Naruto was crouching down in a tunnel, hiding his body heat among one of the man hot spots in the Underdark while taking advantage of his darkvision to see others. He once asked his father just why Woren could see in the dark like this. Rei had told him that their eyes, while in the dark, supplemented their sight with their own light. He had then said, 'I think anyway, I could just be full of it'.

Across from him, one of the hunters of Suldanessellar was also hiding, both holding spears. She motioned dark the tunnel at a river below them and Naruto found himself licking his lips. What made him do it? A rather large creature of the Underdark called an Aboleth; a twenty foot long, prehistoric fish. And now that the hunter had given the signal, Naruto started looking for it and spotted the shadow swimming lazily under the surface. Waiting for it to swim below them, the hunter held up three of her fingers. Two. One. She dropped the last finger, opened her hand, and made fist before the both of them dropped down on it. Good news, their weapons bit deep first stab. Bad new…or also good in Naruto's opinion, they missed the instant kill and it took them on one hell of a ride. "WHEW," Naruto shouted before getting a mouthful of water as it dived. Fortunately the tunnel wasn't deep or wide but that meant it had more places to slam them against the wall and that much sooner. Leaving the spear where it was, Naruto grabbed his daggers and start stabbing them in as he crawled for the head for the killing blow. Twisting this way and that to avoid rocks, he had a grin from the excitement of it all. It jumped up in the air and Naruto couldn't help it. "YEEHAH!" When it came down with him hitting the surface first, he really couldn't do anything but groan in pain. This fish played for keeps.

Finally getting to the head, Naruto looked into its three eyes that glared at him before thrusting a dagger down behind its skull and into its brain. Going into the death throes, it was even wilder in its thrashing. When it stopped and laid on the surface, Naruto took a deep breath and shouted, "That was awesome! Let's get this big guy home and fry him up!"

"Alright, just a minute," the hunter said with a laugh as she tied a rope around its tail. The drow woman was one of the many hunters for Suldanessellar from house Olath'Velve. Like her matron, she had black skin and white hair but unlike her, she never held anything back. That was probably why Naruto liked being with her, reminded him of Uzu.

"Hey, Streea, how long do you think it will take to cook this?"

"Oh, few hours for what we are going to cook. There is also plenty for sushi. And other things as well." She chuckled at how excited the little cat was at the thought of fish for dinner. Well, he wasn't so little anymore. Naruto had spent nine months in the Underdark so far and he was baring it well. To live in the Underdark is to live a hard life that has many struggles and Naruto had done admirably well at it. When they had pulled the fish to the cart to bring it back to the city, Streea knelt and prayed. "Fierce Deity, take this life with you for the battle it gave. All Mother, take his soul so that he may pass on in peace." She looked to Naruto expectantly.

"Alright. Ahem, Ladon, may this meal be especially good and tasty." Streea slapped him on the back of the head for that. "What! The battle is over, the only way to honor him now it to make sure there is no leftovers!" Streea rolled her eyes and started the cart moving.

Back inside the city, Naruto was eager to get the feast start but Alucard pulled him away. "We are going to practice, Naruto, draw your sword." This time, Alucard drew his own sword, not their sparring blades.

"…Yes," Naruto said before pulling it out. Alucard barely waited, going for a stab. Naruto parried it and swung his sword in a circle trying to move their blades to his advantage. Pushing up against Alucard, he pushed the swords wide and slammed his free elbow right in his face. Alucard stumbled back and looked to Naruto with an eyebrow raised. "…What? My sensei warned me that there is no such thing as a fair fight. The only unfair one is the one you lose."

Alucard smirked and said, "Very well, then no holding back this time." He made a swinging motion and vanished. Appearing behind Naruto with the blade still in motion, he looked to be about to cut Naruto in half. Except Naruto suddenly stumbled, rolled forward, and jumped at where Alucard had been. Expectantly, Alucard reappeared there already making his defense. Naruto slashed with a trail of mana from his sword, sending a glaive at him. Alucard broke it with his sword and looked to Naruto. "Was that you're doing or the sword that made you stumble?"

