Chapters 15 through 18 are now Re-written Etheral-23

Chapter 16: Lost Fragments

XxX ~ last time ~ XxX

"Hey don't forget me!"

They look over to see Tenten tapping her foot impatiently. "You think for one minute I am leaving you alone to fend for yourself Naruto, you got another thing coming."

"How will Neji take hearing that," Naruto says in a deadpan tone.

"Oh he will agree, or get punished if he says no."

Naruto, Sakura, Yugito, and Haku mentally shudder at the sickly sweet tone coming from the weapon mistress. They felt a little sorry the Hyuuga, if only a little bit. Before Naruto could speak to them Lee ran to him with stars in his eyes.

"THAT WAS SPECTACULAR BATTLE NARUTO-KUN! YOUR YOUTHFUL FIRE BURNS A BRIGHT AS THE SUN! WE MUST SPAR MY FRIEND!"

Everyone sweat-drops while Kouhei looks over to Neji along with Karui. "Is he seriously like that?"

"No it can be worse," Neji grumbles shaking his head.

"It is official, Konoha is full of weirdo's," Karui whispers to Omoi.

Her teammate only nods in agreement while getting out a new lollipop. As they all took the time to catch their breath a powerful wave of killer intent washed over the area. While not as strong as Orochimaru's, it was enough to get everyone's attention. Looking over everyone saw visible purple chakra spiraling upward like a small tornado with a lone figure standing in its eye. The energy was powerful enough to kick up the wind around them as everyone tensed up. Both Naruto and Sakura widen their eyes as they see glowing pair of Sharingan eyes glaring at them. But something was off, really off. The hate and malice in Sasuke's eyes glare hotly at one figure in the whole group.

"Naruto…"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The atmosphere was tense as everyone saw the glowing pair of Sharingan eyes staring right into Naruto's cerulean. But what got under the skin of most of the people is the dark undertone coming from the Uchiha's eyes. It was the look of hate, disgust, as if looking down at inferior being before him.

"Sasuke-Kun," Sakura barely whispers as she almost on instinct hides some behind Naruto.

Yugito hisses along with Nibi inside her, neither one liking the feel from the dark chakra or the Uchiha's gaze to their new friend. Haku and her team were growing tense by the second as they instinctively readied for combat.

Karui and Omoi were along the same lines while at the same time trying to figure out the level of hate from the Uchiha. Tenten has a pair of kunai in each hand in then going into a stance automatically, while Lee takes a Taijutsu form.

Neji all the while inspects with his own Doujutsu just what the hell is going on. And what he sees is perplexing. The purple chakra is emanating from a mark on his shoulder. While it seems to be attacking the Uchiha's chakra network, it is also feeding him power. But that expression… is it affecting his psyche as well?

Naruto can hear Kurama growling lightly. "Seems that hickey that snake gave him is having a unique reaction to the Uchiha wretch's chakra."

Care to fill me in?

The fox snorts; "You figure it out idiot. And try not to die like a weakling."

The blond mentally grumbles as he keeps his eyes locked on Sasuke. At the same time he could feel Sakura behind him, trembling by the evil gaze from their teammate. As the purple chakra fade everyone sees black burn like mark cover some of Sasuke's neck to his jaw.

But what he does next catches everyone off guard. Vanishing from his spot Naruto shoves Sakura out of the way in time before being hit by direct kick to his jaw. The power and force behind rattles him as he is sent flying into a tree. Everyone is shocked.

Just why the hell did the Uchiha just attack one of his own? Sakura who staggered but kept her balance winced as she saw the blond hit the wood with sickening thud and sliding down onto the ground on his backside. She wanted to run over to him but was also worried about why Sasuke was acting like this.

"As a clan less nobody should be," Sasuke spoke finally.

Blinking Kiri and Kumo looked at each other.

Standing slowly back to his feet Naruto rubs his jaw. "Okay… How'd I piss you off this time?"

