"Guilty Until Innocent"

By: Shadow and Janime

His body begged for a moment to rest but he couldn't grant such a request. He could not stop. The bleeding has finally slowed down but they weren't healing as fast as they normally did. Tears crept down his dirt and blood encrusted face as he pushed on. He was so close he could see the gates leading into the village. There he would find safety. He had to keep going!

"He has to help me... he has to!" he whispered to himself, panting heavily as he clutched at his wounds.

--

"It's been years since you've last visited, Hidama," Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna--the Village Hidden in the Sand--commented.

His guest didn't say anything but turned her attention to him from looking out the window. "I wanted to see how you have been doing. Quite well it would seem," she said in a clear voice that was lightly tinted with ice. He smirked and she returned it. Kankurou and Temari watched, wondering how this strange woman seemed to have such a close bond with their younger brother. But before either could say a word the red head and the stranger both looked up sharply.

There was a strong scent of blood in the air but it was unfamiliar. At that moment the door was slammed open, two ninjas guarding the outside came in, bowing deeply.

"Forgive us Lord Gaara, but we have a situation."

"What is it?" he asked coldly, immediately standing. The sent of blood was getting closer, he could almost taste it.

"Some boy outside is demanding to speak with you," the other said.

"Who is he?"

"We're not sure. But he only wishes to speak with you."

"Gaara." The red head looked at the woman then at the door. His eyes widen at the sight before him.

A young man stood there in the doorway, his body weary with exhaustion but he was almost bathed in blood, his normally bright orange uniform filthy and torn in numerous places. The forehead protector he normally wore was clutched tightly in his hand but his other hand was gripping at his stomach tightly. He panted heavily, as if struggling to stay conscious. One eye was swollen shut, the other full of unshed tears.

"Naruto..." he whispered but stayed rooted to the spot. The smell and sight of blood was too tempting.

"Gaara... help me..." he said hoarsely, his throat raw. He looked up when he finally noticed the woman standing before him. She was beautiful, tall and slim with curves any woman would kill for but she threw off an aura of an expert killer. Her stark white hair was done into a braided bun with several feet hang down her back, bangs drifting into pale blue eyes. She lifted a sword calloused hand and gently touched the blood encrusted gash over his cheek. Slowly, her arms came around him and drew the injured boy into her chest.

Naruto let himself be embraced but his body couldn't take it anymore. With a broken sob he fell but she refused to let go, dropping to her knees and held him as tight as she dare. He knew the blood and tears were staining her pale blue robes but she didn't seem to care. If anything she encouraged him to let himself go, stroking his hair tenderly. Gods how he had missed this feeling! But why did he have a feeling of deja vu?

"Cry all you want, my little kit; I will never let you go," she whispered, kissing the top of his head among the dirty blonde strands,

"Mother..." he whispered, the word sounding strange on his tongue but he knew it was true. His good eye closed tightly as the tears fell, his arms wrapping around her tightly, burying his head in her soft chest as he felt the walls he erected fall. "M-Mother!" he cried out louder, startling everyone in the room. The woman just held him tightly, gently rocking him back and forth. But her eyes burned with an inner fire.

She wanted to know who hurt her kit. And she wanted them to pay.

--

Kakashi walked out of the hospital room as the nurses arrived to change Iruka's bandages. The look in his visible right eye was full of anger, sadness, disappointment, and disbelief.

It can't be true…Naruto wouldn't…

Or would he? Had the demon fox imprisoned within his pupil finally broken free and Naruto was unknowingly--and unwillingly--losing himself to the dark creature that was sealed inside?

Apparently, the villagers believed it.

No, Kakashi thought as he left the hospital. Naruto and Iruka are too much like father and son. Iruka may hate the Fox but not Naruto. Something must have happened.

And as usual, everyone blamed Naruto.

The ninja master/instructor jumped across the rooftops, his mind spinning with so many questions and what happened--did happen--before Naruto was chased out of the village.

He wasn't sure what had been going on since the Hokage had asked him to go on a mission outside the village but when he returned it was not a pleasant sight. The entire village was beating on the boy! He was trying to get through but he saw he wasn't the only one trying to help. Former classmates of his young student were trying to help him, to get him away--they even defied their parents--but it was no use. Everything seemed to happen so fast he unleashed a wind jutsu, pushing the villagers back and landed before the blonde but the damage was done.

