Title: Mercenary For Hire
Author: Tsubasa Kya
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy.

Love and adoration to Arcander who influenced this story with her own Naruto/FinalFantasy8 crossover. Please go read it.

Chapter One

Naruto sighed and kicked at a stone on the path. He was bored, as usual. For the most part, he was just waiting for the day they asked him to leave the village for good. How many times had he tried to take the Chunin Exam now? He counted the times in his mind… twice a year since he was twelve, minus the two and a half years he was away with Jiraiya, so eleven times now. Even Sasuke, a deserter to the village, had managed to come back into the good graces of the village and get himself ANBU title.

"I just don't get it," Naruto mumbled to himself. "I'm strong. I keep winning. What am I missing?" Naruto found himself approaching his usual perch atop the stone head of the Fourth Hokage.

The past few days he'd been wandering a lot more than normal, very distracted by recent happenings in his life. Iruka, once a teacher and now father-figure and great friend to Naruto, had left his post at the Genin academy to return to active duty. He was taking missions on a two-man team with Kakashi, another close friend and teacher in Naruto's past.

All of Naruto's friends were changing too, and Naruto felt like he was stuck in limbo… losing any desire to be where he was and yet cementing the only thing he knew how to do every day: fight.

Hinata, a nice girl who used to crush on Naruto, had settled down with Kiba and they had a rather bouncy little boy with purple eyes and Kiba's rat-nest for hair. The boy was two now, and liked to bite people's ankles. Hinata's little sister Hanabi had been handed leadership of the clan after Hinata was out of the way.

Orochimaru had destroyed Sunagakure, the land in the sun, and the surviving people came to live in Konoha. There weren't many to take in—the village was small to begin with, so all that remained was about a hundred people. Among those who came were Gaara and his sister Temari. Their brother Kankuro was unfortunately killed. Temari got Shikamaru off his rear and they were married. She was pregnant with their first child now.

Sakura and Sasuke were dating, but she was always busy at the hospital and he was always off on missions the two seemed to rarely see each other. Sakura did move in with Sasuke so they had more time together, but that just meant they spent all their free time with each other and none with their other friends. Naruto had to practically cut off his hand to get a few minutes with Sakura the past few years.

Ino and Chouji got married and she was plump with their third child already. Lee found happiness with a cute, young gardener and often traveled to see her at her home two hours from the village in his off time. As far as friends went, the only one Naruto saw lately was Neji as he requested new teammates to work with for the Chunin exam.

He still didn't understand how it had happened. Neji was made into the sixth Hokage. Granted, it wasn't like Tsunade had planned on an untimely death. Naruto found her slumped on her desk one morning, a bottle of sake in her hand, and thought she was sleeping but she was simply dead. It had been a hard blow to handle, especially since Jiraiya had passed away just three months earlier.

Naruto wondered where Gaara was at that time. The people who came from Sunagakure weren't allowed to go on high ranking missions, despite that Gaara had been Kazekage, and Gaara had been very angry and left the village while others simply settled in and made the best of their lives.

At least Orochimaru and Akatsuki had been dealt with. Orochimaru died and his organization fell apart after Sasuke killed Kabuto. As for Akatsuki, Naruto and his friends managed to overpower them. To that day, Sasuke hated Naruto for defeating Itachi after Sasuke had just been defeated by Itachi.

And after all the high ranked missions Naruto was constantly sent out on despite just being Genin, Naruto was still not allowed to pass the Chunin Exam, but he couldn't understand why. Neji had been Hokage for a year; Naruto had taken the Chunin Exam twice since then. Why was he still not given the pay grade he deserved?

Why are you still here? The voice in his head was familiar; Kyuubi talked to him more and more these days, and as Kyuubi was the only constant who remained in Naruto's life, it made Naruto feel a lot warmer toward the fox.

"Still where?" Naruto asked.

Still here… in this place… Kyuubi replied. They don't deserve us, or our strength, and even your 'friends' have abandoned you… If you can call them that…

"They haven't abandoned me," Naruto insisted. "They're just busy with their own lives."

