Konoha had only been two hours away. Quick as they could, they'd raced back to the Hidden Village, Aoimaru carried on Naruto's back (he'd refused to let anyone else carry him), while Shino and Hinata had to be roughly carried by Kurenai, one under each arm. She'd handed them over to the Medic-nin team that greeted them on the way in, Tsunade had been expecting them and keeping watch, and they were quickly found and escorted back to the Konoha hospital while Kurenai made her way to Tsunade to give her report. Then the Fifth would be hurrying to the hospital to oversee the recovery of the team.

Shino and Hinata had been ushered off to different rooms to be examined, but both were quickly discharged to resting areas. The Aburame bug-user was the worst off, but his ribs were quickly bandaged up properly by Sakura. The very last of the poison had already been cleansed from his system and he was pronounced out-of-danger, and would be released the next morning. He'd be off missions for a while but he hadn't suffered any lasting damage.

Hinata's leg was properly seen to by another medic-nin, and she was walking with the aid of a crutch in no time. She wouldn't have any sorts of trouble, the wound would heal properly in little to no time. Naruto, of course, was completely injury-free, thanks to the other resident of his body.

Then they'd turned their attention to Aoimaru.

At first, Naruto wouldn't even let go of Aoimaru for Tsunade to examine, stating he was just sleeping, and tried to prove it by roughly shaking his shoulder to try and wake him. The Fifth Hokage had regretted her action, lightly slamming her open palm into the back of Naruto's neck, but it had been the only choice. They needed a proper look at the body. Naruto was resting in one of the waiting hallways now. Hinata was with him, and Tsunade had dismissed most of her medical staff, including Sakura. She needed a look at the body alone.

Gentle chakra probing had revealed all she'd needed to know.

Aoimaru was not a demon-vessel. Never had been. His chakra was completely normal. His bloodline was unusual but not unheard of, particularly to a well-traveled woman like the Legendary Sucker. It matched descriptions of the boy-ninja who'd been in Zabuza's employ, the one Naruto had mentioned fighting so very long ago. It took her a moment to recall the name... Haku. Yes, that was it. But whereas Haku had been a genius, Aoimaru was not as talented with his bloodline, thus water had been all he could manipulate, and then only under stress. To compare them would be to compare Itachi and Obito's skill with the Sharingan.

So the mission had ultimately been a waste and a failure.

Tsunade gave a deep sigh, resting her hands on the edge of the table where Aoimaru lay, the smile still etched on his face, even in death. He'd been happy at the end, she realized (working in what she saw with Kurenai's report). He'd finally found some people who didn't hate him. A family. And they'd been with him at the end.

Tsunade allowed herself a small smile, thinking back.

There were worse ways to leave this world.

She drew up a black cloth to cover the body from view respectfully. Normal shinobi protocol for obtaining another village's bloodline was dissection... but she really couldn't bring herself to do that. Not to this poor kid, who'd been through so much already. Or Kurenai's team, who'd formed a bond with him. Besides, she thought with a smirk, she knew any hint of that would arouse the awful wrath of Naruto and, through him, the Kyuubi. Hidden Leaf would be trampled to the ground. And besides, she really didn't feel like it right now. What she needed was a good, stiff drink.

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The next day, Naruto couldn't be found anywhere in Konoha's hospital. Beyond that, he couldn't be found anywhere at his apartment. Shizune had been downright chilled when she hadn't found him at Ichiraku or his usual training spots either, and began to frantically search through Konoha to try and find the blonde-haired fool. No telling where he was.

It was raining in Konoha that day, a light drizzle that peppered the streets. Shinobi trained indoors and traveled with ponchos to keep their equipment dry, and the ordinary citizens drew closed their shutters and waited for the storm to pass. Visibility was limited.

As it turned out, the one who found him was Iruka, his old Academy teacher. Naruto Uzumaki was settled down comfortably atop of the Hokage Monument, astride the head of the Fourth Hokage. He'd stayed a good distance away to begin with, a little surprised to see his former student out here. He knew Naruto was wont to come here sometimes when he'd been in the Academy, but hadn't seen him here in ages. He'd been busy training, doing missions with Team Seven (or, these days, with just about everyone) or at Ichiraku. He'd been keeping busy, and he'd been happy.

But now...

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto called out respectfully, having sensed him approach. "Hey..."

"Hey yourself," said Iruka, making his way to sit down beside the fellow orphan. "How're you holding up?"

Naruto grimaced at that. He'd been hearing it a lot at the hospital, which is why he'd slipped out the window. It was so annoying to be asked that, he was fine, physically. He probably wouldn't even catch a cold from the storm. He never did get sick, really. But he sensed Iruka wasn't worried about his physical well-being. "I'm not sure," he admitted.

