"Cause I'm Hachibi-sama and I send you flying! So run away now before you start crying, yeah! Hmm….might use that…."

Doing his best to ignore his brother's rapping, A looked at the three Genin in front of his desk standing at attention.

One had long, fiery red hair and exotic amber eyes to go with her dark skin tone. She wore a long, short sleeved dress with frilled edges and the Kumogakure flak jacket. To complete the look, two yellow earrings, fishnet stockings, thigh high boots with white soles and forehead protector fashioned as a bandanna. Karui adjusted her long sword before standing straight again.

The male of the team was also dark skinned like Karui but had spiky white hair and dark eyes accentuated with lines curving from the corners. He wore a dark over long shirt with a hood under the Kumo flak jacket, red bandage hand guards, shin guards and a long sword strapped on his back. Though Omoi may not seem like much with the thoughtful expression on his face and the lollipop absently resting between his cavities, when the situation counted he was someone to rely on.

The last teammate, which he predicted to be promoted without a doubt, stood tall with a stoic look on her face. Ice blue eyes and blonde hair fashioned in a bob cut framed her fair skinned face down to her shoulders. Wearing a low cut outfit that displayed cleavage sure to distract most of the upcoming competition with their size, mesh armor underneath, custom flak jacket covering her stomach only, short skirt, red hand guards and high boots, Samui was one of the best Genin in the village. Not for long, anyway.

All in all, A liked what he saw. They knew the drill when it came to being a shinobi of Kumo. Take your duty seriously, serve your village, and never dishonor your comrades. That last one was stressed in the academy because of the Gold and Silver Brothers. No one in Kumo wants carbon copies of those two.

"All of you should be aware of your current assignments but I'll be brief for the sake of time and reference. The Chunin Exams take place in Konoha this year and if my information is correct, all of the Big Five except Iwagakure will be participating in these exams. Your tasks are simple. Perform to the highest standard possible and overall dominate these exams. I want to see all of you in the finals when I show up in Konoha. Understood?"

"Yes, Raikage-sama!"

"You three also have one more mission. This one doesn't hold as much importance in your overall mission at the exams but mainly as a note for the future. I want you guys to measure the capacity of Uchiha Sasuke."

As expected, Samui stated the immediate facts. "The last Uchiha loyal to Konoha and relative of the current nuke-nin Uchiha Itachi."

"Correct." A leveled a hard look on all of them. "Uchiha in general are dangerous. And if this one ends up like her brother, and I wouldn't put it past them considering their history, we need to be prepared for the eventuality. Make sure Uchiha Sasuke's move set, motivation, skill level, everything about her is written in a full report for me when you return at the end of the chunin Exams."

"Understood, Raikage-sama."

A nodded and then looked at his second Guardian of Kumo. Standing tall and proud, Nii Yugito defined what a seasoned kunoichi and soldier should be. Clad in a purple and black blouse and black pants with matching cloud designs on them, purple fingerless gloves with beads wrapped around her left hand and long blonde hair bound and wrapped into a ponytail. Beautiful to some, dangerous to all.

"Jonin Nii, you should understand why you're here. Since Bee has his duties as the Guardian of Kumo-"

"YEAH!"

Silence. Eyebrows twitched at the interruption.

Glaring at his brother, A continued. "As I was saying, since Bee has his guardian duties, he cannot leave the village without my permission. Bee can handle himself but I don't trust Konoha to not react well to his presence there. Besides, from what my contacts have told me, I don't want Bee anywhere near Hi no Kuni."

"Any particular reason why, Raikage-sama?"

"This leads to your secondary mission objectives, Jonin Nii. Along with mapping the layout of Konoha in its entirety, I want you to gather some intelligence and gain clarity on something." Seeing that he had Yugito's full attention, brought his head forward. "Sources say that Konoha….lost their jinchuriki."

Yugito's eyes widened slightly. "Lost their jinchuriki? Do you mean nuke-nin missing or secret assassination missing?"

"That's your job. To find out whether that rumor has actual weight or not. Konoha will do their best to keep it under wraps so I'm trusting your judgment with this mission."

"I won't fail you, Raikage-sama."

A nodded and sat back on his chair. "Good. You all have your assignments. I'm counting on all of you to serve Kumogakure and bring its prestige to the top!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Dismissed." Once he saw all of them leave his office, A picked up his dumbbell and started his usual reps of 100 curls.

