Deceiving Appearance

Disclaimer- I don't own this story or the characters in it.

Sorry it been so long since I last updated, I've been busy with school work so I haven't been able to write.

XxXxX

"Speaking"

'Thought'

"Demon/jutsus"

XxXxX

Time skip two years…

A girl, 15 years of age dressed in ANBU armor with a fox mask moved through the trees without a sound. At first glance this girl would be considered a normal member of the ANBU, but take a closer look and two things stand out as unique.

The first is her hair. Her golden blond hair is tied into a short ponytail in the back, nothing unusual there. But the tips of her hair fade into an orange color and the hair was frayed at the end into nine different parts. Unique, but not unheard of.

The second feature was that besides the standard ANBU uniform, she was also had on what looked like a black spandex like suite that covered her body, from her neck to her feet. And it wasn't something that a normal person would be wearing. The truth is that the black suite is more like a second skin for her, protecting her from harm.

Landing on a tree branch the fox ANBU looked down at the road in front of her. Sliding her feet along the branch the souls of her second skin griped the branch as she prepared to launch herself at the yet to be seen target. She wasn't wearing the normal ninja sandals, preferring instead to allow her "shoes" that were composed of her second skin that covered her feet to offer all the protection and support she needed.

Taking a deep breath she began to build up the chakra in her body while not allowing any to escape in the surrounding environment. She would have only one shot at the target.

Currently the target came around the bend. He was a business man and had in his hands a briefcase containing sensitive documents. So sensitive in fact that he hired a team of Kiri jonin to protect him.

The leader of the Kiri-nin was one of the Seven Swordsmen and the other three were his apprentices. Each one was skilled with their swords and a jonin in rank and together they were some of the best Kiri had to offer.

Her mission was to kill the man and take the document. The Kiri-nins were of no consequence to her. If she had a team to back her up she would have gone with the strategy of taking out the guards before going after the man. But she was alone and she had to not only take out the target but also retrieve the documents, limiting in what moves she could pull.

Preparing herself the target entered her line of attack.

(slow time down)

Releasing her built up chakra she launched herself at the target in a hyper accelerated shunshin.

Slamming into the chest of the target he was lifted off his feet and his eyes didn't even have a chance to begin to open with shock.

Her black covered fingers elongated and sharpened as the ANBU brought them up under the man's armpits, cutting his arms off, before moving to his neck and severing his head from his body.

One spike of her hair wrapped around the handle of the briefcase as her right hand grabbed onto the man's head.

At this time his body began to fall back down to the ground and just as the ANBU looked up at the massive swords of the Kiri-nin descended upon her.

(normal time)

The Kiri-nin swords' seamed to cut the fox ANBU into tiny pieces, only to have the pieces be replaced by the remains of a log. With a splat and a thud what remained of the business man and the pieces of the log fell to the ground in the middle of the road.

It was over in less than a second. Naruto killed the target and took the briefcase before escaping from the pissed off Kiri jonins. Smiling to herself she began to silently make her way back to Konoha, creating several shadow clones to get any pursuers off her trail.

XxXxX

Arriving at the gates of Konoha with the head and briefcase sealed inside a storage scroll Naruto made her way passed the guards and into the village proper.

Jumping from roof top to roof top Naruto made her way to the ANBU headquarters. On her way there she caught glimpses of village below her and the people who inhabit it.

Team 8 was waiting under a tree for Kurenai, Team 10 was walking to a restaurant, and 'her' Team 7 was at a training ground.

In all truth, it wasn't 'her team' anymore. After she joined the ANBU and moved into the headquarters, a new member joined the team. He was one of the former Root boys named Sai. Personality like a rock with a smiley face painted on it and a list of insults taped to the back, but he was a skilled ninja and not really a bad guy once you got to know him.

As she passed by she saw Sakura and Sai sparing while Kakashi was leaning against a tree reading his book. Sasuke was off to the side working with Jiraiya on some thing or another.

As much as it pained her to admit it, those two have grown on each other. With Jiraiya's personality, he was able to get the broody Uchiha to open up a little and with Sasuke's talent they were soon working on the more advanced techniques including summoning toads. The two even began to form a father-son teacher bond, mostly due to Jiraiya's personality, and she had even heard Jiraiya compare Sasuke's progress and skill level to the Yondaime.

