Hello Everyone I do not own Naruto. Naruto and all of the characters and places therein are the property of Mishashi Kishimoto.
Summary: Naruto is having more and more trouble keeping the kyuubi under control. What will he do to keep the village and his loved-ones safe? Rated M for violence, angst, and thoughts of suicide.
Fog rolled across a still chilly ground surrounding Konoha. The pre-dawn gave off a false light as a lone man walked towards the gates leading out of the village. He was stooped and gray with was seemed many years of hard work.
"The gates don't open for another half-hour old man. It's the law." said Kotetsu, a Chuunin guarding the gate.
"The law only says that no one may enter Konoha before dawn; I don't recall it saying anything about forbidding people to leave the last I checked." said the old man.
"Well…umm…you're technically right, but why would you want to leave so early anyway?" replied Kotetsu.
"I was hired out of a near-by village to oversee a project here. It's done now, and I really want to go home. If I start now I should be able to make it back home by tonight." retorted the old man.
Kotetsu sighed as he pulled out a visitors log. "Well I'm not really supposed to do this but what's your name?" asked Kotetsu.
"Urruya Kaji, thank you sonny." said the old man with a smile.
"Let's see now you're name checks out as you having come here a week ago to oversee a business trade right?" asked Kotetsu.
"That'd be me sonny now can I be on my way?" replied the old man.
"Sure just sign here." said Kotetsu "and dont tell anyone I did this for you or the Hokage'll have my ass."
"You don't have to worry about that. My business with Konoha is done sonny I don't expect I'll be coming back here. Besides, I expect most people would be just as glad to see me go."
Kotetsu put the log book away then moved to a lever and opened the gate just wide enough for one man to comfortably pass through. What a strange old man, ah well, I guess I'd be anxious to get back home too. thought Kotetsu.
The old man began to slowly walk south along the road until he was out of sight of the village he then immediately veered northwest. The sun began to steadily climb over the horizon as dawn came and went. After he was on the road long enough he looked back behind him and saw nothing but trees and a few birds. Well it must be about 9:00 by now, about forty people or so will have passed through the gates. I have maybe an hour or so before anyone realizes I'm gone. It's time to dispel the henge and really cover some distance. thought the old man.
A cloud of smoke burst from the old man and a young blond-haired ninja appeared were he stood. "Time to move I need to be in Grass Country by tomorrow night if I'm really going to do this." said Naruto. He burst off the road and began to quickly leap between the trees at a blinding speed.
Next Chapter Kakashi discovers Naruto is missing.