Naruto poked his head out from the safety of the building he was hiding behind and cautiously peered down the street. Seeing what he wanted pass by down it all alone, he took his chance. Bringing a foot out from the building he lurched out and crept across to the other side of the street to the cover of another building. Once he was hidden on the other side, he poked his head out again to view his surroundings. Seeing a similar environment and his victim as unexpecting as last time, he left his cover again to creep slowly down the street and behind another small building.

Naruto continued to sneak down and across the streets of the marketplace. He shifted his eyes all around for any potential threats to avoid being seen. He saw none, but by now the figure he was trailing had turned a corner and if he did not act soon he would loose him. Making sure that it was and once it was clear again, he dashed across the street to the safety of the shadow of another building; his secrecy maintained. He poked his head out into an alley way. This time he saw no one. The sun did not shine there and would hide his movements. Moving faster than he had before he sprinted through the alley under the cover of darkness and jumped over the fence before continuing on his path. He stopped once the alley joined with the street again. Seeing that the darkness would no longer hide him, he eased out into the streets as he observed his target walking away; his teacher Kakashi. He was likely too busy reading his book as he walked down the street to notice him.

Slowly Naruto crept out of the alley and into the main street. With nothing to shelter him he made his way forward, following Kakashi from behind. Naruto tiptoed up to his teacher from behind, as Kakashi's head was bowed, reading his book. Naruto's feet barely, but lightly touched the ground as he advanced on his unsuspecting teacher.

"What are you doing?" Kakashi suddenly asked casually, stopping Naruto dead in his tracks as Kakashi's was still buried down in his book.

"I was uh.." Naruto droned from behind as they both came to a stop.

"Sneaking?" Kakashi asked, though he knew the answer already.

"Yeah, I was-" Naruto half admitted before he caught himself "NO!" he stomped his foot.

"Naruto," Kakashi began with a sigh "why don't you go find some help to finish assembling your dream team?" he proposed as he turned a page in his book.

"Oh I already have a dream team." Naruto whined "Plus I have two new members now." he mentioned both Kakashi and Piccolo though not by name "Besides, I think I should stay with you. I know somethings gotta be up." Naruto concluded taking a confident step forward.

"Hm?" Kakashi let out as he put his head up "You think something's wrong?" Kakashi asked as he finally turned to him.

"Yeah" Naruto nodded to him "You suddenly disappeared on us before," he said "and when I found you again you seemed really…"

"Really, what?" Kakashi intrigued focusing on him.

Naruto paused. Before he answered he lowered his head and raised his arms over it as he lurched bid body forward "Mysterious." Naruto said with an eerie voice and a wave of his hands to match.

"Well, aren't I always a mystery you guys?" Kakashi retorted.

Naruto stood in the streets and pondered "Well yeah.." he picked himself back up "but the Toad Sage!-"

"Don't worry Naruto," Kakashi cut him off coolly "Nothing is wrong." Kakashi reassured him as he waved him off and continued to walk down the street. Naruto raced to keep up with him.

"But there's still so much going on! So much that's happen-" he called out from behind.

"Just go get some ramen." Kakashi suggested as he kept his head forward "You've earned it!" he called out to him before turning the page of his book and continuing down the street. Tempting as it was Naruto couldn't have any of it now. He jumped forward and in front of Kakashi preventing him from walking any forward. He opened his mouth to unload everything he's been thinking, feeling and has gone through in this whole mess.

"Kakashi." a much deeper voice said instead from behind Naruto. Naruto froze in place. Did that just come out of him? He saw Kakashi place his book into his pocket and straightened how his own stance. Something definitely had his attention. But it wasn't Naruto himself. He could tell that as he saw Kakashi look over him and focus his attention there. Then Naruto decided to turn his head.

"Ah!" he fell to the ground once he saw Piccolo standing over him "P-Piccolo-sensei!" he let out from the ground "How long have you been standing there?!"

