Chapter 1

It was a warm and sunny day as Uzumaki Naruto hurriedly walked to the bridge where team 7 always met before training. Only if one dared to look more closely at the young man hurrying through the streets, they would notice that he had trouble walking, but everyone simply chose to ignore him for he was the Jinchuuriki, he was dangerous so they kept their distance. They could care less if the young man was injured, for all they cared he could drop dead in the middle of the street and they still would walk past him.

After a long and uncomfortable walk Naruto finally reached the bridge where he would meet Sasuke, Sakura and their sensei Kakashi Hatake.

'' You're late! '' Sakura scolded as soon as he was close enough. Naruto looked up when he heard Sakura's voice, he then noticed he was really late even Kakashi-sensei was present already.

'' I'm sorry. '' Naruto mumbled as he looked at his feet.

Sakura looked at the blonde young man in front of her, Naruto had changed so much over the last 6 months. He almost didn't smile any more, his tanned skin had become lighter as did his blonde locks, he also hadn't been to the barber in quite a while. And Naruto's eyes had changed the most of all, he used to have that childish sparkle in his eyes, but know his eyes where dull and his smiles fake.

Overall to some it wasn't Naruto anymore but for Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi it was like their Naruto, their teammate was fading and they didn't know what to do, he wouldn't talk to them about it, they had tried multiple times. They knew Naruto was keeping important information from them, and they couldn't figure out what it was, he wouldn't let them.

'' We have a mission. Gather your supplies, such as tents, sleeping bags, weapons and some medical supplies. We will meet at the village gates in an hour. '' Kakashi informed and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

All three of the remaining shinobi returned to gather the stuff Kakashi had told to take with them.

Naruto wanted to make sure that among other things that he was in time this time around so he came to the village gates 20 minutes early, he set down his back pack and let it rest against his leg, while Naruto waited for the rest to arrive.

Sasuke arriver 10 minutes early, as usual he preferred to be there first. Sasuke was surprised when he saw Naruto standing there already, but of course being an Uchiha he didn't show it when he approached him.

Sakura arrived exactly on time. Once everyone was gathered Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke, form his transportation jutsu.

'' Alright, the Kazekage has requested our presence, he will explain our mission once we're there. '' Kakashi said.

And with that Kakashi took off, he walked in front of them, with behind him Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke noticed that Naruto hadn't caught up to them yet.

'What's taking him so long?' Sasuke thought as he turned back to see Naruto.

He saw Naruto still standing at the village gates struggling to get his back pack on, and when he finally did he winced.

'Is he in … pain?' Sasuke thought, he decided to store it for later use.

When Naruto finally joined his teammates, they started their journey to Suna. It would take them two and a half day's if they kept this pace.

After hours of running, Kakashi came to a halt in an open clearing.

'' We will settle here for the day. '' Kakashi said.

Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke all picked a place to set up their tents. After Sakura and Kakashi where done they started making their evening meal. Sasuke as always preferred to set up his sleeping bag and his extra fleece blanket, he always took an extra fleece blanket with him, why, his companions didn't know, maybe he was homesick, but he was and Uchiha so they would never know.

After a minute of ten Sasuke also emerged from his tent, he saw Naruto sitting in the clearing, staring at the grass in front of him. Sasuke looked around he only saw three tents, he wondered why Naruto hadn't set up his yet.

'' Where is your tent? '' Sasuke asked.

Naruto looked up surprised, it seemed he hadn't noticed Sasuke standing there, looking down on him.

'' I … I forgot mine. '' Naruto answered softly.

'' Hn. '' Sasuke said and turned away. '' We can share mine. '' He said as he walked to Kakashi and Sakura.

A small smile graced Naruto's lips as he watched Sasuke walk away, towards the campfire Kakashi and Sakura had built.

Naruto stood up and walked to Sasuke's tent and entered it. He put down his bag in a corner of the tent and then laid down next to it. He curled up and tried to keep himself warm. In all hurry to leave his house he had forgotten his tent and sleeping bag, and he felt stupid for that.

