The Dishonored Raven, the Fox that Never Was, & the Man that Wept

By Pyro Yuki

~Author's Note~ (Please review)

I'm making up a jutsu. Maybe Jiraiya has a jutsu like it but I'm too lazy to look it up this time.

A little language here…sorry. But IS rated T!

Sorry this has been a long time coming everyone. College is taking me away from free-thinking time. I got a lot of media classes. However, during my breaks, I'll be working a bit on my stories.

I am so proud of the 4,200 views, 30 reviews, 22 favorites, and 38 followers none the less! ^-^ This is the first time I've ever publicly written something, even if it's not for profit.

Please Enjoy~

Tends to mean a tiny time skip or some other scene

Italics are thoughts. "." Are words.

All original characters and story belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I don't own Naruto.


Chapter 9: The Fox and Bird Hunt

The sun rose high in the sky as one Hinata Hyuga leaned against a tree in the training area. She was waiting for the Hokage and the Akatsuki. What for was anyone's guess.

"You're early, Miss Hyuga. Good. Let's get started." The Fifth Hokage, Shikamaru Nara, and a young blond teenager with his long hair in a pony-tail appeared in front of her.

"What is the Nara doing here, Lord Hokage?" She gave Shikamaru a once over.

"His Clan's abilities to catch their targets along with their ingenious plans is exactly what we need."

"Hm…and him?" Hinata shot a look at blonde only maybe 5 years older than her. He gave her a glare back. Before he could open his mouth, Obito cut him off.

"His name is Deidara. He's here because of his own-"

"Art abilities, hm." The blonde smirked.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Lord Hokage. Why are these two here?"

"I thought it would be obvious, Lady Hinata. We are going on a Fox and Bird hunt." The Sharingan gleamed in the Fifth's one eye.

The sun was setting as Naruto and the group began to eat their dinner at the second Checkpoint. It was a small inn run by some old lady yards away from the border with the Grass County. Lucky for Anko that she also served dango.

Pukkan liked hanging out with Sakura from time to time. Something to do with her liking his soft pink paws.

Naruto, Neji, and Sakura had been sat down earlier by the adults and they leveled with them about the reality of what was happening around them. The adults had even told them that they would most likely have to fight to kill to protect themselves and each other. It scared Sakura a little, but Naruto and Neji nodded. The adults were surprised at how reasonable Naruto and Neji were. Weren't they just a bunch of kids that were forced into this? If they didn't know any better. They almost acted like true genin.

A knock could be heard at the door and everyone but the little old lady tensed, glaring at the door. Anko and Kushina even slipped a kunai from their pockets.

"Hello ma'am. Me and my nephew would like a room for tonight. We're traveling to meet his grandfather in another country. Do you have an extra room?" A calm and causal voice came from the door in the other room.

"Why yes! Of course. Always room to spare for travelers." The old lady responded. "Just let me give you the key." The sound of movement told everyone that the lady left to go to her office.

Two knocks came and the door opened.

Naruto jumped out of his chair and gasped at the jonin he had called his genin-sensei.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"Hm?" The white haired man looked at the spiky blond haired boy. He had never seen him before. "Hello there." He waved his hand in causal hello.

"I'm here too, Naruto…" A spiky black haired boy the same height as Naruto growled out the reminder.

"Sasuke." Naruto frowned, looking at his…well he honestly didn't know if they were friends, rivals, brothers, or what. Sasuke obviously was thinking along the same lines as they stared at each other in silence.

The image of Naruto and Sasuke locking lips jumped straight into his mind. His face looked like a tomato.

Sasuke gave him a questioning look until he was thinking about when they accidentally kissed too. A shiver went up the raven's spine and his face was blushing just as bad with a growl in his throat.

Everyone looked confused but shrugged it off. Everyone but Kushina.

"Naruto, you've never met Kakashi-kun before. How can you even call him sensei? And it's not just that, Naruto. You've been acting very strangely." His Mother looked confused and worried.

