Naruto had been brought into Tsunade's home while the other man, Shikamaru, had been tending to the children. He was rather confused as to why they had remained silent when he had asked about his mother though for now he wasn't going to push it. Looking out the window, the young man walked up the stairs in his soggy wet clothes, knowing fully well he would have to strip and hang his clothes to dry or he would catch a cold.

"You okay Naruto?" asked Hinata with confusion, causing the young man turned and saw the shadow-form of the female imp that had become his companion. He didn't know how she knew he was down about him not getting the information he wanted but it did warm his heart to know that someone cared.

Giving her a soft smile, Naruto nodded before whispering "I'm fine. I'm just confused why they all froze when I asked about my mom. Is she here? Did she wonder off or what?" He sighed softly, had he been closer to finding his mother when he found the children or was he just as far from the answer? He might be, it was hard to say for the time being…

Taking a deep breath, Naruto kept on walking up the stairs. The squelching in his boots telling him that the water from the spring had gone into his shoes after the kids tackled him. Sighing softly, he hadn't been expecting that to happen but at the moment that couldn't have been helped could it? Just like it couldn't have been helped that he was pretty much soaked from head to toe from the springs. If there were some hot springs nearby, then he could go and warm up in there but sadly, that isn't the case.

Looking around, Naruto saw that it was a simple cottage. The walls made of sturdy wood, the lanterns the only source of light since the sun had gone down. He could faintly make out the cob webs, a sure sign that this place needed a good cleaning. The railings for the stairs also needed a good fixing… Just how much damage did those monsters do to this place?

Shaking his head, Naruto reached the top of the stairs and saw the second floor. It was a simple room, huge of course since Tsunade was the healer of the village. So he assumed that she would need all the room that she could get. There were possible ten beds, all of them with wooden frames, and green blankets covering the beds. Strange how all the blankets were the same, though maybe it was so people wouldn't fight about what colour they would want.

Oh well, it was something that he had no control over anyway. Stretching, the young man made his way to the bed in the back, the one by a window. Maybe if he kept a good eye on the village from there, nothing would be wrong. He would be able to protect the village even if he was sound asleep. He'd be aware enough to jump to action.

Yawning, Naruto grabbed his sword and set it down on the shelf that resided above the bed. Taking another look around the room, Naruto saw that all the beds had shelves above the headboards. Maybe it was for whoever needed healing and would like to have something close to their hearts near them. Giving a sad smile, Naruto reached up and took off his hat before setting it on the chair and started to remove his gloves.

"Naruto, what do you think will happen in the temple?" asked Hinata.

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Hinata floating above the bed and frowned a bit. He wasn't really sure what they would see in the temple, and he also couldn't bring himself to tell her that he sensed something wrong in the temple… Whatever that may be. Setting his gloves on the chair, Naruto reached for his belt and unbuckled that as he said "to be honest Hinata, I'm not really sure… Though, I'm sure that I'll handle that just like how I handled the giant plant monster that was in the forest."

After his belt was off, Naruto reached for the hem of his orange shirt and started to pull that over his head. This might need to hang over the chair or something…

Hearing the little imp sigh, Naruto turned around and stared at Hinata with a frown. Why did she look so sad? Was there another reason for her to want to get the Fused Shadows or was it something more? Tilting his head, Naruto gave Hinata a soft smile as he said "don't worry Hinata; I'm sure that we'll get those Fused Shadows, find the Twilight Princess and defeat Pein. Nothing will stop us, believe it!"

Hinata looked up and gave a soft blush, Naruto guessed it was because she wasn't used to him undressing since she looked away. Naruto chuckled a bit before grabbing the net shirt that resided under his orange tunic and started to take that off. He didn't have much to worry about that to dry since there wasn't much material to dry off in the first place. Shrugging, he sat down on the chair as well before he started to grab his long sleeved white undershirt.

"I don't doubt that you'll be able to get the Fused Shadows, I just doubt that… there wouldn't be some sacrifices."

"What do you mean?"

"It's hard to explain Naruto…"

"Well, just try your best to explain."

Hinata was silent; Naruto didn't think that she would say anything more. The way she had sounded just moments ago, it almost broke his heart. Taking a deep breath, he whispered "never mind Hinata. Tell me when you're ready okay?" Turning away from her, he started to remove the pouch that resided at his right thigh and set it on the shelf with his sword before he started to remove his boots.

