OK! So I'm still alive, I'm determined to get this story out, the updates will be sporadic as I am in the middle of a full time job, buying a house, life etc. but it will happen! Don't own Naruto :(

Enjoy!

"How does that happen?" Naruto asked as Tsunade leant forward in her chair. "How do people go missing from prison? Aren't they supposed to be watched at all times, so they don't, I dunno...escape?"

"Don't take that tone with me boy!" She snapped, "I'm not the one running the prison am I?"

Naruto had the sense to look sheepish before glancing around the hokage's office, apart from two stacks of documents on the desk the place was surprisingly neat.

The busty woman sighed loudly and picked up a sheet of paper in front of her, "The Hidden Cloud have requested we investigate the disappearance of one of their rogue shinobi from Utana Prison."

Naruto's eyes widened, "Utana...prison? But that's..."

"Yes, where we sent Sasuske, why do you think I'm choosing you for this mission?"

"Why would you choose me?" Naruto asked curiously, "This has to be some conflict of interest. Aren't you afraid I'd screw up the mission?"

"Sasuske is a former comrade, so it stands to think he will be the best one to assist you with Intel about what has been happening inside the prison." Tsunade leant back in her chair, "I'm happy to choose someone else but I honestly think you have the best chance of success in this mission Naruto."

The blonde didn't know how to feel, on the one hand if he saw Sasuke again he's just as likely to punch him as anything. But then he is his best friend, who had been languishing in jail for over a year now and Naruto had yet to visit him once. It's not that he didn't want to see him, he just felt guilty for fighting so hard to get him home and then that home goes and throws him in a cell for ten years.

With all the destruction and mayhem the youngest Uchiha had caused he really had gotten off quite lightly, he was lucky he hadn't been executed on the spot. Naruto sighed and shifted his eyes to the floor, did he want to see Sasuke? His heart ached yes but his mind was scared, scared of the hatred he would see in those eyes, the accusing glare that said it was because of him that he was there. He was scared that he would never be forgiven, and was unsure if he would fend off a killing blow from his best friend should he choose to do so, he deserved that.

Thinking back to the days after the war when Sasuke returned to Konoha and the following trial consisting of Kakashi as the new hokage, the village elders, a score of ANBU as well as Naruto and Sakura, the blonde was wondering if things could have been different. Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura had argued to the elders and ANBU representatives that Sasuke's actions in the war had gained him a clean slate, whereas the others argued that did not earn him the right to live a life without punishment after his crimes as a rogue shinobi.

In the end it had been a close call between execution and ten years in Utana Prison, a shinobi jail run by special elite members of the Hidden Storm, whose kekkei genkai allowed them to keep the prisoners in check. Sasuke's face had been passive as the sentence was handed down, it looked like he didn't care at all what happened to him. Naruto's protests of his teammates efforts in the war and ultimate undoing of the tsukinome hadn't been taken into account, it had all fallen on deaf ears and the that was the last time he saw Sasuke, being escorted out of the courtroom, the proud Uchiha emblem bold on his back as he walked away.

"Naruto?" Tsunade prompted gently. She could see this was a hard decision to make and that he blamed himself for what had happened.

"It's just..." He started, then stopped, still looking at the ground.

"Sasuke left Konoha and turned rogue." Tsunade said. "He killed many shinobi on his travels, he attacked the kage summit, helped the Akatsuki kidnap Killer Bee and killed Danzo, the leader of ROOT. He is not entirely innocent in this affair Naruto, I know that doesn't sit well with you but there must be consequences for his actions."

"And if he helps on my mission?" Naruto looked up, "If he provides Intel and helps with my mission can he come back home?"

"I can't pardon him from a ten year sentence just for providing Intel."

"Yes you can! The only way to leave the prison is by your request!" Naruto shouted.

"That's true but his crimes weigh heavier than his Intel. This is an S-Ranked mission for the Hidden Cloud, should we fail to find out what's really happened to their missing shinobi the worse thing that happens is we don't get paid. How am I supposed to justify releasing a rogue ninja from a ten year sentence for such a thing?"

"Former rogue ninja." Naruto huffed.

Tsunade sighed and eyed the young man in front of him, his hair had gotten longer and she could see bangs starting to form down the side of his face. Just like Minato, she thought.

"I can't pardon Sasuke." She held up a hand as Naruto started to argue, "However, depending on Sasuke's assistance and how his Intel influences the mission success, I can look into lessening his sentence."

Naruto smiled, "You mean it?"

"But no one else may know of this, the mission is top secret and will be privy only to you and me, as well as the Hidden Cloud who placed the mission of course. Include Sasuke only if you cannot get anywhere without his assistance. I know subterfuge and Intel gathering is not your forte but if Sasuke does know anything about this missing nin he will tell you over anyone."

"That's if he still thinks of me as his comrade." Naruto softly said.

"I believe he does." Tsunade smiled, "You two have so much history and he respects you, if begrudgingly. Now, this will more than likely be a long term mission, you will be treated as a rogue ninja who has been recently captured and sentenced to jail indefinitely. We have only knowledge of Leaf shinobi who have been sentenced and as such know nothing of others who now reside in those walls, though I doubt there will be any real threat to you as chakra is restrained there."

"How am I supposed to infiltrate the prison if I can't use my chakra?"

"We have a guard or two keeping an eye on things for us, they will be your contacts within the walls and should be able to help you should you need it. When you have completed the mission, they will send word to me and I will request your pardon from the prison."

Naruto chewed on his lip thinking it through, "What happens if something happens to you while I'm on this mission? No one will know where I am and I'll be stuck there!"

Tsunade smiled, "You better hope no one stages a coup while you're gone then."

"And what do I do about the missing cloud shinobi? Am I to gather Intel only and report back or do something about it?"

"If you can gather proof of his abduction that would be best, though I don't want you bringing down the entire prison system. There are shinobi who are there for a reason you know." She turned in her chair looking out the window, "So what will you do?"

Naruto folded his arms, if something did happen to Konoha while he was gone he really would have no way to escape from Utana Prison. He knew that was unlikely but his biggest concern was Sasuke, he might not even be in the same part of the prison and didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing. Tsunade was right, this sort of mission really wasn't his thing but maybe with Sasuke he could pull it off and get him some time off his sentence and he owed him to try.

Naruto slapped his fist in his hand, "I'll do it!"

RFBR.