"Like a bee, I deliver the sting! And I give the pleasure so good, ladies wish it wasn't a fling!"

"Damn it, Bee! If I hear one more line come out of your lips, you'll be tasting my Iron Claw!"

Bee just looked at his brother while voicing his thoughts the only way we knew how. "Aniki promising the pain, should I avoid the blow that will make me complain?"

A twitched at the bad line and decided he needed some air. "If you feel so rebellious right now, then you won't mind a quick spar." He stood up from his chair as quick as lightning. "Mabui! I'm heading to my training ground! Cancel all appointments until I return!"

"Yes, Raikage-sama!"

"Let's go, Bee!" Without any warning, A jumped out of the window and headed to his personal training ground. When Kirabi saw Mabui come in and sigh at the broken window again, he gave her a thumbs up and followed his brother.

Just another day in Kumogakure.

"Once again, I cannot thank you three enough for being volunteers in the following Chunin Exams. Kirigakure has taken a harsh blow with this Civil War. Now, more than ever, do we need to show the world how fearsome we are."

At the entrance of Kirigakure stood a team of three that had a mixture of different expressions on their faces. One was complacent, another nervous, and another determined. Clad in her new battle kimono that was colored purple with wavy patterns and a loose green skirt reaching down to the knees, Haku softly smiled at her Kage. "Do not worry, Mizukage-sama. We shall follow your example and represent our country the way it should be."

Terumi Mei, the newly instated Godaime Mizukage, smiled at her top kunoichi. Personally, the auburn haired woman already considered Haku High Chunin level. No, Haku was on the border between High Chunin and Special Jonin. It was this strength that she was confident in. It was this strength that greatly impressed her on the battlefield.

It was this strength that she planned on displaying to the world and erasing the 'Bloody Mist' mark on Kiri.

"I know I can count on you fully, Haku." She looked at a boy standing behind Chojuro. "That also counts for you, Chojuro. As a representative of the next generation of Shichinin Shu(Seven Swordsmen), you can't afford to hold back during the competition." She smiled sweetly at him. "Understand?"

Chojuro shook a bit at being called out and looked at his feet with a heavy blush on his face. He had short, tufty blue hair and dark eyes. He wore square, black rimmed glasses that connected to ear protectors, a blue pin-striped shirt and camouflage pattern pants. His forehead protector rested on the front of his holster which carried his bandaged weapon, Hiramekarei. Shark-like teeth was revealed as Chojuro responded. "I-I'll do my best, Mizukage-sama."

"Hmph. I wonder why you were chosen to be a Shichinin Shu. That meekness is disgusting." Chojuro looked at his final teammate who stared at him with a frown. Standing as tall as Haku, Kawa Yoshanai wore a plain sea blue shirt with forest green camouflage pants and kneepads. A cleaver was strapped to his back and his forehead protector was wrapped around his left arm.

"Chojuro is part of the Shichinin Shu because he will be shaping the next generation of Kirigakure swordsmen to what I intend them to be." Mei narrowed her green eye. "There is no need for our shinobi to embrace an ideology that only cost more lives than nurture them. You do well to remember that, Yoshanai-kun."

Said boy just spat on the ground and walked away. Zabuza put his hand on the wayward Genin's shoulder and growled in his ear. "I'd watch your tone and attitude when talking to your leader. Got it?" Seeing that his message got through by way of body stiffening under his hand, Zabuza took it off and turned around himself. "Alright, brats. We're wasting daylight and I want to be in Konoha before tomorrow evening."

"Hai!" After that, Team Zabuza left Kirigakure. The Demon Brothers looked at each other before Meizu spoke up. "Do you think Haku will pass?"

"Of course. I have full confidence in that."

"I hope your confidence isn't placed in the wrong area, Mizukage-sama." Mei turned a somewhat lazy eye to her guard, Ao. "Haku may be competent enough and Yoshanai might be good if not a little rough around the edges," Ao met his leader's eye. "But I'm not sure Chojuro has what it takes. Back in my day, shinobi didn't have time to feel inadequate and insecure about their abilities. As long as they could kill effectively, they were on the battle field and could fend for themselves."

Mei inwardly sighed. She really had a work of work to do. "Well Ao, if you don't trust my confidence, I hope you at least trust my intuition."

