Ali: Oh yeah! Chapter two!
Kankuro: Great, are you gonna say the disclaimer so I can go?
Ali: Do I have to?
Kankuro: Do you want my puppet to kick your ass?
Ali: What's been shoved up your ass?
Kankuro: Your attitude, now get on with it.
Ali: Fine, fine, but your birthday present's gonna be given to you broken.
Kankuro: *smiles* What is it?
Ali: So now you're not a bitch.
Kankuro: Say the disclaimer and I'll give you all my Halloween candy.
Ali: I own nothing! *snatches the candy away* I mean I don't get it, if a 64 year old can go trick-or-treating and not get asked questions aloud, why can't I? I'm not too old, I'm not even thirty yet, how the hell does that make sense?
Kankuro: I don't know.
"Naruto?" Tsunade asked.
"What?"
"Why're your eyes like that?"
Naruto felt insecure for a second, like he shouldn't tell her otherwise she's hate him, but then he remembered, everything Shadow had said before was wrong. "The Kyuubi and I have merged."
"But that's only happened once, and he was in mortal danger... Was it the Akatsuki?" Tsunade said, standing up, her hands on the desk to support her.
Naruto hesitated and the Kyuubi gently took his speech. "The boy's been attacked by one man we call Shadow for several months and earlier today I took care of the problem. He didn't want to get him in trouble because he was a shinobi of this village and he didn't fight back because he was told by Shadow he was weak. The man we killed a few nights ago was Shadow's friend, I tried to tell you about it, but the boy took back his ability to speak."
Naruto growled. "Yeah, but that's over now."
Has it only been a few nights since I killed Shadow's friend? Has it only been a few hours since I was afraid? Since I killed Shadow? It was difficult to believe, to concept, to wrap his mind around. SO little time and everything was changed drastically and then changed back. It all began to feel like a distant memory to the blond Jinchuriki already.
"You... you could've died!" Tsunade said, pounding her fist angrily against the desk.
Naruto backed away, his multicolored eyes flashing with genuine fear. He could tell by her face that it was almost lie a few nights ago when he looked at everyone the same way. Naruto blinked and the fear was gone from his system, or close. He always feared this woman, but he had more confidence because he was, after all, her favorite ninja.
"Sorry Grandma, " Naruto said. "I wasn't in my right mind."
Tsunade gathered him in her arms (Naruto had to bend down slightly because he was a little taller than the Hokage). "I'm glad it's all over."
"Me too," Naruto said, hugging her back.
Right then Naruto's perverted sensei came in through the window, his face grim. "I'm ready to take Naruto."
Naruto winced slightly. Was this how it was for the few days he was in his tragic state? He punched Jiraiya's arm. "I'm not a kid anymore Pervy Sage!"
Jiraiya smiled. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that."
"Too late, it's stuck," Naruto said with a laugh.
"Wanna get some ramen?" Jiraiya asked. "It's on me."
It had been a few hours, but Naruto could never refuse free ramen. "You bet!"
He hooked his arm with Jiraiya's and dragged him out, yelling a goodbye to Tsunade and Shizune who stood there with shocked dark eyes. Naruto made sure he didn't jerk too hard, seeing as Jiraiya was an old man in his fifties. He entered the ramen shop and grinned.
"I'm back! Jiraiya's paying for the whole thing!"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "I forgot you were so annoying."
Naruto grinned. "You know you love it. Miso soup please!"
Naruto ate twenty-seven bowls of ramen, knowing the Sannin could afford it, before he finished. Naruto walked with Jiraiya for a while before he saw Sakura. He silently came up behind her and hugged her from behind.
"Hey Sakura!"
"N-Naruto?!"
"Miss me?" he asked.
She blushed and shoved him away. "Not after that!"
Naruto kept up his grin. "Come on Sakura! I know you missed me."
Sakura hugged him tightly. "I did."
Naruto's heart soared in his chest as he hugged back. "Good to know."
He noticed the Sannin went to the side to give them some space. Naruto honestly didn't mind then Sakura took his hand and lead him through the crowd. "Come on! I want to take you somewhere."
Naruto allowed her to lead him and soon they were at a beautiful lake that he had no idea existed. "WHen did you find thing?"
"I made it," she said proudly. "It's my own private little place."
"Impressive," Naruto said, looking around.
"You know Naruto... when I saw you so broken... I wondered what could bring someone so strong down to something so weak... I still wonder... Naruto what happened?"
Lie, a voice whispered in his head.
"I'm... I'm not in the mood to talk about it,' Naruto said, not lying.
"Alright, I respect that," she said.
What was that? Naruto thought as he followed her back to the village.
ALi: End of chapter two!
Kankuro: You're on a roll.
Ali: *munches on candy* Thanks.
Kankuro: Review people!~