Chapter Two of A Fox Fox Gone Astray

(A/N)

Hey everyone! so there are a few things of business I wish to address. First, thank you guys so much for reading the story! This is my very first fanfiction so I am still figuring out everything works and all that jazz. But I am having so much writing it. I will admit the first chapter is a tad rushed because i really wanted to get the story but I still think it turned out well. Second Please give me reviews! I love having feed back form those who read my stuff! It helps me build confidence. I love positivity. So if you do leave review, make it constructive criticism. I hope you enjoy this chapter of A Fox Gone Atray

DISCLAIMER! I DONT OWN NARUTO! ITS KISHI'S! DO I have to always do one? I see it all the time when I read some but idk.

Again thank you for this who likes the story, the reviewers, the followers, and everyone else in between. You are all amazing and never let anyone tell you different. ENJOY!

Everything seemed quiet over the Village Hidden in the leaves as the wind blew softly through the city. Strawberry hair moved seemly of its own accord, only to be tamed by a simple finger combing it behind an ear. Sakura Haruno leaned against the railing on her third floor apartment's extended patio. She was overlooking the new constructed Konoha. The construction was still not done but almost was complete. The occupants were sparing no expense in rebuilding their new home. The village had really sprung back from its dark times, just like what he would have done. The very thought of her teammate brought a smile to her beautiful face. Today was the anniversary.

Three years ago Naruto died.

FLASHBACCKK

"NARUTOOOOOOOO!"

He returned. He always came back. In every single one of her darkest hours, in her scariest moments, he came back to push back the darkness. He couldn't be dead. He just could not. Naruto dead was as likely as Tsunade swearing off sake for the rest of her life. In other words, impossible. Yet here she was. Holding on to his jacket desperately. Ripped apart and bloody.

She continued to wail and cry until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Shikamaru standing above her. Taking one look into her emerald eyes Shikamaru instantly knew what had happened. Kneeling down, he guided her up to get out of the crater. He lead her out of the large crater and through the crowds of people who were whispering and pointing. But she was not paying attention to anything. She was lost. Completely devastated. Never again will she see him smile.

Some time later, Sakura did not know nor care, she was led into a house that belonged to non-other than Ino. Shikamaru sat Sakura down on the couch and went to fill Ino on everything he had found out. Sakura was in no state to give good information. But the look and the state the jacket was in left little room for what else could have happened.

Ino ran over to her best friend and cradled her. If at all possible she cried even harder, calling his name over and over. Ino was so scared and felt terrible for Sakura. She knew a little about how she was feeling. She had never seen Sakura this way, even after Sasuke left, but she still had Naruto. Now, there was no Naruto. Ino could offer no words to comfort her pink haired best friend. Eventually she cried herself to sleep still holding on to the bloody and ripped up jacket that once belonged to the most unpredictable ninja to ever live. Eventually, when she woke up again she found herself in a spare room of Ino's house. After crying some more she finally had some of a will to get up and grab some food. But first she needed a shower.

Finding her things in the corner she started going through her belongings when she saw something that she did not recognize.

A scroll.

This was not any old scroll. This scroll had Naruto's handwriting on it. She gasped and immediately ripped the scroll open.

Her eyes widened at what the scroll held.

Dear Sakura-chan,

The council, or few on the council, has made the decision to put me to death. I refused and am now on the run. Even now I feel the chakras of all the people looking for me. I am saddened to tell you that I am leaving Konoha. I don't know where I will be going. Maybe to stay with the toads for a while. Don't worry about me, keep yourself safe. Danzo is the new Hokage. Don't trust him.

I will bring home Sasuke for you. I will become Hokage. One day I will return. That is a promise.

There is something I have always meant to tell you. Since I don't know when I'll see you again I want to tell you. I love you Sakura-chan. I always have. I will miss you. Be safe.

I have to go.

Love,

Naruto

Silence was the only thing in the room. Only silent tears falling onto the scroll.

"You baka."

