Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to the guy who created the series (I forgot his name…don't hurt me), so yea…that's it for the disclaimer…

A/N: This is the first fanfic I've ever written, so if it isn't great, sorry. It'd be great if you could review, so that I could make improvements. I'm now going back and making some minor changes to old chapters, such as all jutsu being done in the format Japanese name (English name). Thanks!

Summary: When Sasuke seeks Orochimaru in search for more power, the Hokage has no choice but to send a retrieval team, even knowing that he left of his own free will. What happens when Akatsuki gets involved in the mission to hunt the two of the three most infamous traitors in Konoha history? With a new team at his back, can Naruto succeed where so many have failed?

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The team led by Shikamaru had left a little over five hours ago, but Tsunade still couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Sasuke would not risk escaping alone, and any helpers sent by Orochimaru to secure his prize would not be pushovers. Hoping to dislodge her unrest, she read through more mission reports. Success. Success. Failure, he would be punished... Success. Success. Success… Halfway through the stack, she couldn't stand her disquiet any longer. The nagging voice in the back of her head would not give up. Relenting, she called in her assistant.

"Shizune! Get me Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, and Kurenai! Tell them it's about their students, and tell Kakashi to NOT be late—or suffer my wrath." She scowled fiercely at the paperwork, imagining the satisfying thud of her fist making contact with the Copy Nin. Stifling a chuckle, Shizune left to fetch the Jounins.

"Reporting for duty, Hokage-sama!" an ever-enthusiastic Gai suddenly burst into the room, followed closely by Asuma, Kurenai, and surprise! Kakashi. "The charming Shizune-san told us you wanted to see us about our youthful students! Fear not, their flames of passion will carry them through!"

Tsunade scowled more. "No doubt you heard that Lee went off to help them. I have a bad feeling about what's happening out there, and I need you four to go search and rescue them. Also, Lee should not be out of bed yet, and I want him brought back before he can hurt himself even more. Consider this a B-rank retrieval mission."

Four voices answered in unison. "Hai."

In a flash, all four Jounins were gone.

Scene Break

The first body they found was Chouji. He lay there, barely breathing, and blissfully unconscious. He had visibly lost weight, a sure indication that he had used the Red Pill. Asuma winced as he surveyed Chouji's wounds. With a nod to his counterparts, he picked up Chouji, and leapt away, back towards the village from whence he came.

After seeing Chouji's body, the others couldn't help but wonder darkly about the state that their respective students would be in. There was no doubt that Chouji had won the battle, but at a terrible price. He would be in critical condition after using all three Akimichi pills.

Moving on, they found Neji, with a hole through his shoulder. Gai gaped at his injured student, considered by Lee to be the ultimate rival. "I'll take him," Kurenai offered, knowing that Kakashi and Gai wanted to find their protégés. "He must be seen to. If you happen to come across Kiba, send him back will you? I am sure he will not be seriously injured," she said with a confidence she did not feel, looking to her friends for support.

"Of course we will," replied Kakashi, with his usual cheery smile, though he could not hide the worried look in his eye. "He's strong. He'll be fine."

"I, the Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha, guarantee it, lovely lady," exclaimed Gai, in his signature nice guy pose. "Rest assured, he will be safe."

"Thank you." Without another word, Kurenai picked up Neji, and left the scene.

"Well now, my eternal rival, it appears that it is down to us once again!" Gai turned to Kakashi, who merely raised an eyebrow at him.

"Eh? You said something?"

Facefaulting, Gai lamented, "You're so hip, Kakashi! I'll race you to see who finds the next student first!"

Kakashi nodded. "Let's go."

Scene Break

"SASUKE YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY KONOHA? HOW COULD YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR OWN VILLAGE!" Naruto was furiously pounding at a helpless Sasuke, berating him for his treachery. "YOU HAD EVERYTHING! YOU WERE ACCEPTED, YOU WERE ADMIRED….AND YOU THREW IT ALL AWAY! AND WHAT ABOUT SAKURA-CHAN? YOU….YOU….BASTARD!"

