Yep Yep. Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 10: Love Love?

"Tsunade-sama. Permission to speak mind."

"Permission granted."

"What the fuck did him and Jiraiya do? The dead last is way too good now."

Kiba was currently standing before Tsunade in her office airing out his frustrations. Frustrations at how strong his rival had gotten in comparison to him. Sure, he'd beaten Kiba in the Chunin Exams but everyone knew that was a fluke. Somehow, Naruto managed to not only close the gap, but the Jinchuriki had also gone well above him as far as skill was concerned.

Two and half years didn't turn you into what Naruto became. It just didn't make sense. And making sense of it was the first thing Kiba felt like doing once he got released from the hospital. A giant toad crushing you had a way of putting you there for a few days hence why he was just now getting to it.

"This is so not fair. You knew he was like that, didn't you?" asked Kiba as Tsunade hadn't looked away from her paperwork.

"Honestly, I didn't know he was that good. I only knew exactly what you read in the stats I updated for his record," informed Tsunade signing the document before her and moving on to the next. Tsunade smirked realizing she'd have to update it again. Little brat still had tricks up his sleeves. "I'm glad he was that good though. He won me a nice little bet. You do remember, right?"

Kiba's head sunk as he did indeed remember. It was the other reason he'd shown up here. The Inuzuaka just nodded his head as Tsunade smiled.

"Good, the academy isn't passing the next grouping of Genin for another couple of months," said Tsunade as a prelude. She took a moment to look up at Kiba whose face was set in one of curiosity. What did the new wave of Genin have to do with anything? "Well, D-ranks are piling up because the last group of Genin has grown up. They don't really like taking those baby missions anymore which leaves us stuck." continued Tsunade getting Kiba's eyes to widen. No, she couldn't mean? "Yes, you'll be on D-rank duty until the next group graduates."

Oh, he should have never taken that bet. D-ranks? Kiba, a chunin for over a year, was about to take D-ranks? Kami could just take him now. He would never live this down.

"You'll still do missions with Team 8 but, outside of those and training, you will be handling D-ranks." Tsunade reached over to grab her tea as she saw Kiba groan.

"Ugh, all because I couldn't beat Naruto-"

The sound of Tsunade's cup shattering interrupted Kiba. Kiba noticed the cup breaking and immediately felt dread. That was an omen if he'd ever seen one.

"Please tell me you did that on purpose."

"It's nothing. These things happen," said Tsunade getting Kiba's eyes to widen. It was something and Kiba knew it. It had to be. And they'd just been talking about Naruto when it happened. "Yeah, it's nothing. Cup was cheaply made. That's all."

Superstitions weren't real, right?

(With Naruto)

Naruto stood with Sasori behind him. The man's sword was stabbed through the Jinchuriki as the puppeteer looked at all of the Konoha shinobi regrouping. Sasori just watched their faces twist into ones of dread seeing their comrade in dire straits.

"How? We saw him destroy you," said Sakura getting Sasori to smile as Chiyo could see it now.

"You turned yourself into a puppet," said Chiyo shocked. It was the only way he could still be alive. "That body back there is you. But not you. Just a puppet body. And the body in front of us is a replacement for it."

"Ever clever Baa-chan," said Sasori as his puppet features became more prominent. It wasn't hard to tell now that the man before them was indeed a puppet. How did he even accomplish that? "It's too bad the Jinchuriki didn't know that beforehand. A pity because he won't get another chance like he had before. I'm not underestimating any of you anymore." continued the man turning his brown eyes to all the shinobi amassed. He didn't look the less bit apprehensive at taking them all on. And from his exploits, everyone figured he probably could. "Now, which one of you wants to die first?"

A hollow laugh sounded out at that question. The laugh was weird but, it came from the less likely source in Naruto which made it even weirder. Everyone looked to the skewered Naruto to see a bloodied smile on his face.

"I was really not expecting that. I don't think anyone would have," said Naruto in a calm and low tone. His tone was unfitting of a man in his situation. Sasori was about to speak but, a set of gold chains from Naruto's back cut him off. "I can't believe I didn't see that coming. Ero-Sennin told me you guys wouldn't die so easily and yet..." Naruto trailed off shaking his head at his foolishness. Naruto's chains had wrapped snugly around Sasori as the jinchuriki spit out the blood that'd pooled in his mouth again. "What a lucky shot."

Naruto slowly walked his way off Sasori's sword and his chakra chains extended with his walk to keep hold of Sasori. Naruto walked forward about a dozen feet more before stopping and turning to Sasori. He could see the man struggling but, Naruto wasn't about to let him go. He had other plans.

The blood trailing down Naruto's chin, the stab wound through his chest, and the empty look in his eyes were all foreboding from Sasori's perspective.

"How is he moving? The poison on that sword was different from the one he shrugged off in the Iron Sand. This one was specifically designed for Jinchuriki to nullify Bijuu." thought Sasori watching Naruto take a deep breath. "Is the Kyubi that strong? No, this is all him. I miscalculated again?"

"Don't bother struggling. I don't let go when I catch someone," said Naruto as he reached a hand back. Grabbing his chakra chains, Naruto yanked them out and held them in his hand. Naruto's hands glowed blue with chakra as he squatted and moved them to his hip."This feels fitting for someone like you."

