"So, Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi asked, his hands back in his pockets. "What do you think of him?"
Jiraiya sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "He's strong, Kakashi. In a straight fight, right now? He's likely stronger than you. Though, I suspect he'd still run into a wall if he tried to trade blows with Might Guy."
Kakashi looked down at his feet.
"You need to grow, Kakashi," Jiraiya said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "It's time to stop living in the past. You've let that eye become a crutch and a curse at the same time. Seal it if you have to, but you need to start training again. I know it's a memento of a dead friend, but do you honestly think your friend would want you to stagnate because of his gift?"
Kakashi didn't answer.
"I'm taking Naruto with me," Jiraiya continued. "The Akatsuki are moving faster than I anticipated. I've already run into Itachi once; seeing him is likely what sent Sasuke spiraling. The boy realized how wide the gap truly was."
"Do you think Itachi will return to the village?" Kakashi asked.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But the next time you face him, you can't afford to spend three days in a hospital bed afterward," Jiraiya said. He reached into his vest and pulled out a specialized sealing tag, pressed it into Kakashi's hand.
"Itachi's grown too strong," Kakashi admitted, his fingers tightening around the tag. "He used a technique called Tsukuyomi. It was... it wasn't just genjutsu. It was a complete collapse of time and space. He tortured me for days in the span of fraction of a second."
"And he used black flames called Amaterasu to burn through my Toad Mouth Bind. I have sealed the Amaterasu in my scroll, I will see if I can add it to my arsenal," Jiraiya added grimly. "That's two techniques we know of... there are likely more. "
Jiraiya stopped at the door to Naruto's room to see Hinata rubbing her hands. "Use that seal, Kakashi. Or throw it away. The choice is yours, but the world isn't waiting for us to catch up."
~~
The Konohagakure was now filled with the rhythmic thud of hammers, the rasp of saws, and the determined shouts of shinobi and civilians alike. Everyone was doing their best to rebuild the village.
Within one of the Medical Ward, Naruto Uzumaki sat perched on the hospital bed, his usual boisterous energy replaced by a suffocating silence.
A thick web of bandages was wound around his head, a testament to the beating he had taken from Sasuke. He stared at his hands... the hands that hadn't been strong enough to pull his friend back from the wrong direction he was going into.
"I am sorry, Sakura-chan," he whispered, "I couldn't bring him back. I couldn't keep my promise. " He looked up, his blue eyes with a guilt and frustration. "But I won't stop. As soon as I get better and out of this bed, I'm going after him. I will bring Sasuke back, no matter what it takes. Even if I have to beat him up."
Sakura didn't look up as she was focused on the task of peeling an apple, the red skin curling away in a single, elegant ribbon. Her hands were steady, though her heart was anything but. She set the knife down and offered Naruto a small smile and attempt to comfort him.
"Don't worry, Naruto," she said softly, sliding a slice of apple onto a plate. "I believe Sasuke will realize the mistake he's making. He'll come back on his own eventually. Your job right now is to eat, get your strength back, and be ready to welcome him home when he does."
Naruto gritted his teeth, his legs tensing and was about to spring from the bed and proclaim his resolve to Sakura again. But before he could launch into a outburst, the door creaked open.
"Well, well, if it isn't the village's most dramatic patient," a booming voice announced. Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Sage, stood in the doorway with a mischievous glint in his eye. He stepped aside, nudging a blushing, trembling Hinata Hyuga into the room.
"I found this little lady in the hallway like a lost kitten. Honestly, Naruto, what a lucky fellow you are. You're definitely taking after your master."
"Jiraiya-sama, please!" Hinata squeaked, her face turning a shade of red. She shuffled forward, clutching a small basket of fresh fruit and a bouquet of wildflowers. "N-Naruto-kun... I brought these for you. I wish for your speedy recovery."
Naruto forced his lips into a wide, familiar grin... the 'Naruto Special'... even if it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Oh, hey, Hinata-chan! Thank you. These look great... you're a lifesaver."
Hinata took a deep breath, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her jacket. She looked at him with a surprising flash of resolve in her eyes. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Naruto-kun. The next time you see Sasuke-san, he will be even stronger than he is now. So, you can't afford to be down. I'm going to train twice as hard, too. We'll all be ready." With a quick, shy bow, she practically bolted from the room, her mission accomplished.
"Well," Kakashi Hatake remarked. "That was certainly a quick visit."
Naruto's smile vanished the moment the door clicked shut. He turned to the two veteran shinobi. "Kakashi-sensei, Pervy Sage... stop the small talk. Any news on Sasuke? Or that snake Orochimaru?"
Jiraiya's posture shifted; as he glanced at Sakura. "Sakura-chan, I would like to examine on Naruto's body. So, If you don't want to see this brat's bare, you might want to give us the room."
Sakura recognized the dismissal for what it was. She nodded silently, gathered her things, and stepped out.
Once the door was closed, Naruto leaned forward. "What is it, Pevy sage? Sending sakura-chan away, Do you have something to say?"
"Naruto," Jiraiya began, his voice low and gravelly. "You need to understand the reality of the man Sasuke ran to. As we speak, Orochimaru might have already used Living Corpse Reincarnation on Sasuke. There is a very real possibility that the next time you see him, Sasuke Uchiha will no longer exist."
"What are you talking about? Pervy sage, that's weird I don't give it! What do you mean Sasuke will not be Sasuke. Sasuke is Sasuke!" Naruto shouted at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya countered, stepping closer. "The next time you see him... If you rush in there blindly, fueled by nothing but sentiment, you're going to get yourself killed by Orochimaru wearing Sasuke's face."
"Shut up!, Pervy sage. You are not making any sense." Naruto roared. A boiling orange chakra began to seep from his pores, his whiskers thickening and his teeth elongating into fangs. The Nine-Tails was trying to leak its chakra. "I don't care what you say! Sasuke is my friend... he is my brother! I'll tear apart anyone who comes in the way!"
~~
A/N: Kimimaro is 15; 3 years older than Naruto.