Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. However, the original characters and plot of this fic belong to me.

Author Notes: So, i've finally decided on a new schedule for my updates. I figure i'll update every two weeks, sometimes eariler, since it's something possible with my current hectic life. Also, i wasn't joking when i said this chapter will be much longer than the last, almost twice as long. Enjoy.

Chapter 34: Spirit Signature

Naruto's eyes were focused on the intimidating beast, scanning his features. He hadn't ever seen the dragon before, however that didn't trouble him. He was confused as to how the dragon had ended up in his dimension without anyone summoning him; it was against the rules. "What are you doing here?"

Sakumo intervened, knowing he'd have to clarify the situation, "Naruto, this was planned; he has permission."

"Why? What's going on?" Naruto asked the elder shinobi.

Sakura couldn't take her eyes off the majestic summon, astounded by the power she felt radiating from him. "I'd like to know too."

Konohamaru watched his step, feeling uncomfortable at having such a creature close to him. He shifted around the group of shinobi, inserting himself between Naruto and Sasuke. He had wanted to observe dragons, but was always cautious when he didn't understand the circumstances around peculiar events.

"As you know, Hajin is going to wage a war against their realm. We thought it was best you understood exactly what you'd be fighting for." Sakumo resumed, adding his next statement casually, "And they can teach you something we can't."

Sasuke deactivated his sharingan, reverting to a relaxed position, "Will he have to go alone?"

"They have only agreed on one." The dragon's gruff voice was unexpected.

"Who are they?" Naruto was curious.

"Genkei-sama has arranged for you to be the first of your kind to journey to our dimension, but it was specifically agreed on only one person being able to travel. This is the order of the four Celestials." The dragon answered.

"Genkei…" Naruto suddenly felt grim, recalling his companion. Quickly snapping out of his thoughts, he addressed the new summon, "What's your name?"

"Ryutaro."

Konohamaru realised that Ryutaro was indeed an ally, posing no threat. He walked forwards, taking a closer inspection of the dragon's magnificent appearance, "I can summon monkeys."

Ryutaro ignored the young shinobi, centring his attention on his objective, "Do you accept? This opportunity will not come along again."

"How long will this task take?" Kakashi asked.

"Not long." Ryutaro's reply left a lot to be desired.

Naruto turned around, walking towards his previous location. He picked up his discarded shirt, "Let's go then." He paused for a moment, "Uh, how are we going?"

Ryutaro approached the blonde, standing next to him. The difference in size became very apparent as Naruto reached only the waist of the dragon. "Give me your hand; you don't need to do anything else."

Naruto held out his hand before feeling the rough claws of the summon wrap around them. Within an instant the environment disappeared, leaving him feeling confused. He soon realised he was being pulled along something, a gasp escaping his mouth, "What…?"

His body felt like it was being torn, causing him immense pain. He couldn't figure out where he was; flailing as he flew through the seemingly empty space. He felt nauseated, recognising the sensation which always happened prior to him throwing up. It was then that something wrapped its arm around him, pulling him away to somewhere calmer.

Naruto instantly felt better, wiping his eyes in an attempt to get a clearer view. "What happened?" To his shock, he realised he was floating, "What's going on?"

"Calm down." Ryutaro was floating next to the man.

Naruto soon recognised he was in the middle of an everlasting space. There were sparkles in the distance yet everything else was completely washed-out. Near him, there seemed to be several vortexes. "Is this…the Void?"

"This is a truly dangerous place for the one who knows nothing of how it works." Ryutaro watched Naruto, "It's an overwhelming experience."

Naruto blinked a few times, "What happened to me?"

Ryutaro pointed at the numerous vortexes, "You were caught in one of those. I don't know what lies at the end of them except for death."

"How did you get me out?" Naruto felt relieved that he had been saved. He was kicking his legs, uncomfortable with the fact that there was nothing supporting his weight.

"You won't fall; there's no gravity here." Ryutaro examined the retired shinobi slowly stop kicking his legs, growing accustomed to the sensation of floating. "In answer to your question, I used my chakra."

Naruto was unresponsive, "…I don't understand."

