Naruto continued on his way to the Hokage tower. With his heart and soul ever more yearning for Sakura, he tried his very best to worry about the situation at hand. He had never felt such deep levels of despair in his life. All he could do was try to go about his daily life. Villagers were beginning to clean up the damage from the enemy's preemptive strike.
"Damn Naruto, this is probably his fault. EVERYTHING'S his fault!" An unruly citizen yelled out as Naruto continued on his way.
"Demon child! I feel pity for the mother that gave birth to you." Another unruly villager screamed out.
Naruto couldn't feel any lower. The villager's glares and vile commentary continuously pierced Naruto's already weakened pride. He continued on his way, trying as best he could to focus on the task at hand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sakura was still at Naruto's house. She knew she should have left. But she couldn't pull herself away from anything that had his aura. She noticed the photo of team 7 on the floor. It was the same photo that she had. She picked it up and was deep in thought.
Inner Sakura
"You look so happy in this picture... I'd give anything in the world for you to smile like that again."
Sakura placed the picture on the table and took a look around Naruto's house.
"This place is so bland. It needs a woman's touch." Sakura spoke aloud as she tried to relieve her despair and anxieties.
" I know this can't make you forgive me...or that this will repay for all you've done for me over the years. But well...I just want you to know I appreciate you Naruto...I really do..." She spoke out loud again.
Sakura began cleaning up Naruto's house. Almost as if it were her own.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsunade was awaiting Naruto's arrival. It was very important that he got there as soon as possible. Her news for him was vital. But she also wanted to see what kind of condition he was in. She knew he was dealt a painful blow to his heart. She heard to knocking at her door and immediately signaled that it was ok to enter.
"It's ok, come in" Tsunade said as the door slowly opened.
"Beautiful morning huh, beautiful granny Tsunade" Naruto tried to stay as upbeat as he could
"Good morning dear...I KNOW you didn't just call me beautiful. Since when do you charm women?" Tsunade was curious.
"I don't try to charm anyone...I'm just trying to get some things off my mind I guess..." Naruto's upbeat tempo was beginning to falter.
"Naruto...please...cry if you need to... you don't have to hide your pain from me..." Tsunade begged her student to let his heartache out. She was afraid it was hurting him. And it was.
Tsunade went over to Naruto and hugged him tightly.
"No...I don't need to let it out...I don't need to cry. I don't cry any more...haven't done that since I was a preschooler..." Naruto continued to stay strong
This made Tsunade press him into her body even more. She kept him in her arms as a long silence filled the room. Eventually, she broke that silence with heartfelt words.
"...I wish you were my son you know that...No...you are my son. I don't care that I've never given birth to you...you will ALWAYS be my boy...and I'm very proud of you..." Tsunade's eyes began to water
" And...as your mother...if you won't cry for yourself...I'll cry for you" Tsunade couldn't hold back anymore. Her motherly embrace became more snug and the tears she held back flowed.
"Thanks Lady Tsunade..." Naruto was thankful and happy that if there was anyone he could trust, it was her.
Tsunade then lifted his headband a few inches off his head and gently kissed him on the forehead. She then slid it back down where it was, covering the lipstick mark her lips left behind. Naruto let a bit of an embarrassed blush hit his face. Tsunade smiled
"You're so much cuter with a smile on your face." Tsunade said as she then returned to her seat and business as usual
"Now Naruto, the reason I've summoned you here is because I have a 'special' mission for you." Tsunade had her serious face on.
"..." Naruto wasn't really in any condition to go on a mission
"Don't worry, I won't force you to go. But I really hope you at least consider what I have to say" Tsunade loved the son she never had very much. She didn't want to force anything on him
"Ok...so what are the details of this mission?" Naruto showed a little interest and Tsunade smiled.
"Well, I basically want you to train"
"THAT's it? Fine by me, I'll go find Kakashi-sensei and..." Naruto was puzzled as to why he was cut off.
"Naruto...I didn't have time to tell you this and there was enough on your mind as it was...but...Kakashi was severely injured during the attack"
"WHAT...WHERE IS HE?" Naruto was in panic mode as Tsunade told him the news.
