Hi everyone, sorry for the longest delay ever. I've been really busy with college but now its summer break. I'll try to update as much as I can, I promise. Please reread to get the feeling of the story again, I know I had to, then review and leave your comments and suggestions. I'll try to answer them to best of my abilities. It's important right now because the story could go in many directions. For example, how much of an alternate version of the original story would u like me to do? Because I haven't followed with the original manga/anime since the big battle between Sasuke and Naruto, so I can just spin off my own stuff now or follow the original plot with an alternate twist for a lil longer. Some people like these kind of stuff, while others like something completely new, say a newly discovered land or something.

Disclaimer: The only thing I don't miss, oh well, I still don't own Naruto, I don't even speak Japanese.

"Blah" – Talking
"Blah" – Talking in Unusual Way
'Blah' – Thinking
"Blah" – Mystery Person A Talking
'Blah' – Mystery Person A Thinking
"Blah" – Mystery Person B Talking
'Blah' – Mystery Person B Thinking

Glimpse

...infinitas sine spe

Ah what a great season spring is, the flowers are blooming, and so are the women of Konoha. The chuunin exam has gathered a healthy collection of beauties from across the land to enjoy the luxuries offered in peaceful Konoha. One of the most popular attractions is the infamous Konoha mineral bath, second only to the Water Country's chakra-enriched baths. It is a rumor among men that this was heaven with all the goddesses roaming around. What they wouldn't give to be a fly on those walls so they can live out their short lives in bliss.

Many men had come close to death roaming around for a peek. The kunoichis that regularly visits this sacred sanctuary of women take its protection very seriously. It is even rumored that some men never made it back from their daring journey and are now working as servants to the women there. It is also said that a local bar has a tombstone dedicated to each of these brave souls, with memorial services performed at every happy hour. Amidst all these rumors, there is a tale of a legendary man, whose skills as a ninja, a man, and, above all, a pervert is second to none and have successfully infiltrated every single bathhouse across the land. No one knows his name but it is said his main feature is his white hair, a result of too much blood loss from peeping…

"DIE! YOU DAMN OPEN CLOSET PERVERT!" Naruto shouted as he lunged himself at an old geezer peeping into the women's bathhouse. Before he got close enough, a giant frog suddenly appeared below the weirdo. He found himself suddenly restrained in mid air by the giant frog's tongue.

"Keep it quiet, brat. Whatcha gonna do if I get caught?" The white haired man spoke smugly.

Trying hard as he could not to facefault, Naruto asked, "Who the hell are you?"

He was surprised when the old perverted smiled and made his ceremonious introduction. "Thank you for asking, kid. I am the holy master sennin, also known as the toad sennin." After he finished, he thought. 'Damn I'm getting so good at this, all those practices really pays off, he should be asking for my autograph in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"

"Never heart of ya, old pervert," Naruto replied.

Catching himself from facefaulting, the legendary sennin said. "It's not nice to address your sennins, like that, Uzumaki Naruto."

This caught Naruto's attention, "How'd you know about me?"

"Idiot, I'm the legendary sennin, my instructor was the Sandaime, there's not much I don't know…"

"…cept decency..." Naruto muttered under his breath.

"…I heard that, kid. You better start speaking to me with respect. It's either Sennin, Sennin-sama, or Jiraiya-sama." So Jiraiya waited expectantly.

"Alright alright, perverted sennin."

"And stop adding those misleading words to my name! I have a reputation to keep you know. As a legendary sennin, I can't be just known for my power and skills."

This caught Naruto's attention. He had heard about the 1 month time that they would have to train after he woke up from his slumber from Kakashi-sensei. He knew he needed some sort of advisor for his training. He didn't even expect Kakashi-sensei to be teaching anyone except Sasuke. Every other competitor is either going to get training from a teacher or clan member. But for him, there is no clan or family member, or a teacher. But before his thoughts became dark again, he tried to shake his thoughts away and thought of an idea.

