Surprise!

I only have two chapters completely written after this and I'm half way through rewriting a chapter. Sorry for the long delay.

I really wanted to write a bit that involved Juugo, and well this is what I got out of it, I promise no more stalling after this.

Again it's different. I hope you find it enjoyable, and let me know what you think.

Please enjoy it, lol.

Thank you for the alerts and reviews.

Naruto = flash back

'Naruto' is thoughts/thinking

"Naruto" signing/sign language

"Naruto" speaking.

"Naruto" Demon

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto just some DVDs and games.

Chapter 37

Naruto sat very still in a meditative position he had been sitting on the stump of a tree since the sun had rose above the tree line bathing everything in an orange and pink glow. Hikaru watched from a distance as Naruto's chakra flickered appearing as a calm blue before changing just as quickly to a violent red, he looked down at Jiraiya a frown on his face as he worried about what was going through Naruto's mind right now.

(Line)

Takeru had summoned his team to meet at the front gates including Naruto, a mission had turned up that needed to be completed as quickly as possible, his team had been chosen to travel into Kusagakure, and that meant the whole team, luckily they still had a week before the exam started so if everything went to plan they'd get back in time for Naruto to finish the exam.

Takeru looked up as his three students arrived, Naruto was the only one that looked mission ready, Naruto threw an apple at each of his team mates and Takeru pulling out a final apple for himself, biting into it and letting the others know that they should eat theirs too. Takeru threw the mission scroll at Naruto who had managed to wedge himself in between his two team mates, opening the scroll they all read it carefully, Riku just looking over Naruto's shoulder while Ume had to push Naruto down a bit so that she could read it, when would the kid stop growing?

They all looked up ready to go as Riku burned their scroll, eyes all set in a steely glare. With a nod the four left only four apple cores left on the desk to show that they had been there.

Jumping through the trees they headed North West to the land of grass, pausing briefly as they spotted enemy ninja passing them, Naruto would turn his head in their direction waiting as he finally stopped tracing their chakra. He'd nod and they'd move on. They passed many small patrols of ninja causing their suspicion to rise, especially as they were all heading in the direction of Konoha, a second Naruto peeled off of the real Naruto, stopping and popping sending the information back to the clones left in the village.

They stopped suddenly as Naruto's head swivelled round to where they had just travelled from. He frowned holding on to the tree branch above him as he balanced on another; he closed his eyes and concentrated his chakra, sweeping out to find what had grabbed his attention. His eyes snapped open as he found it. He swung round the branch he had been balancing on as he dodged a kunai with an explosive tag attached, Riku threw himself at Ume knocking them both out of the tree as Takeru dropped through the branches after making sure his students were clear, but still taking a heavy hit of the blast.

"Looks like we've been found out Sensei." Riku stood slowly with Ume as Naruto dropped down next to Ume and Riku the three quickly moving back to back a weapon in their hands.

"Well then we'll just have to get them to un-see us won't we?" Takeru smirked as he joined his students in their back to back position, as they were soon surrounded by sound ninja.

"The only way to make us un-see you leaf scum is to kill us." The leader of this gang of ninja smirked.

"Exactly." Ume smiled sweetly.

The four leaf ninja split off taking a section each, cutting their numbers down swiftly. Ume dancing under attacks and twirling fire into her hands as she moved like her feet barely touched the floor, the glint in her eye told you she meant business but the graceful elegance that she moved with belied delicacy. Riku although not a heavy hitter like Kenta often was, could pick up the role easily when he had to. His lithe frame gave him an edge with speed, which people would try to compensate for thinking his hit would be weak, which is how Takeru had to duck as two ninja went flying over his head from Riku's punch, the boy was getting stronger that much was certain. Naruto their resident blonde blur had a unique way of bouncing from his targets, or often theirs. Ume flicked her hair from her face as she turned her fall into a roll popping up beside Riku they shared a brief glance at each other before she used him as a springboard flying off into a female enemy.

