ANNOUNCEMENT!

This story and many others are a part of a mass update I myself am doing for Christmas this year.

This includes Oneshots with Gorgon/Medusa (from Fate), Penny Polendina (RWBY), Nightingale (Fate), Supergirl (Dc) and more...

Additionally some of my other stories have been updated, including: Phantom of the Underworld, Heart Under a Blade, Hail to the King!, Mockingbird, Wrecked, and a few new stories as well...

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So please leave some if you want these stories to be updated, it really helps out alot. And please check out some of my other stories.

And Merry Christmas

:)

~ RWV3N


Please leave me lots and lots of NICE reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Fate, or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners…

12/25/23

Part 2

"Incredible, absolutely incredible, Danzo-sama," his bodyguard couldn't help but remark. A pale-skinned teen covered in clothing from head to toe. An Abarame-clan member, one born with a unique species of kikachu, one that only spelled immediate death to those who laid a finger on him.

Danzo nodded at his subordinate, as he too couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency with his latest subject, someone he personally trained, much like Tenzo, and someone who showed tremendous progress when it came to the art of the blade. Yes, the girl he had once picked up in the orphanage had certainly been a worthwhile expense when it came to these things.

As there Okita stood, in the center of a bloodbath, as numerous bodies littered the floor. At the young age of twelve, she stood as a master within her craft, as several Genin, Chunin, and even a few Jonin were sent to attack her… They all fell by her blade.

An impassive look upon her face, even as blood covered her features, courtesy of his training.

And sure, while it may become costly for one to waste such expenditures, especially on only one trainee, he was more than impressed with the results. And he did not doubt that Okita would be able to match up to even the great Itachi Uchiha within a few years. Of course, while she didn't have such an impressive bloodline like the Sharingan, or even advanced clan techniques like some of his other subordinates, she had something greater. Something only the greatest of shinobi had.

From a young age, he could tell, that she viewed the world differently. She viewed the world like a shinobi, she questioned everything and was suspicious of everything. And, as someone who had trained many shinobi during his time, he realized that that view that took years of training to engrain into a person, and it was something that would save lives… the lives of those in konoha.

Although that wasn't the only talent the girl had, she was a master with the blade, and with his harsh training regime, she was adequate with all forms of elemental transformation. Although earth style still seemed to be her best he wouldn't allow her talent with other elements to go to waste. Her genjutsu resistance and detection were also top-notch, even if she had no affinity for the subject. Plus, her chakra reserves were adequate, and while she wasn't any pure-blood Senju or Uzumaki, she wasn't a slouch either. There was a great likelihood that she could have come from a shinobi clan of some kind, although any kekkei Genkai or clan jutsu was lost to her given her lack of parents to teach her– and if she did have a bloodline it would have manifested by now.

"She is ready," Danzo stated, it was about time for Orochimaru's invasion to come into place, and if he were to become Hokage then he couldn't allow for mass casualties to occur. His root shinobi were needed in this impending siege, whether Hiruzen Sarutobi saw to it or not.

As his other subordinate kneel before him, Fuu, of the Yamanaka clan. An older teen with orange hair and the standard root shinobi apparel. "What will you have us do, Danzo-sama?" he asked.

"Gather half of our forces not on missions, and use them to eliminate any Sound or Sand shinobi in their way," the bandaged man ordered, as he then looked out on the blonde-haired girl. "As for her, I have procured a special assignment for her…" he trailed off.

She would be the one to look out for the Kyuubi Jinchuriki during the invasion. He was sure that both invading villages would target the container as either an attempt to gain the kyuubi's power or overwhelm the village once again with the beast's great power. Something that he could not allow.

And while he did not agree with his ex-rival's sentiments about the will of fire, he did see the point in it in terms of gaining control over the Jinchuriki. Naruto had no ill will towards the village, and that was something he could condone. Another thing was that he was sure, much like his parents, that Naruto would grow up to become a phenomenal shinobi. Especially given the fact he was under Kakashi Hatake's tutelage, as well as being under the infamous Jiraiya toad sage.