There is a lot more to the world than this little patch of land…

"I know. I've been to every country on missions." Naruto said. "And I'm here because they need me." Naruto looked over the city below him. Sitting on the head of Yondaime, he was at the perfect vantage point to look over the whole city and watch everyone walk about like tiny ants.

What need do they have of you? They have hundreds who would replace you on the piddly missions you are sent to. They keep you only because they rather send you and the assignment will be finished without paying four or five of their people to do what you do.

Naruto shook his head. "I'm not that good, Kyuu."

You aren't, but together with me you are. Why not leave this place? Let them taste the dust at your feet, which is more than they deserve. Head to the ocean, and cross it. There, you would find the lands that I was brought from… new adventures await us, why stay here?

Naruto looked over the village, contemplating this before Kyuubi reminded him of his last Chunin Exam not more than three days ago. Once again, his two teammates were chosen to advance—he was not.

"I keep being held back… why?"

You know why… you just won't admit it…

Naruto sighed. "You'll always be here for me, right, Kyuu?" Naruto asked him.

Unfortunately, the fox agreed.

Naruto settled himself on the ground, lying on his back ready for a nap. He hadn't done too much that morning; he went to training area nine to practice a bit but that idea had quickly lost its luster after his last teammates showed up to train, claiming Chunin rights to the place. He thought for a few moments as he stood there and seethed that he may as well just kick their asses—an idea that Kyuubi had backed up completely—and teach them who had real rights, but in the end he was a good little boy and left the fifteen-year-olds to their much-needed training.

That was how he ended up on top of the monument. "I could'a taken them brats on, no problem." Naruto assured himself.

Those pathetic whelps don't realize you carried them through the Chunin Exam. It was simply a lucky stroke they were able to showcase their abilities before you got to them…

Naruto knew Kyuubi was right. He was at the point where he was always the winner of the Chunin Exam… but he never got the prize. He understood why he wasn't made fifth Hokage; because there was someone better than him. Someone stronger. Tsunade had been that stronger person. Naruto swore Neji wasn't stronger than he was…

I bet the mortal would be too afraid to fight you again… you beat him once, and you've only gotten stronger… Kyuubi whispered devilishly.

"I did beat him, didn't I?" Naruto asked, recalling their fight in the Chunin Exam that first time. Before Sasuke went AWOL. Naruto told Neji something along the lines that he would never give up. Fate didn't decide Naruto's future, and there was no such thing as a predetermined path to follow. Defeat wasn't inevitable. No one would ever tell Naruto to lay down and accept defeat…

They suppress you… us… We are hindered by these weaklings… There is so much we could do… so much we could see… Together, us… forget these weaklings… They're like the chain that keeps you here… The chain that keeps you from reaching your true potential… Cut the chain, Naruto. You deserve better than what they offer, you know you do…

"I… deserve better…?" Naruto repeated, feeling his heart twinge.

Yes, you do… we do… The world is big, full of magic and life. Your last sensei would teach you nothing… but imagine a new world… filled with new techniques… new powers… new wonders to explore… Just us…

"Just… us…" Naruto felt like he'd taken over the role of the copy-cat nin, in an entirely different manner.

Just… us… Kyuubi said. Because you are worth more than they give you…

Naruto rolled over onto his side, his stomach grumbling but feeling too lonely to bother with eating. He closed his eyes, whispering, "I'm worth more…" as he fell to sleep.

He woke well after dinner time; it wasn't surprising to him. Lately, he tried to train in the mornings, got kicked out of the training grounds around eight AM, wandered the village until he made it up to Hokage Monument around noon, talked to Kyuubi for an hour or two, and then fell asleep until around seven or eight PM. After that, he would go to Theo's Bar and eat a late meal.

The past few days, he'd gotten into several street fights between the hours of ten PM and two AM. He came out without a single scratch, but kept getting called to Neji's office to be reprimanded for fighting. Neji was not fond of being pulled out of his bed in the middle of the night, but he didn't lecture Naruto. He merely gave Naruto work to do cleaning the library in Hokage tower. Naruto suspected Neji knew he didn't clean, but rather spent his time there reading forbidden scrolls.