"It seems this is the end," said Sasori ending his struggling since he couldn't move.

The chains around him were not only tight but, they were chakra suppressing since Sasori couldn't bring any up. He was trapped so, he just closed his eyes and awaited his fate. He could hear Naruto create another Rasengan that pulsed between both of his hands. Then a horrid screeching noise reached Sasori's ears as he opened his eyes. And what he saw was Naruto pumping a dangerous amount of wind chakra into the blue ball.

Sasori could feel it. Death was near. Whatever that jutsu the boy was charging up, it'd be the end of him. If that first purple Rasengan would've been a death blow had he not moved his heart, who was he to think this one wouldn't? Especially since the gold chains around him prevented him from moving his heart to another puppet this time. He wasn't about to avoid this.

"A gift for defeating me. In ten days time, a spy of mine in Orochimaru's organization will be at Tenchi bridge. I trust you all will use this-"

"Futon: Shinku Rasenha (Wind Style: Vacuum Spiral Wave)."

Naruto used the same motion as his Kami Oroshi except, this vortex was way stronger. A bright blue beam of chakra with white swirls of wind flowing through it erupted from Naruto's palms and screamed toward Sasori. The ground uprooted from the force of his jutsu as Naruto's heels dug into the cave floor to keep from flying back.

The blue beam was wide and on target thanks to the chains Naruto still held. The attack was large enough to cover Sasori whole as it steamrolled pass the suna nuke-nin. A silhouette of Sasori's body could be seen vaporizing within the blue beam that kept his scream of pain from reaching them. It was a vacuum wave through and through as one member of the Konoha contingent couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"He did it. He perfected the Rasengan." thought Kakashi marveling at the technique from his student. "Sensei, Naruto perfected your jutsu. It's better than you envisioned."

After a solid eight seconds of continuous fire, the Rasengan variant lost power as it slowly dissipated. In its wake were a glowing trench and a deep crater in the cave wall that had Sasori at the end of it. Or at least what was left of Sasori that is. The guy had been turned to dust. He wasn't coming back this time.

"Naru...to," stammered Sakura after seeing Naruto's jutsu.

This wasn't the Kyubi-powered up Naruto she'd just seen. Or some form of a combination jutsu. No, Naruto, by himself, turned a Rasengan into a laser cannon. It was awe-spiring to see its destructive capability since Naruto couldn't be at full power from that stab wound. Oh right, Naruto had just been stabbed. Everyone seemed to realize that as they turned to the Jinchuriki.

"Naruto/Naruto-kun!"

Naruto was giving them all a thumbs up and another bloodied smile. That thumbs up and smile ended when Naruto face planted into the ground. He didn't move once he did.

"No no no no. Come on Naruto. You got to stay awake," said Sakura in medic-mode as she was the first to Naruto. Kakashi held Shizuka back from rushing over to Naruto to give his student space to work. Sakura flipped the Jinchuriki over and placed two glowing hands of chakra to his chest. "Naruto! Wake up! What about your dream of becoming Hokage? Or the people you'll leave behind? Naruto. Naruto! Stay with me!"

Everyone stood waiting with bated breath to see if Sakura could save Naruto. She was yelling at him and her healing chakra expanded to cover his body as she was giving it her all. No one moved as Chiyo watched the girl try her hardest to keep Naruto alive. Chiyo's eyes then panned to the amassed shinobi and saw them all melancholic to the boy's situation.

"That boy. Came to rescue Gaara and ended up like this because of it." thought Chiyo turning back to the unresponsive Naruto. She couldn't explain it but, her heart jumped seeing him like that."That boy is going to mean something to the world one day. I can feel it."

"Why isn't he healing? Naruto always heals fast. It's that poison," said Sakura trying to identify it but to no avail. She didn't have the time to dissect it. Naruto was dying fast. "There's not enough time to find and make an antidote. Maybe I can-"

"Sakura-san, please. Allow me," said Chiyo stopping Sakura from doing what she was thinking. It wasn't necessary because Chiyo could save him. It would cost her her life to do it but, she wanted to help. "Kisho Tensei (One's Own Life Reincarnation)"

Sakura's eyes widened hearing that as Chiyo placed her own glowing hand on Naruto.

(Naruto's mind - Earlier)

"That's so awesome. I never saw that jutsu against an opponent. Dude turned to dust and we couldn't even hear him scream in pain because of the vacuum thingy it does," said Naruto with a small smile. He really liked what he saw from the perfected Rasengan. He loved having the element mastered because Shinku Rasenha was the pinnacle of his hard work. His own badass move that he'd created himself. "Better than I imagined. Way better." Holding his chest, Naruto turned around slowly to look at his Bijuu. "So what do we got fox? Because I don't feel any better. That's not normal."

Usually, when he received a wound, Naruto could feel heat come from it before it mended itself. It's how it'd always been. This time, that wasn't happening. It just felt cold and hollow.

"I can't be any help to you boy," said the Kyubi actually unable to. Naruto saw the black spots on the fox's fur and realized Sasori had gotten the bijuu too. "The toxin placed in your body is affecting me just as it is you. A bit more since it affects chakra and that's all I am."

