"You're not giving up are you?" A woman asked, as she spoke to the man stood in the doorway to her house, as the cool breeze from outside blew in making her red hair whip about like an excited dog wagging its tail. "It's only been a day."

"No, of course not!" The man replied as he adjusted his mirrored glasses, pushing them back up his nose. "More people are joining the search as we speak."

"Maybe I should go and look to." She said, turning round and quickly grabbed her jacket from the back of a chair before making her way to exit the house, only for the man to bar her way.

"No. You should stay here Kushina. We'll search for him, you stay here and look after your son, and he needs you now more than ever. We'll let you know as soon as we find anything." He said, trying to reassure her before turning around and running off to join the rest of the search parties.

"Thank you." She called out as she watched the man disappear among the crowds of people that had gathered outside her house. Many had come to help in the search while others had come to share their condolences, as though Minato was gone forever. She wished those people would just leave her alone, she didn't want to think about what her life would be like without him.

"Have they found him yet mom?"

Kushina turned towards the small quiet voice to see her young son dressed in his pyjamas, clutching an orange plush fox in one hand while sleepily rubbing his eyes with the other.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you Naruto?" She asked, nervously playing with her hair as he sleepily nodded his head."No they haven't found him yet, but don't worry he'll be home soon."She said as she knelt down beside him while forcing a smile on her face, trying not to show her son how worried she really was.

"Mommy you're crying." The young boy said as he reached up towards his mother, running a finger along her cheek and wiping away a tear that she hadn't realised had fallen from her eye. Finally giving into her emotions she grabbed her son and hugged him close, trying to find some form of comfort for themselves as more and more tears streamed down her face.

Naruto awoke from his first full night's sleep since the attack on Konoha feeling completely refreshed. Untangling himself from the sheets which were strewn all over the place he was surprised to find that his clothes had been moved. Instead of finding then him the messy pile he'd left them in at the foot of the bed, he instead found them cleaned and folded neatly on the nightstand beside's him with a note resting on top. Grabbing the note he unfolded it and he couldn't help laugh as he read the message. It was from Yoshino. She'd been by while he'd been sleeping and seeing his messy clothes, she'd taken them to be cleaned and repaired. The note also mentioned that if he wanted her to repair anything else for him in the future that she'd charge him next time and that she didn't come cheap.

Throwing the note aside he grabbed his clothes and took a moment to inspect them before he started to get dress. Yoshino had done a great job cleaning them as they looked as good as new, even the old ramen stain on the front of his jacket that had stubbornly refused to go away no matter how many hours he'd spent scrubbing it, was now gone. And all the rips and cuts had been neatly sewn up, a lot better than the patchwork repairs he was use to making, however much she charged she certainly seemed to be worth the price.

Once finally dressed Naruto made his way to the dining area and was happy to see Yoshino who was busying herself by serving food to people while her son slept with his head resting against the bar top.

After serving the last customer she turned to Naruto and greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, I hope you slept well?"

"I did, it was a lot more comfortable then the last few places I've slept." He replied as he thought about the nights he'd spent on the cold, wet, hard floors. "And thanks for cleaning my clothes; you didn't have to do that."

"It was nothing; you've been through a lot it seems after your encounter with the Jubi, so the least I could do was let you face the world in some clean clothes." She said as she grabbed a cloth and I one fluid motion whipped Shikamaru across the back of the head with it causing him to wake up startled. He tiredly looked up at his mother, about to say something only to be met by her stern gaze and with a deep sigh he pulled himself off his stool and started to collect the empty dishes on the tables.

"Do you know where Lee is?" Naruto asked as he watched the scene unfold, trying not to laugh at the young man. His mother quite literally had him whipped. "I need to see him about dong some training if I'm going to play with the Aurouchs."

"Yes Lee said you were joining the team. He seemed rather excited, more than usual; he must think your something special." Yoshino said as she began to wipe the bar down as she saw the blondes eyebrows furrow, no doubt trying to picture the overly excitable man he'd met the day before be even more so. "He'll probably be on the beach with the rest of the team, but I'd check at the temple first, he might still be there checking on things."

"Oh, thanks." He replied a little deflated as he made his way out of the tent. The temple was the last place he wanted to be. He'd felt completely out of place there the day before as the monk tried to explain to him all about Jashin. He was glad the man gave up in the end since the only thing he was getting from him was a headache. Outside he looked towards the village gates and the path leading towards the beach.

'She said he'd probably be on the beach.' He thought to himself as he started to make his way towards the long winding path before stopping at the gates to look back at the temple. Letting out a heavy sigh he turned around and made his way back across the village square till he was once again looking up at the temples stone doors. As much as he didn't want to go inside he didn't fancy the long walk to the beach only to have to come back again if Lee wasn't there.

