Naruto was up quite early, training harder than ever. He had gotten little to no sleep at all. The sunrise hadn't even fully set in as he continued to practice and attempt to learn the rasengan jutsu.
"I'm getting there... it doesn't burn as much now...I know I can get this" Naruto's hard work was paying off. He was beginning to understand his sensei's jutsu.
" What's this... why is my arm so pale?" He looked at his arm and noticed the very odd and unfamiliar discoloration.
He decided that it must have been from lack of sleep or overexertion. Or both. So in the end, he gave it little to no attention and continued on with his training. He was loud enough to wake Jiraiya from his slumber. Which by the way, went very unappreciated.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? IT'S TOO DAMN EARLY FOR THIS!" Jiraiya never was fond of being woken in the morning.
"I train early. Most ninjas do that kind of thing. Besides, you should be happy, I'm catching onto your jutsu." Naruto said with confidence rolled down his sleeves to keep the oddity of his arm covered from his sensei.
"Yeah well you have two days left. Either way, you're gonna admit SOMETHING about SOMEONE" Jiraiya said with a most unsavory grin.
Naruto tried his best not to think about either of the possible outcomes. But with every little remark that came out of his sensei's mouth, he couldn't help but wonder what he'd say in either outcomes.
"Hey sensei, what are we going to have for breakfast?" Naruto quickly turned his thoughts from his dilemma to his stomach.
"Well, I guess we'll have to do some fishing." Jiraiya responded, looking at his student's semi-sad face.
"Sigh...I guess that's the next best thing...I wish I had ramen though" Naruto was pouting
"Well if you properly prepared yourself instead of playing 'reindeer games' with your girlfriend, you just might have remembered to pack some ramen" Jiraiya brought attention to Naruto's carelessness from before they left on their journey.
" She...Sakura-chan is NOT my girlfriend" Something that was odd coming out of Naruto's mouth. Nonetheless that was his emphatic response.
Jiraiya saw an opening to press the issue a bit.
"So do you run off and spend the night in the arms of ANY friend that happens to be a girl?"
"I didn't spend the night with her in THAT way. We just slept together, I didn't hold her or touch her in that way" Naruto was clueless until it was too late. Jiraiya deceptively began getting information out of him
Jiraiya had a very naughty smile apparent of his face.
"I thought NOTHING happened with you and Sakura. Seems you're changing your story. The first time I asked you said nothing happened. Now you say the two of you slept together" Jiraiya smiled at his student.
Naruto now had a hint of sweat threatening to drip off the side of his face.
"Look, she said she was cold. I didn't want to be that close to her, but she was insistent. So, she slept next to me. I never laid a finger on her" Naruto, despite whatever his sensei thought of the situation, was telling the truth.
"A woman was in less than arms length next to you, at her insistence I might add. And you didn't touch her?...Aside from questioning your manhood, did you at least get a good look?" Jiraiya was hoping his student retained at least a few male hormones.
" If you're talking about seeing her naked, no I didn't" Naruto was wise to what his sensei was thinking
Jiraiya was truly beside himself at hearing this. He figured that any man that had a woman THAT close and could have seen the 'goods' as he put it and chose not to, had no lower extremities. And he was seriously wondering about the manhood of his student. Was Naruto just innocent, or was he a coward? Only time and further prying would tell.
"Naruto, you're...different" Was all he could say about his student's situation.
"Sensei, can we drop this and get on with the fishing?" He was hungry, but he wanted to stop talking about Sakura too.
"Sigh...fine, fine." Jiraiya decided to leave the situation alone.
The two began getting ready to fish. Naruto rounded up some worms and bugs for bait. Jiraiya was snapping branches to make a couple of fishing rods. The two sat down next to each other. Neither really gave each other a glance as they just fished together in silence. Jiraiya decided to break the silence and give his student on last piece of advice.
"Kid, when a woman feels secure enough to offer herself to you, it's special."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means she trusts you completely and wants your presence to surround her above any and all else."
"..." Naruto didn't reply. He just kept his eyes focused on the water as best he could
"Look, whatever is going on with you two, or whatever mistakes she may have made, just work it out. Naruto, she was willing to spend the night with you alone, knowing she too would be punished for taking you away. I know I have no right to voice my opinion, but I truly think she is sorry and cares about you." Jiraiya was sounding like a father. Something VERY uncommon considering being known as the world's ultimate letch.
