Disclaimer: Naruto is by Masashi Kisamoto. I don't own Naruto.
A/N: My first Naruto fic and am getting nervous. The story takes place after Gaara's rescue in the 3-year leap on the Manga; with spoilers of anime episodes and the filler arcs. Hmm, if this fails, I'll go back to Dynasty Warriors fanfiction. Since some Naruto fics and the community are biased towards the manga.
Way of the Jinchuunriki
Chapter 1: Some things never change…
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At the Village of the Hidden Sand…
Many days after the incident with his death at the hands of the Akatsuki and revived by Chiyo; Gaara had been thinking about losing the monster within him. Shukaku is the one tailed raccoon that he was possessed during his lonely youth. The power he wields from Shukaku made him a merciless killer, living to love only himself. That power nearly cost the lives of Rock Lee and Sasuke. Two of whom he considers his worthy opponents.
"Damn…." Gaara's wrath upon Akatsuki is strictly personal. Temari and Kankuro show up at the Kazekage office as they notice their younger brother's glare.
"What's been bothering you this time?" Tamari sighed.
Before Gaara speaks, he turns directly to the view of the village. He clinches his fist, it was a mistake, he got careless of Akatsuki and they took Shusaku. Without it, what will Naruto see in him, not a friend, but a weakling? Gaara wants to continue getting strong so that one day, he'll fight Naruto again as the greatest rivals the world has ever seen. But, without Shukaku, how is he going to with stand Naruto's own monster within him, Kyuubi?
"Have Baki take over things here. We're leaving," Gaara announced, which brought shocked looks in Kankuro and Tamari's faces.
"Where are we going, Gaara?" Temari asked.
"Konoha…" Gaara answered.
The two sand siblings wonder what business the Kazekage has with the leaf ninjas as they blink.
"Naruto."
At the Village of the Hidden Leaf…
"What do you mean I can't go?" Naruto shouted, as he's always a loud mouth even when he's barely sixteen.
"Naruto, I'm sorry, but you're forbidden to leave this village. However, you may assign yourself for the next chuunin exams," Tsunade said.
"To hell with the chuunin exams! We don't have time to waste if we don't get Sasuke back, Orochimaru will transfer his body to Sasuke's," Naruto stated.
Sakura glances while she's at the hall behind the door to the Hokage office. Is Naruto really throwing away his dream of becoming Hokage in order to determinate his hopes of getting Sasuke back? It's too severe in Sakura's thoughts. It's her own fault that Sasuke left if only she spoke the right words to convince him not to leave.
"Naruto, I spoke at the council about this matter. You are a target to Akatsuki and putting you out there again will bring more problems with the village elders," Tsunade turns to look at the shuddered Shizune, she told them everything in secret about the previous mission Naruto was assigned after 2 and a half years in returning from training with Jiraiya.
Looking down at the floor, Naruto clinches his fist. While Gaara may have brought redemption to the people of Sand Village, but for Naruto, things remain to be the same if not slightly unchanged. He is still a monster to those who saw him wandering Konoha. He is a secret weapon on this land of unfairness. Little he tried to prove himself to other wrong and granted the respect of his friends both younger childhood and recent.
"So, what's it going to be Naruto? Continue ranting or get straight into the point? Look, I understand why you want in on this, but please try looking at the other way around. I wanted you to be safe for the time being, meanwhile I'm sending a specialist to investigate your missing companion," Tsunade said.
Naruto face away to the door and walks up furiously by opening the door to see Sakura standing there in a sadden expression.
"N..Naruto kun?" Sakura thought to herself. Naruto look at Sakura trying to open his mouth to speak, but then he just face away from her and left the hall.
"You know what, Shizune? I'm starting to find this "Bring back Sasuke club!" getting stale, with Akatsuki on the move; we're lacking motivation towards our security. One part we're keeping in eye on Akatsuki and another is a hopeless opportunity. Why can't that boy just let it go?" Granny Tsunade complained.
"My opinion, because Sasuke is the first person Naruto always consider him as his equal. But, now the whole village no longer sees Sasuke the Uchiha prodigal rather…a traitor," Shizune replied.
