Well, to start off, I don't own any characters 'cept Touza and Tomitsu. Second, FLUFFINESS! That was basically the last two chapters. Sorry it took so long, though, but now it gets fun. Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 23

Today was a special day for Team 9, and because of that, Guy had been spirited enough to let them have this particular day off when they had arrived in the clearing. Neji and TenTen had still chosen to train together, but Naruto intended to either wander the village or work on fuinjutsu. Most likely both. Before Guy left, he said to them, "You may have this day off, but meet up at Yakiniku Q at six! Team 6 will be there as well!" He bounded off.

Naruto yawned and raised an eyebrow at his teammates. "Are you really gonna stay here?"

Neji nodded. "My technique with the tonfa is still not up to par according to my standards. I want to train daily to correct that."

"And he needs my help," added TenTen, "He'd never get any better without me."

"Uh-huh. Right," replied Naruto skeptically.

"What?" she asked

"I don't know. Maybe it's just the fact of two teens in the midst of hormonal release staying alone in a forest just doesn't seem to sit quite right."

TenTen blushed and scowled, and Neji rolled his eyes. "I'm surprised you can rightly use the phrase 'hormonal release' along with the correct context to support it," commented the Hyuuga dryly.

"And I'm more surprised that you didn't deny it, Mr. Honorable," shot back Naruto equally dry. He grinned cheekily at TenTen before waving goodbye. "Ta-ta!" He vanished, TenTen ready to strangle him with Neji laying a restraining hand on her shoulder.

Naruto yawned again. Even though today was special, Guy hadn't reminded them until that morning, and as a result, they had arrived at six-thirty sharp as they always did. He could shake off the drowsiness eventually, but that required either brief heavy exercise or a long walk. He yawned again. He wandered around the village as it woke up, a few people waving at him as he passed. Naruto waved back, and the sound of something falling caught his ear.

He turned, and he bent down to pick up a bag of trash dropped by an elderly man. The man squinted at him through large, owlish glasses, and Naruto asked, "Sir, do want me to take this for you?" The man nodded and murmured a thanks as he hobbled back into his house, a younger woman, presumably his granddaughter, helping him. Naruto tossed the bag into a dumpster, dusting off his hands. Unbeknownst to him, Kakashi was fuming behind him. 'That's the old man I help everyday! Now I don't have a good reason to be late,' he thought before shrugging and taking out his orange book, 'Oh, well.'

Naruto passed the Academy, shouting sounds coming from its practice yard already. He perked at it and hopped on top of the wall. It was Touza's class, and now Naruto recognized Konohamaru's scarf and Touza's scruffy clothes. The entire class was spread out between the target logs and the sparring rings. Touza and Konohamaru were over by the logs where students were practicing shuriken throwing. Naruto blinked in momentary confusion as he saw several Kitame's watching over the class, working with students individually at times, but then he realized them to be clones. Shadow Clones, by their solidity and shadow.

Naruto hung his legs over the wall and watched as Touza took aim at a target and threw the shuriken. The throw was well-executed, and the it thudded satisfyingly into the ring just outside the center. Touza pumped his fist, a smile on his face, and he looked toward Kitame. The middle-aged man nodded, and Konohamaru was next. A focused expression entered the boy's face as he aimed. He threw, and the shuriken hit the far left corner of the target. He grimaced, and Kitame stepped up to offer advice.

Touza glanced around, his restlessness getting the better of him, and spotted Naruto. He waved and walked over. "Naruto-san!" he shouted when he came into earshot, "What're you doin' here?" He craned his neck to get a better look at the blonde.

"What? Am I in some sort of trouble?" he asked innocently.

"No. I'm just wondering." He balanced back on his heels. "We're out here 'cause the big kids are using all the classrooms. I'm kinda glad. I hate classwork." One of Kitame's clones looked up and saw them talking. It scowled over at Touza. "Well, gotta go, Naruto-san!" he said, "Bye!" He ran back over and joined in the sparring. The clone studied Naruto for a moment before turning to instruct a student about counterattacking.

Time passed, exactly how much was unknown to the blonde, but Touza's class eventually went back into the building. Naruto, bored now, hopped off the wall and back into the street. He wandered into the square and glanced through a shop window at a clock. Twelve'o'clock. He was slightly taken aback but then shrugged. He yawned, this time in boredom. 'Alrighty, off to study fuinjutsu.' He vanished and reappeared in the park near a bench. He sat in it and opened a book labeled Chakra-Storing and Entrapment Seals: High Advanced. It was his birthday present from Iruka.

The trees cast slowly growing shadows as he pondered over variable matrices and precision links. His stomach growled, and Naruto absentmindedly created a clone to fetch him some ramen. He frowned, and he pulled out several blank pieces of paper. He drew a complex, indescribable shape and scrutinized it closely. He shook his head and drew it again on another piece of paper. He nodded to himself, and the clone returned with the ramen in a microwavable cup.

Naruto looked up and brightened, and not just because of the food. "Hey, got something I want you to do," he said, standing. The clone frowned and set the steaming cup of ramen on the bench. "Use a fireball on me," commanded Naruto, setting up a wide barrier to protect the area. Nearby, a toddler clumsily walked beside her parents. They stopped and watched as the purple barrier formed.

"But, Boss," argued the clone, "You haven't tested that seal out! If it doesn't work-,"

"I know," cut in Naruto, "Just do it." He held the seal out in front of him, the shape facing the clone. The clone shook its head and formed two handsigns. It puffed out its chest, and Naruto nearly laughed before a huge fireball roared toward him. He then felt the urge to run and suppressed it. The fireball's heat licked at his face, but then it was funneled into the seal three feet from contact, hot wind blowing back Naruto's hair.

He grinned as the fire disappeared into the seal. "Worked like a charm!" he shouted happily before the paper burst into flames. "Ow! Hot!" He dropped it and stomped the fire out. The clone laughed and dispersed. Naruto rubbed the ashes into the ground, and he caught sight of the toddler and her parents and waved sheepishly. The toddler clapped cheerfully, and her parents smiled softly before they walked away.

Slow applause startled the blonde, and he turned to see Tomitsu standing just outside the barrier. "Impressive, Naruto-san," he complimented, "Many wish they could do the same." Naruto grinned and took down the barrier. "The fireball's heat was scorching," continued Tomitsu, "Even with the barrier, I could feel it. For a small individual, you are intimidating."

Naruto snorted. "For one, I'm not short. Not anymore. And two, I am not intimidating compared to any of Team 6."