"The vortex pulls you inside, the only way you can counter it is to release your own chakra and then channel it. In this space, that is the way you move." Ryutaro released a minute amount of chakra, slowly advancing.

Naruto concentrated his own chakra, inching forwards, "Oh, I see what you mean." He started grinning, letting out sporadic bursts of chakra. After a few moments he halted, acknowledging that he still didn't know enough, "Where do we go from here?"

"What we're in right now is a current. There are a lot of other currents such as this one. Once we find the right one, it's just a matter of entering it and letting it take us to our destination." Ryutaro was now heading towards a specific location. "I can sense it."

Naruto followed the dragon, waving his hands, "Wait a second! This is a lot of things; slow down a little."

"I'll explain everything to you later." He faced the blonde, "For now, hold onto me. It's time we entered my realm."

Naruto had a clueless expression but upon seeing a shroud of chakra swathe his companion, he realised he was about to depart rapidly. He lunged forwards, grabbing the dragon's scales and supporting himself on his back. It was a moment later that he found himself speeding through the current before everything vanished. Losing his grip, he was thrown off the dragon. He landed hard, his mouth tasting dirt and his anatomy temporarily aching.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Let's try this one!" Lee was pointing towards one of several stands, "Its taijutsu only!"

Shikamaru sighed, "We need to get organised; I don't like this."

"What do you suggest?" Aoba ate some sweets; a small packet in his hand.

"There are lots of contests. There's no point in us entering the same as one another since we'll end up competing amongst ourselves." Shikamaru walked backwards and leaned against the wooden fence.

Tenten chuckled, "You're taking this seriously?"

"We should all be taking this seriously!" Gai shouted.

Neji echoed the thoughts of the Nara, "He's right; there are around twenty contests. We know each other's weaknesses so we'll pose a threat more than the average shinobi. If we separate and enter different contests, we stand a better chance of walking away with victory."

Tenten was baffled, "You're taking this seriously too Neji?" She rolled her eyes, "You're normally so indifferent."

Neji looked offended, speaking in a composed voice, "This is serious."

"That's right; it's a competition!" Lee was shadow boxing in his position, essentially warming himself up.

Aoba crumpled his packet of sweets, throwing it to the ground, "Okay; I understand. We may as well get to figuring out what we want to do; the competition will be starting soon."

Shikamaru moved his head backwards, staring at the blue sky, "We're guaranteed to walk away with two victories at least."

Tenten livened up, "Yes, Jiraiya-sama and Hokage-sama won't lose."

"Um, I'm not sure about that." Aoba scratched his forehead, "I'm pretty sure they don't want to participate."

Gai slapped the special jounin on his back, "What makes you say that?"

Aoba pointed towards a bar several feet away from them, "They came to drink, not to take part."

Surely enough, Jiraiya and Tsunade were enjoying their sake whilst engaged in conversation. The frog hermit seemed to be encouraging his former team mate to continue drinking with him.

Tenten let out an exasperated sigh, "I was looking forward to Hokage-sama showing what she was made of."

"There are five of us so we have to enter four contests each." Shikamaru detached himself from the wooden barrier, "It's going to be a long day."

The Nara gazed upon the vast field where numerous competitions were being prepared and structured. Hundreds of shinobi could be seen packing the booths, along with others still waiting to have their names signed. Additionally, there were thousands gathered to observe the event and not participate; just normal civilians who wanted to enjoy seeing an extravaganza.

"You know people will be focusing on us; we're the shinobi from Konoha." Tenten was fiddling with a kunai in her hand.

"All the more reason to show them our dynamic power." Lee held up his hand, turning it into a fist, "I will win!"

"Okay, but you're going to have to enter first. Let's get started on deciding what contests we want." Shikamaru had a serious character, ready to tackle the Shinobi Games.

XXXXXXXXXX

Naruto coughed, spitting out the dirt in his mouth. The horrid taste caused him to shudder before he stood up unhurriedly, brushing his clothes. Looking around, he raised an eyebrow as he examined his surroundings. "What's with these trees?" Naruto followed the plant upwards, noticing it was far bigger than any tree he had ever seen. "They're…"

"Huge? This is a different world from yours. Here, such size is considered normal." Ryutaro started walking through the vegetation.

