Oh Naruto... how must I disclaim thee…

Chapter 16: The Answer

"I warned you. But young people rarely listen."

The elderly woman shook her head sadly.

"That's why you wouldn't let me heal you, wasn't it?" Sakura asked quietly.

Saruwatari nodded. "You would have known what was inside of me as soon as you used your chakra to heal me. And though I am old, the Raiju still allows my wounds to close quickly."

"But why try and keep us away?" Naruto still eyed her cautiously. "You said yourself that Sakura was nice to you."

She turned her black eyes to him.

"I am old. So old, I have lost tack of the years. The demon provided me with unnaturally long life. However, I am mostly human, and therefore I will die. And as I age… I am not always strong enough to hold the Raiju back." She gestured to the ruins around them. "This was not intentional. It was not an act of war. Instead, it was the result of my loss of control."

"So you live here, alone, to hopefully prevent hurting more innocent people."

The thunder elder nodded at Kakashi's statement. "Every once in a great while, I travel to a town just to keep in touch with humanity. I never thought I'd run in to someone actually looking for me."

"You're lucky it was us." Naruto said. "We're the good guys."

"The good guys, eh? You don't look like you're from around here."

"No way!" The blond smiled ear to ear. "We're from the Land of Fire!"

"Naruto…" Kakashi shook his head.

"Oh…right…"

"The Land of Fire? That's quite a journey. You came all that way just to find me?"

"We're just lucky we found you first." Sakura looked at Naruto. "We aren't the only ones searching."

The old face smiled again. "Who would have known that after so many years I would be so in demand!"

She chuckled softly for a moment before she noticed Sakura's sad expression.

"What is it child? Your journey is at an end and your smile has vanished."

"Akatsuki." The pink-haired medic looked at the ground. "They've been searching for you as well."

At the woman's puzzled look, Jiraiya spoke up. "A dangerous criminal organization. They are bent on world domination."

"Ha! And what would they want with me? I'm so old I can barely get up in the morning anymore."

"They have been…collecting…tailed-beasts. They extract them through rigorous ceremonies and seal them within a giant statue. With so many of the creatures locked inside, they can use the powers as they see fit—awakening the statue and using it as a tool of war."

"My God." Saruwatari sucked in a breath. "I don't know what I would do without the Raiju within me…."

"You'd die." Sasuke answered her.

She glanced at him briefly before turning back to Jiraiya. "The hosts are all dead?"

"Akatsuki have gained the first five tailed-beasts. Only one host survived—but that was at the cost of another's life."

"A weapon the likes of which you speak would be unstoppable."

"That's why we're here." Naruto said. "We need your help."

"My help?"

"Yeah! Our Kage sent us to find you in hopes that you will help us oppose Akatsuki."

"But my power can't take on the powers of collective demons. And to summon enough to even make a difference would cause the Raiju to take over completely." Saruwatari frowned. "I may be old but I'm not ready to die yet."

"We are not asking you alone to stand with us." Kakashi added. "We are after the remaining tailed-beasts as well."

"It's a hopeless dream." She sighed. "Even if I thought you had a chance—which I don't—I am not willing to wage war any longer."

At their downtrodden expressions she sighed. "Come. Stay with me as my guests tonight before your journey back. The old mansion at the end of town may look run down, but I've kept it surprisingly comfortable." She smiled sympathetically at Naruto. "There is even a hot spring in the lower level."

They followed her solemnly, her answer echoing in their minds.

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The old building Naruto had thought resembled the Hokage's palace was, infact, the old mansion of Saruwatari's ancestors.

Built on great pillars of stone, only half of the house had sustained any kind of major damage. The rest remained livable. The inside was kept relatively bare, and the old woman explained that she rarely had visitors and it was impractical for her to keep useless things.

The rooms, however, were warm and dry, even if they contained no beds for the team to use. Instead, their host provided them with mounds of dry blankets. To the travel-weary bunch, it was as good as a feather bed.

