"Rasengan!"

The water upon which they stood blew everywhere, sloshing about. Sparks of lightning, which only seconds before were rippling throughout Sasuke's hand, began to fizzle out. The rogue shinobi gasped, eyes widened, before his mutated body collapsed from the collision. Naruto panted, body exhausted from having to tap into the nine-tailed's chakra. Sasuke's unconscious body was dragged to land, his opponent wanting to not risk the knocked out ninja from accidentally drowning.

"Y'know... It's... a lot... easier... to work with you... when I know... you planned... to kill me..."

Naruto Namikaze fell over, palms on the ground. The battle was not a perfect 1-to-1 replica, as his partial meddling with his foresight altered a few events. That said, the descendant of the Yellow Flash was careful in not disrupting too much with his hindsight, even with his place in the new Ninja world being vastly different. The great shift of him being known as the son of the previous Hokage was massive, as thanks to his father successfully turning him into a jinchuriki without his mother's passing, Naruto was able to live a life without being a loner. His existence as a tailed-beast was still kept under wraps, as fears of another incited incident with Kyuubi without Minato was not an option.

"Kurama, you're as useless as ever, y'know that?"

Naruto rubbed his back, feeling like he aged 12 years, when he really lost 5. "Would it have killed you to let me borrow some to take this jerk on? I warned that he wants us to die!"

The whiskers on Naruto's face began to recede, and the pooling red fluid begin to submerge into his yellow jacket. I don't care what you tell me, brat. I'll only help for myself, you dying would be highly inconvenient.

"BASTARD! That's why I asked for your help BEFORE I went here! I forgot how much of a asshole you are!" Naruto roared, growling to himself. However, Naruto sighed, then took a deep breath. He looked up at the sky, this time victorious. Sure, his shoulder feels itchy, and maybe he has an only partially patched up hole in his chest, but he's intact and victorious. He successfully rescued Sasuke. Unlike the other times he changed the past, this one felt like a complete deviation. Before, he had wiggle room and could see how things will play out. Cutting Orochimaru off of Sasuke, however, seemed to be something unpredictable.

"Man, I hope this doesn't come to bite me in the ass."

"Ow, Mom! Not my ass!"

Naruto, eyes in the shape of sunny-side eggs, began to scream as the red-haired vixen began to beat him on the ass.

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT PLAYING STUPID GAMES, AND WINNING STUPID PRIZES!"

Kushina had her hair strung upwards like she had opened all eight gates. Naruto was unsure whether or not it was his imagination, but his mother's teeth became awfully sharp and massive. He likely was imagining things, as he was too busy bawling his eyes out from the pain. This wasn't a Kakashi thousand years of pain, this was one thousand times worse.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'M SORRY!"

...

Naruto sat on his knees, face teary. It almost looked as if he was sitting honorably as a show of respect to his mother, but it was mostly due to him being unable to rest his butt on any other surface due to the swelling.

"I'm sorry, Mom." Naruto sniffled, face puffy from his crying.

Kushina looked at her son with a stern look, which pivoted into a more somber expression as she looked at him. Then, she hugged him, resting her chest upon his spiky yellow head.

"Honey, you're such a dumb boy. Don't do anything like that ever again," Kushina embraced her only child more tightly and pressed up tighter, "you're going to make me die of a heart attack some day."

"M-mom?" Naruto said, confused by the sudden shift towards sadness. He could feel his mother's warmth come over him, washing away some of the pain she had just inflicted just about a minute prior.

"I know you're your own person, and Mommy will always love you, but please don't do something so dangerous again. Please..."

Naruto could hear his mother crying from above him. Although it has been years since he has been in this world, he still wasn't used to having a parent. He never really knew his father, and he still doesn't now. The teen can't imagine the pain his widowed mom must feel, especially having such a headstrong, danger prone child that he is.

"I can't lose another of you... Don't be so stupid, Naruto."

Naruto could feel the scent of his mother wash over him. Her tenderness -quite a shock given her incredibly aggressive personality- was making him feel a strong emotion he had not felt before. His memories between the past and present began to merge, with the memories becoming an amorphous blob in his mind. The swingset that he would look back to often, the nights alone in his room, were being replaced with the memories of sharing dinner with Kushina Uzumaki, the stories she would read to him when he wasn't able to go to bed. Naruto remembered her smiles, her face, her kisses. Naruto shut his eyes, accepting of the maternal comfort he long never understood. He only focused on her body over his, her finger clutching him, the essence of being held lovingly.

"Okay, I promise."

"Jiraiya-sensei, are you sure this will help me with my training?"

Naruto looked over at the legendary ninja going in and out of the sauna house. He could see the pervy sage trying his hand at some of the beauties around, looking like a dog searching for his favorite bone.

"Trust me, my dear protege. I assure you that my five minutes of heaven is crucial to the plot."

The teen sighed. As he had once done, Naruto had spent a couple years under the tutelage of the great toadsman. Minus some nuances, most of the details remained fairly stagnant. Bringing justice and redemption to Orochimaru early was something that wasn't planned on his journey to getting stronger, but that was another plus in this other world. One large area of improvement, however, was Naruto's ability to access the three-tails far more comfortably, which was a surprise to any who saw it. The forth was still a stretch, but Naruto was at least not going berserk if he tried to push his luck.

"Naruto, come quick! There are some 'mountains' we must traverse! I'll have you know, your father loved this place."

...

"Wow, it's been a while, huh?" Naruto looked over to the village, which looked amazing to see again. The Hidden Leaf appeared almost identical to before Pain's assault, which was a sight for sore eyes.

"C'mon, kid. Let's get a move on. Tsunade said she'd consider a date with me if you come back in one piece, and I'm not willing to lose this opportunity."

Naruto groaned. He knew Jiraiya was getting played, but he was happy to have him around.

Around him.

Naruto was unsure of how to address the people around him. The last he saw of Sasuke seemed at least amicable. It wasn't like their final showdown where they made peace, but it seems they were at least cool now. He can assume how Sakura is, with her not having enough that could have deviated. Hinata is someone he is unsure of. He feels a sense of camaraderie with Hinata Hyuga, with no clue as to why. Somewhere, he could feel as if she played a part in the timeline divergences, but he could not quite put his finger on it. Naruto feels compelled to see her, for whatever reason.

"Hey kid, stop thinking and start walking. I'll treat you to some ramen while I go see our Lady."

"Alright!"

...

A sharp stinging sensation went thru Naruto's mind. Grabbing his skull, Naruto held tightly to his headband.

Brat, I'm starting to put the pieces together.

Naruto could see the large gate infront of him, with the fox staring straight back.

You're not meant to be here, are you? I could feel that something is not right.

The voice from behind the gate began to shake the water, echoing in the narrow hallway. Naruto was surprised to be brought in here involuntarily, a bead of sweat going down his face.

I can feel something is not right. The Gods are not happy with your other is starting to be suspicious of things too.

Naruto was perplexed. Kurama's other half should not be communicating with him, as his father has been dead for over a decade.

I don't know what you did, but you are not going to like the consequences. I almost pity you, as I will have to make things worse before they get better.

"What do you mean, Kurama? Kurama!" Naruto yelled, his voice matured, but his question shaky.

Do not take things personally. I'm not fond ofyou, but I might have to apologize soon...

I doubt she agrees to what needs to be done, either...