Wasteland Wandering Fox

Chapter 1- Be it a magnificent temple or a shallow grave. Only the living care where the dead are resting.

Disclaimer- Yeah, still working on who own the Fallout Series but I'm still fairly certain it's not me.

By the way I had a reviewer, Hades252 2, first reviewer for this story woo, who was questioning Alpha's morality in terms of her 'use anything in her arsenal' so I suppose I should address that a little. Basically she's good for the most part (good is rather profitable after all) but she had a very the ends justify the means mentality though she'll be on friendly terms with the most of the other inhabitants of the Capital Wasteland (so Megaton won't be a smouldering crater for instance). Her armour for example will have been primarily looted and repaired with the gear from the corpses of Talon Company Mercenaries so obviously the Talon Company would have been on her tail(who said being viciously hunted by trained killers was a bad thing- I found it rather fun. Really who doesn't enjoy a good fire fight?).

I tried to give her a bit of a psychical representation of the Black Widow perk. Namely she'll flirt with a guy for a bit of caps but when he turns around to go to bedroom she'll shoot him in the back and loot his corpse. I ain't making a whore main character, that's definitely not going to happen. I don't know if that answers anything but maybe I fleshed out her character a bit.

Anything else? Let's see this chapter and the next will involve a bit of how Naruto landed in the wasteland. Or at least the basics don't expect the whole reveal. There will be information on how he met Alpha and Cain as well as his connection to the story events (both main as well as some of the add-ons, I think his swords evidences that). The info will be flashbacks and they'll be spread out so... patience. In terms of ninja skills don't be expecting anything majorly flashy both in jutsu and sealing techniques (he's been in the Fallout world for a good three years, yes there's a lot of trash lying around the Capital Wasteland but I doubt jutsu scrolls will be among them) but I might have him develop some useful moves (water purification maybe or an summoning an irradiated dust storm for an escape) he will be a bit trickier than he was in the Elemental Nations. Naturally he'll have excellent melee and gun skills and a bit of stealth, though Naruto always was more the run and gun type ninja out of prefernce. I've also given him a bit of a new trick from the Fallout world that not everyone may be familiar with. Particularly those who've only played Fallout 3.

I should probably wrap this up thanks again to Hades252 2 glad you liked the weapons, outfits and followers. I'll be building on Cain a bit during the time in New Vegas I started with pretty much a blank slate and the need to balance out emotional maturity and mental stability a deal. I've already got quite a few ideas for his character particularly his... eccentricities.

Also I've set up my options to allow Anynomous reviews. Bring on the flamers.

Edit 31/10/2010- I am an idiot. Among my friends and family this a well known and accepted fact. Today it has been proven. In other word instead of uploading this chapter I uploaded Chapter 2 of Juniour Class. Gomen. Any way fixed now and thanks to the anoymous reviewer who was so kind point out this fact (lord knows I wouldn't have). Also if you're interested in the story I accidently uploaded check out Evil Academy Juniour Class a Disgaea fan fic on my profile and review... seriously I know I shouldn't expect much but 4 reviews is a little depresing.

Also I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but I got around to writing up a semi-decent profile.

"Oniiiiii-saaaaaaan, how much longer until we reach the Mojave Desert. Kuma-kuns getting tired."

The three wanderers and their followers had been travelling under the cover of darkness in silence for hours. Finally, in a move surprising no-one, the boy in the helmet spoke almost as soon as the sunrise was visible.

'At least Kit made it to first light so technically Alpha can't shoot him in the foot like she said he would if he talked before sunrise.' Thought the tall man dressed in the dirt brown Dry-as-a-Bone coat, by the name of Cain, as he removed and unfolded a map from hidden pocket in said coat.

"Well if we keep walking at this pace and don't get distracted by anything we should reach Goodsprings by midday." Cain answered holding the complex map in front of his face.

"Sooo..." Kit began raising his finger to the 'chin' of his helmet, "around night sometime."

"Probably midnight yeah," Cain replied with a nod of his head re-folding and pocketing the map, "though if we could get Charon to keep Alpha bound without him passing out from a nose-bleed (1) we could probably make it there by nightfall at the latest." At this Kit let out a laugh, which echoed oddly due to his helmet, and you could tell that Cain had a smile on his face behind his Gas-Mask. When they heard a loud clicking to their left both of the males stopped instantly. Both in terms of walking and in terms of being happy.

