Naruto: Trail Of Freedom

by Terra Of Genesis

AU: Naruto sets out on his greatest journey to achieve what he longs for most, freedom from the past which heavily weighs on his shoulders. But he will have to suffer a huge fall, before being reborn as the hero he was destined to become.

18. Prelude To Anguish

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. However, the original characters and plot of this fic belong to me.

Author Notes: This ended up being a lot longer than i expected. I guess that's better for you all though. Enjoy.

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Chapter 18: Prelude To Anguish

The sweat trickled down his face as he looked at the glowing ball of fire in the sky. It felt as if it was a lot closer than it appeared. However, the heat wasn't a deterrent for the chuunin's mood as he gave a deafening cheer. His laughter caused the birds to fly from the trees, "I am going to be the best this village has ever seen!"

His team mates, on the other hand, weren't as jovial. They dragged their bodies across the path, inching closer to Konoha. Udon wiped his glasses before speaking, "We're late; you shouldn't be so happy."

Konohamaru turned around with a disbelieving look on his face, "This mission wasn't a B-rank like we were assigned; it was definitely an A-rank. We still finished it without anyone getting injured."

Moegi raised an eyebrow, "Without anyone getting injured?"

Konohamaru sighed, "Sure Ebisu broke his leg, but who cares? I mean, we ended a slave trade!"

Ebisu leaned on Udon, an insulted expression across his countenance, "Hey, I'm still the leader of this team! Show some respect!"

Konohamaru laughed, "Whatever you closet pervert."

Ebisu was left speechless by his words. He couldn't muster a reply since it was true and he was ashamed about it.

Konohamaru raised his arm into the air, "What's the Godaime going to say now?" He changed his voice into a high-pitched tone, "Konohamaru, you're such a great ninja; you can become the Hokage and I'll retire now."

Udon sweat dropped as he turned to Moegi, "He fantasises too much."

Moegi shrugged, "He's been more eccentric since we met that man."

Konohamaru calmed down slightly as he saw the gates of Konoha come into view. He shook his head before speeding towards them, while the rest of the team unhurriedly followed. He inhaled the fresh air as he walked towards the desk next to the gate. "Izumo, Kotetsu; you won't believe what happened on my mission."

Izumo sat on his stool, his body aching from the night prior. "It must have been something incredible."

Kotetsu's face was covered in more than one bandage, "Go on; tell us your story."

Konohamaru didn't notice their bruised condition as the rest of the team arrived, "We were supposed to take out some bandits but it turned out they weren't ordinary. They were running a slave trade and using people of the village as if they were toys. I taught them about respecting the human life, with my fist naturally." He grinned upon finishing and rubbed his nose.

Ebisu moved his arm from around Udon's neck and limped to the desk, "What happened to you two?"

Kotetsu's character took a serious turn, "There was an incident yesterday. We escaped without much harm luckily. But the Godaime…"

Konohamaru was surprised as he heard his fellow chuunin, "Wait, what? Is she alright?"

Izumo spoke in a sombre tone, "She's in the hospital. The Tsuchikage did something to her."

Moegi was shocked by the news, "I thought we were allies now."

Udon pushed up his glasses, "Maybe it was a ruse so that they could easily take out the Godaime."

Kotetsu waved his hand, "No, this wasn't about assassination. If it was, then the Godaime wouldn't be alive today according to Jiraiya-sama. His target was something else but no one outside of the higher-ups knows what. They said that they're not ready to tell us all yet."

Konohamaru closed his hand into a fist, "Everyone failed? You didn't get any information at all?" He was angry that the Hokage had been injured, since he held a lot of respect for the position and the one who had it.

Izumo sighed, not knowing what to say to the young man. "There was someone who was captured. He wasn't involved with what happened to the Godaime, though it's believed he may have some important information." He cleared his throat as he faced Ebisu, "Rumours have been going around that it's the Yondaime's legacy."

Kotetsu snapped his head to his comrade, "Hey, don't start spreading rumours. It does no good for anyone."

Ebisu was intrigued with what he heard since the demon container had gone missing a long time ago. If the jinchuuriki had returned, then he wondered what his motive was. He was never fond of the young boy, who they were told not to harm and leave to his own devices.

Konohamaru grew irritated as he didn't know what they meant by the last part of their conversation. "This guy is in the prisoner cells then?"

Kotetsu nodded, "I would assume so."

Konohamaru threw his scarf around his neck, "Moegi, Udon; let's go. We've got some things to check out." His team mates reluctantly followed him as they ran off deeper into the village.

Ebisu shouted after the young ninjas, "Don't do anything reckless!" He quieted down as he realised they probably didn't hear him.