Tomitsu bowed his head with a smile. "Of course. Anko-sensei has trained us well in the art of intimidation, and I might add that you are diminutive relative to my height."

"So you got the day off, too?" asked Naruto, ignoring the height comment, "I know we did, but we still had to get there at six-friggin'-thirty in the morning."

The samurai shook his head. "No, we did not have a leisure day, but sensei did end training much earlier than usual. We did our live sparring for an hour and survival for a half-hour, and that was all."

"Survival?"

"Sensei unleashes her snakes, and we have to hide or run." He looked annoyed. "I would kill them, but Anko-sensei can only summon so many." Naruto chuckled at the samurai's predicament and sat back down to eat. Tomitsu raised an eyebrow at his meal choice. "Do you eat nothing but ramen?"

"Pretty much. Not Ichiraku, but it's still good. Ichiraku is the best thing in the world," said Naruto happily.

"Hm," he grunted, "I never developed the taste for it. Edible, however."

Naruto paused and stared at him. "What do ya mean you never developed the taste for it? What's your favorite food if it isn't ramen?"

Tomitsu shrugged. "I possess a wide palate."

"You eat everything."

"Yes."

Naruto laughed through a mouthful of ramen and finished his meal. He sealed the trash away and stood. "Have any plans today besides Yakiniku?" Tomitsu shook his head. "What were you doing here?"

"Taking a walk. Your display caught my attention."

Naruto nodded. "I was just studying fuinjutsu here. I might head to the Academy and see if any of my old class is out."

Tomitsu frowned as he thought about something. He eventually asked, "Might I come with you?"

Naruto shrugged. "Don't see why not."

"Thank you." They walked to the Academy, and Naruto hopped to his spot on the wall, Tomitsu leaning against the wall under him. As the two settled, Iruka walked out, Naruto's old class following him out. A Chunin that Naruto didn't recognize stood by a sparring ring. "Looks like they're doing it outside this year," commented the blonde.

Tomitsu nodded and then asked curiously, "How well did you perform?"

"In this? Eh-" The memories were a bit blurry. "-I did well. Knocked out the guy for a bit."

"I didn't bother knocking him out. I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind him. I held it until he surrendered." Tomitsu smiled. "His expression was priceless. He couldn't believe an Academy student had overpowered him." Out at the sparring ring, Iruka stood by and called out names. Shino was up first.

He stepped in the ring with the Chunin, and Iruka looked between them before signaling them to begin. Naruto leaned forward; Shino was an interesting person who rarely fought, but when he did, he always won. The Aburame didn't budge as his opponent made the first move and charged. Shino languidly ducked under a punch and stepped aside. The Chunin kicked to the side, and Shino jumped back. Another punch, and he turned his body sideways. It was a comical fight, Shino dodging every attack, hands shoved in his jacket pockets and the Chunin becoming more and more frustrated.

"Attack, kid, or I'll fail you!" he shouted, whiffing with another punch.

"If you say so," muttered Shino. Insects burst from his sleeves and wrapped around one of the man's legs. His feet were pulled up from under him, and the Chunin landed roughly on his back. Shino was unreadable as his opponent dusted himself off. "Are you happy now?" he asked, irritation evident in his voice.

The Chunin glared before nodding. Shino bowed before he walked silently from the ring. Tomitsu blinked in surprise at the sudden, unexpected attack, and Naruto grinned. He said to him, "That's why I never messed with him. His bugs are fantastic in a fight." The samurai nodded, and Iruka went down the list. Choji was next.

He walked nervously into the ring, and he looked at Iruka. "Sensei, I-I don't wanna fight."

From the sidelines, Shikamaru shouted with a drawl, "I'll buy you barbeque if you fight!"

"But I don't like to fight!"

"Barbeque and ten bags of chips!" Shikamaru dug in his ear. "Man, convincing you is troublesome."

Choji looked tempted with the offer, but then he shook his head. "C-can I do something else?"

The Chunin's annoyance moved from Shino to Choji. His next words were regrettable. "C'mon and fight, fatty." Choji, facing Shikamaru and back to the Chunin, froze. "Hey, c'mon! Fight, you fat kid! I don't have all day!"

"What did you call me?" asked Choji quietly. Shikamaru was shaking his head, and Naruto was holding back laughter.

"I called you fat!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Now you've done it." Choji faced his opponent, expression enraged. "You never called an Akamichi 'fat'."

"Because we are CHUBBY!" bellowed Choji, "AND CHUBBIES RULE! Human Boulder!" He swelled to a huge size and tucked in his head, legs, and arms. He spun and bowled over the stunned Chunin. "Take that and that and that!" Naruto winced, and Tomitsu was barely concealing his mirth. Choji's body was enveloped in a cloud of smoke suddenly, and he returned to normal size. "I'll say it again!" he shouted, "I'm not fat. I'm chubby!" He stormed from the ring.

Tomitsu burst into laughter, and Naruto nearly fell from the roof in a fit. They were finally noticed by the others, and a few waved at the blonde and laughed along with him. Tomitsu looked up with a grin, and a few of the girls blushed. Naruto waved back, mainly at Hinata and Iruka. They all looked back at the ring as the Chunin groaned and shifted.

Iruka sighed and helped him up. The man stumbled and mumbled a few curses, bruises covering his body. "Do we need to get another monitor?" asked Iruka. The man nodded, and they both went into the Academy. Iruka returned shortly with another Chunin, this one a woman, and the fights resumed.

Kiba's fight was over in a minute as he successfully landed a few hits, and Sakura and Ino scraped by the skin of their teeth. There was a sickly-looking, pale kid that Naruto didn't know who did well, his fight as flawless as Shino's. Shikamaru was adamant about not fighting, but he still succeeded in hitting the Chunin. Hinata fought, and Naruto clapped as she spun gracefully, striking one tenketsu after another. Her opponent fell, limbs useless, but then Hinata helped her up, unblocking the tenketsu, the woman nodding her thanks.

"She has compassion," commented Tomitsu, "Rare combination with her strength."

"It's not that rare," said Naruto, frowning over at him. Tomitsu looked thoughtful before he nodded in agreement.

"That may be, but it's a combination I lack."

"Don't say that, big guy. You've got a heart the same size as you."

Tomitsu chuckled, at the joke or in self-pity Naruto didn't know, and the blonde smiled until he saw Sasuke step into the ring, arrogance coming off in waves. He sneered over at the blonde who looked stonily back. There was a cheer from most of the girls, but it was silenced as the Chunin scowled at them. She looked back at Sasuke, and she glanced at Iruka. He gave the starting signal.

