didn't respond.

After saying that, Naruto was ready to give Jiraiya a piece of his mind.

"Will you get off my back," He shouted out in desperation.

"What? You were trailing off again, it ain't a good habit to pick up, you know."

"You just ask me that question, what did you want me to do?"

"Give a straightforward answer."

"You know you've been a pain in the ass for the better part of the month. If you keep this pace, I'm gonna tell the counselor how it is that she feels she has met you before."

"You wouldn't."

"Sleeping with her and then disappearing. Quite the example for your students," that had to be the definition of a dick move.

"No, please don't."

"Then chill."

…

Their banter continued as they disappeared as they climbed down the hill. Their voices distancing till you could not hear them.

Continuing with the latter part of their journey, that last chapter of their travels before stepping on this land again, whether they like it or not, causing a stir unlike any other this shinobi world had seen.

Till then...

Author Note:

Didn't have a single clue on how to call this chapter.

I know I haven't compromised to any pace of releases, which is great, there's no pressure in that sense. You probably notice that I upload a piece two weeks apart.

From here on out I likely will follow that trend, uploading at most two chapters each month if not one for whatever circumstances, in some extreme situation, one in two months... I hope I doesn't come to that. Just in case you're wondering.

I won't give anything away. I'm tempted to not write about romance in this story, like AkashimaUchiha said, given that this story may turn sour on that front. But like I mentioned before, there will be pairings.

I'm willing to die on that hill.

The feedback has been good so far. Glad you're enjoying it.

P.S.: It is a slowly built story. 120K words to reach the beginning of Shippuden. It's coming.