Naruto: The Red Fox

A/N: Hello everyone, this is my first fanfiction ever created. I want to be able to improve my writing skills as well as my story development. So, I would appreciate both positive and negative reviews. I would also appreciate if the negative reviews were constructive, so please no flames. Nevertheless, this is my very story, which I hope would become many more in the future. So, I hope everyone enjoys this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is related to Naruto.

Chapter 1: Return from Training

During the early hours of morning a group of three men travel along a dirt road towards the Hidden Village of the Leaf, Konoha. One of those men is a young man around the age of 16 with blonde spiky hair and blue eyes. He had on an orange jacket with black strips and matching orange pants. Around his forehead is a headband with the symbol of the leaf indicating he is from Konoha. His current expression showed him in deep thought about the events that took place during his training to control the Kyuubi's chakra. His mind also traveled around the thought of Yamato being captured and taken to the Akatsuki.

"Naruto?" said one of the other men.

"Yeah?" replied Naruto.

"I know you are thinking about Yamato, but there was nothing more we can do."

"I know, but I still hope that he's alive."

The man talking to Naruto was Yamashiro Aoba, one of the men assigned to confine Naruto at the isolated island to protect him from the Akatsuki. However, that plan went down the drain when Akatsuki member, Hoshigaki Kisame managed to locate the group due to hiding himself within his weapon Samehada, which was carried by Killer Bee.

"Naruto, we must not let the flames of YOUTH be burnt out," said the third member of the team, Might Guy.

Naruto sweet dropped, but casually responded, "Don't worry, I won't."

The group continued to walk towards their destination as they finally reached the gates of Konoha. The village was still under repairs from the damaged down by Pain, but everything was slowly returning to the way it was before. Only the edges of the village remained to be repaired.

Naruto sighed as he finally passed through the gates and was home for the first time in weeks. The relationship between Naruto and the villagers had improved since Pain's attack on the village. Only a handful of people still hold any hatred towards Naruto, but it doesn't bother him.

"Finally, I'm home, well time to go have some Ichiraku's!" yelled Naruto.

"Sorry Naruto, but we must report to the Hokage first," replied Aoba.

Naruto pouted, but knew the mission results had to come first. Still Naruto couldn't keep his thoughts off recent events.

The group continued to walk towards to Hokage tower as Naruto continues to look around the village. About twenty minutes later the group had finally arrived at the door of the Hokage's office. Aoba knocked on the door and waited for a reply.

"Enter," responded a voice from inside the room.

The group entered the room and is met with a woman who looks around the age of 25 years with long straight blonde hair and amber eyes. She wears a green robe with the kanji for gamble written on the back and underneath she wears a grey kimono-style blouse with no sleeves and dark blue pants. Her blouse is open in a way to reveal her large cleavage, which she shows proudly. On her forehead is a diamond mark, which is the Yin Seal a powerful sealing technique she that she uses. In the same room also stood a woman with shoulder length black hair, wearing a black kimono with white trimmings and open-toed sandals.

"Hi Baa-chan!" yelled Naruto, "Hello Shizune nee-chan!"

"Tsunade-sama, we have returned from our mission," Aoba spoke to the Hokage.

"Ah, welcome back," said Tsunade as she gazes at Naruto whose expression shows worry. Tsunade sighed and spoke again, "Naruto, I can see that you're worried, I'll speak to in a few minutes, please wait outside."

Naruto nodded and turn towards the door and stepped outside. About 10 minutes later both Guy and Aoba exit the Hokage's room after explaining the results of their mission and tell Naruto to enter the room.

"Sit gaki." Tsunade waited for Naruto to sit down before continuing, "What's on your mind, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong Baa-chan."

Tsuande sighed, "You can't lie to me Naruto is it about Yamato?"

Naruto knew he won't be able to keep his emotions hidden from Tsunade, so he decided to speak up.

"Yes, but there's more," Naruto paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "How could everyone keep this war hidden from me?"

Tsunade looked at Naruto, she knew he would eventually ask this question and knew she had to explain. "We were trying to protect you from the Akatsuki to ensure you won't be captured," said Tsunade.

Naruto turned towards Tsunade with an angered look.

"How could you guys keep this from me? Don't you have any faith in me?" Naruto questioned.

Tsunade and Shizune both frown knowing that Naruto had the right to know, but they still kept it hidden from him.

"Truthfully, I wanted to tell you, but this was majority ruling from the five Kages not just me." Tsunade was in favor of having the jinchuurikis Naruto and Killer Bee in the front lines to aid in the battle, but the Kages voted to hide both instead. She was upset with the decision, but had no choice and had to agree with the terms. "If it were up to me both you and Killer Bee would be on the front lines, but as things stand now, neither of you are allowed on the battlefield."

"What!" yelled Naruto, "So what am I supposed to do wait for everyone to die for me?" To say that Naruto is angry is an understatement. Naruto is furious. He was not about to stand in the sidelines and watch all the people he cares about die for him. He won't allow that. He would not stand aside. "I refuse to hide Baa-chan, you out of all people should know that no matter what decision is made, I will be at that battlefield!"

