Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and only use it for entertainment purposes

In the black pit that housed the Oto shinobi one was silently making his way to one of the innermost chambers. This was the Chunin that escaped with his life only because the one that rescued their target had left him alive to deliver a message. This was the reason why he was heading away from Orochimaru's private quarters to a room not far away. This room belonged to the Snake Sannin's protégé, Uchiha Sasuke. Every one of the Oto shinobi knew that Sasuke's authority was second only to Kabuto under Orochimaru. This meant that Sasuke was always near the innermost sections of the underground complex.

Walking past Kabuto's private medical laboratory the Chunin made his way to Sasuke's room. When he arrived he knocked softly and waited for permission to enter. He did not have to wait long, "Come."

The Chunin opened the door and a quick survey of the room allowed him to see why Sasuke rarely left his room. The room was quite large with nearly everything a shinobi could ever need in the way of training. Dozens if not hundreds of scrolls, training logs and targets for shuriken and kunai practice, a large open area at the back for Taijutsu practice, and incredibly smooth and slick walls for chakra control exercises. After the Chunin's quick scanning of the room he found Sasuke near his living space, only a small bed and desk, sitting looking over a scroll. "Sasuke-sama I have a message for you," the Chunin said as calmly as he could. Sasuke did not have an aura of cruelty like Orochimaru but he seemed to have a real temper for being interrupted for any reason.

"Tell Kabuto if he wishes to send a message do it himself," Sasuke said.

"I…it's not from Kabuto, Sasuke-sama," the Chunin informed. "Nor is it from Orochimaru-sama." This caught Sasuke's attention and turned to the Chunin. The Chunin repressed a shiver at Sasuke's now entirely black eyes, a side effect of the Level Three Curse Seal Orochimaru had just given him. Silently the Oto-nin wonder who's eyes were scarier the empty black pits on Sasuke or the glacier like blue eyes he encountered just hours prior. "The message is from a Konoha Shinobi. He said this time he was bringing you back."

"So the Dobe has returned," Sasuke mused. He then turned to the Chunin allowing what little light three was in the room to reveal his pale skin and tattoo like marks of the Level One Curse Seal that now permanently covered his body, another side effect of the Level Three. "Leave," he ordered the Chunin.

The Chunin quickly complied and exited the room. Once he was out he let off a slight sigh of relief. No one really liked dealing with Sasuke, not even Kabuto, because it was like he looked at you like you were some kind of bug that needed to be stepped on. The Chunin had not taken even more than two steps when another arrogant voice stopped him, "So you failed to retrieve even the weakest of the Hyuuga Clan," the Chunin turned around and saw Kabuto with his ever present smirk on his face. "And you delivered a message to Sasuke-kun as well."

"Yes," the Chunin confirmed. "We were tracked down by three Konoha shinobi. Six of the original capture team stayed behind. One got past the six and tracked the Jounin leader down and the others at the rendezvous point. He then quickly killed the others with barely any effort and let me live to deliver a message to Sasuke-sama."

"And what was the message?" and deep voice asked from one of the many shadows. Orochimaru stepped out to address the Chunin.

"A…all he said was that he was bring Sasuke back this time," the Chunin nervously answered.

"And who gave you this message?" Kabuto asked. He was curious over who could kill two Jounins and a Chunin with such ease as the Chunin described.

"I don't know his name," the Chunin admitted. "But he used Kenjutsu and hand blonde hair and blue eyes." No sooner than the Chunin finished he felt a sharp pain in his chest he looked down just before he died he saw a kunai sticking out.

"Sounds like he is describing Naruto-kun," Kabuto answered. "He's apparently improved a great deal."

"I'm going to face him," Sasuke said from his door way. "The Dobe still thinks he can match me. It is time I put him in his place."

"That is an excellent idea Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru chuckled. "Your new Level of Curse Seal needs to be tested before you confront Itachi." The mention of his brother's name Sasuke activated his Sharingan, turning his black eyes red, and caused the marks of the Level One Curse Seal to pulse. Orochimaru smiled at this knowing the easiest way to manipulate Sasuke was to mention Itachi, "Why don't you practice your Summoning. There is no doubt my fool of a former teammate taught the Kyuubi Brat his summoning tricks. You should be prepared to counter them."

"I don't need you're help in my training," Sasuke retorted before walking off.

After he was gone Kabuto turned to Orochimaru, "Is it wise to send Sasuke-kun out when it is so close to time to switch to his body?"

"I was telling the truth about the Level Three Curse Seal needing to be tested," Orochimaru. "I will need it when I face my former associates. They will be on the move again as well and will most likely try and kill me."

