New Reasons To Smile

Prologue

He always liked the night. He used to watch the stars sparkle through the window of his lonely apartment, every once in a while reaching up, as if trying to grab one of those tiny bundles of light, only to grasp at the empty air, filling his fist with nothingness. He knew he'd never reach them; that they were impossible to attain, just like the unicorns of legend. But that never stopped him from trying. He never stopped trying to reach the stars, always hoping that someday, he'd feel the warmth of the tiny bundle in his palm, and the joy of doing the impossible.

Slowly, the young blonde boy reached up once more, breaking stride to reach up and grasp at the sky. He felt it again, the same emptiness filling his fist. Slowly, he lowered his fist, replacing it at his side, and continued forward, keeping his gaze at the ground.

He hated the feeling of the stone as he walked along the Konoha streets. He wanted to break free from it all, to remove his restraints that kept him bound. His hand twitched as he raised it, running it over the cool metal of his forehead protector. With a small growl, he wrapped his hands around the front of the metal, and pulled, undoing the knot behind his head and letting the cloth flow, before falling lifeless, still strapped to the metal between his fingers. He placed it in his pocket, and continued on, towards the gates, and towards the next step to his freedom.

And before he knew it, he was there: the great gates of Konoha. Like always, they were open, welcoming the needy into a warm new beginning, but to Naruto, it was the first step on the road to a long journey.

But unlike the many times he'd left before, the boy wasn't smiling. He'd just come through those gates earlier that day, bringing back the body of his former comrade, Sasuke Uchiha. It had been a bloody battle, but Naruto made good on his promise to bring Sasuke back even if he had to break his body to do so. Sakura took him and Sasuke to the hospital when they got back, not even mad at Naruto for hurting Sasuke. She actually hugged him when he walked through he gates with the battered Uchiha, with Kakashi giving him an approving nod. He smiled a bit at the memory. And for a short while, it seemed that the day was getting even better as he relayed his mission results to the council. They all gave him small smiles as he told them how he fought Sasuke, and successfully completed the mission.

But…

Shortly after, Sasuke woke up, and was ordered to relay a report to the council. He relayed what happened to a runner ninja, and the runner ninja told the council. However, although their stories were almost exactly alike, Sasuke's report told them about a strange red Chakra in the shape of a fox, and how Naruto fought so savagely after his body was surrounded by that Chakra. The look the council gave Naruto made things clear: whatever trush they'd placed in him was long lost.

So now, here he stood, mere feet away from the gate, in an orange cloak with black flames licking the bottom running to his feet, and black kanji on the back for 'Isan', or legacy, and a black spiral on the right side of his collar. The collar was held together around his neck with a black string, laced and connecting with his shirt. He also wore a fishnet shirt and a black jacket with some orange lining, both with sleeves reaching his wrists. His jacket was left undone, clearly revealing the necklace Tsunade had given him only days ago. He wore standard black shinobi pants, with an orange shuriken and kunai pouch on both legs, and black sandals. He had two orange shinobi pouches on the back of his belt, both containing nothing more than a few scrolls and enough food for a few meals. His hair blew freely in the wind, unrestrained by the forehead protector.

He stared at the few feet between him and the exit, not bothering to wonder why there was no security there tonight. He took one step forward, then another, and another, until one more would put him across the sanctuary that was Konoha and bring him into the harsh world, with no one to hold his hand anymore. From this point on, he was on his own.

He raised his foot, his forehead relieved to meet the cool air for once as a few drops of sweat streaked down his face. He extended it, and just as it was about to step across the border, he pulled it back, and turned around, smirking as he met the three people he should have expected to see.

"Naruto…why? Why would you abandon us?" Iruka asked.

Naruto turned to the side, unable to meet his gaze. "You saw how they looked at me…they'll never trust me with missions again." He smiled sadly.

"But that's no reason for you to leave. We still trust you." Kakashi said, actually putting down his book.

"Kakashi-sensei…no, I'm sorry, but I can't call you that anymore." Kakashi frowned, but Naruto turned around, and did his best to look him in the eye. "No, please don't take it like that. You've taught me a lot, but I need to start surviving by myself. I can't be a student anymore…not where I'm going." Kakashi looked at him sadly, leaving it to the next member of their little trio.

"But…you're not ready. You're not strong enough. You couldn't survive on your own out there. Akatsuki is out there somewhere…if they catch you, no one could help you…" Jiraiya nearly whispered the last part.

Naruto shook his head, suddenly turning serious. "No. I'm not alone. Here in Konoha, I am truly alone…but out there…there have to be others."

"You don't mean…" Kakashi trailed off.

Naruto nodded. "Yes. There have to be eight others, just like me…ones who bear the same curse of being what is called a jinchuriki. Akatsuki is after them, too." Naruto paused, gripping his fists so tightly a small trail of blood ran down his knuckles. "This is our fight. We'll stand against them together. It's our only hope of surviving."

