I am not dead! MWAHAHAHAHA! Ahem I understand that some of you may be confused as to why I took the story off of First of all, I didn't like how it was turning out. Second, there were a few parts in the plot where even I was getting confused, and when the authoress gets confused about her own story, you know it's messed up. And third, well, err….it was the characters. MY characters, that is. I didn't have their personalities all planned out and every thing; also the group was getting too big, so some one is not going to be there come later on. Just about everything is going to change.
As for pairings, I know that many of you liked that Naruto and Hinata were together, but I've decided to make our favorite blonde idiot sweat about a few things… namely his sexual orientation. As for other pairings, we'll just have to wait and see.
Also, I do have a life. Right now, college is taking up most, if not all, of my time. And writer's block is at the moment is an on-off deal over here. My muses have gone into hibernation, and very few of them are coming out to play. My plot bunny is sick, thus the rewrite.
Disclaimer: As it's utterly annoying to type this in every chapter, please remember that this includes all of the chapters of this story. I truly do not wish to repeat myself. I do not own characters of the Naruto series; they belong to Masashi Kishimoto-sama and anyone else that contributed into the making of their existence. All other characters are the creation of the authoress, Kazeyama Tsume.
PAIRING:
…. I'm not telling….
NOTES:
"Blah" Speech
Blah Thoughts
/Blah/ Flashback and/or dream
BLAH Kyuubi speaking
What You're Searching For
Chapter 1:
Leaving
The early morning sun light was only just beginning to peek through the old patched curtain that, sometime in the past, had once been a shirt. And maybe even part of an old pair of pants. It was the start of the daily ritual of annoying the blonde boy enough to wake him up… and stay that way. As it was a Saturday it was even more fun and enjoyable at listening to the blonde curse and hearing the odd bump, Thud, or CRASH that was usual this early in the morning. The birds residing near the window could a test to this. However, today there would be no cursing or the odd bit of no longer usable furniture being crushed under the weight of the blonde sixteen-year-old known as Uzumaki Naruto. He had moved.
Sigh, looks like it's the Inuzuka's from now on. It was the same deal over there… only this time, there were dogs.
Naruto was currently in his favorite training area. Well, technically it wasn't an official training area (never had been really), but let's not delve into those details, shall we? It was an oasis near the border of Wind Country but close enough to the forest edge that if he needed to get to the village center in a hurry it wasn't a problem. It was also large enough that he could train without needing to worry about his house being destroyed. The oasis had become his new home. He had moved in last week.
The blonde shinobi was sitting at the edge of a small lake that sat in the north-east corner, eyes closed, hands in his lap, completely relaxed. However, for those who actually knew the blonde, the small crease in his brow, the frown gracing his lips, as well as the shot of red, blue, and occasional purple, chakra crackling around his lean, toned frame said otherwise. He was attempting to speak with the tenant that lived inside of him, the one he like to call the Annoying Orange Fuzz Ball.
Everyone else called it Kyuubi.
At the moment he was glaring up at said Fuzz Ball trying to keep his temper in check. He didn't succeed for very long. "COME ON! I NEED YOUR CHAKRA FOR THIS JUTSU. IT COULD HELP TO KEEP US SAFE, YA KNOW!"
LISTEN, YOU BRAT: I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY OF MY POWER JUST SO YOU CAN ATEMPT A JUTSU THAT COULD KILL US JUST SO YOU CAN OUT-DO THE ANGST RIDDEN TRAITOR OF KONOHA!
"ARGH! DAMN ON!"
NO!
"YES!"
NO!
"YES!"
NO! AND THAT'S FINAL!
Grumble, "…man."
JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE FINALLY PERFECTED YOUR CHAKRA CONTROL DOESN'T MEAN I TRUST YOU NOT TO SCREW THIS UP. I'D NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE IT DOWN: THE ALL-MIGHTY KYUUBI DESTROYED BECAUSE THE IDOT HE WAS SEALED WITHIN COULDN'T DO A JUTSU PROPERLY!
"How 'bout we…"
NO DEAL. NOW, YOU'VE ANNOYED ME LONG ENOUGH. And with one push of his chakra Naruto woke up.
The sudden burst of Kyuubi's chakra had alerted many an Anbu, but when it didn't happen again they didn't bother to check though they did keep a look out. As it was Naruto had quickly reigned in the fiery chakra before it could consume the area. He didn't want to get into any trouble with the old hag. Naruto stood up, groaned when he heard the small pops of his bones and muscles loosening up so that they didn't hurt so much. He had not slept at all last night, instead he had written back in forth with Kyuubi in his journal.