"Not long." he answered before looking back to Kakashi "Are you ready?"

Kakashi glanced down to Naruto before nodding "Yes."

"Then let's be on our way." Piccolo prepared to turn away from them, but a tug of his cape stopped him. He looked down to see Naruto grasping onto the edge of his cape, and picking himself up from the ground with it.

"Now wait just a second." he said standing upright against the Namekian. "Tell me. I have to know." he looked unflinchingly towards Piccolo "What's going on? Where are you going? For real." he demanded.

"You don't have to worry." Piccolo spoke to him, imagining he was talking to Goten, Trunks or even Gohan when he was younger. It made it all the easier for Naruto to understand him then. Naruto's gaze didn't relent against him nor did his grip on his cape. Piccolo turned around to face him "Whatever you are worried about, know this. We're going to set this right."

"We-how!? Why?!"

That last part should be obvious, shouldn't it?

"We're going out of the village at the request of the Hokage." Kakashi spoke up.

"Huh?" Naruto let out. Confused that he got an answer and at what that answer was "You mean you two?" Piccolo nodded to him.

"We shouldn't be gone long. Nor should it be any big hassle." Piccolo told.

"Let me come with you." Naruto stepped forward releasing his cape as it fell back alongside his body.

"No." Kakashi spoke up from behind "Lady Tsunade has asked us personally and us alone to do it." the specific details of it likely wouldn't sit well with Naruto. Though with everything that's gone on, it'd be hard to know.

"Where does she want you to go?" he asked. Kakashi glanced over to Piccolo and then down to his pupil.

"To drop something off to an old friend."

"Old friend?" he asked "Of Granny's? What old friend?" he questioned in disbelief and annoyance. With Jiraiya gone now he tried to think of who this could possibly be. He thought of only some old decrepit geezer half way across the world, likely someone she had some debt to. He couldn't have been more wrong.

"It's nothing to fret over." Kakashi assured him just as Piccolo had.

"Then why is she having you two go?!" Naruto asked a bit too quickly "And why now of all times?!"

"It's just how things ended up." Kakashi shrugged. Naruto opened his retort, but once again Piccolo's voice overtook him.

"But what about everything else? What does this have to do with what-"

"Naruto!" Piccolo snapped getting his attention "We don't have much more time to waste."

Naruto once again shifted his attention between the two as he turned to face Piccolo.

"Are you going to come back?" he asked, a hint of vulnerability and yearning for approval in his voice.

Hearing it, Piccolo responded in kind "Of course." he told trying to put Naruto's mind at ease "I told you we'd solve this together and we will." he was hoping by the time they got back it would be. His comforting words seem to work as Naruto's worry turned to a confident grin.

"I'll hold you to it." he held out his fist. Piccolo looked at him curiously before glancing to Kakashi who walked him through the motions behind Naruto's back as Kakashi brought his fists up before him and knocked the two together by the knuckles.

It was now that Piccolo copied Kakashi's motions. Mimicking Kakashi Piccolo reached his fist forward and held it in the air. Naruto raising his a bit higher made it level with Piccolo's and knocked his into his, much to the young ninja's delight. Even Piccolo managed a smile from his reaction alone.

"Just stay out of trouble." Piccolo requested before turning around "Come on." he beckoned before he continued to walk away.

"I didn't know we had a leader in this hole affair." Kakashi commented walking around Naruto and up to Piccolo, but stopped short to look back at Naruto one last time "See ya when I get back." he said before continuing on to catch up with Piccolo.

"..Fine.." Naruto slumped now left all alone. And that got him thinking even more.

Picking up his pace Kakashi caught up with Piccolo.

"You think he'll stick around?" Piccolo asked as soon as he had "If I recall the last time you left he formed a search party to find you. Whose to say he won't try again." he said as they walked side by side.

