Yes, I did it. Somehow I can't believe it. I have written a new chapter for this story, nearly half a year after I had finished the Whirlpool Arc. A lot has happened, I have deleted and completely reuploaded the story, I have changed many plans for the story and improved the planned plot. Ah there is so much to be done and so little time to do it. Anyways, have fun with this new chapter, the first part of the new Arc called 'The Hunt'.

Oh and just for those who wonder, currently there is no real winner for the poll. But the poll will be open for some more time, so there might be a decisive victor some day.

The Hunt – Part I

"Akahana, it is time for you to go." An all too familiar voice said gruffly.

"As you wish, Danzo-sama." Akahana replied mechanically, as she looked at the heavily bandaged man before her.

"You must escape now, Tsunade's men are still busy with cleaning up the aftermath of that pathetic invasion. But they won't be distracted for long." Danzo said as he looked around, the street they were in at the moment all but abandoned at this late hour.

"Where do you wish me to go, Danzo-sama?"

"It doesn't matter. Do what you did with Kirigakure. Gain the trust of another village and collect as much intelligence as you can, until I order your return. But don't go back to Kiri, Tsunade will send her minions there first." What she wanted did not matter, only what her master wanted was important. She was his tool, his weapon. She wouldn't allow the new Hokage to change that.

"Go now and don't look back. I will call for you once the time is right." Danzo ordered sternly. With a wave of his hand he dismissed her. He did not like this, in fact he hated this situation. Because of that foolish woman he once more had to send his weapon away from the village she was supposed to serve. All because of Tsunade's foolish idealism.

"As you command, Danzo-sama. Farewell." Her voice showed little emotion, it was cold, accepting. But her eyes showed the sadness she felt, knowing that she had to leave Konoha so soon again. At thirteen years of age she was supposed to protect the village, a village that did not even want her. But she did it all, not for the villagers, but for the first man who had ever acknowledged her existence.

Without any further word she turned around and ran away, out of the ruined village, out of her current life. Once more she would leave everything behind. She ran and ran, knowing that Konoha would start the hunt for her soon. Even with Danzo-sama on her side, the new Hokage would try to have her recaptured as soon as she found out that she was missing. And she had a feeling that her escape was not as secret as she had wanted it to be.

For hours she ran through the night until she had finally reached a valley. For the first time since she had left Konoha, she allowed herself a moment to rest. Leaning against a tree she tried to catch her breath. Her mind was reeling with the question about her future. Where should she go now? Who would take her in?

It was that moment of silent contemplation that others had finally caught up to her. She had expected this to happen, but not this soon. But she wouldn't let herself be taken back. She wouldn't return to Konoha without Danzo-sama's orders.

"Akahana! The escape ends here." Came the loud exclamation of a boy who stood not far from her.

"So they sent you of all people. Is the Hokage unable to send any real shinobi, so she has to send children in her stead." Akahana replied coldly.

"Give up, Akahana. There is no escape. The Hokage wants to help you and..."

"Sasuke-kun!" Two more people joined them, a pink haired kunoichi and another black haired boy with pale skin.

"I am sorry, Sasuke, but I have different orders. I cannot return to Konoha at the moment."

"Akahana, I promised you that I would free you of your servitude to that man and I intend to keep that promise. You will no longer have to serve that man and you will stay with me, where you belong." Sasuke said vehemently.

Akahana frowned at Sasuke as she heard his words. "I told you before that I don't need to be freed. You claim that I am a slave of Danzo-sama, yet you want to force me to stay with you. You are a damn hypocrite. Leave now or else I will have to remove you by force."

"Don't you dare to talk to Sasuke-kun like that. First you steal him from us and force him to follow you to that battlefield in Kiri and now you betray our village. I hope that Tsunade-sama punishes you severely, you damn traitor." The kunoichi said scathingly as she stood next to Sasuke.

"You... you are a Haruno, are you not?" the other girl nodded slightly confused, "Isn't it kind of curious that the daughter of a traitor to the village now speaks such words. Be glad that the orders did only call for the execution of the traitorous civilian council members and not for their families' deaths as well." When Akahana saw the girls shocked face she continued. "What, don't tell me that you have already forgotten that night, seven years ago, when your mother was killed for her laughable attempt to leech more and more power from the Hokage."

"You..." The girl tried to say something in her shock, but she couldn't find the words.

"This is enough, Akahana. Give up and come with us. Don't force my hand." Sasuke said dangerously.

