I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. Inspired by "Never Cut Twice", written by shadowmaster62.

Naruto: Paths Less Traveled

Chapter 2

After three hours of searching the next day (not that he would ever admit to such a travesty), Naruto finally stumbled onto the clearing the old man in the barber shop had described to him. Several more minutes went by before he could stop grinding his teeth in frustration. He'd suspected one of those endless maze genjutsu at one point, but the fact that he never crossed his own path or passed the same landmark twice was evidence that he had gotten well and truly lost all on his own merit.

Even worse, with the fact that he'd given himself so much extra time (nevermind that he'd needed much more than he should have), he was four hours early! How the hell he was going to pass the time was a mystery, but he'd be damned if he was going to just leave and get lost while trying to find the place, yet again! The pale-haired boy glared murderously at the sun perched high in the sky, which showed absolutely no sign of crossing the horizon any time soon. So much for small favors.

Naruto sighed huffily and made his way to the center of the small field where an old tree stump sat mournfully alone, dropping his pack and sword unceremoniously at its gnarled roots. Just as he made to sit down, however, his stomach growled. "Great," he muttered to himself. "One more reason to hate this stupid forest." The reason, of course, was the forest's conspicuous lack of anything like a ramen stand within thirty feet. Or three thousand, for that matter. Grumbling again for good measure, Naruto fished a trail bar from his pack and snatched up his canteen. His impromptu lunch kept him occupied for a full seven minutes.

Finally, there was nothing for him to do but lean back and stare at the wall of trees surrounding him on all sides while listening to the lazy buzz of mid afternoon. After what seemed an eternity (really only about forty-two seconds), his gaze drifted down to his recently acquired sword. Naruto contemplated the weapon for some time, trying to decide just how he would make use of it. At the time, standing in front of the graves of two men he admired, it had just seemed so right to take Kubikiri Houcho for himself. By doing so, he felt that he'd taken up a proud tradition - which, by the way, he had. Although, if Naruto had possessed any knowledge of what the real meaning behind that particular tradition was, there stood a good chance he'd have dropped the business entirely out of sheer horror.

At the moment, though, he felt a little silly. The longer he considered it, the more concerned Naruto became about his ability to wield such a blade in battle. After all, the blasted thing was heavy. Not as heavy as it certainly should have been, but definitely enough to be awkward. And with the fact that Kubikiri Houcho was over six feet long, that reduction of weight didn't mean a whole lot. The design was bizarre, too - really, what the heck was that hole near the end supposed to do, anyway? The inside wasn't sharpened. It wasn't like he could reach it with his off hand for leverage. If he was a little taller, he might have been able to put his foot through it and still have his hand on the grip, if he didn't mind looking like some kind of freak performance artist.

It went without saying that Naruto had absolutely no knowledge of the crafting and proper use of swords of any kind. In the end, he decided to simply start swinging his new weapon around to see what happened next.

oooooo

The doors to the Hokage's office opened, just wide enough to permit a harried Shizune to exit before closing them carefully behind her. She gave the hall a quick look in both directions before allowing herself a small sigh of relief. Honestly, how was she supposed to fulfill her duties as a medic if she was stuck doing clerical work for Tsunade sixteen hours each day? She had a career to think about, and secretary was most definitely not on her list of dream jobs! Just as the thought was crossing her mind, a loud grumbling issued from the office behind her. It was time to leave - if she stayed any longer she risked being called back inside.

Shizune wasted no time moving to her next destination, in the basement of the tower where the records archive was kept. There she deposited the next stack of scrolls containing the latest edicts, approvals, and other of the Hokage's myriad concerns in the receptacles marked for items needing to be processed. The truly amazing thing about today, Shizune reflected, was that Tsunade was actually doing work in that office, and not snitching more of that cheap sake from the cupboard hidden behind the wall panel she thought she'd kept a secret from her apprentice.

oooooo

Behind her desk, Tsunade sneezed violently, spilling pungent liquid from the small saucer she'd just raised to her lips... all over the scroll that she'd just finished writing over the course of the last thirty minutes.

