Sup guys, hope your all doing well, first of all, I really didn't expect this much feed-back, I decided to try and do another chapter as a way to say, thank you. Thank you to my reviewers, the readers always right, so anyway moving on, I bring to you all chapter two of Heroic Traitors. Enjoy.
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto, He belongs to the great Masashi Kishimoto.
"Naruto"- Speech
"Naruto"- Thought
"Naruto"- Demon
Naruto and Kakashi arrived in town to learn that Naruto's teammates had all been taken to the hospital, and were currently being attended to. Kakashi had brought Naruto in to the hospital also, much to the blondes displeasure, to be treated from his fight with Sasuke.
Although Naruto was only slightly fatigued from his fight with Sasuke, he felt it would be better if he dragged his pain out a bit to take away any suspicion by his sensei.
Naruto had been put into a room and forced to stay in the hospital for a few days, he shared the room with Shikamaru Nara, who was recovering from his fight with Tayuya, and Neji, who had awoken the night they brought him into the hospital, they treated his wounds without to much difficulty, but the Hyuuga would have to stay in the hospital for a week longer than Naruto and Shikamaru.
Naruto had just finished losing to the shadow user in a game of Shougi, the two had grown into closer friends because of being stuck together, and Naruto wanted to tell Shikamaru of his plan.
'If I'm going to survive while traveling out in the real world as a missing nin, I might want to see If I can get some friends to come along for the ride.' The blonde thought.
'Shikamaru is an excellent strategist, if I was able to somehow get him to join my team, I'd be in good shape.'
Naruto looked at the Nara boy, who was currently sitting on the windowsill of the room looking at the clouds.
Naruto gave a sigh.
'This could prove to be difficult.'
That night, while Neji lay asleep, and Shikamaru had just gone to bed, Naruto decided it was now or never if he wanted his shadow wielding friend on his team.
Naruto slipped out of bed and snuck past Neji's bed over to Shikamaru's window-side bed. He slowly shook the Nara boy awake.
"Shikamaru, get up, c'mon, follow me." the blonde spoke, as he opened up the window.
A groggy Shikamaru slipped out of bed without a question, and followed Naruto onto the hospital's roof.
Shikamaru gave a light yawn.
"What is this all about Naruto?"
"Shikamaru, I need to tell you something very important, promise me you won't tell anyone, no matter what."
"Yeah, I promise I guess, what's the big secret?" the shadow user asked.
"I-I want to leave the village, so I can travel, and eventually start up my own village." the blonde whispered.
Naruto watched as the Nara boy's eyes widened, he just stared at Shikamaru' s unreadable expression, then slowly, Shikamaru's face broke into a small smile.
"And let me guess, you want me to come with you?" The shadow user asked.
"I want to put together a team to get started, but I figured I'd ask you first, since well, you're the genius of the group."
"You've earned my respect from that last mission Naruto, and although I love the village, things have become a bit stale for me, although it would be troublesome to be a missing nin, I'll join your team. You'd better have a good plan set up so we-" Shikamaru turned his head as a third person stepped onto the roof.
"You guys should have figured I wasn't really sleeping." Spoke Neji.
Neji turned to Naruto.
"So, planning to make your own village? Don't you know how difficult that will be Naruto? We'll need money, equipment, you should have seriously thought this out." The Hyuuga spoke in a knowing tone.
"Neji, don't do it, you don't have to do this." Naruto reasoned.
"And what would I be doing?" the Hyuuga questioned.
"You're not going to turn us in?" Asked Shikamaru.
"I was actually thinking of becoming a part of your team, seeing as how Naruto was the one who told me I can change my fate for myself."
"So, you're in?" the blonde asked.
"I'm in." Replied Neji.
The three went to bed soon after, they had a lot to plan, and they wanted it done within the week, they planned it so as soon as Neji was released from the Hospital, they could leave on that night.
Naruto and Shikamaru had already been released from the hospital, and were currently thinking of people they could recruit.
"Hey Shikamaru, what about Chouji?" the blonde questioned.
"While he is my best friend, I don't think he could make it traveling with us, we should get him when and if we get the village set up."
The Nara turned to Naruto.
