A/N: Hello again everyone!! Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, and alerting!! I can't believe that I got four reviews!! Thank you again!! I am currently finishing up my days off from work and thought that I would update again before I get back to work.

Warning: This fic is yaoi. If you don't like than don't read! There is going to be spoilers throughout this story as it takes place one year after chapter 430 of the manga. There will be the occasional OC but they will be filler characters that don't have a major role in the story. The Naruto characters will be as IC as plot possible but there will more than likely be some OOC.

Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters, places, or jutsu. I do however own this plot, any OC's I create, and any jutsu that I make up.

----------- scene break

Italics – thoughts

Bold Italic – Kyuubi's thoughts

-=-=- flashback/dream

Naruto: Sage Chronicles

Chapter One: Passing of Time

Sakura wasn't the most patient of people. Well she was but not when it came to a certain blonde haired shinobi who went by the name of Naruto. From her current location, pacing up and down the hallway of Naruto's apartment, she could clearly hear Naruto getting ready. A small smile played on her lips. She never would have imaged the shinobi that Naruto would become. When she was younger the hyper active surprise ninja annoyed her to no end. All she could think about was Sasuke-kun. Nothing and no one else mattered. But now…

Sakura stopped her pacing as she stared at the plain door that led into Naruto's apartment. She still thought about Sasuke-kun but it wasn't the same to her anymore. She cared for the dark haired teen still but she now knew that her 'love' for him wasn't true. She prayed every night for Sasuke-kun's safe return but now she just thought of him as a friend.

The pink haired girl sighed softly as she crossed her arms. More and more lately she had been thinking about Naruto. Naruto…the one that never gave up. The one that would train till all hours and push his body harder and further than anyone. The one that had managed to defeat Pein and save the village and in doing so Naruto finally got what he always wanted. The people of the village now completely and utterly trusted, acknowledged, and pretty much worshiped Naruto.

Her smile grew as memories of Naruto blushing at the villagers that came up to him after the battle and thanked him, praised him, and some even apologized to him. The blush was cute on his tanned face and his blue eyes shimmered with tears. She knew how much Naruto fought for the people and for the people to finally see Naruto as Naruto and not Kyuubi was the biggest thing that had ever happened to the poor boy.

Sakura felt her cheeks warming as she placed a hand on her heated cheek. She had been doing that a lot lately as she thought about Naruto. There was something about the teen that she couldn't put her finger on but whenever she saw Naruto, thought about him, or and especially when he looked at her, she could feel her face warming and her heart fluttered strangely in her chest.

A frown marred her face slightly as she thought about the other girls that currently thought Naruto was different. The sage couldn't even go out into the village without being stopped by some random girl who wanted to talk to him. They are all just a bunch of wannabes! Just because Naruto is now very strong, he has matured A LOT but he's still funny and down to earth they all want him! But did they care about him when he was working hard and trying to become better for the village?! NO! I was there!

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura yelped as she turned and almost decked the one that called her name. There standing behind her was Naruto, who was wearing an amused grin on his face. "N-Naruto…when did you?"

Naruto smiled as he closed his door and locked it. "You looked pretty deep in thought. I wasn't going to say anything but your face was getting angrier and angrier so I thought…"

Sakura laughed nervously. Great I was getting all worked up over nothing and looked like an idiot in front of Naruto! "Yeah…I was just thinking about something stupid…"

Naruto cocked at eyebrow at her but didn't say anything as he walked towards her. Sakura couldn't help but ogle him. Over the past year Naruto had changed a lot and, in her opinion, in a very good way. Though she did miss the huge amounts of orange he wore he now donned the attire and appearance of a true Sage.

Naruto had long ago stopped wearing his normal orange jumpsuit. Well at least it seemed like a long time ago but it actually happened over the course of the year since he became a Sage. Now the blonde teen wore knee high deep black-blue combat sandals with Konoha's symbol in silver at the ankles. His pants were quite a bit tighter and were a midnight black with orange strips running up the outside of his legs. Sakura's head cocked as she continued to give Naruto the once over.

Wrapped around his waist was an orange cord rope that easily wrapped his narrow waist twice before the long tasseled end hung limply at his left side. His orange and black jacket had been replaced with a midnight black haori with orange as the collar stripe. The very deep 'v' of the haori displayed his mesh undershirt. Over all of this he wore his Sage Haori of deep blood red with black flames at the hem and around the sleeves.