One by one, she showed them to their rooms until only she and Naruto remained.

The Kyuubi boy seemed to have a permanent frown chisled on his face.

"You don't approve of my answer?" She asked him quietly, a knowing smile on her face.

"Hmph. I can understand your reasons. I just don't think they are good enough."

"It is easy to charge head first into battle when you are young and strong. I…am neither."

"But what about all the people who will suffer? Don't you want to protect them?" He turned his blue eyes to her.

"I killed everyone I ever cared about." The wrinkled face saddened. "I have no one left to protect."

"Exactly!" He said. "Don't you want to make things right? Now you have the chance to save so many innocent people!"

She looked away from him.

Naruto continued. "You can't live here, alone, forever! Think of all the good you could do out in the world! Why…why…it's almost worse than going out and giving yourself to Akatsuki!"

She regarded him with interest. "You are a very passionate young man. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you."

"I just know that I'm going to protect everyone. Someday, I'm going to be Hokage, and that means everyone will look up to me. I won't let them be killed…or worse." He clenched his fists. "Even if it means my life, I'm going to be there for the people I care about."

They stopped in front of a door.

"It is rare to see such conviction in anyone nowadays. You and your companions are a unique bunch. I truly believe that you will achieve your dreams someday. But I also believe that our paths are not the same."

He looked at her defiantly. "I'll save everyone…with or without your help. I won't let this stop me."

She nodded. "Rest. Enjoy the hot bath in the first level if you and your companions like. I will wake you in the morning."

Saruwatari turned and walked away. She heard Naruto open the door and step inside the room.

That kid. He'll make a great Hokage some day.

She chuckled softly to herself. He was a cute kid.

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"I just don't get it," Naruto sunk down into the hot water. "How can she say no after all we went through to get here?"

"It is her choice, Naruto." Jiraiya yawned. "We cannot force her to risk her life. We are not even from the same country."

"But why does that matter?" The blond asked. "Where you're from doesn't mean anything about who you are."

Kakashi smirked. "That's a rather profound statement coming from you."

Jiraiya was also taken aback. This kid has the heart of a king.

Naruto glared at his team leader and leaned back against the stone rim of the pool.

"Maybe you should all be quiet and enjoy the warm water." Sasuke stared up at the ceiling. "Don't you ever get tired of talking?"

"Yeah, we can't be down here too long. Sakura will want to use it at some time too." A big grin appeared on the blue-eyed youth's face.

Sasuke shot Naruto a look that wiped the smile away instantly.

But Jiraiya was oblivious and burst out laughing. "You're a kid right after my own heart, Naruto." He wiped a tear away from the corner of his eye. "What a kid."

"I don't think Sakura would appreciate any part of this conversation." Kakashi said dryly. "I, for one, am quite disturbed by it."

"And you call yourself a fan of my books." The sannin shook his head. "That's not the talk of an Icha Icha fan."

Sasuke stepped out of the water. "Naruto," He fixed his friend with a cool stare. "If you come down here again tonight—I'll know."

The Uchiha turned and left the room.

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Sakura stared out at the rain. From the balcony, she could see the many mountains of Thunder Country as well as the many storms that swirled around them.

It was a breath-taking sight.

"Mind if I join you?"

She turned to see Saruwatari approaching.

"I like the storms. There's just something about them."

"I have always enjoyed them myself." The old woman leaned on the railing. "But they are also a part of me."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you for letting us stay here."

The woman nodded. "You are not disappointed by my answer?"

"I am. But I know we'll find another way. After so many years with Naruto, you learn that there is more than one way to do anything."

"Hmmm. Naruto again. He's quite the person isn't he?"

The medic chuckled. "He is. Even after all he's been through—he still cares more than anyone I know."

"Ah…a hard childhood?"

