Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto I just like to bend them to my Yaoi will! No money made, tear.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Kyuubi"

Burn out Bright

Chapter 1

"The reason I called you here is because there is a new mission." As the Hokage spoke she eyed Naruto with concern. "Firstly on this mission there will only be a three man team which will, obviously, consist of you three. There have been rumors for a couple months now about an ancient 'weapon' that has been rediscovered. I believe you have all heard of these rumors, am I right?" all three nodded. "Good. At first we believed that the rumors were just that, rumors, but Jiraiya has sent a summon with some information that seems to disprove are first thoughts. Through one of his sources he has determined to approximate location that the weapon might be held."

The blue-eyed genin frowned slightly to himself, "Wait, this mission, is it to retrieve this thing? I mean Konoha doesn't need another weapon." he said not liking the idea of adding yet another weapon to the world. 'This world forgot about this weapon once, so for all I care this thing should just stay forgotten.'

"Yes I want you to retrieve it." answered the Hokage. She could see that something was troubling her gaki and knowing him, she could probably guess what.

"If you are worried that this weapon is going to be used as another weapon against the other hidden villages, I'm telling you now that's not going the happen. No matter how much the concial whines." She rumbled the last part to herself.

Naruto opened his mouth to speak and then closed it when nothing came out. He narrowed his eyes looking at the hokage for any signs that she was lying. Finding none he let his normal carefree smile consume his face, even though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Okay Baa-chan!"

"There… there is something else too." She knew this news was going to be hard on the blond boy. What made it worse was she was going to have to tell him today of all days. She took a calming breath then continued, "While collecting information on the weapon's location Jiraiya also learned of another group searching for it."

All eyes were on the Hokage. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. Naruto's eyes had many emotions flash through them. The Hokage could tell he was already considering the possible answers, and how each one would effect him. He wasn't nearly as stupid as he lead others to believe.

After a moment of thought he was pretty sure he could guess which group it was. Not the Akatsuki they were only interested in the power of the demons not anything else or at least it seemed that way. Orochimaru was dead as far as they knew, so the only group left with interest in gaining power would be…

"Hebi" the blue-eyed teen whispered, but in the silent room his words seemed deafeningly loud.

"Yes." The Hokage said quietly. "I'm guessing they probably have the same information as Jiraiya, so there is a chance you might run into them. I don't have to tell you that your mission comes first. The Uchiha is a traitor and missing nin." Her words were cold and strong but they needed to be. Naruto needed to understand that he couldn't keep chasing after the raven youth all his life. She could see the hurt and sadness within those blue depths, for he knew those words were more aimed at him than the two others in the room. It stung her heart to see her adopted little brother hurt by her words, but she was also the Hokage and had a responsibility to the village.

"Do you all understand?" she asked for the sake of not singling her gaki out more then necessary.

"Hai, Hokage-sama" Sakura answered

"Hai, hai." responded the copy-nin.

Then all eyes turn to the blond.

"N..naruto?" Sakura asked cautiously.

"Huh? Oh sorry. Hai! I understand." He said smiled while scratching the back of his head. All in the room could see the smile didn't reach his eyes, but at the same time they all knew he would put the mission first. Even… even if their old teammate was there.

"Good, here are the mission scrolls." she handed one to each of them. " I want you to be packed and ready to go in 2 hours. dismissed."

They all nodded to the Hokage and took their leave.

As she sat alone in her office she cradled her head in her hands. A tired sigh escaped her lips.

"Be careful gaki."

Naruto jumped from roof to roof in the direction of his apartment. Kakashi and Sakura had gone their own ways after leaving the Hokage tower. They were going to meet at the gates when they were finished packing. All wanting to leave as soon as possible.

Continuing on his way the blond was caught up in his own thoughts about seeing Sasuke again.

'Maybe this time… he'll come back.'

A part of the blonde's mind laughed mockingly at him 'Why would Sasuke come back? There is nothing here for him. Nothing here he needs. Especially not you.'