"He has reassurances from me this time. And from you too." he added pointedly "Well done by the way" he complimented though Piccolo saw this as no time for games. "Besides the Hokage's onto him now." Kakashi continued as they walked "He won't try anything like that again. Or at least nothing as obvious." He was right about one thing. He wouldn't be forming a team this time. "As for us," Kakashi said "We'll be traveling in style." As soon as he had said that Piccolo levitated up to the sky, and headed for their destination "Oh you know," Kakashi let out as he paused in place and his heard arched back as Piccolo got higher in the air "I thought we'd enjoy a nice walk." he suggested as Piccolo went higher. He moved his body horizontally now and took off across the Leaf Village.

With his proposal ignored as he knew there was no way Piccolo didn't hear him Kakashi took to the air after him. He jumped up to a wall and then propelled himself even higher, before hopping up to a rooftop keeping pace with Piccolo above him.

Piccolo soared across the leaf village from above, the wind blowing past him and his cape flapping in the breeze. Occasionally his eyes would be drawn down to Kakashi who depending on the vantage point would become level with him for only a moment before going to another rooftop. That was until he stopped noticing Kakashi all together, and when he looked down to see him saw him veering off the path they set.

"Hey!" Piccolo called down, but Kakashi did not stop for him. He took another leap now and moved farther away from their trajectory. Piccolo looked ahead to see the Hokage's tower. Looking down again he saw Kakashi continue to get farther away from him. Turning on an angle and changing his course Piccolo went to follow Kakashi.

'And he's supposed to know the way better.' he thought grumpily.

Kakashi continued on as Piccolo kept pace with him, eventually ignoring Piccolo's calls that he knew for a fact Kakashi heard them and just chose not respond. Piccolo then decided at that time he had enough. Letting out a snarl, he shot forward into the sky at even greater speeds before he shot down at Kakashi and landed directly before him brining Kakashi to a sudden halt as the whirlwind created by Piccolo swept through the grass and trees all around them. His cape lashed out all around him as Kakashi's braced himself with his arms before him as hair blew in the wind. When he lowered his arms, he saw Piccolo bearing down before him his cape encircling him.

The two remained dead eyeing each other as the wind died down.

"This isn't the right way and you know it." Piccolo eventually said breaking the silence.

"Actually," Kakashi said bringing his arms all the way down "it's right where I want to be." he responded casually.

"Hm?" Piccolo let out before Kakashi sidestepped him and walked forward. He said nothing more, warranting Piccolo to turn around to view it himself. Turning around completely he saw Kakashi standing before what appeared at first be a type of shrine with a rock in the center. Not an ordinary one though, it was as tall as Kakashi, in the shape of a diamond. It was as dark as night, a sort of morbid unpleasantness coming off it as he noticed a change in Kakashi. Most noticeable about this object was that had words on it. Piccolo could plainly see they were names and knew what it was that stood before them. He regarded it silently for a few moments with Kakashi. "A memorial." he eventually stated somberly aloud. Kakashi remained silent, but no confirmation was needed. An uneasy morbid feeling of tension was growing. Not between them, but what was to come "I see." There was another longer, even more miserable pause "Who were they?"

The past tense despite being true seemed to stir something in Kakashi, but his answer was calm.

"Friends from a long time ago." he answered, grief seeping through his mask.

Piccolo's thought went from Gohan to Goten and Trunks to Goku before being swarmed by Kakashi, Sakura, Guy and Naruto. All of them and more flashed before his eyes until he found himself here now.

"I didn't need this to understand your reservations about all of this." Piccolo said before a deathly long pause "But thank you for showing me this."

"We both feel the same thing here don't we?..." Kakashi paused as he kept his eyes down at the rock. Specifically the names he as familiar with on it.

"Yes." Piccolo said. Who knows what could go right once they cross over.. or what could go wrong?

Kakashi said nothing and instead turned away from him and began to walk away "Right." he said without turning back "Ready to solve this thing?" he asked looking back.

"Once and for all." Piccolo answered. With a grin Piccolo nodded and they took off again.