"I do, Mizukage-sama. I'm just making sure that we made the right arrangements for the exams." Ao was about to say more but stopped when he felt a cold pressure in the surrounding area.

"Ao, shut up. Or I will kill you."

As Ao watched his leader walk back to her office with a shocked face, the Demon Brothers knew then and there that Zabuza's advice was a nugget of gold.

'Never piss off Terumi Mei'.

"It's that time of year again, isn't it?"

Sarutobi nodded at Kakashi's remark and looked at the many Jonin in attendance. All of them were given the same message for this meeting in particular. After all, you had to be a certain Jonin to be here now. "The Chunin Exams are taking place in Konoha tomorrow. Many foreign daimyos and royal folk will be attending this year."

"Not to mention the countries registering their Genin this year. Kumo, Suna, Kusa, Ame, that new village Oto, Taki, hell even Kiri sent a team this year."

Silent conversations were carried out in the room once Asuma's news was delivered. His fellow Jonin Kurenai looked at him with slightly widened eyes. "Kirigakure sent a team this year? I thought they were still engrossed in their civil war."

Kakashi spoke up next. "Apparently, some missing-nin joined the rebel's side and tipped the scale to them. Interesting story, really."

"Still, missing-nin rejoining their village? That's almost unheard off."

"You can't look at the world in a close minded way, Kurenai." Before the red eyed beauty could retort, Sarutobi coughed once and got everybody's attention.

"Regardless, I'm taking applications now. Any Jonin ready to recommend their Genin for these exams, please speak now." Sarutobi acknowledged the recommended teams from his forces until one Jonin in particular loudly proclaimed his.

"I, Maito Gai, The Green Beast of Konoha, nominate Team 9 consisting of Rock Lee, Tenten, and Hyuuga Neji! They're flames of youth are ready this year, Hokage-sama!" After flashing his trademark smile and thumbs up, Gai looked at his longtime friend. "What say you, my eternal rival?"

Kakashi stared at him for a second before looking at Sarutobi. "I say that I'll nominate Team 7 consisting of Haruno Sakura, Sai, and Uchiha Sasuke."

Asuma grinned. "I nominate Team 10 consisting of Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru." He looked at Kurenai with a challenging grin.

Seeing that look, Kurenai stepped forward. "I, Jonin Yuhi Kurenai, nominate Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata for the Chunin Exams."

Sarutobi wasn't surprised, honestly. Most of the Genin in that group were from clans and what better way to test their ability and teamwork than to throw them into a competition were holding back and depending on the strong factor that was a Jonin is nonexistent?

"I know what you're thinking, Iruka." The seasoned Chunin instructor looked at him with a shocked face and he smirked. "Those were the very students you nurtured for the program. And you graduated every one of those students because you believed they were ready to take up the mantle of being a Konoha shinobi. Shouldn't you carry that same confidence for them in these exams?"

The scar-faced instructor didn't look fully convinced but conceded to his leader's words and nodded.

"Very well. I wish the best for all of your teams and may the Hi no Ishi burn bright in their hearts."

Naruto grinned as he weaved between two quick punches and retaliated with a fast punch of his own. His strike was avoided with great flexibility along with two arch kicks. Letting loose a battle cry, he crouched low and tried to go for a uppercut but his opponent quickly sprouted wings and went airborne.

"No fair, Fu-chan!"

"Shinobi don't play fair, Naruto~"

Naruto growled at Fu before grinning and channeled chakra to his legs before jumping at the girl. Fu was so shocked that she only had time to hastily put up a two armed guard to block a harsh spin kick. Her bones rattled at the impact and were too numb to try and withstand the pressure from the limb. Before she crashed into a tree, Fu flapped her wings and softly touched the ground. Although less graceful, Naruto joined her and grinned. She couldn't help but grin back at her new best friend.

"So…you're a Jinchuriki?"

Two days passed after the small battle with the Ame/Taki missing-nin. All of the bodies that belonged to the enemy were cleaned up and eventually burned away. When some Taki-nin found Suien's unconscious body at the bottom of the waterfall, he was quickly recovered and brought before Shibuki.

It wasn't easy to come to the decision he made but Shibuki decided to end his life then and there. All he had to look at was the current state of his village to reaffirm that choice.

Since then, everyone pooled in their efforts to rebuild their homes and bring some semblance of order in the small village again. Some Taki shinobi were called back from their missions in order to assist. Even the team from Konoha lent a hand along with Naruto. Although during that time, he was heavily scrutinized by them. Especially Sasuke. Luckily enough, they couldn't stay much longer since their original mission was long finished.