Even with his clothes on he could tell the boy was black and blue, he wasn't breathing very well, and he looked positively shaken up. The boy looked like he had seen a ghost. He turned and glared at the villagers angrily, hands clenched into tight fists. "What are you doing!" he demanded.

"That boy is a murderer!" one of the men yelled angrily.

"What?"

"Kakashi-sensei!" Two girls, one with short pink hair and the other with long black hair, ran towards him. The girl with black hair was pale and had strange milky white colored eyes. He recognized her immediately as Hinata Hyuugi, the heiress to the main branch of the Hyuugi family. She quickly stood at Naruto's side, checking his injuries and asking if he was alright. The other girl was his former student, Sakura Haruno, a medic-chuunin in training. Her green eyes were wide with worry. "Kakashi-sensei, you have to help us!"

"Sakura, what's going on?"

"It's Iruka-san! He's in the hospital. He's barely alive even Tsunade-sama is having trouble healing him; everyone thinks Naruto did it but that's not true! You have to believe me!" she cried, grabbing his arm into a vice-like grip. Over the years she grew to accept the brash blonde as a friend but she could not accept that he had killed the instructor. She knew he would never hurt anyone from Konoha like that.

Kakashi looked down at Naruto. The boy's left eye opened slightly, staring into the right eye of his former teacher, silently pleading for help.

Then put of nowhere, a figure in black from head to foot, eyes hidden by a metal visor with a slit big enough for the wearer to see through, landed next to the beaten Naruto and grabbed him before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.

The people closer to the center coughed, but Kakashi remained still, feeling a little relieved that Sasuke had taken Naruto away from the lynch mob.

He trained his students well.

--

Naruto was in pain but he didn't dare show it. But how could they say he had nearly killed his beloved father figure? He remembered finding him, bleeding to his death. He had been so scared the next thing he knew he heard someone shouting at him. That's when the villagers attacked. He should have escaped or defended himself but he was still in shock. He looked up at the raven haired boy.

"Why did you do that?" he asked softly, telling himself he wasn't going to cry.

Sasuke looked straight into Naruto's eyes. "Because I don't believe you did it. Unlike me you protected the village."

"But you were forgiven," Naruto finally let a tear fall. "They hate me…"

Sasuke pulled a small vile from a hidden pocket. "Drink this," he held it to the other boy's lips, "it'll give you temporary strength. You're going to need it."

Naruto swallowed the bitter liquid, feeling it burn on its way down. "Thanks, Sasuke."

"You have to get out of here, Naruto," the dark-haired boy said. "I swear I will find out who or what attacked Iruka."

He looked at him but slowly nodded. He could feel his strength back; he watched as a black bruise on his arm began to fade quickly before his eyes. He stood but looked at his teammate. "Sasuke... be careful."

He nodded. "You too dobe." He watched as the blonde left.

Naruto had no idea where to go but he couldn't leave just like that. He stopped back at his apartment, grabbing a few meager things but before he could leave his felt his senses go on high alert. Something was very wrong. He swallowed and headed out but instead of heading for the gates of the village he headed for the hospital. He had to see his teacher.

He moved stealthfully from roof to roof, blue eyes focused on his goal, feet barely making any sound as he arrived. He peered through the windows, searching for his teacher when he found him but he wasn't alone. He could see Kakashi, Sakura, Hinata, and others there yet he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out.

Iruka's body was covered in bandages, making him look almost like a mummy. A blood bag stood at his side along with an IV but he still looked ready to just die, his skin abnormally pale. The blonde waited until they left and quietly, opened the window and entered the room. He had seen death and blood before but never like this. Never on someone he loved.

"Iruka-san..." he whispered softly, his voice breaking. He slowly reached out and hesitantly took his hand in his own, holding it as tight as he dared. "I-I have to leave... but I'll be back! Just... Just don't leave me... I can't lose you." Tears fell but before he broke down completely he left out the window. He jumped to the ground from a good several stories up but when he landed he found himself in the angry gaze of the villagers.

"It's the demon!" one yelled.

"He's come back to finished the job!"

"Kill him! Kill him before he kills another of us!" That was enough for them to pick up their weapons--some even held swords--and charged at him.

SHIT!

Naruto took off as fast as he could, calling on his doppelgangers and they dispersed throughout the village. Naruto himself took off with five of them towards the east wall. He heard the discouraged outcries of the villagers as they attacked the doppelgangers.

Almost there almost there!

