I'm scared. Please. I don't want to be alone. I'm scared. Please don't leave me alone.

"You're not alone." A soft male voice spoke. Huh? I looked up to see a man standing in front of me. He wore a large white coat with red fire designs. Blonde hair that's spiked up, blue eyes that held nothing but kindness, and a leaf headband on his forehead.

"You . . ." I whispered, knowing full well who he is. He smiled gently. "You're not alone. This is only a Genjutsu. Wake up Miyuna." He walked up to me an gently caressed my cheek.

The pain within my heart immediately melted away and a sense of calmness filled the void. He's right. I need to calm down. "I can't stay much longer. I shouldn't really be here, but I didn't want you to lose heart."

He stepped back. I immediately snatched his hand. "Please don't leave me alone." I pleaded. He smiled and ruffled my hair. "You know very well that you're not alone. You have your brother, your friends, and your sensei's. Everyone in the village. Everything will be alright. Now wake up. Your friends are worried about you."

I smiled lightly as did he. A sense of serene filled my being. "I'll talk to you again one day. But only when you are ready." With that he disappeared. Alright. I'll see you again someday. Dad.

I snapped my eyes open, scaring my brother and Jiraiya.

I coughed and grabbed my head in pain. Damn that hurt. I sat up and groaned. Looking around, I saw that Guy had Sasuke slung over his back.

"Miyu!" Naruto wrapped his arms around me and brought me to his chest. I returned the hug, remembering what I was shown in Itachi's Genjutsu.

It wasn't real. It wasn't real.

"How are you awake? Kakashi is unconscious." Guy wondered aloud. I bit my tongue before words could escape. I couldn't possibly say my father saved me.

Even I'm not sure how that happened.

~

After Guy went back to the village, we continued our journey. "Are you sure you're alright Miyuna?" Jiraiya asked. I sent him a small smile. "I'm a little shaken up, but I'll be fine. Afterall, we're going after Tsunade right?"

He blinked in surprise. "How did you-" I continued walking. "It's not that hard to figure out. We're lacking a Hokage, and the next one must be the most powerful ninja in the village. That leads us to the Three Sanin. But Orochimaru is a traitor, and Tsunade isn't in the village anymore. You were probably offered the position but declined. And that's why we're after her. So she can become our Hokage. Besides, she's famous for her medical Ninjutsu. We could really use her."

"Are you really a kid?" He asked. I ignored him and turned to Naruto, who was by my side, looking at the ground, lost in thought. "What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked at me. "That guy, Itachi. You knew him. And what just happened . . . was he the one who put you in the hospital a few years back." I nodded at the memory. This perked Jiraiya's interest.

They sensed my mood and decided not to talk about it. Which is good, because I'm not even sure if I'm emotionally stable enough to tell it. That Genjutsu really got to me.

Naruto stopped and touched his stomach tentatively, where the seal is. "So, Pervy Sage, what exactly do those guys want with me anyway?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya stopped and looked back at him, a calculating look on his face. "Come on, out with it. You know don't you?"

The wind picked up and it was silent for a moment. "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not you they want. It's what's inside of you." The Nine Tails. But what do they want with a Tailed Beast? I don't understand.

I don't understand it. "What is this thing anyway? Some horrible demon that terrorized the LeafVillage. That's why everyone's so afraid of it right? So why do these guys want it so bad?"

I looked at Pervy Sage, also curious about their intention. "The Nine Tailed Fox has appeared at times of consequence all through the ages. A ghastly spirit that destroys all that lies in its path. As powerful as any act of nature, men trembled before it."

Now that I think about it, I haven't really researched the Tailed Beasts as much as I should. I need to look into that, and this Akatsuki.

"As what they want with that malicious monstrosity, that's a hard question to answer Naruto. I honestly can't say. I suppose with the Nine Tails sealed up inside of you, they might be thinking somehow seizing control of that power. Bending it to their will."

Can someone even do that? "It's a bitter pill to swallow knowing those two will be after you now, but that is your fate. Not to worry though. After all you do have me around."

Naruto looked up, smiling. "Oh well, I just have to get stronger! No other choice." I smiled at my brother. How he is able to think like that amazes me. There's always been something about him, that draws in all the hatred and despair and purify it with hope and happiness.

How he does it is beyond me, but that's what makes him great.

"Alright! Let's find this Tsunade woman so she can fix up Kakashi-Sensei and Miyuna and so we can get onto some serious training!"

I frowned. "I told you I'm fine. Just a bit shaken up. Naruto gave me a stern look. "You're getting looked at! I've never seen you like that before! I don't know how you got out of it, but you're getting a check up."

