I do not own Naruto. I didn't earn money to write this story. Masashi Kishimoto created Naruto.

Semi-AU, alternate timeline.

Ryuu fell to the ground panting and holding his arm. He was certain it was broken. He blinked sweat out of his eyes as he heard Takata calling for a medic. Then he plopped down next to Ryuu. He pushed a water bottle into his chest. Ryuu fumbled it with his good hand.

"You're not too bad...for someone with no chakra," Takata teased him.

He gulped down the water tilting his head back taking half the bottle before slamming it into the chest of the other. He frowned and coughed, "How long are we going to train?"

Takata looked at him. The medic had just come running between training ninja on the field. He was unfamiliar to Ryuu. So Fumio wasn't the only medic in the place. He was applying chakra to his arm. Takata tilted his head, "For today your finished. Boss doesn't think your ready for the breaking yet."

"Its been two months!" Ryuu nearly jumped up. He's tugged down by the medic who was wrapping his arm silently.

"Be more grateful kid," Takata turned and gave a half-hearted glare, "Less kind people would have, already! Then they'd a tossed you to the dogs if it failed...that is if you survived. Our boss may be stern but she is not about to waste potential and she sees in you the assets of a useful tool!"

Ryuu huffed and rolled his eyes.

Takata continued after he saw the kid wasn't going to interrupt further, "Yes a tool, but a well taken care of tool! I won't deny that we are still not completely free but our Mistress treats us so much better than the hidden villages, and if you play by the rules here one day you can go free. Unlike that village that would have probably kept you imprisoned until you die. Even if you managed to be released from the actual prison you would be tied to that village with no choice but to bend and scrape for your livelihood."

Ryuu frowned but nodded in agreement. The medic patted his arm and handed him a couple pills, "You're arm's just strained. Lucky you. Take those. They'll help you recover faster."

Takata gave the water bottle back to the younger man. Ryuu, long past suspecting poison or caring really, swallowed the pills and washed them down with the remnants of the water bottle.

Takata stood and offered Ryuu a hand up, "Lets go get some chow. I'm starved." The younger man nodded. He was feeling hungry. Since he got used to eating and less likely to sick up any rich foods he had enjoyed his meals. They really didn't skimp on the food here.

Neji and Naruto had been slowly trudging around a marshy patch of land that was rumored to house an evil spirit. It was said to attack and drag its victims under the stagnated waters. According to the people in the last settlement they passed it had attacked and killed lost travelers as recently as the last few months.

Out of curiosity Naruto dragged his companion to the area. It wasn't against their mission per-say, so Neji couldn't really object; besides they were both bored and travel weary. Perhaps a change of pace was in order.

Both young men were along the thought lines that a person could be using the local legend as a cover for their activities. Of course the whole thing could be a wild goose chase or just idle gossip. Small towns tended to generate fictions from their own boredom.

Naruto wondered idly if the hunter were bored as they were, but shook his head. They were highly trained to the point of ignoring their personal needs while on a mission. At least Naruto imagined they were. The guy was good. Never once did Naruto notice him. If it weren't for the disappearing food he might suspect that he and Neji were alone. Neji assured him that the hunter was there. He could find him with his byakugan easily. Thank goodness Neji was on their side.

Speaking of that. Neji brushed up against Naruto for the billionth time since they started on their journey. If Naruto didn't know better he might think the Hyuuga was doing that on purpose.

Chakra charging through their feet kept them above the putrid mud. They ran silently as Neji scouted with his eyes, Naruto sent out a few clones quietly, all searching for this so called "Monster." The only noise was the wind; and gentle lapping of the dark water against the shore and the sparse boulders sticking up out of the stagnate pond. Frogs chirruped merrily and birds twittered.

One of Naruto's clones shouted suddenly as he was pulled beneath the surface of the grimy marsh. He dragged himself up long enough to scream, "Something's got my leg!" He popped causing the surface tension to break around him and make a loud splash. The marsh animals went quiet. Neji had his byakugan activated, looking around he saw no sign of an enemy. Nothing seemed to be wrong as the things calmed again slowly. Another of the clones wailed as he was dragged below. They jumped and both nins scanned around. The popping sound of another clone and the loud splash that followed as the water filled in the space the clone had occupied.

