Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, wish I did though.

A second chance

Prologue

He was one of many, beside the elders, to know the truth, not like those smug bastards knew though. Blue eyes rimmed red turned and glared. A scowl befitting a demon marred his gentle complexion causing fear and unease to grip the previously smug elders. "If his hurt, you can consider your lives forfeited." he snarled twisting around and leaping out of the window,

He couldn't believe how vile and cruel those three old coots could be. Oh wait, he did know, after all it had been their plan. And even after everything they did to him, they were still unsatisfied. Despite being labelled a traitor to the village and hated by everyone except the Hokage and those below ANBU status, Itachi still protected the village by acting as a spy and gathering information before relying them back to him or another ANBU opperative.

And Naruto hated having to lie and protect those old coots on the council. They didn't deserve protection, from anyone. Itachi had been his best friends for years, a brother even. And he wouldn't allow any one to take Itachi away again, he had sacraficed enough without giving up his life as well.

Bringing his hands together he made a seal and sent out a burst of chakra. The release sent out a chakra pulse which acted as a sonar like technique and it allowed him to find anything or anyone with a chakra signal in a 5oo yard radius. It was one of the best techniques he had in his arsenal, especially when handling espionage missions ar retrievals.

Taking a single step to the left Naruto vanished only to appear in front of Itachi right in time to kick away two Ne ANBU's who were about to execute Itachi. Glancing towards his friend, rage consumed him and he glared at the five ANBU's around him. "You'll pay for that. I'll deal with you before I take care of your little master and his accomplices. They'll pay for this betrayal." he snarled eyes shifting from blue to red.

He hated those good for nothing old coots. He always did. And he hated them more for their deception. They knew the truth about the night and they hid it, pretending that Itachi was guilty when he knew, hell everyone who had ever been in ANBU before and during that night, knew what really happened. They had everyone but the ANBU's fooled. And he wouldn't stand for this injustice any longer.

Turning Naruto blocked a punch and kicked his attacker away. Taking out a kunai, the blond threw them with surprising speed and force that it nailed the man to the wall behind him. If the man was anyone but Ne, Naruto bet he would be screaming in pain.

Bringing his hand together he formed the correct seals, "Fuuton: Shinkuha" taking a deep breath, Naruto started to spjn in his spot while ezhaling shooting out blades of wind which sliced the rest of his opponents.

Eying the bodies and making sure they were really down, he turned and hurried towards Itachi's motionless body. Flipping the young man onto his back, Naruto scanned him for any injuries. "Itachi, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

The fight had drawn the attention of all the villagers and the shinobi's who had rushed over to see what was going on. They stood frozen as they watched Naruto holding the S-rank criminal, Uchiha Itachi, in his arms rather protectively as he eyed the growing crowd.

Shock whisperes and exclaimations were uttered but the surprise soon faded and just as quickly; the yelling began. He wasn't at all concerned by the jeering and the insults being thrown his way. He was use to the treatment having been on the recieving end since the day of his birth. Quite frankly he just didn't care anymore. He tried, and tried to gain the citizens respect and recognition but he realized along time ago that these people, they were just too blind and pig-headed toknow the differece between a jail and the prisoner and he is just plain sick and tired of being the scapegoat for the villagers hate.

"See a demon. Only a demon will help another monster!" yelled a woman as she glared at the blond as he contined to hold the much hated Uchiha in his arms.

A man scowled, "We were right about you. We should've killed you when we had the chance. We told the Sandaime that you were a demon he should've listened to us."

Naruto narrowed his eyes but otherwise didn't bother to say anything else and just let the crowd continue tossing their insults at him but everything went silent as Tsunade arrived with a squad of ANBU, Jiraiya, the rookie-11, Sai, Yamato, Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, Gai and some other shinobi's.

They took in the sight of the dead Root ANBU's, a bloody Naruto, and a half dead looking Itachi. Tsunade looked over at the boy she consider a son and stared at him. "Naruto? What's going on?"

Naruto glanced at the Hokage briefly before moving his gaze towards the three elders who had just arrived. "This is the last time." he stated, a scowl marring his angelic face as he knelt beside Itachi, sicing his hand with a kunai, Naruto started writing seals on the ground using his blood as ink. Seals that no on recognized, not even Jiraiya.

That statement earned him several looks of confusion. No one but the ANBU's knew what he was talking about, and they all quickly moved to surround Naruto in a protective circle, making sure no one tried anything much to the surprise of everyone, especially Tsunade who was wondering why the team had circled the blond like that.