Ghek. Since when have you been so motherly?

I sighed loudly. "Alright, alright, I get it. Let's go find her. I want to go back to the village soon."

Naruto smirked. "So you can check on your boyfriend?" He teased. I blushed and turned, hitting my brother roughly on his head. "Ow!" He shouted. I turned and stomped on. "Quit being an idiot and start walking." I grumbled.

As we continued walking, Naruto looked at the ground. "Hm." Jiraiya looked back. "What now?" He asked.

Naruto looked up at him. "This beautiful woman you're out here scouting around for, is she this Tsunade that you mentioned?" I rolled my eyes. "Obviously." I stated.

My brother glanced at me briefly. "Pretty sharp. Why? What's on your mind?" Jiraiya questioned him. "Well you said that she is one of the Three Legendary Sanin, the same as you, right Pervy Sage?"

What's he getting at?

"That's right. What's your point?" I looked at my brother, curious as well. "How old is she?" Oh I see what he's getting at now.

Jiraiya smirked and pointed to himself. "Same age as me." Looking at my brothers face, I sweat dropped. You can tell what he's thinking. She's ancient; that's what you're thinking right?

But . . . "Hey Pervy Sage." I called. He glanced back at me. "What's she like?" I asked curiously. I mean Orochimaru is plain creepy, this guy's a lechor, surely she must be something extraordinary as well.

He smiled. "Curious about her are ya? What can I tell you? Well for one thing she's kind of unpleasant. Plus I guess there's the fact she's known far and wide as a die hard gambler and all."

Naruto snuck a glance at me and snickered. "Sounds like Miyu." I shot him a glare and whacked his arm. He grumbled as he rubbed it in pain.

"Well I guess she'll be easy to find then, right? Since she's famous and all." I told him. He smirked, amusement clear in his eyes. "Oh she's famous alright. You might even call her legendary.

"The Legendary Sucker."

.

.

.

"That's kind of a lame name. Couldn't you all be more creative then that?" Jiraiya fell at that. "Well I guess. But as Legendary a Sucker she is, I doubt she'll be that easy to find."

Hm. "Why is that?" Naruto asked curiously. "Well she's not the type to grow old gracefully. Probably using some kind of jutsu to mask her appearance. She's actually fifty years old, but I'm sure she'll look more like she did in her twenties."

"So you're the only Sanin who is growing old gracefully." I observed, remembering Orochimaru. He nodded and crossed his arms.

"That's not all. The word on the wind I hear of late is that she started transforming on the fly. Going from her teens, to her thirties or forties, also she can cut out on any money loaner she's in too deep with."

I frowned. She doesn't sound like someone a soon to be Hokage should be. "That's awful. Oh man she sounds like a charmer." My brother spoke. Jiraiya laughed at that.

"Yeah, well Tsunade's really loved gambling more then anything. It's too bad she never really had any luck. Or skill for that matter."

Naruto grinned cheekily at me. "Sounds like you a bit." I shot him a glare. "That's where you're wrong big brother. I never lose. And I would never be someone like her. If I do, kill me would ya."

Jiraiya laughed nervously. "So what's the plan?" I asked him.

"Well there's not really one. We might have a little work out for us, but I'm sure the three of us can come up with something." Naruto groaned aloud. "So you don't even have a slightest idea how long this is going to take do you?" He asked.

Jiraiya turned. "Not a minute will be wasted. All our time on the road will solely be devoted to the two of you."

Naruto and I glanced at each other before back at him. "To us?" Naruto asked him. "We got to get you stronger. Time to train." Naruto grinned and dug through his bag before pulling out the green jumpsuit Guy gave him.

Jiraiya and I made a face. Oh god.

~

We continued walking, Naruto fluttering around Pervy Sage, trying to get him to start training. He said we needed to gather information first.

We soon arrived at a large town. It's pretty lively. And not in a weird way like that last town. We worked our way into town, my brother and I grinning as we looked around the festival.

"Down time is important. So have a little fun before we start training. This festival will be going on for a while. We'll bunker down here until its over. We'll start your training here too." Naruto started cheering.

I chuckled at his behavior.

He pulled out his frog wallet, which held a lot of money in it. "Oh man, that is one fat frog. You're filthy rich!" Jiraiya complimented. Naruto chuckled. "Yeah I have a big stash. Miyu has been helping me save bit by bit. Miyu, do you have your money?"

I dug into my bag and held up a bigger bag filled with money. The two gawked at it. "How . . ." Jiraiya trailed off. I shrugged. "I like money and have my ways of getting it." I stated.

