*Small Authors Note.*
Due to popularity reasons, I went ahead and did Broken Fox Part Two. Redrum will be getting its conclusion next, thank you for keeping patience. Please understand that I'm trying to build the lore the leads to the eventual combining of these two worlds in a way I've never done before. Please continue to hold patience with me. We're nearing our goal! Not spoiling, but we're nearing there!

Enjoy!

Edit 1: I changed a timeline error. I'm sorry!

Edit 2: Changed timeline again.

A man with white hair walked the river's edge. He wore a red overcoat, and his brown shozuko robe and hakama fluttered in the raging winds. His long, white hair fluttered from gusts from the powerful storm overhead. It had been hours since it had started up, and The Green River was growing. He was near The Raging Coast, a coastline that bordered the waters of The Land Of Water. He had just got back from an intelligence operation. A few contacts told him that an assassination by an organization he's hunting, which nearly succeeded, occurred against their Mizukage. Kagura, their Mizukage, in his opinion was a cancer on that land anyhow. He noted, though, that an island just between The Land of Fire and The Land Of Water, was The Land Of Whirlpools. That land has been dead for nearly thirty-five years, and was a great loss to the shinobi world because ignorance ruled that day.

Even prior to then, prior to any attack, The Uzumaki Clan had engaged in a civil war, for whatever reason, that would end up being the final nail in the coffin for the once great clan!

"I miss you, Minato," The man thought while looking up to the sky. "If you were around, perhaps we could be taking more proactive approach against The Akatsuki. Hiruzen doesn't see the writing on the wall."

The man closed his eyes, feeling the rain wash over him, but as he opened them his eye caught something. An orange blob, floating in the river, a matte of blonde hair attached to it. Without much thought, he leapt into the waters, swimming strongly against the current, he grabbed onto the child. He pulled, swimming with one arm, using chakra to enhance his body. He managed to make it to the shore, his eyes beholding an unbelievable sight. The child wore the cloak, if tattered, of The Fourth Hokage. His backpack was soaked, but it looked well insulated, perhaps whatever he carried survived?

Pressing fingers against the kid's throat, he looked grim, there was no pulse. Grimacing, he flipped the kid over onto a rock, and pressed hard over his chest. Beginning compressions, he silently hoped the kid would just get the hint. However, after a couple of minutes, the white-haired man grumbled and began to breathe hair into the child. He went back to chest compressions, pushing hard, he knew he had broken one of the kid's ribs because of it. Just when he was about to call it, and get a spade from his pack, the kid coughed. Mucus filled water splashed out of his mouth, and then it came, puke. The blonde child hurled, facing the sand on his hands and knees. Water, bile, mucus mixed in a viscus liquid that flowed down with the rainwater.

Gathering his thoughts, the blonde sat on the sand looking up at the man, they both locked eyes. Winds howled around them, storm raging, thunder whipping through the early dawn skies. The blonde tried to stand up, but was helped by the man, holding his side. His rib began to reset itself, courtesy to the literal monster in his stomach.

"Thank you," the blonde thanked the man, "I could've sworn was dead when I hit that rock…"

"Well, if its any consolation, you were for Gods know how long. Interesting coat by the way, kid, where'd you come across it?" The older man inquired.

The blonde clamped up, "I found it."

"Hmm really," The man hummed, "Well come on, there's a cave nearby."

The child took a moment, but then slowly followed the man. Grass shifting under his feet, he looked around, and didn't see anyone. The Nine Tails was silent, unusually so, and any mental call went unheeded. Then he noted the light around them, it was morning, despite the cloud cover. Hours had passed, hours since he fell into the river, hours since the moment his head slammed against that stone. He felt his noggin, a small scab, but not the gash he had felt from the impact. He should've been dead, but perhaps he was, and this old man leading him to a cave was the reaper. He stopped walking, noting the different air around him. He might've been in The Land Of Fire still, but it certainly smelled different. Salty, Ashwood, and perhaps the hint of sunflowers. If this was the afterlife, it at least smelled halfway decent. The man noticed that boy was trailing anymore, he turned, looking at him. The azure eyes of the child were locked onto his own. Searching, guessing, perhaps even judging.

"You know kid, most people wouldn't be able to walk after something you've gone through. Let me get us somewhere dry, I'll start a fire, but I can't do that while out here." The man said to him, coaxing the child to the idea of warmth.