"Damn it!"

oooooo

Having finished her task, Shizune ascended the stairs leading back to the upper levels of the tower. At the first landing, she received her second surprise for the day, in the form of four familiar shinobi from Konoha's closest allied village. "Oh! Welcome back to Konoha, Baki-san. Greetings Temari-san, Kankuro-san, Gaara-san. Are you here to meet with the Hokage?"

Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara each nodded a curt greeting in return as Baki maneuvered around his genin team to greet her. "Well met, Shizune-san. Yes, we were just on our way up. And thank you, it is always a pleasure to be welcomed by our allies." Leaning in slightly he continued in a lower voice, "I trust the Hokage is not... indisposed?"

Shizune at once grasped the true question behind Baki's inquiry and shook her head with a reassuring smile. "She is in good spirits today, Baki-san." Relatively. "Shall I take you to her now?"

Baki nodded. "Please. I'm afraid we have important news to discuss." Behind him, the Suna siblings shuffled uncomfortably. Gaara's expression remained carved from stone, although that was nothing unusual for the demon container.

Shizune could feel tension in the air, but refrained from asking prying questions. "Right this way," she said as she started up the spiraling stairway.

The trip to the upper level was short and silent, and before long they reached the double doors of the Hokage's office. Shizune knocked twice to announce their presence before stepping in. "Hokage-sama? Baki-san and his team are here from Suna with a report."

Tsunade looked up from where she'd just been wiping her desk, absently hiding a small bottle from view of the doorway. "I'll see them now, Shizune. Send them in." A moment later Team Baki entered the office, the three genin and their sensei arraying themselves at attention before the Hokage's desk. Baki's nose twitched slightly at the tang of spilt liquor, and he fought to avoid giving any other sign that he'd noticed. "Greetings from Suna, Hokage-sama. We come with dire news."

Behind them, Shizune let herself back out, closing the door softly and cutting off whatever else was being said within. She wouldn't be needed for this, and if they stayed long enough she might even get to the library before anyone noticed she was missing. Breaking into a little whistle, she set off at a brisk walk.

She was about halfway down the hall when Tsunade's voice echoed from the office.

"WHAT?!"

oooooo

Another three and a half hours later, Naruto was still practicing. After swinging Kubikiri Houcho about randomly, he'd eventually gotten some grasp of how to handle the blade less awkwardly. He'd then devised some very rudimentary drills to help instill some muscle memory. So far it seemed to be working, although it was hard to tell over the sound of his body screaming at him like a man lit on fire. Even if the sword was much lighter than it ought to be, he was still doing something completely unfamiliar with his arms and shoulders, and they felt it. Even his back was sore. The only comfort Naruto could think of was the idea that somehow, someday, Kubikiri Houcho would be an extension of his will.

Assuming he lived to reach eighty. A hundred, on the outside.

For the moment, however, he needed a break. The sky had been steadily darkening over the last hour - the sun was already well past the tops of the trees and was rapidly approaching the horizon. Setting his sword against the old stump, Naruto gingerly sat himself down and fished through his pack for another trail bar. The old missing-nin barber was due at any time now, and Naruto suspected he'd need his strength for what was to come. Having finally located his next meal, he sat back and began to eat absently, letting his gaze roam about the small meadow.

"Kid, you've got some lousy senses," said a voice from directly behind him.

It took every ounce of Naruto's willpower to avoid choking to death right then and there. As it was, he leapt straight up out of his seat with arms flailing and landed in a rumpled heap among old tree roots. Kensu, standing on top of the stump, took a few moments to laugh loudly at his expense. From his new seat on the ground, Naruto could do little more than glare impotently at the deceptively old man.

The old man in question didn't miss a beat. "I could have severed your spine just now, you know," he mused quietly, twirling a kunai around his finger. "Maybe bled you out from the kidneys, snapped your neck, or whatever." As he spoke, Kensu glared threateningly. "You'd better do something really impressive to convince me that you're actually worth training, or I might just leave right now."