"Some dobe like you never deserves to have power. You have no clan or status, your just some no name orphan who should be cannon fodder for the elite."

Naruto scowls but keeps his cool, the three teams on either side frown at Sasuke's words. However Haku clinched her fist as she felt anger building up as Kouhei and Chojuro slightly moved away feeling her killer intent growing.

Yugito snarled while Karui did the same with Omoi frowning deeply. Much like Naruto and Haku, the trio was also orphans which were claimed by the Raikage and trained into their shinobi program. And much like Naruto and Haku, they did not take kindly having anyone insulted about being an orphan.

Tenten scowls with Lee following suite. Neji remains impassive but glares at the Uchiha with disgust.

Nibi growled as her flamed body rose in her with her anger. That little… Oh he better pray I don't get out of here and rip his balls off!

The Kyuubi only snorted but stayed awake to watch.

"Well excuse this no name orphan who has a dream of his own. I don't constantly have people kissing my feet because they think I'm privileged. No I bust my ass and train till I collapse to be where I am, and I earned that! Not like someone who just wants power all for stupid petty revenge… Say you kill Itachi, then what?" Everyone is slightly taken aback by Naruto's strong words as his glares at his teammate.

Sasuke was only silent until he moved his hands into a jutsu and took a deep breath.

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu

The teams leap out of the way in shock as the massive fireball barreled towards Sasuke's prey. The Uchiha's flames boosted by the cursed mark, Sasuke smirks only soon his eyes widen seeing a crystal wall rising from the ground blocking the flames from hitting its mark. Naruto stares evenly while Sasuke snarls.

That power… it feels wrong. And that damn snake wanted to put that on me? Would I have been acting like Teme here if he got that mark on me?

As if I would let some mortal pretending to be a demon consume you. That right belongs to me! The old fox mentally retorts on his container's thoughts.

XxX ~ xx XxX

Above them the Anbu watches trying to decide into interfere or not. "What do you think we should do?" Kuma the tall male Anbu in the bear mask whispers.

The female Anbu with short brunette hair with the Rabbit mask retorts; "If we let this continue the Kyuubi brat will kill Sasuke-Kun."

Instantly the tip of a sword was at Usagi's throat from the second female with long flowing purple hair with the cat mask. Both Anbu shake slightly in fear as they feel the intense killer intent coming from Neko as she slowly turns to look at her teammates.

"The moment we return to the tower you will resign you status as Anbu and be lowered to the rank of Chunin. Ever insult my sensei's son again I will kill you where you stand," Neko's voice was icy and drawn out.

Usagi only gulped as she nodded quickly, she could not rebuke the order of the captain of the Anbu. As well as the prized first student of the Red Death of Konoha. Kuma only shakes his head in disgust at Usagi, him being one of the few like Neko who actually cared for Naruto, and slowly the woman in question sheathes her sword and looks back down.

"We will watch."

Kuma nods while Usagi only lowers her head in shame. Through her mask Neko's Chocolate eyes stay solely on Naruto. Prove to them, that you are my sensei's son for a reason. Prove why a member of the Uzu Clan is to be feared even more than the Senju or Uchiha.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Still snarling Sasuke grabs a kunai as he charges with near blinding speed at his teammate. A crystal Tanto appears in Naruto's right hand as he prepares but both stop as the female member of team 7 stands in front of Naruto with arms up to her side.

"Stop this Sasuke! We're teammates, you're not yourself! Just stop please," Sakura pleads with tears on her eyes.

She dropped the 'Kun'?

Kurama just rubs his eyes with a furry paw as he groans. Idiot…

Both Yugito and Haku were surprised by this while their teammates and Team Gai stood ready for anything. Sasuke's red Sharingan eyes stared into Sakura's jade. Lowering his kunai he walks up to the rosette. Stopping directly in front of her silence takes hold of the area, but what happens next.

