Authors Notes: Hey, this is my first time writing Fan-Fiction so i am rusty with how things work here. Reviews and comments are appreciated especially constructive notes. I am hoping to Publish some actual fiction one day.

I will be going into darker themes (not based on real events either) and I can't stress it enough because I don't wish to offend anyone (Unless its about those made up names, I just strung together letters and thought it sounded ok but i understand if they are awful)

This is actually chapter 1 and 2 Their lengths are fairly consistent so tell me if you like the length or prefer shorter.

I'll try to upload once a week but that could change due to circumstances or if i am able to write enough for two uploads a week.

Second Edition notes: i've updated this chapter and i am going to add the disclaimer (i remembered it in the next chapter but i should really have it here)

I don't own Naruto, same goes for all future chapters. Please support the original owners and writers who made this amazing universe which many of us enjoy.

Hope you enjoy. ^.^

"Come in" Kakashi ordered at the door across her office. She was briefly patting himself down, adjusted the hokage's hat and settled in between two piles of documents. Four ninja entered the room, Sakura, Shikamaru, Hinata and Naruto who was scratching his head over some distant thought. The four stood in front of the hokage and waited to see what Kakashi wanted to tell them.

"I have a mission for you." He paused, "Rank A"

Three of the young adults looked concerned because it has been almost a year since the village needed a rank A mission done. Naruto, resorting back to his childish excitedment.

"Tell us Kakashi, what needs to be done that requires me! The best ninja in the villiage!"

Shikamaru and Sakura both rolled their eyes. Naruto still hasn't grown up. Kakashi glared.

"Now isn't the time to be excited, I fear this might end up as a rank S mission."

"So what is it?" Sakura replied.

"I am not sure you know about this but for a few months now many people have been killed Nearby and within the land of Earth. Now most of these have been bandits, thieves, and slavers but." Kakashi sighed and stood to look out of the window. "Two days ago, four of the Stone's ANBU were found killed on mission along with their charge."

The room took to a morbid silence, ANBU were elite and difficult to defeat because of their unique ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. They were often picked for specific and dangerous tasks which did put them at risk on almost every mission. However four deaths and total mission failure was almost unheard from shinobi of their caliber. Kakashi continued.

"The Village hidden in the Stone has asked for help within the shinobi alliance to find out who was responsible. Many of the villages are struggling since the great war and the Land of Earth is having too many issues with crime. Sakura!" She stood to attention. "You are the medic on this mission."

"Yes"

"Shikamaru! you're relieved of current duties to be team leader and to put your intelligence to something other than paper work." Shikamaru nodded but he sighed a little at the trouble this will cause. "Hinata, help with your sensory abilities."

"Y-Yes Hokage" She responded getting nervous about the mission already.

"And Naruto, protect everyone."

"You can count on me!" He gave the thumbs up with his left arm which was still wrapped in bandages as he had it replaced after he lost the limb fighting Sasuke at the valley of the End. There had been talks of rebuilding the statues as Naruto and Sasuke as a memorial to the last great war, some wanted to keep the original Madara and Hashirama. Others felt it aught to be left as it is now. Nevertheless the idea was on the back-burner for now.

"The four of you are to help the Stone find out who killed the ANBU. They should have more information about what happened but know this. Do. Not. Engage. We have no idea what we are dealing with but if the enemy are strong enough to defeat ANBU. Or it is linked to the recent murders within the criminal world. Do you understand." The last part was largely directed towards Naruto who picked up on this and bowed his head in response but still grinned to the floor. Kakashi sighed as he knew that the best laid plans were doomed to fail when Naruto shook things up.

"Now go and leave on the hour. Make your way to Iwa." Kakashi dismissed with a wave of his hand. He didn't see the four leave as he was already buried himself in quickly scribbling notes down for later. Without Shikamaru or Shizune running the village won't be as smooth.

The four ninja left Kakashi in peace who wiped his forehead, he had not felt this uneasy since the fourth Great war. He put down his pen and notes and looked at the letter concerning about the Stone. He reassured himself over his choice not to tell them there was a possibility that this was an attack from a single assailant. Which meant he was strong enough to take on all four ANBU at the same time.