She slightly smiled. He had tried to come see her before he left. He was thinking of her and only her. Again. For some reason, after reading that not, Sakura felt more at peace. She could not explain it. She felt like her world shattered, froze, and fell back into place. There is no way Naruto could be dead. He had to have escaped. Even with all the evidence staring her in the face, she went and put all her faith in Naruto. He would have never given up, neither would she.

Resolving herself, he prepared herself to be even greater and stronger than she was now.

"I miss you."

END ON FLASH BACK

Three years had passed since then. Tsunade woke up from her coma, her title stripped from her. Only to find that Danzo of all people had been named Hokage. She, obviously was not very happy about that, especially because it was the old war hawk who had taken her place. She admitted many times, not so quietly, that she would be happy to find the brat, Naruto, had taken her place.

The village was almost completely rebuilt. Not just rebuilt but grew as well. Some of it was taking time because some of the population really wanted Konoha to a crown jewel of crown jewels. Most of it was. Many travelers from all over the world come to see the new and superior Village Hidden in the Leaves. Surprisingly Konoha became a great trade center. Surprisingly, because of who is at the helm for Konoha.

Danzo.

It became harder to be a ninja or become a ninja under Danzo. He was ruthless. He was nice when he needed to play nice. But it was all for his own benefit. So when Danzo really went out of his way to grow Konoha, something was up. But no one could figure out what it was. Plus, it's not as if you can just go around and accuse the Hokage of something just because he was playing nice. That would not end up well. But Danzo liked operating in the shadows. It was very hard to pin anything on him because of all the secrecy.

Danzo was not the only threat. The Akatsuki was still at large and still dangerous. Although for that past two years they have been getting more and more quieter. There have been many skirmishes been Konoha nin and the Akatsuki. Many reports from spies and different nations were all conflicting. Some said that Akatsuki had dispersed; some said they were all dead, some were saying they were just lying low and bidding their time. Some nations have claimed to kill a few members but could not give any proof. Konoha got close to killing Itachi and Kisame once. But Konoha lost more than a few good ninja that day. But why would the Akatsuki stop their operations? They are the most powerful individuals in the world next to the Kages, what are they afraid of?

There was one theory out there that made sense to most people. Words of Naruto's death had made it out of the village and the world knew that the Nine Tail Fox was gone along with its jinchuuriki. So according to some spies left over from The Toad Sannin said that the Akatsuki's plans were completely ruined now that the Nine Tailed Fox was gone. So what was their next step? No one knows.

Sighing, Sakura stood up and walked back inside to shower and change to get ready for the day. She had a short shift today at the hospital. Tsunade took over running the hospital after it got rebuilt. She also, with some persuasion, had a medical school wing attached to the hospital. Her master was a genius. With her work, at least one and sometimes two member of every squad had decent medical training. The results were spectacular. The rates of casualties plummeted. This was great, but there was one problem. Guess who Tsunade selected to train all those people. That's right, the pink haired medical prodigy herself. Sakura.

She enjoyed the work, it was rewarding, it was just annoying most times because of how difficult it was. It was just because Tsunade didn't want to do it. The lazy Sannin. All she wants to do is drink sake. Sometimes Sakura feels like she needs on too.

Locking her door, she started making her way to work. Part way there she ran into Ino.

"Hey Ino."

"Hey Sakura."

Sakura gave Ino a look over. "Have you been sleeping well?"

Ino's shoulders slumped. "No!" Throwing her hands up.

"Why not?"

The blonde gave a mean look to the pink haired girl next to her. "If I would know that then I wouldn't be sleeping horribly!"

"Sheesh Pig, I was just asking!" Sakura crossed her arms.

"So Sakura, how are things going with you?"

"Oh you know, always busy. But I am so looking forward to an afternoon off." It had been a few months since she really had some time off.

"Hey we should go out!" exclaimed Ino grabbing Sakura's arm.

Sakura groaned. "Why?"

Ino draped her arm over Sakura's shoulders. "Because Forehead, we need to find you a good man and have a good time!"