"Um…" Naruto looked nervous. How was he going to explain his dreams?

"I think I can explain what's wrong, Kushina-san. Sasuke told me all about it. It seems that chakra isn't the only thing given to people who touch the chakra sphere that Obito keeps. He-"

"Here you are, son!" The little old lady returned with the key to his room. She plopped the key right into Kakashi's hand.

"Thank you very much. We'll carry our stuff in shortly."

"Very well. I'll just be in the kitchen if you need something."

There was silence as the old lady waddled into the kitchen.

"Anyways, as I was saying- Naruto, Neji, and Sasuke all touched the chakra sphere. It seems that anyone who does, gets memories of some other life. A ninja's life, if I'm not mistaken. They have memories of a different lifetime. One without Obito and the Akatsuki."

"That sounds like a better life to me." Anko snorted, biting down on a dango stick.

""It's not."" Sasuke and Naruto answered sharply at the same time. They received looks from everyone.

Kakashi cleared his voice. "Yes, well, there you have it. Sasuke was my student apparently."

"Me too." Naruto interrupted. "And Sakura-chan. We were a three-man genin team. The Old Man was alive too."

Silence greeted this once more.

"The Third Hokage?" Naruto sighed. He thought it was obvious. He felt like he had always called the Third 'old man'. He was like a grandfather in that other life.

"Are you sure about this, Kakashi? When Neji came to me, I thought it was a little strange but if you're sure-," Guy started.

"Positive. Believe me, I wouldn't have believed it myself if Sasuke hadn't asked me to 'RE-teach' the Chidori to him."

Sasuke lifted his chin, unashamed at the looks.

"So the kiddos already know some jutsu, huh? Well THAT saves us a lot of trouble." Anko picked her teeth with her fifth dango stick. "You kids better show us whatcha' got."

"Anko, there's something else you'll be pleased to know. We-"

*BOOM!*

The whole inn shook terribly like an earthquake had just hit them but it was NO earthquake!

"Everyone out! NOW!" Kushina shouted out. No one needed to be told twice. Everyone rushed out of the doors and windows even. Guy appeared with the trembling old lady.

"You better hide, miss." Guy told her. She shuffled off to the bushes without another word.

*BOOM…BOOM! BOOM!*

Three more bombs later and the whole inn was nothing more than a pile of splintered wood.

"Hahaha! You mice got nowhere to hide now! Now you all can be blasted away by my art! Hm!" A confident voice from above made everyone look up. A massive flying clay-owl was flying feet about their heads. Obito, Hinata, and a blond teenager stood on its' head.

"Shit! Kids! Stick together and run if you have to! Everyone-" Anko froze in midturn.

"Shadow possession jutsu: complete." A bored voice came from the shadows of a tree.

All the adults were frozen in place.

Naruto turned with Sasuke, already knowing full well who had done it. "Shikamaru!"

Neji stood in an attack position. He knew never to underestimate him. "Stay behind me, Sakura!" He ordered. "O-okay."

Naruto was almost surprised when he didn't see the Shadow User's hair tied back in a pineapple like pony-tail. But there he was, short haired and in his familiar black and chains.

"What are you doing, Shikamaru?!" Sasuke snarled.

"No, what are YOU doing? You're all becoming a pain in the ass and also defied the Hokage. Have you no shame?" The boy scowled at him but unable to move or capture them as well. Too many people to catch from his distance.

"If you can use your shadow possession, then you must have had those memories too! Memories of us being friends!" Naruto balled his fist, anger rising.

"Yeah, I had those dreams. So did Ino, Choji, Kiba, and Shino. Right after you guys ran away."

"Then what gives?!" Naruto shouted. Weren't they friends?!

