A/N:

I

Am

ALIVE!

It's been a long wait guys, and for that, I apologize. Work has made things more difficult for me than I realized, which led to such a late update.

So as much as I wish I could promise everyone dates of release, I am no longer capable of doing so. I can only release as time allows, but I appreciate everyone's support so far!

I do apologize for any spelling errors in this chapter, since I had little time to edit, let alone write the chapter.

Also, a fair warning about this chapter…

Warning! This chapter has info dumpage!

Sorry guys! It's necessary for me to begin my new arc, and I didn't know how to spread it thin. Welp, here goes the chapter, and I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Franchise or any of its characters, I am but a simple man, with a simple desire to write a fanfiction that has been plaguing my mind.

The only thing I own in this story are my theories on sealing techniques, original characters (if I decide to make any), and scenarios that did not exist in the Naruto Franchise.

Failing to Plan = Planning to Fail

-5 Years Ago-

Somewhere in Konohagakure

"Even after all this, you still don't say anything you fuckin' monster!"

*Thump* *Thump*

Shouts of both men and woman could be heard during one chilly evening in Konoha. Every voice that made itself known was filled with malice and resentment for one particular reason.

This reason was none other than a young, small child with his trademark whiskers and crimson hair.

This child was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, who was hunched over after receiving a kick to his solar plexus. A kick to this point of the body would have knocked the wind out of any ordinary citizen's body, but then again, Naruto was anything but ordinary.

This was a normal routine for him at this point, and he had grown accustomed to the constant torture to his body; to the point that it could be compared to tickles. Naruto's physique allowed him to adapt to such ordinary pains, and resist even ones of higher degrees thanks to not only the citizens, but his father's training.

To the unceasing crows of women and taunts of men, Naruto did nothing in response. He was well aware that the citizen's wanted to have a sense of superiority over their greatest fear in order to relieve their growing stress and anger. He had no desire to satisfy these needs, and remained expressionless.

Seeing Naruto's blank look, the man became infuriated.

"You shit…you think you're tough? Better than us?!"

The man was beginning to go mad with anger, but he wasn't alone in his fury. The group of people who had followed him to take part in this daily ritual of torture were, too, growing impatient with Naruto's behavior. They felt uneasy that no matter what they did, he didn't respond. In a way, his lack of retaliation made them more unnerved than if he had fought back.

The average human response dictated that one should be angry after so much suffering, but seeing Naruto continue to remain so apathetic just reassured them that he was no longer human.

This was human naivety and blinded fear at its finest.

Just as the man was about to send another kick to Naruto's torso, a chilling voice called out in the distance, "Leave the boy. And perhaps…you will live another day."

This voice broke the angered stupor everyone was trapped in as they looked to find the source of the voice.

The man who harmed Naruto previously was scared witless and called out, "Who are you? Show yourself!"

"You don't need to know of me. Return to your homes. Forget everything you saw today."

As the man was about to respond, he froze along with the rest of his group as they saw a small, orb of red in the distance; lurking within the shadows of the trees and gazed at them with unrelenting attention.

It was haunting, and after a few moments, the previous mood of the citizens disappeared as their eyes soon morphed in shape and tone that matched the one hidden in the forest.

A palpable silence encompassed the forest, which was soon broken when the villagers began to walk away with blank expressions and a zombie-like pace that appeared stiff and unnatural.

As Naruto watched the mob of people disappear into the distance, his eyes shone with recognition and suspicion at the familiar shape that glowed in the eyes of the citizens. It was only a moment, but it was long enough for Naruto to recognize what it was.

The sharingan…

The red eye was a dead giveaway, and even if it wasn't the rotating tomoe, the mind manipulation ability was. There was only one ocular ability that was capable of this, and it was the most famous one in Konoha. In fact, you would have to be an idiot to have not recognized it.

Naruto stood from the ground as he patted the dust and dirt on his clothes so plainly, you wouldn't have thought he had just been tormented.

After a few moments of doing this, he spoke after a short silence, "So…what business does an Uchiha have with a demon like me?"

The silence continued for a moment longer before he heard a small laugh, "You? A demon? That is hardly the truth…and that, is something we are both aware of."

Naruto's eyes narrowed upon hearing this and his body tensed slightly.

"I'm afraid I don't kn-"

"I know you are not the jinchuuriki, Naruto Uzumaki. It is pointless to hide this, as I've known this truth from the beginning. I know you were made the scapegoat for the Hokage's daughter, and I know what you've been through."

A dangerous look could be seen in the eyes of Naruto as he spoke darkly, "Are you going to remain hidden the entire time? It was to my understanding that conversations start with introductions, but I have yet to see you or know who it is I'm speaking to."

