Shadow Gods

Author Notes: Banished from Konoha for using the Kyūbi's chakra, the elders hope to eliminate Akatsuki in swift strike by banishing Uzumaki Naruto. Believed to be dead, until seven years later, when a new figure will rise up and shake the shinobi world.

Inspired by Raikage and the Mizukage

Chapter 01: Banish

A lone figure was walking down the road in Fire Country. He was wearing a battered orange jumpsuit that was torn all over the place. His blond hair was soaked wet from the pouring rain. But his eyes were hollow and empty. The twelve year old genin name was Uzumaki Naruto, and he was now a Ronin. A shinobi without a home, without a village without a dream.

It all started when the retrieval team failed their mission. Kakashi had carried Naruto to the hospital.

Flashback

"Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said in a slow voice.

"Rest Naruto, you're in the hospital. You're pretty low on chakra, and your injuries are being look after by Tsunade-sama." Kakashi said.

"Sasuke…" Naruto said in a slow voice.

Kakashi hung his head and remain silent. But his silence was all Naruto needed to know to confirm he failed to stop his friend.

Naruto didn't spend long in the hospital, apparently the Village Council of Elders and the Village Councilors wanted to see him. The ANBU came and escorted him. Kakashi walked with him and eyed the ANBU suspiciously.

"Sakura." Naruto said to his pink hair teammate as she walks up to him.

Slam! Sakura fist contacted with Naruto's skull causing the wounded blond to fall to the ground.

"I should have known better than to trust you to bring Sasuke-kun back! You're the reason why he left. I wish you had died, you don't deserve to live. I hope the Council orders you to be exected for being what you are, a monster!"

"That's uncalled for Sakura!" Kakashi said in a threatening tone of voice. Sakura said nothing but gave a humph and storms off.

Things got worse when Naruto enter the council chambers. Naruto did not like the councilors. They were mostly civilians who were fat and spent most of their time and money making his life miserable. Worst, they were in the Villager Shinobi Elder's pocket.

"Uzumaki Naruto, do you know we have summoned you?" Elder Utatane Koharu said.

"No." Naruto answered truthfully.

"We are concern about the display of using the monster's chakra, better known as the Kyūbi's chakra against one Uchiha Sasuke." Elder Mitokada Homura said.

"I had no choice, Sasuke was using Orochimaru's curse seal and it made him look unhuman. Not to mention I got hit by the Chidori (One Thousand Brids) twice." Naruto said in protest. He should have foreseen this. He knew that they hated him just for being a Jinchūriki. The Village Council must have given the Elder's a lot of money to set this all up. It was the perfect excuse.

"While that is understandable, Uzumaki Naruto… we have our concerns and quite frankly, we are worried. Specifically you using that foil monsters chakra. You even mention in your report you felt like you were losing control of yourself and summiting to Kyūbi's chakra which holds nothing but malice, hate and anger. How do we know, that the Kyūbi is not influencing you." Koharu said.

"I control my own actions. Its true I feel those things when I use the Kyūbi's chakra but I control my actions." Naruto said in protest. He knew however, it was fallen on death ears.

"This isn't the first time you've lost control is it?" Homaru asks.

"No." Naruto admitted sadly.

"Yes, against the terrorist Momochi Zabuza, you lost control against his apprentice, Haku I believe and you admitted you could have mauled Uchiha Sasuke then."

"But I didn't!" Naruto shouted.

"Hold on, is this about Naruto using the Kyūbi's chakra. Because I've seen the reports on the Chūnin Exams and Naruto demestrated teh ability to control the Kyūbi's chakra to some degree. That's why he's under apprenticeship with Jiraiya. So Jiraiya can keep an eye on Naruto and have Naruto grow strong enough to control the Kyūbi's chakra." Tsunade said in an angry tone of voice.

"Can he Tsunade?" Shimura Danzō said for the first time. "There's nothing special about him. He doesn't even have his father's talent. He's also proving to be a problem more than a liability. It's true he can draw out the beast's chakra, but he cannot control. As Hokage you must think what's best for the village and not your own selfish desires. The question I have, what happens if he loses control in the middle of the village?"

"Didn't you hear a word I said?" Tsunade said.

"Of course, but can you and Jiraiya truly keep the boy in check. The Fire Daiymō doesn't think so and agree with us that the boy is unstable." Danzō said in a mono tone voice.

Naruto knew at once where this was going. He didn't like it but it was true.

"Danzō you bastard…" Tsunade growled.