Sasuke dashed forward, fist drawn back. The Chunin backed up a pace, but then realized the move was a feint as he swept her legs from under her. She twisted away as he tried to stomp her, and she jabbed at his side. He threw himself back and faced her directly. She threw another punch, and Naruto realized what Sasuke was planning. He grumbled, and Tomitsu had time to shoot him a questioning look before his attention was again caught by the spar.

Sasuke caught the punch, but instead of completely stopping her, he kept her moving forward, fist clamped firmly in Sasuke's hand. He delivered a blow to her stomach before she managed to swing with the other hand. He grinned evilly as he twisted to dodge and threw her over his shoulder. Naruto winced. "Fist Intercepting Style. I hate it," he said.

Still holding her fist, Sasuke planted a knee on her chest, into the solar plexus. She gasped for air but was able to strike with her free hand. He caught it and twisted, and she bit her lip as pain flared through her arm. He pressed down on her chest harder, and she struggled to even breathe The small but evident smile on his face was frightening. "Give up," he said, twisting her arm further.

Tomitsu rumbled deep in his chest, and Naruto saw he had drawn his blade a fraction from the sheath. White light flickered across it. He felt worried then, more about the Chunin and less about Sasuke. Back in the ring, the Chunin managed to free one arm and tap the ground quickly before Sasuke could seize it again. "Separate!" ordered Iruka forcefully, noting the disappointment in the Uchiha's eyes as he stood, "You need to hold back more during fights, Uchiha-san. Mercy is a valuable commodity."

Sasuke snorted and walked out of the ring. "Really? In my book, it's a weakness." Girls still cheered, but now there a few exchanged looks. Sakura looked uneasy, but Ino was one of whom cheered. Tomitsu eyed Sasuke balefully before he sheathed his katana.

"I do not like him," he stated plainly, "What is his name?"

"Sasuke Uchiha," replied Naruto, "He's worse than his usual self it seems like."

"Uchiha?" repeated Tomitsu, eyes narrowing dangerously, "Uchiha is his clan name?"

"Yep. Related to that bitch Sayuri in some way, I'm sure." Sasuke was the last to fight, and the class filed back into the Academy. Before Hinata could enter, Naruto quietly sidled beside her and handed her a note. With a grin and a wave, he slipped away. Tomitsu hid his own grin.

"Flirtatious, are we?" he commented as they left the Academy behind.

Naruto reddened slightly and sulkily replied, "Shaddup."

Tomitsu laughed and glanced up at the sky. The sun was low enough to cast that odd light between afternoon and evening, and he frowned. "All joking aside, do you happen to know what time it is?"

"Oh, now the flirtatious, diminutive individual is useful, huh?" said Naruto acidly. Tomitsu gave him a flat, unamused look, and Naruto sighed before peeking through a store window at a clock. His brows shot up above his bangs. "Jesus, it's five'o'clock already?"

Tomitsu groaned and put his face into his hands. "An hour until the appointment at Yakiniku's? How fortunate." He glanced at Naruto. "I need to go home to do something. What is your plan?"

The blonde shrugged. "Don't have one. Can I tag along?"

"If you can match me. I am hurried as of now." Before Naruto could react, Tomitsu was gone, wind mussing blonde hair. Naruto frowned and snorted before he vanished after him. His chase brought him into the darker sections of the Leaf, the poverty-stricken neighborhoods and ghettos. Naruto's own apartment wasn't in a nice place in the village, but it was on the border of the market district and the ghetto. Apparently Tomitsu lived in the midst of the latter. 'Explains why he so damn tough. You have to be to live here,' thought Naruto.

Tomitsu's blur stopped suddenly in front of a run-down, dilapidated house, the only unique feature about it being the red splotch of paint above the slanting doorway. Naruto skidded to a stop beside him as he opened the door, not even needing a key. Metal screeched, and it echoed in the empty street. He looked quickly at the blonde. "Do you want to come inside or wait outside?" Naruto surveyed the houses around him, looking into the curtained windows and feeling someone staring back.

"I think I'll take my chances inside, thank you." They stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind them. The room was dark, light filtering through a dirty window on the right. Naruto could make out a threadbare couch and a small table under the window with paper strewn on top. Two rickety-looking chairs were at either side of the table. A dingy kitchenette was set against the right wall. Something glinted on the wall behind the couch, but Naruto was torn away from observation as Tomitsu gestured toward the table.

"You may sit if you need to. I will try to hurry." He went into one of the three doors in the back wall, and silence greeted Naruto as the door closed. Unsure what to do, he did what Tomitsu suggested and sat. He twiddled his thumbs, and he turned his attention to the paper on the table. It was mostly junk mail that someone hadn't been bothered to throw away, but then a name caught his eye, as did the word before it: Dear Tomitsu.

'A letter?' Naruto carefully pulled the paper from underneath several insurance company ads and read it.

Dear Tomitsu:

So your sensei has you run away from her snakes? And she calls it training? That's nuts! Why on earth does she do that? Does she want to secretly kill you or something? I can't even think of anything crazier than what she's doing, and that's saying a lot.

You were talking how long it took you to learn how to play the flute, and about how you only got good when you were twelve or so. I can't even imagine a twelve-year old Tomitsu, being gangly and frustrated that he hasn't grown into his height. I guess the flute helped you with that frustration, or did it help with other things? Sorry if that sounded too personal, but I'm curious.

I'm still doing fine, just sitting here in my little house right next to the entrance waterfall. I like it here. No one looks at me weird here, and sometimes the kids come out and play. They never mind me, and I sometimes bring juice to them when it's hot. Did I ever tell you about the time I healed a nasty gash on a boy who fell from the rocks around the waterfall? If not, just say so in the next letter!

Love,

Fu

Naruto smiled; Fu must have grown on Tomitsu during the mission. He glanced back down at the table, and he saw a finished letter signed by Tomitsu, but he ended with Sincerely. A frown replaced the smile. That certainly sounded cold to Fu's Love, but it did show that Tomitsu considered her a friend. Naruto's frown deepened; sure, the mission had been three days long, but the samurai was aloof with strangers. He wasn't one to develop a friendship in that short of time. Did he have some sort of past with Fu?

Naruto shrugged dismissively but filed that question for later when the opportunity presented itself. He stood, still holding the letter, and walked over to the object that had glinted when he had walked in. It was a short katana with an ornate hilt and sheath. The hilt was wrapped in red binding, black just evident underneath it. The sheath was a strange purple, like a bruise. It shone despite the low light and was obviously the most expensive thing in the house. Naruto squinted as he tried to read etchings on the sheath.