Steeling himself for more of the strange looks he'd been getting ever since arriving in this strange world he made his way inside, maybe if he was quick he could get in and out before anyone could ask him any questions. Thankfully he didn't have to spend long looking as he found Lee stood in the centre of the room talking to the monk.

"You could at least go in and check?" The monk pleaded, pointing to the doorway at the top of the stairway.

"Is something wrong?"

Lee and the monk quickly turned around to face the blonde, caught by surprise by his sudden appearance.

"We're not sure. The summoner hasn't returned yet." Lee explained as the monk walked away from them, annoyed that he couldn't get him to agree with him. "Well, technically they're an apprentice summoner but their spirit burns so strongly im sure it wont be long now."

"Ok." Naruto replied nodding his head. He didn't understand what he was talking about but he really wasn't in the mood for a lecture about summoners and Jashin again like the day before.

Lee on the other hand could tell straight away that he didn't understand so he quickly started to explain. "Through there is the cloister of trails and beyond that is where the apprentice summoner prays. If the pray's heard then the apprentice becomes a fully fledged summoner, remember?" He said hoping to jog his memory.

"So someone's in there and they haven't got back yet. Is it very dangerous?"

"Yes, it can be sometime, and they've been gone for a whole day, it don't usually take that long that's why people are starting to worry."Lee explained as he looked back across to the monk who just stared back at him.

"Maybe we should go in and check if they're alright?" Naruto suggested, agreeing with what he'd heard the monk say to Lee when he'd first entered the temple.

But Lee shook his head. "There are already guardians in there, and besides it'd be forbidden."

"But they could be in trouble!" He replied heatedly as he ran up the steps and pushed the door open. He never could sit back and do nothing when someone needed help, and it annoyed him even more when those that could help, refused to do so.

"Stop! You can't enter." The monk shouted seeing him walk through the door, his voice attracting the attention of everyone who had been praying, and causing them to gasp in shock and cry out in outrage at seeing someone go against the teachings they held so dear. "The precepts must be obeyed.

"Like I care!" He shouted back just before the door closed behind him.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Naruto muttered to himself as he turned another corner only to find a wall blocking his way. Exhaling a sigh of frustration he turned on his heels and headed back the way he came. When Lee said the place could be dangerous he'd been expecting jets of flames shooting out of the walls, or monsters waiting to jump out at him from behind every corner. Instead he'd found himself inside a stuck in a stone maze with strange glowing symbols flashing on the walls.

'There's no wonder this summoners been gone so long, I bet he's still trying to find his way out of this place.' He thought as he arrived at the last point the path had split up before trying the opposite path. He hated mazes. They reminded him of the time he'd got lost for five hours in a hedge maze back in Konoha and he only found his way out of that after he'd given up and ran through the walls. If that was any indication of how long he was going to be stuck there, someone would have to come to find him. That was if they weren't too afraid to break the rules like he was.

"64, 65, 66, 67..."

"Naruto stopped in his tracks as he heard the counting, the only sound he'd heard that wasn't his own footsteps since he'd entered the cloister of trials, even the strange music that had been playing in the main room in the temple couldn't be heard. Was it a timer? Was the maze meant to be a race or was it a countdown to something dangerous? Not wanting to take any chances he quickly but cautiously continued through the maze, following the sound of the counting to see what it was. What he found caused a sense of relief and confusion wash over him.

The relief was because at the end of the path was a large door, different to the one he'd entered. He'd finally found the exit and he couldn't wait to leave and he had no intention to ever come back to a place like this again.

What confused him though was he found the green clad Lee doing press-ups in front of the door.

"When did you get here?

"99, 100." Lee finished counting before looking up to the blonde with a big smile on his face before springing up to his feet. "Naruto you finally made it, I knew the fires of youth inside you would help guide you here."

"Err, actually it was more like the sound of your counting." He admitted with an embarrassed chuckle. "But seriously I came in her before you, how long have you been waiting there?"

"About ten minutes."

"And you thought you'd do 100 push-ups while you waited?"

"Well I'd already done 200 sit-ups." He replied to Naruto's surprise. Was it even possible to do all that in ten minutes, or was he just bragging because no one could prove otherwise. Before he could think about it though Lee pushed the heavy door open and beckoned for him to follow.

Following his lead he stepped through the doorway and found himself in a small round room with Lee stood in the centre. Letting the door close behind him, he stood besides Lee and took a quick look around the room. There were no other windows or doors except the one they'd come through. Turning to Lee, he was about to ask if maybe there was some hidden door they had to go through when suddenly there was a rumble and the ground shook. A second later the ground shook again before a before it suddenly started to descend while they were both stood on it.

Naruto's first reaction was to panic that the ground beneath him had given way, but realising that rather than falling to his death it was more like riding in a lift like back at home, and the fact Lee hadn't reacted at all to what was happening he quickly regained his composure. He should have been used to surprises by now he thought.

