I do not own Naruto. I didn't earn money to write this story. Masashi Kishimoto created Naruto. This is...I donlt really know...a continuation of the story, a new chapter, a sequeal?

I never intended to make Naruto seem weak. He is more emotionally vulnerable. Also Ryuu is weakened right now, but I don't mean to keep him that way either.

Remember this is semi au or alternate timeline thought I tried to put events in the correct order. It dosent fit in with cannon, I know. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

A fist collided with a training dummy, it splintered apart from the force. Naruto had gone back to the training field alone. He needed to punch something and he had already left Sai behind so a training dummy or three was going to have to suffer for his relief. He ignored the bruise on his hand. it didn't bother him much anyhow.

He hit the dummy again and again and the wooden pole that was driven into the ground snapped. His fragments of it dug into his hand slashing the skin. He moved on to another mannequin imagining faces. Sai's cam to mind, then Sasuke then...then Ryuu. Naruto slammed his fist into the face. He never forgave the other boy for what he had done. He hadn't been raped but his innocence had been taken none the less. His ability to trust was shaken. Sasuke had destoryed what little he had had left, but somehow he didn't resent Sasuke as much (perhaps not trying to force him into a shotgun marriage counted for something). He really just wanted to know why Sasuke had left. He knew...avenging his clan. Yes.

...But...but he could have stayed loyal to Konaha and killed his brother. Itachi was a criminal. If he ever wanted to kill the son of a bitch he would be doing the village a favor.

Naruto shook visibly. He remembered the time they almost got him. It was when things changed. Sasuke had been so upset, yet relieved, when Gai had showed up and the two had left him.

'They could have taken you,' Sasuke had said, 'They...I don't know why they would want you but it couldn't be good. You...' He never finished his statement. He hugged Naruto then pushed him away. Things changed after that. Sasuke grew distant. Like before. Naruto sensed it was Sasuke's way of protecting him. It sucked, it hurt, and it finally pissed him off to the point that they fought. That time on the hospital roof...

Things just unraveled after that. Sasuke broke their bond. Almost killed him. Left the village. Betrayed everybody. Still Naruto couldn't bring himself to believe Sasuke was past saving.

Naruto was mid punch when a messenger appeared. "Naruto Uzumaki," The masked nin handed him a scroll. how did those guys always know where he was, and why did they come at the worst time. He was hardly in the mood to talk to anyone, let alone deal with Lady Tsunade. The other was gone before he could argue or whine. Naruto heaved a sigh and slapped on a grin. He might as well cheer up maybe this was a super important mission.

Ryuu was forced to kneel. He kept his head down. There was no room for argument since he was apparently still handicapped.

The room was dim, but even Ryuu could tell that the place was luxurious The tatami mats were high quality fine woven bamboo. There were pillows and cushions strewn about a low table made of some kind of dark wood and polished until the man could see his reflection. He nearly flinched at himself. He looked rough. He shivered. They hadn't even bothered to give him new clothes. He supposed he was only here for one reason.

"Show me his face," A rich feminine voice called. Ryuu startled. He had not expected a woman. His face was tilted up by his captor. He was forced to look into the eyes of a young woman. Her painted lips formed a smirk, "He has potential."

She nodded to the man and Ryuu was left alone with the woman. She lounged a loose kimono barely hid her body the front was opened to the point that he could swear he could see her nipples.

"Like what you see?" She purred at him. Ryuu ducked his head quickly. he didn't care about her assets, but he didn't know what this woman was capable of. She could have guards waiting in the wings to come behead him. Hell she could be a genjutsu and a big hulking monster cold be there waiting for him to get comfortable before torturing him. She could actually be a kunoichi.

"Lift your head," Her voice grew stern. He looked up expecting to see something else. She was still smirking. "Your name is Ryuu. Correct?"

He nodded.

She frowned, "you have a tongue still, do you not?"

He nodded again.

"Speak!" She emphasized the word, "When you are asked a question you will speak. I am not interested in timid little girls. I want men!"

"Yes," Ryuu hissed.

"Good...Ryuu," She began again, "Do you know why you are here?"

"I escaped prison," He answered curtly.

"Well yes...yet you could not escape us," She chuckled in a warm tone, "Do you know why the prison was attacked?"

He started to shake his head the quickly answered, "No."

"I orchestrated that little explosion," She grinned wide showing off white teeth.

"You see...there are really very few options for warriors, if you are not a hidden village that is. Only men with pitchforks and hatchets to stand up to bandits, or worse...and these selfish Kages expect these poor peasants to pay for protection. It's rather unfair don't you think?" She pouted and looked at him as if waiting for reply but then quickly continued, "Then again there might be a warlord or two who want to steal some information about another village. What better way then to have a decommissioned ninja from that village. Or rather a criminal who has been stripped of his rights."

