Okay! It's here! The next chapter. Okay, before any of you start yelling at me, I don't take credit for coming up with the idea of the kyuubi split thing (which you will read more about in this chapter.) This story is a response to a challenge given at (link is in my profile.) challenge given, I responded. Not mine, okay? Cool website it is. But without further a do, onward!

Naruto leaped out of bed. Today was the day – not just any day, but the day Naruto Uzumaki became a Jounin shinobi of the Leaf. It was six o' clock in the morning. Putting on his relaxing clothes, Naruto rushed to Tsunade's office.

"Bit early, isn't it, but I'll excuse it considering the circumstances." Sighing, she went over to the ninja archives. Taking out his, admittedly. much larger file, she continued, "Sign here... And here. Initial here... And done! You are now officially a Jounin." she said formally. But she couldn't hold it for long. She embraced him in a large hug. "I'm proud of you..."

Naruto smiled. "Thanks Hokage-sama."

Tears of joy showed in her eyes. "Now don't you go all formal on me, too."

Naruto chuckled. "Sure thing, Baa-san. Well, I'll see you later."

"Oh, Naruto."

"Yes?"

Opening up her drawer, she took out a rather large box. "I think it now belongs to you. They might help find your parents."

Naruto frowned a bit.

"Don't worry. No one has looked through them yet."

Naruto now smiled. He had something which was completely secret from the world. Something of his family's... Something to be proud of. He just imagined talking to someone like that.

"Yup, I'm the son of so-and-so."
"Yeah, you take after your father kid. You look just like him."

Naruto knew it was too good to be true. Nevertheless, for the first time in a long time, he had hope. "Say, Baa-chan. Who had it before?"

"I don't know. Sandaime-sama gave it to me, but he himself said it was someone else who gave it to him. Anyways, go home. You might find out whom."

Reaching home, he naturally set the box on the table. Open it... Naruto took a deep breath, embracing the moment, and then carefully opened it. It smelt of old paper. Blowing the dust away, it revealed a several items. In a glass case, a kunai lay. Next to it was a book, and next to that was a picture. A note was addressed to him.

Dear Naruto,

I don't know how old you may be if and when you read this, but I will just say right now,

that I'm proud to have you as my son. Inside are three presents to help you remember the last of your

family. Your mother, me (your father,) and your assigned guardian, the Yondaime-hokage.

Don't think badly of him though he will soon seal the kyuubi in you. He cares about you greatly. Having

no family, he treated you as his own. He is my best friend, and I can say from

the bottom of my heart that I am glad to have known him. You see... We estimate the kyuubi may

be too powerful to seal inside one person... So, to render it useless, we will seal it's body and

mind in you, and it's soul in another. That way, when you die, hopefully of old age, it will be the

end. In any case, two lives will be lost. Yondaime-sama has volunteered, as he is the hokage. He

will seal it in the other child. Hopefully, someone will volunteer their child soon enough. And either your

mother or I will seal the other part in you. Hopefully, one of us will be alive to take care of you.

Sincerely,

Uzumaki Arashi – Your Loving Father

Now Naruto was beaming. One of his parents were still alive! He had hope. He wanted to find them, so, so badly. Opening the glass case, he saw a special kunai with a note attached.

Naruto-kun! What's up? This is Yondaime! I remember when you first said my name – I was your

yonny-kun. Well, here's my present so you'll become a big strong ninja! I have a speacial lightning fast

jutsu. In order to master it, you need a kunai with a special seal I made. Well, I gave one to you! Use it

well. And if you see your father, tell him he still owes me that 50 yen from the party. Well, that's it. I'm

off to die! Haha. Kidding. :P

Sincerely,

Yondaime-sama (Yonny-kun!)

Jeez... Ero-senin was right! Man, what a hyper little fuzz – hey! Naruto chuckled. He was like the Yondaime. Probably because the Yondaime must've babysat him a ton... Rubbed off. Mom! Mom's present!

He took out the notebook.

Dear Naruto...

My baby... I'm so sorry, I'm crying all ---- this, and there are tear marks... Haha. I thought --- might like

to know more about your par---s. I combined your father's and -- diar- to let yo- know. Hopefully Sensei

gave this to Sandaime-sama. I real-- hope this note reached you. I love you Naruto – so, so much.

Lovingly,

Your Mother, A--o

Damn it... I can't read the rest... It's all fuzzy. Indeed, tear marks and black splotches covered the letter. Ah, well. I'll just read the diary to find out later.

