-Chapter 2: Find them! Kakashi's new Mission-

Hanabi looked in awe and horror at her favorite teacher, laying lifeless on the floor in a dried pool of blood. He had obviously been dead since the previous night.

She watched her older sister's face. Hinata had always looked up to the man, he was almost like family to her. Hinata must be taking this hard...

Hinata stared at the man with the same emotions as everyone else. But being more experienced than academy students, she noticed a few things the others hadn't: The wound was large and rough, not created by a knife but something much more destructive. The blood was splattered all over the room, not just below the body. And of course, there was the obvious trench dug through the floor up to a few feet away from the body.

She knew what technique had caused this wound, and only two ninjas knew the move. And to narrow it down more, only one person would drag the Chidori through solid objects, such as the floor, before hitting his target. Uchiha Sasuke.

Hinata saw the blonde ninja walk into the room, emotionless expression in place and that wise-beyond-years look in his eyes. She saw the mask slip a tiny bit when he looked at the body, she saw the shock on his face.

Hanabi watched as Naruto entered, picked up the note and left again. Her older sister picked up the same note and quickly read it, then immediately hurried off after the blonde boy, leaving the note on the floor.

Later that day, Sakura was walking out of a patient's room when she saw a familiar figure walk up to her.

"Oi, Lee-kun." She smiled happily at her boyfriend of two years.

"Good morning, Sakura! I was wondering if you could train with me for a while."

"Sure. I'd be happy to!"

"Yeah!" he did the nice-guy pose for her. "Then shall we go jogging, or sparring, or weight-lifting, or-"

"Jogging sounds nice." She was a little annoyed, he still got this way sometimes. At least he didn't wear that hideous green outfit anymore... well, not ALL the time, just one out of three days.

"YEAH!" He smiled and his teeth gleamed with shininess. "Then let us go, Sakura!"

So they went jogging around the village for a while. Eventually they ran by the main gate and he noticed something strange.

"What's that?"

She looked in the direction he was pointing. Two kunai were embedded in the Konoha main gate, each holding something to the giant wooden doors.

The first one held a note with some weird symbol, and the second knife had another note with only a few words on it.

You won't find us until it's too late.

Yellow Fox.

"What could that mean?" She wondered aloud and pulled the knives out of the wood. She looked more closely at the weird symbol on the other note, hoping that it would have some clue as to who had drawn it. Maybe it would be a family crest or something like that. But she didn't recognize it. It seemed something like a spell tag or something of that sort.

She put the strange tag in her pouch after a short examination yielded no useful information and looked more closely at the note. "What does this mean?" She flipped it over and saw a drawing of the Konoha leaf symbol, the center of which was where the knife point had been stuck through into the door.

They heard someone walking up behind them and turned around to see a silver-haired man looking over their shoulders, a troubled expression in his visible eye. After a minute of deep thought, he said. "Find Naruto, now."

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura replied dutifully.

"YES, Kakashi-san!" Lee said with his usual large amount of emotion and excitement in his voice.

They scrubbed the village for the boy, noticing a very angry-looking Hyuuga main family head as they searched. Eventually it was lunchtime, and every square inch of the village had been searched by one of the three shinobi, yielding no results. Kakashi had searched all of Naruto's hiding spots, all that he knew of. He was sure there were more but doubted that the boy would be hiding anywhere.

They met at Ichiraku ramen, half expecting to see him there since he was Naruto after all.

"So none of us found him." Kakashi said sadly. "This means we have lost Naruto. But who is it that went with him? The note said 'You won't find us'."

Hyuuga Hiashi was waiting impatiently for his daughter, it was time for her training and she was late. She has not been late for training in a very long time... He sighed impatiently. This must have something to do with the return of the Kyuubi boy.

He activated his Byakugan and searched for the Hyuuga clan tracking note that every main-family member wore at all times. The Hyuuga tracking notes were like explosive notes, only instead of blowing up they emitted a signal that was activated by being within range of an active Byakugan, and would seem to glow brightly to the Byakugan user, and he quickly saw it. But not around his daughter's neck like it should have been.

He saw the glow emanating from the pocket of a pink-haired, red-clad girl running around and frantically looking for something.