Riku ducked a mace idly wondering where said mace had appeared from, he spotted the big grinning guy whose hands were still in the position of having thrown a big heavy item, he frowned as the guy straightened up smirk still plastered across and pulled backwards on the cord in his hands, Riku's eyes widened as the mace he had just ducked came flying back from behind, he twisted out of the way but not quick enough as he felt the mace tear through the shoulder of his left arm. He let out a cry as his shoulder exploded in pain, he glared at his laughing enemy, watching as the laughter stopped and he looked down at himself seeing the glowing point of a blade hovering in between his legs.

"You don't get to harm my students." Takeru growled from behind the big guy. There was a second as the threat sunk into all ears then the big guy split in half straight down the middle falling aside to reveal Takeru standing there; he flicked the blood from his blade, checking that Riku was well enough to continue fighting, before moving off. They looked at the clang sound to find Naruto shaking like a tuning fork his chakra blade the source of the noise, there was a crack running across the middle of the blade, he glanced down at it before looking back up at enemy covered in metal. He had ricocheted off the metal which had caused the crack in his blade to appear. He charged forwards his blade humming and glowing as he neared making contact he pushed as much chakra as he could into his blade as a singing filled the area and a white light enveloped surrounded the two clashing ninja. Both ninja were thrown apart the big metal clad ninja thrown back into a tree were he stayed slumped with a pattern of red stemming from his middle slowly expanding outwards, while Naruto was thrown back his arm covered in rivulets of blood the force of his chakra blade snapping causing damage to his right arm he skidded on his back, somehow turning it into a roll as he landed on an uneven bit of ground which had a hole large enough for his foot to slip into, he looked up from his crouched position to see the grinning face of a thin faced sound ninja, the sound ninja finished his set of hand seals and slammed his hands down. Naruto watched as the ripple from the jutsu spread out finally reaching his position. The hole his foot had slipped into widened rapidly swallowing Naruto up as he fell through, the ninja smirked as the hole became sealed earth once again, he turned aiming for Takeru as he ran through another set of hand seals, and the sun glinted on the handle of Naruto's broken chakra blade.

"NARUTO!" Ume screamed watching as he was crouched on the ground one moment and then swallowed by the ground the next. She flung herself against her enemies spinning in a circle creating a vortex of fire as she moved. Riku and Takeru attempted to shield themselves from the orange flames which rapidly turning purple and engulfing the land around them. Takeru grabbed Riku as he created an earth dome dragging Riku inside as Ume continued to spin faster sucking out the air and making her fire burn brighter, catching the retreating ninja as they fled turning slowly to ash.

(Line)

Naruto tumbled through the darkness chastising himself about his carelessness as he fell further and further down into the dark. The ringing in his ears through his balance and perception off as he fell. He noticed the outlines of walls as he fell changing from rough stone to smooth dulled surfaces he flipped as he neared the bottom, managing to land in a slightly less than graceful crouch. He scanned his surroundings then moved ending his chakra out finding a strong source he headed towards it as it pulsed between strong and barely there, he pushed his chakra out as came across crossroads waiting to sense the chakra that was pulsing. It was a unique kind of energy, one that he couldn't place, but he doubted he'd be able to get out of this underground maze he found himself in.

The source of the chakra lead him to a door bolted so tightly it made any other fortifications look like a baby's puzzle in comparison. Another thing which made him pause was the whole shining light above his head; this could be his chance at getting out of here, where ever here was. There was a small flap at the bottom obviously for giving whoever was behind the door food and water but who would lock someone up like that? He shuddered as three people in his own village sprung to mind, who knows what those three would do to him, if they could they already made his life difficult and that was with half a chance.

(Line)

Hiruzen Sarutobi stormed through the tower Jiraiya had just informed him that team Takeru had been sent out on a mission. Team Takeru meant Naruto; this close to the exams most missions weren't a priority, especially for would be chuunins. He slammed the doors of the council meeting room open seeing two of the three people he was sure were at fault.

"Did you send Team Takeru out on a mission?"

"A recon mission yes why?" Homura answered.

"Do you know who's on that team?" He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Ume Kita with Riku Hayashi and lead by Takeru Muto." Koharu answered.

"And Naruto! Naruto who needs to be at the stadium for the final part of the chuunin exam in two days time! How long have they been gone?"