At Ramen Ichiraku…
"I see…so you don't have any interest in taking the Chuunin exam. But Naruto, it's been like almost three years and everyone has become a Chuunin and Neji a Jonin. You are still the same low classed ninja Genin," Iruka sighed.
"So, I cannot give up on Sasuke," Naruto finish his bowl of ramen while grunted.
"Then you insist on giving up your dream to become a Hokage," Iruka glared.
"…." Naruto said no more as he paid the food and stood up to leave Iruka-sensai.
"Naruto, Sasuke thinks nothing, but revenge. He took advantage of your friendship with him so that he can resolve his ambition to learn a deadlier version of Sharingan. He wanted to kill you seriously, but lucky for you, Kakashi found you barely alive," Iruka said, Naruto stop a moment to think about that event at the Valley of the End, where Naruto and Sasuke fought. Chidori vs Rasengan.
"My Rasengan…it had a price when using it against those I'm acquaintance with…" Naruto thought. He resumes walking to his home frustrated.
On the way back home, he meets up with Shikamaru. Shikamaru was tired and when he's about to pass through Naruto, Naruto greet him.
"Hey Naruto, not planning to make some new pranks again, eh?" Shikamaru said.
"Does it look like I'm out to make trouble in the village again?" Naruto shrugged.
"I'm just curious, man…" Shikamaru rubbed his head.
Naruto ignores him and went on his way until Choji shows up in front of him.
"Naruto, Shikamaru, what's up?" Choji munch his mouth eating chips.
"Nothing, just both of us were having a troublesome day. Those pricks at the academy made me tired," Shikamaru said.
"Whatever, talk to you guys later," Naruto waved. This really isn't the time to have company while he's still upset with Tsunade-sama.
"What's up with Naruto?" Choji pointed.
"I don't know, could be something between him and Tsunade-sama, maybe," Shikamaru shook his head.
"It's Sasuke…" Choji quietly spoke.
"….." Shikamaru doesn't want to think about the failure of his first mission again. It pains him when he tried everything in his knowledge to help Naruto get Uchiha-san back.
At Naruto's house…
For nearly 3 years, Naruto empathize why his life was nothing but hardships with people who he tried to get along with. Sasuke and himself had never gotten along on the very first day Team 7 was formed. Sakura's crush on Sasuke intimidates Naruto to do the same by having a crush on Sakura to challenge Sasuke in a popularity contest. But, the result is the same; it's always about Sasuke.
"That time…I wasn't serious. Just playing around like the idiot I am doing pranks to make him get my attention," Naruto thought, looking at the ceiling while he is on the bed.
Scanning the room, he had pictures of the days he, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi spent together. Naruto looked at the picture to the left and there was another picture on the right next to the Team 7 picture.
"H..Hinata-chan…" Naruto knew he never told Hinata about Kyuubi, but Sakura and Temari.
Naruto takes the picture of Hinata on his right hand and looks at it. The picture he took a long time ago. The time he started searching for Sasuke by mixing himself up with other teams including Hinata's Team 8.
"After 3 years, why did you go this far to come into my life, Hinata?" Naruto sighed. Should he finally tell her everything, the whole truth about himself, the Kyuubi, and Sasuke?
At Hyuuga Residence…
Hinata returned home from a mission, her father is waiting at the room mediating. It's just like last time, he asked her how the mission is and she told him that it's either a success or failure. Then, the phase "Don't get in anyone's way."
Hinata went into her room. Why does her father keep saying that every time she was leaving or heading back to her room? Those warnings, what does it actually mean? Maybe her father isn't telling her anything important that she doesn't know. No, her father never told her anything except expecting her to improve her skills.
"Why father, why haven't you change? For three years, you never look up into me nor train me into learning more of the main branch hidden techniques?" Hinata sobbed on the pillows crying. Her life with her father hadn't changed since the very moment she met Naruto at the training grounds before his fight against Neji. Her father didn't tell her everything that happened when she passed out…
"N..Naruto, I'm sorry, m..my lack of self-confident is continuing to grow worst. It's my fault we haven't given a proper welcome back greeting. I fainted and look so stupid in front of him and now he has changed dramatically. What's more is that h..he's wise," Hinata winced.