Why does Haruno Sakura have Hinata's headband? He wondered to himself and decided to follow the girl. Eventually he wound up at Ichiraku Ramen. I don't want to be seen here... But this is important clan business. He walked into the establishment like he owned it and went straight to the group that had been searching for Naruto.

"Why do you have Hinata's headband in your pocket?"

Sakura looked up at him questioningly. "I don't have anyone's headband... just mine." She said and pointed at the top of her head.

Hiashi stared at her coldly. "You have her Hyuuga tracking tag."

Sakura pulled out the strange tag and Hiashi nodded. "Where is she?"

Kakashi quickly put two and two together. "Hiashi-sama. If that is indeed Hinata-sama's tracking tag, then she is now gone from the village." He explained slowly and calmly. "She has most likely followed Naruto, it seems he has left as well. We don't know why but it may have something to do with the death of Iruka."

"WHAT!" He screamed, barely retaining his prideful dignity. "SHE FOLLOWED THE KYUUBI BRAT!"

His words hit Sakura like a ton of bricks. Suddenly, several things fell into place in her head, and hundreds of questions arose.

"Hiashi-sama, it is forbidden to say such things." Kakashi closed his eye, it was too late to keep the two younger ninjas from hearing what the man had said.

"I don't give a shit!" Hiashi yelled sternly. "My daughter is following a demon outside the village, she is too weak. He will probably kill her!"

Kakashi's eye shot open and he stared coldly at the Hyuuga clan leader. "Hyuuga Hiashi. Naruto is many things, but a demon is not one of them."

Sakura and lee were stunned, staring at each other with surprise. They watched Kakashi's and Hiashi's confrontation as they tried to piece together the clues.

"Kakashi, you should know not to speak to me like that. I know what that boy is."

"No." Kakashi closed his eye again and turned away. "There is nobody alive who really knows him... Not anymore at least." He thought of the two people that understood him most: Tsunade and Iruka. The sight of Iruka, laying dead on the floor, was burned into his brain now. Not because he was particularly close the the man, but because of the way he was killed.

By Chidori.

"I will see the Hokage, he should know right away." Kakashi said calmly as he walked toward the Hokage tower.

When he got there the guards let him in after he explained the situation with as small amount of detail as possible. He went straight to the office of the Hokage to explain the rest.

"Hatake Kakashi." The tall, green-eyed man smiled at the Jounin. "What have we here?"

To most people, the Hokage would seem warm and friendly at first. Eventually though, you would see that he is ruthless and efficient, and not the person you would want to fight against. Somehow though, his ruthlessness had helped Konoha to recuperate from the Sound's attack three years before. He had long dark hair and tan skin. His hair tied up and tucked under his light body armor, which was partially concealed under the Hokage robes. He had green eyes that always seemed to be shifting from side to side, watching for an assassin or something of the sort.

"Hokage-sama, I bring bad news."

In the forest many miles away from the village, two figures walked briskly through the brown and red colored leaves. It was the late autumn and the temperatures were beginning to drop before winter. Fortunately for the taller one, he always wore a jacket. But the shorter, dark-haired girl had left in a hurry and was wearing a light shirt. Unfortunately, she would feel the cold when it became winter if they didn't stop somewhere to get clothes.

But her mind was not focused on the temperature right now. She was thinking back to that morning, she had decided to abandon her village. She had left everything behind for one person, on a whim, but had no regrets. She somehow knew that she would stay by his side forever, to make his dreams come true.

She raised her hand to the forehead protector which was tied around her head now. She hadn't bothered to replace it in its original position under her chin since Naruto had put it there.

-Flashback-

Naruto turned and stared at the slashed headband by her feet.

"Why do you want to follow me?" He asked with a mix of emotion in his voice.

"I already told you why..." She hesitated a little, barely believing she had been able to gather the courage to tell him. "It's because... I-I love you, Naruto-kun."

He looked up at her and stared into her eyes. She could feel his comforting presence again, and see the warm light he had always carried before, though he still had a weird, disbelieving look in his eyes.

"I think you're wrong." He stated calmly. "But whatever you believe, come if you want." He said and removed his forehead protector, replacing it with one that he had kept in his pocket for almost three years. This one had a clean strike through its center, like the one laying on the floor next to Hinata's feet.