"Ah, I see," said Naruto calmly taking a seat. Clutching his chest, Naruto made sense to himself what the Kyubi was saying. "Normally when I get hurt, it's just me getting hurt and you can fix that no problem. This time, we're both equally hurt due to that guy's poison."

"Indeed. Well, you got stabbed but yeah, we're equally hurt," said the Kyubi laying down on its paws. The fox could feel the poison tormenting its own body and knew Naruto had to be feeling the same way. Yet, his jinchuriki was just sitting calmly. It was weird to the fox. "How are you so calm about this?"

"How are you so calm?" Touche, the fox had to give Naruto that one.

"I know why I'm okay with dying. I'll disperse and eventually come back in a few years," said the Kyubi as darkness began to shroud the chamber. A sign that Naruto was losing consciousness. "You will die. So, why aren't you panicking or whatever it is you humans do when death is near?"

"To be honest, I couldn't tell you," said Naruto with his eyes closing as he spoke. He could hear Sakura frantically trying to treat him. He couldn't feel his body so there was no way he could give her or anyone else a response. He was just stuck here in his slowly dimming mindscape. "It just feels...I don't know. I can't really explain it. Before I do die, can I know something about you? Now might be the only chance I have to make good on what I said earlier."

Ah, so his Jinchuriki was serious about getting to know the Bijuu. Points to him for keeping his word. Grunting in an 'ask away' fashion, the Kyubi watched Naruto take another deep breath before letting it out. Naruto turned his blue eyes to the massive fox and hit him with a surprise.

"What's your real name?" asked Naruto getting wide eyes from the Bijuu. Expecting a 'why'd you attack Konoha?' or something along those lines, the Kyubi wasn't prepared for the one he actually asked. That was the last question the fox was expecting to hear. "Being named Kyubi can't be your name. If it is, that's gotta be top 2 worst names I've ever heard. So plain and boring." Naruto's eyes grew heavy as he figured he could close them for a second. A smile was on the Jinchuriki's face as his breathing began to slow. "Gaara's Bijuu is the Ichibi but his name is Shukaku, right? That's what I heard. So, what's your...real...name?"

The Kyubi watched Naruto for a moment as he looked unresponsive after speaking. The darkness shrouding his mind was obviously a sign that he was out of there. Looking back at the boy's slowly fading form, the fox spoke one word.

"Kurama," said the Bijuu just as the darkness covered the boy's mind completely. The darkness didn't last long at all as a blue light burst through to light up Naruto's mind again. Feeling what was happening, Kurama couldn't help but smirk. "This feels like, yes. Seems you aren't dying today kid."

Feeling the light, Kurama could also feel his chakra again. The dark spots on his body were vanishing rapidly as the feel of his chakra returned fully. Seems that old lady was of some use coming out here with them.

Kurama decided to give her a boost. Not for her benefit though, the fox wanted to see more of who Naruto was and would become. The Bijuu had just begun to garner interest in its Jinchuriki.

"He could be the one Jiji spoke about," said Kurama letting out a massive amount of chakra. The chakra seeped out and flowed to Naruto as the fox spoke again while closing his eyes. "I shall be watching you more closely Uzumaki Naruto. Do not disappoint me."

Naruto would be fine. Kurama would make sure of it thanks to the old suna woman's efforts.

(Unknown Location)

Vortex appearing in midair, Deidara's body came flying out of it before landing roughly on a platform. Looking around, Deidara could see numerous platforms all around. He was nowhere he could recognize as there was nothing but platforms for as far as the eye could see.

"Where the fuck am I?" Looking at the platforms, Deidara could see weapons, money, books, and a lot of everything. Someone was quite the treasure collector it seemed. Deidara stood up on his platform and eventually spotted a person. "Who is that?"

His hidden left eye having a scope over it, Deidara could make out the man even from the distance between them. He looked like a normal guy bar the scars on the right side of his body. The thing that really caught Deidara's eye was the lonely Sharingan the man possessed.

"Another Uchiha," said Deidara lowly before the man turned to look at him.

Deidara blanched at the man's stare before seeing him disappear in the same vortex Kakashi did to him. That was weird. Did that mean he and Kakashi were linked in some way? He wouldn't be able to ponder that thought further as blood filled his mouth.

"Such a pity that you came here," said the Uchiha now standing behind Deidara. He had a kunai stabbed deeply in Deidara's back that managed to nick his heart. "Oh well. Goodbye Deidara."

Deidara coughed up more blood before falling lifelessly to the ground with a short death rattle. The Uchiha man then warped back to his original platform as he continued what he'd been doing. Though he had one thought.

"Seems Kakashi awakened the Mangekyo."

(With Naruto)

Laying deathly still, Naruto had a blue glow over his chest. A blue glow that came from Chiyo's reincarnation technique. Sakura knew what that technique did and the cost to its user. Upon trying to tell Chiyo that, the old woman stopped her before she could start.

Chiyo felt she lived a long and wonderful life. Did it have its low points? Of course. Everyone's life does. But she'd been able to live it.

Dying at the age of 15 didn't sit right with her. Especially considering she could feel Naruto could and would be important to the world one day. She couldn't explain it, it's just how it was.

"Naruto-kun!" shouted Shizuka still in Kakashi's arms since he'd not let her go. "Is he alright? Tell me he's going to be okay?"