"Calm down, he'll be fine. He's at the hospital with Shizune watching over him. You know he's in excellent hands. He'll be back in perfect shape in no time." Tsunade finished telling him before he went ballistic.
"Well if Kakashi-sensei can't train with me, who will? Will it be Iruka-sensei?" Naruto began to calm himself
"No, not Iruka either."
"Ok, well then who?" Naruto was puzzled. If Kakashi nor Iruka would be his trainer, then who?
"You can meet him now. Come on out Jiraiya." Tsunade called to the legendary sannin.
"Good morning Tsunade...so where is the kid?" He didn't see Naruto because his eyes were focused elsewhere.
"If you weren't so damn perverted, you'd see him" She punched his face toward Naruto's direction for looking at her in a lustful way.
"So, this is the kid I've heard so much about. I was expecting someone... 'smarter' looking" Jiraiya said, fairly unimpressed.
" I can't look any 'dumber' than the guy that just got decked and is still rubbing his face" Naruto retaliated with a smart remark of his own.
Jiraiya laughed at Naruto's comeback. He was happy the boy had enough moxy to talk back to someone that was clearly powerful enough to kill him instantly.
"It's going to be an honor to train with you." Jiraiya was actually impressed with Naruto.
"Uh...thanks I think..." Naruto was confused. One second Jiraiya tried to make him feel small. The next he was praising him.
"Jiraiya, why don't you tell him a little about the assignment? Should he chose to accept it that is."
Jiraiya looked over to Naruto and began to explain.
"Naruto, I would like for you to travel with me for two years. During which time I will be training you. We'll be combining some of my techniques with your own. It's that simple." Jiraiya began filling Naruto in.
"Oh come on, What kind of mission is that? I train here pretty much every day. What's the point of me going off to far away places to do something I can very well do right here? Aside from having a different view, there is no point to it. I live in Konoha, one of the five ninja villages. Where could I possibly get any better training?" Naruto had a point
Tsunade was actually kind of astonished at how Naruto made his point. It was as if heartache was beginning to bring her would-be son to reality. Heartache gave Naruto a new found sense of intelligence.
"Well for one, you'll be able to pick up survival skills beyond your ninja training. So far, you've only been in other villages or forests. Basically, the terrain you've trained in for the most part has been tame. This training will be on much more rigorous terrain." Jiraiya explained
"Come on Naruto, think about it. You've always wanted to become the best, the greatest ninja of all time. And you wanted to become Hokage. This gives you a very realistic shot at that." Tsunade tried to appeal to his dreams of becoming something great.
" You know...I'm not really sure what my dreams are anymore. I did want to be Hokage once. But you've seen it yourself Lady Tsunade...the people here despise me to no end. And what little friends I do have, I had to fight in some way or another. As if I had to prove my worth...I don't know what my dreams are any more..." Naruto was losing his hope
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK LIKE THAT..." Tsunade was yelling out of hurt at what Naruto was saying. The sound of defeat in his words struck her hard.
Tsunade walked over to Naruto and once again embraced him. She wanted him to keep his hopes and dreams. But she knew that there was a great deal of truth in his words. She took the back of his head and gently brought it to her chest.
"You don't have to decide now...just think about it ok. Come back with an answer tomorrow..." Tsunade said to him softly as she sent him on his way.
"The kid's gone through a great deal over the years, hasn't he" Jiraiya said
"Shunned by the village,... the girl of his dreams broke his heart,...never being accepted by those he protects. Yeah...he's been through more than a great deal. That would be an understatement." Tsunade replied with a hurt glare.
"I see...He's strong like his father. Maybe even stronger in many ways." Jiraiya said with pride
"Yes...he's extremely powerful and has great potential"
"His strength is nothing short of spectacular. A lesser man would have easily fallen into darkness ...like Orochimaru..." Jiraiya said holding his head down.
"...Yes...all the more reason I couldn't be any prouder of Naruto. I really hope he decides to go with you on this journey." Tsunade was hopeful.
