Author's Note: Well, I didn't think I would update so soon but here it is! Since I have finals and my pc needs fixin and I won't be getting much done later so…yeah! Thanks to ya'll who reviewed, very encouraging!

Disclaimer: Don't own…Naruto…Masashi Kishimoto…Shonen Jump…blah blah blah.

Chapter One: To witness

To say that the village was in an uproar would be taking things lightly. The rain had departed that morning and the sun was shining, lighting the morning dew like stars in the damp state of Konoha. And since it was sunny virtually nobody was spending the day indoors, but not for that reason.

The once inexplicably silent village was now in a dissonance of shouts and gossip and the relaying of the same tale now grossly liberated of any historical sense due to the word of mouth. The people were still reeling from the events of the night before, and they had just begun to vent. One particular event in regards to a certain Kyuubi holder had spread like wildfire and was treated like an exciting episode to an anime, one to be discussed and reminisced. A lively discussion in Ichiraku Ramen resulted in Ayame forcefully throwing out patrons, screaming curse words in tears, while her father remained rooted to the spot, face drained of color. A short time after, the restaurant was closed so they could grieve for their favorite customer.

The rumors in circulation were but a cruel abstract of the truth. Stories of the poor blond slipping on a puddle resulting to a cracked skull brought tears of laughter to many of the villagers. While others on a more serious note, carried whispers of Naruto losing control of the Kyuubi, annihilating himself in the process, to be answered by sighs of relief that the monster only managed to destroy itself and not their children, contended that the bane of their existence had been exterminated off the face the face of the earth. The only gratitude that the villagers would ever admit giving to Naruto was that he had done it himself, no one else having to soil their pompous fingers.

The unbelievable haze of sorrow of the prior day had been forgotten.

A grim majority responded to Naruto's demise with laughter and relief. But their were those who had felt sympathy for the boy, only now filled with regret, only those who had recognized the boy as not the demon and would be destined to live a life of hardship. But now time was its end, a journey far too short, and all they could do was mourn one day, and forget the next.

Naruto would be forgotten.

Along with the minority were the witnesses. Every single one who had seen the horror unfold from the very beginning had resigned themselves to their rooms, refusing to meet anyone in fear of having to face their memories. They would endure the violent banging on their doors, as mobs of civilians demanded that they be told what happened. Unbeknownst to them, one was no longer in his home, as he had been gracefully abducted by a ninja he could not identity, for his face was covered partly with a mask.

Riots ensued just outside of the Hokage Tower, Jounin having to subdue the crown of angry citizens, ridiculously threatening to blow stuff up if the Godaime didn't show herself. Said Godaime, stuffed her ears with another layer of foam as she rejected yet another request for her council. 'Goddamn nobles! Those fat morons have been pestering me since last night dammit! Can't a woman mourn in peace!' Having grown weary of the noise, she pushed her hands to her ears in obvious frustration, successfully drowning out the horribly loud voices of the townspeople.

She was only able to endure one more "Hokage-sama!" before she cracked amazingly.

"What the fuck do you want?" She exploded, slamming hands into her desk, breaking the legs, while an impossible number of cotton balls comically tumbled out of her ears, damping the effect of her rage dramatically.

An unaffected Shizune just glared, clearly accustomed to her master's behavior. She could practically feel the boom from the exclamation points after zooming passed her head. She made a display of fixing her wind-beaten hair and continued to trudge over troubled water. She took out an envelope from her pocket, attempting to present it to the agitated Tsunade. "Here Tsudane-sama, it's –"

"Another request." She said dejectedly. Tsunade sat back down, heedless of the planks of wood littering at her feet.

"Yes but…uh…I don't think you need to concern yourself with it right now." Shizune said, throwing the envelope on the pile of paper and desk, giving her sempai a small, apprehensive smile.

"Good. Glad you think so." She implied as she crossed her legs and closed her eyes, slightly irritated that she no longer had a desk to lean on.

"You need to sleep Tsunade-sama, you've been awake for more than a day, especially with what –"

"So do you Shizune, since you helped me with the autopsy." Tsunade cut her off without opening her eyes. She tried to exude calm even at the midst of all the loud and colorful language the mob outside her tower threw around. She had a few colorful words of her own ah her disposal, but she really didn't feel up to it, she didn't really feel up to anything when after hours of unnecessary analysis, that it was more than a hundred percent confirmed that her gaki was truly and utterly deceased. "Go to bed Shizune. I've put you through enough."