"…I honestly don't know anymore," Naruto replied.

Coming in again, Alucard slashed and pushed his sword wide with the intention to pull by and go for the finishing blow. But Naruto beat him to it by grabbing a dagger and stabbing right in his chest. After a moment, Naruto realize there was no spell on him this time and he was bleeding from it. "I'm sorry," he rushed as he pulled it out.

"No, no, you did fine," Alucard said as he rubbed the cut and it healed. "You did very well, Naruto, we are done."

Naruto nodded, "Then I will see you tomorrow for training."

"No, you won't. We are done. I have little more to teach you of the blade."

"…What? But I…" Naruto trailed off in shock.

"I was only ever supplementing what you already knew, Naruto. I was teaching you only how to handle blades beyond that bokudo of yours. You have learned it." Naruto blinked several times as he tried to come up with a reply. "Give me the Alucart Sword and go eat. Come see me in three days for its return." Naruto sheathed the blade and gave it to him. Alucard walked off without another word.

Naruto slowly headed back to the dining room of House Olath'Velve and sat down in the chair. Not long later, Streea sat down across from him. "Something wrong?"

"My apprenticeship with Alucard is over," Naruto said softly.

"That's great news," she replied, happy for him. "…Unless that's a problem."

"It means that I have to go home now."

"And you don't want to?"

"I do. I've wanted to go home since the day I left. The problem is that I left on a rather sour note. I was having an argument with my mother so I left until I could face her again. I never thought it would take this long but…I haven't spoken to any of them since I just up and left. How can I just walk back in like nothing had happened especially with how I vanished?"

"You can't," Streea told him with a nod. "You are going to go there and possibly the both of you are going to hold onto your side of the argument even if you are relieved to see one another. And almost before you even get there, you will be arguing again because you can't let it go." Naruto looked pale as he saw that happening in his mind.

"But…I don't want that! I want to…" She silenced him by placing a finger over his lips.

"Then you are going to swallow your pride. Maybe you're right and she's wrong, maybe the other way around. Either way, you got to let it go so everyone can be happy again."

Naruto nodded after a moment and said, "I will do it."

"Good. Now then, when do you leave?"

"Three or four days," he told her.

"Then you best make what time you have here special. That's it! Time for dragon cuisine," she shouted to the cooks. "Hey, Naruto's leaving so we have to throw a party!"

"Really? Bout time we found an excuse for one," someone called out as the word spread like wildfire.

—oo000oo—

"Last night I dreamed that I passed from the scene and went to a place so sublime! The water was clear and it tasted like beer! Until they turned it to wine," the singer sang, getting a groan from people listening. "Oh I like beer; it makes me a jolly good fellow!" Naruto laughed with others there while receiving pats on the back and well wishes and so forth. He was about to thank another person when someone grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into a lip lock.

When she finally let go, Naruto hummed a moment and said, "Good form but you missed the landing, Aliizsa."

"Don't act so cocky," she said to him, slapping his arm. "Can't you stay here? Why on earth would you want to go to that light blasted land?"

"Ah, it isn't so bad," Naruto told her. "Why, I'm sure there is a place you would love there."

"Oh? Like what?"

"How about the beach? Picture this if you will. The ocean stretches out in front of you, the waves gently crashing on the shore, and all around you, almost countless in number, near naked hotties dressed in what could barely be called clothing. Some more appropriate to call eye patches for their chest." Aliizsa blinked and looked down at her own chest at the thought of this. "It is a place of fun and flirting," Naruto continued. "Why, the first time I ever seen a girl…well, close to in the buff, was at that beach."

"You go there?"

"Oh yeah, me and all my friends. You remember them, Konan, Din, Temari, Kankuro, and…"

"Gaara!"

Naruto laughed. "And Gaara. Why, he and his siblings live right on the beach."

"And all of them are like you and them?"

