A/N: the next chapter, finally… So, please, don't kill me for the delay~ I'm sorry really, but it's been so busy at the university. And I'm dying to get a beta, because I'm ashamed that I don't have enough time to check my work thoroughly, and you have to put up with all this awful mistakes I make. Especially the conditionals, they're my weak point, I guess.

The room fell silent after the genin stormed out of it, leaving the two adults alone. This was, probably, unavoidable, Kakashi assumed. Naruto somehow always managed to do everything the hard way. And now he did not even give his older version so much as a chance to explain himself. This might be troublesome, Kakashi thought. The jounin eyed his companion, who looked rather troubled.

"Can we finish after I've bitten some sense in that brat's head?" Naruto asked in response to his sensei's gaze.

"Sure" Kakashi shrugged, relaxing in his seat. It did not seem like a good idea to leave younger Naruto alone now. It is unbearable to tell someone that everything he had dreamed to achieve so far would deprive him of the things he treasures and the future itself. Deep down Kakashi still hoped that what he had seen in the illusion was not altogether true. However, it was quite unlikely. The jounin tried to put himself in Naruto's shoes. If he was the one to come back in time with the notion that Naruto as a hokage would bring the village to its downfall, would he have been capable to tell this to the boy? To Naruto, who lived only for the sake of that dream of his? Kakashi did not know the answer to this question. However, he had face in his student, so, he thought, leaving everything in Naruto's hands would be the best option, he would definitely manage to make up with his younger self somehow. Besides, Kakashi had learned quite a lot from the older Naruto, which he needed to think over, before they proceed with some future strategy. So, he nodded, meaning for Naruto to get going.

"Why don't I ever listen to what people have to say?" Naruto sighed. "And just when I thought, the chase was over..."

Naruto stood up. He pondered for a minute whether to put his henge back on or not, but decided against it. Somehow he knew that he would not have to roam through the entire village to find the kid, because he most likely was there. When Naruto was feeling down, he used to go sit on the Fourth Hokage's head, carved in the mountain along with the faces of other hokages. No one usually bothered to go there, so the monument presented a nice hiding place from the villagers or any other thing that had upset him. Actually, it always puzzled him as to why he liked sitting on the Fourth's head the most even years before he learned of their connection. Could it be that he felt something subconsciously? That did not sound possible. It was just that he had always admired the man. He could never even dare dream of being his son, so the notion stunned him, when they met before the Kyuubi's cage in his mind. Seeing his father so close, even though their meeting lasted only a few minutes, speaking to him - that was a real miracle. Even now when Naruto recalled that memory, he felt warmth spread through his chest. If only he could share this feeling with his younger self. And also, to tell him about their mother, their beautiful and kind mother. The younger Naruto still would have to suffer for years, before he eventually learns of his parents and the extent to which they really loved and cared for him. He remembered how he used to hate the Third, because he would not tell him who his parents were. 'Even if I tell you, that won't bring them back', that were his words. So what? He had never hoped to see them again. Just simply knowing their names or looking at some withered photo of the two of them would have been enough for him. He would have been contented with just that. Still the Third and the rest of the villagers had to hide it all from him for so long, that was unbearable. But, he is not like them. He knows for sure that this knowledge would bring him nothing but happiness. So, maybe... He can tell him? At least just give him a hint that he was not alone all this time?

A faint smile fitted across Naruto's face. It had always been a cruel secret to hide from him, and now, when he knew the truth, why on earth would he hide it from his younger self? It is painful to learn about your parents, when you know that they would never be with you, but not knowing them, doubting whether they really loved you or just abandoned, because they did not care, brings even more suffering. He was definitely telling his younger self the truth. If he listens to him ever again, that is.

Naruto paused in the door frame, turning back to look at his mentor. He suddenly came up with a nice alternative to his henge disguise, which would not suck out his chakra and attract unnecessary attention. He can give this a try.

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei, can you get me something in the meantime?"

After relating his idea, and convincing his teacher that it would not be half as troublesome as the jounin claimed, Naruto finally left the building.

The blond walked past the building, watching from the corner of his eye the two genins on the roof. Sakura had quite a sad expression, which could be regarded as her feeling guilty. Sasuke's face, on the other hand, remained impassive. He met Naruto's gaze for a second, before turning away with a "hn".

