Chapter 1 – Missing Ninja
"How much more of this do I have to take?" Naruto whispered sadly as he swallowed his tears. He felt no need for crying, for every great Shinobi knows how to disguise their emotions.
There's always a way out, Kit.
It's been three years since Naruto discovered his secret and opened a pathway for Kyuubi to reach him at all times. Naruto felt great comfort with the nine-tails there and he spoke with him on a regular bases.
He had also become a genin, though it did take 3 tries. Naruto wasn't proud though… He had failed his third time and was tricked by Mizuki… He stole a forbidden scroll and learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu, all for selfish reasons… and it nearly took Iruka's life, one of the first people who Naruto saw precious.
The worst thing was that Sasuke Uchiha was in his team! But… then again… Sakura Haruno was in his team as well… and who is he to complain! But that Uchiha kid makes him so mad! Just because he got better test results, does not mean he's better than him! Shikamaru had bad results and he's a genius!
"Yeah? And what way is that?" Naruto asked out loud, he had learnt that he could reply mentally instead of speaking, but preferred to speak out loud when in the privacy of his home.
You could runaway. There's a village in the land of Earth that is called Iwagakure, otherwise known as The Village Hidden in the Rocks, but be warned… The Iwagakure and your father were grave enemies, if they were to find out who you were…
"Yeah, yeah. I get it! If they were to find out who I was they won't hesitate to kill me, I know." Naruto grunted as he rose off his bed. He glanced around the room and sighed deeply, his gaze landed on the photo-frame. He grimaced as he studied the photo, remembering when it was taken.
Naruto sighed sadly, he had a huge crush on Sakura and still did… but not as big anymore, not after the way she treats him. It's always about Sasuke! Even after Naruto saved her precious Sasuke's life from Haku and Zabuza all she could do was complain about Sasuke's injuries. She yelled at Naruto for being an idiot and not thinking before he acted!
Sorry to interrupt you in your train of thought, but I suggest you start packing. You'll have to leave soon. Get a good night sleep now and tomorrow morning you'll go to that old seamstress and get a new outfit.Kyuubi instructed as he curled himself in a corner of his cage.
Naruto rolled his eyes and then proceeded in packing all his belongings, which wasn't very much; Clothing and scrolls for food and water.
He huffed childishly when he was done and pouted while rubbing his stomach. "I'm hungry!" He shouted as he then bolted from the room towards the kitchen, chanting; "Ramen, Ramen, Ramen!"
Where do you get all the energy from? One moment ago you were crying and now your
running into the kitchen?
"Yeah… but I got hungry… And it's a crime to let a perfect ramen go to waste! That's… that's just plain cruel!" Naruto nearly shrieked as he began boiling water for his cup of ramen.
Kyuubi didn't answer at first, but after a moment of silence where Naruto excitedly hummed a tone and watched his noodles that were blessed by the gods themselves-in Naruto's mind that is-boil.
When the noodles were done Naruto hastily poured them into a big white bowl and then slurped them into his mouth, moaning in contentment.
Kit… I can honestly say that I would never understand the way you function… To Naruto, Kyuubi sounded astonished, but he missed the under tone of disgust.
So instead of being insulted, Naruto grinned and only slurped in his Noodles in a faster pace.
After 5 rounds of this, Naruto was content and full. He waddled into his room and threw himself on his bed, sprawling his body out in a strange angle.
Perfect, Kit.Kyuubi yawned as he rested his head on one of his many tails, trying to forget the… interesting scene in the kitchen.Now get some sleep, you've been thinking and training too much lately. You've barely slept the past weeks… I've been sleeping for the both of us.
Naruto cracked a smile and felt his eyelids suddenly grow heavy as the full effect of his many sleepless nights took a toll on his body. "Yeah… you're right, fox." He yawned as his mind drifted off into the unknown dream world.
That night sleep didn't come to the young Hyuuga Heiress.
Hinata lay in her bed, shifting and turning with her eyes tightly shut and a frown on her face. Thoughts swirled around her mind making it impossible to sleep. They were all, of course, surrounded on a certain sun-kissed blonde with the most amazing blue eyes she had ever seen.
But it seemed like the happy-go-lucky boy was… hiding something. He's not his usually goofy self anymore, he's become more serious… more mysterious.
This was something that had gone unnoticed by everyone else… well, all except for Hinata.
What is Naruto hiding? What is it that's bothering him? Does it have something to do with his birthday? It is, after all, only a week away… Is that why he seems so… distant?
A crash sounded from outside, followed by a screech of a cat. Hinata jolted up right and looked outside her window that was directly above her bed. She saw large trash bunks lying on their sides with their contents scattered all over the nearest ground. She saw a dark cat with a bow jump over the fence, disappearing from view.
A small smile graced her features. She knew that cat… She knew that cat very well. Although It's team 7 who gets that mission frequently, it's also Team 8 who has to take over if they are away.
