Am I worthy to love you?

by Gravenimage

Naruto is rejected by Sakura for bringing Sasuke back to Konoha and he snaps at her badly he leaves the village 5 years later he becomes the leader of the strongest team of kunoichi assemble team Kitsune Flash rises Naru/Saku/Ino/Hina lemons in the future

26. Fangs of the snake part 2

Chapter 26 Fangs of the snake part 2: The most cunning snake sheds its skin quicker

Disclaimer: Kishimoto-san is the owner of Naruto not me.

'' this means thoughts

Italics are flashbacks

Bold letters inner Sakura or Kyuubi speaking

Authors Notes: welcome to another exciting chapter I am happy to be updating the story again, even if it's late as usual. This chapter will be good and I'm sure Naru/Hina fans have eagerly waited for a chapter like this one there will be development of said pairing. I admit I am not fond of Naru/Hina but it's not bad to try something new every now and then (I have ideas to make another Naru/Saku/Hina story). But for now this story is one of my main concerns of stories to update I have plenty of chapters to write about this story so there's no need to worry that I will leave it on hiatus I don't think I will be able to fix the slow updates. As for the chapter Orochimaru will finally be reveal as well as a shocking secret won't say anymore, now on with the story. I also can't forget that this story has over nine hundred reviews wow thank you very much, keep this up and I might reach one thousand reviews.

Word of warning: this chapter is LONGER than my previous chapters, thank you now on with the chapter.

---

(Location: snake forest not too far from the hidden sound village rice country territory)

The team has been traveling through the forest for hours in an attempt to arrive at the hidden sound village, where Orochimaru was located. It wasn't easy for them to get to the hideout because it was Guren who was leading them to the place, it didn't mean that all of them trusted her. Sakura was the first who still carried some mistrust towards the crystal user Naruto followed her in second place Ino was probably the only one who trusted her. The Yamanaka has been inside her mind and she has seen her intentions in wanting to protect Yukimaru more than her loyalty towards Orochimaru so everything will be fine they could trust her with no problem. Hoping that Guren will made their mission easier for finding the snake sanin, or at least the person who claims to be Orochimaru some have their doubts that he was really alive. If things won't get ugly they will capture the missing nin depending how things will turn out however right now it wasn't the mission the one thing that was worrying them, the possibility of fighting Orochimaru didn't intimidate or scare them at all. The team was short on one member one of their own was missing she wasn't there to help them, giving them a bit of a disadvantage in the mission. It wasn't the mission but they were growing concern for her safety as well, they hope to meet up with Mistress soon.

Naruto was trying to hide his eagerness or to be exact he wanted to get this mission done already. He was dying to meet this Orohimaru he had high hopes that he was just a faker and not the real thing, he killed the real snake sanin back at the Valley of the end. The mission will be easy they will arrived at the hide out find Orohimaru and capture him it was that simple even if he was lifting his hopes up too much. The mission was his main concern but there was something else concerning him a lot, or more precise someone else. He left his team member Mistress behind hoping that Yukimaru will help her find the location to the hidden sound village he believes in the Hyuga heiress she was strong. What worried him was the fact that Yukimaru was with her he hated himself for feeling jealous over someone who is only twelve and likes a seventeen year old kunoichi. There was no way Hinata would like someone younger than her or perhaps he was wrong and maybe she did had some affection for the teen. Thinking about the whole thing was annoying and troublesome he didn't needed this at all. He had a mission to worry about than the silly affections of a twelve year old over his team member, but he couldn't help but feel jealous. He has come to care so much for Hinata he even dare to say that he love the Hyuga princess, she's someone very precious to him. He finally ignored the thinking it was killing him and focused his eyes to the road remembering the mission.

Sakura was another who was in deep thought the mission was starting to get to her. For starters she still didn't fully trusted Guren and for all they know it could be one big trap from Orochimaru's part, remembering how loyal the crystal kunoichi is or was. For her it was hard to trust someone who works for Orochimaru the snake sanin was the one who gave her teammate Sasuke the power he needed to leave the Konoha he was the one erased the Uchiha from her precious people's list. Now there was only one person who was more precious to her than the entire team seven, her leader and dear comrade. She took a glance at him and even with his mask on she could tell something was bothering him she couldn't blame him, a lot will be in their mind. Namely the plan to infiltrate Orohimaru's hide out with Guren helping them and that her teammate Hinata was on her own trying to get where they are heading right now. She wasn't the kind of person to abandon their friends behind her comrades was her strength and her reason to continue growing strong. Suddenly new images entered her mind when she gave Naruto a blowjob she started blushing at the memory. The way she sucked his twelve inch cock and when she swallowed his seed, the taste was unique and tasty it made her feel so hot and wet. She erased the perverted image before resuming her focus on the road the mission was her top priority along with Hinata's safety.

'This isn't the time or the place to be thinking about any of that, remember this mission is very important…'

"Damn it but it's so freaking hard I can still remember when Naruto shove his cock in my mouth, I can just imagine having that huge dick in my pussy!"

'Stupid hormones….' She scowled mentally.

Ino was in deep thought although she was keeping her attention on the road she didn't wanted the same thing to happen to her for fantasizing about her leader. This time she wasn't thinking about Naruto but rather Guren remembering all the things she saw when she looked into her mind, she was feeling uncomfortable right now. She wasn't being honest with herself when went into the crystal user's mind she knew she could get in trouble with her leader, she was sure it wasn't going to jeopardize the mission. The reason she felt pity for the crystal kunoichi it was annoying her remembering what Anko and Ibiki taught her, to never show pity to the enemy. Another thing that had her bothered was her other friend and teammate Hinata she was so worried about her. Her teammates have become very important to her very close precious people, it's like she has gained two sisters. One her best friend since childhood and the other the Hyuga heiress who overcome her timid and insecurity, she was obviously worried about her friend. She hoped she will be reunited with her dear teammate both things were bothering her very much, annoyed was a good guess to figure out who she was feeling. She took a quick glance at Guren, her leader and best friend too she was starting to get nervous. And it wasn't because of the fact that the snake forest looked very creepy at night.

Guren was only thinking about one person, Yukimaru the boy who has become precious to her. More precious than her loyalty for Orochimaru in her case it was saying a lot she used to be the most loyal servant to the snake sanin after Kabuto. But she found out that the young teen worth protecting than serving under a madman who only cares about nothing but power and used its people like mere tools. There was no turning back now it was too late for her she has already chosen her path she became a traitor in order to protect the youth. She didn't regretted her choice after what Yukimaru has been through she has vowed to always protect him, even if it meant she will have to fight the snake sanin and her former master. Her loyalty for the teen was stronger than her loyalty to Orochimaru with team Kitsune Flash she might have a chance, her top priority was reuniting with Yukimaru. She has missed him for so long she couldn't until she finally sees him again. She looked at the mask mercenary and his two team members and admitted that they weren't so bad after all, compare to all the rumors she has heard from the team. She thought she could trust them she never anticipated to return to Orochimaru's hide out, she was in deep thought remembering the coordinates leading the team to its location.

They continued their traveling jumping through some tree branches by now they have increased their speed, they were in a hurry. They didn't know the dangers they might encounter on their way to the hide out although they were prepare they were expecting to get to their destination without any conflicts, not needed to waste time on unnecessary fights like bandit or enemy ninjas. After a couple of tree branches they finally made it back to the ground they ran straight at ahead into the path of the dark forest, neither of the group admitted that this part of the forest was really scary especially at night. They have spotted something ahead a small structure with some stairs leading down with an entrance the group have taken notice of the snakes designs on the edge of the wall. Just by looking at the place they know where they were they have reached their destination the snake nest or more precise Orochimaru's hide out. Naruto's eyes were only on the entrance their mission has begun and he will finally have an answer to his question about a certain snake sanin.

Guren was staring at the structure" there it is….the hidden sound village."

"Looks very quiet I was expecting to see guards looking after the place…" replied Sakura.

"I have mentioned before that Orochimaru-sama has lost a lot of man power and he was currently looking for people to fight for him."

"Or more precise to become his tools with no purpose to serve for him and become his sacrifices when he feels like he has no more use for them" Naruto said.

"Harsh words but it's the truth" replied the crystal user.

Sakura still didn't trusted her she kept her eyes on her" you have betrayed Orohimaru and yet you still speak highly of him, you're still adding the honorific to his name?"

"I'm curious about that myself too" Naruto added waiting for an explanation from the crystal kunoichi.

"Even if he's evil I respect him for his strength I know he used me and I have done a lot of wrong things in my life…..some I have come to regret a lot I wish I could outdone them from ever happening" Guren's eyes softened remembering a horrible memory that is still haunting her to this very day.

"Your tone is filled with honesty Guren so we will trust you…at least I will trust you I don't know the rest of my team though" the mask mercenary said.

"No comment" Sakura said of course she still didn't trusted her.

Ino has been in deep thought during the entire time she couldn't about what everything she saw in Guren's mind. Was it the right thing to keep things in the dark from them, her team needed to know things were starting to get complicated for her she knew she did wrong it was going against the team's morale. She wasn't going to be able to live with herself if she keeps this information from her team she was nervous having the feeling that her leader will get angry at her, she could imagine Naruto getting upset at her. She flinched mentally she will be hurt if the blond will scold her, it will be heartbreaking she's always trying hard to prove to him that she's a true team player. The one thing that will crush her if he loses his trust in her she has worked hard to get him to believe in her, to rely in her and to see that she's worthy of being part of his team. To prove that she was worthy in his eyes as a kunoichi and someone to love was her biggest dream.

"What about you Temptress?" Naruto asked the platinum blond about trusting Guren.

"Huh….?" she stopped her thinking looking at the mask mercenary.

"I don't think you have to ask Temptress of course she trusts Guren, she did look into her mind and saw everything about her" Sakura said.

The Yamanaka sighed finally giving up in her doubts" look guys there's something I have to tell you guys….about Guren…"

Naruto and Sakura blinked at her comment while the crystal kunoichi was staring at her waiting to what she has to say, although she had a pretty good idea what it was all about.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"What I mean is that I have kept something about Guren from you guys and for that I'm sorry, I didn't mean it…." Her sky blue eyes softened feeling terrible.

"Temptress….?" Sakura was shocked.

Naruto hold his shocked looking at her seriously" you mean to tell me that you have kept information about her for yourself and you didn't tell us a thing?"

The Yamanaka nodded she knew she was in trouble" that's right…."

Guren had to chuckle at the sight" it's about time you tell them I was surprise when you lie to them about some of the information when you looked into my mind."

"You lie to us…..?" Sakura was staring at her best friend feeling hurt and betrayed.

"I….I didn't mean it I swear not everything I said is a lie…"

"You have a lot of explaining to do Temptress" replied the mask mercenary not sounding happy" any information that you kept in the dark from us that might jeopardize the mission will cost you…."

"I know but the information doesn't jeopardize the mission Guren really wants to protect Yukimaru it's just that…." Ino trailed off.

"What….?" the pink haired medic replied not believing that one of her closest friends has lied to them.

"What is the information?" the jinchurikki was serious.

"I….."

"Temptress that's an order" Naruto was no using his role as team leader.

Guren sighed" just tell them already you're wasting time here from doing your mission."

The Yamanaka nodded she was planning in telling them eventually" yes….she lied…"

"What?" Naruto said.

"Guren lied about not knowing who destroyed her village she did knew it was Orochimaru the one responsible, because she did helped him destroy it…"

Sakura's eyes widened" you mean she was responsible for the destruction of her own village?"

Ino nodded" she did Orochimaru took her under his wing before he decided to attack her village. She followed all of his orders."

"I don't believe this…." The mask mercenary was shocked.

"How could you do that to all those innocent people?" replied the pink haired kunoichi.

"I won't lie to you I didn't care for any of them. I hated them all because they were the ones who shun me and feared me they hated me so I equally hated them too. Orochimaru-sama was the only person who saved me from my loneliness and gave my life meaning I owed him a lot."

"You….how can you talk like that it's hard for me to believe that you really consider Yukimaru precious to you" replied Sakura she felt upset but kept her cool.

"I don't care if you hate me or if you don't trust me, it's true that back then I was happy that all of those people were killed…..however I…." the crystal user's eyes softened again revealing more pain than ever.

"You regretted that all those villagers got killed even the ones in your clan?" Naruto said.

"Something like that….on that day I did regret something I wish I would have never done it, I hate myself every time I think about it or when it comes to my mind" Guren tightened her fist showing her anger.

"What would you regret on that day like you said you were happy that you helped Orochimaru killed all those innocent villagers?" asked Sakura.

The crystal kunoichi shook her head turning over to Ino" you know you did look into my mind, tell them…"

"Well Temptress?" the blond jinchurikki was now staring at his team member.

The Yamanaka kept quiet but she knew she had no choice but to tell them now" she….Guren was the one who killed Yukimaru's mother."

Both Naruto and Sakura gasped from their shock they quickly turned to the crystal kunoichi who lowered her gaze. A lot of things were running through their head while thinking that maybe it was a mistake to reunite her with Yukimaru, or maybe she wasn't trustworthy to guide them to Orochimaru's hide out. They looked back at Ino who was trying to control herself from losing her cool of course she knew that they were probably angry with her or disappointed in her for keeping something like that from them.

"Temptress she….." Sakura didn't say another word she was too shocked hearing the secret.

"Is this true?" Naruto looked at the crystal user.

Ino nodded" Guren was ordered by Orochimaru to kill everyone in her village…."

"Those were my first orders under Orochimaru-sama as my master. While I was in the middle of my mission I got sick I ended up collapsing on the snow, I didn't know how much longer I will survive from the coldness of the snow. Yukimaru's mother found me and she kindly brought me to her home she….she treated me until I got better she was the one that cured me from my sickness" her dark eyes were showing a lot of emotion, only a small tear fell from them.

The pink haired medic was horrified hearing the story she turned to her giving her an angry glare" and yet you killed her….she saved your life and that's how you repaid her. Not only that but you're the one responsible for turning Yukimaru into an orphan."

"That's why now I want to protect him with my life…."

"So you're doing all of this out of guilt?" Naruto said.

"Most of it yes I feel very guilty for what I did but the other part is because I care about him a lot. Yukimaru has become very important to me….he's the only reason for me to go on living…."

"It's hard for me to believe you…." replied the pink haired mask kunoichi.

"Didn't you heard me before I said I don't care if you trust me or not, or if you hate me or not I want to protect Yukimaru from Orochimaru-sama that's my only purpose" Guren glared at her.

"I believe her I saw how strong her bond with Yukimaru is" Ino said" I know I did wrong in keeping this information from you guys but I….I pity her when I went inside her mind I also felt all the pain she has been through. I'm not happy with myself back at the interrogation division I was taught to never show any sympathy for the victim, to always act cold and never show any mercy that's what both Anko sensei and Ibiki-san taught me….but I have failed in learning that I let my heart get the better of me."

By now Naruto and Sakura weren't upset and disappointed with the Yamanaka understanding her she was able to understand some of Guren's pain. Naruto remembered when she told him on their date that she wanted to understand his pain of being a jinhurikki by spending time with someone who almost had the same treatment as him, by being with Anko. He didn't know much of the snake mistress other that she was the proctor of the second test from the chunin and she was very sadistic. Sakura smiled a little at her best friend no longer feeling disappointed at her after all she was basically following her heart, she was human like everyone else. Even if she did wrong as her duty as a ninja and a team player she needed to trust more in her teammates and her leader. She was happy that Ino was still herself after her training in the interrogation division, not quite she became a sadistic pervert like her teacher she was still her best friend since childhood just a little messed up in the head. Guren just listened quietly thinking that it was stupid for them to get upset just for keeping something that has nothing to do with their mission, not that she care she only wanted to protect Yukimaru. However it didn't meant she didn't wanted to help them right now the teen was with one of their team members, his safety lies in her hands.

"I'm sorry I understand if you're angry with me for lying to you guys, I shouldn't have done that when I'm suppose to trust the team especially you Kitsune-sama" Ino said lowering her gaze.

Naruto only sighed" Temptress right now we have mission don't feel bad about yourself, I know you were trying to help Guren in your own way….just don't do it again okay?"

The Yamanaka blinked" that's it you're not going to scold me for screwing up?"

"Not now….." he gave a grin making the platinum blond gulp.

'I knew it he's really going to yell at me damn it…'

"What you did Temptress was wrong but it doesn't change a thing from our mission, Guren you have made a lot of mistakes in the past and we hope that you have learned from them" replied Sakura.

"I have…." She replied softly.

"It doesn't mean I will trust you" inner Sakura gave a scowl.

"Does Yukimaru know about you murdering his mother?" asked Naruto.

"He doesn't otherwise he will forever hate me but I am prepare to tell him when the time comes, until then I want to stay by his side" replied the crystal user.

"What will you do when he finds out the truth?" Ino looked at her.

"I will leave him eventually he will never want to have the murderer of his mother taking care of him…"

"It all depends how deep his bond with you really is, it's all up to Yukimaru to decide whether to accept you or reject you" said the mask mercenary.

"I'm prepared to face the worst. Now how about if you get going I have fulfilled the end of the bargain and lead you to the hidden sound village, I will stay here until your friend arrives with Yukimaru?"

"That's a good joke Guren but we can't let you stay here you're coming with us" grin the blond jinchurikki.

"What, I'm not going in there?"

"We are probably walking into a trap, if you want to stay behind it raises our suspicions that you're still working for Orochimaru" Sakura said.

"Exactly if it is a trap it's better that all of us fall for it" Naruto was smirking.

The Yamanaka nodded" sorry Guren but I agree with my team looks like you will have to wait a little longer before you reunite with Yukimaru."

The crystal kunoichi growled not liking the idea she snorted" fine then by now Orochimaru-sama must know that I betrayed him he probably wants me dead. But I think he will be more interested in killing the one and only Kitsune Flash than a traitor."

"I'm so scared I'm looking forward to meet him" the whiskered blond replied in a sarcastic tone.

'I really can't wait to face that impostor and finish this mission for good….'

"So we're entering Orochimaru's hide out without Mistress?" asked the pink haired medic.

"We're not waiting for her, if this turns out to be nothing but a trap after all then it's better that we fell for it than the entire team. Mistress will be more helpful outside than inside" replied the blond jinchurikki.

Guren snorted" like I could care if you still believe that this is a trap. I don't like that Yukimaru has to enter this place again you're putting his life in danger even more…"

"And I believe I have told you before that he's in good hands Mistress will protect him from danger" the mask mercenary erased the thoughts of jealousy from his head.

"Mistress is strong she will take good care of him so you don't have to get worry Guren" Ino said.

"All right team let's all be careful remember that we're entering enemy territory. Guren please lead the way and don't forget to tell us about the traps in the hideout" said the whiskered blond.

The crystal user nodded" follow me then but I can't guarantee you that we won't get a welcoming committee."

"It's not like we're expecting that the entire place will be empty without encountering a couple of hostile forces other than Orochimaru" replied Sakura.

Ino looked at her leader and object of her affections his expression was serious but it was because of the mission' I guess he's not that angry at me for keeping information on Guren, will he punish me?'

Suddenly the platinum blond got an image of Naruto stripping her naked and tying her to a bed, he started doing all kinds of kinky things to her. The Yamanaka blushed feeling hot at the dirty images she was imagining the inevitable erotic punishment her blond leader had in store for her. It was making her wet just thinking about it she could feel the pleasurable punishment from the tall whiskered blond to her it was the prize she has to pay for doing the wrong thing involving the trust of the team.

"Oh yes Naruto more I did wrong ooohhhh punish me I'm a bad kunoichi give me more punishment scold me!"

"Temptress let's get going" Sakura called out to her teammate they have begun to move out towards Orochimaru's hideout.

'Oh yeah that's exactly what I need Naruto must take action for my mistake, I deserve to be punish!' thought the aroused Ino.

"Temptress are you listening?" the pink haired kunoichi looked in concern at her best friend.

"Huh….oh right we're leaving sorry for spacing out…." The blond gave a silly grin.

"You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine don't worry…."

"Hey what's keeping the two of you we're leaving!" Naruto's voice from the distance he was at the entrance to the hidden sound village with Guren next to him.

"Right we're coming!" called back Ino.

Naruto stood in deep thought thinking about the Hyuga heiress' I hope Hinata gets here soon I don't want her to spend too much time with Yukimaru I know it's part of her personality but why does she had to act so care free and kind to him?.'

---

(Scene change)

(Location: miles away from the hidden sound village snake forest rice country territory)

Hinata jumped another tree branch Yukimaru close to her they have been traveling the snake forest for a while. At first it was hard to travel due to the mist that fills the place it was hard for either of them to see even with using her byakugan, it has been a long journey. They were hoping to reach their destination soon to help the others at least for the Hyuga heiress she was constantly thinking about the team. She was worried about them they were entering to Orochimaru's hide out remembering how dangerous he is she was told about the snake sanin while she was back at Konoha, he was very dangerous and he was the one that caused the attack on Konoha during the chunin exams. They were after one of Konoha's most dangerous missing nins even if it was hard to believe because Naruto killed the snake sanin during his confrontation with Sasuke at the valley of the end. Not that she didn't believe her leader she wanted to but remembering what Guren said the chances of Orochimaru being alive were high possible they might probably have a confrontation with him she was prepared for the fight. But there was something wrong or more precise something was bothering her she was feeling restless.

Her pales eyes softened as she grew in concern thinking about her teammates it was typical to get worry when it involves her closest friends who she have grown very fond of them. She shouldn't worry though Sakura and Ino can take care of themselves they were full grown high rank kunoichis. Her other thoughts were about her leader the object of her affections it was becoming harder for her to focus on the path ahead without being worried about Naruto. She will have to live through it she couldn't help it if she was that worried about him because of her feelings for him, in which they were becoming stronger whenever she was with him. It was the reason why she was so worried for him why she was worried for everyone in the team it wasn't just that but it was part of her personally as well. She was kindhearted and caring to all the people that were close to her family, friends, teammates and the one she loves with all her heart. She made up her mind not concerning herself with the safety of her friends and activated her byakugan searching for Orochimaru's hideout.

Yukimaru jumped another tree branch with his thinking only on Guren. He misses her he hasn't seen her since she helped him escape Orochimaru's hide out months ago the only thing he wanted was to be with her. He remembered what Hinata told him her words were still in his head he highly believed the crystal kunoichi was the one he had to return to, she was his home. She was his precious person and only friend he had that he could trust in the entire after losing his mother he needed her to give his life meaning and purpose. He took from his pocket a crystallized carnelian it was something she gave him to remember her she told him that as long as the carnelian was trapped inside of the crystal she will be all right, so every time he will always looked at it to make sure she was safe. It wasn't enough for him he wanted to see her again he will only be safe being with her although he also felt safe being with Hinata too. He blushed slightly thinking about it he didn't minded being with the Hyuga heiress but he did felt a little uneasy with her wearing her mask, it made her looked different. He felt tire from the traveling before he decided to make a stop on the ground to catch his breath.

Hinata eventually noticed this and went to him kneeling beside him" Yukimaru-san are you all right?"

"I'm fine just tire…." He gave a slight pant.

"We have been traveling nonstop maybe we should take a small rest."

"That's all right we're almost there, we're going the right direction it's not too far now."

The Hyuga princess nodded looking with her bloodline" yes I can see it. It might take us another hour to get there…"

"How do you know?" the teen was surprised to how she was able to see all the way from their current location.

"Let's just say my eyes are special" she replied with a smile looking at him she noticed the small crystal he was holding" that's very pretty what you're holding in your hand."

The long haired youth smiled looking at the crystallized carnelian" it is….it was a gift from Guren-san…"

"That's so nice of her to give you that it looks like there's a flower inside of it."

Yukimaru smiled nodding" it's a carnelian I like these type of flowers Guren-san told me this will keep me company whenever I'm lonely. It's like I have a part of her with me that's why I must find her she's my home….."

Hinata smiled blushing because she was the one who told him that quote" she's that precious to you then you know she's the one you must return to."

"It's all thanks to you Hinata" the teen looked at her before he backed down a little feeling uneasy.

"What's wrong?" the Hyuga heiress obviously noticed his behavior.

"I'm sorry Hinata I….."

She smiled figuring it out" it's the mask isn't it?"

"I guess…."

She giggled" I guess my mask is that scary but don't forget that behind this mask it's still me, so there's no need to be afraid okay?"

"I know but I'm not used to look at you with that mask on."

"You'll get used to it my name is Hinata but as long as I wear this mask I'm Kitsune Mistress."

He nodded putting the crystallized carnelian back in his pocket" I want to be with Guren-san…"

Hinata nodded keeping her eyes on the path that leads to the hidden sound village" should we get going now or do you want us to take a small rest?"

"Let's go I'm fine don't worry about me."

"All right…"

They resumed their running as they reached the trees jumping on them Yukimaru was in deep thought thinking about Hinata's words, words that meant a lot to him.

"Whenever someone thinks of you, that's where home is…"

"Home is the place where that person thinks of you…those people that care about you and misses you."

"Home is not exactly a place but rather the person that always thinks of you, the person you consider to be precious to you."

'Guren-san she's my home I must return to her….'

---

(Scene change)

(Location: urban district Konoha hidden leaf village fire country territory)

Tsunade stumble clumsily on a corner due that she was a little drunk she couldn't walk straight. She just had one of those days where she drinks sake with Jiraiya it has become a habit before she became Hokage. This was the first time she has spent time with him drinking sake in a while it was exactly what she needed to escape the damn job of filling paper work which she considered to be true hell. She was feeling better to get away from the office and relax although it didn't turned out to be as pleasant as she thought because she lost to Jiraiya in the poker game. The toad sanin has beaten her over five times in the game with something important at stake she was the one who gave him the challenge and she lost miserably to him. Once again her reputation as the legendary sucker has been shown proving that she still had her bad luck as the worst gambler in the history of mankind, she wasn't happy with the results. If she won Jiraiya will take her place as Hokage but if she lost she will have to remain in the position until she turns ninety five which it really sucks to be her she thought of any possible torture anything but this, she considered this to be the worst torture for her. If she had the choice to choose to between ruling as Hokage and death she wouldn't even think about it because he choice will be quite obvious, death was better than continuing being Hokage at an old age. She has wondered many times how the hell was her sensei Hiruzen was able to stay in the position for so long she still didn't know the answer to that question.

Jiraiya gazed at the blond woman and sighed seeing her in the usual state when they always drink sake together. She will always be the one to get drunk before him it was true than men could take the effect of alcohol more than women, he was also the one who always helped her making sure she makes it safe to the inn she was staying. This time it was different he was taking her back to the fire tower since she was now the Hokage she was supposed to set an example to the village and here she was drunk. The good thing was that he helped her getting her stress from her job the paperwork was annoying and a pain in the ass he was always glad to be there for her in her time of need. He has never had a complaint to help her except that one day when he snapped at her but that was all in the past he didn't wanted to think about that horrible day ever again. He was currently grinning mentally because he won the poker game winning the bet making the slug sanin stay Hokage until she turns ninety five, it was the best way to annoy her and have a good laugh. Winning the poker game was very easy it's to be expected when you take on the legendary sucker he didn't even broke a sweat. He knelt beside her helping her get back on her feet the blond used him as support to walked straight sometimes it amazed him how quick she can get drunk from drinking a couple of glasses of sake.

He sighed helping her get up" come on let's keep going it's not appropriate for the Hokage to end up sleeping on the streets."

Tsunade mumble something between her teeth's the toad sanin heard her" what was that?"

She growled at him" lucky bastard!"

He couldn't help but laughed at her outburst" if you're still upset for losing the poker game you had it coming, you were asking for it. Like you said you're the legendary sucker I have nothing to lose it's your fault for making the bet in the first place."

"I still say you were lucky" she mumbled again but he heard her.

"Yes after the five times we played I beat you I'm very lucky. Tsunade my dear we could play a hundred times and I would still win, you're the one person with the worst luck in the five countries."

The slug sanin just snorted at his comment ignoring the fact that he was right she still wasn't happy with losing the game and the bet. She started walking with Jiraiya following her making sure she didn't tripped again she was all right because she wasn't so drunk like she usually gets whenever she drinks sake. They walked the dark streets of the village which they were empty they weren't many people at this hour of the night even if it wasn't too late, it was another quiet night in Konoha. She smiled as they reached a couple of benches accompany with a beautiful view of the night sky she got seated in the bench and motioned to her friend to sit with her.

"You sure you want to seat here aren't you sleepy?"

"It's all right I'm not that tire…"

"You could have fooled me when you tripped just now you looked like you were about to take a nap."

"So what if I was feeling clumsy and tripped I'm not that drunk, now shut up and sit with me."

He chuckle getting seated in the same bench" you should really stop drinking so much sake after all you're going to be ruling as Hokage until you turn ninety five, I don't want you to make this as a bad habit that will ruin your image as the fifth Hokage."

The busty blond laughed out loud" first of all I will never stop drinking sake, that's like asking me to stop liking money second do you seriously believe I'm going to be Hokage until I turn ninety five?"

"Nope but I believe you will retire before you become that old" smirked the toad sanin.

"Damn right I'm not planning to be Hokage forever it's impossible to become that old and still be a kage, I like my joke when I made the bet Jiraiya."

"I knew you were just joking we weren't betting anything serious on the poker game. I just hope you weren't being serious when you bet your Hokage title on the game."

"Nope I was being serious you know me already being Hokage is a hard job, it's so tiring and a pain in the ass. The one thing I hate about the job is…."

"It's the paperwork yeah you already told me like a hundred times" the white haired man finished for her.

She sighed" it's the truth I can't wait until I finally retire but I still have a responsibility to the village. Besides it's not like the village can't go on without me there are already plenty of candidates to become the next Hokage."

"Really any ideas on who might those candidates are?" Jiraiya was listening eagerly.

"Kakashi is one that's a no brainer."

The toad sanin nodded" I guess he makes an eligible candidate son of Sakumo the former white fang, graduated from the academy when he was eight, became a chunin when he turned ten, became a jounin when he turned twelve, former student of Minato who was influenced by my ideals as well as Sarutobi sensei's. He joined ANBU when he was fifteen he became one of the division's best tracker ninjas, he gained reputation as the famous sharingan Kakashi the copy ninja the ninja who has copied a thousand jutsus, and he was also the teacher of the former team seven."

"He's a good candidate" replied the busty blond.

"But you're forgetting his flaws. Kakashi is lazy and he always comes late he will give some lame excuse to his tardiness when he's really paying his respects to his dear friends, a Hokage that doesn't show up to his work on time is not a good Hokage. I don't have to give you a lesson that the Hokage is the living image of Konoha who represents the village itself, his image must remain in high respect for his people as well as the fire lord."

Tsunade nodded" I guess you're right the council will probably have a tough time deciding for his election of the position. Also let's not forget that Kakashi is a bit of a pervert reading your books we can't have a perverted Hokage" she gave a playful smirk.