Groaning again Sakura shook her head. "I don't need a man Ino!"

Ino poked her friend in the shoulder. "Yes you do! Do you want to be a prude all your life? or are you still waiting for Sasuke-kun?"

"No to both Ino." Responded Sakura annoyed.

"Well then let's go out!"

Sakura's eyebrow twitched annoyingly. "Fine."

They both arrived at the hospital and checked in with Tsunade. "Are you ladies ready for-"

A nurse burst into Tsunade's office. "Ma'am we have a situation! One of our recon squads was attacked! Critical injuries!" Tsunade nodded to the two girls. They knew what to do. The quad of ladies rushed to the four new patients being moved into the surgery room by other nurses and ninja. Finally after hours of surgery all four are stable.

"Good job ladies", Tsunade praised. "Especially you Sakura."

The pinkette bowed to her master. "Thank you My Lady. I'm just doing my job."

"Not just doing, surpassing." Tsunade pointed out. "Very, very soon even surpassing me."

Sakura was astonished by Tsunade's words. Sakura was working herself hard but never thought she would one day surpass her master.

Tsunade turned to one of the other nurses. "I want to know the moment they wake up."

"Yes ma'am."

A few hours later after doing her own work Sakura was checking up on the recon squad when one of them woke up.

Looking over at another nurse, "Inform lady Tsunade I have one that is awake."

Sakura quickly checked all his vitals, temperature, and gave him a sedative to calm him down. "What's your name?"

"Koki." The spiked, brown haired recon ninja said.

"What happened to you?" asked Tsunade came up from behind Sakura coming into the conversation like she was already here.

"We were ambushed." Koki coughed a bit before continuing. "I don't think we were the targets we just happened to cross them."

"Who attacked you?" Sakura asked.

"The Akatsuki." There was an audible gasp from most that were in the room.

Everyone was in shock. "H-h-how did you all make it out alive?" Sakura blurted out.

Koki went silent for a few seconds, like he was remembering something. "We were saved."

"Who saved you? Other Konoha ninja?"

"No."

Everyone in the room were looking at one another. All were thinking one thing. "Who?" voiced Sakura.

The recon ninja was silent for a minute as if he was trying to remember.

"I don't know."

Well, that was a disappointment.

"But whoever they were…." Koki paused briefly. "They saved our lives and had the Akatsuki on the run."

This statement had both Tsunade and Sakura wide eyed and looking at each other, having similar thoughts. Who was powerful enough to have the most feared ninja in the world on the run? And just how powerful were they? More importantly. Who were they?

Tsunade recovered from the shock first. "Can you tell us what they looked like? Do you remember anything about them? Abilities, jutsus, physical descriptions. Anything."

Koki shifted his position a bit to get more comfortable only to his in pain from his four broken ribs. "The group we encountered, they attacked the Akatsuki when they were going to finish us off. It was hard to see because they moved so fast. They beat back the Akatsuki like they had fought many times before. It was hard to tell what kind of jutsus they were using because I passed out before I could see any really used."

"You did good", assured Tsunade with a smile and a light pat on the shoulder.

Sakura came forward this time. "Did they have any marks, anything to identify who they are or where they came from?"

Drawing another breath the recon continued. "There were only four that we saw. I did not get a good look enough at them to tell. But they all wore long white coats with hoods. I think there may have been designs on them but again I passed out before I could get a good look at them. I doubt anyone else saw them."

Tsunade smiled and told a nurse to get him more pain medications. She then turned to Sakura. "As much as may not like doing this, We have to go tell Danzo of what we learned."

Sakura nodded. "Do I have to come along sensei?"

Tsunade sighed. "Yes, you heard it was well and you could maybe fill in the gaps I leave out."

"Yes, ma'am."

That was a load of crap. Sakura knew that Tsunade wanted her to come along just so she did not have to go to Danzo alone. Plus, it was no secret really that Danzo despised Sakura along with Tsunade. It was most likely because of Sakura's once close proximity to Naruto and her being basically a Tsunade. Plus, you should fear a woman who could punch you straight across the village without ever touching the ground. Except, there were two.