"You guys shouldn't make jokes about people with more guns that you," Alpha said with a sickeningly sweet voice. Neither of the boys had to look at her to know that she was aiming their backsides up in her VATS.

"Kit..." Cain said not looking at his teenage friend.

"Yeah Onii-san."

"... we should probably run before 'Onee-san' kills us huh."

"Might be a good idea."

"Thought so," the tall young man let out a sigh before screaming. "Last one to Goodsprings loses all feeling from their waist down!" With that Cain ran like hell itself was on his tail which, in a moment, it would be.

"Kuma-kun keep Alpha occupied." The young regulator replied before Alpha could pull her trigger.

"Come back here." Screamed the blue haired women before chasing after the two male wanderers having, luckily for Cain and Kit, forgotten that guns were a ranged weapon.

Kuma-kun as per his orders attempted to lunge at Alpha's feat but misjudged and crash tackled a motionless Charon who, for some reason, had a small amount of blood coming from his nose and was staring wistfully off into the distance.

Dogmeat simply chased after his mistress thinking that this was all a game as opposed to first degree murder.

"Shizune did you contact them?"

"Yes Hokage-dono I sent a messenger to Kurenei for Team 8 to report to the Hokage's office for a confidential mission briefing."

"What about... him?"

The brunette assistant mentally sighed at her teacher's barely hidden disdain. Though she still nodded in answer to the question. "I sent a special message to him and his team about the briefing. With promises of a paper bombing if they did not show up."

The Godaime and her assistant and apprentice where in the Hokage's office, standing or sitting depending on their status, as they awaited the arrival of the people that had been summouned. The Kyuubi Festival had been just last night and it was common for most ninja's to be allowed the day off, generally to recover from the hangovers of the night before. Even, or rather especially, the Godaime. Last night had been a rather bad one and Tsunade was incapable of removing her hands from her ears for risk of the sound making her brain melt.

She had been like this for the morning, incapable of moving from her desk, until Shizune showed up and used a strong medical jutsu to remove the alcohol from her system. An unpleasant process for all involved.

Shizune was about to suggest to the Godaime about working on the mass piles of paperwork, why none of the Hokage's opted to use Shadow Clones we may never know, when there was a light respectful knock on the door.

"Come in." Tsunade said in the direction of the door not taking her eyes off her assistant. Who she was sure had been discreetly moving piles of paper work closer to her writing hand whenever she took her eyes away.

As the large oak doors opened with a creak so loud it doubled as a security device four figures walked into the office.

"You called for us Hokage-sama." The first figure to come into view was the dark haired red ring eyed beauty, Konoha's resident Genjutsu expert Kurenai Yuuhi. Though her voice was polite it carried a bit of a chip in it. Tsunade figured that this wasn't due to her as, if rumours were to be believed, Kurenai had gotten it into her head to try and conceive a child and was failing. This would explain her foul mood for the past few weeks. Strangely her lover Asuma Sarutobi was suffering no such issues, of course if those same rumours are anything to go she was neglected to tell him anything about her plan.

"Ano Godaime-sama." Second in came the team's resident female, Hinata Hyuuga. Behind her long dark blue hair, which she refused to cut for reasons known only to her, hung down the back of a white and vermillion coat. After three years such a coat could no longer serve to hide her impressive bust.

While the Hyuuga princess had certainly improved with her confidence in battle as a last promise to her lost love she still had gave that appearance of being shy and timid. It was a well known fact that insulting the blonde jinchuriku in her presence was a guaranteed death sentence. For some reason though she was never once convicted, that didn't stop her complaints folder being massive enough it was considered a trilogy in four parts and was well on its way to five.

"What up Tsunade." Course as ever the third figure came through the door, heir to the beast using clan Kina Inuzaka his massive white ninken Akamaru trailed not far behind. Naturally his disrespectful attitude brought the wrath of slug princesses' apprentice Sakura Haruna down on his head. Literally her charka boosted punch sent Kiba straight into floor, even holding back Tsunade could see the dent on the hard wood floor. Tsunade couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride in her student.

Kurenai and Hinata assisted the young Inuzaka up and Shizune used her Mystical Palm Technique over his body to check for and heal damage, something which made the teenage boy blush furiously. Meanwhile the final member of Team Kurenai walked through the door and silently stood next to his teammates. It still astounded the Godaime to the lengths the kikai bug using Aburame clan took with hiding as much of their face as possible. Something which Shino Aburame has taken to freakishly unnecessary extremes, how he can survive in that outfit during summer is a mystery to all of us.

