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AN: I feel like an update whore Oo;;

Anyway, thanks for all your encouraging reviews X3

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Chapter Three:

The rain that had recently fallen left puddles of mud in the streets of Konoha, but people were still outside. Some had drifted out of the dwellings they were occupying until their own homes could be rebuilt to continue repairing the damage on their houses, though the rain had just let up. The sight brought a smile to Jiraiya's face as he wandered through Konoha. The people of this village were on fire; even in the face of great sadness the continued on—he even heard the laughter of children reaching his ears.

He grinned wider as he neared the ramen stand Naruto frequented—one of the only shops to remain standing. He saw the bright blonde hair ruffle in the breeze as the wind snapped the flap of the shop open. It was amazing how much the boy looked like Yondaime. He walked through the shop flap, shouting at the boy, as was his way.

"Naruto, you always eat Ramen," Jiraiya said as he sat down next to the blonde youth so much conversation had been about as of late. Naruto smiled at him and nodded, stuffing his face full of more noodles. "You really SHOULD eat something other than ramen."

Naruto muttered a faint "Mmmm." at him angrily, and slurped the noodles exaggeratedly. Jiraiya smirked at the boy, and rested a shoulder on his jacketed arm. "So, Naruto, want to come on a journey with me?"

"No. I want to eat my ramen." Slurp, slurp.

Jiraiya's eye twitched in annoyance. "Are you SUUUUUuuuure?" Naruto nodded. "Too bad—I was going to teach you a really amazing jutsu, but if you're too busy eating your ramen," he glanced at the now empty bowl, "I guess I'll ask Sasuke."

"Waitwaitwaitwait, Erro Sennin!" Naruto jumped off the stool reluctantly—he had only eaten one bowl of ramen—and jumped up and down impatiently. "I'll go! I'm ready!" He smiled happily at Jiraiya who shrugged and slid off his own seat.

"Go get your things, I'll be waiting for you at the exit of Konoha." With his words, the boy darted off to gather his belongings. Jiraiya wandered casually towards the exit of the city, taking in the sights, the sounds, the smells of his home. Inside, the knowledge he might never see it again hurt more than the thought of dying. But he would do this—because he loved Konoha.

He reached the gate and stared at Konoha wistfully, a rainbow shining overhead. Ironic it was the symbol for snakes; it rained above Konoha majestically, though she had withstood the force of snakes before. The feeling coursing through his body was nothing but pride and he regretfully tore his eyes away from it when he heard the approaching of steps.

"ERRO SENNNNNIIIIIIIIN!" Naruto shrilled at him. "I'm ready." The boy grinned at him, and Jiraiya turned away from Konoha remorsefully. Naruto blinked at him. "What's wrong, Erro Sennin? Are you too old for this journey? The next village isn't THAT far away."

Jiraiya's eye twitched and he hit Naruto on the head. "Baka, I'm not too old for this journey. Come on—wasting our time near Konoha will do us no good."

Naruto jumped ahead of him happily, trotting along down the road at a steady pace. Jiraiya's mind absently wandered through memories of his childhood in Konoha as he walked, eyes focused on the red spiral on Naruto's back. Several hours passed swiftly, his eyes never leaving the crimson mark.

"ERRO SENNIN! WE'RE HERE!!" Naruto shouted at Jiraiya, though he was right beside him. Jiraiya blinked at Naruto and looked past him, where the young man had begun to point to. He smiled and saw the city below; he began to descend the steps one by one, Naruto running eagerly in front of him.

Jiraiya looked around as he reached the valley basin, and his eyes snagged on the picture of feminine legs painted on a sign. His mouth began to fill with drool and he slapped Naruto on the back.

"Naruto...why don't you go find a nice hotel for us to stay at, hm? I want to,' he licked his lips. 'Look around for a bit.'

Naruto huffed angrily, but turned away from the old man muttering "Erro Sennin" under his breath. Jiraiya chuckled and darted into the building.

Naruto glanced behind him and saw Jiraiya dart behind the cloth flaps, sighing faintly as the old man disappeared inside. i He and I were going to train /i , he thought to himself bitterly, i but instead he's going to go play with girls. I don't even see what's so great about girls anyway. /i

He wandered up and down the streets aimlessly, inspecting each shop and window he saw with awe. He had never been to a big city like this—each sight, smell, and sound was a new experience to him. He bought many new dishes and delicacies he had never tasted before, gulping them down in seconds.

An hour hadn't passed since parting with Jiraiya and his stomach began to twist a bit, right behind his navel. At first it was just a dull i twang /i , but soon he was doubled over in agonizing pain. He glanced around, anxiously searching for a rest room, and seeing none. He saw a small sign waver in the breeze, and rushed inside.

It was a hotel, he soon found out. They quickly gave him the key and he ran into his room, only to find the wrenching pain had subsided. He shrugged and flopped down on the bed, cursing Jiraiya for making him wait.

"OH!" he shouted as the thought occurred to him for the first time. "I didn't say goodbye to Sakura-chan or Sasuke before I left." He lowered his gaze darkly and stared at the wooden floorboards glumly. "Not that Sasuke would notice I was even gone."

He clenched his fists and slammed them against the bed, rage brimming as he thought about that BOY. Sasuke wasn't even i that /i bad as far as he was concerned, but still, why did Sasuke have to be so popular? He sighed, knowing that he had had this conversation with himself for years now, and had come up with no answer.

"Maybe," he thought, eyes widening in surprise. "No one hates him because he's not a monster." He rubbed his belly unconsciously; stroking the kyuubi he knew was inside of him. "Sasuke must be liked because he's the only surviving Uchiha. Not...a demon..." He let out a little whimpering sob, a pleading whine, begging someone—anyone—to take the 17 years of hurting away.

"I just wish there was someone who would care about me. Like I care about them." He bit his lip angrily. "I would give my life for any of my friends or acquaintances. But no one would do the same for me."

i What about Sasuke? /i

Naruto started, glancing around the room, trying to find where the voice had come from. It sounded like it had been in his own head. Maybe he had just realized the thought. That's it—he was the one who said it.

"Sasuke...he did give his life for me. I forgot about that because he didn't really die. But he didn't know that he would live." Naruto sighed, staring up at the ceiling, tracing the patterns in the wood grain with his gaze. "Sasuke," he whispered. "I just don't understand you."

"Why would you give your life for me if you hate me so much?" the words left his lips as he fell asleep.

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Hope you guys liked this chapter...next one shouldn't be too far away tee hee