A Fox Gone Atray

by Ya boi Hulu

Watch as Naruto becomes a missing ninja and still fight for world peace. I'm trash with summaries. Posts will be a little slow since I'm doing for long chapters. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXPLICIT PERMISSION TO WRITE THIS STORY FROM THE ORIGINAL WRITER stixz35

5. Chapter 4

Chapter 4 A Fox Gone Astray

you meet a new member of the organization today muahahaha. it may or may not surprise you.

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Sitting in a high back chair, Danzo was overlooking the village. His village. That felt so good to say. For many, many years Danzo was skipped over by three other measly and weak excuses for a Hokage. After many years of careful planning and execution he finally captured his rightful spot. After the attack by Pein, the Fire Lord held a meeting with the elders of the village, where Danzo using his superior logic and reasoning skills, and a little help from the eye if Shisui Uchiha's eye, "convinced" the Fire Lord to make Danzo Hokage. Now, years later, the village is rebuilt, even among the Five Great Nations, Danzo was a head above the rest. His Village had grown to an immense size and now is a center of trade.

How did Danzo do all this? Not by just power. Knowledge. Knowledge is power. And he wanted to know everything. He likes being in control. For knowledge can grant you amazing power over people. Then with a little… persuasion they can be made to do anything you wish them to. Danzo smirked at the thought of how many people he could make do anything at the drop of his hat.

But then there is this new group. This new mysterious new group. Danzo was annoyed. No, irate. He knows barely anything about them. He had lied to Tsunade. Most of the report was true, but the part about how long they were gaining information about the group was false. Danzo had been trying to follow them for two years.

Two years!

That is despicable and embarrassing for Danzo. He, The Shinobi of Darkness, the ruler of the unseen, the master of black operations, could not find anything on this new player in the game. It was obvious they were trying to eliminate the Akatsuki. This was evidence enough when ANBU found the aftermath of battles that reflected the abilities of the Akatsuki, but at the same time left little evidence of this new group's abilities. Once Danzo was tipped off by a spy in his network so he send three of his best ROOT teams to find, investigate, and report about the rogue organization.

Not one agent ever returned.

Danzo was beyond pissed. Not even one report was received from them. Danzo did not want to risk more of his own men to find the group. To complicate his matters even more he could not get the normal ninja involved because of the sensitive nature and he did not want to reveal his own shame. Plus, Danzo did not tell the council about any of this except for Tsunade, but he wanted to keep them in the dark anyways. In his own mind, he thought the council was a big waste of time when he could get a lot more done faster because he would make all the decisions. Danzo needed more information on the group. Danzo did send out a message to the group to see if they would respond. After a long time waiting still nothing was heard from them. Then, out of nowhere, as was told by some of his ROOT agents, one of its member just shows up ate his village gates, unannounced with a missing Konoha ninja's forehead protector. Now ANBU members are escorting the new visitor here.

But Danzo and a smug smile on his face. He was going to get information. One way, or another.

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Most people would be terrified in this situation. A lone foreign ninja, in the middle of an enemy village, surrounded by elite ANBU, then surrounded by an army of regular ninja, some of the most powerful jonin, Danzo's ROOT, and the Hokage himself. In fact, most would have pissed their pants already.

But he was chuckling underneath his hood.

A small smirk graced the hidden face of the mysterious figure. He was begin lead down the hall the led to the office of the Hokage. For three years he had dreamed of storming down this hallway to take out the Hokage. However both experience, and the voice of reasoning from many different people kept him from doing such a thing.

The ANBU parted at the double doors as two others opened both doors leading him into the office. ANBU were standing near the windows. As he approached, he finally laid his sapphire eyes on Danzo. He was sitting in a high backed chair with two of his personal ANBU standing just behind him.

The lone figure stopped about ten feet from Danzo and just remained silent.

Danzo considered the individual in front of him. Did not seem to be too much of a threat.

"Welcome to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, my name i-"

"-I know who you are," interrupted the figure evenly. The ANBU in the room tensed a little, clearly not liking how the person interrupted their leader. Crap. Already starting off on the wrong foot.

Danzo's eye narrowed. "You dare insult the head of a house in his own house? To the Hokage no less?"

