Chapter 21

Training Trip: 'Kai'

One week later

The villagers were still in shock after the massive invasion that nearly destroyed their whole village. They were reminded of the days of the past when Kyuubi attacked this village. The decline in economy, the rise in theft and crimes and what not. But the greatest loss was the loved ones they lost in a day. They will never come back. Every negative emotion from the civilians turned into a protest as they demanded their Hokage to take action against Suna and Oto. They were demanding to go out on war. Even the civilian council members presented the idea to the Hokage rather forcefully. Of course, Minato declined. Even some clan head members agreed to the civilian's idea after Minato told them about their 'Kage Summit'.

The Hokage sighed tiredly and leaned back in his chair in his office when the door opened and Naruto entered. A dark blue full sleeve shirt with black anbu pants. His shoulder length red hair tied in a ponytail. A dark brown cloak that was hiding his frame and black anbu boots. His Konoha headband in black cloth was tied around his forehead.

"Father!" Minato gave his son a forced smile that wasn't returned. He got a blank look from him.

"The construction is going on smoothly." Minato said and Naruto sighed internally. But he didn't show any emotion. He knew what his father was trying to say. Nawaki was helping the villagers in construction. In the last week Minato received high praises for Nawaki from the villagers. That was the opposite of what they were saying for Naruto. Of course, they didn't dare to say in front of him but he wasn't the Hokage for nothing. Naruto knew his father wanted him to go to villagers, help them and bond with them.

"I'm sure it will tire him out very soon, Hokage-sama." Naruto said in his monotone. He saw his father flinch slightly. Minato knew Naruto didn't like the villagers, and to push him to go to them to help them after everything they had done to him will not gain him good points as a father.

"You do know that Sasuke has left the village." The Hokage sighed again, that was another problem. He has left a letter behind, stating how he wanted to avenge his mother and his clan members.

"Yes, I know. He went to Orochimaru for power."

"I want to go to Kiri. Yagura asked me to bury his body in his village. I need to train as well. After this fight I've realized I need to train myself if I want to protect Nawaki and myself from Akatsuki." Minato raised his eyebrow in surprise. Naruto shouldn't know about Akatsuki. Only Jiraiya and he knew this, unless.

"Jiraiya told me. He offered me a training trip that I refused. It was tempting to become an apprentice of one of the sannins but I asked him to train Nawaki instead." There was no doubt Naruto will be able to handle himself outside the village. Minato wanted him to stay here and do missions so that he can bring some money to the village vaults.

"I can't force you to stay, if that's what you want but I order you to stay away from Orochimaru for the time being. You were lucky you escaped alive in your previous encounters with him. I got a report from Suna. Few days before they invaded, Kazekage was kidnapped and they recovered his body. We're investigating this further and you don't need to involve yourself with this, just train and enjoy."

"Are you saying that Orochimaru could be behind this?" Minato nodded his head.

"I'm certain he is behind this. Suna will never betray us like that." There was silence for a moment before Minato spoke. "Is there anything else you need from me?" Naruto understood his father wanted him to leave the office so that he could do his office work.

"Actually yes." Minato looked surprised. Naruto had never asked him for anything before. "I need one of your jutsu."

"I can give you the Rasengan If you want." The Hokage said but he looked surprised again when Naruto extended his hand and formed a familiar swirling blue chakra orb in his hand.

"I already know the Rasengan, Jiraiya showed it to me and told me how to make it. He wanted to prove his awesomeness to me. I need your other jutsu." Naruto saw Minato struggling to decide whether to give him or not.

"I know you decided long ago that you will teach me Rasengan and Nawaki Hiraishin. But Nawaki is a long-range fighter with his Mokuton and he is not interested in Fuinjutsu as well."

"But then you should stay here if you want to learn that jutsu. Only I know that jutsu and only I can teach you." Naruto shook his head.

"Just give me the scroll. I'll figure out the rest." Minato shook his head at Naruto's stubbornness.

"You are so stubborn, you know that? At least you got something from your mother besides red hair." The Hokage stood up from his seat and went to his locker and took out a scroll and threw it at Naruto. He saw his son open it and activated his sharingan and scanned the whole scroll in minutes before throwing it back to his father.

"I'm not surprised. Get out of here before you give me more surprises." Naruto smirked at his father's irritation before leaving with shunshin.

"That kid!" The Hokage said with a smile.

Naruto just arrived in his apartment to pack his things for his journey when his door banged open and Kana entered.

"That's not a nice way to enter into someone's apartment."

"Sorry about that. I'll fix that door for you." She said sheepishly. Her expression changed when she saw him packing.

"Where are you going?"

"On a journey."

"Oh, thanks for telling me. I didn't see you were packing."

"No need to be so sarcastic with me. Why are you here?"

"To say goodbye." Naruto glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. She blushed at his stare and threw a kunai at him that he dodged.

"You do some actions that are unnecessary." He sealed the scroll and put it in a sealing array on his wrist and headed for the door. "You want some ramen?" Kana looked surprised for a second before nodding her head happily.