Jiraiya laughed" you got me I'm not a good candidate either and besides like I told you years ago I'm not interested in the job."

"And like I told you years ago Sarutobi sensei wanted you to become Hokage" her hazel eyes gazed at him.

The white haired man's eyes softened thinking of his teacher" he said that because he didn't had a choice, we both know that deep inside he wanted Orochimaru to be Hokage."

"That may be true but in the end he didn't chose Orochimaru he thought over the sake of the village and not about himself it hurt him but he realized he wasn't the best candidate for the title. He knew how evil and twisted he became that's why he chose for the better picking Minato to become the fourth."

"Become evil remember my report that Orochimaru is alive."

"Not that I don't trust you and your spy network but I will wait for Naruto's report on his mission to sound village to be a hundred percent sure that he's really alive."

He frowned at her" fine take his side I don't care…"

"Don't take it so personal Jiraiya I just want to make sure that he's really alive, this information is very important we can't cause a huge ruckus about this. If he's dead all along it will be all for nothing."

"Fine let's get back on topic who's the next candidate to become Hokage?"

"Itachi" Tsunade replied quickly.

The toad sanin gasped" Itachi you want to make him Hokage?"

"Why not he has proven to be the one of the most skills and most loyal ninjas this village has ever had, we know what he's capable to do for the protection of Konoha?"

"He is strong he was only six when he graduated from the academy, he became chunin when he was eight and jounin when he was ten having a record of youngest jounin in the village. He's the prodigy of the Uchiha clan he's a good candidate, we have never had an Uchiha as Hokage though."

The slug sanin nodded" but at the same time I have been thinking even if Itachi is truly loyal to the village I don't think the council will go easy with making him a candidate for the title. We can't forget the conflict that has gone since the foundation of Konoha."

Jiraiya nodded" the conflict of the two founding clans Senju and Uchiha, I guess it's true. In the council as well as the elders still have some hostility because what happened with the Uchiha even after all these years the conflict still lives on. I guess they will think hard to name Itachi candidate for the position of Hokage, but then again I don't think Itachi will agree on the job."

"He's the kind of person to always take orders from his superiors he won't get used in giving orders to others….I guess nobody is perfect" smiled the busty blond.

"Is there anymore candidates you have in mind?"

She chuckle" yes there's one more candidate you should know who he is, we can't forget about Naruto?"

The toad sanin smiled hearing the name of his student" oh yeah I almost forgot about him, sure he's a good candidate. Although he's strong and young he still has a lot to go before taking the position of Hokage, he has the will of fire and the passion to protect this village with his life. But he still needs to learn more about the lessons in the life of a ninja."

"Like learning to be a good leader…"

"Yup that's one of them having his own team he might understand the meaning of being a leader I have a lot of faith in that kid. I believe he will become a Hokage like no other."

"I know he will become into the best Hokage that Konoha has ever had I don't have any doubts about that…." Tsunade got comfortable on the bench looking at the sky.

They stood quiet for a while just looking at the sky enjoying the relaxation of the scenery. Jiraiya have taken noticed that once again Tsunade was giving him that look and that smile, reflecting so much emotion and affection. He knew something was wrong with her to be looking at him like she had the entire day he didn't know why she was playing with him, no he knew her better than that it wasn't like her to manipulate his feelings. He found it weird, impossible, unusual, odd and so on for this kind of behavior of her with him if there was an explanation he would love to hear it. This has never happened before so why now this was basically frying his brain making him think dozens of questions it wasn't normal for someone like Tsunade to start looking at him so different, what it scared him the most that she was looking at him with so much affection. It's like she was actually hitting on him waiting to make a move on him he was that good in reading a woman's heart and her long time friend and teammate was showing the signs. He was getting nervous he needed to ask her once and for all before he becomes crazy. He realized that she was still giving him that affectionate smile before he turned away his gaze from her, looking at the beautiful night sky which passed the test of romantic scenery.

"Tsunade….?" He started.

The busty Hokage turned her gaze like him she was looking at the sky again" Jiraiya how long have we known each other?"

The toad sanin blinked at the question but he still answered it" since we became genins I guess since we were twelve."

She smiled but he could tell that it was reflecting pain" that long we have been through so much haven't we?"

He chuckle" we sure have we have experience a lot together it's even a miracle I'm still alive after all the beatings you've given me…."

The white haired man turned to her with a silly smile but stopped when he saw that Tsunade had a pain expression on her face at the precise moment he mentioned all the beatings she gave him. Now he felt bad with himself he didn't meant to say his comment with the purpose to hurt her feelings but he said it with humor as a joke, he didn't took it personal. After all the times when she had hit him the most was because of his perverted nature along with rejecting his advantages and asking her on a date.

"Cheer up Tsunade drop the long face we were young and reckless, it was all right that you beat me…"

The blond woman just kept her gaze on the sky" we both have made a lot of mistakes in our lives and some of those mistakes have become impossible to fix, we have come to regret those mistakes so much it was worst when we realized that it was too late to do anything about it they couldn't be fixed anymore…" she thought about him, Dan, Nawaki, her choice to leave Konoha even her teacher the third.

Hearing that Jiraiya thought about his own mistakes to this very day they were still haunting them. He failed in getting Tsunade's heart, he failed in saving his best friend Orochimaru from the darkness, he failed to protect his teacher Sarutobi, he failed to protect his student Minato from dying, and he failed to be there for his godson and taking care of him. Yes in his entire life he has done a lot of mistakes that he have come to regret a lot and it was worst because he couldn't outdone them, or fixed them for the matter. Tsunade's words have really taken an effect on him it made him wonder why she was saying all of this it didn't surprise him she has been acting so weird lately it wasn't like her. For some reason he didn't know why his heart was starting to beat faster maybe he was getting nervous, or it was something else.

"Tsunade….?" He started again but he didn't know what to say.

"I know you're still blaming yourself for your mistakes Jiraiya and you shouldn't it's all in the past now. The important thing to do right now is to try and solve the mistakes you can fix right now, I mean look at you didn't you managed to take Naruto as your apprentice and look how strong he has become?"

"Better late than never I wanted to take him under my wing sooner but I couldn't because of my ninja duties I regret it more than anything…."

"No need to think about that now it has passed, there's nothing you can do to fix that mistake in the end you were able to fixed that mistake. Therefore I think it's my turn now to start fixing the mistakes I can still solve…..starting with you Jiraiya…."

"What….?" he looked at her in pure confusion and shock.

The toad sanin noticed it again she was giving him that look again with that smile. Something was wrong something was not right what was going on to make her act like this, so many questions were running through his head. He felt himself getting weak on the knees it was the result from the tension it has been slowly building up since they got seated on the bench. What was she talking about in fixing her mistake with him he had a theory and he didn't wanted to think about it, this wasn't the Tsunade he has known since he was twelve. It was nothing like her to keep bringing up the past when she hated to talk about that knowing how painful and shocking her own past was, there was no need to mention it in the first place. Yet here she was admitting her mistakes that she did wrong and talking so freely about her past like she has taken all the courage in the world to say it. He saw her giving him that smile only this time there was sorrow in it, sadness, pain he couldn't stand seeing her like this because each time he did he felt his heart breaking. After all these years deep inside he will always love her no one or nothing will ever change that.

"Tsunade what are you saying?" he finally asked pretending like he didn't know but he had an idea, which it was scaring him.

She kept her sad smile on him" I'm sorry…"

"Huh….?"

"I'm sorry for everything I did to you in the past, the insults, the times I ridiculed you, the beatings everything. I take it all back no one deserves to live and suffered the way you have and I didn't made it easier for you, for that I'm sorry…."

"You're sorry….?" Jiraiya still hasn't gotten over what was going on yet he felt his head spinning around.

"I did a lot of mean and horrible things to you for many years, and you did deserve some of them but not all of them. I regret everything I did to you and my behavior around you I should have treated you with more respect and with some dignity, after all you're my long time and closest friend ever…."

The toad sanin was shocked at everything she has said but still reacted like it was all just a lame joke, he laughed but with her expression she wasn't joking" come on Tsunade I'm not a perfect gentlemen I'm a super pervert who likes to peek at woman bathing while I do my research for my hentai novels. I am in charge of my spy network that provides all the information to the village and I'm a sanin but you don't have to talk like that it's all right….don't take things so serious…."

"No I must I have an obligation to do so you're probably the only person who was able to put up with me for so long I must apologize to you. I'm really sorry for everything I did to you and everything I have said to you, anything that disrespected you or hurt your feelings I am sorry…"

It finally hit him it was finally sinking in him he realized that she was being serious looking at her expression, in addition with the tears that have formed on her eyes. Even if she was a little drunk this wasn't the correct behavior she will have or these aren't the kinds of words she would say what was happening was he going crazy. He couldn't take it anymore he finally had about enough he wanted an explanation once and for all, he got up from the bench in a quick movement surprising the busy Hokage.

"Jiraiya….?"

"What is going on with you?" his tone was nervous like he was scared.

"What?"

"What is wrong with you Tsunade?" he asked again with the same tone.

"What do you mean nothing is wrong with me?" the slug sanin was confused at his reaction, his tone and even his expression she could tell that he was shocked.

"Don't start pretending like you don't know just listen to yourself you have been acting so different for a while now?"

"Why are you raising your voice I am not acting any different than usual what is wrong with you Jiraiya?" deep inside she was feeling scared of course he would know of her sudden change he knew her so well, he will read her like an open book.

"Please Tsunade don't lie for months you have changed so much….it's scaring me I have known you my entire life and suddenly you act completely different with me. I mean look at you, you actually asked me to drink sake with you when I'm always the one who invites you to a drink it's always been me. You start talking about the past like there was nothing wrong, you talked about the time I wrote you that love letter or the time I tried to steal a kiss from you on that tunnel and that's not at all lately you have been giving me such a look and a smile so different from the Tsunade I know…."

The blond Hokage was at a loss for words she didn't know he would act like this but he was able to figured her out, like usual there's no one who could read her so clear like Jiraiya. His outburst have shocked her she could see it in his eyes he was nervous, scared why was there any need of fear in him in the first place. Even with her shock she was expecting him to act like this after all she has never acted this openly and affectionate towards him she tried her best though. She has been slowly trying to open herself towards him to let him in little by little but she failed, he was able to read her and noticed her behavior rather quickly sooner than she thought. She looked at him there was no need to hide it now she got up from the bench getting closer to him but the toad sanin took a step back, it was clear that he didn't wanted to get closer to her. Such action was enough to hurt her it was probably the first time he hurt her aside from the time he snapped at her at the bar, and back then he was a bit drunk. It didn't bother her a all compared to the times she has hurt him this was nothing.

"Jiraiya I…" she looked into his eyes.

"Just tell me what's wrong because I hope I'm not going crazy. I will say this and don't beat me when I tell you but….the way you have been acting towards me and the looks you've been giving to me you look like you're….." he trailed off thinking the impossible at least for him.

"Like what?" she replied softly what else could she do.

"Like….you're coming onto me it sounds crazy that you looked like you're trying to hit on me literally" he was talking about the other kind of hit not the physical.

She smiled again but it was another sad smile" it sounds crazy doesn't it I knew you were going to say that but I have to tell you…."

"Tsunade don't say anymore…." He could feel his heart beating faster or perhaps it was of fear from getting broken again.

"Please hear me out let me finish, I have to get this off my chest for good…" she finished with a hiccupped she was a little drunk after all.

Jiraiya stood quiet awaiting her words but he had a bad feeling about all of this, of what was going to happen if she finished what she wants to tell him. He had a good idea but he didn't want to believe it there was no way it could happen, it was impossible he was probably having a dream. Fear was the cause of his strong denial because deep inside he thought it was never going to happen what Tsunade was about to tell him. She saw the expression on her face she looked nervous and her cheeks had a shade of red in them it was either because of her intoxication or because she was embarrassed.

'Please Kami tell me I'm wrong she's not about to say what I think she has in mind….it can't be…'

Tsunade hiccupped again before speaking" I have done a lot of soul searching through these couple of months and I have come to realized that I have done a lot of mistakes regarding you. I have treated you wrongly I have never showed the respect you deserve, I didn't behaved like a true friend, I was cold and I hit you, reject you so many times that is unforgivable. I am sorry for every single wrong thing I did to you" tears started falling from her hazel eyes.

"Tsunade…..you…." Jiraiya was speechless he has never seen her like this before.

"I hate myself for treating you the way I had how could I do that to the person who has always supported me and has stay by my side through good times and bad, I have decided I want to make up for all those times I have mistreated you I want to fix this mistake so perhaps we can rebuild our friendship. Yes you're a stupid pervert but a stupid pervert with a heart of gold…"

The toad sanin smiled feeling so ease with her words" you don't have to apologize to me no matter what bad things we have experienced we have always stay as friends our friendship is unbreakable, so you don't have beat yourself for it. Remember that it wasn't your fault I'm a super pervert besides rejection makes a man stronger my advances towards you were always in a rush."

"I have to like I told you I needed to fix this mistake ever since Naruto gave Sakura a second chance I felt like I have to do the same thing with you. You could have a grudge of hatred towards me the same way with Naruto to Sakura and I felt like I had to set things right between me and you…..between us…."

Jiraiya blinked feeling his heart beat increasing speed" what…what do you mean?"

The busty Hokage got closer to him the sad smile never left her face" I feel like a true hypocrite here I was trying so hard to make Naruto noticed Sakura so that he forgives her, and understands that she cares for him but she also harbors feelings that are more than just friendship. Yet I was such a fool to never understand that I have always had someone who has always loved me more than just a friend and I was a real fool for not realizing it, I made a mistake for not giving him a chance to let him in my heart…"

The white haired sanin was shocked his mouth was wide open only a couple of words were able to escape from his mouth" Tsunade you're not saying…."

She touched his face making him melt at the touch" we're old but it's never too late to find love, it took me so long to realize that I don't even know why I rejected you all those times in the first place. Maybe I was stubborn or I was afraid to love again after what happened to Dan or maybe because I didn't wanted you to suffer the same fate. I think after so long Jiraiya I'm finally ready to accept your feelings…"

By now the toad sanin was blushing speechless at he heard every word coming from the woman he has loved since he was twelve. Maybe he has finally died and gone to heaven or maybe he was experiencing his ultimate dream it there were the only explanations for this to be happening. There was no way this was really happening he thought he lost his grip on reality and he couldn't tell what was real or fantasy and if it was really happening could he really accept the truth. Was Tsunade accepting his feeling was she about to confess how much she loves him, does she loves him as much he has. So many questions were driving him crazy it was starting to hurt his head he couldn't think straight anymore he was starting to believe that this was happening. It got worse than he thought as the unexpected happened Tsunade has come to him and she has hugged him just like that time when he snapped at her. He never felt so alive before having her in his arms it wasn't every day that she will embraced him without hitting him or even beating the crap out of him, what he will do to stay like this forever. Tsunade knew the best way to get to him she knew what to do she wanted to make sure that her words reached out to him clearly. While the toad sanin was shocked blushing to feel the blonds' warm embrace he didn't know what to think or he could even think at all.

'Why is she hugging me why is she doing this….she hasn't done that since that day at the bar but she….what is wrong with you Tsunade?'

The slug sanin was still blushing holding him" I want you to know for a long time I have acquire feelings for you and I feel like I want to hold you like this because I want to. I feel so happy holding the one person who was always been there for me and has care for me more than anyone, I didn't realize that I was happy when you tried to ask me out. I have come to terms with my feelings I'm willing to give you a chance to be with me…."

However things have certainly changed for the toad sanin. Instead of being happy, flattered and dancing with joy for this he was the opposite. As Tsunade hugged him Jiraiya's expression has changed he was now upset and he couldn't take it anymore. He just couldn't stand hearing anymore of this delusion there was no way she was telling him the truth he wouldn't believe it, it was impossible. He figured out that the sake must have gotten to her making her say things he would only want to hear in his dreams, this wasn't going to continue any longer not on his watch. As much as he hated he grabbed Tsunade and broke the warm hug she was giving him locking eyes with her, she was obviously surprised by his sudden action. She was more surprised to see that he was angry making her think what could be wrong with him, did she said something wrong to upset him.

"Jiraiya….?"

"That's enough Tsunade stop joking around this isn't funny!"

"What are you talking about I'm finally acknowledging your feelings for me, from the bottom of my heart I…."

"And I'm telling you that it's not funny so drop it because this is one rude joke and I don't like it…."

She growled at his comment" I'm not joking I have been serious this entire time you stupid pervert I know you have love me since we were twelve, isn't this what you always wanted?"

The white haired sanin replied to her putting his hands on her shoulder giving her probably the most serious expression he has given anyone" I hate people who lie to themselves…"

Tsunade's eyes widened from all kinds of emotions shock, horror and hurt. She never thought he would say that to her this wasn't the respond she was expecting from him. She actually felt it her heart aching until it shattered to pieces she couldn't believe Jiraiya has hurt her feelings, to think she has taken a lot of courage to finally go through this and she doesn't get the results she wanted. She felt like crying she highly thought he was going to accept the offer of her feelings that rejection was out of the question but she was wrong to think she will be rejected by the same man who has love her for years. Another thing she felt was laughing at how ironic things have gotten she was the one who has rejected him for so long and now she was finally getting a taste of her own medicine, this time he wasn't drunk. But there was one thing stronger that she was feeling above all and that was anger she glared at him with the intent to kill him, the toad sanin has noticed her anger flaring and back off thinking that perhaps he made a mistake. He gulped in fear he has never seen her so angry before but he was still denying any honesty from the busty Hokage's confession he took another step back as the blond woman was trembling in anger.

Tsunade has bailed her fist and glare at the white haired sanin" are you saying I'm lying to myself?"

"Now Tsunade calm down I…." he tremble and gave another gulp he was fearing for his life just like that time he peeked at her in the hot baths and was beaten to death by her.

The busty Hokage tightened one of her fist ready to strike" I'm the only one who knows what I'm feeling if you don't like me then just say it already quit the shitty excuses, I am not convincing myself that I have feelings for you!"

Jiraiya turned pale seeing her charging at him" Tsunade wait!"

WHAM!

She punched him sending him far away from the village it seems she has landed a new record when it comes to sending Jiraiya far away by her punches. Once he was out of sight from view Tsunade let some of her tears fall it was still hurting from the pain she was feeling was horrible, it was just like that time he snapped at her. Only this time the pain was worst from that say he wasn't under the influence of alcohol he really meant what he said. She sobbed trying to dry her tears but more were coming out it didn't meant that her anger has left her system it was still pretty visible and stronger than ever, she growled before leaving thinking about the perverted sanin.

'Damn you bastard…you stupid pervert!'

She yelled out loud not caring that the entire village will hear her" asshole!"

(Scene change)

---

(Location: market district Konoha)

Kushina sighed walking on the streets I's been hard for her to find a job although she didn't expected it was going to be this hard to find one. She did have money enough to buy her a place to live but she wasn't going to continue spending it without having a source to earn money, she needed a job and she wasn't the lazy type to stand with her arms cross waiting for the job to find her. That logic was simple stupid and childish because it wasn't true she had her own legs to walk and look for one but it has gotten a little late and she was tire, she has been looking everywhere. She has gone to the restaurants, department store, weapons shop even toy stores and still nothing it seems to be impossible to find a job in a large village like Konoha. It didn't meant she was going to give up when she didn't know the meaning of the word she will keep on looking until she finds one, she sighed again she was beginning to think to ask Tsunade to make her as an active leaf ninja remembering her conversation with Itachi. For once she wanted some peace and relaxation from the duties of being a ninja it didn't meant it was going to last forever, she stopped walking looking around the streets with the small crowd passing by she thought it was best to call it a quits for the day.

She sighed for the third time' looks like it's going to be another day without successfully finding a job…'

Suddenly her eyes widened when her stomach gave a loud growl resembling a hungry monster, she sweat dropped not realizing that the search to find a job has made her very hungry. She looked at the possible restaurants making sure it was economic not wanting to waste too much money not that she was greedy she didn't looked please the restaurants didn't offer the food she was craving for. As she walked a couple of steps she stopped when her nose sniffed something very good, it was a very delicious aroma. She was very well known of it there was one dish with such strong and tasty smell following her nose she went to the source of the smell. She stopped arriving at a small shack her mouth watered seeing one of her favorite spots in the village it was none other than Ichiraku's. She remembered coming when she was together with Minato they will awfully come a lot to taste their delicious ramen and she admitted it was very good. It was a nostalgic sight for the red head woman Ichiraku was one of the places where she held happy memories with her husband, it was also her favorite place to eat. She didn't think about it twice and went to the small shop sitting in one of the available seats there wasn't anyone so she was all alone.

She gave a smile spotting a familiar person her eyes were on the ramen cook Teuchi. She remembered him when she used to come to eat with Minato, of course back then he looked a little young. She also remembered his daughter Ayane but she wasn't in the restaurant maybe it was her day off today, she was still smiling at him. The older man was making more ramen for potential customers he had his back tuned so he hasn't noticed the visitor that has come to taste his tasty bowls. The red haired kunoichi needed to get his attention she was that hungry the smell was driving her crazy she felt like eating a hundred bowls, she took one of the chopsticks from the tray and started clicking them on the wooden counter.

Teuchi heard the sound and turned his head smiling that he had a customer" oh welcome sorry I was busy making more ramen miss!"

"That will be all right you were obviously busy cooking up that ramen it smells very good" she smiled holding her hunger.

"It is so what would it be?"

The red head gave a smirk" can you take a guess?"

He laughed" one bowl of ramen it is!"

"You bet and I want the bowl with everything on it and I do mean everything" she finally lost some control and some of her saliva was shown on her lower lip.

"You seem to be hungry?" replied Teuchi.

"You have no idea buddy" she smiled trying to prevent her stomach from giving another monstrous growl.

He chuckle reaching for one of the bowls and poured a large amount of ramen from the huge casserole. Kushina smiled smelling the bowl from her seat and the heat coming out it was obviously very hot, she was going to enjoy the meal a lot.

Teuchi handed the bowl to her" here you go miss one hot bowl of ramen with everything on it."

Getting inpatient Kushina picked up her chopsticks and ate a portion of the noodles, as soon as she tasted the ramen she felt like she was in a wonderful dream. The familiar delicious taste hit her taste buds it was so nostalgic when she used to eat here with Minato she smiled fondly eating another portion. She happily ate the bowl and with her hunger in a high level she devoured the ramen in a matter of seconds, she obviously didn't ate the bowl because it was made of porcelain it wasn't eligible in her system. Teuchi watched the whole thing with dinner plate eyes his mouth hanging wide open from the shock he just gave her the bowl and she already ate it like it was nothing, he started thinking if she was human.

'Impossible…..' he thought the shock was still written in his face.

The red haired woman put down the bowl with a big smile" seconds please!"

"Huh another bowl….sure?" he replied eyeing her taking the bowl away.

He went to the casserole and took another large portion of ramen putting in it in a new bowl, he handed to her" here you go."

"Thank you!"

"You know you seem familiar I feel like I have met you before" Teuchi said.

Kushina smiled taking her chopsticks ready to eat again" really I guess I have come here before a while back?"

He nodded" yeah that must be it I never forget a face, you have come here plenty of times and I believe you weren't alone when you were here the last time."

The red head ate a portion of noodles with pork swallowing it" you're memory serves you right Teuchi yes I usually come here with someone else a dear special person…." Her blue eyes softened thinking about her husband.

"You do know me after all so I was right you have come here plenty of times, and I believe it was Minato-sama who accompanied you to eat ramen."

"You remember that much?" her smile never left her face.

"Open wide Minato!" the young Kushina gave some of her ramen to the blond jounin.

Minato swallowed it smiling" hey I can do that too."

He offered her some of his ramen and she happily ate it Teuchi couldn't helped but smiled at them.

"My you two make such a nice couple."

Minato laughed scratching the back of his head in embarrassment while Kushina was choking on the ramen after hearing his comment. She safely swallowed it while blushing looking the ramen cook with a frown.

"We're just good friends that's all!"

"Sure you're very good friends" he replied while she was scowled at him knowing that he was being sarcastic.

Teuchi chuckle" yeah you and Minato-sama sure made a nice couple although you kept on saying that you were only his friend."

"So sue me I was in denial" she smiled before taking another portion of ramen to her mouth.

"Glad to have you back I do remember your immense appetite."

She swallowed laughing" I will take that as a compliment Teuchi."

"By the way I never knew you're name I feel dumb. You came to my shop so many times and I never ask for your name."

"Just call me Kushina" she replied happily.

"Kushina it is glad to have you back I really needed someone who can keep making my business look good, you have the same appetite as Naruto I really miss the kid but he's obviously busy traveling around the five country with his new position."

The red haired woman smiled stopping on her eating" you really miss him that much I guess he's the one who is keeping your business running."

The older man laughed" he's my number one customer there's no one like him it gets very lonely here without him. He's always coming here before or after he heads out on a mission that was back then before he became Kitsune Flash….oh wait I mean he…." He got nervous for telling the secret of the blonds' identity.

"It's all right Teuchi I know the truth about him being Kitsune Flash."

"You do that's a relief I let it slip but anyway I miss him, Ichiraku is not the same without him you know…"

Kushina was in deep thought "I guess he has come to your shop very often I know he loves ramen like me too but I've been wondering….if you know did Naruto went to other places to eat?"

Teuchi stood quiet he shook his head feeling bad" I'm afraid not…."

"What do you mean I know of him being an orphan but I'm sure he had the privilege to eat in a restaurant or some nice place?" the red haired kunoichi felt her heart like it was about to shatter.

"No one wanted to accept him anywhere not just the restaurants but any place at all, it was all because of that secret that became a law I'm not allow to talk about it…."

Kushina nodded she had the feeling to shed tears while he continued" even if the Hokage gave him an allowance nobody let him in their shops, restaurant, or a grocery store they hated him there was no doubt about that. If they did accepted him which was weird they over charge him for any kind of thing he will buy food, clothes, ninja gear all those things."

Kushina felt another blow to her heart as she had the urge to cry. She could imagined a young Naruto trying to shop or have a meal and nobody letting him in, ignoring him or probably glaring at him.

Teuchi took a piece of cloth and started cleaning the counter his sad expression never left his face" the poor kid couldn't buy food or even eat in a restaurant he was starving badly. I remember when I first met him I was doing a delivery not too far from my shop I saw him in a alley, he was looking through the garbage in a attempt to find food. I was so angry I can't believe what I was seeing he was only five I decided to take him to my shop and I gave him his first bowl of ramen. He loved it and ever since he started going to my shop, I was the only one who let him eat. Other people started looking at me different but I didn't care."

He saw her having a couple of tears falling from her face like she was in deep pain, he got worried" you okay?"

She nodded drying her tears" Teuchi…..thank you very much thank you for accepting Naruto…."

"Other people only saw him as a monster he does look different with those whiskers but he's no monster. He was just an ordinary kid trying to make it through this hard life I only saw him for what he really is a human being carrying a big burden" he replied smiling.

Kushina felt so happy hearing those words she was grateful that he acknowledged her son the right way" thank you it means a lot to me that you feel that way about him, he didn't deserved anything like that he never deserved to lived such a life…"

"You seem to know about Naruto quite a lot what he is to you."

The red head knew that she couldn't tell him the truth that he was her son she needed to keep the secret for now" he's a friend a very good friend of mine…"

The ramen cook nodded with a smile" of course Naruto has made a lot of friends both his age and even adults too I tell you he has a gift. It's like any person he meets change for the better he's like…magical or something."

She smiled finally paying attention to her bowl of ramen" maybe it's your ramen that has magical powers."

Teuchi laughed at her comment" come on now don't tease I know it's nothing like that, my ramen is the best in the village but it doesn't have any magical powers."

"It's magical to me it's truly delicious one of a kind" she replied with her mouth full.

He sweat dropped' does she know any manners?'

The red haired woman swallowed finishing her second bow" very satisfying!"

"Another bowl?" Teuchi smirked.

"You got it!"

She saw him preparing her another bowl while she keep her eyes on him and the shop" Teuchi you seem to be the only one working in your shop don't you have any help?"

"My daughter Ayane helps me around she's very reliable I can always count on her but she hasn't come to help me lately because she has been feeling a little under the weather. So far I'm on my own for now but it wouldn't hurt to have a helping hand around here, especially when it comes to doing a delivery I can't keep an eye on the shop while I'm out. I can't be in two places at once."

Kushina heard a light bulb turning on in her head meaning that an idea has occurred to her' that's it this is my chance I can't let it go to waste.'

"Are you looking for an extra hand?" she asked in a hopeful tone.

"That's not a bad idea I could really use someone to help me, the more help the better I guess."

The red haired kunoichi smiled" then look no further I would like to volunteer to give you that extra hand you need!"

Teuchi blinked" Kushina….you want to work for me?"

"Yes if you allow it I will help you in any way I can, I will give you a big help on the delivery department with me around you won't have to worry about trying to be in various places at the same time" she smiled thinking about the shadow clone jutsu and her massive chakra level.

"That sounds like a good idea but do you have any experience in this kind of work?"

"Trust me Teuchi you won't be disappointed you will be glad to have working for you" she sweat dropped because she didn't had any experience but she knew what to do it was all common sense to her.

"I don't know…" the ramen cook was feeling unsure he didn't want to replace Ayane she always help him no matter what.

"Don't you need someone to help you?" Kushina pressed on the matter.

Teuchi was in deep thought thinking about the decision over and over again before he finally sighed in defeat" all right….I will make you my new employee."

"Thanks!"

"I hope you're good in the job I'll be counting on you."

"I'll show you what I can do you won't be disappointed."

"Good then come tomorrow so you could start your first day on the job."

"I'll be here early thanks again Teuchi!"

'This is great I finally found a job and it's in my favorite place to eat' she smiled happily.

---

(Scene change)

(Location: hidden sound village rice country territory)

The team been lead by Guren were walking a corridor with torches lighting the path way. They have been walking for a while and they still haven't found the path that reaches to Orochimaru's chamber. It was very quiet no one hasn't said a word since they entered the hide out the eerie silence was starting to creep some of the members. Ino and Sakura were in the list the place was exactly creepy looking the fact that they haven't encountered any enemies was starting to make them feel relentless. They have found out by their leader that Orochimaru has dozens of hide outs scattered throughout the five countries but this was his main hide out the hidden sound village. They have been expecting that it wasn't going to be easy to enter the place but apparently they were wrong, one thing for sure they weren't afraid to fight the snake sanin if he was really alive. They have trained hard to get there they were and they have prepared themselves to fight the strongest of enemies including a sanin level ninja, to the kunoichis this will be another test of strength for them. The environment was already filled with some tension and all kinds of negative emotions before they entered the hide out, everyone was experiencing the same thing in different matters.