Now that hurt Naruto's feelings when she heard it. After making ANBU, Tsunade gave her a scroll containing the identity of her parents along with a picture and a letter written by her father on that fateful night. Both the picture and the letter she kept on her night stand in her room in the barracks, one of the only personal items she had at her bunk.

The truth was that she hasn't so much as talked with anyone of the rookie nine and only briefly worked with Guy's team and even then they didn't talk. All of her former friends had written her out of their lives and moved on. The only people outside of work she talks to now are Anko, Shizune, and of course Gaara.

Speaking of Gaara, she now knew him very well indeed.

Sense becoming an ANBU member Naruto has been to Suna a couple of times for missions and they made sure that they met up each time. In fact he confessed to her that the only time he has ever been able to sleep was when he was with her…

Shaking her head to regain control of her thoughts and suppressing a slight blush, Naruto made her way into the ANBU headquarters. Walking up to the office of the head ANBU Captain, Naruto received permission to enter.

Seated behind the desk was a man, dressed in the normal ANBU armor with a panda mask on his face. "Fox, report."

"Mission successful" said Naruto as she placed the storage scroll on the man's desk. "He hired high level Kiri-nins to guard him, one of the Seven Swordsmen and his apprentices. I was able to bypass them and get the target and escape without taking any damage."

"You didn't engage the Kiri-nins?" questioned the leader.

"Negative sir. I couldn't engage them while retaining the level of stealth required for the mission as well as ensuring the safety of the documents" replied Naruto stiffly.

"Understood Fox. You can go rest now" replied the leader as he dismissed Naruto.

Giving the commander a bow Naruto left the room and made her way to her bunk. Striping off her armor and retracting her second skin, Naruto took a quick shower before going to sleep, dreaming dreams of a fox running after a redheaded raccoon.

XxXxX

In the council room Tsunade sat at the head of the table with the council members sitting down.

"Hokage-sama, what is the meaning of this meeting?" asked one of the council members.

Looking at the council members, Tsunade begins to pass around a folder of information, "This is a proposed treaty with Suna. The Kazikage wishes for a trade. One of our shinobi for Suna's prosthetic limb technology. As you all are aware, Suna has the best prosthetic limbs due to their work with puppets and it's an area that we are greatly lacking in."

"But only one of our shinobi for this level of technology?" questioned Hiashi. "There's got to be more to this than meets the eye."

"Did he make a request for which shinobi that they want to trade for?" asked a female council member.

"He is asking for Uzumaki Naruto" bluntly stated Tsunade as she awaited the councils reaction.

"That's ridiculous!" cried Danzo. "She is one of our strongest tools and it would be foolish to give up our only Jinchuuriki for just mere medical technology!"

"But this will give us a chance to get rid of her once and for all!" said another council member. "She is becoming more unstable as time moves on, unless you all have forgotten what happened a year ago?"

(Flashback)

Naruto was on a routine patrol with her team, nothing out of the ordinary was going on when all the sudden Naruto's head exploded in pain.

Falling to the forest floor she griped her head in pain and collapsed on the ground.

Concerned her teammates landed on the ground next to her and the team medic moved to her side. But before the medic could even get close to Naruto, her second skin began to bubble and it was almost like Naruto's body was melting on the spot.

Tentacles of the black material began to rise from Naruto's back as she let out a gasp of pain. Reaching out with her left hand, Naruto's teammates watched with fascination and horror and her arm and fingers elongated and turned into deadly blades.

Suddenly the entire team was forced to jump back as a blast of orange chakra erupted from Naruto's body, scorching the earth and gathering on her outstretched hand causing her hand and forearm bubbled. With a scream of pain the chakra shot out of her hand, barely missing one of her teammates and causing a line of destruction kilometers long.

Naruto soon blacked out and she was rushed back to Konoha's hospital, leaving a trail of black liquid in her wake.

The doctors at the hospital concluded that it was because Naruto was housing the chakra well of a demon without the demon's consciousness to protect her. Simply put, no human was meant to house that kind of power and if it wasn't for the protective layer of her second skin she would have exploded or erupted in flames.

