Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto characters. I do however own the plot and any other characters here within unless otherwise stated.
A lone figure stood overlooking the village of Konohagakue no Sato. They stood on the top of the large pole about 15 feet from the village's main gate. It was very late in the night and the only light was from the full moon that was high in the sky. After a few moments the figure merely coiled his muscles and jumped off the pole. The high village wall had patrols on it for protection. And the guards watched as this figure launched over them and into the forest below and disappeared from sight. They had no idea who they were but figured it was one of the village's elite ninja the ANBU themselves leaving on a mission or to relieve someone from the outer patrol. Either way they paid them no mind and continued to do their job of guarding the village from any threats.
The next morning we find Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke waiting on a bridge for both their knuckleheaded team mate and their teacher to arrive. Sakura was driving Sasuke insane with all her chattering. He was just about to yell at here when a poof of smoke alerted them to someone arriving. Just as the smoke cleared they saw their teacher Hatake Kakashi crouched on the bridge railing.
"Yo…" said Kakashi only to stop mid-sentence when he realized that he was short one, "Where's Naruto?"
"Don't know he never showed." Said Sasuke shrugging.
"Baka's probably still sleeping." Said Sakura annoyed with both Naruto and Kakashi for making them wait for so long, "Probably forgot we were meeting today."
Kakashi sighed and said, "Come on lets go get him then."
So they went to Naruto's apartment and Kakashi knocked on the door and said, "Naruto."
After ten minutes of hearing nothing Kakashi used the Jounin lock pick jutsu and entered the apartment and they waited at the door while Kakashi went to the bedroom and while opening the door said, "Naruto come your alre…"
"Sensei what's wrong?" said Sakura when Kakashi stopped talking.
"He's not here." Said Kakashi looking around and seeing no sign that Naruto had been forced to leave or that he'd even been there that morning so he summoned his pack, "Find Naruto."
Pukken sniffed around along with the others and Pukken said, "His scent's old. He hasn't been here in a while."
"How long Pukken?" said Kakashi while hiding his worry about the boy.
"Not since late last night. I'd say sometime before midnight." Said Pukken
"Can you track his scent?" said Kakashi not able to hide his worry this time.
"Yeah sure." Said Pukken
So they followed Naruto's scent and Pukken said, "His scent stops up there at the top of the pole. We don't know where he went from there. Sorry Kakashi."
Now he was really worried. Cause his pack were very good trackers. Kakashi said, "Let's go inform Lady Tsunade then."
They entered the Hokage Tower and Kakashi said, "Lady Tsunade we have a problem."
"What?" said Tsunade looking at them and noticing something, "Where's Naruto?"
"That's the problem. We can't find him. My pack lost his scent 15 feet from the main gate." Said Kakashi, "And he hasn't been home since Midnight last night."
"Lovely." Said Tsunade summoning the guards on duty that night, "Did you happen to see Uzumaki last night while on duty?"
"No ma'am." Said the guards
One guard had a sinking feeling and said, "We did see someone leave last night though."
Tsunade said, "Why was I not informed of this before?"
"We thought it was one of the ANBU leaving on a mission or to patrol. They never stopped to check in with the guard Ma'am and we weren't put on alert." Said the guard
"Why did you assume they were an ANBU Taka?" said Tsunade
"Well one they were observing the village beforehand. They were on the guard post near the gate. Then like all the ANBU they launched off the post and disappeared into the forest outside the gate. They haven't returned though Ma'am." Said the guard
"The post is where Naruto's scent was lost ma'am." Said Kakashi, "It seems he is the one who left last night."
"Lovely and we have no idea where he went or why." Said Tsunade rubbing her temples, "Ok here's what we'll do I'll inform Jiraiya that Naruto left and to catch him if he sees him. Taka you make sure the next shift knows to keep a look out for anyone entering the village matching the one you saw leave last night. If they return notify me immediately."
"Yes Ma'am." Said Taka
"And no one is to know that Naruto left without permission. I wanna talk to him before I decide what punishment to give him for this." Said Tsunade
"Yes Ma'am." Said everyone in attendance
Two weeks had passed since Naruto had left the village unannounced. Everyone wondered where he had gone. After fielding several questions from his precious people she decided to tell them. She had them all gathered in her office when a hawk came to her window.
"What is it Lady Tsunade?" said Asuma as she took the letter from them.