Tsunade let out a large, not very subtle, cough to draw Team Kurenai's attention causing the four ninja and one ninken to stand to attention. Kiba though did it a little woozily.

Though Tsunade drew their attention it was Sakura who started talking looking down at a clipboard. "Team Kurenai you've been brought to the Hokage's office to discuss the details for a specialised B Rank mission."

"Sweet a B Rank. Come on what are we doing?" Kiba said excitedly, clearly the chance for glory outweighed any possible head trauma. Tsunade chuckled Kiba really did remind her of Naruto. Even better was that, occasionally, the commonality could be considered a good thing. Sakura and Shizune just sighed.

"I'm afraid that you will have to wait a while. This client for this mission has requested a team personally for this mission. It would be pointless to discuss the mission parameters without all the teams present." Sakura stated pushing a pile of papers closer to Tsunade while her attention was focused elsewhere.

"It is common for clients to specifically request ninja for such a mission rank. Such occurrences are generally reserved for A and S Rank special missions" Shino stated in monotone. "May I ask who will be accompanying us on the mission?"

"Well if those trackers we keep on him are anything to go by. The team should be here any second." Shizune said looking at the office doors.

Kurenai narrowed her red eyes. "Trackers? But the only ninjas who have Tracker Seals on them are probationary-nin." Suddenly all eight individuals, including one dog, where drawn to the sound of the oaken door.

Akamaru and Kiba growled at the person visible between the two large wooden doors.

"Sasuke."

"Good god! Not you four."

Sasuke Uchiha had a problem. Admittedly some might argue this fact. The last Uchiha had the vast fortune and property deeds of the Uchiha Clan in his name. The Civilian Council would back him in whatever he wished to do. He got special treatment in the civilian owned shops, excluding the village's ramen production sector. He well know and was specially requested by many clients. There were merchants and civilians all but throwing their daughters at him. He had fame, money, power and... fangirls *barely repressed shudder* (2). So then what might you ask is his problem? Well simply put ever single damn near ever single ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, including a few ninja outside the village, the village leader and a group of particularly viscous fresh genin, wished to kill him in ways that would make Ibiki cringe and Anko ask to be brought dinner first (3). First and foremost of which was Hinate Hyuuga.

Before she went all psycho Naruto's honour defender on everyone Sasuke didn't even know that the Juken could be used to temporarily stop a person's heart. Judging from the screams that occurred when such a person came back to life it was a horrifically painful process. Enemy ninja's concurred.

Truth be told he wasn't prideful enough to believe that he didn't deserve it somewhat, his current situation had something of a humbling effect. Not much, he was an Uchiha after all, but personally the boy liked to think that he was improving. Something that went much better once Jiraiya had placed several high class suppressant seals over the Curse Seal of the Heavens.

After all, his disappearance from the village not only resulted in life threatening injuries to many of the Clan Head's children but it lead to Naruto's death. Even if he wasn't by his hand directly there wasn't a person who cared that didn't blame him for the blonde jinchuriku's disappearance and apparent death. Hell even he blamed himself.

Sasuke had been at Orochimaru's Rice Country base for a good three months before word of Naruto being killed in action reached his ears. The result was something of a small scale mental breakdown. It would be another month before the Uchiha would leave Oto and return to Konoha begging forgiveness. Taking with him the ones who would became the group the Leaf-nin would ever so 'affectionately' refer to as Team Hebi.

There were three members in all, excluding him of course. First was a seven swordsmen wannabe he had found in Orochimaru's jails, a living water source called Suigetsu Hozuki. Freedom proved to be an excellent motivation to come with him. Though that detour for the Kubikiri Honcho didn't help when they got back to Konoha.

Next was water boy's jailer a sensor-nin Karin with some very useful tricks, though the raven haired boy was still convinced that that Heal Bite technique was born out of a fetish. The red head proved to be an obsessive fan girl but her serious loyalty to Orochimaru made control difficult at first, thankfully a brutal attack from Oto Hunter-nins solved that issue. Things did change a bit in the two and a half years since arriving in Konoha particularly between her and Suigetsu, there isn't a day where Sasuke didn't wish the two had a concept of modesty, not to mention how it annoyed him to no end that she got along better with the girls of the Konoha 10 than he did.