After he finished tying Sasuke's old forehead protector around his head, he walked to her and picked up the one she had cast aside. "But, you must wear this. We will not be cowards who hide our identities." He said and quickly tied it around her forehead.

"Let's go, I've wasted enough time." He said as the cold look returned to his eyes.

-End Flashback-

Naruto walked silently, neither of them had said a word since they left the village that morning, and it was almost sunset now. He put his hand in his pocket, not because it was cold, but to make sure he still had one unscathed Konoha Headband.

If she ever wants to return, she can use my headband, nobody will have to know that she left willingly. He thought to himself. She will be able to return to her normal life. But I am no longer a ninja. I have abandoned my village. Someday, when I return... I will avenge Tsunade and become Hokage. But I must also find Sasuke... If I have to kill him... That is my promise to myself.

He looked at the sun, it was setting now and he watched as it drifted below the horizon. A half hour later he finally spoke again.

"Let's set up camp." He pulled off his backpack and dropped it next to a tree as she did the same. He dug around for a minute before pulling out a tent and started setting it up. "Ummm... I didn't think to pack a second tent." He said awkwardly.

"I don't mind." She smiled at him, then she realized exactly what this meant. OH NO! We're sleeping in the same tent, alone? Normally she would have danced with joy... or fainted from said joy. But either way, today's attitude was too solemn and didn't allow for things like that, except for his awkward comment a few seconds before. Maybe tomorrow would be happier. Yes, tomorrow would be their true beginning.

Oddly, Kakashi had been told to collect his team and start the search the next morning. He knew it might take a long time to track the boy. And on top of that, he had no idea how strong Naruto was now. He decided to get a good night's sleep as it would probably be his last full night for a long time.

The next morning, he went to the Hokage's office again to get the ANBU teams he would be leading. He was wearing his mask that he had received when he was an ANBU captain. His old regulation armor still fit him perfectly, making him very pleased that he was able to keep his figure over the years.

"Okay, everyone. Time for a quick briefing." He sighed, this would not be fun. "Basically, we're out to find two ninjas that left the village yesterday."

"Who left?" The bear-mask asked.

"A girl named Hyuuga Hinata left, willingly, we think." Kakashi explained carefully, he didn't want them to think she was forced to go. If they thought that, they might try something extra-funny on Naruto.

A small murmur arose in the group of eight men, with Kakashi as their leader and ninth member. The Hyuuga heiress had run away. Kakashi heard several members comment on how Hiashi was too tough on her and he smiled under his mask, apparently he wasn't the only one that believed the man was too rough. Eventually someone asked. "Who else left?"

"Well, you should recognize this name as well. She left with a boy called Uzumaki Naruto."

Kakashi was a little surprised by their reaction. Instead of the loud and rude comments he had expected, and gotten from Hiashi, he heard complete silence. He decided to continue.

"We think that she left with him of her own will. Our job is to retrieve both shinobi, preferably alive. If they sustain injury, that's not unacceptable, and... you're authorized to kill one of the targets. I'm sure you're all aware of the reasons for the Hokage sending so many of us to bring back only two Genin."

The men all nodded silently, and Kakashi knew what they were thinking: Kill the Kyuubi kid.

I hope he has become stronger, because these guys aren't playing games. "Move out!"

Hinata awoke in the middle of the night at some strange rustling noises. Hunter-nins already? No, it's too loud... She looked over to the other end of the tent and saw the source of the noise, Naruto was shifting around in his sleeping bag. She could tell he was having nightmares. Naruto-kun... what are you dreaming about?

His body moved against his will, moving slowly and silently, masking its chakra without him telling it to.

NO! I won't do it! He screamed at his body, which no longer was that of a fifteen year old boy but a more muscular, armor-clad one. NO!

His body wasn't listening though, and continued stealthily to the door, which was 'conveniently' left open by his associate, who was disguised as one of her guards. He stepped in to see the Hokage fast asleep at her desk, as usual.

Ts-Tsunade-obachan! WAKE UP! He screamed, but it didn't come out his mouth. WAKE UP YOU OLD HAG! He painfully realized that she couldn't hear his warnings.