Naruto was still thinking about those two things that have been bothering since the mission started. First that Orochimaru was still alive he still denied it completely that he was still alive when he was present when he shoved that rasengan bomb on him killing him. The second was his feelings of jealousy when it concerns his team member Hinata with Yukimaru it was really bothering him a lot, or he thought that there was no need to. Yukimaru was twelve younger than the Hyuga heiress and he was sure she didn't go for boys younger than her and besides he was a kid. He still had that innocence and his personality wasn't mature there was no way she would go for someone like him. But he remembered from his shadow clone the times that both of them were happy smiling at each other, along with the times he has blushed at her. Looks like he thought the Hyuga princess was very attractive and he agreed too, to him Hinata was very beautiful in her own way just like the rest of his team. He clearly admitted that the three kunoichis were very beautiful and attractive, he also added the terms hot and sexy. He erased anything related to the topic of sex he didn't wanted his hormones reacting again and focused on Guren who was leading them through the hide out of the snake sanin.

'I really want to finish this mission for good, the sooner Yukimaru leaves Hinata the better….'

Sakura was feeling relentless walking the corridors of the hidden sound village it was creepy but that wasn't what had her worried. The place was empty there was no one in the snake sanin's hide out it was just too quiet she had a bad feeling about this, her sense of trust wasn't high with a certain crystal kunoichi. Her jade eyes were fixed on Guren she still didn't trusted her she has come to terms that she really cares for Yukimaru but it still bothered her that she has accepted so quickly to lead them to the hide out. She hoped she was wrong and the crystal user was trustworthy after all she was focused on the mission ahead to fight Orochimaru, she has been waiting for this for a while. She remembers the first time she met him back at the forest of death she was terrified of him she saw his thirst for blood and killing intent to be truly fearful. Back then she was a weakling shallow girl she knew she never stood a chance against him she witnessed with her own eyes how he ended up beating both of his teammates while she stood watching helplessly. Her eyes hardened now that she was strong and trained by the best medic in the five countries she was going to help her team in the fight, this time they will fight Orochimaru together she wasn't a burden not anymore.

Ino wasn't just feeling relentless like her teammate she was feeling scared with the sight of the place. Even with the torches lighting the corridor it still seemed dark the whole place sent her chills to her spine. Unlike Sakura she trusted Guren but it seems she still hasn't realized how serious this mission really is or what it meant to her leader they were going after one of the legendary sanin someone strong and dangerous. She didn't show any fear in her eyes she has come prepare to fight someone strong like the snake sanin she was going to make sure to help her team and do it together, there was no I in team she knew that. She showed determination to succeed in this mission she wasn't alone and she did vow to always help her friends, in addition she wanted Guren to be reunited with Yukimaru. She wasn't the same shallow girl who used to worry more about her looks and figure than her ninja training, she wasn't going to be burden to anyone.

Guren was still thinking about Yukimaru she was worried that he was coming back here his safety was the only thing in her mind nothing else. She care for him a lot but she hated herself so much for what she did in murdering his mother it's her fault he became an orphan that he ended up all alone, guilt was part of the pain she was feeling right now. She knew that if she tells Yukimaru the truth about his mother he will eventually hate her she did deserve his hatred and rejection, but his hate will be enough to break her heart. Was there someone else to blame for all of this besides herself the only person that came to her mind was Orochimaru so perhaps she should try and get some payback now that she was leading team Kitsune Flash towards him. She felt something was very wrong ever since they entered the hide out looking around at every direction she could feel it that something wasn't right, she had a gut feeling. Her eyes traveled to the ground keeping a steady pace, she came to a complete stop looking at a specific spot the team followed her shortly.

"What's wrong?" asked Naruto.

The crystal user step on the specific spot she was staring but nothing happened" that's odd…."

"What's odd?" Sakura replied.

"The spot where I just step my foot it's supposed to be a switch to activate a trap but it didn't activated. I knew something was awfully wrong Orochimaru-sama has probably deactivated the traps in the lair, he already knows we're here…."

"Maybe he knew we we're coming all along" Ino said.

"Or maybe someone already told him that we we're coming" Sakura was staring at the crystal kunoichi.

Guren glared at her" what are you implying I haven't told him a thing I have been with you people this entire time?"

"I think it doesn't make sense if he knew we we're coming then why he deactivated the traps of his hide out?" Naruto said.

"He probably wants us alive he must already have plans for us, most likely to make us into his new test subjects" replied the crystal user.

"I am not turning into his guinea pig!" snapped Ino.

"Relax Temptress none of us are going to be part of his crazy experiments" Sakura said.

"He's expecting us then I guess we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer, Guren continue to lead the way" Naruto said.

The crystal user nodded as they resumed their walking" we don't have to worry about the traps that's one problem out of the way. However in order to get to the snake nest where Orochimaru-sama's throne room is located we have to pass the arena."

"Arena?" asked Sakura.

"It's the place where Orochimaru-sama held the fights between the prisoners I have told you before that he makes the prisoners fight each other in order to find the strongest to become candidates to be part of his army. The prisoners agreed to fight because they don't have another choice it's either kill or be killed and it's the only way for them to survive. Some fight for survival, others fight for power, while others fight as an ambition they want to join Orochimaru-sama thinking that he will make them the strongest but they are little who fight hoping that he will let them go back to their friends and families…."

"But we know that's not going to happen, he'd rather kill them than setting them free" Naruto said with a glare.

"Or use them for his experiments either way you're right" replied Guren.

"Are there any chances that we might encounter unwanted welcome at the arena?" asked Sakura.

"Don't know but if Orochimaru-sama is expecting us then the chances of an ambush when we arrive at the arena are high" said the crystal user.

'I still don't trust her but I will follow her lead for now….' thought the pink haired kunoichi.

"At any rate we will find out once we reach the arena" replied the blond jinchurikki.

"So an ambush is inevitable not like we we're expecting to just walk in the hide out and fight the big snake without fighting the small snakes" Ino said.

'You mean the big fake snake?' thought the mask mercenary.

---

(Scene change)

Hinata and Yukimaru were running the corridors of the hidden sound village. The teen was leading her to her friends and Guren but she already had plenty of help using her byakugan to locate them. She hasn't spotted anything unusual inside of the hide out among them no traps or ambush by Orochimaru's men, she hasn't spotted any chakra signatures besides her teammates and leader. It was very strange for her that the place will be empty it was the main hide out of the snake sanin she will at least expect some company preventing her from proceeding any further, now she trusted Guren's words about Orochimaru not having any people to fight for him. She needed to get to her friends location somehow she had a bad feeling which she couldn't tell what it was she was concerned about everyone. Especially her blond leader and the one person she held dear in her heart it's like she couldn't be apart from him, she needed to stay by his side. She took a gaze at Yukimaru the long haired youth was keeping up with her in running his eyes were focused ahead of the path, she knew he was determine to meet up with Guren.

"If we keep walking this way we will reach the arena, it will take us to his chamber" Yukimaru said.

Hinata nodded gazing with her byakugan' Orochimaru…I can see their chakra Kitsune-kun, everyone and Guren they're almost to the arena.'

"We're almost there Yukimaru-san I can see everyone and Guren too."

The long haired teen nodded trying to hold his happiness dying to see the crystal kunoichi again he could only smile at the thought.

'Guren-san….'

(Scene change)

(Location: arena underground section hidden sound village rice country territory)

The team along with Guren was now standing in front of an iron gate resembling a cage that leads to the arena. They saw the large structure that was Orochimaru's arena where his prisoners fought for survival and become his future tools it was very big that could hold a large capacity of people. The shape and structure of the arena resembled the ancient's designs of the coliseum the place where the strongest warriors battle to test their strength and who is the fittest to survive, it was an impressive sight. The Iron Gate was closed so they obviously couldn't entered their eyes fell on the Iron Gate on the other side which was the exit out of the arena, taking that path will lead them to the snake nest where Orochimaru was currently in. Everyone gasped when the entrance gate opened allowing the group to enter the arena, as they crossed they were now getting restless. The possibilities that it was a trap were high they had to think that the worst and unexpected could happen.

"Creepy…" Ino whispered looking around at how dark the arena is.

"You know usually when I say this I'm right….I have a bad feeling about this" Naruto said.

"You're not the only one, this is too predictable this has to be a trap" Sakura replied agreeing with her leader.

"Do you even have a choice?" Guren asked looking at the group" I told you to get to the snake nest we have to cross the arena it's the only way this is obviously a trap if Orochimaru-sama is letting us enter the arena. You were all expecting that you weren't going to get to him so easily without falling into a trap."

"Wait a minute did you knew this was a trap?" Sakura looked at her the distrust was still in her eyes.

"You said it yourself it's too predictable for it to be a trap, I don't care if you don't trust me I'm sick of repeating myself" she glared at the mask kunoichi.

'Maybe I am being too hard on her…I should cut her some slack she's only concern about Yukimaru. I should apologize to her when I have the chance' Sakura gazed at her she decided to leave her alone.

"Take it easy Huntress Guren is worry sick about Yukimaru she will obviously be feeling cranky, let's just act all friendly we're supposed to be on the same side" replied Ino.

'She's one to talk after keeping information from us' the pink haired kunoichi sighed.

"Everyone….?" Naruto started.

"What is it?" Ino followed her leader to where he was looking at.

They all turned to the Iron Gate on the other side of the arena who has opened. For a moment they felt relief with the gate open they can proceed to head to Orochimaru's chamber but at the same time it felt wrong knowing that it all could be part of the snake sanin's trap, sadly their second feeling was right. Four new people entered the arena walking up towards the team and Guren which they were the welcoming committee and some of them recognized the group. Naruto grinned seeing the group that was looking for Yukimaru Orochimaru's men Rinji, Nurari, Kigiri and Kiho. He was impressed that they have managed to survive the paper bomb his shadow clone threw at them when his clone encountered them with Hinata and Yukimaru, they weren't as weak as he thought they were. Guren was the last person who gazed at them with a glared reflecting a lot of anger and hatred. Of course she knew who they were all four of them were supposed to be the members of her team assigned by Orochimaru with the mission to capture the three tails Bijuu. She honestly didn't care that they failed miserably it was the fact that they were after Yukimaru they were ordered to kill the teen if they find him, she was really thankful that team Kitsune Flash found him first she knew she had to repay their kind deed by leading them to Orochimaru.

Rinji grinned seeing his former leader it has been a while since he last saw her, the rest of the group didn't had the same expression. All three of them weren't happy because she was with team Kitsune Flash the group that was now their enemy due that they are in the way for fulfilling their mission in killing Yukimaru. The team didn't had to be the smartest bunch to see what was going on the truth in front of them just watching her next to their enemies gave them the idea whose side she was really on. It wasn't just that but the glare the crystal user was giving them was enough to make Orochimaru's wrath looked like a kitten purring. Of course she hated them they were after Yukimaru's life and she knew very well that if they ever did found him they would show him no mercy, it made her blood boil. No doubt a fight was about to break lose meeting face to face to the mask team they were in their way to get to Orochimaru.

"It's Guren…." Nurari said.

"And Kitsune Flash with his team" Kiho added.

"It's you people from before you guys must have gotten lucky to survive the paper bomb my shadow clone used" Naruto said with a grin.

Rinji chuckle ignoring the blond jinchurikki's comment he gazed at the crystal kunoichi" Guren this is a surprise but if you're with Kitsune Flash then I guess Orochimaru-sama was right about you after all, you really are a traitor…"

"Never thought I would see the day" Kigiri said.

Guren just snorted" say what you like about me but I'm not letting you lay a hand on Yukimaru, you will have to get through me first if you want to get to him."

"So you're doing this just for that kid that's why you chose to betray Orochimaru-sama how disappointing?" replied the bat user.

"You have chosen to throw away your loyalty for Orochimaru-sama just for that brat" Kiho said.

"Watch it Kiho don't call him that" glared the crystal user.

"My you're defending him in such high regard the same way you used to defend Orochimaru-sama how ironic" Nurari said.

"Mock me as much as you like I'm done with serving under Orochimaru-sama I won't throw my life away for his evil ambitions you can make sure to tell him that. I'm taking Yukimaru and leaving for good…"

"I'm afraid we can't let you do that Guren we have our orders to stop you and the boy too" Kigiri replied.

"I think we have something to say in the matter too" Ino said.

"That's right you will also have to get through us too if you want to get to Yukimaru" Sakura said.

"My team has spoken for me we won't let you harm the kid" Naruto replied.

"That will be fine we'd be looking for a fight anyway" Kiho said.

"This will be fun" Nurari said.

"I wasn't expecting to fight" Kigiri replied lazily.

"Hold it we can't forget our orders" Rinji said looking at the team" Kitsune Flash you can go on ahead and leave the arena."

The whiskered blond chuckle" and why would I do that?"

The bat user grinned" because Orochimaru-sama wants to see you."

The mask mercenary smirked" oh really he wants to see me….only me?"

"He's only interested in you that's why he has told us to let you go so you can meet up with him."

"If he's that interested in me then I won't keep him waiting then…"

"This doesn't sound right Kitsune-sama" Ino said.

"I agree with Temptress we shouldn't trust what this guy is saying" replied Sakura.

Rinji threw his hands slightly in the air" hey I'm just the messenger here we're only following Orochimaru-sama's orders so I'm not lying to you."

"Like we'll trust you!" shot back the pink haired medic.

"That's enough team Huntress Temptress stay with Guren I believe you won't have any problem dealing with these guys, just be careful."

"You're going to fight Orochimaru on your own?" asked the Yamanaka.

"That's what it seems, at least that what's he wants and so do I" the blond jinchurikki gave a grin.

"I don't like it I was expecting that we will fight Orochimaru together" Sakura said.

"Don't worry I have a feeling it won't take me long" he still thought that he was an impostor.

Guren just shrugged her shoulders" do whatever you wish, you did came here for Orochimaru-sama."

"Good luck you two let me know when Mistress gets here" he replied walking towards the group.

Rinji smiled as the Iron Gate on the other side opened Naruto didn't wasted time as he left the arena leaving the two mask kunoichis and Guren behind. As soon as he left the atmosphere changed the former members of team Guren were staring at them with intent to kill, they were feeling thirsty for blood. They didn't have to kill them just to buy enough time for their leader to take care of the mask mercenary. They knew they were strong but they also had their own special little tricks up their sleeve they were going to give them a good fight. Guren and the two mask kunoichis looked at them with no fear the crystal user was glaring at them with anger while Sakura and Ino were determine to win and find a way to get to their leader to help him fight. They were also thinking about their third teammate Hinata hoping that she will get where they are and gives them a hand, they will feel better if the trio were together. Rinji just grinned they had the advantage in numbers of course he started getting cocky that they will be easily beaten except for Guren, he knew how strong she is.

"Your leader doesn't stand a chance against Orochimaru-sama" replied the bat user.

"Don't underestimate Kitsune-sama he's stronger than he looks" Ino said.

"He really doesn't stand a chance you don't get it Orochimaru-sama has gotten stronger."

"Enough Rinji let's just take care of them before Orochimaru-sama finishes his fun with Kitsune Flash" Nurari said.

"It's hard to believe we will be fighting you Guren" Kigiri said.

"I won't be regretting fighting any of you I won't let Yukimaru die!" she formed a crystal blade on her left hand.

"He's no longer useful to Orochimaru-sama so we're doing the right thing in disposing him" replied Kiho.

"You don't have the right to tell if a person is useful or not, not you and certainly not Orochimaru have that right" Sakura tightening her fists she was ready to fight.

They stood gazing at each other ready to fight it was only a matter of time until one of them makes the first move, the question was who will be the first. The mask kunoichis eventually thought that they had the advantage in numbers so the chances were high that they were going to get cocky in beating them, that will be their own advantage against them. Truthfully both Sakura and Ino wanted to finish already here so they could help their leader fight the big snake but they also wanted their third teammate to be here by their side, and just like they thought the same thing luck seems to be by their side.

"Eight trigrams mountain crusher!"

The entrance to the arena was sent flying across them shocking everyone they couldn't believe what they just saw. The Iron Gate was sent flying like it didn't weight a thing they finally gazed at the one responsible for such thing some of them were probably crapping their pants, obviously the one who did this must be very strong. They saw another mask kunoichi but her uniform was colored blue with the Ying and Yang symbol on her mask Rinji and the rest recognized her as another member of team Kitsune Flash. They have already met her before and they weren't thrill to see her again except for Sakura and Ino who smiled widely at the appearance of their dear friend, a couple of tears left their eyes they have missed her a lot.

"It's Mistress!" Ino shouted happily

Sakura felt so relief to finally see their other team member again she was worried sick about her. Hinata smiled as the two mask kunoichis ran at her hugging her she was happy too she has missed them it was all part of their strong bond, they have become the closest of friends.

"Thank goodness we were so worried" Sakura replied as she broke the double hug with Ino.

"I was worried too but now I'm here we have a mission to fulfill, also I didn't came here alone" Hinata smiled she couldn't be any happier to finally reunite with her friends.

"Guren-san!"

The crystal user's eyes widened hearing the voice of the one person she has been dying to see again she turned to see the long haired teen smiling at her. She was feeling all kinds of emotions including joy she was worried sick about him after not seeing him in over a month, a couple of tears escaped from her eyes. She was beyond happy to see him again safe and sound everything was all right; it was enough for her to see the youth fine. She was about to go to him but he beat her to is as he ran to her first giving her a big hug she smiled holding the teen as he smiled back, happy to see her again her home. The three mask kunoichis watched the entire scene with warm smiles it was truly a touchy sight, they couldn't forget that they weren't alone. Rinji and the group of Orochimaru watched with some amusement and with a couple of smirks they were glad to see the youth again, but not in the happy because they were worried about him kind. Guren sadly broke the hug looking into Yukimaru's eyes she quickly dried any tears that were escaping from her eyes, she didn't thought about telling him the horrible truth about the death of his mother.

"Are you all right?" she smiled at him.

"I am now Guren-san I'm finally with you….my home…"

"Home?" she blinked but she quickly gazed at her enemies while the mask kunoichis got next to her.

"We can't forget that we have company" Ino said.

"What a heartwarming sight" Kigiri replied sarcastically.

"The brat is here too…." Nurari said.

Rinji gave another grin looking at Yukimaru" this is great they have brought the kid to us."

"They saved us the time in looking for him, we are so grateful at least I am" Kiho said.

"And you seriously think we're going to let you get to him think again?" Sakura replied.

Guren quickly made a hand seal putting Yukimaru inside a crystal dome" stay still the dome will protect you!"

The long haired teen nodded inside the small crystal dome it will protect him from all kinds of outside attacks.

Hinata looked around she knew since she got here that her leader was missing" where's Kitsune-kun?"

"He went on ahead to fight Orochimaru it's not like he had a choice" replied the pink haired kunoichi.

She nodded getting in her gentle fist stance she knew that they had to finish this quickly, like the rest of her friends she wants to help her leader and fight by his side. In addition she was worried about him she wanted to be with him because she has grown very fond and attach to the whiskered blond.

"I'll handle Rinji" Guren said choosing her opponent.

"I'll take on Shorty then" Ino replied" you sure you can still fight?"

"My chakra has return I can fight again" she replied feeling confident' not entirely though….'

"I'll take on the one with the mask" Hinata said.

"I guess I will take on the woman with the rubber suit" Sakura said.

The crystal kunoichi gave a smirk at her comment" Nurari is a male."

The pink haired medic sweat dropped along with the kunoichis.

"You could have fooled me with that face is he some kind transvestite freak!" inner Sakura was shocked.

"Be careful Huntress" replied the Hyuga heiress" there's something about him and that suit of his it's made of chakra, his entire body is filled with chakra."

She nodded" right that suit must be some kind of chakra enhance processor I'll be careful Mistress thanks for warning me."

The fight was about to begin.

(Scene change)

(Location: snake's nest underground section hidden sound village rice country territory)

Naruto has finished running a long corridor after a couple of minutes since he left the arena. There was no need to move around cautiously because the traps have been deactivated he was in worry finally to answer his question regarding the snake sanin. He was dying to meet this impostor this faker who decided to impose as the dangerous missing nin of Konoha and former member of Akatsuki. He was was very convinced that he was dead no matter what Jiraiya told him according to his spy network or what Guren told him for the matter, but his suspicious will finally be clear now. He was now climbing down a long staircase leading to deep underground of the hide out with each step he took he was getting more anxious by the minute. He was very confident that the fight won't last long there won't be any need to use his strongest jutsus to defeat him, he was probably some copy cat who wants to be like the orginal only that he was weaker than the snake sanin. He grinned it won't take him long once he takes care of this little problem he will return to the arena to help his team with the former team Guren. He finished climbing the staircase he was now standing in front of a pair of double doors no doubt that he has finally arrived at his destination, Orochimaru was behind those gates.

He stopped as he was about to opened the doors' Orochimaru's throne room must be behind these doors maybe I should use a rasengan bomb to destroy the entire place. No that will be a careless move it can cause a cave in burying me and everyone else alive, he's obviously expecting me so I guess I will go with the regular enter the room and meet him face to face plan. Not a good plan but it will be enough I don't consider this faker a dangerous threat….'

Without a doubt he turned the knob and opened the two doors as he entered the dark room ahead. Although it was dark it was lighted by a couple of torches as well as candles he was able to see the interior of the chamber. There was a giant snake in the back of the chamber it was obviously a statue with some candles on the side, it was the only decoration from the room until his eyes fell forward. He saw the throne and someones seated on it he was finally staring at the mysterious stranger that poses as Orochimaru. The figure like Guren mentioned was wearing a long black cloak with a hood his face was completely covered he took noticed of the snake designs carved on the cloak, giving him meaning of who he is. Naruto had to scoffed mentally who was he fooling he can wear a black cloak with snakes on it and he would still not believe who he claims to be. He walked towards him to take a better look but he still couldn't see his face before his eyes widened in shock and terror he didn't realized because he was too caught up with unmasking this impostor. He felt it as soon as he took the first steps toward the hooded stranger so strong and familiar, it ever had the same scent of evil and wickedness.

'What….no way this chakra signature….this is his chakra it can't be it's not possible how?'

A smile was formed on the figure's lips seeing the mask mercenary in his throne room" we finally meet Kitsune Flash I have heard so much about you, welcome to my lair" his tone was gentle but creepy.

"I'm sure you have….." he was still shocked about sensing his chakra.

"I am quite please that we could finally meet face to face it is an honor."

'Is he going to keep this charade up he's not fooling me?'

The blond jinchurikki growled at him" drop the act you impostor I know you're not the real Orochimaru?" he noticed that his expression didn't changed' at least that's what I think….'

"My such an outburst I didn't knew Kitsune Flash acted so loud, I'm afraid you're mistaking I am Orochimaru…."

"Stop acting you faker I know you're just some impostor who wants to gain fear and popularity pretending to be someone he's not…..someone who is dead!"

"Really?" he chuckle at his comment in amusement.

"Yes the real Orochimaru is dead so how about if you stop playing the fake role and tell me who you really are?"

The hooded figure nodded" I was never a good liar in the first place, however I may not be Orochimaru but you could say I'm a new and better version of him."

"What….?"

"I am the perfected Orochimaru destine to surpass him in every way..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto glared at him.

"It means that I'm the new Orochimaru how simple can I explain it to you…..Naruto-kun?" he grinned.

The blond jinchurikki gasped' he knows my identity but how?'

"Are you surprise that I know the face behind that mask I do know a lot about you?"

A card slipped from one of his sleeves showing in it to him" remember this?"

The blonds' cerulean eyes widened recognizing the familiar card from a long time ago" that's….a ninja info card."

"Correct and guess how it belongs to" he showed the card and the blond saw the name written on it.

"That's my info card but it's a little outdated I'm no longer a genin."

"My apologies I have acquired the right and accurate latest information about you but I have been very busy lately. I haven't had the time to add this information to a new info card…."

'The ninja info cards I saw them from back at the chunin exams' he remembered the person who introduced them to him.

"Who are you?" Naruto's tone was a bit harsh but it was demanding.

"You still don't know I'm hurt Naruto-kun?"

He finally pulled down his hood allowing the blond to finally gaze at the face of the man who considered being a perfected version of Orochimaru. His eyes widened from the shock recognizing his face although it was the same structure of the snake sanin he noticed the difference. His hair was grey unlike Orochimaru's long dark hair and he was wearing glasses the one thing that made him realized for good that he was, there was one person with those characteristics and the one who showed him about the ninja info cards. He was a very skilled medic nin and his battle skills were in the same level as Kakashi, he was the former right hand man of Orochimaru and his most loyal servant.

The mask mercenary was taken back" no you're not Orochimaru you're….Kabuto."

"It's been a while Naruto-kun."

"You….but how what the hell happened to you did Orochimaru took over your body?"

"You're asking a lot of questions since you got here I'm afraid I don't have the time to answer all of them."

"I'm confused I thought Orochimaru took over Sasuke's body but he failed so why do you look like that?"

"More questions, fine then I can answer you at least one the reason I'm like this it's quite simple Naruto-kun. It all started on that day three years ago when Orochimaru was about to take over Sasuke's body I was merely preparing a medicine to lessen the pain he was feeling due to the side effect of his soul transfer jutsu. Once the body he's using reaches its limit it starts to rot and decay, while I was preparing the medicine Orochimaru already started the soul transfer ritual to take over Sasuke's body. But like you said he failed it seems Sasuke has become stronger than he had anticipated and found a way to reverse his technique allowing him to be the one to absorbed him instead, when I arrived at his quarters I saw his real body cut to pieces…."

"You mean a giant white snake?" replied the mask mercenary he remembered Jiraiya telling him about it back when he was traveling with him.

"You are correct Naruto-kun Orochimaru devoted his entire life to find a way to obtain eternal life, he even experimented on his own body to find the answer that he was no longer human anymore. He took the form of the rare species the white snake which it's said to be the symbol of immortality, fated to live forever. But anyway I realized the truth when I looked into Sasuke's eyes Orochimaru was gone with him dead I felt like I had no other purpose in this world…."

"You're still here Sasuke didn't kill you?"

He adjusted his glasses as he resumed his story" no I was so lucky that he felt merciful he only passed me by and left to start his mission to find Itachi his revenge is the only thing on his mind. I was so lucky back then I didn't stand a chance against him…."

Naruto glared thinking about the Uchiha' Sasuke you idiot why didn't you kill him when you had the chance he was a threat?'

"But anyway with Orochimaru's dead body in front of me I suddenly realize that my life still has some purpose after all, it wasn't the end for me. For so long I've been trying to figure out who I am what was my reason to live I don't even remember my parents, when I met Orochimaru I felt that my reason was to serve by his side. I thought if I keep working for him I might finally find my answer….and eventually I did…."

The blond jinchurikki was finally starting to put the pieces together it was beginning to make sense to him" Kabuto you don't mean…."

"Yes I couldn't let his blood get wasted so I drank it….I swallowed a part of him in me in order to become the next Orochimaru."

Naruto felt sick to his stomach hearing that he hold the urge to throw up looking at the snake man with glasses" you're insane and disgusting…."

"That's your opinion once I drank his blood cells something happened, it seems that Orochimaru's blood had a will of its own and it started to take control over me, like it was trying to take over my body. But with time I managed to regain control over my body I have tamed Orochimaru's will, it was the first step I took in surpassing him. I have also become stronger than the original I even perfected some of his jutsus."

The mask mercenary smirk" so what should I call you now Orochikabuto or Kabutomaru?"

"Though you have grown up you're still an impudent brat so it seems. Never mind like I wasn't expecting that you will completely change after five years, so in the end Naruto-kun I have become the perfected and ultimate version of Orochimaru. I have become now the true Orochimaru!" he gave an evil grin.

"All right I have heard just about enough of your sadistic and gruesome story and thanks for answering my questions. But now talk is over since you're the new Orochimaru like you claim I will beat you right here and now, I have my orders to take you back to Konoha alive. We can do this the easy way or….well you know the rest."

"Relax Naruto-kun I didn't make you come here just so we could fight."

"Make me?" he replied puzzle.

Kabuto chuckle" you didn't realize it that I deactivated every single trap in the hideout so you and your team could enter as you please also giving Rinji and the rest to let you go from the arena to meet me?"

"I guess I should thank you for letting us enter the hideout like a walk in the park I know I would have been a lot harder with the traps activated. But I can't waste time here I am going back to help my team…."

"As I speak your team must be fighting Rinji's group but I don't expect them to be victorious they aren't the strongest around compare to the sound five, or even Guren."

"You don't have faith in your slaves?" his cerulean eyes hardened he wasn't acting any better than the original Orochimaru.

"Not at all they're just pawns in my hand playing by my rules, jut worthless with the only purpose to serve me. Once they have been taken out their existence are meaningless like the real pawns of a board game…."

'Why am I not surprise he is the new Orochimaru?'

"Time to care of this mission" Naruto formed a rasengan in his right hand.

"I told you Naruto-kun I don't want to fight…."

"You don't want to fight?"

Kabuto gave a slight smile" just talk perhaps we can come up with an understanding and make some negotiations."

"Negotiate with you forget it!" the blond snapped.

"Hear me out I would like to find a way to negotiate with Konoha and I believe you're the person I need to make that negotiation possible."

"And like I said I am not interested in negotiating with you, why should I even consider negotiating with someone like you in the first place?"

"You might agree with me you see what I need Konoha doesn't have any interest in, or more precise they could care less…."

The blond jinchurikki was still glaring at him the rasenan was still in his right hand" what are you talking about?"

He adjusted his glasses glad again that he was listening" I want to perfect Orochimaru's soul transfer jutsu I believe I have all the components necessary to make it possible, however I need one final component and he's in Konoha."

"He….so he's a person of course you do need a body to perform the jutsu and I already know who is the person you want….Sasuke isn't that right?"

"You are correct I do need Sasuke Konoha should be grateful that I'm after him, they don't need him since he's a traitor. You were the one that defeated and captured him after all…."

"Well I can't believe I'm agreeing with you but you're right. He is a dangerous criminal and I'm certain the village will be better if he was taken care of but handing him to you will be madness."

"What?"

"Sasuke may be a missing nin but he's still property of Konoha meaning his sharingan rightfully belongs to the hidden leaf village as him being part of the Uchiha clan. Just like Orochimaru you want his body just for his dojutsu nothing else and there's no chance in hell Konoha will hand over the sharingan to you, just so you could take over his body and possesses it…."

"Is that you're final answer Naruto-kun?" Kabuto didn't sound upset but rather amused.

"It is no deal with you I'm beating you and taking you back to the village, I have my orders to take you alive but they didn't say a thing about bringing you looking like crap."

He chuckle adjusting his glasses" it seems this plan didn't work no matter it is of little consequence, I can find another way to get my hands on Sasuke I wasn't expecting to successfully make business with you Naruto-kun. You will always be loyal to Konoha no matter what as expected from the future Hokage isn't that right?"

