A/N - Hey guys! New chapter is out! Just a heads up, chapters may be updated more slowly now because I've gotten pretty busy with my personal life and because it's getting harder and harder for me to write these chàpters. I'm at that part of the story where I will have to review original scenes from the anime and rewrite them into these chàpters which is a lot harder than you all think it is.

Anyway, voting and especially commenting will help me to update faster, so please remember to do so. More comments = faster updates (if that makes sense)

Thanks and enjoy ❤️

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Chapter 50: Decipher The Code

Nia and Naruto were walking down the path to the Hokage Tower when Naruto spotted a popsicle with two sticks in it so it can be easily split apart. He remembered Jiraiya sharing one with him after a long day of training. Without a word to his girlfriend, Naruto walked into the store and sadly stared at the popsicle.

Nia didn't feel Naruto's presence behind her and looked behind her. Seeing him stare at the popsicle sadly nearly broke her heart.

Looks like he's not completely healed yet.

She walked into the store and gently grabbed the popsicle Naruto was staring at with one hand, and grabbed his hand with her other. She purchased the cold treat and led Naruto outside to a wooden bench where they sat down.

She remembered Naruto telling her the stories of how Jiraiya would split a popsicle with him after a long day of training, and knew its importance to her. After all, she shared that experience with them as well a few times, though she knew he was talking about before she had met them. Nia split the cold treat in two and handed one half to Naruto.

He stared at his half while it slowly melted.

"Naruto... do you remember last night when I told you how much Jiraiya-sensei praised you?"

"Yea, sweetie... why?"

"I know you're sad right now, but you should try acting like your normal self, the man that Jiraiya praised so much. Don't stay depressed forever. After all, Jiraiya himself, one of the Legendary Sannin... acknowledged you as his promising student." Nia said softly as she smiled proudly at the blonde.

Naruto's eyes widened momentarily before a true and genuine smile took over his face.

Iruka-sensei told me that too... and they're both right. I can't keep moping around forever.

He enveloped Nia in a hug.

"You're right, sweetie... thank you." Before Nia could respond, he had already pulled away with one of his typical grins on his face and had begun lapping away his popsicle.

Nia shot a warm smile at Naruto and scooched closer to him until their shoulders were touching. She happily began licking her popsicle as well.

"Naruto?" Shikamaru asked in a surprised tone.

He had been given the job of deciphering Jiraiya's final message, but he couldn't figure it out. So the lazy chunin had planned on having Naruto and Nia help him. Having lost Asuma, he understood the pain Naruto was currently going through and planned on telling him that it was time to grow up. That soon he would be teaching students and entrusting things to them.

The lazy genius had stopped by Naruto's apartment, but no one was home. He figured Naruto had gone to sulk somewhere in the village so went to searching for him.

"What's up, Shikamaru?" Naruto greeted with a large grin.

He is nothing like the Naruto I expected to find... Looks like Nia already got him out of his funk. Good work, Nia.

"I'm glad to see you in such high spirits. I need you to help me decipher Master Jiraiya's final message."

Naruto stood up from the bench and smiled at his companion. "Thanks for the popsicle, Nia... thanks for everything."

The kunoichi smiled back at the blonde. "Anytime Naruto."

"Well, I'm gonna go with Shikamaru now. I won't let Pervy Sage's sacrifice be in vain! You coming with?" Naruto said determinedly.

"Actually, Nia has been assigned with this task as well, so she has no choice but to come along with us," Shikamaru stated.

"Of course I'll join you guys," The girl hopped off her seat. "Ready when you are."

Naruto turned to Shikamaru. "Well lead on then, Shikamaru."

"Right, follow me." The Nara boy said as he walked in the opposite direction of the Hokage Tower.

As he, Naruto, and Nia walked away, Shikamaru peered over his shoulder at Nia. She was watching Naruto with a warm gaze.

She definitely got him out of his funk. That's good. It would've been pretty troublesome to have to take him to see Kuranai with me and give him a grand speech about growing up...

"Anyway, have you guys seen Kurenai-sensei lately?" Naruto spoke. "She's gotten huge."

"Well duh, she's pregnant," Shikamaru replied.

"Wait WHAAA? She is?!"