"I meant no respect Lord Hokage. Who hasn't heard of Lord Danzo, Hokage of the Konoha? One of the most powerful shinobi to ever live?" That left such a distaste in his mouth. But to get out of the hole he already dug himself into, and, as much as he did not want to, he had to stroke Danzo's already over-the-top ego.

"Since you know who I am, it is only proper to tell me who you are," properly said Danzo.

The figure crossed his arms and one raised up and seemingly tap his chin in mocking thought. "Well I could, but I would have to kill you."

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A few minutes earlier….

Sakura was having a difficult time keeping up with the strides that Tsunade was taking basically racing towards the Hokage mansion.

"My Lady…can you…slow down…" pleaded Sakura as she chased her Master.

The old blonde was concentrated. She was not going to let up. Sakura had raced to Tsunade's home and told her exactly what she saw. Then, without word her Master busted out the door to get to the Hokage mansion.

"I want to see this person myself."

Tsunade did not want to be left out of the loop or have any information withheld from her.

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All the ANBU in the room drew their swords and got into attack stances. Instead of shirking in fear the figure started to laugh, waving his hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't resist."

Danzo raised and lowered his hand to tell the ANBU to stand down. "I admire your bravery, but remember to respect those in power."

The figure nodded. "I will try and remember that."

"So who are you?" Asked Danzo again.

The figure bowed slightly. "My apologies Lord Hokage but I am not allowed to reveal who I am."

"Any why is that?" growled Danzo.

"I am following the instructions of the leader of our order." Stated the figure. "We are to keep our names secret."

Danzo, was not happy about that response. "Then by what am I supposed to call you?"

"That's a good question," said the cloaked man playfully. "I guess you can call me…Kit."

"That's an interesting name."

The figure chuckled. "It was given to me by a friend, and it fits me very well."

Suddenly he felt the approach of two very familiar chakra signatures. The double doors behind him burst open. Two women walked into the room, one blonde and one pink. The cloaked figure turned slightly to see the new arrives approach Danzo.

The sapphire eyes under the hood widened at the sight of the young kunoichi.

Sakura-chan…

For three full years he had thought of her. Always wondering how she was, what she was doing. She looked gorgeous as always. No, she looked so much more grown up and more beautiful than ever! The long pink hair tie into a single ponytail reveal her nice neck which slowly flowed into the wonderful curves of her body.

He missed her. Her laugh, that look she gave him when he said something stupid, her quick hot temper to wail you over the head only to turn around being gentle. The whole package that was his Sakura-chan. No, she was for Sasuke. He was so happy to just see her again. He would like nothing more than to reach out and tell her he was safe, he was here. Sadly, he couldn't.

Both ladies give a wide breath between them and the long figure. Stopping besides Danzo, Tsunade and the current Hokage gave each other quick greetings before they turned all their attention back to the one standing in the middle of the room.

Tsunade considered the white hooded man in front of her. She was giving his and eye over. She admired the short sleeved, hooded, long white trench coat with the blue flamed ends that covered dark blue, long pants and long sleeved shirt over a mess shirt. He wore white wrap on both fore arms that run to and covered his hands, leaving the fingers exposed.

"So this is the person the whole village is a buzz about," stated Tsunade.

Sakura was giving the figure up and down. There was something about him…

"Ah, Tsunade the Fifth Hokage," greeted the white cloaked man.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" asked the previous Hokage.

"I know you," responded the hidden Naruto playfully.

"How?" chimed in Sakura.

Danzo cleared his throat. "As entertaining as this little conversation is, we must get down to business."

"Of course," agreed Naruto. "We received your message, so here I am. What do you want?"

"We want information," started Danzo. "We-

"-will not get any," Naruto finished for him. Again the ANBU did not like that. Neither did Danzo. Especially Danzo, for many reasons. Naruto chuckled. "You think that you can just order me here like a little lap dog and just expect me to hand you over all the information about me, about my fellow comrades, about our order? You are sitting way too high on a throne of imagined power."

"How dare you!" spat Danzo.

Tsunade and Sakura were both stunned at the sheer audacity and the bravery, or even stupidity of the person basically insulting the Hokage. This guy…

"How dare I? Why do I need to tell you anything else about us? We don't know you, we don't trust you. You have done nothing for us to prove to us that we can trust you with any of our information. Again, no disrespect to you or your ninja, but you have to earn our respect by showing us that you mean business to help us reach our goals. Only then will trust you with more information."

