Chapter 19: Their Temporary Good-Bye

-Naruto's apartment, 5 AM-

*Beep beep beep*

The alarm clock in Naruto's room roared to life immediately waking up our favorite blonde knucklehead. Groaning in annoyance Naruto slowly gets up from his bed and sat on the edge of it. Rubbing his eyes he looks out the window and saw the sun just barely rising over the horizon.

''Still the crack of dawn..well it's kinda before the crack of dawn.'' Thought Naruto as he got up to get dressed. Just then he remembered today. Today was the day he will leave with the Toad Sage and one of Konoha's legendary Sannin for five years.

''Five years..'' Naruto whispered to himself as he took out his pack he had prepared the night before when he told Jiraiya he accepted the request to train him. Taking some fresh clothes and his towel he heads into the shower.

After finishing his shower Naruto heads back into his room to stow away his dirty clothes into a laundry bag and store it in the closet and locking it shut. He then heads over to his dresser to pick up his headband and his ninjato and sai which were laid out neatly on it. After strapping his ninjato on his back and the sai on his hips he looks slightly to his left and looked at the single picture frame that was on the dresser.

He smiles and picks it up to give one last good look as he won't be seeing it in years. It was team eleven's team portrait. In the picture was him standing on the far left side with his trademark grin plastering his face. Smiling, he looks to his left and saw Kurotsuchi Kamizuru, his best friend who was riding him piggy-back style, her arms placed on his shoulders with a huge smile on her face and winking at the camera.

He closed his eyes and blushed for a second before looking at the picture again and this time he turned his eyes on Genma right next to him using his senbon as a toothpick. The sight of brown-haired teen using his senbon as a toothpick more so a weapon made him chuckle. He then moves on and looks at the last person in the photo. It was his Jonin sensei, Mako Uchiha who was smiling at the camera with a 'V' sign.

''I'll miss you all.'' Naruto whispered to himself setting the picture down. He then spent the next half hour going over the list of things he packed for the trip such as hygiene products, extra clothes and a few scrolls for sealing he nods and walks over to his drawer and grabs his orange combat jacket. He then turns off the light and leaves the room locking the door. With his room secured, he walks over to his kitchen and gives it a good, long look before nodding. ''Hope my ramen doesn't expire by the time I get back.''

With mini final inspection of his kitchen completed he shuts off all the lights and walks out his front door. Closing it he then locks it before placing a hand on it. ''I'll miss you apartment. Try to stay clean for me ya know?''

He then walks away and heads towards the main gate wear Jiraiya wanted to meet him.

-Kurotsuchi's apartment, same time-

*Ring ring* *Ring ring*

''Urgh.''

The sounds of her ever annoying alarm clock instantly woke Kurotsuchi up and the pink-eyed Iwa girl slowly sits up on her bed. ''I really need a new alarm.'' The Iwa teen grumbled before sitting on the edge of her bed. Out of extreme agitation she performs a scaled down version of her signature quicklime jutsu and the clock's alarm became muffled from how much she spewed at the device.

She gets up and walks over to her dresser and looks into the mirror. ''Ugh, talk about bedhead..'' She then remembered what would this morning and she resisted the urge to start crying. ''Oh right...Naruto...he's leaving for five years...'' Thought the Iwa girl as she takes fresh clothes and heads into the shower.

With the shower done she comes back into her room and puts her dirty clothes in a laundry bag. Heading over to her dresser she takes out a comb and tends to her hair for a few minutes. With her morning deeds done she once again looks into the mirror and gives herself a good look. She stood like that for a minute before she felt tears beginning to form in her eyes.

When she realize that she was about to cry she shook her head for a moment to prevent such a fate. ''No! No crying! I have to remain strong! After all Naruto has always seen me as a tough girl.''

She continues putting on the rest of her clothes and noticed the little picture that was resting on her dresser. Picking it up she saw her team portrait, the same exact one Naruto had looked at earlier. She looks at Naruto in the picture and smiles before hugging the picture tightly.

Now fully dressed, Kurotsuchi takes her Iwa vest, her red Konoha headband and her katana and heads out the door of her apartment. Closing it she leans against the the door and looked down on the floor. ''Naruto...''

Despite the heavy emotion she was feeling at the moment she managed to regain her composure and walked down the hallway and out the building. Her destination; Konoha's main gate.