A picture, framed. That was his final present. But it was blocked by a note.

Naruto, my son. This is my gift to you. A picture of our small family. Me, your mother, and

Yondaime-sama. Do not be ashamed. Neither your mother no I come from proud families. Your

mother was an orphan, as was I. But Yondaime-sama let me join the Uzumaki clan. He did you

a big favor as well. By giving you a clan, he gave you honor, and dignity. Something to be

proud of. So while we may not have great backgrounds, I do hope you are proud of us because

we are definitely proud of you.

He preserved all the notes, framing each one of them. Then, finally, he took a look at that picture. Man, I can't wait to see my parents, and my mom, and dad and... Holy... Fuck... No... NO!

The picture showed four people. The baby, he assumed to be him, carried by a lady... Whom he recognized as none other than Anko. Yondaime sama was in the back making bunny ears to both Anko and the man he assumed as his father. The man had glowing blond hair and blue eyes, just as Naruto did. But contrary to Naruto, he had a calm, serene look about him. A transfixing one – it showed he had a lot of wisdom. He stared at Anko.

The rashness... The being loud... It all came together... He was mad at Anko, but he was furious at Jiraiya. "Jiraiya..." he snarled.

Tsunade sighed, satisfied. No more paperwork, no more Council meetings... Whole day to myself... By myself... She quickly pushed away the last thought. These kinda days came once in a blue moon, and she was going to enjoy today.

"WHERE IS HE?" Naruto came in fuming.

Tsunade had never seen the kyuubi active in Naruto before, and it surprised her. "Naruto if you aren't polite I will have you escorted out."

"Can you please tell me where Jiraiya is?" Naruto said, gritting his teeth.

Good. Now kyuubi's cut down to size. "He has been arrested on account of insubordination. If you wish to see him, I suggest you go to the prisons are request." She quickly scribbled down something. "Here, this should give you access."

Naruto was even more frustrated. Seizing it, he rushed down to the prisons.

Naruto's coming. Jiraiya sighed... I've got a long explanation ahead of me...

"YOU!" Naruto barged through the gates.

"Me." Jiraiya calmly said.

"You knew the whole bloody fucking time!"

"Yes, I did." Jiraiya said.

"WHY? TELL ME NOW!"

"Naruto, kyuubi better leave right now, or I'm not telling anything."

Naruto roared.

"I can have you pinned down in a second Naruto. It's your choice." Jiraiya still hadn't moved from his meditation pose. In fact, his eyes were still closed.

"Why..." Naruto said, sharply exhaling. "All this time, why didn't you tell me?"

"Firstly, I couldn't tell you while you were in Konoha – mainly because the Council would've had you executed right then and there. The son of a traitor and missing nin. Yes, your rather was a Rock nin. He left and came here... Naruto, do you know why we had a war with the Rock in the first place? Both nations wanted the kyuubi vessel as their own. Your father betrayed his nation to save you, your mother, and our country. Without him we wouldn't have won. What more reason does the council need? Sandaime-sama barely managed to keep you alive. I trained Yondaime. Me, Sandaime-sama --"

"And Orochimaru..."

"Yes, unfortunately, he, too, are the only ones who know of this. So now it's only me and him."

"Why not during the training?"

"Simple. Because I didn't want you dwindling your thoughts on that. We didn't have time. We had a strict schedule, Naruto. This entire explanation itself will take more time. If I told you that you were the son of a traitor and a missing nin, how would that have impacted you? Coming from your own sensei..."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Kyuubi... You were afraid the kyuubi wasn't in check yet."

"Yes. Even after three years of absorption you still reacted like this. Imagine what you would've done then. A huge chakra wave... We were in hiding Naruto. Akatsuki would've been all over you. We wouldn't have gotten any training done at all. When did I have time. Other than that, Yondaime-sama himself told me of the package you were to receive when you became Jounin. I kept it safely. Orochimaru could've stolen it along with the jutsus in there, Naruto. Who do you think kept it safe? Who do you think got arrested just by protecting his student. And who do you think gave up the love of my life for you, Naruto?" Jiraiya said all this in a deadly calm voice. Not a hint of malice anywhere whatsoever.

"Sensei I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't know."

"It's all right. Like you said, you didn't know. In any case, your mother summarized both your life and his life in about forty pages worth of read. If you want to know the whole story, read it. She's an excellent writer by the way." Jiraiya chuckled. "After all, I taught her, ne?"

