Naruto: The leaves have Shadows

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

In the 3 years since the 4th great Shinobi war, a great many changes have occurred in the Shinobi world. No longer are the 5 great nations so individualistic in their existence. Instead the alliance has lived on and morphed into something truly spectacular. Shinobi, weapons and technology exchange programs have been set up increasing the quality of life for all. Most notably, an international police force has been established to combat the increase of raiders and missing ninjas since the war. All in all life was good, especially for one Naruto Uzumaki

Oooooooooooooooo

Hidden Leaf village

"You called for me Granny Tsunade?" A slight twitch of the eye was seen on the 5th's face.

"Yes brat. I know you haven't left the village one year, helping out as a teacher's assistant, and I thank you for that. But its time you get back into the field." The Hokage paused and appraised the young man before her. He has grown a bit taller than before. His golden locks would have hung to his shoulders if not for the ponytail he now sported. A few spiky locks fell over his forehead protector evoking images of Jiraya and his father Minato. Naruto's whisker marks had faded significantly making his linage of the 5th and Kushina Uzumaki more evident. At his outfit Tsunade suppressed a chuckle. Gone was the orange and black jumpsuit, replaced with black pants, a white long sleeved armored shirt. He also sported a black jacket with dark orange flames on the bottom and the word prophecy in orange on his back. 3 6's on each side alternating in yellow and red emblazed his collar. 'He has grown so much,' she thought.

Much more observant than he was in the past, Naruto noticed the turmoil that flashed in her eyes. "Granny, are you ok?" he asked.

A smile was her reply. "Yes Naruto, I'm ok. Now let's get on to business. I am assigning you a mission. This is nothing extreme. Just a B rank escort to get your feet wet if you will." Naruto's eyes lit up with the prospect of leaving the village again. He nodded signaling her to continue.

"This is a B ranked escort remember, so contact with the enemy is probable. Early indication is a few B ranked ninja and some raiders so stay on your guard," she said with a hard stare.

"Understood granny, I won't let you down," he affirmed in a slightly deeper voice than in the past.

"Good. The clients are a businessman from the Land of wind and his daughter. You are to escort them to the border where a contingent of Sand ninja will take over. Here is the password, "Tsunade said as she passed him a scroll. "You will be leading on this along with jonin Anko providing support. In addition you may choose two chunin or genin to accompany you. Any questions?" Naruto shook his hand as he scanned the document.

"I've made my decision on whom to bring Granny." A slight incline of the Hokage's head indicated for him to continue. "I would like to bring Hinata and Konohamaru."

"Hinata I understand," she started with a sly smirk causing Naruto to blush, "but Konohamaru? Why choose him?"

"Well, he is very crafty at setting traps, skilled in tracking and his stealth is amazing. Being trained by me always helps," he boasted a bit. " Oh and he really is quite good at shadow clones and henges, that will come in handy." Tsunade laughed and nodded at his logic. She became still for a moment, and then went through some hand signs and seals. Afterwards she seemed to relax.

Reaching for a bottle of sake she began, "Ok it's just us now. And all sound is silenced. Naruto before I give you a gift from the 3rd I must ask you something."

"Sure Hokage-sama, what is it?"

Raising an eyebrow at the formal title Tsunade began, "How much have progressed with the techniques left to you by your parents and Jiraya?"

"Ah, well dad's library is massive. There are well over 1,000 ninjutsu techniques, hundreds of taijutsu and genjutsu techniques some experimental, others complete. As far as sealing, I would say I'm at high adept level. Plus I'm very close to using that jutsu. Also I have at least 40 ninjutsu techniques mastered. I thought it best to focus on the ones most compatible with my skill and style. I am currently blending all the styles I have learned so far into my own taijutsu style. The basis of which is about 75% complete. It will never be a finished form. To me there is no such thing. As far as my mother, I am very close to being able to utilize her chakra chains in battle." Naruto paused for a moment to compose his self. Talking about those precious people who have crossed over still hurt something terrible.

" Pervy sage left me quite a bit of material as well. Truthfully I haven't even scratched the surface, perhaps 10 percent. I have been working more on his seal work and infiltration techniques more than anything. Also I have a new summoning contract: foxes. All in all I would say I am at least three times as strong as I was during the war," Naruto finished up with an uncharacteristic serious air to him. It was no secret that Naruto took the loss of Neji to heart. Training in all aspects of the Shinobi world for the last three years he vowed never to lose a comrade.