"Haah," The black-haired young man sighed. "Were you living under a rock these last several months? How did you not know she's pregnant, Naruto?"

"I... I don't know. I just never-"

"Oh, that's amazing!" Nia clapped her hands together as her eyes twinkled. "How far along is she?"

"She's about ready to push out a baby," Shikamaru answered. "I've been keeping a very close eye on her as of late. Her child will be my student in the future."

Hearing this, Naruto gazed at Nia. Noticing this, the girl blushed.

"N-Naruto, why're you staring at me so suddenly like that?"

"Well... you're getting ready to have my baby too, right?"

"HUH?!" The girl reddened even more. "W-What're you talking about? I'm not ready to have your baby yet, Naruto."

Shikamaru sweatdropped.

"Well get ready," The blond responded and rested a hand on her stomach. "You'll be truly safe once you do and we'll be a happy family."

"Naruto, geez..." The girl's heart skipped a beat. "I thought you said you'd stop acting this way if I agreed to stay in the village?"

"Well ya, but still... A baby will make that a guarantee."

"You've truly lost it, huh, Naruto?" Shikamaru eyed the genin.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You've gotten so overprotective of her. Let the girl breathe for crying out loud. Trying to get her pregnant so she can stay put in the village is a little extreme, don't you think?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. Her having my baby is her best bet to staying safe."

"Or maybe you can just protect me..." Nia sweatdropped.

Naruto glared at her.

"I have missions to go on, sweetie. I can't watch over you 24/7."

"Well then I can just protect myself, baby."

"Against a member of the Akatsuki? No way."

Nia frowned and crossed her arms.

"Well thanks for calling me weak."

"It's not that you're weak... they're just powerful. Even I have a tough time going against them and if I'm stronger and more experienced than you overall, what's that tell ya? You'd get killed!"

"Hmph!" Nia puffed her cheeks.

Naruto snaked an arm around her waist as they walked. "Come on sweetie, don't get an attitude with me. I'm just looking out for you, ya know."

Nia still had her arms folded.

"Sweetheart..."

When she wouldn't answer him, Naruto kissed her cheek.

"Come on, give your hero a kiss..."

Nia pouted.

"Nia..." He sighed.

"You guys, enough of that. We're here," Shikamaru halted as the two behind him did the same.

"Just one little one, okay?" Naruto leaned toward her and pursed his lips. "I love you."

"Okay, okay," Nia gave in and shared a kiss with him.

"Now say you love me, Nia," Naruto wanted.

"I love you, Naruto," The girl blushed.

Later on, pages of information lay spread across the table. Every tiny detail was there. The Pain that Jiraiya had managed to kill had already been dead for some time. From what Lady Hokage was able to gleam from the body, though the autopsy was not yet complete, the person had been simply a vessel of some kind. The working theory that the Nara had were that the rods throughout his body had been some sort of receiver for a jutsu.

"Maybe we can destroy the receivers in the Peins and break whatever jutsu they're being controlled by," Naruto grumbled, crossing his arms. "It wouldn't be easy but it's better than no plan."

"Except that the receivers are made of strong metal, that will be hard to destroy," Nia picked up the rod that Lady Hokage had given them to study, only to throw it back onto the table. "Not to mention that we would have to take on each Pain, one at a time, and from what that toad told Lady Hokage I doubt that we would be able to do that. We could go after the real one, though we would have to find out who it is first. It will mean casualties. Whoever distracts the Pains will die. They took down Jiraiya-sensei, so the only ones who have a chance of surviving for a prolonged fight would be Lady Hokage, though her combat skills isn't as high as her healing abilities, and... Naruto."

"But it could take us forever to find the real Pain, especially since he is liable to stay out of the fight, like Naruto does when he makes clones to survey the area." Shikamaru sighed. "Am I the only one feeling like we're getting nowhere?"

A scream tore out of Naruto's throat before he flipped the table in front of them. He shook with rage, as though that burst of violence wasn't enough.

"I'll take that as a no."

"They are after Naruto!" Nia growled, glaring at the mess. "If we can't figure out this code, then what're we supposed to do?"

Nia's heavy words left the two men without words for a time. When the silence was finally broken, it was by the knock of the door.

