Chapter 1: An End, A Beginning…

Cold. He shivered in spit of himself. It was impossible for him to become cold; he knew that was an unpleasant side effect of his tenant. He wrapped his arms around his knees. He hated thinking about his "guest". It was because of his unwelcome guest that things were the way they were.

He shivered again. He remembered that moment well. That moment when his world came crashing down around him. When his old life ended…

"Sakaura-chan really likes Sasuke doesn't she? Don't worry. I'll bring Sasuke back for sure. Believe it!" Naruto told Sakura. He plastered a huge grin on his face.

"Thank you Naruto," Sakura whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"Alright, lets go," Shikamaru said. "We don't have much time."

The Sasuke Retrieval Team followed Shikamaru out of the village gates. Naruto sent another fake smile Sakura's way before following them

Why Sasuke? He thought as he sped through the treetops. Why is it always about him. He growled. Well if bringing Sasuke back is the only thing that'll make Sakura notice me, then I guess I have no choice. I'll bring him back no matter what. And anyone who gets in my way is going down!

But he had failed to stop Sasuke from going to Orochimaru, and worse yet, he was forced to unnecessarily drawn on the Kyuubi's power.

"Naruto, how could you?" Sakura screamed when he entered the village. "You promised me you would bring him back to me. You lied to me! I hate you!" She ran off crying.

Naruto felt as though a stake had been driven through his heart. He felt numb and cold inside, as though he had lost himself. He felt as if his while existence no longer mattered.

"Come on Naruto," Kakashi said, "lets get you to the hospital". The journey to the hospital was a long quiet one. Naruto could feel the glares that he was receiving from the villagers. A couple of them threw trash at him, but he made no attempt to block it. It didn't matter to him anymore. Kakashi did it for him.

After Naruto had been diagnosed (he was fine thanks to the Kyuubi) and they were sitting in his room, Kakashi said, "You did well today Naruto. All of you did. I didn't expect you to get as far as you did against Orochimaru's. And don't worry about Sasuke. It wasn't your fault. Sakura will see that once she calms down."

But it was his fault. He had broken a promise. He had failed Sakura, Sasuke, the entire village, and himself.

"Naruto! Kakashi!" Shizune exclaimed as she came bursting into the room. She bore a somber expression on her face.

"What is it Shizune?" Kakashi said seriously.

"I can't really talk," she said. "I've been -," she hesitated, "-I've been told to give this to Naruto." She held out a piece of paper folded in half. "It's from Tsunade." She handed Naruto the letter. He opened it with shaking hands and read.

Naruto, I'm sorry to have to do this to you. You must leave the village now or the council will have you killed for using the charka of the nine-tailed in your battle against Sasuke, as well as during the Chunnin Exams. I can't stop it. Anbu are already on their way to arrest you. Leave Now!

Naruto was at a loss for words. He dropped the letter into his lap, shock and disbelief etched across his face. Kakashi also had surprise written across his face.

"I'm sorry Naruto," Shizune said, tears spilling down her cheek. "If only…"

"We have to get you out of here Naruto," Kakashi said. "Is there anything that you want me to get for you on your way out of the village? Let me know. I'll get you some money too. Go stay with Inari and his family. You'll be safe there."

Naruto said nothing.

"Naruto…," Kakashi's voice softened. "We have to get you out of here Naruto. It's for your safety. You understand right?"

Naruto stared into his lap, silent. A lone tear rolled down cheek and feel into his hand. Naruto gazed at the wet spot on his hand and that's when it seemed to hit him. His hand curled into a fist. After all he'd done for them, for the village and everyone in it, this is how they wanted to repay him. This is how they reward him for taking down the Shukaku, and for convincing Tsunade to return to the village as Hokage.

"No more," Naruto growled. His eyes flashed crimson.

"Naruto…" Shizune said.

"Leave!" Naruto shouted, followed by another growl. His nails and canines elongated and sharpened. His eyes thinned into slits and turned crimson and the whisker marks on his cheeks became more pronounced.

Kakashi hopped to his feet and pulled his headband up, revealing his Sharingan. He gasped at what he saw. He could see copious amounts of red charka being gathered at Naruto's naval. If he built up anymore…

"Shizune! Lets go!" Kakashi called to her.

"What…"

Damn Kakahi thought. No time. He grabbed Shizune and flung her out the door and dived out after her.

"Duck!" He shouted and covered his head with his arms.

