The morning birds throughout the forest roused Jiraiya the next morning. As he opened his eyes, he saw the gray morning sky, and could smell the lingering smoke from last night's fire. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, fixing his gaze first on the ashen ground, formerly the fire pit, then at Naruto, who lay on a quickly fixed bed.

As Jiraiya got up, he was pleased to notice the boy's chest rising and falling normally, and even a little drool trickling from his gaping mouth. The toad hermit chuckled lightly, and began to pack up to leave. He would be at his destination soon: at most, he had another two hours or so to travel. After ensuring the fire was out, and that his campsite covered, he shook the blonde's shoulders lightly to wake him. However, the boy would not open his eyes. Jiraiya called to Naruto once or twice, but the boy remained comatose. So, sighing, Jiraiya gave up and heaved the boy over his shoulders.

--A few hours later--

Jiraiya leapt to a nearby branch and stopped, fixing Naruto's position, so he wouldn't slip off. He was finally here. Naruto stirred slightly and moaned, opening his sleepy blue eye and mumbling incoherently before returning to his deep slumber. Jiraiya knew he would wake fully soon, so the hermit ignored his brief consciousness and reached one hand in front of him.

A bright light sparked, and Jiraiya quickly retracted his hand, but smiled. He laid Naruto down against the trunk of the tree and formed several seals. There was a poof noise as the sealing tags on the trees showed themselves and the illusion was lifted. Jiraiya watched as a small cabin appeared, the illusion broken.

He quickly stepped inside the barrier of the illusion, then watched as it reformed, hiding him from anyone outside.

He headed to the cabin, opened the door, and walked over to the bed. He laid Naruto down gently down and wandered into the kitchen.

Though it had looked very small from the outside, the cabin was a good size- especially since there was only to be one living in it. It had a cozy feeling- sunlight poured through the window and warmed the atmosphere. At night it would be even cozier, too, as there was a fireplace with stacked wood beside it. He had a feeling Naruto would be content here.

As Jiraiya returned to the room, Naruto was beginning to stir. The old hermit watched as the young blonde opened his fever-bright blue eyes and looked around the room confusion clouding his expression.

"Am I dead…?" He moaned, clutching his head as he struggled to sit up.

"No, but I'm sure you feel like it right now. I remember the first time I had that stuff, it's potent. When I first woke up, I was convinced Tsunade had given me the wrong mix. I thought she had poisoned me. Though you know, only Tsunade would be able to make a fake poison that doesn't really hurt you, just makes you feel like you've died ten times over." He chuckled, and felt Naruto's forehead. "You seem to have a fever, but don't worry, you'll be ok."

"Do they think I'm dead…?" Jiraiya nodded. "I'll say, you put on a pretty good show. Everyone's convinced you're gone." He paused, then, "Naruto… the village owes you more than it can ever repay you… On it's behalf…. Thank you." Naruto rubbed his head and looked at Jiraiya through squinted blue eyes. "So how long am I going to be here?"

Sighing, Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, and put his hands behind his head. "It's hard to say… could be a few weeks, could be a few months, and… it could be a few years, even." Naruto lowered his eyes and sighed, reaching unconsciously to his neck where a necklace hung. Suddenly, he lifted his head, his eyes wide. "Ino didn't give this to Sakura!" Jiraiya looked at him questioningly. "You didn't ask her to…"

"Shit! I wanted to give this to her…" He clutched the pendant around his neck, then lowered his eyes again. "Damn it…" He paused, then, "Wait! Jiraiya-sensei…. You're going back to the village… please! Take this to Sakura… tell her… tell her I woke up, and told you to give this to me… please!" Jiraiya shook his head. "You know I can't, it's too suspicious…."