"Oh, not all of them. Some are from the dragon clan. My mother, whenever she relaxes enough to go there, always wears the two piece bikini that makes me want to beat several men on the head for. Frankly, I think it's wrong. Sigh. But guys have been lusting for my mother for a thousand years before I was born and they will still be doing it a thousand years after I die."

"…She's that pretty?"

"I guess so. I honestly can't make an assumption on that, she is my mother." Naruto shrugged, not wanting to think on it. But then he thought about Konan and Din wearing them. Din would be shy about it and blush up a storm even with a one piece. Konan on the other hand would laugh and proudly show off her physique with a two piece.

"…Naruto, you know your face is heating up," Aliizsa said with a coy tone to her voice. "Are you thinking about me on that beach?"

"Huh, you? No, not really," Naruto dismissed offhandedly.

Aliizsa looked so scandalous that he wasn't thinking perverted thoughts about her that she shouted, "I'll have to correct that! When you go, I'm taking a vacation to the beach!"

Naruto blinked and said, "Nani? You're actually going?"

"I said I would, didn't I?"

"I thought you did but I can barely hear anything over the music and the cheering."

"Just you wait, Uzumaki, when you see what I'll wear to the beach, you won't think of anything else ever again!"

She stomped away, leaving Naruto confused while a drider pat him on the shoulder. "Ah the problems with being related to succubi," he said with a smirk. "Or being the attention of said teifling."

"…Reminds me of when Konan and Din would get in an argument," Naruto muttered.

—oo000oo—

The day came and Naruto woke and dressed in the clothes he had taken to wearing since getting here. A pair of brown, gold trim Roth leather vest, boots, and gloves, a species of bison that lived in the Underdark and used flashing lights for mating, and a black trousers and white shirt made from Underdark blade spider silk with a red sash at his waist. Tougher than steel armor but as light and flexible as regular clothing. All in all, he looked similar to Alucard in his clothing taste, just no cape.

He was about to walk out but stopped when he remembered he would not be coming back here. Placing everything he owned in a bag of holding, he walked out of the room and headed to where he always met Alucard. In the Arena, Naruto could see a group of mages finishing a spell on the Alucart Sword that was suspended in the air between them. When it was over, Alucard picked it up and carried it over to Naruto. "Here."

Naruto took the blade and pulled it from the sheath. It seemed no different but he could feel it was. "What did you do?"

"An enchantment similar to the one on my own blade," Alucard told him. "It won't be as good, that would take a decade of it resting in a mana rich zone, but they could increase the strength and cutting power of the blade. As well as being able to do the teleport ability." Naruto nearly gaped at him for that. "Not as often, Naruto. You know I can do it without limit but your sword cannot. It will need time to regain its strength. I don't know how long, you will need to find out."

"This…is a wonderful gift, Alucard. But why? Why have I interested you since the day we met?"

Alucard looked silently at him for a moment. "You remind me of a boy that wanted to fight evil long ago."

"Really?"

"Yes, his father tried to destroy the world so he fought and killed him. Not for any country or faith but for an idea of what the world should be like. I just knew you were like him."

Naruto smiled as he sheathed the blade. "I could ask for no better sword than the Alucart's Sword."

Alucard shook his head. "It isn't his sword anymore, Naruto. It is your own so you should call it that." Alucard stepped away and left without a word of goodbye.

"…Wait, what was that boy's name?"

Alucard looked to him and said, "Adrian Tepes."

Naruto looked to his sword again but froze. "Isn't that…" He looked up and found Alucard gone. "Your name."

"Naruto," one of the mages said, coming up behind him. "Are you ready to return home?"

"Almost. I didn't say goodbye to Sir Alucard."

"That is his way," the mage dismissed. "He never says that to those he cares for. Anything else?"

"Yes, Aliizsa said she wanted to come with for a vacation."

A few minutes later Aliizsa came running up to them while carrying a bag, "You better not leave without me, Naruto!"

"Ah, Aliizsa, right on time," Naruto lied with a smile. "Ready to go?"

"Damn right. Let's get going."

