Author Note: I'm back! And this time, after many delays and lack of ideas, I have come up with a wonderful idea, one I hope you'll enjoy. This story has my full attention and will be updated every week or maybe even twice if I'm about to go out of town. Please review at the end of each chapter, I like to read what people have to say and from comments I learn to write better. Also, I would love it if anyone could please let me know how I'm doing regarding the characters, I want to keep them pretty much in-character and keeping me in check will help a lot. Enough babbling! Enjoy the first chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, obviously, so no suing allowed!

Warnings: This chapter, as well as a few others, will most likely hold some slight spoilers. You'll be warned in advance every time there are some!

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Darkside

Problems

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A total of two and a half years passed since Sasuke bid farewell to the powerful village of Konohagakure, contempt to fulfil his own desires, destroying the ties that bound him to his team mates and the rest of the world. Two and a half years seemed like an eternity, a vast amount of time, especially to those under intense and vigorous training. Two and a half years Konohagakure went astray without the presence of a one strong willed blond and, after all those years, he returned.

Everyone looked as if they changed, but under all the makeup, clothing, and fake masks of vacant emotions, they were the same; Naruto had discovered this almost immediately after returning with Jiraiya. Konohagakure itself stood like a livid piece of Naruto's past, it appeared to have not changed over the years and still shone brightly through the dense forest that surrounded it. The buildings stood unchanged, resembling the same ones Naruto grew up around.

But, as days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, everything remained the same. However, the ambitious blond found himself carrying out a mission quite unlike anything he experienced before: the rescue of Sunagakure's leader, the Kazekage. Gaara had been captured by no other than the most feared (and hated) group calling themselves 'Akatsuki'; their intentions were to harness the demon, Ichibi no Shukaku, from inside his body.

In the end... things turned out devastating... but everyone lived to see another day. Another day for Uzumaki Naruto to carry out one effortless mission after the other. Two weeks passed and it was then that things for Naruto began to change... for the worse...

It was a beautiful morning. The bright sun reluctantly sauntered out from its nightly slumber and lit up every building Konohagakure had to offer with radiant bursts of sunshine. Clouds were scarce today, everything from the villagers to the pesky pigeons were glad for it. Konohagakure came to life within short hours of dawn, many of the early risers quickly used their time to set up food stands before the morning rush. Yes, today was defiantly a gorgeous day.

Away from the busy hustle and bustle of Konoha, resting calmly against the back of an old oak tree, sweet sounds of brisk rushing water as background music, sat one of the legendary Densetsu no Sanin... Jiraiya.

Flipping lazily through a mass of pages for yet another of his widely known novels, the aging man stared in disbelief. There was no way this could be happening. Looking closely, just to make sure his eyes weren't pulling any jokes (he was hoping that they were, secretly), Jiraiya was met with the same, entirely blank pages he had discovered bright and early this morning. Absolutely nothing was written.

Where did all my precious writing go?

Jiraiya felt his left eye twitch in irritation. Surely he hadn't drank that much sake last night. He was quite convinced that yes, he had wrote something; Jiraiya began to loose confidence in himself now that he remembered the previous night.

"Oh, lovely..."

As if on cue, a cloud of thick, dark smoke appeared from above, nearly scaring the writer with a problem half to death. He watched through narrowed, predatory eyes as Kakashi made himself known. Hanging upside down off an aging tree branch, his chakra concentrated to keep his body steady, the silver haired ninja stared lazily at Jiraiya. He clutched his precious Icha Icha book possessively in his hand while gracefully landing on the ground beside the older, more seething man.

"You...called?"

Jiraiya stood, dusting himself off, then proceeded to quickly tuck his empty paged novel-in-progress into one of his hidden pockets. A minute later Kakashi found himself looking at a very serious man. He couldn't help but blink a couple times and scratch the back of his head nervously. He knew what they were here to talk about but that man could be intimidating when he wanted to be.

Kakashi cocked his head to the side as he closed his book, but not before placing one of his fingers between two pages so he wouldn't lose his spot.

"Did I...interrupt something?" It couldn't be helped, he had to ask.

Jiraiya coughed roughly and shook his head. "No, not today. But," he paused, eyeing Kakashi suspiciously. "Why were you late this time?"

"Oh." Kakashi smiled underneath his mask and closed his visible eye. "I offered to help an old widow with her groceries and.."

"I see," Jiraiya cut in. He wasn't angry or anything, it was just typical Kakashi and his usual excuses after all, but there were more important matters to discuss. "Now...about Naruto..."

"Hokage-sama told me that she's trying to sway the council about Naruto going on higher ranked missions, though he is a Genin...but, they are being quite... difficult to deal with."

"Along with that, I would also like to talk to you about the seal that keeps the Kyuubi dormant."