Sakura smiled softly as she stared at the necklace that hung around his neck. She had seen Naruto wearing it a long time ago but never knew where he had gotten it. Finally one day she asked the teen and he said that he got it from Shishou when he learned Rasengan. It was the most precious thing he owned, he told her, and said that he would never take it off.

"Sakura-chan…why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my clothes?" Sakura blinked as Naruto's voice washed over her mummified brain. Naruto was currently looking down at himself and she quickly turned away.

"No I was…well…" Sakura growled at herself mentally before turning around and smiling at Naruto. "We should get going. Sai and Kakashi-sensei are waiting for us."

Naruto grinned as he walked towards her. "Well Sai is probably waiting for us but I don't think Kakashi-sensei will even be there."

Sakura laughed softly as she followed after Naruto, "You're probably right."

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Sasuke tried his best to ignore his now awakened team. They were going on and on about entering Konoha and looking for somewhere to eat. Though he had stated that they would not be entering the village they were getting louder and louder about the whole thing.

"They didn't notice us enter the barrier so I don't see why we can't just go don't there and. Get. Something. To. Fucking. EAT!" Sasuke's eyebrow twitched as the voice of Suigetsu grew louder and louder.

"Shut up you ungrateful brat! Sasuke-sama stated that we are not to enter the village! We have food here!" Karin's voice drifted to his ears and Sasuke couldn't help but grind his teeth. The woman was useful but she drove him crazy.

Sasuke pushed away from the tree that he was leaning on and turned towards his team. Jugo was the only one that was quiet but he was covered by at least six little twittering birds. Their earlier conversation came back to the Uchiha as the birds continued to sing to the silent giant. Naruto…he became a Sage…what a fucking idiot. That is another sure fire way to draw attention to one's self!

"Oi Sasuke! So what's the game plan?!"

Onyx eyes flicked to the white haired sword wielder. "We will be entering Konoha tomorrow. I will seek out the Hokage by myself."

Karin bit at her lower lip, "But Sasuke-sama what if it's a trap?"

Sasuke huffed as he crossed his arms. "It's not a trap."

Karin pulled at her red hair slightly, "But the ninja of Konoha—"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "They are honorable shinobi. They would not set a trap."

Suigetsu laughed, "Yeah sure Sasuke! Real honorable! Your history with them is a shining example of how honorable they are—"Suigetsu's eyes widened slightly as he felt the cool steal of Sasuke's blade against his threat.

Sasuke had heard enough. The damn white haired boy didn't know anything about Konoha. Though, Sasuke hated to think it, he didn't know all that much either. His world was still flipped around. Everything that Itachi had said. Everything that Mandara had said. Then everything that was released by the Godaime. His head was about to explode but he wanted the truth from the only source that he had yet to talk to.

"Easy there spiky head. I was just saying…" Sasuke smirked as Suigetsu laughed nervously.

"You know nothing so keep that trap of yours shut." Sasuke drew back his blade and sheathed it while he backed away from Suigetsu. Suigetsu's muttering lingered in the air as the onyx eyed teen walked into the trees and away from his team.

He needed to talk to the current Hokage. It would have been more beneficial for him if he was able to talk to the Sandaime but seeing as how he was now dead he would have to look to this Tsunade to answer his questions. Sasuke knew, in his heart, that what Mandara said was somewhat the truth but was it all the truth? Had the Sandaime actually tried to talk to Fugaku in order to stop the coupe from happening?

Sasuke growled in frustration as he continued to walk through the trees that lined the western gate of Konoha. He had walked this way many times over the course of his life within Konoha. He used to walk it alone until he met Naruto. The blonde energy ball had actually followed him one day to his secret training area. Sasuke smiled softly as he remembered the yelling match that had happened between the two of them when Sasuke had found out he had been followed.

Sasuke stopped walking as he turned his head towards the heavens. The sun had now fully risen and the warm bright rays of the sun peered down through the canopy of leaves that sheltered the Uchiha. The leaves were once again changing colour as autumn drew closer. It was only late September but the leaves were already starting to take on the multi tones of reds, yellows, and oranges. Sasuke's eyes lingered on a bright orange leaf. He had never seen such a vivid orange on a leaf before.

"Naruto…" Sasuke growled to himself as he tore his eyes away from the leaf. What the hell is wrong with me! I see a fucking orange leaf and I think of the dobe! I have strange visions about him too! "What the hell is happening to me…"

"Sasuke-san?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. At least I was followed by someone that isn't annoying. "Yes Jugo."

"It's the birds again."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he glanced over his shoulder at the tall man, "And."

"The Golden Sage is near."