Brushing dirt off of himself, Naruto got back to his feet, giving the old man a glare of his own. "Just what the hell are you talking about, gramps? We had a deal! You'd better not be quitting before we've even had a chance to get started!"

Scowling, Kensu stepped off of the stump toward Naruto, before roughly shoving him back to the ground away from his gear. "Let's get something straight, kid - I'm not about to go wasting my time and effort on a nobody like you just because you're young and naive. I'm no babysitter. I offered you my help to get you away from my city, but if you don't even have the common decency to at least pretend you have some instinct of self preservation, I don't see why I should bother!"

Naruto opened his mouth to retort.

"Shut up!" Kensu ordered, cutting the boy off before he even got started. "Get this through your head while you have the chance. I'm here to train you in the basics of evasion, stealth, and resourcefulness. You'll need all three if you want to have any hope of survival when the hunter nin come looking for you, and believe me, they will come. You know what a hunter nin does, don't you?"

Naruto answered through clenched teeth, "They catch missing nin."

"Wrong!" Kensu responded. "They kill missing nin. And they don't do it pretty-like, either. They don't announce their intentions, they don't send you challenges to meet them in honorable combat, they don't fight fair. They will put you down like a rabid dog, without warning or hesitation. If you want to go on living, you'll have to fight for every night and every day, for the rest of your life, or until you manage to convince them you're already dead, and even then you might still have them on your trail. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. There are no second chances. Got it?"

Naruto swallowed heavily, climbing to his feet once again. It was slowly dawning on him that he truly was on a path of no return. "I got it, old man."

Kensu nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Consider this lesson number one, kid. Good news is, if you forget this one, you'll probably never know. Now, I have some basic techniques I'm going to share with you, but first I have one little question."

Naruto nodded.

"What the hell are you doing with that?" Kensu demanded, pointing at Kubikiri Houcho where it rested on the ground.

Naruto looked at the blade for a moment. "You knew about Zabuza, then?" he asked, cutting right to the heart of Kensu's question.

Kensu nodded. "He had a fearsome reputation in the circles he moved through, kid. The Seven Swordsmen of the Mist are legendary. But more to the point, I happen to recall that until very recently it was marking a pair of graves not far from here. Why do you have it now?"

Naruto grimaced as memories came rushing back to the forefront of his mind. "I was there the day he died." Kensu's expression didn't change, but his eyes widened with interest, and Naruto continued. "My team was hired to escort the man who built that bridge back there against anyone who would try to attack him. What we didn't know at the time was that Zabuza and his apprentice had been hired to take him out. We fought a couple of times. The second time we met was on the bridge, before it was finished. That was where Zabuza died, only we didn't kill him. He was betrayed by Gatou."

Kensu studied Naruto thoughtfully. "So you're that Naruto, eh? Hmph, I should have guessed sooner. You still haven't told me what makes you think you have the right to take that weapon, though."

Naruto's gaze fell to the grass in front of him. "Zabuza died avenging the only person who was ever important to him. He went down fighting for his way of the ninja. I took Kubikiri Houcho as a way to honor what he stood for. What I'm standing for."

Kensu eyed the young boy speculatively. "And what is it that the two of you stand for?"

Naruto looked back up, meeting his gaze. "Freedom."

Kensu snorted. Then he chuckled, until that chuckle became full blown laughter. Finally, he wound up sitting on the tree stump, slapping his knee and roaring with unrestrained mirth until he had to stop for fear of asphyxiation. Naruto's face was a study in mixed emotions, shifting from surprise, to suspicion, to barely suppressed rage. How dare this old hairdresser mock his ninja way! Just who the hell was he to make fun of his dream? Of Zabuza's?

Wiping tears from his eyes, Kensu tried to compose himself with several deep breaths before trusting himself to speak. "Oh, boy. Kid, you are an absolute gas. 'Freedom'... *snort* Oh, dear me... You actually think-" Suddenly he was engulfed in a wave of killing intent. Looking up, Kensu saw the effect his words were having on the young former genin. The boy's eyes had gone red, with slit pupils, and red chakra - red! - was drifting lazily about his tensed body.