Naruto eyes widen as he saw Sasuke hit Sakura with the blunt end of his kunai, her sharp painful scream following. The rosette flew and landed on her right side harshly. Karui slightly cringed sure she heard the cracking of bone.

Sasuke glares cold down at Sakura who holds her bruised cheek, wincing from the pain as tears still roll from her eyes. "And you… You're just some pathetic civilian born with zero to no talent and only caring about being some useless and helpless princess. Like I want some weak woman to help rebuild my clan! You and Ino are so pathetic! She is even from a clan yet she has no skill or talent as a Kunoichi, killing you here would be blessing and removing a stain from Konoha!"

His words sting sharply into her, but before he could continue a powerful fist slams into his face and sends the Uchiha flying into a tree. The force shatters Sasuke into the tree itself shocking everyone. Standing defensively in front the rosette is Naruto with his bangs covering his eyes.

While they don't see his eyes, they do feel the intense killer intent covering the area as red chakra slowly covers his body. While Team Kiri and Team Gai had no idea what was happening, Team Kumo knew damn well as they back away save Yugito. They saw Naruto slowly go into an all fours position as the red chakra solidified in the shape of a fox with a single tail.

The blond's canines were elongated with his whisker marks and hair becoming wilder in appearance. Looking up they saw the glowing rage of crimson slit eyes with pure hate staring right at his prey being the Uchiha heir. Neji, who activated his Byakugan immediately jumped in fear. Both his teammates were looking at him weirdly.

"What's wrong Neji?" Lee asks.

"That… That chakra is like living fire coursing through his network. Almost as if alive…"

"He's the Kyuubi Jinchurriki Hyuga, what do you expect?" Kouhei retorted dryly beside them.

Both Neji and Lee look in shock at the Kiri Genin while Tenten keeps her gaze at Naruto. Images pop into her head of the people in the village glaring or being outright hateful to her friend. Everything was beginning to make sense. Stray tears fall from her eyes.

That's why you are so afraid of adults. Why you were afraid of Tousan when you first saw him. Why you were so worried about Kurenai-Sensei when I nearly begged you to come. Oh Naruto…

Haku keeps her eyes on Naruto as she can feel his rage boiling over. This pure rage is even more intense than when he annihilated Gatou in Nami. Her eyes shift over to Sakura as she makes up her mind.

"You want to hurt me Teme, fine! I could care less about me, but you ever lay a hand on Sakura-Chan again, and I will kill you were you stand," Naruto voice was deep and distorted.

As the curse mark grows further on Sasuke he rips out the tree and charges Naruto. Feeling the power of Orochimaru's seal surge in him as he roars towards the dead eyes keep focus to Naruto but only see him vanish; he feels his jaw snap shut from a brutal uppercut sending him into the air.

He soon screams out in burning pain as Naruto's chakra tail grabs his ankle and slams him into the earth shattering the ground like an explosion with dust picking up wildly. His tail lets go as it goes back to normal.

Sakura slowly sits up as she watches fearfully as her teammates are fighting each other. She wanted to yell out to stop them but her jaw hurt being broken. Her eyes widen when feeling her jaw slowly begin mending. Looking over she sees Haku kneeling beside her, using the mystic-palm and healing the rosette.

"You're the reason you know." Sakura blinks in confusion. "Naruto-Kun fights for you. I could see the love in his eyes for you is strong. So this is my gesture of good faith. But know this; I will not lose the one man who is like me."

As she felt her jaw almost healed, the rosette looked at the Hyoton user in shock. Is she jealous?! Then… then that means she loves..!

Haku and Sakura looks back at Sasuke and Naruto, the rosette reeling from this new revelation. And hearing someone wanting to take her blond away made her heart clinch unconsciously. Naruto growls as the dust settles, in the large size crater he sees his teammate and rival unconscious.

However the blond hardly feels satisfied, he hurt Sakura, and he deserves the cruelest pain he could give to the bastard. Standing normally Naruto charges up his Rasengan but it is twice as big before and dark crimson and purple as it is coated in the Kurama's chakra.

