Disclaimer: I do not own any of Naruto expect for Ryousika, Hitorik and a few others. Everything else is all Kishimoto-sama.

Author Note: Reasons for Naruto's banishment will appear later on, some ideas are not canon.

Thoughts

Flashback

Kakashi stopped merely ten yards from the eastern gate to the Village Hidden in the Leaves on a high tree branch in one of the tall oaks that line the path leading to the main gates. He turned his unseen eyes onto the city that he served, yet at the moment he wished it burned to it's foundations for what they had done to not only a comrade, friend and his student but the son of their greatest hero, the Yondanime Hokage. A small smile crossed his face when the council and the villagers were told Naruto's heritage three years into his exile, there was panic there was despair and most of all their was outrage for three reasons. The first reason was the outrage of the council for the making public something they viewed no one but they had the right to know of, this had almost caused the vast majority of Naruto's supporters within Leaf to bite at the bit to slay all of the council members. The second reason for outrage, this was felt by the Shinobi mostly, for the actions they had taken against their savior's son and others at the fact that they had banished the legacy of the Fourth for reasons that the Council had trumped up. The final one's were those whom wished the boy dead, saying that this was just some plot to keep the Hunter-nin from hunting him, yet they failed to realizes that the Hunters were sent to caught him yet not that when ever returned alive or sane enough to be even fully healed by the Godanime Hokage's skilled hands. This was expected of course, the Hunters sent were all those that wished him dead, those whom supported him simply focused on other targets leaving him alone.

Even without Naruto, the village itself had grown little in size yet the building were of better quality since the rebuilding orders of the Hokage had been made, Genin teams did missions along side workers to fix the issues of the city. It was simple really, the Council believed that if they returned to the glory of the Konoha of the Pre-Kyuubi era that all would forget the vessel and also their outrage at the Council. Many rebuilt their homes while other simply tried to move on with life for there was little they could truly do at the time. Even Kakashi had finally rebuilt his family's house but had moved it away closer to Training Area 44, or the Forest of Death. To him this was the only place he found peace anymore for he could no longer look at the Hero Stone out of shame for doing nothing to save Naruto from banishment, but surrounded by the feral beasts and deadly plants of the forest he found the same inner peace. His wife said he was obsessed with wandering the Forest, but that is after all where he had met her and that is where they fell in love. Yet for all of their great buildings, for the great faces carved into the mountain side and for all the sacrifices of the heroes of the Leaf, this place was empty. The Third had once told him that as long as the Will of Fire burned within the Village he would watch over it. The Fourth had said many times that it was the ties of Family that they all shared that made them truly strong. Kakashi knew that on the cold Winter Solace seven years, five months and three days ago that a kind old man had turned it's back on the Village his eyes set upon one person alone, and that his Sensei had frowned upon the Village he died to protect. The Fire had gone out of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, it was now just a shell of it's former warm, the sun still shined upon them yet it was much dimmer to all that noticed. Naruto was gone now with him much of the hope but there was still the promise of his return.

That thought keep those loyal to him going, that thought keep them from slipping into the black muck of despair for something had happened upon the sixth year of his exile after a lengthy battle waged by the Hokage and many of the Shinobi with the Council on the issue of the Banishment order. The order was finally removed, he was welcome home and to be found brought home with all due speed without going to lethal means, till then he was to be concerned a Shinobi abroad . Kakashi smirked as he sat on the branch gazing out onto the village as he slide the dog mask of ANBu from his face. He looked the same, yet he looked slightly older than he should as if his fire was burning lower than it once did, like back before the Banishment. Yet for the whole year all they had received of his actions were rumors, yet his mission record as a mercenary were in lack of a better word intimidating and awe inspiring. Then Nara Shikamura whom was a supporter of Naruto came forward after the Exile order was lifted almost at once had the brilliant idea of hiring him to deal with a group of powerful missing-nin, they had sent the messenger bird to Wave where the Mercenary Shinobi take their work after the country was rebuilt. All they got was a question writing his hand writing asking where were they rumored to raid, the reply was given stating that a team would meet him to aid him, but a day before the arranged meeting, twenty five missing nin headbands along with their respective heads were delivered to the Bounty Office of the Hokage with a note requesting all the rewards be sent to The Crimson Wave Mercenary Office saying they would send him the money with the warning not to demand his whereabouts least they find him close and their deaths even closer. The point was driven home due to the fact all of the Missing-nin killed were at least A-class missing nin with five S-class missing nin.