An hour had passed when Sasuke entered the tent, he was looking for the dobe and his chakra signature led him here.

'' Naruto … Naruto wake up. '' Sasuke called softly to the sleeping blonde in a corner of the tent.

'' I-I am awake. '' Naruto mumbled. He shivered a couple of times. Naruto slowly sat up and looked up at Sasuke.

'' Dinner is ready. Kakashi-sensei made some quick ramen. '' Sasuke said.

Everyone knew ramen was Naruto's favored dish, it didn't matter if it was breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, it probably would be heaven on earth for him if he got all different kinds of ramen.

'' I'm n-not hungry. '' Naruto said and then laid back down again he shivered as his body touched the cold surface of the tent again. Sasuke frowned, he had trouble believing that the blonde didn't want ramen, nor did he believe that he wasn't hungry.

'The world must be coming to an end.' Sasuke thought dramatically.

Sasuke saw Naruto shiver as he laid there on the ground, he clutched his bright orange jacket tighter around his body. Sasuke looked around, he didn't see Naruto's sleeping bag so he got his fleece blanket and gently laid it over Naruto's shivering body, he seemed to be asleep already. Sasuke returned to Sakura and Kakashi and sat in front of the camp fire.

'' Where is Naruto? '' Sakura asked.

'' He's not coming. '' Sasuke replied.

'' You did tell him that we where eating ramen, ne? '' Kakashi asked.

'' Hn … of course I did. '' Sasuke replied coldly.

Sakura and Kakashi looked to Sasuke's tent, their mouth wide open in surprise

'' That's it, '' Sakura said softly. '' We're doomed. ''

'' Itadakimasu. '' Kakashi said joyfully after he had come over his internal shock.

'' Itadakimasu. '' Sasuke and Sakura said simultaneously.

In the tent.

'' Kit. ''

'' Kit. ''

' What do you want Kyuu? ' Naruto thought.

' You know you shocked the hell out of them, ne? ' Kyuubi replied.

' I probably did. ' Naruto answered sadly.

' So why won't you eat? You haven't eaten all day. ' Kyuubi commented.

' I can't eat Kyuu, it hurts.' Naruto thought.

' Oh. ' Kyuubi replied, she understood immediately, she was quiet for a while.

' Kit. '

'' What?! '' Naruto said angrily, he just wanted to sleep.

'I just wanted to let you know that I am helping you, I am trying to heal you as fast as I can, and I think that I need to remind you that you are loved.'

After years of being trapped within the young man she knew exactly what thoughts plagued the young man, in the beginning she hated the boy, but she began to learn that it was not his fault that she was trapped within him, she saw all the hatred the villagers threw in Naruto's path and in time she had begun to love the boy as one of her own. She wanted to help him where ever she could, if he needed to be healed, she would heal him, if he needed chakra, she would give him as much as he needed. In a way she was Naruto's adoptive mother.

'I am sorry Kyuu, I didn't mean to snap at you.' Naruto apologized.

'I know kit, I know.' Kyuubi replied softly.

Naruto appeared in her large cage, he walked to her and walked through the barriers of her cage.

'Kyuubi?' Naruto thought, Kyuubi looked at him. 'Will you help me sleep?' Naruto asked.

'Of course kit, come closer. I know it hurts and I am healing you as fast as I can but for some reason it won't heal as fast as always.' Kyuubi explained.

Naruto walked closer to the giant fox and sat down in between one of Kyuubi's tails, which she wrapped loosely around her kit's body to keep him warm. It didn't take long for Naruto to fall asleep in her tails.

The evening passed and Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi went decided to go to bed rather early. Sasuke entered his tent, he noticed that Naruto still laid in the same corner as before. He knelled down next to the blonde.

'' Naruto. '' Sasuke called softly not to startle him.

Naruto's eyes snapped open at the sound of his name, blood red eyes stared at Sasuke. Sasuke fell backwards in surprise.

'' What do you want? '' Naruto asked, his voice sounded different though.

'' I … I just wanted to make sure you where warm enough. '' Sasuke said, we all know he doesn't really asks things.