Shizune felt flabbergasted. She wasn't at all accustomed to her sempai's present persona. It always stunned her to see her master this way, completely devastated. "No, Tsunade-sama, you need it more than me. I can rest afterward." She forced a smile, hoping to the gods that it was comforting.

Tsunade finally opened her eyes, sorrow and lethargy shown dully on her hazel specs. Tsunade regarded her briefly before annoyance graced her heavenly features. "What are you gonna do if I don't huh?" Tsunade towered over her pupil, raising her voice to match her tired exasperation. "Now if you don't get out of my sight this instant oh God so help me I'll –"

CRASH!

"?"

Tsunade stopped short of her tirade, eye twitching. "What the hell was that?" She asked rather calmly.

"It appears we're being attacked, Tsunade-sama" Her assistant replied, also rather calmly.

Seconds ticked by before what she said finally registered in both their minds. They ran to the open window, peering downward. What they saw caused their sweat to drop.

By now the crowd was momentarily silent, astounded by the giant frog, waving its legs frantically, trying to dislodge itself from the hole in the wall. She could practically hear the scream form a floor below. Tsunade figured it would be quite unnerving to discover that someone was launching oversized amphibians as projectiles into her workspace.

As she thought these thoughts, she did not miss the strangely clad old man precariously perched on the frog's back, or half of it. The idiot looked terrified as he slowly and shakily looked up to face the fuming Godaime.

That was all it took.

"JIRAIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Tsunade's mother uncomfortably shifted in her grave as she continued to bellow obscenities at her old teammate, reducing said teammate to a frightened, and deaf, ball of acrid mush. Before the mob could regain their equilibrium, and hopefully their clothing that were ripped by the sheer power of Tsunade's vocal chords and colorful language, the Godaime had already seized the dazed Sannin into her office, trapping him in a headlock. "Baka! What the fuck do you think you're doing bombarding my tower you buffoon!" Several of Jiraiya's auditory nerves had already snapped due to the first outburst, now he could feel his left eardrum punctured as Tsunade screamed straight into it.

Jiraiya rubbed his ear painfully. "Now, now my Tsunade-chan, if you let me go, I'll gladly reveal all the answers." He replied, making an effort to not anger the buxom blond further.

Tsunade reluctantly let go, wanting nothing more than to pummel the pervert straight into the earth's core. She crossed her arms and started tapping her foot, putting on her poker face. "I'm listening."

Before he started, he picked up a cotton ball from the floor and used it to plug his bleeding ear. Jiraiya let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, you see…me, Oyabin and the boys had and peaceful, innocent get together one night and –"

"You fed your frog liquor?" Tsunade shrieked once more, dislodging the once snug ball of cotton. She did not need to hear the rest. She advanced dangerously.

Jiraiya visibly paled, and started stammering. "B-but its n-not my fault! Blame Oyabin! He's the one who brought the keg! He emptied it to some dried up lake and they just lapped it all up! Unlike them, I have self control!" He crossed his arms and pouted. "I mean, that guy lights his cigars with volcanoes for God's sake!" He added as an afterthought.

Tsunade ignored the pointless remark. She drew herself closer until she was nose to nose with the sweaty old man. "So you thought it would be entertaining to ride a tipsy toad all the way back to Konoha?" She spat out menacingly.

Jiraiya shied away, wishing he was invisible. "Well, uh…if that question wasn't rhetorical…then yes."

Shizune watched amusedly as her sempai pounced on Jiraiya, trying to choke him as the older man flailed about, screaming in a disturbingly high-pitched voice. She was glad that her sensei allowed herself to be cheered up, only Jiraiya and Naruto could had that effect on her.

But as Shizune thought those thoughts, Tsunade stopped altogether, standing up with all the seriousness of a politician. She fixed herself up and quietly said, "Sorry Jiraiya, but this really isn't a good time for this."

Jiraiya just stared at her, as if she had grown a second nose. It bothered him that his old friend looked so solemn, but he just shook it off as if it was nothing, straightening up as well, he had the sense that playtime was over. He crossed his arms in mock dignity, widely grinning at his friend. "So…did you tell him yet?"

Tsunade felt her heart beat faster, though she knew exactly what he meant, and who it meant, she asked anyway. "Tell who what?"

Jiraiya peered at her stupidly, scrutinizing her. "Don't give me that! You know? Did you tell Naruto about starting his Hokage training?"

At that instant Shizune quietly walked out the door, not wanting to witness whatever would take place.