"No chance. Sai!" Akahana called out to the other black haired boy.

"Yes, Akahana-sama." He approached her until he stood next to her, now facing his own teammates. "Danzo-sama's orders are clear. You mustn't be caught." He said as he got battle ready.

"Sai, what are you doing?" Sasuke yelled in anger.

"Sorry, dickless, but my allegiance lies with Akahana-sama and Danzo-sama. You better leave." The pale boy said with a disconcerting smile.

"Another traitor then. So be it, I will defeat you both." Sasuke said with rage blazing in his eyes. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" With that the fight for Akahana's future had started, the giant fireball quickly approaching her.

The fireball came closer, the heat singing her skin, when...

Suddenly Akahana jerked awake. Her eyes wide open, beads of sweat on her forehead as she tried to get her breathing and heartbeat under control. She tried to wipe the sweat of her forehead with the back of her hand, but she couldn't move it. Neither could she move her other arm or legs.

Right... that bastard has captured me... but why does that memory bother me now? I have never looked back ever since... Akahana thought breathlessly as her dire situation became more apparent to her.

She looked around, seeing only a small fireplace, the dying remains of a fire leaving only a very dim light. She was in some room, but it was too dark to see more. There was only a small window, but nothing else. She realized that she was in deep trouble this time, though it wouldn't be the first time for her to have to escape from enemy captivity.

No one else was here, that much was clear. She was alone, but for how long? What would happen to her once her captor returned? And what has happened to Honoka?

A nearby door opened and a man stepped inside. A man that she knew all too well. The same damn mask, the same damn eye. The man that she had learned to despise more than the Kyubi, which had been the cause of her parents' death and her own misery. The man she despised more than any other enemy she had to face before. Tobi. But little did she know that this Tobi and the one she had killed were not even the same man...

"Good morning, Akahana-chan." He said with an almost childish voice, filled with glee. Just like in her own time he tried to infuriate her with his childish attitude.

"What do you want? Release me at once!" Akahana glared at the masked shinobi, but the man was unmoved by her actions.

"Release you? Now why would I do that? We had no time to play and I promise that Tobi will be such a good boy."

"Quit the act, you won't fool me with this poor acting."

"I see that you won't be willing to act at least civil. Very well then." He said with a sigh, the childish voice replaced with the cold sneer that Akahana had heard him use whenever he was very serious. "But make no mistake, you are in no position to argue with me."

"I am not afraid of dead men. Soon you will be dead. By my hand or the hand of one of my clansmen. I will make sure that you won't succeed with your plans!"

For a moment Tobi let go of his restraint and backhanded Akahana, hard, sending the handcuffed girl to the ground. "Insolence will be punished. Don't believe that you are something special, just because your are the heiress of a powerful clan. You will do as I tell you."

"I'd rather die than serve you, you vile monster." Akahana spat at the man, a small trail of blood running down from her split lip.

"That could be arranged, but I have different plans for now. I must admit that you intrigue me. More than any other person has ever intrigued me." Tobi said as he started pacing in front of the girl. "You are powerful, even for an Uzumaki. You obviously know about fighting and the sacrifices that have to be made. Don't try to deny it, I can see it in your eyes. You may look young, but your eyes betray your looks. Your soul has aged beyond your years, because of what you had to endure in the past." Though she couldn't see it, Akahana was sure that Tobi was smirking behind his mask. "We are very alike in that regard."

"We are not alike, you monster. I do not plan to kill countless people just to gain power!"

"Ah, yet another reason why you intrigue me so. How can it be that you, a girl that I have never met before, not just knows my name, but also knows about my ambitions. Just what are you? A seeress?" Again a childlike cackle escaped Tobi as he stared at Akahana with his only visible eye. "Someone like you will either be useful or a threat. I would be a fool to let you run around to do as you please."

"I will not help you!" Akahana said vehemently once more.

"We shall see, Akahana-chan, we shall see." With childish laughter he finally turned around and left the room.

Once more Akahana was alone in the room, wondering what would happen now. Had she revealed too much? Was that her mistake? Would her actions change the future for the worse now? She wanted to see Tobi dead. But now she was his captive and part of his plans... she had to find a way to escape. Now more than ever.

Jiraiya slowly ascended the stairs of the building, he steps heavy, slow, since he dreaded what he had to do now. But his orders were clear. Last night Uzushio had become a battlefield once more. Infighting between Uzushio shinobi and traitors had once more shocked all people in the village. He didn't know the details, but he knew what he had to do now.