It worked because he resumed following. Soon they came upon the cave, the man helped the child up into the upper climb. Inside the man found his firepit, striking flint, the flame came alive shortly afterward. The blonde was already huddled near it, warming his waterlogged hands, pale white as death. He noted the whisker birthmarks on the child's cheek. It was unique birthmark, and he could've sworn he only saw it a couple times in passing beforehand.

"So," the man says as he looked at the child, "What's your name?"

The boy stayed silent, but then sighed, "My name is Naruto."

"Naruto," The older man's eyes flickered with recognition, but he couldn't place it. "Like the ramen topping?"

Naruto gave a slight chuckle at that, "I guess, I don't really know why my mother called me that."

"Oh, your mother, she must be worried sick! After this rain quits, me and you will travel west, there's a village there you know." He told the youth, but then watched as the child's face became distant.

Sighing, Naruto looked at the man, "My mother's dead."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the man replied, "Father?"

"Gone too," Naruto answered as he looked at the fire, "What's your name?"

"I'm Jiraiya," Jiraiya answered as he smiled brightly.

"Jiraiya…" Naruto sounded out as he thought about that name, his eyes widened.

The blonde took a step from the fire, almost as if seeing a monster. Jiraiya looked alarm, looking at the cave entrance, but saw nothing. Naruto reached toward his pouch, but found nothing there, it must've been swept into the river. He then opted to one thing, he took his backpack, and slung it towards the man as hard as he could. Jiraiya eyes widened, he dodged the flying fabric missile, and looked dumbfounded at the kid's anger.

"Whoa, take it east there, tiger. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry okay, just don't start throwing stuff near the fire!" Jiraiya pleaded a little, smiling nervously.

"You're Jiraiya of The Legendary Trio!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing a finger at him, "You're the sorry son of a bitch I owe a punch!"

"Oh, Gods it finally happened didn't it. Look kid, whatever your mom and I did, I promise it was totally consensual! I mean, your pops raised you into a strong kid!" Jiraiya screamed out as he dodged punches from the blonde, who had to leap up to try and hit face.

"What the hell are you talking about, you pervert!" Naruto screamed while leaping up.

Jiraiya thought it was another punch, that notion ended with a knee connecting with chin. The only thing that his brain had time to process was the point he started falling backwards. Landing flat on his back, Jiraiya's eyes spun, he was nearly put out, and the fuzzy image of the orange clad blonde was him still in a fighting stance. The growl leaving his throat was almost animalistic, the man exploded up, and he yelled at the blonde.

"What hell was that for, you brat?! I just literally put my mouth on yours early to help you, is that anyway to treat your father?!" Jiraiya yelled at the blonde, who suddenly very red.

The cherry red face exploded into righteous anger, "Father?! You're not my father! Do I even look like you, no you're my Godfather, you bastard!"

Jiraiya stared at him, and processed, "Wait…so you didn't spring from me?"

"Fuck no!" Naruto yelled.

"Whew, thank Gods, that's another bullet dodged! Kid, when you get my age, and became famous. You kind of lose track of every woman in the country." Jiraiya laughed, nursing his hurt chin.

Naruto's right eye twitched, "Aren't you going to address the elephant in the room?!"

"Oh, I thought we did, I'm not your daddy!" Jiraiya smiled, laughing.

Naruto found a rock on the ground, clanking Jiraiya over the head with a hard throw, "Stop ignoring the question, asshole!"

Rubbing the slowly forming lump, Jiraiya continued laughing, "Ouch that's one hell of an arm kid!"

"You really are a sorry piece of crap!" Naruto exclaimed, and then turned green, "Wait…did you say you put your mouth on mine?"

"Yes, I was just trying to save your life." Jiraiya pointed out.

Naruto responded by hurling, wiping his lips clean, "I can't believe my first kiss was to this asshole."

"Okay kid, without hitting me, why are you trying to rip me asunder?" The member of The Legendary Trio inquired.

"You, asshole, are my godfather! You were supposed to take care of me after my parents died, Jiraiya!" Naruto screamed as he pointed the finger at him, tears welled up in his eyes, "So please tell me why you just treated me like everyone else!"

"Everyone else, parents, okay let's just take a deep breath. Can I at least know your mother's name," Jiraiya offered up, watching the preteen's glare became fiery. "It's not for that reason!"