"ANBU!" He called and a masked ninja kneeled before him. The UNBU worse standard gray attire with a white mask in the shape of a cat. The 'whiskers' were painted green to symbolise the leaf. "Get Sai to send a message to Sauske, tell him he should head to Iwagakure." That should reassure him. No one really knew where Sasuke was but at least it was possible to communicate with him through Sai and His own Hawk summon which gave the village updates on progress but they were predictably vague so no one could decipher his location should his hawk be intercepted. Sai's messenger bird had the advantage of exploding into ink and so destroying the message. Kakashi could only guess if Sai actually knew where Sasuke was or if he had a way of finding out. But Sai's lips were sealed on the matter, even for the Hokage.

Forty minutes later and Naruto was found impatiently waiting by the North Gate. In his excitement to finally get a mission worthy of his skills he had rushed with full speed to be packed with supplies and gear to be ready for the journey. He leaned against the grand entrance and watched as the clouds slink past. His arms folded and one finger tapping against his arm. He was slowly relaxing though, the passing of the clouds was becoming a good pass-time. This was a habit from Shikamaru himself as he loved nothing more than to stop and stare at the heavens as they passed on by.

"Naruto." A soft voice called out and snapped Naruto's attention to where the voice came from. It was Hinata, she looked at Naruto with her pale silver eyes and long hair just catching in the breeze. Naruto smile and approached Hinata with is arms wide he embraced her. She was still shy but with the help from Naruto and the village she was steadily growing out of it and could be affectionate towards Naruto with only a slight blush. The couple weren't official, yet, but they had spent a lot of time together since the war, sharing missions and training together. The idea of hugging and maybe the odd sneaky kiss was the result of Hinata building up the courage and Naruto not minding her advances, even reciprocating them. They stood in the entrance and talked to each other about the last time they had left the village. To them it felt like an age had passed since they got something more important to do than deliveries, diplomacy or guarding.

A short way from the couple stood Sakura who was watching the two ninja talking. Shikamaru walked up behind her.

"You know you should be over there with them." Shikamaru prodded.

"Yeah sorry, just soaking up the view, they have been growing closer now." Sakura replied, she looked back at shikamaru who glanced away. "The idiot is finally growing up."

Shikamaru didn't reply but instead calmly walked up to Naruto and Hinata with Sakura following behind. Once Shikamaru approached he called out.

"Ready to go? We have a long walk ahead of us."

Naruto burst out "Alright! Let's go!" and the team followed Naruto out of their home village.

The party continued on towards the Village hidden in the Stone. On the first day of their journey was through the Land of fire. The places was heavily forested hence the name given to Konoha. Some parts were dangerous and some parts were still yet to be discovered. Streams, caves, cliffs, even ruins hid within the forest creating a varied feel to the place. The path they walked down was the main road to the West, stopping through some towns and villages or branching out to other unseen settlements. Over the course of the next day, the landscape becoming increasingly mountainous with deep forested valleys, though the trees were mostly pine by now, and the mountain tops capped with snow despite it being the height of summer. The journey was uneventful and filled with eat, sleep, and walking. Eventually they came within viewing distance of Iwagakure, standing proudly at the top of the valley and looking down to numerous hamlets and villages as people had started gathering around the shinobi villages to share the prosperity and protection won from the great war. The party who stood at a height above the tree canopy looked at the peaceful picture. For Naruto, this was reward enough, he fought against all odds so the world could find peace. The group began to descend into the valley.

By the time the ninjas reached the original Village of the Stone they had been trying to find an inn to recover for one last night as a treat from their walk. Unfortunately, nowhere had enough available rooms for them so they were forced to report in tired. Once they reached to gates which was calved from the surrounding stone a messenger was waiting for them. A young shinobi waiting patiently in the middle of the gate. He looked around fourteen with a brand-new headband and a standard maroon uniform. The boy ran up to the leaf ninja and bowed before asking them to follow him to the Tsuchikage.

The party was lead straight to the Tsuchikage who had been waiting for them since he heard about their approach. The Tsuchikage was Ohnoki himself, a venerable man who had held office for as long as anyone could remember. His white hair made his posture look wise although he has been known to glare holes into his enemies with his eyes alone. Of late he had been falling ill more often as age was catching up and time was cruel in its treatment over the old Tsuchikage. Recently he had been giving more and more kage powers to his granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, and grooming her to take his place. Ohnoki sat surrounded by officials and trusted shinobi. He stared at the door waiting for a knock which surely came.