"There's no porn in there, right?"

"Of course not. What mother would hand her child porn, Naruto... Now get out, I need to get back to meditation."

He hugged Jiraiya. "Thank you... Oh, and one last thing."

"Go see Anko for that question, Naruto." Jiraiya already knew.

"All right."

Naruto whizzed off to the ANBU headquarters. "Excuse me?" he spoke to the head person there. "Where can I find Anko-san?"

"Pardon?" the man had a frown on.

"Mitarashi Anko. Where can I find her?"

"She's very busy. Besides, what would you want with someone of such a high --"

"No, she's not very busy."

Naruto turned around and his eyes went wide.

Using a jutsu, Anko took them both out of there and to her house.

"Mom..." he said at first, and then got used to it. He lay his head in her caring arms. "Mom, why didn't you tell me?"

She closed her teary eyes and hugged him tight. "Oh, Naruto..."

The lay there for a couple minutes like that, simply in each other's arms.

"I love you, Naruto."

"I love you, too, An – Mom."

"I can't believe I did this to my baby..." And she cuddled him. "My baby's a Jounin already."

"Mom," Naruto whined, trying to pry away from her vice grip of a hug.

"I've heard all about you, Uzumaki." she put on her stern voice.

Naruto paled. "It wasn't my fault! The sexy no jutsu was --"

"All that ramen isn't good for you! I can't believe... What no jutsu?"

Naruto gulped.

They spent the entire day together, Naruto telling about his experiences, catching up on everything he felt needed. Naruto filled her in on all the adventures the had with and without Jiraiya.

"No ramen for a month!"

"A month! But Mo-om!"

Anko made an elegant dinner. "Naruto... Are you... You must be... Angry..."

"Angry?" Naruto asked. "Why?"

Anko sighed, putting down her plate. "I was a coward... After all that happened, the kyuubi attack, Orochimaru's betrayal, your father dying... Arashi dying... I... I didn't want to live anymore. At least, not in this world. So... I forgot. My mind merely erased by itself all memory of everything. Of having you, of all the pain. A fantasy seemed so much better. And so I forgot. Today... I wanted to congratulate you. So I stopped by your house. Your door was unlocked... Bad habit, you know. Anyways, I walked into the living room and I saw... I saw the pictures, read the notes, remembered the diary... Everything came flooding back to me... And then... And then I remembered you... My baby..." She hugged him tightly. "All those years... All these sixteen years I could've been there for you, and I wasn't... I was afraid. I didn't want to go back. Oh, Naruto I'm so sorry..."

"Why didn't anyone tell you? Ero-senin, old man Hokage..."

"Even if they did, it wouldn't have helped. Self induced memory comas are over only when the person who has it wants to come back... Like I said... I was a coward... So, if you hate me, I'm... I'm not going to blame you. I failed you..."

Naruto wasn't enraged, but... He was frustrated. All those years of having pain, all those times... She was alive and she wasn't there for him. After all, he had anger – he was only human. Gently he got up. "I... I need some time alone..." All these years you were begging for company, and now, when you finally have it... You need 'alone time.'

"Sure..." Anko said. "Oh, and... Naruto?"

"Yeah..." he said irritably.

"Don't... Don't tell anyone. The council will have both our heads, so... You know, until Tsunade sorts this out, don't tell..."

Naruto nodded and walked out.

"God damn it! Where is that dumb Naruto?" Sakura screamed. "He was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago..."

Inner Sakura: I'm gonna beat him to a pulp!

"Hmmm..." Shikamaru said.

"You have that thoughtful look again." Ino said.

"Yeah... His dream is still to become hokage. It's the most important thing for him..."

"Yeah..." they all slowly said.

"So you'd think he'd be on time for it."

"That's your big conclusion?" Sakura yelled.

"Meaning if he was late, something must be wrong... terribly wrong."

"Worse than munch missing his Jounin celebration party." Chouji added.

"Yeah..." Shikamaru said.

"We'd better go look for him then." Ino said.

"How troublesome..." Guess who – Shikamaru! (A/N – that rhymed!)

Naruto sat alone, on a park bench, thinking. It's not easy, you know. Not everyone can handle pain... You can't blame her...

That doesn't ease my pain though...

Yeah. No one can ease your pain but yourself.

What?

Forget about it and move on. Forgive her... She needs you right now... Just as much as you need her. She's lost every single person she's ever had.

