Author's Note: I'm so, so sorry I haven't updated in a while. I promise that I'll update once a month. I've just been trying to start up a big project. Yes, like I've said in my notices, the fanshow YouTube series. (By the way, I'm still holding auditions for anyone who's interested.) And, that takes a lot of time to plan. But, now that I'm ahead of schedule (Yay!), I have more time to write! So, here's the long awaited chapter! If you have any concerns, questions, suggestions, or comments please PM me or review. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Last time:

"Ah, Naruto-kun," Hiruzen said smiling as the Bear masked ANBU and he appeared. "Remember when I said I had a surprise for you all those years ago? It's ready..."

Chapter 6: Mysteries

Naruto looked at Hiruzen with a joy filled, expectant face.

He held up a picture, and the old man's heart strings were pulled.

"Yes, my boy," Hiruzen said.

Naruto's smile only widened.

….Iruka's house…

Iruka was currently humming as he dusted the shelves. He hasn't been this excited in years.

"I wonder how much longer it will be," Iruka said.

He shrugged and continued cleaning. It wouldn't be much longer…

….With Shikamaru and Kiba…

"Hey, Shika," Kiba said. "What's going on?"

Shikamaru shrugged, "I'm not sure. But, maybe Hokage-sama just wants to check up on Naruto. He does that every once in a while."

"Really," Kiba asked. "Why?"

"He's the closest thing that Naruto has to family," Shikamaru said. "He's been looking after him for as long as he remembers."

"Wow," Kiba breathed. "I can't believe he knows the Hokage so personally. Man, never knew Naru was so special."

Shika chuckled in amusement as he said, "He's more special than you realize."

"How so," Kiba asked, and Akamaru whined in agreement.

"You'll just have to wait and see, Kiba," Shikamaru said.

Kiba groaned.

"I don't want to wait," he whined. "Why do you and Naruto have to be so dang myserious! It's not fair! Everyone else got normal teammates…well besides…never mind! It's still not fair!"

This time Shikamaru burst out laughing.

"And, I wanted a normal life," he said under his breath. "They might be troublesome, but there fun to be around…"

Shikamaru walked off, leaving Kiba alone to whine to himself…

…Kiba's house….

"Mom," Kiba yelled. "I'm home!"

"Kiba," Tsume yelled. "Welcome home pup! How'd team placements go?"

"It went great," Kiba exclaimed. "I've got smart teammates! We've already passed the Jonin's Genin exam 'cause of one of them!"

"Really," Tsume asked, dropping a plate. "Who're your teammates?"

"Oh…," Kiba said blushing once he realized he never even told her their names. "They're Nara Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto's the one who got us past the Ibiki-sensei's test."

"Ibiki," Tsume said, once again dropping a plate. "He's your sensei?!"

"Yeah," Kiba said, suddenly serious, as he sat down at the dining room table. "He wants us to learn how to interigate people. …But, I'm not sure if I can do it, mom. Does that make me weak?"

"No, of course not," Tsume said as she sat across from her son, the dishes forgotten. "There are only a select few that can handle that job. I'm not sure why Hokage-sama sorted you the way he did, but he must believe that you can handle it. Who know, maybe you won't be an interrogator. Maybe you'll just gather information?"

"…Maybe," Kiba said. "But, I'm actually worried more about Naruto."

"Whatever people said, don't listen to 'em," Tsume said. "He's just a boy, nothin' else."

"Huh," Kiba said. "What do you mean? I was talking about his select mutism. I'm worried that Ibiki-sensei might accidently make it worse."

"Oh," Tsume said paling. "That's good, pup. I'm glad your worried about your teammate. Just forget what I said."

"Why," Kiba asked.

"Sorry, pup," Tsume said as she went back to the dishes. "Just forget I said anything. By the way, are your new friends coming over for dinner?"

A smile instantly came over Kiba's face as he excitedly told her that they were coming, and then began explaining all that he learned about them from the day; the his mother's weird comment forgotten.

…In Naruto's mindscape...

Kurama walked around his cage in agitation. It was getting harder to form coherent sentences. He was losing his mind from just seeing the inside of these walls. He wanted out! …He wanted someone to talk to.

"It…I was around a thousand years old," he said. "I had just gotten my eighth tail. However, by this time, the Hachibi had his eighth tail for three hundred years. He was the only eight tail in the mortal realm, and he was jealous that I had gained an eighth tail 'cause now he wasn't the only one."

Kyuubi sighed at the memory.

"We were friends at the time," Kurama said. "But, he started to become jealous, and then he became spitfull. He stole my mate because he hated me so much. At that time, I thought I'd never have a home again… And then I meet her. Oh, I loved her. We had several kits together… I thought I'd be happy forever, however, that's when I meet a man. A man from the elemental nations. He slaughtered my kits, and then he rounded a team and sealed my mate to a tree. Ironically, it was the same tree that Hashirama would be birthed under, and granted his amazing wood element from. Hah, the first person to seal me was gifted by the love of my life. Life has a sick sense of humor."

Unknown to Kyuubi, Naruto nodded his head to his comment as Hiruzen guided him to where his 'surprise' would be. Naruto's breath was held, and he trembled slightly. Kurama's story didn't help him this time. It just made him more anxious. What would happen now? Jiji told him everything was in order, and that things would get better now. But, life wasn't that kind to him. Naruto knew that. The only thing that life gave him that hasn't slapped him in the face so far was the voice in his head that told stories, his Jiji, Shikamaru, and Iruka-sensei. Though, even though things have been going well so far, he's still waiting for the shoe to drop. The shoe always dropped. No matter how hard he tried to stop it. What would happen this time? Life couldn't be this kind to him. There were no happy endings. Everyone besides a select few hated him, so there had to be something missing. There had to be a catch somewhere….right?

A/N: If you can guess what the surprise is, I'll post a 500 word (or less) poem, short story, etc. of yours on the bottom of my next chapter. :)