"Do not fear young lady. Naruto-chan will be fine," said Chiyo feeling her technique begin to sap her vitality.

The process was starting. Her life force was being shifted to the teen slowly but surely. So many questions fluttered through Shizuka's mind. But rather than fire off question after question, she remained quiet to let the woman focus. She said Naruto would be fine and from Sakura's demeanor, she wasn't lying.

That was until something caused Chiyo to stop her technique. That something being Naruto's eyes snapping open and a guttural groan erupting from his throat. He glowed red with a faint shroud of chakra as he popped into a stand.

"Ah, fuck! That burns!"

Naruto began to vanish and reappear in different parts of the cave. He was moving so fast it looked like he was teleporting. Especially considering he was in a different pose each time. All of them sharing painful facial expressions.

He vanished once more before growling primally. Everyone turned to see his canines growing and a tail of the Kyubi's chakra surrounding him. Naruto gritted his teeth in pain before the hole in his chest glowed a deep red. A black liquid, Sasori's poison, seeped out of the hole surrounded by the red chakra before landing on the ground below. Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as his wound closed quickly after that.

"Kami-sama that hurt," said Naruto before getting glomped by Shizuka. Naruto let his cloak die down and heard her speaking into his shoulder. He couldn't hear her because of that and smiled down at her. "You didn't think I was going to die, did you?" Naruto heard the girl respond but, she was still speaking into his shoulder. Her words were muffled and Naruto couldn't make them out. "I can't hear you, Hime."

"I said you suck," said Shizuka moving her head away to look at him with glassy eyes.

"I suck suck huh?" Shizuka smiled at the doubled words from Naruto and nodded her head.

"Yes, you suck suck so bad," said Shizuka grabbing her boyfriend's face and staring at him.

While the couple had their moment, Sakura was staring at Chiyo curiously. Mainly because the woman was still breathing.

"I thought that technique killed the user?" asked Sakura as Chiyo nodded her head.

"It does. But Naruto-chan was never dead. Dying, yes. But never fully out," said Chiyo looking over at Shizuka begin to pepper her boyfriend's face with kisses. Shizuka was telling him he sucked after each one as Naruto nodded in agreement. Chiyo felt like she'd done good with choosing to save him. "All my technique did was free his Bijuu from the poison's effect. The Kyubi did the rest as you could see."

"Wow, that's amazing," said Sakura before seeing Chiyo turn to Rock Lee.

"And because it worked out like I thought, I can do this too," said Chiyo seeing Gaara in the Taijutsu specialist's arms. This had been her plan the entire time. And she was happy that it worked out like she'd hoped. "Bring him to me." Chiyo could feel everyone staring at her for what she was about to do but, she didn't care. It was her life and she would do with it what she pleased. "Naruto-chan's life and Gaara-chan's life. Who'd have thought I'd be given the opportunity to support the next generation in such a way? I believe their friendship may very well change the world."

The group watched Chiyo go to work. Kakashi would make sure they'd stay for her funeral. She'd saved two of the world's most promising shinobi. One of whom was very dear to everyone from the leaf.

"Thank you Chiyo-sama." thought Kakashi watching the woman bring Gaara back to life.

"Thank you, Chiyo-baachan." Naruto actually spoke the phrase getting the old woman to smile.

She didn't reply as she fell to her side. Gaara awoke seconds later to see Naruto looking at him. Naruto smiled at him before turning to the woman lying next to the teen. Gaara turned to see Chiyo and he realized what'd happened.

A silent prayer was given to the woman who laid lifeless beside the ex-Ichibi Jinchuriki. A beautiful smile was on her face even in death.

(That Night)

Chiyo had done it. She'd not only saved Naruto but, she doubled down and managed to revive Gaara too. Gaara informed the Konoha contingent that her funeral would happen the following day as he thanked them all. They'd come to rescue him and while Sunagakure lost the Ichibi, it managed to get its Kage back at least.

Oh yeah, Gaara was the Kazekage. Naruto was livid finding out his friend had managed to reach Kage status while he was still a chunin. Sure, Naruto wasn't ready to be Hokage but, he was still envious that Gaara managed to beat him to the top ninja spot.

"Just means I've got more work to do." thought Naruto while standing under a shower of hot water.

Gaara had given the eight Konoha Shinobi four hotel rooms, free of charge, to stay in for the night. Naruto was mightily grateful for that. While his injuries were fully healed, Naruto still had the blood and grime from today on him. The shower was much needed as 'today' just washed off him.

"Ah, that feels much better," said Naruto hopping out of the shower and throwing on a pair of shorts. He stepped into his room and saw Shizuka turn to him once he did. She'd not left his side since earlier and it got Naruto to smile considering he was sharing the room with her. "Funny how that worked out."

Eight shinobi, four rooms. Simple math put two people in each room. Kakashi with Gai, Tenten with Sakura, Rock Lee with Neji, and lastly, Naruto was paired off with Shizuka. No matter how the groups were split, that last pairing was going to happen. Shizuka wouldn't let Naruto out of her sight for a while.

"You're done showering?" questioned Shizuka walking over to Naruto. He was fresh and clean. A complete turnaround from a few hours ago. "You can't even tell he'd been hurt. He looks perfectly fine as always."