I placed it back in my bag, however Jiraiya snatched it. "Ah hell no!" I punched him, making him double over. I snatched my money back. "C'mon Naruto, let's go explore." I said, taking my brothers hand and navigating out way through the crowd.

Naruto ordered food left and right. I giggled at him and bought some food and souvenirs for the others back at the village.

It was actually pretty nice, and a great distraction from Itachi. Naruto and I went off to a more secluded area to eat.

I laughed at my brother as he groaned. He was rubbing his stomach. "I think I may have eaten too much." He complained.

"You sure did. C'mon, let's go play some games at the festival." I urged. His eyes lit up and he dashed towards it.

We threw baseballs, caught koi fish, and bought more souvenirs. It was fun. Naruto bought some squid to give to Pervy Sage. "Miyu?" I smiled and sniffed the air. I headed in the direction of his scent, Naruto on my trail.

We went into a building to see him drunk, two women on both his arms. I looked down to see Naruto's wallet. When did he . . ?

I stared at the deflated frog wallet.

Naruto jumped and started hitting him on the head repeatedly, squid still in his hands, shouting about the three shinobi prohibitions.

One squid came loose and flew back. "Watch it! Look what you did you little punk!" Hm? I turned to see two men, one wearing a white jacket, squid stain on it.

Oops. "You stained the bosses new designer suit you street rat! You're paying for that! A hundred thousand large." I narrowed my eyes and turned. "Excuse me, but if it was so expensive, maybe you shouldn't have worn it to a festival you lame excuse of a gangster." I said.

The bald guy narrowed his eyes. "What did you say you street rat?!!" I glared at him more. "I said you're a lame excuse of a gangster." I said louder.

"You want to start something you little brat?" The boss guy spoke. "The boss used to be a Chunin from the Village Hidden in the Stone. A legendary dark ninja feared across the land." I snorted as Jiraiya laughed.

They turned their attention to him. "This I got to hear. The legendary what now?" He asked in a teasing manner. This upset the boss man.

"You're asking for it pal! Just keep pushing!" He roared. Jiraiya stood. "Naruto, Miyuna, this is perfect timing."

He held out his hand and my eyes widened as chakra swirled around in the palm, a perfect sphere like shape. "I have a jutsu I want to sow you. Now, pay attention." I looked at it in awe. It's pulling in wind too.

The boss man lunged at Jiraiya. He hit him with the sphere. The boss flew back, spinning, knocking into the other one, flinging them out of the place.

I see. It has a spinning effect due to the nature and the gathering of the jutsu. "That was awesome!" Naruto admired. We walked out and towards them. "And I was holding back. Oh you guys are hardly worth the trouble."

They had crashed into a stand. The man who was hit had a hole in his suit where the jutsu hit. The boss opened his eyes and looked at Pervy Sage and gasped. "Wait a minute. You're a Legendary . . ."

"Sorry about that, I guess we kind of messed up your stand." The boss took out his wallet and handed it to the perv. "H-here. This should cover it." Pervy Sage took it and gave the money in it to the stand owner.

Jiraiya gave it to him and bought all his balloons. What kind of jutsu was that exactly?

"Naruto, Miyuna, come on, let's get going. It's time for you to train." Naruto smiled and nodded. "Yes sir!" With tat done and said, we headed to the outskirts of the town, in the forest.

Jiraiya tossed us a water balloon. "Huh? What the heck is this for?" My brother asked, a bit testy.

"Just think about it. You saw the jutsu I preformed right? How would you describe it?" Jiraiya questioned us. "You sent him spinning like a pin wheel." Naruto answered. I rolled my eyes at his answer.

Jiraiya held a water balloon in his hand. The water in it moved at the will of his chakra for a bit before exploding.

"With the tree climbing exercise you learned to gather and maintain chakra. With the water walking exercise you learned to release a steady amount of it. Both of these you two mastered correct."

We nodded. "With the water balloon exercise, you'll learn to create a stream of chakra, spinning it as you put it." I see. I kind of get it now.

"We're supposed to create a stream of chakra?" Naruto asked, making sure he heard him right. "Don't worry. I'll go into more detail of how the jutsu works once you've gotten a handle of the basics."

"First, gather the chakra in your hand using the tree climbing technique. Then release a steady stream of it using the water walking technique, and finally use the chakra to push and churn the water inside the balloon."

Oh I see. Smiling at my brother, who understood it as well, I watched the balloon in my hand. To get stronger . . . I can do it.