"Okay, fine, my mother's name is Kushina Uzumaki." Naruto told him.

The woman's named slowed the world for Jiraiya, he took a step back. It all clicked, it all became apparent, and then he felt absolutely horrible. He looked at the kid, those tear marks, and the way he was angry at the world. Jiraiya got weak to his knees, he collapsed down to them, he looked right at the azure eyes once more. He saw him staring back, Minato, and he saw that righteous fury that man could hold. It was all made manifest in his son, who had his mother's temper. The perfect mix of yellow, and red, into orange. Naruto wasn't just Naruto, he was Naruto Uzumaki, the boy he had got reports on occasions. His godson for crying out loud!

The man took a deep breath, "Please tell me that at the very least, you tried to live a happy life.'

"I tried, and I thought I found a true friend, but they ran from me the moment they learned what I was." Naruto said to him, his azure eyes full of pain. "I don't hate you for not being around, perhaps it was for the best, who could actually ever give a damn about The Nine Tailed Fox?"

"You shut your damn mouth!" Jiraiya screamed as he got up, grabbing the boy! "Let me tell you something, if I had known what you were going through, I'd came and got you! You aren't that bastard fox, not to me!"

The man looked the boy in the eye, "We need to get you back to the village, because I need to have a heart to heart with my old sensei."

"Oh geez, get off me!" Naruto shrugged the grip off, "Don't act like you care, where the hell were you even?!"

"I had things going on, things that would protect you, so why are you all the way out here?! Did they come for you, and did you have to throw yourself in a river?!" Jiraiya inquired, demanding answers.

"Okay, first off, I am out here by my choice and rotten luck! Second, who the hell are you talking about? Yeah, Old Man Hokage tried to catch from the river, but I guess they all just gave up!" Naruto answered him, walking around the cave while trying to process his anger.

The child took a deep breath, "I'm just hurt, because I just don't know why…"

"Kid," Jiraiya placed a hand on his shoulder, "I promise you with everything if I knew you were hurting like this I'd been there sooner. Perhaps its fate here you are now."

"Fuck fate," Naruto shrugged the hand off, "I don't believe in fate I believe in right, or wrong. I think what everyone has done to me is wrong. I just want to know why, that's all. If I can put a method to the madness, I can at least understand it!

Jiraiya sighs, sitting on the ground, "I've been going around learning about a group of people. They specifically are hunting people like you, Vessels. I don't know why, but that's why I've not been around you. I have a lot of enemies, and kid I'm just one man. If they came for you, I can't always be there."

Naruto took this in, and leaned against the cave wall, "I want to yell at you more, but somehow I think you're telling me the truth."

The legendary shinobi sat against his end of the cave wall, smiling slightly, "You're strong at the very least, almost knocked me out cold earlier."

Jiraiya was watching a small smile graced the kid's lips, Naruto replies, "Almost."

Both sat there, fire warming the cave, and Naruto sighed. The blonde eyes grew heavy, without much prompt, the child fell asleep against the cave wall. His last bit of energy spent in anger, righteous fury, and Jiraiya watched the child slumped down. Leaning on the cave wall, he weaved hand seals. A toad emerged from a puff of smoke after the seals' completion. It saluted Jiraiya, with the shinobi tending to a letter. A very straight forward letter and handed the toad.

"Yo, Jiraiya, got any favors for me to pass along?" The toad inquired.

Jiraiya nods, looking right into the toad's eyes, "Do me a favor and when he reads it. I want you to tell them I am beyond negotiations on the matter."

"Yes sir!" The toad saluted, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Jiraiya looked back at the sleeping child, walking over to him, "I'm really sorry Minato…Kushina…this should've never gotten this far. Although I'll be lashing at Hiruzen in the letter, I am partly to blame. Perhaps its not too late, perhaps the prophecy isn't going to come to fruition."

Hiruzen had dispatched any available ANBU since Naruto fell into The Green River. Sasuke Uchiha had to be escorted home, and this was after the Uchiha tried follow Naruto into the river. It took Dog, and Snake to hold him back. Perhaps no truer friend for Naruto currently existed, and Hiruzen thought about going in after him as well. However, at the end of the day, the village needed their leader. He knew Naruto was strong, but he even had his doubts. Too much potential for debris, little time for oxygen, underwater boulders with the heavy current. The odds that Naruto survived, were very slim.