AND I NEVER HAD ANYONE.

But now you do. Your friends, your sensei, Baa-san... Who does she have? She's alone... You know the pain of loneliness more than anyone. Now, for the first time, she's found someone. She has hope. And she risked it by telling you what happened. That's how much she loves you. It'd be like taking the last piece of her sanity away...

Damn it... Naruto really, really loathed his conscience. Fine... I'll go apologize and fogive her...

"Naruto!"

"Nani... Sakura-chan?"

"Naruto where were you?"

"Um... Here, actually."

"Ugh. I mean why didn't you come?"

"Come where?"

"Jounin inaugural party? Remember?"

"Huh?... Oh fuck."

She sat down beside him. "Never mind that now, everyone's already done. What happened?"

"I found out the truth..."
Oh no... Shit...

"I... my family --"
"Sasuke was like a brother to me, too..." she hugged him.

"... Wait, what?"

"We're all part of your family, Naruto... We're there for you."

What the hell is this girl talking about? Sasuke? "... What?" Naruto said, breaking the hug.

"I tried to stop him, Naruto, but... But I couldn't."

"Stop who? What happened to Sasuke?"

He didn't know? He was talking about... His bloodline... "Ah... Hehe..."

"Sakura-chan what happened to Sasuke?" Naruto was almost yelling now.

Sakura paled. "Naruto... I honestly didn't want to be the one to tell you this..." she said sadly.

Life really, really hates me right now, doesn't it...

"But... Sasuke left the village... He went off with Orochimaru because he wanted more power... to kill his brother... He's a missing nin now..."

Naruto collapsed on the bench. Suddenly, he went rigid again. Power coursed withing him once more. Regaining control, he thought, Again? I've absorbed another piece? At this rate, I'll take all of the kyuubi... Not just half of it... I've got to talk to Ero-Senin... "Sorry, I spaced out again. What did you say Sakura-chan?"

Jiraiya was inside his cell making seals on the ground. Holograms came up. Frowning at the current red hologram of a girl, he altered the chakra ratio. This one turned blue. "Fuck... Wait... the babies! I need to search the babies in that same year... Meaning... They're the same age as Naruto. Most likely to be kunoichi." Well that helps... Only 300 girls Naruto's age in Konoha... God damn it. Lying down, he continued it well into the night. "Red... Red... Red... Blue... Green... Red... Yellow... Red again..." Come on! I need one crappy match! Come one white! "Red... Brown... Green... Yellow... Red... Blue... Red... Black. Hm... She's pretty sexy. Nah, too small breasts. Red... Green... Brown..." Jiraiya took a glass of water. If I get another red I'm going to fucking explode. "Green... Typical... Yellow, Brown..." His jaw dropped. White... White! It's a match! Now, who is this... Jiraiya filed through the archives in his pocket. "Ah-ha! Haruno Sakura... Isn't that the pink-haired girl that Naruto has a... crush... on... Oh fuck."

"Hey!" the guard said. "What do you think you're --"

"Rasengan..."

The cell exploded, killing the guard in an instant.

"Tsunade!" Jiraiya came through.

"Jiraiya? Weren't you supposed to --"

"Tell me you've been monitoring Haruno Sakura."

"Of course. Her growth is very --"

"Medically! Have you given her a physical in the last three months?"

"Of course not! Not in 22 months. She's a full doctor. She can take care of herself."

Jiraiya paled. "Oh fuck..."

"Sasuke... Sasuke did... GOD DAMN IT SASUKE!"

Sakura hugged him even tighter now. "Naruto... We'll get him back... together..."

Naruto promised himself he'd never cry again in his life, but here he was crying... His mother... Sasuke... the council wanting to kill him... He wanted to run away from it all. He wanted to forget about it. Even living in a dream would help. He realized how Anko felt. Mom must've had it worse... After a certain amount of pressure... She cracked...

In all the years she had known Naruto, he never cried. Ever. She couldn't bare to see him cry. Breaking the hug, she placed her lips on his... And Naruto forgot his world for that brief instant. It was a small kiss, innocent and pure, but to Naruto, God just made Judgment.

Naruto was suddenly calm. Sakura was a fervent red. "Sakura-chan? What... was that for?"

"I don't like you in that way, just... Just wanted to calm you down." She couldn't tell him she loved her... He didn't like her back, so... It would've been a waste.