He had received the orders from Konoha only the day before. Should there be another incident in Uzushio he would have to lead the Konoha group back home. They wouldn't finish the Chunin Exams in this village. The risk of getting involved with Uzushio's endless war was too great. The alliance between the Leaf and Whirlpool was shaky at best, there was no chance that the Hokage and his council would sanction any intervention in the war. Konoha couldn't risk it with Iwa preparing for war at the border to Kusa.

Jiraiya knocked briefly on the door before he entered the office of the Uzukage. No one was there to stop him anyways. People were running around in a tumultuous chaos. The hunt for traitors inside the village had reached its peak as it seemed. But even should they succeed, it was too late now.

"What is it? I'm busy, if this isn't important, then you better leave now!" Someone barked from the desk at the other end of the office.

"Uzumaki-sama, what are you doing here? I thought this is the Uzukage's office..." Jiraiya said in confusion.

"As of last night I am acting Uzukage." Toshiro said with a tired sigh. "The Nidaime has been dead for a long time as it seems."

"I don't understand... what has happened last night?"

"The traitors have been exposed last night. One of them was a puppeteer that impersonated the Uzukage. We all have been fooled for a long time. But thanks to Akahana we are now free from his influence."

"Somehow I am not surprised that it was her. Seeing her always gave me the impression that she would somehow leave an impression on this world. She has this air of mysticism around her that only few people ever possess." Jiraiya said honestly as he walked over to the desk and sat down on a chair.

"Yet she was not able to defeat all of them. She was pressured into surrendering and has been captured by the fleeing enemies." Bitterness was oozing from every word. Toshiro was not happy with the situation. Akahana was the future of his family, her actions the last night would finally help her overcome the distrust of most clan members. But the price she had to pay for that... He needed to get her back. Toshiro wouldn't allow for any member of his family to be hurt if he could help preventing it.

"This is... unexpected..." Jiraiya said in surprise, his eyes wide. From what he had seen and from his own confrontation with the girl he knew that she was exceptionally powerful and skilled for someone so young.

"Enough of this. We both know that our villages are only allies on the paper, I will not divulge anything else." Toshiro said sternly, a determined look on his face. "Why are you here? You must have had a reason for your visit."

"Yes..." Suddenly Jiraiya felt very uncomfortable. Toshiro Uzumaki was a rather intimidating man, even despite, or maybe because of his high age. A man that had seen as much as the Sandaime Hokage and fought in even more conflicts. A man with a temper that was feared by many. "Unfortunately I have to announce that the Konoha delegation will leave today. Our village has ordered us to return should any more incidents happen during our stay... the fighting last night was the last straw. I'm sorry."

"No you're not. You are not sorry in the slightest." Toshiro cursed. "Just leave my village. We don't need Konoha. You never treated us like an ally, but you always expected help from us whenever you needed it. I am neither the idealist that my father was, nor am I as foolish and trusting as his successor was. Just go and tell your Hokage that I won't forget all the times Konoha has slighted us."

"You know why Konoha has not intervened in this war." Jiraiya said defensively. "Our own village is on the brink of war once more. Iwa is practically waiting for a reason to declare war on us. We cannot fight your war and our own. Konoha wouldn't survive that!"

"Things have never been just about the war. But this talking will change nothing. Just go, I have more important things to think about. My village and my family come first now. Especially the welfare of my granddaughters."

"You do know that Kushina will have to return to Konoha..."

"And you better keep her safe. Or else you will find out why two villages were not enough to best us for the last two decades!" Toshiro said hotly. "Keep my granddaughter safe."

"And Akahana-san?"

"That is nothing you should worry about. I have already sent out my men to get her back."

"Still, if I find out anything of use, I will send you the information." Jiraiya said as he stood up.

"And why would you do that?" Toshiro asked with distrust.

"For Kushina's sake... and for Akahana. Somehow I believe that it will benefit all of us to see her safe." Jiraiya replied before he left the office.

Toshiro glared at the closed door for some more time. He knew that he shouldn't blame Jiraiya for the decisions of his superiors, but right now he needed an outlet for his anger. Anger that he was unable to protect his family... again he had failed. One granddaughter kidnapped, the other forced to fight for another village for the sake of a worthless alliance. He had failed, there was no denying it.