Just then a cloud of smoke erupted on his desk!

Getting up from his chair, a toad sat on his paperwork. The toad was all too well known, Hiruzen knew Jiraiya would be reporting from The Raging Coast on the incident involving Yagura. The toad looked at the Third Hokage, holding out a letter. The man took it from the amphibian's webbed hands. He looked at the letter, it had been penned very recently, and quickly. The stroke mark at the end, a signature, but an assurance that it was indeed penned by Jiraiya.

Opening the letter, Hiruzen eyes widened.

"To Hiruzen Sensei.

Yagura barely survived the attack from The Akatsuki. This marks the third incident they were involved in an attack on a Vessel. Reports indicate that Itachi Uchiha was involved, which places him at Village Hidden In The Mist's territory a week ago. This further indicates that The Akatsuki continue to recruit from dubious sources of Shinobi. My advisement is to raise security in the village.

Furthermore, Naruto Uzumaki is with me, I don't know how he got out this way. You will read this carefully because this is no longer up for debate. I am in possession of my godson. I intent to come back to the village with him, but I also intend to leave with him afterwards. I know you tried, but perhaps the rumors are true, you've too passive when it comes the council, and Danzo.

Make no mistake, this isn't because I am angry at his current condition. That can't be put into words, I am concerned that if The Akatsuki comes looking for him, that you all will not be sufficient in protecting him. Honor Minato, Honor Kushina, please for this time around, don't listen to others and do the right thing sensei. You are good man, a passive man, but a good man. I trust this will reach you before I am at The Leaf Village. It'll three days' time, since the storm continues, and he's fallen into a fitful rest.

Be at The Northern Gate, in three days.

Best regards.

Jiraiya The Great Toad Sage."

Hiruzen put the letter down and sighed in relief. A knock on his door alerted him, it then opened. Mizuki, a worried look on his face, walked into the office. He seemed genuinely in duress about something. The man closed the door, making sure no one else was coming in. He then looked at The Hokage, smiling slightly.

"Lord Hokage, have you seen Naruto Uzumaki? He was supposed to take his graduation exam with me today." Mizuki said to Hiruzen as he looked the man dead in the eye.

Hiruzen sighs, smiling, "Naruto is currently on his back to the village. He's been running around the northern forest. If you're worried about him, he'll be at The Northern Gate in three days' time."

"Oh really, that's weird of him to just run around a forest. I'll have to wait on him then, but sir, should we continue with team placements?" Mizuki inquired.

"Give everyone four days rest before team selection," Hiruzen ordered Mizuki as he relaxed in his chair.

"Yes sir," Mizuki bowed as he went back to the door, "One more thing sir, are you sure he's in the northern forest?"

"Yes." Hiruzen said, slightly uneased by the man's need for confirmation.

"Okay, thank you Lord Hokage," Mizuki thanked the old man before leaving his office.

Sasuke Uchiha was walking toward the village center when Mizuki walked toward hurriedly. The man stopped him, motioning for him to follow. Sasuke and he sat a bench, watching as the crowds continued to go about their business. The raven-haired youth just took a deep breath, worry for his friend paralyzing him from socializing with anyone for the last day. It had been a day so far, and besides only hearing that Naruto was alive from The Hokage, he didn't get an update if he was injured. He blamed himself, truly blamed himself, if he hadn't run away to confront Hiruzen immediately, had he just told Naruto what he was doing. This was impulsiveness was his downfall, impulsiveness was Naruto's schtick, at least it had been if his friend hadn't starting acted more mature two years ago.

"Northern Gate," Mizuki says to Sasuke, "From there I think we meet up with Naruto in a day. I am just guessing where he is, but The Green River does have a very predicable pathway."

"Okay, I'll pack," Sasuke stated as he got up. "Can I bring anyone else with us?"

"I prefer it, lets make Naruto feel welcomed back, that is a very good idea." Mizuki praised, watching as the youth got up.

Sasuke nods, replying, "I can think of two people who'd want to know if he was okay."

"The ramen shop owners, excellent, tell them to make him a big pot to bring with us. I'll even carry it!" Mizuki offered and watched as Sasuke ran toward their shop.