"..." Naruto still had no reply. He took in Jiraiya's words. They sank pretty deep. Naruto again turned his attention to his arm. He wanted to see if the color had come back to his arm, but decided not to since Jiraiya was right there.
The fishing continued on as the silence once again loomed. Jiraiya was beginning to have second thoughts about coercing his student into this double-edged style bet he made with him. He began wondering just how deep Naruto's feelings may have been for Sakura as he yet to really ask about Morrigan.
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Back in Konoha, Sakura had just stepped out the door and began walking to the ramen shop where Naruto used to always eat. She had begun developing a craving for it she never knew she had.
" You wouldn't be trying to compete with my number 1 customer now would you?" The cook said, smiling as he gave her a bowl of hot ramen.
Sakura just gave a smile, knowing whom the cook was talking about.
"...I wouldn't dream of competing with him. I don't have a stomach like his." She replied as she began on her bowl of ramen.
Shikamaru and Ino had just walked into the shop. Ino and Shikamaru immediately caught glance at Sakura. And Sakura did the same to them. For the sake of courtesy, Ino took the seat directly to the right of Sakura. Shikamaru didn't want to be a part of anything negative that would possibly transpire, but Ino grabbed his hand and made him sit by her.
Inner Sakura
" What's this bimbo want?..." Sakura was a little mad at Ino for what had happened in the Hokage's office before Naruto had left.
"Hey Sakura, you look well." Shikamaru said happily and waiving.
"Hi" Sakura responded and returned the happy wave.
"Sakura" Ino said, hardly acknowledging Sakura's presence
"Ino" she replied, rolling her eyes and looking away
Shikamaru wanted no part of this whatsoever, he quietly excused himself and walked outside. He stood outside of the ramen shop, just incase he may have had to break up a cat fight. A task he knew he wouldn't enjoy at all.
Ino had time to think about things since the day she saw Sakura run out of Sasuke's house. She wanted to find a way to make amends with her once best friend. But she was willing to be rational.
"So...where's Naruto? We usually catch him here. It was a surprise to find you here instead."
"He's gone on a mission..." She answered
"Why aren't you with him?" Ino wasn't too curious, but asked for the sake of conversation.
"Because I wasn't allowed to go with him... Ino..."
"Hmm"
"Why did we always fight over Sasuke? Sakura asked with sadness in her voice
That was the real issue with the two of them. Sasuke. The root of their rivalry and bickering. But now with him gone, There was nothing for them to fight about.
"...Because we both wanted him...like so many others" Ino began to regret having feelings for Sasuke just as Sakura had regretted the same.
" Wanted?" Sakura questioned.
"Yeah...I thought I was into him. Sakura, Im so sorry for blaming you for him leaving. He did that on his own. He wasn't tied...or bound...or tranced...he did that on his own..." Ino had begun getting over her crush
"Ino, can I say something to you...girl to girl?" Sakura as willing to resume her friendship that had long been abandoned with Ino.
Ino was really caught off guard by this. She wanted the same thing. She too wanted to again be friends with Sakura.
" Please..." Ino was welcoming whatever Sakura had to say
" Ino...I'm really sorry...I never meant to hurt you by sleeping with Sasuke...truthfully, that night was the worst night of my life. I never initiated our intercourse. He was the one that pushed the situation." Sakura was honest
"Don't worry about it...I had time to think about things...I may have lost out on something really important if I kept chasing after Sasuke" Ino didn't want to let on too much just yet
"I envy you Ino...because of that night...I DID lose something really important." Sakura meant Naruto
"What are you saying?" Ino was curious
"Well...Naruto's been really nice to me from the moment we met while I joined in on picking on him and making his life miserable."
"Naruto's a big boy Sakura. I know it must have hurt yeah, but he's tough. He'll get over a little childhood trauma."
" Heh...you get over childhood trauma IF it stops."
"Meaning?"
"I mean his troubles never stopped after childhood or our days at the academy. You see...Naruto has always had feelings for me."