But before he could do something he would regret Yugito appeared in front of him, but her appearance was also changed. Her blue slit eyes now gold, her own chakra from Matatabi covering her body with single tail in a cat shape outline.

Naruto only growls as the Kumo Kunoichi looks him dead in the eye with their noses almost touching.

"Enough Naruto! You have done enough, calm down," Yugito spoke in a huskier voice.

"He deserves punishment for laying a finger on Sakura-Chan, I'm not done yet!"

Both growl and snarl at each other looking for dominance over the other. Majority of the people felt chills down their spines; it felt like predators ready to rip at one another.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

What no one saw were a both Kurama and Matatabi glaring at each other in a telepathic mindscape made by between them. Like their Jinchurriki they both growl at one another, ready to attack each other if need be.

"Damn it Kurama stop pumping your chakra into Naruto!"

"Why should I woman? The little whelp will burn out from the power soon enough," Kurama sneers.

The two tailed feline of flames roared in anger; "That is not the husband I fell in love with! That is not the Bijuu King our father was proud of!"

Kurama's eyes glowed with rage as he roared in anger but the feline demoness was unaffected. "DO NOT SPEAK OF OUR FATHER MATATABI! These humans are an insult to his name and the teachings he left behind! And THAT cursed clan is the worse of them, when their disease of existence is erased from this world, IT WILL BE BETTER FOR IT!"

Both bare their teeth as they snarl at one another. Their stares remain until Nibi sits on her haunches shaking her head. Her voice almost mournful as she looks back to her husband since their creation. "You're better than this. No matter what that Madara did to you. Where is the man who wanted to try to help humans like we dreamed? Did it die with your love for me?"

Kurama slowly stopped snarling as he turned his head looking almost distantly. "I never stopped loving you Matatabi…"

The feline Bijuu widened her eyes as she saw her husband vanish. Then help Naruto. Let go of your anger towards the humans and help them like me and Gyuki-kun are doing. Be the Bijuu King I love and will always love, Kura-Kun...

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto's chakra cloak receded in time as someone wraps themselves from behind him. The blond's anger faded in seconds as he felt Sakura holding him, her tears falling freely.

"Stop… Please Naruto-Kun," the rosette's voice in a broken whisper as she cried silently. "I am okay now. Please calm down…"

His eyes slowly turn to normal as he feels a hand on his cheek. Looking to his right he sees Haku looking at him sadly. She shook her head as she said nothing. Yugito stepped back as she watched the two girls calm down her Jinchurriki brother. Her chakra cloak fades as her eyes return to normal while looks into the crater. The curse mark recedes back into Sasuke's shoulder; she looks over to the teams.

"We make camp for the night." She points into the crater. "Tie. Him. Up."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

As sundown approaches the four teams –minus an unconscious Sasuke tied to a tree- sat around a fire. All the teams pulled together as they laces well-made traps as well as Naruto placing a special Fūinjutsu which casted a Genjutsu illusion.

The group sat quietly as they ate some food Naruto had in a storage seal. Kouhei kept eyeing Yugito and Naruto off handily while Chojuro sat near Omoi. Karui kept her senses sharp while eating but also glancing at Naruto also.

The said blond hardly ate while he watched the fire, on either side of him is Haku and Sakura with Tenten beside the rosette and Yugito near the Hyoton user. Neji occasionally turned on Byakugan for a precaution, Lee looked over to his blond Konoha comrade.

"What is it like Naruto-Kun?"

"Being a Jinchurriki?" Naruto said with him and Yugito looking at each other solemnly. "It's not a charmed life. I've been an orphan and pariah since I could remember. Was kicked out from the orphanage when I was five. Spent a year homeless, scarping through bins just not is too starved for the night. I was found after some mob thought it would be fun to beat, stab, and set me on fire. Revenge on the Kyuubi since I was to them the damn fox pretending to be a child."