Tsunade stared at that for a second. "Very well brat. Sarutobi sensei left this letter and scroll for you. He intended to give to when you made chunin but he died and it was buried for a while. I just recently found it while looking for another place to hide my sake from Shizune. I'm just sorry I didn't find it sooner Naruto."

"It's OK granny. It couldn't be helped you know?"

"Indeed. Take care Naruto."

"Yes….granny," Naruto said as he dodged a stapler. Once outside his mind turned to the items he received. 'I wonder what the old man left me?' he thought.

'Hmm, the 3rd is probably apologizing for the past. As far as the scroll, it is more than likely techniques that our particular condition would be perfect for,' Kurama chimed in. Naruto thought for a moment then agreed.

'Well, nothing left to do but inform my squad,' he thought as he created 3 clones with no hint of smoke. Upon appearing they sprinted off to find the rest of his team.

Ooooooooooo

The next morning

"Good morning Naruto-kun," Hinata said to the blond ninja with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Yo, Naruto," Konohamaru greeted his captain who just arrived at the village gates, Anko and clients in tow.

"What I don't get greeting?' Anko pouted. "Well at least Naruto-kun greeted me thoroughly. Isn't that right Naruto-kun?" she purred suggestively while pulling the Shinobi close enough that her breast was flush against his arm. Hinata's eyes narrowed at this, but before she could speak Naruto disengaged himself and reappeared near Hinata and Konohamaru.

"Ok enough of that," he started looking nervously at Hinata, "Good morning everyone, we have a lot of ground to cover so let's get moving. " As they moved out introductions were made.

"This is our client Taki and his daughter Akane." All the Shinobi present greeted them while Konohamaru kept sneaking glances at Akane causing the girl to blush.

"What do I have something on my face?" she teased causing Konohamaru to sputter and look away. Looking at the scene Naruto couldn't help but laugh.

'He sure has grown,' he thought. Gone were the goggles and the scarf of old. His goggles were replaced with black shades. His outfit was a replica of his brother Asuma's sans the guardian 12 sash. On his hands he sported black fingerless gloves. No longer short in stature, he now stood a respectable 5'6.

"We should reach the boarder in 3 days' time. Everyone stay sharp."

"Yes captain!" chorused Hinata and Konohamaru in unison.

"Of course Naruto-kun," Anko purred causing Naruto to sweat dropped. Coincidently the temperature around Hinata dropped significantly.

2 days later

After two uneventful days of medium speed travel Naruto decided to set up camp. Currently Hinata and 2 clones of Naruto were scouting the perimeter. Konohamaru sent a few clones to set up traps and place some seals Naruto provided earlier designed to alert and incapacitate. Meanwhile 4 clones of Naruto concentrated on amassing nature energy on the treetops.

The original Konohamaru and Akane kept sneaking glances at each other to the amusement and worry of Naruto and Taki respectively. "So Naruto what is it like?" Taki asked. Naruto turned from the fire with a questioning look.

"What is it like being the village, or rather an international hero and one of the new Sannin?" Taki clarified.

" Oh. Well honestly I feel that my fallen comrades are the true heroes you know? I'm just happy to continue the legacy of Pervy sage," the blonde Shinobi answered with a laugh. "I used to crave acknowledgement but now I will become Hokage to protect and serve the village. I will lead my comrades to victory that is my nindo! Believe it! If people want to see me as a hero so be it, keeping my precious people safe is my only concern."

Taki considered that and nodded with a smile. 'It's just as they said. He is a warm soul that has been tempered by the world,' he thought.

"I see. Well then it looks like the ninja world is in good hands! I'm glad to have met you Naruto," Taki finished while glancing at his daughter and Konohamaru a frown forming on his face.

"Akane, may I ask you something?' Konohamaru asked her ever so politely, to which Akane giggled.

"You just did silly. But you can ask me another question."

"What is the land of wind like?" he asked while laughing. She thought for a moment.

"It's ok. The desert is pretty in its own way, especially the oasis. It's very different from the hidden leaf. For one thing the houses are made of compressed sand."

"Really, that's so cool," the young chunin exclaimed.

"Yeah it is pretty cool. But you guys have so many trees here. It's beautiful," Akane squealed softly. Just then Hinata and Naruto's clones came back to camp. They deposited a few rabbits and a pheasant before dispersing. The influx of memories caused Naruto to smile at Hinata.

"Your aim is good as ever Hina-chan."

