Author's Note-Re-edited version of the first few chapters is coming up and here is where it all begins… (Haha I'm being all dramatic XD)

A dark shadow slunk through the night and it flashed between the trees with a silence that only death can compare to. His mission was simple: get the boy and get out; he paused on the side of the wall and slipped out the note Master had given him the day he showed Master the pictures of the possible new students. 'Blonde and blue eyed boy: Uzamaki, Naruto, Average Height, Poor Grades…incredible chakra readings…Why would Master want this kid? The world is waiting for the answer; oh well, a mission is a mission, lets see if this thing works.' The paper wavered in the slight breeze as he slowly opened his shirt and placed it gently on his chest; he fought the urge to double over and vomit as the slip sealed away all of his chakra and changed his appearance. His dark hair became a light gray-blonde and his smooth face took the appearance of someone much older; a smirk adorned his new features as he slowly made his way through the front gates; unstopped by the guards. 'Hehe they're both new on the job and definitely need more training. If I can get through this easily with an experimental shape-shifting device then I wonder what Doc can whip up so that I can get back into the bars here…' The town was quiet as he slowly treaded empty streets heading towards his destination. The lights were out and the door lock wasn't much trouble as he silently scouted the whole apartment. 'Somewhat messy, windows cracked to let out a smell that is still lingering here…but no boy.' He slowly made his way to the living room across from the kitchen and entry way and lowered himself into a sitting position behind the couch and stared at the moonless sky as he waited. The boy had to come home soon.

Midday After

"Where has that boy run off to now?" Jiraiya muttered over his bowl of ramen, "Not like him to be late…especially when ramen is involved." He finished eating and walked out, 'Maybe Kakashi knows where Naruto has gone.' He walked subconsciously towards the Hokage tower and was snapped to attention when a strange form caught it.

"Yo, Jiraiya where's Naruto?" Kakashi was on the roof across from where the white haired man was standing; his usual small orange book in hand. Jiraiya suppressed a smile; his new book was doing well according to the white-haired perv.

"Actually, I was hoping to ask you about that cuz' I haven't seen him. Do you think Tsunade would know anything?"

"Hm, she might. I'm supposed to be on my way over to see if Sasuke been rescued why don't you come along and ask. Besides, having me there might get you through some of the worst of her emotional stress."

Hokage's Tower

"WHAT do you mean 'We can't find him anywhere.'?" Jiraiya and Kakashi were held in the hokage's fists as she screamed on.

"Well," Jiraiya looked to Kakashi who was trying to speak clearly, "my plan to keep her calm failed."

"Now, now Tsunade." Jiraiya held up his hands and tried to calm her down. "We don't want another 'incident'." The blonde glared at the two perverted ninja before she sighed and let the two down when an anbu appeared behind her. She could feel his quizzical gaze from behind his mask as he debated with whether he should've waited longer before entering,

"Sasuke has been found and retrieved Milady."

"Good." She straightened an astray hair, "And the spies."

"They have have been…dealt with."

"Alright then. Have your squad begin a search Naruto Uzamaki immediately." The anbu tensed but regained himself and nodded before disappearing. Tsunade sighed and slumped down in her chair. "I need some sake."

"I'm on it." And with that Jiraiya was out the window.

"I'll rally some of the genin into a team and check Naruto's home." Kakashi was worried. 'It's not like him to disappear randomly like this…'

"Oh Sasuke I'm sooooo glad your alright!" Ino glommed herself onto his shoulders.

"Ino Pig! Get your slimy hands off my Sasuke! I mean REALLY! Just cuz' Sai isn't here to distract you…" Ino and Sakura glared each other for a minute and then pounced on each other. Choji and Shikimaru stood off to the side with Lee, Neji, and TenTen.

"I'll never understand girls." Shikimaru said as he rolled his eyes as Sakura and Ino's cat-fight dust cloud inched closer until it dragged Choji into it.

"Help! Shikimaru they're going to kill me!" Choji was freaking out. Not that the others could blame him; they all saw what happened to the two girls in the chuunin exams, they felt the killer intent of that match. They stood off to the side; moving away from the fighting duo, and innocent bystander, as they rolled and clawed at each other and Choji.

"That's enough. I need you all to help me on a search mission." Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leafs, stopping everyone in what they were doing. Sakura and Ino were holding each other by the hair and were stepping on Choji, who was every color but the one he should be. "I need you to listen. Naruto's gone missing and I need all of you to help." Mixed emotions went through the group and none of them moved at the news as they waited for their sensie to tell them he was just joking. The laughing never came.

"When did this happen?" Ino asked slowly.

"It was sometime yesterday. He didn't show up for ramen or training with Master Jiraiya today."

"Was it the akatsuki?"

"No we've checked with our spy and he says that they have been keeping on the quiet side."