That brought an interesting thought, as stared out at the grey-eyed girl from up above, she was panting heavily, likely from the amount of exertion during this exercise. But even then her body refused to give out until he gave the signal. And with a quick nod from himself, she dropped to one knee, a slight amount of blood trickling down her lips, likely from some internal damage she had received from when the jonin had kicked her in the stomach. He should probably let that get checked out.

Okita was sure to become a promising shinobi, one at the peak of her generation. And he had a feeling Naruto would as well, surely a child between the two would wear at least some worthwhile fruit. Perhaps even a clan in some time, Konoha needed more of those, especially with the unfortunate loss of the Senju and Uchiha.

A thought worth continuing, but before that, once the Okita recovered…

He had a mission for the girl.

XXX

Elsewhere within Konoha.

"Dang, it!" a voice could be heard throughout the clearing, as a plume of smoke filled the air. In its wake, and for the near thousandth time stood a fish, or more accurately, a small tadpole. One with small legs and feet, and an even smaller body. Much to his displeasure, as every facet of his senses told him that this was, in fact, not a toad, or at least one of the full-grown ones that he was trying to summon.

"Hahahahaha!" the older man at his side laughed. He was tall and well-built and had waist-length, spiky white hair that was tied back into a ponytail. With two shoulder-length bangs framing his face. There were red lines under his eyes, and he had wrinkles around the corners of his mouth, with a wart on the left side of his nose. He wore a strange getup, which consisted of a green short shirt kimono, and matching pants, under which he wore mesh armor that was visible at his wrists and ankles. He also wore hand guards, a black belt, traditional Japanese wooden sandals, and a red haori with two yellow circles on each side. And atop his head was a horned metal headband with the kanji for "oil" on it.

As his student, a young child, around twelve years in age, with blue cerulean eyes, tanned skin, and a set of three whisker marks on his cheeks. And in the years since he had left the orphanage his once golden yellow hair was now anything but, as the tips of his spiked mane were now a fiery red, like scorches flaring out. His attire had changed as well, gone was the ragged mand-me-down clothing he once wore, as he now wore a bright orange and blue jumpsuit, with a navy blue, metal forehead protector with the symbol of a leaf shining above his forehead.

Naruto Uzumaki grits his teeth, "Grrr. Pervy sage! Quit peaking on women and help me!" he whined, almost drawing the attention of the women swimming within the nearby waterfall.

Jiraiya paled, hoping that his rather exuberant student didn't alert his peeping prospects, forcing them to leave, or worse enact revenge on him." Hey, Hey, quiet down brat, you're gonna let them know I'm here," he tried to placate his student, thankful that the women seemed to be happily oblivious to his presence nearby.

But it seemed the blonde red-head was less than enthused, tapping his toe across the ground angrily, "No, what I should be doing is letting them know that a no-good perv is spying on them, maybe that will teach you to help me instead of getting research for the smut you write," he said angrily. He only had so long before the Chunin exams finals, and all this time his supposed sensei spent his time perving on women.

Jiraiya's eye twitched, "Hey, it's not smut, it's the best damn literature you'll ever find!" he argued.

"Yeah, for toilet paper maybe," Naruto remarked, which only caused his sensei's anger to rise more.

"Oh yeah, well the only reason I'm not teaching you is because it's taking you so long to get this summoning technique down," the white-haired sanin argued.

Which caused Naruto's own eye to tick as well, "It's only taking so long because you aren't teaching me!"

"Are you sure it isn't working because you haven't been listening to my instructions with that thick skull of yours," Jiraiya remarked.

"Yes, I have!" Naruto argued,

"No you haven't," Jiraiya said back. Thus began a little childish game between teacher and student.

"Yes, I have!"

"No, you haven't."

"Yes, I have– Oww! Hey, what was that for?!" Naruto whined, nursing his head as Jiraya effortlessly closed the distance and flicked it.