Travelling back from their detour they reached on top of the Hokage's tower together. Piccolo landed down kicking up another torrent of wind that blew at the three awaiting them. Conversely Kakashi bounded up from a lower roof, propelling himself up and over the railings to land right beside Piccolo.

Standing before them was Tsunade, Shizune, and the recently released Renji.

"Hm." Tsunade let out as the wind around Piccolo died down "I expected you earlier." Tsunade commented as the two came towards her and came to a stop "You two ready to go?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am." Kakashi answered first.

"You know it." Piccolo agreed.

All eyes then went to Renji who stood adjacent to the group, feeling very much like the outsider that he was. But all he had to do was keep up his end of the bargain.

The pact in this deal was proposed by Kakashi to the agreement and benefit of all. Renji was to be released free of any charges against him, but only if he took Kakashi and Piccolo to the Soul Society. Tsunade also expected there was explanation from a proper source; a certain young captain who just happens to be the only reason Renji was allowed to be set free. In his case, it certainly helped he had connections. Kakashi was content to follow Tsunade's orders, then this entire thing could be put behind them. Piccolo just wanted to find Goten and Trunks to free them from captivity. The sooner the better.

"How about you?" she turned to Renji.

"Doesn't seem like I have a choice." he said. "But if you know the Captain, then I suppose he'll be alright with it." he reasoned. If possible he'd also try to shift any of the blame onto him for this, if it came up.

"Well, you just bring him back here with these two." she nodded over to Piccolo and Kakashi.

"Yes ma'am." he snapped to attention, more out of fear than anything. Kakashi and Piccolo then moved around Tsunade, passing her on each side as came closer to him and Renji eased out of his posture. "Remember." he pointed a finger as menacingly as he would his sword "I don't trust you."

"The feeling is mutual." Piccolo responded. Kakashi didn't stir, but shared the sentiment. Despite the lack of trust Renji put his back to them and prepared to open the door to home to them.

Unsheathing his sword and jabbing it forward half of it seemed to disappear into the air before him, as if it was cut down by the wind. He turned his wrist and the sword with it. Once he did the air around the half edge of his sword began to churn around it. With the sword as the center point the air swerved before it erupted into a bright light that overtook the group.

Standing behind them Tsunade wasn't fazed by it, having seen it before when Toshiro left with Rangiku before. Piccolo and Kakashi his their surprise well.

The shine of the light on them died down, but was still focused in front of Renji. They saw now that two wide doors had opened, and between them was the light he summoned.

"Well" Renji barked "This is it." his eyes rolled back to the two stoic ones behind him "You coming or what?" he asked as he trudged forward disappearing into it. Without a word Piccolo and Kakashi followed behind him and once they did the doors closed.

Walking through the door they emerged on the other side. Coming to a stop, they looked around at this new place; the Soul Society.

They found themselves on a pathway with two large walls on each side boxing them in. Behind the walls were tall white marble buildings. The more they looked out the taller and larger those buildings became. Looing to their left the path they stood on continued downward before it forked, heading in two different directions. It was the same on the other, farther end. Even from where they stood they could tell the framework of the path they stood in spread all around this place.

"So," Piccolo spoke up as he took in the new scenery "where to now?"

"Making new friends are we lieutenant?" a young condescending voice said from above. Kakashi and Piccolo were on edge, but Renji was surprised to hear the voice as well. All three turned their heads up to see a young white haired boy in a white coat sitting atop a nearby wall, a chuck of watermelon in his hands. "Seems every one is these days." he said looking down at them.

"Captain Hitsugaya." Renji said and the two with him perked up, having recognized the name. "Are you off duty?"

"Off duty?" he scoffed "I'm likely to remain off. Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake have once again taken over the Senkaimon. Captain Zaraki's been confined to his barracks and Captain Kurotsuchi's disappeared into his." To do what, no one ever knew or dared to ask.

Though the conversation was between Renji and Toshiro at the moment they were not the only ones there.

