Prelude

Blue eyes stared ahead, watching as four figures landed on the statue of the Shodaime Hokage. The eyes looked grimly at the four, as one, a silver haired man, stepped forward. The owner of the blue eyes shook their head, going into a battle stance. Nothing was said between the two men, but they both knew what had to be done. The man spoke up, "Why, Naruto? Why did you do this to us?"

The boy stared at the man, before answering, "Because, I desire to live." The boy then began to remember just what brought them to this, from the very first moment of meeting the Sannin, Orochimaru.

Flashback

Naruto growled as he faced down the snake-like man, who simply smiled. Naruto charged forward at the man, who simply stepped out of the way. The man then was behind Naruto, pinning him down with sheer strength. The man leaned down and whispered to the boy, "Would you like more power, boy? I can give you power, strength, and your dreams will be fulfilled."

Red chakra began to flare, causing the man to leap back, as the boy stood up and faced him.

"I'll do it."

The snake-like man smiled and nodded, leaving the boy with a few simple words.

"You will know where to find me."

Present

Naruto dived downed into the valley, followed by the four figures, each on his tail. As he hit the base, he went to the middle of the lake, turning to face the four, until they spread out around him in a square-like fashion. He shifted his right foot, before charging at a boy with raven black hair, smashing his elbow into the boy's gut. The boy that had been hit went flying back, into the valley walls, while the silver haired man charged at Naruto from behind. Naruto quickly turned, only to see lightning. Naruto cursed, knowing the technique all too well. His eyes widened as it got closer, memories of seeing it for the first time flashing back.

Flashback

Naruto stared ahead at his enemy for the Chunin Exams, Uchiha Sasuke. The two were rivals and now enemies for the exams. When the signal was given, the two charged at each other and started throwing kicks and punches at each other, until Naruto swung around and smashed his left leg into Sasuke's back. Sasuke caught himself on the ground, gritting his teeth in the mean time. Naruto landed, as he undid wrappings around his hands, to reveal a fox's head tattoo on his right palm. He bit his thumb, drawing blood over the tattoo and formed the hand seals that made several shinobi widen their eyes, when a certain technique was said

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" came the voice of Naruto, as smoke rose from where he was. When it cleared, there was Naruto and two foxes. One fox was black, a little larger than most full grown nin-dogs, and a white fox at the same size. Sasuke's eyes widened as the foxes charged at him, without Naruto saying a thing. Sasuke prepared to stop the two foxes, until he felt a presence behind him and turned to see Naruto. The next moment, a fist slammed into Sasuke, sending him crashing and rolling into the ground.

Sasuke slowly got up, glaring at Naruto, before leaping back onto the wall at a higher position and putting his hand in an odd position.

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he felt chakra gathering to Sasuke's open palm. He motioned to the two foxes, which went back to being at his side. When Sasuke's technique was ready, Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke charged down the wall. He cursed and began forming hand seals. The foxes growled, as their fur began to 'glow' with chakra.

Both boys yelled out the name of their technique at the same time

"CHIDORI!"

"SHOUHEKI: SANRYOUKYOU!"

Present

As Naruto was struck through by the technique, he disappeared in a puff of smoke. This was the Kage Bunshin technique, a favorite of the young boy's arsenal of techniques he knew. Naruto watched from the top of the valley as he sighed, shaking his head. He turned, beginning to walk away. He looked ahead, just walking away from the valley. He would have made it a little further, had a blur of pink not stopped him. In his way stood a pink haired girl, who was crying and extending her arms out, to stop him.

"Why…why did you have to leave Konoha, Naruto?" spoke the young girl, who held her head down as she sobbed, still trying to stop him. Naruto could only stare at her as he removed his white wrappings. He discarded them to the side, not saying a thing as he walked forward, chakra flaring around his hands. The young girl stayed there, defiant to the end, as she heard Naruto approach. She felt hands touch her arms and push them down with little struggle. She then felt a hand cup her chin and lift her head up.

Emerald eyes met a grim gaze from sapphire eyes in friendly nature for perhaps the last time.

Naruto stared at the girl and spoke his final words to his past crush, the girl he adored in secret, and the one thing that had kept him from destroying people who had hurt him.

"Let go of your feelings, for I can't return them."

Naruto then let go of her, and moved past her as the silver haired man was dashing at him.

Naruto glanced back, as he smiled a grim smile at his former crush and his former sensei. The man stopped, knowing the gaze and smile too well and for once, could only nod.

"Goodbye, Hatake Kakashi. Tell the elders the truth."
With those words, Naruto was gone.

Glossary:

Chidori -

This technique channels a large amount of lightning chakra to the user's hand. The amount of chakra is so great that it becomes visible. The high concentration of electricity produces a sound reminiscent of many birds chirping, hence the name. Once the technique is completed, the user charges forward and thrusts the Chidori into the target. This produces heavy amounts of damage that is usually fatal. This technique is classified as an assassination technique because of the speed at which it is performed, despite the loud noise it produces.

Kuchiyose no Jutsu -

A Summoning Technique is a space–time jutsu that allows the summoner to transport animals across long distances instantly.

Shouheki: Sanryoukyou -

Barrier: Prism is a technique made by Uzumaki Naruto during his years in Konoha. It took him months to perfect it, but in its current state, the technique allows itsself to stop one A rank technique. The technique sacrifices two fox summons to form a giant prismatic barrier in front of Naruto. After enough hits, it shatters.