Then there was a long period of silence about Naruto with only the seasonal Mercenary Bingo Book to update them if he was still alive, and it looked like he was for his Mission record was ever growing gone were the vast C-class and ungodly number of D-class for they rarely increased in number, yet his B-class, A-class and S-class missions were the stuff of dreams for a Village. Kakashi often times wondered, if it was possibly if Naruto truly wished it could he not simply settle in one of the countries without a Hidden Village, build one greater than the Five Great Nations with only his personal funds and still have enough to run the Village till the end of his days without a single missions hired for that Village. Naruto sighting were rare, say for the token letters from Ambassadors of Leaf in the small countries where Naruto was a sort of folk hero and legend, the 'Crimson Flash' or as most of Leaf's enemies called him 'The Demon of the Battlefield'. Stories told by Leaf spies in Stone's allies camps tell that the soldiers were forbidden to speak Naruto name out loud for fear he would come as if summoned like a Demon of old. In Cloud however his name was taboo as if it were the man of the Lord of Hell himself, stories were told to children that if they weren't good he'd come for them in the dead of night.

Then three months ago into the second year of the subtle search for Naruto a issue had arose that had put the search on the back burner of most minds. Kakashi sighed as he looked at the face of his sensei, the Fourth Hokage whom looked grim as he gazed out of the mountain face next to the newer carving of Tsunade the Fifth Hokage and Sannin whom looked equally as grim. War with Stone, with Cloud and most importantly to Kakashi war with Sound, with the village full of traitors. So all of Leaf was gearing for another Great War, yet that day something had happened and as Kakashi looked upon the Village, the air felt odd for a second, then something indeed was happening both within him and onto the Village. The iron gray clouds that seemed to threaten a rain storm broke apart and the sun began to bath the village in a renewing light, but what surprised Kakashi was it was brighter than it had ever been so long ago even when Naruto had been there, within Kakashi himself a once low burning flame began to grow as if it when from a small brush fire to a raging wildfire like it once was when Obito was alive, when the Third was alive and when Naruto had returned from his three years training with Jiraiya-sama. It felt as if the Third's hand was once again on his shoulders and as was the Fourth's coupled with a proud smile. The Will of Fire had been rekindled for a lost brother was returning home from a long journey, then and there Kakashi knew... Naruto was coming home.

With this thought in mind, Kakashi jumped back up straight and placed his dog mask once more upon his face. Then he kicked off of the branch as hard as he could rocketing through the air and before the gate where two Chunin guards waited. With a nod at him they let him though the gate and quickly he sped off towards the Hokage's tower as he leap from roof top to roof top with practiced ease. Till he reached the Hokage's tower, he quickly leap down to the ground near the special ANBU entrance, and as he slipped in and ran once more up the corridors to the Hokage's office. He passed countless chunin, Jounin and genin alike as he made his mad dash to the doors. The Fire had been rekindled but it needed to be fanned, these were one of the few thoughts running through Kakashi's mind.

He finally reached the top floor where the Hokage's office was, next to the door was the desk of the assistant. Within it rested the tired form of Shizune, she was hunched over a stack of paperwork that had been pushed upon her by her mistress, the Hokage. She did not look overly old like some would think, no just tired of a great deal of things, of work, of stress and of worry. She was tired of the endless hours of work she had forced upon herself to keep her busy so that she would not stress over the search nor would she stress over what would happen if they had successful in finding him. Before it was if she would have to identify the head now it was if she'd have deal with the changed eyes of the boy they had sent away. She briefly looked up to see Kakashi and tilted her head to the side, which Kakashi mimicked playfully like he once did, this puzzled Shizune who was about to question him till he asked.

"Shizune is the Hokage busy, I need to speak with her rather quickly. It's rather important and I ran all the way here from the northeastern border..."

"But I thought you were with ANBU patrol group six, weren't you ordered to take out that bandit group of Stone-nin," Shizune asked in a soft yet commanding voice. She wanted an answer and she wanted it now, her sensei had most definitely rubbed off on her mused Kakashi.