When Naruto was done with his share of work in the village, he asked Fu to take him to the big tree in the middle of the lake. The mint haired girl didn't refuse but was heavily curious when Naruto didn't talk as much or even take a good look at the tree she loved to sleep on. It was when he said that sentence she understood why. Part of her hoped Naruto forgot what Suien said but realized it couldn't be avoided. At least, she told herself, she had fun with the blond while it lasted.

Fu brought her hand to rest on her other arm. "…yes."

Silence. While Fu's hands slowly trembled, Naruto's face gave away nothing as his bangs fell over his eyes.

"N-Naruto?"

The blonde didn't respond as first. He just continued to look up into the sky as he drowned out all other noise except Fu's.

"D-does this mean…" The trembling increased and she felt tears stinging at the corner of her eyes. "That we-"

"It must have been painful, huh?" When he heard Fu gasp, he continued. "I've seen how the people of this village treat you. Glaring at you like a disease, treating you like dirt under your shoe-" His tone got a bit darker. "Denying you any kind of warmth or love…"

Fu couldn't understand what Naruto was getting at but he was spot on with the treatment she suffered in her childhood. Everyone in Taki, besides Shibuki and his father, hated her very existence and didn't relent when it came to exposing that hatred. Many nights were spent curling her body close and crying to sleep.

"Most people would crack under that pressure…" Naruto revealed his eyes then and when he focused them on Fu, she couldn't help but notice the understanding in them. "But people like us, we're awesome in the sense that we rise above it and find our happiness in our cursed lives."

One thing stood out so glaringly in that sentence. It made her pair of orange eyes focus on the blonde. "People…like us?"

A warm smile crawled on Naruto's face as he lifted his orange shirt to reveal the modified seal painted on its stomach. "Let me fully re-introduce myself. I'm Uzumaki Naruto: The Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Yoko."

Fu widened her eyes further as her mouth opened slowly. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? "Naruto…you're a Jinchuriki?"

Naruto looked up in the sky. "Yup. Since the day I was born. It's funny because you said I felt similar to you earlier. That statement puzzled me for a moment." Naruto then looked at the village that numerous Taki shinobi was rebuilding along with the citizens. "Then I saw them looking at you with those gazes…" Blue eyes took on a solemn look. "Gazes that regard you like scum….it hurts you know."

"It does." Fu looked down and absently rubbed her arm. "The worst part is wondering why out of all the children in the village, it had to be you and no one else. Did our parents even care?" Her brows furrowed. "Did they even know the loneliness we suffered?!" Fu didn't realize fresh tears fell down her tan colored face as she made noises from the throat.

Naruto sorta knew because of Kyuubi telling him of their last moments. He didn't know if she was telling the truth or not(didn't trust Kyuubi much at the time) but every time the sharp demon trained or helped in forming Fuinjutsu, she always referenced his genius akin to the Yondaime or the personality of his mom. That was something, right? But one thing was for sure…

"We may never know that, Fu-chan. But there is one thing you do need to know." Once he felt Fu's gaze, Naruto closed one eye and smiled. "You're not alone anymore."

Fu didn't know whether or not what she did next was on instinct or out of desperation. All she did know was that she didn't regret jumping on Naruto and hugging him with all of the feelings she kept locked inside.

If anyone looked at the scene, it might have been judged as intimate considering Fu's legs wrapped around Naruto's left one. Not to mention Fu's choice of clothing…

But Naruto didn't consider it intimate. As he wrapped his own arms around Fu's frame, he marked this as the beginning of one of his true friendships.

Maybe Fu might become one of his precious people…

Since then, both Jinchuriki became inseparable together. Stories of their childhood, the good moments anyway, were shared back and forth. Fu's memories mostly involved exploring her forest and seeing all types of creatures along with meeting Shibuki and his father. Naruto's memories obviously involved his many pranks in Konoha. That definitely made her laugh a lot and it brought a smile to his face.

They also contributed to rebuilding Takigakure to its former prime. In Naruto's case, the populace treated him with some amount of respect once they heard about Suien's downfall. Some still didn't trust him because he was a foreigner and was friends with the resident pariah but that was the minority.