"You know Naruto, Gaara and his siblings are still in town, they would be a great addition, and since Gaara respects you so much, it should be easy to get them to join us."
Naruto's eyes widened, of course, Gaara was still in town for another few days. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner?
Naruto took off towards the hotel Gaara and his siblings were staying in, with Shikamaru following in hot pursuit. After several minutes they reached the hotel to see the sand trio walking out onto the streets. Naruto ran over to Gaara and greeted him.
"Gaara, it's been too long, how's it going?"
Gaara gave a small smile.
"Naruto Uzumaki. To what do I owe the honor of your company?"
Naruto gave a sigh.
"Well Gaara, do you have a place we can talk? Maybe your hotel room?"
Temari and Kankuro raised an eyebrow at the blonde, what could he want with their brother?
Gaara nodded and the five shinobi went into the hotel room up to the room Gaara was staying in. They walked into the room and Gaara shut the door. Temari and Kankuro sat down on the bed, Shikamaru stood by the window, and Naruto pulled up a chair.
"Well Gaara, I need to ask you something…" the blonde started, starting to inwardly pray for Gaara's positive response.
Gaara merely raised an eyebrow to his blonde friend.
'What could he possibly need from me?' the red headed sand shinobi thought.
"You see Gaara, when Sasuke left, he continually mentioned the village being weak, and holding him back, I'm starting to think the same thing, I have a new dream Gaara, I want to start up my own village, I've started to put a team together in order to survive out there. Shikamaru here has already agreed to join, and once Neji gets out of the hospital, we're going to be leaving, so I guess what I'm asking is, will you and your siblings join?" the blonde explained.
Gaara's eyes widened to Naruto's question, before going to an unreadable expression. He looked to his brother and sister, who were both staring at Naruto with wide eyes.
"Hmm, Naruto, can you give us some time to talk about this?" Gaara asked the blonde.
Naruto gave his friend a smile.
"Sure Gaara, give me your answer tomorrow, come on Shikamaru."
The Nara nodded to Naruto, and they both left Gaara's hotel room, getting onto the street, the two decided to split up, and go to their homes.
The sun had almost set, and Naruto was almost home, taking his sweet time getting home and enjoying his last few days in the village, he looked to see Ino walking towards him on the opposite side of the street. With a small smile he approached her.
"Hey Ino, how's it going?"
"Naruto, hey, I haven't seen you for awhile, where have you been?"
Naruto gave a small smile.
"Oh, I've been…busy." Naruto quietly spoke
'What's up with him, he's so quiet.' she thought.
"So Ino, how is everything? You're looking good."
A light blush appeared on her cheeks.
'And he's giving me compliments too? What has gotten into him?.'
"Actually I was just heading home, it was good to see you Naruto, see you later." she gave him a small smile and went in the opposite direction he was headed.
He turned to face her as she walked off.
"Good to see you too Ino."
He reached his home relatively quickly after that, and, after taking a quick shower, changing his clothes for bed, and making a bowl of ramen, he decided he should pack some essentials for the road.
He went to his closet and pulled out his only backpack, the one he used for his missions with his team.
Reaching into his closet, he began to put different items into the pack, he grabbed his extra kunai and shuriken, some of his scrolls, bandages, and other various supplies he and his team would need while traveling.
He continued to rummage throughout his closet, and, finding everything in his pack in order, he zipped it up and lay it next his bed.
The blonde looked around his home, looking for anything he could have forgotten to put in his pack. Seeing everything to be satisfactory, he lied down on his bed and pulling his covers over him, let sleep take him.
The Next Day.
Naruto awoke with a yawn, looking to his bedside clock, noticed it was 9:30 am, sliding out of bed, the blonde showered himself, got dressed, and made his way outside for breakfast at Ichiraku's.
The blonde made his way through town, moving quietly through the crowds of villagers who were shopping, walking, and working throughout the town.
Naruto noticed how most villagers still seemed uneasy around him, they didn't still give him glares, they just seemed to be a bit awkward and uncomfortable when he walked by. It wasn't like he cared, he'd be gone in a couple days, on to bigger and better adventures.
The fox stirred inside Naruto.
"So boy, have you found any more members for your little team?" he questioned.
'Well, after I eat, I'm going to go see Gaara, and see what his decision is.'