XXXXXXXXXX

It was dark and unimaginably impure in the dungeon. The chamber seemed to be carved out of the earth itself with a few supporting columns on the side. Regardless, it appeared that it could easily cave in if someone caused a disturbance. It was a nice prevention for anyone who thought of using excessive force to escape.

Naruto's body lay motionless in the corner of the room, his hands and legs chained to the walls. He was still unconscious from the tranquiliser needles he had received, due to Tenten. A drop of water ran along the walls of the chamber before slowly falling onto his forehead. It triggered a reaction as he scrunched his eyelids. He let out a groan as he moved his arms, effectively causing the chains to rattle and fill the room with noise.

The sounds of the clanging metal made Naruto's mind shake from inside as he clutched his ears, trying to decrease the volume. His eyes fully opened, resulting in him taking in the full scope of the environment. He used his hand to pick himself up but he was unable to move more than a few feet, as the boundaries the chains placed on him became evident. He let out a sigh before falling back down and leaning against the wall.

He had been caught and the consequences this could hold for him began to unravel in his head. He was being monitored because they must have known he was the Kyuubi's container. He also knew that Sasuke was monitoring him when he encountered Hajin in Konoha. This would obviously cause him some problems as he checked his pockets for some cigarettes. He let out a grunt of annoyance as he found his pockets to be empty.

He ran a hand through his hair, flattening it before it became spiky again. He speculated as to why Hajin wanted the crystal of legend. The power to control bijuu was, unfortunately, not very valuable unless you knew where they were. He knew Hajin was well informed but doubted he would know the locations of the other 8 tailed beasts.

He let out a long sigh as he realised that war may be on the horizon. Hajin's actions wouldn't be taken lightly and Konoha would certainly want retribution. It appeared that the Confederation would have to prevent another war. However, his chief concern was the relationship between Iwa and the Confederation.

Hajin was responsible for the Confederation being able to establish an encampment inside Earth Country. Although, due to his recent actions, there was a possibility that something dangerous could occur between them. The Confederation wouldn't look too kindly on the beginning of another war and would respond in what manner they deemed ideal.

The yellow haired man shifted his eyes to the door on the opposite end of the room as it opened. He stared through the dark room, trying to make out the individual. His curiosity was satisfied as he heard a click. The flickering of a light could be seen on the ceiling. He grinned, "Are you here for my entertainment?"

Sakura walked forwards and placed down the tray in her hands. "Good to know you're as responsive as ever."

Naruto observed the food; a simple, nutritious meal which was used to keep a prisoner's health from deteriorating. "Your voice doesn't sound as spirited as usual."

Sakura didn't answer straight away. She looked at the man who was calmly sitting down. "Aren't you afraid of what could happen to you?"

Naruto picked up the spoon and started to poke his food, "Why would I be afraid?"

Sakura knew that Naruto understood what she was trying to say but refused to give her a direct answer. "The shinobi villages of this world aren't known for treating their prisoners with courtesy."

Naruto dropped his spoon, the clattering sound ringing through the air, "So?" A few moments of silence passed before he looked up at Sakura, "What can anyone in this place do, to make my life even more of a living hell than it already is?"

Sakura was stunned by his words as she stared into the fierce eyes which seemed to pierce her soul. She acknowledged the fact that he must have led a hard life due to what he contained, but this was the first time she had seen him comment in such a way. He didn't seem joyful like usual, instead his eyes showed the pain of someone who deeply longed for something. She turned around to leave, "Make sure you answer him."

Naruto pushed the tray of food away from him, "Why should I listen to you?"

Sakura didn't respond since she didn't know what to say. If he had any information as to how to help her mentor then she wanted it revealed, but she also didn't want to see him in pain. In the end, she remained silent as she walked to the door and exited the room.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked at the two men staring at her. Kakashi directed his attention back at the notes in his hands and began to read, "I wonder if he has more of these notes."

Sasuke asked about the current situation, "Did he say anything?"

Sakura shook her head as the sounds of footsteps could be heard approaching them. The chief torture specialist of Konoha came into sight along with two escorts, to help with the proceedings, as they stopped at the entrance of the chamber. "Are you ready for this?" Ibiki's voice was inexpressive.

Sakura walked back into the room as Kakashi folded the notes and placed them in his vest pocket. He entered the room next, followed by Ibiki and the two members of ANBU. Sasuke was the last to make a move; entering the murky cell and slamming the door behind him.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jiraiya observed the complex seal on Tsunade's forehead, trying to make sense of how it was created. He picked up his pen and began scribbling some notes down onto the empty parchment. He was only beginning to understand the basics of the seal and knew this could take some time.