Last was the bipolar orange haired berserker Jugo. He was actually rather easy to convince mostly because Sasuke didn't even convince him to come. Jugo just showed up a few days out of Rice Country when the Oto Hunter-nins showed up. As far as anyone could tell he had nominated the Uchiha as his handler for the orangey's random bouts of homicidal madness after the passing of his dead bone pulse using friend Kimimaro. Something about Kimimaro's spirit living on in Sasuke it rather confused Sasuke personally but he found himself not wanting to disappoint. Mostly because it would help ensure his continued existence in fact out of his team mates he found Jugo the most likable. Which was sad, in a way.

Publically he had a great life, privately every Konoha ninja wished to kill him. It was probably only the fact of Naruto's dream to bring him back that kept off assassins. Killing him would only tarnish the blonde's memory.

In a way he didn't blame them. So he dealt with the glares. He dealt with the title of probationary-nin. He dealt with the mistrust and the hatred. Because, in the end he deserved it. In the end he remembered what he owed the blonde and how he payed him back. So why did he only realise when it was too late.

At the least this mission would provide an opportunity. The chances to re-gain the trust of his old friends were few and far between but if he could get Hinata Hyuuga to trust him then the others would be simple. He had to make sure this mission went perfectly. First he had to start on a good note.

"Good god! Not you four."

...

'Naruto was right I am a teme'.

"Clearly we're not off to a good start." Tsunade said gesturing towards the multitude of new bruises the last Uchiha sported over his arms and face. Yet his face still held that sneer of arrogance and superiority. Unknown to anyone inside he was simply glad to be alive.

"However. I'm afraid that your participation on this mission is not optional, so I would advise putting your differences behind you. Understood?" Though Tsunade didn't yell it was her tone that there would be no arguing from the ninja assembled. Tsunade was in Hokage mode.

"You are probably wondering what mission would require you two to work together." Tsunade started.

"Just get on with it!" Suigetsu snarled something which only served to earn a glare from Karin and Jugo as well as an, obviously intentional, extended pause from the Hokage.

"You've all been ordered here as part of the mission briefing for an A Rank escort mission."

"Escort!" Suigetsu and Kiba shouted simultaneously causing Karin and Hinata to hit them simultaneously.

"I can ensure you this mission is highly important. The client we will be escorting is an important business man in fire country. His business could bring in a great amount of income both in the form of missions and trade." Tsunade said in a serious tone, for some reason her mind seemed to be on something else rather than the possible income. A fact that Shino was quick to pick up on.

"So we will be guarding the client as he completes' his trade route." Shino stated with a hint of a raised eyebrow, well at least what looked like a raised eyebrow. It can be difficult to tell under the glasses. "To my knowledge such a mission would be neither be classed as A Rank nor would it require the co-operation of two teams composed of six chunins, one jounin sensei and a..." Behind his glasses it was fairly obvious that Shino was glaring at Sasuke. "And a special jounin."

Behind his indifferent expression Sasuke cringed at the rank placed on him by the Ninja council's elders in 'honour' of returning to the village with tactical information (4). He still had the distinct impression that Anko wanted to strangle him with a length of barbed wire for getting in less than three days what she took half her life to get the trust to obtain.

In Leaf Steel, Konoha's premier hardware store, a certain purple haired snake wielding Special Jounin was browsing the wares.

"Oh! A two for one sale on rolls of barbed wire."

Sasuke had to repress the urge to rub his exposed neck while he listened to Tsunade outline the mission. A mission he and everyone else in the room were greatly beginning to dislike.

So far the escort would encounter nothing more than animal attacks. No missing nin. No dangerous megalomaniacs. Not even any bandits. Clearly there is something really bad going on.

"Hokage-sama please. Just tell us what were dealing with." Kurenai asked more than a little worried about the answer.

Tsunade sighed but answered the question. "The client this mission is for has a great deal of interest in archaeology and ancient secrets. In particular the secrets of the Fire Nation's most famous temple the Seijin Funbo. It will be your mission to escort the Seijin Funbo the Sage's Grave."

The mere mention of the temple's name seemed to make the Hokage's Office drop a few degrees in temperature. Sakura did all she could to suppress a shiver. Shizune had less success and shied away. Kurenai closed her eyes and sent a silent pray to Jizo Bosatsu, the Shinto deity of protection from evik. Karin hid away behind Suigetsu whose face looked like he had just chugged contaminated water. Even Juugo took a small step back his eyes having visibly widened.