"Glad you finally get the point I'm done talking to you!"

The mask mercenary finally charged at him with rasengan in hand using his quick speed but Kabuto has beat him by making quick hand seals at a fast rate.

"Summoning technique impure world resurrection!"

The blond jinchurikki stopped his rasengan attack as soon as he saw a long coffin emerging from the ground. He stood still not knowing what he just did but he did noticed that on the front of the coffin the number four was written in kanji letters.

"What….what is that thing?"

Kabuto chuckle getting next to the coffin" I supposed it's the first time you have witnessed it this is one of the many forbidden jutsus that Orochimaru created the impure world resurrection. This jutsu requires a human corpse it animates any person bringing it back from the death it's very powerful. Orochimaru used this jutsu to bring back the first and the second Hokage when he fought the third back at the invasion on Konoha."

The blond was shocked his eyes were wide" you mean you can bring anyone from the death?"

"Correct just imagine I can even bring the past Hokages back but I'm certain that you must be asking yourself why this coffin has the number four?" he gave a grin.

'No he couldn't have….he wouldn't bring him….not him' Naruto was wide shocked.

"You must have an idea who is the person I have brought back to life I won't spoil the surprise?"

The blond jinchurikki took a step back when the coffin opened hitting the ground making a cloud of dust to emerged he coughed while trying to see the body inside of the coffin. Once the dust cleared he finally took a good look at the person who was brought back to life his mouth stood wide open from his shock and he stood still without moving a muscle. By now the rasengan he made a while back faded from his shock he couldn't believe what he was seeing while Kabuto was grinning at the sight.

"No….it's you….it's really you….." Naruto whispered.

He looked at person who returned from the death' dad….'

(Scene change)

(Location: Hokage's office fire tower Konoha hidden leaf village fire country territory)

Tsunade was angrily walking around her office like there was no tomorrow in her entire life she has never been so angry ever. She could still imagined it what was supposed to be spending some time with her closest friend and teammate turned into an angry fest on her part, she couldn't believe he would say such thing. The day became different as he drinking sake with him turned into something she never thought it will be possible or that would happen she confessed her feelings to him, but it didn't turned like she was expecting. It didn't go well remembering how Jiraiya acted she actually thought the impossible day of her speaking about her feelings for him will be the biggest joy for the toad sanin but the whole thing was blown to her face. She tightened her fist she has never been so angry with him she was way angry from that day that he peek at her in the hot baths, if she ever see him again she will given an even worst beating than the one she gave him on that day. Her hazel eyes hardened only thinking about him she was ready to have a temper meltdown the one thing that really angers her were his words, they cut deep in her heart like a sharp kunai it have really hurt her feelings.

"I hate people who lie to themselves…."

She growled as her anger for the toad sanin grew' Jiraiya you….how dare you even say that?'

Her temper flared finally reaching its limit as she punched the wall where the windows were located shattering it to pieces, she followed by yelling in anger grabbing her chair and threw it from the large hole she created on the wall. She sent the seat flying miles away from the village she gave another loud yell as she grabbed her desk and send it flying along with her seat she didn't give a crap if it cost money she was too angry to think straight. The loud noise was heard throughout the office and suddenly Shizune entered with Tonton she wanted to know what was going on. She was worried when she heard her yelling and the loud noises of a wall being crushed filled her ears she made a complete stop staring at the blond woman. The raven haired woman turned pale staring at her master her face was so scary it send her chills to her spine she knew she was upset. The problem was that she has never seen her so angry before after she has spent so many years traveling with her, it made her wonder what happened to made her this upset. She gulped with her scary look she has forgotten what she wanted to tell her Tonton has decided to stay behind her back to not feel her anger and wrath.

"Ts…..Tsunade-sama….what's wrong?" she trembled at her glare.

"What the hell do you want Shizune?" she shouted tightening her fist so much that they look like they have turned red.

The raven haired woman took a step back at her tone she has already taken noticed by the huge hole she has created on the wall as well as desk and chair were missing" what's wrong I heard so many noises I….I came here to check on you I was worried…."

"There is something wrong with me all right!" the busty Hokage raised her voice again" that….that asshole how dare he?"

"What who are you talking about Tsunade-sama?"

She growled punching another wall destroying it and Shizune backed away afraid of her anger' what in the world is wrong with you Tsunade-sama I have never seen you this angry before?'

"That asshole if I ever see him again I'll finish what I started when he was peeking at me I will break every single bone in his body and kill him slowly very slowly!"

Shizune finally realized who she was talking about there was one person she knew who peeked at her when she was bathing in the hot baths, she finally put the pieces together who she was angry with' she must be talking about Jiraiya-sama…..what happened between them?'

She gasped when she saw Tsunade who has captured Tonton and she was currently strangling the poor little pig while giving it a mean comical expression" AEEEEEEE Tsunade-sama don't you'll kill Tonton!"

She tightened her hold on the pig" I was finally being honest in a long time I was finally speaking from the heart…..and he has the balls to say that I'm lying to myself?"

She threw Tonton and Shizune managed to catch the poor pig just in time from experiencing a dangerous fall. She realized that she was too angry to talk to anyone it was best if she left her alone so she can cool down and calm down whenever that was, she quickly left the office leaving Tsunade cursing the toad sanin's name.

'I have to find Jiraiya-sama I must know what happened to make Tsunade-sama to get this angry….'

Back in her office Tsunade has calm down a bit her breathing was steady she looked around at her office which it was a horrible mess. She didn't care she was thinking of remodeling the office she was still thinking about Jiraiya's words, this time instead of having another temper tantrum tears started falling from her hazel eyes.

"I guess it's to be expected after all…..I have rejected him in his entire life of course he would never believe me. He was shocked at first and then he was upset he has come to believe that it would never happen me…..he probably has accepted that it will only happen in his stupid perverted dreams. He has always acted like it didn't bothered him always hiding that pain in a mask he must think I never noticed….I knew it was a stupid mistake and here I thought I was finally ready to fix things and make them right….."

---

(Scene change)

(Location: ninja academy urban district Konoha hidden leaf village fire country territory)

Kushina was standing in front of the building of the ninja academy she knew it was closed at this hour in the night. This was the place where her son went to become a ninja and start his training another she regretted in not witnessing in his life, she has been in deep thought since she left Ichiraku's. Sure she has found a new job in Konoha but there was one thing that had her in so much pain Teuchi's words were still in her head when he talked about Naruto. It reminded her that his childhood was a living hell with the villagers treating him like he was a real demon when he was just the container of the demon fox and she wasn't there to do a thing about it. She was hit by waves of guilt and anguish she wasn't present to give the blond the caring love of a mother she never got the chance to protect him from the villagers hate, there was nothing she could do. Hearing Teuchi's words made her feel worst she was still imagining the five year old Naruto picking food from the garbage because no one from the village will sell him food and if they did they will overcharged him. She didn't know how long she will continue to beat herself for her horrible mistake, a mistake that happened under bad circumstances remembering very well the person who was at fault. She glared thinking about Danzo she didn't want to go there her hatred for the war hawk was deep her thoughts were erased as she spotted someone leaving the main entrance of the academy.

She saw a young man wearing a chunin uniform he looked tired he was probably at the academy the entire day. She went to him maybe he works at the school she needed to know more about her son's childhood in the village, ever since she talked with Teuchi she wanted to know more about it. Finding about his childhood will only bring her more pain and guilt but she needed to know what his life was when he was an orphan, she felt it was her obligation to know as part of her mistake of not being there for him. Tonight she will dedicate her time to ask around in the most common places where her son was more involved, the academy was her first stop. She went towards the chunin who has noticed her by now he was a little surprise not expecting someone to visit him at this hour. Somehow Iruka thought that she was familiar staring at the red haired woman he felt like he has seen her before but he shrugged those thoughts aside, it wasn't possible that he knew her his intuition must be playing head games.

"Excuse me?" Kushina started.

"Yes can I help you?" Iruka replied.

"You wouldn't happen to know if the academy is close."

"I'm afraid so I just close it, I work there….I'm the teacher."

"You're the teacher…." She smiled.

"Yes sometimes I stay after class hours to grade tests and homework it takes a lot of my time, before I realize it it's night already."

The red head nodded" I understand listen…..I'm Kushina…." She decided to introduce herself not giving her last name of course.

"Umino Iruka please to meet you is there something you want Kushina?"

She nodded" I want to ask you something about one of your students…or should I say someone who used to be one of your students?"

"A question about a former student of mine all right I don't have a problem with that, but let's go somewhere else."

They left the academy going to a couple of benches not too far from their previous location. Kushina took a long look at Iruka's face noticing the scar that was between his nose judging from the structure of the scar she could tell it was made by a sharp object, a kunai perhaps. She wondered what could have happened for him to have that nasty scar if he was the teacher then he wasn't an active ninja, therefore he didn't had to go on missions he wouldn't have gotten that scar from doing missions outside of the village. Unless if he got the scar inside of the village it was the only logical explanation a lot of questions ran to Kushina's head about the scar. They got seated on a bench having a nice view of the village along with the street lamps lighting up the path.

"So who's this former student you want to ask me about?"

"Oh he's a special student" Kushina smiled.

He chuckle" they're all special to me I have graduated so many students that I can't answer you if you don't tell me his or her name."

"It's Uzumaki Naruto…."

Iruka blinked before he smiled" you want to know about Naruto."

Kushina has noticed the happy tone coming from the chunin" you seem to be happy?"

"I guess it's been a while since I have heard from him I know he's been very busy, but why do you want to know about him?"

"He's a friend of mine you could say he's close to me. I've wanted to know about him his life in this village if you would like to tell me his experience in the ninja academy."

He nodded smiling" if you're that interested in knowing about his academic year. The best way to describe him during the academy he was the class clown."

"Class clown?" the red haired woman couldn't help but smirk.

"He was the student who always made the other students laugh at his pranks, he was the troublemaker I would never finish counting all the things I had to put up with him and all the times I scold him…"

'Like mother like son…' Kushina smiled.

"Even if he was the class clown he was a hardworking student, none of the other students noticed and that's why they used to call him dead last but I did. I remember how hard he was always training to become a strong ninja but he never made progress he couldn't even make one single clone. I eventually found out that he has a lot of chakra and he's bad at controlling his chakra, it explained why he'd had trouble doing the clone jutsu" replied the chunin.

'The usual problem an Uzumaki has when they begin their training' she mentally sighed she's been in the same spot too just like her ancestors.

"They called him a dead last but I….I saw the real Naruto I knew why he was always acting like a clown doing those pranks. He was doing in it so the people will stop glaring at him he was always aware at the way the villagers looked at him with so much hatred, it's because they didn't saw a boy whenever they stared at him…." Iruka's eyes softened remembering how the villagers treated the blond.

Kushina lowered her gaze once again she was feeling pain in her heart" he's the container of the nine tails fox…."

He nodded" it's because they only saw the demon fox when they looked at him, to them Naruto wasn't a human being just a monster disguising as a human. The adults' behavior around him was influenced in their children and some of them started treating him the same way so in order to make them change their minds he started doing those pranks, so they give him attention and gets noticed as a troublemaker not a murdering demon of destruction."

The red haired kunoichi felt more waves of guilt hitting her she could see it with her own eyes. She saw the poor little Naruto all alone being glared by all the villagers blaming him for something he wasn't responsible for, they only saw the nine tails not a human boy. She prevented herself from shedding tears she hated herself she wasn't there to protect him and give him love, the proper love a mother should give to her child. Hearing Iruka's story was only making her feel worst about herself reminding her as her failure to lover her son.

"Naruto wanted acknowledgement from the villagers their respect instead of hating him for being the container of the fox I know exactly how he feels…..my parents were killed by the Kyuubi. I think it should be obvious that I should bear some hatred for him but I don't…."

Kushina was still paying attention to Iruka as he smiled at her" I never hated him I only saw a boy who was desperate to get some love and attention. I should know I was just like him when my parents died I started acting like a goofball to get the attention of my classmates I was desperate for attention, I needed it to hide my loneliness. I understand how Naruto felt back then I watched him becoming into a strong ninja…."

He smiled again thinking when he performed the shadow clone jutsu against Mizuki earning his right to graduate. Kushina was smiling as a couple of tears have escaped once again she has met someone who cares for her son and has accepted him for who he is, she felt happy meeting people who considered the blond precious to them.

"He was the class clown, hardworking and never gives up that's who Naruto was in the academy he will always be my favorite student I believe he will becoming the best Hokage the village has ever had. To him becoming Hokage means getting acknowledge by everyone and little by little he has done it, everyone has been talking about him in a positive way. The important thing is they are not seeing him as a demon anymore…."

The red haired woman dried her tears smiling at him" thank you Iruka….thank you so much for caring for Naruto thank you for not hating him like everyone else it means a lot to me…."

The chunin has noticed her tears when he mentioned Naruto's painful past" you seem to care a lot for Naruto Kushina."

"I do….more than you know" she smiled.

"I'm glad but that's all I can tell you about him…."

"Thank you Iruka I would like to know more about Naruto's life in the village. You see I'm new in Konoha Naruto has told me to come to the village to start a new life I don't have anywhere else to go" she knew she was lying but she didn't meant it maybe she will be honest to him some day.

"I see then if you want to know more about his childhood you can always go to the orphanage Naruto was an orphan" replied the chunin.

"Yes of course the orphanage why I didn't think about it before?" she sweat dropped feeling stupid it's the most obvious place to look.

She got up from the bench" well I got to get going I'm sure you must be tire Iruka after working all day at the academy I'll see you later then…"

"I'm always happy to help a friend of Naruto I hope we can meet again" he replied getting up walking away his eyes softened' I don't think she will like what she will find out at the orphanage….'

Kushina smiled giving one last look at the chunin before leaving heading into the streets, however she stopped before she sweat dropped forgetting one important detail that she should have asked' I forgot to ask him directions to the orphanage….'

(Scene change)

(Location: arena underground hidden sound village rice country territory)

The fight has begun and each of the mask kunoichis has charged their rightful opponent to beat, they all shared one goal. To beat them and hurry back to their leader to give him a hand in fighting Orochimaru, or at least the person who claimed to be the snake sanin. Sakura was probably the one having trouble the most her opponent has turned out to be a real pain in the ass. The pink haired kunoichi backed away getting some run to fight she had the entire arena which was enough but Nurari wasn't letting her plan any strategies, he has proven to be a strong opponent. She charged at him with a chakra powered punch which he has dodged easily turning his body like it was made of rubber, she found an opening launching a chakra powered kick making direct contact with the former prisoner. Nurari however was unaffected by the attack and launched a fist which the medic blocked she panted making a back flip gazing at him. She quickly charged again hitting him with two successful punches she added a roundhouse kick sending him to the ground. She smiled thinking she hit him good but gasped when she saw Nurari getting up like nothing have happened, she got back at the fight and threw a couple of kunais. Nurari created a large shield to blocked them using his water shield shot he released the shield hitting her with a enlarge punch she vanished replaced with a log. She appeared next to him punching him hard on his face followed by another punch to his jaw but they didn't have any effect on the former prisoner.

She panted looking at her unharmed opponent' what's with this freak I have hit him with strong attacks using enough chakra to split a tree in half and he hasn't been hurt by them?'

"You're really an abusive person you can sure hit, it's a shame I'm not feeling anything…."

"Don't underestimate me I'm just warming up!"

She gazed at him focusing some chakra on her hands and legs' if my attacks are not hurting him then I medical ninjutsu won't harm him either I have to figure out he's weakness he has to have one. No matter what I can't waste anymore chakra than I already have I to reserve some for healing….'

She dodged an incoming fist from Nurari doing another back flip in the air she hold her ground, her jade eyes were on her opponent. She was facing someone tough so she needed to be careful concentrate her next move especially when her strong attacks weren't harming him, she figured something out. She needed to hit him even harder without using more chakra her attacks will have to be more effective and there was one thing she could do. She zipped down the upper half of her uniform revealing her weights with her mesh shirt and sports bra, making sure he didn't gets a peep show she quickly removed the heavy weights. She threw them aside creating a powerful hole from their weight she gave a sly smile feeling her body so light like a feather.

'Those are weights and from the looks of things….they are very heavy she's stronger than she looks' thought Nurari.

The pink haired kunoichi gave a grin as she charged at him shocking the former prisoner with her speed she landed two quick punches followed by a kick to his chin. She didn't wanted time as she laid a kick upwards sending him high into the air it was the chance she was waiting for she vanished appearing next to him. From her gloves she released a lot of bandages wrapping Nurari on them she had him right where she wanted she started spinning fast increasing the speed by the second dropping him to the ground.

"Primary Lotus!"

She sent Nurari hard to the ground creating a large crater she knew she must have got him this time, it was impossible to not get hurt from that. The primary lotus was a powerful taijutsu finishing move it can easily kill anyone she made the right choice this time by using bandage tape to capture her opponent making sure he doesn't escape. She waited for the smoke to clear out wanting to see the results on her opponent with the technique but her eyes as she gazed at the cleared sight. Nurari has gotten up and he was only dirty from the fall but he wasn't injured it was an impossible she thought she would never see.

'You got to be kidding me not even a scratch. It's because of that stretching jutsu that he makes his body very flexible and therefore he doesn't gets hurt by my attacks no matter how strong they are….'

Nurari shake his head he was feeling dizzy after experiencing the primary lotus" you certainly can throw some attacks that might make others throw up."

'I can't believe he's making fun of the primary lotus it's a good thing Gai and Lee-san aren't here or he will be in trouble….'

She gasped as Nurari charged at her" my turn now!"

He stretched his hands launching punches at her she dodged them and managed to catch one of his fists, she grinned as she pulled him towards her charging a fist of her own with chakra. Nurari however was expecting her as he quickly threw his free fist at her hitting her face he took the chance stunned by his attack and stretched his entire body. He wrapped his body all around her while wrapping his arms around her neck preventing her from breathing it was getting harder for her to get any oxygen with the strong hold the former prisoner had her in. She tried to break free using her strength but his grip was very strong the worst part that she didn't wanted to use more chakra or she will be wasting what little she may had to use for healing purposes. Nurari's face got next to her trying to take a peek at her mask he got a little curious to see the face behind it he wanted to know who she was after seeing her brute strength.

"You know I'm feeling a little merciful I really don't feel like killing so how about if you simply surrender and I will spare your life?"

Sakura couldn't speak due that she couldn't breathe she was doing her best to channel some of her chakra to her nose but it wasn't helping, the next thing she could do was to break free from his grip. It was worst but his stretching jutsu was giving him enough strength to withstand her own she needed to come up with something fast.

Nurari removed his hands letting her catch her breath" how about now eh?"

The pink haired medic breathed hard as she glared at him" I…..screw you transvestite freak!"

A vein popped on his head at her insult" that is so rude how dare you I was trying to be nice, fine I will kill you then!"

"Just try it!" Sakura mocked him.

The former prisoner wrapped his arms around her neck squeezing on her throat tightly with the intention to suffocate her. She suddenly vanished replaced by a log catching Nurari off guard she appeared next to him punching him hard on his face, she quickly grabbed his legs. She started spinning him around like he was a rag doll and threw him far away hitting one of the hard walls of the arena he made a loud noise which it was considered to be quite painful. Of course by now she knew he was all right she was in deep thought to plan out a strategy a way to defeat him for good, and she was right. She saw him getting up he was dirtier than when she hit him with the primary lotus.

'As long as he can use that stretching jutsu my attacks have no effect on him….he must have a lot of chakra to keep his technique up if he…..wait that's it!'

"His suit is filled with chakra his entire body is filled with chakra…."

She remembered Hinata's words' of course why I didn't think about it before it's that rubber suit he wears. No doubt it must be a chakra enhance processor it gives the user unlimited amount chakra without using his own chakra, with that suit he can do his stretching jutsu as much as he likes without suffering from chakra exhaustion. His suit is his edge in battle if I take that out then he's as good as beaten….but how?'

Nurari glared at her" you know I'm getting sick of you, not just you're rude but you also have a violent temper I wonder if you're really a woman."

His comment made the pink haired kunoichi have a couple of veins popped on her forehead" what….what did you just say?"

"At first I thought you were a woman but after seeing your strength I have my doubts. You fight like a man your strength is so brute….super monstrous if you ask me" the former prisoner was disgusted at the sight of her.

He stopped on the thing he was going to say when he noticed that Sakura was surrounded by fire expressing her anger he backed away not wanting to feel her wrath. He has come to regret what he said he was being rude himself he knew that woman could get very scary when they get angry, scarier than Orochimaru.

Sakura gave a mean evil look" who are you calling a man you looked like a woman yourself you have the face even the figure of a woman you transvestite?"

"Hell yeah he's in big trouble now!"

She proceeds with her plan to get rid of his rubber suit by using some of the bandage tape she used for her primary lotus she took two kunais and strapped them with the tape. She charged at him using her anger as motivation for the rude comments he said to her, she quickly slashed him with her quick speed. Nurari barely dodged the attack gasping before he realized something was wrong he wasn't wounded by the attack but a small part of his grey suit has been cut because of the kunais. She grinned it was a simple plan but it was the only way to get rid of the suit and take advantage in the fight.

The former prisoner glared not liking what she did one bit" look what you did you ruined my suit?"

"Heh I know I realize your suit is the source of your strength giving you unlimited chakra if I destroy it you'll be wide open, so I'm going to cut it to pieces!"

'She's wrong the suit is not the source of my strength' he grinned thinking about his power source.

She charged him with her strapped kunais on her wrists as Nurari used his stretching jutsu to dodge her quick attacks. Her attacks were too quick for him to dodged making contact with the kunais allowing more parts of his rubber suit to be ripped. He glared at her if there was one thing he loved the most was chakra suit after he fought so hard to earn it giving as a gift by Orochimaru for being second place in the battle royal. Now just like that someone comes and tries to destroy the suit he won by putting his life on the line, he wasn't going to let that happen.

"Does kunai you're using are quite sharp…."

The pink haired medic grin" they are in general but I have gathered some of my chakra in them making them sharper than usual, one cut from them and you can surely lose an arm or a leg."

'It's no wonder she's able to cut through my suit so flawlessly she's not strong but she's also clever' Nurari gazed at her kunais glowing with the faint glow of chakra.

He stretched his entire body but Sakura wasn't going to bother with him she charged chakra on her left fist punching the ground" hell yeah!"

The punched created an earthquake that made the former prisoner fall he got stuck between some of the rocks of the crushed ground. He gasped trying to stretch his body in an attempt to escape but it was no good he was starting to get desperate knowing that he was in big trouble if he didn't find a way to escape. His eyes widened in terror as he saw the rampaging Sakura charging at him with her chakra charged kunais she made one loud hell yeah before reaching him.

'Oh shit….' were his only thoughts.

(Scene change)

Ino didn't know how to describe her fight against Kiho but her obvious guesses were probably too easy, a piece of cake or not even a challenge. Expecting that she will get a good match fighting one of Orochimaru's scum bags but instead she was having an easy fight not what she had in mind. Kiho was probably the easiest opponent she has ever fought she almost felt sorry for him, almost but he was still the enemy. She hasn't broken a sweat against him her training and experience was more than enough to take on him so far she was only dodging Kiho's smoke dragon which was a short range technique it was a good thing Anko trained her in both short and long combat in other words, she already had him beaten. She has seen long enough what his technique can do apparently the smoke dragon doesn't causes literally damage except for internal damage in the lungs the point of the technique is to suffocate the opponent she considered it to be a good tactic. It could even be a deadly weapon but she knew it without a proper battle strategy the technique was pretty much useless as it is. Even with their difference in strength she wasn't going to underestimate Anko also taught her to never get overconfident in battle or she might regret it with her life.

Kiho angrily released his smoke dragon again trying to capture the mask kunoichi but she was pretty agile to get caught. The kunoichi has proven to be skill and fast her moves were smooth and graceful he knew she wasn't going to get caught so easily, it would take work. As expected the members of team Kitsune Flash were strong they were probably among the top list of strongest ninjas he knew all about it. He has seen a bingo book and their profiles were enlisted they were all from Konoha with big bounties on their heads especially their leader Kitsune Flash had the biggest bounty any missing nin could ever received. As for the members of his team each we're A rank and they had good bounties but not as big as their leader capturing the whole team would make anyone rich. He was getting frustrated she was playing with him not taking him seriously, she was mocking him as he was weak and not worth of her time. It was making him angry that she wasn't fighting him with everything she had it only showed how weak he really is. He released his smoke dragon again but the Yamanaka has dodged it again using back flip she was smirking at him she stood still waiting for his next move, it was all part of her game to lose his cool.

"Would you fight me for real?" he shouted angry.

"Not yet I don't feel like it I'm trying to study your moves and so far they're all the same very predictable if you ask me" Ino kept her playful smirk.

"How about this then?"

He released his smoke dragon hitting her before he gave a victorious grin her body vanished replaced with a log. He gulped as he felt the cold steel belonging to a kunai on his neck turning his eyes he was met by a pair of baby blue eyes which they looked cold. Just looking at her eyes from her mask he could tell she was serious and she can be quite good when it comes to killing her emotions one thing for sure he knew she was very dangerous.

"Like I said predictable…." she gave the kunai a lick pressing it again on his neck.

'Damn it I never saw her when she went behind me she's fast….and scary.'

Kiho gave a grin" I'm predictable really….?"

The Yamanaka blinked as his body vanished in smoke he was no longer with her' what this is probably some kind of smoke substitution I guess he has a couple of tricks on his sleeve after all.'

She gasped when she saw Kiho not too far from her and fired his smoke dragon from his wrist canon it was too late to do anything she was caught by the large smoke. The short prisoner was grinning as he kept his technique activated so it takes more effect there was too much smoke that it will suffocate her to death there was no place for her to escape to. He kept the technique for a couple of minutes but long enough for the mask kunoichi to die from suffocation, once he thought he was done he deactivated the smoke. He waited for the smoke to clear out expecting to see her dead body but that's not what he saw his eyes widened at the sight before him. There was a big snake wrapped around protecting the one who summoned it which it was Ino in order to protect her from Kiho's smoke dragon. He gasped the snake charged at him opening its large mouth and from it came the Yamanaka launching a fist punching his face, he was sent to the ground hard. The mask kunoichi made the snake vanished as she gazed at him the playful smirk hasn't left her face.

"When you got the chance to actually kill me you underestimated me, I figured you were going to try and catch me off guard so you could use your smoke dragon on me but you never did. Like I said predictable if that's all you got then I'm finishing this."

Kiho was pissed glaring at her" that's it I'm sick of your predictable attitude take this!"

He shot a lot of smoke bombs from his wrist canon creating a large smoke cloud around them. Ino was surrounded by the smoke and couldn't see anywhere it was very thick she needed to be prepare she took from her kunai pouch a couple of sembon needles just in case. She expected that he will use his smoke dragon on her while the smoke screen has blocked her vision, she felt something next to her. She reacted by her instincts grabbing kiho who was trying to ambush her with his smoke dragon but he failed, she punched him again sending him far away from smoke screen.

'Damn it I can't believe she caught me….'

"Okay I don't get it what was the point of the smoke?" Ino was annoyed.

"What?" Kiho wa clueless.

"If you want to kill me your best chance was using sleeping gas or even poison gas but no you just used plain old smoke. You weren't trying to escape so there was no need to use that smoke screen, looks like I have found the weakest of the group and the dumbest too."

"What I am not weak and dumb?"

"You didn't even plan a strategy to fight me at all shorty."

A vein popped on the former prisoner's head" don't call me shorty!"

"Hey I'm not the one who is three feet tall" she grinned.

"I am not that short!" retorted Kiho.

He growled about to use his smoke dragon again but he didn't have the chance. The Yamanaka has used her sembon needles hitting his free hand.

"Damn it…."

"I got you now shorty those sembon needles have a special poison I developed from a plant that my clan uses."

"Poison!" he gasped in shock.

"Relax is not the type of poison that will kill you it only paralyzes your body, so you won't be going anywhere I won this match" she smiled sweetly.

'It's not over yet…..it has only begun' Kiho grinned thinking what he had in stored for the mask kunoichi.

(Scene change)

Hinata unlike Ino and Sakura she was having some trouble with her opponent. Kigiri has although a bit laid back and lazy he has proven to be a worthy adversary the mask man wasn't going easy on her. He was good in manipulating gases and confusing his opponent was one of his battle tactics he used he was giving the Hyuga heiress a run for her money. He was currently using his smoke clones against her but she wasn't getting intimidated by the sheer numbers using her byakugan she was able to know which the clones were and which was the real one. Kigiri used his clones to create his smoke binding prison technique but he failed as the mask kunoichi used her rotation technique to send the clones away, not giving them the chance to get closer to her. He tried another trick releasing flame shot disks they were balls of energy that making contact with the opponent caused them spark into flames the opponent will be caught in the fire. But it never happened as the Hyuga heiress used her rotation technique to reflect the balls of energy he knew he wasn't fighting an ordinary adversary she was a member of team Kitsune Flash. He has heard so many rumors about the mask team while he was in prison that they were living demons that have come to devoured all the souls from their enemies he didn't believe such nonsense. But he knew that they weren't ordinary ninjas they were one strong team making them very dangerous especially their leader.

Hinata for years have trained hard to become as strong as she is now for this very moment. She knew that eventually she will fight strong opponents like fighting Kisame and Sasori from Akatsuki it was going to be the tip of ice berg she will keep on fighting stronger opponents. She was already prepare to accept her role when she became a jounin the chances got higher when he joined team Kitsune Flash she has taken her own oath to defend her village and protect her friends. Now she was facing another challenge fighting one of Orochimaru's men and the chance to take on the snake sanin himself, she agreed with her teammates she wanted to help her leader in the big fight. With her byakugan activated she dodged the attacks of Kigiri's smoke clones countering with her own attacks the former prisoner released multiple smoke clones in addition to his fire shot technique. Once again she used her rotation to reflect all the smoke clones and energy balls she countered using her mountain crusher palm hitting the real Kigiri all the way to a wall. The pressure of the shock wave was so strong that he destroyed part of the wall the mask missing nin had to groaned in pain he was dealing with someone strong.

"You're no pushover….those are some impressive moves you have…."

"It's called the gentle fist style it's the main fighting style that members of my clan practiced."

"I see looks like I will have to fight dirty with you…." Suddenly Kigiri released a large smoke screen from his gas mask.