" Tsunade I want him to come with me too. But I can't make any promises. I'm not sure that taking him 'there' will stop his demon deterioration. But what I can promise is that I can show him how to control his power. He doesn't have to become a slave to the demon.
" I know Jiraiya...and to think he'll possibly be gone for two whole years...this village is going to see what they've lost once he's gone." Tsunade was unhappy with the thought alone of Naruto being gone for so long.
"For his sake, I truly hope he decides to accept this mission. I just wish I could tell him the REAL reason he'd be going. But he needs to be away for some time. To clear his head and soul."
"Yes..." Tsunade shook her head in agreement
"I'm going to see Kakashi. I want to let him know that his student might be coming with me for a while." Jiraiya wanted to let Kakashi know in person that his student might be going on a journey with him.
"Of course" Tsunade replied
"Oh and Tsunade, how come you never hold me that close like you do with Naruto?" Jiraiya said with a pouting face.
"Because he doesn't think like you. He's still pure 'and he better be that way when he comes back' if he decides to go. I don't want your 'habits' tainting him" Tsunade answered
"Aww come one, can you blame me. I mean...look at those..."
"GET OUT!" Tsunade yelled at Jiraiya as he left before she could pound on him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naruto made his way back home. Pondering, whether or not he should go, he entered his apartment. He was surprised to find that Sakura was still there.
"Hi Naruto-kun...I'm sorry, but well...I was comfortable here. Please don't be mad..." Sakura truly liked being at his place.
"It's ok...wow you cleaned my house? Thanks Sakura-chan" Naruto gave Sakura a small gesture of a smile
That little fragment of a smile was enough to liven Sakura's mood. She was very happy that he was slowly starting to show signs that things just might get better between the two of them.
Inner Sakura
"Wow...I'll be so jealous of any woman other than me that gets your smile..."
Sakura was blushing as she was lost in the thought of him smiling her way. She was so caught up in her own world that she didn't notice Naruto calling out to her.
"SAKURA-CHAN!" He had to yell to get her attention.
"Oh sorry...what was it you wanted?" She was broken out of her personal trance.
"I was asking if you were hungry." Naruto was hungry and was willing to treat Sakura. He was still is friend after all.
"I'm starving. What do you have in mind?" Sakura hadn't eaten yet. So she was just as hungry as he was
"Anything you want. My treat." Naruto truly had a big heart. Even with all that's happened, he still had a great deal of concern for her. He was still in love with her. He just wasn't going to allow himself to be hurt anymore.
Sakura walked up to Naruto and kissed him on his cheek
"What was that for?" He was curious. And surprisingly, not blushing
"...That's just my way of saying...I appreciate you..." Sakura turned her face away from Naruto. She refused to let him see her sadness.
"Thanks. Well, shall we go?" Naruto had a plain face as he turned toward the door.
"Let's" Sakura smiled. But the happy mood she had was beginning to wither once she realized how unenthusiastic Naruto's response was.
Inner Sakura
"You know...not so long ago, it would have rocked your world to go out with me...I miss being the center of your world..."
"Sakura-chan, are you ok? You're kinda spacing out again? If you want, I can take you home." Naruto noticed she was caught up in her thoughts again.
"I'm sorry for going blank like that. I'm fine. I'd much rather be with you. I'm...really comfortable with you." Sakura didn't want to leave his side by any means.
The two headed out the door for lunch. They both desperately needed something to eat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shizune was still at the hospital with Kakashi. They were both just watching boring hospital t.v.
"Geez Shizune, you could have at least got me a room with cable." Kakashi was complaining that there was nothing on.
Shizune grabbed the remote and pressed the mute button. She then grabbed his side and pinched him extremely hard.
"Wait! I said sorry...OUCH!" He regretted complaining.
"I can give you a million other things to complain about hon." Shizune didn't take to kindly to his whining
"You know, you won't be able to dominate me like this once I'm out of this place" Kakashi was almost threatening
"Oh is that right? I can always prolong your condition." She then stood up on his bed and put on of her feet on his chest.
