I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. I would also like to thank my pre-reader MyWay and the waitresses at the coffee shop down the street. This is my first Naruto fiction and I've been thinking about it for a while. I tend to over think in the beginning and usually end up abandoning the idea later on. Lets just hope I can finish this one.

Thanks you for choosing Shuratenmei and enjoy reading.


It's been three years now ever since the day Sasuke has left the Leaf and joined Orochimaru… three years since Naruto left on his trip with Jiraiya… Three years of hard work and determination, just to meet his friend once again and knock some sense into him.

Three years in which he did not fulfill his lifetime promise.

Uzumaki Naruto, his head hanging low and his shoulders slouched, made his way down the streets of the Hidden Leaf.

The villagers regarded him only with looks of hatred and disgust, as if they were cursing his existence for reasons beyond his control.

His heart was filled with pain of grief as he thought of the upcoming conversations he was about to have… painful as the two previous ones he already had.

Stopping in his tracks, he took a deep breath and looked up. He stood at the edge of the small bridge that had long ago burned into his memory. Like ghosts, images of his past appeared, showing a younger version of him standing in front of himself with two other people by his side.

The first was his all time rival and best friend. The cold onyx eyes stared at him with indifference as the black hair moved slightly in the wind. A memory of when Uchiha Sasuke was nothing more than an arrogant ass with a flashy bloodline limit to him.

The second was his crush from when he was a child still… it even developed into a mature love interest by now. Her pink hair and green eyes easily identified her as Haruno Sakura, self proclaimed girlfriend of Sasuke.

They both frowned at him and all three faded away with a blow of the wind. It was then that Naruto noticed the real Sakura was where the illusions just were.

She had grown into a stunning young woman over the years that made his attraction to her grow every time they had eye contact. She was just perfect in his eyes, but that didn't matter to her; only one thing did when she came closer.

"Where is Sasuke-kun?" She asked in a cold voice.

"…" Naruto remained silent. He knew she wouldn't like what he had to tell her.

"Where is he, Naruto?"

"… I'm sorry, Sakura-chan…" Naruto muttered and looked away at the water that flowed gently below the bridge.

"Sorry?" Sakura asked and blinked confused.

"I failed to bring him back… again…"

"…"

A very uncomfortable silence fell over the scene as Naruto focused his attention on the flowing water. He couldn't stand to see her in pain, let alone causing it. He just wanted to see her smile and be happy, not hurt her. Even if that meant to bring back the one she loved and would stay with… she would be happy.

"Useless…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Hearing her voice filled with hatred, he stepped back as if she had punched him in the chest. Now the yelling would start… the tears… and the beating, may it be mental or physical.

"You always hated him!" She cried out "You always were jealous of his talents and skills… He was the top of the class… the 'Number One Rookie' while you were not more than the endmost. You always tried to be better than him, to compete with him…"

She wasn't screaming yet, but her voice reached dangerous levels as she crossed the bridge coming towards Naruto. Her eyes were turning dark from her rage and her knuckles cracked from the pressure she applied to her fist.

"You don't even want to save him, do you? … You never did!!! YOU'RE SO SELFISH! HE WOULD SAVE YOU LIKE HE ALWAYS DID! I WISH HE WOULD BE HERE INSTEAD OF YOU! I HATE YOU! I WISH YOU'D JUST LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK!!!" Sakura shouted. She was way beyond mad and didn't show any sign of calming down.

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto muttered as his body shivered all along. Each of her words cracked his heart, bringing it closer to the shattering point.

Her eyes were black with rage now. This was not the Sakura he knew. This was not the Sakura he loved more than anything.

"I WISH YOU WOULD JUST DIE!!!" She spat at him before punching him in the face.

It was that hit that let his heart break; shattered into countless fragments and utterly destroyed. He hit the ground and found himself looking at the sky. The white clouds floated by lazily and free, moving softly in the wind without a care of anything.

He had no idea how long he just simply laid there. He had no intention of moving from the spot but two ANBU appeared from nowhere.

"Uzumaki Naruto," the one with a bear mask said, "The Council has demanded your presence. You will come with us." He ordered, making clear that Naruto had no choice.

Naruto himself offered no reply and simply allowed the ANBU to grab him and take him away… to the chambers within the Hokage tower.


"Utatane-sama. We have brought Uzumaki Naruto as requested."

"Thank you Captain," she acknowledged in her aged voice and then looked at Naruto, "You are aware of the reasons why you have been summoned, demon?"

"…" Naruto didn't answer. He wasn't very fond of her choice of words for that matter.

"Answer!" the ANBU captain hit Naruto in his side, getting his attention.

"… No, I do not know…" Naruto simply answered.

"Very well…" The aged female council member began, showing a small frown on her forehead, "As of today, you are hereby banished from the Hidden Leaf Village."

"WHAT?!?" Naruto answered in utter shock.

This was impossible… they just couldn't do this to him… no way… after all he was going to become the sixth Hokage, wasn't he?

