Two years went by after a group of genins fought Orochimaru's henchmen under the leadership of Shikamaru to drag Sasuke's ass back to Konoha. That experience brought profound changes in the mentality of everybody participating in the mission, especially Shikamaru and Naruto.
Shikamaru grew as a leader to make sure he could protect his comrades better. Naruto, on the other hand, stopped trying to please other people.
The result was Shikamaru along with Neji got promoted to the rank of Jonin by the age of fifteen. Sasuke, Sakura, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Lee, Tenten, Ino and Chouji were all promoted to Chunins. Only Naruto retained his status of being a Genin.
Still, no one mocked Naruto for his rank. After all, he was the one who stopped Gaara from going on a rampage within Konoha.
Meanwhile, Tsunade was engaged in a political battle with the Konoha Council. Sometimes she hated both Naruto and Jiraya for convincing her to accept the burden of being the Hokage because of nearly the entire council wanted to cage Naruto. It didn't matter if they remained neutral or afraid of Naruto. They didn't want to lose a war asset in Kyuubi.
(Team Kakashi)
Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura were waiting for Naruto on the training ground where Kakashi took their Genin test. From that day two years ago, they had become smarter, more powerful and had better teamwork. But the team lost its charisma when Naruto curbed his habits to become a better ninja.
Now they didn't fight verbally or physically. The pointless rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke was gone. Naruto stopped pestering Sakura for attention.
Still what hurt Sakura the most was the fact that she knew why her idiotic teammate became like this. Their teacher, Hatake Kakashi, would never let either her or Sasuke to forget who killed Naruto's wild spirit.
So, when Naruto spoke, she listened. When Naruto Naruto suggested an idea, she thought over it. When he committed any mistakes, she didn't criticise extremely.
After waiting for a while, they saw Naruto approaching them. Sometimes it still surprised Kakashi how Naruto changed. Gone was the little loudmouth brawler with no sense as a ninja and in front of them now stood a person as tall as him with long wild hair that reached his mid-back who wore clothes that made sense for a ninja.
"So what do you want to tell us Naruto?" Kakashi asked his student.
"I'm leaving Team 7, Kakashi-sensei. Also, the reason I got you all here is that I wanted to give all of you some gift before parting for taking care of me for the past three years".
Naruto replied and as he expected, Sasuke didn't care, but Sakura overreacted.
"How can you leave just like that? Kakashi-sensei, tell this idiot that this is not how it works". Sakura ordered Kakashi in panic.
"Naruto leaving this team was my suggestion Sakura. You and Sasuke are Chunin now. As such, you need to gain more experience to grow stronger. With Naruto around, you two won't be having a chance of completing higher-ranked missions necessary for your growth. Also, Jiraya-sama has told me to rejoin ANBU, again as the head of the squad which is directly responsible for Hokage's protection. We all know that even though he is still a genin, he is strong enough to take care of himself. So accept his gifts and let him explore the world for himself".
Kakashi told both Sasuke and Sakura before gesturing Naruto to proceed.
The first person Naruto went to was Sasuke which surprised both his teacher and teammates. "There was a time I considered you my brother, but we've long burned that bridge. So, for all the times you've saved me, I thank you, but I never want to see your face again. As a token of my gratitude, take this sword as a gift. Also, don't worry about its quality, according to Tenten it is a first-class sword. You can use it, sell it, I don't care".
Naruto told Sasuke while giving Sasuke a sword a gift which he accepted without saying anything. After that, he turned towards Sakura.
"I'm sorry that Tsunade-baachan didn't accept you as her disciple because of me for some reason. As for your gift, it is a medical journal Shizune-neechan wrote herself. I hope it will help you become a great doctor. With this said, I also don't want anything to do with you from this moment forward".
Naruto told Sakura before turning around and slowly walking away from his genin team.
"Hey, what about my gift?" Kakashi yelled playfully making Naruto stop halfway.
"I already gave you your gift yesterday sensei and I'm pretty sure you loved it". Naruto told Kakashi.
"That I did, Naruto but I too have a gift for you. If you ever want to fail a team that you're being forced to train against your will, use these to fail them". Kakashi told Naruto before throwing a pair of small bells towards Naruto which he caught without looking. "I'm sorry for failing you as a teacher, Naruto". Kakashi told Naruto before he vanished.
(One Month Later)
One month on his own was enough to make Naruto realize how worthless he was as a ninja. Fellow Konoha ninjas didn't want him in their teams. Ninja organisations inside Konoha didn't need a genin. People didn't even let him do D-rank missions which were chores because of their hatred for him.
His savings were rapidly depleting while income hard to come by. Still, his pride forced him to not ask for help from Tsunade, Jiraya or Kakashi.
They wanted him to get trained under Jiraya's guidance when he decided to leave Team Kakashi, but he refused. He wanted to grow stronger by his hard work. So, in the end, he went to the Hunter-Nin Department and bought himself a book containing a list of rouge ninjas with their information which Konoha wanted dead or alive. The ninjas lovingly used the term Bingo books to describe this book.
Hunter-Nin Department in Konoha was like every other ninja department in every village. Here, the status of a ninja didn't matter. As long as one can eliminate threats to the organisation, the department will inform you of the latest intelligence assembled about the target.