"Did the Hokage send someone to help us?" Shikamaru questioned.

"I hope so," Nia said, looking at the overturned table as Naruto went to answer the door.

"Oh, my, what happened here?"

Shikamaru looked over at Shiho, who was surveying the room. When her eyes landed on the Nara, however, she blushed, grinning at him.

"Just desperation," Nia sighed, righting the table.

"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked, frowning at the woman.

Shiho gave him a wide smile, the pink growing on her face. "Lady Hokage thought that a code breaker would be useful in case Lord Jiraiya left any other codes. But I'll help with anything, like lunch. Anyway you can use me."

He could feel his face being pulled into one of doubt and dread before he sighed. "I guess you can help us clean up the mess Naruto made."

Having Shiho with them wasn't particularly productive. She kept standing close to Shikamaru, making him shift away from her repeatedly.

Noticing this, Nia felt for the girl.

'She looks like she likes him... but he doesn't like her...' She thought before gazing at Naruto. 'It sorta reminds me of how hard I tried to capture Naruto's attention back then, but he kept giving signs that he just wasn't interested. The poor girl. I understand how she feels way too well.'

She lowered her eyes briefly then looked to Naruto longingly.

"Baby, about earlier, I apologise," She told him. "I shouldn't have given you an attitude."

"Hm?" Naruto glanced over at her. "Oh, that? Don't sweat about it. It's totally fine. You gave your hero a kiss anyway so it's all good."

"But are you sure? I was being a bitch, don't you think?"

"Not at all. You were just offended by what I said was all. I forgive you, sweetie."

Nia breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."

Naruto wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"Now why don't you focus on being in my arms for a little bit," He told her. "I already miss having you in them, ya know?"

"Oh, Naruto," The girl blushed.

Nia would then take to writing down every suggestion that they came up with to fight Pain, good or bad some minutes later, hoping that they could find a spark of inspiration among them. After two hours that felt like twenty, they decided to take a necessary break. Shikamaru took the opportunity to get some fresh air and use the bathroom. As he washed his hands he looked in the mirror, noticing how his dark locks fell around his pale face. He shook his head. He had yet to buy new elastics because he was holding out hope that he wouldn't need one. Using the last one around his wrist, he would pull his hair back and wear his hair in a ponytail that pointed upwards.

With a sigh, he dropped his head, closing his eyes. "Man, this whole thing is a drag. Not even Nia has a clue on what it is Master Jiraiya wrote on Lord Fukasaku's back."

When he returned to the planning room he found only Shiho, who was looking at a picture of the code.

"Ya know... something has been bothering me ever since I first looked at this," Naruto suddenly said with his eyes closed in thought and arms folded over his chest.

"What is it?" Shikamaru looked in his direction.

"There's all these numbers, but what's up with this katakana letter?"

He would then point at a kanji that resembled a nine on the photo, to which Shikamaru questioned it. Naruto would go on to explain that it was a way of how Jiraiya wrote the letter. It was a quirky habit of his.

"Ah! You're right!" Nia exclaimed. "I do remember seeing that in his writing in one of his books. I was always confused by how to read it also cause I always thought it was the number nine instead of the katakana letter for "ta"."

Shikamaru spun a green pencil in hand and proceeded to write the letter in the same style as Jiraiya had. Shiho grabbed a book off the shelf and turned to a page that contained a sample of the late sage's writing.

"Lord Jiraiya knew that Naruto and/or Nia would remember his habit of writing the katakana "ta" like the number nine." Shiho adjusted her glasses. "Frankly, this was the common link between Lord Jiraiya and his students."

Shikamaru slammed his hand on the table. "Why didn't you mention such an important thing sooner, Naruto?!"

"I didn't see what the big deal was about knowing that it was the letter "ta"."

"Um... Please forgive him," Nia bowed. "I'm sure he would've said something sooner if he would've known the importance of that."

Shikamaru sighed and placed two fingers above his eyebrows in thought.

"That's it," An idea popped in his head. "It's when you were reading Lord Jiraiya's manuscript, that you found out about his writing habit. The code refers to that book you were reading."

"That's it, Shikamaru!" Shiho was impressed. "Frankly, Lord Jiraiya's book must contain a hint. They must refer to character numbers, line numbers, or page numbers from the bool. I'm certain they hold the key to solving this whole thing."