"Good, your plans are coming into motion boy, it's going to be fun traveling the world again."
'What are things like out there fox, I mean, other than doing the mission for Tazuna, and the mission to bring back Sasuke, I haven't really seen the world outside Konoha.'
"It's great, like nothing you've ever seen, from the deserts of Wind Country, to the mountains of Earth Country, the world is a big place my boy, and your going to need to see it all if you want to grow powerful."
A small smile graced Naruto's face as he made his way through the village, growing closer and closer to his destination.
Naruto reached Ichiraku's relatively quickly, and, after greeting the stores owner, Teuchi, and chatting a bit with the owner's daughter Ayame, Naruto ate his meal, paid and left.
The blonde made his way to the hotel in which Gaara was staying, he made his way inside and up the stairs to the room Gaara and his siblings stayed in.
Naruto gave the door a knock, and within 10 seconds Gaara stood there, with a small smile on his face.
"We'll join." he whispered, before closing the door on Naruto.
Naruto knocked on the door again.
"Meet us at the entrance gate at eight o' clock tomorrow, and bring whatever you need for the road.
The blonde was happier than words could describe, his group have just gained three more members, all of them being strong shinobi.
Naruto needed to tell Shikamaru and Neji the news, he set out to find Shikamaru, and soon enough, when passing one of Konoha's many barbeque restaurants, the blonde found the genius of his group with his team, treating Chouji to pork.
Naruto approached the team, and while putting on a small smile, he stood by the table.
"What's up guys? Hey Shikamaru, can I see you for a second"
Shikamaru nodded, and the two made their way outside the Restaurant.
Ino was the first to speak.
"What could Naruto need with Shikamaru?" The Yamanaka asked.
"I don't know, but it must be important." The Akimichi responded, while not even looking up from his meal.
Outside the restaurant, Naruto started to tell his friend of the new additions to the group.
"So Shikamaru, guess what I have to tell you."
Shikamaru gave a sigh.
"…What is it Naruto?"
"Well, we have three new additions to the group." the blonde said while showing a huge grin.
"I'll talk to you later Shikamaru, I'm going to go head to the hospital and tell Neji. Oh, by the way, meet us at the entrance gate tomorrow night at eight, bring your pack and supplies for the road."
Shikamaru nodded and opened the doors to the restaurant, and went back inside to his team.
Ino raised an eyebrow to her team-mate as he sat back down
"So, what was that all about Shikamaru?" she asked.
"Nothing Ino, Naruto was just telling me some good news."
Naruto rushed to the hospital to tell the Hyuuga boy the good news, he made his way inside and found Neji's room, he knocked and walked in.
Naruto gave his friend a grin.
"What's up Neji? If I'm not mistaken, you're going to be getting out tomorrow."
"Yes I will be, but, you must have some reason for coming here, what's going on?"
Naruto's grin only widened.
"We have three more members to the team."
Neji's eyes widened.
"Who are they?"
"Gaara, Temari and Kankuro."
A small smirk turned to Neji's face.
"Interesting, they'll make for good members, so when do you plan on us leaving?"
Naruto's expression turned serious.
"Tomorrow night. Meet us at the entrance gate at eight o' clock, bring a pack filled with supplies."
Little did Naruto know that outside the door stood one of Shikamaru's team-mates.
Ino had followed Naruto when he had left the restaurant. She had excused herself from the table, saying she had to go to work at the flower shop. Putting some money down on the counter, the Yamanaka made her way through town, following the blonde boy that had suddenly gained her interest.
Ino's eyes widened at Naruto's statement.
'Are they going on a mission? But if they were going on a mission for the village, why would they wait for Naruto's go ahead? Could they be…leaving?'
Ino moved her way down the hall as she heard Naruto make his way toward the door.
Moving her way out of the hospital, she started to make her way home.
'Should I tell anyone about this?.' Thought the blonde as she made her way home.
Naruto was ecstatic while making him way home.
'Tomorrow, the plan will be set into motion.'
As you can see, I'm probably headed towards NaruIno. Although it could change, but that depends on votes, and votes require people to not be brain dead. Anyway I'll pump the next chapter out as soon as I can.
Preview of the next chapter.
'Goodbye Konoha.'