"Look, we may have been friends in that alternative universe or whatever the hell that was, but it isn't this reality. We aren't friends. Hell, I didn't even memorize your full name until two years later after joining your class. Face it, Naruto. That world isn't this one. I'm my Clan's heir and you are just some nobody. Not even in the same league."

Some part of Naruto felt pained to hear that. The other part knew that Shikamaru was right. Just because they had all been good friends, comrades even, in that other world didn't mean a damn thing in this one. Their lives were just too different now. Almost nothing was the same.

Before he could respond to that, Shikamaru continued. "Besides, you shouldn't be worrying about me. Worry about yourselves."

"What do you-"

Hinata leapt from the flying clay-bird and landed a yard away by Shikamaru. She looked hurt…if you looked passed the anger.

"Naruto! Sasuke! Neji! Sakura! What do you think you're doing?! Why are you doing this and causing pain to me and the Village?!" She demanded.

Naruto looked away from her eyes and Sasuke spoke for him. Naruto still couldn't look Hinata in the eye.

"Because Obito's leadership is wrong, Hinata! You saw the dreams too! Obito shouldn't be in command of the Leaf! The Third Hokage should!"

"That life is a lie! Can't you see that?! Don't you both realize that you'll be branded as criminals and hunted down for the rest of your lives?!" Hinata shouted at him. Sasuke was startled by this. Everyone so far had been confused by the dreams but no one doubted the truth in them. Why did Hinata have a look of some inner fear in her eyes when he mentioned it too?

"The Leaf Village is a NINJA Village, Hinata! We don't care what happens to us! No one Clan should have all the power. Not Hyuga! Not Uchiha!"

"Why are you bringing THAT up?! Because you're an Uchiha and not a Hyuga?! You were RAISED as a Hyuga like me! There's no difference!"

"There is. My birth Clan was slaughtered by Itachi, but this time I have no burning desire to avenge their lives like the other Sasuke. I'm not swallowed by darkness. Instead, I see that the Hyuga Clan has become cruel towards the people it should be protecting. I made an oath to save my real Clan instead of my past Clan. I intend to follow any good soul to keep it."

Hinata looked shocked…then furious. Rage blazed in her eyes. "Wha…What bullshit! Sasuke, what are you talking about?! The Hyuga Clan has always been one of the strongest Clans in the Leaf Village! Lord Hokage has only made it more so!"

"The Villagers are slaves to the Hyuga Clan as the Hyuga Clan are slaves to Obito, Hinata!" Naruto spoke out, trying to get her to reason with them but she gave him the darkest look she had ever given him.

"So suddenly you care about the Villagers?! Last time I checked, you were still called 'the Traitor's son'! Whatever happened to the Naruto that hated everyone because of that?! Who are you now?!"

This startled Naruto physically and emotionally. Even he had to admit it; he hadn't cared much about the Leaf Village ever. Even other-Naruto only wanted to become Hokage so he could show up all those nah-sayers and to give him the respect he should have gotten in the first place.

But then again… he wasn't that Naruto.

"Because Obito tore my family apart and dared to take my Dad's title as Hokage. I'll never forgive him for what he had done."

Hinata looked startled by this. She looked at Neji and Sakura in one last desperation.

"Are you both the same too?!" She snapped.

Sakura looked from Sasuke to Naruto to Neji and nodded. "Y-yes. I'm w-w-with them."

"I have the same goal as Sasuke, Lady Hinata. Only I will do whatever it takes to make all the Clans whole again."

"…" Hinata's eyes grew shadowed by her bangs. "Then I…will hunt each of you down. For my Clan's duty and the protection of the Leaf Village." She took an attack stance to strike at them.

Naruto and Sasuke's blood turned to ice. They would have to fight to possibly kill Hinata to reach their goals. The world stopped for what seemed like the longest heartbeat. How did things ever get this way?

Hinata sprang at the four to take them down. Naruto couldn't see her eyes under her bangs, but he could have sworn he saw a tear slide out briefly before disappearing into the air.

