"Oi. Teuchi-Ojisan, how about some ramen," Naruto shouted as he sat down at his reserved spot.
Teuchi came out of the back and, spotting Naruto, gave a grin, "Well what do you know, the missing ninja is back. You know Ayame and I was worried about you, we haven't seen you since the funeral and you haven't come here in three days."
"Sorry about that," Naruto scratched the back of his head as he gave a sheepish grin. "I was dealing with some…personal issues."
The old ramen stand owner nodded in understanding, "I got'cha! Well the ramen will be right up, so just sit tight!"
Naruto nodded and let his mind wander until his food was brought to the table. Naruto grinned as he snapped a pair of chopsticks and dug in. as he continued to inhale the food as if he had not eaten in months, which was sort of the truth as he had not eaten ramen in, well at least three days, a familiar man with white hair stepped into the bar.
"J-Jiraiya-sama!" Teuchi exclaimed in surprise, "To what do I owe the honor!"
Jiraiya laughed, "Now there's no need for formalities like that today, I just came to pick up the gaki for a mission."
Naruto blinked as he realized the man was talking about him, not that it wasn't obvious from the way he had placed a hand on his shoulder. Sighing Naruto slurped up the last of his broth before setting it on the table and looking at the white haired man, "So you need me for some kind of mission Ero-sennin?"
Jiraiya's right eye twitched. "What have I told you about respect gaki?"
"Hmmm…" Naruto tapped his chin in thought, "You know, I don't really remember." He grinned as he saw the man's eye twitch more. "Not that it would matter, if Sarutobi-Ojisan couldn't get me to show respect, there is no way you could get it from me."
"I swear the youth these days…" Jiraiya mumbled.
"So what is it you need from me?" asked Naruto, standing up.
"I need you to help me find a certain person." Jiraiya said elusively, "An old friend of mine."
Naruto frowned, "You know even though I have enhanced senses, I'm not much of a tracker. Wouldn't an Inuzuka be better for this sort of mission?"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes, "I don't need a tracker gaki. I have plenty of experience in finding people."
"Then why are you asking me to come along?" asked Naruto in confusion, "I mean, wouldn't I only slow the great Ero-sama down?"
Jiraiya gained several tic marks on his head, "I swear, you and your stupid nicknames. I'm not doing this so I could have help, and this is going to be a little slow, since the person I'm looking for is pretty elusive."
"Well then, why do you want me to come?"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes, "I was getting to that, don't be so impatient. Anyways, as my apprentice, I was plan on teaching you a jutsu while we travel. One that makes the Chidori look like child's play."
Naruto held in a wince at hearing the name of the jutsu that killed Haku, right before he registered the rest of what the man said.
"A new jutsu?" When the man nodded Naruto grinned, "You've got yourself a deal Ero-sennin! Just let me go home and grab my equipment!"
Jiraiya shook his head, "No time, we've got to hit the road now or the trail will get cold."
"But I thought we were taking it slow anyways," Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Wouldn't that sort of imply that it wouldn't matter if we left a few minutes later? Besides, what if we run into some missing ninja? I only have a limited amount of equipment on me."
Jiraiya snorted, "First off, when I said we would be taking it slow, I meant we were not going to be running all over the country. Second, the chances of us running into missing ninja are zero to none. And third, even if we did run into missing ninja it wouldn't matter. Don't forget that you are going to be with the great and gallant Jiraiya-sama."
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Right, whatever…"
Jiraiya pouted at the way Naruto brushed him off. He cheered up a second later, "Alright then! Let's hit the road!"
Naruto blinked at the man's enthusiasm as he began walking away, before shrugging a second later and following the white haired pervert.
Gaara blinked a few times as he continued staring at the ceiling of the jail cell he was in. it had been four days since his and his siblings capture at the hands of Naruto and that blond woman he had been with. Four days of doing nothing, and since he could not sleep it had given Gaara plenty of time to think, something he had been doing since his talk with Naruto.
"That's easy. I'm strong because I don't fight for myself. I only fight to protect my precious people, my friends and those I've begun to consider family."
Fighting for others…does it really make you that strong?
The words Naruto had spoken had been on his mind for a while now. The blond had beaten him. A feat that no one had been able to accomplish before, but one he had done twice. His strength was obvious, yet Naruto said he fought for others, not himself. If I fight for others, could I gain that kind of strength?
He looked around his cell, he walls were not very thick and he knew that both his siblings were with him. Unlike the other two he had been conscious when they had been taken into custody, so he knew they had been placed in a jail cell next to his. Could they become his precious people? They were family, though he knew they were afraid of him. Yet at the same time they were the only ones who had stayed near him, even after he had threatened to kill him. Besides that, if he wanted the kind of strength Naruto possessed he had to start somewhere right?
"Temari, Kankurou?"