"You know, you're kind of sexy when you get aggressive like that" Kakashi tried to offset any pain she would possibly induce upon him.
Shizune laughed and slowly got off the bed and returned to her seat.
"You're lucky that comment you made was cute" Shizune was still giggling
They both smiled at each other
"You're the best Shizune" Kakashi said warmly
"...I know I am...like I need you to tell me that..." Shizune still smiling, leant over to him and kissed him
Jiraiya had walked into the hospital room unannounced and without warning. He had just walked in on Kakashi and Shizune kissing. And ever so rudely, he decided to interrupt with as loud a noise as he could think of.
With but a press of the remote. He turned the television volume to maximum. That brought quite a shock to the two lovers as it was just on mute a second ago.
"WHAT THE...JIRAIYA! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?" Kakashi was extremely annoyed.
Shizune on the other hand wasn't too mad. She actually found the gesture humorous.
"Nice day isn't it you two" This was Jiraiya's normal flare on what would be an average person's way of saying hello
"It certainly is" Shizune replied with a smile
Kakashi said absolutely nothing. He was perturbed that his alone time with Shizune was interrupted. And so rudely at that.
"How are you feeling?" Jiraiya despite his rudeness was concerned about Kakashi. He knew that with him gone, in order for Konoha to withstand any future enemy onslaughts, Kakashi would be vital.
"As well as could be expected I suppose. Heck, I've been in worse shape"
"Sounds promising enough" Jiraiya replied
"Yeah..."
"You know, Tsunade told me about your student, Naruto. And about his body's transformation into that of the fox demon within 3 years." Jiraiya decided to state his reasoning for being there
" Do you think that his condition can be someway...somehow be reversed?" Kakashi was ever so worried about his student.
"Well that's what I'm here to talk about. I can't guarantee that his condition can be halted in any way. But I plan on taking him with me on a journey to a place I've heard of long ago on my many travels. But it has to be his choice to go. It would be a major decision for him. He'd be gone for two whole years."
"I see...so I'm going to be losing my pupil" Kakashi wasn't pleased at the sound of his student possibly leaving.
Shizune placed her hand atop Kakashi's shoulder, trying to support him as best she could. She knew the sound of his student's departure didn't please him in the least.
"No, you're not losing him. In two years time, he'll be back and in your care again." Jiraiya was honest.
"I guess it would be for the best. It's not like he's had the greatest of lives here..." Kakashi tried to be realistic about the whole situation.
"I know how you feel...if he decides to come with me, just know that this won't be forever." Jiraiya tried his best to put his friend at ease
Jiraiya took his leave as Kakashi just sat up in his bed with concern about his students. All Shizune could do was look on with concern.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sakura and Naruto went out for pizza. Naruto would have chosen to have ramen. But since he gave Sakura right of choice, he pretty much knew he wasn't having ramen for lunch today. Sakura took a seat at a stall with a window view as Naruto went to order for them.
Inner Sakura
"Today's going to be a good day...today, the both of us can start to recover..." Sakura thought to herself peacefully.
Naruto was walking back with the pizza as Sakura just stared at him in an adoring way. She slid over to make room for him to sit beside her. However, Naruto had a nervous expression on his face as he set the food on the table and took the seat opposite of her. Sakura was really hurt by that.
Inner Sakura
"Making as much distance as possible huh..."
"So...what made you decide to clean up my place?" Naruto was curious
"Well you live like a pig. I couldn't stick around in such a mess."
"Yeah, it was pretty bad, wasn't it?" Naruto laughed
Sakura began laughing along with him
"Yeah it was BAD...but you know what?"
"What?" Naruto questioned
"I truly adore messy boys" Sakura looked directly into his eyes with an inviting smile. Trying to see if she could spark any feelings he may have still had for her.
Naruto turned his head to avoid blushing. His turning revealed tomato sauce that had somehow gotten on his face. Naruto was never the neatest of eaters. Sakura reached over gently placed her finger on his face and gently wiped the sauce away. Naruto froze at Sakura's touch. When he turned, he saw her slowly put her finger in her mouth. Eating the sauce.