Naruto was the same way six months ago when he had failed the Chunin Exam for the tenth time. He'd get into street brawls, get assigned cleaning duty, and just read the scrolls. He used some of those techniques he'd garnered from the scrolls in his last exam…

Dinner time yet? Kyuubi asked him. Naruto was starving.

Nodding, Naruto got to his feet and trudged down the mountain for his usual late dinner. Theo's Bar was packed, but one stool at the bar was open. It was always open. Naruto ordered his usual bowl of revolting glop and a glass of milk. As he ate, Kyuubi snorted in disdain.

Why do you eat this? I never thought there would be something worse than Ramen, until this… Kyuubi said.

"Ichiraku's closed this late, now that Ayame's pregnant…" Naruto said.

Pathetic mortals… I bet you couldn't find even one of them to spend time with anymore… Kyuubi challenged.

Naruto shook his head. "Don't be that way, Kyuu…" he muttered, and tried to ignore the way the people around him began shying away from him. "They're just busy…"

They're always busy… too busy for you. As if you are unimportant. How long has it been since any of them actually spent time with you?

"Kiba and Hinata did two months ago…"

A whole five minutes as they made small talk before leaving you to babysit their whelp. Feel the love, Naruto, because they just have so much of it for you.

Naruto gagged down the remains of the glop Theo served him—noting for the first time that it didn't look like what everyone else was served—and quickly downed the milk to wash the bad taste of the food away. Getting to his feet, he left his usual money on the counter and made his way out of the bar.

Then prove it to me, Kyuubi ordered. Prove you can find one of them who isn't too busy for you. One who cares. We'll talk more then…

Naruto sighed. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jacket he found himself making his way to Kiba's house, the closest of his friends. Knocking on the door, he was met with a rather disheveled dog lover. Kiba was dressed in only his undergarments.

"What do you want, Naruto?" Kiba asked irritably.

Naruto shrugged and ran a hand through his rather messy hair, wincing as it got caught in several knots. "Just thought you might want to hang out… Training ground fifteen is lit up at night, so maybe we could spar or," Kiba glared hard at Naruto, so the blond fell silent.

"Go to bed, Naruto. Me and Hinata are busy!" He slammed the door shut, and seconds later a loud crying erupted from the building, followed by Kiba cursing Naruto's name very loudly.

Naruto stared at the door, feeling perplexed. What had he done wrong?

Turning around, his feet carried him in another direction entirely. He soon found himself at Chouji's house. He went to knock, but a scream tore through the night, chilling him to the bone. Fearing the worst for his friends, he kicked the door in and ran toward the screaming.

He did not expect to find what he did then. Ino lay on her back, surrounded by medic-nin including Sakura. Chouji was frantically trying to keep his balance as Ino's super strength yanked him down, screaming at him. "I'm going to cut your balls off, Chouji, I swear I will!"

Chouji was sweating profusely, "It's okay, Ino, really, just breathe… and have a cookie…" he offered her a cookie.

"FUCK THE COOKIE! I don't want a fucking cookie! Chouji Akemichi, I'm going to fuck you up when this is over!" Ino screeched.

Sakura pointed out, "Ino, breathe now… That's what got you here, remember?"

"I'll kill you too, Sakura Haruno!"

Sakura said, "Well, just don't think you can fuck me too."

"I'll rip you all to hell!" the pregnant woman screamed.

Listening to this, Naruto paled. What kind of ritualistic ceremony had he walked in on… he knew he was out of touch with his friends, but this? Sakura turned her eyes to one of the medics and noticed Naruto, his hasty entrance unheard due to the high frequency sound waves in the room capable of blowing out a sound-nin's armor.

She yelled, "Naruto, what are you doing here? Get out! You shouldn't even be here! Go away!"

Naruto felt as if he'd been slapped with an anvil. "S-Sakura…" he whispered, his voice failing him as Ino set pained eyes on him.

"This is all your fault, Naruto! I hate you for this! If you hadn't ditched us four years ago, we wouldn't be here!" Naruto darted out, feeling more miserable and lonely than before.