Then he got it. "Alright, if you're as strong as you said you are, you can prove it to me by helping me train," he said with a serious face.

After a moment of silence, Jiraiya began laughing. "You're an idiot. You got three things working against you. You're disrespectful and rude as hell. You're a noisy brat who got too much time on his hands. And most importantly…I DON"T LIKE MEN."

'Shit, I didn't think he was this sensitive towards his own pervertedness. I thought he was an open closet pervert, unlike Kakashi-senei. Why is it that I'm surrounded by eccentric people left and right?' He sighed as he wondered whether there was something about him that attracted such people to him.

But his thoughts were disrupted suddenly by the voices of women from the bathhouse.

"Whose out there!" "Reiko-san, I heard some voices out there!" "Let's go check it out!"

"Ugoku na!" Half a dozen women bearing blades suddenly appeared, but stopped dead in their tracks. "Who are you?"

"I was rehearsing a play out here. My name is Naruta, I'm from the Wind Country," replied a shy Naruta. Inside, Naruto was wondering, 'Why the hell do I have to do this? It's so degrading. I'm gonna make that old pervert pay for this.'

"Oh was that all it was? That's a great relief, if it was a guy, we would have slaughtered him a dozen times before he hit the ground," one of the women spoke casually.

'Oy oy, is it natural to say that so casually? More importantly, aren't I in a very dangerous place cause of the old pervert then?' Naruto thought nervously. 'Wait…I got an idea."

"Actually, I think I heard some unusual rustling in the bushes over there, you girls might want to check it out," Naruta said, pointing to a random group of shrubbery in the distance.

"Ok, and if you hear anything else, just tell us, we'll show no mercy."

"Sure thing," Naruta replied as the group of women vanished off. He transformed back into Naruto and walked off to a tree in the opposite direction.

"I know your up there, perverted sennin. You know you owe me for this. I can always come back and said I saw you here, I'm sure it'll give your reputation for being a pervert a great boost, if you can survive that is." Naruto said leaning against the tree.

"Damn you, brat, blackmailing an innocent old man, who's simplying doing his research for the sake of future," lamented Jiraiya. "Have you no heart?"

Though Jiraiya smirked in content as he watched a wave of shock wash over Naruto's face, he didn't realize it was from Naruto's inability to decide what parts of his words to correct first. "….you're fooling no one! How dumb do you think I am?...Don't answer that."

"Che," Jiraiya finally gave up as he jumped down from the tree. 'I might as well go along with the kid, besides, it's about time I see what the messiah can do.' "Alright alright, I give up. What do you want?"

"I need to be trained. Kakashi-sensei is training Sasuke, so I need someone to train me. So you'll have to do, perverted Sennin."

"Alright brat. But remember I'm not promising anything. And for God's sake my name is Jiraiya the legendary Sennin."

"Hokage-sama, I must have a word with you." Anko said in a serious voice as she entered his office. The appearance of that necklace on a boy regarded as the village's outcast as an heirloom was too much for her to handle calmly.

'How long has it been since I've seen that necklace? Wasn't it thought to be lost after that battle? I searched everywhere for it, and it has haunted me for so long. Now It suddenly appears on Naruto. Does that mean Naruto is related to him? But that's not possible…right?'

The Hokage knew something was deeply troubling her when he saw the flashes of pain, probably from the past, appear on her young face. "What is troubling you, Anko?"

"It's about Naruto and him." Anko said simply, knowing that the Hokage knew exactly who he was.

"What do you mean?" The Hokage responded, wondering what suddenly happened that created this connection in her mind.

"I was with Naruto today, helping him buy some nice clothes for a change. And then I suddenly saw it, the family heirloom of that belonged to him. You know the one I'm talking about and do not tell me I was mistaken, because even in the next life I would still remember it." Anko said, thinking back to the past briefly.

"Ne, what is that choker around your neck?" A youthful Anko asked curiously as she leaned closer to examine the artifact on a most familiar yet blurred face.