"Yeah, surprised you didn't come in there too," said Naruto alluding to Shizuka staying close to him. Not like he minded. "You know you wanted to."

"I did," said Shizuka absentmindedly turning her eyes to Naruto's chest.

"You should next time."

"I just might," smiled Shizuka getting Naruto to wiggle his eyebrows. She slapped his chest while shaking her head. He'd gotten her to play along with his perversion. "Pervert."

"You know you like it," said Naruto watching Shizuka trace his pectorals. She wasn't trying to cop a feel as Naruto saw what she was really doing. "Sasori's attack left a scar. Not as big as Ero-Sennin's though." Naruto could hear his sensei yelling 'damn right mine's bigger' in his head as he grinned. Naruto then yawned which Shizuka noticed. "Been a long day it seems."

"It has. Come here," said Shizuka walking the Jinchuriki to the bed. Getting him to lay down, Shizuka took hold of him and cradled his head. She began rummaging through his hair to lull him to sleep. "Get some sleep okay?"

Naruto smiled at Shizuka's actions and actually thanked her for it. Who knew almost dying would tire you out? So, Naruto just did as the girl asked and closed his eyes. Shizuka forgot her boyfriend was a pervert though and was reminded by him easily.

"This feels nice," said Naruto lowly while getting comfy. And by comfy, Naruto was simply nuzzling his face in the girl's chest. She was wearing a tank top so it was hard for him not to. Shizuka didn't realize what he was doing until he gave her bosom a few kisses. "Really nice."

"Pervert." Naruto stopped long enough to correct her.

"Healthy appreciation. Appreciation hime, not perversion." Shizuka smiled when he resumed kissing her chest.

"You sure don't seem tired anymore."

"Your pretty little self makes it tough to be."

There it was. His effortless way of making her smile. How he could make her smile so easily was a mystery to the Nadeshiko princess. Feeling his hands slip under her top, Shizuka felt Naruto rub slow circles on her back. They'd gotten touchy-feely before so Shizuka didn't mind but, Naruto wasn't supposed to be trying to get frisky.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping, mister?"

"I am."

"And why aren't you?"

"Because you don't want me to."

"And why would you think that?" Naruto answered her question by reaching down and grabbing a handful of the girl's rear end. That got a surprised squeak from her as she gripped his hair tightly. She looked down to see Naruto grinning devilishly. "Oh, that's not fair at all. You're such a pervert."

"You know you like it."

Shizuka did like it. She felt her smile would split her face she liked it so much. Why did everything with him flow so nicely? She wanted to find out. Not tonight though since Naruto yawned for a second time.

"Go to sleep Naruto-kun. You need the rest," whispered Shizuka to the sleepy boy.

"I'd argue but, I don't have the energy to. And that ruins my counterargument, does it not?" questioned Naruto as his voice grew lower and lower. Hard to admit he didn't need sleep after saying that. If you didn't have the energy to argue that you needed rest, then obviously you needed rest. "So alas, I will do as you say. Sweet dreams hime."

"Sweet dreams Sato-kun (Sugar)." Shizuka knew immediately the nickname wouldn't work and preempted Naruto's response. "I'm going to figure out this nickname. I'm going to find a good one. Just like you did with hime."

Naruto smiled at his girlfriend's self-imposed mission before succumbing to fatigue. Minutes passed by as Shizuka watched Naruto sleep peacefully in her arms. She continued to run her hands through his hair as she just stared at him. It was then that it hit her.

He was perfect. Not in the sense that he was perfect. No, he had many flaws and certain traits about him that should be complete turn-offs. He was the proud pupil of a super pervert who'd passed those perverted traits to him. But to her, it was all the more endearing. Especially considering Jiraiya's teachings actually worked with Naruto.

He was kind of dim-witted. He had an unhealthy fetish for ramen. He drank milk that'd been expired for two weeks even after smelling it and checking the expiration date. And on and on. He was far from perfect but, somehow his imperfections made him perfect.

Simply put, he was imperfectly perfect in Shizuka's eyes. She'd spent the last two years with him and he'd been making her smile every day since. And wasn't that all that mattered? Their meeting was predetermined by their senseis and it was the best thing to happen to her. Because she had him.

The thought of losing him earlier made her world crumble on itself. She couldn't imagine going without him. And that's when she felt it. With no thought to it at all, Shizuka couldn't help the next line that came out of her mouth.

"I love you."

It was a simple line. One that carried a ton of weight between two lovers. Especially since it was the first time she'd said it.

Was it too fast to say it? Shizuka didn't know. She hadn't been in a relationship before. Sure they'd been together during his entire training trip basically and gotten extremely close. But was it right for her to love him already? They had only actually been boyfriend and girlfriend for a little over two weeks.

Well, it all didn't matter when she thought about it. Shizuka knew how she felt and it shouldn't matter if it was too soon or not. And seeing how Naruto was sound asleep, she could say it again if she felt like it. It's not like he could hear her anyway.

"I love you too hime." Shizuka's eyes widened.

"..." Shizuka couldn't speak and looked down at Naruto. He was sleepily smiling with his eyes closed. Was he dreaming or did he? Shizuka needed to confirm that right away. "You love me Naruto-kun?"