The Godaime's mouth instantly became parched. She had dreaded that question. Somehow she could not bring herself to tell Jiraiya the truth. Though it was inevitable that he would know eventually, she'd rather "eventually" not be today. Or from her mouth. She was certain of how he would react, having known him better than anyone. Once the revelation would pour from her lips, he'd be struck dumb, quietly walk out of the village, and never return. He had grown to love the genki brat far too much, having emblazoned the boy with too much of his own character. There would be nothing left for Jiraiya but to submit to his age. She knew for a fact that he only ever came back to Konoha when he would come up with a sufficient jutsu to teach Naruto. It was an interaction he strived for, as it brought him back to better days when he fathered over Arashi.

Unlike Tsunade who was used to losing love, Jiraiya was not. Losing Arashi had not brought him that pain, for he died for the village, and he no longer needed protecting. Naruto on the other hand, died for lack of protection, completely unguarded to the world's hate. He was a legacy Arashi had wished would live on. But now he was gone, decimated by his own sorrow, killed by his own hand. Jiraiya would torment himself for all eternity, for in that respect he was innocent. Innocent to guilt.

Tsunade tried with all her might to keep the tears from coming. She did not want to see her friend break down before her. She didn't want her voice to be the last he would ever choose to hear. She didn't want to be the one to sentence him. She was selfish, she knew that. But it was her unreasonable fear of seeing death, the root of her fear of blood, which would keep her from bearing witness.

She refused to be a witness.

With self-centered conviction, she would allow Jiraiya to suffer from another's expense. She was a coward, but then she would accept it. She batted away the tears that threatened for freedom, and turned to Jiraiya, ready to answer. "No, Jiraiya, I didn't tell him yet."

"Oh. Okay. You didn't have to look so glum about it. Seriously, you look like someone just died. But Honestly though, I think Naruto's still a tad too young, maybe a few more years of learning some more of my killer jutsu and I know he'll be the greatest Konoha's ever had!" He smiled broadly, hands on his hips, breaking her heart. Then his expression darkened. "There's still the matter of those damn villagers. If you don't find a way to change their bias opinions, they'll be the death of him."

Before she could stop her eye from twitching, Jiraiya was already walking away. She couldn't stop herself when she yelled, "W-wait! Where are you going!"

The old hermit turned around, surprised at Tsunade's unusual demand for his company. 'Though it seemed subliminal, I still sensed I't. The cocky pervert thought as he smiled seductively, eliciting a cringe from his darling konoichi. "Why Tsunade-chan, I'm flattered by the offer, but I'm afraid you won't be getting much in by how tired you look. So you rest up before I come back okay? Sayonara babe!" And with that he proceeded to the open window.

Tsunade, with face shaped and shaded like a tomato. Hollered to the departing pervert, "Jiraiya you hentai! Come back here so I can –" But it was too late as Jiraiya jumped out of the window, a giant toad materializing out of a cloud of smoke, angry mob leaping out of the way as the four ton amphibian fell towards them, jumping once it sped off into the distance.

Unfortunately the distance was an innocent building, as the toad was apparently still drunk and Jiraiya did not have the foresight to conjure something big and sober. Deciding that having his bones fractured from crashing into brick was a worthy punishment for embarrassing her, she sighed sadly. 'Why do I always allow him to distract me? Won't anyone allow the Hokage to mourn in peace?'

"He's heading for Naruto's you know."

'Guess not.'

Without even turning to face the intruder, she said, "I know that. I'll allow him to realize for himself. He'll come back, but I won't be here."

The intruder exhaled loudly, sounding dejected. "I won't chastise you Hokage-sama, but I will judge you. You are a very cruel person."

The Godaime did not flinch. It was a fact she knew too well, but it was a truth she could not change. There was a long pause before she finally spoke. "What are you doing here Kakashi?"

His tone lightened somewhat, "I've come bearing gifts."

At that she turned to face the white-haired Jounin in all his glory. She immediately took note of the fact that he was dangling a pale and somewhat dead looking man by the neck of his shirt. She remained indifferent to such things. "And what might that be?"

The Jounin faked puzzlement, "Oh. This?" He turned at the direction of his hostage who was staring at the floor mortified. "He's a witness."

"A witness?" Tsunade's eyes turned to slits as she glared at the Jounin, looking absolutely intimidating. "I thought I put you on damage control Kakashi."

Kakashi did not falter, nor did he seem the slightest bit affected by Tsunade's mounting rage. "I know, Hokage-sama. But I think that Asuma, Kurenai and the others are more than enough for that particular task. This on the other hand, I cannot ignore the need for answers which I am certain you know very well."