"Oh that, it's something my family has always had. It's a necklace that the strongest member of our family is to wear, representing our pride and our desire to product all those who we cherish," replied that soothing voice.

Feeling his warm, lingering eyes upon her during the last few words, she felt the blood rushing to her face. But, knowing it was impossible to hide or resist, she decided to try asking something she has wanted to for the longest time, "Am one of those people?" Even though she could feel a smirk rising from his face, she still braced herself for his reply.

"Always."

"….can't know yet."

As she was brought back by the sound of the Hokage-sama's voice, she could feel a drop of tear moving down from the corner of her eyes. Though she hastened to wipe evidence of it away, the Hokage noticed it all too well.

Sighing in powerlessness over the past, the Hokage continued, "I'm sorry, my dear, but I can't tell you these things, they are classified in the highest level both by me and the entire village council. And I'm afraid I have to forbid you to do any investigation on your own. You have to trust me when I say this, it's for your own good."

Knowing there isn't much for her to do, she resigned herself with a nod and retreated away, knowing those dreams will come back again now. Hundreds and hundreds, all at so many different places, but all so in common in one way, he was always there.

'Why is that boy having so much trouble at such an easy task as walking over water? He can't lack talent by that much, can he? There is something very odd in his chakra, I better have a look.' Jiraiya decided after three hours of fruitless training. "Oy, Naruto, come over here for a second."

"Eh? Why?" Naruto asked as he stopped his practicing and walked over to Jiraiya.

"Lift up your shirt," Jiraiya commanded with a straight face. Putting one hand under his chin, he began his examination of the seals on Naruto's stomach.

'Hmmm, the Kyuubi seal that was made to allow to boy and the Kyuubi mix their chakra has been covered over. This rough looking five part seal has stopped them from being able to mix together, but its effect is odd. A few minutes ago, I could feel a chakra, but it wasn't Naruto's and it's different from the ones the normal Kyuubi gives off. The original seal was made not only to allow the boy to use some of the Kyuubi's chakra but also prevent the build up of the Kyuubi's chakra. It seems this damn seal caused some sort of leak to occur, maybe that's why its such an odd scent, this is gonna be troublesome. But there is something odd about this leak, it doesn't seem to be contained, yet it just won't burst out. I better remove this seal and add in something to make sure a real rupture won't occur.' Jiraiya finally decided. "Hey, Naruto, raise your hands like this, banzai!"

Forming a five part seal on his right hand and a four part seal on his left hand, just as Naruto innocently raised his hands, he slammed the right then the left in quick succession into Naruto's stomach.

After two weeks of training at summoning, nothing was happening. Jiraiya finally decided to try something different. 'If personal danger is something that triggers the Kyuubi's power, I need to risk it. It's better if the boy learns it now than later.'

Walking over to a physically exhausted Naruto, he picked him up and began walking to a nearby canyon.

'How light his body is, yet burdened with something so great and painful.' He thought as he walked.

When Naruto opened his eyes, he saw Jiraiya in front of him. Just as he thought he heard a "gomen," he felt himself being pushed. Suddenly, as he felt his heart rising out of his chest, he turned his eyes and was stunned by his fall into the pitch black canyon.

As he tried again and again to use some means to stop or at least slow down, he began to panic. 'I'm going to die! I'm going to die! Why must I suddenly die now!'

'I don't want to die!'

In the blink of an eye, he found himself on solid ground again. It was a familiar looking tunnel, but something was different. Walking in the dark tunnel, knee deep in a reddish liquid, he came up to a dead end. In front of him was a large gate, scribbed with the word "yon," and behind were two pairs of eyes. A pair of contempt and power, burning in with an orange aura that resembled the fiery sun. Another pair was there, it was smaller, tinged with a violet innocence that's contrasted by the unspeakable sadness of bloody tears.

Translation:

'...infinitas sine spe.' – '...an eternity without hope.'