"It was because you were benign such an idiot!" the toad sage said.

"Hey, don't call me an idiot!" Naruto whined before he was flicked on the forehead once again.

Sighing, Jiraiya thought about his newest student, so exuberant, so loud, so not like his father. And even if he said he didn't like teaching the brat he would be lying, it was always more fun teaching kids like him, after all, they were the same. They were the losers, the rejects, the wannabes, but that didn't mean they were talentless. No, Naruto had immense potential, he could see it, he just had to find a way to bring it out…

A thought entered his mind, "Hey, kid," Jiraiya spoke up, his seriousness causing Naruto to stiffen, losing all anger when he did so. "What if I were to give you a reward if you managed to summon a toad, Do you think you'd be able to do it?" he asked.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Huh? What kind of reward?" he asked, maybe it would be some kind of new jutsu, or maybe another toad technique, all of them were so cool. Or maybe it would be ramen?

Jiraiya's lackadaisical nature didn't help in the matter of anticipation, as he sat relaxingly up against the bushes."Oh, you know, just information on your parents, specifically your mother…" he revealed.

As Naruto's eyes shot open wide, he wanted to scream, wanted to shout out, but no words left his lips. How could he? He had wanted to know information about his parents for so long, of course, he did, he had been an orphan all his life. But every time he had asked the Hokage he had always dodged the question, telling him he wasn't ready. But here Jiraya was, offering him such information as if it were the easiest thing in the world to tell him. It sounded too good to be true, and he had to ask. "You… you know my parents?" he spoke, his tone quiet, as his head was held low.

At that Jiraya was surprised, he never could have guessed his sensei's son could ever be so quiet, always benign so loud and cheerful, he had taken that aspect from his mother. But here he was, almost like a different child at the mere mention of the names of even one of his parents, just what had his sensei been doing to him?

"Well of course I do," Jiraiya nodded, "And hey, I'll tell you what, if you do well in your training, I might even tell you about your father," he said, almost igniting a fire within his student.

"I'll do it," Naruto resolved, he would summon a toad, and he would master any other jutsu Jiraiya sent his way.

Such was his conviction.

The toad sage chuckled, happy that his student was motivated, that motivation would take him far, and who knows what he would accomplish. He turned his attention to the happy, beautiful, bikini-clad women out in the nearby waterfall, and oh were they beautiful.

XXX

Sometime Later.

(With Naruto)

Naruto's training had gone well, or about as well as being thrown off a cliff could be. Although, to his credit, he had been able to summon a toad before, just not one of the bigger ones. But who said that was a problem? Gamakichi was awesome. Nevertheless, he had been thrown off a cliff to teach him how exactly to access the Kyuubi's chakra, and surprisingly, the unorthodox teaching method worked. And besides that, he had been able to learn other things as well, namely training with hand-to-hand combat with Jiraya, and overall tactics of being a ninja– man how that had been boring.

But it sure had been useful, as, during his fight with Neji Hyuuga, the boy had pulled off numerous amounts of techniques he wouldn't have been able to face had it not been for some of his trickery. He was a shinobi, he didn't fight fair. Using the kyuubi's chakra to unblock some of his chakra points, and then tunneling down under the Hyuga for a surprise attack.

But after that, and after Shikamaru's less than-stellar loss—although it had been an interesting fight– Shino's fight had been won at a forfeit, which was surprising. Although not many of them knew the reason for it at the time. Then it had been Sasuke's match– who had shown up at the very last second just so he could look cool– the strangest thing happened. A monster manifested in the body of a boy.

Or more accurately, a tailed beast had been released from its confines, if only a little, as Gaara of the Sand revealed his true nature, that he was just like him. Hold a Tailed beast within his body, being the ones whose lives were sacrificed for the sake of their villages. They were Jinchuriki, living weapons, trusted to hold back their tailed beasts as war deterrents for their homes.