Neji looked at the blond. Naruto looked unnerved muttering something about ghosts. Neji rolled his eyes. Suddenly the Hyuuga felt hands close around his ankles and he was pulled below the surface. He yelped in an undignified manner, and flailed as he fell back into knee deep marsh water, soaking and feeling silt and mud saturate his clothes he growled and lunged at Naruto who was cackling and running for dry land before Neji could catch him.

"I can't believe I got you!' Naruto shouted merrily and galloped across the surface of the water like a big ungainly horse, "You are too easy!"

Neji gave up chasing the idiot. He started to wade out of the shallows when suddenly he let out a huge sneeze.

Sasuke always kept his proverbial ear to the ground especially within Oto. It never hurt to keep up on the local gossip...and/or spy on your supposed mentor.

About Orochimaru, Sasuke was no fool and he knew he'd eventually have to high tail it out of Sound or end up becoming a Sasuke suit for the snake to dress up in. He stopped in the hall whenever the snake was unawares and listened in on his and Kabuto's conversations, but today something more interesting if somewhat alarming had caught his interest.

Two lackeys that Sasuke neither knew nor cared to were gossiping in the hallway about recent activity...

"So apparently someone's been attacking and raping blond ninja," One a plain looking brunette said then bumped shoulders with his blonde companion.

He passed them and they nodded politely. Everybody knew he was Orochimaru's favorite now and nobody wanted trouble with him.

Sasuke rounded the corner not wanting to be seen listening in. He had made the mistake early on being caught eves dropping He'd had the shit kicked out of him. That was no longer a worry, he would wipe the floor with anyone that tried now. In-spite of that he also noticed people guarding their conversations around him after that for the longest time. Being discrete was the better course if he wanted to hear anything vital...Sasuke peeked around the corner his eyes activated as he watched and listened. They took no notice engrossed in their conversation.

The woman shoved the brunette off and glared, her face was a bit masculine and her body was very muscular reminiscent of Maito Gai, "I'd like to see them try that with me."

Her partner visibly shuddered, "Please don't make me picture anyone getting busy with you." He smirked at her. A fist collided with his smug face and sent him skidding into the nearest wall. She sauntered off calling over her shoulder, "I know you'd jump at the chance horn-dog, too bad I'm only into men."

The other got up and dusted himself off still smirking with a bleeding nose. He wiped it away and opened his mouth again, "I suspected you were gay."

She turned and flipped him off stalking away. He followed her quickly...

Sasuke was a bit disappointed not to hear more. Still this was news to him-instantly visions of Naruto flashed in his mind. He glared and clenched his fists thinking of anyone daring to touch his Naruto. He recalled that day in the forest as he watched that greasy thug proposition Naruto. He could have been the rapist, but they captured him that day and Sasuke was only hearing this news now. Normally word traveled fast among shin-obi since information gathering was a basic skill learned even before graduating from the academy.

He needed to be more proactive. Sasuke marched down the hall heading toward Lord Orochimaru's private quarters.

Sasuke pounded on the door.

"Come in," the words were hissed sickeningly sweet.

Sasuke entered and bowed in mock respect.

"What brings you here Sasuke?" Orochimaru asked sitting in a plush chair idly reading a scroll.

"I want to take a mission outside the compound for a few weeks," Sasuke demanded.

The snake sanin looked up at him in mock surprise, "What's brought this on my boy? Feeling a bit stir crazy?"

"I just need some time to do some meditation and training outside the compound," He replied in a monotone.

"Hmmm," The snake drawled out, "I don't know if you can be spared. Who cold possibly take your duties on." Sasuke rolled his eyes knowing full well his only "duty" was to train and get stronger.

Orochimaru looked back at his scroll and yawned. He put the parchment down and looked seriously at Sasuke.

"You have one week," The sanin tented his fingers together looking menacingly at the young man, "If you are one second late there will be consequences...You may go."

Sasuke bowed and took his leave planning on being back precisely one week from the very second he left.