(I hope you enjoy this newest chapter in the story. I made sure to make it a little longer than usual.)

Gathering together, the five kages kept glancing at each other. Despite the peace promise no one trusted each other. Attendants stood ready to protect their leader when danger appears. Sitting down at the round white table it was the two elders currently running Konoha that started the meeting.

Clearing her throat, Koharu started to speak. "I believe we all know the reasons for calling this meeting into order. Reports have been put in of mysterious activities surrounding the Land of Waves. Despite having been uninhabited by permanent residents, a group of our Leaf ninjas were sent out to investigate. They came back with the news of there being a re-established land and more specifically, Uzushiogakure."

It was the Tsuchikage who blurted out, "That's impossible! That island is just a piece of history, ruins." His small stature only made him want to shout louder. Uzushiogakure was destroyed years ago, fighting and deaths have scarred the people that those who survived fled to new homes in order to start fresh. If what the elder was saying is in fact true, there could be a battle on their hands. Oonoki couldn't help feeling like this would all end in chaos for both sides.

"Please, Koharu-Sama, explain to us how this even came about." Mizukage, Mei Terumi, wanted the full details open to her. If there were even a small chance of danger being present, she would need all she could get to find out the weaknesses of her future enemies. "You must have been able to find some information concerning this revival."

Homura cleared his throat, raising a fist to his mouth as a polite habit. "I understand your concern, Mizukage, and we are willing to disclose the little knowledge we have obtained from them through our scouts."

Gaara fidgeted ever so slightly. He should have warned Naruto sooner because if he had, a meeting such as this would not be happening right now. Having to deal with the situation already unfolding before him the young Kazekage merely sat while the commotion of the other four kages continued on. He would only be an onlooker today. And if things were to go from bad to worse he would step in to alleviate the problem.

"One of our men, Kakashi Hatake, had made the trip with four other members handpicked by him. They boarded a boat and set out to the new old , they were faced with the issue of overcoming the dangerous waves and whirlpools naturally being formed around the island. We had failed to take into consideration that factor and sent out a signal." Homura paused to let it all sink in. "The next thing any of them knew, the waters had been calmed along with the pools and the boat was somehow able to be lifted with the same water onto the shores. Kakashi, on the way back to Konoha, had seen the face of the ninja capable of doing something so difficult. It was a young boy, the same one who had been sighted around our borders are in other countries with dark blue hair, performing such a feat. He, sadly, could not identify what the jutsu was."

"How is that possible?!" Questioned the Raikage slamming his fist down on the table that it shook and left a little crack on the surface. "How is it possible for him not to be able to recognize it?! No child should be capable of performing something like that without help or dying!" Everyone had to agree with the angry, large man.

Koharu raised her hands at him to calm himself down. "We understand your thoughts on this Raikage-sama but there is more that we need to tell you. There had been another observation made that a female within the village also had abilities similar to those of one of our own clans, to be able to have the willing aid of an animal. A girl, young as well, was able to summon birds to her side and considering the fact that she was also sighted in all of our own countries, can take the form of a bird as well."

A silent shock fell upon the room from the kages to their entourages. There were two gifted ninjas already present on that secret island. How many more were those people hiding behind the nearly impenetrable waters? Could their numbers be dangerous enough to be considered a liable threat? So many questions ran through each head present in the room, even Gaara's, that no one talked for a good five minutes.

"Do they have a leader?" Oonoki inquired.

"Yes, but Kakashi nor the rest of his team have seen his face during the time they were there. They had managed to see the village itself but nothing more than that. He described them as being wary and cautious of them but also slightly agressive and apprehensive at answering their questions or even allowing them out of site." Homura answered. "But he did say that the man was referred to as the Uzukage, wearing a white fox mask."

"Naruto, you truly do not fail to surprise me sometimes." Gaara thought, a small smile dancing on his lips.

