Naruto

Shadow Lands

Chapter One

The Call

As he looked out the window of his house a young man dressed in black and orange noticed a bird that wasn't normally seen in the Leaf Village. He recognized it instantly as one of the Shadow Lands messenger birds. With a jolt he remembered that it was the area where his brother was. Grabbing his jacket and quickly locking his door he started jumping from roof to roof following the bird.

Just then a girl with pink hair and a man with silver hair spotted him and called out to him. "Naruto! Hey Naruto!"

"Huh? Sakura? Kakashi? What's going on?"

"Not sure, we all saw Sasuke's call." said Kakashi

Just then Iruka showed up with Juugo, who was as close to Sasuke as Naruto for the same reasons as the Jinchuriki and Kakashi's wife Kora. "You saw it I assume?" he asked looking at Naruto, who could understand the panic that was underneath the mask that Juugo showed to the world. He was close to Sasuke because the latter had once saved his life three years ago when he Naruto and Sakura was out on a mission.

"Yeah do you know what's going on?"

"No. I saw the signal as well and knew it was bad." said Juugo "I had actually gone to the Fifth Hokage to turn in a report when the message came. That's why I was on my way to see you. She's called us all."

"Let's go then." Said Naruto and he led the way for the five of them while also thinking about two years ago when he left to train. It was the day Naruto learned the truth about his sister.

Naruto stood at the river thinking about the offer that the Jinchuriki of the Eight- tails made about learning to control the nine tails inside of him. Even though Tsunade the village leader had told him that it was his choice he felt that he knew what she wanted him to do, Naruto just didn't know if he really wanted to do it. He finally had good friends that didn't hate him for something that wasn't his fault and that he could count on. He thought that maybe he could actually find a good person to love him and not be afraid of the demon inside of him.

Now however he wasn't sure what to do. Just then Naruto heard soft footsteps and felt someone watching him. He turned to see who had walked up to him just to find it was Sasuke standing behind him looking worriedly at him. Naruto turned back to the river to hide the fact that he had been crying when Sasuke walked up to him

"Naruto can we talk?"

"Sure what's up?"

"I heard about the offer B gave you." said Sasuke

"Seems everyone has." said Naruto so quietly Sasuke wasn't sure that was what he said.

"Do you know what you're going to do?" asked Sasuke

"No I don't have a clue. I mean I'm finally happier that I have ever been. I have friends that I can count on and that don't hate me for what happened to the village twenty years ago. And I finally found someone I can see having a future with."

"Naruto maybe that's why B has offered to train you." said Sasuke smiling. He always knew that Naruto had a soft spot. Even though he tried his best to hide it, Sasuke knew that it hurt Naruto not having any parents which is why he and Itachi didn't listen to their parents and became friends with Naruto. "So that you can use your power to keep your friends and loved ones safe. I have a feeling that the reason your father sealed the nine tails inside of you was so that one day you can use your powers and the demon's powers to help others."

Naruto looked at Sasuke shocked not thinking about it like that but Sasuke was right. Naruto was sure like Sasuke that was the reason Minato sealed the demon inside of him. "Maybe, but-"

"I'll always be here for you Naruto. I won't abandon you like everyone else in your life." said Sasuke to a shocked Naruto. He had forgotten that Sasuke and Itachi knew how Naruto blamed his sister for leaving him alone.

"Thanks Sasuke."

Naruto wasn't going to let anything happen to his brother so long as he could help it and with the Nine- tails power on his side he wouldn't be stopped until he knew Sasuke was safe.

Kakashi watched as Naruto ran to the Hokage's office and had to admit he knew how it felt. If anything had happened to… no he wasn't going to think that. Kora was safe and it had been five years ago. It was time to put it behind him, but it was hard to when every time he saw the scar on Kora's left shoulder.

"Kakashi? Are you okay?" asked Iruka as Kora looked at her husband, knowing he was thinking about the fight five years ago that they were in.

"Yeah I'm fine. Come on the three of them are already there and I want to know what is going on myself."

"Right." and the three shinobi followed the other three as if they were all pulled to the same place or same person and really they were. Sasuke was an important member of the village. Not just as a member of team seven or as Naruto's brother. But as the leader of the Black Ops, and the next to take the guarding position that was held next to the Hokage.