They seemed to be unreadable at first, but then the words seemed to change shape before his eyes. Loyalty before Honor. Naruto blinked. What did that mean? And why did Tomitsu's family flaunt this in the first room of the house that wasn't locked? He reached to take the katana from the sheath, but then cold steel was being pressed against his throat.

"Do not touch, imbecile," ordered a gravelly voice, "or my blade will be the last kiss you'll ever receive."Naruto carefully lowered his hand. The voice belonged to a huge shape of a person hidden in darkness, a pair of onyx eyes the only visible feature and regarding him emotionlessly. A katana extended from the figure's hand, and that katana was the cold steel on Naruto's throat. "Why are you here?"

"I-I was invited in."

"I do not recall your face or voice, boy."

"Tomitsu, h-he invited me in."

"Tomitsu did not inform me that he would be keeping company." The eyes narrowed. "Therefore, there is no reason for you to be here." The katana pressed more, and Naruto leaned away slightly to relieve the pressure. "What shall I do with you is the next question."

"What you shall do," interrupted Tomitsu, coming from his room, "is release my ally." He had changed into a casual pair of trousers and a loose white shirt. His own blade was gone. "We have an appointment in an half-hour." The eyes swung to him and then back to Naruto.

"Your ally?"

"Yes. A powerful one."

The eyes studied the blonde for a moment longer before the katana was withdrawn. "You make good allies. Powerful yet moronic. So easy to control." Naruto started to protest, but he caught a look from Tomitsu and quieted. The figure moved to go into one of the back doors but turned before entering. "It would be wise to inform me when you are to have company. Otherwise, I might just take them as criminals." The eyes glittered cruelly before disappearing behind the door. "Do not forget about your exercises tonight."

Tomitsu's jaw clenched inconspicuously, and Naruto let out a breath he had been holding and nearly collapsed in relief. His knees were jelly, and his heart beat wildly. He wiped cold sweat away and grinned nervously at his friend. "Cr-crazy relatives, huh?" Tomitsu gazed at him flatly before walking out the door wordlessly. "H-hey, wait!"

Naruto caught up with the long strides of Tomitsu and settled in a fast walk beside him. "Who was that, by the way?" He was ignored, and he tried again. "Was that your crazy uncle or something? I've never met someone like that-,"

"I doubt anyone has," said Tomitsu shortly, finally listening, "and that man was my father."

Naruto missed a beat and fell behind. When he did catch up, his face was aghast. "Your dad? That huge, homicidal guy was your dad?" Tomitsu nodded, and Naruto threw his hands up. For a moment, Fu's letter was flapping in Tomitsu's face. "Your dad. You friggin' dad. What are the odds-," Tomitsu seized Naruto's hand with the letter and carefully peeled his fingers from around it. "Ow, ow, ow! What the hell are you doing?"

Tomitsu glared at him as he folded the letter and slid it into his pocket. He pointed a finger in the blonde's face, the first real spark of anger Naruto had seen jumping in his eyes. "Do not even think of telling my father of this letter. Do not even think of telling anyone about it. If you do-," He grabbed Naruto by the collar and lifted him effortlessly to eye level, "you will be in one of my exercises." The way he spat the word 'exercises' made Naruto consider them painful, and he nodded in understanding.

Tomitsu dropped him and stalked off. Naruto brushed himself off, and he blinked in puzzlement. That wasn't the sort of reaction he had expected.

"Hey, Naruto, pass the teapot!" shouted TenTen, a bandage on the side of her forehead. Neji quietly sipped his own tea, a similar bandage on his right cheek. A seat separated him and Naruto, and the blonde handed him the teapot to set in front of TenTen across from him. Guy and Lee were having a 'Youth-Powered' eating contest, and Yakumo and Anko were arguing over which genjutsu were better to use during interrogation. Naruto was laughing and cheering on his sensei, but every once in a while he would glance at Tomitsu, who ate quietly.

Anko snatched at the bottle of sake beside her and shook it crossly at Yakumo. "Lookie here, Princess, I'm a veteran of many years-,"

"More years than you'll admit," grumbled Yakumo.

"-and I know my way around interrogation. Your pissy little sensation genjutsus aren't shit compared to ones that cause pain. Pain is the way to gain, restrain, and tame." She poured a shot and downed it.

Yakumo rolled her eyes. "Came up with that all by yourself, sensei?"

"Better believe it." Anko looked at Tomitsu. "Hello, Big'un. Awfully quiet today, aren't you?" He didn't reply and sipped his water. "On your period or does the food taste like shit?"

"The food is delicious," he said blandly.

"Uh-huh. Anything else you'd like to add?"

"You are irritating me."

"Old news. Anything new you'd like to add, Big'un?" He snorted and ate a piece of barbeque, silently shooting daggers at his sensei. He caught a look from Naruto and turned his glare to him. The blonde straightened and looked away quickly just in time to see Hinata approach the table. A new, shining Leaf headband hung from her neck.

"Hinata!" called Naruto, waving excitedly, "Nice to see you! You passed!"

She smiled softly. "Yes,I did, Naruto-kun. Can I sit?"

"Of course." He patted the seat between him and Neji, and as she sat, he cast a meaningful look at him. Neji nodded imperceptibly, and he politely greeted Hinata, surprising her. The last time they had spoken had been at Kinami's funeral, and Hinata thought their relationship was almost unrepairable. But now he talked like nothing had happened, like the two Families didn't exist. She smiled and returned the greeting warmly.

Naruto wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her lightly. "How'd you do?"

"I was second-best to Sakura," she said, nibbling on some barbeque, "Her academics were better than mine, and that tipped the balance." She leaned into him. "I passed that note to Iruka-sensei like you wanted. He's finishing up at the Academy." He nodded and sipped his tea. "You're still wearing shirt I made for you," noticed Hinata.

"Hm?" Naruto glanced down. "Oh, yeah. It's comfortable, and the spiral reminds me of happy days."

She raised an eyebrow. "You mean these aren't happy days?"

He blinked and stuttered, "N-no, I mean the-um-happy days before...uh...I had the responsibility of a ninja." She smiled, understanding, and then Lee finally gave up trying to beat Guy in the eating contest. He slumped over the table, stomach bulging. Naruto laughed, and Hinata hid a smile behind a hand demurely. Guy clapped his apprentice on the back heartily.

"C'mon, Lee, you can do better than that!"

