Naruto: Exiles
I got the idea for this story after reading "The Raikage" by Aragon Potter, so there might be some similarities. I don't claim any of their ideas as my own, so please enjoy my work.
I hope this story turns out well. I'm open to suggestions on how to improve it as well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It was a tired and sore Naruto that dragged a beaten and broken Sasuke across the threshold of the village gate. His fight with Sasuke in the Valley of the End had gotten pretty intense, with the Last Uchiha forcing him to call upon some of the Kyuubi's chakra to combat Sasuke's usage of his Cursed Seal of Heaven. Their clash, laid waste to the forest around the valley before they finally launched at each other with their most powerful attacks. Initially, Naruto wanted to hit Sasuke with an attack that would injure him just enough to knock him out so that he could be dragged back to the village, but somehow, Naruto noticed that Sasuke's Chidori, that he had created to counter Naruto's use of the Rasengan, was angled to penetrate his heart, so the blond Shinobi steeled his mind and slammed his Rasengan straight into Sasuke's stomach, sending the teen's altered form flying back, only coming to a stop when he slammed into the statue of Madara Uchiha hard enough to crack the stone monolith. Naruto then walked over to Sasuke's prone form and began the trek back to the village, carrying the young Uchiha with him. This is where we find our hero as he walked through the village gates with Sasuke's body slung over his shoulder.
"Well," panted Naruto, "I promised to bring you back, teme. And I never go back on my word."
Before Naruto could react however, several ANBU appeared around him using the Shunshin technique.
"Uzumaki Naruto," said one, "you are to surrender Uchiha Sasuke to us and report to the council chambers."
"What's going on?" asked Naruto.
"Questions are not permitted," said the ANBU, "this is an order from Hokage-sama herself."
Deciding not to question things, Naruto handed Sasuke's body to one of the ANBU and allowed the other three to escort him to the council chambers. Upon arriving, he was surprised to see that both the Civilian and Shinobi council had already convened along with the Jonin senseis and the Village elders.
"Genin Uzumaki Naruto," said Homura Mitokado, "we require a report of your conflict with Uchiha Sasuke at the Valley of the End. The members of Chunin Nara's team that were physically able have already given us their accounts, so yours is all that remains."
Naruto nodded and recounted to the council what had happened when he tracked Sasuke to the Valley of the End for their final clash. Once he was done, the council talked amongst themselves before they turned toward the blond Genin and Homura spoke again.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he said, "do you deny that you attacked Uchiha Sasuke with intent to injure him severely?"
"Well yeah," said Naruto, "but it was only because he used that Cursed Seal thing."
Ignoring Naruto's explanation, Homura continued, "and is it true that you stated that you see Uchiha Sasuke as your brother in all but blood?"
"I guess I did say that once," said Naruto.
"So you willingly attacked a fellow teammate, knowing your sensei's credo that 'those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash?'" pressed Homura.
"I did, but…" began Naruto, but he was interrupted.
"Hokage-sama," said Homura, "this boy has stated that he willfully and knowingly attacked Uchiha Sasuke with intent to cause significant harm. Furthermore, Genin Uzumaki stated that he views Uchiha Sasuke as a brother. If this is how he treats one he holds so close, what shall become of the rest of us? I beseech you to act!"
"You've got to be kidding me!" yelled Naruto, "I risked my neck to bring Sasuke back so Orochimaru couldn't get his hands on him! Tell them Baa-chan!"
"Silence," declared Homura, "Hokage-sama. Your decision?"
Tsunade had remained silent as the elder questioned Naruto with her hands steepled in front of her face. Sighing, she looked at Naruto and made her decision.
"After hearing all of this, I'm afraid I must agree with Homura," said Tsunade, "you were tasked with bringing Sasuke back to the village, but with the damages done to his body, he will be lucky if he can ever return to active status as a Shinobi. I'm afraid I cannot overlook this, Naruto. You are a danger to the Shinobi in this village, and therefore, I hereby banish you from Konoha."
As the chambers erupted with noise, Naruto could only stand there in shock. Tsunade, of all the people in Konoha, he would have never thought she would do this to him. This couldn't be real. This had to be a nightmare. But as he stood there among the chaos from the arguing council, he knew this was no dream. This was reality.
"SILENCE!" yelled Tsunade as she slammed her fist into the table, creating a small crater in the wood.
"Hokage-sama," yelled Kakashi, "you can't be serious! Sasuke was attempting to defect to Oto!"
"You cannot simply banish Naruto from Konoha," said Hiashi Hyuuga from his seat on the Shinobi Council, "you would be delivering him straight into the hands of our enemies!"
"So what?" shouted Kanado Umada, a member of the Civilian Council in charge of the market district of the village, "The brat is no good here. Besides, he's a failure, so enemy villages wouldn't gain anything useful from his corpse anyway!"
"Is that the extent of your concern for the Shinobi that protect you?" spat Kurenai.
"Watch your tone, Jonin Yūhi," said Kanado, "I'm a member of the Civilian Council."
"Kurenai has a point though," said Shikaku Nara, "what does this say about how we treat our Shinobi?"