Hoshi's POV

Morning came and I felt excited knowing that I'd get to go to another day of ninja training. Makio-sensei made sure to pay lots of attention to each of us and even though at the beginning there weren't a lot of us but now there are two first year classes with sixteen people each. Fumio-sensei decided to help out until someone else could replace him. Personally, I think Fumio-sensei is great.

"Hoshi! Come down for breakfast before you get going!" My aunt was downstairs making me some rice and meat to eat. She always does this for me and the rest of the family saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. One time when I decided just to stuff everything into my mouth she yelled at me telling me that it's a bad habit to get into. That was the last time I did anything like that not because of what she said but how she said it. My aunt gets real scary when she gets mad.

"Coming!" I run down the stairs and jump right into my seat. With a fork in my left hand and spoon in my right, I say, "Itadakimasu!" and dig right in. Today is just as delicious as yesterday.

Uncle came down next with my cousins rubbing their eyes sleepily behind him. "Good morning, Hoshi. Ready for another day at the academy?" There were laugh lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth. My uncle is real funny and fun. He acts more like a kid than I do sometimes when aunty isn't looking. He works as one of the builders who help make new houses and other stuff every day. Suzume-onee san even said that uncle was a real big help whenever he went to work.

"Of course I am! Maiko-sensei said that we are going to learn the transformation jutsu today." I stuffed some meat into my mouth. "She said that whoever could transform into the coolest thing would get a prize."

"And are you going to be the person to do that?"

"Yes! I made sure to study real hard on what FUmio-sensei told us about the jutsu and I know I'll be able to do it."

Uncle laughed, "Well then when you get the prize, make sure to share with me." He gave me a wink.

I shook my head from side to side, giggling. "No way, if I share then you'll hog it all for yourself."

"Darn, found me out already. You're getting smart kid, too smart for this man to be tricking you so easily." He teased me as he picked up the newspaper. "But don't forget to keep it safe, alright?"

"Okay." I chewed and swallowed the rest of the food on my plate. I got up from my seat, picked up the dirty dishes, and set them down in the sink. "I'm off." Kissing my aunt on the cheek and cousins and fist bumping with uncle, I ran out the front door into the bright light of the morning sun. "I can do this. Come on, Hoshi. You've got this in the bag. Suzume onee-san even complimented you on your technique and everything. Focus. Just believe."

_At school_

Makio-sensei stood in front of our class with a big smile on her face that went from ear to ear practically. Clapping her hands together, she said, "Class, today is a very exciting day for you all. We are going to be learning the transformation jutsu." There were cheers. "And whoever at the end of the day thinks they are good enough may try to impress me by changing into the coolest thing you can think of for three seconds. From there we will all decide the winner. Okay?"

"Yes, Makio-sensei." We answered back.

"Okay then, then let's get going on learning how the technique works. After that, we'll go down into the sparring arenas and practice."

My friend, Tetsuya, tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around wondering what he wanted. "How do you think you'll do? I think I'm not going to even be able to get the hand signs right." His face told me about how nervous he was at failing and being teased about it for the rest of the year.

"I think I'm going to do great and you will to, just have faith in yourself and it'll be alright from there. Trust me."

Tetsuya nodded but didn't say anything. Did I say something wrong?

_After school_

I can't believe it! I just can't believe it! I failed, I actually failed! I could do the hand signs and change but I couldn't hold it for even a second and when I went up to show what I could do to everyone, all I could do was change into a frog. A frog! That's not cool or interesting. Out of all the other animals I could have been, it's a frog. Dragging my feet back home, I couldn't help but be embarrassed about the whole thing. Everyone laughed at me and Tetsuya won. He got to get extra lessons and go out and eat delicious seafood free, all you can eat too.

Going home and telling everyone about my failure is going to be disappointing. After all the practicing I did at home and outside, I couldn't do it. I sighed and continued walking.

"Hoshi? What's wrong?" I met Suzume nee-san on the corner before my house. "You look way too sad right now. DId something bad happen at school today?"