"I do not know, sensei. My stomach is fit to burst," groaned Lee, raising his head and blearily looking at Guy, "Even the Power of Youth could not ease my pain." Anko chortled into her sake and set the bottle down for a second to reach for something behind her. Lee spied the bottle and moved to take it, thinking it was water. Anko turned just in time to smack his hand away, a box of dango in hand.

"You ain't getting drunk here, Bushy Brows. I ain't paying for the entire place like I did last time." She munched on dango as Lee looked crestfallen.

"But I am thirsty, sensei."

"Well good for you. Drink some damn tea while you're at it." Lee sighed and poured himself a cup of hot green tea. There was a knock on the wall next to the table, and they looked up to see Iruka standing awkwardly with Ayame beside him.

Anko frowned. "Eh? Who the hell are you?"

He fidgeted and glanced at Naruto. Ayame, however, said boldly, "I'm Ayame Ichiraku. Now who are you?"

Anko puffed out her already considerable chest. "Anko Mitarashi, Snake Mistress of the Leaf." The two women studied each other warily before they both nodded. Iruka was confused, but he played it off the best he could.

"I-I was invited by Naruto," he explained, "I wanted to bring Ayame-chan along." He looked around pleadingly. "Is-is that alright?"

TenTen smiled and waved an airy hand. "I don't have a problem with it. The more the merrier!" Iruka and Ayame squeezed in beside Guy and Anko. Iruka was directly to Anko's side, and she pressed up against him, irritating his girlfriend. Ayame pressed on the other side of him, and Iruka's ears lit up redder than a tomato. Naruto fell against Hinata as he shook in silent laughter, and Iruka tried to reach to get some barbeque, but the two women had securely pinned his arms to the side.

"So, Scarface," purred Anko, "Whatcha doin' tonight?" He didn't answer, face reddening with his ears, and Ayame answered for him.

"He's going home after this, and he's gonna take me with him." She ran a hand along his chest. "We're gonna have so much fun." Iruka turned a darker red, but he seemed stunned into speechlessness. Anko grinned.

"Could I join in?" Iruka jumped up and gestured wildly at both of them.

"No, no, no! Not just no, but HELL NO!" Anko look genuinely hurt for a second before she caught Ayame's look, and they both erupted into laughter. Iruka faltered, and he asked, "Wh-what? What's so funny?" Ayame leaned over and gave Anko a high-five. He realized he had been tricked. "This was a plan?" he demanded indignantly.

Anko snorted. "Nope, just some good ol' on-the-spot thinking. Funnier than hell too." But then she got a thoughtful look. "Would you really say no to a threesome with me and Ayame?"

Iruka stammered and sputtered, and he eventually said, "I-I'm not even to dignify that with an answer." He sat down beside Ayame. "Now, if you excuse me, Anko-san, I want to have dinner with my beautiful girlfriend." Anko rolled her eyes but left him alone for the rest of the dinner.

Naruto grinned over at his old sensei. "A bit late, Iruka-sensei?"

He shrugged, pouring himself tea. "Sorry, but I had to put up supplies after today, and Mizuki was in a bad mood to top it all of." He drank. "He's been in a worse mood lately than usual. Maybe because Tsubaki left him."

Naruto shrugged. He had never spoken to Mizuki all that often, but when he had, that sweet demeanor had always unsettled him. He didn't particularly like the man. He picked at a piece of barbequed pork, frowning. Hinata looked at him questioningly. "Are you alright, Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah, just getting full," he lied, trying to wrestle with the sudden lurching of his stomach. Iruka clapped him on the shoulder, and Naruto gave him a weak, embarrassed smile. "I think I ate too much." They both chuckled, but then a commotion at the front of the restaurant caught their attention.

Anko looked over at the blonde. "You invite anyone else, Blondie?"

He shook his head, and then the source of the commotion made itself known. Hanabi, Touza, and Konohamaru was pounding toward them, something clutched tightly in Touza's arms, something that moved. Naruto frowned, and that something came into view. He widened his eyes but couldn't move as Touza threw the dreaded cat Tora on the table shouting, "Kitty!"

All of them except for Hinata froze, and Tora growled low in his throat. He arched his back menacingly, and his tail puffed up. Tomitsu was slowly reaching to his waist, but then he realized that his sword was gone. Naruto eyed the cat carefully, but then something miraculous happened: Hinata put her hand out invitingly, and Tora relaxed. He sniffed her hand, and she stroked his head with a finger. He pressed his head into her palm, and she took him into her lap.

Konohamaru pouted. "Dangit! That wasn't supposed to happen! It was so hard to catch that thing!" He bore claw marks down the sides of either cheek.

Touza, with scratches up the length of both arms, grinned. "We kinda scared them, but Hinata-san was pretty and nice enough to make the cat nice too." Hanabi, perfectly fine, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"I told you this wouldn't work. Nee-chan could calm a raging bear if needed."

Hinata, still petting Tora, said to her sister, "Imouto, I thought you were going home with Father."

She shrugged. "I got sidetracked." Hinata nodded and stood with Tora in her arms. She went to a window and placed Tora on the windowsill. She opened the window, and the cat hopped out. Hanabi was shooting her friends self-satisfied smirks as her sister sat. "See? Taming the ever-savage beast."

Guy cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Now that Touza's little present has been taken care of-," Touza grinned and rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I want to make a toast." He lifted his cup. "To the Genin of last year-,"

"And this year," added Hinata, raising her cup.

"And years to come," said Konohamaru, the three of them pretending to hold cup.

"I wish you good health, prosperity, and youth!" finished Guy.

Anko threw in her own two cents. "And sanity, if there's any left!" They bumped their cups, in Hanabi's, Touza's, and Konohamaru's case hands, and smiled

Then Iruka proposed his own toast. "To Naruto Uzumaki, the Leaf's hyperactive knucklehead turned hyperactive prodigy, congratulations on passing the one-year mark of being a ninja! I wish you luck!I am truly proud of you."

Naruto lay in his bed, a content smile stretching across his face. His eyes were closed, and his mind was the hazy border between consciousness and sleep. Everyone had raised their drink respectfully at Iruka's toast, even Tomitsu and Neji, and Naruto had blushed and tried to be modest, saying that he wasn't the only success, that his teammates had progressed just as much as he had. But everyone had ignored that, countering with he had learned more jutsu than any other and even came up with combination techniques.

Iruka was the most supportive along with Naruto's team, and even Anko recognized Naruto's progress with, "Yeah, you did good alright. Not my students' level, so don't get cocky and try to fight 'em." Naruto had laughed and reassured her that he wouldn't.