When Naruto disappeared from their view, jumping swiftly from one rooftop to another, Sakura finally decided to voice her complaint.

"That was harsh." Sakura stated, sympathizing with the blond boy for ones. The fact that she took Naruto's side actually surprised even her, but she could not help thinking that maybe just this once her Sasuke might have been a bit wrong.

'As if you're one to talk,' thought Sasuke, recalling the occasions on which the girl managed to hurt Naruto's feelings, not to mention all those bumps on his head. 'But, well, really...'

/o/o/o/o/o/o/Scene shifting line/o/o/o/o/o/

True to his expectations, Naruto found his younger self at the top of the Hokage Mountain. The boy was sitting on the stone floor, resting his chin on his knees. The wind blew gently; it was rather chilly out there.

Although, as he thought, he did not make any noise, he could tell by the way Naruto's shoulders tensed up that the younger boy noticed him.

"Go away" the boy grumbled not even looking his way.

"I'm sorry"

"I don't care"

"You just have to hear me out, alright?"

"Says who?" Younger Naruto looked over his shoulder to glare at his older self. "Whatever it is I don't want to hear it."

"Look, I had my reasons to act the way I did. And I have a reason to ask you to give up on being hokage." Naruto furrowed his brows. It irritated him that the boy was not disposed to listen. Who did he take him for? He was supposed to trust him; they were one and the same person after all. So, why did the boy seem to think that he meant harm to him? As if he would play this kind of cruel joke over his own dream. That was ridiculous. But how to make him listen? Make him understand that it is a warning, that he only wishes for him not to make the same mistake twice?

"I don't want you to repeat my mistakes and suffer the way I did. That's all."

"And I won't, because I'm not you!" younger Naruto raised his voice. "I'd never be a coward who can speak of giving up on his dream so lightly! Suffer? So what! Was it too much for you? As if it was not too much for us from the very beginning. I just have to try harder then. Because, no matter what, I still want them to acknowledge me!"

"There'd be no one to acknowledge you." Naruto hissed.

"Shut up and get lost already!" Naruto jumped to his feet, clutching his hands into fists. "I don't care if you return back or die for all I care just don't show up before me again!"

Naruto surveyed the younger boy who looked ready to start a brawl if he was not going to leave him peacefully on his own. The conversation was over for now, he presumed. However, it would be too troublesome to postpone it any longer. So, maybe provoking him a bit would do the trick?

"Well if you resent me so much I just might die, how about it?" Naruto asked seriously. Shoving hands in his pockets, his posture completely relaxed. He made a few steps towards the younger boy, who instantly moved away to the side. Naruto simply made a couple more steps, now standing almost on the edge of the cliff, before turning around to look at the boy.

"What're you doing, you psycho?" younger Naruto's eyes widened. "Get back here!"

Naruto rushed to catch his older version, but failed to grip him by the front of his shirt by an inch, as the latter leaped to the side.

"Oi! Stop that!" younger Naruto landed on his knees. He looked at the other pleadingly. The older boy smiled at him slightly, but still, from his current position – a few meters away from the boy, Naruto let himself slip from the edge of the cliff, his hands still in his pockets. Younger Naruto shrieked, taken a back. He rushed to the place where his older self stood just a moment ago, and leaned over the edge.

"You're not dead, are you? Hey! Dammit, hey!" Naruto shouted desperately. He still wished that was just a sick joke, so he peered down, hopping to spot the other gripping at the rock with chakra infused hands somewhere along the cliff. Unfortunately, however hard he tried, he could not see anyone there. Finally he dared to look at the base of the mountain, but it was too high to see anything clearly there.

"That idiot" Naruto stood up, his legs shaking terribly, and backed away from the cliff. "I- I don't hate you... And I really wanna speak with you! So, please, just be alive, you bastard!" Naruto turned around darting to get to the route, leading to the village.

However, before he managed to get there, he was already on his back, having bumped into someone at full speed and falling down from the impact.

"Ouch!" he winced. His eyes widened as he shot his head up to look at the one who had blocked his way.

"So, did I hear you right?" Older Naruto, safe and sound, was standing right before him smiling brightly. "Now you do want to speak with me, no? Too bad, going back on your word is against your policy."

TBC