Naruto quickly followed, but found it hard to trek through the untamed flora, "Isn't there a path or something?"

"This is the path." Ryutaro led the man through the humongous forest.

Naruto felt confused by the environment of lush plants and beautiful flowers. He wasn't paying attention to where he was headed, too engaged in the scenery around him, "Why are we in a forest? I thought the dragons lived in the sky."

Ryutaro came to a halt, "We do." He held out his hand, stopping Naruto in his tracks.

Naruto bumped into the dragon's arm, before his eyes grasped the sight in front of them. His mouth fell open; across him were a chain of floating islands. They were surrounded by clouds and countless dragons could be seen flying, all varying in size. It was a remarkable sight to behold, the screeches and roars echoing through the air. Shifting his eyes south, he noticed the drop from where he was standing; it seemed to be endless. "Wow…this is awesome." He laughed cheerfully.

"Our destination is the island above them all." Ryutaro nodded in the direction of the land mass he was specifying.

Naruto noticed instantly what the dragon was referring to; a grand island engulfed in bright white clouds floating above the rest. "Is that where Genkei is?"

"The dragon tribe dwells there. Each of these islands is a home to many others that are under Genkei-sama's rule." Ryutaro faced the man, "I have never witnessed our King place such importance in an individual before; you should feel honoured."

Naruto smiled, "I do."

"So this is the chosen one…" A hissing noise travelled through the still air.

Naruto turned around, feeling slightly surprised by what was in front of him; the lavender snake made him feel inconsequential, standing out in the landscape. His eyes held a sinister gleam, like he was preying on a victim.

"What do you want Manda?" Ryutaro looked up at the gigantic summon.

"I'm simply admiring our visitor. I wonder how strong he is that he was allowed permission to set foot here." Manda flicked his tongue.

Ryutaro walked in between Naruto and the striped snake, "If that is a challenge, then it must be directed towards me. I have been appointed as his guardian for this task."

Manda scoffed, lowering his head so that it was near Ryutaro, "You've finally grown out of your father's shadow." A frightening hissing sound escaped the snake, "Do you believe you can match me?"

Ryutaro's wings spread out, his silver scales glimmering, "Shall we find out?"

Naruto observed the two beasts, feeling the tension in the air as if they could explode into a battle at any moment. He waited with held breath to see what could happen. Several moments passed in utter silence before Manda raised his head, shifting backwards, "This is a waste of time." The striped snake slithered into the forest, disappearing out of view.

"Arrogant fool." Ryutaro turned his attention to Naruto, "It's time we departed."

Naruto acknowledged the request, jumping onto his back and grabbing the pointed scales. Ryutaro didn't wait, blasting off from his spot at an incredible speed. The air passed by furiously as the two flew through the sky.

Naruto ducked slightly, his eyes beginning to hurt from the wind. He looked around, noticing several other dragons flying. There were small ones who seemed to be playing as well as grown adults whose intentions escaped him. He enjoyed the flight, absorbing the tremendous spectacle of being so far high up.

"Directly below us is the ocean which belongs to another Celestial. The other two territories are quite far from this region." Ryutaro said.

"This place is larger than my own world, isn't it? These islands alone look to be the size of countries." Naruto couldn't sway his focus from the humongous islands; they were surreal.

Ryutaro began to ascend into the air, closing in on the highest island in the area. Within several seconds, he was swooping over the top of it. His eyes darted around before he dived towards the ground.

Naruto felt a jolt, his grip tightening on the dragon, "Hey, slow down!" The two companions landed with a resonant crash, but this time Naruto managed to hold onto the dragon. He detached himself from the creature, jumping down. "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to kill me?"

Ryutaro wasn't fazed by the remarks, "Stop complaining."

"Don't tell me to stop complaining!" Naruto shouted; feeling insulted.

The dragon decided to drop the conversation, heading through the field he had landed in. He was wondering whether this was indeed the right person he was sent to bring.

Naruto crossed his hands behind his head, mumbling under his breath, "I need a cigarette." He followed the dragon, "Where are we going now?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Until then, let me explain the principles of the Void to you." Ryutaro replied.

Naruto ran to catch up with the beast, "Go ahead."