He turned over in his bed. This was one of the best nights he could remember; it didn't quite top his twelfth birthday, but it was still memorable. He cracked an eye open to look out the window, the full moon illuminating much of the room. A figure of a man with something large on his back flitted across it, and he thought nothing of it; ninja were always patrolling or returning late from a mission.

He turned away from the window, throwing an arm over his eyes. Hinata had even given him a goodnight peck on the cheek, and it still felt tingly-

Naruto sat bolt upright as he heard shouting and a bell ringing. The alarm. He furrowed his brow and stood to open the window. He leaned out and yelled down at a group of running ninja, "Hey! What's the deal?"

"All Chunin and Jonin to gather at the Hokage Tower!" shouted back one, "Someone's stolen the Scroll of Sealing!" Naruto was confounded. 'Who the hell would do something as suicidal as that?' The image of the man flitting across the moon surfaced in his mind. Naruto noticed the object on his back, and he concentrated to remember details. It was an cylindrical shape with a pale yellow swathing most of the outside except for a green border on top and bottom. Then the writing came into view. Scroll of Sealing.

Naruto jumped in shock as he recognized it, and he hurriedly pulled on his jacket and pants. He opened the window, and cool air brushed against his bare chest. He pushed it out of his mind and jumped onto the roof of the opposite building and took off in the direction the thief went.

Hinata was fluffing her pillow, dressed in light blue pajamas, when she sensed a familiar presence pass by the complex. She activated her Byakugan to check, and Mizuki's chakra signature entered her view. He was racing along the rooftops, and something large with chakra residue was strapped to his back. He sped out of range, and she frowned, but then Naruto entered her range. It looked as if he was in hot pursuit of Mizuki, and Hinata opened her window just in time to see Naruto cut a fantastic silhouette against the moon as he jumped across a gap.

She shouted after him, but he didn't hear. She wavered between chasing him or staying behind, and that wavering was very brief as she was out of the window in a blink.

Naruto followed the man to the outskirts of the Leaf, tall trees blotting out the moonlight. They were moving quickly along the branches, and Naruto stayed well behind him, fearing he would be sensed. Suddenly, his target stopped and jumped to the ground. Naruto stayed above and edged to the lip of the clearing the man had settled in. He could hear what he was saying, "I can't wait anymore, and those Leaf buffoons will never find me here!" He unrolled a part of the giant scroll slung across his back. Naruto's eyes slitted. The Scroll of Sealing, and the man was Mizuki.

"Forbidden Jutsu, huh?" Mizuki breathed, "Excellent. Alright, I'll start off with-,"

"Mizuki! Back away from the scroll!" Iruka jumped down from the trees and landed yards away from Mizuki, startling Naruto. The white-haired man froze, but then he relaxed.

"Iruka," said Mizuki lightly, "Didn't expect you so soon."

"I suspected you'd do something rash," he said, "but not this! What you're doing is traitorous!"

"Quite the little detective, aren't you," sneered Mizuki. Naruto crawled down the tree he was on and crept close to the white-haired man, "I didn't expect you'd figure it out of all people."

"Don't act so surprised, Mizuki. It doesn't fit you. Now give me back that scroll!"

"Or what?"

"Or-," Iruka caught sight of Naruto and did a double-take. Naruto, who was just behind Mizuki, leaped back as he turned wildly and swiped with a kunai. "Naruto! What are you doing here?"

"I was following this bastard here," he answered.

Mizuki's grin grew as he realized who he had attacked. "Ah, so the mongrel joins us."

"Leave him out of this," pleaded Iruka, "He's not your problem. I am!"

"But you didn't kill the hundreds of people twelve years ago, did you?" said Mizuki with an heinous smile, "No, this little brat did."

"You've got your facts wrong, buddy," said Naruto flatly, "I'm only twelve right now."

"Twelve years ago, the Yondaime battled with the Kyuubi and supposedly killed it. That's what in the history books, but he really didn't. You can't kill living chakra. Instead he sealed in a newborn."

"What's that go to do with me?" asked Naruto.

"It has everything to do with you! Ask yourself this-,"

"Mizuki, don't!" warned Iruka, readying for combat.

"-why do people shun you, why do you get those cold looks, why do parents keep their children away from you? Why does everyone hate you, brat?" Naruto had no answer. "Don't know? Then let me tell you."

"Mizuki, no!"

"You're the Kyuubi! The very one that attacked the village all those years ago. That idiot Yondaime picked a newborn, and it was you! And I'll be the one to end you for good!" A giant shuriken appeared in his hand, and he charged toward the frozen Naruto, spinning it fiercely.

'That-that can't be true,' thought the blonde, dimly watching the metallic flashing of the shuriken, 'I can't be the Kyuubi.' Then it all made sense. On his birthday, when the man called him the Kyuubi. The whispers that he had heard all his life. The seal on his belly he never thought about. The dreams of crimson eyes and bloody claws. He was so stupid. Why hadn't he made the connections sooner? He was faintly aware of Iruka shouting at him to move, but the enormity of what had been revealed to him was too much. He was so stupid.

The squelching sound of metal digging into something soft awakened him out of his stupor, and he saw Iruka grasping each of Mizuki's hands, the shuriken biting deep into his own. "Run, Naruto! I'll take care of him!" Naruto was tempted to listen, but then a vicious protectiveness surged at the sight of Iruka's blood. Kyuubi or not, no one hurt his friends.

"No, I won't run," whispered Naruto, vanishing and reappearing to grip Mizuki's hand with the shuriken. He twisted, and Mizuki let go with a howl, the shuriken falling free and sticking into the ground. He kicked him in the gut and slammed him into a tree. "Not today, not ever!" Iruka, clutching his bleeding hand, was conflicted; he knew Naruto was strong enough to match Mizuki, but he felt protective of the young blonde. He was like a little brother to him.

Mizuki stood, shaken slightly, but the evil grin was still there. "So the demon wants to fight, huh? Good thing I have something for that." He rushed forward and sliced at Naruto with a kunai, but the blonde sidestepped and aimed a chop at Mizuki's neck. Mizuki rolled and threw a senbon that narrowly missed Naruto. Iruka rushed in and was locked in a match of fists and kicks. "Give up, Iruka. You were never better than me one-on-one!"