"Alright then," the mage said before opening a portal. "Step through and you will be in the area designated for porting from Suldanessellar to Uzu. Aliizsa will be able to come home when she is ready from there."

"Thanks," Aliizsa said before pulling Naruto through behind her. They appeared in a dimly lit room but both blinked while covering their eyes. The chamber had a seal array on the floor and several desks between there and the door, only three of which were occupied at the moment.

"Good morning," one of the Touched said from her desk, grabbing a piece of paper. "Names, reason for coming, and duration of stay," she asked, not looking up.

"Aliizsa, vacation, and about two weeks," Aliizsa told her.

"Naruto, I'm here to stay," Naruto told her.

She blinked, turned up the light, and looked at him. "…My, I don't remember one of the Uzumaki going down there. You want the desk over there."

"Uh…thanks." Naruto shrugged to Aliizsa and walked over. "Hi, I was told this is the desk I need."

One of the Ryu stood at this desk, with wings and a tail. He took out his book and said, "You're Naruto right? …Didn't leave within the last month. …Nor two months."

"I left before all of this started," Naruto told him.

The man froze and looked to him. "This started seven months ago."

"I've been gone for nine."

"…Ah. Well, I wasn't expecting that."

"What is all of this about," Naruto asked him.

"Suldanessellar is a trade city, they keep records like this. Uzumaki Laylia felt that we should keep a record as well. It helps organize who's coming and going for what."

"Ah. So, I should…"

"Sigh here," he said, giving him a piece of paper. "And write the date of which you left. We haven't needed this form for a while." Naruto wrote his name and the best guess on the date. "Okay, that's it. Once your friend is done, you may go. Oh, and here," he held out a pair of glasses with dark lenses. "You're eyes are going to be sensitive for a while." Naruto took them and placed them over his eyes, almost immediately relieving the sting.

"Wow…that is awesome. Thank you."

Leaning against the wall, Naruto thought about what was ahead of him until he heard, "Enjoy your vacation, miss."

"Will do." Aliizsa ran over to Naruto and grabbed his arm. "Okay, where's the beach at?"

"I can't stay there with you," Naruto warned as he walked outside. "I got to go home to my family but…" Wincing as he got outside into the sunlight, he looked around to get his bearings. "The beach is this way. If you can't stay with Gaara, just ask him to take you to the Uzumaki Estate."

"Sure thing,"

A short walk to the beach and Aliizsa got her first look at the ocean. She stared at it for several minutes without moving. Eventually she pulled off her sunglasses to see it even more clearly. "It just…"

"Like the sky," Naruto supplied. "It just keeps going."

"All that water…" She gulped in fear before finally taking in the people on the beach. They were varied and numerous, and they were all having fun.

"Look out!" Naruto reached up and caught a beach ball that got sent their way. "Nice catch," a Sora prince said running over wearing only some shorts. Naruto barely bat an eyelash at him, Aliizsa couldn't help but stare. "Nice moves bro," he said with a smile as he took it back. "Here to play a game?" As he asked that, he couldn't help but notice Aliizsa either.

"Nah, just showing a friend the beach," Naruto replied. "They're calling you back."

He looked back and then to them. "Too bad, later dude."

As he went back to the game, Aliizsa began to smile and wistfully said, "I have found my people and my kingdom."

She began to follow when Naruto caught her arm. "Whoa, hold up, still got to get you to Gaara's. Hey, the king here," Naruto called out to the guy.

"Yeah, man, he's at his house," he shouted back.

"King," Aliizsa questioned while Naruto led the way.

"Yeah, Gaara is king of the beach so this is his kingdom," he said with a smirk. Coming to a beach house, Naruto shouted, "Gaara! Come on out!"

Gaara walked out in his usual shorts and vest looking more grown than before. "…Naruto? Where the hell you been?"

"Oh you know, here, there, up, down. Aliizsa decided she wanted to visit the beach so I brought her with!"

Gaara faced her with a smiled and leaned against a tree. "Heya Aliizsa, long time no see."

"Gaara, still looking as cute as before. In fact you look yummy."