"It was a weeklong mission Hiruzen."

"Don't Hiruzen me." The Hokage's anger spiked. "You do not have the right or the permission to send shinobi of any calibre on missions! You are my advisors and members of the council. I listen to you consider what you say. Decide whether it's utter crap, which it's turning into lately and then I make the decision." He snapped looking at the scroll that Koharu had placed in front of him. "And you especially do not send my grandson out on a pointless mission this close to a chance at career advancement!" he turned to Hikaru and Jiraiya who had followed him as he stormed away. "FIND THEM AND BRING THEM HOME!" he threw the scroll at Hikaru and Jiraiya both nodded and disappeared from the doorway, to be replaced by Fox and Sparrow. "You two better hope that team comes back in one piece, or so help me I will make you remember why I'm called the professor!" he turned the swish of his cloak the only sound heard in the entire building.

Deep underground a white mask enshrouded in a black cloak moved quickly through the levels of the underground maze that was their headquarters. He dropped in front of his mummified leader.

"The Hokage has discovered that the demon was sent on a mission outside of the village. Lord Jiraiya was the one that informed him."

"It would seem my old rival is getting old letting things slip so often. You services are no longer required." The masked ninja disappeared suddenly leaving Danzo to his thoughts. His eyes wandered to the empty cell he had stopped in front of. "How soon before its ready?" he asked as he approached.

"The final touches will be finished during the exam sir."

"Good we'll give the demon a false sense of freedom before ripping it all away." He nodded turning and limping back the way he had come. The ninja sat in the cell painting a delicate design which was part of a bigger seal that would hopefully be able to contain the demon.

"So are you as good a sensor as Naruto?" Jiraiya looked back at Hikaru who had ditched his mask and ANBU outfit, he was wearing blue which made Jiraiya chuckle. He was in the standard shinobi outfit, blue pants, blue shirt with fur lined hood sat over his flak jacket, and a bracelet on his left wrist. His blonde hair, which was normally restricted by his mask, but not so much by his forehead protector, fell into his face obscuring his olive eyes. He crouched down on the floor pressing a hand flat to the ground and closing his eyes, his breathing evened out as he searched for the team's chakra his eyes snapped open as he found Ume's chakra spiking dangerously.

"Stop that!" he snapped. "Naruto's not the only one that doesn't like being compared to people, you know. Now come on I'm sure you felt that dangerous chakra burn." Hikaru moved off in the direction of the strange chakra.

"Not my fault you look like her but with his powers." Jiraiya chuckled before steeling his features as he felt the chakra burn Hikaru was talking about.

(Line)

Carefully Naruto picked the locks on the food compartment. He crouched down as best he could with his damaged arm; he winced and let out a small sound unaccustomed to being injured like this.

"Hello, is someone hurt?" Naruto froze as the voice floated out around him. "If you're hurt you really shouldn't be here." The voice continued.

"I'm lost actually," Naruto sighed.

"How can you be lost?"

"I fell through the ceiling and I've been wandering around ever since."

"You can't fall through this ceiling its miles underground."

"That explains why it's so cold," Naruto sighed. "But there's a hole in the ceiling here, I can see it and the light shining through is so warm, but I can't figure out how to make the hole bigger without alerting someone that I'm here." Naruto sighed. "Why are you in a cell?"

"I asked to be."

"Why? Is it to protect you?" Naruto asked sliding down the wall, holding his arm.

"I am dangerous. I don't know why Orochimaru sent you down here, but you should leave."

"Orochimaru didn't send me I got lost after falling through the ceiling; I just need help getting back." Naruto sighed hitting his head back against wall. "Why are you dangerous?" Naruto asked again.

"I cannot control myself I have uncontrollable rages. That hole you mentioned earlier it is part of a longer crack that runs through my ceiling it is me that created that crack forming the hole you see."

"So why are you here? Did Orochimaru experiment on you?" Naruto asked letting his chakra drift out around them sensing for anyone coming towards them.

