Run Away
By: Naruto's Mask
NM-chan: I hope you enjoy this BRAND NEW CHAPTER!!!!!! I would say more, but I don't have much time on the computer right now. So, BAZANEE!
Discalimer: I do not own naruto or any of it's characters! I do, however, own Tatsuya-sama, and Kyo-kun. SO NO STEALING!!!!!
"Hokage-sama, were you able to find Naruto yet?" Iruka asked the next morning. It had been four hours since Sakura was found and only two since she woke up and told Tsunade what had happened. Ever since then, ever available nin had been sent after the blond on strict orders to return him unharmed.
"I'm sorry, Iruka. That brat thought ahead and sent about fifty clones in different directions. You can't show a picture to any small villages because you can never know for sure if the Naruto they saw was the real one." She sighed. No matter what he did, Naruto never failed to give the Godaime a major migraine.
Iruka sighed and bowed respectfully before leaving the office. He closed the door and he was faced with answering to the three other Konoha teams who came for the same thing he went for as well as the sand siblings, who had just arrived only to see Konoha in a mess and Tsunade asking them for help to find the blond nin. He shook his head at the unasked questions.
"Not yet. Many people have seen him, but he sent out his clones, so they've been running in circles for the most part.
"Terrific." Kiba muttered, scratching the back of his head.
"I-Iruka sen-sensei?" Hinata murmured, catching the chunin's attention.
"What is it?" She fidgeted for a moment before lifting her head up and looking at him.
"W-why did Naruto-kun leave? I know he had a g-good reason to go. Naruto-kun wouldn't leave un-unless he had no other option. You know, d-don't you? All the adults kn-know. Oto-san…Kurenai-sensei…even you. N-none of the adults were sur-surprised when Tsunade-sama said Naruto-kun left. In fact, a lot of them seemed ha-happy…why?" She asked.
Iruka's eyes widened. Was that true? Was it really not so surprising that Naruto left? Well…actually, that was true. He was hurt that the blond left, but he wasn't surprised. In fact, what surprised him most was that the blond didn't leave sooner. He knew what Naruto went through each day. As much as the boy tried to hide it, it was obvious what was done to him. Every day, Iruka wished Naruto would talk to him so he could put a stop to it, but he never did. The chunin knew for sure that if it were him in Naruto's place, he would not have been able to put up with it this long.
"Do you really want to know?" A soft voice asked behind him. Iruka gasped as he realized that he was still in front of the Hokage's door. "I can guarantee that if I tell you, you won't be able to look at Naruto in the same light ever again. Except for the Kazekage and his siblings. They already know about it."
"Tsunade-sama, you're not really considering-" Iruka was cut off when she lifted her hand.
"Yes I am. They deserve to know more than anybody the true reason he left. You know, and Hinata-chan was right, all the adults know. They deserve that knowledge too." She said. Iruka knew she was right, but he was scared for Naruto. If they were told about the Kyuubi, they may do just what almost all the villagers did to Naruto since he was born.
They may shun him. They may not even see him as a human being. He could be berated about how little faith he had in his ex-students, but the fact of the matter is that they grew up being taught that the Kyuubi was evil and that he nearly killed everyone and destroyed the village. If they see Naruto as the Kyuubi, and he was found, then he would have lost all those who he once called friends.
"What is it about?" Neji asked.
"Come inside. All of you. Iruka, can you bring Sakura and Sasuke as well?" Tsunade asked, dismissing the noticeable tense air that followed the Uchiha's name.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." He said before vanishing in a puff of smoke. While they waited, Tsunade organized them in her room so there wasn't a crowd. She also forced all of them to sit, saying that they'd probably want to. Soon, there was another puff of smoke and they saw a worried Sakura, and the stony face of the Uchiha.
"What's this about?" He demanded. Tsunade glared at him, but calmed down and made a motion with her hand, telling him to sit.
"Okay. What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room. Your families are already aware of this, but the last thing I need is for them tell all the children just because they think I lifted the law." She said.
"What law?" Tenten asked. Tsunade looked at them sadly, slightly reconsidering telling them, but she shook her head at herself and continued.
"There was a law made when you were all babies. Some of you weren't even born yet, but it was made fifteen years ago on October 10th. You all know what day that is, correct?" She asked.
"Yes, that is the day that the village celebrates the defeat of the Kyuubi and mourns the death of the Yondaime Hokage." Shikamaru muttered.
"Correct. You may not know this, and I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't, but the very day the Yondaime defeated the Kyuubi…was also the day Naruto was born." She paused for a moment and they all looked at her with confused expressions. It was true that they weren't aware of this, but they also didn't know where she was going with this.
"Hokage-sama…what does this have to do with anything?" Lee asked her.
"I'm getting to that! Well, you know the stories about the Yondaime's defeat of the Kyuubi. There are many versions of it, but they all have one thing in common. The Kyuubi died along with the Yondaime. Those versions, however, were lies. Big fat lies that the Sandaime cooked up for Naruto's sake. Now, I know you have questions, but hold it until I'm done, got it?"
When there was no sound, she continued. "It is true that the Kyuubi was defeated and the Yondaime died in the process, but that's all that is true. Stories tell you that they Kyuubi died, but he didn't. He is still very much alive, even to this day."