Tsunade smiled upon reading it and said, "He's back."
Kakashi snorted and said, "Yeah two weeks later. Wonder what his excuse is going to be for his actions is gonna be."
"Ok explanation please." Said Asuma confused
"Naruto left the village unannounced two weeks ago." Said Kakashi, "That's why he hasn't been here. He just got back."
"And is headed here. The guards told him I wanted to talk to him." Said Tsunade
So they waited and when the doors opened everyone turned and saw a figure walk in. They were limping and when they stood in front of everyone they said, "You wanted me Ma'am?"
"Being polite won't save you brat." Said Tsunade who motioned him to come closer, "So mind explaining why you decided to leave this village without permission for two weeks?"
The figure we now know is Naruto took out a scroll and tossed it on the desk along with another smaller one and said, "I had permission Ma'am."
They weren't used to him calling her that and Tsunade picked up the smaller scroll and saw what it was and said, "So it seems you did. Though mind telling me where from who you got this mission from exactly Naruto?"
Naruto said, "Mission desk. And I don't know who they were by name. "
Asuma said, "Genin can't leave the village without their team. How'd you get around that exactly? Nor can they get missions without them either."
"I'm the village pariah Asuma. Only Iruka actually follows the rules at the mission desk in regards to myself. I can literally get any mission I want any rank I want. They don't care cause they all hope I won't come back from them." Said Naruto shrugging then wincing and holding his shoulder.
Kakashi wondered something and said, "Ma'am why'd you want to know who gave that to him exactly?"
"Because it's not meant for a Genin that's why Hatake." Said Tsunade annoyed at the ones in the mission room.
"It's an S-rank to answer your question Sensei." Said Naruto who actually leaned on the chair in front of him due to his leg hurting so much.
Everyone looked at him and Kurenai said, "Just out of pure Curiosity Naruto what were you supposed to do exactly?"
"Eliminate the Yondaime Mizukage." Said Naruto calmly
They were all shocked and Asuma said, "You actually performed a high risk Assassination alone?"
"Yeah. So?" said Naruto not getting it, "Didn't need any one else I did it on my own perfectly."
"Really then why are you limping then Naruto?" said Sakura pointedly
Naruto ignored her question and reached into a hidden pocket on his calf and took out a black scroll and something wrapped in a cloth. He merely held them before handing the wrapped package to Sasuke and giving the scroll to Tsunade as he said, "Because I ran into Uchiha's asshole brother that's why. And that's yours Sasuke. So's the scroll but the village has to clear it first fore you can have it."
Sasuke took it and unwrapped it and saw the Leaf Hai-ate with the slash across it and said, "Where'd you get this?"
"Off Itachi's head obviously." Said Naruto as he leaned more on the chair since his leg hurt way more and needed to get more weight off it, "Who do you think is sealed in that scroll, Sasuke?"
Sasuke looked at him in shock and Tsunade said, "Not only do you get paid for the mission but you get the bounty on Itachi's head as well since you did return with evidence he'd been dealt with."
Naruto bowed his head slightly and Tsunade took pity on him and said, "Sit down brat fore your leg gives out on you."
Naruto did as he was told and removed the Hai-ate off and pulled the mask down too and Sakura gasped and Naruto looked at her and said, "What Sakura?"
Kiba was the one who answered him by saying, "Where in the hell did you get that scar Naruto?"
"Oh it that all seriously Sakura you over react." Said Naruto re-tying his Hai-ate in place again, "I've had it actually. You all just never notice it. It's usually hidden away under a low level Genjutsu."
"Since when can you do Genjutsu's Naruto? You're horrid at them." Said Sakura
"Nah I only messed 'em up so no one noticed I was constantly using one." Said Naruto brushing it off as he actually checked over his leg to see how bad it was.
"What else do you have hidden exactly Naruto?" said Kurenai amused
Naruto eyed her as he stood up and then released the Genjutsu he held over himself and they were all shocked at what they saw. This was not the same Naruto that they knew. But the one question on everyone's mind was 'who was this new person and where did the dead last Uzumaki go?' And another question that went through their heads was, 'How in the hell did they miss the fact he was using a Genjutsu?' Especially Kakashi and Sasuke cause of the Sharingan. Cause it didn't show up at all. Not even the Hyuuga's could understand how they never noticed he was using it.