"Jiraiya-sama, will you be able to do it?" Shizune had a worried demeanour. She wasn't injured or hurt harshly. She woke up in the morning on a bed near the Godaime and instantly got up to tend to her mentor. She was inwardly hoping that everything would turn out fine as she realised the Hokage was in a critical state.

Jiraiya looked over what he had written before responding, "I need to get rid of the seal as quickly as possible. The longer it stays on, the more likely she'll be left with brain damage or maybe worse."

Shizune quickly asked another question, "Can you get rid of it?"

Jiraiya had a serious expression, "I'll try my hardest." He wanted to heal the woman since he knew that he was responsible for her taking the seat of Hokage. He had told her that she'd be doing her deceased family an honour. He understood that, in recent times, she was losing the drive to remain as the leader of the village. He needed to make sure she survived through this as her condition was partly because of him, in his view.

The door to the hospital room opened as the advisors of the Hokage walked inside. Koharu closed the door as she moved into the centre of the room, "I hope that your work is going well." The old woman held concern for the condition of the Godaime. Jiraiya was the only person in Konoha with an extensive knowledge of seals, so was the best option to cure Tsunade.

Homura was in a similar state of mind as his comrade. Tsunade had done a great deal for the village and proven herself to be an ideal leader. He didn't want to lose another Hokage. "We found some information about the Tsuchikage and his escorts."

Jiraiya gave his full attention to the old man, "Go ahead."

Homura reached into his robes and pulled out a file. He passed it to Shizune who gave it to the frog hermit. Koharu began to speak as Jiraiya scanned the pages, "His escorts were an elite squad otherwise known as the Titans of Iwa."

Jiraiya turned a page, "Interesting name."

Homura nodded, "And for good reason. There are four of them in total and each specialises in a certain field; ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu and kenjutsu." He took a seat on a chair, "They're named after their respective specialities; Nin, Ken, Tai and the leader of the squad, Gen."

Jiraiya read the brief information in the pages of the file, "They must have assisted the Tsuchikage in obtaining the forbidden scroll."

Homura took off his glasses, "The forbidden scroll holds many dangerous techniques. What would Iwa want with it?" He wiped the spectacles before putting them back on.

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, "That is a cause for concern…but something else has been taken as well."

Koharu was intrigued by the tone in the hermit's voice, "What are you referring to Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya yawned, "I was sent on an errand to Wave Country a while back; to collect something for Tsunade-hime. It was excavated in one of the many mines there."

Homura recognized what he was talking in regards to as he had heard of the rumours, "The crystal of legend?"

Jiraiya nodded, "I'm beginning to think, that was the main reason for what the Tsuchikage did."

Koharu was stunned by the revelation, "Why weren't we informed of this?"

Jiraiya stared at the peaceful face of Tsunade, "I guess she wasn't ready to tell you yet."

Homura closed his eyes, "That is like her. Nonetheless, we have more pressing matters on our hands. Iwa has done something unforgivable and we need to retaliate."

Jiraiya had a questioning look, "Shouldn't your first priority be to make sure you don't lose another Hokage? There's no need to jump in neck deep without being prepared."

Shizune agreed with the old man, "He's right. For Tsunade-sama, war is the last thing she would want. She's lost too much because of it and we have no clear idea of the current situation."

Jiraiya was reminded of a particular person thanks to Shizune's words. "Where is Naruto?"

Homura stood up, "The interrogation should be commencing soon."

Jiraiya observed the advisor, "You do know of the weakening of his seal don't you?"

Koharu answered for her fellow advisor, "We were informed by Tsunade a few days ago."

Jiraiya slowly rose from his position, "Do you still think it's wise to aggravate him? He must have some form of control over the Kyuubi, though that doesn't mean he can't lose it."

Homura sighed as he walked to the door, "I'd rather not have to put him in such a predicament. You must understand; he is the only one who may have information which might be useful to us."

Jiraiya saw the advisors exit the hospital room as he turned his attention back to his parchment. He understood their situation, but that didn't mean he necessarily agreed with their actions.

XXXXXXXXXX

Naruto didn't budge as he stayed settled against the wall. His eyes showed a composed character while his face was unreadable. He analysed the group standing in front of him, knowing that he was in for a painful ride. He assumed the scarred man and two ANBU members were going to be the ones interrogating him, whereas the others were there for observation.

Team 7 stood near the entrance of the cell while Ibiki and his helpers were closer to Naruto. Kakashi put his hands in his pockets as he began to examine the condition of his mentor's legacy. It didn't seem as if he was hurt or remotely affected by the present circumstances. He knew that this couldn't be the case, and that Naruto must be hiding his deepest feelings.