"I am no fool, Naruto. You are skilled, but you are too green if you think you could hide your bloodlust from me. Though I am confident you can't kill me, I would like to maintain my distance nonetheless."

Irritation appeared in Naruto's expression before diminishing almost immediately as he released a sigh of annoyance.

This man…is powerful. I can't even sense him, let alone fight back…

Naruto resigned himself as he studied the recent actions of the Uchiha. He was incapable of sensing the shinobi and he saw how skilled he was at using genjutsus, considering he manipulated multiple targets at once.

And his eyes look different from a normal sharingan.

When the sharingan appeared in the eyes of the citizen's briefly, the tomoe flashed into a form he had never seen before. It was mysterious, yet Naruto had a bad feeling upon seeing this.

To think there was more to the sharingan than meets the eye…I've never heard of something like this…

Faced with an unknown variable like this, Naruto wasn't willing to take any risks. He was still young and did not have knowledge of everything. This new form of the sharingan must be a clan secret, and Naruto had no idea what repercussions he would face if he faced off against it blindly.

This was not even including the mysterious shinobi's own prowess in combat, which was surely greater than his own.

In short, Naruto had no choice but to give in…for now.

The man didn't appear hostile, and seemed to be looking for a conversation more than anything. Seeing no problem with this, Naruto decided there would be no harm in humoring the Uchiha.

With a sigh, Naruto began with slight disdain, "So, what is it you desire to know from me, noble Uchiha?"

"Straight to the point, are we? Though, I expected as much." The voice spoke with understanding and expectation.

"I merely wanted to ask…are you happy?"

Naruto's brow quirked slightly in confusion and annoyance, "Happy? What sort of question is that? Do I look happy?"

The voice chuckled, "Indeed you don't. I just wanted you to be aware of that feeling as we talk."

"Well, thank you for reminding me I am such a sad existence." Naruto spoke with a slightly poisonous tone, "I fail to see what my suffering has to do with this conversation…but please, by all means continue."

"Well then, I would like to ask what it is you desire the most?"

"What I desire…the most?"
Naruto paused for a moment in reflection, thinking on the question for a while.

He wanted many things, but he wasn't sure if they could be achieved. A family…friends…happiness.

But if he had to say something above all, it would be-

"Freedom…you desire freedom, correct?"

Hearing his thoughts spoken loudly, Naruto tensed a bit, mentally asking, How does he know?!

Feeling the tension in the air begin to rise, the voice attempted to comfort Naruto and ease his worries.

"I did nothing to you, nor are you under a genjutsu. It was simply the most probable choice after studying who you are."

"…and what gave this away?" Naruto spoke carefully, not quite believing the man's words.

"Naruto…you've been chained down your entire life, correct? From an early age, you were forced into a training regiment not fit for a child. You were forced to do things you would never have thought to do, and have seen your precious things taken from you. Even now, you are forced into a life of everlasting torment because you were forced to bear the title of 'Jinchuuriki' of the Kyuubi."

The voice paused a bit, noticing the pondering and focused look on Naruto's face.

After a brief silence, and letting these thoughts sink into Naruto's mind, he continued, "If you take all these things into consideration, it isn't hard to discover what you truly desire. And that is…freedom."

With dressed up vigor, the voice spoke with conviction and understanding, "The ability to control your own fate, to do what it is you truly desire, and live life by your own rules and principles rather than living by the codes of another. The freedom of choice and privilege to wander wherever your heart desires."

Hearing these words, Naruto would be lying if he said that his heart didn't waver slightly. He desired immunity from the shackles of society and live the way he wants his life to be. But for the current him, that could only be a far-fetched dream.

Breaking Naruto of his thoughts, the voice spoke, "What I truly came to you for is because I want to offer you the opportunity to be free."

"…it's not that simple." Naruto spoke with a sigh, "Danzo has ROOT established everywhere, and possesses an information network that rivals Jiraiya. No matter where I go, he will know…so why should I believe your words?"

Shortly after Naruto spoke, he could hear footsteps approach from the forest and out came a mysterious silhouette that remained shadowed by the trees in the night. The only things that stood out was a peculiar mask with a small opening, enough for only one eye to peer through.

"You underestimate me, Naruto Uzumaki. You only need to become powerful enough to oppose all who would make you a slave to their rules. To start, you need a place to train, and I have one in mind…if you are willing, that is."

Naruto truly was tempted by the offer…but he wasn't an idiot.

This Uchiha was suspicious, and the fact that he is giving something means he wants something equal in return.