"It's the beach clothes," Gaara told her. "So, welcome to my domain."

"Gaara, I would love to stay but I need to head home."

"No shit there," Gaara replied. "Your mother is ready to eat iron and spit out steel. Not to mention a few others I know."

"Yeah, I've been gone too long," Naruto told him before walking away. "Tell Aunt Bleu I said hi."

"Will do. Come on in, Aliizsa, still time for breakfast."

"But what about the beach?"

"It'll be there later," Gaara said, heading inside. "Besides, there are things to see inside too."

—oo000oo—

Naruto walked inside the front gate of the Uzumaki estate without even being questioned. He didn't even realize how much he had changed underground. But one thing hadn't changed and that was his scent. When a young woman that was training already in that morning caught it, she went hunting for a source. Naruto was coming around the last corner to his home when he heard, "Konan round house!" A kick to break his jaw came at him only for Naruto to step into the swing, block with both arms; wrap the one at her foot around her calf and about to counter with the other. Naruto froze as the two got a good look at one another. "EH," they both shouted.

"Konan?"

"Naruto!"

"What happened to you," they demanded each other causing a scene right there. Just as Naruto had grown into a young man, so had Konan grown into a young woman. Her ears had extended even more, becoming the exact image of Shalula the Panther. At the moment she was wearing training clothes and that was it. The gi that she wore was wrapped tightly around her and Naruto found it hard to concentrate as he studied her. Standing there holding her leg still, he couldn't help but notice how finely chiseled they were as well.

While Naruto took in Konan, she was doing the same. Naruto had left a boy she loved to tease and now…he wasn't a boy anymore; that was for sure. He looked like Alucard did in fact. It made her swallow a lump in her throat. Of course, there was no way she would let him know that. "You idiot! How long did you plan on being gone," she started yelling before pulling her leg free and starting to beat on his head. "Baka! Baka! Baka!"

Naruto finally caught her arms with a laugh, "I missed you too, Konan."

Naruto thought she might admit she missed him since he called her out on it. No such luck. "Boot to the face!"

"Owe!" Naruto took several steps back and rubbed his nose. "Was that necessary?"

"Of course it was, dummy! And what's with this, trying to look cool? Idiot! Agh! You are useless!" With a 'humph', Konan turn and ran away.

Naruto watched her go with a groan, "Great, one of these phases again." Sighing, he half glared at the people laughing about this before heading to his home. He meant to meet them inside and say he was home and apologize for being gone so long.

That plan fell through when he almost walked into Deis holding both Yuki in one arm and holding Carol's hand. She stared at him in shock and muttered, "Naruto?"

Naruto was going to say hi but remembered what Streea said. So he just walked over, hugged his mother, and said, "I'm home, kaa-san."

"My little baby," Deis said as she hugged him as close as she could to her. "I…I…"

"Forget it, kaa-san, I don't want to fight anymore."

"Alright," she whispered.

Carol had jumped on him and shouted, "Big brother, you're home!"

"I am, and I'm sorry for being gone so long, Carol. I'm back and I won't leave like that again." Deis knew he was talking as much to her as to his sisters as she kissed his forehead, surprised by how much taller he was now. She only had to tilt her head down to look him in the eyes now.

—oo000oo—

Carol decided she wanted to go home with her big brother instead of going to play. Almost as soon as Naruto stepped inside, Deis pushed him to the table and decided he was hungry without even asking. Naruto just nodded and waited. He knew that right now she was relieved to see him. Once she was done fussing, she was going to be angry. Really angry, Naruto knew, but he could only ride it out. Sitting at the table with him was Carol, trying to crawl all over him and get his attention, and his father. Naruto and Rei were both sitting the same way, legs crossed and arms resting on their knees, as Naruto was picked at. Rei took a drink of his tea before looking Naruto over. "Welcome home, son."

"Thank you, tou-san."

"Find what you were looking for while you were away?"

