Title: Blood Red Ice

Summary: Uzumaki Naruto is gone, vanished just like his mentor. And lately a new power is being introduced to the shinobi world. Konoha, meet the Red Ice.

AN: I back. I'm trying to update every few days.

Edited AN: Here's the next chapter. But first, I should clear up some things:

-I don't know if I'm going to put Kushina in or not. There will be another Uzumaki though. And no. Kushina doesn't hate her son. You know, "Nothing's greater than a mother's love," or something along those lines.

-I don't plan on doing any really bad character bashing, just some criticism, cuz in my point of view, Kakashi could have given Naruto and Sakura a little more attention. Don't confuse that with hate. I love Kakashi-sensei!!!

Which brings me to my next point. If you don't like one part I put in my story cuz you don't like it when that particular thing happens, please don't just stop reading it. Give me a chance. But if reading it just makes you want to throw up, then okay. Check out something else. I would just really appreciate it if you don't give me a review saying that you hate my story. That's kinda rude and close-minded. So no hating please! Thank you.

Disclaimer: Anyone who thinks I own Naruto should go to a mental hospital. That's all I have to say.

Chapter 1

The Hokage sighed. In front of her stood Jiraiya, her former teammate. He had just finished outlining his plan for a certain blonde's training and in it, he stated that he wanted to take Naruto out of the village with him. Tsunade did not like the idea at all. Though she knew Naruto would be in good hands with Jiraiya, she was not comfortable with having him out of the village, and thus out of her reach. True, she had only known Naruto for a few months, but the two had grown close and she had become a bit attached to the little supposed-loudmouth. She felt like a grandmother to him.

'Wait- grandmother! Jeez, I'm getting old.'

"I don't know, Jiraiya. Are you sure taking Naruto out of the village is a good idea? It would make it much easier for the Akatsuki to capture him."

"That's only if they can find him. You don't need to worry about that. You know I can make him disappear if something were to happen."

"Yes, but still. What if something goes wrong? What if something happens to you?"

Jiraiya cocked an eyebrow at her. "You know full well Naruto can take care of himself if it came to that. Besides, it's a risk we'll have to take, Tsunade. Whether we take it out there somewhere or inside of the village is up to you."

Tsunade bit her lip. He had two good points there. If it turned into a battle over the Kyuubi, it would be best for the village for it to be somewhere far away. But that wouldn't be best for Naruto himself. While he was very capable for his age, he was still no match for multiple S-class missing-nins. At least in the village, other ninja could be called to help, but in the middle of nowhere there would be none.

"It's still too risky. There are too many things that could go wrong. Naruto would be safer if he stayed n Konoha."

Jiraiya stared hard at her. Tsunade turned away to look out the window towards the village. He could tell something else was bothering he. "Tsunade, is there something you're not telling me?"

She flinched slightly. "I just think it would be best for Naruto to stay here."

Jiraiya frowned. "Tsunade. If there is anything else involving him that would make you feel so strongly that he should be kept in Konoha, I need to know."

Tsunade didn't answer.

"You know I promised Minato that I would keep Naruto safe. If there is something else threatening him, I need to know about it."

After a few minutes of silence, Tsunade relented. "Orochimaru."

Jiraiya cocked his head at her in confusion. "Orochimaru? What does he have to do with Naruto's safety? You don't the kid will try to find him and Sasuke, do you?"

"No, I don't. But I think Orochimaru might try to find him."

"What do you mean? What would the teme want with Naruto? It's not like he would be able to harness the power of the Kyuubi."

Tsunade turned to him. Jiraiya was surprised to see a serious and worried look on her face.

"Jiraiya...I think Naruto may have a kekkei genki."

The toad sage stared at her, stunned. "Kekkei what?" He repeated dumbly.