The mission was considered a success when the ninja submitted the target to the organisation. Dead or Alive.
The remuneration for a successful mission was very satisfactory. Still, these independent missions were riskier. These targets were trained mercenaries that went rouge. They refused to be tortured and interrogated before getting killed without a fight until the last moment. This was the reason why hunters generally brought these targets back to the village dead.
Naruto knew this. He understood the nature of these kinds of mission. He also hated the act of killing. As a ninja, he had killed many during his time with Team Kakashi. Still, he never got used to the act of taking one's life without feeling any emotion.
He knew he needed money to survive. Like every jinchuuriki, he too possessed that stubborn will to survive. Even if it meant that you need to betray your ideals.
So he took up a mission, packed up his bag and towards the north of Fire Kingdom to hunt a C-class threat.
Target- Nana Hidenori.
Rank- Chunin.
Affiliation- Konohagakure(rouge).
Threat level- C class.
Speciality- Water manipulation, genjutsu.
(In Konoha)
"Tsunade. Why did you let Uzumaki Naruto go alone on a mission?" Koharu asked in a calm voice.
"Remember this village elder Koharu Utatane, you gained and retained your status as advisors of the Hokage because of Minato's untimely death. I'm not Hiruzen-sensei, who will let you or anyone question my authority as a Hokage. So you'll respect me whether you like it or not.
Also, this organization have declined from the very day sensei again took up the position of the Hokage. Also, you and Homura-san have failed as the Hokage's advisors. And though it pains me to say this, only Danzo has served this village well out of the tree of you. As for Naruto being alone on the mission, it is necessary for his growth as a jinchuuriki".
Tsunade told Koharu who had a very bad expression on her face.
"If you feel this way then why haven't you replaced us as your advisors?" Koharu questioned.
"Jiraya is essential for infiltrating the other ninja organisations for information gathering. Shikaku is the jonin commander. Kakashi is forced to babysit that Uchiha brat. Inoichi is the heart of the intelligence department. Shizune is being forced to retrain the entire medic ninjas corps whether they are combatants or not. Also, I had to place Ibiki as the head of our ninja academy with retired ANBU officers as teachers because the academy has turned obsolete". Tsunade informed Koharu who at this point was letting her anger show on her face.
"Except for Shikaku, none of the people you mentioned are capable of being the Hokage's advisor". Koharu told her opinion.
"I don't care about your opinion on this matter. The fact is if it wasn't for the lack of capable younger generation, I wouldn't have let you remain my advisor. Now please leave, I've work to do".
Tsunade told Koharu before immersing herself back into work. Seeing that Tsunade wouldn't give her attention any longer, she left.
"I thought you would never be a good Hokage given your caring disposition but I'm happy that you've been proving me wrong for the past two years Hokage-sama".
Danzo told Tsunade who was busy filling a massive stack of paperwork.
"What you want, Danzo?" Tsunade asked the cripple without even looking at him.
"I want to invite Nara Shikamaru and Hyuuga Neji to the ANBU". Danzo informed Tsunade.
"Then do it. Why are you even asking me? I told you two years ago if you find potential in the younger generation then give them the environment to thrive". Tsunade told Danzo.
"Then why is Uzumaki Naruto an exception. First, it was Jiraya who didn't let me and Hiruzen to properly educate him as a Jinchuuriki. Now you've joined Jiraya in his mission to let that boy be weak. I just don't get it. That boy has the temperament to at least reach Kakashi's level if trained properly but you and Jiraya let that boy do whatever he wants". Danzo complained.
"For Jiraya, it has always been because of Minato. For me, I've my reasons".
Tsunade told Danzo before again immersing herself into work.
(North border of Konoha)
It took Naruto a week to arrive at Konoha's North border but it took him two months to locate Nana Hidenori. During this time, he trained his taijutsu and earth chakra manipulation. He knew he chakra had a wind affinity but due to his poor chakra control, Jiraya told him to learn earth manipulation until the time he had achieved a good level of chakra control. Still, he was not sure whether he could bring her back to the village alive.
How did this happen? Well, Naruto found the reason she was wanted by Konoha was that she married an Iwagakure shinobi after retiring and even a two-year-old child. Konoha wanted her back in the village was because they worried that she would leak sensitive information to their most hated enemy.
He needed the money from this mission because his savings were close to run out due to the duration of this mission. He also didn't want to make a child orphan and destroy a family. He took a while to think upon this matter and came up with four solutions.
Kill the target and break a happy family. Kill the mother and child and leave behind a man hungry for revenge. Kill the target and her husband and leave their child orphaned. Kill the entire family and leave no enemy or broken family behind.
He chose the fourth option and waited for an opportunity at night. Once he made sure that the whole family were asleep, he snuck inside with his two shadow clones.
For a while, he looked at the happy family and cursed himself and his profession for a while. Still, he ended the family before they even had the chance to defend themselves.
He then proceeded to loot the bodies and the entire house for valuables before securing the bodies in a storage scroll and setting the house on fire.
After that, Naruto ran. He ran towards Konoha in tears of frustration and anger. His pockets were filled with cash. He had weapons to sell since he didn't like to use swords. Still, he was upset, heartbroken and even hated himself for ever wanting to become a ninja.