With the help of two doppelgangers, Naruto jumped over the wall and took off into the vast forest. He had to get away from here--as far as possible but where…?

Gaara!

For the first time that day, a small shred of hope filled his heart and the corners of his mouth tugged upwards.

Even as he headed for the Village of the Hidden Sand he wasn't alone. One minute he was running, his clones right beside him, and the next thing he knew was pain. Everything was going so fast it took him a while to realize that he had been attacked with explosive tags. Normally they wouldn't have done so much damage but these were much much stronger. They were also attacking his charka, depleting it more rapidly than he could recharge. One of the doppelgangers lunged into the branches but he fell to the ground, pain written on his face before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

"Who's there!" he demanded, bracing his back against the tree, holding his kunai out.

Silence graced his sensitive ears but then something whizzed through the air. The two of them barely had time to jump out of the way but one of the several shurikens drew a bloody gash on his arm, tearing through his sleeve. He tried to pinpoint the attack but whoever this stranger was refused to stay put in one place. Too soon the other clone vanished into smoke but that's when the stranger made himself known.

The figure was dressed in solid colors, blending in with the darkness and forest but he wore no forehead protector. He seemed to bear no visible weapons and his face--crystal blue eyes opened wide.

The man... he had no face! Nothing! No eyes, no nose, not even a line of a mouth. It was as if someone had erased his face! But he knew where he was. He knew and came at him head first. The blonde quickly shook himself from the shock, jumping and unleashed his kunai but it was deflected back. He caught it and landed a bit away, breathing deeply. "Who are you? Why are you attacking me?" he demanded.

"You... you are the child with the nine-tailed fox demon. Naruto Uzumaki." He slowly turned to him. "Tell me, did you enjoy the present I left you?

"What the hell are you talking about!"

"That demon lover. He wasn't suppose to live but tell me, did you enjoy his blood? I hear demons love the taste of human blood. Did it excite you to see him like that? Didn't you want to drain him dry of the life giving fluids?"

Naruto's eyes widened. Iruka…

"It must be so delicious," the faceless man went on. "Red liquid, warm and sweet. Was it as good as his parents' blood when you killed them, Fox?"

"Shut up!" Naruto screamed. "You fucking piece of shit! I'll make you pay for what you did!"

In a blind rage, Naruto charged at the man. He quickly sidestepped and kicked the back of Naruto's head causing the boy to slam headfirst into a tree.

"Just because my face does not exist," he said, "does not limit me or my reactions."

Great… Naruto gingerly touched his right eye, which had now swelled shut again after being healed from the potion Sasuke gave him. He stood up and glared at his attacker with his left. "What the hell do you want, No-Face?"

When No-Face answered, Naruto could hear the smirk in his voice.

"You, little Fox."

"Yeah well you wanna fight you got one!" Reason argued with him to run to Gaara's village, to seek help but he couldn't let this monster get away with this. He had attacked the closet person to his heart. He had to pay for this outrage! He used every move he knew, tried every jutsu he could think of, but no matter what he did this No-Face was two steps ahead of him. Blocking a kunai the man smirked and bent his wrist back.

An audible crack was heard and the blonde cried out in surprise/pain but that wasn't it. Dazed with he pain he was slammed into the tree once more but the same hand that broke his wrist grabbed his throat. He could feel those fingers squeeze tightly, keeping the air from going in or out. His heartbeat was beating loudly in his ears, his vision was starting to blur. He saw a glint of metal--his kunai--and screamed in pain as the sharp edge ripped through his stomach. It only took a moment for the blood to fall and stain his clothing.

The man lifted the bloodied weapon and held it to his face. He guided the metal down a whiskered cheek, slicing the skin open to cause even more blood to fall.

"Little fox... you fought so hard but it wasn't enough. Is that all you learned from your mentors? Even that copycat hound didn't teach you anything, it seems." His brought his featureless face closer, feeling his prey's hot breath brush against his skin, feeling the blood trickle over his fingers. "What will you do now?"

The answer was a knee straight to his groin.

No-Face doubled over in pain, releasing Naruto. The blonde boy gasped, filling sweet air into his lungs. He cast a quick glance to No-Face on the ground in pain, and then took off.

He wasn't sure how long he had been running, but the loss of energy and blood was beginning to take its toll on Naruto. He slowed some, but tried to keep his pace a little faster than regular walking.