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Naruto grinned as he leapt from building to building as no more than a blur. Sure he knew it was wrong of him to skip out on the meeting that Sakura-chan had come to get him for but he had other plans that needed to be done first. Plus was it his fault if Sakura-chan couldn't tell the difference between himself and one of his kage bunshin?

Not to mention that when the meeting is over my kage bunshin will disappear and I will know what happened in the meeting anyways. This way I can work on my training. His grin widened as the trees that hid his training grounds come into view.

But what if Kakashi-sensei learns that you are using one of your kage bunshin to attend the meeting? He will most likely destroy it.

Naruto laughed out loud as the thoughts of the Kyuubi entered his mind. It had taken him almost the whole year to finally figure out what to do about the Kyuubi inside him. While he trained in Myobukuzan he had started to feel the presence of the Kyuubi a lot clearer. As time passed and the threat to Konoha passed he started to look into the presence that he felt.

After months he finally managed to draw forth a presence that wasn't the usual malice infested chakra that equaled the Kyuubi. This presence was the true Kyuubi. Kyuubi wasn't always the hateful, spiteful, and killing demon that it was today. Kyuubi was a guardian Bijuu. He watched over the forests, lakes and mountains. It wasn't until the Uchiha came and sealed it under their eyes that it started to go out of control and wanted nothing more than to destroy everything that it saw.

That's the main presence that was sealed within Naruto. But once he learned of the true presence of the Kyuubi he trained day and night to help free it from its own pain and suffering. Sure there was still the evil presence of the Kyuubi within him but now that he had freed the true spirit of Kyuubi they could work together to completely eliminate the evil chakra. Of course it didn't help that Naruto's own anger, hate and ill thoughts helped to fuel the darker side of Kyuubi. That was why he needed to 'grown up' as Kyuubi had said. That way he could look at all things from all angles and not just see the hatred in something.

If Kakashi-sensei destroys the kage bunshin I will know about. He hasn't done it yet and as long as we reach the training ground they will be hard pressed to find me.

You are playing with fire again chibi kitsune.

I know but how else are we to train? I don't like it all that much…okay I think it's funny but still… Baa-chan has been really busy with the Chunin exams that she won't see me. I want to find Sasuke but how can I get a mission to look for him if I can't even see her! So we train.

You are growing chibi kitsune. Yes we will train. The evil chakra is still very high. It has lost a lot of its power over you because you no longer go to it but you still must be careful of it.

We must be careful of it. Naruto felt Kyuubi nod his agreement as they landed on a large knotted branch of the first trees of the forest. The sweet scent of the foliage washed over Naruto as he continued his trek into the forest. This was where he had followed Sasuke to when they first became teammates. He hated the fact that he didn't know where Sasuke trained and one day decided to follow the stuck up gaki.

What he had found took his breath away. The forest training area. The beautiful waterfall that fell into a large lake. The valley of boulders. It was all perfect for someone who wished to train in the arts of the shinobi. Sasuke, of course, was pissed that Naruto had managed to tail him but soon it become a regular thing for the two of them to be off in the Uchiha training grounds.

Trees blurred passed Naruto in a blur of autumn colours. He knew that he didn't have much time to get there before his kage bunshin arrived at the meeting place. He would still have a little time as Kakashi-sensei was never on time but he still wanted to be well into the training grounds before that happened. The Uchiha Clan had taken extreme measures to protect the area that they trained in as they didn't want others to find them thus it made it the perfect place for him to train and unleash his chakra.

The sounds of water splashing drew his attention as a he leapt from the trees and landed silently on the soft sandy shore of the lake. He had been training on his natural chakra control of water. He couldn't use water jutsu as he was not affiliated with that element but his scroll was unlocking some really amazing abilities of someone in sage mode.

I will keep a watch on the seal within you chibi kitsune as you train. That much chakra always makes the evil one restless. You can train with only half of my chakra at your command.

Only half?! But Kyuubi—

Half if more than enough! Are you planning on blowing up the lake? You still need to learn better control. Use your own chakra at first and then when you have better control call on mine.

Fine! Kyuubi snickered in his mind as his raised his hands. It had become second nature to him to perform the hand seals that summoned his scroll. Once he learned the seals he decided not to carry his scroll. Well he always carried it on his person when he went on missions but when he was in the village it stayed in his apartment until he needed it.

A soft pop and a puff of smoke announced the arrival of his scroll. He gently placed his hand on it before laying it gently in the grass. The wind played with his hair as he sat down on the other side of his scroll. He sat cross legged as he rested his hands in his lap. He slowed his breathing as he blue eyes closed. The whole area lit up as he called forth nature's energy.

