He hated winter now. The cold air was a cruel reminder to the massive hole in his heart. He kept his face blank even if it was hidden behind the Cat mask. Because he was an Uchiha and that's what they did. The only mark of his pain were the silent tears that seeped unwelcome from his eyes.

Cat reached the gates of Konoha. He payed the chunine no mind and went straight for the Hokage's office. He melded into the shadow not wanting to face anybody especially not his father or brother. When he was close enough he shunshined into the office.

Tsunade looked up from her desk and paled. All the blood had left her face. She quickly activated the silencing seals and stared at the AMBU. "What happened out there?"

"Mission failed. The target had a friend. Tsunade-sama Naruto has betrayed the leaf. He... he killed Lion and Bird, took the scroll and used his kage bunshin to knock me out." Sasuke reported and hung his head.

There was a long silence. The kind of silence that ringed. "Did... did he say anything?"

"Nothing of importance. He didn't reveal anything. However he did tell me to send you his love." Sasuke sighed, it was a defeated sound so hopeless.

Tsunade looked down at her desk. "You can go Cat. Get some rest. I'm also putting you on tempurary leave. You need time to sort out your feeling."

"Hai Tsunade-sama." Sasuke turned to leave glad that he could have some time to think. he stopped at the door and looked back at his Hokage. She looked lost, as if the information still hadn't sunk in. "Will you be alright?" He ventured.

"I'll be fine." He could hear the lie in her voice. But she was the leader, she needed to be an example.

Sasuke left without another word. His mind was in turmoil. Naruto's defection made no sense. Sure the village had treated him cruelly in the past but he was a hero. He had stopped Denzo's coup and saved countless lives. People had started respecting and trusting him. He was even the top candidate for Hokage. Why would he leave now? Why abandon his dream?

Sasuke shook his head. Things were going to go downhill from here. He could feel it in his soul. As soon as news got out that the son of the Yondami Hokage had defected from the leaf their would be an uproar. People would demand to know why their favorite blonde would do such a thing. The worst part was that they didn't have the answers.

"Otouto, are you alright?" Susuke's head shot up at the sound of his brother's voice. He hadn't even noticed he had arrived at his home.

"No I am not Anaki." He whispered.

"So your mission went bad." Itachi concluded. This was much more though. He could tell that his brother was deeply disturbed and confused. He beckoned his brother forward and had him remove his mask. Then he taped his forehead with his two fingers. "Do you want to talk about it otouto?"

Sauske rubbed his forehead and glared at his brother. "Might as well since your going to hear about it anyways. Follow me." His voice was solemn, full of dread. Itachi followed him to his room and waited for the younger Uchiha to speak.

The AMBU took a deep breath and gazed at his brother with defeated black eyes. "Naruto betrayed the leaf. He killed Lion and Bird then knocked me out. Our target was merely a decoy and a way for him to leave the village easily."

Silence again. "That... that is definitely something to brood over. Do you know why he did this?"

"No and that's the problem. None of it makes sense! He's never given any indication that he even once thought about leaving the Village. He's always been so loyal, even to the point where it was annoying." He groaned and flopped down onto his bed.

"Your right it doesn't make sense. He must have some motive. The village hated his as a child that is undeniable but that was because of the Kyuubi. Who is now his ally and a friend. There is more to this otouto. Don't give up on him, maybe you could talk him out of whatever it is he is doing."

"I don't know anaki. The look in his eyes... he was serious. There was even a slash in his head band." Sasuke sat up. "As soon as I'm off leave I'm going to find out what the hell has happened."

Naruto entered the forest of massive trees, even larger than those that surrounded Konoha. A small fox greeted him and flicked it's tail as indication to follow it. It was red much like the Kyuubi. Naruto smirked, he had grown to really love foxes. After all the lord of them was sealed inside of him.

"You've got that right Kit!" Kurama growled at his vessel.

"Of course Kurama-sama." Naruto hummed.

"Walk faster Kit, the sooner we get their the sooner we can rest than start your training. It should be easy since the toads already taught you to harness nature energy. Be careful though Fox Sages are far different from a Toad Sage. More feral." The great demon said.

"Good, time is of the essence and I don't have enough of it. As soon as I'm done with this training we need to contact them." Naruto speed up his pace forcing the small fox to hurry as well.

"I still don't like this plan of yours Naruto. Have you forgotten the Akatsuki have been after you for years?"

"Don't worry brother. They will become loyal to me. I'll make sure of it. They will bow before us Kurama. I admit I do not like them. But we need more people if we are to fulfill our goals. They will be nothing but pawns in the grand scheme of it all." Naruto gave the Kyuubi a foxy grin and left his mindscape.

Tsunade pulled the bottle of sake she kept hidden from he assistant out and took a large sip. The news Sasuke had given her was hard to digest. Her ball of sunshine defecting? She could hardly believe it. She drained the rest of her drink and called in her assistant.

Shizune walked in and glared at her master. "Tsunade-sama where did you get that sake?"

"That doesn't matter Shizune. I need you to call in Kakashi Hatake for me. i have an important mission for him. I'll tell you more later just go." She watched Shizune leave then slammed her head on her desk. "That stupid pervert better get here fast."