Hours went by. Slowly. Almost agonizingly slow. By now Akahana had given up her attempts to get rid of whatever kept her wrist tied closely together. She just couldn't get her hands free. But at least she managed to get up and walk around a bit. Not that it had done her any good. She was captured in a small room with only a small window and no other openings, except the one door that lead into the room itself.

But suddenly she heard something. A small scratching sound, coming from outside of the window. She hurried over to the opening, hope rising that someone might have managed to follow her and the traitors. Suddenly she saw two furry ears, which looked oddly familiar. Someone was trying to climb the wall, without much success.

"Kurou, is that you?"Akahana whispered cautiously. She didn't want Tobi or any of his current servants to find out. Maybe this was her chance to escape.

"Akahana-hime! I can't get up to the window. Damn this small form! I want to grow up dammit." Kurou muttered outside.

"Psst. Be silent, we don't want others to find out about your presence." For a moment she looked towards the door, fearful that Tobi might return just right this moment. But no one came and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Akahana-hime, summon me to you. I can't enter on my own..."

"Stupid fox, do you think I would still be in here if I could use my hands. I am enchained."

Kurou grumbled something that Akahana couldn't quite understand, but it didn't sound very nice. "What was that? You better think of some way to get me out of here, Kurou!"

"Damn humans. Kyubi-sama was right, you are a reckless one. I'm away for a day to look around that village and you manage to get yourself kidnapped."

"Do you think this is my idea of fun? I had no choice. Now stop babbling and do something..."

"I'm a fox, not a damn breakout tool."

"Than go and find help. But be quick. I don't know when Tobi will be back. He might try to take me somewhere else soon." For a moment Akahana wondered whether there was anyone searching for her. She was still a stranger to most people of this time line. Only a few people even cared about what might happen to her... she hoped that the Uzumaki had at least sent someone to find Honoka...

"I will hurry. Kyubi-sama would eat me alive if I let anything happen to you. Especially with that man involved!" A rustling later it was silent again. Kurou was gone. Akahana could only pray that the little fox would find someone willing to help her... and someone strong enough to survive an encounter with Tobi...

"Sensei?" Minato asked curiously as he followed Jiraiya through the streets of Uzushio. Moments before the Sannin had announced their departure from the village. But now they were walking through the streets on some very important errand.

"What, Minato?" Jiraiya asked courtly. Oh he wasn't looking forward to what he had to do now.

"Where are we going? I thought we are leaving."

"We are. But one of our numbers is still unaccounted for. But I know exactly where we can find her." Oh and how he currently despised the girls own Sensei. That damn Hyuuga had the guts to shirk this duty, all because he believes that Jiraiya, as the leader of their group, should do such things.

There was no need for Minato to ask who his Sensei was looking for. It was easy enough to connect the dots. They were on their way to find Kushina... and to take her away from here... away from her family. He didn't like it, but he had volunteered to come along and he wouldn't let his Sensei down now.

When they finally reached their destination Minato looked questioningly at Jiraiya. "The hospital, Sensei? Is she hurt or something?"

"Just be quiet and follow me, Minato. Just don't say anything that might make her angry. This will be hard enough as it is." Jiraiya said with a weary sigh.

Jiraiya walked ahead, asking a passing nurse something, before he lead Minato upstairs and through the corridors until they reached a hallway that was guarded by several redheaded shinobi. The shinobi narrowed their eyes slightly as Jiraiya passed them. They knew why he was here. It was obvious. They did not like it in the slightest, after all Kushina was the granddaughter of their clan head.

Just as they arrived, a door opened and Kushina stepped out of one of the rooms. She looked tired and worried, lacking her usual cheerful and energetic self. Minato had seen her sad before, every time some of the other people in Konoha treated her badly because of her being a foreigner. But he had never before seen her like this. So worried, so... defeated.

At first she did not acknowledge Jiraiya and Minato, not until the she nearly bumped into them. But then another emotion entered her eyes. Defiance.

"How is she?" Jiraiya asked calmly, almost inaudibly.

"She is sleeping... so far she hasn't woken up since they have brought her here..." Kushina said quietly. Minato looked confused between the two, not understanding what they were talking about? Had something bad happened? Someone they both knew was inside that room, that much was obvious. But who was it? Was it Akahana, Kushina's older sister? It would make sense, Minato had not seen her at all in the last few days.

"You know why we are here, Kushina. It's time..."

"NO!" Kushina countered loudly, her face now outraged. "I will not leave now. Not when my mother is in hospital and my sister has been kidnapped! Do what you want, but you can't take me from here. I won't allow it!"

