So this update is a long time coming...

Been about five years since I last updated.

And I can't say if it is the continuation of the story or not.

With some of this chapter written and on my drive, I at least wanted to put something out while I debate on coming back to this story or not.

So it is on Hiatus until I make my decision.

Your voices would help make this decision a lot easier.

Maybe something will reignite?

If I do make a return to this story, I will be updating the older chapters to at least fix them grammatically.

Sorry for it being short, I took what I had and finished it up at the logical closing point.

Walking through the tunnel with the Aurochs, Naruto tried to quiet his mind and prepare for the game that was to be played. Yet he could not concentrate for more than a few moments as the fans' roars reverberated through the walls and into his very being. This left him with a feeling that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Nervous anxiety.

The butterflies floated and turned in his stomach, leaving him ready to lurch and discharge his lunch. It was a humbling experience for him, and then he saw something that left him breathless.

Trailing behind Wakka through the tunnel, Naruto was astonished by the sheer volume of the crowd. The decibel level of their cheers as they cried out for both teams. How hopeful everyone was as they screamed at the top of their lungs. All that mattered before them was the game.

Their lives were temporarily suspended from reality for just one moment as they had forgotten about Sin and the terror it brought to Spira.

Naruto understood the importance of the game more than ever. It was more than just a distraction…

It was to give hope.

A fire ignited within him. More than ever before, he had to find a way to defeat Sin. To bring it to an end. He didn't have an answer now…

But he was sure it was out there. He just had to find it.

So, for now, he would make sure to leave these fans mesmerized by a beautiful game and leave them in awe of a spectacular performance. And despite how much he wanted to blitz the Goers and break them, he knew he couldn't do that now, as the people deserved more.

They deserved something for the ages.

"Wakka…"

"Put me on the bench," Naruto said, staring at the crowd, startling the rest of the team and leaving them utterly stunned.

"W-what?" Wakka finally mustered up the strength to speak as the rest of the Aurochs were speechless.

"Put me on the bench," Naruto said again, this time looking at Wakka before turning to Letty and patting him on the back. "Tell them I'm injured and can't go."

"But… But…" Letty stuttered as he sat on the bench in the last game, letting Naruto take his place in the sphere.

"Hey. You've got this. I'll jump in at halftime and claim to be injured, but I don't think you all need me... And I believe in you." Naruto then turned and faced all the Aurochs. "All of you…"

"Don't you realize you were playing a man down in that second half, and you still fought and clawed your way to victory against a better team than the Goers? A team that had your weakness analyzed and exploited it, and you still came out on top."

"Play this game like it is meant to be and show the world the spirit of the Aurochs. The spirit of Besaid." Naruto gave a passionate, rousing speech as he spoke from the heart. "Be physical and play confidently. And if you do that I'm sure you can win… I am sure of it because you've had the talent all along… You just needed a jump start."

Finishing confidently, he held his hand toward the sphere so the cameras would focus on them. Knowing it was a crucial moment and drawing their attention to them. He wanted the spotlight drawn to them.

To show the world that these guys were something more. It was the boost of confidence they needed. That they always needed.

They needed to know they could compete with every team if not defeat them. He saw it when the Psyches had him analyze every team, and it was something he noticed when he watched them play. They played like they were already defeated; even Wakka sometimes played that way. That was what hindered their abilities, and the Psyches knew it.

They were afraid of the Aurochs if they played to their potential.

And in the last game, they finally got to show what they were made of in the second half against the Psyches when they played confidently.

Letty was the first to reach his hand into the circle, and he and Naruto started. "Victory… Victory…"

Soon all the other Aurochs followed suit, ending with Wakka, each of them crying at the top of their lungs at the end as they broke the huddle. "VICTORY!"

"Let's go!" Naruto cried out as the rest of the Aurochs dived into the sphere pool.

With a grin, Naruto watched them with a sense of pride. They would do well, and he didn't think he needed to intervene.

They had everything they needed.

Turning his back and limping to the locker room, he played his role before the cameras. He wasn't above giving a show to make it seem more impressive if he had to come back out in the second half. However, it was time to let the rest of the Aurochs shine.

Entering the locker room, he was surprised to hear a laugh and see his mother calmly sitting on the bench as if expecting this move from her son. Her warm smile and sparkling gaze made something well within him that he had never experienced before. She looked upon him in such a way that he felt no one had ever done before.

Maybe Jiraiya. Maybe Kakashi. Perhaps the old man. But not quite in the same way.

Nothing could ever match the look she was giving him.

"Dear, I may not have known you my entire life, but I cannot express how much it means to see and know that you are my son." Kushina's eyes well before she wiped her sleeve over her eyes. "So much of that reminds me of your father, and I can't express how proud he would be of you…"

"But I don't think you came back to hear me gush," Kushina grimaced and took a deep breath. "So, let's get to this…"

"There isn't too much of a rush." Naruto sat next to his mother, glancing at the sphere as the game started, and grinned, seeing how aggressively the Aurochs started the game. "I'm not worried in the slightest about them, so we have some time."