The Hyuga heiress kept her guard up looking through smoke cloud with her bloodline she felt insecure the same thing when she was under Guren's crystal labyrinth was happening, she couldn't see clearly. She remained calm looking around she needed to concentrate maybe she will have better luck focusing more of her chakra in her eyes remembering her training when it comes to chakra control, she remembered how she was able to make her chakra very flexible. She smiled in the thick smoke screen created by Kigiri she was able to see clearly her opponent has made multiple smoke clones to outnumber her in the cloud of smoke. The real Kigiri threw another of his flame shot energy balls, Hinata gasped as she saw that it made contact with the smoke screen it created a large flame. She backed away trying to escape the powerful fire she got as far as she could she didn't took noticed that there were two smoke clones next to her. They turned into living smoke wrapping themselves around her binding her in their own prison she couldn't move there was no escape for her while the real Kigiri watched the whole thing with a sly smile.

"I'm impressed you can see in my thick smoke screen you're the first person to be able to. But it looks like you have fell for my trap and you're now a captive in my smoke binding prison."

The Hyuga heiress tried to break free but the smoke prison technique was stronger it seems there was nothing she could do, she has lost this battle. She felt like she was a complete embarrassment to the team to have let them all down she was a disgrace to the name of team Kitsune Flash, she didn't deserved to be called Kitsune Mistress. She was trapped making her think that everything she went through in her training was all for nothing after gaining her father's respect and acknowledgement and every effort was wasted, it has become meaningless. Her eyes widened remembering her family and friends her team, Naruto's words that she was a strong kunoichi. She couldn't forget the trust her teammates have in her most importantly her deep affection for the blond jinchurikki.

'No….it won't end like this I will not lose….I will not be beaten!'

Kigiri got closer to her" it's over….time to finish this nothing personal this is just business."

He gasped seeing that the mask kunoichi was covered in chakra" what….what's going on?"

Hinata was concentrating on her chakra letting it flow all over her body remembering her training to make her chakra flexible without wearing any clothes on in the water. She thought her friends in the team and their mission it was too early even considering quitting, she didn't believe in giving up.

'I will not let them down….I will not let the team down….Sakura-san, Ino-san….Naruto-kun!'

"It can't be!" Kigiri was shocked.

The Hyuga princess broke free from smoke binding prison using her chakra and she used the great heavenly spin to reflect the entire smoke screen along with the rest of the smoke clones. The real Kigiri was also blown away by the powerful rotation technique he hit the ground. He slowly got up but he was still feeling great pain from the fall he never got the chance as Hinata charged at him with a powerful chakra charged palm she hit him in the middle point in his chest. She has hit him in his nucleolus point disabling the rest of his chakra points she has won this match.

"I have hit your main chakra point sealing all of your chakra points, you won't be able to use your jutsu anymore…."

"I never thought you will beat me so bad….I guess I underestimated you I knew fighting you were going to be troublesome…."

"I won't kill you because it's more important to help my teammates and my leader they need me."

'Too bad for me that this match is not over yet….' Kigiri thought he will have to use his secret weapon after all.

(Scene change)

Rinji has called a lot of his bats to use their special sound blast ability since it worked well against Guren's crystal defense. Guren quickly used her crystal shurikens but they were all destroyed by the bats sonic blast she growled having a disadvantage against the bat user her only choice was to get to him before he orders the bats to prepare for another attack. The crystal user took a glance at Yukimaru who was still inside the crystal dome she has created in order to protect him everything was all right as long as he was fine. The long haired teen watched in concern seeing his precious person fighting Rinji he had a bad feeling he knew the bat user had the advantage in the fight because the sonic sound blast that comes from the bat can destroy crystal element making Guren's bloodline limit useless against him. He grinned as he made the bats gave another blast from their sonic blast but it was louder than the previous ones the loud horrible noise made her get on her knees as she covered her ears. It wasn't enough she felt like her ears were ready to blow from the loud noise she needed to find a way to stop the bats from making the sound wave. Yukimaru watched helplessly as Guren was fighting for her life not having her bleed to death he was thinking if there was something he can do to help her.

Rinji grinned as he gave the bats a hand gesture to stop the sound wave" maybe if you give up and admit defeat I might spare you Guren. Even if I was given orders to dispose of you I might be in the mood to not obey them what do you say?"

She chuckle at his comment trying to get up her ears were still hurting" I can see how loyal you are to Orochimaru-sama Rinji, you have always been a rat. You're no better than him when it comes to betraying others."

The bat user couldn't help but laughed out loud at her comment" what's so funny?"

"My dear Guren you really don't a thing about the truth…."

"What truth what are you talking about?"

Rinji grinned deciding to tell her" Orochimaru is no more…..he's dead."

Her dark eyes widened in shock for a moment as she glared at him" stop making things up Rinji!"

"I'm not making things up Orochimaru was killed by Uchiha Sasuke when he failed to take over his body…..Kabuto-sama took his remains and became the new Orochimaru."

Hearing that Guren was speechless there was no way it could be true Orochimaru couldn't possibly die he was immortal. But she started thinking clearly about it putting the pieces together it did make sense after all why he started acting strange and why he started wearing that black cloak to hide his face. He couldn't show them his face or they will immediately recognized him the thought made her so angry, to all this time she finds out that she has been taking orders from the person she dislikes a lot made her blood boil.

"So you're telling me that we've been all fooled by Kabuto pretending to be Orochimaru-sama?" she was upset of course she will be she has never like the skillful medic nin.

"Didn't you hear me Kabuto is the new Orochimaru when he took his remains, he has become stronger and even better than the original he's more promising than him" replied Rinji.

"And you knew all along?" she glared at him.

"I do because Kabuto-sama told only me he knew he could trust me in exchange for promising upgrades, I figure there was no need to tell the others about it. They wouldn't like knowing that they have been taking orders from the wrong person…."

"Rinji you made me sick…."

"Like I care what you think of me the point is Kabuto-sama doesn't need you and Yukimaru anymore, you have served your purposes."

"I was planning to have some dignity with you and let you live, but after this I have changed my mind I'm going to kill you."

The bat user chuckle" I would love to see you try…."

The crystal kunoichi made another jade crystal dagger appeared on her right hand as she was ready to attack him. She didn't got the chance as Rinji gave the signal to the bats to use their sonic wave again using the same loud volume like last time she covered her ears and fell on her knees, she could feel the screeching pain getting worst. Rinji just grinned at the sight very soon she will be deaf and he will take his chance to give the finishing blow once she's out of the way Yukimaru will be taken out rather easily he just needed to watch out for his mist ability. He will use his wings friends using the sound wave technique to track him down his mission will finally be done.

"Guren-san!" Yukimaru shouted from the crystal dome worried sick about her well being.

"There's nothing you can do brat so be quiet" Rinji replied.

"Don't be rude to him…." Guren said suffering from the loud pain.

"Looks like you're willing to die defending him how loyal of you."

'No Guren-san….I have to do something' the long haired teen looked above at all the bats doing their sound wave attack.

Suddenly they were all surrounded by a thick mist the bats stopped doing sonic sound technique while Rinji looked around he couldn't see a thing. Guren smiled knowing that Yukimaru was behind this using the mist to confuse the bats as well as Rinji giving her an advantage in the fight, if she played her cards right.

'This mist….it's that brat….' thought the angry Rinji.

'Way to go Yukimaru' Guren smiled she was amazed she was able to see Rinji and the bats.

She knew what to do his weapon were the bats so all she needed to do is to take care of them before going after Rinji. She knew where to go Yukimaru was letting her see except for her opponent it amazes her how he was able to control the mist by his own free will she was close to victory thanks to the long haired youth. She quickly jumped as high as she could get above all of the bats and made quick hand seals.

"Crystal release crystal needle storm!"

She released dozens of small crystal needles hitting every single bat soon they all fell on the ground dead she got back on the ground. Yukimaru released the mist seeing that it was all right because she has won the battle, the one who got a real surprise was Rinji. When the mist was gone he was wide eye shocked at the sight all of the bats were dead, soon her was glaring at both Guren and Yukimaru. It will take him a while to call for more of his wing friends but he knew he won't get the chance because the crystal kunoichi will kill him before he even tries to make the call.

Guren got her jade crystal blades ready to cut down her enemy" it's over Rinji you're bat friends are dead."

"I'm surprise you were able to pull it off then again, if it wasn't for that brat you would have been at my mercy…."

"I told you not call him that, this is it I'm ending this once and for all. I'm leaving with Yukimaru away from Kabuto and that's final."

The bat user chuckle" I see that a little impossible Guren…."

"You think you can take me on the way you are now let's face it Rinji you're nothing without your wing friends?"

"You are right I won't deny that" Rinji took from his pocket a medical needle showing it to her.

'What is he planning with that needle?'

"That's why….I have come prepare just in case this happens…." He grinned he was going to use his secret weapon on her after all.

(Scene change)

(Location: snake nest lower underground hidden sound village rice country territory)

Naruto stood wide eye shocked at what he was seeing he was impressed Kabuto was able to used one of Orochimaru's forbidden jutsu to bring back the death. Standing in front of him was a man who he considered to be his hero and idol he worshipped him a lot when he was little, he still does. He never thought he would ever meet him since he died a long time ago fighting the nine tails fox but he was right here in front of him. The man who was considered a hero, one of the strongest Hokage, the man who defeated the Kyuubi sealing it inside of him it was the one person he wanted to meet for so long. He was none other than Namikaze Minato the fourth Hokage also known as the yellow flash of Konoha and his father he stood shocked not knowing what to do or what to say. He always wanted to meet him in person there was so many things he wanted to say to him he was so lucky to have his mother alive with his father he will have his family together, the family he never had when he was a child. He suddenly felt anger to the man responsible for this bringing his father to use his as a tool to fight him was in despicable it was something that the original Orochimaru would do, especially when it was his own father. His cerulean eyes have changed color to blood red hatred filling his heart once to be a joyful reunion between his father Kabuto has turned it into a confrontation to the death, he will never forgive the former medic nin.

"You damn bastard how you could do this of all people you have to revive him?" his tone was in a fierce growl.

"Why are you upset I thought you would be overjoyed to finally reunite with your father?"

The blond jinchurikki was surprised hearing but he didn't reacted" I will take a guess that you were the one who told Daigo about my heritage?"

Kabuto chuckle" Daigo was just a poor excuse for a man to even be alive, however he's man with lots of income. I need money to perform my works so in exchange for the money I told him that little piece of information."

"You mean he was Daigo is dead..."

"Like I care it doesn't matter I already have what I wanted from him he served his purpose."

"How do you know about my heritage?" replied the mask mercenary.

"Know….." he laughed slightly" I don't have to know the truth is written all over your face, you're the living image of the fourth it will be stupid if no one didn't notice the similarities."

"Heh truth but I guess there were people who didn't noticed or maybe they ignored it completely…." He remembered how the villagers of Konoha treated him even when some knew the truth of his heritage.

"Now Naruto-kun there's no need to get depress be happy that I have bothered to make this family reunion come true, let's get started shall we?" he grinned.

The new snake sanin made a hand seal making Minato's eyes opened coming back to life he slowly walked out of the coffin. Naruto felt Goosebumps all over his body finally gazing at his father he alive and breathing in front of him this isn't the kind of reunion he was expecting with his long time hero and idol. Minato stared at the mask mercenary he started looking around wondering where he was, he turned his back staring at Kabuto who was still giving his usual evil grin.

"I have been revived, this is the work of the impure world resurrection jutsu but you're not Orochimaru…."

"Forget about me fourth I'm the least of your worries. There's someone here who is very happy to see you isn't that right?" Kabuto replied.

"Kabuto I will never forgive you for this….never…." Naruto tried hard holding his tears.

"If you brought me back then that mean I will have no choice but to fight you I'm sorry" said Minato.

"Why don't you take off the mask so the fourth can recognize you…..Naruto-kun?"

Minato's eyes widened hearing the name of his son" what…Naruto?"

The mask mercenary finally gave up there was no need to hide his identity. He pulled down his hood and removed his fox mask sealing it in a scroll his expression unreadable he was still in shock meeting his father like this. Both were face to looking at each other Naruto was looking hurt knowing what was going to happen next while Minato was smiling looking at him for the first time since he was born. He was happy to see that his son was all grown up and have become quite tall no doubt he was his living image. He felt such joy to see him again even if it will be for a couple of minutes he knew the effect of the impure world resurrection technique he will eventually end up fighting his own on because he will be in complete control of the one who summoned the dead person. Now both of them could see the pain in their eyes they have recently reunited and now they were going to fight, father and son were both feeling the same pain. The blond jinchurikki's pain was greater than he's this was the first time he lays eyes on his father and hero now he will fight him until one of them is dead. He made a mental to make Kabuto pay for this dearly this wasn't going to be left unnoticed.

"It is you Naruto…." The fourth was still smiling.

The blond teen finally smiled might as well enjoy the short reunion while it lasts" hey dad…."

"Look at you, you have grown quite a lot last I saw you….you we're just a new born how time passes…."

"It's been seventeen years" Naruto smiled as a small tear fell from his right eye.

The fourth kept his big smile" that long….you're seventeen….Naruto I'm sorry…."

"I don't hate you for sealing the fox in me I understand your actions just like mom…."

"Kushina is fine I'm glad I'm sorry Naruto for what's about to happen…"

"It's all right dad you don't have a choice" Naruto shifted his gaze to Kabuto giving him a hard glare.

"What a heartwarming sight just what to expect from a family reunion" replied the new snake sanin.

"Bastard I meant what I said I will never forgive you!"

"Naruto-kun those aren't the appropriate words for the person who brought back your father to life, you should be grateful."

"Fuck you…." Once again his eyes have changed to the Kyuubi's eye colors.

Kabuto sighed" I guess you will never change your impudent attitude."

He made a hand seal creating a barrier in the entrance of the chamber" just in case you decide to leave from your family reunion."

He made another seal making Minato changing his expression to an emotionless one his eyes no longer had life in them. He took one of his flash kunais ready to strike his son he was now under Kabuto's control Naruto dried his tears and stared at his father taking a flash kunai of his own. The reunion has turned into a father and son fight to the death as both expected because of the forbidden jutsu. Kabuto grinned at the sight he has created a very interesting match the legendary Kitsune Flash against the legendary yellow flash of Konoha and fourth Hokage only someone as twisted as him could create such conflict. He walked towards the wall behind his throne a snake came from his sleeve and pressed a hidden switch opening a secret passage.

He turned to two combatants" I would love to stay but I have other business to take care of, I will take my leave I'm certain you two have a lot of catching up to do."

"Stop where the hell do you think you're going Kabuto?" shouted the angry Naruto he didn't wanted him to escape he was still following the mission.

The snake sanin gave a grin entering the secret passage" I assure you we will meet again….farewell Naruto-kun."

"Wait!" he growled it was too late he was gone and the door of the passage has closed shut.

'Shit there he goes…so much for fulfilling the mission I won't be able to catch up to him because of this problem' he looked back at the possessed fourth Hokage.

Both ninjas has used the seal attached on their kunais marking each other, they vanished from plain sight appearing in front of each other. They clashed kunais keeping eye contact as he dodged a strike from the weapon by the former blond Hokage once again he used the seal on the kunai just like him. They vanished a couple of times clashing their weapons appearing and disappearing from various locations of the chamber it seems Naruto was having some problem fighting him. Looking at him it was hard to fight him remembering his smile and his softhearted words this man is his father and he was a great man, a true Hokage it wasn't easy fighting him. They vanished again clashing weapons but he dodged a punch from the fourth he countered using his full body air current but Minato was quicker and use flying thunder god to teleport far away from him. Once again they have marked each other with the seal as they vanished clashing their kunais the blond jinchurikki used his full body wind current again only this time Minato has outsmarted him again. He has teleported behind him and land a blow on him with his kunai the wound was on his lower torso he flinched from the pain, it wasn't over yet. Minato formed a rasengan on his left hand using it against his son the young blond was sent to the wall crashing, he stood still waiting for him to get up.

Naruto groaned as he coughed some blood he was feeling the pain from the rasengan in his stomach' damn it this is so hard….no he's no longer my father he's just a mindless puppet manipulated by Kabuto.'

Minato used his kunai teleporting next to his son but Naruto has used it quicker than him appearing behind him, he formed a rasengan" not this time rasengan!"

The fourth was hit by the chakra spiraling sphere he was sent to the other side of the wall crashing. The whiskered blond panted waiting for him to get up he hoped that it will be enough to beat him, but that will be too good to be true. He was right as he saw the blond Hokage getting up with a round wound on his chest caused by his rasengan he gasped when the wound started closing until it was gone.

'Okay I did not see that coming….must be another effect of the impure world resurrection if he won't die so easily then this will be one tough fight….'

He used the seal on his kunai marking the blond Hokage while Minato did it at the same time both teleported away clashing their kunais once again, they keep it up for a couple of minutes. They were so fast not even the human eye could see them moving at the speed of light using the flying thunder god technique it wasn't long before both ninjas formed a rasengan in their hands crashing against each other.

"Rasengan!" shouted Naruto.

"Rasengan!" Minato replied.

BOOM!

The powerful explosion from the collision of their two attacks send them flying Naruto was sent back to the same wall when the fourth used hi rasengan on him. The young jinchurikki coughed more blood as he got up dusting his clothes he took a look ahead of him. There stood Minato his face was dirty but that was just it his white trench coat was still clean he wasn't going anywhere. The whiskered blond sighed taking a deep breath as he was ready to continue the fight even if the situation he was in was very serious he couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.

'Yep this is how I thought it will be fighting my dad he's really strong this will probably be my toughest fight yet….looks like I won't be able to help my team after all….'

(Scene change)

(Location: Konoha hospital second floor room 209 hidden leaf village fire country territory)

Jiraiya was on the bed wearing a hospital gown his body was covered in bandages and band aids. It was pretty obvious he was this injured after the powerful punch Tsunade gave him the punch gave the toad sanin a huge lump on his forehead. The thing that hurt his entire body was the painful fall to the ground when he landed on the other side of the village, but not before hitting the roof of a house in which his hands landed on a hot grill. In other words this was by far the worst beating to death he has ever received from the busty Hokage and to think she only hit him once that was enough to almost kill him, he was so lucky that the family of the house were kind enough to sent him to the hospital. On the way to the hospital Shizune met up with him and she was worried sick about him after seeing his bloodied body being carried on a stretcher she joined up with the other medic nins to help him on the healing on his injuries. Thankfully he was fully healed from the painful bruises and broken bones he suffered along with the burns of his hands he just needed time for his bones to heal completely and the big lump on his head. However it wasn't the injuries that had him in deep thought he actually didn't care about the pain he was going through right now, but rather the pain he was feeling in his heart.

His thoughts since he fell to the ground from Tsunade's punch were on every single word she told him before she got angry at him because of his rejection. Words he never thought he will hear coming from her mouth, words he would only hear in his dreams the impossible has become the possible and he still didn't believe it. The woman he has loved for as long as he remembers has actually had the guts to confessed her feelings to him it made him angry of course he thought she was just playing with him there was no way she was telling him the truth. It made him upset that she will lie to him like that he rather see her beating him up than playing with his feelings then again for as long as he knew her Tsunade wasn't the kind of woman to play with a man's heart, not after what she experienced with Dan. He got his answer after he rejected her she was furious with him after telling her that he hated people who lie to themselves he thought she was trying to convince herself that she indeed has feelings for him. But her reaction was enough for him to understand his mistake and her words that follow after he didn't realized how wrong he did.

"I'm the only one who knows what I'm feeling if you don't like me then just say so, just stop making shitty excuses I am not convincing myself that I have feelings for you!"

Her words were still recorded in his head' dear Kami I don't believe it she was being honest….she was really telling me the truth I'm such an idiot….'

The door to the room opened revealing Shizune with a scared Tonton behind her she was holding an ice bag she walked to him smiling" you're finally awake Jiraiya-sama."

"Yeah I'll live…." He replied dryly.

"Here put this on your lump" she gave him the ice bag.

"Thanks I really need this….yes much better now" he smiled when he put the ice bag on his lump it felt so good.

"If we haven't gotten you to the hospital in time you could have probably die from all those injuries" replied the raven haired woman.

"What else is new it's not the first time I have been close to the point of death?" he chuckle with this it will be three times he has been close to dying.

"I'm being serious Jiraiya-sama your injuries were serious and life threatening….Tsunade-sama really did a number on you didn't she?"

"She sure did…." His eyes softened knowing that he deserved it.

"Jiraiya-sama what happened between you and Tsunade-sama what did you do to make her so angry I have never seen her so furious in my entire life?"

"You know how it is with me and Tsunade she's always getting angry with me you should know that by now it's no surprise" he was obviously trying to avoid the topic.

"No something serious happened between the two of you Tsunade-sama looked like she has exploded from pure anger. She destroyed her office and look what she did to poor Tonton!"

The toad sanin gasped looking at the pig that was pale looking like a ghost looks like she will never be the same again. She looked like she has been traumatized forever no doubt the busty Hokage has reached her anger limit to hurt her own pet pig.

"Is she going to be all right?"

"I don't think so Tonton looks so frightened Tsunade-sama almost choked the life out of her. She was so angry with you she kept on shouting something that you told her that she was lying to herself, I really don't understand what she was talking about."

'Figures she will be upset about that…' he sighed.

"What happened?" Shizune asked again.

"Sorry Shizune I don't feel like talking about it it's particularly my fault….I made a big mistake."

The raven haired woman sighed" all right I understand I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable but what are you going to do with Tsunade-sama?"

"I will talk to her eventually but not now….I don't want to die for real I will wait until she cools down."

"You will stay here for a couple of weeks so it's best if you take some rest, it will give you time to what to say to her when you see her again…."

"She will visit me but don't tell her a word that I'm in the hospital while she's still angry, make sure she doesn't finds out."

"I will no one besides the medical staff and that family where you crashed into their house knows of your stay here, I will talk to them immediately so they keep quiet about it."

"Thanks…"

Shizune nodded taking the pale Tonton in her arms before leaving the room. Jiraiya was alone in deep thought thinking about the blond woman hoping that she finds it in her heart to forgive him for the things he said to her. He felt terrible with himself not just he hurt Tsunade's feelings but he has also risked his friendship with the slug sanin, they have been friends for many years and now he has screw up their bond. If there was one thing that mattered the most to him was his friendship with Tsunade and he completely ruined by just saying a couple of words to her, words that have broken her heart. He felt like a real idiot for turning her down like that it probably took her a lot of courage to go through in telling him and he blew it all in her face he needed to write his apology speech when he sees her again. He wasn't going to let things stay like this he was going to ask for her forgiveness and maintain his friendship with the busty Hokage, he already lost his friendship with Orochimaru years ago so he wasn't going to throw away his powerful bond with Tsunade never.

'Tsunade is probably thinking of ways to kill me I just know it will I survive long enough to say sorry for her?'

(Scene change)

(Location: Konoha orphanage urban district hidden leaf village fire country territory)

Kushina was standing on the building which is the Konoha orphanage it was the only orphanage in the leaf village. The building was tall it had five floors and it was probably as big as the hospital it didn't surprise her though, most kids has lost their parents because of the previous ninja wars. They will eventually end up here along with kids who have been abandoned by their parents places like this always broke her heart. So many children that has nothing to do with the political conflicts of the village or the wars they end up here waiting for people to take them into their homes like lost puppies, if she could she will adopt one but she was still having her internal problems with herself. She wasn't ready to raise any children not after her last failure with her son she needed to remember the reason why she came here. She wanted to know more about her son's life in Konoha although it was painful she needed to know it was part of her responsibility as a mother to know everything about her son, everything he's been through she already it won't be pleasant. She went to the front door of the building and rang the door bell twice she waited for a couple of minutes.

No one answered although the lights inside were on she eventually there was no one awake at this hour of the night she thought that it will be best to leave and return tomorrow. Before she took one step to leave the front door opened she looked to see the person that has answered the door. It was a woman in her early fifties with glasses grey hair, dark eyes wearing a white yukata she seems to be wide awake like she wasn't sleeping. Kushina felt relief that she didn't woke her up she was probably already awake so she probably didn't woke her up, she wasn't being rude for coming at this hour.

"Good evening can I help you miss?" she replied.

"Good evening I hope I'm not bothering you I know it's a little late but there's something I've been wanted to know" the long haired red head smile feeling embarrassed.

The older woman smiled" a customer?"

"Something like that…"

"It is never late when it comes to attending customers please come in" she opened the door allowing her to go inside.

Kushina smiled at her kind gesture and entered the building she was amazed that it looked bigger inside than outside" thank you miss…"

"Please call me Yukiho dear I'm no longer as young as I used to be, follow me and please be quiet the children are sleeping."

The red head nodded following her walking a long corridor which it was nicely decorated. It was no doubt that the only orphanage in Konoha will be strong in income the Hokage obviously gave his or her share to maintain the place wealthy for the sake of the orphans. She followed Yukiho to a door she opened it allowing her to enter as soon as she was inside she noticed it was her office. A desk nicely decorated and a couple of pictures some of the pictures have her smiling in present with the Hokages. In one pictures she standing next to the third Hokage Sarutobi and in the next picture which made Kushina's eyes softened was with her husband Minato when he was already the fourth. The rest of the pictures were of Yukiho with different orphans probably with orphans who already left because they have been adopted by real families, the sight was very adorable. However as she looked at all of the pictures she noticed that there wasn't any sign of her son among them which it was weird he used to be an orphan it made her wonder why he wasn't in any of them.

Yukiho got seated in her desk giving her customer a cordial smile" welcome miss now what have you come here for, are you interested in adopting a child?"

"Call me Kushina and the reason I have come here it's well no I am not interested in adopting a child but rather I'm interested in knowing about a certain orphan who used to live here."

Yukiho was in deep thought" you are interested in knowing some information about that specific orphan?"

"Yes if you will be kind enough to tell me…."

"We do keep information of all the active orphans and the ones who have already been adopted, I always keep their information in the records archive" the owner pointed to file archives next to her desk.

"I see is it all right if you would like to look for his record?"

The older woman smiled not having any problem at all" certainly Kushina."

She walked to the file holder looking at the names they were all place in alphabetical order" what is his or her name?"

"It's Uzumaki Naruto" replied the red haired kunoichi.

Hearing the name of the blond jinchurikki Yukiho stopped herself from opening the archive her body tensed as she heard his name. Anger was boiling inside of her mainly hatred, hatred for the whiskered blond she remembered him well. That boy caused her a lot of trouble and it wasn't just her but the other orphans weren't too fond of him, of course she did told them he was a monster to never speak to him. She was happy to do so because she hated the blond demon container and she felt so much better to make his life a living hell as much as she could. She went back to her desk to meet up with Kushina who was confused by her action she told her she was going to look in the archives for Naruto's file.

"Yukiho….?"

"I'm sorry Kushina but I don't have any records concerning him…."

"But you said that you keep the records for both active and adopted orphans, Naruto used to be an orphan here so you must obviously have his file record."

"I don't have any records about him I don't want to talk about him" anger was clearly in her tone.

The long haired red head knew where this was going her tone and her expression clearly tell she didn't like her son one bit. It was the same look any other villager would give to the blond jinchurikki she hasn't seen any of those looks since she got here of course Naruto wasn't here but still she hasn't heard any rumors regarding him. For a moment she thought she could use this to see how deep they hatred for her son can be, so she decided to follow her lead. She will regret acting like she hated him too but it was necessary it was a risk she was willing to take.

"Yukiho….you don't like him Naruto I mean?"

The older woman gave a disgust grunt" I have never like that child…."

The red haired woman chuckle" it's all right to be honest with you I don't like that demon brat one bit so there's no need to pretend like you only dislike him."

The owner of the orphanage gave a sigh of relief happy to meet another hater of the demon brat" thank goodness I don't like that monster I hate him….I can't stand him he repulses me."

Kushina masked her anger toward the older woman" you really hate him that much?"

"I do I used to have his record but I completely threw it all away I'm not allow to do that it's against the law but I don't care anything that reminds me of that demon angers me."

The red haired kunoichi smiled" you must be so happy that you have finally gotten rid of him don't you?"

"I am overjoyed but it wasn't so bad I always did what I could to make his life miserable, I told the other children not to get close to him because he was evil no one talk to him. He was so lonely there were times he started crying pretending to be a regular person I have always seen him as a demon…."

The red head woman was tightening her fist from her back holding her anger she was feeling hatred for this woman. No she wasn't a woman she was the real demon to think she was actually the owner of the only orphanage in Konoha. She hated her so much she has contributed in the pain and suffering from her son just like the rest of the village she felt like killing her it was so tempting, revenge can be quite sweet. Too bad this was part of her imagination giving Yukiho a very slowly and painful death for making her son suffered, no one messes with her family.

Yukiho got closer to her" Kushina just between you and me I even had prepared a special room for that demon brat, it was the same room he always stayed before leaving the orphanage."

"Special room?" Kushina had a horrible feeling about this she didn't like it one bit.

"Yes in fact how about if I show you the room?" she smiled it's not every day she shared her hatred for Naruto with another hater of the blond jinchurikki.

"Why not I guess lead the way Yukiho."

"Right this way."

They left her office going at the end of hall way, they reached a door at the end of corridor next to the stairs that go to the second floor. She opened the door with a key she had with her opening the door both entered the room which it was dark Kushina was feeling Goosebumps as soon as she entered, it felt so cold. She followed Yukiho to the end of the dark room she opened another door with the same key and the long haired red haired woman like shivering from the cold. It was even colder when she entered inside the room but it turned worst when she witnessed what was right in front of her, her blue eyes widened from the horror. She has finally figured out what was the so called special room Yukiho mentioned that she has reserved for her son during his stay at the orphanage it was horrifying. Her eyes were only fixed at the iron cage in front of her which looked like a prison cell she was shocked what else could she even say but to think the unthinkable, that her only son was living inside the cold iron cage in front of her. At that moment she felt more hatred for Yukiho beating the living crap out of her was the sweetest of thoughts she could ever received right now.

She tried to control her anger but she felt like she couldn't mask it anymore" is this it….?"

The older woman nodded" yes this is the special room designed for that demon brat this is exactly where he belongs in a cage like the mindless beast that he is."

"You do realize this is a cage?" she raised her tone a little.

"Of course everyone else of the children would sleep comfortable in their rooms with a warm bed but that demon belongs right here, I would have prefer if he would have rotted in this cage" Yukiho gave a smile thinking about it.

She gritted her teeth by now her fists were so tightened that they were literally red" how old was he….?"

"He was three going to four until the third Hokage took him away when he turned six" replied the owner of the orphanage.

"So he has been spending every night here for three years?" there was no emotion in Kushina's voice probably because she was too angry that she didn't know how to react.

"Yes he did there were times I left him locked during the day too when I felt like it, a monster must be treated like a monster."

"Was he feed….?"

"Yes I feed him with some rotten food I had available there were times I gave him this white disgusting thing I don't consider it to be food but it was enough for that demon brat. But anyway I have finally gotten myself rid of him I can finally be at ease, I don't like the fact that he's still alive he should be executed for all the people he killed when he was the nine tails fox demon…."