He and Kyuubi had decided that, if they were to be stuck with each other, that they might as well get along as civilly as possible. This had happened after he had brought Sasuke back from Orochimaru and the Sound Five. Since then he had been training almost constantly in between missions. And it wasn't just physical training either. Part of the deal was that he actually start reading things other than a jutsu scroll… like history, or strategy. Kyuubi was adamant that Naruto could at least out think Sasuke. And to say that he had a few times done that very thing was like proclaiming he was a god: no one believed him.
Konoha's #1 loudest ninja was not so loud anymore. He had given up trying to impress Sakura, who was now training under the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. And he had stopped challenging Sasuke so much. After Sasuke's betrayal and Akatsuki's attempt at getting a hold of Kyuubi had failed those years ago, he had finally opened his eyes and grown up.
As it was, he hadn't been to see Iruka-sensei in some time. Guess I'll go do that. It has been a while. Showering, changing into clean clothes, and placing his wallet into his pocket, Naruto left.
Naruto continued walking about looking in to this shop and that. It seemed a village wide sale on clothes was just about to begin. Looking down at the only clean clothes he had left that still fit, he decided that he would go shopping. Maybe even with Iruka-sensei. Without noticing he had made his way to where Hinata lived, not that he actually knew this. He had never really been to this area before. Hmm, looks nice.
"Naruto-kun?"
He spun around to find Hinata and her cousin Neji walking up to him. Hinata had grown taller and had filled out nicely. She no longer wore her hooded jacket but had exchanged it for a long, beige coat that reached down to mid-calf. Underneath she wore a sleeveless black dress that ran down to her knees, slits running along the sides held together by small buckles starting just above her hip. Instead of the usual zori that almost all ninja wore, Hinata had on black buckled boots. From knuckles to elbow, her arms were bandaged covered with sheathed kunai. Neji simply wore the usual issued uniform that chunin and jounin wore.
"Hinata-chan. Neji," he replied stiffly.
"What are you doing over here? I thought Hiashi-sama had made sure that you could not come near this area?" said Neji.
Naruto tilted his head to the side, confused. "Don't remember anyone telling me I couldn't."
"Hmph."
Hinata shook her head, "It's been a while Naruto-kun. Some of us were getting worried, that you might be injured or worse."
"Then why haven't they come to visit?" he asked, frowning.
"That's a bit of a problem, Naruto, as no one except the Hokage and Jiraiya-sama knows where you moved to," replied Neji.
"Well, Tsunade-baba and Ero-sennin aren't the only two who know. I told Kakashi-sensei where I live so he could visit if he wanted, and I also told Iruka-sensei, because if I didn't he'd strangle me," smiling as Neji frowned at his names for Tsunade and Jiraiya. "I was on way to visit Iruka-sensei anyways, but I must not have been paying attention."
Hinata nodded, "Alright, well, I suppose we'll see you later?"
Naruto smiled, "Sure."
Hinata nodded again and glancing at her cousin before turning around and jumping to the roof tops in a blur.
"What are you up to this time, Uzumaki?" asked Neji, his stance guarded.
He blinked, "What?"
"You heard me."
"Yeah, but what makes you think I'm up to something?" asked Naruto.
Neji frowned. To tell the truth he didn't really know what was making him think such things, except… there was that feeling in the air; the one that said that changes were coming and things were about to get very interesting. He shook head, "Never mind."
Naruto frowned. Neji was worried about something, and to tell the truth so was he. Apparently he and the Hyuga were in the same boat as neither of them truly knew what it was that told them this. He would admit that it was his instincts but it seemed there was something else behind it as well. Kyuubi, too, was becoming restless. Shaking off the feeling Naruto jumped to the roof tops in the direction of Iruka's apartment.
Hinata stared longingly in the direction that Naruto went. She sighed, "Something wrong?" she asked, looking to her cousin. Neji shook his head, telling her in that one movement that it was nothing to worry about. She looked back in the direction Naruto went off in, "He's leaving."
"What?"
"I said Naruto's leaving. And I'm going with him."
"How do you know this?" asked Neji. Hinata didn't answer. She would have been able to give him one anyways.
"You'll be in danger if you go with him," replied Neji, after a moment.
"I know," whispered Hinata, then she was gone.
Sigh. "Why do I always end up following fools?"
The rooftops were clear once again.
"Naruto!"
"Iruka-sensei,"
Iruka, being the mother hen that he was, pulled Naruto into a hug and then bopped him the head.
"OW!"
"No letter? Or few a phone calls? I've been worried sick! There are some rumors going around that you've died!"
"Eh, Iruka-sensei, I don't have a phone, or a messenger bird."
