It was early morning in Konoha, the air was still cool, and damp as Kakashi stepped out of his apartment door, locking it behind him. He walked slowly, with his head down and a shadow cast over his eyes. His destination was the same as it always was on mornings like this. He wore his standard jounin uniform except he had left his green vest back at his apartment, since he didn't need it. Tsunade had given him a leave of absence the night before.

-Flashback-

Tsunade was tired. Very tired. She had been doing paperwork for hours, and was currently opening a drawer to grab a bottle of some much needed sake.

'That Uchiha is going to be the death of me', she thought as she poured herself a glass of the alcohol. She was informed of the squad of gennin leaving the village by a chunnin only a few hours ago, she wasn't entirely happy once she was told who the Team consisted of, and immediately sent out an ANBU Team, to back them up or bring them back. She new Shikamaru led the squad, but she still couldn't believe that he would do something so daring. Although almost all of the Team have been brought back, some in critical condition, she still couldn't stop her worry for the blond idiot, that had somehow weaved his way into her heart. She thought of him as a son, or grandson maybe, and he reminded her of Nawaki, her little brother. As she took another sip, there was a knock at the door which made Tsunade jump. She quickly put away the sake, and called,

"Enter."

Shizune opened the door, and walked in carrying a few reports.

"More reports on the condition of Chouji and Neji. They aren't doing well and the medical ninjas have requested that a more skilled medic nin help them." She said, as she dropped the reports onto Tsunade's desk. Tsunade picked up the reports and quickly flipped through them. Looking up at Shizune she said,

"You go deal with this. I'll join you soon, just give me a few minutes to finish up these documents".

Shizune nodded, and turned to leave. She stopped a few steps away from the door, and turned around to look at the Hokage.

"He's going to be okay. He always makes it back, that's just how he is", she said with a smile. Tsunade nodded, and Shizune stepped out of the office, closing the door behind her. With a sigh, Tsunade went back to her paperwork but was soon interrupted as a figure entered through her window. She looked up quickly, and saw Hatake Kakashi kneeling as an ANBU would to report to her.

"Hokage-sama, the where-abouts of Uzumaki Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke, are currently unknown. Would you like an ANBU scout Team dispatched?", Kakashi asked with no emotion. Tsunade stared, unmoving.

"W-what?", she asked disbelievingly. Kakashi stayed in his kneeling position, and after a few moments replied,

Uzumaki, and Uchiha, are missing Hokage-sama.", Kakashi wouldn't say Naruto's name again, not only for Tsunade's well being, but for his too.

-Flashback End-

Kakashi reached his destination, and looked up to see the Memorial Stone. He spent a lot of his time here, coming here early morning almost every day to visit his old Sensei, and teammates. He walked over to the monument and placed a bouquet of white flowers he had brought with him, and sat down in front of it. His hand moved on it's own and with his finger absentmindedly started tracing the names over and over. The names of those who won't come back. The Hokage had refused to have Naruto's name grafted onto the stone, insisting that he was still alive. Naruto was labeled 'MIA' or, 'Missing In Action'. News of the failed mission, and the loss of two shinobi had spread through the Village like wild fire, rumors of the 'demon boy', loosing control and killing the last of the Uchiha, along with himself floated around. Most villagers had celebrated the death of the demon that had killed their families. While a small amount of shinobi mourned, mourned for the loss of Naruto. Naruto supposedly 'Dead Last', the one who had saved the village from the rage of The Shukaku. Naruto the one who was beaten and tormented, the one who grew up miserable for what he did not do. Naruto the one who, still cared for and saved this naïve village, that resented him. He was the village's saviour. But most of them were to blinded by rage to see it.

"You're here again too huh?" Kakashi didn't have to look up to know who spoke to him.

"I am."

Iruka sighed at the plain statement, and set his own flowers on the monument. He was here for his family, they had been part of the victims of the Kyuubi attack. Kakashi had always found it amazing how Iruka had been a mentor, or role model, for Naruto even though the Kyuubi was sealed within him.

"It's hard is it not? Knowing the will never come back, I mean." Iruka suddenly spoke, snapping Kakashi out of his musings.

"Yeah.", he replied after a few moments.

"When I think hard about it, my mind can't grasp it you know? I can't understand it, that they just cease to exist. I don't know. I'm not the religious type, so for me, death is just...the end.".

Kakashi sighed, and there was a long silence that followed. Iruka finally stood up and said,

"Well, it's time for me to get going. See you later Kakashi.".

Kakashi let out a grunt of acknowledgment, as Iruka left. Half an hour or so later Kakashi stood back up, and turned back towards his apartment.

'This is going to be a long week..'

Naruto sat unmoving, staring into the Sharingan eyes.

"Do not worry Naruto, I haven't brought you here to hurt you", the voice started calmly.

"You are here for a reason, that is yet to be revealed."

Naruto still wasn't entirely convinced, and again demanded, "Who are you?". There came a sigh as he heard the figure move. Out of the shadows stepped a man, wearing a black cloak that had a hood casting a shadow over the mans features. He reached up and slowly removed the hood, and stared at the gennin with an air of boredom.

"Do you remember me Naruto?" he asked. The mans hair was black and came down to his shoulders, with two long bangs, framing is face. Naruto's eyes widened in fear as he said,

"I-itachi". Itachi wore a smirk of amusement, as he replied,

"Correct. Again, I mean you no harm, my partner and I only want to help you Naruto."

"The shark guy is here too?!" Naruto yelled, trying to get up.

"No, Kisame is my partner within Akatsuki. He is not here." He stated.

Naruto failed to sit up, and fell back into his futon is pain.

"Don't strain yourself, that battle took it's toll on you. When I found you, you were nearing chakra depletion, which would normally kill a ninja of your level. But since you are not normal, you survived. If I hadn't got there at the right time that may have not been enough, but thankfully I did." Itachi said, slipping his hood back on. Naruto stared at him,

"You were there?"

"If I wasn't you wouldn't be here would you?" Itachi deadpanned.

"Where is here exactly?"

Itachi motioned around the cave.

"We are deep within a set of cave systems inside a mountain located in Kumogakure."

"Kumo?", Itachi nodded.

"We are in The Hidden Cloud..?"

"Yes." Itachi answered patiently. Naruto stared at the ceiling of the cave, slowly processing the information just given to him.

"Why did you save us?" He asked nodding his head towards Sasuke, who was still unconscious. Itachi continued to stare at Naruto until he finally answered,

"We have a plan for you.". Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"We?"

"My partner and I." Itachi answered plainly. Naruto gave him a dull look,

"Who is your partner?"

"That is none of your concern at this moment." Naruto sighed and finally gathered the strength to sit up. He looked around and then asked,

"You aren't going to tell me anymore than that are you?"

Itachi just shook his head. The gennin looked over to Sasuke and then to Itachi.

"You are siblings aren't you?", The missing nin gave no reply.

"Why did you bring him too? I thought you didn't care about him."

"I don't" Itachi answered.

"My partner has said that he needs the both of you for his plan to work." Naruto nodded.

"So it's your partners plan then?"

"Yes" he said. Sasuke stirred slightly, which caused Itachi and Naruto to look in his direction.

"What are you going to do when he wakes up? Sasuke hates you, so he's bound to try and kill you the moment he sees your face" Naruto said. Itachi just looked back at Naruto who was looking at him with a sense of curiosity.

"I don't plan on revealing my identity to him. Not yet at least." He replied.

'That's reasonable' Naruto thought. They stay there in a long moment of silence, until Sasuke slowly awoke.