The Godaime just stared angrily, draining the light of the noon sun like a black hole. The air had become undeniably chilly, but the Jounin plowed on.

"I can also attest that my insubordination is righteous and that I won't allow myself to be brought down to that level if the Godaime continues to be incompetent. Allowing your denial and your so called issues to dampen your resolve is highly unbecoming of a Hokage. If you continue to persist then I'm afraid I will continue to do as I please, Hokage-sa-ma."

If it was anyone else, they would have had their vital organs neatly lined up against the wall in alphabetical order before even thinking of finishing that first sentence. But it wasn't just anyone else, it was Hatake Kakashi. They stared each other down for many agonizing seconds

before the Godaime softened, sighed, and smirked. "You've got guts kid. You should be thankful that you're still able to reproduce right now."

"Oh I'm not all that worried; you'd be surprised how easy it is to grow those things back. Well, actually, you should know, you invented that jutsu."

Tsunade looked smug, hands on her hips and bosoms held high. "I'd say I'm flattered but I'm just going to admit that you are right and that you would make a better Hokage than I."

"Well, I'd be flattered as well, but the only real candidate for that name had died under rather hazy circumstances, which can be cleared up if you wish it. What say you Hokage-sama?" Kakashi looked rather smug as well under his mask, if not a bit fatigued.

Tsunade closed her eyes and breathed, looking contemplative. She sat down her desk less throne and made her decision. 'I'm doing this for the brat. I won't let you fade a mystery gaki. I won't let you fade ever.' She opened her eyes once more. "So? Should you wake him or should I?

Having finally noticed that his charge was indeed unconscious, he shook him roughly with the one hand that was dangling him over the floor. With dramatic results, he stirred. "W-what? W-where am I?"

"Kakashi, put him down. He's not here willingly isn't he?

"Nope." Kakashi set the dainty looking man down on a chair as he sat down himself. "For some reason, the witnesses have locked themselves in their homes. So, I had to be a little more covert."

"Right…" She stared at the fragile man before her who was nervously turning to every direction but her, he seemed about ready to crack, he appeared to be traumatized, and she doubted that it had anything to do with Kakashi's rash actions. So she decided to take things subtly. "May I know your name…sir?" The Hokage inquired, feigning politeness.

The broken looking man stared with beady blue eyes and shaggy hair, sweating profusely, gaping like a fish as he stuttered at his response. "K-karuhi. Karuhi H-hok-kage-sama…"

Karuhi. She assumed that was his given name. "Good, Karuhi-san." She calmly reassured the poor man. She looked to Kakashi, who seemed bored. "Kakashi, please close the window."

"But isn't that –"

"I know it's against protocol but I really don't give a shit about the elders or their stupid code. This is important." It was a personal law for the Hokage to always keep her window open so to seem approachable to the people. But at that moment, she wasn't approachable, she didn't feel approachable, and whoever would even think that she was approachable would be in a world of pain.

Nonetheless, the Jounin did as he was told. Magically sealing all noise from the angry mob still lingering outside, though their numbers had dwindled substantially, a majority discouraged from nearly getting squashed by a four ton toad. The lights immediately flickered on after the room had been briefly shrouded in darkness.

Tsunade turned with sad eyes to Kakashi. "I think Iruka should hear his."

Kakashi clearly blanched, caught off guard by the statement, and then he looked forlorn. "No. H-he refuses to leave his room. He cried all night without rest."

Tsunade sighed in understanding. She had tears in her eyes the whole time she performed the autopsy.

Then finally she turned to the panic-stricken man before her, who clearly deteriorated in her gaze though it wasn't intended. "Karuhi-san, I really I need you to tell me everything that you witnessed yesterday afternoon. As your Hokage, I demand that you speak."

He seemed to cower in his chair, trembling violently as he was put on the spot. Kakashi observed him with cold, passive eyes. The Godaime, on the other hand, was more sympathetic. The man had clearly been subjected to severe emotional trauma. She had seen people with that form of hysteria in her life, and they would end badly in the long run. She wondered briefly how the other witnesses were faring.

Fortunately, the man tried to extract whatever courage he had left in his fear ridden body. "I-I'm s-sorry, H-hokage-sama. I j-jus-….I-I c-can't!" And with that he curled into a ball, hiding his head in his legs, still shivering.

Kakashi kept still as Tsunade silently crept behind the frightened man. She placed both of her hands to the back of Karuhi's neck. Before the pale man could react with unblemished terror, chakra started flowing from two of her fingers as they were pressed against the pressure points of Karuhi's neck, the man slackened immediately, shivering ceased, relishing in comfort Tsuande's hands brought.