"Lets just say, that what was once lost has returned to me. And soon the dawn will seem all the brighter to us all," Kakashi stated cryptically as he slide his ANBU mask off once again, this time his visible eye was turned into a happy smile where once it was a tired almost blank gaze. Again Shuzine tilted her head to the side this time half wondering what Kakashi had said meant and other wondering if she should get the medical nin in charge of mental health.

"She not doing anything if memory serves at the moment, but before you go what do you mean by that," again she asked as Kakashi sauntered pass her.

"Lets just say I ran into a Fox, and it might just yet follow me home," Kakashi said as he entered the office quietly, leaving a slightly hopeful Shizune in his wake.

While Kakashi was pondering the recent turn of events, while a slightly happy Shizune worked with renewed vigor and while Kakashi began his talk with Tsunade on the events. Someone far away from Konohagakure walked slowly up a steep rocky canyon trail that came to a head at a sheer rock face. That someone was the black robed figure that had mercilessly slain the group of Iwa-Shinobi to the sound a innocent child counting to 100. This was the feared 'Demon of the Battlefield', whose name stuck more fear into the hearts of Stone-nin and Clodu-nin than his father's even did in the last Great Shinobi War, this was the infamous 'Crimson Flash' whom took jobs more matter the amount his customers paid him for he would never turn down a job from those truly in need of his many services. Here was one of the most powerful, skilled and ruthless shinobi ever to gather chakra. His hands weaved taijutsu, kenjutsu, genjutsu and ninjutsu in such a way that it was breath taking to see in action. His strength, speed, endurance, cunning and ruthless intelligent were legendary after his banishment from his homeland. Yet for all of his vast mission record, for all of his mastery of the Shinobi arts, for all of his legend he was tired, so ever tired.

He was not tired of life, or of being a Shinobi for both burned with a passionate fire that rivaled the flames of the countless stars in the sky. No he was tired of being away from home, from those he once held dear, that he still held dear deep in his heart. He had heard that he was free to return to Konohagakure yet he stayed away from the heartland of the Country of Fire for he knew, that if he returned he would return to stay. He would cast down roots most likely or simply weasel his way into a sort of life like his Sannin sensei, Jiraiya whom he hadn't seen in so long. A small sad smile crossed his unseen lips as he slowed his climb of the dirt and stone trail to the sheer face, Jiraiya was to him, his father figure yet he hadn't seen him in seven years. Part of it was fear, on Naruto's part, ironic one of the most feared shinobi in the world would run away if he heard Jiraiya was within the area. It was not fear of the man, more of what would happen... he was a hunted ninja and Jiraiya was a Leaf-Jounin abroad, they would fight and in the back of his head Naruto knew he would win quickly and easily over his favorite Sensei, that the Toad summoner would lay slain on the field by his hands. That thought kept him away from Jiraiya else he would have searched for him and journeyed happily with him.

Though, Naruto did muse as he paused in his stride that he would never have found his students, the two people in this world that he viewed as his children for he knew few woman would love him as a lover when the knowledge of him being a demon-vessel came up. So he threw his all into being the father/mother/sensei to his two students. Both of them were found abandoned either by cruel fate or by intent they were his children now and that all that mattered to him. He had found hope once more in the first one he had found in his first journey in exile to the newly renamed Land of Spring. He was just wandering aimlessly in the countryside till he had happened upon a truly a sad scene. There laying on the dirt road near a grove of trees were a slain pair of travelers, with a cursor glance he could tell both were truly dead and have been for a few hours now. The man looked as if he had put up a decent fight against his killers yet the number of deep slashes and stab wounds tell that it were all for not, his face was down in the dirt with his long black hair bellowing out like a puddle of his own blood. The mother had several long spears jutting from his chest, as well as what looked deep black bruises on her face, yet she looked angelic laying there in death, to Naruto it was tragic that they were happened upon by bandits. He was about to begin a doton jutsu that would give them a proper pair of graves as he created Shadow Clones to prepare the bodies for the earth. Yet a sound stayed his hands as his clones keep busy, without a second thought he ordered a clone to perform the jutsu as he checked the sound. It sounded like a child's cry for it's mother for comfort, within seconds he was at the child's side.

