A/N

gunslayer12: sorry for my spelling of Jutsu! I used spell check and it kept changing it, from now on I'll be using the proper spelling.

HjLostDreams: This chapter will explain what happened between Naru and Sasuke. I completely agree, up until this chapter Naru will have the same basic training as the anime story line but this chapter will be the turning point where Jiraiya will step as a teacher earlier then the anime. After this chapter I plan to skip to the home coming and have her improve a lot faster than the story line. I found it extremely annoying how after 3 year's Naruto came back with basically nothing and everyone else was way above his level so in terms of skill for this story it won't follow the same training. With the story line I plan to keep it similar but completely different so it stays on a flowing timeline.

To everyone else that reviewed I'm happy you're enjoying my story so far! I hope I can keep it well written and on the right track for you all! Keep reviewing so I know I'm on the right track with it! Constructive criticism is welcome as well, so if something seems unrealistic let me know. I want to keep this story easy flowing but in-depth without it being childish.

….

Naru was frustrated. She had been on the road with Jiraiya for a few months and she felt he was too busy with his research to properly train her. Sure he had taught her a few new Jutsus like the massive Rasengan but his focus didn't seem to be on her at all. Naru looked over to the empty bed next to her and sighed, sitting up slowly and pulling off her nightcap. Of course he hadn't come back to the motel again, he was probably passed out somewhere with his wallet empty after indulging in too much alcohol and women. She padded her way to the bathroom, rubbing her eye's to try and wake herself up further. Naru quickly got dressed into her orange track pants and black tank top after detangling her bed hair. She looked over to the matching jacket splayed over the back of a spare chair in the room and decided to leave it, it had been to muggy to wear it and if she was honest with herself she was getting sick of wearing the same thing day in and day out. Naru left the room, her mind focused on finding the man she referred to as Pervy sage, it was about time she confronted him about her training or lack thereof. She wandered down the main strip of street in the small town they were in, aware that she wouldn't find him in this area but she was hungry and figured she would rather search for him on a full stomach. Naru eventually settled on a small ramen shop, she had been feeling a bit homesick and the smell coming from the shop reminded her of Ichiraku's. She was greeted by a pleasant looking woman who waved her hand to the set in front of her.

"What can I get you miss?" Naru looked over the menu and settled on her usual. She knew it wouldn't hold up to Ichiraku standard but it was better than nothing.

"Pork please, with extra pork strips" the woman nodded and went back to work on her order. Naru went back to thinking about her mentor. She was considering asking him to teach her taijutsu, she had basic skills in it but nothing impressive like Lee or Sasuke. A hot bowl was put in front of her and Naru smiled up at the woman who had taken her order.

"It's on the house" Naru looked at the women, shocked at her kindness "You look like you have a lot on your mind so hopefully a warm bowl of ramen will help"

"Thank you for the food!" Naru smiled warmly back, she wasn't going to argue as she had very little money left thanks to Jiraiya. Naru quickly ate her food, a satisfied smile on her lips as her hunger subsided.

"Would you like anymore miss?" Naru shook her head politely and handed the bowl over to the woman.

"No thank you, I have to find my friend" Naru stood up and waved to the woman before entering back onto the street. Naru had a vague idea where she could find Jiraiya but the idea of going into one of those establishments made her uneasy. She shoved her hands in her tracksuit pockets and kept her head down, the town seemed nice enough but she didn't feel like drawing attention to herself. After a while Naru stopped to take in her surrounding's, she had walked further then she had realised and was almost out of the town gates. Instead of heading back into the town she jumped up onto a high rock and stared down at the small but busy town, hoping to see a flash of white hair. She didn't know how long she sat there for but it gave her a chance to muse over everything that lead her to this place. For one a group called the Akatsuki were after the nine tailed fox inside of her and unless she got some serious training done she had no chance against them and then there was Sasuke. Naru shivered at the thought of him, her rouge team mate and also tormentor. Ever since that fateful day she had been having the same vivid dream every few days and every time it became more vivid. She questioned it a lot, it seemed real to her, almost like it was a memory she had locked deep away and now it was trying to force its way out through her subconscious. Whenever she had the dream she began to question her sanity, how could a dream be so real?