The group was lead in by the young shinobi who then bowed and left the room closing the door behind. The Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, grumbled.

"Is this it? Hmph I guess it'll do."

He looked around the room to see some familiar faces and some unfamiliar faces. There were the jonin ninjas from the Leaf, Hinata, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru. He gave a nod of approval. He looked at the ninjas from the Sand. Another team of four, this time chunin level. He recognised Gaara's student, Matsuri, but the other three looked like her age and ability. Two more ninjas from the Cloud, both looked in their forties and well experienced. The man even had an aged scar while the woman had bandages over most of her exposed arms. Lastly the Tsuchikage looked at the ninja sent by the Mist. He was a tall, a good head height taller than the other shinobi present. His armour brandished several sets of weapons and tools. The man stood with his arms crossed and silently waiting.

"As you all know since the war civilians have been gravitating towards our villages. I am not sure how everyone is coping, but crime and gangs have been on the rise and." He paused. "Been difficult to deal with." He sighed at admitting the social troubles which plagued his village. "Every time we deal with one gang another takes its place. While most of the bandits were citizens taking advantage of our weakness some of the larger gangs have shinobi joining up with them. This was the main issue we have been talking since the great war. Until about two months ago, suddenly certain gangs and bandits were being killed off by an unknown shinobi. At first, we thought about leaving the matter. Most of the gangs that were targeted were the worst of the humanity. Slavers, murders, and rapists. Ex-shinobi and Non-shinobi alike." The Tsuchikage stopped to collect his thoughts and to make sure everyone was listening and waited for questioning.

Matsuri spoke up. "Until your ANBU were attacked?" Ohnoki nodded.

"You are correct, the recent deaths made us think about two things. First, who's side are they on? Second, how powerful are they?"

"Do we have any leads?" Shikamaru spoke his thoughts outloud.

"We think it's a single male and the incident is related to the bandits somehow. Their wounds are similar"

"Your report said the ANBU and their charge were killed, any ideas on why their charge was attacked?" The woman from the Cloud spoke. She had a gentle voice and she flicked her hair back as if it helped her concentrate further.

Kurotsuchi, one of the Tsuchikage's bodyguards, his granddaughter, and his right-hand woman. replied. "I remember his request. It was ten days ago, when he made it. A rich nobleman who offered to pay double for protection, Hence the ANBU. His name was." She looked through a few sheets of paper and bringing one to the top. "Chuno Fritushi. A man in charge of a large estate west of here. He offered money but also a sheet of paper, he spoke about he didn't want it anymore and he feared if he kept it any longer he would become a target. At the scene, no piece of paper was found, well not to his description."

"Do we know anything about the paper?" One of Matsuri's team-mates spoke up

"Only that it was very valuable, clearly enough to kill for, apparently."

Sakura had a thought and then shared it. "Do we know of any of his abilities?"

"Actually, we do. Although there aren't many survivors from the bandits; some witnesses have reported use of lightning chakra, a katana blade, and kunai. The wounds on the dead seem to back up their testimony."

Ohnoki waited for more questions with his eyes closed. He opened them. "Right you youngsters, I am allowing Kurotsuchi to join you in this investigation. I wish I could spare more but we have civil-protection duties to carry out. You are all dismissed but listen to Kurotsuchi. She will lead the investigation and organise information and roles for you all."

The team of twelve walked out of the office and Kurotsuchi lead them to a hall. She stood and addressed each group. "Alright here is the plan, although feel free to adapt it to suit your needs. Sand shinobi, can I have your names please?"

"Matsuri." Matsuri replied. She wore the tan flak jacket with a protective had which covered her brown hair and neck from the sand. She was armed with a coiled Johyo on her belt.

"Mitsuoni." A female shinobi with long dark purple hair with the tips bleached white. Dressed similar to Matsuri only without a hard and under her flak jacket was a dark purple kimono which was custom made to still allow movement but allured to her slim and beautiful figure. She wasn't visibly armed but he sweet stature was not to be misinterpreted.

