The Fox And The Tiger

The Journey: Wanderer

The roads outside Kumo were paved of stones, each intersecting and leading to the village in the clouds. Down below Kumo, on the grounds were a few things. It was sort of like a village itself but wasn't as populated. A massive stadium was down here and it was an arena filled with a forest, lake, stony area and a plain. This stadium was most likely for if Kumo hosted the Chunin exams...but it seemed too big for Chunin hopefuls.

The village seemed more like a massive venue for a very big and important event. There were many booths for different shops or games that could be set up. He wondered what it would look like if this place was in use. There would definitely be a lot of things to be amused by. After finishing his little self given tour, he left down southwest, towards the border. There he'd enter the Land of Frost and pass through to the Land of Hot Water which bordered the Land of Fire.

There was a long ways to go and he wasn't moving rapidly. Moving at high-speeds would garner an enemy shinobi's attention. So a slow walk was the travel speed. Not that he minded it, he sort of enjoyed to slow peaceful walk. It let him take in all the things around him and enjoy the nature.

"You know Kit, this journey could end horribly for us."

"Yes...but if so, you'd reform elsewhere in a few years. So don't worry."

"Aren't you worried? You're alone. Run into the wrong people and it's over."

"I have nothing to lose."

"Kit that doesn't make your death ok."

"Never said that. Me having nothing to lose, makes me dangerous. While an opposition may have a family, a home, a loved one...I don't. Some say that having those things, having bonds make you stronger, it's true...in a sense. Those very things are a double edged sword. While it may push you to be stronger, it will ultimately cause hesitation. That moment of hesitation, I can exploit."

Kurama nodded. "Yes, you have a point. But don't underestimate the distance these shinobi will go for the ones they care for. Especially those damned Konoha fleshbags."

Smirking, Naruto chuckled "When have I ever underestimated an opponent?" Pausing Naruto stopped walking and thought for a second. "Kurama?"

"Yes?"

"I want to start learning your power."

"Patience. We will start that soon. First, worry about getting to Uzushiogakure."

Naruto nodded and just began to walk some more. Internally, he wondered what it was like to just be a wandering traveler. No real ties to any particular village, or country, just coasting by and going wherever your heart desired. As interesting as it would be to travel, he felt that the lifestyle would probably become boring as time went on. Eventually, you will long for some sort of belonging. Maybe to travel on occasion would be good. Get to learn more that way, that's for sure.

The cool thing about traveling was that there was no telling who or what you'll come across. Perhaps it was the mystery that drew the wanderers. The fact that anything could happen and you could come across many things that you otherwise, normally wouldn't. Around every corner, a new journey, a new story could be told. Then there were those rare instances, where fate seems to have a hand in things. Where something happens, or you meet someone that you feel you've known your whole life.

Don't be fooled though. For all the great things that come from traveling, there is a dark, ugly side to it all. For every good thing, there is always an equal or greater bad thing. Something that he was currently witnessing.

"You either let us go at your daughter! Or we kill you, take everything you have, and get at her anyways!"

"N-no please! Just leave us alone. We aren't bothering anyone."

"That doesn't matter to us! She's hot and that's reason enough!"

"Yeah!"

"What are you going to do?"

Naruto looked on and felt conflicted. "They aren't my problem..." He began to turn away to leave until he heard her screaming. "Damnit! Can't just leave..." Sighing, he unsheathed his katana and looked at the blade for a second. Closing his eyes, he could hear her cries for help. No one ever responded to his pleas for help...he wasn't about to do the same. Opening his eyes, he crept up to the group and was directly behind the one holding the woman.

He had her bent over the wagon and was reaching for the waistband of her pants, until a blade went through his back, piercing his heart. Killing him instantly, blood dripped onto Naruto's face as he held the man up by his blade for a second. A wicked smile spread across his face and he pulled the sword back in a quick motion, throwing the thug a few feet away.

There was a resounding shock as he stood in the place the man once stood. Still smiling, Naruto turned to his right and noticed his next target coming at him. The enemy swung his sword downwards to which Naruto blocked with his own, and while the guy was trying to overpower him, he used his left hand and slammed it into his chest. His body was surrounded by a seal and imploded. Blood sprayed everywhere and he turned around to the last one who was running away.

"Not so fast." Naruto said and threw three shuriken that had wire attached to them. They wrapped around the fleeing enemy and tripped him up. When he turned around, he looked into the dark, cold blue slitted eyes and that was the last thing he ever saw as he was stabbed through the heart.

Slowly standing up and shaking the blood from his blade, Naruto seemed to return to normal as he looked at his hands and trembled at the sight. "W-What have I done?" He turned towards the man and his daughter who didn't know what to think at the moment. "A-are you guys ok?" A slow nod was what he got and he just returned the nod with one of his own and began walking away.

"Y-You don't want anything from us?" The man said.

"No...I'm sorry for what you witnessed. Go, before someone else comes."

He didn't turn back to see them smile a bit to be grateful. They still held a lot of fear as a kid effortlessly killed their attackers. It was bizarre to them that a mere child could ruthlessly murder...granted, it was in their defense, but still. He just took the lives of three men.

"Are you going to be ok, Kit?"

Naruto didn't respond. Once he got out of their view, he ran as fast as his legs could muster and found a river where he tried washing himself off of the blood. When he rinsed his face, he went to work on his hands but for some reason, the blood just wouldn't come off. Scrubbing nonstop for over fifteen minutes, his eyes began to water.

"W-why won't it come off?" Naruto began to breathe shakily and then...nothing...all of a sudden he just stopped and looked into the water. "Pretend...nothing matters...life is flimsy...nothing matters."

"Kit?"

"I'm fine, Kurama. We must keep moving."

Not wanting to push any further, Kurama just leaned back and let his Jinchuriki go on. There was no point sticking around and sulking. In his mind, those bastard humans deserved death...in fact, they deserved worse than what Naruto did. Despite what they planned to do and the cruelty they displayed, Naruto refrained from being cruel himself. Giving them quick, and easy deaths.