I didn't want to tell her so I shook my head silently while staring at the ground. Even she would make fun of me even after she helped me.

Bending down in front of me, she lifted my chin up with her hand. "You're sad about the Henge jutus, aren't you." It wasn't really a question, more like a fact that I nodded to. Gentleness rippled off her. Bringing me into her arms for a hug I eased up a little. "Don't worry. Not everyone gets the hang for it the first time around. You just need to practice more and before you know it, you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed and without thinking."

"How can you be so sure, Suzume onee-san?"

Darting her eyes from side to side, she leaned into my ear, cupping her hands and whispered something. "Naruto had a problem with Henge at first too and even making a copy of himself."

I gaped at her with round eyes, shocked at what she just told me. Naruto Uzumaki, the great Uzukage of tUzushiogakure, had those kinds of problems when he was younger? I always thought he was born as awesome and as powerful as he is now, guess I was wrong. "Did he practice?"

"Of course he did. He told me that he practiced constantly after failing his academy exams twice, to master it. When he did, it was all worth it. I mean, look at him now. He's able to do the Kage Bunshin with lots of clones." I smiled at her. "And the most important things he needed was patience and determination."

Patience and determination, those were the two things that gave Naruto-sama the ability to do some of the amazing things he knows now. Maybe it wasn't so bad not being able to Henge just yet. "Thanks Suzume onee-san. I'm not going to stop training until I master the Henge and show Makio-sensei just how good I got from patience and determination."

Laughing, Suzume onee-san stood up straight and ruffled my hair, 'That's right! Now you better get going home before your aunt and uncle get worried."

Fumio's POV

Class today was just as hard as all the previous days. Not only were the kids getting louder and more rambunctious, they were getting cockier too. Thinking themselves so much stronger one of the students challenged me to a match when I reprimanded him for disrupting the learning environment. No, I didn't hurt him physically though I can't say the same for his pride. Not only did I put him in his place but I also made sure to make an example out of him. Now the students give me much more respect and more respect to each other too.

Makio had fallen into hysterics when I told her what I had done. She found it quite amusing that someone like me had managed to discipline anyone. I understand me being much more quiet and level-headed but that does not mean I appreciate being challenged the way that I was. Children early need to learn to respect authority.

Resting in the comfort of my home, I felt all the stress of the day melt away. I chose to change into my yukata and grab a book of one of my many shelves lining the walls of my home. "Ah, the history of the origins of shinobi bloodlines."

Sunlight cast shadows around the small study room and as it traveled across the darkening sky, the shadows seemed to dance around from place to place. Nothing could ruin this peace for me and when a annoying tapping on my door made me realize how I jinxed the moment, I cursed myself all the way to the entrance. Slightly opening the door I peeked out to see Nabuo standing there ready to have another round of knocks. "Hey."

I frowned at his sudden appearance. "What do you want, Nabuo-san?"

"Oh, you know. Just wanted to stop by, see how you're doing and all that."

"I am doing just fine, thank you for coming to ask such an... important question." I closed the door to only have it be caught by Nabuo's foot. "What do you want?" I huffed, opening the door wider.

Nabuo puckered his lips, a thinking face that held the ugliest attraction. "I wanted to know if you could find a way for me to find out information about the other countries on the mainland, in case of ay attack coming our way in the future."

"You mean a history book on each of the nations to gather intelligence on their weaknesses." Nabuo nodded. "Seems odd that you would want something like that to read. I inferred you to be someone more into playing games with the children or annoying the Uzukage with your annoying whines. Are you ill?" I fanned through the multitudes of books I own.

"Ha ha, very funny Fumio, but I'm being serious right now. I want to be able to strike at a moments notice. Who knows when they could come popping out like groundhogs just to take us down."

"But they aren't our enemies." I had to point out that the other countries had no interest in our land. What have we done besides live out our daily lives? "I don't see what preparing for someone that will never come seems a pointless strategy, Nabuo." I could practically hear the gears turning in his head as my back was to him. "I am advising you to stop this foolishness before someone gets hurt, mainly you. Uzukage-sama would not appreciate hearing one of his close friends training to kill."