Naruto knew the price would be heavy, and he didn't want to pay. There was too little information to work with and he knew nothing about this man. If he truly followed him blindly, then he was sure he would soon meet his demise…or worse.

"You seem hesitant, boy. Well, I'd be disappointed if you weren't, I suppose. But I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice, Uzumaki child."

Naruto's eyes widened almost instantly, knowing exactly what the man before him planned to do.

"Shit-"

"Sharingan"

And it took only a few moments before Naruto's mind fell to darkness…until he awoke on an island he was all too familiar with.

-Back to Present-

Hotel in Kumogakure - Morning

"Shit!"

Naruto rose from his bed with cold-sweat present on his face, and dripping down his spine. His breath was heavy and rushed, while his eyes were wide in shock.

His expression of shock did not last long, however, as he soon recovered from his minor episode of terror, with his face soon contorting into one of disdain. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he recollected his calm, and soothed his breathing, hoping his adoptive siblings didn't hear him from the room next door.

"Son of a bitch…it's been a while since I had that dream…reminds me of when I was a cocky shit."

He was aware he still was a bit cocky at times, but he liked to believe he was more subdued than he was in the past.

More than the fear he had felt at that time, Naruto was more disappointed in his lack of awareness. Anyone shinobi in their right damn mind knows to be wary of an Uchiha's sharingan. And yet, he had made such a rookie mistake.

He could only blame it on childhood naiveite at the time. He was at a point in his life where he was grasping for straws of hope to achieve his dream – to become free.

This caused him to let his guard down in front of one of the most untrustworthy shinobi within Konoha…an Uchiha.

Of course, there were some exceptions to this statement, like Itachi and Shisui, but the Uchicha's arrogant reputation still preceded them.

He couldn't help but to listen to the man's words since they hit home so hard for him…but alas, he had been manipulated skillfully, and once more became a puppet with many strings attached.

But after Naruto managed to calm himself, a small grin began to form on his face as he thought about the end result of the Uchiha's actions.

It's a damn good thing that bastard didn't know the truth behind my heritage.

The masked man who had placed a control genjutsu on Naruto had made one fatal mistake when setting his plan into place…and that was not fully understanding what the Uzumaki were truly capable of.

The man was selfish in his goals, and implanted a mission in the mind of the young Naruto, where he was to seek Uzushiogakure while being "chased" by Konoha shinobi. Of course, the chase was staged since they were under the masked man's control.

Following the discovery of Uzushiogakure, he was to train in their arts to perfect mastery, and later join his ranks.

Akatsuki…

Naruto didn't have too much information on this group, but he at least knew they consisted of very powerful, and infamous missing-nin.

Despite his travels, he had yet to discover anything concrete, and still had no idea what their goal was and why he was needed…but he supposed this was something that would be found in due time.

Getting back on topic, the failure of this mission occurred during Naruto's training in Uzushiogakure.

The Uchicha only thought the Uzumaki were capable of seal development and mastery, but the truth was much more.

As Naruto mastered yin-release, he reached a stage where he soon became immune to mind manipulation techniques and other forms of genjutsu. Which means-

That asshole's genjutsu dispelled…and the best part is, he doesn't even know it yet!

Naruto wasn't given too much information, other than to train and meet with him once he reached a certain age…and that time was soon approaching.

Naruto already had his next destination decided the moment his training in Uzushiogakure had finished, and that was Kirigakure.

I don't know what exactly you had planned for me…but I WILL find out you bastard. You're not going to have an easy death!

Raikage Tower - Afternoon

"This is very…generous of you, brat. I bit much if ya ask me…"

"Think nothing of it Lord Raikage. Think of it as a show of good will, and…an investment of sorts."

Following that morning, it was time for Naruto to finally meet with the Raikage to follow up on their promise.

As he promised, Naruto made multiple copies of his FONE device…but what shocked the Raikage was that the Uzumaki kid didn't provide the initial 100 copies they had agreed upon…but a whopping 1,000!

Hence why the Raikage couldn't help but feel that his course of action was a little bit suspicious, to say the least. Naruto's following words did nothing to relieve these suspicions, and only served to make he even more attentive than before.

Especially the part where the brat stated his action was an 'investment'.

With narrowed eyes, A spoke in a wary tone, "Would you mind indulging me, in what exactly this…investment really is?"

Undeterred by the Raikage's gaze, Naruto spoke calmly, "Of course. Though, I'd prefer it if it were just between the two of us, if you don't mind."

Naruto then sent a glance to various spots within the room, indicating that he was aware that Kumo black ops were always lying in wait to protect the Raikage.