Tsunade nodded. "I'm not totally sure, but when I say him training the other day, he was using some sort of jutsu that I've never seen before. I was suppressing my chakra, so he didn't know I was there. It was unlike anything I've ever heard of. And he used so many different variations. He had made four clones and they all closed their eyes. Then they all channeled manipulated chakra into their hands, an element for each one. No, Jiraiya, not the basic elements. There was fire, water, wind, and this is the kicker, steam and ice. He shouldn't have his second element yet, let alone a third and sub-elements. And the way he manipulated them; it was like he had a natural affinity for all of them, which is impossible." (1)

Jiraiya nodded slowly. "Yeah, that does sound pretty impossible. Tsunade, I know he has potential and even mastered the Rasengan in one week, but are you sure that's what you saw? Minato didn't show any signs of a bloodline, nor did Kushina."

Tsunade looked out the window again. "I'm positive. If you think about it, it's not that unlikely that he hasn't shown us some things, with how much he hides from most everyone. And this is why I don't want Naruto away from the village for any long-tern period. From what I saw, with some good training, he would have some serious power. The kind Orochimaru would just love to get his hands on. And because of the gaki's heritage, if the snake hears of this, he'll be almost as obsessed with it as he is with the Sharingan. And no doubt the Akatsuki will find out about this soon and come for him sooner as well, so he'll have less time to get a better handle on it. Though with what I've seen, I'd say he's been practicing for a while now."

Jiraiya closed his eyes in thought. "Well," he began slowly. "If this is true, it makes things a little more complicated."

Tsunade sighed and leaned over in her chair, hand groping of the drawer filled with one of her many secret stashes of sake bottles. After pouring herself a dish, she tilted the bottle in the pervert's direction, who declined with a distracted wave of his hand. The woman sighed again and downed the small container in one gulp before going for a refill. Man, this all powerful ninja leader thing was a headache. Tsunade had to wonder what possessed Sarutobi to take the job a second time.

"Tsunade."

Jiraiya's tone quickly snapped her out of her musings. It was the same tone as their deceased sensei had used when he wanted to believe one of them, but couldn't wrap his head around whatever they were claiming.

"Oh, come on. You know there's a lot more to him than he lets anyone know. I doubt even Iruka knows everything about him. Haven't you noticed that look he gets sometimes when he thinks no one is watching? He seems so much more mature, smarter than he lets even us see."

"I have, but Tsunade, is this really about Orochimaru and the Akatsuki? You don't have any other reason what-so-ever to want Naruto here?"

She crossed her arms and turned away from him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she declared, pouting just a bit. A tiny bit. When she risked a glance at her perverted friend, she regretted it, as Jiraiya's skeptical interrogator stare caused her to waver.

She managed to hold out for another few seconds before caving.

"Alright," she sighed heavily. "I admit it. So it might make me a tad bit...uncomfortable to think of Naruto out in the country with just you. Why wouldn't I?" She glared at him.

'So she's fond of the little gaki. She must be getting soft' Jiraiya grinned in victory. A grin which Tsunade quickly swiped off.

"Just the thought of a mini-Jiraiya would put anyone on edge. It's like Maito Gai and Rock Lee."

With a tick on his forehead, Jiraiya decided to make use of his new ammunition. "So you wouldn't mind if Naruto left with Kakashi instead? He was very eager to help in any way. After all, it's not like he had a certain Uchiha to train. I suppose Naruto would make an okay replacement for the prodigy."

At this, Tsunade whirled around to get right in his face. "What do you mean 'okay?!' Naruto would make a better student than that punk any day! Like the Uchiha could have mastered an advanced technique like the Rasengan in just a week without his precious eyes! Like he would have gone after one of his closest friends and fought to the point of being hospitalized to bring the ungrateful bastard back! With his determination and those abilities he has, Naruto could probably kick Orochimaru's ass singlehandedly if he got the proper training! He could become the one of the Konoha's greatest shinobi any time he wants to! He..."

Tsunade trailed off as she finally noticed the smirk on Jiraiya's face. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had been tricked into.

