Well, I've got another chapter up for you! My goal is to finish one chapter a week, but this week as been a little hectic. My job is preparing to go to an expo and we've been running around like headless chickens… Good thing I'm ahead a chapter or so, eh?

This chapter comes out with a special thanks to Ghostninja85 for her hard work and efforts editing my work. THANK YOU! That said, enjoy the chapter…

Exodus

Chapter 2

"It all started about twelve years ago, when I was a small child." Rin started, looking towards the ground. He noticed around the camp the countenance of everyone change from the excited air of a few moments ago to a serious, almost oppressive air, at least that's what it felt like. "My family name is Dokushin. Dokushin Rin is my full name." In most circles of upper level ninja the name itself would cause a commotion, but the blank looks on the faces of the Uzumaki family left Rin feeling a little cheated. He would be forced to explain himself fully. "I am the last of my kind. Before I was born we were a prospering clan in the sand village, well sought out for missions of all levels because of our 'unique' ability."

"And what ability would that be?" Uzu broke in; his tone was less than sympathetic.

Rin sighed, looking down. The next words out of his mouth were bound to automatically make Tenmar and Uzu wary of him. "Mind reading. The Dokushin are mind readers."

"Mind readers?" Tenmar repeated, face registering shock. A light blush spread across his face as he recounted all the things he'd been thinking about the last few days. Angry thoughts about Konoha and even his family on occasion, sad thoughts about leaving, about his mother, even a few racy thoughts about… Tenmar's blush deepened. What must he think about our family?

Rin suppressed a smile as the thought wafted towards his mind. Although he was focusing his power on the forest a thought directed towards him was almost impossible for him to avoid catching. Tenmar, of all people, was one of the purest minds he had ever met and the horror he was feeling at his 'petty' thoughts was very charming. The happiness lasted only a moment as he remembered what he was in the middle of doing. "We lived and prospered in the Sand Village because we were their irreplaceable 'trump card,' that's what we believed. We knew that the villagers didn't like having us around; humans rarely enjoy having their most private thoughts known, even if they were never revealed. As a result we kept to ourselves, avoiding contact with the others. That was probably what ultimately led to our downfall."

"I can imagine." Naruto piped in. "It's bad enough having your private thoughts read by another person, even worse when it's a person that keeps a distance from you."

Rin nodded. "I actually don't blame the people of the sand village for fearing us, but what that hate led to was inexcusable. Somehow, unbeknownst to even the most powerful of my clan, the Kazekage managed to create a new trump card, a child with monstrous strength. We were no longer needed and, again somehow without our realization, we were targeted." Rin leaned back with a sigh. Suddenly it was not hard to loose himself to his own memories, memories that he hadn't thought about in years. "I honestly don't remember much about that night, I was only two or three at the time, but it was a massacre without my people expecting the attack. Somehow we were unable to read the minds of our attackers and they swept through us like a tide of death. My father and mother managed to escape with my brother and myself. We weren't the head family; we weren't even a powerful family, and it seemed that no one realized our absence."

There was a heavy silence as Rin composed his thoughts before continuing. Even Uzu at this point was feeling a certain amount of pity towards the broken boy. "We spent the next four years in hiding, traveling from small village to small village, never revealing the power that we were hiding. My older brother and I were raised to believe that we were shameful, that our very existence was something disgusting; what other choice did we have when we were forced to hide our true nature?"

Naruto nodded sympathetically. He was no stranger to being treated like an outcast.

"One day a child in the town we were staying disappeared. My parents were good people and couldn't ignore the pain of her parents so they combined their powers to find the girl, leaving our family exposed. The girl was returned to her family unharmed and the villagers seemed not to mind our existence at first, but slowly their minds turned against us. The night my parents were preparing us to flee they arrived, led by the father of the girl my parents saved. We knew they were coming but we just couldn't get ready in time. My parents weren't fighters and so, when the town's people came they distracted them allowing my brother and I to escape. My brother and I hid in the forest and waited for our parents to come, but instead the town's people came. Their minds were still high from killing my parents and it was… it was too much for me to bear." With a shuddering sigh Rin continued. "I dashed from my hiding place, I don't know what I was thinking of doing, what I thought I could do against these men who were intent on killing all of us. If it hadn't been for my brother, pushing me out of the way, I would have been hit by their arrows; instead they got him. Despite that he managed to pick me up and run with me until we were out of sight. We hid again and my brother told me to be a good boy and remain hidden this time until they passed. After that his mind stopped." Rin once again paused, having trouble continuing with the story, it was something he didn't think about often, it still hurt when he thought about his parents or his brother.