"So... I thought you said only summoners and their guardians were allowed in here." Naruto asked, finally able to think of something to say to break the silence that had fallen between them as he watched the carvings in the stone walls around him pass him by as they descended further underground. "So wont you get into trouble too when we get out of here?"

"No." Lee replied as though he didn't have a care in the world.

"So what makes you so special then?" He asked looking back at Lee, waiting for an answer. "Is it the reason your hairs like that?" He joked.

"No, no, no, no. I have my hair like this in honour of my master." Lee replied seriously, never realising that the blonde had been joking. "I'm allowed here because I'm a guardian too."

Lee was a guardian? He'd though with summoners being so important that their guardians would look more intimidating. Large muscle bound men, wearing heavy armour and carrying big weppons. Not like... Well like Lee.

Eventually the platform came to a stop in a room with only a single door at the far side, so he made his way towards it, with Lee quickly following behind him.

"I can't wait to introduce you to the others, I'm sure you'll all get along youthfully.

"Whys that?"

"Well your fires of youth burn so brightly, how could they not?" Lee said as he reached the door. "One's a beautiful blossoming flower who wouldn't hurt a fly; one is as loyal as a hound and the other..." He began to explain but was interrupted as the moment he stepped through the door a large white dog pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. Seeing the attack Naruto quickly reached into his back pouch to retrieve a kunai and was about to tackle the dog when he noticed something strange. Rather than screams of pain and panic at being mauled by a dog the size of a horse, Lee was laughing.

The dog was licking his face.

"Ok, ok Akmaru. It's good to see you too." Lee laughed, giving the dog a hug before trying to push it off so he could get up.

With one final lick, Akamaru crawled off of Lee allowing him to stand and enter the room properly, but when Naruto tried to follow him in he quickly leapt in front of him, bearing his teeth and growled at him causing him to worry about his own safety.

"Lee who is this guy?" A young man with red markings on his face asked, wearing a black trousers and open jacket that showed the light armour plates that were strapped to him underneath, as he walked besides Akamaru, running his hand through the dog's fur as he gave inspected the blonde.

"What are you doing here?" A female voice called out catching the attention of Lee and Naruto.

"We just came to make sure you were alright Sakura, people were starting to get worried." Lee explained waving to the pink haired girl who was resting against the far wall.

"So what? You were worried that we couldn't handle the job?" Sakura asked with a scowl as he pushed herself off the wall and marched across the room to poke her finger in his chest as her long pink dress trailing along behind her.

"Sorry, it's kind of my fault." Naruto tried to explain as she turned her green eyes towards him. While he'd felt intimidated by Akamaru and the other guy, Sakura was making him seriously reconsider his decision to enter the sacred chamber. Was she the beautiful flower that wouldn't hurt a fly, Lee had mentioned? Because the way she was clenching her gloved fists suggested that someone was going to get hurt and he really didn't want to be that someone. "Is the summoner alright?" He asked, hoping to distract her.

"You're not supposed to be here." She said sternly as she reared her fist back before throwing it at his head causing him to dive between the guardians to protect himself. Quickly rolling to his feet he turned back to Sakura ready to defend himself only to see her being restrained by Lee who was struggling to hold her back, while the other guy just watched them amused. "Lee let go of me or your next!" She shouted.

Before he could respond though the room shook and a wall at the top of some steps started to rise up, revealing a doorway and causing everyone so stop what they were doing and look in that direction. Dust kicked up in the air as the wall rose to the ceiling and the silhouette of someone stood in the doorway appeared. Naruto watched for what seemed like an eternity before the dust cloud started to disperse and the figure of a young woman dressed in a purple dress and white top and yellow obi around her waist appeared. Tentatively she started to make her way into the room, wiping the sweat from her brow as her long dark blue hair and kimono sleeves flowing behind her with every step she took, before kicking a stone causing her to stumble and fall.

Seeing her about to fall down the steps, everyone quickly forgot about their fight and instead quickly made their way towards her to aid, but the guardians were left standing in shock as Naruto dove across the room. Leaping up the stairs he quickly dove at the girl, catching her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as they tumbled down the hard stone steps, using his own body to protect her. As he hit the ground at the bottom of the steps hard everyone gathered around him worried about both their well-beings after the fall.

"Are you alright?" Lee asked concerned as he spotted blood seeping from the back of the blondes head.

"I'm fine." He groaned as he shook his head, unconcerned with his own bleeding as he tried to clear away the cobwebs before looking down at the girl he was cradling in his arms, only to find her staring back at him with milky lavender eyes and a flushed face. "Are you hurt?"

At first he was worried she'd been injured during the fall as she continued to stare back at him, her face glowing redder and redder, before eventually a small smile appeared on her face and she spoke in a quiet, timid voice.

"I've done it! I have become a summoner."