The air was brisk and unforgiving. It burned the lungs of the four AMBU as they rushed towards their target. Kitsune, Lion, Bird, and Cat forced chakra through their legs to increase their speed. The snow covered trees flew past them in high velocity. Kitsune kept his azure eyes focused in front of him. He could feel the target's chakra signature ahead of them. One mile to go.
"He's dead ahead." Kitsune stated, his voice utterly calm.
"Good let's get the scroll back before more harm is done." Cat replied his tone mirroring Kitsune's.
Kitsune slowed slightly allowing his comrades to go ahead of him. "I've got your back. He may try to pull a fast one."
"No doubt, that damn traitor." Lion growled. The AMBU squade rushed forward breaking through the trees. There was a loud crackle before burning heat. the fire jutsu barley missing Lion. "Shit!" The traitor jumped forward pulling out a katana. Cat blocked a surly fatal blow directed at Lion and kicked the rogue nin back. Cat charged the ninja and engaged him in a kenjutsu battle. Steal clashed with steal in a magnificent song.
Bird hoped in throwing a powerful fire jutsu at the missing nin. It hit his side flinging him against a tree breaking several bones in the process. Cat acted fast flashing forward and slicing the ninja's neck open. He bled out while Cat searched his body and found the missing scroll. He found it in the missing nins pouch and opened it up to confirm it was the desired object. He opened it.
Lion stood behind Cat. "Whats wrong Cat." he walked forward and looked down at the scroll. Bird followed suit. The three stared at the scroll.
"It's blank. What the hell. Is there another one Cat?" Bird asked his superior.
"No this was the only one on him. This doesn't make sense. he hasn't stopped once since stealing the scroll and abandoning the village." Cat turned the scroll over.
"That, Cat, is because he never had the real scroll." Kitsune drawled behind them.
"How do you know-" Lion was cut off abruptly blood squirting from his jugular. Bird whirled around only for three kuni to embed themselves in his chest. Cat hoped back from the fox masked AMBU.
"NARUTO what the hell? What are you doing!?"
"I'm sorry Sasuke but i have my own planes for the future." Kitsune pulled out the scroll. "My partner had the fake while I had the real one. He was a distraction and this gave me the perfect opportunity to get out of the village and betray you." He removed his mask revealing a deadly smirk. "It was all so easy. No one would expect me of all people to betray Konoha. I was hoping, however, that you didn't have to come to see my betrayal. because of our friendship I'll leave you alive. Well I cant promise you'll live long but when I leave you will be alive. Just barley."
Sasuke snarled at his old friend. "Why Naruto? I thought you wanted to be Hokage?! why turn against that?"
"Hmm, I dint feel like telling you. If you live beyond this fight you may figure it out one day." Naruto set a stance and stared down Sasuke. Cat waited for him to strike not wanting to make the first move. Kitsune shifted his weight to one leg ready to rush at Cat.
Cat tensed and raised his sword. "I don't want to fight you Naruto give up and come back to the village with me. I'm sure whatever happened can be resolved peacefully." Sasuke tried to reason.
"I doubt that. Send Granny my love my brother." Naruto said and smiled. Before Sasuke could reply he felt a massive blow to the back of his head. He fell like dead weight hitting the ground with a thump. "This is goodbye brother. With that the two clones popped out of existence.
Sasuke watched the smoke clear. Naruto was long gone and he hadn't even noticed...
Naruto jumped from tree to tree. He knew he could never return to the leaf. Sasuke would live and report of his betrayal and he would be marked as a missing nin. He would be hunted but none of that would get in the way of his ultimate goal.