Still...Naruto became lost in his aggressive behavior and wasn't himself. That worried Kurama and made him only think that this journey was more important than they let on. While it already had importance, the stakes only seemed to be getting higher. Especially if they couldn't find an answer to what they were searching for. Even so, how would it change things if at all? Regardless of the results, this was a risk worth taking. The worry was that if Naruto was to continue killing along the way, the side that has been held back for so long may come out and get a better grasp.

That first night was an interesting one to say the least. After the events of what the day had brought, one could understand why Naruto was so exhausted. To be unnoticed as possible, he refrained from setting up any tent, rather he climbed into the highest possible tree branch that would sustain his weight and laid on that. There was a dark colored blanket that he wrapped himself with and was laying on his left bicep with the rest of his arm bent to be behind his head. Laying on his side, he could gaze into the horizon, albeit a bit covered up due to having to peer through bright green leaves that looked grayer due to the night. It wasn't bad night though, it was calming the feelings he was going through and made a choice that from then on, things would be handled differently. No matter how it made him feel, he would fight all that brought discomfort and become comfortable with all that was pressuring or uncomfortable. Even if he'd be faking, it would eventually lead to it being true.

He closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness. The next morning, he awoke before the sun was up and stretched a bit to wake up fully. With a quick look at his surroundings, he hopped down from the tree and cracked his neck. Looking ahead to where he was headed, he wanted to reach the border within the next couple days. But it would be so much faster if he wasn't just walking. Surely he could at least travel at his top speed just to the border. There'd be no harm in it, right? This was Kumo controlled territory. Once he reached the border, then yeah, traveling with only a walk would make sense. No telling who was in the Land of Frost or Hot Water...especially when he finally made it to Fire Country. The good thing about the two lands that he'd cross through, was that they were small, and wouldn't even take any more than two days to cross each...as long as there were no stops or interruptions. Perhaps if he didn't sleep and just travelled on, it would be quicker.

"That's the plan, just walk through the lands of Frost and Hot Water then before crossing the border of Hot Water, rest for a night then enter Fire Country. That way I can save time and be rested."

"That works, but don't miss out on meeting people out here. They could have interesting things to learn about. Maybe you could create a network of travelers and merchants that could keep an ear out for you. Sending you intel periodically."

Naruto nodded and began to move at top speed. Well, perhaps that was an overstatement. To be at his true top speed was uncomfortable and painful at the moment, but this was his fastest travelling speed that allowed him to reach where he wanted as soon as possible. Granted, if Kira would stop being stingy, he could appear in an instant there. Still, surely he could try applying what he learned form his Spacetime Seal. However, there was still the issue that it isn't an instantaneous transportation, and there were steps that had to be made to make it even possible...Shaking his head at the thought, concluding that perhaps he was just complaining.

Within the few hours, he made it to the border of Lightning Country. Ahead was the Land of Frost. Looking ahead as far as he could see, there was nothing that gave way to explain the name of the land. At least from what he could see. The annoying thing was that it was a very hilly land. With the periodic mountain, now he was used to the whole mountain terrain due to Kumo but it wasn't like he was constantly walking up and down...so this would be interestingly annoying...

With a sigh and a shrug of the shoulders, he Bagan the journey for real. Although he never ventured far from the village, not since he was a young child, all those years ago, he walked on with a sort of confidence in his step. Holding no fear to what may lie ahead. To some, it would be described as arrogance, but really, what was there to fear? There was nothing that could be taken from him. Maybe the what could have been, but that was what he always played in his mind.

What if he'd chosen to stay in Konoha? How would that altercation have ended? Be allowed to continue about until he was finally killed by some drunk villager? Or kidnapped, even worse, just killed on the spot for seeing them. Odd thing, he never did see those two men after that day he was brought to Kumo. It never really became something he wondered since he kept to himself so much. But now he wondered, what happened to those two? And if they were alive, how were they doing? Did they remember him? Smiling at the dumb thoughts he was having on his walk, he noticed that it began to get colder.

Looking around, it was like a complete change from back at the border. Being so lost in thought, he never realized that things around him changed. "Damn." He reached in his bag for his jacket and remembered that he didn't get it back from Yugito. "Damn..."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this."

Naruto nodded and felt Kurama give him tiny amounts of chakra in pulses that helped keep his body temperature up. Internally thanking Kurama he went on. It was funny though, he had multiple sets of his clothing, and yet only the one jacket. In his defense, it wasn't like he was expecting it to be gone, and was thinking he'd only wear it a few times, then it return to the closet.

"Speaking of clothes, you think I should change my attire?"

"Right...you are dressed like a Ninja. You wouldn't want to draw any more attention than being a lone kid traveler."

Nodding, he continued on. The Land of Frost to this point, didn't have much. It was a small land but he thought there'd at least be a few things out here. Well, then again, it wasn't like he sought out anything, traveling in a straight line to Hot Water then another straight line to Fire. That decision often meant that he wasn't following a path or road in favor of getting straight to his destination.

He noticed a small settlement to his right, and it didn't seem like they stay in one place for too long based on the setup. "Why not go over?"

"I guess a little detour isn't too bad..."

"Hello, little one. What brings you by?"

"Nothing really, I was just running around and got hungry. Do you have any food?"

"Where's your parents?"

Naruto shrugged innocently. "I was playing around and ended up going too far away...I don't know where I was."

The woman came over and placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him to a campfire where a group was gathered around. They all looked to the woman and the new arrival, they all looked at each other then back to him with a smile, offering some hot soup. With a huge smile, Naruto took the bowl of soup and dug in quickly.

"Mmmm! That's good!"