Hinata, Kiba, Shino and Sasuke on the other hand... had absolutely no idea what their leader was talking about. A fact which made everyone else's reaction more than a little disconcerting.

"Um Hokage-sama... what is the Senjin Funbo?" Hinata said after a few uncomfortably quite minutes.

Tsunade breathed out, though it wasn't in exasperation. "I can't say I really expected you to know about the Senjin Funbo. In fact I would have been more afraid if the Heirs to the Hyuuga, Uchiha, Inuzaka and Aburame did know about the temple. It not something that's really spread around Konoha High Society. In particular the Clans."

This got the Clan Heads very interested particularly Sasuke, not that he showed it, his status as the last Uchiha basically gave him Clan Head Status. Even though he could not claim it legally till he came of age and began to rebuild the Uchiha clan. Legal or not he could particularly gain access to any information not considered an S-Class Military Secret. Even Hinata, Kiba and Shino were perplexed, though not as much as the last Uchiha, there were plenty of people who would share information with them hoping to gain the favour of the future clan heads. Even if they did delight in using said information to mind fuck with people in positions of power.

Simply put there was little they weren't privy to know. As such.

"Since this so called Senjin Funbo seems vital to this mission perhaps it would be prudent to inform us of said Temple. Though logically if such a place wasn't common knowledge in the clans one would think it would be due to the relative unimportance of the place." Shino said utilizing the bug clan's infamous logic.

Tsunade chuckled even though it was slightly dark. "I can assure you that the Clan's lack of knowledge is not due to unimportance. Rather it's more like a taboo."

"Taboo?" Kiba said his face clearly showing confusion. Akamaru whined from his place at Kiba's side, the ninken's face mirrored his partners rather effectively.

"It means an act that is forbidden for social reasons while not being considered illegal outright." Shino said adjusting his glasses.

"I know what it means bug boy I was wondering why this Sengin Fun would be considered taboo." Kiba growled.

"The place is called Senjin Fundo meaning Sage's Grave. Sengin Fun means 'thousand sliver droppings'." 'Though I'm sure an Inuzaka would be familiar with droppings' Shino added mentally. That's right he thinks things he would never say.

"Moving on." Hinata said more than a little irritated with her teammate's antics. Unknown to Hinata her irritation was leaking out as Killing Intent, though it did shut the bug user and dog user up. "What's so important about this place?"

"Basically put..." Tsunade started she had hoped to avoid this topic for as long as possible. She was still wary about letting Sasuke know about the temple. But there were things she needed things done in the Senjin Fundo and the client had made it quite clear that he wanted the status symbol of having THE Team Hebi as his bodyguards. Meaning that without Sasuke and his team she would have no hope of getting Team Kurenai, Konoha's premier tracking team, into the Senjin Fundo. It had been hard enough to even get Team Kurenai to this mission briefing without drawing attention to Danzo but... she needed to make sure there was nothing there. At this point she would even settle for confirmation of his death. This time at least she would have to hope that the Uchiha really had changed. "The Senjin Fundo is the ninja world's own Bermuda Triangle. The area around it has a history of apparitions, disappearances, weird weather conditions, even bandit gangs that decide to camp in the forests around the temple have a history of showing up the next morning as bloody piles of shredded meat and bone. The only animals are a groups of white wolves two times bigger than they nature should have allowed, weird before you even consider that being the only animals means that there's nothing in their territory that could be considered prey. The only town has been abandoned for twenty years ever since the entire population vanished following a freak one hour long storm. But this is nothing compared to the temple itself.

"The temple is called the Senjin Fundo because, if you believe the legends, it is quite literally the Sage's Grave. It is the resting place of the Rikudo Sennin, the Sage of Six Paths."

This officially got the attention of the Clan Heirs. The Rikudo Sennin. The Sage of Six Paths. The God of Shinobi who founded the ninja world, who discovered the secret of charka and used the first jutsu.

Seeing the faces of the four Tsunade was quick to raise her hand. Silencing Kiba's cries of 'he's just a legend' before they were even started. "You must keep in mind that this is only the most common and the most popular of the myths that surround the temple. Truth be told no one knows for certain what the temple is, not to say rumours don't abound. So far I've heard anything from the temple being a mass grave from the first Shinobi War to being the place where the first and most powerful time and space ninjutsu was used." The four Clan Heirs just stared in disbelief.