Sakura merely clasped her hands together as she waited for the interrogation to begin. Her first encounter with the jinchuuriki wasn't in the most pleasurable of conditions. She had been angry at him initially but as time went on; things changed. She found his past to be saddening and didn't want to see him suffering. The aura of innocence he radiated would make the upcoming events hard to watch for her.

Sasuke leaned against the wall, not minding that his clothes would be dirtied. He was personally familiar with what could go on in these surroundings. He had been in this very chamber when he was given his punishment. His vision shifted to Naruto as he thought of how he would handle the upcoming procedure.

Naruto closed his eyes and spoke in a mocking tone, "Even though I'm in chains, you need this many shinobi to keep you feeling safe." His remark was directed at Ibiki.

Ibiki remained without emotion as he began to walk closer to the chained prisoner, causing him to open his eyes. He drove his fist it into Naruto's face, resulting in the blonde smashing into the wall behind. "You're not in control here."

Naruto gritted his teeth as the pain of the strike flowed through his face. He rolled his tongue along the insides of his cheek, finding himself already cut. He spat out some blood to the ground, "That's easy to say when you've got someone in tied down."

Ibiki shook his head before he jumped forward and kicked Naruto across the face. This time, the yellow haired man ended up on the floor, "You don't understand, do you?"

Naruto ignored his throbbing jaw, getting back into a sitting position. He wiped the small amount of blood from his lips.

Ibiki cleared his throat, "I'm going to ask you some questions. If you don't give the desired response, there'll be unwanted retaliation."

Naruto coughed before replying, "Why aren't you direct with your words?"

Sakura closed her eyes, asking herself why the jinchuuriki persisted in annoying the special jounin. Sasuke simply observed the proceedings along with Kakashi.

Ibiki smirked, "No problem." He clicked his fingers as the ANBU escorts grabbed Naruto from each side and forced him to stand up. Ibiki had a serious manner, "Where have you been all this time?"

Naruto stared at the man, waiting a few moments before answering him, "My departure must have been a blessing to this village. What do you care where I went?"

Ibiki nodded before taking a step forward and propelling his fist into Naruto's stomach. Naruto fell to the floor but was instantly brought back up by the men holding him. "The first response always differs from the last."

Naruto felt the pain in his stomach recede, "You're confident…"

Ibiki shook his hand before bringing it to his side, "What did you do in the past 9 years?"

Naruto grinned, "See the sights; it's a beautiful world."

Ibiki nodded in the direction of the men holding Naruto, as one of them grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head into the wall behind him. Naruto's head shook vigorously as he let out a grunt of pain. It felt as if some of his skin might have been scraped off.

Ibiki decided to move on; Naruto's whereabouts in the past weren't really important pertaining to the current objective. He had asked a few questions, and retaliated with force to show Naruto what he would be facing if he didn't cooperate. He continued, "You don't know this but we've been monitoring your actions since you've been here."

Naruto started laughing, "I know that they've been following me." He looked at Team 7 upon finishing.

Ibiki raised an eyebrow, "And how exactly would you know that?"

Team 7 was curious to the answer also; since they had made sure they shadowed themselves. Sasuke, especially, was intrigued because he knew it would take an immense amount of skill to notice him.

Naruto tilted his head, "Every living human has a chakra source. The people who train expand on what is already there, thus end up giving out waves of power due to the larger pool of chakra. Shinobi try and detect this outgoing signal instead of the inert original. To detect the source, you only need to focus harder. As long as you breathe, you can't completely conceal its presence."

Ibiki was startled by the words of the man, as were the rest of the occupants in the room. It was true that you couldn't completely get rid of your chakra signal since that would mean you were dead. However, they had been trained to conceal it to the point where an opposing enemy wouldn't be able to detect it. This was because it was considered impossible to train your mind to the extent where you could detect the source of the chakra itself.

Ibiki smirked, "You're lying. Such a feat isn't possible."

Naruto closed his eyes, "You're just ignorant of your history. This ability was commonplace amongst the original shinobi."

The torture specialist didn't take kindly to the words as he took out a kunai and stabbed Naruto's leg. The jinchuuriki grinded his teeth as a shockwave of pain travelled through his lower anatomy. Ibiki moved back, leaving the kunai in Naruto's leg, "Nice speech but I don't care for it."

Naruto stared at the kunai as blood began dripping down his leg. He was panting, "You have a weird way of showing your lack of interest."