(End Flashback)

"Yes, yes, we all remember that incident" said Danzo annoyed. "But from what I've heard she has come to regain some control over her body since that incident, and even more. Now she can manipulate her body into a weapon. Hell, she could level and entire village on her own! Now why would we want to get rid of that kind of potential? Think of the possibilities of using her in combat or as a breeder and creating a clan with her abilities…"

"THAT IS ENOUPH!" shouted Tsunade slamming her hand on the table and causing a crack to form. "This is not a ploy to get rid of her and I will have not discussion of turning one of MY shinobi into a god damn baby making machine! If you would kindly look at the information you would see why the Kazikage is requesting Naruto!"

The council room was quiet except for the sound of papers being shuffled around as the council members looked over the information.

"He can't be serious" muttered one council member as she finished reading over the information.

"He is" stated Tsunade. "Already he's convinced Iwa, Kumo, and a couple of the smaller villages to hand over their Jinchuuriki to him in return for the prosthetic limb technology."

"But to gather all the Jinchuuriki in order to protect them from Akatsuki is just ridiculous. How do we know he won't just turn around and use them all as weapons against us?" ask the a female council member with blue hair.

"We don't. All we have is the insurance that the Jinchuuriki won't attack their former homes and try to prevent a future war" said Tsunade with a slight smile. "Of course this also means that if we refuse to allow Naruto to go them we leave ourselves open."

"I take it Naruto has already agreed to this?" asked Hiashi.

"Actually, I haven't asked her yet. I wanted to gauge your reaction to this first" said a grinning Tsunade. "So I take it you will agree to this idea? All in favor raise your hand," 12 hands were raised into the air. "All against this?" 8 hands were raised.

"Ok that settles that, I will talk to Naruto to see if she is willing to go, dismissed" said Tsunade as she left to room.

XxXxX

Naruto's dream was just getting good when she was woken up by someone entering the room.

"Hokage-sama wishes to see you" said the ANBU member behind his bear mask emotionlessly before he left.

Grumbling Naruto pulled herself out of bed and quickly put on her armor and mask before setting out to the Hokage's tower.

Quickly making her way to the Hokage's tower Naruto was let into Tsunade's office by the two ANBU guarding the room. Upon entering Naruto was not greeted by the view she expected.

Instead of a drunken Tsunade sitting down looking out the window, Naruto was met by a sober, professional looking Tsunade behind the desk with a small smile on her lips smile.

"Naruto! Glad you could make it here so fast!" smiled Tsunade. "Have a seat and you can take of the mask."

Sitting down in the chair across from Tsunade Naruto removed the mask from her face. Two years of being in the ANBU as well as a growth spurt have changed Naruto's look. She still retained many features of her father, but her face was also beginning to resemble that of her mother, especially in the way her eyes looked.

"Naruto please read this over" said Tsunade handing Naruto the folder containing the information about Gaara's proposal.

Tsunade sat there in silence as Naruto read through the folder and then reread it again.

Looking up Naruto had an incredulous look on her face, "You can't be serious Oba-chan."

"Oh, but I am. Your boyfriend there is gathering all the jinchuuriki and you're one of them. Of course I'm sure it has something more to do with you than just what you are too" smiled Tsunade as she watched a blush form on Naruto's face before a concerned look spear across it.

"Am I being forced out of Konoha?" nervously asked Naruto.

Walking around the desk Tsunade placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder, "No one is forcing you to do this. The council will allow you to go if you choose, but the choice is up to you. From what I have been told you, along with the other jinchuuriki, will be granted duel citizenship for Suna and your home village. You will always be able to come back here."

Seeing the indecisiveness play across Naruto's face Tsunade said, "Why don't you take the day to make your decision…"

"No," interrupted Naruto. "I'll just waste the day if I took the time to decide anything." Breathing in deeply Naruto closed her eyes before looking directly at Tsunade, "I'll go."

"I thought you would say that" said a smiling Tsunade as she handed Naruto a piece of paper. "Your discharge papers from the ANBU. As of today you are a special jonin of Konoha. As for your rank in Suna, well I don't know" said Tsunade looking Naruto and scratching the back of her head.