"As you wish Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto bowed. "I will make the preparations to ensure that Konoha does not get Sasuke-kun back when he goes to face Naruto-kun." Orochimaru did not give Kabuto any acknowledgment and just walked off to perform more experiments on one of his many captives.

It was before dawn and Naruto was already up and out in the forest going through some sword katas he had learned back in the samurai village. The current kata was a close range exercise where the maximum range of movement was only about a meter. It was one of many stages that made Tenken such a dangerous style of swordsmanship. Because in the Tenken style the user was able to kill a person from either close range or long range with utmost efficiency.

After he finished his last kata he sheathed his katana and turned to his right where an observer had been watching. "I encountered a true samurai when I was a Jounin," Tsunade said approaching Naruto. "He was quite skilled but I don't think he could match your skill."

"There are not many styles that can match Tenken," Naruto said. "Is there anything you wished to ask me?"

"Not really," Tsunade said. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. You're old friends have been asking about your changes." Naruto looked at her for moment before she continued, "I haven't told them anything, only that if you wanted to tell them you would."

"I know," Naruto replied. He then gave her a small smile, "Kiba came by last night yelling and asking about what happened to me. The landlord kicked him out for disturbing the people of my building. And to answer your inquiry I am doing well."

"Good to hear," Tsunade said. "You know Jiraiya told me a lot about Keiko. She sounded like a special girl. I wish I could have met her."

"She was," Naruto agreed. "And I wish you could have met her as well."

"Well I need to head back before Shizune notices I'm not in bed and comes looking for me," Tsunade said. "I'll see you later today." Naruto gave the Hokage a brief nod and went back to training this time running through hand seals as fast as he could. As she left Tsunade took one last look thinking, "I hope you're able to deal with the loss of a loved one better than I did Naruto."

The leader of the Hyuuga Clan was sitting in the Clan's private shrine looking at one of many pictures that lined the wall. This one was of a woman in her early twenties. She had short dark blue hair that framed her round face and the typical pale eyes of the Hyuuga Clan, in all it was almost a picture of what Hinata would look like in just a few years. The picture was of his late wife that died shortly after Hanabi was born. Hiashi was here because of the statement Jiraiya said after Hinata was rescued. After his wife died the Hyuuga Head became much colder than he was before, even colder than when his twin brother died a year previous. No one knew this but it was his wife's death that caused him to push Hinata away. His eldest daughter looked so much like his late wife it hurt him just to look into her face for many years. "You probably hated the way I treated Hinata didn't you?" he silently asked the picture. "I probably would have still treated her like that if it wasn't for him. After Neji lost to him it allowed many of my old wounds to heal. And now he has experienced the same ones."

The door behind him sliding open and someone entering the shrine interrupted Hiashi's thoughts. When he turned around Hiashi saw his nephew entering the shrine, "I was not aware you were in here Hiashi-sama," Neji said. "I shall leave you so I do not interrupt."

"You were not interrupting Neji," Hiashi assured. "I was just finishing, Hanabi will be returning from her Gennin duties and I will need to prepare for her afternoon training." Neji nodded and stepped further into the shrine. He approached Hiashi and stood next to him gazing at a picture of a man that looked like a younger Hiashi. It was Hizashi, Hiashi's twin and Neji's father. "You come to pay your respects to your father every time you leave on a mission, do you not?"

"Yes," Neji answered. "But I do not have a mission today, this time I came to apologize to your wife for not protecting Hinata as I should." He then bowed to the picture and gave a silent prayer asking for forgiveness for failing in his duty.

Hiashi said nothing to this. Ever since Neji's first Chunin Exam he had taken his duty to protect Hinata very seriously. He knew that nothing he would say would alleviate Neji's guilt for not being there to protect Hinata. After Neji's prayer was finished Hiashi spoke, "Continue to aid her training and that will ensure her safety."

Neji nodded understanding what Hiashi was saying. He could not be around and protect Hinata all the time. It was simply impossible with both of their duties to Konoha. So to ensure her safety was too making sure she was strong enough to protect herself. "We will continue our training after she has rested."

It was around noon when Naruto ended his meeting with Sakura and Kakashi. Not much happened only Kakashi telling them they had no missions for the day. After a brief discussion of when to meet next Kakashi let his team go and he buried his nose in the Icha Icha Tactics Naruto gave a few days ago. So that meant Naruto was free for the next three days, unless an emergency came up. Naruto decided to take a walk around Konoha and take the village in greater detail since he was so rushed last time.

After an hour of exploring Naruto was stopped when he saw a familiar scared face coming down the street. Seeing his old teacher brought a small smile to Naruto's face as Iruka recognized his favorite student. "Naruto," Iruka greeted as soon as he close enough. "I'm sorry I couldn't see you when you first got back."

"That is not a problem Iruka-sensei," Naruto replied. "With the mission so soon after it was not your fault."

