Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Pokémon. If I did, I'd have a lot of money…but I don't. So don't bother suing, you won't get anything out of it.

Notes: (Crossover, could be a crack!fic if you want) Here there be Naruto characters and Pokémon monsters! This is a short story which takes place after "Gold and Silver" (and the final part of "10 Things to Do With a Rod").

I hope that you enjoy it!

Surf's Up!

Part I

The sky was a dark gray and only getting blacker. The wind gusted stronger and stronger, carrying the growls of distant thunder. Angry waves foamed and crashed against the base of the cliffs.

But she wasn't worried; it was just another storm blowing through the straits.

Her only concern was finding a lum berry. The lumpy, hard-skinned, green berry could cure any ill and was hard to find as it took so long to grow and mature. She thought of them as her good-luck charm, and she needed a new one.

So far she'd come up with nothing. She'd searched the heart of the island and spiraled out towards the sheer cliffs and the sea. There had been a few lum berry plants, but no ripe berries to pick.

There has to be a lum berry somewhere…I know it!

And then there it was. A spindly lum plant was growing on the very edge of the highest cliff on the south end of the island. Hanging over the roiling sea was a single ripe berry.

Success!

The precarious location of the berry wasn't of much concern. She crept right up to the edge and scooted over until she was leaning against the long, thin trunk of the plant. Then she reached and reached for the berry, got a grip on it, and—

A lightning bolt ripped out of the black, boiling clouds and struck the cliff, exploding the rock face—

The solid ground under her feet was gone and she was falling, falling, falling…

"Chaaaa—"

Splash!

Kushina stared out of the train car window as trees whipped by in a blur of green. Every few months or so Professor Sarutobi would go to some scientific conference or some speaking engagement somewhere and take at least one of his assistants with him. She'd always passed when he'd offered to invite her because she'd had to be home with Naruto. But now that he was away…there was nothing in the way of her going.

The professor was on his way to teach a seminar (along with several other professors from various countries) in Cove Town, a coastal city in Jungle Country. Most of their trip had been through the barren deserts of Wind Country so it was a nice change of pace to see green again. When the train stopped off at Cove Town, they'd be on the border of rainforest and beach.

She wouldn't have much to do on the trip. Mostly she just had to keep the professor's presentation notes and slides in order, make sure they stayed on schedule, and just be a general errand girl. The seminar was supposed to be three days long, and their stay would be paid for all week…so that promised a lot of free time.

It was going to be great…

However, one thing was weighing on her mind. Before she and Professor Sarutobi had left Konoha Town, Naruto had called home to tell her that he was in Oto City. He was out to challenge the city's gym to get the Serpent Badge.

"Gym Leader Orochimaru is out of town," he'd told her in his call. "But he left a substitute in charge so the long hike here wasn't wasted. He's called 'Kabuto', he's got huge glasses and looks like a total nerd…and I bet his parents really had a thing for kabutos!"

It was somewhat of a relief that he wouldn't have to fight Orochimaru. Kushina had met him once, long ago, and that had been more than enough for her. The man was clever, cunning, and absolutely cold-blooded, and she had a feeling that he would go out of his way to make Naruto miserable if they ever faced off.

But her relief was lessened by this "substitute" that was handling badge challenges. She'd never heard of this Kabuto person and could make no solid guesses about his personality, skill level, or strategies. If Orochimaru thought highly enough of him to leave him in charge, though, he couldn't be good news.

He's been away from serious challenges a bit too long, she thought as she stared out the window. He's a bit cocky with six of the eight badges that he needs. He probably thinks he can take anything on and win…but he forgets that gym leaders won't hold back against him anymore.

"Something on your mind?"

Kushina blinked and looked sheepishly over at the professor in the seat across from her. "Oh, maybe…"

"Naruto will do fine," the old man said with a smile. "He may suffer a setback or two but he won't give up until he achieves his aims."

"I know," she pouted. "I just wish he wasn't so set on taking down Orochimaru's gym. Even if Orochimaru isn't there…"

"Well, try not to worry and enjoy the trip," the professor suggested. "Should everything go smoothly, there won't be anything for you to really do at all."

"Hopefully," Kushina agreed and turned her gaze back out of the window.

She had more than this working vacation to enjoy. A few weeks back she'd survived another birthday and officially gaining another year of age. And then, a few days after that, Minato had sprung a surprise on her…

He'd asked her to marry him.

It had been horribly cheesy. There had been a luvdisc involved. And he hadn't had a ring handy as he couldn't find one that he thought she'd like.

"Why ask me if you didn't have a ring? Not that I'm complaining or anything…but why?"

"It's something that I wanted to ask you for a very long time, and I got tired of waiting."

Kushina grinned faintly and fingered her heart scale necklace.

He's so sweet. It was cheesy, but I can live with that. It could've been much worse, after all.

Her grin widened slightly.

Take that Aunt Asuka! I did find a man who'd marry me! And after I marry him, I'm going to find you and gloat!