Sakura could see the pain Naruto was in and didn't believe he would answer anything. She took a step forward but was halted as she felt someone grab her arm. She looked back to see Kakashi shake his head. The masked man let go, visibly affected by the session also. Sakura sighed, feeling completely helpless.

Ibiki pulled out another kunai, "What is your relationship with the Tsuchikage? Why did you come back to Konoha?" Ibiki waited for a response before resuming, "You better answer or I'll make you feel true pain."

Naruto stared into the eyes of the man in front of him. His face showing signs of fierceness as his anger grew, "Show me true pain?" He tightened his fists as the men holding him felt his muscles getting tenser "Do you even know what true pain is? Losing the ones you love…being hated and not knowing why…everyday waking up with the hope that someone would speak to you without resentment!" His eyes began to water as his voice became angrier and louder, "Have you ever experienced the feeling of being useless and unneeded?" His sharp teeth were visible as it seemed he was ready to strike down Ibiki, "HAVE YOU? EH? YOU BASTARD!"

Kakashi closed his eye as he couldn't bear to see the man in such a state. He understood why Jiraiya felt the older generation had failed and he was seeing it in front of him.

"But it's harder to deal with when it seems like it is a repeat of the past which people should have already learned from."

Jiraiya's words to him from over a week ago seemed to ring truer than ever as he heard the sounds of Ibiki, once again, beating Naruto.

Sakura's hands were over her mouth as she tried hard not to let a tear fall. She didn't know why this affected her so much as she saw the blood of Naruto splatter across the ground. How much had the jinchuuriki suffered that he was willing to put himself through such physical torture, and call it meaningless in comparison to what he'd experienced. She wanted to know and she wanted to help him.

Sasuke was frozen as he stared at Naruto being repeatedly struck on his face and body; the bruises becoming visible and his hair getting covered in his own blood. His hand was unknowingly placed on his abdomen; the point where his scar ended.

The door to the chamber was thrown open as Ibiki stopped his assault and Team 7 looked at the new arrivals. Udon and Moegi stood at the entranceway while their leader was inside of the room.

Konohamaru had wanted to see the person who was caught and ask him if he knew anything. He wanted to help the Godaime, but his mouth fell open as he saw a bloodied and beaten Naruto gazing back at him while lying on the ground.

Kakashi motioned for Sakura to fix the situation as the kunoichi moved towards Konohamaru. Her voice was quiet, "How did you get past the guards? You shouldn't be here." She looked at the boy who seemed entranced by the happenings, "Konohamaru?"

Konohamaru was speechless and stunned by the sight. He couldn't even remember what he had come to the cell for, as he saw Naruto cough up blood. They were torturing him and he had never seen something like that ever occurring. A feeling of shame ran through him as he wondered whether such things happened while his grandfather was in charge of the village.

Ibiki noticed Sakura tending to Konohamaru as the ANBU members made Naruto stand. The special jounin faced Naruto, "Are you going to speak now?" He was met with silence.

Ibiki started to throw multiple punches at Naruto before grabbing his head and driving it into the ground. He pushed as hard as he could before pummelling him again.

Konohamaru stared at the frightening picture; Ibiki relentlessly thrashing Naruto. He was shocked since the blonde was the first person to show faith in him and his dream. His eyes began to water as Naruto grimaced in pain and rolled across the ground.

Sakura grabbed Konohamaru, "Hey, Konohamaru? You have to go." The kunoichi started to drag the chuunin to the door as a tear trickled down his face.

Konohamaru shook his head as he put up some resistance to Sakura. He didn't want to leave because he felt that he couldn't. Something was telling him act as he tried to get himself to move.

"You will make a great Hokage."

As Naruto's words flowed through Konohamaru's mind, the chuunin released his arm from Sakura's grasp and ran towards Ibiki. "Stop this!"

Moegi and Udon's eyes widened as Kakashi merely looked on. He wanted to see what would happen. Konohamaru jumped at Ibiki and punched him across his face, making the special jounin fall onto the floor. Naruto was surprised by the sudden action but it brought a slight smile to his face.

Ibiki blinked before looking at the Sarutobi with a scowl. He got onto his feet, "What do you think you're doing?"

Konohamaru attempted to hit him again but the special jounin blocked his punch and returned with one of his own. He finished by throwing him across the room. Konohamaru landed with a hard thud, at the feet of Sasuke.

Ibiki spat out the little amount of blood in his mouth, "Don't think you're able to get away with everything just because you're the grandson of the Sandaime."

Naruto's ears twitched as he heard the words of the torturer. He mustered all his energy before rising to his feet. The men holding him were instantly alerted but they weren't able to hold him back, as he stepped forward and propelled his head into Ibiki's face.