"Not at first he didn't. I came to him hoping he could cure me he was fascinated about my power, I just want to be rid of it. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"So you just want to get rid of it, what about understanding it? How can you possibly get rid of it without understanding how or why you, have this uncontrollable rage inside of you what made it so angry in the first place." Naruto's hand rested where his seal was situated on his stomach. How could he hate the monster if he couldn't understand it?

"What would you know about turning into a monster?" the voice snapped.

"I know that mine is the voice in the back of my head whispering sweet nothings, how everyone hates me and is out to hurt me. That I should rip them apart limb from limb let them be terrified by my power, but what terrifies me is that I can't keep that power in check. So I block it away ignore the needling at my back and try to be me, I try not to listen to that voice, but I wonder know if I shouldn't try to get to know that side of me more, try to understand why it's so bitter and bloodthirsty maybe then I can stop this inherent rage buried deep inside me and finally be at peace. I think we just have to understand ourselves a lot more than we already do that way we can learn and change ourselves." Naruto sighed. "you have uncontrollable rages but I have a demon inside me, that wants to go on a blood bath of a rampage and I wish I didn't I wish my life was simple and I was one person not two, but life isn't simple and easy, we just have to climb our mountains."

"How old are you? The way you talk it, it doesn't match your voice."

"I'm thirteen in three weeks, and a lot of people think I'm too wise sometimes, or that I know more than I let on. My name's Naruto."

"Juugo, I'm fifteen."

"Are you sure you want to spend your life in a prison cell, don't you want to experience life, feel the wind run across your skin, be envious of the birds because they can fly and see the world, watch the trees change colour as the seasons come and go?" Naruto smiled fondly.

"Yes, but I cannot, only one person so far has been able to control me, and that is Kimimaro, I cannot help you Naruto , even if I wanted to I cannot guarantee your safety." He heard the locks on his door click open. "What are you doing? I'm a danger to you and others."

"There's nobody else here, we're all alone, and I promise I will put you back in this cell if you would just help me." Naruto crouched down in front of Juugo. "I need to face my fears sometime how else am I ever going to beat some sense into Sasuke if I can't defeat my own demons first."

"You're a child how could you possibly stop me?"

"I'll figure something out." Naruto smiled placing a hand on the cowering body of Juugo.

They stood outside the cell both looking up at the ceiling where the hole they needed to make bigger was situated. Naruto looked at Juugo, he was a big guy but a total softy, and his size would work against him when his rage took over.

"So how do we trigger your rage? Naruto asked.

"Shouldn't you be taking precautions?" Juugo countered.

Naruto crouched down running his hands through the summoning jutsu, he slammed his damaged hand down only for a small cloud of smoke to appear, he must have done a lot of damage to his arm if he only got a small toad. Naruto looked down sheepishly at the young orange toad with purple markings around his eyes, mouth and stomach with a blue vest jacket. Naruto smiled shyly down at the toad.

"Sorry, I was aiming for something slightly bigger, I'm Naruto what's your name?"

"Well you obviously weren't doing it right if you got me." He smirked.

"Sorry my arm must be more damaged than I first thought, since I summoned you anyway did you want to stick around? It seems only fair." Naruto shrugged.

"Sure why not punk," the toad hopped up onto Naruto's shoulder.

"You wouldn't be related to Gamabunta would you?"

"That's my pop, wait you aren't that punk kid that summoned him are you?" the toad asked.

"Yeah I did. Anyway I'm going to try the summoning again if you want to sit a bit higher up thanks." Naruto ran through the seals again gathering more chakra this time, before slamming his hands down. This time the cloud of smoke that appeared was bigger than Juugo so that would help Naruto out a lot. It was a familiar toad that Naruto had summoned, he was orange with blue markings and the last time Naruto had seen him he had bandages wrapped round his body and Jiraiya was riding on his back now however he was wearing samurai armour, a plate cuirass and arm guards with traditional samurai pauldrons.

"That's Gama." The little toad hopped up and down.

"Hello again Gama I'm Naruto, I need your help containing Juugo here, you see there's that tiny gap in the ceiling which he's going to open up for me, but in order for him to do that he has to go into a rage, after he makes that hole wide enough we need to get him back into that cell, Gama umm you didn't tell me your name," Naruto looked up at the toad on his head.