Kensu had no trouble maintaining his bearing, but it was clear that there was more to the brat than met the eye, and caution was warranted. Holding up his hands in a peaceful gesture, he spoke quickly before the situation could come to blows. "Now hold on a second! Calm down! I think you've misunderstood me, kid."

Naruto glowered at the man, letting the chakra bleed away. His eyes were still red. "Explain," he ordered coolly. Good gods above, were his teeth serrated?

Kensu crossed his arms, frowning at the boy in front of him. "You're a missing nin. I'm going to go on a limb and guess that this 'freedom' thing is a large part of why you left. That's fine - it's close enough to the same reason everyone else leaves. But you better understand, kid, there are times when you make choices and there are times when you have no choices. If you think you've finally found freedom now that you don't bow to one of the Kage, well, you're in for serious disappointment."

He paused, an unreadable expression crossing his face as he watched the boy. Eventually Naruto's eyes cleared back to their original blue, but he kept his stance, daring Kensu to provoke him again. "You've got guts, kid. You don't look like the type to back out of something once you've started. But you really are an idiot if you think things are just going to magically work out for you. Now, I'll help you, just like we agreed. You get one night. One night to learn as much as you can, and then you get gone from here, and you never come back. Are these terms acceptable to you?"

Naruto weighed his options. On one hand, he stood to gain a fair amount of knowledge that would no doubt be useful for his journey. On the other... well, he'd only just arrived, and had made no plans about where to go next. Maybe that could be rectified. "I'll accept, on one condition. You tell me about any places you know of where I can get plenty of supplies and some prospects for work. You're a missing nin, you must have needed to bunker down more than once before coming to this place."

Kensu snorted, amused but not really surprised. "You want me to tell you what to do next? Why don't you choose? You're free now, remember?"

Naruto smirked. "I told you to give me options, not orders."

Kensu's expression cleared into a small grin. "You're learning. Alright, kid, I'll draw up a list of possible hideouts after we finish your training. Now..." he settled into a combat ready stance. "Shall we begin?"

oooooo

Temari stepped into her temporary quarters, closing the door behind her with relief. Finally, a chance to rest up from the journey across countries - not to mention an intense grilling session courtesy of the most volatile Hokage ever appointed. The experience would not soon leave her memory. Witnessing the Hokage, a member of the legendary Sannin and the last remaining heir of the mighty Senju clan, become so profoundly shocked and dismayed that she'd actually forgotten to breathe for a minute was unnerving on several levels. It was obvious she'd cared deeply for the blonde brat. What was his name again? Oh, right. Naruto.

Which brought Temari to the other unforgettable item of her day - namely the question of how someone so upbeat that they managed to crack Gaara, Sabaku no Gaara, the demon of Suna and vessel of the devil Shukaku, out of his warped and introverted shell after maybe a few hours of contact... how could such a positively energized person ever wish to commit suicide? It was simply beyond her comprehension. The only thing she could believe was that something truly devastating had occurred in the boy's life to throw him completely over the edge - and it was difficult to imagine what could cause such trauma in a person's life. Not even Gaara himself was keen on dying, and that was really saying something.

Temari was only grateful she hadn't been the one to make the discovery and report it to the Hokage herself - she'd been a bystander for most of that meeting. It was Gaara who Naruto had apparently approached shortly before wandering into the desert to die. If anyone else had reported it, she would have questioned the story's validity in a heartbeat. For Gaara, though, she had no grounds to do so. Gaara had been known to randomly disappear for unexplained reasons for years, and on top of that, his bond with Naruto was deeper than mere friendship - both boys shared the experiences of being outcasts, even if Gaara still held the edge by having been made a jinchuuriki. Of course they would have found time to meet in private if they'd so wished.

As she mused over the events of the day further, Temari's door opened once more, admitting Kankuro to her chambers. She immediately threw the closest item at hand - a small hairbrush - at his face, not even looking to see if he dodged it. "Idiot! Knock before you enter a girl's room! What if I'd been dressing?"