Yugito looked sharply seeing the sheer shock and horror on people's faces. She saw Haku, Sakura, and Tenten being affected the most. "Sounds familiar. I am more or less the 'demon whore' of Kumo. Can't count anymore how many beatings and starvation I had back then. Things only got a little better when the Yondaime Raikage gained power, especially since his brother is the Hachibi Jinchurriki."

Naruto looked up at his fellow blond in surprise. "Yugito," Karui hissed.

The stern angry look from the said Genin made the redheaded Kunoichi stiffen in fear and backed down quickly. "I don't want to hear it from you. All Jinchurriki are brothers and sisters, and I will not lie to Naruto about his surrogate kin."

Naruto frowned, "You know that Gaara guy is one of us to right?"

"I know," Yugito eyes the fire sadly. "He is what we would have been if not for kindness of some."

The group was silent again till Tenten spoke up. "This is what you were afraid to tell me Naruto?"

Nodding the blond looked at his first friend; "How do bring that up to your first best friend? I was afraid you'd think I am some demon like most of everyone else in the village, sorry."

Tenten shook her head with a small smile; "I am just happy you finally told me. And I think I speak for all of us in saying none of us hate you or Yugito-San."

The two blonds gave a small smile in gratitude, Haku looked right at Naruto. "How could I ever hate the first person I spoke my heart to? You are very precious to me, and I refuse to let you go."

The Blond blushed at the Hyoton users words while Sakura's eye lightly twitched in annoyance. "I agree Naruto-Kun! We are friends and refused to be short-sighted like everyone else," Lee declared.

"Haku-San always spoke highly of you. And I always like making new friends," Chojuro said softly.

Kouhei snorts; "Talk about him. Hell she would not shut up about him Chojuro. If she had a chance she probably grabbed him and took him to Kiri just to be her damn boyfriend or husband."

Both Naruto and Haku blush while the Hyoton user soon glares back at comrade who returns it. Omoi looks at the two. "By the way you sound; it seems you're jealous of Naruto-San."

"Bullshit if I am! Just wish she have sex with him, claim him already then be done with it."

The whole group went atomic with their blushes while Naruto slowly turned his head to Haku; "Has he always been this blunt?"

Sakura looks dryly at Naruto, "Like you can talk?"

"I am not that bad! ...Am I?"

The rosette sweat-dropped and sighed. "If you need clarification Naruto-kun, then yes. Well, not as bad as you used to be, but you still never hold back that tongue of yours."

Chuckling sheepishly Naruto rubs the back of his head. Tenten rolls her eyes chuckling, but keeps her eye on Sakura. Looks like she is starting to sway to you some people Naruto-Kun. Knew my advice would work after all. And looks like someone else is after you. Who will you go for I wonder?

Hearing some groaning everyone looks sharply at Sasuke who is slowly waking. Narrowing his eyes a crystal kunai appears in his hand unconsciously as he goes to stand. Sakura's hand grabs his wrist. The two look at each other as the rosette looks at him pleadingly. Sighing he lets his kunai slip into her small hands.

His head feels like a Kage hit him all over the place as Sasuke looks at an angry Naruto kneeling in front of him. His onyx eyes blink in surprise noticing the other teams sitting by a fire, all of them giving some heated looks. Moving his eyes down he sees he is bound in Ninja wire, he looks back at Naruto.

"What the hell is going on?"

"You don't remember Uchiha?" Neji finally speaks up.

The said Uchiha glares at the Hyuga. "Last thing I remember is Naruto being hit with super powerful Fūton jutsu and fighting some crazy snake woman."

"That was no woman, it was Orochimaru of the Densetsu no Sannin."

Sasuke widens his eyes in shock at Yugito's comment. Naruto continues; "He put some seal on your neck which made you act crazy. He tried the same for me but failed with the backup you see behind me. Anyway you don't remember waking up with some crazed look and with purple chakra covering your body and hitting Sakura with the blunt of your kunai," Naruto growled out the last words. He was still pissed about that.

