Naruto: Exiles
Since the previous chapter seemed to be well received, I present to you the second chapter of this fanfic.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
As Naruto and his friends walked through the woods, heading away from Konoha. There was a bit of a sullen atmosphere around the group as they walked through the night, leaving behind the home they once fought for. Finally, Jiraiya called the group to a stop.
"All right," said the Toad Sage, "we've all made the decision to leave Konoha, but now we need to plan our next move. Once the council realizes what we've done, they will mark us as missing-nin and send ANBU after us. We'll need a plan."
"What can we do?" asked Hinata, "W-we're just Genin."
"Don't talk like that," said Naruto firmly, "you're stronger than you think, Hinata-chan."
Hinata blushed and Jiraiya nodded, "Alone we're easy targets, but together, we can become unstoppable. And with that in mind, we should think about gathering our allies."
"What allies?" asked Tenten, "We're missing-nin now. Anyone who helps us becomes a target from Konoha. Who would help us with that punishment looming over them."
"You'd be surprised," said Jiraiya, "I'm sure there are several people that would be happy to help Naruto-kun here."
"Really?" asked Lee with a curious tone, "Who?"
"Well," said Jiraiya, "how about those people in Nami no Kuni? Or Koyuki-hime and her subjects in Yuki?"
"Wow," said Tenten, "you really know some powerful people, Naruto. I mean, the ruler of Yuki no Kuni and the owners of one of the biggest shipping and export stations in the world."
"I guess we could go and talk with them," said Naruto.
"It will be a good start," said Jiraiya, "come on, let's get going. We can hopefully make it to Nami no Kuni in a few days if we keep moving."
"YOSH!" exclaimed Lee, causing Tenten to sweatdrop, "Let us go then! I wish to meet the youthful friends that Naruto-san has made over the years!"
"Great," sighed Tenten, "you hit his Youth button."
"YOUTH AT FULL POWER!"
Jiraiya chuckled as the group continued on their way, "This is going to be fun."
xXsceneXx
Meanwhile, two figures wearing dark outfits were creeping through the forest, pursuing the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. One wore a red sash around his waist and had wrappings on his hands and over his mouth, while the other wore simple gloves with a metal plate and wore a cloth mask over his lower mouth.
"Can you sense the target, Bura," asked the one with the wrappings as he adjusted one of the sleeves of his uniform.
"…we're close, Tanu" said the other, as he moved a lock of his purple hair out of his face, leaving some covering his left eye, "…follow."
Tanu nodded, having long since gotten used to his partner's short and simple way of speaking. Danzo had often placed the two of them together on missions due to their complementing skills, but never often enough for them to develop any weaknesses like friendship.
Shaking his head to clear out the distracting thoughts, he focused on the task ahead. They were to capture the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi and bring him to Danzo-sama to begin conditioning for ROOT. Failure was not an option.
xXsceneXx
After a good amount of walking, the group came to a stop. They had traveled a good distance from Konoha, but they would need to rest for the night if they wanted to make it to Nami no Kuni without collapsing. Tenten and Hinata began setting up camp while Lee went to gather firewood, leaving Naruto to talk with Jiraiya.
"Ero-sennin," said Naruto as he stared at the ground, "why did this happen? Why did Baa-chan cast me out like this."
"I don't know, Naruto," said Jiraiya, "I've never seen Tsunade act with such disregard for the values that sensei taught us."
"What am I supposed to do now?" asked Naruto dejectedly.
"We start anew," said Jiraiya, "we have allies and friends we can call upon, and if our group sticks together, there's nothing that can stop us."
Naruto sniffed and hugged Jiraiya, "Thanks, Ero-sennin."
"Anytime, kid," said the Toad Sage as he returned the embrace.
Soon Lee returned with a pile of firewood and several fish he had managed to catch in a nearby stream and the group began to eat the meager meal that they prepared over the fire.
"So we're heading to Nami no Kuni, right?" asked Tenten, "What are we going to do from there?"
"Well," said Jiraiya, "we'll need transportation to get to Yuki-no-Kuni, so I planned to get some supplies and a boat from Nami-no-Kuni that we could take to Yuki. Maybe Koyuki-hime would be kind enough to grant us sanctuary in gratitude for the services to her country."
"Services to her country?" asked Hinata.
"Oh," said Tenten, "you mean the mission Team 7 took to Yuki-no-Kuni, escorting that actress for Jiraiya-sama's movie? But how does it relate to knowing the Daimyo of Yuki-no-Kuni."
"Ah," said Naruto, "the actress we were helping was actually Koyuki-sama."
Jiraiya chuckled, "Naruto-kun here helped her defeat her uncle, who had killed her father and stolen her rightful place on the throne. Not only that, but he also helped protect the nation's treasure, two Chakra generators that allow spring to come to Yuki-no-Kuni."
"That's pretty impressive," said Tenten, as Hinata nodded.
"Naruto-kun," said Lee, "the Flames of your Youth burn brighter than the sun itself! I will work my hardest to meet your level as your Eternal Rival!"
"Yeah," said Naruto quietly, "whatever you say, Lee-san."
This shocked the others. Naruto was being uncharacteristically sullen and referred to Lee without his normal nickname. This was a sure signal that something was wrong.
"I-is everything alright, Naruto-kun?" asked Hinata.
"You seem awfully subdued," said Tenten.
"I'm just thinking," said Naruto quietly, "everything I've done for the village, all of it was for nothing. I'm just the trash they threw away."
"You're wrong!"
Naruto's eyes widened upon hearing the outburst from the normally shy and quiet Hyuuga. Hinata was standing, with her meal scattered on the ground, staring at Naruto with a resolute look in her pale lavender eyes.
"You're not worthless, Naruto-kun," said Hinata.
"That's right," said Tenten, "that's why we're here."
"You are a true Genius of Hard Work, Naruto-san!" said Lee as he struck his 'Nice Guy Pose,' "I am honored to be by your side."
Naruto was touched by their friendship, but before he could respond a Kunai flew out of the trees and buried itself in his leg.
"GAAAAAH!" yelled Naruto as he fell to the ground.
The group jumped to their feet and got into ready positions just as several more Kunai flew from the trees.
"Byakugan!" said Hinata as she activated her Doujutsu to help her search for the enemies.
As she did this, Lee and Tenten deflected the barrage of Kunai while Jiraiya checked on Naruto.
"I didn't expect there to be others with him," said Tanu as he walked out of the trees, "why didn't you say anything, Bura?"
"…you didn't ask," said Bura in his flat voice.
"Who are you two?" asked Tenten as she reached for one of her scrolls.
"Our names are of no importance to you," said Tanu, "simply know that our target is Uzumaki, and if you stand in our way, you will be dealt with."
"You will not have him," said Lee as he got into a Gōken stance, "Naruto-san is our friend."
"You want him," said Tenten as she unsealed a kusarigama from her scroll, "you'll have to go through us."
Hinata nodded as she got into a Jūken stance. The two Shinobi regarded their opponents with unreadable expressions, before nodding to each other and getting into stances of their own.
"…very well," said Bura with a pause in his voice, "you shall learn your foolishness."
"Bura," said Tanu, "deal with the Sannin. I'll obtain our target."
"…hai," said Bura before flashing through several hand seals, "Fūton: Renkūdan!"
Jiraiya was barely able to dodge the powerful wind blast, and was forced away from the Genin by several more blasts.
"Now then," said Tanu as he cracked his knuckles, "shall we dance, kids?"
To be continued…