Danzo, seeing an opening, and with a smug smile interjected. "Your goals? You mean like the total elimination of the Akatsuki?"

Danzo felt like he had the cards finally to have this person back on their heels. The hidden Naruto was unimpressed.

"So you have been trying to keep tabs on us," Naruto said, stating the obvious.

"Yes, we have been able to find out your real goal in eliminating the Akatsuki."

Naruto was silent for a second then slowly built up into a full laughter. "Two years! For two years you have been trying to follow us and that is all you can come up with?" Naruto continued to laugh.

Danzo's patience and pride was wearing very thin. Anger was almost plastered on his usually stoic face.

Tsunade turned to Danzo in shock. "Two years? I thought you said you have only been at this for six months?" Danzo dare not looked at Tsunade. He kept his hateful eyes straight ahead at the laughing figure of Naruto.

"You sent men after us. To watch us, study us. Well guess what, you are not the only nation to be trying to figure out who and what we are."

Sakura again interjected and repeated her long lost teammate, "Not the only nation?"

Naruto turned his head to her and nodded. "Kumo, Kiri, Iwa, just to name a few."

Everyone's eyes in the room widened in astonishment. "But you should be proud Danzo, you have gotten farther than any other nation. Everyone else basically has…nothing."

"Now how do you possibly evade four ninja nations at once?" asked Danzo who was intrigued by this piece of information.

"We have good ninja," Naruto responded.

Danzo was a little skeptical. "No one has even heard of you, you cannot be that good."

Naruto raised his hand holding a bloodied forehead protector. The same one he walking into the village with. One of the men behind him gasp and feel around for the thing he was just holding. Naruto turned slightly holding the bloodied object up.

"Looking for this?" Naruto chuckled silently.

Most of everyone's eye were wider than dinner plates. All thinking the same thing. How on earth did he do that?

Naruto then turned back to Danzo and tossed the forehead protector to him. Being, the proud village leader that he was, one of his underlings caught it for him then hold it to show Danzo.

"That belonged to Itachi Uchiha."

The air was sucked form the room. Everyone in the room was in shock as what the mysterious person in front of them was starting to dawn on them. Even Danzo, who was lost in his own thoughts and emotions, was visibly shaken.

Danzo could not believe his ears. Itachi Uchiha had always been a goal of his. He not only wanted Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan for himself, but Danzo had a feeling Itachi was housing the remaining eye of Shisui. This was to help him secure his power at the top of the world using it's greatest dojutsu. Now this, nameless, nationless, pathetic group of people were claiming to have taken out one of the world's most wanted and powerful ninja. Embarrassing and disgraceful, were two words that came to the Hokage's mind.

"Impossible," muttered Danzo, staring at the headband in his subordinate's hand.

Naruto chuckled. "How can it be impossible? That is….was his hitai-ate. If you don't believe me there should be some of his blood on there for you to compare it to what you have on file."

Danzo was still for a few heartbeats.

Sakura was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of the most famous rogue ninja being taken out by the cloaked man standing in front of her. "How did you manage to kill him?"

Naruto turned his attention to his teammate and longtime crush. "That's a secret," he teased.

Danzo nodded to his subordinate for him to take it away and get the blood tested. "I would still like for you to tell me how exactly you took out one of the most powerful rogue ninjas to ever exist?"

Naruto turned back to Danzo. "Apparently you have a hearing problem, because I just said it was a secret." This angered Danzo, and before he could speak Naruto continued. "As much as I love a good fight and all, we need to get down to business. We are very busy people and I am needed elsewhere very soon. We received your message, what is this mission you have for us?"

Danzo did not like the way the new comer was talking to him in his own village. This punk needed to be taught a lesson in respect. But, he was hesitant, if he was strong enough to take down Itachi, he could be major trouble. Even with all the powerful ninja in the room.

Snapping his fingers, one of his guards behind him handed him a folder, who he in turn extended to folder to the unknown Naruto. Being cautious, Naruto took the folder from Danzo being careful to not touch the unworthy Hokage. Naruto did not want those evil Hokage germs all over him.