And the Village hidden in the sand had elected to release theirs upon his village, and he wasn't alone. Hundreds of shinobi from both the land of Sand and Sound descended upon his village, all because of Orochimaru, the rogue member of the Sanin, who with his honeyed words turned Konoha's once neighboring ally into that of an enemy. Trapping Hiruzen Sarutobi in some kind of barrier that prevents reinforcements from coming onto the scene to protect the man from his battle with his previous student.

But even with Orochimaru Occupied that left another deciding factor of Suna's invasion, that of the Jinchuriki, who had only been able to partially transform, albeit briefly. But as he retreated to the outskirts of the village to fully transform, Sasuke chased after him–whether it was because he saw the danger the red-haired boy posed, or that he just wanted to finish his fight Naruto didn't know. But soon the Kyuubi jinchukri followed after him as well, with Sakura, his fellow teammate on team 7. Shikamaru, and Shino as well.

But even when they caught up, although they did have to leave both Shikamaru and Shino behind, much to his displeasure. It seemed that Sasuke hadn't been as successful in his rematch with the auburn-haired sand shinobi. And with Sakura being captured by Gaara's sand, he was forced to make a move, battling his fellow jinchuriki in an epic battle. One that involved Gaara fully manifesting Shukaku in his seal with some strange sleeping jutsu, as he summoned an equally massive toad with the Kyuubi's chakra.

Fighting tooth and nail just to wake the infamous jinchuriki up, eventually, he made an opportunity, transforming the boss toad into a giant Kyuubi with the use of the Transformation jutsu just so he could grab ahold of the sandy beast.

Getting close to the boy, even as sand tried to cover his body, he did the only thing he could…

He head-butted him.

XXX

(With Okita)

Watching Naruto was… strange.

Doing so was something she had wholeheartedly never thought possible. She had always expected that she would never see him again, as they tried to get her to forget her childhood friend. She remembered him, she remembered everything, from the time they first met to their last encounter, she remembered it all.

From the training to the point of bleeding, the harsh nights with Danzo-sama, to when she had all of her emotions nearly locked away forever.

The thought of Naruto and the time they had spent together was like a lifeline, the last solace she could ever have, she didn't know what she felt, or even if she felt anything at all. The concept was utterly lost to her.

But after watching Naruto compete in the tournament, and thrive all on his own, well… she didn't know what to think. In all honesty, she had been impressed with his skills, and the emotions he had displayed, it was enlightening. She had always been taught otherwise, that feelings within the battlefield were strictly prohibited, that they were what separated a shinobi from those that died and those that got to live another day. It had practically been a law of the world. Like teaching a child that the sky was blue, or that the moon wasn't made out of cheese.

But if that were true, then how did Naruto defeat that boy Neji? And even though the argument could be made that Neji too was enamored by his emotions, that still didn't explain the fact that Naruto had won the battle. Naruto, her former friend, and the person who had always put his heart on his sleeve, had won the battle.

And it seemed he hadn't changed much in her time away.

She had seen the recordings, seen the tapes of the preliminary matches, and she had seen why exactly Naruto was so heated about defeating the Hyuuga prodigy. All because he had harmed his friend.

That thought brought upon a bitter remembrance, as she recalled all the times in the orphanage when she was ridiculed by her fellow orphans just for associating herself with the Uzumaki. And how Naruto would subtly get his revenge on those people through pranks that were somehow never traced back to the mischievous child.

It seemed that quality had not changed, as when the Hyuuga had harmed his own clansmen, a friend no less, Naruto did not seem to take to that kindly. Vowing upon the Hyuuga's defeat, something that he had been able to deliver upon.

Defeating the prodigy in an impressive show, even if they both weren't quite at her level yet. Thereafter were some more interesting fights she saw from high above the arena, namely the fight with the Nara heir and the Kazekage's daughter. And then was the fight with the last Uchiha and the Ichibi Jinchuriki, which wasn't really all that impressive all things considered. Although it was sort of interesting given the use of Kakashi the copy ninja's signature technique, something she had not expected to see within a Chunin exam.

