Finding the Right Path

Hey all, haven't had internet connection for the past 5 months, so couldn't really update. Second Chapter for the day, as promised. Stay tuned for another soon.

Let me know what you think.

No pairings for now, but that may change

I do not own Naruto or any other aspect that reference people who could sue me. . .

Chapter 10

Naruto opened his eyes.

As Itachi stated, only a second went by in the real world. The Uchiha kept walking as if nothing had happened. His partner following his strides.

When they were a fair distance away, Naruto released the breath he had been holding. He knew his Sensei was around, so he fell to the ground, exhaustion overtaking him.

Anko came out of the bushes just in time to catch her apprentice.

"Uchiha… Itachi." Naruto exclaimed, before darkness overtook him.

"Damn it. Now what do I do?" Anko said out loud, before picking up her young charge and heading to one of his ready-made bases.

Anko was conflicted about this mission. On the one hand, she was not supposed to let her presence known to her student. On the other, he was seriously injured.

Naruto had a high fever. His body was wracked with cold sweats. He kept moaning and whimpering, like he was reliving a bad nightmare over and over again.

The sun was beginning to set. The intensity of its rays lessening by the minute. Anko was still in two minds about this whole ordeal. She really needed to get her student out of here, but didn't want a run in with the Uchiha, if what her student had stated was true, or the other guy with him for that matter.

She still didn't know what Itachi had done to Naruto, and worry was evident on her face. "Come on Brat. You can beat this damn fever." She whispered, wiping Naruto with a cool shirt once more.

"Menma." Naruto screamed as he awoke from his fever induced sleep, causing Anko to jump back in fright. He looked around with unseeing eyes, trying his hardest to remember where he was. He looked at his Sensei, before trying to stand. "I need to go to Menma." He slurred, trying to force himself to stand.

Anko was pushing Naruto down, however, whispering sweet nothings all the while. "Damn it Brat, you can't go anywhere just yet. Not until you get a little better." Anko exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Naruto closed his eyes once more. This time falling into a light sleep. His breathing was better than before, and the fever went down considerably.

Anko knew that it wouldn't be long till the ANBU in training awoke, as if nothing was wrong. This she knew from experience. No matter how bad Naruto had it, he would always bounce back within a day or so.


"Now what do we do?" Menma asked Sasuke. They were both still in shock.

"We need to move the bodies. We have to get to a safe place." Sasuke replied, trying to think straight. "Create some clones to carry them. We'll make this quick by using the trees. We should try and find Tazuna's place." Sasuke continued, a plan forming in his head.

Menma wanted to move, but his legs wouldn't conform to his thoughts. The tears had stopped running down his and Sasuke's face. He looked up for a second, taking a deep breath, before breathing out and standing.

Menma did as Sasuke asked and created three clones. He knelt before Sakura, and pulled the Senbon from her neck. Once he did that, Sakura took in a deep breath and started screaming in pain, scaring Menma and Sasuke in the process.

Sakura looked around in confusion, noticing her teammates looking at her with wide eyes. They were both pale white looking as if they saw a ghost. "Wha-what happened?" She asked. She tried to move but was wracked with excruciating pain.

"You're… alive." Menma exclaimed. "You're alive." He stated once more causing Sakura's eyes to widen in surprise.

Sasuke exhaled at this point. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. His teammate was alive, now they had to deal with their unconscious Sensei. "We don't have much time." Sasuke stated, making a motion towards the setting sun when Menma looked in his direction.

Menma created another two clones at this time. Two he set to carrying their Sensei, another two took charge of carrying their dead client. The original helped with carrying Sakura as Sasuke took point. Menma created one more clone to scout the trail ahead.

Sasuke, Menma and his clones started running up the trees, jumping from one branch to the next. It didn't take long for them to reach the outskirts of the village.

The Menma clone knocked on the door of the first house, waiting patiently for an answer. A lady came to answer the door. She looked at Menma waiting for him to speak. "Can I help you?" She asked, noticing that the boy in front of her wasn't going to talk.

"I'm from Konoha, we came here with Tazuna, the Bridge Builder. We are looking for his place." The clone stated, its face showing no expression at all.

"Tousan. I am his daughter, where is he?" She stated before asking.

"Good to know." The clone exclaimed before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Better to let the original explain what happened thus far.

The girl looked on in shock at what transpired. She took a step outside and looked around the vicinity. She could not find any proof that the boy had been there. Feeling slightly scared, she closed the door and locked it behind her.

She had a bad feeling all day. Thinking that it was her mind playing tricks, she didn't dwell on it too much. Now that feeling intensified tenfold.


"It's not too far away." Menma exclaimed after acquiring the thoughts of his clone. His face contorted into worry as his clone took note of the distraught and distracted look that their clients' daughter wore.

"Good." Sasuke responded, glad that they had been making better time.

They arrived at the house a few minutes later. Sasuke was on point, so he took the lead and knocked on the door. The same young lady answered the door. She looked at Sasuke, then at the multiple clones. She took note that they were carrying three people. One was a girl, the second was an unknown man, but the third, she could see, was the still body of her father.

"I'm very sorry for your loss. We tried to protect him, but his enemies were very strong." Sasuke stated, head down slightly, showing little hint of emotion. The girl screamed at this time, and fell into a heap on the ground. She was wracked with sobs, as a young boy came running from the back of the house. One look at the body, and he too had tears in his eyes. He looked at Sasuke, then at Menma, before joining his mother on the ground.

"We didn't know what to do with the body, so we bought it here." Menma exclaimed to the crying woman.