"Here you are Naru!" Jiraiya's voice made her jump, her train of thought broken and she glared down at him. He looked hung over, his white hair spiking up in awkward directions and he had dark bags under his eyes.

"Where we're you?" the toad sage frowned at her snappy tone of voice. He was use to her usual upbeat nature and it was out of character for her to take on the manor she had now.

"I was doing…" he was stopped when Naru waved her hand lazily and dismissively while jumping down from the rock she was on.

"Yea, yea I know old man, research".

….

Jiraiya furrowed his brows, something was obviously bothering his student but he couldn't place what it was. Yes he had said he would train her and she had made progress even if she didn't acknowledge it but he also had obligations to find out information on the Akatsuki. He had been using the word research, trying to lead the young girl to believe it was for his book as he knew she could be quite rash when she wanted and to keep her safe it was best she didn't learn about the information he had gathered.

"I think it's about time we did some Genjutsu training" he smiled when he saw Naru's demeanour change at the idea of training.

"Really!" Jiraiya nodded and then bit his finger. Her proceeded to make various hand signs and then slam his hand down on the ground to summon the toad most practised in Genjutsu; Gamariki. Naru looked disappointed when the toad appeared. "A cross dressing toad?"

"Jiraiya boy! It's been to long!" Jiraiya laughed as the toad placed a big kiss on him, he was use to the extravagant personality but he was interested to see how Naru would cope.

"You're joking right? I thought I was learning Genjutsu!" Gamariki looked between Sensei and student.

"Who's the brat?" the toad, who was becoming annoyed with Naru's rudeness asked. Jiraiya sighed, this was going to be harder then he thought.

"Gamariki this is Naru, my student. Naru this is Gamariki, an expert in Genjutsu" the two acknowledge each other reluctantly. "Right, now that introductions are done let's get straight to it shall we. Naru I won't be teaching you Genjutsu, I will be teaching you how to break Genjutsu" Naru went to protest but he held up his hand "You're going to be up against Itachi, a master in the art of Genjutsu so it's important you learn how to break it"

"How can I break it though?" Naru had her head cocked to the side, an interested look on her face that reminded him of her mother Kushina.

"Naru this is very important and I need you to listen" Jiraiya sat down on the grass and patted next to him. Naru sat down, her eyes focused on the cross dressing frog with scepticism "I'm only teaching you this for emergencies. If you ever come across Itachi I want you to run, run as fast as you can" he paused for a second to let it sink in "Never engage Itachi Naru, you will not win"

"Then why teach me to break Genjutsu? What's the point if you want me to run away?" the toad sage sighed. He knew there was a high chance Naru wouldn't be able to evade the Genjutsu master.

"Because in case you do get trapped in his Genjutsu this can give you a small chance to break it" Naru nodded and Jiraiya began to explain what to do "Do you remember when I taught you the massive Rasengan?" Naru nodded again "This is the same principles but instead of building your chakra outside of your body you need to focus on building it up inside of you. This will create a disturbance in your chakra flow causing a Genjutsu to break as it relies on the manipulation of chakra flow"

"So by creating a mass of chakra it overpowers my chakra system?" Jiraiya nodded, impressed that she had caught on quick. She had defiantly grown since the last time they travelled together

"Exactly, disrupt the chakra you disrupt the Genjutsu connection to the brain"

….

Naru panted, she was exhausted. She had been trying all day to establish chakra build up inside of her only to fail time and time again. Naru closed her eyes, she could feel the water below her waver under her feet as the chakra began to twist and turn. She concentrate, focusing on where she wanted to send the chakra and pushed it towards her stomach; this time she would not fail. After a few moments she opened her eyes, the water below her was still and Jiraiya was clapping in approval. Naru smiled widely, she had finally done it!