Naruto met his family and friends at the ramen stand already waiting for him. He ate his ramen to the fullest and said his goodbyes before heading towards the gate. His mother surprisingly didn't ask him to stay here and train. Maybe his father talked to her about it. He shook his head and stared at the white-haired man standing beside Izumo and Kotetsu, the village gatekeepers.

"I know what you're going to say. I still refuse. You can't teach me the things that I need to learn. I'll train and become much stronger on my own." Jiraiya let out an irritated sigh.

"I know that gaki, just take care of yourself and don't die."

An amused chuckle escaped Orochimaru's mouth when he saw Uchiha Sasuke's heated glare. Kabuto was walking behind Sasuke as they stopped in front of him.

"Where is that power that you promised you will give." Orochimaru's smirk widened as his snake-like tongue licked his lips.

"That power is me Sasuke-kun. Now that you're here. I'll train you in shinobi arts and unlock the potential that Konoha wasn't able to see in you."

"Whatever. Hurry up and take me to the training ground of yours. I don't want to waste my time on these trivial things." Kabuto pushed his glasses to his eyes and spoke.

"Before we start your training Orochimaru-sama would like to upgrade your curse seal to level two. It will give a power boost that will help you in your training as well."

"Indeed!" Orochimaru nodded his head in agreement. Sasuke narrowed his eyes in thought. Orochimaru had used that seal to suppress the will of his soldiers. The seal was used to turn shinobi into slaves. Although it did give them a boost in chakra and strength.

"I think that seal is useless. The first level of seal was easily suppressed by Uzumaki. It was nothing more than a tattoo." Orochimaru merely grinned, liking how Sasuke seemed uncertain to agree to upgrade his cursed seal to level two. He didn't like how Sasuke disregarded one of his most prized creations. Kabuto was standing behind Sasuke clenched his fist slightly. The brat had the nerve to insult one of Orochimaru-sama's creations in front of him like it was nothing.

"Orochimaru-sama…" Orochimaru held up his hand to silence Kabuto.

"It happened because you allowed it to happen. At that time you were weak and Uzumaki brat was stronger than you." Sasuke gritted his teeth in silent anger.

"He was never stronger than me. He was only skilled in that so-called scroll and ink art that we call Fuinjutsu, an art that most never try to learn." Orochimaru didn't bother to correct Sasuke.

Naruto was about to leave the village gates after saying goodbye to Jiraiya when an anbu appeared with an old drunken man. The anbu handed him a scroll that was given by the Hokage.

"What is it?" He questioned the anbu.

"Hokage-sama has assigned you a mission. The mission details are written in the scroll." The Anbu disappeared leaving the old man behind. Naruto looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He was a grey-haired, bespectacled man with a large beard and dark eyes. He was wearing a sleeveless V-neck shirt with an obi, pants and a pair of sandals.

He opened the scroll and read it. "That stupid old man. Why do you think I should be babysitting?" He glared at the old man who flinched.

"Now young man, it's your mission and I'm your client. I expect you to protect me with your life."

"I know, you old drunk idiot. Even a genin can escort you to your village." Sighing, Naruto threw the scroll at Izumo and Kotetsu who sweat dropped and exited the village with the old man following him.

"Now move along and don't slow me down."

"Think the old man will safely reach his home?" Izumo said.

"Think? I don't think the old man will reach home at all." Kotetsu said jokingly. Izumo sweat dropped again.

It's been few hours since they left the village. Ever since they left the village, the old man was drinking. The both of them walked towards their destination without making any conversation. Since Naruto had nothing to do and as a C-rank mission, he knew the next week was going to be boring as hell.

"Why do you drink so much?" Naruto glanced at the old man who took out another bottle from his bag. The old man glanced at the red haired ninja before shrugging.

"I'm an old man and I drink because like everyone else, I drink to forget my problems." The old man took a swing from his bottle before offering it to Naruto who refused it.

"The name Tazuna by the way."

"Uzumaki Naruto." He didn't see any harm in telling his name.

"I asked the Hokage to give me a Team. He said he didn't have one in the village and you will be more than enough for my protection." Tazuna looked through his glasses at Naruto critically from head to toe.

"Your attitude seems intimidating but I doubt the Hokage's words." The old man waited for Naruto to say anything and stayed quiet. Birds and little creatures around them were the only things that were making any noise, except their footsteps. "But if the Hokage has so much faith in you then why not I do the same?"

"You are merely a civilian. I don't think you've done anything in your life to have a bounty on your head. That's why this mission was ranked C." Naruto said but something didn't feel right. The old man has said again and again about saving his life, about completing the mission successfully.

A small puddle of water didn't go unnoticed by Naruto even though he was conversing with Tazuna. The weather was dry and hot. There was no water source nearby. Naruto splashed the water puddle with his foot and much to his surprise the water shot up from the ground in small tendrils and grasped both of Naruto's legs and pinned him to the ground. Then two shinobi burst out from the puddle and one of them attacked Tazuna.

Tazuna was too shocked to react to anything. He saw an unknown shinobi making hand signs with which small tendrils of water shot up from ground and pierced Uzumaki boy. Blood leaked all over the ground as Uzumaki coughed and glared at his enemy.