Sasuke simply smirked in a self satisfied way. "Dobe…if you only knew the power Orochimaru offered me…if you had this power, you may even be able to be Hokage…but as it is…" Breaking off, he suddenly lurched forward, and smashed his head into Naruto's.

"GAH!" Surprised, and more than a little injured, Naruto landed on his back, but immediately hopped to his feet. "KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU (Shadow Clone Technique)!"

Twenty clones surrounded Sasuke. "Bastard, now I will make you pay, for mocking my dreams, for betraying Konoha, and doing what you did to Sakura-chan. It's unforgivable!" Drawing out a kunai, he charged at Sasuke.

"Hmph. Once a dobe, always a dobe. Katon: Housenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Mythical Fire Flower)!" Fireballs shot out from Sasuke's mouth obliterating Naruto's clones. Dropping the tiger seal, he smoothly loosed the shuriken he'd pulled from his sleeve. "Kage Shuriken no Jutsu (Shadow Shuriken Technique)!"

Shurikens ripped at Naruto, who barely managed to defend his vital spots with a kunai. "Kuso…looks like I'll have to get serious…Rasengan (Spiral Bullet)!"

"Don't make me laugh….that puny thing will have no chance against my CHIDORI (Thousand Birds)!" So saying, Sasuke started charging his Chidori, as Naruto prepared his Rasengan. This time, there would be no Kakashi to stop them. This time would be for real.

They crashed in a gigantic explosion of dust. Sasuke was knocked out of the smoke by the blast, but he could see no sign of Naruto. He coughed to clear his lungs. "Hn…easy. Just what I would expect from the dead last…now, to get to Orochimaru…" He turned to leave, but heard a voice behind him. "Where do you think you're going eh? Coward!"

Naruto appeared, on the head of a giant toad, giving his best scowl. Sasuke stared at him with wide eyes, this is the technique he used on Gaara and Shukaku…the giant toad…shit…

Even as the thoughts raced through his mind, he heard a gravelly voice behind him. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!" A giant snake appeared under him, carrying him up on its head. Orochimaru and Kabuto stepped to either side of him.

Grinning maniacally, Orochimaru addressed Sasuke, "I see you have chosen power over your pathetic friends…?

Sasuke only smirked.

"Kabuto, do as you wish with the Kyuubi boy. Me and Manda will take care of an old friend…ne, GamaBunta?" Their only response was a disgruntled snort from the toad.

"Oy, Naruto, you never said anything about Manda…we're screwed now…."

"What! Shut the hell up you old frog! I'm gonna be the Hokage! I can't die now!"

As Naruto was yelling at GamaBunta, Kabuto appeared right next to him. "I'm sorry Naruto-kun. But I must kill you now." Kabuto's arm flashed out, holding a needle, aiming for Naruto's neck. GamaBunta wrapped his tongue around Naruto, temporarily protecting him. Manda seized the opportunity, and tackled and bit the toad, causing Gama to disappear in a puff of smoke.

As Naruto fell through towards the ground chagrined at the sudden turn of events, Sasuke appeared behind him, and kicked him past the edge of the cliff. Following that up with the ShiShi Rendan, he knocked Naruto into the statue of Shodaime. "Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu (Fire Element: Dragon Fire Technique)!" Naruto screamed as he was burned, with no escape. Kabuto jumped off the cliff, and as soon as he could get a clear line of sight, he launched several needles at Naruto, hitting his shoulders, legs, and arms. With a last groan, Naruto fell out of the cliff face, towards the raging rapids below.

"Let's go Sasuke-kun. Orochimaru-sama will be waiting for us back at Otogakure." They jumped away into the distance, leaving Naruto for dead.

Scene Break

Kakashi and Gai caught up with Shikamaru, Kiba, and Lee. Thanks to the Sabaku siblings, they were not killed. Unfortunately, Kiba was losing blood fast, and Lee had passed out, after straining himself so much after the surgery. Shikamaru was still in a semi-whole state. With the help of the three siblings of the Sand, Gai and Shikamaru headed back towards Konoha with their burden.