"So..." Naruto said slowly. "We're officially friends again? Like before?"

"No... Better than before."

Naruto smiled. "Okay, Sakura-chan."

"Sakura!" Tsunade now came running.

"Tsunade-sam --"

"Come on!" And she poofed away with Sakura.

... Huh? Naruto knew he had to follow Sakura, but he wanted to tell a special someone something first. Going into Anko's house, he found her still awake.

"Naru --"

Before she could finish, Naruto kissed her on the cheek. "Love you still. Bye Mom. Gotta go." And he ran off to find Sakura.

Anko gently put a hand on her cheek where Naruto kissed her. I love you, too, Naruto. My baby... And Anko resumed her Jounin work.

"Naruto." Jiraiya spoke to him sternly. "You read the letters, right?" "My, my family letters? Yeah."

"Well then you know one person has the kyuubi body, and the other the spirit... To end the kyuubi forever... You know that, right?"

"Y-Yeah..." Naruto began to realize where this was going.

"There is a reason Sandaime-sama put you and Sakura on a team... She is that person. Yondaime-sama wasn't stupid. He wouldn't take a risk. Which means the deadly factor is ruled out. You'll get all the kyuubi chakra and heightened senses with perfect control."

"But what happens to Sakura-chan? I mean, she hasn't been in check. There is no seal on her."

"That's because a different seal was used on her. Your father actually placed the seal on her, as he didn't know the Death God Summoning Jutsu. So Yondiame used it on you. I'm guessing it was a change of plans. In any case, because she has been unchecked for so long... The kyuubi spirit might be taking over. I honestly didn't know it was her, or I would've monitored her. If that happens... She is under kyuubi's command... And, in the end, we might have to kill her."

Naruto gulped.

"In any case, we hope that is not the case. Tsunade-cha, er.. -san, is running a physical on her to see what's going on. If she's okay, then I'll perform the seal that'll keep her in check. But I have a mission for you. You have to tell her about this. Remember, she is very emotional. You were used to pain and suffering. She isn't. So when you tell her that she is in fact half demon, unlike you who just contain the body, don't expect her to take it easily. She may say she hates you, whatever. Just giver her some alone time. In any case, I will be travelling in the hope that the kyuubi spirit in her isn't out of control to the one person who knows more about seals than anyone else."

"Who?"

"Orochimaru..." Jiraiya sighed.

Well, that's the end! No I'm kidding. Gotcha, didn't I?
"Sasuke-kun. It is time."

"For what?"

"Learning the long-promised Uchiha seal, of course. That, and learning one more secret about the sharingan."

Orochimaru frowned. That speed... No doubt it's Yondiame's jutsu. But who... Jiraiya... So, after all these years he's finally using it... It must be some an emergency...

"What is it?"

"Orochimaru." Jiraiya said landing, picking up his kunai.

"There's no need, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru said to Sasuke who was picking up his sword. "What do you need?"

"Kyuubi.." Jiraiya plainly said.

"Ah, I see. The pink-haired, girl, yes?"

"So you did know."

"Of course I did. Sarutobi was an idiot, trusting me with everything. Kukukukuku..."

"Can you make a seal for it?"

"I already have... And I've already placed it on the girl."

Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Why – I see... You're afraid of it as well..."

Orochimaru's eye brows came together. "Anyone who isn't would be a fool."

"Is it active?"

"Kukuku..."

"What do you want then?"

Sakura... Kyuubi? Afraid... of Sakura? Sasuke was deep in thought.

"You taught Naruto-kun the rasengan and Flying Thunder God Jutsu, yes?"

"I have..."

"I want Naruto to fight Sasuke. No interruptions... To the death."

"When?"

"A month from now. But... How do I know you'll return?"

Jiraiya tossed him a large scroll. "My frog summoning scroll." Gama-bunta-sama... I am so sorry... I had to.

"Very well." Opening the scroll, Orochimaru gave a drip of blood and screamed, "DEMONIC SPIRIT SEAL!" The paper glowed and then burned away to ashes. "There. I have activated it permanently. It should keep everything in check."

"All right... I'll see you in a month."

"You'd better..."

The Mengekyuou... Will be mine...

"Sensei! Sakura's stomach began glowing for a second, and now there's a seal on her stomach. I'm guessing you succeeded."

"Better than I had hoped for, yes. Now she's safe... Along with all of us."

Sakura was lying on the hospital bed, sound asleep.