"You are dead, old man. Say hi to your son in law when you meet him." Tazuna glued to the ground due to killing intent and fear and closed his eyes as he waited for his death.

When Naruto heard that he reacted fast and created a shadow clone who appeared in front of Tazuna and blocked the gauntlet attack with a kunai. There was a loud clang and Naruto released a burst of chakra out of his body that destroyed the water tendrils and shunshined beside Tazuna.

"You alright old man?" Naruto said without taking his eyes from his two opponents who stood beside each other and waited for the opportunity to attack. Naruto saw Tazuna slowly opened his eyes and glanced his way and sighed in relief. He then wiped sweat from his forehead and looked at his enemies.

"Take care of Tazuna." Naruto ordered his clone and narrowed his eyes at his opponents.

"The demon brothers!"

"The hero of Kiri!" One of them said in a mocking voice.

"Even after knowing who I'm, you're standing against me?" Naruto said in a bored voice.

"That goes the same for you. Hand over the old man and we will let you go alive."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Both brothers rushed at him the next second. One on his right and one on his left side and tried to surround him with a chain that was tied with gauntlets on their arms.

Naruto jumped in the air and instead of attacking him they rushed towards Tazuna, knowing they could take down a clone. Naruto's clones threw shurikens at them that they blocked with their gauntlets without stopping.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique)." The real Naruto sent a fireball behind their back. They turned their heads to see a large fireball coming and they jumped in the air, letting the fireball pass. Naruto's clone created an earth wall in front to stop the incoming fireball.

Naruto landed on the ground and rushed towards the two brothers. They again tried to surround him with their chain but Naruto's kick sent one of them flying towards the trees. He then channelled wind chakra into his kunais and sent them towards the chain. The chain broke and separated both of them.

"Gozu!"

"Meizu!" Both of them felt panic rising as they saw the chain break that separated both of them.

"Kirigakure no Jutsu (Hidden Mist Technique)." Gozu yelled and a thick Mist suddenly filled the surroundings. Gozu went to his brother and picked him up. The man rubbed his sore chest where Naruto kicked him. "We can't win against Gozu. He is playing with us. I know where that old man is. Why don't we just kill him and run?"

"That's a great idea. But do you think he will let us go?" Gozu said.

"Yes you're right. I don't think he will let you go." The demon brothers turned around to see Naruto standing there.

"Surprised to see me here?" The brothers were too shocked to say anything as they saw Naruto unsealed an anbu katana and in a burst of speed disappeared. The next second Naruto was standing behind them and Gozu came out of his shock when warm liquid hit his face. He blinked and looked towards Meizu but only saw a headless corpse. The Mist disappeared, green grass turned red with blood and Gozu screamed. His eyes bulged and fists clenched.

"It won't be too long before you see him. Answer my questions and I might let you go." Gozu didn't register anything. His bulged eyes were staring at his brother's headless corps.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto sighed and took a stance. His cold violet eyes stared at his opponent.

"You don't stand a chance. It was a mistake attacking me when you knew my identity." Naruto again disappeared in a burst of speed. Even though Gozu was in shock he substituted himself with a water clone. The real Gozu appeared behind Naruto and slashed his back with his gauntlet. Naruto turned around and blocked it but pushed back.

"Suiton: Suishōha (Water style: Water colliding wave)." From the nearby river water rose in a form of a spiralling vortex. Naruto created an earth wall to protect himself from the attack but the vortex moved before it could hit the wall, went up crossed the wall and came down towards Naruto. The red haired ninja just had a single second to substitute himself with a log before it hit the ground. Gozu surprised Naruto by appearing in his blind spot and slashed his gauntlet at him recklessly.

"Ahhh! Why don't you just die. Die! Die!" Naruto blocked every single strike with his sword.

"Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? Quiet screaming and show me if you have. I'm getting bored here." The missing ninja from the Mist was panting heavily, his face was covered with blood and sweat.

"That last attack was a surprise though. I forgot that the user can control the movements of the wave." He didn't get any response.

"I know you're buying time to catch your breath and come with a plan to take me down. But you forgot that I lived half of my life in the Mist village. I know their every technique."

"I don't care if you kill me now. If I can't kill you at least I can kill your client. I sent my Mizu clones to finish the job." Naruto didn't look unfazed by the threat. He knew his clones were strong enough to handle some water clones.

"Oh really? Did you forget that my clone is with…?" It was at that time when he got the memories from his clone. Angered flared in his eyes and with the speed greater than before he disappeared and with a single slash from his blade, Naruto killed him.

"That was a close call you know." Tazuna said as he stood up and dusted his clothes. "For a second I thought I was a goner when he killed your clones." Naruto pocketed his blade and raised his eyebrows when Tazuna started walking towards Wave country.

"Where do you think you're going? I think you've some answers to give me." Tazuna laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head.

The sun was about to set. Its yellow light was reflecting on the surface of the river in front of her. Warm wind ruffled her hair as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her eyes staring ahead, nothing in particular.

"Sakura!" She didn't look at him. Nawaki sat beside her for a while before speaking.