The next day…
Naruto went to speak with Tsunade one more time to persuade her on giving him a mission to search for clues on Sasuke's whereabouts. The result at the room remains the same and he even grew more annoyed about the village elders concerns. He has 6 months till deadline when Orochimaru prepares to possess Sasuke's soul.
"Always irrelevant, that Granny Tsunade!" Naruto urged while walking across the town. The townsfolks heard all about what happened on the last mission and about Akatsuki. His presence brings more worries about another invasion on Konoha because of him and that damn fox, Kyuubi.
"Naruto," Kiba greeted, he rode on Akamaru.
"Kiba, if it's a fight you're looking for, then I'm not interested," Naruto said. He knew Kiba would bother him for a fight just like old times in the academy.
Kiba is surprise to have notice Naruto's tone. But, he calmly grinned and said, "Nope, I didn't come here to bother you. But, since you were in the Village of the Hidden Sand and Neji told me what happened. So, did you kick some ass?" Kiba smirked.
"Yes, especially when your opponents just run away when they're getting owned. That Deidara guy is the most annoying opponent," Naruto put both of his arms crossed behind his head while walking.
"Deidara? Seesh, why does it have to be you getting all the good missions while my team has crap?" Kiba grunted.
"Blame Granny Tsunade…" Naruto and Kiba turn towards the building where the 5th resident and look back and continue walking.
"Hmph, I heard some fuss from the villagers. They're murmuring about Akatsuki coming back," Kiba snarled.
"Because of me…." Naruto muttered.
"What do you mean?" Kiba blinked.
"Should I tell Kiba the truth about me…?" Naruto thought. Kiba was still waiting for his answer, but looking at Naruto, he's not happy with the subject.
"Ok, forget what I said, lets go hang out with the rest of the Konoha gang! Right Akamaru?" Kiba exclaimed. His big dog barked.
"Maybe some time later on I'll hang out with you guys. Please, just give me some time alone," Naruto sighed.
"Sure thing, just don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody, including myself was wrong for all the crap we've done in the past. By the way, during our previous mission, Hinata…she's not herself," Kiba frowned.
"W..what? What's wrong with Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know, but it's not about her fighting. She was at the top of her form during our mission, but when I checked her out, she was sad. It's been nearly 3 years since you came back and I never expect Hinata would turn more depressing," Kiba shook his head.
"….." Naruto shown a guilty face. Again, he only told Sakura and Temari about the Kyuubi and the truth about the way his life was treated in the Village of the Hidden Leaf. Telling two people who barely liked him before and he never told the girl who loved and watched him the most about everything related to the monster sealed inside him.
"Damn, I better meet the gang, later Naruto," Kiba left Naruto alone still felling guilty with his own selfishness.
A short flashback hit him with Sasuke's dark voice on his level 2 cursed mark form from their fight at the Valley of the End. "Dumbass."
"Hinata…I…I," Naruto clinched his fist, some things never changed.
Back in Hinata's house…
She's still isolated in her room depressed, mainly because of her father. Small tears shard her eyes as she choked.
"Naruto-kun, about..about the girl at the waterfall years ago…" Hinata thought back that moment during her training. She couldn't stop thinking about that part which screwed up, because of her shyness and Naruto's clumsiness. Naruto thought she was someone else, but, it was really her who worked hard on everything to get Naruto's attention. However, the biggest task is getting her father's attention.
Her father could hear her crying as his youngest daughter passed by.
"Father, why is sister crying?" Hanabi asked.
Hiashi remain silent by his eldest daughter's nuisance. He looks at his younger daughter alittle shame to answer, but blunt by the consequence.
"Nothing, come on, let's continue our training," Hiashi said, as he dared not to tell his eldest daughter what happened during Naruto's fight with Neji, about the Kyuubi chakra.
Next Chapter: Fear of moving on
