[last time]

"As you are mine, so I guess we're even."

Naruto chuckled. "I guess so."

[presently]

They arrived at the village center, and sure enough, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Shizune (on Granny's orders, seeing as she was unable to take part in a search party due to her position) were about to set out in search of Naruto. Just before they took off, they saw Naruto and Hinata walking.

"Naruto!" Kakashi exclaimed. "Oh, thank God we found you. We had started to assume the worst."

"Well, that's pretty perceptive of you, Kakashi-sensei..."

"What do you mean?" Shizune asked.

"Well, I assume you heard the story from Kakashi-sensei..."

"Yes..."

*FLASHBACK*

Kakashi had landed in front of the Hokage Tower, seeing Tsunade standing in the doorway as he stood outside drenched from the pouring rain. "Lady Hokage!"

"Hm? Kakashi? What is it? What's wrong?"

Kakashi was still out of breath. "You... gotta help me..."

"What happened?"

"Just... had a terrible vision... from my Sharingan..." (I know this part is painful to read, but it just came to me that way. Also, given its abilities, the Sharingan can kinda show the future… so yea… sorry bout that)

Tsunade adopted a more serious look, replacing the questioning look from moments ago. "About what?"

"Naruto..."

"What?! What did you see?"

"H-he... is in danger... about to die..." Kakashi said, breathing starting to return to normal.

"What? By who? Where is he?"

"I don't know. But I saw him at the training field."

"Damn it! Shizune!"

The person in question appeared a moment later. "Yes, milady?"

"You and Kakashi go to the training field at once!"

"Right."

They left shortly after. Tsunade walked to the window shortly after and saw Kakashi and Shizune off. As soon as they were gone, she shouted out the window. "DAMN IT!"

"What's all the commotion about?" Jiraiya just so happened to be outside at the time. (again, crappy details, I know, sorry)

"Kakashi said he saw Naruto in grave danger at their regular training grounds."

"Probably the aftermath of his last mission failure."

"How the hell did you know he went after Sasuke?"

"That kid's easy to read. Not to mention your dulcet tones when he begged you to let him go."

"Shut up with the jokes, Jiraiya! Just go help Shizune and Kakashi find him!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

He left moments later. "Damn it, if the kid's gonna be Hokage, he's gonna have to get his head straight."

As Jiraiya caught up with the others he asked "So what the hell's going on? There's something Tsunade's not telling me..."

"Actually, there's not." Kakashi said. "It's not what she didn't tell you. There is more to it, but I didn't tell the Hokage."

"What didn't you tell her?"

"The vision of Naruto is true."

"So he is in danger?"

"Yes."

"Well, what didn't you tell her?"

"I never mentioned who was threatening his life."

"Who the hell was it?"

"No one."

"What?! You mean..."

"Yeah..."

"Why the hell would that kid resort to suicide?"

"Well, it's not technically suicide."

"What do you mean?"

"He's using a shadow clone to do it."

"What?"

Kakashi nodded. "He's even using its kunai so there wouldn't be any trace of evidence left."

"Why the fuck would that kid be so stupid..."

"You know about his recent mission, if I'm not mistaken, Master Jiraiya?"

"Yes..."

"Well, it ended pretty much like last time. That said, I told him to keep training in an attempt to cheer him up, but it didn't really work..."

"Damn it! I told him to forget about Sasuke... That kid is so stubborn..."

"But you know as well as we," Shizune stated, "that he would never even dream of abandoning one he considers a comrade, regardless of how they betray him."

"Yes, I know that. An endearing quality for a future Hokage, but frustrating nonetheless. He needs to learn that there are times when you have to leave comrades behind."

"Like with you and Orochimaru, when he became a rogue ninja?"

"Yes. The circumstances are the same."

"Not exactly," Shizune remarked. "Naruto seems convinced that they are different."

"He's abandoning everything for the sake of power. Sasuke is following Orochimaru's example very well. As I told Naruto, those two are cut from the same cloth. He just can't accept the fact that Sasuke will never change..."

"That may be true," Shizune commented, "but then if he could forget so easily, that wouldn't have been much of a friendship. And true friendships seem to be more Naruto's style."

"Alright, enough said." said Jiraiya. "First we concentrate on finding that kid, then I'm kicking his ass."

"Got it." Kakashi replied. They skidded to a halt a moment later as two people had appeared a ways in front of them. "Naruto!"

*END FLASHBACK*

(The rain had stopped shortly after Kakashi spoke with Tsunade)

"Well, after we got back, Kakashi told me to keep training so I would be able to save Sasuke from the darkness. I went to train, to at least attempt it. I only trained half-assedly."

"How long were you out there?" Kakashi asked.

"Two and a half days."

"No wonder I had such trouble finding you..."

"After that much time, I knew I wasn't making any progress, so I said 'to hell with it'."

"Naruto, haven't you been taught better than that?"

"I'm a failure, sensei! I've failed so many times to save the one I call my best friend! I'll never be Hokage if I'm such an appalling failure!"

"Ah... but Naruto, someone once said 'the road to success is paved with many failures'." Jiraiya said sagely. "You'll still be Hokage one day."

"I'm not gonna betray him; he's my best friend."

"Even after his betrayal?"

"Damn right."

Jiraiya sighed exasperatedly, which caused Hinata to giggle. "So what's the story with your lady friend here?"

"She's my girlfriend."

"I know that, smart ass. I figured that when we saw you two holding hands." That statement caused a slight blush on the couple's faces. "I meant you still intended to die when you had her waiting for you?"

"Well... I was kinda unaware of it at the time..."

"You mean you weren't an item before?"

"No, not at the time."

"You seriously didn't notice how she pined for you since your days at the academy?"

Naruto blushed lightly and stammered. "Sh-shut up!" This caused Hinata to giggle, then she kissed his cheek. His face spontaneously combusted, earning a chuckle from the Jonin and Sannin. "So if you'll excuse us..." Hinata and Naruto walked past the adults, hand in hand.

Jiraiya called out, "Hey, Naruto!"

"What?"

"Would you mind if I followed you two around sometime? I need to write my next volume for Make Out Paradise!"

"Yes, I would!" Naruto and Hinata then started to walk much faster.

Jiraiya burst out laughing. "Lighten up, Naruto! I'm just busting your balls!"

"I'm aware of that!" The couple continued on, relatively quickly, without looking back again. After they disappeared, Kakashi chuckled.

"Do you really have to give him such a hard time?" Shizune said with a frown.

"I think Hinata's the only person that gives him a hard time."

"What…" Shizune said, but a moment later caught his meaning and blushed heavily as she said "Master Jiraiya!"

Kakashi merely chuckled.

This time, I really have nothing to say here lol. Please r&r.

dogboy1214