But thereafter went something completely expected, at least according to Danzo-sama's predictions. As the Sand and sound villages descended upon Konoha. She, according to her mission's parameters, followed the Kyuubi jinchuriki's tail, as he followed the Ichibi Jinchriki as well. She kept enemy shinobi off of the blonde's tail, although she had to be careful to not get spotted by the ninja who broke away from Naruto's group. It had been through her carelessness that the one-tail was able to escape his seal.

But that's when something even more unexpected happened…

Naruto defeated the beast.

He, someone who was weaker than her, someone who had been taught the polar opposite of her, had defeated something– a Tailed Beast no-less— that she would have no chance at beating. The thought was… enlightening.

Although don't get her wrong, she felt happy for her former friend– or as happy as one could be given how her emotions were suppressed– But the very fact that he did so was a complete contrast to everything that had been taught to her throughout the years.

Another thing that bore into her was Naruto's words after…

XXX

"It's almost unbearable, isn't it? The feeling of being all alone… I know that feeling. I've been there, in that dark and lonely place, but now there are others. Other people who mean a lot to me. I care more about them than I do myself, and I won't let anyone hurt them. That's why I never give up, I will stop you… even if I have to kill you."

"But why? Why would you do this for anyone but yourself?"

"Because they saved me from myself, they recused me from my loneliness, they were the first to accept me for who I am… they're my friends."

Iruka, Sasuke, Teuichi, Ayame, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Hiruzen-jiji, Kakashi, Jiraya…

Okita, they were the reason he still did things.

XXX

A small frown permeated Okita's porcelain-covered features, something that she had not thought possible ever since she had been taken under the wing of Danzo Shimura, and been inducted into Root.

Naruto had… replaced her.

Or rather, he had moved on. She supposed it was only reasonable that he did so. After all, it had been some time since they had even integrated, and the likelihood that Naruto had forgotten about her entirely. That thought was bittersweet, although she knew it was only an eventuality.

Naruto was a great friend, and any person would be lucky to get to know him, the kids at the orphanage were fools for not seeing that. She heard he would be Hokage? Well in that case she had no doubt he would accomplish it. But by that time he would likely have a family as well, a kid, maybe two, likely with that Hyuuga girl he had been friends with– she had seen the looks she had given him during Naruto's match in the preliminaries. Something that bordered on infatuation, or maybe something more, and in the line of shinobi, romances like that were rare. But political marriages were even more common, and even she could see the benefits from the union of a Hyuuga and a Uzumaki.

Yes, that scenario was all but likely… so why did it feel so bad thinking about it? Like a hole within her chest, dull, numbing, and all encapsulating.

In all honestly, she hadn't felt this amount of emotion in years, hadn't felt like this in her whole twelve years of life. But why?

She didn't know, watching on as Naruto fell from the Sand Tanuki's collapsing figure. Making sure that he would land on something soft, a pile of sand to catch his fall. She had watched on as the Kazekage's child took back their defeated Jinchuriki, her allowing it– as ensuring otherwise had not been a part of the mission she had been given.

Naruto seemed to be heavily injured and exhausted, as darkness had soon overtaken him. She couldn't help herself, as she got close to check his vitals. Making sure that he would be okay, she couldn't help but examine her wayward friend.

'He looks… he looks the same,' Okita couldn't help but notice as she observed his figure, even as his hair began changing to that of a standard Uzumaki, even as he wore clothes that only would seem to kill a ninja the first mission they got. And even when began his recovery from his ever so obvious signs of malnutrition from the orphanage– of which she could still see the effects of to this day. As it was clear that he was still shorter than the average of his age group– he still looked like her friend.

As Okita's eyes softened behind her mask, a small smile somehow formed across her lips. She couldn't help but think of how things could have been, had she not been taken in under Danzo's wing, had Naruto not been kicked out of the orphanage that night, if they had grown up together. Or even if they could have returned to the days that once were… it seemed like her musings would be cut short. As a tens of Sand and Sound shinobi descended upon Naruto's figure, likely to capture the Kyuubi just as Danzo had predicted.