"The first thing to note is, upon entering and leaving it, your body is pushed. If you're not careful and aware of what is happening, you'll find yourself in vortexes and eating dirt frequently. It's important to be prepared to channel your chakra as soon as you enter or leave. This'll save you from injuries and maybe even death." Ryutaro spoke in a cool voice.

Naruto sweated, "This is a lot more complicated than I thought it'd be."

"The Void itself is still a mystery and remains largely unexplored. We don't dare to venture beyond our known limits." Ryutaro explained.

Naruto absorbed the information, carefully listening to each word in order to make sure he didn't miss anything important. Hearing squeaking noises, he turned his head to find a few young dragons running across the field. They stopped upon seeing him and stared for a while before resuming playing.

"I already told you what a vortex and current are, but there are different types of currents. The one we initially ended up in is free space and we can move at will. There are others however, which force you into a certain direction or accelerate your speed. For someone who is simply exploring the Void, these would be avoided." Ryutaro changed directions, entering a rocky area.

Naruto jumped from rock to rock, "What use are the other currents then?"

"Didn't you realise yourself? The one we used to enter this dimension was one of those currents. I used it to accelerate our arrival." Ryutaro crossed the rocky region, once again on smooth land.

"Why couldn't we just find the Summon realm on our own? Time stands still so it's not like it matters." Naruto scratched his head.

"If an individual stays there for too long, he'll lose touch with what is happening. Mindlessly floating through that space will end in the loss of your life. This is why it's important to use those other currents and why someone should try to escape the Void as quickly as they can." Ryutaro stopped, looking at the man, "I told you before didn't I? Someone who doesn't know how it works will find it truly dangerous."

Naruto was deep in thought, feeling some apprehension. What exactly was he expected to learn? Taking a deep breath, he addressed his guardian, "Sakumo-san said something about you teaching me. What did he mean?"

Ryutaro gazed directly in front of him, "You're going to learn about your spirit signature."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, before turning to look at what had caught the dragon's attention. There was a hill made completely of jagged rock. "What's that?"

Ryutaro didn't answer, leaping to the top of the hill with the assistance of his own wings. Upon landing, he shouted at Naruto, "Climb!"

Naruto had an annoyed expression, "That's easy for you to say. Why not just take me with you?" Running towards the hill, he began to scale it. He was careful not to trip and hurt himself; the serrated rocks would undeniably damage him greatly. Reaching the top, he was surprised to see a completely black lake.

Ryutaro walked onto the liquid, nearing the middle. He looked back at Naruto when he found he wasn't being followed, "What are you waiting for?"

Naruto nodded, stepping onto the bizarre water. He continued onwards until he reached Ryutaro, "What's a spirit signature?"

"Every living being has a spirit counterpart. The symbol of this entity is what we call a spirit signature." Naruto had a clueless expression which was noticed swiftly, "You know how you summon us with certain seals? Humans also have these kinds of seals."

Naruto laughed, "Why didn't you say that in the first place?" Calming down, he cleared his throat, "So they're used to summon, eh?"

"And that's why they're important. When you attempt to summon us and we have to enter the Void, we can instantly sense where our signature is coming from; it's a part of us. This helps us find the correct current and enter your realm without delay. Using the accelerated currents wouldn't be safe without this, because we don't where we could end up. I left my own signature in this realm before coming to collect you; that's why we were able to arrive so quickly." Ryutaro waited for a response, speaking again when not receiving one, "Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Naruto was tapping his chin, "Staying in the Void for too long is dangerous because it plays tricks on your mind so you need to use special currents. But they're not safe either because they instantly take you somewhere. To determine which the right one is, you use spirit signatures that allow you to sense where they're coming from." He looked at the dragon, a sparkle in his crimson eyes, "I think I've got it."

Ryutaro nodded, "Good; now it's time to find out what yours' is. Cut your hand and let your blood flow."

"What?" Naruto was shocked, "You have to tell me why."

"When your blood touches this water, your signature will be shown. There's nothing of concern." Ryutaro waited for him to act on his instructions.

Naruto retrieved a kunai from his pouch; without hesitating, he swiped his palm. His blood poured into the water below. Upon touching it, there was a glow before a white symbol formed. A few moments later, the cut on Naruto's hand healed due to the Kyuubi's chakra.