She frowned, "That my dear Ryuu is where we come in. We...how should I put this...are tools. Ninja. Tools of the state. Tools of our superiors. Tools that are valued only if they work correctly. What if the farmer's hoe decided it didn't want to be pushed down into the mud any more. How is a tool to rise up if it has no will to. Prisoners...You might think you were a prisoner, but if you were in prison you were more free than your former comrades. Still mired in the system that keeps them cowed. You wanted more...didn't you?"

Ryuu just stared at her. He had no idea if this woman were crazy or just riding high on her ego.

Her hand shot out and closed around his throat, "Answer me!"

He felt his windpipe being crushed and gasped. His eyes rolled wildly as she stood dragging him up with her. He felt his toes hit the table as she lifted him off the ground. Chakra raged inside him.

"Ryuu?" She said in a calm but dangerous voice.

"Y-yes.?" He didn't know if she could hear him. his voice was a croaking hiss in his own ears, but he felt his feet resting on the floor again. he looked down at the table it was wide. How had she reached him across the table? He didn't know because his throat felt perfectly fine, but it had been so real.

"Good," She was seated again and that's when he noticed the food. When had food arrived. A modest plate of rice and meat sat in front of him. "Sit, eat and listen. I have a proposal for you. If that's not enough someone will bring more but I didn't want to tax your stomach with something too rich. You'd likely get sick off it. Those prisons have a reputation for nearly starving their prisoners. Punishment for being a free thinker. No?"

Ryuu was sitting, "It was more a scramble not to have your food stolen than anything. When I was smaller it was harder." He admitted as he picked up chopsticks. He poked at the food suspiciously.

"Now really do you think I would go to all the trouble of freeing you and having you brought here just to poison you? Men make poor fertilizer. Much more valuable as a hoe." She giggled as if she had told a brilliant joke.

Ryuu looked askance at her and she only burst into a more heady laugh.

"You are actually rather cute. You know that Ryuu?" She teased, "Now eat...before I lose my temper again."

He took a piece of meat between the chopsticks, popped it into his mouth. The morsel melted between his teeth it was so tender and though the flavor was a little bland it was worlds beyond the gruel they slopped the prisoners with. Yes he'd compare feeding pigs to the way they cared for the men in the prison. Tossing the flavorless mush at them like they were animals in a zoo.

This was bland but it seemed to be this woman's intent to train his stomach back to eating normal civilian food. At least he figures. He was starting to imagine why he was there and it was possibly not as bleak an outcome as he had thought. This might be his ticket to freedom after all. Ryuu began to eat carefully, not wanting to upset the woman as she had proven quite dangerous.

"I have a proposal for you. One I am certain you will not be able to resist. Still I give all my men a choice. I am not a slaver. I am a business woman. Of course you understand your choices have consequences...Who am I kidding. You know that already. You were in prison for gods' sake.

"I was...I didn't have a choice really. I was...he was mine and they were going to take him," He said suddenly. He gasped, and looked at the food.
She smiled and tilted her head, "Who Ryuu honey?"

"N-my beloved," Ryuu was spilling his guts and he didn't know why. he suspected the food. Damn him it was a truth serum.

"They were going to take your lover?" She asked in a sickening voice, "That's horrible. I am certain you had really no choice then."

"Yes," He pushed the food away.

"Tell me would you like to get your revenge on them?" She asked seriously.

He nodded, "Yes."

"I can help you," She leaned closer her ruby lips formed a hard line, "I can help you if you help me."

She pushed the food back to him, "Eat it its not poisoned. It will just help you relax. You need rest. Rest and food; and then we can start working on removing that nasty seal that's blocking your chakra."

Ryuu only nodded and shoved more food into his mouth numbly.

"Good boy," She said in a patronizing tone, but Ryuu was now engrossed in his food.

It wasn't long until Ryuu was slumping on his side.

"Takata," The woman called softly.

The man was back bowing next to Ryuu, "Take him back to the bathhouse. make sure he is thoroughly cleaned...What happened to Toju?"
"Tried to rape him in the baths. I killed him," He answered matter-of-factly.

The woman hissed, "Idiot. I knew he'd come to a bad end. Had no self control. Then again that can't be said for a lot of our men." She bared her teeth in a huge grin. "I suppose he had gotten to comfortable here...well I guess Toju wanted to be fertilizer rather than a tool after all."

Takata shook his head.

The woman wiped her hands together as if to wash her hands of the dead man, "Well have him dumped somewhere later, for now I want our newest recruit washed and looked over for any injuries. Then I want him placed in a bed. He's going to need to be in better shape when I break that seal if he hopes to survive."

"Yes boss," Takata knew the drill but listen respectfully. He knew his boss and what she was capable of. He respected and feared her. She deserved respect, but more-so fear. She was never to be trifled with.