Sakura looked out at the storm. "If you could call it a childhood. He was an outcast—hated and feared by the village. No parents. Only the legacy our Fouth Hokage left him. He was so alone. Just the knowledge that the kyuubi…"

"The kyuubi!?!" Saruwatari was shocked. "Naruto…"

Sakura nodded. "He's the fox's host."

The old woman was speechless. How could something as evil as the nine-tails live inside the body of such a good-hearted person? But she should have known there was even more to him than she had noticed.

"… And even though the villagers fear him…Naruto will fight for them until the end."

He had come all this way to find her. His hope was that she'd save the people he loved—no—not just the people he loved—but the entire world. She didn't know what to say.

"How could I have been so blind?" The thunder elder whispered. "So selfish?"

"Selfish?" Sakura asked.

Tears appeared in the old woman's eyes. "I'm an old fool. An old fool who has lived her life hiding. I am ashamed…and am unworthy to be called a shinobi."

She ignored Sakura's questioning look.

"He has the kyuubi inside of him… and yet he still goes on…" She shook her head. "Forgive me…I must go…I will wake you in the morning."

Sakura watched her leave and then turned her eyes back to the gathering storms.

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Sasuke lay in the confines of his own room, staring up at the ceiling.

Itachi.

His brother must be wondering where the kyuubi had gone to. After all, the oldest Uchiha kept close tabs on the young man.

He knew Akatsuki were not far behind. Whether they knew team 7 was after the Raiju or not—they themselves had been hunting it down for years.

It was just a matter of time before they found her.

He sat up. There was no way he would be able to sleep.

He left his room, wandering the building in the dim light, barely aware that outside the thunder and lightning were raging.

He passed Naruto's room. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, but he could sense his friend inside.

At least he has more sense than I thought he did. Sasuke continued on. He wasn't sure what he would have done if Naruto had been missing from his room.

The Uchiha walked absent mindedly, thoughts swirling in his head. He had remained quiet throughout most of the journey. But that only meant he had more to think on.

Sasuke wasn't aware of how far he had progressed until the gentle sound of water reached his ear.

The hot spring. He could see the room just ahead, the warm light from within tempting.

But as he approached, he froze, instinctively knowing someone else was within.

Only two people it could be.

He peered a little more within the entrance, spotting a tousled pile of clothes.

Shit.

If he she caught him leaving, Sakura would think he had been spying on her. But he couldn't go any further.

Or could he? What difference would one or two more steps make?

Sasuke scowled at himself in disgust. Was he no better than Naruto?

Grinding his teeth, he willed himself to move, turning on his heel and racing back the way he had come.

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The next morning, Saruwatari woke her guests, instructing them to gather in the large hall when they were ready to leave.

One by one the members of team 7 made their way to the room, packs made up, bed rolls tucked tightly against the threat of water.

But their hostess was not present.

Sakura glanced around. Everyone seemed well rested. Her gaze fell last on Sasuke.

He shifted his stance, avoiding her stare.

Sakura sighed. Why was his face so flushed with anger? She would never learn how to read his moods. And she couldn't think of anything she could have done to upset him.

He turned his back to her.

"I see you are ready to be off."

They turned to look at the heavily garbed figure before them.

Sakura stared at the pack on the old woman's back.

"Surprised?" She smiled at their faces. "I have learned a hard lesson about honor and duty. But," she walked to them. "I have also remembered love, and what it means to love an idea…to hope…and…to dream."

Naruto grinned.

Saruwatari clapped him on the back. "Shall we? I'm not getting any younger you know."

"Right!" Naruto strode toward the door. "Now…where are we going?"

Jiraiya sighed. "The seven tails… hopefully he's in Earth Country."

"The Earth Country?" Saruwatari asked.

They nodded.

"I think I may regret this yet."

Sakura smiled, walking next to her as they exited the building.

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Coming soon: Chapter 17: The Land of Rock and Clay

Please note that since this story is nearing its end… it is going to take me a little longer to develop the chapters. We don't want another "chapter 14 distaster" So thanks for being patient!