"THEN WHY HAVEN'T YOU VISTED?"
"I've been busy training! Kyuubi's a hard task-master," said the blonde, the last bit under his breath.
Iruka smiled gently. Looking back he had always known that Naruto would become a great ninja despite the prejudices of the older generation. And seeing him now, a mature …err, a slightly more mature young man, he felt proud. He sighed, "Well, I was just about to go shopping, and I'd like to get to the stores before the rush, but…"
"No worries, Iruka-sensei. I was going to ask you if you wanted to join me in shopping, too. I need some new clothes; the ones I'm wearing are pretty much all I have left. Besides, all of the good stuff will be gone if we don't hurry."
Iruka shook his head. I guess some things never change. "Alright, come on then."
"… and then Kiba comes up and drop kicks the baka while Akamaru's still hanging on to the man's…"
Iruka was now very happy that the blonde bundle had finally calmed down, other wise every man in the vicinity would have winced. He had already finished with his shopping, and had just started on getting Naruto some new clothes. Right now Naruto seemed to be doing a fine job on his own. The blonde had already picked up a few shorts, three in black, two in dark brown, two in dark green, and one in dark blue, as well as a few pants in those same colors minus the dark brown. His tops were either sleeveless or short-sleeved in black, dark red, rust, dark green and dark blue. Now he was over where the sandals and boots were. The colors had surprised Iruka a bit but the blonde reminded him that the retina-burning jump suit he used to wear was long gone something that Iruka was very happy about.
Remembering that Naruto now lived in the desert, Iruka walked over to where the coats were and picked up a long light brown coat that he thought would work well for the Uzumaki.
"Naruto, what do you think of…ACK!" Iruka jumped back as he came face-to-face with a familiar masked man dropping the long coat. "Kakashi-sensei!"
"Yo."
"Nee, Kakashi-baka! Stop trying to give Iruka-sensei a heart-attack!" yelled Naruto as he walked towards the two.
"Hai, hai, gomen nasai, Iruka-sensei," said Kakashi, his single eye telling the chunin that he was amused.
"No your not," muttered Naruto. He placed his pile of clothes on the small table and picked up the coat that Iruka had dropped. He criticized it and then his other clothes before folding it and placing it beneath the pile. "Thanks, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka could only nod. Seeing as how his old Academy teacher was going to take a while to recover Naruto turned his attention to his jounin instructor. Only one person in Team 7 had managed to pass the Chunin Exams last year and that had been him. Again there had been preliminaries as too many ninja had made it past the Second Exam. In the last Exam Sasuke had been disqualified for being late yet again (Tsunade wasn't cutting any slack), and Sakura had simply not made the cut despite making it to the Third Exam and defeating her opponent. To say that Sasuke had been pissed was an understatement. Tsunade had been muttering about spoiled rich brats with giant egos for six months after Sasuke had actually thrown a tantrum that would make a two-year-old proud.
"His too used to getting everything he wants. He has to learn that rank in the shinobi world here in Konoha while I'm the Hokage will not be given on a silver platter just because he's the last Uchiha."
Those had been her exact words to Kakashi (and the counsel), when the silver-haired jounin had asked her why Sasuke hadn't been made chunin. He had been on a mission when the Exams had started and his asking only about Sasuke had pissed off Tsunade, though he was going to ask about Naruto and Sakura. But Kakashi never got the chance as Tsunade had decided that he looked much better as a bloody mass on the floor. It had simply been one of those days for her.
"What have you been up to, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Naruto.
"I could ask you the same thing, Naruto-kun."
"I had a mission two weeks ago, and I was busy moving out of my apartment," he said, scrutinizing the masked man.
"What about Sakura?" asked Kakashi, teasing the blonde.
Naruto raised his brow, "We just saw Sakura with Ino a little while ago."
"What? No asking her out on a date, or proclamations of love?"
"Do I look like Lee to you?"
Sigh. "You were much more fun when you were younger," muttered Kakashi. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei, I thought you out of all the people would have known that Naruto is no longer interested in dating Sakura. You are their teacher," said Iruka having gotten over his shock and had watched, amused at their banter. "It seems someone needs to work on their recon skills."
Kakashi could only chuckle sheepishly. As Iruka and Kakashi continued to talk about Team 7, Naruto had taken his clothes to the counter to pay. Going through the motions automatically, Naruto began to think about what he had observed throughout the day. No one had glared at him or insulted him behind his back. In fact, no one had seemed to recognize him. The whisker marks on his cheeks were still there, so what was it? Was it his new attitude? The way he was dressed. Or was it simply the fact that no one wanted to summon the wrath of the formidable Academy teacher know as Umino Iruka?