"Gamakichi, and don't you forget it."

"Right if you Gamakichi wait behind the door you can slam it shut behind him and lock him in." Naruto nodded as the little toad got down from his head and Gama nodded. "So how do we make you rage?" Naruto turned round, to meet a monstrous sight.

Juugo was already mid transformation the black flames spreading across his skin leaving a trail behind, he was muttering under his breath the entire time. Naruto and Gama watched as his usual spiky orange hair that suited is red orange eyes changed so that his eyes were now black with a pale yellow pupil and his skin turned to ash grey while a hammer grew where his left arm used to be, a deranged look took over his usual calm facade. Naruto jumped back as Juugo started to laugh manically, he quickly dropped to the ground as the hammer was swung at his head Gama deflected the next hit up so that he was aiming at the ceiling Naruto rolled to his feet in front of the door as Gama waited on the ceiling for the charging Juugo to aim his next hit at him, which came swiftly he stepped back letting the force travel up through the ceiling of the cave, dropping down and landing in front of Naruto, Juugo swung round his hammer coming down from above them he let the swing come down holding his arm guards over his head to meet the blow, Naruto slipped through Gama's and Juugo's legs as Gama rolled onto his back taking Juugo with him, Naruto pushed Juugo into his cell as Gama sprung out the way and Gamakichi slammed the door shut, they quickly slide the locks into place, the door shuddered as Juugo threw himself at the door. Naruto quickly wrote on a scroll and slipped it into the food slot at the bottom before locking that back up too.

Gamakichi jumped up onto Naruto's shoulder while Gama wrapped an arm around Naruto and jumped up through the gap in the ceiling, Naruto slapped an explosive note on the ceiling as they passed through, clearing the hole they heard the boom as the ceiling collapsed in on itself, he hoped Juugo would be okay. Naruto's head snapped round as he felt the strange chakra emanating from Ume. Gama turned in that direction setting Naruto down, he followed behind Naruto as he darted off in that direction.

(Line)

Hikaru and Jiraiya landed in the clearing where the chakra was strongest having to duck into an earth dome as soon as they arrived, the purple vortex of fire was still spinning. Jiraiya pulled Hikaru down into the dome as the vortex came towards them, he created a tunnel under their dome leading to second dome he had seen. Hikaru dropped into the tunnel quickly moving along to find a kunai pointed at his throat from a growling Riku, Takeru was holding up the dome as it got buffeted by the vortex.

"Hikaru?" Riku blinked moving back to let the two new ninja inside their dome which Takeru had made slightly bigger.

"Where's Naruto?" Hikaru asked.

"We don't know. Ume screamed his name then her fire turned purple and she created that vortex." Riku tried to shrug but ended up wincing having jostled his shoulder.

"Wait so there's a young girl out there controlling that thing?" Jiraiya asked.

"No, she created it but she's never done this before, we didn't know she could do this." Takeru threw over his shoulder the doom crumbled near him as the intense heat from the vortex pushed through he quickly applied more chakra to the doom sealing the cracks and adding another layer.

"Naruto's about to arrive," Hikaru turned his head, "Two toads are with him."

"See I told him that being able to summon would be a good thing." Jiraiya smirked.

"His chakra blade broke; he killed the guy but got sent flying back." Riku looked at Hikaru worriedly.

(Line)

Naruto jumped into the clearing seeing the two earth domes and the purple vortex pushing against one, he could sense four bodies in the dome which he recognised which meant that that was Ume inside the vortex.

"Get into that second dome there's a tunnel follow it and tell Hikaru to create a water dragon to wrap around the vortex." He instructed the toads.

"Where are you going?" Gamakichi asked.

"Into the vortex." Naruto jumped and into the vortex.

Gamakichi and Gama moved to the dome Gama cracked it open so they could slip inside and raced down the tunnel.

"Hey whichever one of you is Hikaru Naruto said to make a water dragon to wrap around the vortex, that idiot has gone inside it." Gamakichi jumped in a huff sitting on Gama's head.

"Gama?" Jiraiya was surprised to see him and the little guy. Hikaru quickly ran through the signs for a water dragon concentrating so that it appeared outside.