"But he's not alone! Iruka-sensei, move!" Iruka moved without question, and Naruto let loose a fireball fueled by gale whipped up by a clone. It enveloped Mizuki, and Naruto cheered momentarily before the white-haired man materialized on a branch on the right. The blonde turned as Mizuki made a handsign, and earthen chains burst from the ground and restrained him. Naruto shouted frustrated curses as he struggled to move, and Iruka threw a kunai that hit inches below Mizuki.

He sneered, "Are you really that bad, Iruka? Maybe I'd be doing the village a favor if I killed you." Iruka grit his teeth, and Mizuki laughed and threw another senbon at Naruto. He watched as if in slow motion as it flew toward him, and his eyes landed on the kunai. There was a clink of bone and metal, and Mizuki peered down to see a kunai and senbon where Naruto had been. He scowled, but something grabbed his ankle. He looked down to see Naruto's grinning face. "What the-let me go!"

"Alright!" He pulled Mizuki off the branch, and they both fell to the ground. Naruto landed on top of Mizuki and instantly started an assault of punches. Mizuki grabbed his arms, and they wrestled until Mizuki pushed him off. Naruto stumbled back, and a senbon needled him in the shoulder. He glared at the white-haired man as he pulled it out. Mizuki's words came back to him. "Good thing I have something for that." "This was poisoned, wasn't it?" asked Naruto, tossing the senbon away.

Mizuki smiled. "It had a little something on it, alright."

Naruto rolled his eyes and created five clones. He felt a little weak afterward, but he shook it off. They and Iruka charged at Mizuki. A clone and Iruka took him head-on, and finally, all the clones were destroyed, leaving only Naruto and Iruka. Mizuki was surprisingly agile, but he still received hits from either person. He leaped away from the fray, sporting several new bruises. The weak feeling came over Naruto again, and he stumbled. Iruka looked at him concernedly, and he waved the concern away.

"I'm fine. Just winded."

Mizuki laughed. "Looks like that little something is getting to you."

"Naruto, if he did poison it, you need to sit down-,"

"I'll be fine! I pulled it out right after he threw it!"

"Who said it was poison?" said Mizuki mysteriously before making another handsign. A boulder popped from the ground and rolled thunderously toward them, and they jumped away in opposite directions. Naruto created a clone, and he unfurled a scroll. Kunai exploded out, and another gale pushed them even faster. They sliced into Mizuki, but then a log replaced him. Naruto was suddenly dizzy, and he fell, legs unable to support him anymore. The weakness was back, and this time it didn't fade.

Iruka moved to help him, but he was thrown back by Mizuki who hauled him up to his knees roughly. Iruka recovered and rushed to swing at Mizuki's chest, but he was easily fended off and kicked away again. Mizuki grinned down at Naruto. "How are you feeling, demon brat? A bit weak? Can't even lift yourself off the ground?"

The blonde growled. He recognized the feeling, and the familiarity was not pleasant. "Chakra sealant, am I right?"

Mizuki laughed. "Of course! Even those low-down civilians I persuaded to kill you could figure out how to use it." Naruto widened his eyes, and the evil grin grew. "Surprised? Don't be. I've always hated you and would do anything to kill you. It didn't take much to convince them, either." He placed a kunai to Naruto's throat. "Any last words?"

Naruto felt déjà vu at the words, and he remembered his reaction to them. He spat in Mizuki's face. "That's what I give to people like you," he said in disgust. Mizuki narrowed his eyes, and his hand flexed to cut-

But then Iruka tackled him to the ground and came up on top. Naruto fell over without support, and he weakly raised his head up to watch them. Mizuki grabbed onto Iruka and rolled across the ground, trying to gain a better position. Iruka was punching him while they rolled, but then Mizuki was on top, pointing the kunai inches from Iruka's throat.

Iruka managed to plant a foot on Mizuki's chest and pushed him off, and then they were locked kunai to kunai, face to face. "You're wrong about Naruto!" said Iruka.

"Oh, really? His actions speak otherwise! The Kyuubi is obvious in him," shot back Mizuki, pushing Iruka to his knees, "He deserves to die, especially after what he did to your parents!" Iruka slipped, and the kunai sank into his shoulder. He yelled in pain, and Mizuki sent him skidding across the ground with a kick. "I don't know why you're even defending him! You should hate him the most!"

Naruto was stunned; he had never known that Iruka was an orphan just like him. Had the Kyuubi really killed his parents? Could Naruto really be blamed for all of it? Could Iruka really hate him? His eyes began to water and tried to shake it away, but a tear fell from one eye.

Iruka ended up coming to rest against the tree, and he struggled to stand. Another giant shuriken appeared in Mizuki's hand. "Since you're so desperate to protect this demon," he said, spinning it, "why don't you die alongside him?" He launched the shuriken, and Naruto could only shout helplessly as it sliced into Iruka. Blood spurted, and a trail of red fell from a corner of his mouth.

Mizuki grinned in contorted satisfaction, but then Iruka's hand balled into a fist. He coughed, spraying his jacket red, and then he spoke, "Yes, the Kyuubi would do that," He coughed again, and Naruto felt his heart sink. Had Iruka harbored hatred for him all along? His mind was torn between doubt and belief. Iruka took a shuddering breath, "but Naruto is different. I've acknowledged him as one of my best students. He wasn't the hardest worker, but he changed. He was clumsy, but he changed. No one accepted him, but that has changed. He knows the pain inside your heart better than anyone. He isn't the Kyuubi. He is a protector of the Leaf. He is-," Iruka coughed again and choked out, "Naruto Uzumaki!"

Mizuki snorted contemptibly, and he hefted another shuriken. "Great speech, Iruka. Too bad I'll be the only one to remember it!" Iruka met Naruto's wide, fearful eyes. He smiled weakly, and he died with that same smile. Mizuki threw back his head in laughter as Iruka fell to the side. Naruto was still, his entire body shaking. He couldn't register Iruka's body lying motionlessly, couldn't accept that he was dead, that his guide, savior, brother was gone forever.

Then it slammed into him with the force of a train, and he screamed in pain, in grief, in rage. His throat was raw, and the scream was cut off. But the feelings were still there. Mizuki would pay dearly. He felt a familiar sensation flowed through his body, like an electric shock that fueled his emotions. He recognized it; the same sensation from the mission in which he faced Sayuri. He had felt it just before blacking out. With it, other emotions began to flood into him: bloodlust and a want for wanton violence.

He knew what it was now. 'So you're the Kyuubi...alright, fox, I have one job for you...'