It was for the best, she supposed.

Cold, emotionless eyes looked on as shinobi descended upon her, she pulled out her sword from its scabbard. She had to do this quickly, lest Naruto's teammates come back to the scene, or worse, Kakashi the copy ninja coming back to help his student.

Naruto would have a wonderful life, he would have a wonderful family, and friends, and become Hokage. She, on the other hand, was born into root, raised in it anew, and she was destined to die in a ditch somewhere, protecting the very village Naruto would be cherished in.

Even then… that scenario didn't sound so bad.

What Okita didn't notice, as she descended upon the tens of shinobi, slaughtering them all with precision and accuracy. Naruto's eyes flicked open, just for a moment in his disorientated state. Seeing the shinobi-clad girl, and even when her face was covered in one of those masks the Anbu used, as her attire like that of the black ops ninjas as well.

Her short, blonde hair and black bow was still the same, and so were her, grey, impassive eyes…

'Okita' he realized, before darkness overtook him.

XXX

Days later.

He couldn't believe it… the Hokage was really dead.

The person who looked after him, the person who had found him after he had been kicked out of the orphanage, he was gone, killed by Orochimaru's hand in the same way the Fourth Hokage had died. That being through the reaper death seal, although it seemed the third Hokage had not been as successful. As the rogue Sanin member was still alive, left to continue on with his evil deeds as if nothing had ever happened.

His fist clenched at his side, even as he stood atop his grandfather's stone head overlooking the entire village. He remembered facing him in the forestry of death, how that lunatic had felt, how he wanted to get his hands on Sasuke, and how took pleasure in their their suffering. How could Orochimaru still be out there? Why did his grandfather figure and that monster have to survive? It just… it didn't feel right to him.

"So, Naruto, this is where you have been?" Jiraya spoke up, walking up towards him. He only gave him partial mind, turning idly so that the toad sage was within his peripheral vision.

The blonde redhead nodded, "Yeah, it the… the only place I can remember him clearly. We used to come here y'know, sometimes when it got too hard for us both. When we just needed a break from it all. We weren't the Hokage and the Jichuriki here, we were like grafter and grandson, and now he's… " Naruto could barely finish his sentence, as Jiraya listened on in remembrance as well.

The Hokage, he was practically his first family member, the only person who wanted to look after him. Back at the orphanage, he'd remember the days when adults would come over, looking over the children and deciding which one would enter their home. It was those days orphans cherished most, as it meant that they finally might get a shot at a loving family, something they've all always wanted. He never got that chance, all the adults like the matrons ignored him and passed him by.

And even when he was kicked out he thought the same would remain. None of the adults bothered to pay him any mind as he ratted in the alleys, even as he was starving all they would ever do would be turning the other cheek.

But not him, not Hiruzen Sarutobi, and even though he was practically the busiest person in the village he still made time for him. And sure, maybe the man could have done more, could have visited or done better, but he had done enough, enough for him to not fall the same path Gaara did. For that, he was eternally grateful.

"I know kid… I know… I can barely believe it myself," the toad sage spoke in a soft tone, walking up to his side. "But in some way, I feel like he wanted things to go this way like this is the way he would have liked to go out," he couldn't help but remark. Hiruzen was the oldest shinobi among them, even older than himself, and he was only rivaled in age by the three elders, who were born in the sage generation as the old man. And because of that, he had served the most years out of Hokage than all of them combined, only getting a brake for the brief time Minato had taken over. Although that only seemed to be temporary, as in the wake of the Kyuubi attack Hirzuen was left to pick up the pieces.

There was no other replacement for him, as while he had been offered the position, he had always refused, even now. And the only other candidates with enough strength were, Gai, and Kakashi. The former had the power but not the resolve to do what needed to be done, and the latter had the mind of a Hokage and reputation but lacked the power required to protect its citizens, at least for now.