Naruto felt like his skin was being peeled off as he jumped into the vortex he had to find Ume, his sleeves burned up as he flew round slowly closer to the centre, he felt his breath get sucked from his lungs the closer he got to the middle. His leg bumped against something, he snapped his eyes open and reached out his right arm to grab hold of Ume, he pulled himself clear of the swirling vortex but he was still burning Ume was on fire.

"Ume it's me Naruto, I'm here, I'm not going to let you go." He pulled her into a tight hug feeling his skin blister and pop as he pushed closer to her. He felt the vortex lessen and could make out Hikaru's water dragon and watched as it split into two both wrapping their way up the vortex smothering the flames till the clashed at the top spraying water down over them. Naruto felt a cool breeze across his wet face as he looked up into Ume's wet eyes.

"I thought we'd lost you." She whispered her voice hoarse.

"I'm not leaving you, ever." He smiled as she slowly slipped into unconsciousness. He fell with her to the floor trying to make it as gently a landing as possible. Naruto felt the tugging hands of Hikaru as he slowly pulled Naruto away from Ume.

Takeru moved over to Ume quickly assessing the damage she had managed to cause to herself. She was exhausted and had several burn marks across her body; he picked her up cradling her to his body, as Riku stood beside them.

"We need to get her back to Konoha, she used too much chakra." Hikaru noted, picking Naruto up gently as he was covered in burns and placed him on his back like it was a piggy back ride.

Gamakichi jumped up onto Naruto's head while Gama took a note Jiraiya had scrawled and disappeared. Riku looked up at Jiraiya, who had started checking both him and Takeru over, both were covered in burns, Riku had nasty tear in his arm making useless as it hung limply by his side, he pulled out a bandage and wrapped his arm gently to keep it together, before tugging him up into his arms.

"We'll move quickly this way let's get a move on." Jiraiya order as they jumped up into the trees.

(Line)

Juugo calm now from his rage was surprised to find himself inside his cell, he was amazed that Naruto had managed to get him back inside it. He noticed a torn bit of scroll on the floor by the door. He grabbed it slowly reading it carefully.

"If it helps you made your arm into a hammer, Naruto." Juugo smirked he had made a hammer which is just what they needed to allow Naruto escape; he had done some small amount of good while he was in a rage. He looked up as his door was unlocked and pulled open.

"Orochimaru wants to move you to another compound; this one is too close to our enemies and has recently been discovered." Kabuto stood in the doorway, the collapsed ceiling littering the hallway.

(Line)

The Hokage rushed to the hospital where team Takeru arrived, he'd summoned Doctor Yori Takumi, when he heard Naruto was hurt both were waiting as the three adults placed the three younger ninja onto stretchers all of them were covered in burns he noticed before all three were taking away to different rooms, Takeru had followed after Ume, a nurse trying to keep up with him as she attempted to heal him. Hikaru and Jiraiya had some minor burns but were otherwise okay.

"What happened?" the Hokage asked the worry and anger leaking into his voice.

"Naruto got separated from the team; Ume saw him disappear and unlocked a hidden power. Purple fire." Hikaru stated his eyes staring at where Naruto was taken.

"Make sure they are all placed in the same room, they won't be happy if they aren't." Hikaru nodded and moved off down the hall after the team.

"Looks like they ran into an ambush, which they had to fight their way out of, by the sounds of it Naruto ended up in some underground hideout and cut off from his team mates, Ume saw him disappear and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him triggered something inside her, she created a purple spinning vortex which kept Takeru and Riku pinned down while wiping out the enemy ninja and the surrounding landscape. Both of them didn't know she could do that. Naruto jumped into the vortex to snap her out of it, while Hikaru doused the flames with twin water dragons all from inside an earth dome. You've got some pretty amazing ninja old man." Jiraiya explained as they walked down to the room where Riku was sitting up watching as Dr. Takumi attempted to heal Naruto's arm.

"What happened to his arm?" he asked.

"His chakra blade snapped in two that's the last thing I remember about Naruto, Ume was closer to where he landed."