"Memorise that seal. When you have drawn it and placed some chakra into it; you'll feel its reaction to you." Ryutaro looked into the sky, "Now all that remains is for me to get you accustomed to the Void and we'll be finished."

Naruto stared at the white seal, imprinting the image in his mind, "That's it? It's that simple to find your spirit signature?"

Ryutaro faced the retired shinobi, "Here it is. In your world, the procedure is a lot more complicated seeing as you don't have this special water. In order to find your signature, you'd have to speak with your spirit itself."

Naruto's thoughts went to Hajin, understanding that the Kage must have somehow accomplished that act; he was the first to have entered the land of the summons thus there was no other way.

Ryutaro walked towards the edge of the black lake, "I need you to draw your seal. I'll spend the next few hours in getting you used to the Void and sensing your signature. After that, I'll be returning you home and you'll have to perfect this on your own. These were my orders."

Naruto sighed, waiting momentarily before making a request, "I want to meet Genkei." He locked eyes with the dragon, "Take me to him."

XXXXXXXXXX

Hideaki carefully examined the documents he had written moments ago. He was certifying that he hadn't missed any important details, as it could cause trouble in the not too distant future. Finishing the task, he tied up the papers and placed them in a file. A sigh escaped him, his eyes showing weariness. He folded his hands under his chin, wondering about his life. He was old, having witnessed many conflicts and tragedies. The last of which still heavily lingered on his mind due to its repercussions. Closing his eyes, he remembered the last talk he ever had with Yuudai.

Flashback

"What…?" Yuudai's voice was shaking, a surprise to the elderly man next to him.

Hideaki observed the rising smoke, the destroyed homes and the scarred land. He hadn't expected such a ghastly scene, instantly taking off towards the encampment. He was closely followed by Yuudai, whose eyes were darting everywhere. They came to a halt as soon as they smelt the familiar stench of death.

"This is horrible." Hideaki's eyes were fixated upon a shinobi whose body had been separated. "Yuudai, find anyone who may be alive!"

Yuudai was already thinking along the same lines, closing his eyes and focusing. He could feel several scattered chakras, some still quite strong while others seemed to be fading. Snapping out of his concentration, he hurried towards the closest one. Within seconds, he saw the body of a young woman lying across the ground.

Yuka was attempting to stand, her hands digging into the dirt. Violently coughing, blood spurted from her mouth. She realised she wasn't alone, turning towards the newest shinobi.

Yuudai was stunned, watching the tears fall from the woman's face, "Who did this?"

"They took Naruto." Yuka gritted her teeth, "I tried to stop them but they were too strong."

Yuudai ripped the mask from his face, "Who's they?" His voice was frantic, and his heart pounded faster than ever before; fearing for the answer which he could receive. What was this strange sensation building inside of him?

"Akatsuki…they found the encampment." Yuka took a deep breath, her ribs in agony, "We didn't expect the attack…"

Yuudai was rendered speechless, his emotions in chaos. The pained screams of Naruto ringed through his ears, "No…"

"Yuudai, I need your help here!" Hideaki shouted. The old man found his subordinate unresponsive, calling out to him again, "Yuudai!" Hideaki stood up and advanced towards the still man. "What's wrong with you?"

Yuka answered instead, "Akatsuki was here, Naruto's been captured!"

Hideaki moved towards the woman when she started coughing, tending to her wounds. "If that's the case then we'll have to make preparations swiftly. But first, we have to help the people here."

Yuudai turned around and began walking.

"Yuudai, where are you going?" Hideaki asked.

Yuudai stopped, feeling restless, "I'm going to bring him back."

"What?" Hideaki rose to his feet, "You're not capable of taking on Akatsuki. Wait for reinforcements and we'll all go."

"By the time that happens, he could be dead." His head lowered, "I won't let that happen."

"If you attempt to do this alone, there will be no coming back; you'll die." Hideaki was concerned, "Do you understand me?"

"You asked me a question; do you remember what it was?" Yuudai had a composed tone.

Hideaki nodded, "Whether you wanted Naruto growing up with you or without you."

