Dusk Till Dawn

25

"Are you sure you packed it Naruto-kun? Because I really don't think you did and it would be horrible if it suddenly started to rain and you didn't have them. I mean you could catch a cold in the middle of nowhere and really need them!"

Naruto glanced at Fukasaku who shook his head gently. Obviously Ma got like this a lot so Naruto just took it in his stride.

"Of course is Pa here had just asked Tsunade-sama to summon you back or something we could be - oh here they are Naruto-kun!"

Naruto nodded sheepishly as Ma tucked in a pair of bright pink gloves. She had knitted them herself exclusively for Naruto, claiming that the wool was orange. Obviously her eyesight wasn't as good as it had been once for it had turned out pink and Naruto could hardly refuse such a nice gesture.

"Right then, are you full? If you're hungry then I'm sure Tsunade-sama could wait a minute while I fix you up something. Have you been to the toilet? There's nothing worse than getting halfway there and realising you need the loo... Pa did it once and he didn't stop moaning about the lack of toilet paper so-"

"Ma! Let the poor kid go."

The female toad tutted at Fukasaku before looking at Naruto,

"Don't grow up to be like this crotchety old man, Naruto-kun. Be brave! Rescue a lot of damsels! Or... knights. Depending on which pendulum you swing by."

Naruto looked at Ma as if she was crazy before shaking his head and picking up the bag the toad had packed for him. She had insisted that he take a few 'gifts' home and so packed lunch (that was enough for ten people), a small frog statue that she claimed was just an ornament and the gloves that Naruto had attempted to 'forget'.

"Okay then, take care on the road dear and look out for trouble."

Fukasaku almost whined into the palm of his hand as he spoke,

"He's the Hokage Ma! He knows how to protect himself."

Ma wheeled round to her husband and Naruto winced at her voice.

"Even more so then! He's an important person and you're just going to be abandoning him at the border of the Fire country! Shame on you Pa!" Ma turned to Naruto and her voice lowered into a soothing tone, "it's okay Naruto-kun, Ma's here to keep the nasty toad away. No doubt he was mean to you before... if I had known; I would have come with you. I thought he might have learnt some manners!" The last word was shouted and Fukasaku finally appeared to have had enough.

"We're going then Ma, see you later."

The toad waved a webbed hand at them and Naruto thanked her once again.

"Now this will probably feel very odd to you," Fukasaku said outside of the house, "but it's the only way you can do it. I want you to imagine the edge of the fire country... or somewhere that you know is outside of Konoha yet inside the Fire country."

Naruto nodded as he thought of the surrounding forests of Konoha.

"See you soon then kid!"

Naruto almost broke concentration yet froze as he felt a push forward and something cold envelope his body. A moment later he was back to normal and he opened his eyes to see the fading marks of a reverse summon on the ground.

Naruto smiled and took a lungful of air; it wasn't clear or fresh like the mountain air he had grown accustomed to but it was home air. It had the smell of leaves, of Konoha and of Naruto's home. Naruto began walking, the cloak that pronounced him as Hokage hidden in his bag; he would only put it on when he drew up to Konoha's gates... after all, who knew what was waiting for him as he got back.