A stroked his chin in thought, and ultimately decided to agree with these demands. Even if the shinobi before him was capable of a jutsu that could rival 'The Yellow Flash' in time-space ninjutsu, he felt he could still hold himself well. He didn't believe he would be defeated by the kid, and even in the worst-case scenario, he could at least hold on until he received assistance from his village's shinobi.

With a wave of his hand, several existences vanished instantly, leaving only Naruto, and the Raikage alone in the room.

"Okay brat, enough beating around the bush. What's your goal?"

Naruto inhaled slowly, yet deeply, before he introduced his proposition. It wasn't because it was something shockingly absurd, but mainly because it was an idea that was deemed impossible to exist. It was nothing more than a pipedream for millennia, with many aiming to reach this goal. And while some may have achieved this dream, it was only temporary.

Time was a cruel, and formidable constant that withers and decays all good things.

"…Peace. Or at least, the beginning of what could be a mutual understanding between nations."

A's brow rose as he berated this foolish notion.

"Peace? Ha! Many have tried boy, and all failed miserably! While I think it's a nice thought, don't blame me for thinking your words are nothing but horse shit."

If Naruto was irritated, he did nothing to show it on his face. He maintained his calm as he spoke, "…what was your dream, Lord Raikage? While you were growing up I mean."

"…what does my dream have to do with anything."

A seemed a bit annoyed at the sudden change in subject, but Naruto just waved this small shift in attitude and continued.

"Just humor me, Lord Raikage."

"…Hah~," A released a small sigh, giving in to the young mercenary's request, "I never sought anything complicated. I only wished to become the Raikage, and possess the power needed to keep my village safe."

Naruto nodded his head at his words and continued, "I see…it was something you worked towards with great pains and sacrifices I imagine, right?"

A sullen look was soon adopted on A's face as he turned to look outside the window as if he were searching for something within the vast view that was his village.

"...nothing comes without a price or sacrifice nowadays."

He then turned to Naruto with a slight grin, "Though I'm sure you're already aware of this…which brings me back to my initial question…"

He shifted his body from behind the desk so that he was fully facing the young Uzumaki with his fingers folded over each other as he entered a state of careful contemplation.

"…what does all this have to do with your goal of peace."

Naruto smiled as he saw a shift in the Raikage's posture. It showed he was now taking Naruto more seriously, which is what he had hoped would happen.
"It's nothing much, Lord Raikage. I just wanted to see if you understood that in order to reach one's goal, one can't be afraid to make that first step."

"Without taking a step forward, there will never be any progress…what I'm proposing to you, Lord Raikage, is that I want our transaction to become the first step in the grand dream of "Peace" through the nations."

A remained silent as he studied the posture of the child before him. He was looking for even the slightest hints of lies and fabrication, yet he could find none.

The way Narukami stood, his confident attitude, as well as his assured tone spoke volumes of his belief. Though there was something about his way of speaking that made A feel as if he was only telling half-truths…but he couldn't figure out exactly what that was.

A was not a man who followed logic often. In fact, he preferred to shove logic up the ass of researchers, philosophers, and any other individual who used such things to explain cause and effects.

He was a man of passion, led by his emotions and trusted his instinct above words and facts. It might seem ridiculous to others, but he could care less. He was doing perfectly fine so far, and more than half of his actions that led to his current position as village leader was because he was driven by emotion.

Naruto's words rung a bell in him, simply because it was one of action. He could relate with Naruto, and agreed that complacency would lead only to false security, and never any progress.

A couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the thought that this boy was similar to him in some ways, something he liked very much.

Hopefully Mabui can reel this guy in…I feel like I could get along with this brat.

A then spurted into a short fit of laughter, "Haha! Alright kid, stop going in circles and just tell Uncle A what this plan is!"

Naruto was a bit…disturbed that the Raikage referred to himself as an uncle just now. Since when were they so close?

Little did he know that A had already treated Naruto as his nephew-in-law…he had no doubts that Mabui would snatch him in the future.

Naruto decided to ignore this as he began to tell A of what he had in mind.

It was an idea that stemmed from the existence of his FONEs, where he proposed to spread their existence to the other nations.

A, of course, was not happy about this when he considered the advantages of being the only nation that had them in their possession, but he still listened to Naruto intently.

Naruto began to explain how the widespread use of these FONEs would allow Kumogakure to earn a greater reputation, while building a strong rapport with the other nations. Not only that, but Naruto figured that the use of FONES would allow for the communication between nations to be much simpler, whether it was for trade, negotiations, or other things.

It would be more practical to use a FONE than a messenger hawk since it was faster and clearer when it came to information exchange, and it was much more convenient.

A seemed to have thought of something and said, "I thought you said there was a limit to how far a message could be relayed when using a FONE?"