Sasuke just looked at his teammate in confusion. "You broke her jaw asshole. Haku-San healed her since she knows Medical Ninjutsu, but your teammate in front of you got mad angry and kick your ass all over the place," Karui puts her cents in.

Tilting his head to the side to see he sees Sakura only looking at the fire with a crystal kunai in her hands. But he can tell by her posture she is very upset. He sighed. "I don't remember a damn thing. Let me out of here already."

The whole group –even Neji- looks at him dryly. So much for an apology. Forming a crystal kunai he cuts his teammate free. "I am taking a look at that damn seal on your shoulder in the morning. We don't need you going insane on us again."

"Hn."

The two walk back over to the fire, though Sasuke stays away from the others. But Kouhei looks at him. "Don't really care if you don't remember but going me is going to correct something you said."

Everyone looks at the Kiri Genin quizzically. "Naruto is not clan-less."

This got all the Konoha Nin's attention, Naruto especially. Karui rolled her eyes; "Seriously none of you guys know? I mean they were a clan more feared than the Senju or Uchiha combined? Hell they helped found Konoha!"

"What are you talking about?" Sakura asks.

Haku gets her secret crushes attention. "You really don't know Naruto-Kun?"

The blond looks like he is on his wits end but hope in his eyes. "Tell me. One you guys please tell me."

"The Uzumaki Clan. Their nation of Uzu was considered to be equal to the Big Five. Your Shodai's wife was an Uzumaki. And your clan was known to be the most deadly Fūinjutsu and Kenjutsu masters in all the elemental nations" Yugito fills Naruto and the others.

The term shell-shocked could best describe the looks the Kiri and Kumo teams were seeing. The most affected was Naruto obviously, Haku or Yugito could not tell but he looked like he was sorting his thoughts.

"So my Tousan or Kaasan was an Uzumaki…"

Haku looked solemnly at her favorite blond; "Actually your kaasan I believe. We knew of one survivor of Uzu that came to Konoha. She is perhaps the most feared Kunoichi that existed second to only Tsunade Senju, Kushina Uzumaki."

The image of the redheaded woman singing to a baby Naruto plays in his mind. "Long, vibrant red hair. Velvet eyes and fair skin?"

"The Red Death. She's one of the reason I became a swords woman," Karui admits.

Sakura gasps seeing small tears coming from Naruto's eyes. He looks at her with small sad smile; "I… I remember her… She… I was crying; she was lying beside me when she sung a lullaby." As his tears grow with fervor as he looks at the rosette. "I remember my kaasan."

Haku and Sakura quickly hug him as the blond quickly breaks down in tears his body trembling as his whole body shook almost in pain. While everyone stayed respectfully quiet, all could tell while it was happy tears, it was also hollow. The visible pain was rolling off his body knowing he could never see his mother. See her smile, hug him, and laugh together. He could not have even a small measure of that. Just only a small memory of her singing.

Tenten shakily covered her mouth with her hand as she also was crying. Lee was not fairing any better while Kouhei, Omoi, Chojuro, Yugito, and Karui look at the blond both solemn gazes.

The only two greatly surprised by this is Sasuke and Neji. Both had heard of the Red Death, but never the name of that person. But they remember the emotions from people when saying that title.

Sasuke's mother spoke of it with tearful regret, while his father in hateful spite. Even Itachi spoke of in deep reverence of the Red Death.

Neji only saw hate from the elders while Hiashi-Sama and his late wife spoke in great regret. Even his father had both respect for the woman, and remorse for her passing.

And this was Naruto's mother!? Not to mention the blond is also from a clan that was even more feared than the Senju and Uchiha, and considered equal in strength to the other great nations. Neji's mind went on overdrive.