Takata picked up the young man as if he weighed nothing and carried him back to the bathhouse. Toju really had done a terrible job on the kid, but now that he was sleeping he would be much easier to deal with. Takata would feel bad for him if he had a conscious left to make him feel bad. The boy was really just that, a boy. He probably had no idea what he had gotten himself into.

...Naruto was standing at attention waiting for the Hokage to enter. The door opened and his heart skipped a beat as Neji walked in and took up residence next to him. He nodded to Naruto briefly but then looked forward. Then Ino entered followed by Shikamaru. Naruto wondered what mission they would be going on. He didn't have a clue, but he just hoped it would be something quick. He shook his head knowing a four man team rarely got an easy quick mission.

Lady Tsunade chose to enter just then. She looked at them and frowned, "You are not going to like this mission." She handed a few folders to Shikamaru who passed one before opening the other. He coughed.

"Neji opened one of the folders as he took from Ino," Naruto peeked and saw a photograph of a mutilated body the only distinguishing feature he noticed was flaxen blond hair. It was a female, or it had been. Her body was laid out in a field. The torso was slashed to pieces the face was peeled away the...The lower half was exposed and leaking blood and a white substance. Neji traded folders with Shikamaru and this time it was blond male. Likewise mutilated and sexually assaulted. This time the corpse was hanging from its wrists in a tree. Pants hanging off one foot. Blood splattered between his legs and obvious rape injuries.
The third one was an older man again he had been a blond. Mutilated but no evidence of rape. He was laying face up torso hollowed out. His clothes while cut away at the wounds were still covering most of his body. His face was removed as the first two had been.

"What do these victims all have in common?"

"They were blond shinobi, their faces and hitai-ate were taken," Shikamaru spoke up.

"I don't know why this was done," Tsunade spoke up, "The girl had been a sand-nin. The man was from Iwagakure. The boy was from Kumo. These attacks on the surface seemed to be superficial. All happened to be blond, but then...You captured a man and his partner a few weeks ago Naruto. He said he was sent to kill you and am I mistaken that you were propositioned by this man?"

The group looked at Naruto expectantly. he was blushing beet red and frowning. "Damn you Old Hag! They don't need to hear that!"

"Watch what you say brat!" Tsunade slammed her fists into her desk, "And yes they do. Your suitor happens to have admitted to these murders, but apparently he was not alone. There are more missing ninja out there targeting blond shinobi and we don't know why. Ibiki has exhausted efforts on torturing the man. Either he doesn't know or he doesn't plan on living long enough to tell us any more."

"Fine," Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the floor. he mumbled, "He called me beautiful."

"What was that brat?" Tsunade asked.

"He said, 'They didn't tell me your were so beautiful...'"

"Yes yes, and that he had second thoughts about killing you," He told us that. "He said that all of his victims before he raped them. If he was telling the truth he raped all of his victims so the one from Iwa wasn't his but had the same basic M.O."

"Did they have the same eye color?" Shikamaru asked suddenly.

"No...it is hard to tell from the photos but the girl had blue eyes, while neither of the men had them Iwa's were green, and Kumo's were hazel."

"So its reasonable to say they are looking for an unknown Ninja with just a vague description for someone. They're taking the faces though...I assume for matters of identification, but if that were true wouldn't it be easier to draw a picture? I would have to say that the victims are not the true target. They are being used against someone. The blond hair is significant because they don't scalp them just take the faces. They don't need to prove they killed a blond, but they do need proof they killed someone," He scratched his chin while thinking, "I could be wrong but its the best explanation I can think of."
"I suppose Naruto and I are to act as bait?" Ino asked finally, "Or am I wrong."
"I'm afraid so we need to flush out the criminals. You four will be going in two man teams. Followed by hunter-nin. You are to act as if you are on an ordinary mission and not to engage the enemy unless directly attacked."

"Why aren't we going in teams of three?"

"It makes you more tempting bait if there's less opposition," Shikamaru answered before the hokage could.

"Technically each of you will have a hunter nin on your team," The woman spoke. "You will probably never see them unless you are attacked. Now go get ready I want you to leave at sunrise."

Three of them bowed and excused themselves.

Naruto stayed behind, "Who's going with whom?"

"I think that's obvious. Shikamaru and Ino work well together and up until a couple of weeks ago I would have said the same about Neji and you. Think of this as an exercise in teamwork. Besides between this and the Akatsuki I would rather have a Hyuuga's eyes watching your back." The woman smiled at him reassuringly.

"Now go get yourself some ramen or something. I'm busy," She was eyeing her drawer with a thirsty look.

Naruto rolled his eyes and bid the hokage, "Goodnight granny." He ran before she could give him a love tap that would send him through a wall.
Naruto decided cup ramen would be better he felt a bit embarrassed of the way he had conducted himself at Ichiraku earlier, and to waste ramen. He was so ashamed of himself not even the anger he felt earlier wasn't an excuse for such a crime.