"I'm sorry! If only I had known. I'd have stopped him, I'd have fought with him to stay here." Sakura closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

"It's not your fault Nawaki. He was always like this. We were foolish to think otherwise." Nawaki didn't try to deny because deep in his heart he knew the truth. He wanted to deny it.

"Maybe we're still being fooled by him?" Sakura looked at him like he was an idiot. "Sasuke! Even though he was cold and distant but he never left our side, he risked his life countless times for us."

"Tell me Nawaki! Why does Sasuke always leave us behind?" Nawaki's eyes widened.

"Sakura? Don't tell me you wanted to go with him." Sakura looked at him and everything that he wanted to know was there.

"But he's not the only one to blame. First Sasuke then Naruto and now you. All of you are leaving me behind." Tears leaked from her eyes and she clenched her fists. "I feel like someone has poured a cold bucket of water on me, someone has gripped my heart and squeezed it."

"I promised you that I'll bring Sasuke back. So no matter what, I'll bring him back. I need to get stronger, otherwise I'll be useless." Nawaki didn't know what to do in this kind of situation.

"I can't wait for the day when he will return."

The haunted look in Tazuna's eyes was the only thing that convinced him that he was telling the truth. He could have used the Sharingan on him but he didn't see any point.

"I'll understand if you want to abandon the mission Naruto-san, I won't hold any grudge against you."

"Tazuna-san. I've never abandoned a mission in my life. Get your guts together and let's go."

Wind Country

This world was a cruel place. Ever since he was child he came to know that strong devour weak. They let them rot and turn their lives into hell. Humans were strange creatures that were given so much. They weren't worthy of having the ability to talk and think. The ability to make their own decisions. All other creatures in the world were completely different than humans. They lived in peace and they'd never turned against each other.

Looking around the town and seeing children, adults and old people looking weak and hopeless. Their clothes were torn and they were thin. Children were looking around for food. It reminded him of the days when he was a helpless and weak child. He knew the feeling of starvation. Feeling of someone murdering you in your sleep.

"Do you plan to stay here?"Kyuubi spoke. It was very rare for him to speak to Naruto.

"Tell me something Kyuubi. I only have one tail worth of your chakra in me. Your real jinchuuriki are Nawaki and the Hokage but you've never talked to them." There was a pause and Naruto thought for a second that he would not get any response.

"It's because the sage favoured you. Don't you find it strange that even with one tail of chakra I was able to take my form in this seal?"

"I was thinking that maybe you have finally acknowledged me as your partner."

"You possess eyes that I hate the most…"

"And It was the sage who gave it to me…"

"It was not sage you idiot. You've Indra and Ashura's chakra in you."

"Again it's not my fault that I got these eyes, stupid fox." Kyuubi sighed and pondered on that thought. He knew he was being selfish and Naruto has proven again and again that he wanted his cooperation. Even sage asked him to give him a chance.

"I know it's not your fault. You're suffering because of me." Kyuubi said sadly.

"We both are suffering. We both have a common enemy." Kyuubi didn't say anything.

"Do you have a name?" Kyuubi closed his eyes and sighed. It was a bitter pill to swallow. He wanted to help the kid. He was chosen by sage. He was suffering because of him. But because of his father and the third Hokage he was sealed. He has those damn sharingan eyes.

"Kurama!" A true and genuine smile appeared on Naruto's stoic face. It's been awhile since he felt that he'd accomplished something important.

"It feels like you've erased half of my suffering Kurama." The fox's eyes widened and he grinned genuinely.

"Don't think for a second that we're friends now, human. You're still my enemy." Naruto merely smiled.

They stopped in front of the house that was surrounded by the woods. Tazuna knocked on the door and a woman with blue hair opened it. She was wearing a pink shirt and long blue skirt.

"Tou-san! You're back!"

"Yes. Thanks to this young man. Naruto, this is my daughter, Tsunami." Naruto nodded his head.

"Thank you for escorting my father safely here Naruto-san."

"You're welcome." They took seats and she left to prepare dinner. Naruto looked around the house and he noticed the picture.

"Do you think he will send more ninjas after you?" Naruto looked at Tazuna and nodded his head.

"It's a possibility. The threat is still there. This time he will send more powerful ninja than before. How much time do you need to finish the bridge?" Naruto wanted to finish this mission as soon as possible. He doesn't have much time in his hands.

"A week."

"That kid in the picture, is he your grandson?" A solemn look appeared on Tazuna's face as he stared at the picture.

"Yeah. Inari believed his father is a hero. When Gato took control of this country Kaiza gathered the villagers against him. But he was just a fisherman, he was no match for Gato and his army. They captured him and murdered him in front of the whole village." The door creaked and everyone looked to see Inari standing there.

"Inari! Come say hello to Naruto-san. He brought your grandfather here safely." Tsunami said.

"What's the point of all of this mother, grandfather? He can't do anything. Nobody can do anything. They live happily in their village. They don't care about us…" Tears were running down his cheeks.

"Shut it gaki!" Inari flinched. Naruto lowered his voice slightly and tried to erase the irritation from his voice. He sighed and looked apologetically at Tsunami.