Naruto was walking with Jiraiya through the forest. Following The Green River and wearing his now dried clothing. Both had time to talk in the cave for a day, and the child reached an accord with Jiraiya. As mad as he still was on the inside, he was starting to understand. Taking a deep breath, the blonde looked at the older man with a smile. He smiled back at the child, glad to have made a small connection. The preteen took a moment to look at the much calmer river, where two days earlier he had fell into it. Stopping, the blonde noticed something in the distance, and Jiraiya stopped with him.

"What is it?" Jiraiya inquired.

"I don't know how to explain it, but I think The Nine Tails is waking up again. I can sense four people near us." Naruto told him, turning his head toward him.

Naruto's eyes were blue, but his pupils were more oval than round, an in-between the foxlike ones he'd display in extreme anger. Jiraiya knew that each Vessel of a Tailed Beast gained a trait from them. Killer Bee of The Land of Lightning had the ability to generate ink. Perhaps sensory awareness was The Nine Tails ability, which was interesting. Especially when Naruto explained it as emotional sensory, instead of chakra sensory, which meant that no one could really hide their presence.

"How are they?" Jiraiya inquired.

"Um," Naruto squeezed his eyes as he continued to sense, "Three of them are mixed emotions…one is full of anger."

"Can you tell who they are?" The sage asked.

Naruto shook his head, "I can tell that whoever they are they're following the river since they're getting closer. Um, lets see…I think they're about three-hundred meters away from our location."

"What else did The Nine Tails teach you?" Jiraiya inquired as they continued forward.

"Besides whom my parents were, nothing straightforward. It gave me pointers in my Taijutsu, but it did teach me that since my chakra pool is massive perhaps, I shouldn't try to focus on small portions…if that makes sense." Naruto replied as they started walking more toward.

"It's basically saying that if you're using a small amount, you're going to suck. Which makes sense, I can sense your chakra kid, and I think you've got more on your own than even most Jonin I know. If tempered correctly, if taught correctly, you'll be able to use any Jutsu in the world without much difficulty no matter how small the scale." Jiraiya told Naruto, and then he thought, "I got two that would be perfect for you. However, one of them is special to me, so you'll have to wait."

"Wait," Naruto stopped as he looked at him, "You'd teach me?"

"Why not, I am your godfather after all, right?" Jiraiya casually pointed out.

The blonde stood there, finding a smile crossing his face, "You're just the second person to actually teach me Ninjutsu."

"Oh, really, did Sasuke teach you some?" Jiraiya inquired.

"Just some stuff with shuriken, and kunai." Naruto pointed out.

"Well, technically, ninja tool techniques aren't Ninjutsu. They're just very skilled manipulation of your weapon, and environment. The Uchiha Clan was master of ninja tool use, it only makes sense that Sasuke would be able to teach you some things." Jiraiya stated, rubbing his chin, "Did he offer to teach you a Ninjutsu?"

"He said if I graduated with him, he'd teach me The Fireball Jutsu." Naruto said as he watched the signatures in his vision. "Somethings wrong..."

"What is it," Jiraiya asked, "Something happening to them?"

"Yeah, oh crap, one of them is in extreme pain, no two of them!" Naruto yelled, and then shot off forwards into the woods.

Jiraiya casually ran behind him, keeping a distance, interested at what the blonde could do.

"Dad!" Ayame yelled out, clutching her stomach.

Teuchi was coughing up some blood as he twitched on the ground. Sasuke was standing over him, trying to keep the man's head up so he wouldn't choke. Ayame knew she was experiencing the same issue, blood flowed from her nose, splattering against the ground. Mizuki stood behind them all, simply smiling, he grabbed the pot of ramen that the old man had been carrying. He dumped it into the ground, where grass started to die. He chuckled, tossing the pot against the tree, denting it beyond repair.

"Mizuki sensei, what are you doing, help!" Sasuke yelled, trying to keep Teuchi's head up as dark blood flowed from his mouth.

The man simply smirked, walking over to Sasuke, kicking him away from Teuchi. The raven-haired youth simply got up, glaring at his sensei. He took a kunai out of his pouch, watching as Ayame got over to her father, lifting his head up. Blood leaked from her mouth as well, but not as bad. Mizuki gave them a dark regard, sneering their way, and then looking directly at Sasuke.