Opening the file to read it, Danzo began to talk. "Between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers, far into the south there have been attacks on many villages by some C-ranked rogue ninjas. The Land of Rivers are having a hard time finding them. They have asked us to come in and eliminate them."

Naruto was flipping through the file to make sure the slimy Hokage did not leave out any information. "Do you have any information on individuals, abilities?"

"Much like yourself, there is not much information on them besides they are from different villages and they mostly use average level jutsu." Naruto nodded and he was still reading and understanding what Danzo was saying. "So we would still like-"

"-you will still not get any information about us until we believe we can trust you." Closing the file and throwing back in front of Danzo. "Judging by the numbers of ninja we could use a squad of a total of eight members."

Tsunade interjected. "Eight? Why would you want eight?"

Naruto turned to her to say something but Sakura beat him to him, "To feel out our ninja and dedication."

Everyone's attention turned to Sakura, who suddenly almost as pink as her hair was from the embarrassment of blurting out. Naruto nodded. "Very insightful. But I expect nothing less from the famed apprentice of Tsunade."

Sakura was more than a little taken back by words of the figure. What did he even know her? And was she really that famous? "I-I don't know what to say."

Naruto's smile was so wide under the hood. "Just a 'thank you' is fine."

Sakura was about to thank him when, once again, Danzo had to ruin some perfectly good fun. Clearing his throat, "So you want to work hand in hand with our ninja? Konoha has many strengths, including the world's best trackers. I will send four of my best ninja with you-"

Now it was Naruto's turn to interrupt. "-No offence Lord Hokage, we do not want to work with those only you pick. For us to really feel what Konoha is like we would like to get some normal shinobi, no ANBU."

This man was making Danzo infuriated. Danzo was no used to taking orders, or getting insulted in many different ways. But to find out more about this mysterious group he would have to swallow pride for now to gain the upper hand later.

"Do you have any idea who you would like to take along? There are a lot of ninja in our forces, and a few of them are great tracker like the Inuzuka or the infamous Hyuga with their dojutsu." asked Danzo.

Naruto knew who he wants.

"Well we do have good trackers ourselves, but more could not hurt. I could use one of each. Plus I would want a good leader and, of course a medic."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the man. "You've been following how Konoha sets up their squads." It was more statement than question.

"Not too difficult to figure out, plus one of your squads ran into part of our group a while ago and Sakura here was part of the group." Said Naruto. "So we accept the mission. I will be back in two days with three others from our organization so we can get the other members of the team and start the mission."

"Are they not close by?" asked Danzo. Maybe he could grab them too and interrogate them.

Naruto chuckled. "Hell no! We don't trust you right now. But they are just close enough that if I gave to signal, they were in perfect striking distance to start attacking village to come and rescue me if you were dumb enough to try and detain me."

With that preverbal knife into Danzo, and his guards obviously not happy with another insult to their leader, Naruto wanted to mess with the old war hawk one more time. "This is where I say goodbye. I am needed elsewhere." Naruto bowed to Danzo in the most sarcastic way possible.

Tsunade stepped forward. "Can we accompany you to the gate?"

Naruto smiled at the chance of spending time with the old hag and the girl he feel in love with. "Sure!" Naruto, Tsunade, and Sakura started to walk to the door to leave.

Danzo was shaking in rage at the seer disgrace and disrespect the person was showing him. Underneath the bandage Shisui's Sharingan spun to life to scan this new comer and to find out who he was. Danzo's exposed eye widened. He was admitting massive energy from….everywhere. How could he be that powerful?

Naruto paused in his steps and without turning around asked in a sarcastic tone like he already knew the answer, "Looking for something Danzo?"

Danzo did his best to not more or react. How did he know he was doing looked at? Does he know? How could he?

Naruto continued his walking out the door following Tsunade and Sakura.

As soon as the doors closed. "Follow him. Find out where the rest of his group is hiding. Find out who Kit is."

Three of his ROOT agents melted into the floor and disappeared. Danzo was determined. He would get the last laugh.

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Still being surrounded by ANBU, Sakura, Tsunade, and the cloaked Naruto were walking away from the Hokage mansion. Apparently word had gotten around about the stranger because many people, ninja and civilian alike wanted to catch a glimpse of the new comer.