"Haha, glad you like it kid. Reuchi doesn't always cook, but when he does, we all grimace!" He said laughing at the end and getting a glare from the one named Reuchi. "Seriously though, it is rare for him to cook, you got lucky."

Naruto happily nodded along and laughed at Reuchi's reaction to the man who spoke. "This is great! What is your name mister?"

"Han. What about you little guy?"

"Naruto!"

Reuchi grunted to gain their attention and spoke up "Well kid, you should know that it isn't safe to be out at dark..."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Oh here we go again! I've told you many times, there ain't no evil spirits out there!" Han said with an annoyance that could only tell that this argument was a normal and constant occurrence.

Naruto looked astonished which only made Han frown. Looks like they'd have to hear these tales another night. "Evil spirits? How do you know?"

"You don't know kid? Oh my, that's dangerous! It is known that you don't go out alone at night...spirits will come and take your body for their own!" Reuchi said.

Gasping in shock, Naruto dropped his soup "Are you serious? Why would they do that?"

"It is said that these spirits once had their own lives stolen! Wanting to come back, to live the life they wished to have, they forcefully will come and take what they want! Damning the soul they switch with!"

Naruto curled up tightly and held his knees to his chest. Han placed a hand on his shoulder and brought him towards him. "Don't listen to that drivel. The nights get really cold, so you are welcome to stay here kiddo."

Naruto nodded in appreciation as they took him to tent that had a very small fire to build warmth. There were several thick blankets on mat that he'd lay on for bed. He thanked them for their kindness and they left him to let him get rest. Once he closed of the tent, he cracked his neck with his eyes closed as he sighed. When they opened, they revealed to be his blue slitted eyes like normal and a smirk.

"That was some mighty acting, Kit. Hadn't I known better, I'd have even believed you were an innocent and helpless child."

"Yes, well, deception is our life, Kurama. Making my pupils go back to rounded normal ones takes a lot of concentration."

"Yes, now what do you think of what was said?"

"Eh got to learn some good information about the land. It's called Frost because at night, it reaches sub-zero temperatures, icing over the land. It was good that you had me actually come here, would have been a rough night."

Kurama nodded and leaned back. "And the other thing?"

"The spirits?" Kurama nodded "Not real. We know a spirit can't just take over...but something is definitely off in the land."

"What will you do?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Kurama raised a brow and was about to speak but Naruto raised a hand. "Nothing because I lack the means. I have no idea what's really going on or how to fight it...if I have to fight it. It would take time to learn everything, time we don't have. I can't just be gone forever, maybe one day we can try to solve the world's problems one at a time, even then, it would never be done. There's no time, I'd die eventually, I can't live forever. All I can do is hope to help leave an impact that can last a while, one that won't be instantly forgotten through time. It's funny isn't it?"

"It definitely is...if only other humans saw it that way."

"Yes not many think of time that way...still, this gives me an idea on how to solve our...well my problem."

"I hope so, Kit."

Naruto laid back on the mat and watched the fire flicker. In the next couple days, he'd be in Fire Country and then the real danger of the journey would come. The main hope was that no one would recognize him, hoping that time did well in making him forgotten. The best case scenario was them thinking he was dead.

-Somewhere in the Land Of Hot Water-

A man dressed in a brown cloak that covered most of his body, ending between his knees and ankles, stood in the center of five dead masked shinobi. The masks all had the look of different animals, black cloaks covered their bodies while one had a white one.

The man dressed in brown looked at the dead people around him and tucked the kunai he held back within the cloak, revealing a high collared black shirt with a net armored short beneath that. There was the glimmer of a necklace he wore that had three rings tied to a black wire. With one last look at the fallen, he went through a couple hand signs "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu." Five small fireballs were blown out and each one hit one of the bodies, burning them down, leaving nothing behind.

His hood nearly came off to show his long, black hair, tied together in the back while the front cane down to cover the sides of his face, the brief exposure caused the hair to wave into his face, he brought his right hand to his scalp which caught the hair and got it out of his face. Revealing black eyes and pronounced tear troughs.

Once the wind died down, he grabbed the hood to the cloak, and put it back on. Then walked away from the scene and went Northeast.

-Kumogakure-

Yugito went for a punch with her left hand which got blocked and quickly jumped for a kick with her right to the face of Ay which was caught by her ankle and he tossed her aside. Landing perfectly, she immediately jumped into another set of attacks and each time was blocked or pushed back.

"You're still mad?" She spun into a kick that cracked his right gauntlet. "Yeah, you're mad."

Taking a step back and a few breaths, she relaxed. "The bastard's a moron at times. It was dumb to let him go."

"He'll be fine, Yugito. It's unlike you to be this worried."

"This is my teammate now. And he's been proving to be a good friend, even after what I did, he doesn't hate me now."

Ay sat down and chuckled. "You didn't hate him. So it is only natural that he wouldn't hate you. Perhaps, now that he knows you two share the same burden, you two will become better."

Yugito nodded and sat down beside Ay. "It's amazing how much he knows, I've learned a lot with his help. Still, I don't like how much he hides and lies."

Laughing, Ay put a hand around her shoulders and brought her into a hug. "Yeah, but you too also hide things. Lie about things. He may do it practically all the time but it's his survival mechanism. Now go get washed up and head home, it's getting late."

"Can I stay here tonight?"

"Sure. You know your way around." Nodding, she hugged him and ran off to go settle down for the night. He chuckled and just looked up to the sky. The village was becoming stronger all the time.

-Next Morning, Land Of Frost-

Naruto sat up as he awoke and stretched. He would be leaving today and continuing his journey. Beside him was his bag, which he grabbed and removed his scrolls and ink. Drawing ideas for seals and working on improving the ones he already had. For thirty minutes everything was silent, apparently the others don't wake up as early as he does. Naruto didn't want to leave without thinking them once more and saying his goodbyes.