-Streets of Konoha-

''Man, this shit sucks..'' A visibly tired Genma said as he walks through the quiet streets of the shopping district. ''Five years, five freaking years he'll be gone'' Genma, being too tired to pay attention to his surroundings turns a corner and bumps into someone with enough force to make him and the unknown person fall on their asses.

''Ow! Sorry about that.'' Genma said rubbing his ass and when he opened his eyes he saw Naruto in the same position as him.

''Hey! Watch where you're walking!'' Naruto exclaimed before noticing he had bumped into his teammate. ''Oh, hey Genma.''

''Hey man, what's up?'' Genma asked as they both get up.

''Oh...you know...I'm just walking around the village for a bit to get a good feel about it since I'm..you know.'' Naruto explained.

''That's right..you're leaving in a bit are you?'' Asked Genma.

''Yeah...I have to meet Jiraiya at the main gate in about thirty minutes.''

Genma hadn't expected Naruto to leave so soon, he had gotten up so early hoping he could catch Naruto before he left and that he did. ''Naruto.''

Hearing his name be called Naruto looked at his teammate. 'Yeah?''

''I hope you learn a lot when you're out there. I mean who knows what that Jiraiya will teach you or what places you'll go visit. I just wanted to say I wish you the best of luck okay? Come back and show me how much stronger you will become. In return I, Genma Shiranui your teammate will vow to become strong too, of course not on the same level as you but you know.'' Genma said with a shrug.

Naruto smiled and gave his friend a small nod. ''Thanks Genma, I'll miss you ya know.''

''I know you will.'' Genma chuckled before raising his hand out.

Seeing what the brown-haired teen was doing Naruto nodded and raised his hand up and the two teenage boys shook hands. They then slowly separated and parted ways.

Watching his blonde teammate walk away Genma smirked cockily to himself. ''Hell, it's obvious you're still going to be better than me.'' Said Genma as he walks away.

-Uchiha compound-

*Knock knock knock knock*

''Coming...'' A tired voice from the other side of the door said. Opening the door Mako Uchiha was about to berate whoever dared to wake an Uchiha until she noticed a tuff of blonde, spiky hair.

''Naruto?'' Mako asked in confusion.

''Hey sensei.'' Greeted the blonde.

''Hey, I thought you were suppose to leave already?'' Asked the Uchiha.

Naruto simply nodded his head in response. ''I am but Jiraiya is giving me an hour to say good-bye to all my precious people, what kind of student would I be if I didn't come say good-bye to you sensei? You're one of the most precious people to me.'' Said the blonde with a huge smile on his face.

Mako smiled and shook her head at her beloved student's words. ''Oh Naruto, you're so silly you know that?''

''Heh heh, I know sensei. I just wanted to drop by and say thank you...for everything you've taught me up until now.'' Said Naruto.

Mako smiled tenderly at the boy's words. ''You're welcome, Naruto.''

Naruto held his hands up prompting the Jonin to remain silent. ''Hang on sensei, I'm not done yet. There's a few more things I want to say. First is that I really appreciate being your student, you are easily the best teacher I could've asked for, you've taught me so much, taught me how to do the rasengan, taught me how improve my kenjutsu and increase my skill in wielding the sai. Thank you...Mako-sensei, I've learned so much from you.''

Mako felt small tears begin to form in her eyes. Wiping them away he wraps her arms around her student. ''And you're the best student any Jonin could ever ask for Naruto. Your parents would be so proud of your progress.'' She then let her student go and looked him in the eye. ''When you come back, I hope I can learn a great deal from you. No, and try not to come back a pervert like him or else, never mind.''

Naruto chuckled and bid Mako farewell before turning the other way and began to walk a few steps before coming to a stop. ''Mako-sensei...''

''Hm?

''Again...thank you...for being my sensei.'' Naruto then walked away before turning a corner and out of her sight.

''And thank you...for being a good student...I'm so glad I got to be your sensei...good luck out there..'' Mako said before she slowly closes the door to the compound.

-Konoha Main Gate-

After packing up what he needed for the trip Jiraiya is seen relaxing by the guard post by the main gate where Tokubetsu Jonin Izumo and Kotetsu were seen sleeping on guard duty much to Jiraiya's amusement.

''Heh, I wonder what Tsunade would say if she saw these two dozing off.'' Jiraiya thought before he heard footsteps approaching. Turning his head he spots Naruto coming his way. ''So...you ready to go Naruto?''

''Yeah...I'm ready..'' Said the blonde.