"Now, Karuhi-san," she said calmly while continuing her ministrations on Karuhi's stiff neck, "you're going to tell me everything you saw, just me, no one else has to know."

Kakashi raised a visible eyebrow at that.

"Oh shut up! It's the only way he's talking!"

The Jounin raised his hands defensively, mocking her, but said nothing of it, just pleasantly surprised to see Tsunade-hime so…womanly. He would have blackmailed her, but Kakashi had morals too, and would be inappropriate.

Tsunade moved her head beside Karuhi's, whispering to his ear as she continued to gently stroke him. "Just relax, Karuhi, I'll wait till your ready, but not too long okay?"

Karuhi nodded his head, breathing evenly and eyes closed, savoring the wonderful feeling of elation that the nice lady's touch brought him. His mind felt cloudy and his emotions were dazed, he wanted to kiss those hands, but then he recalled her words, and he didn't want to let his angel down.

"Hokage-sama, if you don't stop what you're doing I think he's going to have an orgasm." Kakashi implied, quite amused.

"Quiet you! I think he's ready." Tsunade's concentration was completely on the little man she was touching so…affectionately.

True to her word, Karuhi started to speak

As you know it was raining really hard, too hard, I didn't think it was normal. But I had to leave my home and buy some herbs, since my house doesn't have a heater they were all that would keep me from catching fever. I would have bought them sooner if I knew the weather would be so damn capricious. Obviously I'm no ninja, on account that my immune system is nonexistent, it was either I walk in the rain or stay holed up in my room and die of pneumonia, I chose to get my boots.

I grabbed my extra thick umbrella, said goodbye to my humble abode, and went into the mud. I was surprised to see quite a lot of people braving the storm, all headed for the marketplace. Apparently, I wasn't the only one caught off guard by the sudden downpour. Thankfully there wasn't any wind so it was all a matter of trekking under pressure. I hiked for twenty minutes before I made it to the bazaar, and stocked up with as much as I could carry with only one hand, not knowing when I'd be able to see the sun again. On my way back home I strayed off the main path and decided to take a shortcut through an alley.

And then it happened.

I dropped my groceries and the umbrella the moment I felt like there were pins stabbing me in the chest. It felt horrible, I wanted to die. It was almost like that overcast afternoon would be my last, I couldn't stop shaking, for some reason I thought of when my clinically ill mother said she was going to show me something 'neat' and started to hack at her wrist with a butter knife. Having only been five, I did think it was neat.

Until her blood splattered on me and I cried like there was no tomorrow.

That was how I felt that afternoon, I felt like my mother's blood was still on my face, and I started to tear up. I couldn't stop crying, and no matter how much I willed it, my heart just wouldn't stop beating so painfully.

And then I ran, I ran as fast as I could, I just wanted to go to bed, curl up and die, hopefully. I barely notice the subzero rain trying to pierce holes through my skin. I barely noticed the people gaping in the streets, probably going through the same kind of pain I was, but unlike them I just wanted to move.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw someone standing in the middle of the road. I would have bumped into him if I hadn't noticed him beforehand, which I did. He was completely immobile, with his blond head down. He wasn't even shivering he just stood there, dead to the world. I noticed that he was only wearing a tee-shirt and pajama pants, no shoes. I also noticed that mine wasn't the only attention he had managed to grasp. Others stopped where they were, staring as if he was the most fascinating looking boy in the whole world. Apparently, I thought so too. Just then, I had noticed something, which I didn't think much of at the time, but it proved to be the most important thing.

He was holding a kunai.

For reasons I didn't know why, I was transfixed, mesmerized, I couldn't keep my eyes off him, and yet my soul was also in tatters so nothing really surprised me anymore.

I could FEEL everyone flinch when he slowly lifted his head, revealing his face. After that I was only able to hear my own gasp as I immediately recognized whose face that was; it was the demon kid. Truthfully I never held a grudge towards the boy, not having lost anyone to the Kyuubi no Kitsune, and I never once believed it was ever his fault. He's just a boy dammit! A lonely boy who didn't seem to have anyone really. I could definitely empathize with him in that department. And yet, every time I saw him in public, every time I would hear the cruel whispers and see the obvious contempt by the way everyone looked at him that made my blood boil, I did nothing. I did nothing to ease the poor boy's sorrow, I don't think anyone did.