"Kushina, this is not possible. All of us are leaving today. We have to return to Konoha, the Hokage has ordered it." Jiraiya said with more vehemence, though he tried his best to remain level-headed. He could understand her, but he had his orders. His own Sensei counted on him to do what was necessary.

"Kushina-chan, we can go home now. We..." Minato said, but he was soon interrupted.

"Shut up! This is my home. This is where my family is! Konoha never wanted me, you people treat me like an unwanted stranger, even though I have lived in your village for years now! First you come and take me away from my family without telling me anything and now you want to steal me from here again. I won't allow it! My family won't allow it."

"KUSHINA! This is enough." Jiraiya said sternly. "You are a kunoichi of the Leaf. It is your duty to return to Konoha, your home." Somehow he didn't believe his own words. He just couldn't e the stern teacher type. This just wasn't like him.

"My family won't allow you to take me away from here against my will! Just go back to your village and leave me in peace." She took her Leaf hitai-ate and threw it at Jiraiya's feet in her anger. Minato gasped in shock, not believing what he saw. He could understand that she wanted to be with her family in the current situation, but this reaction...

"Kushina-chan..."

"Don't you dare call me that. You are just like the rest of those people in Konoha. No one there cares for me, so just leave me alone."

"Kushina, this is enough." Jiraiya repeated again. "You have no choice here. We both know why Konoha cannot let you go." He looked imploringly at her. Of course Kushina knew what was talking about. The fox...

"You will have to take me by force then." Kushina said determinedly. "And be sure that my clan will not let that happen. Not after what had happened last night."

Jiraiya looked distressed by what she had said, much to Minato's surprise. Jiraiya knew that Kushina was right. Toshiro Uzumaki was pissed enough as it is. He would not sit by idly while his granddaughter is being forced to leave Uzushio against her will. Not after his only other grandchild had just been kidnapped by traitors... This wouldn't end well.

"You are aware that your actions will end the alliance between Konoha and Uzushio? Uzushio will loose its last real ally, all because of your stubbornness. Konoha might not participate in this war, but our alliance at least keeps any other villages from joining the fray. Can you allow that to happen, all for your own sake?"

Kushina hesitated for a moment. In her anger she had not thought about what this might mean for her clan and the village... a fight would end the alliance for good, that much was sure... that would also completely cut off any escape routes for her people, should Uzushio fall...

"I..." Tear slipped down her cheeks, her words stopped by a sob. She looked at the door that lead to her mothers room. "You leave me with no choice... you damn me to a life in solitude..." She slowly started walking, passing Jiraiya on her way. "At least let me say good bye to my grandfather for one last time..." I may never seen him again... She added sadly in her thoughts. Jiraiya nodded grimly before he followed her. Somehow he did not even dare to pick up her hitai-ate. He was just glad that she would come somewhat peacefully. But he still hated himself for this. Another regret to add to a list that just got longer every single day of his life.

Minato stayed a moment longer, trying to make sense of all that he had seen and heard just now. He knew that Kushina was originally from Uzushio, but he had no idea how important she apparently was for the alliance between their villages... Neither did he know how lonely she must have felt in Konoha all the time. He vowed to himself to change that. To show her that she is not alone in Konoha. He quickly pocketed her hitai-ate, before he ran after his Sensei and the young Uzumaki girl.

Arashi cursed for umpteenth time this day. How things could have gotten this far out of his control... he did not know how. The last few days had been a non stop headache. First the kidnapping of a child, than the appearance of another bastard child, his fight against Akahana on the river, the fight against that strange Tobi guy... One unexpected event after another. No time to breath. He still felt like someone had hit him in the guts, when he thought about the moment, when the clan elders told him about his betrothal to Akahana... and now his new fiance had been kidnapped by some traitors. To him this was all just like a very bad dream, some alcohol induced hallucination. But it was true and now he and his team raced through the land on their search for Akahana.

"Arashi, this is bullshit. We don't even know where the traitors went after they left the island. This is a waste of time." One of the other Uzumaki said with a grim look.

"Don't you think I know that, Naoki? I know that we have absolutely no clue whatsoever, but I won't turn around now." Arashi barked angrily.

"They have two from our clan, Naoki. We can't just let that slide." The only female member of their group said with a thoughtful look.

"A child and that bastard..."