"I'm going to stop pretending, little brat. I personally don't care for the Nine Tails, but you'll make a finer prize than some damn old scroll. Lord Orochimaru has been wanting an Uchiha for a while, imagine my reward if I just brought you in to him." Mizuki cackled as he got his kunai out, "But I suppose I can test the great Sasuke Uchiha out one last time."

"You bastard!" Sasuke roared as he charged forward, clashing knives with the man.

Sparks flew from contact as both ran at each other, kunai clashing with each pass. Sasuke was the first to receive a wound, a small cut over his left cheek. Mizuki received a tiny cut along his wrist. Obviously, Sasuke was aiming for killing blows, but Mizuki wouldn't let him. Instead of attempting to make another pass, he turned around weaving hand seals. He took a deep breath, blowing a jet of fire toward Ayame and her father. Sasuke landed in front of them, barely getting off his own Fireball Jutsu in time to deflect the torrent of flames. Breathing hard, Sasuke grabbed more kunai, throwing toward Mizuki. They scattered, clattering against each other into patterns before one last clash sent them all flying toward him.

His response was simply to form an earth barrier with a Jutsu. Sasuke eyes widened, he looked at Ayame, her father was pale white. Death was near for him, but it didn't make sense to him on how Mizuki wasn't affected. He had eaten the same food, but then it occurred to him, that the bastard also was drinking something else entirely from the group. That flask, on his left hip, and it clicked. It was antidote, and Sasuke needed it now, because if he didn't get it then Naruto's friends were going to die!

Sasuke grabbed a paper bomb from his pouch, attaching it to his kunai. The blade sunk into the earth barrier with a loud thunk before the bomb ignited. He grabbed Ayame, Teuchi, and then hid them behind a tree with himself as the bomb exploded. The youth checked Teuchi's breathing, noting that he was barely hanging on. Mizuki then appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the throat, and hoisting him up against a tree.

"Okay, enough, as soon as I choke you out, I'm going to kill this old bastard. I don't know if I'll outright kill his daughter, might just sell her in The Land of Hot Water for traveling expenses. However, I'm going to kill your fucking friend, Nine Tails, and I'm going to make sure you watch me dump his body in the river!" Mizuki screamed in Sasuke's face, whose eyes started to turn red.

A single tomoe appeared to spin around his pupils. Sasuke found strength, gripping Mizuki arm, squeezing as hard as he could. He attempted to make eye contact, but he couldn't as his vision started to blur. The choking gasps came next, with Sasuke kneeing him hard in the ribs to get him to loosen up. Mizuki responded with a devastating right hook into his sternum!

Mizuki then hissed in pain as he felt something dig into his leg. He looked down to see Ayame sinking her teeth deep into his foreleg, ripping a piece of flesh off. He hollered in pain, letting Sasuke got, but then careened a kick into the young pre-teen to send him flying away. Mizuki then placed his foot on Ayame's throat, pressing into it. She began to choke, coughing up more blood. He chuckled darkly, but then as if a miracle, an orange blur appeared next to him. He barely had to react as a kick connected with his face, sending him flying into a tree.

"Ayame!" Naruto screamed, looking her over.

She looked at him, tears welled in her eyes, "You're ok…okay?"

"Yeah, just hang on!" Naruto yelled as Jiraiya entered the area.

"Help them, please!" Naruto begged as he got up from them, standing guard.

Jiraiya ran over to them, observing their condition. He noted that they had been poisoned, perhaps arsenic. He got out a bottle from his pack, slamming down Teuchi's throat while applying chakra to it. Sasuke came to stand next to Naruto, whose eyes were also blood red. Both boys watched as Mizuki got up, resetting his jaw from Naruto's kick had broken it out of place. The blonde's hatred poured out from his eyes, and he glared right at the man.

"Should've just got the scroll, brat!" Mizuki yelled out, "Then your precious people would be alive! You brought another person to their death, that old man you brought is next after I'm done with you!"

Naruto screams at Mizuki, "I'm going to rip your throat out!"

The blonde charged first, delivering three sidekicks while jumping. Sasuke followed behind him with a straight punch. Which connected with Mizuki's sternum. The Chunin shrugged it off but found that his left arm he used to block Naruto's kicks was badly bruised. His eyes widened as Naruto's canines grew, which meant that The Nine Tails was awoken within him. Landing down, both kids then threw a hard right hook, which even when Mizuki blocked, still sent him flying backward!