The seal design he made glowed and he was pretty pleased that the seal construct worked. Immediately, he stopped channeling chakra and broke the seal so it wouldn't do what it was designed to. Fuinjutsu genuinely made him happy as it was for one, the most versatile field. If you can build the array a certain way, then you can do just about anything. It was fun to create seals, even if they served really no use at all. It was always satisfying to see it work.

The seal he was making was for use in a fight and was placed through physical contact. Tucking it away, Naruto eagerly planned on when he could utilize it. Maybe Yugito could be the first he used it on, that thought made him laugh inwardly and he turned to the zipped up door. Shuffling was going on throughout the camp, signifying that members were waking up. Thanks to his heightened senses, he managed to be packed up and ready before they even left a tent.

Once the sounds really picked up, he stood and exited the tent with his bag already on. The others looked at him and smiled. Naruto returned with a massive smile and joined them for breakfast. They talked for a bit and then Naruto went on his way, they promised to remain in contact and they left on their separate ways.

Naruto looked at the trees and felt an odd sensation of being followed. "What is that?"

"There's nothing there...Kit, nothing is around you."

"I've been getting followed, even when I was in Kumo. Someone's watching me."

"No one has ever been there, kid. I didn't mention it prior but are you ok?"

"If it's not someone, it's something."

Naruto continued walking on and sure enough, the feeling had soon gone away. It was a puzzling thing that he wanted to figure out. For now there was nothing to go off of but a shadow he once saw, and that was it. Hardly a clue really.

"Over here! I think I heard something!"

"Is that?" Naruto immediately went into hiding and with the finishing touches of a seal, that he stood in the center of, a barrier came up that was like a mirror to what was behind him. It created the sense that he was invisible however if touched, the illusion would drop. "Mirror Illusion Seal." He said and watched as four people entered the path.

He noticed a blonde haired girl that came down to her jaw, a red haired girl that was in a ponytail, and a light blonde haired boy that was near white in color with a lollipop in his mouth stand there. Behind them was a tall muscular man with shades.

"Oh hell...what are they doing out here? A little far for a mission isn't it?" Naruto thought as he looked at them. Bee was looking right in his general area and that was unnerving to him.

"There's nothing here, Samui. You brought us for nothing." Omoi said with a sigh.

"Shut up! You lazy bum!" Karui smacked the back of his head making him nearly spit out his lollipop.

"That hurt jerk. I'm just saying that we are here for nothing. Or maybe they're here but heard us coming. Then they'll jump out when we least suspect it to kill us. Oh man..."

"Quiet both of you. Something's off." Samui said, looking around she couldn't see anything. Noticing that Bee was silent the whole time and was just staring in one area she raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Sensei?"

"Does he see me? Does he not see me? Why can't he be like the others and not notice. Where did I go wrong? The seal was flawless wasn't it?"

"He's a Jinchuriki too..."

"Oh...right...should have taken that into account. So now I know to make a way to hide that signature."

"Let's go, yo. No need standin' here no mo'!" Bee said making the girls shake their head while Omoi nodded along with a fist in the air.

Naruto sighed and watched them leave. "Guess missions are now coming out...damn...what does that mean for my team?"

"Oh? Somebody worried that they ditched their team high and dry, now they can't come out on missions like this? How sweet!"

"Do you really gotta make everything seem worse?" Kurama shrugged making Naruto sigh and shake his head. After a few moments he dropped the barrier and watched the seal in the ground fade away.

"For someone not too interested in Barrier Fuinjutsu, you are pretty efficient."

"I still need to understand them if I seek to create an ultimate defense. I just don't find most to be practical, generally needing multiple people, I don't have that luxury."

The peaceful walk through the Land Of Frost was finally coming to an end as he could see the border in the distance. The border was more a sign than anything else but what more did you really need? This wasn't like one of the big five, so there wasn't much need for the security needs as them. No one really ever stuck around in these lands anyways, there wasn't much profit in that.

However if you wanted as peaceful of a life as possible, sometimes these little lands were the best choice to live in. Sometimes though, it can be the worst place, since wars don't always take place in the great nations, meaning the little lands suffer most of the damage.

Still, not a lot happened in these lands in times of "peace". Your main worry is of bandits and thugs, not really any ninja. For a civilian that isn't trained though, bandits and thugs can be menaces in their own right. Especially when armed, they may not be as deadly as ninja, but a sword being swung around or club is still very dangerous and can cause major damage.

Regardless, the point of it all is that there is no truly peaceful place to be. There will always be some threat that comes around to take what you have away.

As he crossed over into the Land Of Hot Water, he sighed knowing that in a few days, he'd be in Fire Country. The Journey would truly begin and the danger, really settle in. It is enemy territory and no saying what will go down. A deep breath and a drink of water, and he was on his way.

There was a small merchant town, and Naruto decided to stop by. He bought a gray coat that went down to his ankles and the sleeves stopped right before his hand, which showed his long sleeved teal shirt's cuff. Then a black beanie to cover up his bright, golden blonde hair but some of it poked out anyways.

He began to leave when he noticed someone off in the distance a bit, that didn't look like a normal merchant or traveler. The way they moved and despite looking distracted, was very keenly aware of everything around them. Naruto made to move and head elsewhere, when he turned though and walked to his left, he bumped into a woman and knocked her down.

"I'm so sorry ma'am! Are you ok?" This garnered a lot of attention and when he glanced back, the person was gone. "Great..."

After helping the woman up, he left immediately. Making a few turns and heading straight to the exit of the merchant town, he was stopped right at the gate. There stood the person he noticed.

"How long have you been following me?"

"Excuse me?" Naruto said, he was searching for a potential way out should things get bad. The area was pretty open since this was the entrance, so there wasn't much cover. He'd either need to make a break for the 6 foot wall that surrounded the small town, or back into town.

"They sent you didn't they? You here to kill me?"

"Who's they?"

"Play dumb all you want..."