"Some boys are messier than others..." She winked at him and smiled
Inner Sakura
"I can't believe I just flirted with him...stupid move girl. It's not like he'd accept any advances from me anyway. He'll never trust me completely ever again" The thought made Sakura look downward.
He just grinned and laughed at what she said. She had never exhibited this level of freedom with him before.
Inner Sakura
"Maybe I am still the center of his world...He's really more attractive than I gave him credit for..."
Sakura decided to quickly change the subject. She didn't want to force anything
"So, what was so urgent at the Hokage's?"
" She was telling me about a mission that I had a choice of accepting or not." Naruto answered her question.
" Did she give you any details?"
"It's just training on harsh terrain. And I'd be away for two whole years." Naruto replied
"TWO YEARS!..." She stood straight up, slamming her hands on the table out of frustration.
"...two years?...May I go with you?" Sakura asked to accompany him as she asked a second time, lowering her voice.
"This is a trip that aside from my new trainer Jiraiya, I'll be on my own" Naruto was a bit worried about how she would react to him saying that
" I don't want to lose you...you my best friend...I want to be with you, wherever you go..." The fear of losing Naruto was unbearable to her. She began to cry
"Sakura, look at this place. Konoha needs you..." He was trying to find a way to make her see she couldn't go with him easily.
"AND I NEED YOU!" she yelled at him as she cut him off. Her frustration was let loose.
She didn't turn away. She was hoping that the sincerity of her tears would be enough to keep him in Konoha with her. But she knew it wouldn't work.
They never broke eye contact. She then got up from her stall and sat beside him. He would have moved over. But he was pinned by the window. All he could do was turn his head to look outside.
" I know you feel like I'm just using you as a safety net for Sasuke's leaving...but I'm not..." Sakura once again tried to talk their situation out. Hoping it would keep him with her. But deep down, she knew what his choice was going to be.
"Sakura-chan I don't want to talk about that. Can we please drop that?" Once again, he didn't want to talk about the real issue
Sakura pressed her body against him and turned his head away from viewing the window.
"Will you ever believe in me again?" Sakura was desperate for his answer
"I've always believed in you Sakura, That's something I'll always do" Naruto tried to cheer her up. Even if it was for a few seconds
"But not when it comes to you heart huh..." She awaited an answer, but he gave her no response. Instead he just closed his eyes.
"...It's ok...I understand..." She smiled as she gently traced the whisker marks on his cheeks. Fighting back her tears, she decided to leave.
"See ya later...ok?" Sakura was almost ready to burst. Her cheeks were quivering from holding back her cries.
" Ok..." Naruto gave a simple reply as Sakura left.
Naruto was left there as he continued to stare aimlessly out the window. He decided to go see Kakashi and talk with him
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kakashi was quietly reminiscing to himself about his young team. In a matter of two days, he felt he lost all of them. He couldn't hide his pain from Shizune.
"You know, they were the best young genins I could have ever trained under my wing Shizune"
" Yeah, and their teacher made them even better" She tried to keep him positive.
" Just a couple of days ago I had my three students with me. And now they're all gone"
"Hon, you haven't lost your students." Shizune was losing the battle to ease Kakashi's heart
"You're wrong Shizune...Sasuke ran off with the enemy of his own free will...Sakura is now going to be under Tsunade's tutelage." Kakashi was very vulnerable at this point
"..." Shizune had no clue of how to comfort him
"And then there's Naruto. Because I couldn't stop Malhavoc the first time, he now has to leave and HOPE the demon within him will be subsided."
Shizune couldn't help but cry. For the first time, her lover had no faith in himself
"I lost my students...my children...two sons and a daughter...gone in an instant." A tear rolled down Kakashi's mask.
Shizune held him as tightly as she could to try to take his pain away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sakura was knocking at the Hokage's door in great haste.
"Come in" Lady Tsunade gave the ok
Tsunade immediately sensed the despair in Sakura just by her gestures alone. And she was even more certain of what it was about.