"Enough," declared Tsunade, "my decision stands. Naruto, you have one day to gather your things and say your goodbyes. Dismissed."
xXsceneXx
As the Council chambers emptied, a man with a bandaged arm and eye stood to his feet and walked out with a gnarled cane. This man was Danzo Shimura, longtime opponent of the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and leader of the secret ANBU group known as Root. As he walked out, he allowed a small smirk to appear on his wrinkled face as he thought about what had just transpired.
'Everything is going according to my plan,' he thought, 'using my Sharingan to cast Kotoamatsukami on Tsunade-hime, allowed me to manipulate her to make the decision to banish the Kyuubi brat. Now for phase 2.'
Danzo continued on his way, heading for one of the entrances to his Root compound, as he continued to plan.
xXsceneXx
It wasn't long before word spread about Naruto's banishment, and there were mixed feelings among the Konoha 12.
"HA!" laughed Sakura, "Serves that baka right for beating up on Sasuke-kun."
"How can you say that, Sakura?" exclaimed Lee, "Naruto fought hard to bring Sasuke back to Konoha after he defected!"
"So what?" snorted Ino, "He was nothing but the dead last of our class anyway."
"Do you have no respect for our comrade?" exclaimed Lee, "He fought valiantly and showed how bright his Youth burns!"
"He was just an idiot," sneered Sakura, "it will be better when he's gone anyway."
*SLAP*
Sakura stared in shock at the person who had just hit her across her face.
"Don't you ever say something like that," said Hinata angrily as the normally shy wallflower glared at Sakura with tears in her eyes before storming off.
"You're an idiot," spat Tenten as she and her team got up as well, "how you got Kunoichi of the year is beyond me."
The rest of the Genin got up and left, leaving only Sakura and Ino sitting there confused about what had just happened and why everyone was taking Naruto's side.
xXsceneXx
Late that night at the Hyuuga compound, a figure carrying a pack was trying to sneak out. As she approached the main gate, she heard a voice that made her pause.
"I should have known you'd go after him, Hinata-sama," said Neji from where he leaned against a wall.
"Neji-niisan," said Hinata without turning around, "please don't try to stop me."
"I wasn't planning to," said Neji, "but remember that, if you go with Uzumaki, you'll be branded a Missing-nin and share in his fate."
"I know," said Hinata softly, "but I can't stay here. Not after this."
"Then I wish you good luck," said Neji with a smirk, "I hope fate smiles on your journey as you make your own path."
"Neji-niisan," said Hinata, "thank you. Please watch over Hanabi."
Neji nodded and the Hyuuga heiress left the compound for what would be the last time.
xXsceneXx
At the same time, Tenten was packing several scrolls into a pack in her family's weapon shop when Lee walked in.
"Tenten," said Lee, "are you planning to leave as well?"
"Yeah," said Tenten, "I always admired Tsunade-sama, but after what just happened, I can't help but feel disgusted with the village for just casting Naruto out like that."
"I know," said Lee, "Naruto is a true Genius of Hard Work, but the village decided to abandon him in favor of Sasuke. I cannot stay in such an unyouthful place."
"Well," said Tenten, "I'm all packed. Let's get going."
The two members of Team Gai nodded and headed out into the night with their bags.
xXsceneXx
At the main gate of the village, a somber Naruto took one last look at the Hokage Monument, knowing now that his dream would never become a reality. As he was about to walk out, he heard several voices call out to him. Turning around, he saw Hinata, Lee, and Tenten running up with packs on their shoulders.
"What are you doing here?" asked Naruto.
"What does it look like?" asked Tenten, "We're coming with you."
"You can't," said Naruto, "if you do, you'll be labeled Missing-nin and you'll be hunted down."
"Naruto," said Lee, "we're not going to abandon you like this village has."
"We're going with you whether you want us to or not," said Tenten, "someone has to be there to keep you out of trouble."
"Guys," said Naruto emotionally.
"Well then," said Jiraiya as he clapped his hand on Naruto's shoulder, making the blond jump, "let's get on our way."
"Ero-sennin?" exclaimed Naruto in surprise.
"What?" chuckled Jiraiya, "you think I'd abandon my favorite student just because the village he fought for did? Besides, I was going to take you on a training trip anyways. This just pushed up the schedule."
And with that, Naruto and his friends smiled as they removed their forehead protectors and tossed them aside, before leaving Konoha without looking back.
xXsceneXx
Meanwhile, in a dark room in the Root base under the village, Danzo was standing before two masked Root ANBU.
"You know your orders," he said, "now that the Kyuubi brat has been banished, he will be a prime target. I want you to find him and bring him here so that he can begin induction into the Root program. These are your orders. Failure will not be tolerated."
The two ANBU nodded before vanishing in a swirl of leaves, leaving the Village elder standing alone.
"Everything is going perfectly," said Danzo, "once I have the Kyuubi under my command, I can rise to claim the spot of Hokage and make sure this village shall never fall to its enemies."
With that, Danzo turned and limped out of the room with his cane, heading back to the surface of the village.
I hope you all like this new attempt. Please leave your thoughts in reviews and remember that I focus on stories that receive more positive reactions, Favorites and Follows. Ciao for now everyone.