"So" a quiet inquisitive voice let out beside Renji and Toshiro turned from his perch to see a masked man with spiked white hair standing beside Renji looking up to him "you're captain Hitsugaya." Kakashi spoke, and the boy locked his eyes onto him.

"I am." he admitted taking a bite of his watermelon "And you're Kakashi Hatake." he said as he chewed.

"You know me?" Kakashi asked, but didn't sound surprised by it. Toshiro swallowed.

"I ended up doing most of your Hokage's work." Toshiro told "Your name came up several times. You may get her job when this is all over."

"So I've heard." he said as Toshiro spit out a seed. So this was the 'old friend' Tsunade had spoken of. It seemed no different than how he brought up Piccolo to others. And needless to say like Piccolo, this boy was nothing like what many people would expect.

"Well, don't ask me to do you work for you." Toshiro said sounding like a tired old man instead of a young boy.

"M'lady said she can't wait for your return." Kakashi said.

"I bet." Toshiro grumbled. He took notice of the others in this group Renji brought back with him. Now he looked over to see Piccolo glaring at him "And what are you exactly?"

"My name is Piccolo." he growled, looking much fiercer than the other two.

'Captain Rose would like this one.' Toshiro thought.

"I believe you know of me as well." Piccolo continued "You fought with two of my friends before." Toshiro raised a brow at him. He's fought many things in his life, but nothing like him "Two little-"

"PICCOLO!" a voice screeched through the air. All eyes turned to see another group approaching on the walkway heading towards them. One young man running at him and two younger boys flying behind him. Piccolo's eyes bugged open in shock when he saw who it was.

"Gohan!?" Piccolo let out in surprise, his anger fading away "You're here too?!"

Gohan came to a slow stop before him "Not just me." he smiled stopping before him "Vegeta just left."

Piccolo's jaw dropped "He-heleft?! He was here?!" his voice shaky and in disbelief. Gohan only nodded to him. After all this time, Piccolo just couldn't believe it. They were here. But how? Why? "But-" he began, but suddenly barraging Piccolo from above, two little bodies fell on top of him as every one else casually watched as he was knocked to the ground.

"Piccolo?!" Hey, it's us!" two voices let out. He looked up to see sitting on top of him were Goten and Trunks.

"Boys?! You're here?! Your alright!" he smiled getting up. It just kept getting better.

"Of course we are!" Goten said "But we don't wanna be back!"

"Back?!" Piccolo let out. Toshiro just rolled his eyes. The two young boys then began assaulting Piccolo's tender ears with both oversimplified and overexaggerated versions of their stories. But they were not the only ones reunited here.

"Hey, Renji!" Gohan turned calling to him getting his attention.

"Gohan." the lieutenant greeted in his own way. Last time Renji saw him, Gohan had left with Ichigo into this other world. And then he and Rukia were sent after them.

"It's good to see you again." Gohan said cheerfully before looking over at Piccolo with Goten and Trunks "Thanks for bringing my friend back to me."

Renji averted his eyes "Yeah.." he agreed uneasily "don't mention it." His eyes then moved back up to Gohan, remembering why he was following him in the first place.

"Gohan!" Piccolo's voice cut between them. Renji looked past Gohan as Gohan turned around as Piccolo came beside him. From behind them seemingly on the outside of the group was Kakashi "You know him?" he eyes rolled over to Renji making him even more uneasy. Gohan's enthusiasm however, didn't fade.

"Of course I do!" he answered "He's my friend."

"Friend?" Piccolo questioned as his stare on Renji intensified. Gohan nodded.

"Speaking of friends." Renji said getting Gohan to turn to him now "Where's Ichigo?" he asked looking around and seeing no sign of him. "My captain told me to find you two and help if I can."

"Well, you definitely helped me." Gohan assured him "As for Ichigo.." he paused. A self conscious expression came over Gohan "we got separated unfortunately."