"You had better get those two students of yours Kakashi! I'm counting on you!" Gai said, once again in his trademark pose.

"Sure sure," Kakashi waved him off. "Just don't get lost like you usually do."

"What! I? Lost? Do not underestimate me, eternal rival!"

Scene Break

Following Naruto's tracks was easy, since he had taken no care to hide them. As Kakashi reached the battleground, he froze, unnerved by the apparent intensity of the battle that had taken place. Dazed, he looked around for signs of Naruto or Sasuke. Seeing a charred spot on the ground with Naruto's body print convinced him that Sasuke had indeed turned traitor. He grimly resolved to personally hunt down the last Uchiha, once a team could be formed. He had lost yet another teammate.

Further investigation showed that the battle had proceeded towards the cliff face. As he peered over the edge, he thought he saw some yellow mixed into the gray and brown of the dirt and rocks below. Taking a chance, he leapt down to what he hoped was his number 1, most hyperactive ninja student.

Approaching the splotch of yellow now stark against the ground, he could tell that this was no doubt Naruto. He rushed over and quickly assessed Naruto's injuries. The results were appalling. It was amazing that Naruto was still breathing, albeit only barely. As he tried to think of a plan to take Naruto back to the village without disturbing him too much, a cushion of sand came and picked Naruto up. Startled, he looked up straight into the eyes of Gaara of the Sand.

"My brother and sister, and your friend, do not need my assistance in bringing those other two ninja back to your village. I decided that you would need my help more, and followed you here. I will make sure he is not jolted."

Guessing that this was as close to expressing respect for Naruto as possible, Kakashi silently followed Gaara back towards Konoha.

Scene Break

Three days later, Naruto awoke to the unfamiliar ceiling of the hospital, with a smiling Kakashi bending over him. "O-ha-yo!"

"WAH! You scared me Kakashi-sensei!"

"I'm glad you're safe."

A confused Naruto surveyed his surroundings, and looked questioningly at his sensei. "Ano, Kakashi-sensei, how'd I get here?"

"Gaara brought you here. Apparently, he was so impressed when you defeated him, he thought you were worthy of his…respect…and he brought you back."

"Oh…"

Kakashi gravely studied his student. "And now, I have a question for you. Those injuries you sustained would have killed any other genin, or even chuunin. On top of that, you were tossed into a raging river. How did you survive?"

"Well, it was like this…"

Flashback

Naruto was falling, sure that he was going to die. Suddenly recalling a similar situation when he first learned to summon GamaBunta, he closed his eyes, and delved deep into his mind.

"Oy, Kyuubi! You damn fox, get your ass out here!"

"WHELP! WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?"

"You know that if I die, we both die right? Well, I'm gonna die RIGHT NOW if you don't help me out. I need you to heal me, at least enough to survive the fall, and until help arrives, alright?"

"DAMN WHELP, THIS IS EXTORTION…IF I WEREN'T SO DEPENDANT ON YOU AS A HOST…"

"But you are." Naruto grinned despite the pain in his physical body, as well as the fear he felt at once again facing this demon.

"VERY WELL THEN…BUT DON'T GET USED TO THIS…"

"Hai hai!"

Just as the red chakra enveloped him, Naruto hit the water with a resounding splash.

End Flashback

"So that's what happened!" Naruto grinned up at Kakashi. "I'm hungry. Can you go buy me some Ramen?"

"You talked to the Kyuubi before? Hmm…"

"So can we go get Ramen now?"

"Nope, you need to rest, here in the hospital."

"Wha-..WHAT! I don't want to stay here, with the lousy food."

"The Chuunin Exam is in one month. Unless you want to miss out because you got injured from straining yourself, I suggest you stay here."

"Fine…" Naruto groused. "Ano, what happened to that bastard, Sasuke?"

"He…left…" Kakashi's previous jovial mood suddenly turned grim. "I must go talk with the Hokage about new team assignments. See you later." Pulling out his book, he strolled out the door, serenaded by Naruto's curses and questions about Sasuke.