For Fu…well for the younger generation, she didn't receive any hate. In fact, the younger girls actually wanted to grow up and be as pretty as Fu!

For those around her age well…if their parent's stigma didn't pass on, they regard her with indifference. The adults haven't changed their opinions on her. In fact, some blame their recent troubles on her.

Fu just plainly ignored them with newfound confidence.

"Let's take a break now, Naruto-kun. That last kick made my arms numb."

Naruto smirked. "What's wrong, Fu-chan? Tired already?"

Fu rolled her eyes but had a smirk on her face. "For your information, buster, I was the one kicking your butt all over the place, ssu~"

"That's because you can fly!"

"Excuses, excuses…" Fu's smirk stretched as she said her next words. "Last one to Shibuki-kun's office is a rotten old timer!"

Naruto didn't even time to retort when he saw Fu fly away. "Damn it!"

"What do you mean you don't approve, Shibuki-sama?"

Shibuki sighed and look at one of his older Genin. Wearing a blue jacket over a grey shirt with blue pants to match and curly hair, Hoki didn't have the friendliest of looks on his face.

"Listen, Hoki. I understand that you want to compete in the Chunin Exams and finally raise your rank. But this village is still short-handed on shinobi and I need everyone single one to rebuild Taki before I feel safe to allow missions to be taken again."

"But that's just it, Shibuki-sama! If you send a Genin team that makes it to the finals, Taki will finally get some recognition!"

"Again, I understand your plight Hoki. But this is bad timing and because of that I'm afraid that we must skip this year's-"

"Made it before you, Naruto!"

"That because you can fly!"

"Oh, will you get over it, ssu~"

Both males looked at the duo that entered the office with somewhat exasperated looks on their faces and heavy breathing.

"Fu, what are you and Naruto doing here?"

"We came to check up on you, Shibuki-kun. Everything ok?"

Before Shibuki could respond, Hoki butted in and spoke before him. "No, everything is not ok. Our leader over here isn't letting any Genin partake in the Chunin Exams."

Naruto looked confused. "Chunin Exams?"

Hoki raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? Are you even a shinobi?"

"Do you see a hitai-ate on me?"

Shibuki dissolved the incoming argument before it started. "The Chunin Selection Exams is an event that is held twice a year in selected villages. In these villages, certain tests are held that access the skills of Genin level shinobi. If these Genin perform well enough, they're considered for promotion to Chunin."

"So that's what they are..."

"I've been a Genin for too long. I need to pass these exams, Shibuki-sama. My team even decided to let me partake on my own if I have too."

Shibuki sighed again. "I'm sorry Hoki but I'm not changing my-"

"Let me go then, Shibuki-kun!"

Shibuki looked at his friend with wide eyes. "Fu?"

"I didn't really care for the Chunin Exams because of…well you know." Left unsaid was Fu not wanting to compete for a village that didn't appreciate her existence. "But for you, Shibuki-kun, I'll gladly partake in them."

Shibuki accessed his friend like a leader would. Bluntly, he already considered Fu Chunin level. Not just because of her 'special' condition, but because of the training she constantly did to hone her strength. Not to mention the nudges from his father. The only reason he didn't let Fu compete was the fear of losing her to the bigger villages.

Taki may have a Jinchuriki but that didn't mean jacksquat in the big world out there.

"Even if I let you enter in the Chunin Exams, I don't have another Genin qualified enough to participate."

"Then I'll enter with Fu-chan."

Everyone stared at the blonde with shocked expressions. "Naruto?"

"You say these exams are for Genin that want to be promoted. To me, it's another tournament were shinobi show their skills and come out on top." He grinned. "Count me in!"

Shibuki blinked twice before responding. "First off Naruto, I'm grateful for everything that you have done for us. But as the leader of Taki, I have to tell you, realistically, why you can't compete." Shibuki held up a finger. "First, you're not allied to any village. That's already a sole reason to turn you down." Another finger. "Second, the Chunin Exams is more than 'just some tournament'. Politically speaking, the villages involved are advertising their shinobi to potential clients. It's not just for a promotion. It's also for credibility and recognition." The third finger. "Third….the exams are taking place in Konoha."

Naruto's mood immediately dropped when he heard that. Of all the places for this thing to place in, it had to be Konoha. Of all places, it had to be the one he wanted to avoid for the longest until he felt he was ready.

"What's the problem with the exams taken place in Konoha? It shouldn't matter where it is as long as you compete in it."