Naruto's eyes went wide as a shuriken flew at high speeds to his face. Barely leaning and twisting towards his left, the kunai nearly got his nose as he can feel the wind from its spinning and being so close. When he returned to his former position the person still was standing there.

"So you are a Shinobi."

"Damn...that was pretty fast for my cover to be blown." Naruto sighed and removed his beanie and coat, they disappeared in a puff of smoke from him sealing them. He settled into a stance and had a small scroll held by his mouth.

"Interesting...the scroll, he's a Fuinjutsu user. The coloring of his clothing is definitely not from Konoha, so he isn't from there...wait, his hair, eyes...is this the Yondaime's Legacy? He went missing nine years ago." The person thought and relaxed his posture.

"A-Are you not fighting now?" Naruto said confused. One moment they were on the verge of fighting, the next, the dude gets relaxed and no longer seems to want to fight anymore.

"Not if I don't have to. Where are you from?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"I know you aren't sent by Konoha, and definitely aren't from Iwa. So you're either from Kiri or Kumo."

"I could be from here..."

"Don't try to be stupid. I see through your deception. You're here with a purpose. I am just making sure that you aren't an enemy of mine."

Naruto sighed and grabbed onto his scroll, and held it, still in position for a potential attack. "And what if you are potentially mine. You keep asking if Konoha sent me, are you a Nukenin of Konoha?"

The person smiled under the hood. "He is like him...definitely the Jinchuriki...never thought I would come across him like this." He removed the hood to show his face. Naruto noticed the deep black eyes and the pronounced tear troughs under his eyes. "I am from Konoha, but I am not in such of a fight."

"I highly recommend you tell me why you're here before we can get relaxed."

"I assure you, Kyubi Jinchuriki, I am not a threat to you."

Naruto went wide eyed and opened the scroll to the first seal to which he channeled chakra and his katana came out in a small puff of smoke."What did I do? I know I threw that shuriken at him but I knew he'd dodge..."

"Don't take another step..." The person, no more than 18 stood there. "How do you know about me?"

"Easy there, I mean you no harm...I was once a highly regarded shinobi...I knew many things. Look, I don't know what happened to you, only that you disappeared one day. My time in the village ended four years ago. There isn't a manhunt out for you...not anymore atleast."

Naruto nodded and still held his katana. "Name."

Itach smiled so softly that to most it was unnoticeable. "I'm Din."

"Why are you a Nukenin?"

"I knew too much..." A faint trace of sadness flickered within his eyes and Naruto noticed it. This person too lived within a facade.

"Knew many things...too much...four years ago, marked Nukenin...still holds some sort of care towards the village...a large regret...what happened four years ago?" Naruto made his sword poof in smoke and he tucked his scroll in his bag. "What kind of journey are you on, Din?"

"I'm in search of a few things that will help in the future. You?"

"Something similar, but where I'm headed, no one knows, atleast not here...so I need to go to Fire Country."

Din nodded, "That is risky, should they learn your identity. How about this, we travel together for a while, we can help one another search for what we are looking for."

Naruto thought it over for a second and didn't really mind, he could come in handy. "Well, the risk for you in Fire Country is about the same as mine, if not worse. Since your issue was more recent." Din nodded, Naruto was right and there was no arguing with that. "If you're fine with it, I have no issues, you know the land more than I."

"Right, what are you in search of?" Naruto hesitate a second which Din caught and was nice to see that Naruto wasn't immediately telling his whole plans to a stranger. "You can trust me, if I wished you ill will, we would already have been fighting. I need to know what you're in search of so I can out how we get there."

"You have a point...Uzushiogakure."

Din was shocked but didn't show it. His face remaining emotionless. "Uzushiogakure...home of the Uzumaki clan...why?"

"Whatever I find there is my birthright...and I need some answers."

"Right, son of Kushina Uzumaki. You do have right to claim what you find, but from what I understand, the village was a big black spot that no one really spoke of, not knew." Din nodded and walked to Naruto "You know my name, what is yours?"

"Naruto Uzumaki." He extended his hand and the two shook hands. "Good to meet you, now let's begin."

-One Week Later-

Both Din and Naruto entered Fire Country two days ago. With the threat of Din constantly being pursued, they took long detours and the slower travel paths. It generally made it more difficult to track but made a slower travel. Regardless, it gave them a chance to learn things about where they were headed into. Things in Fire Country were tense since an incident happened a few years ago. Something Din wouldn't talk about.

Naruto knew something was up, he recognized that forlorn look in Din's expression every time it was brought up. Slowly though, he was figuring out the puzzle.

"We stop here, settle in for the night."

Naruto looked at the hotel and back at Din "Wouldn't it be better to camp out somewhere? It would be easier to hide would it not?"

Din smiled fondly "A good friend taught me not to go by the book so much. We stay here because we will get better rest, and be more comfortable. That comfort and rest, helps us on our journey. It has risk, yes, but it also is a little less expected."

The two entered the hotel, Din putting his hood on, while Naruto wore his beanie. When they entered, it wasn't some grand exquisite entrance. It was poorly lit, and old. Some parts being rundown a bit. This was not a place of luxury, and no one of high-class would ever be seen there. It was only expected to hold the low class people and even then, not many probably stayed long.

They got a room and to Naruto's surprise, it was actually better than the lobby. It was clean and looked like they kept it well maintained. The room still seemed old but there was effort in keeping it looking nice.

"Better than a dumpster." Naruto said off-handedly.

Itachi looked at him and hoped he was joking. He didn't know much about Naruto, only the rare instances that he saw him walking the streets of Konoha. Then one day, no one ever saw him again. He always wondered what went on with the kid, apparently he was finding out even if just a little.

On one hand, he could go and ask about him, potentially learn a lot. Then again, that would open up the door for him being questioned...things he didn't want to talk about. Things that he couldn't. In a way, he could also tell that Naruto felt the same way. Both so similar, but so, so very different.