"Yeah I know he had a crush on you when we were at the academy. It's just puppy love" Ino wasn't aware of the full extent of Naruto's feelings for Sakura
"That's what I used to think too. But...ever since our first day as a team, he always stuck his neck out for me. Sasuke didn't. He pushed me to be better. Sasuke made me feel useless. Naruto's even risked his life for me on many occasions."
"I see...and he's continually told you how much he loved you throughout. Right?"
Sakura tilted her head down in shame.
"...yes...Ino, we went on a mission a while back. There was a princess that we had met. She was beautiful and she was all over Naruto. And...despite having the affections of another woman all over him, he still devoted himself to me. And you know what?" Sakura said
"What?"
" I was jealous of her like you wouldn't believe. Seeing her made me view Naruto through new eyes. I used to call him ugly and compared him to Sasuke. But he's actually very...VERY attractive. And he is so kind and generous. And he always put me first..." Sakura's eyes began to water.
"I understand..." Ino began to feel great sympathy for Sakura.
"You know...I just may have lost something important too...I can't really tell him but...I like Shikamaru...a lot..." Ino admitted something she never did with Sasuke around.
" Does he know?" Sakura questioned
"I don't know...but I don't want to burden him..."
"Why would that be a burden to him? I'd think he'd like to hear what you have to say" Sakura tried to give Ino some confidence.
Ino gave Sakura a smile and then shifted her eyes toward Shikimaru whose back was to the ramen shop.
"I don't know...you see, I used to brag about how Sasuke would be mine one day and that no other guy could compare to him. And I did that right in Shikimaru's face...all the time...I can't just turn around and tell him I want to get to know him better like that..." Ino felt ashamed of even thinking it
"Ino, you still have a chance." Sakura wanted Ino to express herself to Shikimaru
"Sakura no,...you see, the guys we're after are very different. You still have a chance because you know Naruto. He never gives up and that's an attractive quality about him. And that is why you will always have a chance. Shikimaru,...he's...different. He knows when to give up, that's an attractive quality too. But that's why I know I may have lost something truly special." Ino tried to be tough about it. But tears came down anyway.
"Ino...you're just like me..."Sakura began to cry with her friend as she slowly embraced Ino
Ino returned her embrace and at that moment, the long rivalry they had for so many years melted and a new bond of friendship was born. A friendship revived.
Shikimaru walked back in wondering if anything bad had happened. He was prepared for the worst. But he was shocked at what he saw.
" If you two are like that, let me get a camera and some customers, then I'll..." PING! Shikimaru was cut off by the empty ramen bowl that Ino threw at his head.
"Don't be an idiot" Ino said, feeling good about cutting her teammate off from finishing his sentence.
Sakura just laughed at the site. She didn't have anything to laugh about ever since Naruto left. So even something as small and slapstick as Shikimaru getting whacked was funny to her.
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After breakfast, Naruto immediately began training again. He didn't even give his food a chance to properly digest. Jiraiya was proud he was so diligent in his training, but he didn't want his student getting sick on him.
" Don't you think you should relax a bit? I'm not going to lug you around if you vomit on yourself."
"I know what I'm doing. Besides, I train after I eat all the time back home." Naruto replied
"Well, as long as you understand you're responsible for your own health, it's fine. We can make it to wave country by evening if he make haste you know." Jiraiya hoped that would get his student up and moving rather than training. He desperately wanted a bath, decent food, and 'other' things.
"That's good. Then I can properly stock up. Roughing it is brutal" He said rubbing his arm, growing ever more concerned about the discoloration of his arm.
"You know, before we get on our way, I want to see just how far along you've gotten with my jutsu."
" Ohhhhhhhh...want a sneak peek of my coolness huh?" Naruto was fairly happy with his accomplishment thus far. Even though he couldn't quite grasp the jutsu yet.
Naruto once again began gathering chakra into his hand. The violent burning sensation he felt when he first began learning this new ability was almost nonexistent. His arm began to tremble and the veins throughout his body began to pulsate heavily.
"I can't believe it...he's REALLY doing it..." Jiraiya said in a low tone that went unnoticed by Naruto
His hand began glowing a light shade of sky blue. Then seconds later, a tiny fragment of an orb was visible in his hand. Sweat was burst from every inch of his body as his teeth began to clamp down hard.