As the door swung shut behind him, Naruto's swearing diminished.

"Sasuke…why…?"

Scene Break

It has been a week since the fight with Sasuke, and Naruto felt completely recovered.

"Ahhh! It feels great to be walking again! Maybe I should go visit some of those other people who came with me on that mission…" With his hands behind his head, he sauntered through the halls, heading towards the front desk.

"Ano, could you tell me the room number of Hyuuga Neji?" If I can find Neji's room, I'm sure he could tell me where everyone else is.

The pretty young nurse at the desk smiled at his apparent enthusiasm, and gave him the room numbers.

"Here you go."

"Arigatou!"

Looking at the list, he let out a huge groan. Oh no, these rooms are all the way on the other side of the hospital! Dammit, I just came from there too… He muttered a curse and stalked off, back towards where he came from.

The first door he arrived at was Neji's. Not bothering to knock, he barged in with an enthusiastic greeting. "OHAYO!"

Instead of the friendly salutation he was expecting, he found a kunai quivering near his ear after thudding into the door frame. "Eh heh…what is this?"

Nara Shikamaru sweatdropped. "How troublesome…I thought you were an intruder. You're lucky I recognized you in time to force a miss."

"He- Hey! What's that supposed to mean! And what are you doing here anyways?"

"I wasn't hurt much, and being waited on by those annoying nurses was getting bothersome…so I came to visit Neji."

Reminded of the reason he had originally came, Naruto turned towards the bed that Neji occupied.

This Neji was no longer the arrogant asshole that he had fought at the Chuunin Exam. He had the tempered confidence that only those who had a close encounter with death possessed. He stared back at Naruto with those pupil-less eyes, as if daring him to say something about his current vulnerable condition. Naruto, however, had different ideas.

"Hey, I heard you fought hard against that creepy spider guy. I'm glad to hear that you never gave up, even when you knew that you were outmatched. You fought against your so-called destiny, and beat it too." Naruto put his hand on Neji's shoulder. "Looks like you're not so bad after all."

Surprised to hear this from Naruto, Neji looked up and saw that Naruto meant what he said. And then, to his own chagrin, he found himself being grateful to Naruto. "Thank you. I take back my comments about you being a loser. I see now that you truly do have the right mindset to be Hokage. I will support you from now on."

As Naruto grinned and cheered, Shikamaru looked on from the sidelines, with a look of boredom on his face. "After hearing about what happened to you, Naruto, I've also gained a whole new respect for you. Maybe you're not so troublesome after all."

Naruto turned to Shikamaru with tears streaming down his face. "Wow really? I can't believe this! I'm finally being acknowledged!" Blissfully ignorant of the embarrassment of the other two people in the room, he danced around the room, cheering like a maniac.

Neji turned his head away in disgust. "Please, refrain from behaving like Lee. One of him is enough. I do not want to see you turn into him too."

Grinning mischievously, Naruto hopped onto Neji's bed, and looked right into his pupil-less eyes. "Did I tell you about the time Gai gave me a suit EXACTLY like Lee's…?"

Neji's eyes widened in horror, only to be met with Naruto's laughter, as he rolled on the ground, cracking up. "HAHAHA YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR FACE!" Even Shikamaru could hardly restrain himself from cracking a smile.

Neji just glared.

Scene Break

Throughout the month leading up to the Chuunin exam, Naruto trained hard, assisted by Kakashi. Now that Sasuke was gone, Naruto was now be his main priority. Also, Sakura had sunk into a depression following Sasuke's departure. Team 7 was no more, though its members were still alive. Through hard work, and constant practice, Naruto learned his first elemental jutsu. I can't wait until the exam…they'll all be so surprised, Naruto snickered inwardly, before going back to his training. Ripped up trees, and torn straw dummies were very much evident throughout the area, proof of his training.

"Yosh! Naruto, for your hard work this past month, I think you deserve some Ramen!"