"Well done Naru!" his voiced boomed out across the small river in praise and Naru ran towards the bank excited. "Now we can start!" Gamariki bounced forward and Naru raised an eyebrow, unsure of how the toad was meant to help her.

"So what do I do?" Gamariki began to make kissing faces at her and she cringed away, the toad had to be joking.

"Gamariki will use Genjutsu kiss on you" Naru raised her hands, her eye wide with surprise.

"WHAT! You have to be kidding me Pervy sage! Isn't there any other way!" Jiraiya shook his head. "What about you! Don't you have some kind of Genjutsu?"

"No, in that area I'm quite lacking" Gamariki without warning pounced on Naru, impatient with the arguing teen. Naru struggled, feeling uncomfortable under the heavy toad as its lipstick covered lips came towards her. Her attempts were futile though and Naru found herself thrown into a familiar darkness.

"Hello?" her heart raced as she looked around the familiar dark hallway that haunted her dreams. She tried to shake the fear that was beginning to spin in her stomach and took a shaky foot forward. Naru knew this place backwards and forwards now, travelling each corridor in her dream only to end up with the same result. Naru evened out her breath, reminding herself that she was caught in a Genjutsu, one that obviously tapped into her subconscious memory to replicate her nightmare. She placed her hands together in the hand sign she had practiced over the past day and focused on her chakra again. The sooner she broke the connection the sooner she would be out of this hell. Footsteps echoed down the end of the hall and her breathing speed up, she knew it was him, it was always him. Naru pushed her chakra into the middle of her chakra system quicker, her desperation to be rid of this place rising with each step.

"Naru" his voice was low and dark as if it rose up from his stomach to taunt her. "You can't escape me Naru" she bit her lip, her eyes squinting shut even more; breath Naru, it's not real. She could feel the chakra building and swirling, she was so close to breaking it she just needed to fight off the fear that was building with it. "Give up Naru, you won't ever leave here, I won't let you" she could feel his hand on her face, his thumb rubbing circles on her cheek.

"Don't touch me" she whispered. Naru wanted to push him away but to do that she would have to break her hand sign. Tears began to form in her eyes as his lips were placed lightly on hers, his hand grasping at the back of her neck. "G-get away from me Sasuke".

….

Jiraiya watched confused, something about Naru had changed. Her will was diminishing in front of him every second and he flicked his eyes to Gamariki for answers. The toad looked wary as he watched a scene play out in front of him that Jiraiya could only see one side of. Tears began to form, sliding down Naru's face as she began to speak quietly. Jiraiya stepped forward to listen to what she was saying. He backed away, wide eyed when he heard her former team mate's name slip from her lips in fear.

"Gamariki! What's happening?" the toad shook his head. "Tell me!"

"It seems to be a memory that's been locked away deep in her subconscious…." Naru began to sob and feel to her knees, her hands still making the sign in determination to break the Genjutsu even when she was in obvious distress. "I have to break it Jiraiya, it's going to far…"

"What's going too far?" his face fell when Naru began sobbing, begging whatever was happening to her to stop and things began to fell in place. "No…he didn't…"

"Jiraiya do I break it or not!" Naru's mentor nodded solemnly, a wave of disappointment flooding over him. He was her godfather, he was supposed to protect her and he had failed. Naru lay on the grass, facing up to the sky, relief flooding her face as the torment stopped.

"Naru?" Blue dull eyes looked over to him and he felt his heart break.

"It's just a bad dream…" Jiraiya shook his head, how was he supposed to tell her it wasn't. That what she had relieved was a memory she herself had locked away due to how horrifying it was to her.

"No Naru…" her eye's looked at him pleading, as if she was looking for some reassurance from him. "It's a memory Naru…"

"A memory?" she looked so fragile, so broken at that moment and right then he knew that this trip wasn't only to help her train, it was to help put her back together again.