The village gate was just barely in sight and seeing it caused a warm feeling of nostalgia as Naruto approached it. Kakashi was at his side and all his friends were behind him. Further back a huge crowd of leaf ninja wearing headbands that all said "Shinobi" followed behind Naruto and his companions. They were finally returning from war. A war that still haunted them because they knew it was not yet over.

Images of the incomplete Ten Tails (Jubi) still ran through his mind. Naruto's mind, and he knows that he is not safe, not until Obito has been completely eradicated. "Kakashi Sensai?", he said.

"Hm", Kakashi replied.

"About the war, i mean, when are we going after Obito and Madara again?"

"Eager to be back in the battlefield already?"

"No its not that, its just that people won't be safe until we defeat him. We cant put this aside for too long again."

"Ah chillax Naruto", Kiba said approaching him with Akamaru between his legs. " We need to rest after all that brutal action."

"Yeah but-"

"Naruto", Kakashi interrupting, "We need strategic thinking before battling the Jubi again. Even with your father aiding you as well as the other hokage we barely made it out alive."

"Yes so that is why we need to train even harder if we want to catch up", Lee added. "I shall work with all our peers until we are at our very best and then get even better after that."

("Same old Lee"), Naruto thought. "Great", he replied. "I guess there's no rush for now."



After crossing the gate, everyone went to do their own things. Many went to the hospital while others went home to their long awaited families. Naruto was advised to be hospitalized but refused, and went walking around the village, sightseeing how close the village was to being finally finished.

As he was walking towards his house, looking forward to his day off tomorrow, he felt a strange sense coming from a leaf shinobi.

"Naruto Uzumaki hi", the stranger said approaching him. "If it isn't any trouble i hope to get an autograph for my son. He admires you very much."

Feeling exited Naruto signed his paper and walked off while the man thanked him. He kept watching Naruto walked toward his house and left after he went inside.

"Creepy guy", Naruto said under his breath. He stood their a bit pondering on what just happened, then continued through his house.

Naruto went to bed with ramen in his stomach and the moonlight shining through his window. Tomorrow was training like nonstop for him so he can be ready for the upcoming decisive battle. "Sasuke".........He helped him with the Jubi battle but didn't want to return to Konoha. This ran through his head while he slept. ("I wonder how long it will be before i see him again. Maybe when the war is over he will come live with us again.")

At that thought he sensed an unusual presence right over his bed. He woke up but did not move to see what this figure was trying to do. He felt silent movement, then realized he was under attack! At a flash of a second he pulled of a rasengan that touched a torso and made the person fly out the open window that used to be closed, hitting the edges. Naruto went outside and saw the same man that asked for his autograph. Naruto felt horrible at the site until a zetzu started to form over the shinobi's body. Now Naruto was shocked, then relieved but still surprised. "I thought there wasn't any of you guy left!"

Deciding where to go, Naruto was nearing the hospital and thought of Sakura. "I wonder where she's at right now", Naruto said.

In front of the hospital now, Naruto heard a women's scream. Startled Naruto went through the gate to get inside.

"Hold on I'm coming", he said, and headed inside the building. He followed the continuing scream until he reached a door like any other. ("She must be inside here")

Opening the door he saw a shadow that lead to a person in which Naruto could see clearly upon the moonlight that was coming in through the window. But other than that it was pitch dark. The women stopped screaming and stood there watching Naruto as though confused.

"Hey what's going on why are u screaming, and where is everyone else?" Thinking about it he sensed no one in the building but her.

She just stood there not responding to his question. Then she made a groaning noise and started to fall before him. Naruto, being quick and nimble, caught her with ease and she grabbed on to him with a tight grip.

"Geesh lady, u scared me for a se--", Naruto said but then quickly realized a kunai knife was trying to make contact with him. "What the hell", he blurred and switched to kyuubi chakra mode and pushed her away hard enough that she hit the wall and started to turn to a dead Zetzu.
"Her too!....Just what is going on!"

A burning feeling rushed through his body. ("Hatred"). He sensed a huge amount of it near the rear gate, so he decided to head there. Still in chakra mode, Naruto rushed atop of the buildings and approached the gate. His ears rang with a tremendous noise of fighting. It was as though war was going on right before him. (" All the people that used to be in the hospital are all here fighting with everyone else. Damn those Zetzu guys!")

