Naruto: Rinnegan Chronicles

The Long Goodbye

Fire Country: Konoha / Hospital

He hurt...he hurt a lot; pain flooded his senses as his eyes began to flutter open. A groan escaping his lips as the sunlight hit him in the face from the open window; seriously why were the curtains not closed for sleeping patients? He shook himself awake and tried to look around to see where he was. At first glance he knew he was in the hospital and remembered what happened...

"You're finally awake," a voice he recognized said from the window. Jiraiya smirked knowingly, "you're mother was as stubborn as you are".

"What happened Ero-Sennin? The last thing I remember was..." he thought back but couldn't seem to find the battle's conclusion.

"You and the Uchiha brat were going at it pretty damn heavily," Jiraiya grunted. "You won; in fact you broke the guy's left arm with a Kyuubi-enhanced Rasengan".

Naruto looked at him surprised for a moment before he sighed, "I'm sorry".

"What for?" Jiraiya asked but already knew the answer.

"For getting into that fight; I shouldn't have done it," the blond replied.

Jiraiya snorted at that, "trust me you're not the first one to put their team-mate in the hospital despite the rank difference. Hell I put Orochimaru in the hospital when he was a Jonin and I was a Chunin because I couldn't stand the guy".

Naruto chuckled hearing that, "still...I'm sorry".

Jiraiya just sighed, "it doesn't matter kid. In fact what does matter is where you want to go from here".

Naruto looked at him confused, "what do you mean?"

The Gama-Sennin smirked at him, "what I mean kid is. Do you want to come with me for training as my apprentice?"

Naruto's eyes widened at the offer, "I-I...how long would we be away?"

"Three years," Jiraiya answered truthfully. "You know about Akatsuki right?" the blond nodded in reply, "well they're gonna start hunting Jinchuuriki in three years so you need to be able to defend yourself by then".

"...Alright I'll do it...thank you," Naruto said with a nod.

Jiraiya just chuckled and turned to leave, "don't thank me yet. You still have a lot to learn...my student".

"You're leaving?" Yugito asked the Rinnegan user. They were currently at his apartment which was filled with bags he was using to back for the trip he was going on later today.

"Yeah," Naruto answered as he stuffed away the crap littering the floor. Hey he's a twelve-year old guy living alone; give the guy a break.

"How long will you be gone?" she asked the question.

Naruto smiled sadly at her, "three years give or take a few months".

"Three years?!" she exclaimed in shock.

Naruto nodded nervously, "I need to get stronger if I want to face Akatsuki...what about you?"

"Me?" Yugito asked with a raised eyebrow, "well I guess I'm stay around here. I am the Kumo ambassador after all". Naruto just smiled at her, "well what?"

"I'll miss you too Yugito," he said before pulling his backpack onto his shoulder. He walked passed her and tossed her the keys, "the place is yours...for as long as you want it".

Yugito didn't know what to say to any of that...she quickly came to a decision however and ran to catch up to him.

"Ready to go brat?" Jiraiya asked his new apprentice. He was standing beside Tsunade, Kakashi and the 'Konoha 12' as they had been dubbed (minus Sasuke and Sakura).