He tried to think of an explanation of why his friends hated him. He recalled four years ago, the start of Ino and Chouji's relationship, began when the three of them were on a mission together and Naruto missed dinner. The two had eaten by the time the blond finished his reconnaissance and made it back to the restaurant to find the two had retired to the shared room. Naruto walked in on the two, sleeping in the nude, and then left and said nothing about it. Nine months later they had their first child.

Feeling very hurt by the words of all his friends, Naruto began his usual nightly wanderings. He wasn't sure what time it was when he saw a group of thugs roughing up a woman in her mid-forties. Why she was out at that time of night, Naruto didn't care to think about. Instead, he found his blood boiling right away and he was singing for a battle.

He yelled out to the thugs, catching their attention and Kyuubi's chakra bled into his hands along with his own, forming two perfectly round, vibrantly purple Rasengan. The fight ended all too soon; the woman had gotten away and alerted ANBU patrolling the city. Naruto recognized the leader right away from the duck ANBU mask.

Standing in the center of a mess of thugs, Naruto looked around him before looking back at Sasuke. "Oops." He said, feeling no remorse inside him for the deed he'd just done. Five full-grown men would need to pay a visit to the hospital because of him, and all he had to show for it was their blood on his knuckles and spattered on his jacket.

"Come with me, Uzumaki," Sasuke sneered, his voice muffled by the wooden mask. "The rest of you, get these men to the hospital and debrief them; I want to know what happened immediately."

"I could just tell you," Naruto offered, his voice a dead monotone.

"Shut your mouth and get moving, or I'll subdue you by force." Sasuke threatened.

Naruto snorted and began walking toward the alley exit, not about to take short cuts over buildings to get to Hokage tower. "That'll be the day," he muttered. Sasuke followed him mutely.

At Hokage tower, Naruto had to wait for the sixth Hokage to be summoned. Naruto sighed and stared longingly at the chair he'd always wanted to be responsible for, among other things.

Not something they'll ever let you have, and you know it… Kyuubi said. Haven't I told you? It's just us… These people don't appreciate us, they never have and they never will…

Naruto walked around the desk and sat heavily down in the large chair. Sasuke clenched his fists, but simply stood by the door waiting the presence of the Hokage.

"You're right…" Naruto whispered, feeling as if the world was beginning to crash around him. "What, then? Where can I go?"

There is so much of the world you haven't seen… Cross the ocean, and you can start wherever you want. Learn new things, meet new people, eat new things…

"Okay…" Naruto agreed softly, feeling as if the decision had drained him completely.

Once Neji came, he dismissed Sasuke. As soon as they were alone, the tired man opened his mouth to speak, but Naruto beat him to the punch. "I want to go away," Naruto said suddenly.

Neji's expression contorted in confusion, but he nodded slowly anyway. "Alright, Uzumaki… I'll get you a mission first thing in the morning…"

Naruto shook his head. "No, not a mission… I just want to go."

Neji moved forward, eyebrows furrowing further still. "You know you can't. If you leave, they'll call you a missing nin and what with Kyuubi in you, you'll be put in the Black Book."

"You better make it so I can," Naruto said, meeting Neji's eyes with his own burning blue orbs. He was feeling more and more vindicated with each passing second. Kyuubi was right; there was nothing left for him in Konoha.

Trying a new angle, Neji asked, "Why is it you want to leave, Naruto?"

"I'm not wanted here," Naruto said truthfully. Neji opened his mouth to protest, but Naruto held up his hand to stop the man. "Don't bother, Neji. I haven't slept in a bed for two years… I haven't even had an apartment for two years, because my rent kept going up and up, and my pay still sucked, and no one would rent to me because I'm Kyuubi's jinchuuriki after that. I keep going for Chunin, but we both know I'm never gonna pass it. Just get me out of here, before I explode."

Neji was quiet for a long moment before he grasped a piece of paper and a pen and began writing quickly on it. "Here, Naruto." He said, offering the paper. "Take this to Meechan's Hotel. It will get you a room… just give me a week to work out the arrangements, alright?"