Shibuki sighed and looked at Hoki. "Listen, Hoki. This is a personal situation so I'm going to have to ask you to leave for a little bit." Shibuki held up a hand before the boy could say anything. "Depending on how this works out, you may get your wish to enter the exams."

Hoki looked at his leader then to the blonde who had his head bowed before grunting and leaving the premises.

Once he felt his signature leave his building, Shibuki looked at Fu, who had a worried look on her face, then at Naruto. "I'm sorry for bringing Konoha up, Naruto. But for your sake, I had to deliver the facts straight to you."

"It's fine…" Naruto was at least glad that he trusted Fu and Shibuki with his past a bit. He didn't exactly tell them the real reason why he left but he felt, considering his condition, they had a hunch. The blonde could honestly say that his condition wasn't the only reason but….

"Are you really ok, Naruto?"

A fake smile was easily plastered on his face. "I'm fine, really." Naruto made a humming sound before replying to Shibuki. "Well, I was going to return one of these days. Guess it will be sooner than I thought." Naruto nodded. "I'll go anyway, Shibuki."

"How will you enter the exams in your current state?"

Naruto figured he meant his physical appearance. He didn't look normal all things considered. Blonde hair that wasn't dust colored, whisker marks on both cheeks, face structure. Anyone can look at him and say he was the offspring of Namikaze Minato if they weren't blind. Besides, with all the pranks he condoned in Konoha, no one forgot his visage.

This problem was simple to fix though.

"Just like when the team from Konoha was here, I'll make a Henge(Transformation) seal to change my appearance for as long as I need to." Naruto nodded to himself and brought a hand to his chin. "Of course, if the intermediate level seal book is right, I need to…."

Fu and Shibuki watched as Naruto went on a tangent and named different algorithms, patterns, trigrams, whatever involved Fuinjutsu. It was almost scary to watch someone easily detach themselves from reality and get lost in their world so quick.

"Uh Naruto…."

"My hair wasn't fully red in certain areas and my skin didn't change its tone. Maybe if I add that pattern over the 3rd machination and customize the 40th stroke in a certain angle…"

"Naruto."

Blinking twice, Naruto snapped his head to Shibuki and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that. I go on some tangents sometimes when it comes to making new seals. Fuinjutsu is endless, dattebayo."

"Riiight…." Shibuki coughed. "So if you say you have appearances down, then I suppose I can fix some fake documents to cover your affiliation problem. I take it you'll be a temporary shinobi of Taki?"

"Yeah. I don't have plans to become a shinobi to any village in the future."

"Very well. What will you call yourself in the meantime?"

Naruto looked at the ceiling for a moment before saying the first thing that came to mind. "Menma."

Fu raised an eyebrow. "Menma?"

"Yeah." Naruto shrugged. "Don't know why that came up. Call it weird coincidence or something."

Naruto stared at the looming gate of his former home. It felt like yesterday when he thought of painting a picture of his face on these gates to fool people into thinking that HE owned the village.

It felt like yesterday when he took his first steps out of the village, turn backed and yelled at the top of his lungs…

"I'm done with you guys! I'll become the greatest adventurer in the world!"

Ah shit. This is going to be hell….

"Naruto?"

Fu walked up to him with a worrying expression on her face.

"I-I'm fine. Really."

"What's the hold up? You coming yet, Menma?"

Naruto looked at the older teen that had his arms crossed and stomping his foot impatiently. "Yeah, I'm coming."

Fu stared at Naruto's back when he ran to Hoki. Or Menma's back. Geez, she really had to hand it to her friend. Complicated steps aside, he really covered the disguise aspect. Once he put the tag on his body, his entire appearance changed. Now his hair was a deep red color with black painting each tip and two long bangs framing his face. His skin color changed from its golden tan to a pale white that clashed with his new getup consisting of an open red shirt over a black long sleeve shirt. His pants was also red but with black flame designs covering his right shin and continuing upwards. His gauntlets were still blue and the Taki headband was tied around his left bicep.

All in all, the change worked but it seemed…off. From what Choumei told her, he was basically wearing the colors of the Kyuubi. That only made her more worried. What if Konoha figured out who Menma really was?

Seeing that Naruto was waving at her in the middle of the gates, Fu quickly jogged up to him and took in one of the biggest villages in the country.