"Naruto help us", a leaf chunin said and others turned around to see the yellow jinjuuriki near them.

Naruto joined with the identified allies. "Where did all these guys come from?"

"I don't know", another chunin answered. "We where just ordered to find all the missing patients from the hospital so late at night when this sprang up."

"Yeah, they just started attacking us and now we don't know who we are fighting", a third one added.

"Well that's why I'm here", Naruto stated. "I think all these guys that are attacking us are Zetzu's."

"What!", all three of them yelled.

"Well I guess that explains all this crazy anarchy."

"Yup", Naruto agreed. He looked down from the building where he was standing on and noticed Yamato fighting alongside Kakashi, Guy, and Naruto's peers blindly, with caution on each ones face. "I'm gonna clean this mess up." At that said, Naruto jumped down and joined Guy and Kakashi and started pointing out who they should target.

"Sixth gate of joy, OPEN!", Guy roared and started taking down multiple enemies at once with a furious and serious face.

"But wait I haven't got done identifying all the Zetzu's", Naruto yelled at him.

"Well that 'hot-bloodness' of him can't be cooled", Kakashi said with a glum face.

"Wait Bushier Brow Sensai," Naruto said and went after him.

"I will join you Guy Sensai", Lee said and followed his master looking just like him, taking down more Zetsu's on the way.



When the sun rose up the fighting was over. All the Zetzu where identified and made into trees from Naruto's attacks. A lot of damage was dealt on the east side of the village and carpenters are there now working on the broken buildings.


"But Grandma, why do i have to leave the village again, I just got here.", Naruto whined. He was in the new Hokage Mansion.

"Because Naruto!", Tsunade answered, "We need to protect you and the village as well."

"That's why I'm here, to protect Konoha, Why u hafta send me to a village i never even heard off!"

"This village is going to be attacked continuously and we can't prepare for the upcoming battle with the Jubi if your attracting enemies all the time....No offense Naruto.", Shizune said.

"Ah come on how am I'm not gonna be offended by that?", Naruto asked with a funny tone.

"Look", Tsunade said, "Shizune's right. According to our intelligence team, all the Jinjuuriki's went back to their villages after being revived and there tailed beasts restored."

"Wait", Naruto interrupted, "I thought we only revived them. How they have there tailed beasts, I mean partners inside of them again?"

Shizune also seemed interested in this."How is that Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade began her explanation:"Well i heard rumors that during the second day of the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Raikage's brother, Bee, fought his former Jinjuuriki that had the Eight Tails (Gyuki) inside of him as well."

!!? Both Naruto and Shizune where surprised.

"How's that possible?", Naruto asked.

"Quiet down and let me finish! Anyway, the fake Madara could have used this same cell duplication technique with the help of Kabuto to create tailed beasts clones in case the tailed beasts where taken away from them to still create an incomplete Jubi. That's why the Jubi still exists even if the tailed beasts are back inside their original Jinjuurikis.

"So that explains it!", Shizune screams. "Interesting."

"Yeah i guess that makes sense.", Naruto says excitedly. "But why didn't Octopops tell me all that."

"Probably because it didn't matter at the time Naruto.", Shizune cleared up.

"I guess so.", Naruto replied.

Tsunade begins again: "Well now that is said and done, you need to pack your things to head to the Village Hidden in the Waterfalls, the Takigakure village. You are going to reside there until we fully prepare ourselves for the upcoming decisive battle with no interruptions. The Seven Tails (Chomei) Jinjuuriki lives there and you are going to partner up with her to protect yourselves from the fake Madara. According to our inrel division, all the Jinjuuriki's that have been revived returned to their villages. We devised a plan to pair up each Jinjuuriki with another at all times to better defend themselves."

"Wait but why can't i pair up with Octopops?", Naruto replied. "We make an awesome team together so it will make sense to-"

"I know you and Bee make a good team but he already paired up with Yugito. Since you and him were never captured, don't you think is best to share your powers with the other Jinjuurikis that have been captured already?"

