Six reviews! More than I expected, but far from what I hoped. ;-; Come on, lazy readers, unlazi-lize yourself for once and submit a review!

This chapter will be quite confusing, because it keeps switching between times. As a guide, if it doesn't have "(insert number) days ago:" before the section begins, it means it happened on the same day the first paragraph (the one before "The Quest by Infinite Inficio" crap starts). Otherwise it happened so-and-so day(s) before the first paragraph's incident.

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As a note, Tsunade isn't the Hokage. It's AU, after all.

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Pairings are technically undecided- I have a fair idea, but still considering suggestions. Questions if you're confused or something are also acceptable.

Also, as a small note, I've been seeing really crappy stories getting loads of reviews. It makes me sad. :(

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(Yes, I'm trying subliminal messaging. Hope it does the trick. :) Or if not, review anyway)

I am on a self-proclaimed mission

As an excuse for running away

'So,' Naruto started. 'Uchiha Sasuke isn't a myth after all.'

He wiped the sweat off his face. 'It was never one to start with.'

'I'll say it for the last time,' Naruto took out his kunai. 'Let me through.'

'Not when you're a jinchuuriki,' he denied. He knew he was losing, but there was no way he was backing out now. 'I need to find my brother.'

'That is exactly what I'm doing, so let me through, and you can follow Itachi to the Akatsuki headquarters when he's got me.'

'Yeah, right, like anyone would be stupid enough to let himself be captured.'

'Apparently, I am.'

Naruto panted. He only had two tails by the time he finished the fight; still enough for him to take control of himself.

He didn't know what to do with the rogue shinobi's body- dump it in the bushes? Incinerate it?

Then he settled with just leaving it there. He didn't have Sakura's medical skills or Hinata's homemade stock of ointments.

He took one last look at the sorry, unconscious body behind him.

'You're lucky I felt sorry for you…'

The Quest

By Infinite Inficio

Chapter Three

Three days ago:

Sakura walked through the village, trying to act as civilian-like as possible.

While ANBU made it clear to wear masks through crowded places, to hide your identity, Sakura thought that walking out there with no disguise would've been the perfect cover.

No one noticed that she was a shinobi.

She looked at the housewives, shopping for groceries, chatting… laughing… they had a routine life.

Sakura would've been one of them if she didn't join the Ninja Academy.

She was one of the few who didn't come from any shinobi families- thankfully, her parents were supportive, contrary to most civilians, but they weren't exactly proud of it.

Naruto? Well, she didn't know about Naruto- he didn't even know who his parents were.

Even though she was surrounded by civilians, she kept on her guard- an ANBU could've been in the crowd, and could take her back to the headquarters.

She ran, making sure not to graze her arm by the shurikens hidden underneath her sleeves.

Two days ago:

'Captain,' Kakashi started. 'I would like to speak to you about a matter concerning my students.'

'What is this matter, to be exact?'

'Don't play games with me- you know exactly what I'm talking about.'

If his eye didn't play tricks on him, Kakashi was sure he saw a small look of surprise on Captain's face.

Captain was indeed surprised. Kakashi never talked back to him like that before.

'Uzumaki and Haruno will be treated like any other ANBU. If they don't come back within a week, they will be declared as traitors of ANBU, and considered as rogue shinobis. Hunter-nins will be dispatched to dispose of them by that-'

'No!' Kakashi suddenly exclaimed.

'…'

'…'

Captain sighed. 'You know the rules of ANBU, Hatake- traitors are not to be pitied.'

'I'll search for them.'

'Excuse me?'

'With my tracking summons, I'm sure I can find them quicker, but in return, do not send off hunter-nins, or dispose of my students. I'm sure they have a good reason for leaving the organisation.'

'… Words have it that they're off to find Akatsuki's location…'

'I know.'

'They probably won't succeed.'

'I know.'

'Aren't you worried for them?'

'…'

'…'

Kakashi fingered his book distractedly, and let his sight wander around the room.

'Hatake.'

'Hm?'

'You can leave to find them now. You have a time limit of six months- after that, hunter-nins will take over the job and your students' fates are for me to decide. Is that clear?'

