The Hidden Leaf Village lay quietly in a cool mist as the morning dew was just beginning to rise. It had been raining the past three days, but things were finally starting to look better for the small town. The clouds were clearing, sunshine was on its way at last. It was, in esscence, a perfect day.

It was on this day that Naruto Uzamaki received word of a new mission. That morning a messenger of the Fifth Hokage, Tusnade, brought a letter requesting his immediate presence in her office. Naruto quickly replied, anxious to be off on a new mission. Life had been way to boring to suit his tastes the past few days, and this was just the thing he needed. The weather had been intense and had forced him to halt his training untill it passed. Now, on this bright new day, he had his chance.

Now Naruto found himself on the main road of the Hidden Leaf Villiage almost running the Tsunades presence. He had no clue as to what level of mission this might be, only that it would take him somewhere other than where he was right now: complete boredom.

Finally he arrived at the Building high on the cliff above the village where the Hokage had made there homes for decades. Though very old, it was kept in top pristine condition for the selected few who had the privilege to live there. A privilege I will have someday, Naruto thought to himself.

He entered the building and walked into Tsunade's office. There the beautiful woman, or disguise of a beautiful woman, he thought, sat reading at the large desk in the middle of the office. Nothing could be seen of her below the desk, nor did Naruto have any interest. His mind was focused solely on this new mission.

"You sent for me, Tsunade?" he asked in an anxious tone. The Fifth Hokage looked up from her reading to see the boy in front of her, after which she immediately put down the book. "Yes I did. Come sit down." Naruto quickly did what she asked of him and took a seat on the other side of the desk from Tsunade.

"First of all," Tsunade began. "After talking to many of the others who are here, we have decided to make you a Chuunin of the Hidden Leaf Village."

Naruto stared in shock for the first second, but slowly the big grin eventually came, and Naruto exploded.

"Yeah! Alright! That's what I'm talking about! Naruto Uzumaki, the Chuunin! Believe it!"

Tsunade sighed. "Calm down. I know your happy but please, I'm not done yet."

The newly appointed Chunin finally sat down, still anxious to hear what was next.

"Ok, sorry. Soooo, what's the mission that I was told about in the letter?"

"That's what I was going to cover before you began acting like a fool, as always…" Tsunade replied. She leaned forward in her chair. "This mission is top secret, at least for now. There have been reports of Sasuke being seen in a Village far on the other side of the country. One of our ANBU are following him as we speak. I want you, since you're the only one Sasuke would even dare to show himself to, to find our ANBU and meet with Sasuke. Use any means necessary to bring him down."

"BRING HIM DOWN? Are you wanting me to kill him!?" Naruto said angrily. "If that's what you want I'm out! I don't care what is wrong with Sasuke, I can't kill him, he's still my friend."

The Hokage nodded. "I know it's hard. But you must understand. This is for the safety of everybody. There is an uncontrollable demon inside of him. Orochimaru wanted it to come out. That's why he put it there. If he is not stopped, the country could be destroyed." Tsunade stood up and propped herself up by placing her hands on the table below her. Both stood quietly for a moment.

"I will let you try everything within your abilities or anything you can muster to save him first. Just whatever you do, make sure he is not a threat anymore." She finally told him.

Naruto put his head down and sighed. "I won't kill him. I will save him. I will do whatever it takes."

Tsunade nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Naruto. I will inform Sakura.."

"No, don't tell Sakura. I'm doing this alone." Naruto interfered.

"But…why?"

"She will be too caught up in her emotions, she wont be able to act on the matter."

"What about yourself, Naruto?"

"I'll be ok. Don't worry about me." Naruto stood up and walked to the door. Before he left he looked back at Tsunade. "Don't tell anyone about this. It would be better that way. I'll come back, and Sasuke will be better."

"I hope so…?" Tsunade said to herself, but by the time she looked up and Naruto he was already gone.