That was all I could think when I saw the pain in his eyes, hand bleeding from gripping the kunai so hard, it was like a river as it got carried by the stream of rain. He had been crying, I could tell. I've never seen eyes so blue, so deep, blue with the most profound misery. He examined his surroundings without really noticing anything, it didn't seem to occur to him that a group of strangers was scrutinizing his every move, whether he was aware or not, he didn't seem to care.

He looks so tired, I said to myself. He reminded me of someone who hadn't a dream left to dash, I couldn't see a single sliver of hope in those beautiful, melancholy eyes. He looked up to the black sky with a look that screamed for redemption, silently pleading to the gods for someone to come and save him. As expected, no one came, he had seen it to. He was willing to die for though.

I nearly lost my breath when his eyes focused on the kunai in his hand, sadly staring at it for what seemed like minutes, until he looked with acceptance. There was certainty etched on the poor boy's features. He had found his escape.

And he did the unthinkable.

The broken blond slashed at his wrist, successfully breaking nerves as blood freely poured from the open gash on his arm.

And immediately I wanted to scream, wanted to run from such horror, such injustice! The boy had committed no crime and there he was, obeying the orders of the townspeople, granting their sinful desire. It was like rape, innocence forced to perversion. He had become an abomination for it was what they had lusted to see. It was their pleasure to hate him.

It was his call to die.

I wanted to run to him then, I wanted to stop him, I wanted to ease his tortured soul! But I couldn't move. None of us could. We had chosen to be immobile when he still had a thread to grasp, it was far too late, now that he'd let go.

And that was the price we paid.

He watched without emotion as the blood from his wrist clogged miraculously, closing the wound with a touch of steam. He had been expecting that however hacked a second time.

And again. And again. And again.

He had forcefully slit his wrist more than a dozen times all with the same result, and still he persisted. I wanted to vomit, I was going crazy. The air smelled like decaying flesh as the whiskered boy continued to ineffectively mutilate himself. The rain, as heavy as it was, was no longer enough to drown out the blood pooling around the boy's feet.

And then, he stopped.

He dropped to his knees, sobbing. My bones chilled completely as he screamed to the world, "Dammit! Why won't you let me die! Then he took the kunai with both hands, and plunged it deep into his heart.

We all squealed with horror, but could do nothing about it. I just torturously looked on, not being able to turn away from the gratuitous scene before me. I broke down completely and cried, nothing would end this night. My mother's blood stained form sealed my vision. I would never leave this nightmare, never.

He continued to screw and wind the sharp object into his chest, becoming hysterical from being unable to win his battle against life. There was a faint glow of red emanating from the hole in his heart, a force that was trying desperately to repel the blade as it was driven persistently again and again into the organ.

He dropped the kunai, the blood stopped flowing from his chest as it healed too. I didn't know what to think when he started laughing, all I knew was that I wanted to take that kunai and kill myself with it. His cackle was sinister, almost evil, and determined. He laughed like he had seen victory, like he had won.

He stood from his spot, I backed away. He took one final breath, and made a series of seals I could not identify. Suddenly a clone appeared in front of him, scars and all. I took my own breath and prepared myself for what was about to happen. The clone bent down, picked up the kunai, inspecting it briefly. Then he muttered a few words which sounded like "you're welcome." Without prior warning, the clone thrust the blade with all his might right into the waiting boy's chest.

Time stood at the edge of a cliff, a cliff I would have gladly jumped. The two kitsunes froze, one still gripping the blade that had penetrated to the other's backside, while the other smiled a relieved smile, the red light could not mend what was impossible. In slow motion, the doppelganger evaporated in a puff of smoke resulting in the boy falling on his back with plop.

As if a spell had released us at last, I was then able to fall on my knees and hold myself. One of us screamed, others must have fainted, all of us survived with rattled spirits. And then there was a crimson glow before me, I was shocked. It was the boy.

A surprising surge of power and light left us momentarily blinded, as the shockwaves knocked us off our feet. The powerful radiance lingered for a few seconds before dissipated completely. Nothing left.

I just lay there on the ground, just starting to feel the rain annoyingly prick at my skin. I felt so tired like I'd never realized. That mist of sorrow seemed to have abated finally as I was then able to grasp my thoughts. Then I turned to the boy lying dead on the ground close to me. I could barely keep my eyes open by the time the Hokage arrived. She took one look at the wound on his chest and started to sob. The rest were just shadows as more and more of them came to surround the blond till I could no longer see. For only a few blissful minutes, I fell asleep

Tsunade allowed her hands to fall from his neck to her side, too numb to move any part of her body. She didn't bother to hide the tears streaming down her cheeks. Karuhi had recalled everything in ghastly detail, everything she had tried resolutely to not accept. Karuhi was right in his perception. They had all stood still while Naruto kept backing away, she had done nothing.