She heard his voice, and stood, sobs still evident on her being. She told them to bring the body inside, to which the clones obliged. They placed the body in the lounge. The young lady, walked to the door and slammed it, once the clones burst.

"We'll have to find a place to lay low." Sasuke stated, concern in his voice.

"We may still have to protect them." Sakura intoned from her prone position.

"We cannot do both. It'll put too much strain on us." Menma added, feeling the effects of the day catching up. Sasuke looked no better, and Sakura was still in pain.

Kakashi was awake, but chose to remain silent. He was relieved that the Kunoichi was still alive. Her voice is what woke him up.

Kakashi also wanted to see what his team would do. He knew that they needed direction, but this will determine how much they have matured over the past few months.

"I think we should protect them. We'll have to be close, in case someone wants to end what had happened today." Sakura exclaimed, they were still at the door discussing their options, not really knowing what they should do.

"Let's get into the trees." Sasuke stated. The clones carrying Kakashi, looked at the original, before placing their charge on the ground. They burst at the same time. Menma was silent for a second, before him and the other clone, placed Sakura on the ground. This clone popped as well.

"What shall we do Kakashi-Sensei?" Menma asked in a defeated tone. Sakura tried to look at Kakashi, but failed. Sasuke looked in surprise, wondering when Kakashi had awoken. Kakashi's eye started fluttering open.

"We may need to do both." Kakashi intoned, looking at Menma and Sasuke. He looked at Sakura last, lying on the ground. "Let's move now." He stated. Menma created four clones, that took on the role of carrying both Sakura and Kakashi.

They got back into the trees, Sasuke taking point whilst Menma bought up the rear. The trees that they were in was a part of a large forest, each ending high in the sky.

"Stop." Menma exclaimed, as Sasuke pulled out his Kunai, ready for another battle. Menma looked around him for a second before creating a hundred shadow clones. Each clone jumped into action and ransacked their former client's tool shed for materials and tools. Once this was done, they all got to work in creating planks connecting five trees together.

Roughly an hour went by, and a makeshift, though probably unsafe, crow's nest was created. The cubby house gave them a good vantage point on their former client's house as well as cover from the environment.

Sasuke looked surprised at the transformation. He couldn't help at all, as he wasn't too sure what was actually happening.

Sakura fell asleep, the pain of her injuries taking its toll on her.

Kakashi looked on with a sad gaze. He knew that Menma and Naruto had created many make-shift homes over the years. Especially on their birthday.

"All done." Menma exclaimed, as the clones popped out of existence.

It was a simple construct. Four trees acted as a corner, where the walls ran through, whilst the middle tree acted like a stabiliser, ensuring that the ground was securely in place. It wasn't flash, but it got the job done. Nor was it large, as it was suited for eight people lying next to each other.

"Well done Menma." Kakashi exclaimed, eye-smiling all the while.

Menma and Sasuke took out all of the sleeping supplies, and made four beds. Two for their fallen comrades, whilst the other two for themselves. They placed Sakura in one of the beds, and Kakashi in the other.

"I'll be out of commission for a few days, but I don't think anything bad will pass in that time." Kakashi exclaimed, looking at Menma and Sasuke. "She may take longer." Kakashi continue, motioning towards Sakura.

At this point the final two clones popped, transferring their memories back to the original. Menma's eyes glazed over for a second, before he dropped to the floor. Sasuke didn't react in time to catch him, whilst Kakashi exhaled a deep breath.

"His clones were working for so long. He must have been running on empty." Kakashi intoned, as Sasuke picked Menma up and placed him on the third bed. "I'm sorry to say, but you may have to take the shift tonight?" Kakashi continued, looking at Sasuke. "It will not be easy, but once Menma regains consciousness, you'll have your chance to rest." Kakashi concluded. Sasuke nodded at this.


Naruto awoke in the middle of the night. He was in one of his hideouts, mask still in place. He looked around, but couldn't find his Sensei, assuming she went back to her post, observing.

He felt everything that had happened to Menma during the day. He knew that his brother was in serious danger. Thinking more on it, Naruto created a few clones. Each he sent to a different vantage point. He remained in the base, hoping that his Sensei wouldn't figure out what had happened.

Each clone went in a different direction, taking cover over the different vantage points.

Anko was observing her student, when she noticed him start to shimmer and blend in with his surroundings. This she found surprising, as it was the exact same thing he did when the enemy Shinobi crossed from Ame no Kuni, into Hi no Kuni.

Anko was on high alert and continued to monitor the original's form. A half hour passed when the form of where Naruto had been disguised, disappeared in a poof of smoke. Cursing to herself, she quickly made her way towards the base. She had chosen to leave Naruto at this particular base, as it gave her a good hiding spot and vantage point to keep an eye on him. Now here student had pulled a fast one. "Damn brat." She stated before biting her thumb, drawing blood, and going through some hand signs. A second later a snake appeared from a poof of smoke. "Track down my foolish student." She exclaimed as the small snake started flicking its tongue. The small snake climbed up Anko's body and rested on her shoulder.

"Thissssss way, Anko-Sssssama." The snake exclaimed.


Naruto was quickly making his way to Nami no Kuni when his final clone popped. He swallowed nervously, knowing that his Sensei wasn't going to like this at all. His Sensei was probably going to take a few days to reach his destination. Naruto would probably get there in the early hours of the next morning, if he continued at the rate he was traveling.

Anko and Naruto still had no idea that they were being trailed. One was following a safe distance from Naruto whilst the other was keeping an eye on Anko. He was glad that he had useful skills in reconnaissance, tracking and hiding.