Naruto scratched his face before taking the voucher. As he stood, he leveled a tired, but serious expression on Neji. "One week, and I'm leaving with or without your blessing… I can't take it anymore."

Neji confirmed, "One week. Until then, if you need something to do… clean up in the library."

"Thanks…" Naruto stuffed his hands in his pockets, figuring he may as well head over to the library and finish up the night with some reading. He felt Neji's eyes following him as he slouched out of the room.

The remainder of the night was spent in the library of Hokage tower. This time, however, he found the blank scrolls of parchment and started copying the information rather than studying it. It was Kyuubi's suggestion. The fox said it would give him something to do while he sailed across the ocean. Naruto didn't know where he was going to get the money for a ticket on a boat, but he supposed he and Kyuubi would figure something out when they got that far.

When the library bell tolled half-past five in the morning, he packed up the original scrolls and put them back in their proper places, and then stashed away the few copies he'd made inside his jacket, zipping it up to sneak the scrolls out of the building.

He went about his usual routine, going to training ground nine to practice until he was kicked out of the grounds by his ex-teammates from the last Chunin Exam. When he was kicked out, he picked up his orange and black jacket from where he'd set it aside with the scrolls, and then wandered around town for an hour before feeling like all the energy had been sucked right out of him. Considering he didn't have very much to begin with, he knew if he didn't go somewhere, he would pass out in the middle of the street.

Neji's voucher got Naruto a room at Meechan's Hotel, the best Hotel in Konoha. Naruto wondered if Neji was attempting to compensate for the fact that Naruto hadn't had an apartment in a long time, and figured it was probably the case.

The problem with the hotel ended up being the fact that Naruto felt too cramped inside the room. The bed turned out to be too soft, and the room was too hot and small. Naruto was exhausted, but too uncomfortable to sleep. At five PM, he gave up trying and left the hotel along with Neji's voucher behind.

He walked to Theo's Bar and found it was less crowded when he arrived, since it was earlier in the evening than usual. He got his usual dinner of indescribable goop and milk, then stopped by at the bank, arriving five minutes to six PM. He felt the glares he received for coming at all, especially so close to the time they locked up.

Walking up to the manager with his hands in his pants pockets, he murmured, "I'm here to pick up the lock box Jiraiya left me, and the one Tsunade left me."

"This way," the manager huffed and led Naruto to another room containing only a steel table and chair. He left Naruto in the room while he went off to collect the two boxes. The man soon brought in a cart with two heavy chests on top, one bigger than the other.

"Leave," Naruto said, pulling the cart to the table and setting one chest on the top of it. He withdrew two keys from his pocket, the last two keys to his name, both marked with tape to tell which key was from who. He tried one key in the lock, but it wouldn't turn so he tried the other and found the box he was opening was from Tsunade. It was the smaller of two, and didn't contain much.

Inside was a smaller wooden chest with seals carved into it, and three small holes in the top. Naruto took it out and examined it, surprised to note the box was one that would only unseal with the use of a chakra technique, most likely the one Tsunade had taught to Naruto.

Accompanying the box was a scroll and a letter. Naruto picked up the letter and sat down on the hard chair to read it, hardly caring that it was past six and the bankers probably wanted him gone so they could close but not really caring at that point. Opening the letter, he found Tsunade's writing.

She didn't have much to say. Most of the letter was devoted to the tricks of Tsunade's gambling trade—how to fail, basically. At the end of the letter, she talked about the scroll and the wooden box.

"This scroll belonged to your father," the letter said, "and I am sure he would want you to have it. As for the box, I only ask that you do not open it until the time is right. You will know when that time is."

Naruto investigated the scroll, finding it to be a detailed technique scroll for learning the Rasengan. He was already capable of forming a Rasengan in each hand, without clones now, but the scroll had some scribbled notes at the end containing questions of fusing a Rasengan—the ball of pure, swirling chakra—with an element such as fire. The idea was interesting, but the pessimist that had been created in Naruto over the past few years told him it would never work so he closed the scroll up and put it by the box and letter.