Shikamaru asked which book it was that Naruto had been reading, to which he couldn't remember.

"I believe it might've been Makeout: Tactics," Nia answered. "It's the only book that contains the katakana, "ta" in the title: "Ta"ctics."

"She's right about that," Kakashi appeared from the window with the very book in hand. "Hello everyone."

From there, Kakashi would help figure out what it was the code had meant.

To Kakashi's embarrassment, he was forced to read excerpts from Jiraiya's adult books out loud until they manage to decipher the code - "The real one's not among them".

After relaying the decryption to Fukasaku, who remembered Jiraiya telling him that neither of the Six Paths of Pain looked like Nagato, Fukasaku asks Tsunade's permission to bring Naruto with him to Mount Myoboku, in order for Naruto to learn sage mode. Naruto accepts, due to his desire to avenge Jiraiya's death, however, Tsunade had something else in mind for him.

"Naruto Uzumaki," She called. "This sage training will have to be put on hold cause you have an important mission that you're going on."

"What? Oh come on, Grandma Tsunade. You can't be serious."

"It's related to Sasuke," She told him. "He's been spotted near the village hidden in the roses."

"What? Sasuke?!" Sakura and Naruto gasped.

"This could be your one chance to bring him back into the village. Are you prepared to-"

"Are you kidding?" Naruto replied. "Of course I'm ready!"

"Okay, good! You, Sakura, and Nia will be heading out immediately."

"What?!" Naruto gasped. "Nia?!"

"That's right," Tsunade nodded. "Apparently, there was a code or some kind of riddle left behind by Sasuke and I want Nia to help figure it out."

"You can't send her on this mission!" The blond whined.

"And why not? She's perfect for it."

"She should be focusing on having my baby, not risking getting herself killed, ya know!"

"What on Earth?! A baby?" Tsunade was taken aback by this.

Nia blushed wildly.

"H-He's been... really adamant about getting me to have his baby as of late," She explained.

"I knew you were up to something!" Sakura roughly grabbed her teammate's ear. "Why the hell are you trying to get her pregnant, Narutooo?!"

"Gyah, Sakura! That hurts!"

"Please let go of him," Nia pleaded as she moved away the pink-haired girl's hand. "Naruto's only concerned for me. That's why he had been trying to get me pregnant."

"A baby is a lot to care for, Naruto," Shizune said. "It's not an easy task, you know."

"Nia and I can handle it."

"No offense, honeybun, but I don't want a baby yet," Nia shared, much to Naruto's disappointment.

"What're you saying, Nia? You have to have my baby."

"Naruto, seriously," She reddened again. "Quit with the crazy talk. A baby is too much for us. We're so young."

"Don't be like that," He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "Your hero needs you to have his baby, beautiful."

"QUIT SWEET TALKING HER, DAMMIT!" Sakura slammed her fist atop the genin's head, making him stumble forward and hold his head.

"OWWWW!"

"Sakura, seriously!" Nia was angered by this and protectively brought Naruto's head down to her shoulder and held onto him. "Are you okay, baby?"

"Man, you're just as ruthless as always, Sakura," The blond whimpered.

Sakura heavily sighed.

"Nia, you really need to learn how to keep him in check. Gently speaking with him won't cut it which is exactly why he still acts the way he does with you. Cause he knows you'll forgive his bad behavior. You gotta be more aggressive."

"My hero does not need to be hit though..."

"Uhh, yeah he does. Otherwise, he'll never behave himself."

"There has to be a more gentle way to deal with him..."

"Nia's right. Your attacks hurt, Sakura." Naruto agreed.

"You better be quiet or I'll sock you again."

"Sakura, quit hitting him. That's so wrong," Nia said.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"With the way you're handling things, I wouldn't be surprised if he got his way and got you pregnant."

Nia frowned and kept ahold of the hurt genin.

"Stop with this nonsense," Tsunade told them. "Naruto, Nia will be going on this mission whether you like it or not."

"But you can't, Granny!" Naruto moved away from Nia and locked eyes with his superior.

"I just did."

"N-No, she can get really hurt out there or even killed!"