----------------------------

Tsunade walked through the forest admiring the soft colours of the newly changed leaves. Shizune walked slightly behind her as they made their way towards the training grounds that Tsunade knew housed one gaki. She knew that Naruto would not be going to meet with his teammates. Well at least not the real one.

Tsunade smiled softly as she walked. The gaki was getting stronger and stronger with each passing day. When Naruto had told her the story about the Kyuubi within him she was worried. She didn't want Naruto to talk with the beast but as time went by she knew that he hadn't listened to her but it was actually for the better. Yamato had said that he was no longer needed to govern over the gaki as he trained because the evil red chakra had been sealed even better within the boy.

But that still didn't mean that she didn't worry about it. The Kyuubi was a dangerous demon no matter what Naruto said on the subject. She didn't want him to try and use the power that was within him as she feared what would happen. Jiraiya had told her all about what Naruto was like when the Kyuubi was unleashed and the last thing she wanted was for that to happen again.

"Tsunade-sama are you sure about this?"

Tsunade smiled slightly at the worried look on her assistants face. "I can't keep putting him off. He will end up leaving on his own if I don't let him go. It has been a year since Akatsuki attacked and we have not heard a single thing about what they are up to now. I was using the possibility of the Akatsuki finding him as an excuse to keep him here."

"Yes I understand but to let Naruto-kun go now…"

Tsunade sighed, "What better time. I will, of course, ask Naruto again to take part in the Chunin exams but I can't force him. If he says no I will send him off to look for Uchiha Sasuke. It will be limited to a one month period as this is how long the exams are but it will please Naruto."

Shizune smiled slightly but the worry still didn't leave her eyes. Tsunade couldn't blame her. Naruto had saved her life. If it wasn't for Naruto's sage jutsu Shizune would be an empty shell. Most of the villagers hated to see Naruto leave on missions. They wanted him to become a Chunin so that she, the Godaime, could promote him to a Jonin.

It still surprised Tsunade how much the village changed after the attack. They all saw Naruto in a different light. He was the boy that no loved or cared about. But now he was the strong powerful Sage who had surpassed not only his former teacher, Jiraiya, but also surpassed the Yondaime. They didn't want Naruto out of the village very much because if they were attacked again Naruto was the key to victory. But what they don't realize is that Naruto is first and foremost a shinobi and his duty leads him to take mission for the good of the village.

"Ts—Tsunade-sama…"

Shizune's awed voice drew Tsunade from her musing as she turned to look at the dark haired woman. Shizune was standing with her mouth hanging open and was shakily pointing ahead of her. Tsunade's eyebrow rose as she turned her head in the direction that Shizune was pointing.

Tsunade's jaw dropped at what was before her. They had reached the lake and standing in the middle of the lake was Naruto. But what drew her attention was the fact that Naruto was practicing his frog fu onto of the water and the water was whipping around him as he did his movements. The more the gaki moved the more the water whipped up around him. She had never seen anything like it before.

Long thick ropes of water coiled up from the main body. As Naruto moved from stance to stance the great serpents of water dipped, thrashed, and whipped out. Tsunade stared in awe at the boy who was no longer a mere gaki but a Sage. Naruto's golden eyes flicked around and watched with extreme concentration as he moved with the grace of a dancer upon the water.

"I've never seen anything like this before. I never knew that Naruto-kun was an affiliate for water." Shizune's voice once again drew the Godaime's attention.

"Yamato said that Naruto's element is wind. I believe that this is one of the abilities of his Sage training." Tsunade grinned as she stepped towards the lake. Let's see how well he can concentrate on that if I do this… Tsunade's grin widened as she drew in a deep breath. "Oi! Gaki!"

A startled yelp was Naruto's reply as the water crashed down around him. Great waves lapped at the shore as Naruto glared at the Godaime. The gaki's skin was flushed with a light sheen of sweat as he walked across the lake and towards the one that had yelled out to him.

"What the hell Baa-chan?! I was training!"

Tsunade laughed softly as Naruto came to stop a few feet from her. "Training? Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting with Kakashi and the other members of Team Kakashi?"

Naruto's jaw dropped as a light dusting of pink adored his cheeks, "Uhm…"

Tsunade crossed her arms, "Well?"

Naruto grinned as he scratched the back of his head, "Sorry?"

Tsunade just shook her head, "I was looking for you."

Naruto's eyebrows rose slightly as he walked towards his scroll. Tsunade could just make out some strange markings on the page before Naruto rolled it closed. "Yeah?"

