Chapter Three

"The reason I've called you all here…" Tsunade addressed the group before her. "Is to form a group. A group of some of our finer ninjas of the recent years." Team Gai, Kiba, Sakura, and Kakashi all stood at the ready, listening to their mission.

"You're going out there to find out a truth." Tsunade's voice was cracking here and there as she spoke. Everyone in the room knew this was no ordinary mission.

"As of seven tonight, I have sent out the official papers to place Uzumaki Naruto as one of the higher criminals from Konoha."
"WHAT?!" Rock Lee and Maito Gai shouted at the same time.
"NARUTO!?" Lee continued. "IT JUST CANNOT BE!"

"Tsunade-sama, is Shizune going on vacation or something?" Gai asked.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Shizune growled.

"Just something… I read on the internet." Gai rubbed his neck, chuckling.
"Enough!" Neji bellowed. "Why is Naruto wanted?"
"Rumor has it that he killed Jiraiya." Everyone in the room stopped dead, with the exception of those who had heard the news before. Everyone had his or her own reaction to the news. Rock Lee and Gai stood there with their mouths hanging open. Neji looked away from the Hokage. Tenten put her hand over her mouth. Kiba, on the other hand, was laughing.

"Naruto? Kill Jiraiya? Yeah right!" He laughed. "This is one we can put in the "Fake Rumor" pile, Hokage!" His laughter died swiftly as others didn't join in.

"We don't know if it's true or not. " Tsunade said. "But the news is from a reliable source and all the villages are now going to arrest him on sight."

"Holy shit… you're not kidding!" Kiba stepped back. "But this… this is Naruto we're talking about. Fart in your face Naruto!"

"You are in charge of finding out whether this is some rumor… or if there were unseen circumstances." Tsunade told them. "No one must know of your mission. Find Naruto. Get the truth. And get back here."
"I see…" Neji said. "That's why you chose us."
"Why?!" Lee asked. "TELL ME NEJI!"

" Look underneath the underneath, Lee." Kakashi said, slyly.

"Enough of your witchcraft my eternal rival!" Gai roared. "You can't corrupt my student!"
"Whatever." Kakashi shrugged. Gai whipped around with fists clenched.

"Oohh you're sooo cool Kakashi! Even after all this time you're so cooooll! I'll be as cool a you, one day! Mark my words! EVERNAL RIVAL!" He shouted the last words out to the skies and then realized everyone was staring at him.

"Hehe… a bit too loud." He said, rubbing his neck.

"The reason Tsunade called us," Neji ignored Gai, "was because we have proven ourselves as capable fighters."
"Oohh!" Lee said. "That's right! She sent us after Sasuke too!"

"Not me." Tenten looked down sadly.
"Why not just get Shikamaru and Chouji?" Lee asked. "Then we could go together!"
"No!" Gai shouted. "We go as dictated by the Hokage!"
"SHUT UP!" Tsunade suddenly roared at them. "ENOUGH OF THIS CHILDISH BICKERING!" Everyone took a few steps back.

"Kakashi, Gai, you two are in charge of finding information. Start by going to the sand village. Speak to Gaara. See if you can track down the source of this information." Kakashi and Gai nodded. "Sakura, Neji, Lee,Tenten, Kiba, you are in charge of finding Naruto. Sakura will lead you." Everyone nodded.

"Please bring back good news." Tsunade said gesturing for them to leave.
"Shouldn't one of the Jounin's go with them?" Shizune asked, when the office was empty again.
"None of the Jounin ninja share a bond with Naruto." Tsunade said. "Kakashi favored Sasuke."
"I see…" Shizune muttered.

"Naruto did share a bond with Sakura. The others are there as protection… if Naruto could kill a Sannin…" Tsunade shook her head.

Kakashi and Gai wasted no time. They swiftly grabbed their pre-prepared mission equipment and food and took off for the sand village. The other group were less prepared but no less determined. Sakura gook the photograph Naruto had sent her and put it in one of her Chuunin vests pockets.
"Please… let this bee a mistake." She pleaded as she gathered everything she could up. Neji was pre-prepared for missions and waited for everyone by the gates. He waved to the two teachers as they sprinted past and into the forests. Lee was swiftly gathering everything he could as fast as he could. Unfortunately this lead to an overly heavy backpack leading to him wasting more time in unpacking the ridiculous things he didn't need that he had packed anyway. Tenten was the third ready to go. She arrived next to Neji and Lee as Sakura was running up behind her. Kiba was taking some extra time to head to Naruto's place. Swiftly he entered, shattering a window at the same time, and Akamaru was soon to join him. It was a foolish hope that they could use these old items to sniff out Naruto but they were willing to give it a shot.