"I'm Atalre and this is Silent Geno." He was the shinobi who spoke before and had the same goofy smile Naruto used to brandish at every given moment. He carried a Naginata in his hand, using it to lean on. Silent Geno simply nodded and scratched his already growing goatee. Staying true to his name he remained quiet. Both wore standard sand shinobi gear although Silent Geno was a good size or two lager than his friend who introduced him.

"Alright." Responded Kurotsuchi. "We have a few bandit survivors in prison, I'd like you to see what they know about the whole situation."

Kurotsuchi. Called in a young genin to show the Sand the way. She passed a letter to said genin who then left with the Sand shinobi in tow.

"Shinobi from the Clouds. Your names please."

"Druarni." The woman spoke with her soft voice.

"And I'm her partner, Arra" Both had well used equipment and Arra has a Katana sheathed on his back."

"You two are to deliver this message to the Ro Alliance, they seem to be benefitting from gangs being killed off. The Tsuchikage wishes to strike a deal with them if it means we get more information."

She turned to the tall ninja from the Mist. "Yonoaka was it?"

He spoke in a deep voice. "I see you have heard of me." The remaining leaf ninja looked a little puzzled because they had no idea who he was. Yonoaka continued. "What do you wish for me to do."

"I need you to go around finding criminal gangs and see if they know anything, apprehend them if you have evidence of their wrong doing, and if possible. Also, try and find our target. Out of everyone here I know that you are superior as an assassin. Try to keep the target alive."

"I shall return with him." He left the room with the two Stone shinobi.

Lastly Kurotsuchi turned to the remaining four ninjas. "I know about Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru, but may I have your name miss?"

"Hinata Hyuuga." She spoke quietly and bowed at the woman. Kurotsuchi managed to hear and jotted her name down.

"I'd like the four of you to go to the Fritushi estate and see if you can find out more about why he was targeted." She then looked at the door and called out. The same genin who greeted the four at the gates entered the room.

"My name is Tammarake, just ask if you need help around the village."

"Thank you, we'd like to find a room to sleep in." Shikamaru replied.

"And somewhere to eat, man I'm starving." Interrupted Naruto. Shikamaru sighed, he'd rather get some sleep, but Naruto practically runs on food, ramen specifically.

After a few minutes the group was lead through Iwa to find a street restaurant, which had enough free seats for the five of them. The buildings were built high and using the natural rock wherever possible although no rock never stopped additional buildings being build at almost every big of available space. Traversing the village and street level proved to be confusing as many roads were narrow and had stairs going up, stairs going down; and many more branches off into many alleyways which snaked through the town like veins within the body. Once they brushed past the curtains Naruto called to the familiar face.

"Bushy Brow!" Naruto stopped, something was missing, a certain sense of youth he usually had. "What's wrong?" Sakura and Hinata both heard Naruto and entered expecting Lee

"I didn't know you were here Lee.. what's wrong?" Sakura repeated.

Lee looked up from his tea. "Oh hey guys, it's that obvious isn't it."

"So what happened Lee." Sakura asked, you could see a dim light shine in Lee's eyes.

"I was training this years' youth in the mountains." Everyone thought poor kids but did not interrupt. "One genin managed to get lost in the mountains and I haven't been able to find her. No one blames me but I feel responsible for her." Lee suddenly shouted up to the air so much so onlookers turned to see who was shouting. "Damn it I won't rest until I find her! Even if it takes up all of my youth to find out what happened to her then so be it."

"Could you tell us what she looks like. It could be connected to our search, can't leave any stones unturned." Shikamaru added, he had thought the possibility of a connection because of all the crime going on. He was not hopeful but it couldn't hurt to cheer up an old teammate, as troublesome as it sounded. Naruto on the other hand piped up.

"Yeah we will find her! Believe it! Don't worry Bushy Brows I'll get her back safe and sound!" In turn this has relit Lee's fire and he immediately smiled. Shikamaru and Sakura rolled their eyes over the optimism while Hinata quietly smiled and giggled over Naruto's childishness.

"Trust Naruto! He'll get her I just know it!" He gave Naruto a thumb up before he turned to the bored looking chef. "A bowl of ramen for my good friend here!"

"Now you're taking." Naruto sat along with the others, Naruto next to Lee, Hinata next to Naruto, Sakura next and lastly Shikamaru. They ordered and ate their food while Lee was giving details about the missing genin.