''You take the hour to say good-bye to your sensei and teammates?'' Jiraiya asked as they slowly walked out of the main gate.

''I did, except Kurotsuchi..she wasn't home when I checked on her.''

Jiraiya looked at Naruto with sympathy, Mako had informed him about his special bond with Kurotsuchi and he knew that feeling all too well. ''Awe, sorry to hear that, I'm sure she had her reasons for not being ho..''

''Naruto!'' A voice called out.

''Hm? The two of them turn around and spot Kurotsuchi walking up to them with a huge smile on her face.

''Kurotsuchi! I went to look for you at your apartment but you weren't there!'' Exclaimed Naruto.

''Really? I checked your apartment and you weren't there. Coincidence huh?'' Kurotsuchi said as she walked up to Naruto.

The two teens once again stared into each other's eyes and blue ones became lost in pink ones. Seeing the tender moment between the teens Jiraiya smiles and walks off into the distance to give the two space. The two teens continued to look deep into each other's eyes and they didn't notice that they were both blushing and the butterflies in their stomachs were running rampant. There was one thing they each noticed in each other's eyes, it was a look that resembled..longing?

When they noticed that they were just staring at each other they both looked the other way and scratched their heads nervously while chuckling.

''Hehe, sorry about that Naruto.'' Said Kurotsuchi.

''N-not a problem Kurotsuchi.'' Naruto said as the two look at each other once more.

''...''

''So um...Kurotsuchi..'' Naruto was about to talk when Kurotsuchi placed a finger on his lips.

''Naruto...I wanted to say...good luck...please be safe..pay attention to everything that pervy sage tells you...and that I...I...'' Feeling herself almost giving in to the powerful emotions Kurotsuchi looked down and took a big breath in. ''...I..lo..''

''Y-you what Kurotsuchi?'' Asked Naruto with a small blush on his face.

''I..I lo...see you around..Naruto.'' Kurotsuchi finally said while looking at him with a tender smile.

Naruto returned her tender smile and nodded. ''I'll see you around...Kurotsuchi.''

Kurotsuchi then wrapped her arms around his neck getting him into a tight hug. Though the hug initially caught him by surprise Naruto then wrapped his arms around her waist and returned her hug.

Breaking the hug, Kurotsuchi sighed in happiness as Naruto then turns to walk over to Jiraiya who was waiting for him...Kurotsuchi then remembered the good-bye gift she wanted to give to her blonde best friend.

''Naruto wait!" She called out as she ran up to him.

Hearing Kurotsuchi call his name Naruto turned around and saw his best friend running up to him. Instead of coming to a complete stop however she placed a hand on his cheek and stood in her tippy-toes.

''Kurotsuchi, what are you...''

''!''

What happened next was something Naruto absolutely did not expect as Kurotsuchi gently pressed her lips against his. It was their first kiss and the feeling of their soft and warm lips gently touching left massive blushes on their faces and Naruto was left wide-eyed at the kiss.

The kiss felt like it lasted forever until Kurotsuchi took her hand off his cheek and pulled away slowly.

Naruto was having trouble articulating what words he wanted to say. ''Kurotsuchi...I..'' Naruto was cut off when Kurotsuchi placed a gloved finger on his lips again.

''Shhh.. just go..pervy sage is waiting for you.'' Kurotsuchi instructed.

Despite the heavy blush that was threatening to take over his face Naruto simply nodded and gave Kurotsuchi one last tender smile before walking over to Jiraiya. Together the two of them walk off into the distance until they disappeared from the sight thanks to the sun's bright, shining light.

''Naruto...good luck.'' Kurotsuchi whispered to herself smiling. Eventually the feeling of seeing the boy she loves go away for fives years became too much for her and slowly her smile turned into a frown. She looks down to the ground and began to cry uncontrollably while placing both her hands onto her face. Despite it being only a temporary good-bye Kurotsuchi still couldn't bear the thought of him being away for so long.

Then, two figures walked up to her and hugged her.

''Don't worry Kurotsuchi, he'll be okay.'' The now revealed Genma said.

''There, there..it's okay Kurotsuchi..let it all out. He'll be fine...believe it..'' The revealed Mako cooed in Kurotsuchi's ear.

''I...I should've..I should've just told him right there...Naruto...please come home to me safe...I...I love you...'' Thought Kurotsuchi as her tears and sobbing intensified.

The three of them remained in their group hug as the camera view slowly pans upward toward the clear blue sky.