Naruto nodded, "Yes, my 1st generation FONEs were indeed limited since they relied on just sound to carry messages over. Because of this, it was easy to block it out with simple barriers, and words would become choppy if distance was too far or due to sound resistance counter-measures, making it difficult to decipher any meaning from them."

A had his arms crossed as he listened to this explanation and nodded his head as he confirmed his thought, but he stopped as he then reflected on a particular word in Naruto's explanation.

"1st Generation?" A pondered aloud in confusion.

"Yes, the 1st generation are the models I introduced to you before I left for the falls. The thousand I prepared for you are the 2nd generation models I designed."

"I see," A spoke with a hint of curiosity, "So what makes this '2nd generation' different from the first?"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders, "Everything, I suppose; All functions improved drastically. This includes range, clarity, and speed. It bypasses sound barriers, and other obstructions. It still isn't perfect, but it's ten times better than the original."

Hearing this, A's eyes couldn't help but widen in shock, as he stood at untold speeds and slammed his hands against his desk in excitement.

"How's that possible? What did you do in such a short amount of time?"

A's inquiry wasn't unreasonable. Research and development of techniques and technology took years for any progress to be made in this chaotic and war-torn era of shinobi. The focus of society was more on safety, preservation, and perhaps…invasion.

Because of this, societal advancement had stalled, and would continue to progress slowly for as long as tension between the nations remained what they were.

The fact Naruto was able to further technology only he had developed with little to no assistance from others, was nothing short of ridiculous.

Perhaps I really underestimated this brat's potential, A mused with a slight grin on his face. In his mind, Naruto is already a member of Kumo since he's convinced Mabui will snag him

…or maybe Yugito?

The fact she proposed marriage shows she has some interest in this mysterious shinobi.

And Samui's been acting strange as well…heh, this boy sure knows how to pick 'em.

Naruto coughed loudly which broke away A's thoughts. He was beginning to get disturbed by the old Kage's mischievous grin. It made him…uneasy somehow, so he tried his best to ignore it and continue his discussion.

"*Ahem*…well, I actually have to thank Mabui for that."

A rose a brow at his response, but remained silent, waiting for Naruto to Continue.

"I used the theory behind the Heavenly Transfer jutsu instead of sound for communication. Using seals, I was able to replicate the effects of the jutsu, where instead of sending items and people, it records sound and sends them out as an electrical signal."

"As distance increases, sound begins to diminish. But using signals, seals, and electrical fields, I was able to extend the range, and increase defense against resistances. As I said before, it isn't perfect…but I already have a 3rd generation in mind to make up for any shortcomings."

"That is…astounding…"

A had never realized the potential Mabui's jutsu had until now. If it weren't for Naruto…perhaps he never would have.

"What I propose is going to be a long-term project, but I'm sure your village will be plenty capable…that is, of course if you are willing to hear me out?"

Naruto stood there for a moment while looking at A's face. Seeing him remain silent, Naruto took that as confirmation to continue and began to explain further.

His idea to bring mutual understanding started with the construction of 'Towers'.

As capable as these new FONES were, they were still limited in distance. Communication between villages was impossible…at least, until the construction of his 'Towers' were completed.

The main issue why the FONES couldn't reach so far is because it was made small for convenience, and didn't allow more seals to be added for improved capability.

These Towers, however, would act as the 'middle man' so to speak.

They would extend the signals across multiple Towers until it reached the desired target.

In short, he wanted the Towers to be constructed across the nations, where he would then inscribe the seals onto them which would improve the quality of relations between villages and countries.

This was definitely not a short-term project, especially since Naruto would have to visit other villages to discuss this idea, or even to get permission for their construction.

Trust isn't built easily…but the use of his FONEs would be greatly desired by anyone, making it very difficult to not at least have Kages and Daimyos hear him out. A was a perfect example of this idea.

Scratching his chin in thought, A remained quiet for a few moments before saying, "This…is definitely an interesting idea. I'm positive even that bat-shit crazy Tsuchikage would be interested. But it definitely won't be easy…are you positive you can properly discuss things over with other nation's leaders?"

"Yes," Naruto nodded with a light smile, "In fact, I already have a place in mind. I heard there was a civil war going on currently, and I'm sure if I lend a hand…"

Naruto spoke with utter confidence and left the latter part of his sentence open-ended…but A was able to understand what he was thinking.

"Haha, if you play the role of a hero, your words would hold significance, huh? I see…you're a shrewd one aren't you? Is that," He then sent an accusing glare at Naruto, "…how you tricked me?"

Naruto could only cough awkwardly at this statement.