"So, if you think so highly of Naruto's abilities, it shouldn't be much of a problem for him to train away from the village for a while. Besides, after getting the proper training that will be provided by yours truly, he won't have to worry about Akatsuki or Orochimaru, cuz he'll be able to singlehandedly kick their asses! Hahaha-"

Jiraiya suddenly stopped laughing as he felt a terrifying blast of killer intent. "Aw, Tsunade. You're not really that upset," he chuckled nervously.

He gulped. "Are you?"

By now, the forced smile was gone and running like hell as Tsunade pulled back her fist.

"Ts-sun-nade?" Jiraiya managed to whimper before she sent him crashing through the floor. Before he fell completely through, she caught him by the collar, only to open the window and throw him right out.

"That'll teach you to try to take my grandson away from me," she muttered to herself as she went to notify maintenance that the floor needed to be repaired...again.

Naruto was at the ramen stand slurping down his fourth bowl after a morning of training.

'Nothing like a little peace over a hot bowl of ramen after a good training run,' were the thoughts of Konoha's jinchuuriki.

But alas, Naruto's quiet lunch was rudely interrupted by a howling humanoid shape propelled out the window of the Hokage's office and heading straight towards the ramen stand. Or more specifically, towards the kitchen stove, on which a big pot of noodles were cooking. And of course, the figure landed with a crash and a splash directly in the pot. Of course.

Naruto closed his eyes and waited for the familiar wail of pain. He wasn't disappointed. Jiraiya was always emitting some sound of suffering whenever he upset Tsunade. One would think that the old pervert would learn eventually.

Jiraiya had now managed to remove himself from the pot and was moving out of the kitchen as well as he was able due to his newly cooked backside.

"Dumb woman," the sennin whined. "I didn't even really do anything this time."

A grin spread across Naruto's face. "Hahaha! Hey, Ero-sennin! What'd ya do this time, call her an old slug again? Haha!" He laughed louder than necessary.

Jiraiya sent him a death glare. In his view, it was indirectly the kid's fault this happened. If he and the youthful looking woman hadn't gotten so close in the past few months, she wouldn't have thrown such a fit over the idea of him leaving. "Oh, hardy har har. Actually, all I did was tell her my plan for your training. I want to take you with me out of the village for a while," he answered while sitting down next to the blonde.

Naruto instantly shut up. He stared at the old man, stunned for a moment before remembering to slap on a wide grin. "Seriously? You're gonna train me away from Konoha? Are you gonna teach me a bunch of top secret jutsus that only a few great ninja can do? Are we gonna go spy on people? I need to pack," he mumbled the last part to himself. Then as suddenly as it came, the smile was gone. He glared at Jiraiya accusingly. "Wait. You're not gonna just do your stupid perverted peeking all the time, are you?"

Jiraiya sweatdropped. "Uh, no. Not much novel research. I'll be looking for more information on the Akatsuki."

The toad sage was surprised when Naruto immediately sobered up. He had expected the blonde to start a whole speech on how he was going to train hard so he can kick their butts and go find Sasuke to keep up the baka image for anyone around. "Oi, Naruto. Are you okay?"

Said boy nodded. "We should leave as soon as possible so that I can start on my training. I'm not sure we'll have as much time as you think," he advised seriously. With that, he paid for his ramen and left the stand.

Jiraiya just sat there, confused. Naruto was careful to never act too serious when they weren't in private. And when he had said that they didn't have much time, he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. But why? Jiraiya frowned. 'What do you know that we don't, Naruto?'

And the mystery deepens...MUAHAHAHAHAHA- cough cough hack. Ano...gomen. I couldn't resist! I'm on a sugar high...except I didn't have any sugar...if that makes sense. o_o;; Yeah!

(1) This is how I was lead to believe it goes: A person has one natural affinity and then develops a secondary affinity. If they're lucky, they'll get a third element. So correct me if I'm wrong.