For a moment, his eyes lingered on the wooden box and he thought, what if now was the time? His hand clutched the necklace Tsunade had given him long ago as he tried to think of what she might tell him. In the end, he found he wasn't certain he wanted to know what was in the box anyway, so he left it alone.

Turning to the box from Jiraiya, he took the key from the table and opened it to find Jiraiya's legacy was left to him after the old man died. For years, he'd been able to summon Gamabunta and his family of toads; Jiraiya had left the toad's scroll to him and a large folder filled with papers.

Already teary-eyed at the old man's wonderful gesture, Naruto tied the giant scroll on his back and then opened the folder. The papers listed Naruto as the recipient of everything Jiraiya owned. Jiraiya had left Naruto a furnished house, the scroll, money, rights to all Jiraiya's books, and the right to continue collecting on the royalties from Jiraiya's books for ten years after Jiraiya's death.

Naruto choked on a sob. He'd never come to collect the contents of these boxes after Jiraiya and Tsunade died because he didn't want to admit they were dead. Now, he'd only come to collect the contents so that he wasn't leaving what they left to him behind when he went away.

Grabbing the papers, the scroll, the letter from Tsunade, and the wooden box he left the room hardly caring how much of a mess he was. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already seven PM. The bank workers looked unhappy.

Walking over to the manager, he said quietly, "I want to take all the money Jiraiya left me. I need it now, 'cause I'm leaving town in a week, and I won't be back."

The manager sniffed haughtily, his eyes burning with irritation. "We're closed. You'll have to come back on the next business day."

Naruto said nothing and left with his things. He knew he needed something to carry all his things in, so he went to buy a travel pack and loaded all his things in it. The pack was overpriced and took a big chunk of what little money he had. He never had enough money to open a bank account.

After stashing his things in his pack, including the newly copied scrolls, he headed to see the house Jiraiya had left him. He had no intention on staying there long.

The house turned out to be very large, with a tall stone wall surrounding the property and a rusty, wrought iron gate that squealed terribly as it was pushed open. The house was larger than Hinata's father's home. Naruto felt strange as he walked to the front door and carefully entered.

Setting his stuff down by the front door, he set about investigating the place. It had all sorts of rooms and furniture, including a large indoor swimming pool and a dojo, on the first floor, over a dozen bedrooms on the second floor, and a wrap around porch on the first floor.

He rubbed his eyes, wanting to cry but not allowing himself the leisure of doing so. Instead, he choked back his tears and at ten PM he set the toad scroll by his pack and left the property. He wondered if his life would be so bad if he stayed, now that he had a home…

Kyuubi reminded him, No matter if you stay or go, these people will still despise us…

Naruto agreed to the truth of that and continued his nightly wanderings. In short order, he found a drunk who wanted to play 'stick the kunai in Kyuubi', so after beating up the idiot, he was taken to Neji's office. Neji was surprised to see him so early, as it was only nine PM, but sent Naruto off to the library to 'clean' again.

Naruto went and once again found more empty scrolls to use for copying, and set himself to work. When his pen ran out, he went to Neji's office—it was midnight, so the other man was gone by that time—and stole a few from the top drawer.

He finished up a scroll shortly after five AM and packed his jacket with the copies, cleaned up what he was doing, and left the tower. He went to Jiraiya's house to set the scrolls down in his travel sack, then headed to the training grounds for some more exhausting work.

Soon as he was kicked out of the grounds, he went back to the bank only to find they were closed for the day. He skipped out on wandering town for the few hours and simply trekked to the top of the mountain, making himself comfortable on the ground and sleeping away the rest of the morning, straight through until late evening. By nine he was at Theo's for food, and by ten he had been taken to Hokage for fighting.

The third day of the week, he went back to the bank after being kicked out of the training grounds again and like the day before he found it was closed. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't even really know what day it was anymore… just that he was somewhere in the month of September; the Chunin Exam started in July—earlier than the usual Fall exam—which was all he knew how to keep track of time. Otherwise he was pretty much lost as far as time went. He wondered if there were any holidays in September.