Naruto closed his eyes as he thought about the discipline, structure, and even trust that was needed to live in the Underdark. You needed to have trust that the people around you would do what was needed just as they trusted you would do the same. "I think I did."

Deis set a bowl of ramen in front of him and said, "Have you been eating well enough? There's hardly any meat on your bones! I'll go make some more, you look like you need a good meal."

Naruto nodded acceptingly and said, "Yes Kaa-san."

"And those clothes, they look so rigid! Are you comfortable? I can get you some new clothes."

"Yes, Kaa-san."

"Are you sure, it won't take but a moment."

"I'm fine, Kaa-san."

"Very well, but if you change your mind, I can get it."

"Yes, Kaa-san."

"Big brother! Big brother! Hey, hey, big brother!" She climbed up on his shoulders and leaned down over his head to look in his eyes. "Big brother, hey!"

"Hey, Carol-chan," Naruto said.

"How was it there? Was it dark, did you miss me, was it safe, did you miss me, what did you eat, did you miss me, was it fun there?"

"It was fine, it was dark, I did miss you, it was safe, I did miss you, I ate some giant fish and mushrooms a lot, I did miss you, and fun isn't the right word. I enjoyed it but it was a different kind of fun."

"Cool! I missed you too, big brother!" Naruto just smirked as his tail wrapped around her waist and lifted her up.

"Carol, let your big brother take his time," Rei said between sips of his tea. "He's been gone a long while; he needs more than a few minutes. He'll answer your questions in time."

"Yes, father," Carol said dejectedly.

Naruto nodded before his tail let her go and grabbed her by her foot instead, hanging her upside down for him to tickle. "Hahaha! Big brother, stop!"

"Oh? Okay then." Naruto let her down and sat there peacefully as he slowly ate his ramen. Carol blinked at him actually doing it and looked at him confused. "Something wrong," Naruto asked her.

"…No." She turned around and jumped up when something tickled her neck. Spinning around, Naruto was still eating, his tail on his other side with the tip twitching every now and then.

"What now?"

"Nothing." Naruto was eating another mouthful of needles as she again turned. And again something tickled her. "EHEHEH!" This time as she raised her foot something tickled her behind her toes. She hopped away, rubbing that foot, while looking back. Naruto and Rei were looking at her curiously with Naruto's tail swishing this way and that.

"Now I know something is wrong," Naruto told her.

"Naruto, are you teasing your sister," Deis demanded as she set a tray with tea and cookies on the table.

"Of course not, Kaa-san, I don't even know what's wrong."

"Mother, something is tickling me," Carol told her.

"Do you know what?"

"No." Standing beside the table with Naruto behind and to the side of Deis and Rei behind and to the side of Carol, Deis got a good look as Rei's tail lifted up at the tip and moved like a serpent to right behind Carol and suddenly tickle her back before returning to the ground quick as lightning. "AH!" She jumped around and didn't see it.

"Oh, I might have an idea what it is," Deis said. "Why don't you help me in the kitchen, you can even make your big brother your special cookies."

"Okay, mother!" Carol ran into the kitchen and Deis followed with a smile.

Left alone at the moment, Naruto looked after them before returning to his meal. It was quiet for several moments before they both look after them. "Are they listening on the other side of the door," Naruto asked.

"I think so. Wonder why?"

—oo000oo—

Carol and Deis pressed to the door to listen if they said anything to each other that they didn't want the two to hear. "They're whispering," Carol muttered.

"Must be 'man talk'," Deis replied. "Wonder what they're saying."

Carol giggled and said, "I missed having fun with big brother. They've stopped talking; I wonder what they're thinking."

—oo000oo—

Rei and Naruto were thinking the same thing really. 'I really missed cookies.'

'Mmm, macadamia nut cookies.'

