{Rewrite}
The Beginning
The tree's sway from the strong winds. The sky is grey with clouds hovering the forest below. The forest is nothing but silence. Soon a rain drop fell from the sky slowly hitting a branch, causing a splash and at the same time, a sandal lands on the branch then jumps off it. In two other branches, two pair of sandals hop from them.
"Naruto, slow down will you" Shikamaru told him on Naruto's right.
"..." Naruto didn't respond and kept going forward.
"Naruto, don't be Stubborn...Shikamaru is leading this mission not you" Ino said with anger in her voice on Naruto's left.
"Can you two just shut up! I know the way.." Naruto said with anger and launches himself further from the two moving farther ahead.
"What's up with him?" Ino ask feeling taken aback from that outburst.
"Hmm, it might be what Lady Tsunade said to him" Shikamaru answer still moving.
"What did Lady Tsunade tell him?" Ino said curious.
"Hmm...Something I'm not entirely sure since I was outside of the office to hear what the two talked about but the result was Naruto slamming the door open and leaving with a pissed off look" Shikamaru exclaims.
"Wow, what would make Naruto that angry?" Ino ask wondering how Naruto who she thinks is an idiot at times can act angry.
"Naruto only knows the answer to that but let's leave that for now, let's focus on the mission" Shikamaru said with a serious tone.
"Ya.." Ino replies while looking straight.
"From what Lady Tsunade told us, there should be an old relic containing a jutsu so powerful that if it falls in the wrong hands, the shinobi world will change"
"I hope we're not too late" Ino said feeling worried, speeding up her pace.
"If the fifth Hokage's information is correct, the relic should still be there" Shikamaru told her reaching her.
"How do we know for sure?" Ino ask with a worried expression.
"We just have to believe in what Tsunade was told" Shikamaru said soon reaching the place after spotting Naruto. "We're here"
Shikamaru and Ino jumps down from the branch and stands behind Naruto who is staring at the entrance of a cave. Shikamaru walks next to Naruto and pulls out a map he got from Tsunade.
"This is the place, let's go in and Naruto this time...stick with the group" Shikamaru said to Naruto in a serious tone and walks in first.
"Ya, don't go off on your own Naruto...we're a team now" Ino told him and follows behind Shikamaru.
Naruto clenches his fist hearing the two talk to him like he's a child. His head goes slightly down. "Why is everyone treating me like a child" Naruto thought. He already has enough going on this mission with a two people he hardly talks to. Why couldn't he be with Sakura or Sai. He chuckles softly having the name Sasuke pop into his brain.
He looks up at the grey sky and soon feels a raindrop hit his cheek. "It's going to rain uh" Naruto thought to himself, staring at the sky with no emotion in his face. He begins to think about what happen at the beginning of his day, when he went to visit Lady Tsunade.
Flashback
Naruto enters the room where Tsunade is seen sitting behind her desk with tons of paperwork on it.
"Oh Naruto, what brings you here?" Tsunade ask curious on why Naruto would come and visit her.
"I have a question?" Naruto ask her, looking straight at her.
"Oh.." Tsunade reply's surprise seeing Naruto acting serious. "And what would that be"
"Do you know who my parents are?"
Tsunade's eyes widen hearing that come from him. Tsunade knew Naruto's entire life he lived without any parents or doesn't even know who they are. She knew the answer to Naruto's question but should she tell him the truth or lie.
Naruto notice the hesitation by just looking at Tsunade's expression. "She knows" he thought clenching his fist a bit out of anger. For her knowing who his parents are and the fact that she is thinking about it makes him feel angry and sad. He has done so much for the village like taking down Pein and saving the hidden leaf, making an alliance with the sand and so much more. He just wants a straight answer from her, someone he trusts.
"Naruto…" Tsunade finally spoke breaking his train of thought.
"Ya, Granny…" Naruto said.
"your parents, there is a reason why no one told you about who they are" She said putting her hands together.
Naruto eyes widen a bit by this but already knew the reason by hearing it from his father in his mind when he was about to become the ninetails. "He was afraid that I would be targeted if villages knew I'm the son of the fourth hokage" Naruto thought to himself remembering about what his father told him.
"What Reason is that?" Naruto ask her yet already knowing it, he wants to hear it from her.
"Hmm...that's something I can't tell you" She answers him.
"What?" Naruto asked thinking he heard that wrong
"Naruto, your parents aren't like other parents. They both have their uniqueness to them…"
"What do you mean...if you know who they are why not just tell me..." Naruto asked with a little anger in his voice.
"Naruto! I'm sorry I can't tell you who they are" Tsunade told him with a serious expression.