Din settled onto a bed while Naruto went to the far corner and laid against it, his bag acting as a pillow of sorts, since his upper back was on it and his head was against the wall. He found it odd, but if the kid was comfortable there, then there was need to stop him. Instead he stared at the ceiling, just replaying a certain event in his mind constantly.

Naruto took out a scroll and continued the seal from before. This time he let it finish and watched how it would work. Smiling he was glad to see that the seal operated as it should, but noticed a slight deficiency...well it wasn't that the seal was inefficient. It was effective and worked as it should. The thing was that the seal didn't work absolute, it seemed to have stages. Atleast that was what he could see from the activation of the seal and it's active state. More testing would need to be done later to see how it truly worked. Since inanimate objects didn't take the same effect as a person or animal.

"So, what is that?"

Naruto nearly jumped to his feet from the sudden spoken words. Being so entranced and focused on the working of his seal, he never noticed that Din came beside him. After regaining his composure, he smiled. "A seal that I've been working of for a long time. It's finally complete."

"Oh? What does it do?"

"Well, most Fuinjutsu isn't very practical in combat...well, in a fight that is brought to Taijutsu. If able to get set up, it's devastating and the most effective way to fight...maybe second only to Genjutsu because it is a lot easier to meet the necessary conditions for it to be active...unless you were one of the Uchiha, then it was immediately the best because a glance could cast the Genjutsu."

Naruto watched as the mention of the Uchiha made Din flinch ever so slightly. That was something that made him really get thinking. Despite how much Din tried to hide, and the things he already knew, the pieces were finally coming together...

"He is pretty right with that assessment. Fuinjutsu is the most versatile, but that still requires set up. Versatility doesn't immediately mean victory nor practicality." Din thought as he nodded to Naruto's speaking until the bit of the Uchiha was said.

Hoping to not be noticed in that moment he spoke immediately. "So what have you done?"

"Well, I've managed to create seals that are weaponized."

He reached into his bag and tossed Din a scroll. When he opened it, he noticed an intricate and complex seal. From bits that he recognized, it looked to be a storage seal but retrofitted into something far more complex. In the center he recognized the Kanji for Fire.

"So you can seal and use Ninjutsu through Fuinjutsu?"

Naruto thought for a moment but shook his head. "In a way. I can't just place a Jutsu into here for later use...but I can do something similar. I've studied many clans and many different things, since Fuinjutsu is the absolute pinnacle of Jutsu and most versatile, I didn't hold anything as impossible, just complex."

Din nodded and gestured for him to continue. "Among those clans, I came across the Uchiha and their Sharingan. Particularly the ability to copy Ninjutsu through copying and memorizing handsigns with the corresponding chakra manipulation."

"You mean to say you've created a seal capable of the Dojutsu's ability?" Din said astonished, truly curious as to what Naruto did. Also, wondering if it was truly possible to replicate the Clan's ability. One that made them so renowned and feared.

"Yeah in a way. It only works so well because I can memorize things in just a single look. If a Jutsu is sent at me, I can absorb it with a seal, and released for my own uses one time...now that is normally the limit, but with my memory, I know exactly the full make up of the seal and it's sealed Jutsu, the seal does all the work of making the Jutsu while I just give it the required amount of chakra. Either in immediate use, or stored for later."

"What? That's impossi-...that is insane."

Naruto chuckled at his self correction and nodded. "Yes, but it doesn't work with every Jutsu. I've used it on one but it took a long time to recreate because it was a Lightning clone that dispersed. For one, I can't control the clone, but it still will disperse into Lightning...it also doesn't look like me, only like the original caster."

"I see...you haven't tried it on other Jutsu?"

"No. Haven't had the opportunity, but it would need to be a Jutsu that is directed, not widespread. So anything that explodes is a no go, and if the Jutsu is bigger than the sealing area, then the seal won't work."

"Makes sense...I can send a Jutsu at you...I'd like to see this seal in action...if you are willing."

Smiling, Naruto gave a small smile. "Sure. Let's do it tomorrow."

It was a seal that took so much time to create and it sucked that it was never used. But then again, with Fuinjutsu, you won't always use a seal. Some seals get designed but never used once in an actual scenario. Whether it be due to the set up, or the cost the seal has. Or the seal really has no functionality in true use because it is just obscure. In the end, his seal was able to replicate the Sharingan's copying ability, for it to never be used but once, was criminal.

Then there was the fact that his other seal was never really used either. Mainly because of the exploit, Rin showed. The Spacetime Seal only worked if the Jutsu or attack hit the seal, if it deviates or is too big, it didn't work. Secondly it was a two part Technique. The first was the the opening of the Spacetime hallway, pretty much, then the exit point. If he didn't set up an exit point, then...well he didn't know what would happen. Being unsure about its functionality at that point was untestable at the moment. He couldn't just have someone throw a Jutsu at him, it was too dangerous.

It required him to continue pumping chakra into the seal for however long it was actively absorbing the attack. At that point, the second step works automatically since it is pretty much the same process as walking through a door. That being said, it was why no testing had been done without the second step. He couldn't place the seal somewhere and leave to avoid any danger. The seal was the protection!

"So what is this seal's purpose?"

"Well, a little while, I finally got to a level where I can place a seal through use of my chakra. So now that I've done that, I started working on a seal that is to be used in conjunction to Taijutsu...this seal here. I was already working on the principle of it a while back but now redesigned it to fight my fighting style."

"You are amazing...to be so young and designing your oen seals...inventing some of your own by studying a Dojutsu...your teacher must be proud."

Laughing nervously, Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Actually Din, I'm self taught. A few years ago, I began studying Fuinjutsu, with nobody to teach me, I began deconstructing seals to their individual components to see the exact make up of the seal and how it functions. Then recreating the seal from scratch."