There on the soft grass wrapped in a thin blanket was a child that looked just whinnied from mother's milk, Naruto could tell the child was scared due to his heightened scents yet as he lifted the child up into his arms he performed a simple medic-nin jutsu to find any issues. The child for lack of a better word was perfectly healthy, the jutsu was in essence a powerful scan of the entire child for mental and physical issues. The scan simply told him that the child was a male, and possess a bloodline that was asleep and came from the Country of Water. Then Naruto began to look closely at the child, he had silky jet colored hair that seemed to gleam like ice in the bright sun. His eye's were closed till he felt he was being held by someone, those eyes they were what threw any idea of leaving this child with anyone but him, Naruto mused after all was said and done. They were the same eyes, the very same soft, gentle eyes of Haku's when he was not fighting for his life. Naruto just picked up the child and began to walk after the Clones had buried the child's birth parents along side the road.

"Your name, what to name you my otout-san,"asked the then eighteen year old Naruto as he held the yet unnamed child. "How about Uzumaki Hitorik," too which the baby giggled happily,"Welcome to the new world my son, Uzumaki Hitorik. Now to get you some supplies.."

A soft chuckle echoed off the walls of the canyon as he remembered the first time he tried to change Hitorik's diaper, after several tries and much cursing it was done. Then no more than a few weeks later when they were traveling in disguise in back woods of Wave Country where he was saw as hero, yet which was the closest to the Country of Fire he dared go, till earlier that day. Again he swore he was attracting ghosts from the past, there bent over a fleshly caught rabbit was a small, fragile looking boy with pure silvery white hair was long but tied back in a cruel ponytail, his clothing were baggy as if meant for a much large person, they seemed like robes to Naruto thinking back at that moment. In his right hand was held a knife made of bone, when Naruto noticed this his mind reeled back to when he was just a genin, to the hunt for Sasuke to that battle against the Sound Elites. That man that easily defeated his demon shadow clone used a blade like that, yet here was a child with the same weapon, with the same hair and as he moved closer he notice he had the same sad and lost eyes. Within this young man he had found anew the fierce determination and need to prove himself that the older shinobi felt when he was so young.

"Hello there," Naruto said calmly as he moved his shoulders up so that Hitorik would be safer in the center of his back. The child shot back, the knife held feebly in his hands as he had little contact with others and after much talk it was found to be violent beatings by those people. His eyes were wild with fear, Naruto noticed he seemed no older than five years of age. "My names Naruto what's yours?"

"Ryo..usika," Ryousika stuttered out never taking his eyes off of Naruto as if daring him to attack.

"Tell me, Ryo-kun do you have a clan," Naruto asked hoping he was right about the child.

"People shout at me telling me I am a Kaguya... then they throw things at me,"He said quietly.

"So your lost little one," Came the honest question from Naruto as he moved no an inch.

"I have always been lost, I never knew my parents all I knew was peopel hurting me. Then my instincts took over, and well," he waved the knife a little. To that Naruto moved Hitorik into view with his baby holder backpack in Naruto's strong arms.

"I found him a few weeks ago.. He was lost too. I was lost till someone found me, truly found me I mean. If you'd let me Ryousika I'd like to be that person that truly finds you, it matters not at you're a Kaguya for they were a proud warrior clan. Their end was their own doing but your strong, your parents must have been strong to survive the fall of the clan. You are strong to live alone, yet I also lived alone and I know the pain of having no home." He paused looking over at Ryousika whom was shaking, then with a quick Body flicker he stood before the young Kaguya who dropped the knife in shock, "I would like to give you that home Ryo-kun if you'd let me."

Then he felt two young arms wrap themselves around his waist in a hug followed by a muffed reply.

"I do know where my parents lived, there is a lot of stuff there like scrolls and..." Ryousika was cut off by Naruto patting the top of his head.

"We'll go there and then we'll find a place to stay for a bit ne?" Naruto said as he lead his adopted sons away to where they were destined to tread.

"Maybe..maybe it's time to go back to Leaf, but I am I ready to see them again. Would I be hated even more for what I have done against those they sent after me," Naruto spoke aloud to no one yet everyone. "More importantly will they harm Ryousika and Hitorik, would they accept them?"