Roaring with a bestial rage, Naruto ran with Sasuke, who's new eyes detected something in the smoke cloud. A massive fireball headed for the two, with Naruto taking the step forward. Using red chakra, Naruto shieled himself and Sasuke. The flames roared around them, and Sasuke began weaving hand seals, jumping from behind Naruto as the flames ended. In the air, he targeted Mizuki.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled as tiny balls of flame spat forth from his mouth.

Mizuki dodged most of them, but one ignited his vest. He was forced to take it off, tossing it toward the ground. He grabbed two paper bombs, tying them to two kunai, and threw it at the boys. Sasuke used another kunai he grabbed from his pouch, throwing it at the approaching explosive kunai knives. They clattered together, deflecting the explosive ones into the air, making them explode! With not much prompt, Naruto ran forward jumping up, delivering a flying kick into the Chunin's sternum, he felt the bone fracture, and with a roar he followed through! The kick sent Mizuki flying through a tree, making the old oak collapse to the side. Naruto then watched as Mizuki got up, breathing hard, with blood coming from his mouth. He began to smirk, weaving hand seals. Earth started to flow toward the boys!

Naruto jumped up to avoid the spikes of earth, backflipping and grabbing Sasuke by his hands. Slinging Sasuke up into the air, the Uchiha weaved hand seals before releasing a large fireball from the air. Mizuki easily dodged it, smirking as he got a large shuriken out from a seal on his forearm. He slung it at Sasuke, who was still airborne. Naruto jumped up, using a kunai to barely block it, but in the process, he left himself open to several kunai. Naruto felt the thuds of the impacts, and Sasuke eyes widened as his best friend took the hits for him.

They both landed on the ground, with Naruto slumping a little bit. The kunai suddenly pushed themselves out, the wounds steaming to a close. Sasuke looked at him, a tear from his right eye fell down, and he watched Mizuki charged at them. He stepped in front of them, blocking a stab with a kunai with his forearm. The blade sunk into the bone, making Sasuke grunt in pain. Instead of pulling back, Sasuke pushed forward, and grabbed Mizuki with his full strength. Red hot pain shot through him, but he still held strong! His head barely came to Mizuki's chin, which he headbutted to stun him!

Naruto picked one of the kunai up, hopping over Sasuke's shoulders. His body inverted as he spun in the air. He glided the kunai knife across Mizuki's throat. His blood red eyes locking with the man's, blood filling the man's throat as his carotid artery was severed. Naruto landed behind him, blood dripped from the kunai, it had all been reaction and instinct. Mizuki stepped away, clutching his throat, choking on blood. Sasuke grabbed the flask of his hip, kicking him to the ground, making him look up as Sasuke brought a kunai down into the man's chest!

The Chunin's eyes widened, but slowly the life faded from them. Sasuke collapsed down, breathing hard, but before he could hit the ground Naruto caught him. They both looked at each other, smiling as each helped each other toward the Ayame, and Teuchi. Jiraiya stood there, breathing a sigh of relief as he Teuchi slept on the ground, and Ayame's bleeding had stopped. Naruto didn't even have to deactivate his power before she just wrapped him in a hug.

"Thank you, Naruto, thank you! Thank you, Sasuke!" Ayame cried out.

Jiraiya smiles, looking at the kid, giving a small thumbs up. Sasuke smiled and took a deep breath as his eyes turned back to their normal onyx color. Naruto's azure blues reappeared, allowing them to notice the blood on his hands. He looked back at Mizuki, and then turned to Sasuke. They both smiled at each other, and when Ayame broke her crushing hug on them, Naruto held his hand out to Sasuke. Both gripped each other's forearm!

No words needed to be said, all things said had happened on the battlefield.

"I will never abandon you, my brother!" Sasuke declared as he looked at Naruto.

Naruto nodded, tears welling up in his eyes, "Me too. C'mon, lets get back to the village."

"You're willing to go back?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm willing to get my friends back home safe," Naruto stated as he looked at his brother in arms. "So, lets go home, Sasuke."

Sasuke nodded, releasing the grip, and heading over toward the group. Naruto stood there, looking at Jiraiya, and he formed a creed in his head. Despite how few they were, his precious people, he swore one thing to himself today.

"No matter what, I'll never abandon those who I call my friends."