—oo000oo—

"Might as well face it you're addicted to love," Hinata sang along as the music played as she swayed to the beat while playing a practice game of pazaak. It came from Kumo of all places. The purpose was similar to black jack. Where you try to get to twenty one in black jack, you try to get to twenty in pazaak. That is where the similarities end. In pazaak, each player has two decks, a main composed of cards numbering one through ten, and a side. Each player draws four cards from the side deck, making their hand. Then on each turn they would draw a card from their main deck. If they go over twenty, they have to build up to it again. They may put down a card from their hand at any time. These cards may be any number one through ten plus or minus. Meaning if you were about to go over twenty, you can set down a minus card and lower the total. First person to get twenty three times wins.

It was an interesting game and Hinata had never played it until recently but she found she was good at it. She was considering heading to a gambling den and giving it a try.

"Stupid jerk," Konan growled as she came back inside, making Hinata sigh.

"Hello onee-chan, have a nice day?"

"That stupid jerk," she shouted in reply.

"That good eh? Meet someone interesting then?"

"I should give him a good Ichi Nii for this!"

"Oh, so Naruto-kun is back then is he?" Of course, only person she ever beat on was Naruto.

"Walks back like nothing happened!"

"Missed him that badly then?"

"Dressed like that! Like some knight in a fairy tale!"

"That handsome is he?" Hinata had learned to read between the lines with her sister rather well.

"UH! First time I see him in months and he had the nerve to say I missed him!"

"We all know you missed him," Hinata said absently. "Too bad you couldn't actually admit it."

"That annoying baka!"

"…Onee-chan, if you don't mind, can I ask him for a date?"

"EH?"

—oo000oo—

Rei and Naruto looked to Naruto's tail as it suddenly puffed up, hairs on end. "Something wrong son?"

"I feel a disturbance in the Force," Naruto said mysteriously.

—oo000oo—

"I just wanted to ask before Din found out is all. I'm sure she'll be here just as soon as she hears he returned. A little make-up on, hair and feather combed out, a nice dress even," Hinata passed off. "Naruto was kind of cute when he left, I wouldn't mind a chance…"

"THAT STUPID JERK," Konan shouted before slamming the door to her room shut.

"Tsundere," Hinata muttered while looking at Konan's door. "Eh, if she doesn't Din will." She set down another card only to realize that this side had lost when she drew the next card for the other, adding five to the left and subtracting five from its right. "Oh, nice. Didn't see that coming. Sets down the minus five, adds six, adds one, add two, hand won. Okay, I'm ready! …Wait, I got that poker tournament in Tanzaku Gai today."

—oo000oo—

Deis was hugging Naruto again. "I've missed you so much," she told him.

"Yes, Kaa-san."

"And I want you to know you are grounded until you're eighty."

"…Yes Kaa-san."

"Good, now you should go to your room, you look tired."

Naruto sighed and said, "Yes Kaa-san."

As Naruto walked passed his father, Rei said, "Sometimes being a man isn't easy Naruto."

"I know Tou-san."

"Don't worry; I'll get your sentence reduced."

"Thanks." Entering his room, Naruto placed his saber on the rack he once placed Cutter and knelt before it to meditate. He had never said 'Yes, Kaa-san' more in his life than he had today and it made him smile. It felt good to be fussed over again. Totally uncool if someone saw it but nice all the same. Pushing all that away, he closed his eyes and centered himself. 'Inner peace. Inner peace. Inner…' His tail puffed up again and he opened one eye to look at it. Smoothing out his fur, he took a deep breath and tried again. 'Inner peace. Inner pea…' Once more his tail puffed out and he opened both eyes to look at it. Stroking the fur down once again, he took in a calming breath and… Puff. And he let that breath out in an exasperated sigh. "What's your problem," he questioned the limb while holding it up. "What can possibly be wrong that you are doing this? Just calm down." He was about to focus again but stopped, wrapped a blanket around his tail, and nodded. "Better. Inner peace. Inner peace."

Outside, Din, Konan, and Aliizsa were all being told to go away for the evening by Deis after trying to reach him.

—oo000oo—

Author's notes. Aliizsa isn't in love with Naruto, let me make that clear. She is in lust with him, that is all. Right now, she just wants him as a play toy and that is all she will want with him. Maybe not with Gaara but Naruto, yeah, lust is all.