"I hear the temple was the place where Tobirama Senju discovered the secret of the Impure World Resurrection jutsu." Kurenai said suddenly.

"What!" Sasuke said in shock.

"I heard it was the birthplace of Chakra itself." Karin said moving her head out of behind Suigetsu.

"I've heard people say the white wolves in the surrounding forest are servants of the Sun God Amaterasu and the temple holds the cave where Amaterasu hid from her brother Susanoo." Shizune said.

'What is this competition?' Hinata thought.

"I heard it was where the Biju crawled out of Yami from." Juugo added in a soft voice. Sasuke turned slowly towards his teammate like he had just asked to eat a baby.

"Yes yes, it also supposed to be where the first Hyuuga created the Byakugan by sealing light spirit Kamis into his eyes, where the gate to the home of the Dragon summons is and, most disturbingly, where Kyubbi mated with the Nibi.

"The only constant is that something big happened there and really that's the extent of the knowledge. What is had lead though is the idea that the temple effectively holds some of the greatest power on the planet."

"Greatest power on the planet?" Sasuke said with far too much interest. Interest that was quickly squashed when Tsunade sent a frigid glare in his direction.

"Yes power many people have looked for it over the years, before the establishment of the Hidden Villages a trio of high powered Clans, that riviled the Senju and Uchiha in terms of power at the time, went to war over the temple."

"What happened?" Hinata asked who already had an idea of where this was going.

"The Clans mercenary armies fought outside in the forest while the Clans themselves took the fight inside the temple itself. The mercenary were torn apart by fierce gale force winds as for the Clans... not a single member of the three powerful Clans ever left the temple.

"Not in the countless years that the temple has existed has someone entered the temple seeking power, whether they be foolish or merely desperate, have not returned. Researchers don't fare much better half the time they don't make it past the temple's outer sanctum. Those that do either vanish or show up wandering the forest outskirts a week later with no memory of what happened."

"I see." Shino nodded in understanding. "So the reason that speaking of it is considered taboo is because the Clans are worried about its members seeking power in the temple and never returning. While the civilians and those from regular ninja families would have far less regulations on the information which is why they would know of it."

Tsunade nodded. "Exactly. Sad as it is the Clan system is known for breading people who are foolish enough, insane enough or desperate enough to go looking."

Kiba sneered slightly. "What do you mean by desperate? Dumb or insane I can understand but who would be desperate enough to go get killed in some supernatural death-trap?" 'Hell I don't see why we should go.'

"More than you may think." Sakura piped up looking at her clipboard. "According to these reports there have been un-prepared genins forced into the Chunin Exams by their teammates, plenty of people during the Second and Third Great Shinobi Wars, Hyuuga Clan Branch Members (Hinata bit her lip at this one) and..." Sakura's eyes widened before quickly looking at her master "and-and Naruto."

All in the room, except Tsunade and Shizune, went very quite. Even those from Team Hebi who had never met the blonde had heard enough stories to respect him a little, and honestly make them wonder why he wasn't the one who left instead of Sasuke.

Tsunade started to sweat inside a bit; this was the part she really wasn't looking forward too. Explaining why she wanted them to go. "You all remember how Naruto went missing." All nodded, even Team Hebi had heard the stories.

"After Naruto-kun returned after the fight at the Valley of the End he was sent on a mission ordered by the civilian council. The mission proved too much for him as his injuries had fully healed even with the Kyuubi and he... he..." Kurenai put an arm around Hinata as she started to sob.

"Actually there is quite deal more than that. In actual fact the Council renounced his Naruto's ninja status" Hinata's head shot up. The sound of a thousand furious insect emanated from Shino. Kiba and Akamaru growled in unison. Sasuke inadvertently activated his Sharigan. Only Kurenai thought to actually ask the question.

"Why?"

"Sadly the answers more complicated than it appears. It did start after the Valley of the End. While I was making sure that Naruto, Kiba, Neji and Chouji lived and Jiraiya was preparing to take Naruto as his apprentice. Danzo and the Ninja Elders called the Ninja and Civilian Councils for a meeting.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the mention of the War Hawk and the Elders. All the pampering from the civilian council had put him in position to see who they were pawns for. It wasn't long before the Uchiha was fending off schemes to get him under Danzo's thumb. Sasuke held as much love for the cripple as he did the Snake-teme.