The duo made their way to the Hokage tower. Danzo had it improved to be larger and more elaborate then the last Hokage tower. He was such a narcissist.

After making their way through multiple of Danzo's little ROOT ANBU searches and checkpoints they reached the double doors of the Hokage office. The two ANBU opened the doors for them into the large office.

It was unnecessarily large. With a oversized, over weight, ornate dark wood desk in front of the rounded windows. To the left was a table for maybe eight people to have a meeting. To the right were a few couches and a coffee table for relaxing or meetings. And at a few places were bookshelves and filing cabinets filled with whatever the Danzo wanted. The high back chair's back faced the two women. But it was easy to guess who was being blocked from their view. Both the blonde's and the pink's most hated person.

They stopped in front of the desk. The chair slowly turned to reveal the bandaged covered man with the smuggest look on his face. Sakura had to use every ounce of her self-control from not chakra-enhanced slapping that look off the elder's face. And oh how she wanted to.

"Princess Tsunade..." Tsunade's hatred of the name could never be put into words. "And her apprentice. What an unexpected surprise."

"Oh stop it Danzo," The busty blonde growled, "you knew we were coming."

Continuing the conversation like no one was taking stabs at him, "So what do I owe the pleasure of this visit for?"

Tsunade got serious very quickly, something she picked up from being Hokage. "I assume you got the report of one of our recon teams being attacked and taken to the hospital?"

"Yes, I have it right here," said Danzo motioning to one of the files on his desk. "How is their recovering coming?"

"All patients admitted had critical injuries but are now stabilized. All will live."

Danzo almost seemed annoyed. "You had to come all the way to see me to tell me that and not in a report?"

Tsunade scoffed. "If I had the choice Danzo, I would never want to see you again. But beside that point, one of the recon units woke up and was able to tell us what happened."

Danzo sat silently waiting for her to continue. The blonde sighed. "They were attacked by the Akatsuki."

Danzo's expression did not change at all. That perturbed Sakura a little bit.

"But that is not the shocking part and the reason why we are here. The recon unit told us that some group came and actually went toe to toe with the Akatsuki, and pushed them back."

"Is this so.."

Tsunade almost started shouting. "That's all you can say? A group of people who are stronger than them? We need to find out who they are and make them allies!"

Danzo calmly raised his hand and snapped his fingers. An ANBU appeared next to him handing him a file and then disappearing again. Danzo held out the file to Tsunade. She regarded Danzo for a second thinking that maybe this was some dream or trick but took the file. Danzo stood up and walked to the window and look out over the village as Tsunade flipped open the file.

"What you are looking at is the only copy of our intelligence gathering of a brand new group that we have recently heard of. Information is limited. I have sent many squads to go out seek information, even using many spies to turn up who they are, where they are from, or any information about them. We have turned up some but even what we have may not be true. "

Danzo turned back around and sat down in the chair and continued. "From what we gather, the group was formed roughly three ago. They have at least six members, possibly more. Their ultimate goal is still unknown. Apparently, their members are all very powerful and are very good at keeping their identities secret. Even going off recent sightings and using tracking techniques, they seem to vanish. They have accepted missions both large scale and in small villages, with an almost perfect completion rating. But they do not accept all their missions even with a large purse waiting for them. The people who do meet them cannot recall much about them. Their only real way of identifying who they are is that all the members wear white trench coats with blue accents on them. Even then people have rarely seen their faces because they keep their hoods on all the time.

"Their only real enemy it seems is the Akatsuki. Why they have targeted the Akatsuki I would much like to find out why."

Both Tsunade and Sakura were stunned by all this. "How long have you know all this Danzo?" asked Tsunade, not caring to hide her impatience with the man for withholding such information.

"Calm down Princess Tsunade." That damn name again. "I have only known for about six months."

The blonde sighed and pinched her nose. "Have you tried getting message to them?"

"Of course."