'As busy as ever. Konoha sure hasn't changed at all.'

Naruto agreed with his partner as he walked on the wide highways with Fu at his side. Hoki told them to do whatever they wanted as long as they didn't get into trouble and meet up at the hotel when it turned dark. He offered to give Fu a tour of the village since he used to live here. She was obviously amazed considering the transition from a small village like Taki to something as big as this.

Him on the other hand….well.

'That was the guy that chased me out of his store…' A grocery store owner smiled at a little girl when she pestered her mother to buy some pocky sticks.

'I pranked that asshole when he insulted my taste in color.'

A middle-aged carpenter shook hands with one man while conversing with his wife and laughing.

This went on and on as more familiar faces popped up in his eyesight. All of the adults that glared at him, treated him like shit, outright disrespected him, now smiled at him or threw him a curios look. He couldn't believe this shit. If he took his Henge tag off, Naruto would bet all of his ramen that they would cry for his blood. Hell, they probably thought he died and thought none the wiser.

Fucking pieces of….

"Menma, you're giving off unnecessary killing intent!"

Naruto stopped in the middle off the street and immediately noticed that aside from Fu, everyone else strayed away from him and made space. Somewhat frightened looks came his way while the resident shinobi tensed and brought their hands to their pouches.

"S-sorry about my friend, here! He's just a bit….uh…hungry! Right hungry! Everyone gets in a sour mood when their stomachs aren't full, ssu~"

Damn. Fu had to run damage control because his temper got the better of him. At least her plea worked because the frightened looks went away and everyone relaxed somewhat.

Now that the traffic continued as normal, Fu stepped right in front of Naruto and crossed her arms. "You told me that everything was fine, Menma."

Wincing, Naruto just rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that, Fu-chan. Just a thought strayed too far is all…." His eyes brightened. "But you were right when I said I was feeling hungry right now. And I know just the place, dattebayo!" Naruto ignored Fu's shout when he turned and ran in a different direction.

Up on the rooftops, Yugito saw the entire scene and narrowed her eyes at the retreating duo. 'Those two stick out with their chakra levels. Especially the red head.' She made a mental note to warn her team about them and disappeared from the scene.

Back to Naruto and Fu, the smell of broth and fine cuisine lured them booth to a stand that was currently occupied by two Genin. One was showing no mercy to his meal as bowls upon bowls were stacked as the other ate at a more leisurely pace.

"Hey there! Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen! What will you be having?"

Oh Kami…

'Teuchi-jiji…' His second favorite old man smiled kindly at the duo. Clad in his kitchenware, Teuchi leaned on his counter and had a pad on the ready.

"Hmmm….what do I choose…." Fu squinted her eyes and looked at the menu before looking at Naruto. "What are you having Na..ru…"

Fu trailed off when he saw her friend was just staring at the old man. Nothing seemed to dissuade him as he focused his blue eyes on Teuchi. She looked down and read his body language according to the shaking and wavering eyes.

"You ok, kid?" Naruto didn't even answer her and kept looking at Teuchi. By now, the Genin with dark colored hair glanced at Naruto and noted the expression on his face before going back to his meal.

"Menma?"

"Is something wrong, father?"

That voice….

Naruto slowly turned his head to look at the second employee of Ichiraku. Clad in the same kitchen getup as her father with brown hair sticking out, Ayame looked at her father then curiously at the new guests. She noted the red haired boy staring at her with a hollow look on his face. "Is something wrong? If you're having trouble picking out from our selection, we recommend the Naruto special. It's a sample of all our dishes in one bowl!"

Before she knew it, he got up from his stool and ran away.

'Damn it! Why is it so painful!?'

Naruto didn't care if he ran into people on the highway. He didn't care if he stumbled once or twice. He just wanted to get the hell out of there.

So focused on his mission that he didn't realize he bumped shoulders with another redhead who stopped and glared at his retreating form.

"Y-Yuwaku? W-what's wrong?"

Sabaku no Yuwaku let her subtle killing intent spill for a moment before returning to indifference. "Someone might die soon…."

Heavy chapter. Hope I did it right. For those of you that asked, no. Naruto will not be allied with any village in the future. This will be the only time he wears a hitai-ate in this story. BTW, Naruto is also 5'2 as of now. He's not short in my story.

Criticism is gold.(Whether it be good or bad.) Edit 7-16-2013: Updated Gaara's name.