"That explains a lot. The burns are already partially healed, but he did a lot of damage to his arm, I'm going to need a Hyuuga's assistance, to heal it correctly."

"But he'll be alright otherwise, the exams in two days he'll be able to compete right?" Riku asked.

"As long as I can heal his arm he can, if you wouldn't mind getting Lord Hyuuga for me Lord Jiraiya." The doctor asked.

The Hokage sat in a chair by Riku's bed waiting while Hiashi was summoned. They watched as Ume was brought in after Hiashi had arrived, the sun starting to set. Takeru slowly slumped into the chair in between Ume's and Riku's beds all the males watching what was happening to Naruto. Jiraiya waited by the window as the doctor and Hyuuga worked carefully together identifying the damage in Naruto's arm and fixing it, a small piece at a time. The sun had completely set by the time they had finished and only a few burns remained on Naruto's face and body. Hikaru stood by the Hokage's side his eyes never leaving Naruto's face. Finally Hiashi and Dr. Yori left the room, not before letting the Hokage know that Naruto would be okay.

The Hokage moved closer to Naruto running a hand through his hair as he looked down at him, Hikaru stayed behind the Hokage his eyes never leaving Naruto.

"What happened Takeru? You're team haven't come back this badly damaged since Kenta." The Hokage spoke softly still running a hand through Naruto's hair.

"We were seen. We were given a scouting mission; we passed so many ninja heading towards Konoha it was inventible that we would eventually be found. Naruto sensed that we had been spotted. We would have been more damaged if he wasn't with us."

"Lucky he was there then, but a genin shouldn't be saving a jounin and two chuunins."

"He's more than a genin, we all know that!" Riku snapped.

"He was taken out on a mission that shouldn't have happened! What would have happened if Naruto had gotten injured, wait he was, what happens when he can't compete in the exam because you took him out on an unauthorised mission? Don't say a word Hikaru you're in enough trouble as it is. What happens when Naruto gets pulled from the exam because he's not medically fit to compete, I can't just hand him a vest!"

"Do you really think Naruto would let you pull him out?!" Riku defended. "We were given a mission we followed it to the letter, and we got hurt, Ume might not wake up! But Naruto, Naruto will his big blue eyes are going to flutter open and he will get up and he will take that exam whether you pull him out or not! Because he knows this is his chance and he's not going to mess up."

"You really shouldn't talk to the Hokage like that you know." A clone of Naruto sat on the windowsill. "He could take your rank away from you."

"I don't care, as long as you wake up and Ume we're in this together Naruto."

"I know, but it's not your fault, or Takeru's, our focus has been elsewhere things have slipped through the net, once this exam is out of the way then we can start weeding our forest. You should get some rest, Ume nor I are going anywhere." Naruto looked the Hokage in the eye. "I'm not going anywhere promise."

(Line)

The Hokage settled back in his chair behind his desk, Hikaru was the only ANBU in the room with him, they were waiting on Jiraiya's arrive he'd gone back to snooping around where the toads had sensed where Naruto had been when he summoned them. The window creaked as Jiraiya let himself in.

"They weren't the only team sent out on a mission by the council that day, there were six other teams sent out that week alone, all due back tomorrow. But that's not our biggest concern, Naruto discovered a hidden hideout, belonging to Orochimaru. The ninja they spotted moving towards Konoha are enough to form an army, Orochimaru is going to start a war." He spoke solemnly.

"We need to recall shinobi," Hikaru spoke up.

"No, there is no time a lot of teams are on important missions which we cannot afford to fail, most of them won't make it back in time, Naruto's already figured out when this attack is mostly to happen, he can put himself in the villains situation he looks at all sides of the equation, so what is it we are missing?" he stroked along Nami's back tiredly.

"Sir, sorry to interrupt but Naruto Uzumaki is no longer at the hospital." An ANBU stuck his head into the room.

"Find him!" Hikaru and Jiraiya nodded leaving the room with the ANBU.

"What am I missing Nami, what has Naruto figured out that I haven't." The Hokage looked down at the cat.

"We all have monsters, some people just can't control theirs."

"I knew you could talk, thought I was going mad for a while there." The Hokage smiled.