Shikamaru looked up, "What if it was someone else who took Naruto?" everyone slowly turned to the genius as he, once again, brought up something that they wouldn't have thought of at that moment.

Night Before

The door flung open; quicker then his usual jammed nuisance, and Naruto staggered in; hair mangled with burns, cuts, and bruises covering the visible parts of his body.

"Man! I didn't mean to stay out so late." He unzipped his jacket, letting it fall on the counter top, and grabbed one of the many cups of instant ramen he had stored in his cabinets. Slipping the good sized cup into the microwace, he leaned against the counter to wait for his food to cook when something behind the couch caught his eye. A strangely shaped form crouching near the sofa sat motionless as he strained to make out what it was in the darkness of the room adjacent to the kitchen. 'If Kiba and Akamaru try to dog pile me again I'll throw them both clear across Konoha.' Then he froze altogether. His meal was done but a strange sensation came over him; he felt this way only on missions when something was going to happen or when someone was in danger; when he was in danger the sensation would be stronger and Jiraiya told him it was the fox's instincts of survival kicking in. If the shape made the fox channel this sensation through him then he wouldn't doubt it. He turned, opened the microwave door, and grabbed the ramen, 'Kiba usually makes it obvious by laughing, sneezing, coughing, etc. and Akamaru leaves his own "sign"…' he pretended to reach into a cabinet to get a set of chopsticks but grabbed the hidden kunai that was there and slipped it down his sleeve the way he taught himself when he was younger as the villagers used to enter and try to beat him. 'Maybe he's getting better at this.' He held on to that faint doubt as he decided to get the discovery over with, "Kiba not tonight, I'm too tired." Kiba sighed and his silhouette relaxed. "Sorry I just stayed out too long this time y'know?"

"….."

"Kiba?" Naruto tensed and slid the kunai just above his cuff, where it was ready to be pulled quickly. 'The door wasn't jammed like always…like it was already opened before and Kiba is just..!' Naruto threw the ramen at the shape and pulled out the kunai into his waiting hand; slowly he edgeded towards the door but a shurikan forced him to dodge. He turned to face his opponent who had managed to place himself between Naruto and the way to escape. The strange appearance of an old man caught him off guard.

"How'd you figure it out? I thought I had you going." His voice was years younger then his face as he sneered at the blonde that his Master wanted by his side.

"Kiba would've jumped me any way!" Naruto charged at the man only to be thrown into the table; splitting the wooden furniture into many pieces. The man walked up to the splintered mess with a dark look in his eyes,

"Pathetic little ru-!" Naruto's roundhouse kick met his jaw snapping his head back and the kunai ,the blonde had managed to hold onto, gouged his shoulder and wedged itself into the wall. He snapped his head back to glare at the boy, "ENOUGH!" he grabbed Naruto by the arms and dislocated them both in one supple motion. Naruto's eyes widened at the shock of the pain assaulting his senses but he couldn't yell to announce his situation, the man had placed a wet clothe over his mouth. The stale sent entered his nostrils and filled his lungs with it's heavy damp feeling; he felt consciousness slipping away. "You have caught his eye." Naruto welcomed the darkness as he felt the man slide something onto his chest, take him up on his back and then leap through the window into the awaiting forest.

"He's coming through." Naruto was lying down…he was sure of at least that, but the strange deep gravely voice? No one in Konoha that he knew of had that voice; he felt like he was floating on top of water that was cool and warm at the same time. More subtle clicking and steady far off breathing as he put together that the man with the strange voice wasn't near.

"Keep him restrained." A new voice commanded…it was quiet and calm but used to giving commands. His senses slowly returned to him as he sat with his eyes closed, 'Great. I'm stuck to a table bed thing. But they don't know if I'm awake. Maybe if I…' the two men gasped as Naruto tried to wedge his arm free. 'And now they do I'm awake.'

"Uzamaki? Can you hear me?" a blindfold was removed that he didn't know hie existed and he blinked his eyes open. His gaze met the doctor's then shifted to see the man completely in black, he was the one speaking. "We are not the Akatsuki. We are a different group." Naruto opened his mouth as if to say something but snapped it shut again. 'He might be lying.' The man turned to the doctor who just shrugged.

"What is your group after?" Naruto couldn't resist he was tired and was stuck in a bad situation. The doctor turned with wide eyes but the other's eyes hinted a spark of….joy?

"It's official then." He smiled, stepped forward as he gently raised the blonde's head; pausing to study the strong look in the cerulean eyes, the smile grew larger and he promptly knocked Naruto out.

Author's Note-…new…and…redone. BOO! YAH! I'm trying to clean up my older chapters so there's less confusion and people won't drop my story at the first chapter or so. Here you go! ENJOY! XD