"The World is a cruel place. It is better to die for what you believe than cry and suffer your whole life. Your father knew that and he sacrificed his life for what he believed. You're just a spoiled little brat who cry all day because this world isn't fair to you." Naruto paused and stared at him with a haunted look.

"You don't know a shit about what people go through their whole lives. You're still lucky that you still have your mother and grandfather. You're lucky that you don't have to kill people every day just because they were frightened by you. You're lucky that you get food every day. Your father was a hero and you are a coward." Tsunami stared at her son sadly. She'd never said anything to him after Kaiza died. But she knew he needed to listen to this.

"Inari!" She said softly but the boy turned around hastily and left.

"I'm sorry Tsunami-san. I lost my cool."

"It's okay. I think he needed to hear this. I was not strong enough to say all of this to him."

"I've to admit Tazuna-san, that thing is massive." Naruto whistled as he saw the bridge that was nearly complete.

"Is it the first time you're seeing a bridge?"

"I've seen before but not as big as this." Naruto had created some clones to assist Tazuna in his work. Since he was the only one to guard he couldn't leave Tazuna alone. He sat on the bridge with scrolls and ink as he tried to study his father's most prized jutsu, the Hiraishin. It was a piece of art. He has seen his father perform this jutsu countless times but he didn't like how it solely relied on kunais. His father had told him how that masked man countered this jutsu with his own sealing technique. He wanted to have some kind of teleportation jutsu in his arsenal. With Hiraishin, the teleportation only worked between marked places. He didn't like that either.

"Why don't you try to use sage mode?"Kurama suggested.

"Huh?" Sage mode? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. In sage mode you take chakra directly from nature around you. That makes you more tuned with nature, you become more aware of your surroundings. What if you use that chakra with some type of sealing technique that could send nature chakra to the location where you want to go." Naruto's eyes bulged out at the suggestion. It was a good suggestion.

"Is it even possible?"

"I'm surprised you're saying that. You don't know unless you try."

"Well for that I need to learn sage mode first." Naruto felt excited. Ever since he became a ninja his focus was on elemental manipulation. He grew up reading books about the first and second Hokages and how they controlled their elements. He'd admit, if it weren't for shadow clones, he wouldn't have been able to master his elements. His chakra control was as good as Tsunade's.

"Your doppelgangers are working as if they have years of experience." Naruto looked at Tazuna who was watching his clones doing what Tazuna was telling them to do.

"My eyes have the ability to copy movements, Tazuna-san. My clones are just copying your movements."

"That's a nice trick to have." Naruto narrowed his eyes when he sensed unknown chakra signatures heading his way. He stood up and created a few clones.

"Tazuna-san! We have company. Please stay with my clones and do what they say." The clones surrounded Tazuna and not a second later three shinobi appeared at the start of the bridge.

"I didn't think I'd see this day when the conqueror of Kiri will build bridges. How pathetic." A girl with short black hair and pink eyes spoke. She was wearing black anbu pants and a dark pink shirt with an Iwa Jounin jacket. They were Iwa shinobi, as identified by their forehead protectors.

On her right was a boy with short brown hair wearing camouflage pants and black shirt. On her left was a tall boy with black eyes and long black hair, he was wearing black pants and a dark blue shirt. He'd a sword tied behind his back.

The girl was a Jounin

"I'm flattered you guys know me." "What are Iwa shinobi doing here?"

"I don't know, ask them."

"Feel as much flattered as you want, this will be the last day you will feel flattered." The brown haired boy said.

"What are you guys doing here? You do know you're far away from home."

"That's none of your concern. Hand over that old man and we might let you go alive, although barely." The black haired boy grinned.

"You do know the genin teams are always based on a three man squad with their Jounin sensei." Kurama said.

"That is true but those two boys have chunin level chakra reserves. That girl is the strongest."

"I'm excited to see this battle. It's been awhile since you fought seriously." Naruto sweat dropped.

"A while? I fought Yagura last week."

"I thought you guys were after me. But I never thought a village as great as Iwa will send its shinobi far away from home just to kill a civilian." Naruto taunted with a stoic face. He smirked internally when he saw their irritated expressions. "Take Tazuna-san away." He ordered his clones and they disappeared with Tazuna. The brown haired boy tried to go after them but the pink haired girl stopped him.

"No Yen, that old man can't go far away. We will deal with Uzumaki first."

"But Kurotsuchi…"

"You've a nerve to say something like that. Don't forget it's three against one." Naruto tilted his head to the side and looked at black-haired boy.

"Three against one? You Iwa shinobi always preferred numbers." Sighing, Naruto took out a kunai and held it in a reverse grip. The black haired boy tried to attack Naruto but the girl stopped him.

"Ruto! Don't be reckless. We need a plan to take him down."

Senju compound

"When he will come back?"

"Don't be so sad Kushina. At least he doesn't hate you now." Tsunade was trying hard to cheer Kushina up ever since Naruto left without a word.