In the corner of his eye, Naruto and Sasuke could see the blond man and Obito advance on the adults. Was this the end for all of them? The blond threw many ball-like clay bombs to confirm this thought.

*BOOM!*

"Wha-?!" The blond man yelped. His clay bombs never made it to the traitors. It detonated in midair.

Shadows flew out of the trees and bushes and pierced the bombs. Many more flew at Obito, Hinata, Shikamaru, and the blond man. All of whom, had to break what they were doing and dodge to avoid the fury of the kunai, paper bombs, and shuriken from some unknown person.

"I came as fast as I could, but I didn't know you needed me THIS badly!" A deep but loud voice called out. A figure leapt out of the bushed to the adult's side. A man Naruto knew very well but didn't at the same time.

"HAHAHAHAA! YES! It is I! The only Sanin with stunning good looks and amazing abilities to match! Jiraiya!" The old man cried, taking an odd stance.

Hinata, Deidara, and Shikamaru were too young to understand who the old man was, but Obito glared at him.

"Jiraiya…of course. I was thinking of you the other day; that is, thinking about wither you were still alive or dead in the mud somewhere."

Jiraiya stood up straight and laughed. "You would think of me like that, huh? Too bad I'm still pretty hard to kill."

Obito looked ready to attack. "Not for much longer."

"Jiraiya-san! There's something you need to know." Kakashi-sensei stepped forward and placed his hand on the old shinobi's shoulder.

The Sanin's eyes glanced back at Kakashi, clearly learning something that was only between him and the White Fang's son.

"…I see. So that's how it is…" The older man replied. "I get what you were saying now." His voice and face grew more serious. "Don't worry, Kakashi. I got this."

To everyone's immense surprise, the Toad sage bit his thumb and began to make a series of hand signs.

"Whatever you are doing, don't think I'll let you! Deidara! Shikamaru! Hinata!" Obito ordered, lunging at the Toad sage all at once.

"You're too late, as always, Obito-kun." Jiraiya-sensei smirked and thrust his hand onto the group. A spiral of sealing exploded out.

"Toad Summoning! 100 Black Spotted Frogs!"

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Neji, Kushina, Guy, Kakashi, and Anko stared at the sage, wondering what jutsu was that. Obito and his group were closing in.

Suddenly Sakura let out a shrill cry before it cut off completely. Everyone stopped and turned, distracted.

Where Sakura was standing moments before, a giant spotted black frog's head was before.

"A…A frog ate Sakur-" Sasuke never finished that sentence before another giant black frog's head burst out of the ground and swallowed him up.

"Wha?! Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, getting really freaked.

One by one, countless frogs sprang up from the ground and swallowed Kakashi, Anko, Guy, Kushina, and Neji whole until Naruto was the only one left.

Naruto's face paled and he jumped around, trying to avoid being eaten. It would have been hilarious if he didn't think his life was in danger.

"Stop running around kid! I've only got 3 more to go!" The white haired man snapped.

"Eh?" Naruto stopped to look at him but before he knew it, a frog had swallowed him up as well.

"YUCK!" Naruto gagged, feeling the inside of the frog's mouth. He was stepping on its tongue. He could smell odd sweet-smelling gasses rise into his lungs. That was NOT normal! As if being eaten by a giant frog was!

He tried his Shadow Clone jutsu but his chakra felt paralyzed.

Naruto was beginning to panic but then he felt a strange feeling come to his head and he slowly blacked out. But not before thinking how terribly shameful it was to die like this. Death by carnivorous frog.

Naruto blacked out and the last sound he heard was a strange rushing sound of air.


Chapter End

Shikamaru declares himself an enemy of the Leaf Rebellion Group and Hinata is willing to do what has to be done.

What does Kakashi know but wasn't able to tell? And what is Jiraiya's part in all this?

Is it the end for Naruto and his friends before anything even begins?

Next Chapter: The Two Sanin