Ibiki stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground. He let out a groan of pain as his nose seemed to be disfigured. Kakashi moved forward and called off the men holding Naruto, before they were able to hit him for his actions.

Konohamaru stood up, shaking away the minor pain in his face. "He deserved it! What the hell is this? You can't just torture people like this!"

Kakashi closed his eye as he spoke to the ANBU members present, "Get them out of here." As the men moved past him, he finished speaking, "There's no need to tell anyone about what they did."

The ANBU members walked towards Konohamaru and grabbed him, much to his disdain. Moegi and Udon didn't need any persuading as they silently followed, still lingering on the scene they had witnessed.

Naruto groaned before falling back down. He dragged himself backwards and leaned against the wall. His eyes met those of Sasuke's, who was staring at him intently. The Uchiha turned and made his way to the exit.

Kakashi spoke upon noticing him leaving, "Where are you going, Sasuke?"

Sasuke didn't face the jounin, "I've seen enough." He left the chamber, his footsteps getting quieter.

Kakashi directed his attention to Sakura, "Can you heal him?"

Sakura didn't look the masked shinobi in the eye, "Take him to the hospital."

Kakashi smiled underneath his mask, "I expected that response." He picked up Ibiki before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Sakura tucked her hair behind her ear as she walked towards Naruto and bent down. Her hands began to glow as she started to heal the bruises on his face. Naruto felt a warm sensation as her hand touched his face. The glow of chakra was soothing as he let her heal his wounds.

Sakura moved to his body as she lifted up his shirt and began to observe the injuries. "One of your ribs is broken."

Naruto sighed, "Why are you healing me?"

Sakura started to mend his rib as she replied, "I'm a medic, that's what I do."

Naruto looked at the kunoichi's face as she worked on him. He recognised the upset mood she was displaying. "That was your first time seeing someone being tortured."

Sakura moved back, "I told you to answer him."

Naruto pulled his shirt down; recognising the fact his ribs had been cured. His attention turned to the wound in his leg as it started to seep with a bit of red chakra before closing. "I didn't feel like it."

Sakura held her surprise, realising the wound must have been healed thanks to Kyuubi. She stood up and walked to the door of the chamber, dissatisfied with his reply. "Why did you attack him when he said those words to Konohamaru?"

Naruto looked at the ceiling of the room, "He was degrading his actions to those of a spoiled brat. It wasn't like that, he acted on his heart."

Sakura felt her mood slightly elevated. She agreed with what he had done and was surprised by his maturity. "Eat your food; the next time you're going to get some is in the evening." She closed the door behind her; the sound of the keys turning the lock following.

Naruto spat out some blood to the floor, his health was getting worse and he could sense it. He didn't have time to waste and was thinking of releasing the Kyuubi chakra to escape from the prison. However, if he did; his seal would only serve to get weakened even more. He was facing a dilemma and slapped his head as he tried to figure out the best course of action.

XXXXXXXXXX

The jounin lounge was in a host of discussions, the sounds of which resonated throughout the whole room. Everyone had something to say about the current situation while others questioned the validity of certain things. There was a wave of concern and dread flowing through each of the shinobi, as they speculated about the future events. They knew that they could end up getting into another war and many didn't like that reality.

Lee gripped his book in his hand, silently observing the cover. Tenten was interested in the state of affairs since her idol was lying on a bed in the hospital. She had tried to visit, but she was denied entry and was displeased about it. "Gai, do you think we'll really get dragged into a war because of this?"

Gai was deep in thought since a lot of things were complicated. When he had seen the unconscious Naruto, the previous day, he knew he recognised him from the past. He had asked Kakashi about it and was told that he was the container of the Kyuubi. Few people knew this piece of information and it would be best to remain that way.

Tenten raised an eyebrow as she didn't receive a response, "Gai?"

Gai snapped out of his thoughts before grinning sheepishly, "Sorry Tenten." His attitude took a more mature turn, "I wouldn't worry about that right now. The important thing is to make sure the Godaime is well. The next action will then be determined by her." The truth was that he didn't want to get into another war. He was young when he had last gone to war and it was also, ironically, with Iwa.

Neji decided to speak on the matter, "Be patient."

Tenten faced the Hyuuga, "Yeah, I know." She noticed Lee who had been quiet for the majority of the day, "Are you alright?"

Lee sighed, "It's weird; we travelled with him and we didn't even know who he is. Now he's sitting in a jail."

Gai addressed his protégé, "I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Hey! What's up?" The unexpected voice belonged to Inuzuka Kiba.

Tenten folded her legs, "Where have you guys been?"