"I love you." He could be dreaming still.

"Like love love?" Shizuka wanted to confirm confirm.

"Yes, I love love you hime. I've loved loved you for a while now."

"For how long?"

"Since you denied kissing me the first time. When Hidan hurt you the day before, I couldn't imagine what a day without you would have been like," said Naruto with his eyes closed still. Shizuka couldn't believe what she was hearing. He's loved her for over a year? Why was this the first she was hearing of that? "Sorry, I didn't tell you beforehand. I didn't know if it was okay to love someone so fast. Wasn't sure that you even loved-"

A kiss shut the Jinchuriki up. Shizuka was going to have to renege on letting her boyfriend get some sleep tonight. He was right, her pretty little self didn't want him to go to bed. She wanted to hear the L word over and over again until she couldn't keep her eyes open.

Naruto didn't mind obliging the girl one bit. Sleep was for the dead anyway.

(One Week Later - Konoha Main Gate)

"Anmmpco-khan. mm mine"

"What was that gaki?"

"Anmmpco-khan. mm mine"

"Do you understand him Shizuka-chan?"

"I think Naruto-kun is saying 'Anko-chan. I'm fine.'" clarified Shizuka understanding her boyfriend's muffled words. Shizuka stood next to Anko who was crushing Naruto to her chest in a hug. Her very bountiful chest that Shizuka was envious of. "I'm jealous. I'm so, very jealous."

"My favorite person in the whole world almost dies a week ago and he wants me to believe he's fine? All because he says so?" questioned Anko not letting Naruto go from the safety of her bosom. She did not want her best buddy to get hurt. So, she wouldn't be letting him from her safety net anytime soon. "I don't think he's fine at all. If I'd have known I'd have left my mission earlier."

"It's better that you didn't. Seeing him like that was dreadful," said Shizuka watching Naruto give up trying to escape Anko's grip. Her envy was growing but, she kept her cool. This was Anko, a very close friend of Naruto's. So she just continued speaking. "I can sometimes still see it. The sword sticking out of his chest and dripping in his blood. The thought makes my hands shake. "

And of course it would. Shizuka was close to Naruto. One of the closest along with Jiraiya, Tsunade, Anko, and Team Seven. Like them and most of Konoha, Shizuka knew how durable Naruto was. Jiraiya sculpted the boy out of granite.

From the stories of how he'd taken a chidori, getting slammed on his head off a cliff, and tussling with a Bijuu, Naruto dying was not something anyone thought they'd ever see. Especially since all of that was before he'd trained with Jiraiya for thirty months. If Chiyo, Kami forbid, couldn't heal him, Shizuka may have gone insane. Naruto was her world now. And she rather liked being his.

But that was then, in the past, and dwelling on it would do no good. Naruto kept repeating that to her but, it was hard for the princess. Even harder was watching her boyfriend lay on Anko's breasts. She was jealous and needed her emotions to be known.

"Anko-chan, I almost died from a wound to the chest as well." Shizuka was jealous she wasn't getting the same love as Naruto.

"Oh, you poor baby." Anko held an arm out to beckon the girl in. She had plenty of chest to go around. Shizuka grinned widely as she moved in next to Naruto and was equally crushed to the woman's bosom. "Both of you. My poor babies. Oh, I won't let you two out of my sights for as long as I can!"

Kakashi stood off to the side of the three with his face in his Icha Icha book. He paused and rose his head to see Sakura walking up. She didn't notice him as she was too focused on Shizuka's actions.

"I'm starting to think Shizuka is bi-curious. She does the same with Ino," said Sakura looking over to see Kakashi. Sakura's eyes widened seeing the man on time. "What the hell? Kakashi-sensei is already here?" thought Sakura surprised to see him here. It was mission start time, not three hours after like it usually is with him. Sakura would ask later as she looked back at Shizuka. "It's not my worry if she or Ino are. They probably aren't but, their playfulness walks a fine line."

"Wrong. It doesn't matter your sexual orientation, sometimes things transcend logic Sakura-chan," said Naruto in lecture mode. Kakashi perked up at seeing Naruto in Sakura's place. He turned back to Anko to see Sakura now in the woman's bosom. "Anko-chan is Anko-chan. And her chest feels like what I imagine laying in lightly melted marshmallows would feel like. Just without the sticky mess." continued Naruto getting Sakura to agree. Naruto heard Sakura speak but, he couldn't quite hear her. "What was that Sakura-chan?"

"Dhay willy arr porrfeck," mumbled Sakura louder as Naruto nodded.

"Told ya," said Naruto grinning before feeling Kakashi's stare. Looking over at his sensei, Naruto rose an eyebrow. "You alright Kakashi-sensei?"

"Your progress, I thought it'd been better Naruto. Why didn't you substitute with me?" questioned Kakashi getting Naruto's eyes to widen. Naruto had a look of shame come to his face. He'd ignored pervert code. Kakashi shook his head disappointingly. "I thought Jiraiya taught you better. Such an egregious error."

"Apologies Kakashi-sensei. I should have done so," said Naruto solemnly. That was until he looked up at Kakashi with a smirk. "And I would have if you weren't a shadow clone. Thought you could trick me with my favorite jutsu?"