A growl echoed inside his mind. Though the demon didn't go out of his way to comfort his blond vessel, he did help derail negative and harmful thoughts. On occasion he would offer a few words that might be vaguely interrupted as encouragement. But most often the giant fox amused himself with mocking and frustrating his vessel.

Kyubi's the echoing growl startled the blond out of his dark thoughts and almost caused him to fall off the roof he jumped to.

'Kuso! Look what you almost made me do you giant puffball!' he yelled at the demon.

The blond could hear the great beast's amused snort.

'Jerk.' the blond pouted in his mind.

"Foolish kit you are not the Uchiha nor do you know what resides in his mind, so you no not what the Uchiha brat thinks of you or anyone else. It would be better to not to assume the negative."

'Well you are unusually talkative today.'

The demon huffed as if it was irritated "What I am or am not is no matter to you. I have just had enough of your pitiful self-whining. Next time you regard the Uchiha merely ask his thoughts of you, that way you will know for certain his thoughts."

Recently the blond noticed that the demon seemed to talk to him more and more. Also, it seemed that the conversations they were having were a little friendlier than, 'I'm going to kill you then devour your limp body'. Actually if the blond really thought about it the demon seemed to, even just slightly, care about him and not because of the fact that if he died so did Kyubi. Still it was kind of weird having a centuries old demon give you advise on love, even if it was very vague.

'Huh, never knew you cared so much.' The blond replied with a mental smirk.

A low growl echoed in his mind. "I only suggest this for my own comfort. Your mood effects the environment of your mind so solving this pointless issue would 'clear the air' in here. The smell of self-pity is all senses 'enjoy' right now." The demon said sarcastically.

'Okay. If you say so.' The blond sing-songed. He smiled to himself slightly. Even if the demon refused to admit it, he could tell the great beast cared.

'If you do not your overwhelming stupidity to be show to your teammates once again, I'd start packing before they come to retrieve you.'

'Wah?' Coming back to reality the blond looked around and released he was standing in his living room.

"How long was I standing here for?" glancing at the hanging clock on his wall he relised with alarm it was almost time for him to meet Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan at the gate.

The blond could hear an amused snort in the back of his mind.

'Jerk.'

Naruto sighed then started to quickly collect the things he needed to pack.

Once finished he grabbed his bag and left. Running towards the front gates he noticed Sakura was already there.

He started to run towards her and was about to yell out when he noticed she wasn't alone. He slowed and hid around the corner. Sakura was with Lee and he didn't want to interrupt them. He'd just lean back against the wall and wait til they were done talking.

"Lee thank you for coming to say goodbye. It was really sweet of you, when I know you are busy with your training." Sakura said.

"Lovely Sakura-chan even if I had to walk a million miles across burning hot coals, on my hands I would have come to bid you farewell." As he said this there was a burning fire in his eyes.

Sakura just smiled at him. He was a little on the crazy side, but she loved him anyway. Love. Her smile faltered a little thinking of her blond teammate. It was so obvious to her that Naruto was in love with Sasuke. Lee seemed to notice how her smile faded.

"Sakura my beloved what is troubling you?"

"Oh, it's okay Lee. It's just something… someone I'm worried about."

"Oh I understand, Sakura-chan." Lee's smile also faded. Sakura started to panic. Did Lee think she was talking about her old crush on Sasuke?

"Oh, Lee it's not who you thin…" Sakura tried to explain only to have Lee cut her off.

"No I understand. For I too feel sad for him."

"Huh?" Now she was confused. Lee felt sorry for Sasuke?

"Poor Naruto, for his youthful love is so far from him!" Lee cried out over dramatically.

Oh, so Lee did understand who she was talking about. Sakura went up to her boyfriend and held him close.

"I wish he had someone he could hold just like I'm holding you, Lee." she whispered sadly.

"Oh spring time of youth why have you left one of your own in the darkness of his winter." he cried again.

She smiled despite their sad conversation. Lee could be strangely poetic sometimes. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tighter.

"Things will work out for the best, Lee. I have a good feeling."

The Tai-jutsu nin pulled away smiling and striking his good guy poss.

"You are right Sakura-chan. There is always a good side to everything."