"Naruto, let me come with you. I can-" Naruto cut Jiraiya off.

"No" He said, shaking his head. "No. You have other things you have to do. This is what I have to do. Please understand…I can't stay here anymore…" He looked up at the sky again, and reached, but did no clasp his hand. "It has to be us. It has to be. I'll find the strength to stand against them with the others…we'll defeat them. And then…maybe we can all laugh and celebrate together, like we could before this whole mess began." Naruto finished.

Iruka bowed his head, shedding a few tears. "Alright…"

"Iruka!" The other two shouted.

But Iruka just shook his head. "Naruto told me, when he passed the second stage of the Chunin exam, that he wasn't a kid anymore…" Iruka looked up, and smiled. "Naruto, make us proud. I understand that you want to fight alone…but if you're ever tired, don't hesitate to come here and rest. Even if it's all nine of you, feel free. You'll always have a home here, remember that." Iruka finished, smiling.

Naruto tried to smile, but it just wouldn't come. "Yeah…thanks for understanding, Iruka-san." He knew he wouldn't take him up on that offer, but he just couldn't say it to his face…not when this may be the last time he ever saw him.

"So…there's no talking you out of leaving, is there?" Kakashi asked, already knowing the answer.

Naruto shook his head. "No. I'm leaving, and that's that." Naruto said.

Jiraiya sighed, and walked forward, placing his hand on Naruto's head. "You know, you look just like the fourth did right now; so full of determination. No one ever talked him out of doing something he set his mind on, either." Jiraiya chuckled, before smiling. "Your eyes hold the same look as his did, yet grow colder as the days pass. Grow strong, and make us proud." He placed a hand on his shoulder, and squeezed. "Find your own happiness, Naruto. Your eyes don't look good like that, so full of emptiness."

Naruto nodded, still unable to smile. "Well…for now I'll head to sand village first, and pick up Gaara. Then, I'll look for any other clues as to where the others are."

Jiraiya perked up. "I heard one resides in the mist village, if you're interested."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah…I'll head there when I get to it, but I'm sure there are some in between. I've got to find them all, before the Akatsuki does. There won't be time for any fun and games."

Kakashi's face was blank, still not knowing what to say. Finally, he walked forward, and held out his hand. "Alright…but don't die, Naruto. Remember, we still care about you here, even if the council doesn't. I'm sure many of the other rookies would have come if they'd known you were leaving."

Finally, Iruka stepped forward. He reached behind him, and pulled out a ninjato with an orange hilt, and a black sheath and pommel and guard. Naruto lifted his wrist, and used his Chakra to push some claws out from under his sleeve, showing them he already had a weapon. There were four dull steel claws along each hand, each about a foot long, attached with straps to his arm, and a rail that allowed Naruto to push them forward with his chakra. Until then, they ran along his forearms. But Iruka just shook his head. "This is from us, so that you never forget."

"Remember, if you do intend to find the other eight, you have a tough journey ahead of you. Never loose sight of your goal." Kakashi said.

"Grow strong. The Akatsuki are powerful. Keep your friends close, and stand on your own two feet, and walk." Jiraiya nodded.

"Let these be our last lessons to you as your teachers, Naruto, and good luck." Iruka held out the sword, which Naruto slowly reached for, and held in his hands as if it were some ancient artifact. Slowly, he removed the blade form the sheath, revealing the shining silver surface, and letting the moonlight reflect into his eyes before sheathing it. He strapped it around his back underneath his cloak, with the handle just poking out from above the cloak on his right side, ready to be drawn.

"Alright…well, I guess this is good-bye."

"Yeah…" The other three responded.

Slowly, each of them went up and hugged Naruto, saying their last words to him before he began his journey. Jiraiya promised to not have him labeled as a missing nin, Kakashi promised to cover for him with Sasuke and Sakura, and Iruka promised to talk to Konohamaru and the others. And finally, Naruto handed him his forehead protector, his final material link to the village that he had. Iruka took it with trembling hands, nodding, hugging the boy one last time.

With their good-byes finished, Naruto turned away, unable to meet their gaze any longer, and slowly made that final crossing across the border. It seemed like it took forever as his foot lingered in the air. And just then, he found himself on the other side. Then, it hit him: from now on, there was no going back; no more place that he could call home. He had to go forward. This was just the beginning. Pushing himself into the air, he began to jump from tree to tree, leaving his three former teachers, and everything else he ever knew behind.

As he continued through the trees, he looked up at the stars once more.

They were shining just as brightly as ever.

Next Time: What You Gave Me!

Notes

Okay! That's the beginning! I hope you like it!

I changed the title back, in case some people haven't seen that yet.

Next time Gaara will come into the story, and the hunt will continue! I hope you stick around!

Fict Fact

The opening was actually supposed to be when Naruto gets banished, but this seemed better in the end to start things off, with Naruto willingly going off to find the others of his own will.

Well, until next time! Tell me what you think in a review!

Later

Tsurugi-Sama