A heavy sigh was issued from Naruto as he slowly raised his hands to the collar and hood of his robes and began to pull both down as was his ritual before entering any of his hide aways. Long bright blonde hair cascaded down his back that was in stark opposite to the pitch black of his robes, a long ponytail that ended at the center of his back that was tied with a simple black band of cloth. His whisper marks were broader, darker in color and more distinctly his own, this gifted his face a more feral allure to it. All the baby fat was gone from his face, where once was a charming handsome face now laid the face of a handsome dark god of sin. His skin was a deep tan from his career with no scars upon his face, yet what the skin did not show the eyes told in detail. His eyes once cheerful and kind were changed, they were now jaded against the world. Where the Kyuubi's eyes were said to burn away the soul if you looked straight into them, Naruto's when in combat mold as his sons called it could with a glance freeze you to the core with fear. Yet when he was relaxed, you felt as if you were a wash on the waves of a deep cold ocean that was brimming with unseen life. No matter how many special words, no matter how much other could describe the change in Naruto it was all summed up in a simple statement. Gone was the boy now comes the man.

After quickly gathering his thoughts Naruto began to climb the path once more this time his ponytail swaying behind him like a tail. Yet all came to a stop when he reached the sheer rock face and the world paused for a second as Naruto lifted his hand, his thumb was sticking out with the index standing straight up, the middle and ring finger were curled down into a sort of mini fist while the pink also stood straight. Chakra began to pool till the tips of those fingers glowed bright, then with a simple swipe of his hand still in that position the rock face wavered from the ground level to five feet above Naruto, where once was solid rough rock face was now a deep cave that held a lowering tunnel. Naruto smiled openly as a remembered the painstaking effort Hitorik can up into creating a genjutsu that had physical abilities i.e blocking the icy wind that usually whipped through the canyon. After stepping through the cave's mouth, Naruto quickly repeated the process that dispelled yet this time reapplying it. Once his's current den, as his two adopted sons dubbed their dwellings that changed every other year to evade the searches of his former home and his Sannin sensei.

After moving through several tunnels Naruto finally came to a great open roof cavern that several hundred feet up had a gapping hole that allowed sunlight to come down. In the center of the large cavern was a two story house that was unremarkable, though the house did seem to be literately made of the stone of the cavern. Naruto smirked at the wonders a powerful creation jutsu could do with two powerful students aiding in the design of the house. Speaking of which where were those two thought Naruto as he casually walked to the dwelling. Then he hear sounds of grunts, and fists hitting skin that oddly enough reminded Naruto of a club hitting wet leather. Slowly Naruto turned the corner of the stone dwelling to come into the improvised sparing ring that was created by tall stalagmites ring. Within it were two fast moving chakra signatures that were distinctly Hitorik and Ryousika's, yet from the sound of it they were engaged in a high level tai-jutsu battle. The speed at which they stuck, the precise of their blows and the sheer power behind the strikes made it seem as if they were Tai-jutsu specialist of Jounin rank.

"The spars if over for now my apprentices," Naruto said calmly as he leap upon the tip of a stalagmite as he gazed down at his students. Gone was the voice of a proud father replaced by the stern tone of a harsh mentor, both boys stopped Hitorik in mid chakra reinforced punch and Ryousika leg was preparing to deliver a lighting like kick.

Naruto took the moment to gaze down at his apprentices/adopted sons for time, training and the large amounts of very healthy foods Naruto had feed them so they would grow stronger and live longer.

Hitorik was now eight years old and he looked every bit of it, yet unlike most adults he was one of the most trained shinobi in the world. His jet black hair was long but set into a single long braid that whipped behind him like a bull whip, at the end of the braid of a tight metal band with dull spikes on it that was sealed to shrink and expand with a special seal. Narurto knew from experience that his adopted ice master son could use his hair like a bullwhip with the proper chakra. At the tender age of five he developed the same bloodline as Haku had once possessed before being cut down, after years of practice Naruto had him at a high level of mastery of his bloodline. He had even created new techniques that allowed for quicker or more vicious kills. He was a handsome young boy with features that would mature into heart breaking levels as time marched on. Deep chocolate brown eyes gleamed with joy at a high level spar and the return of his father. A bright smile adorned his face allowing Naruto to see his cut lip most likely caused by his older brother's powerful strikes. He stood straight allowing his 4' foot tall against the 6'5" of his adopted father, yet at the moment he seemed even smaller due to where his father stood. He was dressed in a simple set of training cloths which were a stone gray tunic that allowed for comfort and mobility while sparring, a baggy part of cloth pants adorned his legs that were tucked into a pair of black shinobi sandals.