"Ya, well Naruto and Kakashi sensei should be here soon. Thanks again for coming." she smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Anything for the lovely Sakura-chan. Goodbye my sweet." then Lee took off running back to the training grounds.

From were he was leaning against the wall Naruto heard Lee say goodbye, well actually he heard not only that but the whole conversation they had. That wasn't his fault though, it was Kyubi's. Over the years his senses became heightened so it wasn't like he was spying. Right?

Thou right now even if someone had caught him and accused him of spying he wouldn't have had the will to fight back. He knew what they said was true. He knew he was in love with Sasuke. He knew that every moment he spent away from the other it felt like a hole inside his chest grew. Funny that hole in his heart seemed to appear after the raven had stuck his chidori through it. But he also was aware that the physical wound it's self wasn't the reason for its existence. The betrayal. That was the real cause, Sasuke's betrayal and his refusal to be cared for by anyone… including his best friend.

The blond shook his head trying to rid himself of those thoughts.

'They are worrying about me. I know my friends are worrying about me. I have to show them there's nothing to worry about…even if it's not true.' he sighed then stood up straight and plastered the largest grin possible on his face. He yelled out to Sakura as he ran up.

"Hi, Sakura. Kakashi-sensei not here yet?" he asked looking around like he just arrived.

Sakura smiled gently at him. "No, he's not here yet. It's impossible for him to be on time, it would ruin his record for the most consecutive lates."

He laughed at that, and for once it wasn't completely hallow.

Little did they know that said copy-nin was in a tree not far away.

Kakashi sat in the tree and watched what was going on below. He had arrived before even Sakura did, but wanted to observe his students a little. He had seen Sakura arrive and then Lee shortly after. They were in the middle of talking to each other when he saw Naruto approaching. He watched as the blond caught sight of Sakura and Lee holding hands. Loneliness, sadness and longing could be briefly seen in those blue eyes, before he masked his emotions once more.

'Naruto, how alike you and Sasuke are.'

That is when Lee and Sakura's conversation started to address the blond and raven. He knew Naruto could hear them and watched for the blonde's reactions. There were so many emotions that crossed the blonde's tan face that it was hard to decipher. Then as quickly as they came they were gone again. Masked once more in those ocean blue depths. Once Lee left the blond ran out pretending nothing happened. He was a good actor.

'Naruto it make me sad to think you suffer with this pain, but it is heartbreaking that you wish to suffer alone.'

His two student laughed and joked about their teacher as Kakashi watched.

'Well I think I let them drag my name through the mud enough for one day.'

With that the Copy-nin jumped down startling both students with a poof of smoke.

Sakura and Naruto were laughing and joking about their lazy sensei, well that was until he nearly gave them both a heart attack.

Kakashi's uncovered eye curved up into a smile. "From the way you two reacted to my arrival, I would think you were talking about me behind my back." he said knowingly.

"N..no, of coarse not Kakashi sensei." Sakura lied.

"Hey we don't have to explain anything to you. You are the one who's late!" The blond yelled trying to switch blame.

Taking pity of his students he decided not to torture them about their pervious conversation. So instead he came up with a lie of his own.

"Well you see I was on my way here when a mother duck and her ducklings decided to cross in front of me. I wanted to be polite so I waited for them to cross, little did I know it was actually a duck parade and it was going to take awhile for it to end."

Both student looked at there sensei like he was nuts and then…

"Lair!" both yelled.

Totally unfazed the copy-nin started walking towards the gate.

"I guess we should head out now…" Kakashi waited for students to catch up before continuing his sentence.

"… we wouldn't want to get stuck in another duck parade."

Both students fell over at that comment. The sliver haired Jonin just smiled to himself and kept walking.

TBC

Well there seemed to be a few people who showed interest in this story. I had hope for more, but at the same time that was a really short prologue. Thank you to those people who did review. It was best of you that I continued this story. So this chapter was dedicated to you, newsasunarulover, Acherona, Alphonseelric22, denise134 and Akane MOon.

Please rate and review.

Yours truly, Spoon