The group continued their way to the gate when Tsunade finally spoke. "You must have some major guts to have insulted Danzo like that."

The figure shrugged. "I knew he would not dare touch me, not until he knew more about my comrades and how powerful we are. He is all about manipulation and gaining power, and willing to do anything to get it."

Tsunade was taken back by what he spoke. "You have been looking into Danzo. That's dangerous."

"Danzo is only a man. As much as he thinks he is untouchable, he is not. Besides, we have only been observing him. Nothing more," stated Naruto.

"To what end?" asked Sakura.

Naruto looked at her. And looked deep into her emerald eyes. She was always a soft spot with him. It was hard for him to not spill everything.

"I can't tell you everything, or anything right now but I can say this… there is a reason our organization was created."

Sakura thought about it for a second. "So killing all of the Akatsuki is not your main goal?"

Naruto reached up and scratched his hood. "It's part of the path to what our dream is."

Sakura was curious. "What is your dream?"

Naruto stopped walking. How much he would love to tell them out all of his dreams, including bringing Sasuke home, have Sakura as the love of his life, to be Hokage, to obtain world peace… yet he had taken a vow of silence. So he settled for this. "I have many dreams, I hope one day they all come true." He continued walking.

"Can you tell me one?" asked Sakura holding her hands behind her back. He knew this was when she was in a playful mood. "Please?"

"Hmmmm." Naruto thought. "Well there is a girl.."

"Oh she must be pretty special to have a guy like you notice her. Does she know she likes you?" Sakura walked a little closer much more interested.

"You don't even know who I am." But you really do….

"Well you seem to be pretty powerful, you don't seem like a bad guy. Plus, call it a girl's intuition. So, does she know you like her?"

"She doesn't know I exist."

Well that was a depressing thought. "Why not?" asked Sakura.

"That is a long story that is too sad to get into," answered Naruto. "Plus, she is in love with someone else. She would never be with me."

Sakura was a little saddened by his horrible responses. "Have you just told her? Maybe one day she will return the feelings?"

How can I, when I haven't kept my promise? "I want to, but the situation is complicated beyond reason, plus I do not want to put her in any danger. On top of that, it is more precarious because of the organization I am a part of. To tell her and having people find out would put her in great danger."

They approached the gates. "Well I hope everything works out for you."

Naruto turned around and faced Tsunade and Sakura. "Maybe one day, if this small alliance works out and we get to trust each other more, I can tell you more."

Sakura smiled. "Sounds great!"

"Where will you be going now?" asked Tsunade.

Naruto turned on looked into the distance. "I will gather with a few of my comrades and return. Sorry still cannot tell you where." Turning back to look at them. "Thank you for having me, I will return in two days." He bowed, turned heel and started walking away from the village.

The master and apprentice watched the figure get smaller and smaller walking away from the village.

"You took to him quickly," commented Tsunade.

Sakura smiled. "I can't tell why but I feel like a can trust him, something familiar too…"

"Well whatever it he, you may be able to find out on the mission."

Sakura smiled.

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Naruto had been walking for an hour before taking a detour off the path into the wild woods. In sage mode he could feel the chakras of the ROOT agents on his tail since he left the village. He needed to make sure they could not see him for what he did next. Wandering for another ten minutes he arrived at a small cave. Walking inside the cave shot off into two tunnels, he took the left, which led to a dead end. He reached the end. Closed his eyes, and puffed out of existence.

Miles away at the top of a cliff looking out over the massive forest sat cross legged the real Naruto, with his hood down, with all the members of his organization standing behind him.

Receiving the information from his clone. He opened his now sage eyes.

"It is done." Naruto stood up and turn to his allies. His friends. His family. "Mission accepted. Now our mission begins. So let's get to work."

They all nodded to the spikey blond and many of them walked away in small groups to start their assignments. Naruto turned to one of the people who remained with him. "So how does it feel to finally be a free man?"

"It means a lot that you did that for me, Naruto-kun."

Naruto shook his head. "It was repayment for everything that you have done for me."

The person reached up and also removed their hood to reveal raven colored hair.

"You didn't have to do that Naruto-kun."

Naruto reached out and put and hand on their shoulder. "But still it's a small thanks to you, Itachi."

The raven haired Uchiha gave a rare smile.