"You're hopeless Oba-chan, when do I leave?"

"In a weeks time, Naruto."

XxXxX

Within a week Naruto had said her goodbyes and prepared herself for the prospect of moving to Suna. Currently she was making her way to the main gates, walking at a leisurely pace.

She was covered only in her second skin, but had modified it so that her chest was covered more and that a flap hung down like a dress to the top of her thigh. The second skin still covers everything except her face, but these changes just allow her to walk around outside in it without looking like she's in a spray on suite.

Around her waist was a belt containing her ninja tools and her kunai holster was strapped to her right leg via two black belts and her Konoha headband was tied around her forehead. She also had her backpack with her, containing a few storage scrolls that housed her possessions and some special ramen ingredients.

Arriving at the gate she was greeted by Tsunade, Shizune, Anko, Iruka, Jiraiya, and surprisingly Team 7. After giving everyone (except Team 7) a hug good-bye, Tsunade said to Naruto, "Now have a safe trip there and don't get into too much trouble."

"Yea, don't do anything that I wouldn't do!" added Anko with a smile.

Wiping a tear from her eye Naruto said, "Thanks guys, I'll be sure to write and even visit if I can."

"Good luck Naruto-chan" said Shizune.

"Naruto-chan, be safe" said Iruka.

Giving one last hug good-bye Naruto left Konoha and began to make her way to Suna.

On the trip there, she was accompanied by two ANBU members, one with a crows mask and the other with a serpent's mask. For the couple of days they traveled together, barley a handful of words passed between them.

Reaching the desert that surrounded Suna the group stopped.

"This is where we part ways, Uzumaki-san. We have other matters to attend to" said the man in the crows mask.

"It was an honor serving with you, Fox and good luck" said the serpent ANBU as they both saluted Naruto before they disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Turning back the vast expanse of desert in front of her Naruto readjusted her backpack before setting out across the sands with a smile on her face.

At the gates of Suna, two chunin guards stood watch looking out over the desert. It was midday and the hot noon sun was beating down on their heads. In front of them was the desert of Suna, partially obscured because of the sand being kicked up by the wind.

"Looks like a sandstorm is forming" said the guard on the right in a bored voice.

"Yay" replied the second guard in a sarcastic tone of voice. "Just the thing to make guard duty so much more enjoyable."

"Isn't there supposed to be someone coming in today from Konoha?" asked the first guard.

"Yea, some chick from what I heard. One of the Jinchuuriki that Kazikage-sama is bringing in here."

"I didn't here that" said the first guard in a surprised tone of voice.

"Yea" said the second guard as she shifted in place. "I don't know who it is, but apparently she is around Kazikage-sama's age."

The first guard was about to say something again when he caught sight of a figure walking towards the gate through the billowing sand.

Tensing the guards prepared themselves for the worst. The figure, female, was dressed all in black and wasn't shielding her face from the blowing sand, almost as if it wasn't even bothering her.

In reality if you looked closely at Naruto you would see that she had an almost completely invisible layer of chakra shielding her face from the sand.

Walking up to the gates she stopped when she was about ten feet from the gate. 'Something's off here.'

Almost as soon as she thought this a swirl of sand appeared between her and the two guards, startling them while Naruto just stood there impassively.

The sand cleared revealing the red headed figure of Gaara, dresses in his Kazikage robes.

Smiling Naruto said, "I'm sorry Gaara-kun, did I take you away from a meeting?"

"Actually, you did" replied Gaara in a monotone voice with a slight smile on his lips.

Closing the distance between them and to the shock of the two guards, Naruto walked up to Gaara and the two of them embraced in a hug. Naruto was about half a head shorter than Gaara and they both smiled warmly at each other.

"Let's get going inside. You are the last one to arrive" said Gaara as he led Naruto by the hand, past the still stunned guards into Suna.

"Did he just…" said guard one said in a stunned voice.

"Yes…" said an equally sunned guard two.

"Smiled?" they both said simultaneously.

XxXxX

Walking to the Kazikage's tower Naruto lead her to one of the meeting rooms. Inside sat the Sun council along with the other Jinchuuriki who arrived before Naruto.