Naruto couldn't believe his eyes and clench his fist. He narrows his eyes on her, wanting to yell at her. He came to Tsunade for the sole purpose to know who his is mother. He felt hurt not hearing it from her.
"I'm sorry Naruto, but believe me there's a good reason...you're just not ready.." Tsunade tells him.
"Not ready!...I'm 16 years old, stop treating me like a kid!" Naruto said with anger and frustration in his tone.
"Naruto! That's Enough!" Tsunade yells slamming her hands on her desk, getting up from her seat.
"Tch.." Naruto said and turns, walking to the door and slams it open.
Flashback Ends
Another raindrop lands on his cheek, broke Naruto from his thoughts. Soon more came down from the sky.
"Naruto! Hurry up!" Ino yells in the cave.
Naruto hears and runs inside. He shakes his head, getting the water out of his hair. The cave is dark with hardly any light. Naruto sees an orange glow in the corner and walks to it, spotting Shikamaru holding a torch with Ino next to him.
"Finally, we've been waiting for you" Ino spoke to Naruto crossing her arms.
Naruto didn't reply to her attitude and looks at Shikamaru.
"So where is this relic we need to find?" Naruto ask him.
"Its somewhere deep within the cave" Shikamaru answers him.
"What?" Naruto said shock that's all they have on the location.
"I know your shock about this and so am I, but there is a way to shorten our time searching for it in this cave" Shikamaru states.
"What's that?" Ino ask curious.
"Naruto's Shadow clones" Shikamaru answers her.
Without that, six clones of Naruto appear around the original. Naruto knew what Shikamaru meant by his clones. He looks at each of them.
"I want all of you to search for a relic in this cave" Naruto tells them which they nod.
The six began running in deeper into the cave and separating, exploring each tunnel. While the six were searching, Shikamaru reviews the scroll that Tsunade gave him about the mission. Naruto sat down, leaning against the rocky wall staring at the scroll Shikamaru is reading. Ino leans against the wall also starring.
"Shika, exactly what does this relic have that is so dangerous?" Ino ask him.
"Not entirely sure but we were told it holds an enormous amount of power" Shikamaru answers her.
"Ugh.." Naruto said softly feeling one of the clone's memory enter his mind.
"What is it Naruto, did one of your clones find something?" Shikamaru ask him.
"Uh No.." Naruto answers him feeling uneasy at what he just receives.
Naruto scratch the side of his head trying to figure it out until he got all the memories from the other five clones. His eyes widen and stands up. He begins to run into where the clones went in.
"Naruto!...wait!" Ino shouts confused why Naruto went off.
"I think he found something, let's follow him" Shikamaru tells her began running to the direction Naruto went in with Ino following behind.
Naruto ran into a tunnel where one of his clone's spots something strange. "Wait his that" Naruto thought seeing light at the end of the tunnel. He picks up his pace and reaches it. Once he does, his eyes widen seeing a stone bridge connecting from where he is to a platform in the middle of the cave with a pillar in the middle of it. He looks around the area of the cave he is in and notice many torches lit up with white light. He hears Shikamaru and Ino footsteps behind him.
"Naruto! How dare you go off without us again" Ino tell him reaching and stops after realizing where she is.
Shikamaru makes it to them and stares at the platform in the middle and notice a pillar with something in it.
"I think that's it" Shikamaru states.
"Ya…" Naruto said and begins to walk on the bridge.
"Hold up Naruto, can't you wait for us...there might be traps, we need a plan" Ino said to Naruto.
"I don't see any traps" Naruto said walking on the bridge looking straight.
"Dammit Naruto!" Ino said in anger and runs to him.
Ino had enough with Naruto's attitude. She never would have thought Naruto is the hero of the hidden leaf and a student of one of the legendary Sannin. From the anger she is feeling, she didn't notice the drop below them. She froze in place and looks down. "T-hats deep" Ino thought shivering from the dark hole beneath them.
"Ino…" Shikamaru said about to take his step on the bridge until he spots a figure next to the pillar.
Naruto stops also noticing the figure. He narrows his eyes on him and realize something familiar about it. Ino stops as well feeling slightly afraid.
"Who are you?" Naruto ask to the figure.
"The name..is Shadow" Shadow answers with a male voice revealing himself to be nothing but a dark figure with no physical features.
"Shadow…" Naruto said to himself and begins to remember something about Shadow from one of the clone's memory that first went into him.
Flashback
Naruto's clone is seen running until coming to a complete stop after sensing something. He has a look of confusion on his face. He decides to leave it be and turns around.
"Boo" Shadow said standing right in front of him.
"AHHHHHHH!" Naruto said jolting from fear and poofing out.
Flashback ended
Naruto rubs his arm feeling that again. Shadow notice his reaction and chuckles a bit and clamps his hands together creating an echoing.