"Come on Naruto, you're getting it...push harder..." Jiraiya tried to cheer his student on
The blue light in Naruto's hand died down. He was exhausted. He knelt down on the ground and lowered his head. He felt defeated and embarrassed.
Jiraiya walked over to him and put his hand on his student's shoulder. He was proud of Naruto's progress. And deep down, he felt that if anyone can get this jutsu in such a short amount of time, it would be his student.
"Pick your head up. In just two days, you've learned more than most Jounin."
That didn't help much. To Naruto, it wasn't about learning more than anyone else in any set amount of time. It was about simply being the best, no matter what it took. He continued to hold his head down in self pity. This is when Jiraiya decided to take a more stern approach to his student's dismal attitude.
"GET UP!" Jiraiya yanked Naruto up by the collar of his jacket easily. Almost as if he was a pillow
"You say you're a man. ACT LIKE ONE!" Jiraiya threw him to the ground hard.
Naruto's poor demeanor turned dramatically at that point. His pride had just been wounded. His once self doubting eyes turned to eyes of prideful anger. He rose to his feet, with a face of fury.
"...I don't have to act like a man because it's what I do...because I AM a man..." He said, looking directly into his sensei's eyes. Never wavering, never blinking, and ever intense.
Jiraiya stared his student down, trying to see if he would back down. And just as he'd hoped, Naruto did not. Not as a student, but as an equal man, he stared him eye to eye. And that is what Jiraiya respected.
"...You are a man..." Jiraiya smiled at his student with pride and joy.
It was true. Naruto stood his ground to his sensei in his fullest. Jiraiya knew that Naruto would be ready for the difficulties ahead.
"From this point on, I want you to understand. I'm going to train you as if you were a man. Not a child."
"Fine by me..."
" Want to have a little sparring session before we get to waves?" Jiraiya was setting up a bit of a challenge.
" No thanks" Not a normal Naruto-like reply
Jiraiya was totally off guard. He expecting a very different answer than the one he was given.. His jaw dropped as he was in awe. Naruto couldn't hold his laughter in any longer. He was about to literally burst with laughter.
"You thought I was serious...yeah I wanna spar" Naruto was laughing hysterically.
Jiraiya was cut with his mouth wide open. He was going to make sure he'd be tough on his student during their spar. But being unpredictable was a good thing he felt.
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Shikimaru and just left Sakura and Ino alone. He was happy that the two of them were getting along so well. Happy and equally relieved. The two young female ninjas for the first time in so long, were enjoying each others company.
" It's been so long since we've been able to be friends like this Sakura. I missed it." Ino was happy
"Yeah,...I guess that's what happens when the reason we fought in the first place is gone huh?"
" So...how was it?" Ino was asking about the night she spent with Sasuke.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what'? How was he that night?" Ino said with a sly smirk
Sakura knew what Ino meant. She just didn't really know what to say. She had never really talked in detail about her night with Sasuke. But Ino was fairly insistent. And she wasn't above a little 'girl talk'.
"We'll...for my first time...it wasn't memorable for it's being special you know..."
"It's because you really didn't want what you thought you did right?" Ino knew what she was getting at
"Yeah...it's memorable because it was a huge mistake...it felt disgusting..." Sakura's eyes watered.
"...And if it was that blond idiot, it would have been different...?"
"...I know it would have been different...but it's not like I'll ever experience that..." Sakura sighed, still regretting the past.
"You know Naruto still loves you. You can show him how you feel when he gets back" Ino smiled trying to lift Sakura's spirits.
"I wish...Ino the night before he left I tried to let him know how I felt. I know he still loves me...but he doesn't allow himself to let it show anymore. He's afraid. And that is my fault." She wiped a solitary tear from under her eye
" Try and do are two very different things. Did you DO it Sakura? Did you tell him how you felt?" Ino was rational.
"...No...I was afraid...That's what it all comes down to."
"What are you saying Sakura?" Ino wondered what she meant by her words
"All my problems came from my being afraid. I was afraid to reject Sasuke even when I didn't want him deep down. I was afraid to tell Naruto the truth. And I was afraid to tell him how I felt before I left."
Sakura couldn't fight the tears anymore. Ino hugged her friend tightly, trying to make her feel secure as best she could.