"What did the message say? That you would like to have a meeting? They don't seem to be that stupid Danzo." Tsunade was glad to get at some a little jab at the old war hawk.

"Watch your words Tsunade," warned the current Hokage.

"Have you tried giving them a mission?" Sakura finally interjected.

Both Danzo and Tsunade gave Sakura quizzical looks. "Explain."

Sakura controlled her heart rate and took a deep breath and explained. "Well they seem to only go where can get some missions. Mission opportunities are everywhere if you know where to look so they do not need a village to give them any missions. Plus they may accept low pay to avoid too much suspicion. Plus, it would not hurt. Maybe we can actually see who they really are, plus maybe make some good allies."

Danzo narrowed his eye at Sakura. "Tsunade I think she may have surpassed you."

Tsunade did not care if that was supposed to be an insult or not. "I would expect nothing less form you Sakura."

Sakura blushed form the attention she was getting. "T-thank you."

Danzo cleared his throat. "I will be having a meeting with the jonin later today so they can tell their squads to be on the lookout for this new group. In the mean time I will see if a can get a message out to them for a mission. Dismissed."

The two ladies walked out of the office without another word and did not speak until they were far enough away from the building to not be heard.

"If that group is smart they would stay far away from this place," Tsunade said.

Sakura nodded. "Let's hope they are."

xxxxxx

Four figures were walking down trail through a heavily forested area where the light from the sun only broke through the canopy every so often. Their white cloaks hiding all their features expect their feet only opening when a light breeze broke through the trees.

"How do you think Kisame is feeling about now?" A woman's voice asked the group at large.

Most of the other remained quiet especially the figure at the rear of the group.

"If he does not feel anything now, he certainly will be feeling it later. I lost track of how many times you landed hits on him."

The figure at the front huffed in agitation. "Yea, I should have hit him harder though. He still is alive. And he still got away!"

"Well he is the tailless tailed beast for a reason."

"Well tailed are still better than tailless any day of the week," the front figure huffed back.

Silence only remained over the group for a few more seconds before the back figure broke it. "What is the new plan?"

"New? Ha! There is no new plan! It is the same as it always was. Gather intel, fight those Akatsuki scum, and turn the world in the direction of peace."

The other figure interjected before the last could respond. "As fun as they sounds, that is still idealistic, I think what he is asking is what specifically are we going to go about it. We cannot just fight the Akatsuki, all of us know that there is more corruption in the world than just them. They just happen to be at the forefront about it. Then maybe, Kumogakure and Konohagakure. And most likely Iwagakure. But we all know how corrupted Konoha is. Or just its leader. "

The first figure flinched a tad at the first mention of Konohagakure. He knew how corrupted they had become because of its current leader. "Yea I know."

Suddenly there was a puff of smoke on the ground. A small animal appeared in the middle of the road before the group with a scroll in its mouth. The leader knelt down and took the scroll from the animal. "Thank you." The animal saluted and puffed away.

Opening the scroll the figure read the scroll, then started shaking with anticipation.

"What is it?"

The figure smiled. He was just given the most perfect opportunity. Thank Kami.

"I think we have a way of able to gather more intelligence on Konoha and make some money in the process." He tossed the scroll to one of his associates.

They read it and gasped. "You can't be serious! You know this is a trap! It was that written all over it!"

The last figure read the scroll. "I have to agree this is from Danzo himself. He cannot be trusted."

The leader's smile grew even bigger. Finally he reached up with both hands and slowly took off his hood revealing long, messy golden locks. He turned to his comrades showing his brilliant sapphire eyes and whiskered graced cheeks, a grin graced his face.

"I know, but now we make a move on him."

"But Naruto-kun, how can we do that?"

The grin grew into a smile they all knew. Naruto had a plan, and one he was going to have a lot of fun with.

"We exploit his weakness."

(A/N)

Thanks for reading the next chapter should be up in a day or two depends on if i feel like writing on that day

Thanks you to all the fan,

Ya Boi Hulu