Din went wide eyed and looked at Naruto in awe. "You prove that there truly are no excuses...if you want to do something, go do it. If you could be self taught in such a complex field, and be designing your own seals...your potential is through the roof."

Naruto nodded. "Yes but this studying took a lot of time, it came at a cost. I focused so much into my Fuinjutsu, that I have very little to show in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu and don't even get me started with Genjutsu since that is nonexistent."

"You mean to say that Fuinjutsu is all you can ?"

"Hey! That katana wasn't just for show! I'm an Uzumaki, don't disrespect me like that!"

Din sweat dropped...Uzumakis..."My apologies. So you're also a Kenjutsu user?"

"Master." Naruto corrected. "As well as several other weapons. Such as the Bo, Kunai, Nunchuck to name a few."

"How old are you?"

"Twelve..."

"Ok."

Din stood up and walked back to his bed and laid down. "What, that's it?"

"Yup. Night, Naruto."

For the next few hours, Naruto sat in silence as he was still surprised by the sudden decision to go to sleep by Din. When he realized that he just sat there stupidly, he leaned back and began to just try to drift into sleep.

"Kit, there's something you should know about that guy. I can sense his chakra signature. He's an-"

"Uchiha? Yes...I've been able to figure that out. However, I would like to see if he'd tell me, I can see why he'd hide it. If he tells me, then maybe we can actually be friends."

"I don't like the Uchiha, they're arrogant bastards! That bastard Madara Uchiha is the worst of them!"

"You must admit though, this young man is not arrogant and seems rather good. There's a darkness within his heart but I can tell that he holds deep regret. Kurama, I want to see where this can go...but if yoy don't-"

"Go ahead kid...you are right that he's different...but I personally won't be fully trusting of him."

Naruto nodded and left the mindscape to drift to sleep finally. In the morning Naruto awoke at his usual time that was always before the sun rose. It was something of a habit that he never woke up after the sunrise, no matter how late he was up or how long it had been since he last slept. The surprising thing though was that his awakening wasn't solo. Din too woke up when he did.

It was a new thing to not be alone at this time but it wasn't unwelcomed. It was sort of nice to have somebody else that was an early bird as he was called. The thing was though that even if you're up before everyone else, it doesn't matter. You can be awake twenty-one hours of the day, and accomplish absolutely nothing. What truly matters, is what you do with the time that you're up.

The atmosphere, was rather calm and relaxed. The two were still getting used to eachother but they felt at ease, not necessarily awkward. They just got up and went about their routine to prepare for the day. The day was soon begun and they had entered a forest. In the forest was a small lake that they stood beside. Being in this environment made Din have a reminiscent smile, one that was of past reflection and a past happiness...one that was now clouded with regret and sadness.

Naruto looked around and felt at peace in the forest. Being among nature, in Kumo they were pretty much in the sky since the village was connected to several mountain peaks. Not much true nature was abundant, just in training areas where it was grown...but not just around. You'd need to head below the village fir that and not many ventured down below unless on mission. It wad nice to be in it naturally.

The two then looked to eachother and nodded. Naruto took out a small scroll and opened it up, The hand that was under the seal, channeled chakra and in a puff of smoke a five foit wide scroll appeared. When Naruto stood it up, it was a taller than him, being only 4' 8".

Din raised an eyebrow. "The seal is that large and complex?"

"Yes and no. It was originally but I've reduced it...I just have it in this form because I want to cover more of an area, the time I used my other and most complex seal showed me a weakness...something I have yet to truly solve."

"What is it?"

"As of now, Fuinjutsu requires some sort of surface, whether it be a person, a scroll, or object. You can't just project a seal into mid air...or atleast I've yet to figure out how. I told you that for Jutsu to be absorbed, it can't be larger than my seal...so big scroll."

"Hmm...mid air huh. I'm not sure if it can be done, I've never really seen Fuinjutsu Masters. I've heard of a few but never watched them first hand."

Naruto nodded and sighed. "Yeah...if it's possible, I'll figure it out eventually."

"I'm sure you will, Naruto. So let's start with the Fireball Jutsu?"

Naruto nodded and opened up the scroll, displaying the seal. Din couldn't help but be in awe at the seal, it's design was like a piece of art. As it was larger due to what Naruto said, it was a massively complex seal, something he didn't understand and could never hope to decipher. Most wouldn't even realize it was a seal at first glance, only when you really analyzed it would someone know...and even then, you may only think it as an abstract piece of art.

Din went through five signs and brought his hand to his mouth as he blew out a ball of fire, saying "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu".

He watched as the Fireball barreled its way to Naruto. The torrent of flames looked to collide with the seal then after a few seconds, was fully absorbed into it. When the seal was visible again, the borders no longer seemed open ended, and formed a ring all around the seal. If he could describe it, it was once open it seemed, and now closed. He recognized the Kanji for Fire within parts of the seal now, but that was all he understood.

Naruto set the scroll down on the ground and motioned Din to come. "Ok, so niw I have the Jutsu sealed, all I have to do is unlock it and the Fireball will be released. The great thing is, I can use this Jutsu with no chakra cost, nor signs. Since I'm only releasing the seal."

"What? Really? You'd never need to use chakra again for this Jutsu?"

"My bad, that was a poor choice of words on my part. This one seal, requires no extra work. The process of replicating the seal costs chakra." Din nodded in understanding. "However, due to this practically being a seal in a scroll, I can create many of these fireballs ahead of time, and when used later, will cost nothing..."

"I see. That is something that won't be true though, if you place a seal using your chakra in the middle of a fight. Right?"

"Correct. That wouldn't be a pre-written seal, and would cost chakra. Now, let me show you that it works." Din nodded and watched as Naruto stood up.

He took out a small tag and attached it to a kunai. Throwing it into a tree he then stood the scroll back up. The kunai thing confused Din but didn't ask when he noticed the Kanji for Water on the tag and was abke to figure out what was happening. Naruto made a half ram seal and the fireball was launched out of the scroll, then a second later, he channeled more chakra and water got prohected out of the tag, colliding with the fireball, taking it out of existence.