Naruto pulled his forehead protector off and looked at it. Iruka had given it to him after he beat the crap out of Mizuki for lying to him and trying to kill both him and Iruka.

I left my backpack… Naruto thought as he trudged on.

--

"He came back?" Sasuke couldn't believe it. He knew that Naruto could be an idiot at times--most of the time--but this was just lunacy.

"A few people said that they saw him jump from the window in Iruka's room," Kakashi said. "They thought that he was trying to finish what he started."

"But Naruto didn't do anything to Iruka-san," Sakura protested.

Kakashi closed his eye. "He probably wanted to see Iruka before leaving." The ninja master looked at Sakura. "How is Iruka? Any changes?"

She shook her head. "He's still in a coma. According to the doctors when they were treating Iruka, they asked who attacked him, and he said Naruto."

"That could mean a number of things. Tell me what happened from the beginning."

"No one is sure when it started but lately there's been murders going around. Ordinary people were found in their homes or alleyways like they had been slaughtered ruthlessly. But there looked like paw prints leaving the bodies."

"Paw prints? You mean an animal could be behind this?"

"That's what everyone thought but according to the ANBU these were larger than any animal. It wasn't until they noticed a pattern. The people who had been killed held a serious hatred of Naruto. One way or another they lost an important person to the attack over a decade ago."

"That's why everyone is blaming Naruto," Kakashi said mostly to himself. Sakura nodded as she wrung her hands together.

"Until now none of the students or anyone of ninja rank has been hurt but people began to suspect Naruto. Tsunade-sama even told everyone that there was an invader in the village but no one believed her. But Iruka-san-"

"Naruto found him," Sasuke said coldly from where he was leaning against the wall. "Turns out he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Iruka had been attacked and it seemed Naruto found him first. Some of the villagers stumbled upon them and brought him to the hospital. Tsunade immediately took charge of his injuries but that left Naruto in the open. They accused him of the murders, of trying to kill Iruka, of everything. Everyone in our class tried to get them to listen but they ignored us. You know the rest."

The silver haired jounin was silent. Something was not right. If the fox demon had been released--he highly doubted that--it could have destroyed the entire village so why pick off the people one by one? Why kill the one most important person that treated the boy as a human being and not a monster? Nothing was adding up which only left one conclusion.

The murderer was still on the loose.

--

Gaara stood at the doorway of Naruto's hospital room. The doctors and healers managed to stop the bleeding and clean the blonde's wounds. Now he was sleeping soundly in bed, the curtain pulled in front of the window to prevent the sunlight hitting the unconscious boy directly in his face.

Hidama was sitting in a chair beside Naruto's bed. She almost looked like a statue from the way she sat so perfectly still--her blinking was the only thing that gave away being alive. Gaara was still--though he would probably never admit it--somewhat confused. From the way she acted earlier, Hidama apparently knew Naruto. She had called him "her kit." And he responded by calling her "mother."

The red-head leader slowly walked over to the bed and looked at Naruto. His breathing was a little less than normal. His left wrist was now sporting a splint and linens were wrapped around his left forearm. His right eye was covered with a patch and a small bandage was on his left cheek. Gaara knew that underneath the light blanket were bandages wrapping around the blonde's abdomen. That injury had been the worst, and Gaara could still faintly smell the blood.

"How is he?" Gaara finally asked without taking his eyes of Naruto.

"He's been asleep ever since the doctors put him under," Hidama answered in a dull tone, very unlike her. "It's not just the physical wounds, but the wounds on his heart and soul."

Gaara continued to stare at Naruto. "Hidama."

She looked at him, but it was quite a few moments before he turned to her. When he did, he only spoke one word.

"'Mother'?"

Authors' Notes:

Shadow: What can I say? With our Sisters of the Moon finished we needed something to pass the time.

Janime: I think this will be an interesting change as well. Lots of drama and suspense to go around.

Shadow: The characters may seem just a tad OOC (out of character) but we're doing our best.

Janime: We made some of the YGO cast ooc and no one complained.

Shadow: True.

Janime: Big switch from YGO, isn't it?

Shadow: Indeedy.

Janime: Now I have a question for you.

Shadow: Yes?

Janime: How come you changed your name for this fic?

Shadow: I have nothing against Heikou but I'm so use to using 'Shadow' while doing fics.

Janime: You used to call yourself Yin-Yang.

Shadow: Oh yeah... well just call me Shadow from now on hides behind a black cloak

Janime: Let's not go through that again.