"His mind stopped?" Uzu repeated in a tone that implied that he was now more than a little into the story.

"He died." Ganten replied, thinking, IDIOT, can't you see he's in pain? Are you alright, Rin?

The pain subsided slightly as Rin realized that not only Ganten but also Tenmar and even Uzu were concerned over his well being. Glancing up he could see a worried look on Naruto's face as well. "Sorry. I'm fine. After my brother died I hid for two nights, not daring to move because I could still hear the minds of the town's people searching. Near the end of the second night, just when they were about to give up they found me, still clinging to my brother's corpse. I still don't understand why it was so important that they kill all of us. Wasn't it enough that we left? Did they need to kill us, too?" Rin's questioning eyes fell upon the Uzumaki family, who offered no answers. "It was then I decided that they couldn't be allowed to live. If it was them or me, I was going to watch out for myself and take them out before they could do the same to me."

"How did you manage that?" Uzu prompted again when Rin fell silent. Despite his intentions he found himself completely involved in Rin's story. "How did you survive?"

A humorless smile flashed across Rin's face. "That's when I was saved… That's when Kentaar found me."

At that point the camp seemed to explode. Uzu jumped to his feet shouting something about how evil can't save you from evil, at the same time a low wail began from the direction of Mina, intensifying with every second and, if it weren't enough, the commotion caused Moab to scream, his tiny fists rubbing ferociously at his face. Naruto jumped up and ran to Mina's side, followed closely by Uzu, who seemed to be mentally blaming himself for the distress his sister was in. Ganten, who was already holding Moab, took to trying to soothe the baby. Rin grimaced as he felt the wolves move closer to the camp as the heard the screams of their master, Moab. The movement of the wolves caused the nearby fox to also move closer, fearing a threat to their master, Naruto.

Luckily, as soon as Mina calmed down Moab also fell silent, causing the tension in the forest to calm a bit. Rin wondered momentarily if Naruto was even aware of the foxes that followed him, apparently since they left Konoha.

"Sorry," Uzu said in a tone that implied no actual remorse. "Continue."

Rin glanced at the nodding heads around the campfire and prepared himself to begin the most challenging part of the story. "Just as they were about to kill me Kentaar arrived. I don't know what he was doing there, I don't know why he decided to stop and see what the villagers were doing, but he did. He walked strait through their group killing whoever tried to get in the way and looked down at me. I remember him asking, 'Do you want to die today, boy?' I shook my head and that was it. He grabbed me and walked into the forest, leaving the villagers speechless and frightened. After that he promised me the power for revenge if I served him. I agreed and began a new life. After only a year of training I returned to village, alone. I left not a person standing, not the women, not the children… Then I burned their houses. I thought that revenge would make me feel better, but…" Rin fell silent once again, shaking his head.

"That village, was it called South Gate?" Naruto asked, eyes widening.

Rin nodded.

"I remember that story!" Naruto said, springing to his feet. "They couldn't figure out what happened, it was like the village itself disappeared. No one could find trace of a killer and not a person survived to tell their story. They were blaming it on a demon. Actually, if it hadn't been so far away, they probably would have used it as an excuse to try an' string me up for it."

Rin lifted a hand slowly and pointed to his head. It was the first time he used his limbs since they had been broken. At this point he didn't care that he was tipping them off that he was almost done healing, he feared more their recourse if they discovered he was healed on their own. Right now honesty was the most important, if he hid nothing and laid everything out on the table there would be no surprises later, assuming there WAS a later for them. "My powers allowed me to stop even a pet from escaping my wrath, but like I said, it didn't ease the pain of my parent's death. I returned to Kentaar feeling empty. He insisted that it was simply that I didn't think on a big enough scale, he told me, 'You're not human, so you hate humans. You'll feel better if you destroy them all.' And for a while I did, I killed every human I met with no prejudice. Up until recently I didn't even know there was such a thing a truly kind human, all I knew what that I wasn't human, that Kentaar and his men weren't human and that in this world it was kill or be killed."

Uzu shifted uncomfortably. Rin's story was hitting close to home on certain points. If his life had gone differently, he wondered if he would have ended up like this boy. "Meeting Ganten changed that?"

Rin shook his head, a small smile appearing on his face. "No. We had a mission, Inuko one other and I, to attack a small village and search for information leading us to… I guess to you, Naruto. Something went wrong during the course of the mission and I was injured. Inuko and the other nin left me behind when I began slowing them down, an action I was expecting. It's not like we cared for each other or felt any particular loyalty; we were together because we had the same goals and served the same master. I lay there injured, dying, but hidden, with only my pack to take care of me."