He knew A wasn't retarded, who in their right mind would have someone like that as their Kage? A had suspected that from the first time they met that Naruto had a hidden agenda, and even his conditions alluded to this fact.

He felt that everything Naruto did was for things to reach this point; from his deal with the FONEs, to improving Mabui's jutsu, and finally obtaining some form of trust and trade deal with the Kumo nation.

This brat is very calculating…he will make a great leader one day.

A didn't mind that he was pretty much toyed with since it still benefitted him. He was just mildly irritated.

He stuck his hand out to Naruto and said, "Well then, brat. Have fun at Kiri."

Kumogakure Gate – Afternoon

"Ugh…we can finally leave this bitch infested place."

"Karin, you should watch your language, or no man will find you attractive."

"Eat shit!"

"Karin, Sai…please don't do this now. And Karin…you really do need to watch your language."

Following his meeting with the Raikage, Naruto had walked back to the hotel to finish packing his stuff and pick up his siblings.

He had planned to leave right after, since he didn't want to waste any more time than necessary.

He had received a report from Fu and Torune the other day about the situation in Kirigakure. Danzo had ROOT members stationed in the surrounding area to see if the village could be taken advantage of during the climax of the war.

It seems that Kiri has become more aggressive in their methods, causing the rebel force to be pushed back, losing some territories and supply lines in the process.

If this situation continues, there will be no more rebel force…and Naruto's plans would then become significantly more challenging.

I have to go over there soon, before things become any worse. I can only hope the Rebel force has more tricks up their sleeve, and it will be enough to hold them off until I get there.

"Naru…what's with that look on your face? I'll apologize, ok? I won't swear like that again, I promise!"

Naruto hadn't realized that his face contorted into a frown as he became distracted by his thoughts.

Karin misunderstood this as him being annoyed with her, so she promptly tried to placate him. If there's anything she didn't want, it was having Naruto dislike her.

"I don't think it's possible at this point…" Uttered Sai beneath his breathe. Unfortunately for him, Karin still caught his words and felt a tic mark form on her forehead.

"Bite me!"

Naruto couldn't help but shake his head at their antics.

I think Karin hung out with Karui too much…now she's starting to speak like her too. I really hope this is just a phase.

As Naruto and company reached closer to the gate, all three of them saw a familiar figure ahead of them, resulting in 3 different reactions from the group.

Naruto was surprised, and a bit happy at the unexpected appearance, causing him to show a slight smile.

Karin frowned with clenched fists, barely restraining her annoyance.

Sai was…well, he didn't really care about the random appearance and just expressed his normal fake smile everyone has seen before.

"Hey Mabui, what're you doing here?"

Naruto spoke nonchalantly, with a hint of happiness in his tone…not at all noticing the frown that marred Mabui's face.

"…were you planning to leave without saying goodbye?"

At that, Naruto froze a bit, now beginning to notice Mabui wasn't exactly happy.

In actuality, he had forgotten in his rush to say goodbye to the friends he made in Kumo due to the emergency in Kiri.

Naruto laughed awkwardly, "Haha…sorry about that. I was in a bit of a hurry since something came up. I didn't mean to-"

"When're you coming back?"

Cutting Naruto off, Mabui asked another question that once again froze Naruto in his speech.

After a few moments of being stared at rather intimidatingly, he said, "Um…I'm not sure. I think it'll be awhile before I do since I'll be going pretty far. I also have some other things to take care of, so I really can't say for sure."

Mabui's eyes gained a more downcast look to them as she soon found herself staring at the ground.

Take me with you, was of course what she wanted to say to him…but she couldn't.

It wasn't because she felt embarrassed or anything along those lines, but because she knew what her duties were.

She was a shinobi, born and raised in Kumogakure; An important aide to the Raikage, and now because of her Crossing Heavens Jutsu, she became a strategic weapon against invading shinobi.

She didn't have the freedom to leave Kumogakure for god knows how long. She was a game changer, and her loyalties lied with her village. She felt torn because she truly wanted to be around Naruto, even if it was only a bit longer.

She became accustomed to seeing him often, much to a younger red-haired girl's annoyance. She felt close to and bonded with him in ways different from Samui, A, or anyone else she knew for that matter.

She felt warm by just being near him, and a sense of longing hit her whenever she wasn't in his presence.

The fact he would be so far away now just seemed so…unbearable for her.

Seeing this, Naruto couldn't help but frown as well. If he were being honest, he too felt some reluctance when leaving the village…but he knew he didn't belong here.

Not in the sense that he was disliked, but he just felt that staying in one place wasn't him.

He loved traveling, seeing new sights, and experiencing the challenges that came along.