Continuing about his usual routine, he wandered the city until he found himself atop the monument. Settling down, he watched the city like it were an ant hill.

We could reach out and wipe their 'ant hill' into dust. Kyuubi told him.

"…I know…" Naruto said slowly.

With the way they treat us… we should… Kyuubi whispered conspiratorially in his mind.

"…Maybe…" Naruto found himself surprised to say.

They make you unhappy…

"…A little…" Naruto agreed.

We should go away from here. Happiness is out there, waiting for you.

"…We will…" Naruto yawned and curled up on Yondaime Hokage's stone head.

You've got something to do on the ship. What are we waiting for?

"…Day seven." Naruto said before falling asleep.

His routine remained the same after that; he woke up, went to dinner, got in a fight, got sent to the library, copied scrolls, went to train, got kicked off the grounds, found out the bank was closed, then wandered until it was time to sleep and started it all over again.

The sixth day of the week was when Naruto's patience ran dry. His entire body was quivering with anticipation and nervousness. His hands were clammy and after two AM, his hands started to shake so bad he couldn't copy scrolls any more. He left the library early and went to his usual training ground, trying to work off pent up steam in the dark. The sun rose, and then the little Chunins came to Naruto's field and wanted to kick him off.

Naruto snapped. They said they wanted to train, so Naruto gave them the workout for their lives. By the time ANBU was notified, the two kids were three colors: red, blue, and black. By the time help actually arrived, Naruto had the two obeying every order he gave them.

ANBU Bear asked, "Is there a problem here?"

Naruto shook his head, his face set seriously, "No. They just wanted to train, so I've been giving them tips. Right guys?" Naruto asked them.

Both of them cried out, terrified of the consequences, "Yes, Sir!"

"We were informed you were acting out again, Uzumaki. You're sure nothing is amiss?" ANBU Cat inquired. ANBU Cat had taken Naruto to see the Hokage for fighting not even twelve hours earlier.

"Absolutely positive," Naruto nodded solemnly. "If they think training with me is hard, I'd like to see them train with Maito, Gai…" The three ANBU actually chuckled.

ANBU Owl said, "I heard you trained with him for quite a long time."

Naruto shrugged and the conversation ended there. The two young Chunins were given pats on the back, and then they paled as Naruto was instructed to keep up the good work. Naruto enjoyed himself as he 'gave tips' to the two for several hours.

At four PM he went to the bank. It was still closed. Naruto narrowed his eyes at the bank and scribbled out a note on an exploding tag, pasting it to the front door. He knew he would get no sleep that night, so he didn't bother going up the mountain. He went to an early supper, then prowled the streets looking for a fight with someone. When he couldn't find anyone drunk or stupid enough to fight him, he found Sasuke.

"Hey, duck ass," Naruto jeered, feeling a dire need to rid himself of excess energy. Sasuke turned to look at him, his ANBU Duck mask in place and his two teammates nowhere to be seen. They were likely split up to patrol.

Sasuke asked coldly, "What do you want, dead last?"

Naruto walked up to Sasuke and gave him no warning before slugging the bastard. Sasuke's mask shattered, and the Uchiha was left with a bleeding cut on his cheek from a splinter of the mask. Sasuke put his leg back to brace himself from falling, but recovered quickly and glared at Naruto.

"What do you think you're doing, Uzumaki?" Sasuke growled, rubbing his cheek with his fingertips and wiping off blood. "Do you really think you can get away with hitting me?"

"Gonna run and tattle on me?" Naruto asked, his voice hard. "Or you gonna fight me like a fucking man?"

As Naruto fought Sasuke, it was just the kind of workout he needed. The only problem was over a dozen ANBU showed up and separated them.

The two of them were taken to the Hokage. Neji leaned against the front of his desk, glaring coldly at Sasuke.

"Let me remind you what it means to be ANBU, Uchiha. You are supposed to represent the best aspect of our Shinobi. You are supposed to portray a calm exterior at all times, remain civil and fair to both civilians and your fellow Shinobi regardless of their rank, and be disciplined and punctual at all times. In regards to your personal feelings, when you are ANBU, they don't exist." Sasuke stood there, seething as he was lectured.