"Your pack?" Tenmar asked, "What do you mean?"

"I was placed in charge of a small group of wolves for purposes of missions. My powers made me very valuable as a pack leader because I could gather information from them with no problems and could even send them information in their dreams. I'm sure you're aware that wolves have power to travel dreams."

The Uzumaki family nodded. They had experienced that with Kentaar their whole lives until they found ways to block the man from their minds. They hadn't realized that the power was available to all wolves, but then, it made sense.

Rin continued, "So, like I said, I was dying and this woman found me surrounded by wolves and gasping for life, for breath. Her name was Keiko, a hermit of all things, who had been wandering the forest looking for herbs. I remember looking up at her as she stared at me in pity and surprise and thinking that I must have died and gone to the after life. Then I passed out. I don't remember much of the beginning but she nursed me back to life for no reason other than I needed help. I talked in my sleep, in my fevered dreams, and she learned of my secret. Despite that she didn't hate me or condemn me. When I healed fully I left her side and never returned, but after that I found myself wondering more and more about humans. Occasionally I would slip away from Kentaar to go to a town and just observe and I realized that mixed in with the evil there was a kindness and slowly but surely I found myself working so that as few people as possible would have to die when I went out on mission. Kentaar's people noticed the change, and I'm sure Kentaar himself noticed, but no one said anything. I was, after all, still doing what I was told."

"You said you were sure Kentaar noticed, but you say that like you really didn't know for certain." Ganten said when Rin stopped talking. He left the actual question unspoken, although it was running through his mind.

Rin nodded, "That's true. To be honest, that's because I couldn't read Kentaar's mind. Not unless I touched him and, trust me, I touched him as infrequently as I could. He was completely insane." Looking at Naruto he added. "I also can't enter your mind."

"You bastard!" Uzu broke out in an almost mocking way, pointing an accusing finger at Rin. He then looked down sheepishly, glad that his outburst hadn't caused any trouble with Mina or Moab. "THAT'S why you've been shying away from Daddy's touch, you're scared of him!"

Rin looked down slightly guiltily and nodded. "Honestly, Naruto, I don't mean to be scared of you, but not knowing what you're thinking…" A mirthless laugh choked out of his throat as he looked down in shame. "I'm just as bad as the people that killed my family, being scared of someone just because I don't understand them."

Naruto stood and moved to stand over the boy with a smile on his face. "Don't let it bother you, I'm used to having people be scared of me, I am a monster after all. But if you want…" Naruto lowered his hand holding it just barely above the boy's own in an offering gesture. "If you never try it, you'll always be scared."

Rin glanced at the anticipating faces of those surrounding him. In all honesty, he really didn't want to touch the man, especially not with Ganten and his brother's watching. What really scared Rin, however, was the fact that he might be sent away from them if he didn't. Somehow Ganten and his family had become important enough that Rin wasn't sure what he would do if he were sent away. With a grimace he reached his hand out slowly and allowed it to brush against Naruto's.

Can you hear me, kid?Naruto's mind was singing good-naturedly.

"Yes, I can hear you." Rin replied with a slight smile. Naruto's mind was as open as his actions, and from what Rin could tell, he was sane, if not a little strange.

So, am I crazy? I've always wondered. Sasuke, Illia and everybody beside the kiddies always treat me like I'm a little off, you know// Naruto thought. With each thought memories, pictures and feelings arose, as they did with every mind, but with Naruto there was a much longer span of experiences that were thought of.

"Well, I wouldn't say crazy, per say, but…" Rin grinned, a feeling of relief washing over him. Naruto was not like Kentaar, all bitterness and anger, but instead just as open and honest as he acted on the outside.

"Oi!" Naruto replied, snatching his hand back from the boy. "What kind of thing is that to say to one of the men that are taking care of you?"

"Well you DID ask…" Rin replied, full smile forming on his face. Looking up he could see Naruto's children exchanging bemused smiles. "So, about my earlier question… Can I stay?"

The Uzumaki men looked at each other, each of their minds moving quickly over Rin's story once more as they contemplated his request. Naruto sighed, taking the lead, "We're gonna have to talk it over. I would go to the side so we can talk quietly amongst ourselves, but it's not like you won't know what we're saying." He glanced at his sons. "So what are we gonna do, guys?"

Ganten shrugged. "You know my opinion." He looked pointedly at Uzu and Tenmar.