Kakashi opened his eye and, although it couldn't be seen, the smile on his lips disappeared. It seemed like there was a lot more trouble headed for Naruto than simply being handed D-rank missions.

"...Oh?"

"The seal," Jiraiya began. "I have quite a few suspicions that it's weakening. First of all, Naruto seems to have no control over his body or mind while using that fox's chakra, mostly when four tails take form. He quickly goes unconscious afterwards and can't remember anything; also, he cannot tell the difference between friend or foe while using a greater amount of chakra. There's a chance he could bleed to death from it... this could stir up many problems for the kid."

"Is he aware of this?"

Jiraiya sighed. "I've attempted to tell him... but he always cuts me off, always." The older man reached into the pockets of his pants and produced three thin pieces of paper, each with symbols painted neatly on them with black ink, a different symbol for a different seal. "I want you to take these and use them on Naruto... the moment more than two tails appear in his chakra... got that?"

Kakashi nodded and accepted the three seals, studying them carefully with his observant eye. He looked up at Jiraiya with a couple more questions fighting their way up his throat. "But...what do each of these do? They're all different, are they not?"

"The first one you have is to use just as the third tail is about to form. The second... you use if the first doesn't work, which will most likely happen if he has three tails already." Jiraiya's expression hardened considerably then. "The last seal you must use if all else has failed... by using that last seal... Naruto may.."

"Oi! Ero-sennin!" Came a loud voice in the distance. Jiraiya felt his eye twitch unintentionally and looked at Kakashi, trying hard to hold his grave expression, portraying the outcome of the third seal through his now hardened eyes. He was quickly interrupted by a joyous Naruto, claiming that his sensei promised to buy him ramen.

Kakashi blinked as he silently put the seals away. One day, Naruto was going to have to pay back a lot of people for the amount of money put towards treating him to his favorite dish.

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"Absolutely not!"

Tsunade grimaced under her calm facade as yet another barrage of protests from Konohagakure's elders and council members were directed her way, all against her pleas to allow Naruto on better missions.

"We can't possibly afford to put other people's lives on the line here!" One of the council members spoke up, giving Tsunade a stern look. It was answered by a frown from the leader of Konohagakure herself. She couldn't believe this!

"But...you must understand!" She argued back, something she knew she was good at. "Naruto has never done anything to harm this village, or anyone else for that matter! You've got to give him a chance!"

"What about that demon in him? The one Akatsuki is after? He'll only cause the village more problems running around with little to no control over it." The council member paused, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "Just why exactly do you care so much for this young man anyways?"

Tsunade looked around the circular table she was currently sitting at, a massive migraine growing as it throbbed in her head. Talk of the demon and Naruto being deemed a monster began to arise between the village elders and council members. She had heard of the things lingering in Naruto's past, the torment and cold stares, the rejection, the hate. It was happening again now...right before her eyes.

"That's enough!" Her loud voice carried over everyone, silencing their hushed whispering immediately. "I will not tolerate any of this!"

Everyone appeared to be mildly shocked as they stared at her. One of the elders stood up, pushing her chair outwards so that it was just barely touching the wall behind her position. "Tsunade," she began, looking at the current Hokage with seriousness dancing in her aged eyes like fire. "Naruto is naught but a child. He cannot understand the Kyuubi's fearful power... or that he'll end up hurting those dear to him. We are simply implying that you talk to the young man... and inform him that he is no longer able to carry out any more missions. He... needs to be monitored at all times."

Tsunade felt like she had just been dealt a slap to the face. How could she possibly do that to Naruto? The kid would be crushed and hurt. Hell, any ninja would if they were told they could no longer participate in any assignments. This was absurd!

"You're underestimating him. Naruto is strong... and I know you can see that, but he doesn't need to be put on a leash... he can handle this. I know he can."

The old woman sighed and sat back down from her standing position. She clasped her hands together on top of the round table and Tsunade could tell that changing her mind wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"This is for the safety of the village, Hokage-sama. If Akatsuki attacks, we can immediately know of Naruto's whereabouts, thus ensuring both his safety and that of our people... and we can prevent any attacks made on Konoha from them."

Tsunade sighed. She was defeated. Now it was up to her to tell Naruto. She could picture his bewildered expression and it was almost painful. She quickly dismissed the meeting and went to her office.

Shizune greeted her with a worried expression and was ushered to go find Naruto as fast as possible. It was obvious to the kunoichi that Tsunade felt upset about something and set off, in search of Naruto.

Tsunade seated herself and resisted the urge to bring out her secret sake. She was hoping, no, wishing with all her heart that Naruto wouldn't over react, but it was Naruto... and he could be fairly unpredictable...

Continued in chapter two!