First off, to all my new friends. Sorry that my e-mail didn't post on the last chapter, so here it is. Well, unless I suddenly come into enough money to buy Naruto, I don't own it. Writing disclaimers is fun.

Replies:

Sanzo Lover: Yes, it was his intention all along to help Naruto, the kid's grown on him. You might not wanna try to pet him though; he's got a bad biting habit.

Patch5129: Well, I can't keep it hidden any longer. Yes, this is a Naruto/Tsunade story, everyone else was taken, so I can't even create a confusing match up! (Cries)

Ranko: (Stops crying, does a little dance.) Yay! Don't worry, it will get to the romantic fluffy stuff soon, but not quite yet, I'm not just gonna throw them into some relationship where they start knocking boots by chapter 7, it's gonna be realistic, with a little confusion, some other stuff getting in the way, this that, and the other things, before they really get into a relationship.

Anyhow, ahoy maties, chapter 6 off the starboard bow!

Chapter 6,

Confusion

Jirya and Tsunade sat quietly in Tsunade's office, taking in the morning view. "So, He's better now you say?" Jirya asked, taking a sip of some sake. "I find it odd that he'd be able to recover so quickly from seeing those two killed by the guy that he used to count as his brother, then killing Sasuke with his own hands." He said, sitting on the edge of the desk b the window.

Tsunade shook her head. " I would find it hard o believe myself, but there's no other way that could make sense, other than what he told me." She said, drinking some tea, sitting in her chair.

"Say what?" Jirya asked, turning to face Tsunade. "What did he tell you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tsunade sat for a moment, staring into her teacup, before answering. "He said that he spoke with the Kyuubi, Hinata, and Sakura." She finally said. "He told me that he was drifting in his own mind, and that he found himself in front of a huge, golden cage that apparently holds the Kyuubi, and that Hinata and Sakura were there as well. Well, after a brief conversation between them, Naruto woke up, and told me." Tsunade finished. "Best keep out that Naruto woke me up because I had fallen asleep on his chest." She thought to herself.

"I see." Jirya muttered, taking another sip of his sake.

(Later, on the training grounds)

"I've gotta push myself harder, I've gotta become the best shinobi I can, for them." Naruto thought to himself, doing rapid taijutsu attack combinations afainst the wooden posts. He finished with a backhand and then leapt back, breathing a little hard.

"That you Naruto?" He heard a familiar, male voice ask from behind him. He whirled around to see Shikamaru and Choji standing there.

"Hey guys, whats up?" He asked, walking over to them.

Shikamaru sighed. "Nothing much right now, just waiting for Ino. She's been comforting Neji over the loss of Hinata." He said, rubbing his temples while Choji wolfed down potato chips.

"Ya… they were cousins after all…" Naruto said, staring at the ground.

Shikamaru nodded. "Ya, that Rock Lee guy isn't taking it so well either. He had a major crush on Sakura, so her death affected him pretty deeply. His teammate, Ten-Ten, is trying her best to comfort him, but you know how that guy is." He said, sitting down and resting against a tree.

"yeah…" Naruto kept staring at the ground. "I guess they both hate me now, don't they?" He asked.

Choji swallowed his mouthful of chips and shook his head. I don't think so, it seemed more like they were angry with Sasuke for doing the deed. They've both sworn to see the village of sound torn apart." He said, stuffing another handful of chips into his mouth.

"Jeez, don't you ever put those things down?" Shikamaru asked.

Choji smiled. "Only at meals." He said, stuffing his face again.

"I'll see you guys later, I'm going to go grab some dinner." Naruto said, waving and then walking off.

Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. "It must be harder on him than any of us. They were both his friends, and I heard that Hinata even confessed that she loved him before she died." He said.

Choji grunted an ineligible reply.

Naruto walked through the streets of Kohona towards his favorite Ramen shop, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Gimme a Pork old man." He said, entering and sitting down.

"One pork ramen coming right up." The owner replied.

"Make that two." A voice said. "How're ya feeling?" Tsunade asked, sitting down beside Naruto.

"Ok, considering everything that's happened." Naruto replied as the ramen was set before them. They ate in silence, Tsunade paying for them both after they were finished.

"Naruto, if you need anything, anything at all, then please, come to me." Tsunade said, clutching Naruto's chin in her hand before he could walk off. Then, without warning, she bent down slightly and kissed him on the cheek then walked off, waving a goodnight.

"I guess she ain't so bad." Naruto though, rubbing his cheek as he went to his apartment.

The next day found a meeting between the heads of the houses and all of the other important officials of Kohona. "So… you're all in agreement then?" Tsunade asked, her eyes closed, her hands entwined in front of her.

"Yes." Most of the people present said.

"Ok then, Kohona is now at war with the Village of sound." Tsunade said, opening her eyes.

In the background, a middle-aged, heavily bandaged man by the name of Danzou, smiled. "Yes… war has finally begun, it is almost time for the ROOTS." He thought.

End Ch.6

Kohona is going to war against the sound! What will happen? And who is this bandaged man, Danzou, and what is his connection to the ANBU ROOTS? Find all this out and more in the next thrilling chapter of Naruto; Finding Love after Pain!