Shaking her head, Hinata looked up at the dark never-ending sky. The stars twinkled and danced as the moon proudly gazed at the earth below him, watching everyone with it's eye. There was a cool breeze flowing through the village and it ruffled Hinata's navy blue hair.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the breeze, feeling it caress her skin. She tilted her head to the side and the breeze flowed past her neck. A small giggle escaped the heiress as she slowly laid down and felt as the breeze and moonlight lulled her to sleep…
Naruto woke up early the next morning. He had to wake up earlier then usual because he had to go to PawPaw, the village's seamstress and also a grandmother-like figure to him.
He can remember laughing the day she told him what her name originally meant in Cantonese; Grandmother. He thought it was a funny coincidence.
She had told him that back when she was young she grew up in a completely different world. The rules were different; there were no ninjas, just monks, samurais and ranks. Names were also different fore they all meant what you were or how you fought. According to PawPaw; Ancient martial arts were taken from the way an animal fought. There were different warrior monk stylists. PawPaw said that she was friends with a dog-stylist; Naruto couldn't stop laughing at that.
But there was one story PawPaw told that caught Naruto's attention. It was the story of the Crane and the Snake… Hok and Seh, she called them.
Hok was a female warrior, but disguised herself as a boy while she lived in the temple that once held a hundred warrior monks. Seh was her 'brother', technically he wasn't by blood but in the temple they were family. They were the youngest monks in the temple along with their other brothers Fu the Tiger, Malao the Monkey, Long the Dragon and Ying the Eagle.
They were trained by a Grandmaster who had seen and learned everything there was to know.
They're lives in the temple were short lived though. Their oldest brother, Ying, betrayed them and killed the hundred monks and their Grandmaster. This left the 5 brothers to venture off on their own.
Their plan was to split up and gather as many rebels possible to overthrow the evil Emperor.
They each had a story to tell, but that's not within Naruto's knowledge.
Kit now's not the time to think about stories! You've got a team meeting and you've got to be on time otherwise it might stir suspicion. And you've still have to go to PawPaw's store to call in your order.Kyuubi snarled impatiently as he tried to stretch in the tight space within his prison.
Naruto snorted softly as he bolted out the door and down to the seamstress shop. He made it in 10 seconds flat and was proud over this. Chest out and head held high he strolled through the wooden door as a small bell ranged. "PawPaw? You in here?"
The store was small but filled with different colored fabrics. It feels so alive with all these colors smashed into one small room. There's a large desk in the middle followed by a few various stools scattered around the room.
"Hush, Naruto! You'll wake up the neighbors." Replied an old worn voice as a gentle old lady came from behind a door. She had to support herself on a wooden cane and she walked with a slight limp. Her white, aged hair was up in a bun at the top of her head.
"They should be awake already!" He shrieked with a proud grin.
PawPaw merely chuckled as she sat herself down on a low stool. "What can I do for you, my boy? Haven't I already done your measurements last week? Or have you just come to pay a visit to this old bag of bones." She smiled softly at him with kind and gentle eyes. He couldn't stop the smile that spread on his on face.
"I… umm…" He couldn't lie to PawPaw… Maybe she could help him if she knew of his plan. "I'm leaving the village." He finally said after a long pause. PawPaw instantly gasped as she stood up using her crane to heave herself forward.
"W-What?" She asked in utter disbelief, although she could perfectly understand why. She hated the fact that the adults are so cold to him, 'causing the younger generation to distrust him as well. For years she had wanted to adopt him as her own, but she was too old to be his mother.
"I have to, PawPaw. I'm so tired off being seen as a demon. I'm tired of having people not like me because of something I had no choice in!" Naruto replied tiredly as he sank down into one of the scattered stools. "I know I said I would someday be Hokage, and I will stick to my word! But I'm just so tired of being viewed as a demon. I'll just go and continue my training elsewhere. Kyuubi says I need experience. I need to feel the danger! I need to learn how to live without depending on someone else. I'll come back… when I'm ready."
PawPaw smiled sadly at the boy as she limped forward and put her arms around him. "There, there. I understand completely." She smiled fondly down at him and gently ruffled his hair. "I'm guessing you came to ask me to make you a disguise?" Her eyes held a knowing look as she pushed herself off him and made her way to her desk.
Naruto stood up, wiped his nose, and nodded. "Yes, maim." He gave her one of his brightest smiles as he stood up and followed her.
PawPaw sat down on the high chair behind the desk, taking out various papers and pens. "Don't worry, Naruto. I've got this all under control. You go to your teammates and I'll have this ready in the morning." She grinned as she got to work, sketching out an outfit with her wrinkled, yet skillful hands.
"Don't you need some sort of idea?" Naruto asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"No no! I've already got one in my mind and I just know you'll love it! It'll also be a great help with your training." Her head was hung over her sketch. "Go go, and don't come back until tomorrow morning!" She shooed him away with her left hand as her right hand was busy sketching details.
Naruto laughed as he walked out the door. He loved that old hag, but she sure was demanding.