"Baby..." Nia gave him a concerned look. "You're being overprotective again, don't you think?"

"Nia, you promised me you wouldn't leave outside the village!" The ninja replied.

"I know, but Tsunade is saying that I have to go with you on this mission, Naruto. I can't just-"

"There has to be someone else you can send! Like Shikamaru or Kakashi-sensei, ya know!" Naruto suggested.

The slug princess shook her head.

"No, I've assigned to other tasks. Nia's the only other one capable for this one mission."

Thoughts were accelerating inside Naruto's head. He wanted them to slow so he could breathe but they wouldn't. His breaths came in gasps and he felt ike he would black out.

"Y-You guys don't understand!" His heart was hammering inside his chest like it belonged to a rabbit running for its skin. "I can't... I can't lose her. Not again... Not again!"

Memories of him holding Nia's lifeless body flashed into his mind.

Naruto felt the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in his abdomen. Tension grew in his face and limbs, his mind replaying the emotional moment. His breathing became more rapid, more shallow.

"S-She ne-needs... haah... to... haah... s-stay here. S-Safe an... haah... and sound."

"Naruto, are you alright, man?" Shikamaru asked as he quickly noticed his breathing problem.

"Baby!" Nia panicked and squatted once Naruto dropped to his knees, panting heavily.

She held him up as the room darkened and spun around in his vision.

"Just what is going on?!" Tsunade slammed her hands on her desk and stood out of her chair.

"He's having a panic attack, Mi Lady!" Sakura responded, having gone on her knees to check on her teammate.

"Oh, for goodness sake. Naruto Uzumaki! Get a grip!"

"J-Just like Pervy S-Sage..." He muttered to himself and grabbed his head. "Nia... s-she's going to... haah... d... d... di-"

"Naruto." Nia raised her voice, briefly getting the blond to face her.

The two made eye contact.

"Breathe... take some deep breaths, baby," She told him. "No one is going to die. I'm just fine... I'll be just fine in this this mission."

"N-Nia..." His eyes quivered.

"It's okay," She kissed his cheek. "I'll be safe..."

"The only way for you to be truly safe is to stay put in the village," He breathed.

"No it isn't. It's being at your side where I'm safest. As long as I'm with my hero, I'll always be safe, Kay?"

Hearing this, Naruto's vision began to clear again and the tight knots in his stomach faded away.

"I... I can protect you," He said. "I can protect you with my life, sweetie."

Nia blushed and nodded.

"My hero is strong. Not even the Akatsuki can take me away from him."

This would lead to the genin embracing her.

"I won't lose you," He told her. "Never... will they separate us."

"Exactly," The girl returned the hug. "There's nothing for you to worry about. I'll always be safe and here with you."

"Are you calmed down now, Naruto?" Tsunade rested her hands on her hips. "Have you gotten it together?"

Slowly, the ninja stood to his feet alongside Nia, his arm around her waist and pulling her close to him.

"I can protect Nia," He mumbled to himself. "As long as I'm with her, the Akatsuki won't lay a finger on her, ya know."

"Good. Looks like you've gotten a grip on yourself," The sannin was relieved though everyone was still slightly concerned for him. "And even if Nia were to get herself into some trouble, you've got Sakura on your team. She can heal wounds, so don't you forget that, Naruto."

Naruto eyed his teammate and nodded.

"Sakura is awesome. I trust in her healing abilities."

"Good," The pink-haired girl smiled. "Glad to know you believe in me."

"Yeah, she'll do her part in making sure I'm just fine, all right, honeybun?" Nia rubbed Naruto's back.

"Yeah. Thank you."

"So then it's fine if I come along with you on the mission?"

"As long as you leave the fights to me and stay close to me, then fine."

"It's settled then," Tsunade sat back down in her seat. "You three will be heading out asap!"

---

A/N - That's the end of that. Remember: updates might come in slower cause I have gotten busy in my personal life and because I have reached that part in the story where I will need to rewatch some episodes and rewrite some of the scenes that had happened on there. It's a lot more difficult to do than you think.

Anyway, thanks for reading! Please comment and vote and have a great rest of your day.

QOTD:

1. Fav Part?

2. Fav Line?

3. Do you personally feel Naruto is overprotective? Why?