"I know nothing I say or the anything the other Kages say would stop you," replied Tsunade. "I simply ask for you to be careful when you decide to act."

"As much as you don't want people dying for you, we don't want you dying as well," added Shizune.

"Thanks Baa-chan, thanks Nee-chan."

"For now the Akatsuki hasn't made a move, so go relax for now." Tsunade gives a heart warmth smile, "I'm sure your friends would want to catch up with you."

"Yeah I'm sure, well see you both soon." Naruto walks out of the office towards his apartment to change and freshen up from his journey home.

"Hey, Forehead!" yelled a young 16 year old woman with long straight blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a plain tight purple blouse with a purple medium length skirt and open-toed sandals. She had her hair in a ponytail and was holding her groceries in her left arm.

"Hey, Ino-Pig," replied a young woman around the same age with bright pink hair and green eyes. She was wearing a red blouse with her clan symbol on the back with a blue medium length skirt and open-toed sandals. Her pink hair was let loose and was holding grocery bags as well. "Are you here for grocery shopping?"

"Yup, I just finished and then I saw you over here so I decided to say hi and see if you wanted any company."

"Okay, I was just about done anyway," replied the pink hair kunoichi.

Sakura and Ino have been friends since childhood. Though they had their differences during their years of chasing Sasuke, eventually they managed to repair their friendship and have had a stronger relationship since then.

The two friends continued their walk towards Sakura's parents' house. Recently Sakura had been considering to get her own apartment, but decided to wait a few more months. They talked about their morning and decided to have a gathering of their friends since this is the first time in weeks since preparing for the war where all of them had the day off. After reaching Sakura's home the two kunoichi separated and begun to prepare for their day.

"Man I'm beat," yawned Naruto. It had been weeks since Naruto has been in his apartment and it needed some cleaning. Naruto decided it was for the best to clean even though he prefer not to. He summon five shadow clones and begun cleaning his apartment. After 20 minutes he decided to check what food supplies he had left. The only food he had was instant ramen. Naruto decided to have instant ramen for lunch and then go for a short nap.

A few hours later Naruto had awaken up from his slumber and decided to visit the Konoha cemetery to visit his parents and pay his respect to both of them and then head towards the Hokage monument to get a good view of the village before finding his friends.

Sakura finished dressing herself and head towards the living room when a knock was heard from the front door. She opened the door to reveal Ino with Shikamaru and Choji. Sakura moved aside to allow entry for her friends. Ino begins to talk to Sakura's parents while Shikamaru and Choji took their seats in the living room. No more than five minutes later another knock was heard and Sakura's mother Haruno Rin opened the door to reveal Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, and Tenten at the entrance. She allowed them into her home as she returned to the kitchen. Shortly after Hinata, Kiba with Akamaru, and Shino arrived. All ten friends were finally together in the living having pleasant conversations until Ino spoke up.

"Alright everyone, it seems that all of us are here."

"True, so where are we going?" asked Sakura.

"How about some barbeque?" exclaimed Choji.

"I'm up for that!" responded Kiba.

Everyone in the group nodded and agreed with the choice. Once it was decided Sakura said good-bye to her parents as the group headed towards the barbeque restaurant.

As they walked, the group began talking about their week and some of their plans for the next few days. As Sakura was talking to Ino she overheard a group of civilians talking about something. She couldn't tell exactly what the conversation was, but managed to understand two words, Uzumaki Naruto. Immediately Sakura stopped walking with her friends and headed towards the group of civilians interested in their subject. Sakura normally won't just walk up to a group of strangers, but since Naruto has been gone she began to miss him a lot. She began to wonder about her feelings for Naruto, but decided not to act upon it due to the rejection she received in the Iron Country.

"Excuse, sir, but I just heard you say Uzumaki Naruto, he's a friend of mine, is there something happening?" asked Sakura.

Around this time Sakura's friends had noticed her absence and turned around to find her talking with the civilians. They simply waited for Sakura to finish her business.

"Well, yes ma'am, I guess you haven't heard yet," replied the civilian.

"Heard what?"

"Uzumaki Naruto has returned to the village this morning."

The moment Sakura heard that Naruto was back she immediately thanked the civilian and turn back to her friends who looked at her in confusion.

"Okay, what was that about?" questioned Kiba.

Sakura had a huge grin on her face as she replied, "Naruto is back!" Immediately there were smiles on everyone's faces as they all decided to pay Naruto a visited before heading to the restaurant.

An unknown man walked across the border of the Land of Fire wearing a black coat with the hood completely covering his face. He continued to walk towards an unknown destination as he looked towards the sky then continued walking to his destination.

"I've finally arrived," said the hooded man, "I'm short on time, it seems that I'm not the only one to arrive here," the hooded man sighed before continuing, "This is about to get worse."

A/N: Well, here it is the first chapter in my first story ever. I've revised it many times over and did the best I could to make it good. It seems okay, but I would want to know everyone's thoughts on this chapter. Thanks for reading.