"Besides, Kakashi always told me the apple didn't fall too far from the tree."

"What, you have anger issues too?" Kushina scoffed in jest before she frowned as Naruto grimaced. "Oh, by the sages, you do, don't you? Please tell me you didn't develop a word tick."

"Let's just skip over those details…"

"Uzumaki Naruto, you tell me this instant, dammit!"

"You better believe I am not, dammit! Oh, that's where that comes from…"

"Fuck!" Kushina dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her temples in frustration. "Couldn't you just inherit all the positive traits from your father and leave my horrible ones out of it…"

"Could be worse." Naruto gently rubbed soothing circles against the top of his mother's back. "You'd be surprised how often those stubborn traits got me out of trouble, so I'm more thankful than anything else."

"Now you're just trying to be a smooth talker. You are your father's child." Kushina mocked as she sat back up before narrowing her eyes. "Or you both learned too well from a certain pervert…"

"Cannot deny that. He was an excellent teacher."

"Was? Oh…" Kushina looked startled at the thought before a sullen expression overcame her demeanor. "I see. I have been away from our world for quite some time. It would be a surprise if something were to happen…"

"Many things did. That one pushed me to where I am today." Naruto sighed as he leaned back and glanced briefly up at the roof before returning his gaze to his mother. "But alas, I think it is time to get to the subject at hand…"

"Not everything you want can be answered, Naruto." Kushina shook her head and her deep blue piercing into his cerulean eyes. "Some of the answers you seek need to be experienced. I apologize for that, but it's the truth."

"Words cannot do them justice. What this world is and can do is something that defies explanation. I've seen some of it, and I still cannot explain what I have witnessed." Kushina muttered as she trailed off and seemed lost in her memories.

Naruto glowered and crossed his arms, not anticipating this response from his mother. He had not expected his mother to withhold information from him. The other guardian, Auron, was to be expected. But his mother…

"I see…" Naruto gnashed his teeth before taking a breath and shaking his head. "Fine, can you at least explain to me something about the sphere we watched? Maybe about the Yevon Shinobi, although I could care less about them."

"Not like they'll be much of a threat to me in the long run..." He muttered as he didn't think much about them.

Kushina narrowed her eyes and wanted to say something but stayed quiet. He would learn soon enough.

If she was around, they would come. And it would not be pleasant.

"Who was the girl in the sphere? The other guardian. She looked familiar, and I swear I have seen her before."

"Wait, I have!" Naruto recognized where he saw her and frowned.

Kushina's eyes darted up at Naruto before she looked away immediately in panic as he had a thoughtful expression. "Kabuto resurrected her along with the other Jinchuuriki during the Great War…"

"What?!" Kushina's voice resonated and she looked troubled by what her son had stated. "Oh, I see then…"

"Her name is Fu. She was a jinchuuriki like us."

"And unfortunately, as you are well aware if that jutsu was used, she is not amongst the living." Kushina sighed before closing her eyes. "Do you know the full duties of what it entails to be a Summoner?"

"You mean besides going on a pilgrimage and journeying to defeat Sin?" Naruto frowned at the question and thought briefly about it. "There are quite a few I was briefed on. In most cases, it's about providing hope to people in whatever way possible. To raise their spirits in these dour times."

"In a way, that is correct. That is the role most Summoners fulfill as very few ever get the privilege of becoming High Summoner." Kushina's eyes fluttered open, and a pensive expression overcame her. "Have you heard of the Sending Rite or Ritual?"

"Yeah, I heard a bit about it when I was with the Al Bhed." Naruto nodded as he recalled his time spent with Rikku and Cid. "They might have issues with Yevon and their belief structures, but they seemed to agree that was the correct way of sending someone to the afterlife."

"Indeed it is." Kushina nodded in agreement, sighing before taking in his son's gaze. "For you see here on Spira, an unsent spirit can persist after death. Without a Summoner to guide one to the afterlife, their soul remains and can become something more."

Naruto's eyes widened after hearing this. "Does that mean it's possible to skirt death in this world in essence? If, say, one's will is strong enough?"

"But then what of…"

"She's around. Those of us too stubborn to die don't exactly know how to quit." Kushina sighed and closed her eyes, sighing deeply. "Give it enough time. She'll find you."

"If she hasn't found you already. With your presence, she is very likely to seek you..."

"What do you mean if she has already?" Naruto flatly asked upon hearing his mother's mumbled voice and glared at her.

Then his face fell as his inquiry was the last thing on his mind as her other words sunk in. "Too stubborn to die…"

"Wait…"

"Naruto, honey…"

Kushina gave a profound sigh as she gazed into her son's eyes and softly withered. "Did you honestly think I was still alive?"

"I perished in our world. I was never alive to start with."