Kankuro, having snatched the brush before it reached his temple, smirked knowingly. "Right, right. Because we all know under that gruff, tough exterior you're just a sweet, sensitive lady who enjoys romantic dinners and walks under the moonlight. Besides," his smirk widened into a grin, "You ain't got nothin' I haven't seen before anyway."

This time Temari did hit him with her projectile, which turned out to be a compact. "That's disgusting, you pervert! I'm your sister! And I'm oldest, which means I have every right to gut you like a fish if you even think of doing that again!"

Kankuro held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, fine, I'll knock! Sheesh, did Gaara's sand get in your skirt while we weren't looking?" He tossed the compact and hairbrush onto his sister's bed negligently. "Anyway, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay with you. You seemed to be out of it on the way over here."

Temari rested a hand on her hip irritably. "First of all, shut up. Second, I'm fine, thanks for asking." She paused for a minute, considering. "Actually, now that you mention it, where is Gaara, anyway? I don't think he even stayed with us after we left the tower."

Kankuro shrugged, "How should I know? He does what he wants. Maybe he wanted to get out and see the village again."

Temari arched an eyebrow. "Brother, it's already dark out. What could he possibly be interested in that wouldn't already have been shut down until tomorrow?"

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Like I said, how should I know? Maybe he went to a bar or something."

Temari frowned. "He's fourteen, Kankuro."

Both siblings gazed at each other in total seriousness, letting the last comment sink in for a handful of heartbeats, before they dissolved into uncontrollable laughter.

"Ahahaha! He's fourteen," Kankuro wheezed between gasps for air. "Oh man, Temari, I think you outdid yourself with that one... Whew!" Attempting to regain his composure, he wiped a few tears from his eyes, still chuckling.

Temari was giggling as she tried to answer, "Heehee.. I can't believe the look you had on your face when I said that! Priceless!" With that, the tension in the room evaporated completely.

After about three repetitions they finally managed to calm their breathing to the point where they didn't start laughing all over again at the sheer ridiculousness of the idea that Gaara was a normal child who needed to be supervised.

Eventually, Kankuro spoke once more. "You know, he has been acting pretty weirdly lately. I mean, even for him. Do you think something might be up that we don't know about?"

Temari sat on the edge of her bed. "You know I can't answer that. He doesn't talk. How is anyone supposed to know what goes through that boy's head?" She had to admit, though, that she was worried. Gaara had been especially reserved lately, even visibly depressed. Also, he hadn't threatened to kill anyone since they left Suna! But of course, no one was brave enough to risk his wrath by raising the subject of his mental health in front of him - not even Baki.

Kankuro leaned against the doorframe, frowning at his feet. "You realize we can't just let it continue. If he keeps going this way, he might let it back out. Hell, he might not even notice when it happens if he's actually as tuned out as he's looked the last few days." They both shuddered at the thought of another demonic rampage.

Temari sighed. "I'll see if I can't get Baki to speak with him. He's the only one Gaara actually listens to, anyway. But for now, I want to sleep. Shoo." She waved her brother away dismissively.

Kankuro nodded, straightened and stepped out, closing the door behind him. A quietly voiced "Goodnight" drifted through just before it clicked into place. "Goodnight," she answered to the shut door.

Despite her words, Temari remained seated at the edge of her bed, not moving, for a long time. Dark thoughts chased each other in her head. What consequences would the blonde's death have for the three siblings? Gaara was acting as depressed as any normal person might, but for him, it must have been much worse than that to display itself so obviously. Suppose it went deeper? What if the news had broken him, somehow? He'd never cared for anyone before. How would he finally choose to react to losing the only person he'd ever invested his feelings in?

With such thoughts, Temari found herself lying wide awake for the rest of the night, staring at shadows as fear threatened to consume her soul.

oooooo

Early the next morning, Shizune entered the Hokage's office with the first stack of papers that required Tsunade's review. She then had to save herself from falling flat on her face as her feet suddenly rebelled, refusing to move while her mind attempted to overcome the shock it had just received.

Tsunade was already sitting behind her desk! And she was doing paperwork!