Shino answered for his friend, "We returned from our mission today."

Kiba laughed, "It was tougher than expected." His voice took a more serious turn, "We didn't come home to the best of news…"

Neji noticed the absence of his cousin, "Where is Hinata?"

Kiba scratched his head, "She went home." He faced Gai, knowing he would probably hold the answer to his question, "Is the Godaime going to be okay?"

Gai stood up, "Jiraiya-sama is working on helping her as we speak. Have faith in him."

Kiba sat down while Shino remained standing up. The two men had become jounins while their kunoichi friend was still a chuunin. The Hyuuga heiress was preparing for her upcoming jounin test and wanted to head home to train.

The atmosphere of the young generation was grim and it was evident to Gai. He decided it was upon his shoulders to make it better as he struck his nice guy pose, "How about we run 300 laps around Konoha? It'll take your mind off all of this."

The group of shinobi looked at him as the door across the room burst open. A loud shout rung through the air, "Is it true the Kyuubi container has returned?"

Aoba stood, panting heavily as the jounin lounge went silent. Gai shook his head as he turned to face the young group of shinobi looking at him. The rest of the lounge broke into an uproar as they heard the piece of information, not realising that it was posed as a question instead of a statement.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hajin opened the door to his office, walking inside to find his advisor. He moved towards his desk and placed the forbidden scroll down before taking a seat. He placed his hat on the desk and brushed his hair back with his hand. "Is it done?"

Tenjou nodded, "As you ordered. The encampment is no more and Yuka-san has been taken care of."

Hajin observed the night sky through the window behind his desk, "Did she see her new home perish?"

Tenjou cleared his throat, "There would be enough time for her to see everything burn to ashes. I expect her time to be coming to an end around about now."

Hajin leaned back in his chair, "Finally, everything comes to fruition. I've made the first move, now let's see what the Confederation will do."

Tenjou noticed the large scroll as he asked a question, "I thought your target was the crystal? What is this scroll?"

Hajin twisted his chair and faced the man, "Naruto was in Konoha."

Tenjou shook his head, "I don't understand."

Hajin was tired from his journey as he spoke in a relaxed tone, "His seal is weakening which is what I need. But, he was in Konoha to find a way to stop that."

Tenjou analysed the scroll, "He needed something inside the scroll…"

Hajin nodded as he opened up the rolled up parchment, "He needs to fix his seal and he wanted to go to the source." He began to look at the techniques written in the scroll, "The technique used to seal the Kyuubi within him, is written in here."

Tenjou understood, "He felt that if he knew the workings of the original seal, he'd be able to fix it."

Hajin's eyes seemed to glow as he ran his hand over the parchment, "Shiki Fujin…a most interesting creation." He rolled up the scroll. Standing up and walking around the desk, he faced Tenjou, "Take this time to rest. Tomorrow I begin the second phase of the plan."

Tenjou watched his leader walk to the door, "It's time to finally go there?"

Hajin placed his hand on the side of the door, "Yes, to the ruins of Akatsuki."

XXXXXXXXXX

Naruto took the spoon out of his mouth and placed it in the empty bowl. Pushing the tray to a side, he rested against the wall. The meal was tasteless but it still managed to fill his stomach. He was assuming that it must be quite late at night, due to the fact it had been some time now since he received his evening meal. Sighing, he looked at the chamber. He hadn't decided what he should do as his mind wandered to Genkei. He was expecting the summon to be nearing the end of his journey.

His thought of the Confederation and his past with them. He had experienced a lot and it all began when he first woke up on their homeland.

Flashback

Naruto's vision was blurred as he sat up, feeling uncomfortable. He rubbed his eyes as he could hear the sound of voices. He looked around to find the room was dark, with the only light coming from behind the partly opened door. The last thing he remembered was being dropped off in his house by the stranger who rescued him. His eyes widened as he realised the man had knocked him out.

He silently moved off the soft bed and placed his feet on the ground. He searched the room for an escape and found a window. He tried to push it open but it was stuck. Breathing heavily, he tiptoed to the slightly open door. He hid his head behind the wooden structure. He could see 3 men; an old man with a long white beard, close to him was a masked man with white hair and the last person was the same shinobi who had knocked him out.

He listened to the conversation as the old man with the beard spoke, "Yuudai, why didn't you acquire the forbidden scroll?"

Yuudai started to unravel his mask, "I encountered their Hokage. The old man wasn't an easy opponent; I couldn't beat him." He took off the black cloth, revealing his face. He looked to be young, around the age of twenty.

