Iruka's View:

The piles of papers around kept reminding me how much I needed to do, but it wasn't important right now. Grading could wait. Right now, I was trying to find words to explain to Aurora someone very important had been killed. Right now I was letting her play with my hair while on the couch, while I sat on the floor. The coffee table had been serving as my desk, but none of it would get done today.

"Aurora...do you know why school is out for a few days?" I asked her, making her stop the tiny braid she was making.

"No." She was quick to get back to what she was doing.

"Do you remember Jiraiya? I don't know if you met him or not."

"The guy father had meetings with?" I really needed to teach her to keep secrets.

"Er...yeah. Well, something happened on a mission he was on. He was killed." That was all I'd been told. The announcement had yet to be made to the whole village, but I was told because of Naruto. I knew how hurt he would be and the only one who knew how to help him.

"Like Asuma-Oji?" She let the braid go, not tying that one off and letting it untie itself.

"Kind of, yes. Jiraiya was a Legendary Sannin, one of three. He, Tsunade and Orochimaru were the strongest ninja ever to have lived." Only one was left now, Tsunade.

"Oh…" She was impressed, but didn't understand why his death was more important.

"He was the only one of the three to master the Sage technique." I explained. "It's a complicated technique that uses nature chakra. It's...hard to explain." Kakashi might know more on that than me, but I knew it used chakra gathered from your surroundings.

"Is that what father is doing with his team?"

"Yeah, Tsunade is telling Naruto what happened. Kakashi is there to help him cope."

"Can we go too? Naruto-nii might be sad." It warmed me to know she cared.

"You want to?" She nodded, taking my hair out of its tiny braids.

I saw Naruto before she did, seeing how lost he looked. I took her hand, holding her back from running to him when she saw him.

"Hey, Naruto." I called out, pulling him out of his daze. He must have just left the office. "I heard you're doing all sorts of crazy missions now. What do you say we go to Ichiraku for some ramen, eh?" He just looked away sadly towards the ground.

"Naruto-nii?" Even Aurora couldn't break the spell.

"No thanks…" He walked past us, not even bothering to answer her. I knew he was hurting.

"Maa, give him time." We turned around to see Kakashi had caught up. "He just lost his godfather…" Aurora looked heartbroken that Naruto was sad, she didn't get the pain he was in. "Come on, let's get home." He urged us.

Later that night, I knew Naruto would be out. He would be restless and needed to know everything was going to be ok. Aurora wanted to come, but it was very late. I know she had picked up how sad Naruto was, but she was still little.

"I only want to give him a hug." I gave in, knowing she'd sneak off anyway.

"Just don't until he says, ok?"

Kakashi chose to stay home, trying to figure out what the code Jiraiya had left could be. He didn't have it, but he was still thinking of what the key could be.

We found Naruto on a bench, the street lamp casting a shadow to hide the fact he was crying.

"Naruto…" I called softly, making him jump a little. He moved over to let me sit, Aurora standing near my knees. "We heard about Jiraiya-sama." I told him, letting him answer.

"I wanted him to watch over me...to keep watching and see me become Hokage." The voice wasn't the Naruto I knew. It sounded hollow and broken. "To see me more than just a screw up…" He laughed humorlessly.

"Jiraiya-sama had nothing but praise for you." I assured him, having talked to him at least once about our blonde student. "He was always bragging about you, like you were he's grandson." This cheered Naruto up a little. "He never doubted for a second that you wouldn't be a wonderful Hokage. You inherited his spirit, Naruto. Jiraiya-sama will always be watching over you and I'm sure he is now." I said, standing up to kneel in front of Naruto to take his melting popsicle and breaking it in half. "Don't stop being the person who earned that praise. Keep making Jiraiya brag about you." Naruto smiled, giving the other half to Aurora, which made her light up.

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei." Naruto looked at Aurora. "Hey...what happened to your hair?" She puffed her cheeks in a pout, still not liking how short it was.

Kakashi's View:

The Elder Toad told us what had happened to Jiraiya. He was spying on the Rain Village, but he never expected to fight Pain. Apparently Jiraiya had forced himself back to life to leave the code, a message of who Pain really was. Jiraiya had given us three clues, but this one was the most important. Thing was, he didn't give a key to his message so no one knew what it said. Shikamaru had called on me to take a look. Aurora was along with me, leaving Iruka alone to get some paperwork done. I hadn't had time to spend with her lately, so I decided to try to make it up to her and spend some time with her today.

"Hm...9, 31, 8, 106, 7, 207, 15…" I read out loud.

"What's that?" She asked.

"A code we're trying to figure out. Ringing any bells?" Shikamaru asked.

"Well...106 was…" I couldn't say that, it was something Jiraiya had said about Tsunade's breasts. "Never mind. Try Tsunade-sama or Naruto."

"Tsunade-sama doesn't know...guess I'll try Naruto."