'…'

Kakashi nodded slowly, before exiting the room.

One day ago:

Gaara tapped on his desk impatiently.

'Kazekage-sama!'

'…'

'I have received the details from Konoha,' the ANBU member bowed, and handed a scroll to him.

'Hn. I'll read it later.'

Gaara's eyes travelled to the seal on the scroll, and a slight look of astonishment flickered on his face.

'The Hokage Seal.'

'Yes, Kazekage-sama.'

'If it's that important…'

Gaara sighed, and the ANBU exited on cue.

He gathered chakra, performed hand seals, and put his right hand on the seal.

It evaporated into nothingness, and Gaara unrolled the scroll.

AKATSUKI MATTERS. MEET AT USUAL PLACE, USUAL TIME.

The scroll proceeded to burning itself after Gaara let go of it, and turned into a pile of ash.

'ANBU!'

Instantly, an ANBU appeared from a puff of smoke in his office.

'Yes, Kazekage-sama?'

'Find Temari and Kankurou. I need them to take over while I travel tonight.'

'Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama!'

She couldn't believe it- her own student, and she didn't have any idea that Sakura ran from the organisation until moments later.

To find Akatsuki!

Along with Uzumaki Naruto, to make matters worse!

'Tsunade-sama! He's losing more blood!'

Tsunade shook her head, and cleared the thoughts off her mind.

She had a patient to heal, not a student to worry over.

One day ago:

'Leader.'

'…'

'Words have it that a jinchuuriki is travelling alone.'

'…'

'They say that he's seeking to find our location and tell it to ANBU.'

'…'

'It would seem that he's flaunting himself around to get captured, and reveal our hideout.'

'…'

'What is your opinion on this, Leader?'

'… Inform the assigned Akatsuki to capture the jinchuuriki as fast as possible. Make sure his partner helps him as well as possible.'

Kakuzu looked at Leader with disbelief, but didn't question him.

'I shall do that, Leader,' he replied, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

A figure was thrusting through the rough interior of the cave.

'Zetsu. Follow him and make sure he does his job without getting sidetracked.'

'Yes, Leader.'

Two days ago:

Sakura looked at the sky.

The sun had set a while ago, so it would probably be best to set up camp now.

'I hope you're okay, too, Naruto…' she mumbled, as she searched the sky for the bright Northern Star.

Two days ago:

The Northern Star ring on his finger moved ever-so-slightly as he walked, covering his actions with his cloak and his identity with his hat.

He turned towards his assigned partner.

'How about that jinchuuriki on the loose?'

'… We shall wait for Leader's instruction. Then we will take our first action.'

Sakura increased her speed worriedly. Naruto's chakra increased massively for a while, before she could track two.

The first one had a small amount of chakra to trace, added with a smaller amount of what she guessed was another person's chakra and was moving north-west continuously.

She couldn't tell how the other person's chakra was- all she knew was that Naruto's chakra had certain locations covered with an ethereal matter- most likely chakra.

The second one had even less chakra, she could barely detect it. It wasn't moving, and she assumed that if this one was the real Naruto, he must be near-death. There was also a small amount of that probably-chakra matter.

'Which one?'

Sakura pondered for a while, before heading for the second one- an injured Naruto is more prone to death by Akatsuki than a healed one.

Itachi activated his Sharingan, noticing another's presence.

'Kakuzu,' he greeted straightly.

'Itachi. Kisame.'

'What now?' Kisame questioned.

'The Leader has ordered me to inform you of his decisions. He would like you to capture the jinchuuriki while you can.'

Itachi nodded.

'Kisame- you are to assist Itachi in any way you can.'

'Hmph. Fine.'

'…' Itachi left the scene.

A long moment of silence.

Looking at Kakuzu's gloomy face, Kisame sneered.

'Why look so pissed off, Kakuzu? Bad day?'

The words "bounty", "unclaimed" and "Leader" were muttered out of Kakuzu's mouth, but he didn't continue on the topic, and left.

'Tchah- didn't even say goodbye…'

Itachi came back.

'Kisame. Waste no more time- pack your belongings, you and I are going to find the jinchuuriki.'