"It isn't that I don't want to tell you, it's that I don't know how to tell you."

Naruto froze after he had managed to remove his boots and turned to stare at Hinata with confusion. How can she not know how to tell him something? Was it that difficult for her or was it something more? Inhaling softly, he whispered "just try your best. If you can't, then don't worry." Looking away from Hinata, Naruto grabbed the waist of his pants and frowned a bit. "You may not want to look Hinata unless you want to see me in my boxers."

Hearing her squeal, Hinata hid within Naruto's shadow. Chuckling softly, he found her bashfulness a little cute. Removing his pants, Naruto hung them over the end of the bed, and then reached over to open the window to let in some air. Maybe they'll dry by tomorrow since it does get warm here thanks to Death Mountain.

Frowning, now that he thought about it, was it normally this warm even at night here? Crossing his arms, Naruto sat down on the bed, thankful that his boxers weren't wet oddly enough. Sighing softly, the young man looked at the back of his right hand and stared at the birthmark that resided on his skin. Because of this mark, he had been chosen to save his home from the evil that threatened it. But, at what cost?

Shaking his head, Naruto lied down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Now that he thought about it, if it hadn't been for this mark on his hand, he would most likely be in his village just protecting it, living the same life over and over again each and every day. Sure, it would seem like fun but compared to what he's been through? Now it just seems so boring and not as exciting… maybe, this was what was meant to happen.

"Naruto?"

Frowning at the new voice, the young man pushed himself up and saw both Tsunade and Shikamaru walking into the room. Sighing softly, he ran a hand through his blonde spiky locks as he asked "something up?" He didn't know what they would want this time of night, though at the moment he didn't care. Right now, he had to know where his mother was and get her, along with the children home. But, that may have to wait until tomorrow…

Tsunade, along with Shikamaru grabbed one of the few chairs that were in the room and sat in front of Naruto. Both of them just gave Naruto a frown, as if what they had to tell him was what he didn't want to hear at the moment.

"Naruto," began Tsunade as she gave Naruto a frown. Already, he wasn't starting to like where this conversation was going. "We only found the children. There was never any woman with them." Eyes widening, only for that widening glance to turn into a cold, hard glare.

"No, you're lying to me! I know my mother was kidnaped with the kids! I saw it before I was knocked out! I know that she was kidnapped!" shouted Naruto. This had to be some kind of lie, there was no way that the kids would have separated from his mother. Shaking his head, he said "think again! My mother's name is Kushina; she has long bright red hair and warm dark blue eyes! I know she's here so don't you lie to me damn it!"

Shikamaru looked over at Naruto, giving him a bit of a bored stare. The bomb maker didn't know how to say anything to how Naruto was feeling though there was something that needed to be said. Naruto just glared at both of them, not wanting to accept that his mother was still missing.

"Naruto." Said Shikamaru causing Naruto to turn and point his glare at the bomb maker. What could this man possibly say that would make him feel better!? "I know you have been looking for your mother along with the children, but getting angry at us, for something we could not control will find her sooner." The young man just glared for a moment before he sighed and slouched over, his arms hanging over his knees as he looked down. "Now, your mother could have been taken somewhere else Naruto, where the children hadn't been. So, your mother is still out there somewhere possibly trying to find her way home."

Looking up, Naruto nodded, that did make some sense. Maybe he had been letting his anger get the best of him and for that he did feel guilty for taking it out on them. "Naruto, you may stay here and go on your journey tomorrow. Where are you going next?"

"Death Mountain." Calmly said the young man, only to receive gasps from both Tsunade, and Shikamaru, was there something wrong with that place? Frowning Naruto said "what? I have to go there to get what I need to obtain to help save this world." Tsunade moved away from Naruto as if she was trying to think on what on what she was to say about 'Death Mountain'.

"The Gorons normally would allow us to gain some special items for the town allowing it to thrive and flourish. Though, lately, they have locked up their mines and mountain from everyone. It's impossible to get them to listen, for they will only listen to strength." Tsunade said with a sigh before she started to walk on down the stairs. Now, it was only Naruto and Shikamaru left in the room, well Hinata to though no one else knew that.