Mizuki turned to finish Naruto, but the blonde had vanished. He frowned, but then he heard someone picking up Iruka. He whipped around to see Naruto gently laying Iruka outside of the clearing. The blonde closed Iruka's eyes, and he bent his head for a few moments before standing with his back to Mizuki. "I hope you know what you've done," he said lowly, hands clenched into fists.

Mizuki was unpleasantly surprised. "You shouldn't be able to move, demon. The chakra sealant should still work!"

"But I'm the Kyuubi, right? Things like that don't apply to me." He turned and met Mizuki's eye. "And now you've killed my sensei and brother" Mizuki was petrified; he was looking into crimson, slitted eyes, eyes that so strongly wanted to kill him. "Now the consequences are all yours." The calm words turned violent without warning. "Die!"

He blurred toward Mizuki and seized him by the collar. He punched him square in the face, and Mizuki's collar ripped as he was flung into the air. Naruto leaped up behind him, and bandages shot from his sleeves, near-invisible seals hidden on the inside of the cuffs. They wrapped around Mizuki, and the two plummeted toward the earth, spiraling crazily. There was a dust cloud on impact, and Naruto flipped out of it, a snarl on his face. "Ha!"

But then he sensed something coming from the side, and he caught Mizuki's kunai swing on the side of his hand. He growled as blood flowed, but then it evaporated almost immediately on his skin. Mizuki wore a smirk on his face. "Not too smart, are you? Why didn't you try to dodge?" Naruto gave him a look of utter disgust and contempt, and he pulled free from the kunai. The gash healed instantly, and he smiled ferally.

Mizuki had barely enough time to react before Naruto was lashing out with a kick, and he stepped backward, a hand going to his holster. Another hand grabbed it, and Mizuki was looking into Naruto's crimson eyes. He winced as the blonde's chakra burned him, and Naruto punched him right in the jaw. There was a crack, and Mizuki fell to the ground unconscious. Naruto fell on top of him and continued with an onslaught of punches.

Naruto finally let up, and Mizuki no longer resembled himself. The blonde chuckled darkly, but then Mizuki regained conscious to utter one last insult, "Fuck you...and your dead sensei." He tried to smile, but it was a show of broken, red-stained teeth. Naruto narrowed his eyes, and he hoisted the man off his feet, holding him with a single hand.

"Wrong thing to say, buddy," he said threateningly. Red chakra began to bubble up from under his skin, and Mizuki tried to cry in pain but only croaked as a bubble popped and burned him. A cloak formed from the red bubbles, and a single tail sprouted from the back. The bubbles solidified, and Mizuki's skin where Naruto touched him was blackened.

With a blink of an eye, the cloak was gone, and Mizuki was given a reprieve from the pan until he spied the blonde's dangerous grin. "Bye-bye." Naruto howled in rage, and the chakra was released in one single blast. Everything in thirty feet of him turned to ash, and Mizuki's scream of pain was torn away in the storm. In the midst of the carnage, Iruka lay peacefully on the edge of the radius, the hot, dry air ruffling his hair.

In the village, people sensed a presence they hoped would never return. A unit of ANBU halted as the surge of demonic chakra, and several of the veterans paled under the mask. They turned toward their commander. "Neko-taichou, your orders?" Their captain, a woman with long purple hair and a cat-like porcelain mask, nodded.

"Find the source. Now."

Naruto dropped the ashy remains of Mizuki, and the cloak turned a darker red. "Now that pesky task is done," he said, his voice deepening and rasping, "I might finally be free to destroy the village that sealed me-," He cried out suddenly, and his hands went to his head and gripped his hair. "Wha-what? No, this brat is-,"

"Get out! Get out of my head!" This voice was Naruto's.

"You invited me! Gave control to me! Now you want me out?" The deep voice returned, and Naruto squeezed his eyes shut. There was war being waged in his mind, and the inexorable tide and presence of the Kyuubi was eroding Naruto's will and stamina. More words poured forth.

"I don't care! I don't need you! Get out!"

"You needed me to kill that human who murdered your sensei! I had one job, remember?"

"Shut up!" In Naruto's mindscape, he was coiled in the grasp of a single tail protruding from a giant barred cell. He struggled to move, and the knee-deep water boiled. "Let go! I made a mistake in trusting you!"

The demonic voice cackled. "Indeed you did, boy, and now you'll pay for that mistake!"

"N-Naruto-kun?" A single voice broke through the mindscape, and Naruto as if in a dream saw his body turn towards Hinata, her eyes wide in fear and concern. "Are-are you alright?" A deep rumble of laughter echoed in the mindscape, and Naruto realized the Kyuubi's plan.

"No! Leave her out of this! Not her!" On the outside, Naruto's head jerked, but then he smiled with a razor edge at Hinata. He began to move toward her. "No! No, no, no!"

"I said you would pay, and this is the payment!" Naruto exploded toward her, and in the mindscape, Naruto was in despair.

Then the same vicious protectiveness he had felt when Mizuki attacked Iruka roared back. It would not end like this. He would fight. "I'm not losing anyone else today!" he shouted, breaking free of the tail and grabbing the end. "Not today, not ever again!" He pulled back, and a thick band of orange chakra came away. Outside, Naruto halted inches from Hinata, clawed hand raised. "Now get out, you stupid fox!" The orange band snapped, and the tail shrunk and whitened. The band wrapped itself around Naruto and then melted into the water.

The tail slithered back into the cell, and a pair of watchful, crimson eyes gazed down on him. "Impossible. No human should be able to do that!"

Naruto regained control of his body as the cloak, now orange, faded away. His eyes turned blue once again, but they remained slits for a moment longer before he blinked them away. "Hi-Hinata-hime," he whispered, stumbling into her, "Hime, wh-what are you doing here?"

"I followed you," she explained softly. He stared at her uncomprehendingly before suddenly breaking into racking sobs. He clutched her shirt and buried his head into her shoulder. His entire body trembled. "What's wrong, Naruto-kun?" She ran a hand up and down his back soothingly. He raised his head to look at her. The crashing realization of what he had done and what he could have done frightened him. If he hadn't been strong enough, Hinata would be dead. If he had been stronger, none of this would've happened.

"Iruka's dead, Hinata-hime, and there was nothing I could do! It's-it's all my fault!" Sobs racked through him again. "He died because of me!" Hinata held him closely. Slowly, the sobs quieted, and Naruto's breathing evened. She stroked his hair, and she looked up at the soft sounds of ANBU landing near. A purple-haired woman demanded to know what happened, but Hinata shook her head and put a finger to her lips.

The woman was dismayed, and she whispered, "How is he?"

"He's asleep, and may he stay asleep for a while."