"The elders of the council are a bunch of lying, conniving, back stabbing bastards." Naruto growled as he brought his head up to stare at the group, eyes red and glowing causing the crowd to gasp and take a step back. Everyone except for a handful of shinobi's.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean by that Naruto?"

"Have none of you ever considered that Itachi was just thirteen years old when he supposedly massacred his clan in cold blood. It doesn't matter how strong or smart he is. Itachi was still a boy facing grown men and woman, years older and more expirenced than himself." the blond shook his head, "Men and woman who fought in the wars, there was no way that Itachi, no matter how gifted, could kill them all."

The crowd stared in silence, the jeering stopped and everyone listened. Everyone except the pale looking elders who looked as if they had seen a ghost.

"Your esteemed elders ordered the massacre of the Uchiha clan!" he hissed pointing at the three. "They ordered it and were going to frame Itachi for their death. Unfortunately for them, Itachi and I were walking passed the conference room along with another member of the Uchiha clan, Shisui, and we over heard their plans. So we hurried towards the Uchiha compound and told Fugaku about what was going on."

Naruto turned and glared at the elders, "We planned, for three days. The night before the planned massacre we made our move. We staged the massacre using a very powerful genjutsu that decieved everyone into believing that the clan had really been killed. Itachi left shortly after that on Sandaime's orders." Looking up, Naruto nodded towards Tsunade, "We told Sarutobi-jiji what the elders were planning as well and he was shocked and disgusted but pleased that we handled the situation well."

"Wait, you? Why were you with Shisui and Itachi anyways?" questioned a random shinobi.

Kakashi and Iruka walked over to Naruto and the ANBU's before turning towards the crowd, "It's because Naruto is a child genuis. His been apart of ANBU since he was seven. After the staged massacre, Itachi asked Naruto to look after Sasuke so he entered the academy."

"And how do you know that Kakashi?" asked Tsunade with a raised brow, a frown on her face as she turned and glared at the elders. They were always such a pain in the ass and they continue to be a throne in her side. To think they were the cause of so much pain and a would've been genocide had Itachi, Naruto and Shisui not been there at the right moment.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, "Everyone in ANBU knows what really happened on that night but we were asked to keep it on the down low so no one will ever know that the Uchiha clan is in fact alive and thriving."

"What!" the elders screeched in alarm, only now did they realize what was being said. The massacre was a farce and one of Konoha's most powerful clans were now a part of another village.

Sasuke's was struck dumb, he couldn't register anything passed Itachi is innocent and didn't massacre their clan. He snapped out of his daze when he heard what Kakshi said and turned to stare at the older male in barely disguised happiness, "Alive?" he questioned "Where? And why didn't you guys tell me this sooner? Why hide this fact from me?"

"It was to remain a secret." Iruka stated "As to where, well, Naruto is friends with Raikage A's younger brother Killer bee, so the blond asked for a favor."

"Their in Kumogakure." a random woman called out

Kakashi hummed, "Yes, but they aren't known as the Uchiha clan. they had it changed to Kuroi. And to answer your other questions Sasuke, we didn't tell you any of this because we needed the elders and the village to believe that the Uchiha clan really was dead and you really did see Itachi killing them. It would keep them from being suspicious."

Sasuke was about to say something when a yell interupted him.

"Itachi!" a cry came from within the circle of ANBU's and as they moved to see what had happened, the crowd was shock to see the blond holding a nearly dead looking Itachi in his arms.

Itachi opened his eyes and smiled a bit, blood dribbling from the corner of his moutj, "Naruto" he whispered "Thank you, for always being there for me." tears shone in the dark eyes, "I knew I could always count on you to be there whenever I needed someone."

A sob escaped the blond as he shook his head, "Don't say good bye. Don't you dare Itachi." he cried out. "I'll save you. We'll go some where together. And you won't have to worry any more." Naruto softly whispered to the Uchiha heir as he ran his hands through the blood pooling around him. "Everything will be alright." seals were drawn on the ground, in a circle around both Naruto and Itachi.

Itachi looked up as he felt Naruto's tears on his face, "Don't cry for me Naruto." he whispered, "I don't want to see you crying." he coughed, blood spraying Naruto's shirt. "Please."

Naruto sniffed and looked towards the crowd, eyes rimmed red from his tears. The entire ANBU organization had arrived and were all kneeling, including Yamato and Sai, before Naruto and Itachi, watching the both of them.

"I'm taking him away. No one will ever hurt him again," tears fell from his eyes despite his best effort. He turned and glanced at all of the ANBU's present and nodded his head towards them, "You have all been great. And I cherished every moment I spent with each of you. We had some good times together and I will never forget you giys."

"Soutaichou!" echoed the ANBU members.