Tenmar also looked at Uzu. I don't mind him staying but if it'll anger Uzu I don't see how we could keep him around…

Uzu seemed to be struggling with the problem the most. He worked for Kentaar… But I don't know if I'd of done any differently if it'd been my life. Anyway, he's probably like Ganten's LAST chance at love. No girl's gonna fall for something THAT homely. "Alright. I guess I'm on board, too. But I wanna know up front. That girl, Kei-somethin' or other, what was your relationship? You're no gonna break my little brother's heart, are you?"

Naruto's head snapped towards the brown haired boy. "I FORBID IT! If you break my son's heart I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth!"

"Uz- Da-" Ganten sputtered for a moment before finally throwing his hands in the air in disgust. This would have been fine if it weren't for Moab. The baby shrieked in delight as he flew gently through the air.

"Moab!" Uzu jumped into the air and snatched the baby into his arms. "Geeze Ganten, you gotta be careful when you're holding a-" He looked up to see his brothers and father laughing at him as he realized what he had just done. With a grimace he thrust the baby back into Ganten's arms, exclaiming, "Oh MAN! I coulda been rid of the brat and here's me acting all heroic. Shit!" Still grumbling Uzu stomped away to sulk at the far end of the fire.

"I guess what Uzu's trying to say is welcome to the family. And if you break Ganten's heart you better watch your back." Tenmar said, managing to hold a both threatening and sweet smile across his face.

"Tenmar, you too?" Ganten demanded in an annoyed tone, this time settling for thrusting the baby towards his eldest brother rather than throwing it.

"What?" Tenmar asked innocently. Was he trying to hide his relationship with Rin? But why'd he hand me Moab?

"I think it's time to start rehabilitation training on Rin's legs and arms." Ganten explained, storming away from his family before they could continue to make embarrassing innuendos about his relationship with Rin. Ganten moved next to his friend and reached a hand down. Well, let's get you on your feet for starters, then we can do some arm exercises while you stand or lean against something. That way you'll be at least starting to get used to your leg muscles again.

Rin nodded, accepting the outstretched hand and stood for the first time in what seemed like forever, although Ganten wasn't far from his side, just in case. He could hear Ganten's mind thinking about what exercises to do, but in the background there was something else entirely going on. Rin suppressed a laugh when he realized that the white haired boy was thinking about the woman, Keiko, from his story. Maybe his family really DID have reason to tease Ganten.

"Alright, you can lean against me if you need support, got it?" I wonder what she looked like. "Now stretch out your right hand and practice moving it up as far as you can…" Was he really in love with her? "OK, hold it, Rin, that's good. Again"

Rin's eyes widened as the white haired boy's mind mused about what his feelings had been fore Keiko. The impulse to fall into Ganten's arms crossed Rin's mind and before he could stop himself he found his body collapsing into the white haired boy. "Sorry."

Ganten shook his head, grabbing Rin's shoulder to offer the boy support. "It's fine. Do you think you can lean like this or do you want to sit down again?"

"I think I can stand like this for a while… By the way, Ganten, I didn't."

did he hear me think about… Shit. "What are you talking about, Rin?" Ganten demanded, deciding to play it safe.

Rin looked up, trying to look as innocent as possible. "I didn't love Keiko. That was what you were wondering, right?"

For a brief moment Ganten felt a flash of inexplicable relief, and then his eyes narrowed. With a certain amount of satisfaction Ganten released his hold on the brown haired boy, sending him sprawling to the ground. "And don't say you didn't deserve it." Ganten added, dusting his hands as he stormed away to sit next to the still muttering Uzu.

Tenmar exchanged glances with his father, "They're so cute together, don't you think?"

Sasuke sighed as he spared one last glance at his home for what he feared would be the last time in a long while. The last few days he'd been thinking and he decided that he just couldn't leave that idiot Naruto alone. Anyway, even though he'd neglected to ask Sasuke along he hadn't exactly forbid Sasuke from following, either. The most important thing was, Sasuke knew which direction they were heading, catching up would only be a matter of time.

Hefting his pack over his shoulder Sasuke crept slowly towards the wall surrounding the only town he'd ever known as home. He should be able to get out of the city without much problem considering the disarray Konoha was still currently in. The problem lay in getting back in if he were to change his mind. That's why it had taken him two days to decide whether or not he was actually going to do this.

With an unwavering hand Sasuke gripped the handles he knew existed on the side of the wall, climbing swiftly. There was no room left for hesitation in his mind. He was going to be with Naruto and get strong enough to defeat Itachi. He could have both; he WOULD have both or revenge was not worth having.