"Ino...the worst thing is...I was afraid of being myself...I deserve to lose him..." She couldn't keep from crying no matter how much Ino tried to secure her.
"Sakura... he wouldn't want you to punish yourself like this..."
"...He's too kind to me...you know...I wish he'd let me have it. For his sake. He never lets it out when he's angry at me." Sakura still sniffling
"You're silly, he would never hurt you. No matter what. If you want to deserve him...stop beating yourself. Be respectful of what he'd want. What he always wanted." Ino released Sakura and put her hand on her shoulder.
Sakura quieted her crying and smiled at her friend. She knew Ino was right.
"When I began training with Tsunade...I did it to become stronger. And I've been a crybaby through all of this..."
" Strength takes time Sakura. You won't become strong in a day. Just know that you have a friend whenever you're feeling weak" Ino smiled, offering her assistance in any form she could.
"Thanks... no enough about my 'guy' troubles. Don't you think you should catch up with Shikimaru and see where he went? Besides, you did hit him with that bowl pretty hard."
Ino looked at the bowl on the floor. Sakura was right. The hit was hard. The bowl was cracked. And seeing that made Ino run to find him.
"You're right, we can catch up some more later...ok Sakura?" Ino said running and waving as she ran off to find Shikimaru.
"Anytime!" Sakura smiled and waved back to her new/old friend.
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Naruto and Jiraiya had finished their sparring session and where just over the horizon to wave country. The two walked with a steady pace and evening had already set in well.
"Man, I can't wait to get a nice hotel room and a bath. Then I'm hitting the hay." Naruto was eager to get back to civilization.
" You're going to bed once you get there? Geez live a little kid. I can agree with you on the getting a bath part, preferably a co-ed bath. But it won't even be past 10 when we get there. Night means booze, gambling, and especially WOMEN." He said with a lecherous smile plastered on his face.
Naruto was beside himself. He couldn't believe that THIS guy was a legendary Sannin let alone his sensei.
"Ero-sennin, please don't be mad about my asking this but...HOW THE HELL DID SOMEONE LIKE YOU BECOME A NINJA!" He yelled out his disbelief.
"Hey Hey, Just because I like to indulge in 'some things' doesn't mean I can't be a good ninja. Sheesh you need to get out. But I guess it can't be helped. You're still a bit young."
"You acknowledged me as a man already. Don't go back on that now" Naruto reminded him of that
"I'm not backing down from what I said. You are a man. But hey, you're still a little on the young side. Meaning by society standards, there are certain 'things' you can't see just yet." Jiraiya was talking about what he felt were the 'finer' things in life.
"I can fight and kill as a ninja, but I can't see these 'things'? What are these 'things' anyway? And why the hell can't I see them but I can spill blood and fight in wars?" Naruto didn't know what Jiraiya meant by things. But he did have a great point.
Jiraiya looked at his student and was saddened by his questions. At such a young age, he was a ninja. He could fight and kill if a mission granted that. If a war would break out, he'd have to kill to survive. Yet the society, the world they live in restrains the young. They are told they can't do things that are so commonplace nowadays. And at the same time, have ability and right to kill if the need arose.
"I wish I had an answer Naruto...I truly...truly do..." Jiraiya could barely look at his student.
"Anyway...let's hurry this action up. The night life is calling me and it doesn't leave messages." Jiraiya said, wanting to get to their destination as soon as possible.
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Sakura felt a great sense of rejuvenation grace her shoulders. With her friendship with Ino given a second wind, things didn't seem so bad anymore. Now she had a girl to talk to that was her own age. And that was something everyone needs. The night sky was beautiful as she began slowly walking to the training ground that was once used by the former team 7.
Inner Sakura
" After all this time, we fought each other tooth and nail for a pointless reason. Heh...we can laugh about it now...as friends.
We're both growing up and moving on. Both leaving the past behind and finally realizing what was near us all this time. But at least we're not alone Ino-chan...we have each other to fall back on. To turn to when nobody else can understand."
Sakura had a smile on her face as she reached her former training ground. She began to look around. She recognized the charred grounds, the markings on the trees, the imprints on the ground. All of these were evident of team 7's hard work. She had images of Naruto and Sasuke depicting themselves on the grounds through her eyes. Past images of his training trials and tribulations. It brought a smile to her face. They were memories of simpler times.