"Ah, you noticed," said Kakashi before shrugging. "You thought you could get me with the old 'let's leave at 8 when it's really 11' trick?"

"Yeah, I knew it wouldn't work."

"Wait? Kakashi-sensei really isn't here?" questioned Sakura removing herself from Anko's chest.

"Nope! I'm just a clone." The Kakashi clone dispelled in a poof of smoke.

"Hmm, now he probably won't show up for another three hours," said Naruto getting Anko to perk up.

"Oh, then let's sit and talk! I'm trying to kill time before I go see Tsunade-sama."

"Why? Don't you have to debrief?"

"Yeah but, last mission had me covered in blood everywhere. Not mine of course," said Anko with a wicked grin. Shizuka, head lain on Anko's chest still, grimaced hearing that and jumped off the lady. She had someone else's blood on her recently? "So, I want to build up the nerves to tell her I failed to capture my target. Alive at least."

"Hime," whispered Naruto lowly. Shizuka had jumped back to stand near him and Naruto couldn't help himself. "I'm scared."

"Naruto-kun, why'd you put your head on my chest?"

"Safety net since I'm scared. I can't use Anko-chan's."

"Sama!" chirped Anko with a smile

"I'm not calling you that," said Naruto to the woman. Naruto rubbed his head on his girlfriend's chest as he continued explaining. "This is Anko-chan's idea of a safety net, not mine. I can't use hers since it's washed in murder but, yours aren't hime. And they're just as nice. Better since I can do that thing with the whipped cream you like."

"Pervert." Naruto didn't miss a beat.

"You know you like it."

She did like it. She always had. While she admonished Naruto for his perverted action, Shizuka never noticed Sakura's frown. Naruto and Anko didn't either.

"I knew I'd be a third wheel." thought Sakura dropping her head.

She walked sadly with Shizuka and Naruto as they gave Anko their latest mission's details. Kakashi needed to hurry up. They were on the way to do something special.

"Sasuke-kun is with Orochimaru. We might see him."

Sakura hoped so. She was ready to get him back.

Thanks for Reading

A/N: Training Trip- A Documentary by Uzumaki Naruto is an Omake series about deleted scenes from well, the training trip. Those candy camera moments Naruto picked up that hold secrets from his final year of tutelage with Jiraiya. It'll last the next few chapters so I hope you enjoy. If not, never fear as I'll end the main story before getting to it. Until next time, cheers.

Omake: Training Trip - A Documentary by Uzumaki Naruto

(Nine Months Until Return)

"WOO!"

"Wow Boss!"

"Tell you me you got all of that Tatsu!"

"Of course, I have it right-oh, wait. I left the cap on." A smack could be heard followed by several footsteps. It was completely dark as the second voice could be heard crying incoherently. "I'm sorry boss. I didn't take it off earlier because I didn't want to lose it. Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad," said Naruto coming into view. He'd taken the cap off the camera and the world could be seen. He was standing in a forest and twitching irritatingly. "Why didn't Kichi come? I'm kicking his ass for sending his brother." thought Naruto before putting on a big smile. He couldn't be frowning in his documentary. This would be watched for eons and eons so people would know his greatness was earned, not given. "Hello, world! I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm about to blow your minds. As I usually do. How are my judges doing?"

Silence reigned for a while until Naruto smacked his face. Gamatatsu sat aloof not paying attention as Naruto shook his head. Naruto panned the camera over to show three clones sat at a tree stump. The three clones waved cheerily to the camera as Naruto smiled. Naruto heard a noise behind him and turned his head to see Shizuka.

"And oh my, the lovely Shizuka is gracing us with her always welcomed appearance. What luck we have!"

Naruto panned over to Shizuka to get a wave from the girl. Wolf whistles from the clones could be heard as Shizuka blew kisses to the Naruto clones. Naruto then panned back to himself before handing Gamatatsu the camera. He made sure the toad was doing his job as he went back to his original position.

"Alright. Let's do this! Again..." said Naruto glancing at Gamatatsu. The toad didn't catch Naruto's ire and only gave a thumbs up in return. Naruto shook his head again before addressing the camera. "This is a documentary of my badassery. And today, I believe that I've reached peak badass. There's no topping this next one folks." continued Naruto with a grin. Even Shizuka didn't know he'd completed this. It would be fun to see her reaction. "You've all seen Elemental Jutsu 1A, 2A, and 3A. Well, here's 4A and she's a hot momma. Even Shizuka-chan hasn't seen this one."

A Rasengan pulsed into Naruto's hand as he took a calming breath. Naruto sunk into a crouch and moved the blue ball to his hip. He placed another hand atop it as he pumped wind chakra into the ball. Gamatatsu kept the camera on Naruto until he remembered what Naruto said. If he said someone's name, then turn the camera to them. Being a good cameratoad, Gamatatsu turned the camera to see Shizuka's head tilted in confusion.

"What does he mean? I've seen him add Futon to his Rasengan." thought Shizuka having seen this already. It was impressive but, she'd seen it before. Which didn't really mean anything because she couldn't take her eyes off Naruto. And she'd seen him plenty of times. "Did he get more muscles? He looks carved out of marble. I like that he doesn't like wearing shirts when training." Shizuka had very hungry eyes looking at Naruto. He looked good and his crouching really showed how good. Shizuka turned though and saw Gamatatsu focused on her and shook her head. "Gamatatsu-kun."