As quickly as Sasuke ascended the wall he descended it and made a quick dash towards the forest only a few feet away. He was amazed that things were going so smoothly. He'd half expected Sakura or Iruka-sensei to appear and bar his exit. Once in the forest Sasuke was as good as gone. There were not many that could track him in the dark after that point and by the time they noticed he was gone there would be no trace.

"Going somewhere?" A low lazy sounding voice called from behind him causing Sasuke to jump into the air in surprise.

With a low growl Sasuke turned to find himself face to face with Shikamaru. "What the hell're you doing here?" Sasuke demanded.

"Perhaps I should be the one asking that. I didn't think it would take you two days to decide to join him." Shikamaru sigh, leaning against a nearby tree as he spoke. Standing with his own strength was such a bother.

"If you know what I'm doing than what do you want?" Sasuke spat back, preparing himself to fight for the right to leave. "If you plan on stopping me…"

Shikamaru groaned, holding up a hand before Sasuke could continue. In the hand was a pack. "It would be bothersome to let you run off on your own." The boy said simply. "I'm going too."

Sasuke stared Shikamaru, considering his options. He could just say no. Of course, Shikamaru could just run back into town and tell everyone that Sasuke was leaving before he got a decent distance away. Anyway, despite his lazy nature, Shikamaru was supposedly a pretty good fighter. He was at least a genin, he wouldn't be a handicap. Sasuke sighed. The longer he thought about it the less reason he could think of NOT to take the spiky haired boy. "Fine, let's just get going."

Shikamaru nodded, strapping his pack across his back and moving to follow Sasuke. He hadn't expected the stoic boy to agree so easily. He must be really desperate to join Naruto.

Ahem… Well, there's the Sasuke/Shikamaru action I promised. Next chapter should get a little more fighting action as I finally have the long explanation stuff out of the way. I don't think that Sasuke and Shika-chan will catch up for a while, but one day, I'm sure…

As promised, I'll answer any questions that were sent to me… Ahem…

Anime Redneck asks: I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that since the fist chapter to the sequel of 'Embrace of Solitude' has been put out that you have a Beta Reader for it, yes? Then why, please, are there missing and misspelled words still?

My reply: sputter Wha- hey- Spe- I mean, eh? Spelling mistakes? ME? Never. You must speak a different dialect of English, 'cause I would NEVER- er, OK, never mind, in actuality, yes, I DO have a pre-reader/beta NOW, but I jumped the gun with chapter one and released it before it was edited… I'm terribly sorry about any errors that appear, but if it helps any, I DID run the chapter through extensive spell check and re-read it a few times; I'm just not good at catching my own mistakes. I promise to work harder in the future… bows to readers I'm sorry! Also, my author's notes are usually written up right before I post the chapter, so they have the biggest chances of spelling problems, as they always remain un-edited beyond spell check.

RukaIayLomperGay asks: So is Tenmar ever going to get with Iruka?...even for a night...pweese!

My reply: Ah… I love how you root for Tenmar, but as Iruka stayed in Konoha and Tenmar's off to adventure I don't know how possible that is. Don't worry; I have PLANS for Tenmar… Oh yes, great plans… cue lightning and evil laughter

Tenmar: frightened Gah, what do you mean by THAT?

Psychic King: Heh heh heh… You'll just have'ta wait an' see…

Tenmar: whimpers

Koolanimefreek asks: what i dont understand is if sasuke and shika are going after them... are they traveling together? and will they actually be able to reach the uzumakis?

My reply: Ano, I hope that this chapter answered SOME of those questions… I DO have possible plans for meetings and such, but THAT will have to wait to be seen (I don't really MIND throwing spoilers, but I'm always afraid that I'll change my mind before I get to that point, so I'm scared to…).

And now an Inspirational Quote for you all: Every flower must grow through dirt. –Anonymous

And with that I'm out of things to say except please review. Oh, and, I had a few people mention that they would beta if I wanted. I do have a beat, but I was hoping to have two, not that one isn't enough, but I'd like two opinions on my story content. Unfortunately, I would e-mail these people, but darnit, doesn't let me look up people's e-mail addresses. It's not letting me post MY e-mail address, either, so we've got a small problem. Well, I'll spell it out, so if you still are interested send me an e-mail please to psychicking at gmail dot com.

The at and the dot should be symbols… Ehe we'll see if that works. Anyway, have a good day, thanks for reading and thank you everyone that posted a review!