"That was funny scaring you. Made my day" Shadow tells him.
"why you!" Naruto said anger and steps forward until he hears Shikamaru.
"Stop it Naruto….Shadow tell us why are you here?" Shikamaru ask still at his spot.
"Well, I was waiting" Shadow said simply.
"Waiting?" Ino said confused.
"Yup waiting, If I'm correct you're here for the relic?"
"Ya, we are" Shikamaru answers him.
"Well if that's the case I need to tell you what happens when you take it off this...Pillar here!" Shadow said patting the pillar.
Shadow notices the confused look they have on. He walks forward from the pillar and stops at the edge of the platform.
"Your ninjas of the hidden leaf if I'm correct.." Shadow states and sees Shikamaru about to speak until he spoke again. "well seeing how Naruto is wearing a hidden leaf headband"
Shikamaru closed his mouth surprise that Shadow said the answer he wanted to know.
However, someone else has something to say.
"How do you know my Name?" Naruto asked confused.
"Hmm...tell me do you want to know how or about what will happen if you take the relic which is just an ancient scroll really" Shadow said stretching his arms.
"Tch.."Naruto said narrowing his eyes at Shadow.
"Hmm Naruto let's first ask what he knows about the relic" Shikamaru said to Naruto.
"He's right, who knows what will happen if we remove the relic out if its place" Ino exclaims.
"Fine….Shadow, tell us what will happen if we remove it from the pillar." Naruto ask him.
Right after Naruto said that, something is thrown to him with speed. Naruto caught the item with one hand. He looks at the item which is the scroll.
"Why don't you find out what happens when you take the relic* Shadow said crossing his arms.
"What!?" Naruto said in shock, holding what they were looking for all this time.
Suddenly the bridge they are on begins to shake. Shikamaru and Ino were looking down at the bridge wondering what's going on. Naruto hears cracks causing him to turn to the others.
"Guys Run!" Naruto screams to them.
They both hear him and begins to run, feeling the bridge about to break. Naruto began to run also but felt a burning sensation on the hand that is holding the scroll. "What's going on" Naruto thought and eyes widen sensing something above him.
When he looks up, he sees a huge chunk of the ceiling head straight down to him. He knew that will cause this bridge to break.
Shikamaru and Ino sees it as well and fear for the outcome of this. They were seconds away from safety but it's too late.
"Shadow clone jutsu"
The chunk of ceiling contacted with the bridge breaking it entirely and falling into the darkness below.
Shadow stood at the same spot with his head down, seeing the bridge no more. He raises it and looks at Ino and Shikamaru who were saved by Naruto's shadow clones.
The two were shock that Naruto summoned two shadow clones who brought them to safety but disappeared when the bridge collapse. However, Naruto isn't with them.
"Naruto!" Ino and Shikamaru yells looking down at the darkness below.
They couldn't believe that Naruto is gone that easily. Ino has tears at the edge of her eyes while Shikamaru puts his head down in shame.
"Arugh.."
Ino and Shikamaru heads went up after hearing a sound.
"Dammit, Guys help!" Naruto shouts hanging on the side of the platform the two are on.
"Naruto!" The two said standing up and looking down spotting Naruto.
"Guys help me up" Naruto said looking up at them keeping his grip on the rock he is holding.
"Sure thing, just hang on" Shikamaru tells him and lays his stomach on the ground and stretches his arm out to him. "Just grab my hand"
Naruto see's his hand and tries to lift his right hand that is holding the scroll up but for some reason the scroll got so heavy making it harder for him to lift it.
"I-I can't, this damn scroll is heavy!" Naruto said sweating.
"Let go of the damn thing then!" Ino shouts at him.
"But we need to bring it back to Granny" Naruto said tightening his grip on the rock.
"Right now, your safety is important, just let go...I don't think anyone would go down below just to get a scroll, so let go of it Naruto and grab my hand" Shikamaru tells him stretching his arm further to him.
Naruto thinks about what they said and tries to let go of the scroll but for some reason he couldn't.
"I-I can't, its not letting me" Naruto said gritting his teeth.
Soon the rock Naruto was hanging on to, broke off. Naruto eyes widen feeling himself falling.
"NARUTO!" The two screams at him.
Naruto can't say anything to them and continues to free fall into the darkness while looking up at them. The last thing he sees is Ino falling to her knees crying right before he sees nothing but darkness.
Shikamaru still has his head down looking at the darkness. He couldn't believe Naruto fell into the darkness. He moves his head up fast to see Shadow at the platform but he isn't. There's just him and a sobbing Ino.
Shikamaru slowly put his head down and clenches his fist, feeling the tears sting his eyes.