"Also because of them closing down their mines, I can't make any more bombs. So, until I can get those ingredients, I can't sell anything… It's very troublesome." With that said, he started to walk down the stairs, leaving Naruto alone for the time being.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto pulled off his necklace and stared at the blue jewel on the palm of his hand. His eyes held a sad look as he stared at it. Sure, it hadn't been much of a birthday present for him though now that he thought about it; it had been a family heirloom. Every leader of the village received this necklace and would wear it with pride. Taking a deep breath, the young man just stared at it. Feeling Hinata's shadow palm on his bare shoulder as if trying to give him some kind of comfort. Looking up at her, Naruto gave her a soft smile as he said "I… I don't know what to do Hinata. I mean, I thought that I had found my mother." Sure, he had sounded like he had been fine with Tsunade and Shikamaru in the room though really, he was just putting up a front.

Sighing softly, he closed his palm over the necklace and closed his eyes. Thinking about the time that he had been given the necklace. It had been something that he hated as a kid but now, he did treasure this necklace. Looking up at Hinata, he saw her concerned look, though he knew that she was uncomfortable with him being in nothing but his shorts. "Hinata… do you think I'll find my mother?"

Hinata nodded at Naruto as she said "don't worry Naruto; I'm sure that you'll find her. All you have to do is believe, so long as you believe in yourself and your mom, you'll find her." He didn't know why, but her words did give him some kind of comfort. Taking a deep breath, the young man got up onto his feet before turning around and started to push the blankets over and crawling in bed and lying down.

Hinata just floated next to him, Naruto having his hands behind his head as he just looked up at the ceiling. Maybe tomorrow he would find his mother, or even find a way to get onto Death Mountain. Either way, he was going to finish his quest and get this whole thing done and over with. Though, it was what he was going to do after the quest that had him worried. Sighing softly, the young man didn't think that anything would be the way it should be though… Maybe it was?

'I'm just confusing myself…' thought Naruto before he turned over onto his side and just looked like he was ready to fall asleep. Sadly, that was easier said than done, for it seemed that he had a little trouble trying to get himself to go to sleep.

Yawning softly, the young man just counted all of the things that had happened, and thought about what may or may not happen on the rest of his journey. Scratching the back of his head Naruto thought that maybe he was just worrying over nothing. Sighing softly, the young man soon started to drift off to sleep…

Stretching, Naruto pushed himself up and out of bed. His body felt a little sore though that may be because his bed wasn't as soft as the one he had at home. Stretching, he pushed himself and went over to check on the clothes he had to hang to dry last night. Scratching the back of his head, the young blonde started to put on his pants as he looked around the room. Shaking his head, Naruto knew that what he had to do was to get to Death Mountain and figure out why they closed off the mountain and maybe get to the Fire Temple.

Reaching over, he grabbed his long sleeved white shirt before throwing on the long sleeved net shirt and sighed softly. "Hinata, do you sense the Fused Shadow at all?" asked Naruto as he looked down at his shadow. Wondering if Hinata was even awake or just not sure if she should or could sense it. Shaking his head, the young man reached over and grabbed his tunic and threw it on over his head.

"I'm not sure; I'm not close enough though I do sorta sense it. Not as much though…" said Hinata from within Naruto's shadow. It did not make him happy that Hinata couldn't sense the Fused Shadow all that very well. Sighing, Naruto grabbed his gloves and started to slip them on, maybe he just have to get up the mountain for Hinata to get a feeling or something of the Fused Shadow. That would be something right?

Reaching over, Naruto picked up his pouch and tied it around his right thigh then grabbed his hat and sword. Throwing on his hat, he tied his sword around his belt after slipping that on. This was going to be one hell of a journey that was for sure. For if Death Mountain had a reason for its name, it pretty much screamed danger.

Grinning from ear to ear, Naruto looked around the town as he wondered how this town was so… deserted. This was something that he wasn't used to seeing though he knew that this town will be blooming with life once more. All it needed was some time, and to be free of the shadows and the monsters from the Twilight Realm. Though sadly that was easier said than done at this point, since he still didn't know how he was going to save this world from Pein.

Hell, he didn't even know how to find the Twilight Princess. Was there something more to this journey than meets the eye? Shaking his head, Naruto looked around the area and didn't see anyone. Maybe everyone had gone off or something… maybe even to fix up the town. Shrugging, he started to walk down the path, really missing his horse right about now.

Tilting his head back, Naruto looked up and saw the mountain and blinked in shock. He had only these things to say about that mountain and he had one hell of a grin on his face.

"I wonder if I can see my house from the top of this thing?"