The Uzumaki Clan? Konoha's longtime allies and comrades? Legends say that not even the Senju and Uchiha dared provoke their ire… and that their partners were creatures of legends..

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Everyone woke up early and saw Naruto already at work on Sasuke's curse mark. They all could tell he was just burying himself in work, but considering the revelation he learned last night, he had a right to. Sitting on a rock with his shirt off Naruto inspected Orochimaru's seal on Sasuke.

"You feel anything off," Naruto said while his eyes focused on the seal.

The Uchiha grunts; "My chakra is a mess. Also I keep hearing a voice in my head telling me to seek out more power."

Yugito stands in front of the two; "Well?" Haku and Sakura stood beside her also waiting patiently.

"This… I never saw a seal so damn complicated and with multiple layers to it. I can make out the word heaven but that's it," the blond rubs his chin.

"Think you can do anything," Haku asks.

"I can seal it up but will have to make it triple layered so you can use your chakra again, and not hear any evil voice."

"I'll take what you can get," Sasuke says.

Ever since this morning he has been less insulting towards Naruto. Perhaps learning the truth shook him out of that I'm superior Uchiha nonsense. Well it's a thought. But even Neji has been slightly nicer, which spooked Naruto a bit.

The blond rubs his hair with his hand; "it will take an hour. You can have some dignity back and put your shirt on."

The Uchiha heir only glared as he watched Naruto leave to his books and papers. He saw Sakura and Haku went with him. Yugito remained in front of him, his unofficial guard. Well her and Karui and Omoi keeping a sparing eye.

He looks up at her; "you're not going to move are you?"

She lifted an eyebrow; "After your little display yesterday. No…"

"Why weren't we told about it?"

"The Uzumaki Clan? Ask you're Hokage, but I doubt he hid this without purpose considering how he came to save Naruto."

Sasuke was told what happened when Orochimaru found Naruto, he was in awe hearing how his teammate fought alongside Kumo and Kiri to stop him. Then the Sandaime showing up with a mass platoon of Anbu. He always knew the old Kage had a soft spot for Naruto, but this showed how strong it really was.

"Then it was the council… only those bastards could have hid something like this," Sasuke growled out.

"They sound like a fun bunch," Yugito said dryly.

The Uchiha eyed her dryly; "Some among them are greedy self-centered scum that only care for themselves. Elder Homura may be very stern, but he's trustworthy. Then there is Elder Koharu, that woman does not like foreigners."

The two went quiet after that as they watch Naruto by a tree.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Sitting on the ground Naruto goes over several books of Fūinjutsu – some from Jiraiya and some he found by accident-. Looking through the pages he takes down notes. Sakura and Haku watch him and both are impressed on how diligent he is scanning through pages slowly and thoroughly.

"Can we do anything Naruto-kun," Sakura asks.

Blinking the blond looks up. "Remember when I said how difficult this stuff is? I'd have to start you from scratch Sakura-Chan. But I could use something to drink if that's okay," the blond smiles.

Nodding with a small smile of her own the rosette goes to the river near them. Thankfully Omoi and Lee go with her.

Resuming his work Haku sits in front of him. The two are silent until she lifts her delicate hand to his chin. Raising his head so his eyes meet her they share a look. "I will be fine Haku-Chan. I promise."

She did not sound convinced; "you're sure?"

He smiles sadly; "I need to keep myself working. Keep myself focused till we get to the tower. There I can speak to the one person with answers."

"Are you mad at him?"

His eyes look distant; "I know he'd never intentionally hurt me. If Jiji had a reason, it was a damn good one."

She eyes him sternly; "that's not what I asked you Naruto-Kun."

"… No…" he looks at her sadly; "I might be upset. But I could never be mad at him. He is the closest thing I have to a grandfather. He took time out of his work just to spend time with me. The pariah of the village, and I honestly say I remember what he taught me. He is my grandfather, and I love him to damn much to hate him."