"Thank you Naru-kun," she replied with almost no hint of shyness. "All clear on the perimeter. However those chakra signatures your clones picked up worry me. They are staying just out of range of my byakugan," Hinata reported. Naruto considered this for a moment before answering.

"Yeah me too. Chances are they will wait until early morning or late at night to attack. There is the possibility that our client is not the target at all. Or they may just be trying to steer clear of us all together. Shinobi can be very intimidating after all." He paused for a moment.

"Anko, send a few of your snakes to investigate. Small ones ok?" he ordered the purple haired Jonin.

"Boo, you're no fun" she teased but complied. " Summoning jutsu!" she cried slamming her hands down to the earth causing smoke to form. When the smoke cleared two snakes about 2 feet in length appeared.

"Yes mistress?"

" Yumi and Rin head north and scout the area. Do not engage anyone. This is a stealth thing ok? Afterwards report back to me."

"We shall do as you wish Mistress." And with that the two snakes slithered away seeking the enemy.

"Ok everyone let 's eat up and grab some shut eye. We leave at first light. Between my clones and the perimeter seals we should be fine. But just in case we sleep in shifts. Konohamaru, you're up first." Naruto ordered.

"Yes Captain," they all chorused. At that Naruto placed a hand behind his head and laughed.

"That's embarrassing. You guys don't have to do that." Everyone shared a laugh thing the same thing, 'same old Naruto'

Meanwhile the shadows crept closer. Just outside Hinata's Byakugan the enemy waited. A massive man with a scar on his cheek extending to his neck stood impassively. He was bald with green eyes. His forehead sported a protector with an Iwa symbol with a line thru it. His outfit was plain and simple made up of copper colored ninja pants, a black short-sleeved shirt and black ninja shoes. He also sported a yin yang ring. Bracers engraved with a dragon and golem covered his arms, lefty and right respectively. Next to him stood a small but shapely woman. She wore a simple black and white kunouchi outfit with a red and black yin yang symbol of the back. A small tanto and a small fan sat on her waist. Both were silent for a moment. Then the man spoke.

"Be ready," his voice gruff but not unkind. No response was heard as he walked away. A sadistic smile crept on the woman's mouth sending a shiver through the bandits near her.

Near The Village Hidden by a Waterfall

The day started out so pleasant. A little tea, some "light" training, then the gift from the gods, Make out Tactics, so how did it come to this? Such were the thoughts of Kakashi Hatake, formally known as Kakashi of the Sharingan.

Currently he was engaged in a battle for his life with 3 A ranked ninjas. "Doton: Mud wall," he muttered as a massive fire ball zoomed towards him. 'Hmm I think I'll go with this combo,' he thought. Quickly he created a lightning clone then slipped underground just as the two other ninjas flanked him.

"Futon: Wind Dragon!"

"Suiton: Water Dragon!"

Both attacks hit the leaf ninja dead on with the force of a small bomb. The two ninjas sprinted over to confirm the kill. At that crucial point the clone exploded into arcs of lightning made more powerful by the mist created by the previous jutsus. Just as their cries stopped and they went limp the third ninja's life was ended by an up-close and personal lighting blade.

"How, how did you slip behind me?" she gasped.

"Simple really, you got careless when you assumed your combo did the trick," Kakashi informed her as the life drained from her body, all the while continually scanning for tricks. As he pulled his hand out of her body he was reminded of one of the reasons he quit being ANBU—too bloody. Shaking the blood off of his hand he stood still for a few seconds, then smirked.

"Are you done observing? "He asked.

"You can say that," a reply was heard as a man stepped out from the shadows. "I had to be certain who we were dealing with. Rumor had it that you had retired from the active life. Glad to see it's not true, I will enjoy collecting your bounty." Kakashi stiffened suddenly as his reality melted away to revel two of the ninjas he thought he killed standing near him plunging two swords into. 'Genjutsu' he realized. At that moment a loud explosion ripped through the forest while "Kakashi" vanished into a cloud of smoke.

"Akira!" yelled the female ninja. "See if Hiro is alive. Jin, you're with me." The three ninjas sprinted off, one seeking to save one life, the other two to end one. As they ran to the forest they encountered two different trails headed in opposite directions.

"Damn it, he's trying to divide our forces," the leader swore. Then a sinister grin spread across her face. "Too bad for him we know exactly where he is headed. Let's regroup and cut him off," she ordered.

"Right boss," the ninjas replied and headed off.

A/N - Don't hate me for the cliff hanger guys. Truat me its a neccassry evil. Till next time. Read and Review. Peace!