"Hmm?"

"Focus on Naruto-kun."

"Ah, right," said Gamatatsu panning the camera back to Naruto. When he did, Naruto's Rasengan pulsed bigger and grew in his hands. He almost couldn't hold it as the jutsu began to give off a horrid screeching noise. "It looks even bigger than last time."

"Elemental jutsu 4A, take 534," said Naruto as the wind began to whip around wildly. Naruto grinned before shooting his hands forward. Same motion as his Kami Oroshi except he was firing off a-"Futon: Shinku Rasenha (Wind Style: Vacuum Spiral Wave)"

A bright blue laser of a beam shot forward that was about half the size of Naruto's body. Naruto's feet dug into the ground when he pumped more chakra into the jutsu, doubling it in size. Naruto smiled seeing his jutsu come out perfect once again before smirking.

"I'm a bad, bad boy!" shouted Naruto holding the chakra cannon for six seconds. The jutsu slowly dissipated as smoke rose from Naruto's palms. Naruto smiled hearing clapping and turned to his clone judges. "What's the score of that one boys?" The three clones all blanched before grabbing markers. They all scribbled on a sheet of paper before holding up their results. "A 10. Another 10. And of course, another 10...wait, is that a 9?"

"Yeah, I give it a 9."

"What?! A 9?!" questioned Naruto looking at his clone. The clone stared back impassively as Naruto couldn't believe that. "How was that a 9? That was perfect. Ten out of ten!"

"No, it wasn't. You didn't equal the force of your exertion fully. Your heels dug into the ground and that's not perfect to me," spoke the clone in a condescending fashion. "If you had, then maybe I'd have given you a-"

Forcibly dispelling that clone, Naruto created another that scampered to the third judges' seat. Naruto watched the clone erase and replace the nine with a ten as he smiled. Naruto smiled happily before perking up when Shizuka spoke. He turned to her and could see her staring in the direction his Rasenha went.

"Wow, that was so amazing Naruto-kun. Whoever you hit that with isn't surviving," said Shizuka marveling at the chakra cannon. Shizuka turned to Naruto and smiled brightly. She gasped though when she saw intricate black lines over his toned stomach. "Naruto-kun, your seal is showing."

Naruto didn't hear her or was ignoring didn't acknowledge what she said at all. Instead, the pressure in the area amped up as Naruto's eyes turned red. Shizuka noticed the shift and her breath hitched seeing Naruto's current appearance. The Kyubi's chakra always made him look more feral. A shadow clone walked up to Gamatatsu having read the situation.

"Time to go home buddy," said the clone dispelling in a poof of smoke.

Gamatatsu got the message and returned home. The other two Naruto clones were gone as the camera sat still filming the two. Shizuka could feel her heart beating faster thanks to Naruto's intense gaze on her.

"Wow?" questioned Naruto getting Shizuka's eyes to widen. Oh, that's why he was looking at her like that. The air thickened as Naruto's whisker marks deepened and his canines grew longer. "I wowed you Shizuka-chan? Is that what you said?"

"Yes, yes it is," said Shizuka feeling giddy. She remembered her stipulations for Naruto to get a kiss from her. All he had to do was wow her and apparently, he wanted to use his jutsu as payment. Shizuka would allow it because he looked dangerously sexy right now. "Come over here Naruto-kun. I want that kiss now."

"Are you sure?" What gentleman didn't ask?

"Yes."

"Sure Sure?" What gentleman didn't ask twice?

"Yes Naruto-kun, I'm sure sure," said Shizuka before gasping.

Naruto stood before her now. Shizuka didn't see him move and her breath quickened further feeling his presence. The air was heavy and wholly Naruto. A very powerful and animalistic Naruto due to his Kyubi usage.

"I'm going to kiss you," said Naruto standing with his lips a breath away. Shizuka's heart thumped hard in her chest now. If she licked her lips, her tongue would hit Naruto's lips he was so close. Shizuka's eyes closed when Naruto moved forward. "I want to but, not just yet."

Shizuka could feel the heat from Naruto rolling off of him like a heated lamp. The heat was smothering and so enticing. Shizuka could feel a fire building within her that only Naruto could extinguish. Then, his words registered in her brain.

"What?" questioned Shizuka opening her eyes to see she was alone. Naruto did not leave her like this? No, there was no way. "Naruto-kun?"

He did. Naruto was gone and wouldn't be returning. Shizuka shook her head with a smile. He'd gotten her good. Really good as Shizuka rubbed her thighs against each other and felt how good he'd gotten her.

"He didn't even touch me." Jiraiya's teachings were manifesting in Naruto well. A little too well. He could do that with words and intent? What could he do if- "Stop thinking about it."

Shizuka didn't need to rile herself up anymore. She didn't know she'd started a war. But, she did now. And she would be sure she'd win. Naruto had won this battle but, Shizuka planned on winning the war.

"Bring it on Naruto-kun." thought Shizuka with a giddy smile. She then realized Naruto's camera was recording still. "I'm erasing that."

She wouldn't have Naruto reliving his 'win' later on.

(End)