Sighing, Naruto got up and went home, after a long, long day. Crashing into bed, Naruto thought about all that had just happened. He'd decided to forgive his mother, and so that was out the way. Sakura was healed now, and so that was all right. Now, he had three problems. The Council trying to get him killed, Jiraiya breaking out of prison, and Sasuke... Good Lord... Life really hates me...

Next morning Sakura woke up.

"N-Naruto?"

"Hey Sakura-chan. How are you feeling?"

"Fine... What happened? Why am I in the hospital?"

"Uh... Say, Sakura-chan, you wanna go for a walk in the forest?"

"Um, sure Naruto, I guess."

The forest was cool. The flowers were in full bloom, and dew still lay on the grass. They gently walked on the path in each other's caring company.

"First, before I tell you what happened, you gotta promise me you won't interrupt or get mad at me... After I'm done I don't mind you screaming your head off, or whacking me, cuz I deserve it. Just wait till I'm done, okay?"

Sakura was amazed he'd say such a thing. "Naruto, I won't get mad at you."

"You promise?"

She slowly nodded her head.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto sat her down on a dry spot and sat as well. "Okay, so... The story begins... One day, the kyuubi, the nine tails demon fox – the most powerful of all demons – attacks Konoha for reasons unknown. Anyways, to defend the nation, the leader, the Yondiame-hokage steps up. Unknown to most, the kyuubi was invincible and immortal... At least, in it's current stage."

Sakura was about to open her mouth, but then remembered her promise.

"So, the hokage split the demon into two – the body in one, and the spirit in the other. But then came the problem. It was still immortal. So, taking the body, he sealed in one child and the spirit in another. They were both very young children – why children? Because children's bodies adapt rather quickly, and would be able to carry the sealed demon within. This way, because the demon was split in two, it's powers wouldn't be together, and it's immortality was reduced to that of a human's. That way, when the human containers died, hopefully of a natural death, the demon would die along with it. Normally, the demon would just escape hell, but because it's spirit is separated, it can't. That's the true story. The kyuubi was never killed. It was sealed withing two children. One of them being... Me." Naruto took off his shirt, applied chakra to his stomach, and revealed a seal. "The demon's body is contained within me. The adults knew this, so the Sandaime made a law saying no one can talk about it. In any case, without my body, the kyuubi would be outside. But the other person has it much worse... You can seal a body... But you can't seal a spirit. So for the other child, the spirit was merged. That person is in fact half demon. I just contain it. That child has an even greater burden."

Sakura paled. "Who is it...?" she asked softly.

"You, Sakura-chan... You were volunteered to contain the spirit..."

Sakura seemed very much emotionless for quite a while. Her brain digested all this slowly. Finally, she broke down crying. What else could she do? What else would anyone do? If anyone had just discovered they were half demon, that half of them was responsible for the deaths and injuries of thousands, robbing them of the greatest leader ever... Immense guilt, hatred for one's self, hating others for causing this for her...

Naruto couldn't blame her... Sakura was strong, stronger than most – instead of blaming others, she took this as an own fault. That itself showed strength. Naruto hugged her. "Shhh... It's okay." he said stroking her hair.

It was uncontrolled sobbing – she was crying so hard her body was trembling. She gave herself up to Naruto and simply wailed her heart out.

"You're not a demon. Jiraiya-sensei already put a seal on you. You're back to plain old Sakura-chan now. You never were a demon. The kyuubi spirit never took over you, so you were fine. It's not your fault. You couldn't help it. If anything, you're a hero Sakura-chan. You saved all those people who are still alive today. We still love you, all of us. Baa-chan, Kakashi-sensei, me, all your friends..."

"They'll hic hate me sob when they sob find out."

"No... No one will hate you. Kakashi-sensei already knows, I know, Ero-senin knows, Baa-chan knows... We don't hate you. What makes you think the others will?"

"I dunno! I'm scared..."

Naruto couldn't bear to see her like this – like a completely wilted flower. He wanted to kiss the life back into her. Seizing her, he suddenly kissed her as hard as he could. She purred with the touch. Her lips were soft and tender. Gently licking them, Naruto found they were salty from all the tears. She moaned through her sobs as he did this. Nibbling her lower lip, he gained access and his tongue began searching her mouth. Every cavern, every taste, every sweet Sakura-filled sensation was now owned by him. She was his, all his.

Gently kissing her tear marks, he whispered, "That was to calm you down." She had stopped sobbing now. "And also, because I love you."