"Karuhi-san," she started, sounding dead, staring and speaking to nothing. "You have done well; the Hokage is indebted to you. You may leave."

The man on the chair slowly turned his back and looked up at the Godaime, seeming bewildered. "Uh…Hokage-sama…" He said, sounding small and hesitant. "W-what am I doing here?"

Tsunade looked down at him as if it was the first time seeing him, then a realization hit her. He had managed to slowly extricate the trauma-inducing memory as he forcefully relived it in the influence of her chakra. She had never used the simple technique for that purpose before, but apparently that was the result.

"I summoned you here for a favor, remember? But you had already fulfilled that favor, so you can go home now. You need to sleep." She placed her hand on his shoulder, meant to be comforting. Instead of feeling reassured, he felt perplexed and concerned, wondering why the Godaime had said that with tears in her eyes.

Being wise not to question the village's most powerful ninja any further, he shakily stood from his seat, feeling somewhat disoriented as he teetered his way out the room and into his bed, wherever it was.

The Godaime didn't move an inch from where she stood as her blond bangs cast shadows on her hazel eyes, as they continued to secrete warm tears. Despondency leaked from the walls and seeped from the floor loke vapor, not a single word had been uttered for many minutes until, "You felt it, didn't you?"

Kakashi didn't even flinch at the Godaime's sudden question, exhaustion and hopelessness had weaved it's way from his one eyes. Not needing the Hokage to elaborate further, he quietly responded, "Yes Hokage-sama, I did."

"It was the Kyuubi's wasn't it? That malignant chakra…when I felt it…all of it burst, I knew..."

Kakashi ineffectually nodded to the walls. "So did I Hokage-sama. Our fears were realized."

Tsunade fisted her hands tightly, biting her lip to prevent herself from choking. Her back was turned towards Kakashi who stood up and gently patted her shoulder.

"I think I should go now Hokage-sama, I need to…hibernate." He lazily backed away and prepared to make some seals before he said dejectedly, "Tell me when the funeral will be held." And in a puff of white smoke, he was gone.

Tsunade could hold it no longer as she sank to the hardwood floor and sobbed like there was no tomorrow. There was no more tomorrow for Tsunade as reality broke through her denial. She had lost her heir, her son, her gaki, and she had been powerless to stop the boy from taking it upon himself and despairingly giving what the world had selfishly demanded. Is that why people she loved tended to die?

Because her strength only went as far as her chakra control?

She cried for several more hours until the burning in her eyes became too painful. Like a zombie she trudged to her chair and collapsed, defeated, shoulders drooping and lifeless as she flaccidly glared at the ground. Flowers bloomed and suns came and set as she sat there heedless of time in a vegetated state. She didn't care about the knocking on her door, asking for entrance. She didn't care that whoever it was had entered her sad abode uninvited. She didn't care that whoever it was had placed an unwelcome hand on her shoulder, turning her to face whoever it was.

"I'm very sorry Tsunade-sama. I know this is something you don't want to hear right now, but…the Kazekage is on his way." Shizune smiled sheepishly, hoping her sempai heard, let alone understood. Tears stained her master's unnaturally pale cheeks; gaze focused on a whole other world. It was heartbreaking.

"Shizune…" she croaked, looking surprised to see her pupil. Then her eyes squinted slightly. "Kazekage…? What are you…"

"I pitched the message Hokage-sama." She spoke, not needing to hear the rest. "I think…he would have needed to know."

After thinking it over, she nodded in agreement. She shook off Shizune's caring grasp and stood, straightening her tousled robes, and wiped the moisture that was still caked on her heavenly complexion. "I…I think I need a vacation Shizune. Where did you go on your last mission?"

Shizune looked caught off guard at her sempai's sudden ability to speak coherently. "The Grass Country Tsunade-sama, it's a wonderful place to wind down for awhile." She replied with a bit more vigor.

The older woman sighed, releasing a deep breath, "Yes…I'll look into that."

The Godaime had almost left her office when Shizune asked, "Where are you going Tsunade-sama?"

The woman stiffened, and without turning around, she replied, "I need to see my gaki."