Inner Sakura
"Then there's you Uzumaki...I remember when you sucked so bad at being a ninja. You practiced night and day...day and night...all day, every day...just to get better. But some how, you always came through when it counted. It didn't matter if the enemy was stronger, smarter, more experienced, or whatever. You found a way to win. Naruto-kun you probably the most powerful person in this world. I wish you weren't so annoying and that you'd change. But you know...I was the one annoying myself. I just took out my frustrations on you. And I'm sorry for that.
All your endless training paid off...and you know what, I take back what I said...there is NOTHING about you that needs to be change. And when you become Hokage, I'll be right there by your side..."
Sakura was getting stronger by the very thoughts of her teammate. She didn't cry or obsess about anymore. Her love for him was blossoming and ever so strong. She didn't have to hold her tears and cries anymore because thanks to Ino, she knew Naruto would find a way to her no matter what. Sakura had a gigantic smile on her face as she looked into the beautiful night sky.
Inner Sakura
" We'll have SO much catching up to do when you get back Naruto-kun...We'll work things out. And everything will be as they should be..." Sakura smiled confidently.
She meant exactly what she thought. Thanks to Ino, she had renewed strength to face reality. As she was no longer alone in her problems. And a friend was what she truly needed.
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Naruto and Jiraiya made it to the princess's manor. The two were tired. Naruto wanted to see Morrigan. But he didn't want to drop by unannounced without at least cleaning up. Jiraiya couldn't agree more with Naruto's current way of thinking. But this was a serious matter and needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. Jiraiya knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" The maid asked through the door and looking out the peephole. It was fairly dark and she couldn't make out who was on the other side of the door.
"Guess" Jiraiya replied playfully
The maid knew that voice anywhere. With one motion of the hand, the maid unlocked both locks and turned the doorknob to open the door.
"JIRAIYA!" She tackled him and was playfully snuggling her cheek to his.
"I wonder what granny Tsunade would say if she saw this..." Naruto saw a chance for payback for Jiraiya's past deceptions.
Hearing the Hokage's name froze any lustful thoughts he may have had.
"It's not what it looks like. I swear. She just misses me." Jiraiya was hesitating and sweating all over.
" hmmm...I'M TELLING..." Naruto yelled out with a mix of laughter and bragging.
"You don't understand. You know how that woman is when she's mad. Don't you know what she'll do to me?" Jiraiya was trembling at the very thought of how much pain Tsunade would cause him.
"Yup!" Naruto shortly replied with a grin still making headway on his face.
Jiraiya, still with the made cozily laying on him outside in the dark, decided to turn the tables.
"Once she inflicts her pain on me, I'll have to let out my frustrations somehow. Just think of how extreme training can be." Jiraiya now had a smile of his own on his face.
Naruto wasn't in a smiling mood anymore. He allowed a single drop of sweat to ooze off of his face.
"That's not fair" He replied in a displeased manor
"Hey, I told you before, life isn't fair" He shrugged his shoulders with his eyes closed.
As Naruto stood in the door way, still turned towards Jiraiya and the maid laying on the ground, a fourth person made their presence felt
"Who was at the door Rina?" A masculine voice asked, walking towards the doorway.
"Umm...hi sir." Naruto was first to answer
"Hello...didn't the maid open to door for you? He was a bit off guard to see a stranger in his doorway without any proper introduction.
Naruto pointed out the door way and to the ground. There, the man saw Rina, the maid in question and Jiraiya on the ground. Jiraiya saw the figure and immediately got up, bringing Rina to her feet as well.
"Must you grope my female employees the MOMENT you get here Jiraiya" He said in a voice that showed such events to be routine.
" Lord Atwright, it's not my fault this time." He said still embracing Rina in his arms. Which she didn't mind in the least.
Atwright just looked at him as if he was dumb.
"Let's see, how many years have I known you? So who do you think your fooling here? And what brings you by anyways."
"Dang, everyone is on to you huh?" Naruto said laughing at his sensei's shame.
"SHUT UP!" Jiraiya yelled at his student in his embarrassment
Jiraiya released Rina from his embrace and began to get down to the reason for his and Naruto's sudden appearance.