"Sad?"

"... A little," he replied, "Mostly confused."

"How so?" asked his older teacher, shifting to get more comfortable.

"He seemed so happy at the end... but he was dying. We'd lost. I just... I just don't get it Iruka-sensei. Why we he happy?" he asked, his face scrunched up as it often did when he was thinking deep thoughts. Despite constant comments to the contrary, Naruto wasn't an idiot. He was just slow, and not even in the sense that usually meant, as in stupid. He took his time getting to the answers of a question, and as a result he usually reached a startling insight someone quicker, like Sasuke or Neji, might've missed.

Iruka smiled at that. "I think I know why."

"Why?" asked Naruto.

"Because he'd gotten the one thing he really wanted out of life."

"Huh?"

"He'd spent his whole life persecuted... hated... shunned. And he'd found someone," and here Iruka playfully ruffled Naruto's wet blonde spikes, "someone who would protect him... someone he could even look up to."

"But I failed to protect him. I'm... I even told him... I told him he shouldn't be scared. He should've run."

"But that's part of it," explained Iruka. "Everyone's always told him to run before. You're the first person who put your faith in him. Enough so he could stand and fight on his own. That's why he was happy, I think. Didn't you feel the same, the first time you stood up to your enemy?"

"... yeah, kinda," replied Naruto after a moment's thought. "I think I understand... but I'm still upset."

"Because you failed the mission?"

"Because I failed Aoimaru."

"I think you, and the others, were the first people who didn't fail Aoimaru," replied Iruka wisely. And with that, he slipped to his feet to depart. It was almost time for classes to resume, after all. But he figured he'd gotten the message through to his favorite former pupil.

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Iruka had been right, in the end. Naruto took this bad experience and used it to his own betterment. He would learn from his mistakes. And he'd keep fighting for all the other Aoimaru's out there, all the other boys who were oppressed and hated and needed a hero.

Next time he wouldn't fail. If you could believe anything, you could believe that.

The sun broke through the clouds as he reached his decision, the sunlight pouring down over the monument to the greatest of Konoha's heroes, the Hokages. One day, Naruto vowed, a place where his face would be seen too. Lightly he hopped down from the Hokage monument and ran down the side of the cliff, heading towards the training fields.

However, on his way, he happened upon a chance encounter in the streets of Konoha.

Shino and Hinata.

The Aburame was as quiet as ever, simply strolling along at a leisurely pace (perhaps even a smidgen more carefully than normal) but seemed his usual self. And Hinata flushed at the sight of Naruto and nearly ducked behind Shino's taller form to hide herself, but steeled herself a little and gave a welcome wave with her free arm (the other supporting her crutch). He jogged over to meet hem.

"Hinata! Shino! How are you guys!" he called, his depression forgotten at the sight of his friends. If he was grateful about nothing else from the mission, he was glad they were okay.

"F-fine, Naruto-kun," replied Hinata softly. "We... uh... we wanted to come and check up on you."

"Hinata and I have been removed from active duty for the present until we've fully recovered," stated Shino quietly. "So no missions."

"Aww that must be horrible," said Naruto, who could think of few worse punishments for ninja than to be taken off missions. He know he'd go stir crazy within a week.

"W-well K-kurenai-sensei gave us these," said Hinata, holding up some tags of paper. Naruto's blue eyes widened as he recognized them.

"Free Ramen at Ichiraku coupons! Oh wow you guys are so lucky...! Hey you've got three," he realized, counting them out. "Did Kiba come back from his mission too?"

"Uhm... actually..." stuttered Hinata, her face turning crimson as she trailed off.

Fortunately, Shino came to her rescue. "The last one is for you, Naruto."

"Alright!" shouted Naruto, so overjoyed he snatched up the coupon and hugged Hinata (nearly making her faint) and looked on the verge of doing the same to Shino before the bug-user cast him a stern look from behind his sunglasses. Together, the three of them made their way to Ichiraku for the finest ramen this side of the Fire Country.

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Author's Notes:

Ultimately, Aoimaru had to die because I wanted closure to his story, unlike Isaribi, whom we don't know the ultimate fate of. I'd like to think it hasn't affected Naruto too deeply. Or rather, that it has but only to make him that much better of a ninja. And since there was no real connection to Sanbi, it does not alter the Naruto continuity. Also if anyone is wondering about Aoimaru's unusual features, I suggest they take another look at some of the freaks Hidden Mist has produced. Or maybe the fact that Sakura has naturally pink hair.