"That's not true!" Sakura suddenly interrupted, jumping up. "It can't be true. If the Kyuubi lived, then he would have killed everyone."
"Sakura, no interruptions! That is what I'm trying to explain. The Yondaime didn't kill the Kyuubi. He sealed the demon away. This seal is special. In order to seal away a demon lord such as the Kyuubi, he had to seal him away into a newborn child, the umbilical cord freshly cut. There was only one child he could seal the demon into. He sealed the Kyuubi within the body of his own son. Within Naruto…"
Naruto groaned as he woke, his body throbbing with pain when he tried to move. He tried to sit up, but his body protested violently and he found himself screaming in pain. He then felt gentle hands pin him to the bed as he thrashed around.
"Please, calm yourself, sir. If you move more than necessary, you will inflict more damage on your body." A soothing voice said. Naruto bit his lip and whimpered as he tried to clam himself with the splitting pain in his body. When the person was satisfied, their hands were removed and Naruto allowed himself to completely relax.
I wonder where I am. He thought trying to sense if he was back in Konoha. He wasn't, but he noticed that his chakra reserves were dangerously low, even with the Kyuubi's help. It must have been when he made so many clones and upped his speed. He didn't expect to be so wasted, though.
"You gave us quite a scare, sir. My master found you lying on the forest and he panicked. He isn't so good with handling the sight of a dead body. It was lucky that he discovered you were alive, or else we would have buried you." The man, he assumed it was a man, sounded a bit relieved, but Naruto pushed the thought away. Who in the world would be relieved that he was all right?
Naruto groaned a little bit, but he managed to open his eyes. He saw that he was in a richly furnished room, meaning the owner must be very wealthy. There was a heater, where he saw his clothes hanging above. Next to him, he saw a pair of green eyes looking happily at him. The owner of those eyes was most likely the man who spoke to him. He had long, light red hair that made him look very effeminate and a warm smile on his face as Naruto opened his eyes.
"Who…are you?" He asked, his voice hoarse and his throat protested violently to his attempt to speak. The red head took a cloth from a water-filled bowl and put it on Naruto's head before speaking.
"Atsusa Kyo. I would ask you yours, but it seems that wouldn't be too good an idea." He said, pointing out that he noticed the look of pain Naruto had when he spoke. Naruto narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Could you blame him? He was in the middle of a stranger's house and he could barely move an inch. His attention was diverted, however, when the door slid open, and an elderly man, in his late thirties, at least, walked in. Kyo immediately jolted up and bowed politely.
"Tatsuya-sama." He murmured as he bowed. The man nodded in acknowledgement and smiled warmly towards Naruto.
"It seems our guest has awoken. I trust Kyo-san has been taking good care of you." He said with a gentle voice. Naruto, not really wanting to risk speaking, nodded a little, but that just brought more objections from his body.
Damn it! I can't believe how weak I am! He snarled at himself. Tatsuya walked up to him, and sat on a cushion by the bed as Kyo settled himself on the floor near the heater.
"You must be the runaway from Konoha." Naruto visibly, and painfully, flinched at the statement. "Don't be worried. I've heard many things about you, Uzumaki-san. Some I've had to put together myself. You are aware of the demon that resides inside of you, correct?"
Naruto didn't like where this was going. If these people were like, or were a part of the Akatsuki, then he wouldn't be able to stop them if they wanted the demon inside of him. He was just in too much pain, and Kyuubi was probably asleep considering he hasn't harassed the blond yet. But the man seemed to notice Naruto's agitation and started laughing.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I would never dream of hurting such a beautiful creature. But all joking aside, how would you like to join my village? It's freshly formed, and, I assure you, we will not treat you the same as those ungrateful Konoha civilians. You're a hero for holding such a burden, and you will be treated no less than a hero. Of course, should you decline, I will make sure you are nursed back to health and you will be free to go. No matter your decision, Konoha will not get any information from us should you wish it."
The blond male thought of this for a moment. It actually didn't sound like such a bad idea. This man seemed honest enough, but Naruto knew better than anyone that looks could be very deceiving. For all he knew, these were hunter-nins holding him back until reinforcements arrived. Of course he would easily be blinded by the thought of a village actually accepting him.
"Uzumaki-san, we don't expect you to trust us or answer us right away. But you have such great power, and it would be wasted in a place such as Konoha. Please, just consider it." Naruto looked over at Kyo, who smiled, and something about that smile made him believe that they really didn't mean any harm. He nodded, saying that he'd think about it.
"Thank you, Uzumaki-san. Here, drink this. It will put you to sleep, but it will also lessen the pain." Tatsuya said holding up a small cup. He lifted Naruto's head to help him drink, and when the blond was finished, he felt very drowsy, and the last things he saw before falling asleep were a pair of small, but sincere smiles.
NM-chan: Well, there you have it! I didn't really like this chap because it made Naruto seem so WEAK! I didn't like that, but, oh well, it shall never be like that again, I promise! Happy Holidays! (If I'm not to lazy, I'll give you all a Christmas gift. ONE REALLY LOOOOONNNNGGG chapter!!!)