"At least he doesn't hate you as much." Minato felt angered and helpless. If only he'd done things differently, if only the sage had chosen someone else. Even after becoming one of the strongest ninja he couldn't do anything. He couldn't protect his family, his child taken away from him.

"Don't feel so depressed, you can't give up Kaa-chan." Nawaki said. Kushina wiped tears from her eyes. She gave her son a teary smile.

Why can't they just forget everything and move on? Naruto-nii never does things without any reason.

"Naruto will warm up to you guys, don't worry. It will take time. He's not heartless." Jiraiya said who was sitting on the balcony and looking outside.

"I think he fears that we might hurt him again. We might abandon him again, that's why he keeps distance from us." Tsunade said. In the whole Senju family, she was the only one who Naruto talked the most. Because most of her life she was away from the village with her niece Shizune. She stared at the sake bottle in her hand. "That kid doesn't like us, and he has the right to say and do whatever he wants to. But even then he did his best to make up to us, he didn't turn on us. But you've to accept Kushina, that he's an adult now. He's grown up."

"Yeah, and to think I forced him to be my apprentice." Jiraiya sighed.

"For the time being we shouldn't worry about him. The village is at great risk. We're weak and we don't have enough forces to defend the village." Minato said. One of the reasons that he didn't try so hard to send his men after Sasuke was this. He didn't want to lose them on small matters. They've lost Shisui, Fugaku lost an eye.

"Anyway, meet me in the office before you go." Minato stood up and left for office. Jiraiya and Nawaki were preparing to leave the village as well.

"That mission is very important, Kakashi. I don't want you to make any mistakes. Jiraiya-sensei infiltrated the village but he didn't get much information. Your mission is to go to Amegakure and find anything you can about Akatsuki leader, Jiraiya still thinks Hanzo is the leader.. Make sure you come back alive."

"Hai, Hokage-sama. I'd prefer it if I go alone." Minato shook his head.

"No Kakashi. You will take Uzumaki Kana with you."

"I'd have preferred Naruto but I heard he went on a training trip. Well, something is better than nothing."

"She's good Kakashi. You can count on her in a dire situation." The door opened and Kana walked in. She was wearing black shorts that were reaching her ankles. A dark blue full sleeve shirt in a form of kimono that was reaching ankles, blue ninja sandals. She had her hair tied in a bun with two bangs framing her face. Her blue eyes glanced at Kakashi before settling on Hokage.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Kana-chan! Meet Kakashi, my former student. He will tell you the details about the mission."

"Tell me something, did you guys bring body bags with you? Because it will be easier for me to pack your bodies in them and send them back to Iwa." The pink haired girl snarled and slapped her hands together.

"That's it you punk, you're going down." Naruto activated his sharingan. He tilted his head when nothing happened and they didn't move.

"Was that supposed to do anything?" He pointed towards her hands. Naruto raised his eyebrows when out of nowhere Mist surrounded them. It was so dense that he couldn't even see his hands.

"You're forgetting something. I've lived in the Mist country for years, this jutsu will not work against me."

"You sure about that? You were never able to beat Zabuza."

"That was a long time ago, I've gotten better since then." Kurama snorted in amusement. "What are you laughing at?"

"I'll say it again. You sure about that?"

"Yes I'm sure about that." Naruto tilted his head to the side and avoided senbons aimed for his head. His sharingan was not helping in this thick mist. He tried to sense them but they were suppressing their chakra and the Mist was covered in chakra as well. It was hard to pinpoint them.

More senbons but this time from different directions appeared. He crouched and deflected them with a kunai, then there was silence. Again, they attacked with more senbons.

"Don't you have any other tricks up your sleeves?" He was getting irritated. He was about to perform a jutsu to cancel the mist when he sensed a large source of chakra heading his way from his blind spot. Naruto turned around and blocked the sword strike from the black haired boy.

"Roto was it? Are you good enough with his puny sword to take me down?" Naruto forcefully pushed the boy towards the ground but he quickly disappeared in the Mist again.

"Futon: Toppa (Wind Style: Breakthrough)." Kurama whistled as he saw the power behind the jutsu.

"It never ceases to amaze me. Wind is your strongest affinity."

"You can say that. But it took years of practice to achieve this result." He hadn't even used hand signs. The Mist around them dispersed as if it wasn't even there. Naruto smirked at seeing the shocked look on his opponent's faces.

"I've to admit it was a very good strategy to bring your opponent down. But…" he disappeared in a blur and appeared behind Roto, the black haired boy didn't realize he was there but the girl did.

"Doton: Doryūsō (Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears)." Sharp spikes protruded from the ground between Roto and Naruto. Naruto halted his attack and looked at the pink haired girl.

"You're strong for someone your age." Although she was older than him. Roto jumped back and stood behind the girl.

"Kurotsuchi! What should we do." She took a deep breath and looked at him with determination. The three of them charged at the same time. Naruto blocked her punch and stopped Yen's foot with his other hand. He pushed his head back to avoid Roto's punch before flipping backward. Yen disappeared and appeared behind him. Naruto turned around when he saw him performing jutsu.