" This is something we need to discuss in detail, alone." Jiraiya didn't want Naruto to hear this. At least not yet
"...I understand...Come inside. Rina, could you go and make us some tea?" Atwright politely asked. He was always kind to the servants and treated them as equals. A rare and admirable trait seldom found in nobility.
" Of course" she replied and blew a kiss Jiraiya's way as she left.
Jiraiya noticed it and gave a little wave in return. Naruto noticed what she had done too. He just looked his sensei with a sly smile.
"Tsunaaaaaaade" he whispered so that only his sensei could hear.
"Traaaaaining" he returned the whisper and smile
The reminder of what would happen if Naruto said a word of that to Tsunade was enough to get Naruto off his back. They all walked into the manor and had a seat on the couch. Naruto's eyes were wandering all over. This was the first time he was actually inside.
" Morrigan's house is even bigger than it looks once you get inside" Naruto said in amazement.
Hearing that struck a cord in Atwright's mind.
"You know my daughter child?" Atwright questioned.
"Yes sir, we saved her from a few ninjas awhile back."
"Then you have my deepest thanks son. What's your name?" Atwright was happy to finally meet one of his daughter's saviors.
"Naruto Uzumaki." He replied confidently
"Ah, you're the one she keeps talking about. You made a very good impression on my daughter. But son, address her as Princess Morrigan. Not on a first name basis. We have our status here. I'll let it slide this time." Atwright was a stickler for formalities.
"...yes sir..."
"Give him slack Lord Atwright sheesh. He's with me after all" Jiraiya tried to get his old friend to loosen up.
"Yeah, and since when is being with YOU a good thing" Atwright retaliated.
"If you want, you can go up those stairs, down the hallway, two doors to your left is my daughter's room. Why don't you go visit her? From the way she rants on about you, I bet she'd be happy to see you." Atwright gave Naruto permission to go up to his daughter's room.
And with that Naruto took his leave and headed up the stairs. Now with just the two of them there, Jiraiya felt it was time to get to the reason for this sudden visit.
"I couldn't say anything in front of the boy" Jiraiya said
"I understand. Whatever's wrong, it must be quite urgent for you to just drop by like this." Atwright was a bit concerned.
"It is..." Jiraiya shortly replied and became quiet
Atwright saw the severity in Jiraiya's face. He was almost afraid to hear what he had to say. But as a friend, he'd help anyway he could and no matter what.
"Naruto...it's possible that within the span of a three-year period, he will become Kyuubi incarnate." Jiraiya said
"WHAT?" Atwright was a mix of surprised and scared at the thought of the demon being reborn
"Keep your voice down...listen...he's the container of the demon. Up until recently, the demon was sealed inside of him. However, on a recent mission he undertook, a forbidden jutsu was performed on him and agitated his seal. His body will begin going through a degeneration process, then renewal. And that renewal...will be the fox demon..."
"Hmmmm...this problem doesn't just fall upon your village Jiraiya. Kyuubi will run rampant on this entire world if allowed to be reborn" Atwright knew the consequences of allowing the demon back into the human realm of existence.
"Indeed...that is where you come in and why I need your help."
The two continued to talk about this very serious matter. It was a lot to discuss and even more to absorb and fully take in.
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Naruto was slowly making his way to the princess's room. Unfortunately for him, he could mess up the simplest of instructions. He somehow got himself lost. He began walking around. He made it to a door and reached for the knob. Before he could place his hand on it, the door swung open revealing a bathroom and a young woman in nothing but a towel
The two made heavy eye contact. The woman's eyes glistened as a warm, inviting smiled gave way to her face. She ran to Naruto.
"FOXY!" She yelled out her pet name for him and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his cheek.
"I missed you so much...don't you know what trouble you can get into for making a royal sovereign wait like this" Morrigan was teary eyed as she was sincere and joked.
Naruto had a smile on his face. He actually felt how much Morrigan missed him. It seemed as if everything he'd ever wanted from Sakura was gleaming through Morrigan. And that scared him. But he had no problem letting Morrigan know he missed her as well.
"I'm happy to see you to Princess Morrigan." He said as he warmly returned her embrace.