That was enough Kushina could take she has finally reached her limit with the older woman. She looked at the cage noticing that there were some rats passing around looking for food, she could imagined the little Naruto living inside of that cage. Sleeping on the cold floor with the rats, eating rotten food and disgusting white goo that is not even close to being real food he stayed her for three years. She took a glance at Yukiho who was smirking like she was enjoying the view imagining Naruto suffering, she made up her mind this woman she hated her with every bit of her strength. To think that they are still people like her in the village who thinks like Yukiho about her son, not seeing as a human being as the Kyuubi himself. She knew she couldn't do a thing to her especially killing her she did promised Tsunade she wasn't going to cause any sort of trouble she will have to let it go, she was upset that this woman will probably get away for what she did to her son she demanded justice.

"I wonder…." The long red haired woman spoke" I've been wondering how to define the word monster?"

"What….?" Yukiho didn't expect her to ask such question.

"I'm just curious how someone can define that word the little boy who hasn't done a single thing to anyone or the person who locked him in a cage for three years and gave him rotten food?"

Yukiho felt insulted at the comment she glared at her" are you calling me monster?"

"I think you finally understand my point Yukiho…."

"Well I would never how you dare insinuate that I'm a monster?"

The owner of the orphanage gasped when she gazed at Kushina, she had to back away. The look the red haired kunoichi was given her was so full of anger and hatred defining the whole new meaning if looks could kill the older woman was terrified right now. Her blue eyes were so cold showing all the hatred in the world she tremble those were the kind of eyes that a killer will show, of course she feared for her life. At the same time she didn't understand why she would react like this she thought the red haired woman would react the same as her, full of joy because of the treatment she gave to the demon container.

"Now Kushina….don't do anything you might regret…."

"I won't be regretting a thing what I have in mind Yukiho….you're the real monster here" she replied coldly.

"But I thought that you hated the demon brat too so why…." She was cut off by the angry glared from the red haired kunoichi gave her.

"I don't misjudge people like you without knowing a thing about them and I do know very well that Naruto was another innocent child another victim of the nine tails carrying the horrible burden of being the cage of the fox. If you asked me he was a hero for having the demon fox sealed in him saving all of you I thought the fourth Hokage wanted Naruto to be treated as a hero not to be treated inhumanly for something he's not responsible, or something he didn't asked for!"

"No you're wrong he's the nine tails incarnate he's not human he's a demon!" shouted Yukiho angry that someone was defending the blond jinchurikki.

Kushina gave her another hateful glare" don't you ever call him demon in my presence again I won't stand for it if you do!"

By now tears were falling on the older woman's eyes" I don't care what you say he's a demon you weren't there. I saw it with my very own eyes how that demon fox killed so many ninjas and villagers, but most importantly he killed my family. That thing killed my daughter, her husband and my grandchildren I saw it all as that monster ripped them to shreds with its claws so don't you dare defend him whenever I looked at him I see the fox nothing else….."

The long red haired woman stood quiet by now she felt some sympathy for Yukiho. Yet she was another victim of the nine tails losing loved ones to the beast even if she pitied her she was still feeling anger towards her. It wasn't as much as before but she still held a spark of anger for her because how she mistreated her only son she knew very well she couldn't tell her a thing that Naruto was the son of the fourth and that she was his mother, those pieces of information were to remained classified for now.

"I am truly sorry to hear that Yukiho a lot of people have lost their loved ones because of the nine tails fox you're not the only one, I do know how you feel" her eyes softened remembering Minato.

"However that doesn't give you the excuse to do all the horrible things you did to Naruto. What you did was wrong is so many ways, you took all of your hatred for the demon fox and you freely take it all on him when he had nothing to do with the nine tails attack. He is not the fox he's the cage that is keeping the fox sealed but that's not how you see it, your hatred for the nine tails blinded you and whenever you looked at him you only saw the fox. It couldn't be helped after what you experienced maybe you felt good doing all those things you wanted revenge on the Kyuubi but you took it all on its container. Believe me or not Yukiho Naruto has also suffered like you…."

The owner of the orphanage backed away letting more tears fall" I….he couldn't have…."

"I'm afraid he did Naruto never knew his parents he was all alone from the beginning with no one to care for him. The people around him well….you already know how he was treated by the villagers, and you were the one who had the responsibility to give him that care the shelter, the food, the love. But you didn't gave him those things you did the opposite contributing on his suffering more, when he needed you the most you turned your back on him and you let your hatred for the demon fox do the work for you. Now Yukiho tell me can you really looked into Naruto's eyes and see the nine tails fox or can you the eyes of a boy who has suffered for almost his entire life?"

Yukiho didn't say a word she stood in silence letting her tears fall along with soft sobs. Now she was suffering for both causes the lost of her family and the pain she has inflicted on Naruto. Deep in her heart through all the hatred for the Kyuubi she knew Kushina was right everything she has said was true. The red haired woman knew she needed some time to think about her mistakes so it was best if she left her, she gave one disgusted look at the cold dirty iron cage before turning her back to the older woman.

"I've seen enough here I will take my leave now Yukiho…" she starting walking out.

"Wait!" she shouted stopping her in her tracks" you don't understand at all….you can't possibly feel my pain I lost my own daughter and my grandchildren because of the Kyuubi. Tell me what would you do if you have lost your own child to that demon fox?"

Kushina let a couple of tears fall hearing the question. No she didn't even want to think her life without her son he was her love and joy everything that give meaning and purpose to her life, after losing her entire family. Naruto wasn't just her son and her blood but he was also the living reminder of her love for Minato, she has made a promise of the life time to live to her younger sister Ukina. But a life without Naruto will be the worst possible punishment she could ever receive it will be true hell. Without turning her gaze at Yukiho she took a deep breath trying to control her emotions.

"I told you I understand how you feel you see I lost someone very precious to me when the Kyuubi attacked the village. I love him very much he was my husband, I hate the fox for attacking the village but I would never hate Naruto. I would never take my hatred for the fox and take it on a poor innocent child I will be desecrating the memory of my husband. By the way the Hokage is a good friend of mine I can tell her of the kind of treatment you gave Naruto and your little cage she can have you out of your job in no time."

The older woman gasped in shocked" you….you wouldn't?"

"I would and you should know that the Hokage Tsunade is quite fond of Naruto she sees him as a little brother. I wonder what will be her reaction if I tell her how you used to treat him she won't be happy you do know that she has quite the temper?" the long red haired woman turned her gaze giving her a glare.

Yukiho was scared fearing that she might lose her job and the orphanage she does know how scary the blond Hokage can get" please don't….this is the only job I have, I have served the orphans of this village for years…"

"That's exactly why I won't do such a thing" Kushina looked at her and this time there was some sympathy in her blue eyes" if you're out of the job then what will be of all the orphans they will be put in the streets where no one will take care of them I won't let that happen so consider yourself lucky" with those words said she finally left.

Yukiho stood still she finally broke down sobbing thinking about her family, her daughter, her son in law and her grandchildren. Kushina's words had hit her hard right where it hurts she knew the truth, she knew she has done wrong taking all of her hatred on Naruto as an act of revenge against the Kyuubi the demon who killed her loved ones. After a couple of minutes she finally left the dark chamber letting the red head's words hit her head so she can finally think about her past actions.

(Scene change)

Kushina has left the orphanage trying to dry her tears the conversation with Yukiho has put her in a very emotional state. At the same time she was angry with what the older woman did to her son when he was just an infant, barely out of diapers. It wasn't just the owner of the orphanage but everyone in the village, every single villager that mistreated her son and gave him a hard time living. Every single person who gave him true hell she hated them and she hated how foolish they were to take their hatred on the blond jinchurikki in a desperate attempt to have revenge on the demon fox. She reached a corner in the street going to the nearest alley she was too caught up in her thinking that she didn't know where she was going. She angrily kicked a trash can sending it flying releasing all of the garbage looking at it reminded her of the words she was told by the people she talked to. Pain was filling her again and it has become stronger than her anger the words were being repeated in her head and she couldn't stop it no matter how hard she wanted to the end the pain, she was suffering as a mother who wasn't there for her child. She hold her tears but they were already falling thinking about those words they were tormenting her endlessly.

"Nobody wanted him in their stores…"

"The poor kid couldn't buy food or eat any he was starving badly. I remember the first time I met him I was doing a delivery and I saw him in an alley picking on the garbage in a attempt to find food…."

"They hated him they didn't saw a human but the nine tails disguising as a human. The adults' treatment we're passed to their children and they started treating him the same way…"

"They called him dead last…."

"He was three going to four before the third Hokage took him when he turned six…."

"Of course every one of the children were comfortable sleeping in their rooms with a warm bed, but the demon belongs right here. I would have preferred if that demon brat rotted in this cage…."

"Yes I feed him with rotten food there were times I feed him with a white disgusting goo that I don't consider it to be food but it was enough for that demon brat…."

"Do you have any ideas what was it for me, do you have any idea how hard my life was when you weren't there for me. My life was a living hell because of the damn monster sealed inside of me, where the hell were you?"

She got on a wall and got seated on the ground, she hugged her knees and she has finally broken down sobbing. She cried hard letting all of her tears of suffering and guilt fall for not being there for Naruto letting him suffered on his own. For letting him have a hellish childhood even if it wasn't her fault intentionally she knew that but it didn't help her cease the pain she was feeling in her heart. It's like all the pain her son felt she was feeling it ten times stronger and it was currently ripping her heart out stabbing her like a hot kunai killing her softly, she mumble the blonds' name sobbing in agony. She would do anything to turn back time and go back so she will be able to give him her love and care, to raise him the right way without feeling loneliness and hatred from the villagers. Of course it was all wishful thinking from her part that wasn't going to happen she will never fix the mistake from healing all the pain Naruto experienced as a child. She continued crying unaware of her that she was currently being watched.

On the roof of one of the buildings a crow with sharingan eyes was watching her cry far away on top of a roof Itachi was watching using the genjutsu crow. The older Uchiha really felt sorry for the red haired woman seeing how much she was in pain the past was still haunting her just like his own past. Going there to give her some comfort was probably the right thing to do but he choose not to, it was best to leave her alone so she takes the time to heal her wounds. Even if he was hurt and he wanted to be there for the woman she needed some time on her own to think and do some soul searching, sometimes they needed to face their inner demon in order to move on. He shook his head and dispelled the crow genjutsu before he vanished using a body flicker technique.

(Scene change)

(Location: lower underground arena hidden sound village rice country territory)

Sakura gasped as she something she wasn't expecting to see Nurari was marked by a familiar evil power it was swirling all over his body. He was now covered with horizontal black lines she has seen this familiar marking before it was the same kind of evil power that was given to her teammate Sasuke. She never thought she will fight someone with the same power this was going to be her toughest fight yet, she knew all about the curse seal mark from being apprentice to Tsunade. She tightened her red gloves ready to fight but she needed to be careful now that he was under the effect of the curse seal there was no telling how strong he has become, there was also the risk of chakra depletion from her part. She remembers Sasuke when he was under the control of the curse seal he was a complete different person he was very evil, compare to the person he is today. She took a couple of kunais from her pouch just in case her opponent was really unpredictable it wasn't bad though, she did manage to destroy his chakra suit. Nurari was now wearing a mesh shirt with long cargo pants she was able to destroy the one thing that gave him infinite supply of chakra.

'I can't underestimate him if he's using the curse seal his power has obviously increased. I got rid of his suit but this fight has gotten complicated….'

Nurari gave a creepy chuckle gazing at his body" so this is how it feels to have Orochimaru-sama's gift it's amazing!"

"I pity you the curse seal is nothing but pure evil it takes over your mind and fills your heart with hatred."

"That's all I need to destroy you. You don't stand a chance now if you succeeded in destroying my suit."

"The real question is if you can actually control that power?" the pink haired medic remembered that Sasuke couldn't control the curse seal the power drove him insane.

"You should be worry about yourself!"

Nurari charged at impressive speed launching a fist the mask kunoichi managed to block it before he stretched his other arm landing a punch at her. Sakura was sent she quickly dodged two stretching punches and countered throwing the kunai she took out the former prisoner blocked them with his stretching arms. He stretched a kick hitting abdomen sending her to the ground he charged again she was able to get up and react to his incoming attack she launched a punch but he caught it and threw her to the ground hard.

'Damn he has gotten faster and stronger too….his timing to react to my attacks is very good. He has become complicated to beat and I'm also low on chakra.'

"Looks like you have gotten weaker or maybe I have become stronger" Nurari said in mocking tone.

"Hell yeah!" she shouted launching a strong chakra charged fist at him.

The former prisoner gave a grin the power of the curse seal was flowing through him flawlessly. He grabbed her fists crushing it making her screamed in pain she fell on one knee feeling the pain she glared at him. Her eyes widened as he stretched his other arm all over her neck putting her in another chocking hold, only this time it was stronger than the previous one. Sakura felt her breathing leaving her body she was lacking air at a quick rate she didn't know how long she will last.

'I can't….ugh….breathe his grip is so strong it's feels like Tsunade-sama is choking me….'

Nurari gave a maniacal laugh" it's over now….time to die!"

Sakura tried to break but she didn't had the strength' I don't have too much chakra left but I don't have a choice…..I have to open the second gate.'

Nurari saw the mask kunoichi raising her hands seeing that her chakra flowing from her body' what's going on how can she still be alive?'

"The second gate Gate of healing open!"

"What?"

A powerful burst of chakra filled her body giving her the necessary strength to break free from his deadly grip. The former prisoner was shocked seeing so much chakra filling her he didn't got the time to react as the pink haired kunoichi released a powerful barrage of punches and kicks she showed him no mercy. Nurari was sent to the ground so hard that his back broke by the sheer force of Sakura's attacks the former prisoner was now in a not so good position. With his broken and his body all bloodied he couldn't get up let alone fight even if he was powered by the curse seal.

"Impossible…how did you become so strong and fast not even the curse seal could put up with your speed?"

He gasped in horror as Sakura has launched herself into the air her body still filled with chakra she launched a familiar kick learned from her teacher Tsunade" painful sky leg!"

The powerful kick made contact destroying Nurari's body by the insane power it held, it was so powerful that made a crater on the ground. The attack was enough to put an end to his life there was no doubt that he was dead the curse seal mark vanished from his body soon after, the pink haired kunoichi has won the fight. Soon the strong wave of chakra left Sakura's body and she fell on her knees feeling very tired she was panting a lot.

'Okay opening the second gate was a bad idea I'm exhausted….'

"At least I got rid of that transvestite freak!"

(Scene change)

Ino was shocked as soon as she saw Kiho filled with some kind of evil power. His entire body has been covered with different black swirls all over him although the Yamanaka had a pretty good idea what this evil power was. She knew all about it because everyone from the former rookie nine have heard about it when Sasuke got the same power from Orochimaru and also because Anko has told her of the curse seal mark. What it does to a person and how he starts losing his mind by the sheer power relying on his grown hatred the Yamanaka knew how strong the evil mark can make a person, it also explains why the former sound five were strong too they had the curse seal up to the second stage. Kiho's curse seal was only the first stage or first level so he wasn't as strong as he looked everything was all right because he's under the effect of her poison from her sembon needles, at least that's what she thought. She gasped the short white haired man moving like nothing happened she couldn't believe it the poison has never failed her before.

'What's going on the poison isn't affecting him anymore just earlier he couldn't even move a muscle?" she looked at Kiho who was laughing like a maniac.

'It must be the curse seal mark it's power must have somehow made the effect from the poison useless, or maybe he's immune to it….'

She grinned at him" looks like shorty just got an upgrade from Orochimaru."

"Haha you've mistaken when you said my wrist launcher was my only weapon I have Orochimaru-sama's gift you don't stand a chance now. I'm no longer that weakling you were ridiculing a moment ago."

He charged at her which shocked her to see his speed she couldn't dodged the punch he gave her. The mask kunoichi felt the pain but she tried to land of her feet, she quickly dodged a kick from the possessed Kiho. She took her kunai in order to attack him with them she thought of using her sembon needles but if the poison wasn't affecting him because of the curse seal then there was no need to use them now. She used the kunais but the short man was dodging them quickly while laughing insanely it was part of the effect from the curse seal mark, she found an opening striking with the ninja weapon but it never happened. Her eyes widened Kiho grabbed her hand quickly and threw her to the ground really hard, she slowly got up only to be met by four smoke dragons. She quickly backed away she or she won't be able to dodge all four the dragons were moving faster than the regular attack he launched at her before. Her best bet was to use one of her summons snake to block the attack but just like Sakura she was a little low on chakra.

Kiho gave an lunatic grin" thanks to the curse seal I have more chakra now which means I can release more than one smoke dragon!"

'His strength and his speed has increased and that's not at all, the number of his technique and their speed are affected by the curse seal too….this won't be easy.'

She had no choice she was forced to use a summon she quickly bit her thumb and with the blood she made quick hand seals before she was caught by the smoke dragons. The former prisoner gave a wicked grin happy to have finally caught his opponent there was no way she will be able to escape this time. He never heard the poof of smoke which it was the sound when someone uses a summoning technique he frowned when the smoke cleared revealing the same snake she used as a shield to blocked his attack before. He erased his frown and gave another grin he was already prepared for this kind of situation she wasn't going to save this time.

"You believe the same trick will save you then think again?" roared Kiho.

He released more smoke dragons and they fused together to create a large cloud of smoke it managed to entered shield snake. Inside of the snake Ino gasped when she saw the smoke has entered she couldn't get out she was trapped, she quickly dispelled the snake but the smoke has caught up with her. She coughed the smoke was thicker and stronger than last time she was starting to suffocate rather quickly. Kiho kept the thick smoke screen for a while he wanted the mask kunoichi to die from suffocation, after nearly ten minutes he released the smoke screen created from his dragons. He laughed at the sight the Yamanaka was on the ground unconscious she wasn't moving looks like it was a big victory for him over one of the members of team Kitsune Flash.

"So much for her" he walked next to her giving the same insane grin" you had it coming for making fun of my height and mocking me running your mouth that I was weak bitch!"

The Yamanaka's body suddenly vanish shocking Kiho a lot in her place was a regular size snake he gasped when it jumped on him and bit his neck. He suddenly felt something horrible entering his body not realizing that someone was behind him.

"What's going on….I feel dizzy I?"

Ino put a kunai on the back of his neck" looks like you underestimated me again you never noticed when I made the genjutsu."

"You…what the hell did you do to me?"

"My friend over here that bit you had some poison" Ino smiled making the snake that bit him vanished.

Kiho laughed mockingly" you seriously think you're going to paralyze me again?"

"Not this time….the poison that is now running through your body is completely different from the one that I previously used on you that paralyses the body. It's a deadly poison and it takes effect immediately as I speak your feeling dizzy, your blood pressure is increasing, you're experiencing high fever. Very soon your heart will stop beating slowly and finally your breathing will cease, it's ironic the effects of the poison is like your suffocating just like your smoke dragon."

The short man was feeling the exact symptoms she just said and it was horrible. He was feeling pain horrible pain everything was spinning around for him he didn't know how long he could possibly take. The poison was probably going to give him a very slow death which it was pure torture the pain was unbearable to take he'd rather die now than from the poison.

"I can't believe I'm going to be defeated by you it's not possible I have Orochimaru-sama's power I was invincible!"

"It's true you became stronger and faster but you made one fatal mistake. You relied too much on the curse seal mark instead of your own strength, having the curse seal doesn't make you invincible but only weak willed and a slave to its evil power. Anko sensei never relied on the curse seal she always used her own strength earned by her hard training she proved to be stronger than curse seal itself, you however you have failed…."

Kiho screamed in agony feeling the effects of the poison getting worse" the pain is too much argh make it stop make it stop!"

"Find I will make the pain stop I will put you out of your misery" she pressed the kunai on his neck she knew exactly what she was doing.

"At least Guren realized her mistakes and decided to change for the better staying by Yukimaru's side but you….there's no salvation for you even without the curse seal you would never change…."

In a quick movement Ino slid Kiho's throat with the kunai he fell to the ground dead followed by a pool of his blood. Soon after the curse seal deactivated the marks from his body were gone, he was back to normal. She stood in deep thought gazing at the dead body she has killed someone not like she was expecting she wasn't with her life, she was a ninja. It was the first time she killed someone although using poison to kill that person doesn't count as killing in cold blood she was an interrogator and she always torture criminals in order to get the necessary information from them. But killing someone was completely different she has always left her victims alive, she still wasn't used to the killing it was unpleasant and not easy to take. But she remembered Anko's words when it comes to killing they were in her head when this situation fell upon her.

"Remember squirt we're ninjas killing is part of our life, they will come a time when you will be left with no choice but to kill the enemy. We kill for the sake of the village I know it's not easy when it comes to the first kill but when you experience this I have three advices for you…."

The Yamanaka smiled thinking about the words.

"You get over it, you move on, you focus on the present. If any of those three doesn't work then some dango and a nice glass of green tea makes it all better, it always works for me!"

'I'm feeling much better thinking about it, no need to feel depress' she rubbed her face remembering Kiho's punch' damn that midget sure can hit ouch….'

(Scene change)

Kigiri has activated his curse seal which the black lines have formed all over his body in the form of an x. He has also used smoke screen to block everything from view including his opponent. Hinata was looking everywhere with her byakugan focusing all of her chakra in her eyes it was happening again he was having trouble seeing through the thick smoke. However she did saw the evil power emerging from the mask man it was completely different from the last time meaning that he wasn't himself, either he was being controlled or maybe he has shown his true intentions. She knew he wasn't going to be alone he will release his smoke clones to get her off guard so he can find the perfect time to strike it all depends if she will be able to sense him. Her eyes weren't seeing a thing even with her bloodline three hundred sixty degree field of vision if her eyes weren't working she will have to go with her ears. She has focused some chakra on her ears to be able to hear any incoming movements towards her, her eyes widened hearing footsteps not too far from her location. She used her mountain crusher technique to attack her incoming foe and she made a direct hit, she was able to see a little that she hit a smoke clone. She heard something someone was next to her she didn't saw it coming the powerful punch that hit her face sending her to the ground.

Kigiri laughed like a maniac as he made more smoke clones to tackle her as he was preparing to land another strong punch. The Hyuga heiress got up her lip was broken with some blood she quickly heard smoke clones charging at her she blocked a couple blows as she used her mountain crusher technique defeating the two smoke clones. She heard two more getting behind them and she beat them using the great heavenly spin, the large smoke screen was a big advantage for Kigiri. She knew exactly what to do like last time she will focused all her chakra on her rotation technique the strong force will be enough to blow away the entire smoke cloud. She remained her chakra channeled on her ears to keep hearing for any enemy movements once she had all the chakra necessary she was ready to perform the technique.

"I won't let you take the chance to use that rotation technique!" Kigiri roared charging at her.

Hinata gasped as the mask man grabbed her by the neck and lifted her high she was unable to use the technique. Kigiri laughed holding her tightly as he wanted to break her neck he made the mask kunoichi groaned as she was desperately trying to breathe but his grip was so strong she couldn't break out. Her eyes fell on him he was giving her such an insane look with the curse seal mark activated he has lost his mind to the evil power he won't let her go he wasn't going to hear her please, his intentions were clear that he wants to kill her. The mask man was enjoying her expression of suffering he wanted to see more until she dies the curse seal fueling his hatred and his hunger for blood.

"You're done for now with Orochimaru-sama's power you cannot defeat me!"

She groaned as some blood escaped from her lips" I….I will never give up…I fought and defeated someone stronger….."

He laughed in a mocking tone" defeated someone stronger than me what a joke just look at you. You're in my mercy and you said you actually defeated someone stronger than me, all I need is the curse seal it's the only source of true power!"

'Relying on the curse seal he doesn't know that power is controlling his every actions and his heart…." She thought as she has already come up with a plan.

"Any last words before I kill you?" an evil grin was formed under his gas mask.

"I won't give up…." Hinata replied above a whisper.

"You should then again you won't get the chance because you will be dead!" he shouted the last part as he squeezed her neck so tight that she was no longer breathing.

Before Kigiri gave a grin of victory the mask kunoichi's body vanished replaced by a log" this is substitution jutsu!"

"You're within my range of divination!"

"What?" he was shocked seeing the Hyuga princess in front of him alive.

"Eight trigrams sixty four palms!"

The mask man was assaulted by many powerful blows by Hinata she focused more chakra on her attacks to have a bigger effect on her palms. She hit all sixty four chakra points in his body she finished the combo with a powerful palm strike sending Kigiri all the way to a wall but she wasn't done yet. She used her great heavenly spin technique with more chakra creating a strong rotation just like last time she used it to blow the smoke cloud the mask man has created. She finally blew away all of the smoke before she walked towards Kigiri who was still on the ground he looked very beaten but she had a family that he wasn't done yet. And she was right the mask man has gotten up and he was walking towards her he wasn't planning in going down so easily.

'He's up and he can still move after the sixty four palms just like when I fought Juugo….' She went back to her gentle fist stance her byakugan still activated.

"You think you can beat me with that technique the curse seal also gives me resistance so I can take more of those techniques, I will enjoy killing you!"

'I'm running low on chakra I have no choice….I will have to kill him….'

She didn't like the idea of taking a life even if she knew that in the life of a ninja you should be ready to do so when is necessary or when you're left with no options. She was a ninja and for the sake of the mission and her village she was willing to kill besides Kigiri was a member of Orochimaru's group so it won't be so hard to take his life. The snake sanin was an enemy of Konoha and anyone working for him was officially a threat and an enemy, she wasn't backing down from her decision. Kigiri charged at her giving a maniacal laugh before releasing one of his flame shots and she countered using her shurikens, the results it created an explosion. Hinata backed away taking a couple of steps back she gasped noticing that the mask man has charged at her next to her, looks like he was planning to choke her to death again.

"I got you now!"

He wasn't going to be successful this time as the Hyuga heiress caught his fist shocking him she countered hitting him with her own attack a chakra filled palm strike. Kigiri was hit but he has vanished in grey smoke which the mask kunoichi gave a small grin.

'A smoke clone…..he took the opportunity from the explosion earlier to create it.'

Her byakugan has picked it up she was surrounded by three smoke clones along with the original they all charged at her but she was already prepared. She used her great heavenly spin to hit every single one including the real Kigiri who was already wounded from her previous attacks. She wasn't taking any more chances as she quickly charged at him with her palms glowing with chakra she was already tired.

"I'm finishing this right now eight trigrams divine celesty barrage!"

The mask man didn't have a chance to block or dodge the powerful attack. He was hit by the endless barrage from the mask kunoichi it wasn't just his chakra points but every single organ and bone was hit. She finished him with a powerful palm that sent him again to the wall and it was crushed by the sheer force of the attack there was no need to checked on him, he was dead. His whole body was covered in blood while the curse seal vanished he was back to normal. Hinata sighed in relief she has finally beaten her opponent and won the fight she can finally go to her teammates so they can go after their leader. She started thinking about her other friends Guren and Yukimaru they also needed the help too.

'I hope they're all right….'

(Scene change)

Guren saw as Rinji injected himself with the needle he was holding she didn't have a clue what it supposed to do but it wasn't anything good. His eyes widened in terror the needle was finally taking effect on the bat user as he gave a scream of pain but it didn't sounded human at all, she was about to find out why. Rinji's body was now changing becoming into some kind of creature his skin changed color it was becoming black his eyes have changed turning a bit red, his hand started growing claws getting larger and his feet were also growing claws. Yukimaru was also shocked at the sight his arms have grown wings they looked like they were bat wings it was finally making sense to what kind of transformation Rinji was going through. His face has changed looking more like an animal his transformation was now revealed to the two of them, Guren wasn't surprised of the thing he chose to become. He was always good with bats so it's no wonder why he decided to become a bat himself but this complicates things a lot now she wasn't facing a human but rather a beast. He has obviously gained the ability that many bats have acquired he was now in a whole new level of strength one thing she took in mind he probably has now a sound wave attack. The same attack that will make her bloodline useless it has been the only reason why Rinji has had such advantage over her.

Rinji has awakened from his transformation his new existence and he was feeling very good. He could feel his strength and his senses strengthened he like what he was feeling to finally become one with the bats. This is definition of having true power his dream has come true, this is what he always wanted in his life. To be a bat now he knew how his wing friends felt he has finally become a creature of the night, he could hear breathing and sense the person who was in front of him. He knew that bats were blind they didn't see but they used their sound waves as their field of vision along with their hearing he knew that Guren was present as well as Yukimaru. It amazed him the senses of a bat he was able to hear their heart beat and breathing with these kinds of senses he didn't needed eyes to see. With his new power he was going to crush Guren so easily to him it was way better than having the curse seal mark he gave a loud screech making the crystal user to covered her ears, Yukimaru too however the crystal dome that was protecting had a small crack probably by his screech.

Guren shook her head with a disgusted look" a bat….why am I not surprise?"

"Such power…." Rinji replied in a deeper tone" bats are such strong creatures I never had my doubts about them."

"So this is the price you pay for being the new tool of Kabuto your humanity, I thought he was going to give you the curse seal."

"This is a worthy power to obtain Guren but you will not understand, I'm no fool I'm well aware how unstable the curse seal really is. So instead Kabuto-sama gave me the perfect substance to give me the powers of a bat this is proof of his genius Orochimaru would never do something like this. My humanity is a small price to pay for this great power…."

"You're sick if it's all right to give up your humanity for this…." She pointed at his new appearance.

"Like I said you would never understand now I can finally fulfill the mission, but first I will kill you first before killing the brat!"

"Over my dead body!" she charged at him with both jade crystal daggers on her wrists.

"Then so be it!"

The bat monster made a loud screech using his sound wave making Guren to cover her ears the high pitch sound was so strong that her crystal daggers shattered. Rinji charged flapping his new wings he tackle using the weight of his body, the crystal kunoichi was sent to the ground. The bat monster was enjoying this he was now stronger than when he was in his human form she didn't stand a chance against him so it was better to savor the moment by toying with her. He lunged at her this time he used his sharp claws from his feet but the crystal user dodged it she formed another jade crystal dagger on her right wrist and tried to attack it. Rinji flew away getting to high ground it will be foolish to stay fighting her on lower guard he had the advantage against her after all.

'Damn him I won't be able to land a hit on him if he's going to keep on flying….the coward.'

"Guren-san be careful!" Yukimaru said from the crystal dome.

"I think you're the one who should be careful brat" Rinji replied as he used his sonic sound screech on the crystal dome.

"No Yukimaru!"

The long haired teen covered his ears while the crystal dome was cracking up on all places. It eventually shattered from the loud screech leaving Yukimaru to be free from the protection jutsu that Guren cast on him. Guren's eyes widened as she saw the bat monster charging at the teen Yukimaru was too scared to react or move away, he was hit by a strong tackle by Rinji.

Yukimaru!" she shouted in fear running towards him.

