Hi. Let's see how Naruto Reacts.

To Dragonman180: Tell me about it.

To FirstBlush: Thats... good to know.

To Chewie Cookies: He's supposed to. In other stories, I've noticed he ends up as Naruto's friend. I think many of us forget he's evil distructive creature that juggernauts everything for the heck of it.


I walk this lonely road

The only one that I have ever known

Don't know where it goes

But it's something mean

And I walk alone - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" By Greenday


Training Ground

Kakashi was confused. Naruto was never late to training. In fact, he was usually the first one there. One of his first thoughts on this situation was: Oh Shit. I was early! My reputation is ruined.

After a little bit more waiting, the copy ninja's pupil finally showed up. However, he wasn't himself. His head was slumped, his hands were in his pockets, and his expression was downcast. This worried Kakashi even more.

"What's wrong Naruto? Did you get lost on the road of life?" He asked jokingly. Oddly, it had no affect whatsoever on Naruto.

"I had a little talk with him," Naruto replied, "about the seal."

It took a moment for his mentor to realize what he was talking about, but once he did, Kakashi's eye looked down in what could only be guilt.

"What did he tell you?" The Jonin asked him, dropping his humorous attitude for a more serious one. "Please be specific." Unenthusiastically, he did as he was told, confirming Kakashi's fears.

"Did you know Kakashi-sensei? He said you probably did." Naruto asked him sadly. The silver haired shinobi paused for a few seconds before answering.

"Jairaya-sama… told us this was the case." He admitted soberly. "He came to that conclusion during your training with him, and when the two of you returned, he told us."

Naruto was dumbfounded. "Why didn't you tell me Kakashi-sensei?" He asked his teacher angrily. "Why was I the only person who wasn't told?!"

"He asked us not to tell you." He explained. "Jairaya-sama didn't say why, only that it was for the best."

Naruto quickly went from angry back to depressed. He had always thought of Jairiya as "the pervey sage" most of the time, when that was only one side of Jairiya's personality. All the things he taught Naruto had changed his opinion of the old man, but not much. When he had discovered he had gone up alone against Pain, he was shocked by the toad-sage's bravery and determination, the traits he rarely revealed. (Well, unless you count his risky research methods as "brave.")

"If he ever regains consciousness, you can ask him why." Kakashi continued. "However, right now, he is in no condition to answer your questions." Naruto was silent for a few moments.

"Ano, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked him. "Since the guy I need is in a coma, may I at least talk it over with Granny Tsunade? She knows him better than anyone else. Doesn't she?"

"Anyone alive." Kakashi corrected his pupil. "I heard he got along a lot better with the Third than anyone else."

"Well, can we?" The Jinchuriki asked him again. "I don't think I can get anything done until I do."

"Fine Naruto, if she can spare the time. However, between paperwork, Akatski, and sake, she may not have time." He replied. "I guess you do deserve a talk though, at the very least."

With a nod, the pair started walking in the direction of the Hokage's office.

Streets of Konoha

That morning, Hinata and Neji were on their way to get groceries. Hiashi would have done it, but he had an important meeting with a group of council elders, so Hinata had offered to do it herself. Hiashi agreed, but asked Neji to go along too, for some reason. So far though, he wasn't much help.

"Ano, where is the store again?" He asked. Neji was quite embarrassed by the whole thing. He hadn't gone on a grocery trip in years, so he was next to clueless about what to do.

"It's this way, Neji-kun." Hinata replied politely. She knew that even though Neji was a genius in combat, he was sorely lacking in several other areas, such as shopping. She tried to help him when she could, and tried not to make a big issue of it, but she had little success in the former.

Just then, Naruto and Kakashi walked right by them. At first Hinata was going to say hi to them, when she saw the serious expression on the blonde's face, which was somehow both scared and angry. She realized now was not the time to chat with him, so she held her tongue.

"Did you notice, Neji-kun? Hinata asked her cousin after the sober duo was gone.

"Yes. Naruto was definitely not his usual self." Neji replied. "I think there was more to it than that though."

"What do you mean?" The heiress asked him. "Did you notice something else?"

"I did. Take a look at where they were going." Neji pointed at a somewhat distant building. It was the Hokage building.

"Whatever was troubling them may or may not be serious enough to report to Hokage-sama." He answered her soberly. "There's no way that can be good news."

"I hope nothing happened to Naruto-kun or Kakashi-sama." Hinata said wistfully.

Hokage Building

Tsunade was in the middle of an epic battle with a battalion of paperwork, when Shizune interrupted.

"What do you want Shizune?" The Hokage growled fiercely at her loyal assistant.

"Tsunade-sama," she began, "Kakashi-sama and Naruto-kun wish to speak with you. They say it's kind of important."

Tsunade groaned audibly. Why did they have to come now? Don't they have training or something to do?

"Fine, send them in Shizune." She instructed her briskly. "This better be good.

With that, the assistant opened the door and admitted the two of them. Tsunade noticed the change in the two of them almost immediately.

"What is it, you two?" Tsunade barked. "Make it snappy. I don't exactly have all day."

Kakashi focused his remaining eye meaningfully at Shizune, something the fifth Hokage understood too well.

"Shizune, please leave us," Tunade commanded her crisply. After her assistant's eyes looked downward for a few seconds, she did as she was told.

The medical ninja sighed. The two of them simply hadn't made up after that time. Shizune had reported some of Tsunade's more sensitive decisions and plans to the more conservative elders of Konoha. This had led to a number of problems and arguments between them. In the end, Tsunade decided to simply bar her once-trusted assistant from any meetings concerning Naruto or Akatski that she could. It had only widened the rift between them, but she had no choice. She knew that many of the elders wanted to see Naruto executed, stripped of his status as a shinobi, or even handed over to Akatski as part of a peace agreement. Something Tsunade could neither stand nor afford.

"Now then, what's the problem?" Tsunade asked again, this time with a more mellow-sounding voice.