"I'm more worried about him than this code…"

I decided we should stay near the criptics office, in case they needed anything. Aurora was confused at to what we were doing.

"Well, the code might involve these books. I have a feeling, if I'm right, were missing something very important." And I knew Shikamaru planned to bring Naruto here. Who said I couldn't spend the day with Aurora and work all in one?

It didn't take long for my suspicion to be confirmed. They spoke about how the 9 wasn't really a 9. It was a hand writing quirk, the 9 was katakana for "Ta."

"I think you'll find this volume interesting." I said, opening the window. Shikamaru was happy to see the book, but annoyed I had been listening in.

"The book title...Ta!" He grinned. Like I hadn't noticed…

"That's the book he wrote while training me!" Naruto said, figuring something out.

"I was right, the note was for Naruto. Without him I never would have noticed." Shikamura smiled. We discussed what the numbers must be then, seeing as it was hidden in this volume. Aurora was very confused.

"Father, what does this all mean?"

"Maa, we figured out the key to the code." I'd explain later.

"Y-You brought Aurora?" Shikamaru suddenly blushed, unable to see her. The window was above her head.

"Page 31 is first." The woman with the big glasses said. "Let's see, most common is the first letter of each page. Read the first sentence out loud, please, so we can know the world of the book."

"Uhh…" I could feel the sweat forming on my forehead. I couldn't...not with her. Ok, maybe it was a mistake to make this a day out together.

"What's the problem, just read it already!" Naruto yelled. I gulped, reading them all one by one.

My face was burning, embarrassed and knowing that Aurora would question every single one. The worst one's were vivid discriptions of sex. I couldn't sensor them, and Aurora was horrified. The woman didn't write all of the sentences down, just the first few words, but I still had to read them all. Shikamaru was just as scared, but no more than I was.

"Father…?"

"N-not now…" I told her, not wanting to answer any questions right now.

"Ok...with the first words of each sentence, we get…"The real one isn't with them."" The woman told us.

"The hell does that mean?!" Naruto frowned.

"Let's find Fukasaku-sama and see if he has any idea." This time, Aurora was going back home. No more unexpected porn reading for her…

When Iruka found out, I wondered if this was how my life would end. The threat of the collection of books shoved up my ass was a new one, though after I told him I might enjoy that he regretted saying it.

"Damnit Kakashi...she not even six yet! She's going to repeat everything she heard today!" He was worried that the class would start copying her, making his life hell.

"It's not like I planned it...?" I still got a scroll between the eyes for it.

"You are explaining this...I'm not covering." He glared, pointing towards the stairs. Aurora was peeking through the banisters, having overheard our fight.

"Maa...alright." Guess I'd get to scar her some more.

We sat on the bear, it was becoming more of a chair than a play thing any more. Aurora looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to talk first.

"So...about what you heard me read…" I really had no idea where to begin. She was too young for the talk...right? "So...er...when a-a man and a woman love each other, they sometimes...do stuff." She made a face, knowing I wasn't saying what I wanted to.

"Huh?"

"You know what...never mind. You're not old enough for that...the book isn't important." I know she saw how red I had become, even with my mask and headband covering my face. "The point is, I shouldn't have read it with you there."

"So why..."

"I had no idea they wanted me to read it." I cut her off. "I promise next time we'll do something you want to, ok?" She wasn't done questioning me, but it would stop them for today. I had to go back to the Hokage's office.

Aurora's View:

Father just confused me further. What was the book about and why were people obsessed with weiners?! Dad wouldn't answer me either, saying he didn't read the books. I guess I'd have to wait until Naruto got back. He might know.

Of course, Naruto had to leave on a mission last evening, so I'd have to wait a little longer to know. Father explained to us that he was doing Sage training to be able to fend off the Akatsuki. From what I understood, their leader was the one who killed Jiraiya-sama.

I looked at the mark on my arm, wishing I could get rid of it. If it wasn't for this, I might be able to help out with protecting Naruto. Dad said I wasn't strong enough, but I knew this thing was holding it back. I felt someone appear next to me, making me jump.

"Aurora, would you care to explain?" Iruka-sensei was by me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Um…" I had no idea what he was talking about. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and I glanced to the board. "Chakra natures?"

"What about them?" I heard the class laughing quietly. I looked away, unsure what he meant. "Which nature is superior and which one isn't between earth and lightning?"

"Lightning." I remembered what Yamato taught Naruto and me. "Earth is superior to water though." At least he was impressed and it got me out of trouble. I sighed, when he walked away, asking other kids questions. I hated when he snuck up on me like that…

After school, I went off to play with Yuri and Sora in the park. Dad had to work in the missions room and father was back in the...crypt...ish...the decoding room. I forgot what it was really called, but Shika-kun needed help still. Father was going to meet me here later. Yuri-chan's mom would be by soon too and Sora-kun's aunt would be by later, allowing us time to play.

"Let's build a sand castle!" Yuri beamed.