This was who he was, and wanted to be.

What he was really reluctant about was parting with the friends he made while here.

Bee was a hilarious guy, albeit a bit strange. When they first returned to Kumo after his training at the Falls of Truth, he dragged Naruto off through the streets where he was soon forced to rap alongside him. It was a strange experience for someone who could finally open up more to people…but it was a good one nonetheless.

Karui and Omoi…well, they were exactly like Sai and Karin in the way they bickered, so he wouldn't miss that aspect so much. He did, however, appreciate how they got along with his siblings, giving them their first friends since they started their travels.

Samui was fairly stoic, whether it was just them alone or with the crew tagging along. Gradually, however, she became more fun to converse with as they got to know each other better. He found that she enjoyed teasing others lightly and was very smart in various subjects, which provided him some interesting topics to cross-examine with her.

He also noticed how she became more "close", in the sense of private boundaries and space being invaded at awkward levels. These interactions they had with each other led to some misunderstandings that Karin, Mabui, and Yugito weren't too happy about.

Speaking of Yugito…that girl was still as assertive as ever. Her insistence on marriage became a common topic of argument between them, and this further proved to be a problem when it was done in public.

Many referred to them as a bickering 'couple' in the general public, and it became accepted that they were truly in a relationship with each other.

When this news first got out, he had been chased by Karin, laughed at by Bee and A, and ignored by Mabui for weeks.

Even Samui gave him the cold shoulder for a time.

All in all, he enjoyed his time here, but with a wandering heart, he just couldn't sit still in one place.

Naruto approached Mabui while waving his hand with a storage seal on it. In a few moments, a familiar steel slab appeared in his hands.

Seeing this Karin screamed, "Naru, don't give that home wrecker- MMPH!"

But her sentence was cut short as Sai bound her mouth with a tight clasp of his hand. He knew what Naruto wanted to do, and didn't want his sister to interfere.

I'm screwed later…aren't I? He thought in resignation now that he obstructed Karin from saying what she wanted to say.

Mabui's eyes were still trained onto the ground until the slab eclipsed her view of the earth.

Seeing this, Mabui's eyes widened slightly as she looked up at the close figure of Naruto that was standing before her.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly and said, "Though I can't say when I'll be back, I can always keep in touch. This is a 3rd generation FONEI made which uses the Crossing Heavens Jutsu as inspiration instead of yours. This means we can talk no matter the distance as long as you can picture me in your mind, since it relies on yin release as well."

Seeing Naruto's stiff smile, she couldn't help but look between him and the FONE a few times before chuckling at him.

"You're really no good in these kinds of situations."

*Mumble* Your supposed to hug me, you dummy…*Mumble*

"Hmm?"

Seeing as the idiot before her couldn't read her mind, she just shook her head and said, "It's nothing…You better make sure your available, because I do plan to call you often. You hear?"

Seeing that he was able to satisfy her in the end, he smiled lightly which caused her tanned cheeks to redden a bit.

Naruto then snapped his fingers in remembrance, "Oh! Can you do me a favor Mabui?"

Said woman just tilted her head in confusion with a smile still on her face as the Uzumaki waved his hand once again, causing several more FONEs to appear.

"Do you mind giving these to Samui, Yugito, and the others? This way, we can all keep in touch."

Hearing this, Mabui couldn't help but stiffen as her smile began to twitch.

Now, it was one thing if he had said he wanted to keep in touch with his friends…but it was another thing when he said it the way he did.

Why did he specifically name Samui and Yugito? Couldn't he have just said to give them to the others?

Mabui was irritated beyond measure, but did her best to hold it back. It was clear to her that somehow her friends wiggled their way into Naruto's thoughts…maybe even his heart.

She had seen Samui meet up with him on more than one occasion…

And Yugito…well, Naruto saw her naked for one thing, so that alone might have gotten his heart to jump.

…But if that wasn't enough, there were rumors going around how they bickered like newly-weds.

She could only thank the gods he still lacked emotional experience…as sad as it is.

With twitching lips, she said, "…sure. I'll be sure to give it to them right away."

Naruto felt that something was a bit off with Mabui's smile, but paid it no mind.

"Thanks, Mabui. I'll see you when I see you. Let's go guys...Karin, why is Sai passed out?"

Mabui watched as the 3 young shinobi left through the gate, before staring at the FONEs she was handed to by Naruto.

After a few moments, her grip tightened around them, almost as if she wished she could turn them to dust right then and there…but her grasp was soon loosened as she released a small sigh as she treaded back home.

What's going on with me?

"Karin…can't you be gentler with Sai? I'm afraid he might get brain damage someday."