" Sensei, I want to go with Naruto on his mission" Sakura decided to be direct.
And just as Tsunade guessed, this was about Naruto.
" No Sakura, this is something he has to do for himself if he decides to undertake this mission" Tsunade was equally direct
"But why? He and I are a team. Teams to missions together" Sakura tried to bring rules into play
"This isn't just any mission Sakura. This is something only he can do and the risk is extremely great. It surpasses any S-rank mission we've ever given."
" Then why can't I help him? He'll need me" Sakura felt she was losing the war of words with Tsunade.
"Sakura, didn't you say you felt you needed to be stronger? Did you not ask to become my student for that very reason?" Tsunade brought up what Sakura had told her in the past.
"...Yes..." Sakura humbly replied
" Dear, I know how you feel. But he needs to do this. For his own sake.
"I don't understand..." Sakura was unaware of the true nature of this quest Naruto would possibly undertake.
Tsunade had a serious look on her face at this point. She decided that Sakura did have a right to know the truth and she did deserve an explanation.
"Sakura, what I'm about to tell you can't leave this room. Jiraiya, Kakashi, Shizune, and I are the only ones that know of what I'm about to tell you. It's imperative that you tell nobody about this. Especially not Naruto. Do you understand?"
"I'm sure you've somehow heard about the Kyuubi attack that happened years ago. Right?' Tsunade asked
"Yes ma'am. It's something that people whisper every now and then around town" Sakura was aware
"Yes, well the demon Kyuubi was a powerful force. An unstoppable force even. In order to stop the monster from destroying all of Konoha, the Hokage at that time used a forbidden jutsu to seal the beast."
"I don't understand. If it was such a powerful force, how could it even be contained to begin with?" Sakura was curious.
" Forbidden jutsus are very powerful forces themselves if used correctly. And if the person using it is extremely powerful as well, then even a massive power such as Kyuubi can be overcome. The Kyuubi's spirit was contained. And a seal was placed on the container."
"Contained? In what?"
"Not what Sakura, in whom. The fourth Hokage had to use his son to contain the demon. Even today the fox demon's whisker markings are on his face." Tsunade tried to let her know as slowly as possible
"...No...oh no..." Sakura had begun to realize that Naruto was the demon's container. She began crying.
" Most of the villagers are already aware of that. However, here is the part that only the select few I've mentioned to you earlier are aware of.
"Ok..." Sakura was already beginning to break after hearing the reality about Naruto. She couldn't handle too much more.
"Kyuubi will possibly be reborn within three years. And this is why Jiraiya is taking him on this quest." Tsunade began to explain the real reason behind Naruto's possible journey.
"But why is the monster going to be reborn? Was the seal broken?" Sakura questioned
"It wasn't broken. But it has been weakened, agitated is a better way of putting it. Malhavoc used a forbidden jutsu that closely coincides with the demon's spirit. And within the span of three years, if nothing is done about it, Naruto's body will deteriorate, then evolve into Kyuubi. And this time, Kyuubi just might be unstoppable. Kyuubi's chakra will possibly fuse with Naruto's own chakra. And because Naruto trains vigorously, Kyuubi just might be next to invincible." Tsunade had finally revealed her knowledge completely
"And...the demon is why everyone treats him like dirt...I hurt him right along with everyone else..." Sakura said softly with tears still flowing
"Sakura, he needs this journey. He's quite the remarkable child. But everyone has their limit. Konoha doesn't exactly contain good memories for him." Tsunade said with sadness
"Yes, I know...I contributed to that for years...Sensei I'm ashamed...but I need him to..." Tsunade cut her off
"Sakura I know...I know..." Tsunade gave her student a smile.
Sakura dried her eyes and left the Hokage's office. She returned home to confide in her mother. She would have preferred to find Naruto. But she was thoughtful and felt he needed some space and time alone to think.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kakashi was still a bit uneasy about the separation of his team. Shizune was still by his side. They heard a knock at the door.
"Wow someone actually knocks. Unlike some people I know of" He playfully looked over to Shizune
"Shut up!" She replied as she got up to answer the door.