His track of thought was interrupted however as a blow from his right made him loose his balance and he fell to his knees.

"As I've said," she continued in a very cold voice, "The council has voted for your exile, upon review of your service record we have come to the conclusion that it was your influence that made the shinobi Uchiha Sasuke defect to the Nuke-nin Orochimaru."

"But it was the cursed seal that-" Naruto began explaining himself but was cut off by a punch from his left.

"It is for those reasons that you are to be banished," she spate with hatred, "For actions as yours we would have normally executed you however… it was decided that such punishment would have been too kind." She said and a small and evil smile appeared on her wrinkled face. "Hence from this day your status as Konoha Shinobi is revoked… should you enter the Konoha Village again you are to be killed on sight unless otherwise decided by us." She finished and looked satisfied, almost happy.

Naruto couldn't believe this… why would they do this to him? He blamed himself for not bringing Sasuke back but there was no way in hell that he was responsible for Sasuke leaving the village. This had to be a joke… a real bad one.

"ANBU, Take this trash away… have him pick up his belongings from his apartment and escort him to the main gates." Utatane Koharu, the eldest woman, finally said.

"Yes, Utatane-sama!" both ANBU said in union and then dragged Naruto out of the door.


It didn't take long for Naruto to gather his things, not that the ANBU guys were giving him much time anyway. They sealed his possessions into a few scrolls and shoved them into a backpack.

Looking back at his now empty apartment, Naruto felt a cold tingle grasp him. It looked like he had never been here now; erased from existence. Deep down he wondered how the others would react to this. They probably wouldn't care anyway, so he concluded.

He was escorted down the street with both ANBU members next to him. A few of the villagers were looking confused at what was happening. It was just then that Naruto realized he was about to pass by Ichiraku's Ramen.

Old man Teuchi and his daughter Ayame were some of the rare people that liked Naruto for who he was, just like the third Hokage. Who knows if Naruto wouldn't have turned into another Gaara if it wasn't for those two's kindness… and ramen. After all, their ramen was the best of 'em all.

Allowing himself to let a small smile appear, Naruto slowed his pace what alarmed the ANBU.

"Keep moving!"

"If it's not too much trouble," Naruto said with a sly grin, "I'd like to say goodbye to at least one person."

"No!"

"Please, just one person…"

"I said-."

"Make it quick!" the ANBU Captain intervened and then looked his partner straight into the eyes.

"But-"

"It's my call!" he said and then looked at Naruto, "You have two minutes."

"Thank you!"

The ANBU Captain nodded and stood at the side of the stand while the other joined him after a second of thinking. Taking a deep breath, Naruto put on a fake smile and walked in.

"Naruto!" Teuchi said and began grinning, "Have a seat… what will it be today?"

"Sorry old man but no ramen today."

"HA, that's a good one Naruto," the elder man laughed and went on, "seriously though, what's your order?"

"I am serious old man, I've got only a few moments before I have to leave."

"Leave? Oh, another big mission, huh?" Teuchi said with a smile.

"Yeah… something like that… say, is Ayame-nee-chan around?"

"She's out on a delivery…" Teuchi then noticed Naruto's sad mood "Why, what's wrong?"

"… I just wanted to say goodbye, that's all…"

"Goodbye? Jeez kid, it's not like you're not coming back… right?" The old man said and laughed, but stopped as he saw Naruto's serious expression.

Neither of them was talking for a minute. It almost seemed like they were exchanging their words via eye contact.

"Your time is up, Uzumaki!" The ANBU captain said from his side.

Naruto kept on staring in the old man's eyes.

"I said your time is up."

Naruto was dragged outside by both ANBU members. Teuchi looked confused from Naruto to the ANBU and back as the young blonde sighed.

"Take care old man… give Ayame-nee-chan my best!"

With that said Naruto complied to follow the ANBU down the streets.

Teuchi stood shocked at his stand, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He had known this boy since he was no more than a little toddler… but he never felt the feeling he was giving off just now. It was like he's all empty inside… and his eyes… when he looked into them they seemed so…distant, as if there was no life left in him.

His thoughts were interrupted though as a few shouts from the back were to hear. His assistants must have broken something again. Growling, he turned around and marched into the kitchen to scold those two boys.

The walk to the main gate didn't take long and by the time they've arrived, a good number of people had appeared; most likely to see the 'demon' off.

Looking at the last rays of the setting sun, Naruto felt very out of place. He took one last look at the village… at its people.

"One last thing, Uzumaki…" The ANBU captain said and pulled out a kunai.

Naruto only nodded in response and leaned forward slightly. The captain, with his movement so fast it was impossible to see, placed a long ugly slash across Naruto's hitai-ate and marking him as banished.

The crowd seeing this, started to cheer and yell. Finally, after 16 years, the demon would leave them for good.

As they voiced their approval, Naruto began walking away into the spreading darkness called night. He was all alone once again… the thud of the closed gates would echo in his mind for several nights to come.

To be continued...


Well thats the first chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please remember to review and leave some feedback. Thanks.