"Yuri-chan, this isn't the beach…" Sora told her as she tried to make a mound into a different shape.

"So?"

"You need water." I told her, making her pout.

"Well...you can make water, right?" She tilted her head in a questioning way.

"I mean...yeah...but."

"So we can!"

"Yuri-chan…" Sora sighed. "It doesn't work like…" Yuri gasped, got up and backed away.

"Who's that?!" Sora and I turned, seeing a man watching us in the shade of a tree. The old man with the bandages…

"What do you want?" Sora asked him, stepping in front of me to shield me.

"I'm not here for you, boy. I'm here for her." He lifted a finger and pointed at me. "Have you learned your true powers yet? What dangers you hold against the village? Because of your power, Konoha won't be safe until you do." He stepped forward into the sunlight to see us better.

"Y-you shouldn't be talking to us." Yuri tried. "You're a stranger."

"No, Yuri, it's "you're not supposed to talk to strangers."" Sora corrected her. While they argued, the man moved with lightning speed to get behind Sora and grab me. Yuri ran off screaming, going to find help, while Sora tried to make him let me go. He held me around the waist and pulled me back when the old man tried to take me.

"Let me go!" I yelled. "I don't want to go with you!" He made a hand sign, making my arm burn.

"You don't believe me? Fine...let me show you how little control you really have…" I felt what could only be described as a snap inside of my arm and the burning got worse. I felt the flare, but I couldn't warn Sora. He didn't let go in time and was frozen to the spot, like the time I had frozen Gai-Sensei. "Do you see what you are now?"

"Sora-kun?!" I tried to grab his hand, but the old man grabbed me by my shirt. "No! Stop! I have to unfreeze him!" My feet didn't touch the ground anymore, he was carrying me away.

"It won't matter, he's nothing to this village. You, you have a power we should be harnessing." He told me as a masked ninja appeared, taking a hold of me and trying to put me over his shoulder. "Without refinement, you pose a threat. You will come with me..."

"I...said, NO!" With the seal broken, all of my chakra was back, which allowed me to push him back with a large icicle between us. "I won't go with you! I'm not a danger to anyone!"

"But look what you've done to your friend…" He was looking at me through the ice.

"No...you did that. You released the seal...you caused the flare!" The ground was turning to icy now, spreading towards Danzō. He was right about one thing, I had no control over it. It spread up the trees and turned the playground into an icy wonderland. The seal was leaking chakra to fast, the breaking of the seal causing a reversing effect.

"You must calm down now…" The man glared, his masked helper getting ready to attack me. "I see someone has tampered with my mark...you didn't tell did you?" I glared, he knew it wasn't possible for me to. "Without me, you'll keep losing chakra and eventually die. Come...I am the only one who can stop it." I couldn't trust him, but no matter what I did right now, he would get me. My chakra was depleting quickly, leaving me no chance at escape. Before I could even think to try, the masked man grabbed me again, allowing Danzō to grab my arm again and "fix" the leak.

"Now then...no more of this fighting…" I screamed as he put his hand over my eyes, knocking me out.

Kakashi's View:

I was on my way to the park, dazed still from all of the reading we had to do still. There wasn't anything else to do but wait it all out now. I sighed, just wanting to go home, when a lightning fast flash ran into me.

"Yuri?" I helped the frightened girl up. "What's wrong?"

"There'sanoldmanintheparkandhe'stryingtotakeAuroraandSoraistryingtostopitall." I hushed her, seeing she was a very fast talker when she was scared. I understood the gist of it, telling her to stay put and taking off towards the park.

The first clue something was wrong was the park being covered in ice, the swings looking eerie in the icy coating.

"Aurora?" I called out, seeing if she was hiding away. No answer… "What the hell?" I had to use my chakra to keep from sliding on the ice on my way to the frozen form I saw. "No...Sora." I touched the top of his head, applying my chakra to unfreeze the boy. He gasped for air, shivering, but ok. Thankfully her ice wasn't at full strength, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to unfreeze him.

"Sora, you ok?" I knelt down to his height. He nodded, still shivering. "Good...can you tell me what happened?" I rubbed my hand up and down his arms to warm him up a little.

"A-Aurora w-w-was k-kidnapped…" Was all he could get out. I was instantly in fighting mode.

"Where?" I know my tone had scared him, but I was beyond pissed. He pointed towards the trees. I let him go, running in that direction.

I summoned my hounds a second later, alerting them to what happened at to find her. Bull growled in anger, the others were mad she'd been taken, but he had taken it harder than the rest of the pack.

"Find her. I don't care how." I told them, having them spread out. Moments later, Bull howled. He was the most determined and had found her first. "Good boy…" I took off, knowing the others would gather there.

If Danzo thought he was going to get away with this, he was going to be sorry. I planned on breaking every bone in his body if I found him.

"Pakkun, alert Tsunade. I might need back up." The pug took off, saying he wouldn't let me down. I just hoped I had the chance to find him first…

Please R&R!