Din sat dumbfounded and shook his head with a smirk. But now Naruto kneeled down and opened the scroll more to a blank spot. "Now to recreate it." He watched as Naruto placed his hand in the center and a seal array left his hand, spreading outward. The ring and everything being as it was, then he watched as Naruto poured chakra in and it took a few seconds before the seal glowed in the center, signifying that it was ready.

"Now I have successfully copied and recreated your exact Fireball, utilizing Fuinjutsu."

"That's...remarkable. Naruto, is this really as you describe?"

Nodding Naruto smiled widely. It was nice to be praised for his seal after all the hardwork and studying that went into this. It took a couple years before it even reached a prototypical stage and then another few months before being completed. After that was just a lot of refinement.

From at one point needing an entire room for his seal, he can now fit it with a scroll. It was still massive but it needed to be anyways. However, the limit to the seal would always seem to be that of it's surface...since he couldn't just pop it into existence without one. That was the main hindrance, aside from that, since it could be technically classified as a defensive Jutsu...he could not attack until it was finished. Naruto was vulnerable during use of the seal...no Jutsu is absolute...there is always a weakness.

"It is a recreation of the Sharingan's copying ability, without the cost. There is no visual prowess that is draining my chakra. This takes chakra but in comparison, isn't as demanding, especially since I control all variables, the Dojutsu is constant. I don't need to see each and every single sign to a Jutsu either...I only need to absorb it. That also negates my need of doing signs, or utilizing the extra chakra to use the copied Jutsu."

Din nodded along then raised an eyebrow slightly. "Extra chakra?"

A smirk spread on his face and he sat back. "Yes, a copied Jutsu, on average takes an Uchiha twice as much chakra to use than the person it was copied from. That's because it wasn't trained or perfected by said Uchiha...that can be lessened by the Uchiha sharing the chakra nature, and eventual training of the Jutsu...but I don't need that. It even takes me less chakra than the one I took it from."

"He really knows a lot about the Sharingan...Naruto didn't leave a stone unturned in his research to create this Seal...the question is, how far does it go? Was he solely studying that one trait? Or more?" Din thought and got in a more comfortable position. "Well done, you have definitely made an effective seal, Naruto. Could you tell me your most complex seal?"

Naruto pondered a second and frowned. "I've yet to figure out how to make it work. I'm trying to design an ultimate defense...but it doesn't seem to want to work as I want."

"Oh? Like something against all elements?"

"Yes...but more. Literally impenetrable..."

"Even if you did...such a seal would require inhuman amounts of chakra...something no one could do alone."

"I'm aware...still, I want to get it. See I know there are Barrier Jutsu that can operate to level like that, but that isn't necessarily Fuinjutsu. They all require several Kage level shinobi. If I can get this into Fuinjutsu, then there is potential for a more versatile way to create an ultimate defense...one that doesn't have a time limit."

"You're a really defensive minded person. Even that seal you showed me, is pretty much a defense, granted it's capable of offense...the intention is defense first. I could assume that you definitely can create a more devastating, offensive seal than most will have ever seen...and yet...you don't seem to pour your focus into it...it's protection and defense...preservation."

Naruto had a somber look on his face and he slouched slightly. The wind blew slightly and forced his hair to dance around for a bit before settling back to it's mess. A long deep sigh left his mouth and he looked Din in the eye.

"You've got a point, Din. My Fuinjutsu is devastating and is not like these seals I've spoke of...these are precise and I lied to you. My most complex is the most precise seal I have in my arsenal and also it's own simultaneous defense and offense in one go. I didn't bring it up because-"

"You're unsure if you could trust me."

A small smile stretched across his face and he softened his gaze to be more hopeful. "Yeah...but everytime I try to find reason not to, I only feel like there is reason for you to be here. Like we were meant to meet for some reason that i do not know. When I am with you, I am genuine, I have not put up any act, nor tried deception on you...only done as you have, hidden what I don't want you to know." Din nodded and understood. He too felt similarly and even didn't be as stoic as he always normally was. Almost like how he used to be...back with that one friend of his. "Din, I've had a suspicion for a while now...and if you can answer me honestly, I will share with you the seal I am speaking of."

"You value that seal, that much?"

"Din, this seal is pretty much my trump card. As I'm sure you have one of your own..." Din nodded "...this is one that would be unbeatable if unsuspected. It is precise to a 'T' and would ensure my victory and survival. By telling you, you will know how to counter it and therefore, my trump card is null invoid. By you telling me the truth, I know I can trust you, and therefore will be willing to potentially lose my advantage over you."

"It is that strong? That you truly believe it unbeatable."

"If I used it on you now...yes. If I tried it after telling you no. If known, it can be easily countered or defended. If unknown, as I would keep it, it is guaranteed."

Din thought for only a moment, he already knew he could trust Naruto. He might have disappeared and even, never knew him before now, but Naruto seemed so much more different than anyone else. Almost like him, not in the aspects of his circumstances, but that almost alienated sense...like they both didn't belong, they were out of place.

Within their worlds, they were the two outliers. Naruto contained a demon and seemed to have a wisdom beyond his years. Din...he was the outlier of his clan and was the one each side depended on. In the end a decision was forced upon him, one he had to be made otherwise everything would have crumbled and nothing but wreckage would remain... It was what haunted Din every moment of his life since then, and one that ends in only one way. Naruto seemed to still be on that road but yet to reach the crossroads...Naruto was trustworthy and he felt that restraint was something Naruto had in spades.

Something else they both shared. That unwillingness to do harm, to be violent. To use the immense power they held. Yet, when the situation arose, did not hesitate to do what was necessary.

Yes, he would too, place his trust into Naruto. "What is it you want to know?"

"Are you an Uchiha, Din?"