There was a flash of red light and the walls surrounding Naruto's exploded outward. Wood and plaster went flying over Kakashi's. He raised his head and coughed as he inhaled dust. When the dust cleared he could make out Naruto on all fours, surrounding by a cloak of charka with two charka tails swishing behind him.

Dammit Naruto. You just had to make everything worse. Kakashi looked around to inspect the damage. He could see that Shizune was a little banged up, but relatively alright. A couple of people groaned as they rose to their feet, and shook rubble off themselves. Doesn't look like anyone's hurt. Good. Kakashi thought. He turned back toward Naruto's hospital room but Naruto was gone.

"Oh shi- "

"

"RASENGAN!" Naruto shouted, and thrust the swirling ball of charka into Kakashi's stomach. Kakashi was thrown back into a wall, and slid down, unconscious.

I show them all. Naruto turned back to his room, and leapt out of the hole he had created in the wall. He took off across the rooftops.

((((()))))

"Tsunade!" Shizune yelled as she burst into the Hokage's office out of breath.

"Shizune, what is it?" Tsunade asked.

"Its…Naruto"

((((()))))

BOOM

Another house exploded into as Naruto tore through it.

A barrage of kunai was thrown his way. Naruto simply waved his hand and the kunai disintegrated against his charka cloak. His tails obliterated an earth jutsu headed his way, and threw its caster down the street.

I'll show them all who their dealing with.

Naruto continued his rampage through the village, destroying anything that got in his path. A line of destruction was left in Naruto's wake as he steadily progressed to the Hokage Monument.

Almost there was Naruto thought before he felt something hard connect with his back, throwing him forward into the monument. He stood up slowly and spat out a mouthful of blood. With a sickening crunch, his shoulder popped back into place, and he turned around.

There stood Tsunade with an angry scowl plastered on her face.

"I don't want to have to hurt you Naruto. Stop this madness!" Tsunade said.

Naruto stood unmoving.

A crowd began to gather underneath the two. Civilians cursed and jeered at Naruto (as well as some ninja). Those that knew him however screamed at him to stop.

"Naruto…" Hinata whispered.

"Stop this Naruto," screamed Ino.

Still Naruto said nothing. He didn't respond in anyway to the words being thrown at him.

"Next time I won't hold back Naruto," Tsunade said. "Don't make me do this." She was close to tears.

Naruto stared directly at Tsunade with his crimson eyes. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he brought his fingers up into a familiar cross shaped seal.

"Tajuu: Kage Bushin no Jutsu"

Hundreds of shadow clones appeared on either side of Naruto, all of them with a demon fox cloak. Each Naruto stretched out its palm.

"No…" Tsunade whispered as charka began gathering in their hands. "Stop him!" She called to the Anbu who had gathered near her. They all rushed forward, hoping to stop Naruto before his jutsu was completed.

But it was too late. The Naruto's all turned to face the Hokage Monument with completed Rasengans in their hands.

"NO MORE!" Naruto shouted, and he and his clones drove their Rasengans into the base of the monument.

Chunks of rock flew everywhere as Naruto and his clones continued to drive into the monument, until their Rasengans had dispersed. A low rumbling was heard and a large crack grew from the base of the mountain to the Fourth's face.

BOOM

A large bolder fell from the mountain cliff and demolished a house. The sound was deafening. The ground began shaking.

"Everyone get out of here!" Tsunade shouted.

The crowd, ninja and civilian alike, turned and fled from the monument. Rocks, large and small, rained down from the mountain. The downpour of rocks slowly increased, until the mountain shuddered and collapsed.

Dust and debris flew everywhere.

Tsunade threw herself to the ground and covered her head. When the dust finally cleared Tsunade gasped. The entire monument was nothing more than a pile of rubble, and Naruto was gone.

((((()))))

"Interesting," said Itachi, who had witnessed the event. This could prove helpful to my plans.

"I'm leaving Kisame."

Kisame looked up from the fire that he was tending to. "What the hell are you talkin' about Itachi?"

"There is business that requires my attention," Itachi said calmly. "I will return when I am done."

With that he sped off into the forest.

Naruto's breath caught in his chest and he shivered again. It wasn't the cold that made him shiver however. Nor was it his recollections of his actions. No, he shivered because of the pair of eyes hovering over him; Cold, emotionless eyes, blood red eyes with three comma-like marks swirling around in them.

Sharingan eyes.

He had only enough time to brace him before he heard the sound of a kunai being drawn, saw a glint of steel, and Itachi attacked.