Shizune checked her watch and pinched herself on the cheek. Hard. Looking up, she saw that the Hokage was indeed not some form of dream or hallucination. She had actually come in to work early!

Tsunade looked up after a moment had passed and growled at her assistant. "Shizune! Where the hell have you been? I needed you here an hour ago!"

Shizune 'eeped' and snapped back to her senses. "H-Hai, Tsunade-sama!" Sighing to herself under her breath, she rushed forward and deposited the stack of papers on the corner of the Hokage's desk. Some things would never change, it seemed. But what was Tsunade doing here so early? She had to know. Moving forward, she coughed lightly. "Er, Tsunade-sama... you're looking well today," she forwarded delicately. In the corner, Tonton bweh'ed cheerfully, punctuating the apprentice's statement.

Tsunade harrumphed irritably. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm almost completely sober and I didn't even get a chance to go to that poker game last night! I'm pissed off and you're late!" As she spoke her last words, she abruptly penned her name onto the scroll in front of her so forcefully that she tore through the parchment. "Shit! I'm going to need another copy of this." She handed the scroll to Shizune and unrolled another, already scanning the details within.

Shizune, however, was still trying to catch up with what she'd heard. "Late? B-but Tsunade-sama, it's only seven in the morning! You never come in this early!" Seeing her master's glare suddenly focusing on herself, she gulped loudly. "I- that is, of course! I'll get this back to you right away!" With that she fled the office as fast as her heeled feet would carry her.

What in the world was going on?

oooooo

Back in the office, Tsunade dropped her pen and leaned into her chair, pinching her nose. "ANBU!" she barked loudly.

Immediately, a black-clad nin wearing a wolf mask shunshined into the space in front of her desk. "Hai, Hokage-sama!"

Tsunade looked up at the man. "I need you to fetch Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Jiraiya and bring them here as soon as possible!" She stopped for a second and corrected herself. "Wait, don't go looking for Jiraiya, he's out of the village right now. Just get the other two."

"Hai!" The wolf-masked ANBU nodded and was gone. With that, Tsunade leaned her head back against her seat, and breathed deeply.

She should never have come back to this gods-forsaken village. How dare that bastard son of a jackal Jiraiya seek her out to take the job that should have been his! What right did he have to disrupt her perfectly happy descent into drunken and forgetful oblivion? And to think he'd stoop to playing dirty tricks! He'd known what affect Naruto would have on her. Somehow he'd discovered a near-perfect imitation of her beloved Dan and brought him right into her life! He'd known she would sympathize with his dream of becoming Hokage, just like Dan, and that she would take on the responsibility of shepherding him toward it!

Now she was the Godaime, trapped in the last place she had ever wanted to see as long as she lived, making bonds with countless new shinobi as they all conducted their duties for the good of the people. And now Naruto was dead, by his own hand! That is, if the report from Suna was to be believed.

A report she intended to verify directly.

At that moment the door opened once more, as Shizune let herself back into the office. The young woman fairly ran to the desk, offering Tsunade the fresh scroll in her hands. "Here is the copy you requested, Tsunade-sama!"

Tsunade refocused on the task at hand as she accepted the scroll, and laid it on the desk. "Shizune. I need you to go out and collect Baki and his team immediately. I want them here in ten minutes or less." Looking up, she noticed that her apprentice had not moved, and was looking at her curiously. "GO!" she ordered.

Shizune jumped and uttered, "H-Hai!" as she rushed out yet again, the doors slamming loudly behind her.

oooooo

Naruto slumped against the heavily scratched tree, breathing hard. His face and body were covered in smudges, scrapes, and stains, and his hair was badly mussed. Sweat dripped from the tip of his nose. His small equipment pouch lay uselessly halfway across the clearing, but that hardly mattered - he'd exhausted his supply of kunai at least five hours ago.

Kensu stood several feet away, arms folded, looking as fresh as the daisy that had bloomed yesterday. "The sun has risen, Naruto," he announced. "Your training is over."

Naruto gazed up at the man groggily. Training... so that's what they're calling the herd that just ran over me. "What happens now?" he breathed.