"Separated?" Renji repeated.

Gohan nodded "I know he came back here and had a run in with my brother." he nodded over his head as Goten and Trunks had each perched themselves onto Piccolo's shoulders to talk into his ear on each side "But afterword's he jumped back through the Senkaimon."

"It seems you two have been through a lot." Renji said "No different than Rukia and I."

Gohan perked up when Renji mentioned that "Well, at least we know where Rukia is." Gohan said sounding somewhat relieved, but Renji only raised an eyebrow at him "She's here." Gohan told "Rukia's just been admitted to the medical ward." Kakashi, who had remained quiet for almost the entire spectacle before him, perked up at the sound of than name. That's who Sakura said she met. That's who she fought. If she was here so must be the person who fought Guy. He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the large figure approach him from behind and snatch away him by the throat. "Wanna go see her?" Gohan asked, like the rest of them oblivious to what had just transpired around them.

"She's here?! What happened?!" Renji exclaimed.

"I thought you already knew that?" Piccolo said, taking pause from the boys who continued to prattle on to him.

"Well yeah-but-"

"Hey, Piccolo" Gohan let out getting his attention "Did you come with some one else?" he asked curiously "I could've sworn there was some one with you?"

"There was." Piccolo answered. "Our guide." he answered looking at Renji. Piccolo's face softened now as it turned into a smirk and there was a surprisingly mischievous levity in his voice "And my old sparring partner"

"Huh?" Gohan let out both confused and intrigued "Whose that?" Gohan asked.

"He came here with us." Piccolo answered "Renji," he pointed to the soul reaper before he motioned to him "myself," he patted his own chest "and-" he turned to introduce Kakashi to his own student, holding out an arm to reveal him. But when everyone looked over to where he stood it was only to realize he wasn't there.

Outskirts of the Leaf Village

They were fools to think he would just sit around and wait like before- not after everything that's happened. All because of him. Sneaking out of the village was easy; he'd been used to going around unnoticed most of his life. Tsunade, Anko, Guy, Kotetsu, Izumo, they weren't so easily evaded, but were evaded none the less. He made one stop before leaving.

"I'm sorry. I have to do this." Naruto told Sakura before leaving. And he didn't wait to give her an opportunity to say anything to stop her.

The way he saw it, everyone else would just be put in more danger, so this time Naruto left on his own. Content to do this on his own.

He followed Kakashi and Piccolo as well as he could. The last he saw of them they were still in the village, but by the time he got to them he only saw Tsunade on top of a roof talking with Shizune. Whoever this friend was they were going to see, it seems they already left.

Cursing to himself Naruto felt, he had lost his opportunity already. Kakashi and Piccolo could not have gotten far and though he didn't see them leave the Leaf Village, there was nowhere else they could have gone. Bypassing the main gate he made his way into the forest.

He didn't know how long he'd have until they'd catch on so he ran as fast as he could to get as far away as he could. Bolting under the cover of the trees he ran as fast and as far as his legs would carry him. Something was out here, he knew that much. Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, Shino they all met something. And he was going to as well. He was going to end this. He didn't know how or when, but he would.

He ran into a clearing like an orange blur. But his speed was cut short before he abruptly collided into something.

"Ooff!" Ah!" two voices both let out before he collided into some one and they were tossed across the ground.

"Eehh." Naruto groaned on the ground on his back as he held onto his head "Oh I hit my head on something." he groaned aloud as he squirmed.

"Yeah." someone answered "my head!" he whined. Looking up from the ground Naruto saw an older muscular man in an orange gi sitting up and mimicking Naruto, was holding his head with both hands; suppressing his point black hair in the process. "What was that for?" he groaned looking over to Naruto.

Flipping over and shooting up to his knees and hands, Naruto raised a hand to point it at him "Why don't you watch where your going?!" Naruto shouted.

"Me?" the man said offended "You ran into me!" he whined "I was just waiting for someone to come back!"