"Well I'm not going to share my secrets with just anybody am I?" the cat rolled over exposing its belly.

(Line)

Jiraiya found Naruto in a meadow, he watched from the tree as he was sat in a meditative stance the chakra flicking above him as it turned from blue to red and back again, he felt Hikaru land in the tree behind him his eyes glued to Naruto worriedly.

(Line)

Naruto looked round as he found himself back in the hallway that reminded him of a boiler room but was his mind. He walked down the path to where he knew the kyuubi to be, he waited calmly for the fox to make its appearance behind the gates. He'd been waiting for a few hours when the fox's booming voice finally rang out.

"Come to pester me Brat?"

"Why does everyone see the need to belittle me, my name is Naruto, and it's my mind I can do what I please, and what I want to do right know is talk to you."

"And what makes you think I will listen to you."

"Because whether you like it or not you are stuck with me, do you really want to go through life hating each other. Because I don't I want to understand you, before I decide whether I should hate you or not. I want to get to know you as a person, I want to understand why you and Shukaku hate each other yet you both hate humanity too, I want to know why you're so angry all the time?"

"That weak little raccoon, actually told people its name, and wouldn't you be angry if you were trapped inside a child all the time?" The fox bellowed his fist slamming down and his tails swishing in anger.

"Telling someone your name is a sign of respect, how to do hope to have people see you as equals if you cannot give them the common courtesy of your name." Naruto shouted.

"What makes you think I want to be considered your equal?"

"Surely being equal is better than this? What will it take for me to earn your name? It's not like I'm asking you to pay rent with your chakra, why is it so hard for you to trust me?" Naruto shouted.

"Trust must be earned whelp."

"So how do I earn it?"

"Actions speak louder than words."

"I'm not about to become the most powerful shinobi in the village just to appease you." Naruto snapped.

"Stop hiding behind a facade! You're no better than that lousy Raccoon."

"I'm not, not any more. Are, are me and Gaara really so different, I mean the way people perceive us is that what it's like for all of us or is it because we're kids?"

"Because when anybody looks at you all they see is me. Full of rage and desperate to get out, you know I'd rip you and them apart if I could."

"Why are you so full of rage? What made you that way? Surely you can't have been made full of rage? Surely it was something that you developed over your lifetime? YOU'RE hate and anger has to have stemmed from something! I just want to understand you! So that I can love you, like I love my family and friends. I want us to stand on even ground, together, not opposite sides of the same coin. I want to change the world for the better why can't you see that? " Naruto cried out as he stared the fox down.

"How do you expect to change the world, boy?"

"One person, one building at a time." Naruto smiled, "Even if it takes me a lifetime, to build and change people's views, but I will do it." Naruto turned walking away from seal that caged the fox.

The fox chuckled at what Naruto said; the child really would do it one person or building at a time. He had already changed so many people. He repaired buildings made them better, self-sufficient, one building at a time. The fox laughed Naruto had an idea of what he was doing.

"I was given the name Kurama when I was created." The fox huffed as Naruto stopped walking in the hallway preparing to leave his mind. Naruto smiled, "Thank you." He spoke over his shoulder as he finally left his mind space.

The fox huffed, turning to look up at the images playing out before him, he often watched this moment not understanding why the blonde child had such a strong connection with the cat masked ANBU. One small ripple of kindness created a tidal wave, which encompassed everybody, and brought out the good in them, a unique and rare skill. "Doesn't mean I'm okay with it being a cat." He grumbled to the empty plain in front of him.

Naruto looked up as the two shinobi approached; he stood unsteadily on his feet holding his arms out for Hikaru.

"Two piggy backs in one week, bit old for that don't you think?"

"I'd take more if I was smaller. Besides you're never too old for a piggy back from a close friend and I should head back to the hospital, got to be there when Ume wakes up." Naruto smiled as Hikaru crouched down so that he could climb on.

Jiraiya watched a small smile on his face as Hikaru jumped off with Naruto, that little brat was such a child sometimes.

I really wanted to write this before I dove headfirst into the final fights and the invasion, hoping to do it well, but yeah what did you think of this one?

Thanks for reading.

Review if you like or don't like.