Snorting, Nabuo didn't even bother to listen to me. "Just give me the book Fumio and I'll be out of your hair. I've got a good feeling that I'm going to need all the information you've got stored in this house, and fast." I heard his footsteps come closer to me until he stood right beside me, leaning his body forward but looking at his left at me. "Pleaese."

The genuine nervousness glimmering in his eyes broke down my walls and I conceded. "Fine, fine. Have it your way but when that so called "feeling" turns out to be nothing but a sham, I'm going to be waiting for you with an 'I told you so'." Handing him the book, he took it with a quick hand. "Be safe Nabuo."

"Don't worry Fumio, I'm going to be just fine but I can't say the same for whoever tries to mess with Uzushiogakure and me." I smiled at that comment. Despite how faithful of a person Nabuo was there can never be a force in this universe stopping him from doing crazy things once he sets his mind to it. "Later! I promise to bring the book back just as clean and neat as you gave it to me!" And with that final farewell, I saw him race out the door and into the streets, swerving passed bodies heading in the opposite direction.

I shook my head in disbelief and gently shut the door. "He really is stubborn."

Gaara's POV

Having sat in the summit meeting for practically the whole day, I felt relieved at knowing that I could finally go home. Temari and Kankuro chatted between themselves about what had been relayed during the time I spent thinking of how to get a message to Naruto. The two elders from Konoha who had called his all into order divulged every drop of information they could find.

"Gaara, we should head back to the village quickly. You still have paperwork to finish before the sun sets." Temari was always the serious one out of us three siblings. She took after father in the sense of duty to the village. "So we should get going."

Kankuro agreed too. "Who knows what could have happened while we were gone. Those fan girls of yours could have set the whole village up in flames somehow on not having you back sooner."

I internally groaned. Along with the respect that comes with being the Kazekage there was also the added burden of having females fawning over me. Couldn't they understand the fact that I have no interest in any of them right now? "Don't remind me Kankuro. Thinking about it is already giving me a headache and I prefer to travel without worry."

"Okay, I get it."

"Thank you."

"But how do you plan to deal with this, Gaara?" My sister asked me, she too was worried about the outcome of this gathering of the kages. "If they decide to launch an attack against Naruto, we will have to fight them too. The treaty demands us to help them in their time of need."

I glared at her before turning my head forward again. We were traveling quickly. "There is no demands made by the treaty. We are helping him because he is a friend to the Sand. Do you understand?" My tone was razor sharp around its edges, daring Temari to argue with me.

"Of course not. It's just that the others could see it as an act of betrayal... Especially if they figure out the darkest secret of that island village."

None of us spoke a word to that logic. How could we explain that we only made an alliance without knowing the contractor of the other side of the deal only to secure some power? That wouldn't come off as being the least bit truthful. "I will figure something out. I am not going to let there be blood shed on that land once more. It has seen enough darkness to last an entire lifetime."

She nodded but said nothing afterwards. Kankuro looked between the two of us and heaved a large sigh. "Gaara, you know what you are doing right? This could turn dangerous for us as much as it will for them. They have an advantage with those tides but all we have is the desert." I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands. "If they make the choice between us and them, we'll be the ones who'll be wiped out first."

"I know." I hissed between teeth clenched so tight together I thought they were going to permanently stay that way. "I am taking those things into consideration. Give me time to think all this over, whether it's worth going through or not." But I already knew the answer to my last statement. This would all be worth it because Naruto became something to me on that day I transformed. He became a friend, a savior, someone who I could talk to freely about the pain and isolation, about the sadness and loneliness, he became someone who could sympathize with me. And for all that, this is but a small price to pay to repay him for the kindness he gave to me. "I'll figure something out." I say one last time before traveling off into the distant horizon.