"I love you, too, Naruto."

Naruto lifted her up suddenly and threw her into the air.

"Ah! Naruto!" she laughed as he caught her in his arms.

Kissing her neck, he said, "Finally, a laugh out of you. Now let's go have lunch. We already missed breakfast because of you."

"Haha. Okay." Sakura said getting back to normal.

"So?" Tsunade said, putting down chop sticks.

Anko, Naruto, Jiraiya, Sakura, and Kakashi were at the table.

"So what?" Naruto asked.

"He told me, Tsunade-sama."

"Well, you've taken to it rather well!" Kakashi's eyes were upside down U's.

"Good, but have you found out about your family?" Tsunade asked.

"Naruto?" Sakura was curious now as well.

"Ero-Senin! You didn't tell her?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade glared at Jiraiya. "You knew?"

"Heck, it ain't my family. Not my place to say.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"I knew, but I think you should say."

Naruto gave a pleading look to Anko.

"As your elder, I am allowed to torture you. You say, Naruto." she replied smiling.

"But... But..." There was no way he could get out of this.

Sakura kissed him on the cheek.

They all raised an eye brow.

Anko gave a threatening look to Naruto. Who does she think she is, kissing my boy?

Naruto paled. "Well, I guess I'd better come out with it. But keep this to yourselves, cuz we don't want the Council using something else against me."

"One minute." Jiraiya said. Making a sound barrier jutsu, he said, "Continue."

"Kakashi-sensei, Ero-senin and M – Anko-san already know this. But anyways, Yondaime-sama was my Guardian, or God-father, or whatever you'd like to call him. He was my father's best friend. My father was actually from the Rock village. He and my mother were both orphans, though my mother was a ninja from this village. He was a missing nin who helped Konoha win their victory over Rock. Yondaime-sama let he and my mother join his clan, the Uzumakis, so I became Uzumaki Naruto. My mother..." Naruto paused. "Well, it'd be better to ask her, ne Mom?"

"You are so grounded boy..." Anko growled.

Tsunade dropped her plate, and Sakura fell out of her seat. Jiraiya bawled out laughing, Naruto sweat-dropped, and Kakashi had a smug look on his face.

"ANKO?"

"Yeah, me..." she said fuming. "I'm watching you Uzumaki, still no ramen for a month!"

"Hey, Mom, that's uncool. You're an Uzumaki, too!"

She slapped him.

"OW!"

The lunch soon ended and everyone got up and went. Anko went back to her work, as did Kakashi. Jiraiya made himself scarce (went back to his cell to act like nothing had happened,) and Sakura went back home. Tsunade and Naruto were the only ones remaining.

"I'm happy for you, Naruto..." Tsunade sadly said.

"You're happy for me, but you're not happy... What's wrong?"

Over the years, she assumed herself to be the maternal figure in Naruto's life. Cleaning up after him, feeding him proper food, and bossing him around. Now that Anko was here, it was out of place for her to do such a thing... She was losing another loved one, just in a different way. "Nothing, nothing."
Naruto gently kissed her on the cheek. "Baa-san, no matter what happens, I will always love you. I just love Mom in a different way. You're still my favorite granny ever. I'm just luckier than most people – it's like having two moms, ne? So I will always love you."

Tsunade hugged Naruto. "Thanks, Naruto. Oh, and what was with you and Sakura back there?"
"We're boyfriend and girlfriend now!... I think... I mean, I did say I love you and she said it back... But does that really make us? I dunno, I gotta ask Sakura-chan."

Tsunade chuckled and sent him off.

"Jiraiya." the head of the Council now came. "For murder and attempted escape from prison, we hereby sentence you to execution."

The moon turned red, almost as if foreboding some ominous occurrence. While the mortals slept, the moon still watched everything that went on in the cloaked night's darkness. Yes, blood would surely shed in the morning. The question was, whose?

Well, that's it! Really, that's it. Next chapter is a sad chapter... Sort of... No, not really. Anyways, like Yondaime-sama gave Kakashi a test, Kakashi lets Naruto lead his first mission as a Jounin. But who turns out to be his third team mater? Gasp! Anyways, next chapter will bring us all the way back to Kira-chan's arrival, like I had it in the unedited story-line. Well, that was quite a detour! A five chapter one. '' Ah, well. More bloodshed and gore next time, a long with some fluff to brighten a gloomy day. Next time : Into the fog!