"The Elders wanted Naruto of the ninja program and under watch believing that letting the Kyuubi Jinchirku even the slightest bit of freedom would cause unnecessary risks.

Hinata let off a low growl, ever since the truth about Naruto and the Kyuubi attack was made public knowledge following his KIA all in an attempted to discredit his name among his friends Hinata wanted to kill. Anyone who thought that Naruto-kun was anything less than Naruto-kun simply because of something beyond his control was someone Hinata wanted to tear into little bits. She had once even considered using the Caged Bird Seal on a branch member who had to audacity to tell a group of Hyuuga children about the blonde demon that terrorized Konoha. She probably would have too if Neji hadn't Sixty Four Palmed the man in the gut.

"From what I heard of later the vote was unanimous and Naruto was stripped of his Hitai-Ate and became a civilian."

"Wait!" Kiba said in an oddly serious tone. "You said the vote was unanimous."

"Original Konoha Law states that if the both the civilian and ninja councils agree on the something than it is considered to be in the process of the greater good and thus outstrips even the Hokage." Tsunade said before mumbling something that sounded like 'stupid Grandfather' and 'what good has democracy ever done anyone'.

"Right. So for Naruto to be legally kicked out from the ninja ranks than the ninja council would have had to agree. The council that my mother is on!" Kiba growled through gritted teeth.

The air started getting very heavy as the Clan Heirs starting releasing Killing Intent and attempting to send it towards their respective compounds.

"You must remember that at the time the Clan Heads pretty much had their family injured, most of the them near death, in the Sasuke Retrieval Mission," The Uchiha flinched uncomfortably from the pearl eyed glare being directed at him, "they felt the need for someone to blame and seeing as how the Retrievel Mission was due mostly to Naruto going after Sasuke. Seeing as they would never blame the precious Uchiha even if he was still in Konoha, Naruto served them perfectly."

"There is something I don't understand." Sasuke said in a cold tone with heated eyes. Kiba was still mumbling about the talk he would be having with his mother. "What would Danzo get out of this? The Elders may be easy to understand but what would the War Hawk get out of Naruto's eviction."

Tsunade took note of how he didn't refer to Naruto as a 'dobe'. "I have a theory but nothing concrete, the idea is that Danzo was playing on Naruto's desire to return Sasuke. In order to bring him back Naruto would need to get at lot stronger but since he had his ninja status revoked if anyone were to train him it would be considered teaching military secrets to a civilian. Since Danzo works behind the shadows anyone he would seek out Naruto and offer him training and thus finally have the Kyuubi's Jinchuriku as his personal weapon."

"But Naruto being the unpredictable ninja he is believed the village had abandoned him and was desperate enough to go instead went after the ancient power promised in the Senjin Funbo rather than into Danzo's hands." Shino said a look of concentration mildly visible on his features. 'Sad thing is it was probably the safer of the two options but... damn it Naruto why didn't you ask us for help. Wait none of this has explained why the Hokage is sending us to a potentially hazardous situation, aside from our Clan Heir status our primary claim is to fame is as a tracking situation. Ah... I see.'

"You want us to find Naruto's body." Shino said with a tone of comprehension. The rest of the ninja's in the room looked at him with confusion. "Team Hebi is constantly being requested by high class clients commonly as a status symbol meaning that Team Kurenai is being sent along 'officially' as insurance for such an important client. In doing so you want our tracking team to hopefully locate Uzamaki's remains. By informing us of our own parent's part in Naruto's death you hope that we will disregard any advice on their part to refuse this mission. By the temple's track record a research team would have the greatest chance of survival because they don't make it past the initial chamber. You are hoping that Naruto's relative inexperience would mean that he didn't make it deep into the temple and we will be able to locate proof of his demise. Is that right?"

Team Kurenai and Team Hebi kept intently focused on the Godaime Hokage until she nodded. "I've long given up hope that Naruto might be alive. I want to give him a proper burial at least. I can't convince you to go on a mission like this but I... I just want to make sure."

There was a few minutes of silence as the two teams absorbed the information they had heard. Finally though someone spook up.

"Team Hebi will accept this mission." Sasuke said in a serious tone.