"Danzō is not wrong Tsunade. There is the matter of Akatsuki. According to Jiraiya, they are made up of ten S-Class criminals. And Orochimaru use to be one of them and he killed the Sandaime Hokage. Uchiha Itachi is one of them and he nearly got his hands on the Kyūbi. We cannot face Orochimaru and Akatsuki. Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village) and Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) are mobilizing their shinobi's. Things are very tense right now in the world and the possibility of another war is blooming on the horizon. Konoha must take actions to secure it's citizens." Koharu said.

"You only made this meeting to make it official. You've already made up your minds."

"We have, and the boy has not convince us he can keep the Kyūbi in check." Homaru said. The civilian's council members were all smiling.

"Uzumaki Naruto, you are no longer a Konoha Shinobi. You are banished. You will have your chakra sealed and will be expected to leave Konoha within twenty four hours or you will be executed." Danzō said with a sly smile.

"You can't do that, I'm the Hokage and I decided who is banished and who stays." Tsunade barked.

"I'm afraid the Daiymō of Fire Country has given us executive orders to handle the matter as we see fit and what we believe is in the best interest of Konoha. Uzumaki Naruto is a unstable Jinchūriki who can no longer serve as a Konoha shinobi. Perhaps if he survives Akatsuki, he can become a farmer." Danzō said with a smile.

The ANBU took Naruto away and place him in a sealing chamber where they put a chakra suppressing seal on him and something else.

Naruto was in his apartment packing his things. He knew he couldn't take any ramen with him but he had some M.R.E.'s (Meal Ready to Eat – Military Prep Food).

"Yo," Kakashi said as he appeared in the window.

"Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said in a sad tone of voice.

"Listen Naruto, I'm sorry for what happen to you, it's unfair and uncalled for. Tsunade is attempting to pension the Fire Daiymō to overrule the Council's decision and get you reinstated as a Konoha Shinobi. But in case you even get your chakra unsealed, you should read these." Kakashi said giving Naruto a small bag. "I know you don't like to read, but these contain skills and jutsu's that you will found useful."

"Kakashi-sensei… where's Ero-Sennin?"

"He's currently out looking at some leads on Akatsuki. Tsunade sent him a message but we don't know when he'll be back." Kakashi said.

Naruto laid his forehead protector on the table and looks at Kakashi.

"I'm going to miss you Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said in a sad tone of voice.

"I'll walk you out." Kakashi said as he and Naruto walked towards the village main gate. It was slow because Naruto could not use chakra to increase his speed to get to the gate. Izumo and Kotetsu were at the guard post and wave Naruto over.

"Listen Naruto, we want to say we're sorry for the council's decision and we want to wish you luck where ever you go." Izumo said.

"Your dream to become Hokage may have ended but you can always find a new dream. Just don't give up, isn't that your nindō (Ninja/Shinobi) way?" Kotetsu said.

"Thanks." Naruto said in a low tone of voice.

"Open the gates. It's best that he leaves now before the council decides to make a celebration of his banishment." Kakashi said.

The two form some hands seals and the massive gates open up.

"Don't give up hope Naruto, there are those here who will be fighting for your return." Kakashi said with an eye smile.

Naruto walks forward aware that Kakashi was watching him until he disappeared in the shadows.

"Good luck Uzumaki Naruto." Kakashi said as he turns his head back to the Hokage Monument. "I have failed you Minato-sensei."

Flashback Ends

'My life in Konoha comes to an end. I'll never be Hokage now.'

"Is that what your going to do? Quit?" Kyūbi's voice suddenly said in his head and Naruto was suddenly pulled into the damp mind sewer of the Kyūbi's prison.

'What do you mean?' Naruto asks.

"There are other ways for you to become Hokage. You don't have to be a shinobi of Konoha. But rather, you could buy your way to the seat."

'I barely got enough money to live off of.'

'You fool, you can undo the seal, Kakashi obvious left you instructions how. Once you do, you need to create an alliance of shinobi's that will fight for you?'

'No one will fight for me.'

"You've made allies in your short shinobi career. All you got to do is just tell them what's been done to you and that you wish to form an alliance with them."

'That could work, but how will that help me become Hokage?'

"Doing missions with these allies and have them cut ties with Konoha. Most of these alliance are your responsibility. You created them, you can destroy them."

'Sounds good, I think it's worth a short.' Naruto said.

"Someone is coming."

Naruto turns around and his eyes open wide as he recognize a figure wearing a black cloak with red clouds wearing a conical straw hat.

"It's been awhile, Naruto-kun." The unmistakable voice of Uchiha Itachi said.

Akatsuki had found him!

Author Notes: I did my best to self correct thisi but I'm not good at that. If there are mistakes I apologize. Please Review. Any pairings suggestions are welcome. I'm thinking about creating an OC for Naruto. Note there will be a crossover with other anime/manga characters in this story.