"Hmph! It's your fault for being dense!"

Saying her piece, Karin stormed further away as Naruto scratched his head in confusion with Sai on his back.

"Mmm…"

"Oh? Are you alive Sai?"

"Yes…just barely, Nii-san…you can put me down now."

Seeing that Sai was ok for now, Naruto abided by his wishes and gently let Sai down, and walked slowly with him until he could keep up at a normal pace.

There was a small moment of silence before Sai decided to voice something that had been on his mind for a while now.

"…is it going to be ok, nii-san?"

Naruto rose a brow and placed his hand to his chin, stroking his imaginary beard while in contemplation.

"Hmm…I think you should be fine, Sai. You've take much worse from Karin. Remember the time you peeked on her in the bath?"

Sai shivered momentarily before regaining his wits.

"That's not what I meant nii-san…I was talking about the FONES. Is it really ok to be giving those out?"

"Ooooh, that? There's no problem Sai. I've got my bases covered, and then-some. Didn't I mention it before? I have more to gain than anyone who uses them does."

Sai seemed confused by this, but Naruto didn't bother explaining his words as he rubbed his head softly.

"Don't worry Sai, you don't need to know the details. Just know that we're safe, ok?"

Sai basked in the feeling of being cared for by his brother for a moment before nodding his head in affirmation.

"I understand, nii-san."

"Good!" Naruto smiled while pushing him ahead a bit, "Now come on! We don't want to lose Karin, now do we?"

With that bit of encouragement, Sai then began to speed up in the direction of Karin while Naruto remained a short distance behind, as a solemn look soon replaced the smile he once head.

He was reflecting on the time he conversed with A and his plan for the FONEs.

He noticed how A seemed to suspect Naruto of hiding some things about why he was trying to distribute so many FONEs to the nations.

Officially, he stated it was a means for peace, and the first step to mutual understanding between shinobi.

While this wasn't a lie on his part, there was actually more behind his actions than A was able to perceive.

Back at the Falls of Truth, Naruto managed to fuse his empty shell with the light and darkness within him, birthing a Naruto that wasn't the same as he was before.

The light in him told him to forgive and forget. To strive for peace if possible, and do everything in his power to make it happen. It wanted to ascend beyond his cruel past and move in a direction that would bring him a better life, and even better opportunities.

The darkness within him, however…told him to be prepared.

The him of the past was not so easily forgotten, and was not as naïve as the light. He understood the cruelties of mankind and how if one failed to plan, they were planning to fail. Nothing was straightforward in the world, and countermeasures needed to be made.

With the fusion of these two sides, this new Naruto came to a compromise.

He would see how his plans for peace would work, and do his best to make it happen. But if his trust is betrayed…he was not afraid to strike back in a way no one could ever foresee.

Unbeknownst to everyone but himself, he added a few more functions to the 2nd generation FONES, and made it imperfect on purpose.

As he mentioned to Mabui earlier, if he had used the Crossing Heavens Jutsu which contained more Yin-release, instead of the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu which comprised of more Lightning element, then the range limitation could have been easily resolved.

Yin-release relied on imagination, giving form from nothing, distorting reality and illusion. As long one imagined who they wanted to call, it would be possible while using Raiton as a medium.

He did this for control.

As for the Towers? They would act as his information network.

He would program the Towers with seals to filter and collect particular information as he saw fit, which would then be sent to him. And with him being, most likely, the best at fuinjutsu, no one would be able to disable the seals, or even decipher their purpose on the Towers for that matter.

In other words, all significant intelligence that passed through the FONEs was his to utilize.

He may have also tinkered with the FONEs to possess a mark similar to the Hiraishin no Jutsu, making anyone who possessed a FONE a victim to his Crossing Heavens Jutsu.

While I will give the nations a chance for peace, it doesn't mean I will let my guard down. If I am betrayed, then I will return the favor hundredfold!

Naruto's preparations were meant not only for peace…

But for war.

A/N: End of Chapter!

So I apologize for grammatical errors, but I rarely have time to edit, let alone write (hence the long wait for release). Because of this, I am seriously considering a Beta to make things easier on me, and I'm open for recommendations as long as they don't try to mess with my storyline or try to add what they want to see in the story.

Anyways, I'll answer some questions you may be thinking:

Q: What happened to his mask?

A: He still has it, and he'll still wear it. I'll be sure to specify wen he does.

Q: Will the FONE have a new name now that it doesn't use 'Echos'?

A: Nope. FONE will now be (Fuinjutsu Operated Network of Electrical Signals) FONES

Anyways guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, as a new arc will be starting! And it will probably be shorter than this one.

~Stay cool, but don't freeze