"Iron Spikes." He smacked his hand on the ground and iron spikes shot up around Naruto. Naruto jumped in the air but Roto was already waiting on a tree branch. He jumped and delivered a leg punch to his chest that squeezed the air out of him. He hit the ground hard and Kurotsuchi was waiting for him already.

"We're going to defeat him." She went through hand signs again.

"Yōton: Kaisekifū no Jutsu (Lava Style: Ash Stone Seal Technique)." Kurotsuchi spewed black ash from her mouth that wrapped around Naruto and restrained him. Yen, the brown haired boy appeared mid-air in front of him with his fist aimed for his head. Naruto raised his left arm to block it and winced when he heard a crack.

"My blood line allows me to change my body into iron. I can shatter bones with mere punches."

"That's one hell of a blood line." Naruto said. Roto went through his on hand signs before spewing purple coloured mist from his mouth.

"That looks like poison." He gathered as much air as he could before turning them into small wind bullets and aimed for his restraints.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Well that was the only way for me to get free from that prison, and if I hadn't I'd have been poisoned." Kurotsuchi and Roto attacked, Roto jumped in the air and aimed his right leg for his head, Kurotsuchi appeared on his left side in a crouched position and aimed for Naruto's stomach. Naruto jumped in the air and blocked Roto's leg with his palm. Yen appeared behind him with his fist ready to shatter bones. Instead of blocking the punch Naruto leaned back and let the iron fist pass him before standing straight, he ducked to avoid Kurotsuchi's attack. Naruto turned around and caught Roto's punch before kicking him in the stomach that sent him flying. Kurotsuchi attacked again, Yen following behind her. He tilted his head to the side to avoid her punch before burying his knee in her stomach. Her eyes bulged out and spit came out of her mouth.

"Damn those sharingan eyes." Kurotsuchi glared at him.

Naruto winced when Yen appeared behind him and delivered a punch to his scapula. The pain shot like a lightning bolt through his right arm. He tried to move his arm but couldn't.

"You won't be able to use that arm. I don't think you heard that shattering sound. Need I remind you that my bloodline allows me to change my body into iron?" Naruto cursed. He looked up to see Roto flipping in mid-air before sending that same poisonous cloud at him.

"If you guys continue like this I won't be able to see the next morning." Signing and ignoring the pain in his body, Naruto took a deep breath and formed one hand seal with his left hand. The three Iwa shinobi waited for Naruto to drop dead or unconscious.

"Kai! (Release)." Seals glowed for a second on his body before vanishing. He took a deep breath and looked at the poisonous smoke that had surrounded him.

"You, Iron boy! Make sure you avoid that jutsu." After all it was his one of the strongest and favourite jutsu.

"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku (Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation)." Naruto took a deep breath and exhaled the largest wave of fire that the Iwa shinobi had seen in their lives, Yen who was on guard widened his eyes and didn't even have the chance to jump out of the way when the flames crashed into him. Everything around them turned to crisp. The intensity of the flames was so great that his two teammates didn't even think of jumping into the flames and rescuing their teammate.

"YEN!"

"The yelling will not help him." The wave of flames started to die down. The smoke and burning smell of grass and wood covered the area. He turned to Kurotsuchi. "I've to admit, you three make a good team. You're a ninjutsu specialist, that Roto kid is a trap, poison and medical specialist and that iron kid is a taijutsu specialist." His red sharingan eyes stared down at them, the intensity of the heat around them as well as the killing intent that Naruto was radiating was so much for them. It was making it difficult for them to even move.

"You were recently promoted to Jounin, aren't you? and those two are chunin." Naruto said to Kurotsuchi. The smoke around them settled down and Roto moved from his spot to check on Yen. Yen was unconscious with second degree burns. All of his clothes were burned and he could see the expression of pain on his face. He'd used all of his chakra to cover his body with iron. He'd have turned to ash otherwise. Roto's eyes filled with hatred at seeing the condition of his teammate.

"You Konoha shinobi! Who do you think you are? Do you think you're so special? Killing and massacring us and to think you talk about peace." Naruto coldly looked at Roto.

"It seems you haven't learned a lesson yet." Naruto disappeared from their sight and the next thing that Roto felt was a knee to his gut. It lifted him up and Naruto delivered a bone crushing punch to his jaw. "And don't talk to me about peace when you came here just to kill an old innocent man."

"Roto!" Kurotsuchi yelled and came out of her stupor.

"Yōton: Sekkaigyō no Jutsu (Lava Style: Quicklime Congealing Technique)." Kurotsuchi released a large quantity of quicklime that caught Naruto before he could move. It was surprisingly fast.

"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)." The water dragon came to life and engulfed Naruto, the water absorbed by quicklime and hardened it. Naruto looked at Kurotsuchi with calm eyes. She started walking towards him, breathing hard.

"You can't escape now. This is my strongest technique." She took out a kunai from her pouch to finish the job when she saw Naruto's eyes rotating. Naruto disappeared from quicklime and Roto appeared. Kurotsuchi looked shocked, her movements halted and her mind tried to process what was happening.