The council was seated at the head of the table while the jinchuuriki were sitting in order for their bunji.

Gaara seated Naruto in the ninth chair as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Now that we are all here, introductions are in order" said Gaara standing up again as the Suna council left the room.

"I am Sabaku no Gaara, the Kazikage of Sunagakure and jinchuuriki of the Ichibi no Shukaku" Gaara said as he sat back down.

The girl with blond hair and cat like eyes next to him in a black outfit and a white strip across her waist said, "I'm Nii Yugito, former ANBU and now jonin of Kumogakure and jinchuuriki of the Nibi no Nekomata."

The next guy to talk was an elderly man with a black mark running across his face, "I am Sohma Kakashi, not currently associated with any village and the jinchuuriki of the Yonbi no Sokou.

Next a man around twenty-eight years old dressed in a gray jumpsuit with armor and pockets built in and with sort silver hair and silver eyes spoke up, "My name is Koizumi Makoto, jonin of Yukigakure and container of the Gobi no Houkou."

After him a thirty year old woman in brown armor with brown hair tied into six different buns and four marks on her cheaks said, "I'm Nakamura Asuka, special jonin of Kusagakure and container ofRokubi no Raijuu."

After she finished speaking a man about eighteen years old wearing brown pants and a tight black shirt that went up over his mouth, green hair, and a brown streak running down his nose said, "My name is Kuroda Fukagawa, former Hunter-nin, now jonin of Iwagakure and holder of Shichibi no Kaku

After him there were two five year old twins, one boy and one girl. They were both dressed in a plain brown shirt and black pants, had blue hair and red eyes. The girl spoke up first, "I am Fujiwara Yin of Takigakure and have half of the Hachibi no Orochi." Her brother spoke up after her and said, "And I'm Fujiwara Yang, also of Takigakure, and have the other half of the Hachibi."

After the two kids were finished, Naruto spoke up. "I an Uzumaki Naruto, former ANBU now special jonin of Konohagakure and container of the essence of the Kyuubi no Youko."

"Good now that we are all introduced to one another lets get down to business. The reason why I've gathered you all here is because of a grave threat not only to our villages, but to ourselves as well" said Gaara looking around the table.

"There is an organization called Akatsuki made up of S-class missing-nins that is collection all the Bijuu. They will try to capture us and forcefully take our demons from us. I am sure you are all aware that this will kill you if it happens."

"Yea so, why bring us here?" asked Asuka.

"Weren't you paying attention? Pitiful" muttered Fukagawa.

"What was that you said dirt lover?" growled Asuka her eyes taking on a yellow/orange glow and her pupils taking the shape of a lightning bolt.

"You heard me just fine. If you so strong then why not go back to your little village!" responded Fukagawa, his eyes going black and pupils turning white.

"Enough!" said Gaara rising to his feet, his eyes turning yellow and black as the sand in the room began to stir and move around.

But they didn't listen to him and soon the other members at the table were drawn into the argument, leaving only Naruto, Yin, and Yang out of the conversation. After a few minuets of heated argument, it looked like things were about to explode in actual violence when Naruto decided to do something.

Closing her eyes, Naruto, snapped them open reveling her blood red eyes and revealed a massive amount of killing intent and demonic chakra. Slamming her hand onto the table it shattered into countless pieces and she glared at everyone in the room.

This display of power forced everyone to calm down just as a team of Suna ANBU appeared in the room.

"It's fine, leave us" commanded Gaara and the ANBU quickly left the room.

"Thank you Naruto-chan" said Gaara gesturing to Naruto before he continued. "Now that we are all settled down I will tell you some ground rules for staying here. Rule one, don't kill anyone unless you're attacked and rule two, don't loose control."

Looking at the clock in the room Gaara continued, "It's lunch time so why don't we go get something to eat." Looking down at the broken table he said, "I was going to have food brought here, but we are in need of a new table. Follow me please."

XxXxX

Naruto may seem like her personality has become a little darker and that she's more serious, but that's because she's been in the ANBU and because of memories she's absorbing from the Kyuubi.

Please tell me what you think!

Ja ne!