"Yeah i guess your right."

"Good. Kakashi and Yamato are going to escort you to Takigakure. Meet them at the village gate when your ready to depart."



As Naruto went toward his house, he spotted Sakura doing maintenance work with some carpenters. "Hey Sakura!", He said with a sweet tone.

"Oh hi Naruto."

"So what are you doing"

"Just some work to help rebuild some damaged buildings. I don't see you doing anything.

"Oh um, that's cuz i need to pack so i can head out somewhere."

"Your leaving again?"

"Don't worry 'bout it. I'll be back soon. Soooo wanna go before i leave."

"Naruto, I have work to do."

"But it'll be for like thirty minutes."

"I will go out with you maybe when you come back."

"But who knows how long i will be gone."

"You just said it you will be back soon."

"Yeah but it might take longer. A lot longer; you never know."

At this response Sakura received a frustrated face. "Naruto, when a women doesn't have time, she doesn't have time OK?!"

"Ok, ok Sakura.". Naruto responded afraid he might get smacked.



Not long after he was packed and ready to go. Naruto headed for the main village gate where Yamato and Kakashi were waiting for his arrival.

"Ready to go?", Yamato asked.

"Yup, lets go!", Naruto responded and raced out with the two of them far behind him.

"Naruto wait. Do you know where we are going?", Yamato yelled.

"Yeah we're going this way right?", and he pointed at a random direction.

Kakashi seemed lighten up at this moment.("Naruto has grown so much, but he still feels like the old Naruto at times.")


`







`

The night is cool, sky is clear and trees run through all around the camp ground. The fire is almost out and everyone is asleep. Naruto is still semi-asleep, wondering and remembering about the village. He has been there twice and yet it took him this long to remember.

Naruto thinks to himself about Shibuki, and more importantly, the girl that attacked him on his second trip to the Waterfall Village.

He begins to think: ("I wonder how the leadership business is working out for Shibuki. Maybe Takigakure has grown a lot more than when we last saw it.")

He recalls to himself the mission when Team 7 had to protect the entire village from a group of criminals who wanted the "Hero's Water."

Naruto then mitigates about that strange girl who was more like him than what he first predicted. ("I remember visiting the village again with Sasuke and Sakura. We were all eager to see our old friend. At least me and Sakura were. But we all went to see how the leader was doing. Yeah, i remember having to go inside the waterfall and swim through an underground water way to get in the village like last time. But when we reached the surface, Takigakure was totally different. Everything was new, and there were more villagers. Even the water looked cleaner, and everyone seemed more happy....I remember running to try to find Shibuki when this girl got in my way and wouldn't let me pass.")



"Hey whats your problem?", young Naruto said to the girl that was standing in his way toward the village houses.

"I don't have a problem other than the fact that your trying to sneak into our village.", the kunoichi said.

"I'm not sneaking, I'm visiting a friend here. Don't you know who I am?"

"Hardly, I just meet you."

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I saved your village's but before. Hasn't anyone told you that?"

"Uh- nope."

"Heh!?", Naruto replied looking dumbstruck. "Come on your kidding right?"

"Hehe not really."

"Well I'm not letting you keep me from seeing Shibuki so step out my way.", and at that instance Naruto burst through the air. But was stopped by the young ninja as she grabbed him by the sleeve and shoulder and was thrown toward the water that surrounded the huge old tree. Naruto landed on the water's surface where Sakura and Sasuke where making there way up.

"Naruto why are you playing in the water?", Sakura asked?

"I'm not. I was freaking thrown by that chick over there who wouldn't let me pass!"

"Huuhhh?....Only you would start something like this."

"Well it seems like she wont let us pass without a fight.", Sasuke jumped in.

"Yeah but does she know that we are Leaf ninja's, allies to them?", Sakura asked.

"It doesn't seem as though she's been here too long.", Sasuke stated. "Let me handle this."

Naruto jumped up from his sitting down abruptly. "Ohhh no she wanted to fight me so why u hafta but in?"

"Because your not going to do anything with her, loser"

"Guahh, shut up Sasuke! I can beat her better that you ca-", but was interrupted by Sakura's scream. They both looked ahead and the kunoichi unleashed a tornado that made a typhoon in the water.