Iruka's face became a bit somber, "Hokage-sama told me a little bit about what happened." Naruto nodded, he expected Tsunade would tell Iruka at least some of his story. He was planning on telling Iruka himself when he got the chance. "How much did she tell you?"

"Only a bit," Iruka said. "If you don't want to tell me then you do not have too."

"I consider you family," Naruto said. "For that I think you deserve to know." Iruka gave Naruto a smile that seemed sad and happy at the same time. Happy that Naruto considered him family and sad for what happened to Naruto. "Would you mind if we talk about this somewhere else?"

"No of course not Naruto," Iruka said.

The nine members of Akatsuki were gathering once again. They knew why they were summoned, the container of the Kyuubi had returned from his time away from Konoha and that meant that it was now time to begin again.

In the darkened cavern all nine members of the organization appeared. The center figure spoke first, "The Kyuubi has returned. We shall begin once again. Itachi and Kisame shall retrieve him. When he leaves Konoha the next time."

"That may not happen for a while," Kisame pointed out. "We won't be able to just walk in like we did last time."

"We have information that the he left a message to Itachi's brother," the leader said. "The vessel will search him out when Orochimaru sends him after it."

"Do you wish us to deal with Orochimaru as well?" Itachi inquired. "He knows about our plans for the Demons."

"No concentrate on taking the Kyuubi's host," the leader instructed. "I will deal with Orochimaru myself when the time is right. He was a fool to think he could escape from he knowing what he knows." Itachi and Kisame gave the leader a small nod just before their forms faded from sight. "We shall hold on retrieving the one from Suna for the time being until Itachi and Kisame complete their mission."

"Just as well," a stout member with a wooden scorpion tail said. "Suna has increased their security since that Tsuki spy entered. And my many of subordinates have been called away from the village. It would be difficult to secure it now that they have the made it the Kazekage without help from the inside,"

"Agreed," the leader stated. "Sasori and Deidera you two will hold off on your plans for obtaining that one until a better time presents itself. For now we wait." The leader faded from view and the others soon followed.

Back in Konoha Naruto was in deep meditation focusing his conscious mind inward. After only a few seconds Naruto was looking upon the cage that housed the Kyuubi. He took several moments examining the cage and took note that there was a thick layer of blue covering the bars obscuring the demon from sight. Naruto knew that this was a mental image of his tightly compacted chakra inside his body. He had developed the ability to compact the chakra for two reasons. One so he could release it in a controlled manner to combat the Sharingan and the second was to keep the Kyuubi at bay. After the battle with Sasuke before he left the village showed him that Kyuubi could influence him more than he previously thought. He decided to find a way to limit that influence as much as possible and found a way in the samurai training. By compressing his chakra to one point, in this case around the seal, Naruto was not only able to gain incredible chakra control but also strengthen the seal.

The Kyuubi now had no way to influence Naruto in any way. So it was now a completely one-way existence, when Naruto would need the Kyuubi's chakra he would lower the chakra barrier and Kyuubi's chakra would come out. When Naruto approached the gate he lowered enough of the chakra barrier for Kyuubi's eyes to be shown. "I may need your chakra in the near future," Naruto said.

"Is it the one that left?" Kyuubi asked.

"No telling how strong he became, so it is possible," Naruto replied. "I was more thinking of the one controlling him."

"The Snake," Kyuubi stated. Naruto nodded as an answer. "I shall be prepared."

Naruto raised the barrier once again and exited his mind. When he opened his eyes Naruto sensed someone approaching from his right. From the person's uneasy steps he concluded that who ever it could be was nervous about approaching him. Standing up Naruto went to greet his nervous visitor.

Coming up to the person Naruto was mildly surprised to see that Hinata. "Hello Hinata," Naruto greeted causing Hinata to jump just a little.

"H…hello N…Naruto-kun," Hinata returned. "I…I just w…wanted to say t…thank you for r…rescuing me." Hinata was rather nervous around Naruto. Before she was nervous because he was her inspiration to improve as person and a ninja. Now she was nervous because, like many of their friends, she did not know how to act around the new much quieter Naruto.

"It was no trouble Hinata," Naruto said. "You are a friend and fellow Konoha shinobi."

After a few minutes of occurred silence on her part Hinata realized that was all Naruto was going to say. "W…well I just w…wanted to thank you a…anyway."

"You are welcome Hinata," Naruto said. He looked at the sky and then back towards Hinata, "I must be going Hinata. I still have some training I need to do." Without another word Naruto walked off leaving Hinata by herself.

Left alone Hinata became somewhat depressed at Naruto's reaction. It was truly like talking to an entire different person now just like everyone had said. "What happened to you Naruto-kun?" she asked silently.