'' Naruto is fine, he is warm enough. '' Naruto replied.

Sasuke looked at Naruto weirdly. '' I didn't know you talked about yourself in third person. '' He said.

'' I am not speaking of myself in third person, my name is Kyuubi. '' Kyuubi answered.

'' Kyuubi … the nine tailed fox who destroyed most of our village when I was young. '' Sasuke said absentmindedly.

Sasuke finally realized that Naruto was a Jinchuuriki, he realized that that must have been the reason why Naruto was always treated badly during his childhood, at the academy. Naruto was a Jinchuuriki and yet he wasn't scared of him, maybe it was because it was Naruto, he didn't know.

Naruto growled. '' I am NOT responsible for that. '' He said angrily.

Sasuke looked up surprised he didn't know what to do with that. Naruto kept looking at him with those blood red eyes, they were starting to unnerve him.

'' Take care of Naruto, he needs someone. '' The fox said after some time had passed.

By now Sasuke looked thoroughly confused, but before he could ask anything Naruto laid back down and closed his eyes. Sasuke sat there for a while before he went to his sleeping bag and climbed inside of it. Soon sleep overtook Sasuke's mind.

The next morning came early as Kakashi woke them just after sun rise. Everyone emerged from their tents and put them away. After they had all cleaned up their tents they gathered at the now burning campfire once again, where some concoction Sakura had made was brewing … somehow it got to be called breakfast. Sakura each handed them a bowl of said concoction.

'' Here you go Kakashi-sensei. '' Sakura said as she handed him his bowl, Kakashi's lone eye curved up in a smile as a thank you.

'' For you, Sasuke-kun. '' Sakura said sweetly, handing him his bowl. Sasuke accepted the bowl, he just had to look down.

'' Hn. '' He grunted as he realized that he needed the energy the food provided.

'' Here. '' Sakura said holding out a bowl for Naruto.

Naruto shook his head. '' I'm not hungry. '' He said.

'' I know it doesn't look that great but it will taste just fine. '' Sakura said, trying to convince Naruto to eat it.

'' I said: 'I'm not hungry.'. '' Naruto said, he sounded harsher than he would have liked.

'Kit.' Kyuubi interrupted.

Naruto closed his eyes. 'Yes.' He thought.

'You didn't have to be so harsh with her, she meant good, you know?' Kyuubi thought.

'I know, but sometimes she is just so annoying … … I guess I am just a bit agitated and down, I can't handle much at the moment.' Naruto explained.

'You should apologize.'

Naruto kept quiet, he found it the best time to be slightly deaf.

'Apologize.' Kyuubi said sternly.

'' Alright. '' Naruto said, his voice sounded defeated.

'Kit, you just said that out loud.'

Naruto peeked open an eye and saw the weird looked he received from his friends.

'Shit, thanks Kyuu.' Naruto thought sarcastically. Kyuubi just rumbled in laughter. Naruto opened both his eyes and turned them to Sakura.

'' I'm sorry Sakura. '' Naruto said.

'' That's alright. '' Sakura replied softly, a sad smile on her lips.

It had been 6 months since Naruto had called her Sakura-chan, now that she thought about it he also didn't call Sasuke names anymore. It made her sad because their number one knuckle headed over active shinobi was just so far away, she couldn't reach him anymore. Her little brother was just out of reach, just beyond her grasp.

The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence and then cleaned in silence, after everything was done they hit the road once again. Kakashi lead them with in the middle Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto stayed behind them.

They had been walking in a fast pace for nearly 6 hours.

'Kit incoming, 100 meters, 20 jounin classed shinobi.' Kyuubi informed.

Naruto looked around, nobody seemed to notice them, so he ran forward as fast as he could. In his left hand he single handedly formed the Rasengan, then he lifted it in the air and formed the Rasen Shuriken. Sasuke, Kakashi and Sakura where amazed, never had they seen Naruto run so fast and he formed what looked like a very powerful jutsu in one hand, but they didn't understand why. Was he turning on them?