Naruto flashed him a bittersweet smile, remembering his talk with Iruka and Kakashi, one that didn't fully reach his eyes. "I can understand, he gave his life for all of us, he died for us as if we were his own family, he…" Naruto's words were left open.

But even still Jiraya got the message, "He burned with the Will of Fire," Jiraya finished. As Naruto nodded, that was it, that was what carried Lord Third for so long. The will to protect his home, the will to give his very life for his people, as if they were his family, every single one of them. It was an enlightening thought, one taught to him at a young age. And as a loved starved child, he had been all for it… but was this what all that amounted to?

He wasn't left to ponder that thought, as a small package was handed to him, a box, wrapped in paper, and it was unlike anything he had ever seen. "Here, take it, something tell me the old man would want you to have it," Jiraya told him.

As Naruto looked at him in confusion, not understanding what it was. But, as he took it, tearing the tiniest bit of the paper off, his eyes widened. "This is…"

Jiraya nodded, "That's right kid, just as promised, your mother."

And it was with bated breath that he unraveled everything, seeing what exactly lay within. They were photographs, old ones, from the look of it, all of one singular person. The first was of a woman, one with the redest, most scarlet-colored hair he had ever seen– almost like how his own was turning. With pale skin, and the kindest, most pure, amethyst orbs he had ever seen. She wore an ordinary outfit, that being a short-sleeved white button-up collared shirt and a long green dress that reached down to her ankles. The most prominent thing in the photo was her larger-than-average stomach, and the bright and cheery smile upon her face.

He couldn't help but think that she was beautiful, bringing his idle hand up to his hair as he grasped one of his stray locks. Seeing the fiery tips that had started sprouting just months beforehand. He supposed that his mother was the origin of said color, and he couldn't help but hope that his hair became more like the color, as the red hair was awesome.

"I remember that that was taken a couple of weeks before your birth," Jiraya couldn't help but reminisce, "I can remember how happy she was when she heard she was pregnant," he told him, as Naruto flipped through the to the next one.

A younger version of the girl was before him, wearing of a yellow kimono top and dark shorts. But the strangest thing about her was her headband upon her forehead, as it wasn't the usual silver one with the leaf insignia he had come to expect. This one's metal was a gleaming crimson, with a dark cloth, and a spiral-like symbol etched into the metal.

"Oh, that, that was taken just after she arrived at the village from whirlpool country, although it was weeks after that we realized just what happened to the Uzumaki clan," Jiraya said somberly.

Although Naruto caught it, the Uzumaki clan? "Wait! I have a clan?" he couldn't help but cry out.

"Had, a clan," Jiraya unfortunately corrected. "The Uzumaki clan were a fierce force, one that was greatly allied with our village from the village hidden in the whirlpools. Although they were tragically attacked during the Second Great Shinobi War, leaving many of their members scattered," he informed, he wasn't going to give any false hope of his family being out there. But then again that didn't mean nobody was left that was a relative of his. "I will have to tell you more about them sometime."

Naruto nodded, still staring at the photograph. He would like that, he would like that a lot. He had always thought that he was a nobody, someone cast out without giving a second glance. To realize he wasn't to realize he wasn't forsake, it was… it was somewhat gratifying.

As he flipped to the next photo, he was nothing except surprised. "You've got to be joking, my mother was a freaking ANBU!" he couldn't help but gasp.

Jiraya smiled, "You bet she was, strong too, could give even Tsunade-hime a run for her money, especially with that weapon of hers," he couldn't help but sigh in remembrance.

Naruto traced his hand on the photo, seeing his mother adorned in the usual dark and grey clothing of the anbu, as well as the mischievous look on her face as her porcelain fox mask was somewhat turned off to the side, showing the grin that lay underneath. But then he saw something else, a dark scabbard, as black as the night sky, with a crimson tastle upon its curved end. And with its strange gold crossguard, and red cord that was tied around it, he couldn't help but marvel at its beauty.