The corners of his mouth turned up in a sinister grin as he slipped a kunai out of his pouch.

TSUNADE!

Tsunade's fist flew up at him at full force. Not because she suspected anything, but her body did that instinctively whenever she woke up. He managed to dodge it without too much trouble, and she was still too drowsy to see the knife clenched in his fingers before it slid cleanly through her throat, sending a small spray of blood across her desk. The job was done, and it was time for him to disappear.

"Naruto-kun, please wake up."

Hinata stared at his sleeping form. He had been mumbling a few things but she could only make out his begging of Tsunade to wake up. What is his nightmare? Why is he calling for Tsunade-sama?

She gently shook him. "Naruto-kun... please wake up..."

His eyes half-opened and he looked up at her. He looked like he was about to cry, she had never seen him like this.

"N-Naruto-kun?"

His mask refused to go up to cover his sorrow, and a lone tear rolled down his face. The first time he had shed a tear in years. She stared pitifully at him, wondering what he could have been dreaming about to cause this.

"Hinata..." He just barely whispered her name.

"Naruto-kun... what were you dreaming of?" She asked with more than a little worry in her voice.

"Nothing important..." he stopped and thought for a second. Can I trust her?

"Okay..." She looked away, feeling a little guilty that while she had been having happy dreams about the boy that was sleeping in the very same tent, he was having nightmares that were terrible enough to make him cry.

"My nightmares are simply a reminder of what I must do. I have to avenge Iruka-sensei and Tsunade."

"But... revenge? What good will it bring?"

He looked away. Under her gaze he was suddenly ashamed that he had stooped so low as to think seriously about killing his friend. Am I doing this for revenge? Am I just like Sasuke? He remembered the note that he had found next to Iruka's body. He said that I will become an avenger...

He was going to tell her to go back to bed, but decided against it. He didn't want to sleep and he did want some company if he was going to stay awake. He felt safer with her, and she seemed to be able to lighten the atmosphere a little, a difficult task considering Naruto's stubbornness.

"Honestly, I don't know if I'm doing this for revenge... But I don't want to talk about sad things anymore. We're going to be together for a long time, might as well start over on a happier note."

She played the words over in her head to make sure she heard right. We're going to be together for a long time... "How long?"

He seemed to think for a minute. "A few years maybe..."

She blinked. Somehow Naruto was still able to take any dark situation and make it comfortable. A few YEARS! A few years with Naruto-kun... She felt a little light-headed, lucky she was sitting down. What if I let him down?

"We're not going to return until we're both strong enough to save Konoha."

She blinked again. "W-we?" Save Konoha?

"Of course!" he flashed his foxy smile. "You're strong. I definitely wouldn't want to fight you."

She blushed, nobody had ever told her that before. Not even her teammates had ever said that she was strong, not like he just had. She had always believed that she was just a stubborn girl that only got in the way of everyone in the end.

"And besides that, it's always better to have a team. You and I, we'll learn to work perfectly together, starting... ummm... starting tomorrow. When the hunter-nins come to find us they won't know what hit them. They'll be our practice!"

"Hunter-nins... practice!" It sounded utterly ridiculous. Sure, hunter-nins weren't the BEST ninjas in the village, but they were pretty damn good.

"Yeah, it'll be easy for us! I saw you in action three years ago, and you've probably gotten a lot better since then."

She didn't think she had improved much over the years. Her father still called her weak, Neji was still able to beat her in every sparring match. She was better than Hanabi, but she believed it was mostly because of the fact that she was older and bigger than her sister. I can't disappoint him! He'll be watching me, depending on me. But what if I lose? What will he think of me?

He yawned a little. He needed sleep, nightmares or not. "Hey, Hinata. Get back to bed, we'll need the energy tomorrow."

"Okay."

He watched her climb back into her sleeping bag and he kept watching her for a few minutes before laying back down. Some small part of him told him to scoot a little closer to the girl. He just ignored it, listening to what he thought of as his logical reasoning instead.

You better not give me any more nightmares, fox.

Hah. You wish.

-End of Chapter 2-

Revised on 9/4/2011!