At that same moment, Uchiha Sasuke remained stationary on his bed, staring at the ceiling with eyes filled with fatigue. He had laid there all night and day, having skipped four meals, his stomach wretched painfully. His joints burned with eager ferocity, demanding that they be used. Sasuke hadn't slept a second, blinking only every few hours as he silently basked in obvious torment. Words circled his still functioning mind, random bunch of word that wouldn't have been important to anyone else, only Sasuke's days had be dedicated to hearing them;

'Better luck next time, teme!'

'I just wanted to see that look on your face bastard! That's just priceless!'

'You KNOW onigiri taste better dipped in ramen!'

'You think I'm a moron! Morons are people who think too hard.'

'I used to wanna die you know…'

'Every time they look at me…'

'Every time I look at look at them…'

'When I become Hokage, I'm going to put a bubble around the tower…you know…so no one tries to assassinate me…'

'I've been thinking bout Sakura lately…'

'You're my best friend…'

'Are…are you in love with me?'

The last one jolted Sasuke from his stupor, his eyes began to water, but he willed them away. He move his head to his side, cringing at the pain in his neck, he looked at his desk, lined with pictures. There were a number of photos of team seven, a few singles, many of him and Naruto. His eyes found one in particular, one where his arm was possessively draped over the blonde's shoulder, said blond had his own arm over his, grinning like mad and making a v-sign. He, himself, was smiling. A smile he recalled having been brought out by the shear affection he had towards his friend. That picture was the most important, for it was at that instant, holding Naruto close, seemingly friendly, that he had accepted within himself that he was deeply in love with his best friend.

It was that realization that had made him smile.

A single tear traced down the bridge of his nose as he stared longingly at the beloved photograph. It had been taken a year after he was brought back from Orochimaru, when Naruto's efforts had finally succeeded. It was at the last minute that everyone had given up on him, everyone except Naruto. He had left the village of his own volition, knowing full well that he would be filed a missing-nin, he defeated Sasuke, nearly demolished the Sound, and went back with broken bones and punctured organs that even the Kyuubi had trouble mending. And yet he had made it to the gates of Konoha with an unconscious Uchiha draped on one fractured shoulder.

Naruto had never abandoned his convictions, never given up on something that was classified as pointless. Sasuke had ended up a loser, not being able to face Itachi let alone defeat him. He had precariously gambled his future and his life and for what? To watch that snake bastard laugh at him in victory? Sasuke hopelessly waited for his death, until his only true friend had saved him. Naruto's drive went as far as selflessly insuring that Sasuke would still have his future. He was informed that the instant when Naruto had reached the gates, he had collapsed with a contended smile. Apparently most of the bones in his legs had been fractured and not healed properly, which made it impossible that he had carried a fully grown teen back to a faraway country without rest and with broken legs.

Sasuke had cried in his hospital bed when he had been told that, for that very moment Naruto had been undergoing intensive surgery. The fox had done everything for him, obsessively offered years of his life to him. No one had ever done that for Sasuke. So much love and gratitude had swelled within him at that one instant that it made him feel euphoric. He had found a new purpose, and it was to live according to Naruto. Naruto had given his life, and so Naruto had become his. Naruto had become his life, his existence, his reason…

'I can't live without you Naruto.'

His best friend would have never given up, would have never resorted to lie in bed and mope his days away. Sasuke would do what Naruto would do.

Bring him back.

As he willed his body to motion off the bed, his muscles screamed with pleasure and hi stomach growled in hate. He winced at how painful it was to move after being stationary for so long. He stretched to his bodies relief and his stomach's expense as it continued to make sounds that he so easily ignored. Popping noised filled the wrong as he extended his limbs and bent in impossible angles. When he was satisfied, he scrutinized his room, searching for an idea.

It wasn't long before his gaze stumbled upon an object so conveniently perched upon his desk. It was a trinket from days he wished he could forget, from a past he regretted very much. An epiphany hit him hard where it hurt and the only solution was spelled out on that object. He made his big decision without a second thought as he undressed from his muddy clothes and put on a fresh pair, probably the only pair he'd be wearing for a while. He took as many weapons as he could and without another glance he left his mansion, and leave Konoha.

Only the object was left engraved in his thoughts as he raced to the exit. And the object?

A snake.

Unbeknownst to anyone a shadow crept into Sasuke's home the moment he had left.

Author Note: God that was soo…loooong! But it was stuck in my head so I had to do it or else I have nightmares. Please please please review! I can't stress enough how much I want you to review! Next chapter, the demon is unmasked and we finally get to see how the other nins are faring. It won't be Tsunade-centric for long.