Yuudai turned around, the tears in his eyes visible, "I just want him to live."

Hideaki was shocked; seeing a picture he had never witnessed or expected. "Yuudai…"

"We took him away to protect him; I was supposed to protect him. He has a dream, I want him to live and accomplish his goal. No matter what happens, I can't have him give up or lose everything like this." His hand tightened into a fist, "I'll defeat the one who started all this."

Yuka simply bowed her head, unsure of how to express her gratitude.

"I'll head out to back you up as soon as I'm done with the survivors here." Hideaki sighed, "This isn't going to be easy."

The breeze blew past Yuudai, not affecting him in the slightest. He hadn't realised it but over the years, he had come to greatly appreciate the presence of the boy who was forced under his care. It was a new experience, one which he greatly cherished over his prior ones. His eyes were set on the sun in the distance as he spoke in a steel manner, "Even if I have to cut out my own heart, I'll do so with a smile across my face. I won't lose this battle." His grip around his sword hilt tightened, "Wait for me Naruto."

End Flashback

Hideaki leaned back in his chair, "We didn't let him give up Yuudai; he's still fighting for his dream." He heard a knocking sound, "You can enter."

The door to the chamber opened and Sakumo looked around, "You missed Naruto's training session." Closing the door behind him, he walked towards a chair and sat down, "The messenger arrived; he's been taken to their realm." He noticed that the old man was quieter than usual, "What's wrong?"

Hideaki pushed the file across his desk, "We need to talk Sakumo; something important has come up."

XXXXXXXXXX

Naruto was motionless; finding it hard to understand exactly what was in front of him, "What is this? I asked to meet with Genkei."

"Genkei-sama is within that." Ryutaro replied.

Naruto's eyes widened, "What?" He faced the crystallised marvel stretching outwards from the ground; it towered over the landscape, right in the centre of the huge island. Remembering Hideaki's words, he closed his eyes, "His metamorphosis…"

"Yes, an action which he delayed for two years. When he first refused to change, a lot of our tribe began to look down upon him, calling him unworthy of leading." Ryutaro stared at the phenomenon, "I never questioned his decision; I've never really interacted with him. Yet, I am his son."

Naruto turned towards the dragon, "His son?"

"Imagine my surprise when he informed me of the details behind his deeds; how he forsook his role as a true Celestial just to ensure you never destroyed yourself. And after finally becoming happy with what he was, ending up having to change in order to make certain you fulfilled your desire." He looked at Naruto, "It makes me question why he thinks you're so special."

"I didn't mean to cause anyone problems." Naruto said. "This was my struggle."

"Unless a person is completely alone, he can never struggle without affecting those around him. That's the benefit of having friends and those who care for you; they'll always be there to help you." Ryutaro remembered his tribe, "We're like you; we have family, people we wish to protect and not see harmed. This battle of yours that is coming; you won't only be fighting for yourself, but the future of two worlds."

Naruto walked towards the structure, placing his hand on its surface. He didn't regress as the chilliness entered through his fingers and spread throughout his body. "Genkei…" His eyes pierced the crystal but he was unable to discern the features of the figure sleeping within, only that it was great in stature.

"He should finish his transformation over the next few weeks; he will no longer be the one you knew." Ryutaro explained.

Naruto sighed, "I understand." Stepping back, his thoughts wandered between all of his conundrums, "When someone is backed into a corner, he has nowhere else to go but forward. Standing in my way is one man and I can't afford to lose."

"How far are you willing to go?" Ryutaro asked, curious to know what the jinchuuriki's answer would be.

Naruto's crimson eyes showed his resolve, "As long as there is air in these lungs, blood in these veins, and energy in this body; I won't stop."

Ryutaro smirked, "Come, we have to get you accustomed to the Void." The dragon turned and walked away.

Naruto gazed at the crystal cocoon, a smile appearing across his face, "Thank you for everything."

XXXXXXXXXX

Jiraiya gulped down the sake, his throat slightly bulging as the liquid flowed through. He slammed the cup down on the table, wiping his mouth. "It's been a while since we've drank together."

"Yeah, it has." Tsunade took a sip of her drink, "I don't get much spare time as Hokage."