"I want you to take the Chunin exams." There's no point in beating around the bush. I want him to give me an actual answer this time and not just a 'I refuse'.

"No."

"Why?" Tsunade glared at the back of Naruto's head as the boy flung his scroll over his shoulder where it came to a rest at the small of his back.

"I just can't right now."

"Why?"

Naruto growled softly as he turned back towards the Godaime. "Why can't you send me on a mission to find Sasuke?"

Tsunade let lose her own small growl. "Answer my question gaki."

Naruto's fox like grin appeared on his face as his golden sage eyes danced with merriment and mischief. "I'll answer you if you agree to allow me to go and look for Sasuke."

Tsunade grinned. Well I was going to let him anyways. This way I finally get my answer. "All right."

"Then I won't tell yo—wait what?!"

Tsunade laughed at Naruto's deadpan expression, "I said all right. If you tell me why you refuse to take the Chunin exam I will let you go and look for Sasuke."

A huge grin appeared on the blonde's face. "Are you serious?"

Tsunade smiled in return, "I'm serious. So why?"

"Sasuke and I made a promise at the last Chunin exam. We were going to find out who was stronger in front of everyone at the exam. But with Orochimaru attacking and the thing with Gaara well we never got a chance. I want to take the exam with Sasuke. And since he has been pardoned he can go with me!"

Tsunade smiled at the bubbling attitude of the gaki shinobi in front of her. The boy was a ball full of energy. She never thought that that would have been the reason why he didn't want to take the exam but now that she thought about it did make sense that the boy wanted to wait for Sasuke. After all the two of them have been rivals for years. Oh but the poor stadium after their battle…

"So when do I leave?!"

Tsunade blinked and backed up suddenly as the blonde was now a few inches from her face. "I will be sending you to Suna first. The Kazekage wants me to send you to report on his preparations on the Chunin exam. It will take you only a few days there to make your report and after that…"

Naruto grinned, "Okay I can do that!"

"Listen to me gaki!" Tsunade shook her head slightly. Ball of energy?! More like a Bomb of energy! "Once you are finished in Suna you have one month to search for Sasuke before you must report back to Konoha."

Naruto jumped into the air and cheered. "Just you want Sasuke I'm going to find you! You hear me Sasuke!"

Tsunade laughed softly, "You can leave whenever you are ready."

Naruto instantly stopped leaping around, "Really?"

Tsunade crossed her arms, "I don't like repeating myself gaki."

"Yes! I'll just grab a few things from my apartment and then head from there to see Gaara!" Tsunade opened her mouth to speak but instead her jaw dropped. In a whirl of leaves and wind Naruto vanished from the shore of the lake. I didn't even know he could do that?! You truly are the number one surprise ninja Naruto!

"No! Naruto dobe!"

Tsunade turned around at the sudden yelling behind and froze. Black-blue hair framed a pale face. Onyx eyes stared in the place that Naruto had been standing in a few moments ago. A white haori, almost completely left open, donned his top portion as a large thick purple rope wrapped around his waist. She had seen pictures of the teen from the underground base that they raided almost two years ago.

"Uchiha…Sasuke…?"

Onyx eyes turned to look at her. They were deep and drew one in as you stared at them. But hidden within the depths of the endless black crystals was an underlying emotion. An extreme sense of worry flashed through the ethereal depths of Uchiha Sasuke's eyes.

"Why did you let him go?!"

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A/N: So here was the first official chapter of my story. I hope you all liked it!! Again thank you all for reading, reviewing, and alerting! I hope this chapter gets more than four reviews but I will happy either way!! =bows= Bitter

Japanese words to know: Godaime –Fifth Hokage

Yondaime- Fourth Hokage

Kunai – leaf-shaped blade with a handle with a ring at the end

San – suffix for Mr./Miss/Mrs

Chan/Kun- suffix usually added to the end of a name between friends or when someone older is talking to a child or someone younger then themselves

Sama – suffix for Lord/Lady

Kyuubi – nine tails

Hokage – The Fire Leader of the Shinobi

Shinobi - Is a ninja though technically it means, basically, one who is skilled in stealth

Jutsu - technique

Kage Bunshin – Naruto's shadow clone jutsu

Suna – Sand Country

Baa-chan – Grandma

Myobukuzan – The Frog Village

Sandaime – Third Hokage

Gaki – brat

Kazekage – Leader of the Sand Shinobi

Dobe - Sasuke's term for Naruto meaning 'dead last'