Her hand moves to his cheek with her thumb rubbing gently. Taking a deep breath what she does next makes everyone pause like statues. Moving forward as her eyes close, her lips lock onto his. Everyone froze while slightly blushing. Save Kouhei muttering; "About damn time!"

Naruto was locked like statue until his eyes slowly closed and returned the kiss. Her lips feel like silk.

He tastes like ramen…

As they part Haku lowers her hand as they look at each other with matching blushes. "I know you love Haruno-San, and my shot for you might be slim to none. But please know I do really care for you Naruto-Kun. And know that someone, no matter how far away they are will always love you…"

Naruto blushed more.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

At the river Omoi and Lee kept guard while Sakura refilled some canteens. All of a sudden her eye twitched as she felt an intense urge to cause someone intense physical harm.

Why do I feel so pissed off all of sudden?

Omoi, who has bird's eye view back to camp. His jaw nearly hit the ground seen that Haku girl kissing Naruto. He quickly caught himself when noticing the rosette Kunoichi instinctively get pissed off.

That has to be a female thing. Like hell I am going to tell what happened. Last thing Raikage-Sama needs is an international incident happening here. And she will likely crush my skull with that monster strength of her's. Sweet kami she was brutal on that Oto mummy. Yeah want to keep all my mental facilities, or what's left from Karui's beatings.

XxX ~ xx XxX

The group still relaxes at their campsite as the blond works on a seal for Sasuke. Naruto uses the time to ask as much as he can about the Uzumaki clan. Kouhei was telling him the same most knew about his clan, along with some rumors he had heard.

Tenten looked at him in awe. "They seriously could live for centuries?"

"Yeah. Many of them were really, REALLY old" Kouhei pauses before starting again; "Oh that's nothing. I heard there's used to be this woman on Kiri. Before the Purges. She was with an Uzumaki and got pregnant, so they went to live in Uzu"

"So?"

" The Uzumaki who got her pregnant... was another woman."

Silence.

More silence.

Yugito opens and closes her mouth a few times but no words come out. Finally, she clears her throat and says; "Pardon?"

Kouhei says; "Yeah! Uzumaki did weird impossible things like I heard. Two women having children together was one of them... and without extra equipment even"

" How exactly-? Just how?" Sputters Neji.

Kouhei shrugs "Some weird seal thing I think. At least, that's what I heard"

Karui raises a brow; "Why would they design a seal that allows two women to have children together? That's just bizarre"

"It's said that most Uzumaki go both ways. Hell, maybe Naruto here likes men too but it's so repressed he himself may not know it"

Naruto was seemingly suffering from a spontaneous stroke if the gurgling sounds coming from his throat were any indication, he finally sputters a; "WHAT?! NO!"

Kouhei holds up his hands "Jeez, take it easy"

"And here I thought your village was filled with free minded hippies" Says Karui.

Lee shouts enthusiastically "Love should know no bounds as long as the flames of youth burn bright in all of us!"

Tenten leans close to Neji and whispers; "Was that Gai-sensei told us? His speeches are so much alike I can't tell anymore"

Neji whispers back; "Would you be surprised if it is?"

Tenten shrugs. "Not really" She smiles teasingly at Naruto. "Come on, this is Konoha. It's right on our tourist slogan; 'First Hidden Village to legalize gay marriage'. You don't have to hide in that closet and wear just one pair of socks all of your life"

Naruto glares at her with the intensity of the sun. "I won't even speak to you again" Tenten just laughs.

Omoi sighs; "If people ever rediscover that kind of seal. Then women won't bother to date men anymore"

Karui glares at him. "If all men are like you then the hell we won't! I actually think it's awesome the Uzumaki found to make dumb men irrelevant"

Sakura weakly raises her hand. "I do want a husband thank you."

Haku just raises a brow. Just men? How limited It particularly ticked her off seeing as both of them shared the same object of affection. Of course of all the men in her village the rosette seemed to have chosen Naruto.