The feeling Naruto's arms curling around her made Morrigan blush. And with, that tightened her grasp around him
Naruto accidentally tangled his hand in her towel and pulled her towel off. He looked on the ground and noticed what he had done. He was sweating and trembling once he realized he was holding and being held by a naked woman. He immediately titled his head straight up and closed his eyes not to look at Morrigan's body.
" Princess I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I..." Morrigan released on of her arms and placed her hand over his mouth.
Morringan of course noticed the situation as well. But unlike Naruto, she wasn't nervous about it. In fact, she wanted to push things further.
"You called my 'princess' twice foxy. I told you that you would owe me if you ever made that mistake again. And you go and make the same mistake twice." She had a seductive/ sly grin on her face. She would make sure she would have as much fun as possible with the situation
Naruto nervously listened, awaiting whatever Morrigan would have to say.
" First, you have to slowly bend down, pick up my towel, and wrap it around me EXACTLY the way I had it." She said as she released him from her embrace and removed her hand from Naruto's mouth. However, she didn't move away a single inch.
" I can't do that. I'll see you naked" He stumbled those words out.
She decided to tease him even more now.
"What's wrong...you don't want to see me naked? Is it that I'm not attractive to you?" Morrigan said in a sad tone. She wasn't really sad. She knew he was nervous. She just loved making him sweat.
"It's not that Morrigan...you're very attractive...I just...um..." He was stumped to say the least.
Morrigan couldn't hold it in anymore. She bursted out in laughter. Hearing the laughing, Naruto didn't move. His eyes were still closed and his head was still tilted upward.
"That's why I like you so much foxy." She said as she picked up her towel and put it back on.
" You can open your eyes now my cute fox." Morrigan was still giggling as he opened his eyes and reclined his head to its normal position.
"I really didn't mean to knock your towel of like that." He was honest and embarrassed.
Morrigan gently placed her hand on his cheek and smiled.
"I know you didn't...you're the sweetest guy in the world. Any other man wouldn't have hesitated to look and touch if given the chance. But not my foxy...I gave you temptation. And you resisted..."
She embraced him again and looked him directly in the eyes.
"I'm jealous of Sakura..." she said sincerely and in a low tone so that only he could hear it
They smiled at each other and eventually let each other go.
"Foxy, would you mind waiting for me in the game room while I change. I promise I won't be long." She smiled and pointed him toward the game room.
"I don't mind waiting" he said quickly yet calmly.
The two parted ways for their separate destinations. But just before they could get to far apart, Morrigan called out to him.
"And Naruto...?" She had a warm sincere voice
He turned around instantly. The two made eye contact and were silent before Morrigan could speak her next words.
"...I... I'd like it if you would look at me the next time..." She said as she turned her head and continued on her way to her room.
Naruto was just standing there completely frozen. At that very moment, his heart went crazy. He began to realize that he was having an internal conflict with his feelings. And despite Sakura and Morrigan being literal polar opposites, the one thing that truly separated them was trust. Sakura was never honest with herself and never truly honest with Naruto. And even as she began to understand her true feelings for him, she was never really honest about it. Morrigan however, despite being brash and aggressive, was always honest with herself and him. She never hid from her feelings or shunned him in any way.
And that brought on thoughts about that challenge he and Jiraiya had .
Naruto's thoughts
"What am I going to do...what can I do...I don't know how I feel...I can't feel this way for two women...One more day until I have to come clean somehow...I don't know what to do..."
Naruto stopped his thoughts and went into the game room.
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Jiraiya and Atwright were still deep in conversation. Atwright was made aware of all the things he needed to and any questions he asked were answered. As old friends, they kept nothing from each other. And for a friend, Jiraiya would even go beyond the code of the ninja.
"Atwright, I know what I'm about to ask is risky. And there is no guarantee that the boy's condition will be reversed. But it is the only chance we have." Jiraiya spoke the truth.
Atwright shook his head in acknowledgment and agreement.
"...I need...the gene-twili key..." Jiraiya hesitated to say that. But it needed to be spoken
The gene-twili key. The key that opens the door to the beginning and end of time. To a realm where the spirits of the dead and those yet to be born are gathered. This key is what would soon decide the fate of not only Naruto, but possibly human existence as it's come to be.
To be continued...