"Just shut up, Naoki. No matter her past, Akahana is my fiance now and I will get her back." Arashi said. There was no other way for him, but to accept the situation as it is. When both the clan elders and Toshiro-sama were convinced that their marriage would be for the better of the clan, than he would do it. But first he would have to free her from whoever had her now.

"Ah, so cute. She must have left a bigger impression on you than we thought at first. Has something happened after your fight against that Akahana girl?"

"Hotaru, shut up. I need to think." Arashi said, followed by an annoyed sigh. The girl merely smirked serenely at him.

"Toshiro-sama would so kick his ass, should he fail to bring back his granddaughter." Naoki stated stoically. "But there is no chance that we will find her now. The trail is cold. We messed up, deal with it."

"Oww, look, a fox kit. Isn't it cute." Hotaru said with a smile as she walked over to the animal she had spotted.

"Be careful, Hotaru. Maybe it has rabies." Naoki said, as he looked at the animal with disdain.

"I'll show you rabies, you damn moron." The fox suddenly said.

"It... talks..." Hotaru said dumbfounded.

"Hey, I know this little pest. Your Akahana's pet!" Arashi said as he quickly walked over to Kurou.

"I am not a damn pet, I am a summon."

"Whatever. You must know where Akahana is! Tell me, where is she?" Arashi demanded to know.

"Yes, I know where she is. Want your mate back so badly, huh." Kurou replied with what must have been a feral grin for a fox. Hotaru laughed when she heard that, the two others though remained unimpressed by the words of the fox.

"Where is she?" Arashi demanded again.

"Follow me. I can lead you to her, but be careful. He captor is not an enemy to be trifled with. And I can only lead you to Akahana-hime, where the other girl is I don't know."

"Do it, lead us to Akahana. Once she is free we all can search for Honoka and kill those traitors."

Kurou showed another grin that revealed all his sharp teeth, before he quickly ran into the direction he had come from. He could feel it, Akahana was still there. But for how long? The little fox could not even guess what Tobi had planed for the girl.

A/N: And done. The first chapter after a long time. I still have a lot of ideas for plots and characters, no need to worry about future updates.

I started this story with a small memory from Akahana, something to shed some light on her past. I'm sure all of you know when exactly this scene has happened. Shortly after the failed Oto Invansion. But instead of Sasuke running off to the snake-pedo, Akahana is sent away from Konoha to keep her out of Tsunade's influence. The Sasuke in this part of the story is also slightly different from his cannon counterpart. He and Akahana went through many different adventures in Kiri, but that is a topic for later chapters. Many more things will be revealed later in memories or when people talk about it and so on. A bit like in canon, the past will be a topic again and again.

The next thing I want to say is maybe a Spoiler for some people, so if you don't know about Tobi's real identity you should not read on from here:

I am well aware who Tobi really was in canon. When I started this story this was still a secret. In the current timeline Obito and his later teammates are still very very young, so of course he cannot be Tobi yet. But Madara is still around, so the Tobi in this story is the cover identity of Madara, who still seeks power and an ally like he later found one in Obito.

Jiraiya played a big role in this chapter. I have to say he is probably my favorite character in the entire Naruto-verse. He was introduced as a pervert who wrote smut to earn money, but in fact he is one of the most complex characters in the entire canon storyline. A man who had seen so much, fought in two wars and survived where others have not. His unrequited love for his teammate and the way he found a family of sorts with his student Minato. Jiraiya had lost everything in his life, but never given up entirely. He hid much under the guise of the super-pervert, but it only adds to his character. In this story he is not yet as damaged as in canon, he is not fully hiding his regrets under the aforementioned guise. In a way he can relate to Akahana in a way that only others can. Perfect candidate for a trusted friend and confidant.

Well of course Kushina wouldn't be happy about leaving Uzushio. Her mother is in hospital and has not yet woken up to talk to her daughter, her sister has been kidnapped and she has to go back to a village where she was not happy. Things sure are bad for her at the moment.

And last, but not least, Arashi and his team. Arashi, Hotaru and Naoki, teammates for the majority of their lives as shinobi. All three will be recurring characters for some time, not just this arc, so you will learn more about them. I'm am quite surprised that there are so many people actually preferring a real relationship between Arashi and Akahana. I would have expected more people to prefer a Akahana/Jiraiya pairing.

Oh man, I've written far more in this A/N than I actually wanted, but oh well, this all had to be told. I will write less in future chapters. But until then, have fun and hopefully see you all next time.