Finished paying, he took the bags and walked back over to the two shinobi, one of whom was having too much fun making the other blush. And from the looks of it, if he didn't do anything there would be blood.
"Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, you finished?" he asked. Iruka took this moment of distraction to move out the door giving Naruto a grateful smile along the way, saying good-bye and inviting him for dinner later. When Kakashi realized that Iruka had gotten away, he pouted.
"What'd you do that for?"
Snort. "You do know you just sounded like a five-year-old, right?"
"So?"
He shrugged, "Iruka-sensei would have had a nose bleed if I hadn't stepped in."
"That was the point," said Kakashi.
"Too bad."
"How's the Fuzz Ball?" asked Kakashi, holding the door open so that the blonde could leave. Naruto had told him about the deal with Kyuubi. Apparently it had all been done over a game of poker; the fox had a gambling problem just as bad if not worse than the Hokage's.
I HEARD THAT.
"Fine, I guess."
"Are you sure? Last I saw you, you seemed restless," said Kakashi. At this point they were making their way to Ichiraku's. It was nearing one, and Ichiraku's was having a special that looked delicious.
"… I …think I need to leave Konoha."
"Leave?" asked Kakashi, a little surprised, stopping in the middle of the street.
"I have been restless and so has Fuzzy. I just can't say why," replied Naruto.
"But that doesn't mean you have to leave," said Kakashi.
"I know, but…whatever it is, it can't be found in Konoha."
"And how do you know this?"
Naruto shrugged, "Instinct? It's the only thing I can come up with."
Kakashi nodded. Yes, he'd had moments like that before where his gut told him that what his enemy was going to do was a trap and that he might want to move his foot now before he tripped the wire to the other trap that would leave a bloody stump where his foot used to be if activated. It was also useful in avoiding one very determined self-titled Green Beast of Konoha.
"Just make sure to plan ahead," he advised.
"How can I plan ahead when I don't even know where I'm going?"
"Doesn't matter,"
"Alright, I will. Tell the others for me will you?"
"Of course,"
Naruto nodded his thanks and disappeared from the street heading home.
That had been two weeks ago. The advice Kakashi had given him had been useful for once, and he now had a rough idea of where he was going to go. The map of the Shinobi Continent had been very helpful in this. Each destination was marked and numbered in the order of where he needed to go next. He had also carefully packed everything he might need and that alone had taken two days.
He had written his letters to the other Rookie Nine who hadn't come chasing him down for answers, and had told Tsunade that he would be on a training mission. He'd also made sure to tell Iruka who had given him his birthday present early. What he hadn't known was that later that Wednesday last week Hinata and Neji were also going on a training mission. He hadn't understood why then, but he did now. It was nearing 3:00 and he would have left earlier if the two Hyugas hadn't ended up at his front door. And they were being stubborn too.
"Remind me again why you feel you need to come with me?" he asked for the fifth time.
"You're going to need help, Naruto-kun."
"As much as I hate to be here, I have to agree with Hinata-sama. You have a tendency to get into the worst kinds of situations, Uzumaki," stated Neji matter-of-factly.
Naruto leaned against the wall, shaking his head. He knew they wouldn't let him go alone, not after they had already made-up their minds and had prepared themselves to go along. He looked around his new home that he'd only lived in for three whole weeks. It was clean now; he had spent the last two weeks getting ready for this. And now it was time to go. His headband was on his dresser as most of his destinations were to other Hidden Villages. He was wearing his new outfit that consisted of dark green shorts and a black, sleeveless turtleneck with the Uzumaki-clan symbol stitched on the back. Black sandals instead of the usual blue and leather-covered metal armbands graced his bandaged forearms. Over all of that was the light brown coat Iruka had picked out.
Walking over to the door he picked up his brand new travel pack. "Well, you can't blame me for trying," he muttered. He looked at the two Hyugas. "Are you two absolutely sure about coming along?" They nodded. He looked around once more. "Then let's go."
The three chunin made their way to the North Gate, taking to the roofs as they didn't want to be caught in the afternoon traffic. Along the way Naruto relayed to the two where it was they would going first.
"Wave Country?" asked Hinata. "Isn't that where you went for your team's first C-rank?"
"Yep, you'll love it. It's great!" exclaimed Naruto in excitement, using his usual boisterous to cover his nerves. Neji saw through this as did Hinata but neither said anything.
"Let's be on our way then," said Neji, watching as the gates closed behind them.
"WAVE COUNTRY HERE WE COME!"
And there is the rewritten Chapter 1. I hope you like the change and be sure to send reviews I want to know what you think. Ja!