Tsunade blinked a bit before smirking. "Technically you're the requested team so you're not really allowed to refuse." Sasuke flinched a little. "But... thank you."

Kiba scoffed. "Like hell we'll refuse Hinata will kill us otherwise." The pearl eyed Clan Heir didn't even bother glaring.

"I wasn't informed that Kiba had started speaking on this Team's behalf." Kurenai on the other hand had no problem with glaring. "But for once he's right. Team Kurenai accepts the mission."

Tsunade smiled the first turmoil-less smile in weeks now. "Thank you. Prepare for a mission of indefinite leave. Report here at 600 to meet the client."

"Hai Hokage-sama!" Eight voices rang out across the room.

Cain's head throbbed, throbbed in a way that only came when a shard of metal in your head. Where had it gone wrong?

When he had first gotten this package it was going to be suspicious but he didn't think it would matter his travelling companions was an experienced wanderer and a regulator who had made himself a legend. A woman who helped bring fresh water to the Capital Wasteland who had fought alongside the Brotherhood of Steel in a war against the enclave and had befriended one of the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood's premier Paladins. Her dog and Ghoul companions were more effective than twenty Caravan guards. A teenager who the Capital Wasteland Slaver's considered a force of nature. A boy who helped the Brotherhood open a weapon's vault by fighting in a virtual war. One who could amass an army of vicious animals with a thought.

So when the man in a pin striped suit with his two Great Khan bodyguards Cain barely batted an eyelid behind his gas mask. But the pin stripped man was prepared, he had known of the woman and the boy and he knew of people who wanted them. Moments after the pin stripped man had arrived a flurry of dynamite explosions heralded the arrival of men in blue shirts and flak vests.

The fight was fast and intense by the time the dynamite had stopped detonating the blue vested men along with Alpha and Kit. Cain was tired it had been the final leg of an ungodly journey from the Capital Wasteland to the Mojave. The two Khans attacked him. The first got his arm broken. The second received a throwing knife to his knee cap. Their second try proved more successful and the first bound the Couriers hands before he could draw his Modified .357 Magnum Revolvers. The second bashed him over the head.

When he had woken Cain groggily stared to the night sky and strained against his bonds. His gas mask lay on the ground by his feet. The pin stripped man said something about a 'Fink' and then some more about a rigged game. Then Cain saw a 9mm pointed at his face then his world became nothing but pain and dirt.

Struggling to keep his eyes focused Cain tried to pull himself out of the ground. In the few seconds before he accepted blissful blackness Cain hears and saw two things.

He saw a cartoon cowboy face and he heard a

"Howdy Pardner."

End Notes- Second chapter done and about twice as long as anything I've written before. Now you may remember that at the end of the last chapter I said I should have the chapter out before Fallout: New Vegas. Welll... sorry.

Yeah I got caught up in something called life. Namely the life of a high school student in his last term with a very confusing spoken assignment (B+, A-, B+ so far only one of my friends has done better and he did about fifteen drafts) anyway by the time I had a chance to work on the chapter Fallout: New Vegas was out and I had a pre-order so naturally a played through that for over a week straight. Still good thing I did as I have plenty of ideas of what going to happen in the wasteland.

One very important thing I found out, guy on the front of the box who I compared Cain too. Yeah he's not a courier rather he's an elite NRC Ranger. Okay let's wikia this guy.

Open firefox, wait half an hour for all my saved tabs to load, go to bookmarks, wikia folder, The Vault- Fallout Wikia, search 'Ranger', search 'Desert Ranger' to avoid getting some page on a perk. Okay let's see.

Uh huh.

Uh huh.

Interesting

Hmmmm.

I can work with this!

Okay I'm going to play NV and let Cain's character stew for a bit. Before that next chapter will feature just what's in the Senjin Fundo and what the hell happened to Alpha and Kit.

So then goodbye and remember. The House always wins. Unless he doesn't give me the Lucky 38 room in which case I'm bringing the NCR down on his head. I need me more places to store my junk, guns and sunset sarsaparilla bottles.

(1)- I watch waaaaay too much anime.

(2)- To think the boy wonders why people think he's gay.

(3)- Take that however you will.

(4)- Because being an Uchiha does get you away with betrayal and the attempted murder of comrades.

Once again if you're ever confused about any of the elements from the Naruto or Fallout worlds use the Naruto Wikia (Narutopedia) and the Fallout Wikia (The Vault) both brilliant information sources.