Author's Notes:

3/10/17: After much thought, I am going to rewrite what I have so far. I have some big ideas for where I want to go, but I didn't plan at the start. If you enjoy reading some of this, be sure to follow me. I hope to start posting for this fix soon.

12/25/16: I just wanted to leave a quick note here about Naruto's POV. His mind has been heavily tampered with. Sometimes he does not remember things properly, so while it might seem like I have forgotten major points of canon I ask you to trust that
it'll all come around!

Reviews are the bread and butter of all fanfiction writers. I highly value feedback and conversations with readers.

I do not own Naruto, I am only inspired by the incredible world that Kishimoto created. This story diverged from canon after Naruto failed to bring Sasuke back. He disappeared before he could leave for his training with Jiraiya. The premise of the story
lends itself to a darker story, but I promise that it won't be all angst and depression. The story will be told from the perspective of several characters, but I will keep each POV limited to it's own scene. The basic premise of this idea was thought
up by soprano-in-waiting.

The laughter echoed down the hallway of the academy. It was to be Naruto's first day as a genin. He adjusted his headband proudly. He couldn't wait to see all the shocked faces when he stepped in through the door.

But when he stepped in, nobody seemed to see him. The whole class had gathered around Sasuke. Sakura and Ino were at his elbows, of course, but even the rest of the genin young men were hanging on his every word.

"Naruto, really?" said Ino. "How could he have been made genin?"

Naruto was about to speak up and call attention to himself, but Sasuke let out a short laugh. "Well, you heard about what he did to that teacher Mizuki, right? I heard that they told Naruto that he can be a genin because of the strength he showed, but the truth is—He's a monster."

Naruto's throat felt dry. He swallowed.

"He's not that bad," said Sakura. "He's just annoying."

"No," said Sasuke. "Remember the story about the nine tailed fox?"

Everyone around Sasuke nodded and leaned in. He could even see Hinata's light eyes opening wider as she got closer to Sasuke. "That's him, Naruto. He's the fox. He's the demon," said Sasuke.

"Really?" There were gasps. Naruto tried to take another step into the classroom but he couldn't feel his feet.

"The only reason they're making him a genin is to keep an eye on him. The only reason he's not dead is because they want him as a weapon. I could get in trouble if they find out that I told you, but…" Sasuke turned to look at Naruto, as though he had known he was there all along. None of the other students turned that way, but Sasuke kept staring at him as he continued to speak. "You'll want to pretend that you like him if you want to stay on the good side of a monster."

Naruto tried to move again and tripped over his feet, falling so that his head smacked against the wood floor, the metal of his headband digging into his forehead as he took a deep breath.

"What are you going to do about it?" said a rough voice. Naruto winced from his place on the floor, his knees in dirt instead of the wood he'd just felt.

"I'm not a monster," Naruto managed to say. He felt lightheaded from the memory. When had he last eaten?

"That's not what I asked," the voice said. "What are you going to do about it?"

"There are so many who have to pay," he said, straightening.

"But first?"

"Sasuke," grunted Naruto, remembering the flash of the sharingan eyes. "Sasuke."

Darkness had long since descended over Konoha, but the light from the hokage's office still shone like another moon over the village. The click-clack of Danzo's cane echoed down the alleyway he walked down. Sounds of children laughing past their bedtimes,
the clinking of glasses from the walls of the bars, and conversation filtered through the buildings to reach his ears, but Danzo focused his attention on the noise his cane made as he headed toward meeting the hokage.

While Tsunade seemed to think that she was the one who knew what was happening in the village, Danzo knew that she was a person who wouldn't listen to anything beyond the mundane noises of the village. She had no real understanding of the extent of his
influence. He knew the stories behind the laughter and the chatting. Tsunade might have her spies, but Danzo knew his Root spies knew more and were willing to do more.

Whatever it was she had to tell him, he was certain he would already know.

Eventually he made his way up the stairs, the shinobi who guarded the building nodding respectfully at him as he headed upstairs. Danzo could remember times when there were so many people working into the late hours that the building had felt almost crowded
when the streets were otherwise empty. War made for a strong work ethic. This new generation had a lot to learn.

But they would learn. He was certain war would come. Rumors reached him swiftly, and more and more he was hearing the same stories over and over again which meant that things were truly happening and that it would not be too long before he would be guiding
Tsunade to follow the plans he had in mind. Eventually he would be the one to take her place, once the villagers saw that he was the only one who could properly lead the Village Hidden in the Leaves to victory.

He knocked his cane on the door. Shizune opened it quickly and ushered him inside. Tsunade was surrounded by stacks of books and scrolls. She didn't look tired, but Danzo knew that she was good at hiding her exhaustion. He could respect that about her.
She was, in fact, not as weak as the Third Hokage had been, but she still did not have all that it would take to ensure the greatest future possible for their people.

"Danzo, thank you for coming so late," she said.

"Of course," he said, nodding as he stood in front of her desk. "How can I be of service, Lady Tsunade?"

"I had word from some spies today," she said, glancing over her shoulder out at the treetops that stretched out from beyond the village proper. "There was another sighting of…"

"Naruto?"

She nodded, still not looking at him. Tsunade sighed and closed her eyes, shaking her head. "They said that he was in Land of the Wind. I've written to the kazekage to ask him to send people to look for him in the area. I want to hope that we'll finally
find him, but after all this time…"

"It has been three years," said Danzo, nodding his head in agreement. Tsunade turned to face him again and nodded at him as well. "It is too bad he wasn't better guarded," he said. He could see the lines of Tsunade's face hardening. He knew it wouldn't
be wise to push much further, but one of his greatest pleasures over the past few years had been the look on her face when he gently reminded her of the way that she had not listened to the full advice of the village council. "He was always a hot
headed young man. We can only hope that he will return to us safe and sound."

"Yes," said Tsunade. "Have you heard anything about the Aktsuki?"

"Not regarding Naruto," said Danzo, knowing that was the real question she wanted to ask. "They have not taken another jinchuriki since we last spoke."

"There is that at least," said Tsunade with a relieved sigh. She pressed a palm to her forehead. "I want him home and safe."

"If someone else catches him then they will use him against us," Danzo said. They had gone over this over and over again. The village council, the jonin, the ANBU. He knew that Naruto had become a thing of nightmares for the people of Konoha. If he returned
to them—What state would he be in after these long years? Would his allegiance still lie with the village, or would he be working for someone else? Or, perhaps worse, maybe he would die and the spirit of the nine tailed fox would break free and unleash
world changing destruction.

Tsunade reached a hand out. Danzo thought she was going to gesture at him, but Shizune walked to the hokage with a tray in her hand. Tsunade took a small cup of sake and downed it. She offered another one to Danzo. He lifted his hand in a polite refusal.
Tsunade shrugged and downed it too before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"That's all I have tonight," she said. "I'm going to deploy messengers and shinobi tonight. Let me know when you learn anything new."

"Yes, Hokage," said Danzo. He bowed his head to her before he slipped out of the room. She was too busy drinking the last sake on the tray as he closed the door to pay attention to him, but Danzo didn't care. As soon as the door was closed his lips pulled
into a razor thin smile.

He held up a hand and a masked figure slipped out of the shadows and stepped next to Danzo.

"Yes?" the voice said quietly.

"I want to see him tonight."

"Yes, sir," said the ROOT member. He disappeared and Danzo started out for the street again. He had to keep up appearances, after all. He didn't care that most of the village thought that he was a weak old man. Danzo could not think of one person in the
village who could stand against him if he showed his full power. Those who followed him understood his strength, and their reverence was more than enough for him.

That, and his confidence in his ultimate weapon.