Kensu shook his head at the pathetic state of his 'student'. "Now you leave, never to return. That was the deal."

Naruto's only reply was a weary nod as he climbed to his feet, bracing himself against the tree. His legs felt like jelly, but he didn't think they would collapse if he put his full weight on them. Walking, however, was out of the question for at least a few minutes.

In a word, Kensu's training had been relentless. Naruto's memory flashed with the exertions of the previous night. Attempting to perform concealment jutsu while under attack from multiple directions. Weaving through elaborate traps in the forest. Battling a fully armed and survival-hardened missing nin with nothing but his wits and his bare hands. Focusing his chakra to pick out his opponent's location as he dodged a hail of kunai and shuriken. The list went on and on.

In some ways Naruto had to give the old man credit - his teaching methods were definitely designed to make lessons stick. Fighting off the threat of death during a lecture tended to leave a lasting impression. Over the course of the last twelve hours, he'd learned the basics of several new techniques, and managed to hone his senses to a fine edge. In addition, he'd picked up a number of tricks from the school of dirty fighting. At first he'd been hesitant to use such cheap moves, until Kensu pointed out none too gently that he was both a shinobi and a criminal. If he wanted to fight with honor, the man said, he should have been a samurai.

As Naruto leaned against the tree regaining his strength, Kensu walked back to the stump at the center of the clearing and pulled a small scroll and a pen from his satchel. He began writing as he sat himself down, ignoring the boy for the time being. For a long moment the sound of the pen scratching parchment was the only noise in the clearing.

After several minutes, Naruto felt that his legs had recovered sufficiently that he could move under his own power once again, and he began the task of collecting the kunai and shuriken that littered the area. Kensu did not look up as he moved, still focused on his writing. Naruto suspected he was drafting the list of hiding places he'd demanded, and said nothing. It wouldn't do to piss off the man who was willing to do him such a big favor. Not before he finished it, at least.

Eventually he located the last of his spent weapons, just as Kensu rose from his seat and rolled up the scroll he had been writing. As he turned to refill his pack, the old man beckoned him over.

"I have some things here for you, kid," he said. With that, he held forth the scroll, along with two others he'd brought out from his satchel. "Take these, study them when you have time. Do not let them fall into anyone else's hands. They are for you alone." Kensu then reached into a pouch and brought forth a small slip of plain white paper. "I'm going to do you one other favor, but first, tell me what you know of the five elements."

Naruto, having accepted the scrolls and being in the process of putting them away, took a moment to answer. "Uh... well, I think I remember what they are... let's see, fire, lightning, water, earth, and uh..." His nose scrunched in concentration. "Oh, right! Wind!"

Kensu stared at the boy for a long moment. "Kid, are you telling me you never learned anything about manipulating the elements?" he asked in a deceptively mild voice. "That you can barely recall what they even are?"

Naruto blushed faintly, having the grace to look sheepish. "Uh... kind of?"

For one fleeting second an expression of murderous rage crossed Kensu's face, before he returned to his usual composure. He sighed softly. "Not going to ask... Anyway, this here," he indicated the slip, "is a special type of paper that reacts with a person's chakra in one of several ways. The reaction indicates which type of element your body favors. Here," he handed the slip to Naruto. "Channel your chakra through that for a few seconds."

Naruto fingered the slip quietly, then focused and did as Kensu directed. A long moment passed uneventfully. Naruto was about to return the paper when a small 'rip' was heard. Looking again, he found a neat tear that had formed in one corner. "Ack!" he sputtered. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to rip it up!" He hastily passed the paper back to Kensu and backed away quickly.

Kensu looked at the slip for a second and threw his head back, laughing. "Ah, kid. I keep forgetting how clueless you are. That was one of the things your chakra could have done to it. In fact, it's probably the most normal reaction you can get." Holding the paper up for Naruto's inspection, he pointed at the rip. "This says you're a wind user. Your chakra naturally arrays itself as a series of thin blades, like the wind. It's this pattern that causes the tearing you just witnessed. Had you been one of the other types, you would have seen something quite different."