Yamato lowered his head, "I am grateful that I got to spent time with you out of headquaters, Soutaichou. I had fun working along side you."

"I as well, Naruto-sama." Sai offered a small real smile towards the blond, "And thank you for showing me what real friendship is."

Naruto smiled through his tears and turned towards Iruka who was crying beside Kakashi, "I leave everything to you Iruka. As my second in command, you'll know what to do." Naruto faced Kakashi, "You as well Kakashi, help Iruka where he needs it. You have expirence in this department being a former Soutaichou your self."

Kakashi nodded his head, "Of course Naruto-sama." the gray haired shinobi whispered, eyes shadowed. "And I loved having you on my team. And thank you for always being there whenever I needed some one to talk to Naruto."

Naruto nodded his head and looked down at Itachi whose eyes just slid closed and harsh breathing echoed in his ears. "This is good-bye." the blond turned and looked at his friends, Jiraiya and Tsunade. "You won't see us again here. And please tell Mikoto-okaa and Fugaku-otou that we'll be fine. She'll cry but reassure her that everything will be alright."

Tears gathered at the mentioned of the woman who showed him the care and love a mother would show for her child. "Shisui as well, he'd cry" Naruto smiled, "Tell him to suck it up." he rose his hands "And tell Fugaku that even though his a bastard, he was a good father figure." forming seals in rapid succession, Naruto turned his attention towards Neji, "Your father awaits you in Kumo, Neji. He asked me to send you to Kumo should anything happen to me. I'm sending you now."

"My father?" Neji whispered.

The blood seals surrounded Naruto and Itachi began to glow brightly, "I saved him from execution, Neji. He lives in Kumogakure with the former Uchiha clan, Take care everyone." with that siad, the light enveloped Naruto and Itachi and when it subsided both the blond boy and the dark haired one were no where to be found.

A loud sob was heard and everyone turned to see Iruka clutching Kakashi as he cried. Heart wrenching, and gut twisting cries poured from the young mans throat.

Jiraiya walked towards the seals and stared at the design before his eyes widened in surprise, "Genuis" he whispered

"What is it Jiraiya-sama?" Yamato questioned raising from his position as well as the other ANBU members. He glanced at Sai who had his head lowered and looked really down. Yamato understood perfectly how the young man felt. Naruto had been the boys very first, well second if you counted Shin, friend.

Placing a hand on the boys head, Yamato gave him a ruffle and smiled when Sai blinked at him in confusion.

"This is a space time seal. I've never seen one quite like this one, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's some sort of time travel seal or something like that." the old pervert exclaimed with a proud smile. "Naruto!"

"Dimension travelling actually." Iruka's scartchy voice cut in, "His been working on this seal for a long time. He wanted to travel to different dimesions to see what kind of life he could have if he had a mother or father. He started this when he was eight, the wishes of a child, you know. Naruto worked on this for years none stop. And he finally finished it last year. It took him nearly seven years, but he did it."

Danzo's eyes gleamed at that. The clogs in his mind started turning and his eyes gleamed with the many possibilities, "We must copy that seal. Konoha can be rich with a jutsu like that." he called out.

Iruka glared and got to his feet, unsteady, and ran his hands through the blood seals, destroying the design, "You will not use Naruto's creation for whatever twisted plot you've concoted in that sick mind of yours." he yelled at the old man.

Tsuande glared at Danzo, "ANBU's arrest Homura, Koharu and Danzo for treason as well as trying to cause a genocide. I want them taken them to T&I, we've got years of information to get out of them, we owe Itachi and Naruto that much."

"Yes, Hokage-sama" a group called as they stood up and grabbed the three and took them to the holding cells withing the torture and interrogation building.

Sasuke and Neji approached Tsunade, "We wish to go to Kumo." they stated and Tsunade nodded her head, she had figured they would and would've been shocked had they not wanted to.

"Alright, the entire rookie teams along with their sensei's and Sai. who will be taking Naruto's spot on team Kakashi as of right now, will accompany the both of you." Tsunade stated firmly.

Sasuke and Neji nodded their heads in agreement.

Tsunade smiled, "Good luck!"

Neji and Sasuke bowed their heads in thanks before leaving to get ready after notifying the group that they would be accompanying them on their journey to the land of lightning as well.

Tsunade turned and glanced towards the monument and stared at the faces before stopping at Minato with a smile. "And good luck to both you and Itachi, Naruto. May you end up in a good world where both of your parents are alive."

(To be continued)

AN: This story might have some shounen ai but Naruto won't be paired with anyone, but he and Itachi will have a close friendship, bordering on brotherly.