"YEAH! But you say that every day…"

Rubbing the back of his head, Kakashi grinned sheepishly, "Well, I haven't been doing as many missions while training you, which is why I'm saving money."

Still looking suspiciously at him, Naruto accepted the answer. "Alright then, LET'S GO!"

Scene Break

At the Ichiraku, while Naruto ate, Kakashi thought about how to break the news to Naruto that Team 7 was officially dissolved.

With a sigh, Kakashi decided that it would be best if he just told him straight out. "Ano, Naruto-kun, there's something you should know."

"What, are you going to buy me more ramen?"

Sweatdropping, Kakashi shook his head. "Iie, it's about Team 7. It has been dissolved, and new teams will be formed. This is because Sasuke," Kakashi said the name in a dark manner, "is gone, and Sakura needs emotional support. Since the two were once best friends, and the object of their rivalry is gone, everyone thought it would be best if Sakura and Ino were put into the same team."

"WHAT! WHO'S ON MY TEAM THEN!"

"Neji, and TenTen."

"What about Lee?" With a sad look on his face, Kakashi shook his head. "He relapsed into his previous condition. Fortunately, this time is not as bad as before, so the surgery will not be life threatening, but he will still be unable to participate in the exam."

"So Sakura-chan is with Ino and Chouji?"

"Hai."

"Why couldn't I be with her?" Ignoring the rest of the world, Naruto slumped down, mumbling darkly to himself.

Embarrassed, Kakashi slapped Naruto lightly, bring him back to reality. "Yosh! Time to meet your new team members!"

Still hunched over, Naruto followed Kakashi out the door, to face his new team.

A/N: Well, that's it for the first chapter. What did you think? Was it too short? Boring? Please review! And if you flame, please make it constructive flaming ;

I think I'll try to include some random insanity based on one of the scenes in each chapter. Could be fun? Warning: there may be lots of OOC. It's insanity, remember D

Grinning maniacally, Orochimaru addressed Sasuke, "I see you have chosen power—"

"Yes, power over my friends, now get on with it," Sasuke snorted impatiently.

Orochimaru's eye twitched. "Don't interrupt m—"

"Okay, okay, now will you hurry up? There's a giant toad ready to sto—" Sasuke, in turn, was also cut off by an irate Kabuto.

"You fight like a married couple! In case you didn't notice, we're about to be flattened by a toad," Kabuto yelled.

He was ignored.

"—mped by a giant freaking toad. And I need to live to kill aniki remember?" Sasuke finished.

Orochimaru took a breath. Damned subordinates. "Look, I am the Otokage, and I will be teaching you, so will you please stop interru—"

"Why do you call him aniki if you hate him so much? Doesn't aniki imply respect?" Kabuto looked pointedly at Sasuke.

"Okay, I order both of you to stop inter—"

"What do you know about me! I am an avenger! I can say what I want, because he killed my whole clan. I hate him! He made me an avenger!"

"Shut the hell up and listen to ME! I am your mast—"

"Will you stop it with the angst, bishie-boy? I'm am so fucking tired of angsty bishounens. Why must Orochimaru-sama always associate with bishounens?" Kabuto sighed. He started ticking names off his fingers. "First, Kimmimaro. Then Sasori. And his partner Deidara. Now you. Oh, and me," he added as an afterthought.

"I WILL SKIN YOU AND FEED YOU TO MAND—"

They were all squashed by GamaBunta's foot.

Preview:

Naruto was the only one left, standing in the open and glaring at Kakashi.

"Naruto, shouldn't you be hiding and forming a plan?"

Naruto just grinned, threw a couple shuriken, and attacked. Kakashi sighed. This again. However, just as he dodged the shurikens, the Naruto charging at him vanished in a puff of smoke. Kakashi's eye widened. A clone? When did he make that? Suddenly, the shurikens that he had dodged changed back into more Naruto's. Nani! When did he have time to do this! Before he had time to properly defend himself, a Naruto had gotten behind him.

"TAKE THIS KAKASHI-SENSEI! Sennen Goroshi!"