Jiraya saw what he was so caught up on, and couldn't help but give his own two cents about it, "Ah yes, Benihime, a fine sword, one that was akin to the seven swords of the mist in uniqueness, although nobody really knows what it could do. But rumor has it, it was crafted by Mito Uzumaki herself, and gifted to your mother shortly after her death," he told him, Naruto listened faintly, as he was too preoccupied staring at the beauty of the weapon.

So much so that he couldn't help but ask, "And what… what happened to it?" it was like the sword was calling for him, beckoning him to fight with it.

As the toad sage put a hand upon his chin, recalling what exactly had happened to the blade, "Hmm, I think it was locked up in the Hokage's vault after the Kyuubi attack. Want me to retrieve it for you?" he offered.

Naruto gained a small smile at the thought, of fighting with his mother's blade, that sounded amazing. Plus, if he recalled, Okita had always had a fondness for blades, and maybe training with one could help him become closer together with her memory. "Yeah, I'd like that," he nodded.

Jiraya smiled as well, "Oho-ho, interested in sword fighting, are we? Well not to brag, but I'm not too bad with one. Plus, I hear your old sensei isn't half bad with one either." Although he wasn't exactly skilled in the art of the blade either, that was more Orochimaru's expertise. But he wasn't horrible. Kakashi also was very skilled, using his father's old sword before it broke in his battle of the bridge, then he had heard that he began to switch over to the standard ANBU tanto. Maybe he would give his students a few pointers?

Naruto was slightly surprised at that, Kakashi used a sword as well, he had never seen him do it, especially with his fight with Zabuza, Although to be fair, he hadn't seen the scarecrow do a lot of things.

As Jiraiya began to walk away, "Well, I suppose I can help you in that regard, I have to say it wouldn't be the worst thing you could learn. Who knows, you might actually learn how to fight smart one of these days with it, " he remarked, remembering the exact reason why he had even come up here in the first place. "But after that, you'll have to get ready for a month-long mission…" he told him.

Naruto's eyes widened, "Mission? Where are we going?" he couldn't help but ask.

The white-haired man gained a smile, indicating he was very enthused at where they were off to, "Why, we're going to get the next Hokage of course…" he stated only further adding to Jiraya's surprise.

He began slowly heading off, leaving Naruto in his wake.

Another thought struck Naruto, something that had been bothering him ever since he had awoken from his fight with Gaara. "Hey, uhh.. Pervy sage?" he spoke up, his voice in a near whisper, as his first was tightened at his side.

Jiraya still heard him, even with their distance, "Huh? What is it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. What else could his student possibly want at this time?

"You're a great ninja, right? A Sanin, and pretty high up in the village as well, aren't you?" Naruto inquired, as Jiraya was more than curious about what his student was up to. "That means you have access to the shinobi and village records, right?" he asked, a little unsure of how Jiraya would answer.

"Yeah, I do, but what is this all about?" he inquired.

Naruto nodded, smiling just a little at the thought. "I want you to see if you can find someone for me, an old friend of mine who used to help me when I was little," he told him, resolve seeping into him with each word he spoke. He visited his old orphanage, only once, and his best friend wasn't there. What's worse, was when he had talked to the older kids his age– made them talk to him– they had told him that she had disappeared the same day he had been kicked out. He needed to know just what had happened to her.

At that Jiraya was intrigued, not knowing who that person could possibly be. "Alright, but I would need a name in order for me to find her," he told him.

Naruto nodded, he should have expected as such. As he took a deep breath, "Her name… her name is Okita," he stated.

He knew it wasn't a dream seeing her, it couldn't have been.

He would find her, and he would know what exactly had been going on.

End Chapter.

An: Decided to change up Naruto's design a bit, was to lazy to go back and change it earlier, and that would be too confusing. But, by the time of the story, he'll have red hair, like his mother.

Originally this chapter wasn't even suppose to exist, and I was just going to time jump to shippuden where the story will begin, i'll be sure to do that next chapter thou...

Please leave me lots and lots of NICE reviews.