Neji continued, "You were allowed to rejoin the ranks after your desertion, which was obviously an error in judgment on the part of the Godaime as you appear to feel you are better than the law and think it necessary to pick fights with those around you. For your actions on this day, you will hereby be stripped of ANBU rank and suspended from missions without pay until the damages to the city have been repaired."

Sasuke bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement, his teeth gritting together. "Understood, Hokage-sama." He forced out.

"I wasn't finished," Neji said and Sasuke's eyes burned with anger. "You will have the opportunity to learn just what it means to the city when damages are done by assisting with the rebuilding process in both physical and monetary value. You will be fined for the cost of the damages, and report to the builders daily. When you are not with the builders, you will be confined to your house under continuous surveillance. Have I made myself abundantly clear?"

Sasuke nodded, "Understood, Hokage-sama."

Neji said, "You are dismissed, Uchiha. ANBU Fox, please see that he arrives home." The ANBU followed Sasuke out, and Neji turned to Naruto. "I have your paperwork in order. Are you sure this is what you want?" Neji asked.

Naruto nodded slowly. "I have to do this, you understand? I have to…"

Neji sighed, but he nodded. "There are a few things we have to clarify and clear up before you can go, though. First, you reportedly were seen beating on your recent Chunin exam team members."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "ANBU Cat, ANBU Owl, and ANBU Bear cleared that up. They wanted me to train them, so I did."

Neji then asked, "And as far as this threatening note you left for the bank?"

"They're always closed when I come by. I'm getting sick of it. I'm not waiting for this bank holiday to end before leaving, even if I have to blow the place up to get my inheritance monies." Naruto said firmly. "I gave them sufficient warning; they can be open tomorrow."

"You know I have to punish you for the indiscretions…" Naruto nodded at Neji's warning. "Then, proceed to the library and serve out your punishment for fighting Uchiha, Sasuke, and for threatening the bank. Tomorrow morning at eight AM, proceed to the bank. I will make sure the bank is open."

Naruto said nothing more and waited no more for dismissal before leaving. Copying scrolls was impossible at that point. He shook so bad from anticipation toward leaving he ended up simply pacing for the duration of his time in the library and at six AM he left and went to pace for two hours in front of the bank.

At eight AM, a terrified bank manager showed up. Naruto glared at him impatiently. It didn't take long to close out the accounts of money left to him. Naruto had every bit of it made into small, easy to spend currency, and the bank put the money in a bag.

Finally he was able to go shopping. He took his money to purchase things in various shops. Travel supplies and food from Chouji's family's store. He went to Ten-Ten's family blacksmith for new weapons. His old ones had lasted a long time, but it was time for some new gear…

At last, the next morning he had his travel papers and with a pack on his back, he looked out of the gates of Konoha. This was to be, if he could help it, the last time he ever traveled through those doors.

He took a step, toward the freedom that Kyuubi whispered he could have if he left.

"Naruto! Naruto, don't do it!"

Naruto felt his face drain of emotion. He turned to look at Sakura. Bitterly, Kyuubi asked, Where was she all this time? To think she has the right…

Sakura ran up to him and grasped his wrist, "Naruto, please, don't go!"

Naruto yanked his arm away from her. "Don't go?" he asked. "DON'T GO?!" he snarled, his eyes flashing with anger at her audacity. He wasn't even sure where Kyuubi's outrage ended and his own began. "I'm already fucking gone. Didn't you see me leave? Or are you always too busy with Sasuke? It's too late to start caring!" He turned and started running away from her.

It was too late to turn back. How dare she start caring now…?

It took days to reach the sea, and passage to the lands beyond it wasn't cheap. Once he'd paid his fare and bought more food, he found he had very little money left for when he got on the other side. Leaning on the boat rail, he realized that the expensive cost was why no one traveled off the continent if there were indeed other ones. He had no idea what he'd do for money, but he supposed he'd figure that out when he got to the other side.