"I'm Fuu, the protector of Takigakure. Your gonna need more than two genin to stop me.", the girl shouted out.

"Such intense chakra from just one person not even a jonin.", Sasuke said more to himself than Naruto. "Sakura stay back, I don't want you getting hurt. Naruto come on we gotta get her to reason with us even if we have to do it by force."

"RIGHT!", Naruto chanted.

Sakura got all tingly inside after what Sasuke said. ("Sasuke CARES about me! Or maybe he thinks I'm not good enough to fight. Ohhh I hope it's just because he care's for me.")

Naruto and Sasuke went inside the whirling winds and swirling waters as Fuu tried to cut them open with wind style techniques.

"Naruto she's a wind style so don't get to close in front of her"

"Yeah yeah i can see that. I'm not blind!", then he was caught by the wind current and was flown back trying to rear the kunoichi."Aaaahhhh!"

"Tsk, Idiot.", Sasuke said and started making hand signs. "Fire Style, Flower Phoenix Jujitsu!", and balls of fire sprang from his breath and made its way passed the wind currents to encircle Fuu and hit her.

Four thin like wings appeared out of Fuu's back and she took of, dodging all the fire figures and letting them hit the water, creating steam throughout the area.

Sasuke maintained his position, using the sharingan to try and psych her movements. He stood there for a while without a sound. Then he remembered Naruto and tried to see where he was at.

From a distance he heard his voice: "Multi-Shadow Clone Jujitsu!"Sasuke started to here a crown forming around the water and saw Sakura amoung them. His left ear heard shadow clones being vanished one by one and Naruto struggling. He followed his voice so he could assist him.

"Damn it I can't see a thing! Just where is this chick", said Naruto and that lead Sasuke to finally meet up with him."Sasuke!"

Sasuke used his eyes to scan the area before talking to Naruto. "Don't waste your time punching around, she's in the air."

"What! She can walk on air! No fair I wanted to do that."

"No stupid, she can fly"

"HUH!!! How does that make more sense than walking on air!"

"She has wings that she uses to fly. We need to get out of this fog before she cuts us down."

Naruto nodded. Then as if they knew what each of them where thinking, they ran up the old tree to get out the fog. Half way up the tree they saw Fuu flying above the water. She emerged through the white and saw Naruto and Sasuke standing on the side of the tree.

"I'm not gonna let you take our village leader like that. He gave me an important assignment in guarding this village and losing isn't in my dictionary!", Fuu said to them. Then she started to build up chakra.

"Listen", Sasuke said, "we just want to reason to you-", but before he could finish, two wind currents the shape of an X shot at them.

"Gwahuwauauahh!", Naruto gibbered out of his mouth and they both dived in the water to dodge, but the attack purposely missed and swung around the tree. The two boys emerged out the water and stood on the water surface.

Sasuke knew what she was trying to do right after he got up from the water."Naruto watch out she's right in front of you!"

Naruto turned towards the other direction and saw Fuu flying right at him. "Damnit!" He pulled out his kunai and tried to guard himself.

Sasuke heard a clash then a splash on the shallow water next to the tree's island. He ran towards the noise and stopped and stood where he was at with a shocked and embarrassed look on his face. ("Better her than me again"). Sasuke saw Fuu on top of Naruto. There face was barely an inch away from each other. Fuu briefly screamed and picked herself up.

Naruto sat there with a blank expression.("What-just happened") Silence surrounded them for about a second until the crown started getting noisy.

Sasuke broke the silence among themselves: "So I take it your ok Naruto"

"Why were you on my like that?", Fuu asked but in a calm to

"You were on me!", Naruto blurred out.

"Enough fighting.", Sasuke said. "There is no reason to fight village allies."

"Yeah what Sasuke said.", Naruto added.

Fuu stood there for a little with no expression. Then said, "Oh sorry about that. I just took my job to seriously i guess."

"Gwuahh", both Naruto and Sasuke said with a stupid look at each of there faces. They exchanged glances as if saying, ("Seriously").

After a bit of explanation, all three of them went back to land and met up with Sakura and the awaiting Shibuki. They greeted each other and explained to Shibuki what happened.