"You were in my genjutsu. When you tried to use that lava technique you made a mistake and looked in my eyes." Naruto whispered in her right ear, he took a kunai from her hand and threw it away. She gritted her teeth.

"Ku-ro-tsuchi!" Roto was in no shape to talk, the bindings of quicklime were making it difficult to breath. He coughed blood that took Kurotsuchi out of her trance and she deactivated the technique. She quickly grabbed Roto before he hit the ground.

"Roto! Stay there please." She had tears in her eyes now. She looked at Yen, he was out cold. She clenched her fits and gritted her jaw.

"I'll kill you. I'll not let you escape." She glared at Naruto. She was about to lunge at him when they heard someone clapping.

Naruto and Kurotsuchi looked and saw a short shaggy brown haired man with round black glasses in black suit. He had a victorious smile on his face.

"I didn't expect much less from you guys. I knew you won't be able to kill him." The man had an army of thugs behind him.

"Gato? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to finish the job." Kurotsuchi looked confused.

"So you're the one responsible for the atrocities that are happening in this village?" Naruto questioned.

"Gato, tell me why are you here?" Kurotsuchi said, her voice was filled with dread.

"You see Kurotsuchi! This is my forbidden and ultimate technique. I hire ninja for a job to kill other ninja and when they tire themselves out after fighting I kill them. In this way I save my money." Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth.

"Gato, you bastard. You planned to do that from the start. When Tsuchikage…"

"When Tsuchikage what? You think you will escape from me unharmed? Even if you're his granddaughter." Naruto stared at Kurotsuchi with a little surprise.

"Who do you think you're talking to, puny human?" Naruto glared at Gato, the man flinched. "Why don't we make a deal? You give me all the money you've and I might let you go." Not only Gato but his gang laughed. Kurotsuchi looked at Naruto with confusion.

"Why are you doing this? You can escape from here." Naruto looked at Kurotsuchi as if she was insane. Although he got injuries from the fight but he was still in good shape to take out these little runts.

"I'm not Iwa shinobi. And don't think I'm protecting you. My job is to protect the bridge builder. I'll complete my mission no matter what. If I kill him right now I'll save the bridge builder." Kurotsuchi knew she was in no shape to fight, her two teammates were unconscious. Naruto won't save them and surely won't fight for them.

"Hey you red haired kid, you're damn funny you know that? You? Let us go? You're in shape to fight." Gato said as he pointed his finger towards Naruto.

"I've healed most of your injuries. Give me a good show, human."

"Thanks Kurama!"

"I don't need to be in shape to take out trash like you." Naruto took out his sword from the storage seal and rushed towards them. All Kurotsuchi and the thugs could see was a red blur, and the sound of slashing. The army of thugs didn't even know what hit them. Naruto passed them like a blur without stopping, leaving bodies and blood behind. Kurotsuchi closed her eyes, she had never seen such a horrific sight before. Blood, intestines, heads, body parts scattered everywhere. It was like he'd butchered them without any mercy.

"Naruto-nii?" Kurotsuchi looked behind her and saw all the villagers gathered with different types of weapons in their hands, in front of them were the old man with Naruto's clone. They were too much in shock to react to anything and to even acknowledge their presence.

"Inari!" A woman with blue hair said out of concern. She placed her hand on the boy's eyes. "I don't want you to see this, Inari." Many villagers vomited when the smell of blood and killing intent hit them.

Finally the slashing that she was hearing stopped and she turned her focus towards the bloodied scene. Naruto was standing facing his back towards them. His bloodied sword in his right hand, it was soaked in blood and blood was dripping from its pointed end. Gato was standing at the other end of the bridge, trembling in fear and screaming. Naruto turned his head towards them and glared at Gato. Not only Gato but everyone present flinched. His whole face was covered in blood, his red sharingan eyes glaring and intimidating. His red hair matching the blood splashed around him. Slowly, he turned around and it was no surprise to see his whole frame covered in blood. The thick smell of blood and killing intent oozing out of him.

"D-DEMON!" Gato yelled, eyes wide and spite coming out of his mouth. His pants soaked with his piss.

"S-STAY! STAY AWAY FROM ME, DEMON! HELP! HELP!" But nobody moved. They were too shocked to move and Kurotsuchi was questioning his insanity. The whole bridge was covered in blood and it was dripping in the river from the sides.

"Tsukuyomi (Moon Reader)." The three tomoe in his eyes rotated and the eye's pattern changed. Two circle around a small black dot with one tomoe in each circle formed. It appeared for a second and they heard Gato screamed like never before and he collapsed with blood coming out of his ears and nostrils. Naruto deactivated his eyes and panted heavily. He slowly went towards the villagers.

"He's all yours, do whatever you want to do with him." He tiredly said.

"Naruto-nii san!" Inari shouted with enthusiasm.

"When he heard that you are fighting, he gathered all the villagers to help you fight Gato." Tsunami said and Naruto smiled at Inari and ruffled his hair.

"That's great Inari. You father will be very proud of you." Inari closed his eyes to stop tears.

"Hai! Nii san." The villagers came out of stupor with that and cheered.

XXXX

Let me know about the fight scenes! Should I make them longer?