Rinji was flying high above once again sensing his prey he knew she was checking on the long haired teen she wasn't going to be happy but everything was going according to his plan. Guren checked for his pulse he was alive but he was unconscious she growled feeling anger entering her as she glared at the bat monster. Of all the things this was by far the worst that would upsets her the most she was going to make sure that he pays dearly for this.

"Rinji I'm going to kill you!"

"I needed him out of the way so he doesn't make that mist technique of he's, be grateful that I didn't kill him I'm killing you first."

Guren left the youth on the ground before going after her opponent she was going to make him pay for what he did. She made another jade crystal dagger on her right wrist waiting for the right time to attack him the bat monster flew down lunging at her, this time she was going to land a hit on him. Rinji grinned just as he was a few feet closer to her he increased his speed. The crystal user gasped she wasn't expecting that he will be faster than before and she was hit by the claws from his feet, she groaned as her lower torso was wounded she started bleeding. She glared at the bat monster with so much hatred he was once again flying above the arena it's just like she thought he wasn't giving her any chances to strike now he had a bigger advantage over her. He can make her crystal bloodline looked useless and he could evade any of her attacks with his wings and his new speed.

'Damn it he's strategy is so simple but it's very effective. He charges and attacks rapidly and then he goes back to fly around, he's not taking any chances with me he doesn't want me to lay a single hit on him. He's clever he knows he could easily get killed by my jutsus….'

She looked around making sure of her surroundings she took a glance at the unconscious Yukimaru' I have to keep away from him….'

She was prepared as Rinji descended again to attack her she kept her distance it was getting difficult to move around with her injury. The bat monster lunged with his claws as she tripped on the ground she barely dodged the attack he went flying high ground again. She pant as she glared at him she knew he was toying with her like she was actually his prey it was worst since her chakra wasn't at full power, this fight wasn't easy.

'This is getting nowhere my only chance is to attack him from above and I know how but it will be risky. I don't have too much chakra I'm still suffering from my fight with team Kitsune Flash….'

'I think I have toyed with her long enough I shall finish her now' thought Rinji.

'I don't know if I will be able to pull it off with my current chakra level but here goes nothing.'

Rinji gazed as Guren pressed two chakra points on her stomach, a huge wave of chakra was now filling her he knew what she was up to' that's….?'

Guren kept her gaze on the bat monster her body flowing with a lot of chakra" pressure points of harm and death!"

'So she's using that jutsu….'

She made hand seals" crystal release arrow of light!"

A prism crystal appeared in the form of an arrow tip encasing her inside it was spinning around slowly, she levitated above until she was facing Rinji on equal high ground" this is it Rinji my only hit on you will be the finishing blow."

"You must be very desperate if you're using that jutsu."

The crystal user only grinned at him before he used his sonic wave screech in an attempt to shatter her crystal arrow however it didn't cause a single scratch on the prism crystal, Guren was still grinning at him. The bat monster used his sonic screech again but it didn't had any effect on her crystal he was shocked.

"What's going on why can't I destroy that crystal?"

"You won't be destroying anything, this crystal is more resistant than the regular crystals I'm finishing this right now…."

"Have you forgotten that you can't maneuver your crystal?" taunted the bat monster" you are now wide open for an attack, you're a sitting duck."

"I don't need to maneuver it to defeat you…."

Rinji growled charging at her with his quick speed" this time I will rip you to shreds!"

Guren made a hand seal releasing her chakra reflecting through the prism crystal" arrow of light!"

The tip of the crystal shot a powerful bright ray hitting Rinji in the middle of his body it has stabbed him all the way. He made a loud screech of pain as the blood fell to the ground, he fell down hitting the solid ground with the deadly wound taking away his life. The prism crystal slowly descended on the ground until vanished along with the large burst of chakra that was surrounding Guren she was panting from using a lot of chakra, she was probably ready to collapse. The wound on her lower torso didn't help either if this keeps up she will surely lose conscious for sure she started walking towards the unconscious Yukimaru she wanted to be there for him. She took a glance at Rinji that by now he has transformed back to his human self the middle of his stomach had a large hole caused by her arrow of light ray, it was full of blood. The wound he had was critical she knew he didn't had too much time before he dies she fell down on one knee panting, she reached her hand to long haired teen.

"Yukimaru…."

"Guren?" the voice belonged to Ino.

The crystal user saw the three mask kunoichis heading her way Sakura was the first that went to her seeing the wound on her torso, her top priority was to heal as a medic nin.

"Hold on Guren" she replied as she started healing the wound her hands were glowing with green chakra.

"Yukimaru-san!" Hinata went next to the unconscious teen she was obviously worried.

"He'll be fine he's just unconscious" Guren said.

Ino saw Rinji on the ground and she was shocked staring at his wound" whoa he looks like crap, you really beat him good Guren."

She chuckle at her comment" that's what he gets when he tries to harm Yukimaru…."

Yukimaru started stirring up he slowly opened his eyes the first face he saw was of the masked Hyuga heiress" H….Hinata it's you?"

"Yukimaru-san you're awake how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine but Guren-san she…." He looked around until he saw her not too far from him, he gave a big smile" Guren-san…."

The crystal kunoichi smiled back at him happy to see him safe and sound" hey…you okay?"

The youth nodded smiling happily.

Sakura was still focusing on healing her wound" I'm almost done try not to move Guren."

"Just heal the wound already" she replied in a lazy tone.

Sakura frowned at her comment' great I'm trying to be kind here and she acts like a spoiled brat.'

Suddenly they heard chuckling from nearby they all turned to see Rinji who was coughing a lot of blood even if he was dying he was smiling like he was ready to welcome death.

"You're still alive?" asked Ino.

The bat user gazed at the crystal user with a grin" in my last moments I want to see you suffer Guren…."

The blue haired kunoichi snorted" just die already Rinji!"

"Yukimaru would you like to know the truth about the death of your mother?" Rinji was still grinning.

Guren gasped in shocked along with Sakura and Ino they knew the truth of her death while Yukimaru was shocked at the question he didn't expected to hear something like that.

"What….what is he talking about?" Hinata asked she obviously didn't know because she wasn't present when Guren told the revelation.

"What do you say Guren should I tell him who was the one that murdered his mother?" he finished coughing blood.

"Don't…." Guren was terrified.

"I want to see the look of your face when finds out the truth…"

"My mother's death….?" asked Yukimaru.

"Yes she was killed when Orochimaru attacked your village in fact the one who murdered her is present right here…."

"Rinji stop!" Guren shouted.

The bat user grinned looking at the shocked Yukimaru" the one who killed your mother is the same person you held precious in your heart, it was none other than Guren!"

"What?" shouted the shocked Hinata.

"Rinji!" the crystal user shouted but it was too late to stop him from telling the inevitable truth.

The teen's eyes widened at the revelation he couldn't believed what he just heard. He was shocked at the words that the dying Rinji said Guren his precious person, his home was the one responsible for the death of his mother. So many emotions ran through his mind his heart was broken he felt betrayed disappointed, another part he felt a bit upset with the crystal kunoichi. But as he gazed at her who by now has turned her back to him she didn't wanted to see his hateful expression for the horrible thing she did to him, she was probably holding her tears. There weren't any more emotions he was feeling they were gone after being with her for so long and seeing who she really is, that deep inside she had a good heart and she cared for him. He didn't hold a grudge of hatred towards her he care for her too much to hate her and most importantly he still remembered Hinata's words, those words have stayed in his mind and heart forever. Rinji however didn't have the chance to see his reaction to the painful truth because his wound was too critical his time ran out and he died after he coughed a lot of blood. He was in deep thought gazing at the crystal user did he really wanted to be out of her life, did he ever wanted to be alone again he probably already knew the answer to his question.

Hinata was as shocked as Yukimaru it scared her to find out that Guren was the murderer of his mother, how could she possibly do something like that. She felt upset with the woman but she couldn't stay angry for too long it wasn't like her at all she has seen how much she cares for the teen and what she's willing to do to protect him. She felt more disappointed in her for doing such a thing but she couldn't help but pity her Guren was basically misguided by Orochimaru to joined her because nobody from her village care for her. They shunned her and hated her just for the fact that she had a rare bloodline limit it wasn't her fault, the snake sanin just took the advantage of her loneliness and growing hatred for her village. She was able to understand the crystal user a bit she has been through a lot and now she was trying to fix her mistakes, she has chosen to change and take a new path. She only hoped that Yukimaru makes the right decision after all everyone deserves a second chance and Guren deserves one.

Ino was feeling in the same boat as Hinata she wanted what was best for the two of them and that was if they stay together. Guren did wrong in taking the life of his mother but she has come to regret taking such action she wanted to fix that mistake, she didn't deserve to be hated. With the current childhood she experienced anyone would come to make horrible decisions that will affect them forever, it was anyone's guess how this was going to turn out. She looked at Sakura and she was probably feeling the same way even if she was having some problems with Guren when it came to trust her but she knew she wanted the best for her, she didn't needed to read her mind to know that she wanted to see them together.

Sakura kept her gaze on the wound she was healing trying to ignore the tension that has recently been build because of the revelation she has finally finished" there it's done Guren just make sure not to fight for a while…."

The crystal kunoichi didn't reply she has gotten she still had her back turned to Yukimaru. Of course he will hate her for what she did there was nothing to say she will have to leave him, by now tears were slowly falling. It was going to be so hard to let him go it wasn't going to be the same without him she won't be able to move on with her life if the long haired teen wasn't by her side he was like family to her. She has come to care for him a lot and forged a strong bond with him now she didn't if she could live without him she wished she could go back and fix her mistake of killing his mother over and over again. She needed to get away right now she'd rather die than hear any possible hateful words from the youth.

"Guren-san….?" Yukimaru's voice was soft but it didn't hold any hatred.

She tensed up while the three mask kunoichis were listening to the outcome of the truth" you know the truth now Yukimaru….so it's all right for you to hate me I won't hold it against you I deserve it."

"I don't hate you...I want to be with you" he replied smiling.

Guren was shocked her eyes widened a she looked at him all teary eyed" what….what do you just said?"

"I want to be with you Guren-san I care for you."

"That can't be didn't you hear me I said I killed your mother?" more tears were falling.

"I did but I can't hate you I just can't….I did felt angry but I won't hold it against you I'm sure you must be sorry for it."

"Yukimaru I….but I'm the reason you're an orphan I killed her in cold blood how can you just accept me after what I did?"

The teen smiled at her" because you're my home…."

"Home….?" she dried her tears.

"You're the place when you were always thinking about me and I feel the same way. Whenever someone thinks of you that's where home is."

The crystal kunoichi gave him a hug as fresh tears started falling" thank you….I promised you I will protect you."

"I will always be with you Guren-san."

By now the three kunoichis were smiling at the sight it didn't turned into a hateful verbal assault from Yukimaru's part after all. They knew that in the end he has made the right choice Hinata was happier for Yukimaru, she was glad that her quote has had a positive effect on him. Looks like both were going to be together from now on.

Ino smiled with a couple of tears that had left from her eyes" don't you love happy endings?"

"It's not over yet" Sakura replied she knew things aren't finish yet when it comes to the mission.

"That's right Kitsune-kun is still fighting Orochimaru we have to help him!" Hinata said remembering her leader.

"Not Orochimaru-sama…."

They turned to Guren by now she has dried all of her tears and has broken the hug with Yukimaru" Orochimaru is no more."

"What?" asked Ino.

"Rinji told me that Orochimaru-sama is dead but Kabuto has taken over him as the new Orochimaru-sama, he somehow took his powers and his abilities that's why he was wearing that cloak all along to hide his face."

"No way!" Ino said shocked.

"So Orochimaru is really dead after all?" Hinata asked.

"I guess that explains why Jiraiya-sama's spy network thought it was Orochimaru, they must have mistaken Kabuto for him" replied Sakura.

"Let's go help Kitsune-kun" Hinata said.

They nodded before looking at the Iron Gate on the other side.

"Wait I'm coming too" Guren said walking to the group.

"Guren I told you that you can't fight for a while. I may have healed your wound but you're still very low on chakra just let us handle this" replied the pink haired medic.

"You three don't look any different I'm sure you're all low on chakra fighting Rinji's group so the only thing to do is increase numbers, you guys got me into this mess so might as well stay with you guys until the end."

"I guess you want some piece of Kabuto eh?" Ino said with a smirk.

"I never like him in the first place this gives me another reason to dislike him even more."

"Let's get going" Sakura said as everyone nodded.

"I'm going too" Yukimaru said.

"We're all in this together" Guren smiled at him.

They headed to the gate before Sakura chakra charged a fist and hit it sending the Iron Gate flying Ino and Hinata weren't surprised of her strength the same with Guren she has already seen how strong she is when she destroyed her jade crystal labyrinth.

'Hold on Kitsune-kun we're coming' Hinata thought worried about the blond jinchurikki.

---

(Scene change)

(Location: snake nest throne room lower underground hidden sound village rice country territory)

"Wind release air bullet!"

"Wind release air bullet!"

The two opponents have released the same technique releasing the burst of wind from their mouths. Naruto wasn't impressed after all he learned all those wind jutsus from Minato because he gave all the scrolls to Jiraiya who he reserved for him, so he can learn them in the future. The fight has been brutal to say the least the blond jinchurikki was impressed with the turn of events he was right all along this was the toughest fight has ever fought in his entire life, tougher than fighting Sasuke. He knew that the fourth was a living legend a gifted genius, just fighting him he figured out for sure why he was one of the strongest Hokage in the history of Konoha. He has used a lot of chakra but he was still good he could still fight with no problem but he didn't know how long he will be able to keep this up, the blond Hokage didn't looked tired at all. Either he was amazed or he was shocked they have been through a lot in the fight the two ninjas have used the flying thunder god technique more than once clashing their kunais countless of times and they have used rasengan plenty of times. None could have been able to bring a fatal wound to the other it was fight that it was shown that both ninjas we're in the same level of power but sooner or later it had to have to be determine that the fight couldn't go on for much longer.

Naruto knew this wasn't going anywhere the best thing to do was to use his strongest technique against him the fourth may be a genius but he didn't knew his strongest techniques which it was the only thing he had advantage in the fight. Although his feelings were holding him back to attack him with full force he couldn't help it this man was his father and he was finally seeing him for the first time in his life it was hard to fight him with everything he had. The same who was his father whom he respects a lot, who saw him as a hero and idol it wasn't easy for him to fight him let alone kill him. He was having an internal war with his emotions over what to do he knew very well that Minato was in complete control of Kabuto's jutsu and he didn't recognized him, the only way to stop him is by killing him but he couldn't go through with it. It was driving him crazy he needed to stop him he was no longer his father he understood that but his emotions were holding him back it was his desire to have his father by his side so he can have a complete family with his mother. He took a step back as Minato was ready to attack without mercy again he had to admit the painful truth that it will never happen no matter how much he longed for it, he can't never have a full family. He is thoughts were put aside hearing a familiar voice in his head he got annoyed he didn't have time to put up with him.

"Naruto you can't beat him the way you are, you need my power to take him down…."

'I don't need you just go away….'

"You don't stand a chance against the fourth he's strong I know!" the fox replied sounding eager.

'You sound kind of cheery that's very strange for you fox what gives?'

"You need my power to beat him I want a piece of him too, I want revenge on the fourth for sealing me inside of you!"

'Figures why you would sound so eager for me to use your chakra, forget it I won't help you fulfill your revenge you had this coming for attacking Konoha in the first place.'

"Fool you need me and you know it. You're even holding back on him because of your emotions thinking like that will only have you killed…."

'I said go away damn it I will beat him with my own power!'

Once the Kyuubi became quiet just mumbling something that he wasn't happy the blond teen prepared his flash kunai one more time ready to use the seal. Minato has done the same marking each other with the seal both have vanished clashing their kunai for the dozen times only this time it was different, from before. The fourth Hokage was now staring into his son's eyes in which they have changed color they were toad like yellow with a black straight line, Naruto has entered sage mode. The powered up blond charged in a speed that Minato couldn't see him before he was punched hard he fell to the ground, he was able to get up quickly. He grabbed the flash kunai using on it on the whiskered blond, Naruto grinned as Minato has appeared behind him holding a rasengan on his other hand. The blond Hokage never knew what was coming when Naruto has grabbed his hand holding the rasengan in a quick move he has formed a bigger rasengan on his free hand, he couldn't stop grinning at his father's move.

'Like I didn't see that coming'

"Odama rasengan!"

The large rasengan destroyed Minato's regular rasengan hitting him his arm all the way to his chest. He was sent to the wall crashing due to the powerful force of the chakra spiraling sphere. The blond jinchurikki was ready to fight he knew it wasn't over yet his father was too strong to be defeated so easily, and he was right. Minato slowly got up his arm was completely destroyed but not for long Naruto witnessed the arm being completely regenerated along with the wound on his chest in less than a minutes he was as good as new, it's like he never got injured in the first place. He was shocked the regeneration was probably even faster than the Kyuubi's regeneration chakra he'd never seen anything like it.

'What how did he….it must be part of the effect of that forbidden jutsu that Kabuto used. This is not good if he's going to regenerate every time I wound him then it's hopeless I won't be able to beat him….'

He saw him walking towards him he was probably ready for another round' damn it this is tough I bet even if I used my strongest jutsu he will probably heal. Using rasengan bomb here will be reckless I might cause a cave in and everyone down here will be buried alive….'

'I have to act fast sage mode will be gone any minute now and I only left a couple of shadow clones back Myoboukuzan.'

"You need me Naruto you can't take him down on your own" Kyuubi replied breaking his container from his thoughts.

'I'm ignoring you….'

Minato was about to used the teleport kunai again when he was interrupted by a fast Naruto punching him followed by a kick he summoned his shadow clones using his Uzumaki barrage, he finished it off with a double rasengan. Once again the blond Hokage's wounds and bruises were regenerated he was all healed leaving the blond jinchurikki to try and come up with ideas to defeat him for good, he gasped as Minato charged at him launching a barrage of punches and kicks. He was quick and was able to block them thanks to sage mode he never saw the shadow clone the fourth made who used the flying thunder god and was currently holding a rasengan on his right hand.

"Rasengan!"

'No the five minutes of sage mode are up!'

The whiskered blond was hit by the rasengan sending him back to the ground making a loud crash. It was worst because without sage mode his body was no longer resistant or more precise his defense was no longer high, meaning that the attack hurt him a lot. He got up feeling the pain panting it was a miracle that he was still alive facing off against the fourth Hokage and former yellow flash of Konoha. He groaned in pain hoping that the Kyuubi will heal his injuries faster than usual he will need all the strength he could get to take such an opponent, especially when he was indestructible.

'Come on fox hurry up and heal my wounds with your chakra….'

"Do I look like a freaking medic nin to you?" the Kyuubi was annoyed.

'Just do it already….'

"It takes time brat….what would you do without me?"

The blond jinchurikki gasped when Minato grabbed him by the throat ready to slice it off with his flash kunai' damn it it's hard for me to move with this wound….'

"Dad….don't…." Naruto tried to reach out for his father even if he thought it will be hopeless.

Minato raised the kunai ready to slice his son's throat and just before the weapon was mere inches away he stopped. By now Naruto has closed his eyes expecting to embrace death he waited for a while but nothing happened, he hasn't felt the pain of having your throat cut. When he finally opened his eyes he noticed that he has dropped the kunai and somehow just looking into his cerulean eyes he thought he could see some life in them, he was shocked not thinking that it would be possible.

"Dad?"

"Na….Naruto" the blond Hokage smiled at his son.

Suddenly he growled as he glared at the blond punching him sending him crashing to what was known as Orochimaru's throne. The fall was so strong that he broke the seat earning him a backache he got up watching him walking towards him. His eyes widened gazing at Minato who was holding his head in pain like he was possessed it was enough for the blond container to know what was going on.

'Dad no way…he's fighting against Kabuto's control I knew he wasn't going to let himself get controlled so easily!'

"Come on dad fight it don't let it control you!"

Minato continued to struggle with the powerful control that Kabuto put him because of the forbidden jutsu. He gave a loud screamed falling on his knees Naruto immediately went to his side worried sick about him.

"Dad you okay?"

The blond Hokage looked at him smiling" Naruto….I'm fine."

The whiskered blond smiled feeling like crying" you're back to normal now….you're all right."

"Listen Naruto I would want to talk to you more but unfortunately I can't. I was able to gain control of my conscious now but I don't know how long I will be able to remain in control, you understand?" Minato said.

"I know I'm just happy to finally meet you to finally tell you that I'm proud to have you as my father, I never hated you for sealing the fox in me…." He removed a tear from his left eye.

The fourth was caught by surprise but he smiled warmly at his son" thank you it makes me happy that you feel that way."

"I mastered the rasenshuriken you know?" Naruto said quickly wanting to tell him one of his achievements.

"So you mastered the wind elemental rasengan I knew you would, I always knew you were a better gifted genius than myself…." The blond man was still smiling.

"I also learned odama rasengan, double rasengan, rasengan bomb and sage mode too!" he was talking like an eager child wanting to tell him all of his achievements to his father.

Minato's eyes widened from the shock with his mouth wide open" amazing you mean to tell me that you have mastered more than one variation of the rasengan?"

"You better believe it!" he gave his fox grin.

"You really are my son and, the rasengan is a close range jutsu that I never got to finished it is possible to create different varieties of the technique. You even mastered sage mode too I'm guessing that Jiraiya sensei taught you."

"Yeah pervy sage taught me it was hard at first but I got used to it."

The blond Hokage had to laugh at the nickname his son has given to his teacher" pervy sage that's a good nickname for him I see he hasn't change after all these years."

Naruto smiled looking at him" dad I…."

He gasped Minato was struggling in pain again" dad what's wrong?"

"I'm starting to lose control I can't stay much longer like this we have to end this, Kabuto's control is strong."

"I know but I wish there was a way for you to stay here with me" the blond jinchurikki hold his tears.

"You know I can't Naruto I don't belong here anymore I already died…."

The blond teen nodded" all right got any ideas because if I wound you, you will regenerate your body faster than the fox's healing me?"

"Yes I know about the impure world resurrection jutsu from Sarutobi. There are two ways to defeat the technique, the first choice is to kill the person who casted the jutsu."

Naruto growled thinking about the new snake sanin" that's out of the question because Kabuto escaped."

"Then we'll have to go with the second choice" replied Minato" and that's to removed the soul of the person who was brought back to life by the jutsu."

"What….the soul?" he was shocked" remove your soul how are you going to do that?"

"I know of a way."

"If that happens you'll…." Naruto paused knowing the horrible truth.

"It's the only way it won't be long before I lose control again and I will try to kill you."

He nodded trying not to cry" all right tell me what you are going to do?"

The fourth Hokage nodded" first I want you to summon a shadow clone."

"Right!" he made a cross shape hand seal" shadow clone jutsu!"

POOF!

A shadow clone appeared next to the original" what now?"

"You leave everything to me now."

The blond jinchurikki nodded watching his father making quick hand seals they were snake, boar, ram, rabbit, dog, rat, bird, horse, and snake lastly he clapped his hands.

"Sealing technique dead demon consuming seal!"

'What I have never heard of such a jutsu?' Naruto was shocked.

He heard the Kyuubi chuckling in amusement" the fourth is using that jutsu again…."

'Again…?'

"Listen to me Naruto when I tell you, you will dispel the shadow clone understood?"

"Right!"

"The shadow clone step forward."

The Naruto clone nodded walking towards him when Minato felt a horrible pain entering his chest like he has been stabbed. His eyes were shifted to the one responsible for stabbing him and he was seeing him again like that night seventeen years ago, it was a nostalgic feeling. He was staring once again in the face of the Dead God the spiritual being was hovering above him, his hand has already entered his chest ready to take his soul but he needed to take the second to accomplish the deal when he's summoned.

"What's going on dad?" Naruto was only seeing his father standing there like he has just being stabbed he obviously couldn't see the Dead God.

Suddenly the Dead God stretched his arm stabbing Naruto's shadow clone on the middle of his chest making the clone gasped along with a horrible pain. The real Naruto felt the same pain linked to his clone and that's when things turned bad, his eyes widened in shock at what he was seeing. He was looking at an inhuman ghostly figure with long white hair red demonic face and long red horns, he was wearing a white kimono he was holding a knife on his mouth. He was shocked to see such figure it was worst when he noticed that his right hand which was holding a pearl necklace has stabbed his father's chest as well as his shadow clones' there was also what it seems to be a humanly figure crucified inside of the being he was colored blue the same color of chakra. He thought he was staring at a demon the thing was obviously not human with his features.

"What is that thing?" he was clearly shocked at the sight.

Minato groaned some blood has been released from his mouth" this is the dead demon consuming seal it's a forbidden jutsu, it calls upon the spiritual being the Dead God…."

"Dead God?" asked the whiskered blond.

"Once the Dead God has been summoned he rips and takes both souls and sends them to his stomach where they will be sealed forever, the jutsu can be used as a way to seal someone's soul in another being" replied Minato.

The real Naruto gasped" what….seal a soul in another being?"

"It's the same jutsu he used to seal me in you" replied the Kyuubi.

'So this is the jutsu he used to seal the fox in me….'

"However" resumed the fourth" this time it will be different the Dead God will take my soul only without harming you Naruto."

"How are you going to do that?" he groaned still feeling the pain from his shadow clone the Dead God was ready to take his soul.

"Now Naruto dispel the shadow clone!"

The whiskered blond nodded doing a hand seal the shadow clone vanished leaving the Dead God without taking his soul. Minato smiled his plan worked his son was saved and he will be taken back to the stomach of the Dead God again back where he belongs this time he will returned very happy. He has met his son and just like he thought he has become into a true genius ninja surpassing him and his teacher, he knew he was going to become into an even better Hokage than himself. He gazed at Naruto who had a couple of tears falling from his cerulean eyes he knew his time has ended the Dead God was about to pulled his soul away.

"Dad…."

"I'm sorry Naruto….I'm proud of you tell Kushina that I will always love her…."

"Dad I will become Hokage just you wait!"

"I know you will I never doubt it…"

The Dead God finally ripped through his body taking his soul he took the knife on his mouth ready to slice his soul and sent it back to his stomach. The fourth Hokage gave his son one final smile he will go back to eternity in the stomach of the Dead God very proud of him knowing he will fulfill his lifelong dream.

"Son I will always be with you from within…."

Those were his final words before the Dead God cut his soul with his knife, his soul was sent to his stomach before the spiritual being finally vanished. Naruto watched in tears as his body fell to the ground he was obviously dead things weren't so bad for him at least he was able to meet his father and had a small conversation with him, even if it started as a fight to the death. He was in deep thought about his last words they were a little cryptic he didn't know what they meant he dried his tears it was time to move on. He glared thinking about Kabuto if he ever meets him again he was going to make sure to repay him the favor for bringing his father back from the death just for the purpose to fight him and kill him. He saw Minato's body turned into ash as it revealed another human body his eyes widened seeing the body, he didn't recognized the man. He was big and tall and his facial expression seemed to be like it was taken from a demon he wasn't pretty he took the sealing scroll and opened it putting his mask back on along with his hood. He wasn't happy with the fact that Kabuto got away leading their mission to be a failure it was actually the first mission he has ever failed, there was always a first time for everything whether it was a good thing or bad.

The mask mercenary heard the door of the chamber opened he was happy to see his team along with Guren and Yukimaru. His cerulean eyes fell on Hinata he was so glad to finally see her again he was worried for her sine he hasn't seen her since his shadow clone vanished when he was with her looking for Yukimaru. He didn't care if the long haired youth was present he went to the Hyuga heiress and gave her a big hug surprising the mask kunoichi a lot she blushed while her heart skipped a beat. She felt so happy to be embraced by the object of her affections everyone was smiling at the sight even Yukimaru. Ino had to give a smirk knowing how lucky her teammate is Sakura was in the same boat, both teens broke the hug before the blond jinchurikki stood still like he was paralyzed.

"Kitsune-kun what's wrong?"

"I forgot that I'm wounded and when I hugged you I put pressure on my wounds….ouch!" he gave a comical expression as he fell to the ground from the pain.

"Hold steady Kitsune-sama don't move" Sakura said as she went to him and started healing his injuries she was worried when she saw them they looked serious but she will be able to heal, especially when the Kyuubi was giving her a hand on the healing.

"Those are some wounds you have Kitsune-sama it's a good thing we got here in time" Ino said.

"More like that it's a good thing that you were able to break that barrier on the doorTemptress" replied the pink haired medic with a smile.

"It was a seal barrier its use to prevent anyone from entering a room, like putting your door a removable lock. We use those kinds of seals back at the interrogation division so I knew how to deactivated" the Yamanaka said proudly.

The mask mercenary chuckle" you all did a fine job I'm proud of you guys."

"Where's Kabuto?" Hinata asked.

The blond sighed" he's gone I had my hands occupied fighting someone very strong."

"Who?" asked Ino.

Naruto stood quiet not wanting to talk about it making the three kunoichis wondered what happened in his fight" once we're done healing me we're leaving."

Guren noticed the body not too far from where they were she gasped recognizing it" that's….that's Gozu."

"What…you know him Guren?" replied the blond jinchurikki.

The crystal user nodded" I do he was the member from our group that got killed by the three tails, because he saved my life….."

"I see…." He replied.

"You were fighting someone who was dead?" replied Hinata.

"Not quite Orochimaru used that guy's body to bring back someone from the death and he was very strong he…" the tall blond paused not wanting to get into more details about the encounter with his father.

"Bring back someone from the death he must have used that forbidden jutsu I have heard about" replied Guren.

"There I'm done Kitsune-sama" Sakura finished healing her leader' it's a good thing I took that soldier pill or I would have never been able to heal Guren and Naruto….'

"Thanks….Guren I need to ask you a favor but first let's get out of here" Naruto said.

"All right…."

"About time I had about enough with this place it brings me the creeps" Ino said with a shudder.

(Sene change time skip)

BOOM!

The entrance to the hidden sound village blew up to pieces after Naruto threw a rasengan bomb. The mask mercenary wanted to make sure Kabuto didn't returned to this place and use it as a human breeding house for his sick experiments. He left reuniting with his team he saw them with Guren and Yukimaru although they failed the mission he was able to obtained information on the new Orochimaru and that he was up to no good like the original, he knew that Kabuto was an even bigger threat than Orochimaru he had to be stop.

He saw Guren heading to him handing him his map" here you go I did what you told me. I marked every location of Orochimaru-sama's hide outs."

"Thanks Guren this will help us a lot in the future I'm sure Kabuto will use them to lay low and do whatever it is his planning."

"So Guren what are you going to do now?" Hinata asked.

The crystal kunoichi smiled looking at Yukimaru who smiled back at her" we're going to travel around the world until we have found that special place where we belong."

"I always wanted to see the whole world" Yukimaru replied.

"That's great you guys are doing the right thing" Sakura said.