She opened the door and a big smile arose on her cheeks.
"Naruto..." She said as she gave him a big hug
"Hi Shizune. How's it going?"
"I'm fine. I don't see you enough. You should make a point to be around a bit more" Shizune was happy to see him.
"I will ma'am I promise"
With that Shizune smiled and was pleased
"How is he?" Naruto asked
"Come in and see for yourself" Shizune had invited him in
Naruto immediately fell into despair at the sight of his Sensei in a hospital bed. He never thought he'd see the day when Kakashi would be injured.
"Sensei...I'm sorry I wasn't there to fight with you" Naruto felt at fault for not being with his Sensei during the attack
Shizune quietly left the room and gently closed the door behind her. She felt the two needed to talk alone for a while.
"Naruto this wasn't your fault. We were all caught off guard. As ninjas, we are all responsible for our village. This was a group fault. No individual can take the blame for this." Kakashi tried to ease his student's pain
"I can't believe Sasuke willingly ran off along with Zabuza Sensei. Why would he do that?" Naruto questioned
"Naruto, you have to understand something. Everyone has darkness and light in their souls. How we harness each is our own decision. I failed as a teacher. I never fully realized Sasuke's imbalance of the two."
"No Sensei, it's as you said...it's a group fault. As his rival and friend, I should have been aware of that as well."
The two were quiet as they reminisced about the past and how things have taken such a dramatically severe turn for the worst.
"Sensei...I was summoned to the Hokage's office this morning. I've been asked to undertake a training mission. And that I'll be gone for two years." Naruto wanted to make Kakashi aware that he might be leaving
"Yes I know all about it. Jiraiya told me about it. I think you should do it. A great deal has happened here. And an even great deal of events has hit you directly. The time away might be good for you." Kakashi didn't want to say that. But he had his student's well being in mind.
"You think I should go too huh?" Naruto was surprised.
"Naruto, you need to go. If it were up to me, you'd be my student for as long as you'd have me as your teacher. But this is a good opportunity for you. Just think about it, you can come back a great deal stronger than you are already. It would bring you closer to your dreams." Kakashi tried a similar tactic to convince him as Tsunade.
"You know, you sound just like the Hokage." Naruto remembered Tsunade saying words much like Kakashi's
"Take care of yourself Sensei. I'll come see you again soon" Naruto said feeling a little less depressed seeing that Kakashi was in fair health
"Yup" a simple reply from a teacher and friend
Naruto and Kakashi waved to each other as Naruto left his teacher's hospital room
Kakashi was deep in thought and was happy his student came by to see him.
"I don't want you to go kid, but you need to..." Kakashi said to himself
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naruto went directly to the Hokage's office. He slowly knocked. He knew he'd come to a decision on the mission.
"It's open" Tsunade watched as she saw Naruto come through her door
Tsunade was at her desk and Jiraiya was standing at the window looking outside.
" Hi dear, what brings you here?" she questioned
Naruto was silent at first. But he broke his own silence with a direct answer to what had been propositioned to him earlier.
"I've made a decision on the mission Lady Tsunade" Naruto said with his head held high.
Tsunade was nervous. She didn't want him to leave. She'd miss him like a son. But she knew this is what he needed.
"Yes? What is your answer? Tsunade asked politely
"I'll do it..." Naruto was clear.
Jiraiya heard his answer. Both he and Tsunade gave each other nods of approval. The quest to halt the second coming of Kyuubi was about to begin.
To be continued...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To everyone that has reviewed my story so far I would like express my gratitude and thanks to you all. I truly appreciate the fact that some people are willing to give their opinions on my story whether they're good reviews or bad. It does get kind of depressing when people read your story and don't review. But in the end, I never did this for recognition. This is done for the simple joy of it all. So I'm totally satisfied with the little reviews I do received. I'm more than happy enough to write for the few of you that appreciate my story. I sent all the people that reviewed seperate thank you messages. But I'm not sure if my the pm program for the site sent them through.
Again. thanks to you all :):)