"Please, Jiraiya-Sensei!" The hermit sighed and rubbed his eyes in frustration. "You know Tsunade'll beat the hell out of us when she finds out. You're supposed to be dead. Any evidence that you're alive will tip off people in the village, as well as the Akatsuki." Naruto nodded solemnly, then added, "I know. But please, Jiraiya-sensei…"

"Fine," Jiraiya said reluctantly, "I'll say you came back just for a second, long enough for you to give me this necklace." He held out his hand, and received the pendant from Naruto. Recognizing it, he raised his eyebrow. "This is…"

"Tsunade's, yes… she gave it to me when we first met- she always has been good at losing bets." Jiraiya chuckled, and started to stand.

"I asked her if I could give it to Sakura, and she said she thought it was a good idea." Jiraiya nodded as he stretched his arms. "Well Naruto, I must leave- people will question if I stay too long. I'll be back in a few days to bring you news from Konoha, and maybe even news about the Akatsuki." He started to leave, then paused in the doorway and turned to look at Naruto. "I've supplied you with as much ramen as you can eat. And if you'd like to train, you can go outside, but stick close to the house…. And if anyone comes around…. Get back in the house and be as quiet as you can."

Naruto rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yeah, yeah I know. I'm not six." Jiraiya chuckled lightly, then raised his fingers in farewell.

"Later," And within a second, Jiraiya was gone.

Exhausted, Naruto flopped onto his back and sighed. For several moments he lay there, then sat up abruptly and yawned. He felt ill, but stumbled into the kitchen where he was met with cupboards full of instant ramen. And suddenly, he felt that all was right.

Maybe being gone from the village wouldn't be so bad after all.

--

It had been several days since the terrible news had reached Sakura. Since the first night, she continued on with her day, almost in a trance. Wake up, skip breakfast, go to work; work for several hours, go home, eat dinner, go to bed. She did this silently, with a blank expression, as though her loss had stolen her voice and her ability to feel. Her normal cheery smile that so many of the long-term patients had become familiar with had slipped away, and the once spark in her eye had dulled to a daze.

Sakura walked quietly down the main street of Konoha, on her way to the hospital. As she continued on, she bowed her head and reached to her neck. Her hand wrapped around a crystal pendant, and her green eyes began to glass over.

The day before, Jiraiya had returned. He came into the village solemnly, and with only a brief explanation, left the pendant in her hand. She recognized it immediately, and she knew whose it was. And she only needed those few words. "He woke up…he wanted you to have it." Those words made her heart slow.

She tightened her grip on the blue crystal. It didn't add up. People don't just 'wake up' from death. Something was fishy, and she knew it. But there was no denying that he was dead… Ino had felt his pulse. She was a trained medic, and she knew when someone was dead. It just didn't seem to make sense…

Sakura shook her head and tried to reason with herself- she was looking too far into this. He was gone and she had to accept it. She hadn't gotten much sleep; and wasn't thinking clearly.

Sighing, she pushed open the door of the hospital and started work.

She worked until the sun began to set. At eight, her shift was up. So, after cleaning the office she had been working in, she started to Tsunade's office. She wished to speak with the Hokage- she had come to a decision. She wanted to find the bastards who killed Naruto, and take her vengeance.

Sakura reached Tsunade's office and extended her hand to the doorknob, then paused. Inside the room, she could hear voices. As she listened, she recognized them.

"Tsunade, you've had a lot to drink." Jiraiya chuckled loudly. Hs words were slurred, and Sakura was sure he had had a few himself.

"It's not every day you kill off your fellow nin," Her words, too were slurred with the toxicity of alcohol.

"You know as well as I that he's not dead." There was a clattering of glasses, and the sound of pouring liquid- what Sakura assumed sake.

"But that's for us to know, and for nobody else to find out." Sakura felt rage and sorrow build up as she listened to them talk. She squeezed her eyes shut, and bit her lip. But as she heard their drunk voices carry through the wood of the door, she couldn't take it any more.

Before she knew what had happened, she had jerked the door open and was now standing in Tsunade's office, looking into her mentor and Jiraiya's surprised expressions. Her voice quavering, she stared hard at them.

"Where the hell…. Is Naruto?"

--

Hey guys,

Just wanted to update this story! I hope you all enjoy it! –heart-

Let me know what you think!

Inuluvr