The white haired man spoke next, "Akatsuki have already captured 2 jinchuurikis. The vessels have been discarded while the tailed beasts are sealed within the statue. Their efforts will increase twofold once the preparations have been made." He turned to the old man near him, "Hideaki, we need to get that scroll."

Yuudai ran a hand through his black hair, which spiked from the rear, "Don't worry about the scroll."

Hideaki raised an eyebrow, "Why is that?"

Yuudai turned his head in the direction of Naruto, taking him by surprise. "I took the initiative and brought what they should really be protecting."

Hideaki looked at the young boy before addressing Yuudai, "Is that…"

Yuudai nodded, "He had no one watching over him. It made it easier to take him."

The masked man next to Hideaki walked towards Naruto. The blonde stumbled before falling backwards onto his back. He spoke in a trembling voice, "Uh, I-I didn't mean to pry."

The white haired individual bent down on one knee, "Don't be afraid. You and I have more in common than you think."

Naruto didn't understand what he was saying as Hideaki spoke, "Take him back with you to the encampment. You will be the one to watch over him."

Yuudai showed signs of disagreement upon the order, "Why do I have to do that?"

Hideaki smiled, "You took the initiative of bringing him here, so now take responsibility of his well being."

Yuudai stared at the leader of the Confederation before turning around and exiting the house. Naruto looked at the shinobi in front of him stand up and face his friend, "I have to question your decision, Hideaki. The boy would be safer on the homeland."

Hideaki walked over to a chair and sat down, "This is what Yuudai needs. It will be something which can be very useful in the future."

The masked man was curious, "What do you mean?"

Hideaki folded his arms, "Yuudai is young. He is now close to completing the 3 step training programme, which will make him eligible to be the head of the encampment. As you know, that is a stepping stone for what I hope from him."

The masked man took a lazy stance, "You want him to become the next leader of the Confederation."

Hideaki smiled, "Indeed but that is easier said than done. Yuudai has paid the ultimate price for being so dedicated as a ninja. He is incapable of conversing with normal people and finds it even harder to understand them. Being the future head of the encampment is fine, since it only requires for him to ensure the success of the missions I give out. However, in order to lead the Confederation, he would have to understand the people."

The masked man realised what he was saying, "You're hoping this boy will help him change."

Hideaki stared at Naruto, "The life he led must have been hard. That is the fate of all those like him." He stood up, "They may be able to help each other."

The masked man let out a sound of amusement, "It's a risk but it's a calculated one."

Hideaki motioned for Naruto to come closer, "What is your name, young one?"

Naruto slowly walked forward, still cautious of his surroundings. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Hideaki held out his hand, "Let's get you something to eat. After that, you're going to your new home."

Naruto was reluctant to take the man's hand. He didn't understand the talk about a new home since he believed his home be Konoha. He was brought here against his will and he wasn't ready for it. He wanted to go back and he wanted to fulfil his dream; to become a Hokage.

End Flashback

Naruto looked at the chains binding him to the ground. He knew what he had to do, and that was to get out of Konoha by any means possible. He had to take the risk and use Kyuubi's power since that was the only option left for him. He prepared to get up but was halted as he heard someone attempting to open the door to his cell.

He waited to see who it was as the door opened and an unconscious guard fell inside. Naruto stared at the prison guard who looked to be knocked out. His vision shifted to the person standing behind him. "What are you doing?"

The man walked inside the room and threw a pair of keys to Naruto's feet, "Leave…"

Naruto gaped at the individual before grabbing the keys and unlocking his chains. He was fast with his actions as he knew he wouldn't have much time. He stood up and stretched; an enjoyable feeling after being restricted for so long. Looking at his releaser, he spoke in an amused tone, "I'm guessing you're not meant to do this."

The man didn't look at him directly, "Whatever…"

Naruto smiled at the response; he wasn't expecting a straight answer. He walked past the individual and into the hallway. However, before leaving he uttered his final words to him, "I owe you one…Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke could hear the man's footsteps increase in pace as they faded away into the distance. He had just committed another crime which would have a severe punishment. Nonetheless, this didn't concern him as he felt a little more at peace with himself. He closed his eyes, silently speaking, "I made a choice…"

---

Author Notes: Plenty of things happened with this chapter and as you can see, Sasuke just took the first step for what will eventually be his final destination. You're now going to get Naruto's past revealed in chronological order aswell. A little thing to look forward to is that there's going to be a big revelation, in regards to the plot in about 3 or 4 chapters. However, i would like to say that the next update will be up a little later than usual. Mainly because, i have a big action scene that i want to plan and make good. Plus, this chapter was really long so it shouldn't matter. Leave your comments and see you next time.