"Okay, lets head to Tanukiru first." Sakura told them "That's where the notice says he was seen last."

"All right." The others had no arguments. Hurrying out of the village, they started on their journey. Unsure where it would lead them. The trees flew past as they raced along their set path.

Tsunade was brooding in her office. She got up and started pouring into old files. She found the one she was after and nearly slammed it on her desk. There was no conversation between her and Shizune. Tsunade flipped through the file and wondered whether this person had anything to do with these events.

"T-Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked. "What's that?"
"A record… of Konoha's greatest criminal." Tsunade answered, turning a page. "This man was just as bad if not worse than Orochimaru… If he's somehow involved…"

"Someone as bad as Orochimaru?" Shizune asked. "I haven't heard of anyone like that."
"Few have… few have." Tsunade answered. She beckoned Shizune who walked slowly around Tsunade's desk. Peering at the document her face started to turn pale.

"I-It can't be!" She said. "But he-"
"He was clever… I'll give him that. And he goes hand in hand with Naruto." Tsunade muttered. "I have to wonder if he left something behind…"

"Something behind?" Shizune asked.
"Naruto killed Jiraiya, Shizune… I'm looking at all possible and impossible causes."
"But this man was-"
"This man unleashed the nine-tailed fox on Konoha."

The sun was setting as Tsunade prepared to retire for the night. Shizune had gone out to collect herself after their previous conversation leaving Tsunade alone. Tsunade locked her desk and left the room. She stood on the roof and looked at the four Hokages before her.

"Please, tell me you thought of this…" She asked Sarutobi's stone likeness. "Tell me you didn't leave me in the dark…" She didn't realize how long she stayed up there. The orange light slowly disappeared as she contemplated the evening.

Two. Once again we come upon this number. Two years had passed since Naruto had left. And there are two sides to every story. Be it true or false. Someone's belief in the truth can be skewered. If you tell yourself something long enough you'll start to believe it. So when people consider Uzumaki Naruto a monster, their side of the story is that the boy holds the nine-tailed fox thus he must be the nine-tailed fox. It's an erroneous way of thinking. After all, you are born of your parents but that doesn't make you them. The bowl that holds ramen is not ramen. If you believed it to be so you'd try eating the bowl and would be in for a rude awakening. Naruto's side of his story is that he is himself. Nothing more. But can people believe this side of the story? Can they look on it as more than a lie? After all, perhaps he's trying to trick them? Perhaps Naruto isn't so innocent?

The point is, that things are not how they seem. The truth is buried in lies. The truth is something that is personal. Sakura's truth was that she loved Sasuke several years back. Is that a truth today? Her 'love' was truthfully childish affection according to others. Neither belief is wrong. It's a truth to one person no matter how short that truth lasts. It's a truth that Naruto killed Jiraiya to the so-called witnesses. But are they sure of what they say? Is their truth skewered? Tsunade was contemplating all possible answers. Perhaps Jiraiya wanted to die? Perhaps they had gotten into trouble and the only way out was for him to die. Perhaps he did it to keep the nine-tails under control. There are so many answers … so many possibilities. Even when presented with one as a truth can you believe it?

Tsunade slowly descended the stairs to the hallway. Her room was next to her office so it didn't take long for her to reach it. She pulled open the door and stepped inside. She didn't pay attention as she slowly headed over to her kitchen. But when she got there she was jolted back to her senses. Something was wrong. The kitchen showed signs of being used and she never cooked there. She surveyed the kitchen and turned to leave. Despite all her strength, she didn't feel safe. She felt like someone was watching her from all angles. From all possible viewpoints, however unlikely that was. Her heart pounded as she made for the door and it skipped a beat when she wrapped her hand around the knob and someone spoke. It was a distorted voice, almost inhuman. But not mechanical. Nor did it sound menacing, but it frightened her nonetheless. Someone broke into her room and used her kitchen without anyone realizing it. Not even when they were in the room right next to it.

"Leaving so soon?" The voice spoke. She turned slowly, unable to hide that she was shaken. But her fear disappeared in an instant due to a combination of sight and words. When she rest her eyes on the intruder he finished what he was saying.

"Granny Tsunade." She took a step back and hit the corner of the room. Her hand slid up to her mouth covering it.

"N-Naruto?"