Jiraiya leaned on the table, his eyes trailing the scratched wood on the surface, "What do you think of being a Hokage?"

"Why do you ask?" Tsunade responded. "Are you wondering what it could be like? You were the original choice anyway."

Jiraiya twirled the sake in his cup, "I failed Orochimaru. I failed Minato. At a time, I even felt like I had failed you. Being Hokage is a burden I'm incapable of carrying." His words struck the woman across him, "I asked you since I wanted to know how you felt."

Tsunade breathed deeply, "I sometimes wonder how the Shodai managed to unite so many people. The people rely on their Hokage's strength; if you show weakness then they become weak. I don't really know how to answer your question."

"Do you regret listening to me?" Jiraiya looked at the busty blonde, "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to make this decision."

"I still remember everything vividly; Nawaki…Dan. If we go to war, there's a chance there'll be others feeling the same as I did. To think I have to make this kind of decision, it's worrying." Tsunade's voice carried her irresolute thoughts, "Maybe you were wrong; I shouldn't have become Hokage."

"War changes people; they see and feel things that they'd never thought of. All that emotion, death, and heartache; only the most unsympathetic of people would remain unaffected. What life is there without compassion?" Jiraiya finished drinking his sake, "The fact that you care so much is why I believe I wasn't wrong about what I said to you that day."

"How long have we been drinking?" Tsunade gazed outside the bar.

Jiraiya saw the setting sun, the sky a shade of red, "Quite a while." He could hear chatter building; the voices became easier to identify the closer they came to their location.

"I can't believe Aoba-san didn't even win one contest." Lee laughed upon finishing.

"I would have won! Didn't you see me in action? Something was wrong with the judging!" Aoba shouted.

"Of course it was my friend, I believe you!" Gai had his arm around the special jounin's neck, slightly strangling him.

"Stop rubbing it in Lee." Tenten plopped onto the bench next to her idol, "Stupid contests." She muttered under her breath.

"You're only upset because you didn't win either." Lee grinned.

Jiraiya watched the group from his village make themselves comfortable around the table, wondering what they were talking about. He continued observing in silence for a few minutes before feeling annoyed at being ignored, "Shut up!" The bar immediately hushed upon his yell, "What are you all talking about?"

Neji decided to answer when none of his companions did, "The Shinobi Games; we all achieved one victory except for Aoba and Tenten."

"Neji won twice." Shikamaru added, "They were a lot tougher than expected."

"Five contests out of a possible twenty aren't bad." Tsunade was impressed. "You all must be hungry." Tenten sighed, feeling slightly dejected at not receiving any praise. Had she actually won, maybe she could've felt proud along with the rest of her friends. Tsunade continued, "But effort counts more than anything else. As long as a person tries, they have something to be proud of."

Jiraiya saw Tenten's face brighten, standing up slowly. Walking past Tsunade, he went to place an order for food, 'That's why I believe you're a great Hokage…even if you don't realise it.'

XXXXXXXXXX

A pop filled the atmosphere followed by a resounding splash. The small cloud of smoke began to disperse as an annoyed Naruto looked at his clothes, "Damn it…" He shook his head, "Of all the places you could've dropped me off, you throw me in a pond."

Standing up, the water dripped from his clothes; the fish swimming around his legs. He exited the pond and walked across the grass of his yard. Taking off his drenched orange shirt, he squeezed it in an attempt to draw out the water. Throwing the garment over his shoulder, his crimson eyes set upon the night sky, the moon shining gloriously. His head was feeling muddled after everything he had gone over with Ryutaro. Nonetheless, he still remembered his purpose and why he was fighting.

The croaking frog in the background and the cold breeze did little to distract him. "Yuudai-san, I'm not afraid anymore." He said calmly, "Just like you…I'll walk through fire without fear of being burnt."

Author Notes: That's a lot of information, no? And the crazy thing is, there's still a lot left to find out. You now know the final thing before Yuudai went to his fateful battle. Also, who can guess what exactly Naruto is in the process of recreating? Expect a lot of things to happen over the next several chapters before the final series of showdowns which i hope i can make epic. And, expect a lot of NaruSaku relationship development next chapter as well as another big surprise. See you all next time.