"Come back from where?!" Naruto asked. Looking around, he saw no sign of anyone else here.

"Up there!" the man raised a hand up from his head. He stretched a very muscular arm up and pointed to the sky. Naruto followed his pointing, and looked up to see.. nothing. There were treetops being moved about by the wind. Higher above that were the clouds and the sun disappearing behind them turning everything darker than is was before. This left Naruto to only one conclusion.

'This guys crazy' he thought looking across at him 'Leave it to me, to find the craziest guy out here.'

"See." the man said in a very childish voice, trying to convince Naruto of what he said. Naruto let out a tired breath.

"Say." he said, the anger gone from his voice. He now sounded tired and worn out. The drastic change in tone caught the man off guard, but also got his attention. "Did you see two people come through here?" he asked. Naruto doubted there was a chance Kakashi or Piccolo could have gone this way, but if there was he must be on the right track. If not..

"Nope." the man said "Just me." he answered. Naruto's head dropped now, hanging limply from his neck as he remained on his hands and knees. The sun remained hidden behind the clouds making everything darker, adding to Naruto's already bleak outlook.

"Listen.."Naruto said again, but paused glumly as he bowed his head "Can I ask you to do something?"

"Hm?" he let out curiously before putting on a warm amiable smile "Sure." he said without hesitation as he put his fist to the ground and knelt forward towards him. Naruto didn't answer and it was clear some great change had come over him. Dread was apparent in his voice and his face even though he tried to hide it. "Hey," he reached out and put a hand on his shoulder "are you alright?" he asked concerned.

Naruto lifted his head to look at the sincerity in this man's eyes.

"Can you do something for me?" Naruto asked. The man nodded bringing his arm back to his side. "I had to run away from home. They were all going to get hurt on my account and..." he paused, biting his lip and his fist clenched the ground beneath him "I couldn't let that happen. " he explained gravely, and the man's appearance noticeably changed. He starred intently at him now. The childlike wonder gone and replaced with a man's knowledge and experience of danger. "I had to.. I had to get out of there and find this out for myself and-"he saw a hand appear before his face. Looking up he saw the man now standing at his full height and reaching an arm down to him.

Naruto reached out and grabbed his hand. Jumping off the ground he was helped to his feet. The two stood together now and Naruto was this man had a strong build and stood a whole head above him. But Naruto wasn't afraid of him. Instead, he felt reassured by him.

"Don't you worry." he said warmly to him, just like so many had before. "I'll make sure you give em the slip."

"R-really?"

He nodded "You bet."

"Thank you!" Naruto exclaimed in a burst of energy. His deafest attitude from before now gone, all from this pep talk from a stranger.

"And I'll tell you what." he put his hands on his hips "Once my friends arrive. I'll be right behind you. To help in any way I can." he said taking it one step further, standing in solidarity with Naruto now.

Naruto turned away "I don't know mister." he crossed his arms, but retained a smile "This is no easy thing you're volunteering for." he grinned at him.

"Well, I'm a bit used to that." he smirked confidently back at him. And with that said, the pact was made.

Naruto turned back to him "My name's Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki." he introduced himself.

"Naruto." the man nodded and then finished the introductions.

"My name's Goku." they introduced themselves. Goku reached out his arm and Naruto slapped him into his and they gripped each other fiercely. Feeling a comradery with each other now they released the other from their grip. Goku looked him over "I like the jacket." he motioned to the orange jacket.

"Hey, I used to have it in blue too." Naruto giggled noticing the blue he wore with his orange gi. Goku laughed at their shared sense of fashion before recalling the task at hand for both of them.

"You better get going Naruto." he said "But know I'll be right behind you."

"I'll be waiting." Naruto said bringing his hand back and then waving it. Then Naruto bounded off into the tree's as Goku watched before he disappeared into it, leaving Goku where he left him. Calmly he went back to looking up at the sky and waited.

Next time: Everyone moves into place.. dark clouds approach.