Ryousika also seemed to be one happy Kaguya for several reasons really if Naruto was correct in the reason he bared a small playful smiles that was his version of a shit-eater's grin. Unlike when he was found and unlike his adopted family he kept his silvery white hair short for very valid reasons, one he hated combing/brushing and or messing with the 'furry animal' of his hair as he so lovingly dubbed it when he was younger. The other reasons were more martial, long hair allowed foes a hand hold to keep you at their mercy and it also could impart the range of a fighter sight unless they were ungodly skilled. The two dots tattoo of the Kaguya clan adorned his forehead that over looked his no longer lost and empty green eyes. They were full of fierce determination and happiness that was earned by living with his new family. His face head the aristocratic allure of his clan the belied the brutal history they were feared for in the past, yet Naruto had strived to give Ryousika a good outlet for his natural bloodlust and rage namely intense training. His body was packed with coiled muscles that were a result of his training yet he maintained the whip like appearance that allowed him to be supernaturally nimbleness that was needed in his birth clans' jutsu which at his age twelve he had mastered well beyond the limits of the Kaguya Prince that once served Sound. For being a twelve year old he stood tall and proud at 5'8". He dress was similar to his adopted brothers yet his included a pair of leather gloves that were fingerless allowing for him to have more dexterity.

A proud smiles fell upon the once stern face of their adopted father as he said something that was a risk that could aid or doom them all, yet where he went so would they so strong were their loyalties to each other. "Pack your things boys we're heading into Fire Country... to Leaf."

Both boys took on a shocked look, Hitorik's eyes bulged making Naruto snort at the thought that they would roll out of his skull. Ryousika looked worried but did not voice it, he honestly believed his mentor and adopted father would not lead him wrong for he won't.

"The Hunters have stopped coming, and rumor has it that the order has been removed soo.." Naruto said slowly as he performed the handseal that opened the sparring ring allowing them out. Though his youngest looked worried at something that Naruto picked up, Hitorik was naturally highly cautious. "If it's a trap then I guess it's time to spring it and deal with Leaf for good, yet I hope it does not come to that."

"Otousan," came the soft musically tone of Hitorik that seemed like a gentle cool breeze, "Does that mean that we'd become...Leaf shinobi?"

"It's possible that we would have to Jakutei(1), yet it would allow us a chance to view more training and jutsu that Otousan would want us to experience for ourselves.. Also it would allow me to meet a girl..," Ryousika gave a small smirk at the look of dread that entered his adopted father's eyes before wicked gleam entered his eyes.

"Ryou-kun do we need to have the Talk," came the wistful reply.

"NO! I mean.. not at this time Otusan," Ryousika said smiling pleadingly.

"Well pack up your possessions from the house and place them in scrolls, we'll eat lunch and then I'll dispel the dwelling and we're off to Leaf," commented Naruto as he shooed his appretices towards the dwelling.

"Otousan, why are we going to Konoha?" asked Hitorik innocently as he walked beside his father with his brother.

"I just think it's time to go back," He paused as he opened the door to the dwelling, "I met a group of merchants heading towards Leaf and dealt with some bandits," His voice slow as he said every word, "I miss some people there and now... besides you'll get you meet Grandma and Grandpa, " he said with a evil grin.

"What of our training Otousan?" asked Ryousika as he closed the door behind him.

"We'll just have to increase it when your home and this also will allow you to make friends your own ages," He said with a small smile, " Now lets get to it after we're packed and have ate change into your traveling robes and your favorite clothes. We leave for Konoha as soon as possible."

"Yosh Otusan!" Came the Unison reply.

I hope your ready Konohagakure because the Uzumaki are coming back, was all Naruto thought to the wind when he turned to join his children in the chaos known as packing.

Author Note: Okay tell me what you think of this chapter, what you think should be changed and what not. Also note all Flames will be laughed at ever loudly.

Please Review!