"Maybe I can finally give my bloodline another use other than fighting."

"You're doing the right thing Guren I'm really glad for you" Ino said smiling.

"I want to thank you all for helping me find Yukimaru I wouldn't have done it without you guys. I learned that team Kitsune Flash isn't as evil as the rumors say I know you won't try to devour my soul."

Naruto face faulted while the kunoichis laughed" oh come on stop it, that is getting old!"

"Guren-san…." Yukimaru said looking at her with a smile like he was trying to tell her something.

The crystal kunoichi nodded she took a carnelian crystallized it just like the ones the teen has she hadn it to Hinata" here Yukimaru would like for you to have this."

"Huh for me?" she smiled at the long haired youth.

"I hope you like it…."

"Accept the gift because he likes you" Guren gave a smirk while Yukimaru blushed.

The Hyuga heiress smiled" thank you Yukimaru-san I will gladly accept it."

'Big deal I gave her a hair pin' thought the jealous Naruto.

Guren smiled as she looked at Yukimaru" we better get going thanks once again."

"Take care and I'm sorry for not trusting you before Guren" Sakura said.

"It's understandable…."

"Thank you everyone and thank you Hinata I hope we can meet again" Yukimaru said.

"Me too Yukimaru-san take care."

"I wish you guys a happy safe journey" Naruto replied.

With that said they left heading into the deeper parts of the snake forest hoping to leave soon from the region and rice country. The team waved them goodbye before they headed off taking a different path and they eventually went their separate ways. Naruto was a bit surprised that his team hasn't complain about failing the mission it was strange everything they worked for has been for the purpose that they capture Kabuto yet they haven't said a word about it. It was filling him with curiosity why they won't saud a word maybe they were hiding their reactions and deep inside they were disappointed, he felt himself to blame. He was the one who let him escaped in the first place it was his duty to capture the criminal and he failed he has failed for the entire team. Maybe they were disappointed at him for not being a good leader he was starting to have an internal war with his thoughts of doubts so he decided to say it already.

"Well team we failed the mission."

"Failed?" asked Hinata.

"Yeah Kabuto got away…."

"That doesn't matter we can go after him next time" Sakura replied.

"To me I think we fulfill the mission just look at Guren and Yukimaru they got reunited and now they are happy traveling together until they find a nice home to live" Ino said.

"I guess the mission wasn't a complete failure after all" Naruto smiled" you're right not everything was a failure in this mission now let's keep going team the sooner we arrive at the nearest town the better."

"Oh yeah I don't feel like camping I really want to get to take a nice shower" Sakura said.

"That makes two of us" Ino agreed with her teammate.

Hinata looked at her leader who got back to being quiet just like the rest of the team she could sense something was wrong, there was something bothering him. They have to know and understand the blond jinchurikki for a while now and it was mere intuition that they could tell when there was something in his mind that was troubling him. She wanted to help him maybe Sakura and Ino were thinking about cheering him up but she wanted to try to be the one to help him, she will do anything to make him feel better and happy. Maybe he can open up to her and tell her his problems she will make sure she makes him tell her, she was already determined to go through with this so there was no turning back now.

(Scene change time skip)

(Location: local inn urban district town rice country territory)

Naruto was in his room doing the mission report he needed to send it to Tsunade as soon as possible, he figured he'd do it before going to bed. By now the kunoichis have already gone to bed they were tired after the mission along with using a lot of their chakra he didn't blamed them, they deserved the good rest. As he wrote on the scroll he started thinking about the mission it was a failure but he wasn't bothered anymore his team wasn't bothered either, they were motivated to try again. Like Sakura said they were going to capture Kabuto next time he was more bothered with what the former medic nin is planning, it was nothing good he knew. He knew he was planning to change bodies again just like the Orochimaru and like the original he wanted the body of his former best friend Sasuke there was no need to worry about the Uchiha was in prison back at Konoha. He was obviously being kept alive because of Tsunade she was obviously trying to reason with the council to prevent his execution, it was all for Itachi's sake after the great sacrifice he did for the village. But keeping him alive was trouble for them meaning that Kabuto will eventually find a way to get to him why should he even care in the first place the Uchiha was no longer his best friend, he chose to cut his bonds with him when he stabbed him with chidori at the Valley of the end. Perhaps maybe deep inside he still care for Sasuke even if he hated to think about it, those bonds he tried to break are still alive after all the thought made him growled in anger.

"I need Sasuke in order to perfect the soul transfer jutsu…."

He stopped his writing on the mission report scroll putting the ink brush down he was in deep thought. No matter how many times he tried to deny it he still cares for him even after his betrayal it was hard to let go of the person who was his most important bond, his best friend. Then he was come with a decision if he does include on his report that Kabuto is after Sasuke no doubt the council will push their demands to execute the Uchiha and there will be nothing Tsunade will do about it even as the Hokage pushing her decision to use execution as a solution. That wasn't the worst of it what the slug sanin was currently doing is considered playing with fire going against the council's decision is dangerous it could lead for them to take action and made a decision to strip her title as Hokage. What he will hate the most that he will be part of the cause of her removal as kage if he doesn't tell them about the Kabuto's interest in Sasuke's body, he didn't know if they will suspect about him needing a new body like Orochimaru. He rubbed his forehead cursing softly he didn't wanted to wake up his team but he was having an internal argument with his moral as a ninja and his emotions.

'Damn it sometimes I hate being so softhearted….'

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on his door. He was surprised he wasn't expecting to have someone visiting him he knew it couldn't be room service at the hour in the night. He went to the door sliding the paper door open he was really surprised to see Hinata holding a small plate with a drink before taking noticed what she was wearing. The Hyuga heiress was wearing a long white shirt reaching to her knees it was obviously her choice for sleeping clothes he taken noticed that the shirt was a little tight he could clearly noticed her body. All the curves in the right places and her voluptuous breasts were very noticeable her body was truly sexy he made a complete stop on checking the Hyuga priness's sexy body. The last thing he needed right now is to have his hormones go crazy but he admitted that Hinata had a hot body he even wondered if she was wearing any underwear behind that shirt, she was truly voluptuous. He erased any perverted thoughts focusing on the Hyuga beauty in front of him she looked like she was worried but she hide her concern for him behind a sweet smile.

"Hinata what are you doing here this late at night?" his tone was more happy than surprise he was always happy to be greeted by any member from his team.

"I brought you some lemonade would you like some?" she smiled showing him the cold glass she hoped he accept it.

"Thanks I am a little thirsty come in" he let inside his room he was taught to being always being a gentlemen with the ladies it was probably one of the positive things he learned from Jiraiya.

She went inside the room walking next to his bed she was starting to act nervous all of the sudden. It was because what the object of her affections was wearing her pale eyes were locked on his clothing. Naruto was wearing an orange shirt but it had an opening in the middle allowing her to see his nice well tone chest and finally he was on his green boxers. Just seeing the blond she held strong and deep feelings in his underwear made her blushed, had a strong effect on her body and think of all kinds of impure thoughts regarding herself and the tall blond in different compromising situations. By now her whole face was red from thinking about those erotic vivid images with the whiskered blond she erased those thoughts and went to the task at hand.

'No this isn't the time to be thinking of such things….I have to help Naruto-kun….'

"Naruto-kun here" she offered the lemonade.

"Oh yeah thanks" he gave a goofy grin taking the cold drink from the plate.

The Hyuga heiress smiled the blond took a sip of the drink' I hope I'll be able to get through with this….'

"Mmm this lemonade taste great Hinata how about if we sit down?" he got seated on the bed and she followed shortly.

"Um….Naruto-kun?" she saw him drinking the lemonade.

The blond jinchurikki gave a satisfied sigh as he paused drinking the refreshing drink" what is it?"

"I know there's something wrong with you…..ever since we left the sound village."

His cerulean eyes went wide staring at her of course he has been quiet since they left the hide out. After meeting his father ending up fighting him and watched him killed himself anyone will feel devastated it was still hard for him to move on and get over it. He chose to hide the pain like he usually does and let himself get hurt without involving anyone else but now it was different because he has his own team now. There was no I in team meaning any problem he has he will have to share it with them the same if they have a problem too, although it wasn't obligatory. If he didn't felt like telling them then he didn't need to but it didn't felt right as a team they will always do everything together, maybe he will feel better if he tells his problem to Hinata. The pain was still hurting him and his father's words he just didn't felt like telling someone about it now.

He sighed trying to pretend there was nothing wrong with him" Hinata I'm fine really…."

"Naruto-kun you don't have to lie to me I know something is wrong with you, me Sakura-san and Ino-san knows that there's something bothering you. How about if you tell me?" she gave him a sweet smile with some blush on her cheeks.

"There's nothing wrong with me I'm very fine" he lied once again he was being stubborn.

The Hyuga princess gave a small pout she didn't like where this was going she saw him drinking the lemonade again she gave a smile" you have no choice but to tell me Naruto-kun I asked Ino-san to give me a truth serum and I poured it on the lemonade you are now drinking."

Naruto's eyes turned the size of saucers and spit part of the tasty drink giving her a comical expression" whaaaaat are you saying you drugged the lemonade with a truth serum?"

"Yes I did…"

He turned pale' oh no that means she can ask me anything and I will have no choice but to tell her truth. Please Kami don't let her ask me about the oral sex with Ino and Sakura!'

Hinata giggled at his horrified expression" it's all right Naruto-kun I was just kidding."

The blond sweat dropped at her comment" you sure?"

"I was just trying to light up the mood I know that you don't have to tell me what's wrong, but you remember what I told you back at field country?"

His eyes softened of course he will never forget what she told him" yes I do…."

She smiled" we are a team if there's anything you would like to talk about you can tell us, if you want to tell me then I will be here to listen to your problem. I will always be here for you when you're feeling down hiding things from the rest might be the reasonable choice at first but with time it becomes the wrong choice. The burden and the pain will become too much for you to bear keeping it hidden from the rest will be harder with time, don't you think telling us you're problem will make you feel better?"

Naruto was in deep thought letting her words sink in is this what he really wanted. Does he wanted to hide things from his team and suffered all alone instead of sharing it with the people who have become very precious to him. Talking his problems with them in this case Hinata was the no brainer what was the solution he felt so stupid for thinking so selfish in the first place, he wasn't traveling alone anymore he had a team that cares a lot for him. He needed them as much as they needed him it wasn't right to keep things from them they were a team and they were together in everything.

Hinata got up feeling hurt this what she wanted to do the most to be there for Naruto. She wanted to make him feel better most importantly she wanted him to open up to her and tell her his problems. So maybe she can find a solution and help him she would do anything to erase any doubt or pain from him but there was nothing she could do if he didn't told her what was wrong with him.

"I'm going back to my room goodnight Naruto-kun…."

'Do something say something damn it!' his conscious was yelling at him.

"Hinata wait!" he grabbed her hand stopping her" wait don't go sit down I will tell you…"

She smiled blushing she nodded sitting back on the bed her heart has skipped a beat feeling so happy" all right Naruto-kun take your time you don't have to tell me so suddenly."

"No I will tell you and you were right about everything I shouldn't be keeping things from you and everyone else, I should tell you my problems. I know you guys would do the same thing for me" he smiled at her.

The Hyuga heiress was smiling trying to control her heart beat it was beating so fast that it was ready to blow up any minute now. She stood quiet and waited for her blond love to tell her she was ready to help him at anything she could feel that she was getting even closer than ever to his heart with each time he tells her about his problems.

Naruto took a deep breath remembering the events that occurred at the hidden sound village" you're right there's something wrong with me it happened while we were at Orochimaru's hide out, or more precise Kabuto's hide out. But anyway remember that strong enemy I had to fight that prevented me from getting to Kabuto…..he summoned him back from the dead with a forbidden jutsu. Hinata the one Kabuto brought back to life was….my father."

The Hyuga princess gasped in shocked" your father….you mean he brought back the fourth Hokage from the death?"

The blond jinchurikki nodded" at first I felt so happy to finally meet him face to face I mean who wouldn't if you finally meet with your father I….I told him I didn't hated him for what he did I didn't hated him for sealing the fox in me."

Hinata lowered her gaze understanding why he was so troubled" it didn't turned out how you were expecting it would be?"

"Yeah it wasn't a happy father and son reunion with Kabuto bringing him back to life the forbidden jutsu he casted makes the person he summoned to have complete control of him. When he summoned my dad he was normal and he was so happy to see me until Kabuto used a hand seal and in a second he was in his control…."

He gazed at the kunoichi with teary eyes" Hinata….I had no choice but to fight him he was going to kill me I had to fight him my own father to the death…."

The Hyuga heiress got closer to him putting her arm around his shoulder she was probably feeling the same way as him, it was horrible the feeling of fighting your own father to the death" it's all right Naruto-kun I understand if you don't want to say anymore…."

"No I will tell you everything Hinata I chose to. In the end he was able to fight the mind control of the jutsu and he used the same forbidden jutsu he used to seal the nine tails in me. He ended up losing his soul and just like that he was gone but not before he told me that he was proud of me and that he knew I was going to become an even better Hokage than him…."

He started sobbing telling the past events at the hidden sound village was heartbreaking to him but that was all the Hyuga heiress could take. Hinata slowly put the tall blond in a warm embrace making sure it was very effective like she was trying to give him her strength. Naruto finally broke down crying while the kunoichi pulled him closer protecting him from the pain he was feeling wanting to life his sorrow and suffering this was all she could do but she wanted to make sure that it helps him feel better. She made every action count the way she was holding him, the way his head was pressed on her shoulder and the way she stroke his messy spiky blond hair. Tonight she was going to be the one to get rid of his pain and make him feel better and she had a feeling she was succeeded feeling Naruto wrapping his arms around her back giving her embrace more effect as he sobs.

"Shhh….it's all right Naruto-kun I'm here now everything will be fine I will help you through this, I will be your pillar of conform tonight so it's okay to let it all out. Let that pain out don't keep it in just cry I'm here for you…."

"Hinata…..Hinata it's not fair I wanted him to be here with me I wanted to have my family to be together…..Hinata…." his sobbing got worse.

She hold him tighter before she realized that she shedding her own tears she was his feeling his pain too. Naruto felt the warmth of her body it was amazing it's like her hug had this strange power that will make any pain vanished slowly he was starting to feel better. This is what he needed a hug to make everything better and just by being this close to the Hyuga beauty he started to feel every detail from her body. He blushed first as he felt her breast pressing on his chest and just by feeling the touch they were big , second his arms were wrapped around her body he was able to tell how curvy she was. Her hips and waist was a perfect ten which meant that she must have a nice booty. His hormones have reacted and now they were going crazy he was no longer in pain for losing his father now he was starting to get very excited with the hug Hinata was giving him. They stood in each other's arms for a couple of minutes while he got the urge to sexually explore her nice voluptuous body, fondle her breast, spank her ass and play with her pussy he wanted to them all. His hormones were driving him insane as he finally broke the hug with the Hyuga princess although she was a little disappointed she was enjoying it as well while in the same boat of having perverted thoughts with him.

"Naruto-kun….?"

"Heh thanks Hinata I'm feeling a lot better thanks for helping me…." He chuckle nervously.

"You're feeling better now?"

"Yeah much better you had exactly what I needed I nice warm hug hehe."

She blushed" I'm happy I was able to help you don't forget that I will always be here whenever you need someone to talk to."

"I know I can count on you and the rest of my team."

The Hyuga princess nodded not feeling like she wanted to leave she wanted to be with him, she needed him" well….I better get back to my room then we are leaving rice country in the morning right?"

"We do have a couple of things to do before leaving this place I guess…."

"Then I will see you tomorrow Naruto-kun…."

The blond jinchurikki didn't had any plans to make the Hyuga beauty leave he wanted her with him especially when his hormones were raging. He lowly reached out and touched her face he started caressing her long hair smiling that she was wearing the white butterfly hair clip he gave her with the way she was looking at him he was such a fool to think that she will like someone like Yukimaru. He was younger than her and there was no way she would have romantic feelings for him, he couldn't help it if he felt jealous. He has grown so fond of Hinata along with Sakura and Ino what will he do without them his life wasn't the same without them, he smiled fondly at the Hyuga kunoichi that it made her blushed so much. He touched her face while she was still staring at him so affectionately her heart has increased speed beating so rapidly and loud like a drum. He got closer and took a sniff at her she smell so good it only helped fueled his hormones even more while Hinata was praying to Kami that she didn't fainted she wanted the object of her affections to continue touching her so passionately and intimate. Naruto took it a little further he was taken over by his hormones his hand went down from her face to her left breast and touched it feeling how soft it felt.

The Hyuga beauty made a surprise gasped as she felt his hand on her chest" Naruto-kun what….?"

The whiskered blond gasped realizing his mistake" oh no Hinata I…I'm sorry I didn't….."

"Shhh its okay…..I don't mind" she was blushing her heat beat quickened.

"What?" he blushed feeling stunned at her comment.

The Hyuga heiress finally took the courage to do something she wanted to do for a long time. She remembered how close she came to kiss him back at Tanzaku town and now another chance has come before her, this time she was going to do it. She reached out and cupped her hands on both sides of his faces making Naruto blushed at her bold move he never thought she will be the one to make such a move on him. She gave him a sweet smiling blushing as she brought his face closer to her and he wasn't going to stop her he wanted this too soon their lips made contact, she gave a moan as she was finally claiming the lips of her blond love. It felt out of this world like she was hit by a powerful jolt of lighting that hit her body in a very pleasant way she felt like she was walking among the clouds and she has never felt so alive. Naruto was in the same boat he has accepted the kiss as he hungrily claimed the lips of the busty kunoichi without holding back he was now in favor of his hormones. Time seems to have stopped for both teens as they continued their lip lock soon both started using their tongues as their kiss were getting wilder and passionate. Hinata moaned in his lips letting his tongue entered her mouth both getting into a passionate war with each other both were now very aroused as they didn't want this to end.

'I'm kissing him….I'm kissing Naruto-kun…..I'm finally kissing him!' she shouted mentally in pure joy she has fulfilled one of her many dreams come true.

Both broke the intense passionate kiss because of the lack of air between them they stared into their eyes. Both could see the passion and arousal reflecting in them they both know what they wanted at least a preview what will they do he wanted her and she wanted him. Both have engaged into another passionate kiss using their tongues once again Naruto fully controlled by his hormones broke the kiss and reached down grabbing her long shirt, he removed it from her. Hinata blushed letting herself removed the piece of clothing she didn't care nor she felt embarrassed about it she wanted this her hormones have also taken control of her. The blond was now staring at the Hyuga beauty wearing her white cotton panties and she was topless his manhood reacted when he saw a pair of erected nipples double D breasts. Now of course he knew that Hinata's breasts were bigger than Sakura's and Ino's but watching them fully exposed and up close made his mouth watered with arousing hunger he was going to enjoy this a lot. Before playing with her assets he made a hand seal activating something on the door to his room he gave a grin now that was out of the way he went back to the task at hand. He touched soft voluptuous breast earning a moan from the Hyuga heiress he started fondling them playing with them like they were made of clay. His actions were obvious as Hinata moaned softly with each touch that's when he found out that her breasts are very sensitive.

"OOoooohhh aaaahhhhh Naruto-kun oooooohhhh don't stop!"

"I won't stop with breast like yours Hinata" the very aroused Naruto grinned loving playing with her double D beauties.

He did all kinds of things to her breasts he massage them, he squeezed them, he licked and kissed them. Once he was pretty satisfied with her breasts he went for her nipples he kissed, he licked, he blow, he bit and sucked on them he teased the areolas as much as he could. His ministrations had a strong effect on the Hyuga heiress as she moaned even louder moaning his name she felt herself so wet between her legs she wanted more. He continued devouring, playing and teasing for her breast while Hinata was moaning for her dear life his actions were starting to have an effect as she felt her climax building up she didn't know how long she was going to last.

"Naruto-kun oooohhhhh aaahhhhh oh Kami ooooohhhh I'm going to…."

"I love your breast so much my Hyuga princess" he replied before sucking on them like a starve child.

The Hyuga princes couldn't hold it anymore" Naruto-kun!"

It only took the blond jinchurikki to play and tease with her breast for Hinata to experience her first orgasm it hit her hard as she felt that her panties got soaked with her juices. Naruto has stopped hungrily sucking on her voluptuous breasts looking at her satisfied expression from her release she obviously enjoyed as much as he did doing her breasts.

"Hinata you already came that fast I guess you were waiting for me that long, after all you can't help it if your breasts are so sensitive…."

The Hyuga beauty panted blushing still feeling the effect of her first orgasm smiling at the object of her affections" Naruto-kun please I want to make you feel good too…."

The tall blond grinned" sure I have been waiting for you to give me oral if you're up to it?"

She nodded the blush was still present in her face" yes I'm ready Naruto-kun."

Naruto lie down on the bed making Hinata blushed even more she was able to see the large tent forming on his boxers meaning that his manhood was quite big. She remembered when Kushina said that he was very impressive in size just like his father making her so curious wanting to find out how big he really was, she was about to find out. Because of that along with her strong feelings for him her erotic dreams with the tall blond increased more than regular, it embarrassed her to think about it but a woman that sexually fantasized about a man she felt attracted to it was a perfectly normal thing. She finally took her courage and strength to go through with this she has come this far, might as well see it to the end.

The blond jinchurikki grinned seeing how eager she looked even if her face was red" I hope you don't faint when you see it."

"I'm ready" she replied with determination in her tone.

"Very well it's all yours then..."

With trembling hands but courage overflowing her she managed to reach his boxers and with a quick movement she removed the piece of clothing that was hiding the one big thing she has been dying to see for a long time. It seems she has asked for more than you she can chew on as all of the blood of her body has flowed all the way to her head as soon as she laid eyes at Naruto's cock. She was shocked staring at the twelve inch pillar of flesh which it has throbbing in anticipation she took a deep breath and prayed that she doesn't faint she wanted to get through this as far as she could, even if she was ready for the act of intimate penetration. She gazed at his dick with determination and full arousal as grabbed with both hands she felt how hard and hot it was, she didn't thought twice at what she was obviously going to do. She ran her tongue all over his cock reaching to the tip of his shaft making the whiskered blond groaned in pleasure she started licking the head of his shaft rapidly while stroking it with one of her hands, she wasn't done yet. She give his twelve inch pillar of flesh lots of kisses and licks, she even spit on it a couple of times to use her saliva as lubricant while Naruto felt like he has die and gone to heaven moaning her name like crazy.

"Oh Hinata yes faster suck it faster!"

"Mmmmmmmm…..mmmmm"

The Hyuga heiress was so happy seeing her blonds' love face full of pleasure she was doing a good job on him. Once she was satisfied with his cock she went lowered spotting his testicles she couldn't leave the twins all alone without any attention she wanted to pleasure the blond teen in everything. She licked and sucked his left testicle making Naruto groaned loudly feeling amazing at the pleasurable sensation the busty Hyuga has currently taken his ball in her mouth, she was once done she gave the same treatment to its twin. Naruto moaned begging her not to stop to give him more at this rate he knew his release will be near and it will one huge satisfactory explosion, he gazed at she was done with his testicles and went back to his dick. She finally opened her mouth and took the pillar of flesh in the blond was shocked as he saw her taking his entire twelve inch cock in her mouth before she started sucking it rapidly. He gave a loud groan he couldn't believe that Hinata will be so good in doing oral sex she was truly a natural at this and he couldn't believe this was her first time doing in it.

"Hinata keep it up yeah do it more oh shit!"

"Mmmmmmmmmmm…."

The Kyuubu grinned at Hinata's performance along with taking his container's dick completely in her mouth" you know what they say brat the third vixen is the charm."

'Amazing Naruto-kun's penis is so big and hot I love it!'

The Hyuga princess finished sucking on his dick something was wrong since Naruto hasn't had his release yet. But just looking at her blushing aroused face she wasn't done yet not by a long shot she knew exactly what to do next. Naruto saw as she showed her voluptuous double D breast and did something that made him grin he groaned softly as she placed his cock between her big breasts. The blond love it very much Hinata has given him the best oral sex he has ever experienced and now she was going to give him a tit job. She started moving her breasts up and down stroking his pillar of flesh with them at the same time she started licking the tip of his shaft rapidly she started increasing the speed. Naruto groaned louder feeling the Hyuga heiress's breasts stroking his cock while getting his tip licked it was too much for him to bear he couldn't hold it anymore, he knew his climax was near it felt so good.

"Oh shit Hinata so good more I….I can't hold on for much longer!"

"Mmmmmmmmm…."

Naruto's eyes widened feeling his climax reaching him" oh fuck Hinata I'm coming!"

He removed himself from her breasts stroking his cock he groaned as he released a huge wave of cum hitting Hinata's voluptuous breasts. The Hyuga beauty moaned as she felt the hot thick cum splattered all over her breasts it was a huge load she smiled before she started cleaning herself. She took the cum licking it she brought her breasts licking the cum from her nipples she wanted to make sure that she has cleaned every bit of her blonds' love seed. For Naruto watching Hinata cleaned his cum from her breasts was truly an arousing sight he was still hard as a rock though he wasn't done with her after watching the little arousing show. The Hyuga heiress was done cleaning her breasts completely before she felt a pair of arms circling around her back she looked at Naruto who caught her by surprise with a passionate kiss, of course she accepted using her tongue. They broke the kiss as the whiskered blond started playing with her breasts again before one of his hands reached to her panties and grinned touching her womanhood.

"My Hinata even if you came you're still wet I guess I have no choice but to give you a helping hand."

"Naruto-kun I….I have never masturbated before" she replied blushing.

"I see then I will show you how is done don't feel ashamed…"

He kissed her again as he played with one of her breast and his other hand went inside her panties before it reached his destination. He started rubbing her clitoris making the Hyuga beauty moaned in surprise he rubbed it faster making the busty kunoichi louder, he pinched and teased her nipples in addition. Hinata was getting crazy from the pleasure as she was caught off guard once again by the blond with a kiss she could feel her climax it was so fast but she couldn't help it. Naruto was doing one hell of a job with pleasuring her it was inevitable she was going to have another orgasm so soon, the blond increased speed rubbing her clitoris while sliding his fingers inside and out playing with her pussy. It wasn't long before Hinata was finally reaching the end she was still kissing him while he was playing with her breast and pussy.

"Ahhhhh ooooohhhh Naruto-kun I'm going to…."

"Yeah Hinata go ahead do it!"

"Ahhhh I'm coming Naruto-kun!"

Finally the Hyuga princess released her second orgasm soaking her panties once again she made a mental note to change her underwear later. She collapsed as Naruto caught her she had a big smile on her face she was truly satisfied both were tired and they decided to sleep calling it a night before giving one final kiss. Obviously later tonight Hinata left his room and went back to her room she didn't wanted Sakura or Ino to catch her sleeping in the same bed with their leader. Naruto eventually finished writing his mission report and used a messenger toad to send it back to Tsunade, he grinned as he remembered how loud their moans were. However there was nothing to worry about no one heard their screams of passion thanks to a very useful tool he received.

'I'm glad I put those sound proof seals on my room I will thank Ino eventually….'

(Scene change time skip the next day)

(Location: outskirts of local town rice country territory)

Ino met up with Naruto on a field outside of the town where they were staying she was wearing a purple sports bra and with purple shorts. The blond took a noticed of her choice of clothing it showed her body to the next level of sexy he dispelled any impure thoughts he didn't wanted to be attack by his hormones after last night.

"You called Naruto?" she replied with a big smile.

"I did the reason I called out here is simple Ino, Since Sakura and Hinata are still eating breakfast I thought that this will be the best time before we head out to give you, your punishment."

The Yamanaka's face instantly lit up she obviously expected a kinky punishment from the tall blond" my punishment….yes you are absolutely right I do deserve to be punish after I kept information from the team yes I must be punish" she smiled.

Naruto sweat dropped" you look mighty cheery to start your punishment."

'You have no idea' she thought with a mental grin.

"Okay then since you're being so enthusiastic to start this is what you're going to do. You see this entire field that surrounds the town I want you to run thirty laps around it. It will be simple for you because this field is not even as half as big as Konoha and also…."

"Say no more Naruto I know exactly what you had in mind" the platinum blond removed her sports bra showing him her breasts.

"What the heck are you doing Ino?" Naruto gave a comical expression with a nose bleed.

"Was it looked like this is my punishment run thirty laps of this field naked?"

"Run the laps naked?" the blond still had his nose bleed imagining a naked Ino running thirty laps" no that's not it you're going to run the laps with your clothes on!"

"You sure because I find it more fitting that I run the laps naked as a punishment?"

The blond jinchurikki grinned" I think you will enjoy it to see it as a punishment."

The platinum blond winked at him" more like you will enjoy it more."

"Go Ino…."

"Come on I'll pretend like I'm being humiliated from the punishment."

"Nice try now go…"

"But you sure you don't want me to run the laps naked?"

"Just go!" he gave a comical look with the nose bleed again.

"Okay!"

He sighed as he watched her running and soon he regretted his choice. He saw as Ino ass jiggle and her breast bounce rapidly with every step she took he got a nose bleed and he wanted to see how amazing will be to watched her run naked.

"Brat you should have let her run the laps naked."

'I know….' He cried comical tears.

To be continued

Oh my God I can't believe I have finally finished this VERY LONG chapter ( 114 pages 61,605 words) so please I'm really sorry that it took me so long to update. I hope you all enjoy the Naru/Hina moment as well as the oral. On another note I need a new Beta becaus I haven't heard from my Beta in months and he's not that good fixing the grammar if anyone wants to be my Beta please let me know sending me a PM.

As for the manga I am so happy that Kushina has finally appeared and Naruto has finally met her I cried in 498 and I can't believe that Minato and Kushina is a parallel to Naruto and Sakura's relationship, I really don't know what Kishimoto is trying to show us. Kushina being picked up for her hair and Sakura for her forehead both looked down on the two boys and in the end they changed because of them. Minato like Kushina's hair Naruto like's Sakura's forehead. But another chapter sadly I must say that I was disappointed with chapter 499 the Naruto vs Kyuubi was awesome the fox got his ass owned by Naruto that part of the chapter was awesome. However I didn't like the reference that Naruto might be the sage of the six paths and the other thing that shocked me was the cliffhanger of the chapter which Kushina told Naruto that she was the previous jinchurikki of the Kyuubi. I'm beginning to wonder that Kishimoto might be on crack or perhaps he's taking opium. I just don't know what's he thinking and he better have a good explanation for all of this but anyway I do know that chapter 500 will be epic we have to wait two weeks the torture.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I know I have said that it was going to be Kushina/Itachi pairing but I want to know what you guys think, I want to know your opinions so I have decided to open a poll on my profile page whether Itachi will be with Kushina, Anko or both women. Please vote and so far I don't know the time limit of the poll to stay open.

Please review and I will see you all next time farewell!.

Next chapter: the best novel of all time