"But its alright now, heheh", Naruto spoke. "So how's the leadership business working out for ya."

"Not as bad as i thought it would be.", Shibuki answered. "After you guys left, I decided to reinvent our village and its turning out amazing and-, huh?" He was cut of by voices shouting at Fuu. They were saying bad things lling her names and how her kind always wanted to fight. And they called her a monster.

"I messed up once ok!? I was only taking my job seriously! Nobody's perfect!" And as if she was about to cry, she ran through the crowd and disappeared.

"Oh my goss, why are they yelling at her like that", Sakura asked. But Shibuki ignored her question and started to quiet the crowd.

"Everyone please calm down. You shouldn't treat a fellow kunoichi like that.", Shibuki said to the crowd.

Naruto kept staring at the direction where Fuu ran of too.He stood standing with an empty dreadful look on his face. He is seeing the same pain, the same torture, the same loneliness in Fuu. He also can hear the same words he heard before ringing in his ears. Naruto knew exactly what she was feeling right now.

The crowd paid their attention toward Naruto. "Hey we are really sorry about her.", one said. "Yeah how dare she not know you guys saved our village before.", another began. The whole crowd turned to apologize for a while and Naruto took it al in. He was almost ready to explode.

"Shut UP!", Naruto yelled. The crowd went silent.

"Naruto what are yo-", Sakura said but was interrupted by him.

"How can you treat one of your own like that. She was trying to protect your village and all of you. That's all she was doing but you treat her like crap! How Dare YOU! None of you probably know how's she's feeling right now. You don't know the half of her pain." He felt cotton build up in his throat. He then ran past the crowd to try and find Fuu, calling her name to see if she responded.

"Naruto", Sakura whispered to herself. Sasuke remaind silent.
Shibuki looked passed the silent crown and then heard them mummer among themselves."Is Naruto going to be alright."

"Don't worry he'll be fine after a while", Sasuke said.

"Uh-hh yeah he'll um be ok", Sakura agreed.


Naruto found Fuu sitting on a bench that was beside a trail that lead to a forest. He stayed looking at her, watching her stare at the trees above with tears rolling down her cheeks. She caught him looking at her after some time and then looked away.

"What the hell are you doing here", she said.

"I-umm wanted to find you.", Naruto replied.

"Just leave me alone, just like everyone else does."

Naruto ignored her command and sat next to her on the bench. For some odd reason she let him sit there for a while, but didn't say anything.

Naruto began: "I'm sorry how those people treated you back there. They were never that mean when i first met them."

"Everyone's the same. They all treat me like I'm different; like I don't exist." She was opening up to him, and it felt right for some reason. "I don't expect you to understand."

"But i do understand."

"Huh? How can you possibly understand?" She was still teary-eyed.

"Because, they used to treat me the same way, up until not to long ago. My own village took me as something that never meant to exist.......I did a lot of pranking, so i could get scolded. To me, that was better than being invisible. I lived by myself my whole life, so that's why i decided to make friends. It filled the void i had all my life." He smiled at that last remark.

"But how did you make friends? It doesn't seem like something i could do around here." Then she remembered Shibuki. "Actually, I have Shibuki as a friend all along. It feels good to be around him."

"Heheh, their you go! And you will always be my friend."

"After all that, you want to be my friend?"

"Yeah."

"But why?"

"Because you and me are alike."

"..........yeah, hehe." She started to really lighten up. Her depressing appearance turned to a happy, go-lucky personality. "So what else.", she said in a good humor tone.

"Well umm-hmmmm....I like your spiky mint green hair."

"Well I like your spiky blonde hair.", and they both laughed joyfully.


Older Naruto continued to think in his dream: ("I also wonder how Fuu is doing after returning to the village. I guess it wont be half bad staying in Takigakure.")

He was finally geared up to fall asleep, until something intense happened. The ground started to shake heavily and then Naruto heard static coming from the distance. He got up and out of the tent and saw Kakashi and Yamato looking at a huge cliff. Naruto went passed them to get a better view of the cliff up ahead that was surrounding an entire forest until the whole landscape EXPLODED!