Naruto approached and looked closely at the paper with wonder. "What other things can it do?"

Kensu leaned back, pocketing the slip. "It depends. If you're a fire type, the paper will burst into flames. If you're water, it gets soggy. Earth makes it crumble into dust, and lightning makes it wrinkle up like unfolded origami. I've also seen some unique effects, but those are usually reserved for bloodlines. Anyway, no matter what you do to it, the results are unmistakable. So, you're wind."

Naruto blinked, a thoughtful look coming to his face. "Wind, eh? So what can I do with that? Can I learn how to fly, or create big storms?"

Kensu chuckled again. "Flying... I doubt it. That would take tremendous effort and control. Storms, though... maybe. I don't know much about it myself. Wind users are fairly uncommon, unless you come from the desert country, so I can't help you."

Naruto looked crestfallen at the pronouncement, and Kensu spoke again. "Relax! I wasn't going to do anything about this anyway. Just knowing your type is a big advantage, kid. Most nin don't start training their specialties until they're chuunin at a minimum. The body has to learn to develop a certain amount of control before that potential can be tapped. The point of this exercise was to make you aware, so you don't go out wasting your time trying to learn techniques that are impossible for you. See?"

Naruto rocked back on his heels. "Yeah, I see. But, I've watched some people perform jutsu from more than one element lots of times. How can that be?"

Kensu shook his head slowly. "You misunderstood me. I was referring to advanced, wide area attacks and other techniques of that sort. Anyone can perform the lesser elemental jutsu - they don't require your chakra to be in any particular configuration to pull them off. It's when you're going for sustained or highly specific and powerful effects that you'll need to draw on your affinity. Also, with enough knowledge and practice, you can eventually create your own techniques from your elemental type. Don't try it, though! In order to learn how to use your chakra effectively, it's best to find a master of your element to guide you. In your case... well, you might get lucky. Just don't worry about it for now."

Naruto nodded, disappointed but understanding the man's reasoning. "Alright... well, thanks for all this," he gestured at his pack with the scrolls inside. "Although, I kind of wish you hadn't been so rough. I might have been able to learn more."

Kensu scowled, but not in a threatening manner. "Kid, life is rough. And you're about to go into the world alone. Better you learn to rely on what you have now, and know what you can and can't handle, than to plunge into it headfirst and get yourself stuck. Now," he folded his arms, "I'll take my leave, and wish you luck. But remember what I said. If you show your face in these parts again, and I find out, I will kill you. You're a fugitive now. Your identity is both your most valuable possession and your most dangerous liability. Don't be careless with it." He held out his hand.

Naruto hesitated only for a moment before reaching up to grasp Kensu's hand. As they stood there, a stray thought crossed his mind. "You know, I don't think you ever told me what village you abandoned."

Kensu smirked. "That's right, I didn't. Now get going, kid. You've got a long road ahead." With that, he dropped their handshake and stepped back. He disappeared in the next moment as he shunshined out of the clearing.

Naruto looked around briefly trying to locate the old man, then gave it up and bent down to secure the straps in his pack. Then his stomach growled. "Augh!"

oooooo

The doors to the Hokage's office opened, admitting Baki and his team to enter the chamber. They filed in one at a time and came to attention before the Hokage's desk as Shizune closed the doors and took her place in the corner behind Tsunade's chair. Kakashi stood against the wall with his nose in one of those dreadful Icha Icha books yet again. Shikamaru was slouching next to him, looking bored as usual. Gazing across the assembled nin, Tsunade decided it was time to get down to business.

"I've called you all here to discuss the news that was brought to us yester-" She broke off as Kakashi giggled at something in his book. Scowling in his direction, Tsunade cleared her throat pointedly. When the copy nin failed to respond, she coughed loudly, and still nothing happened. A vein appeared on her temple, causing Team Baki to back away apprehensively. Shizune sighed wearily. Shikamaru straightened and crossed to the other side of the room, leaving the field of fire.

Kakashi, still focused on his book, didn't stand a chance. The paperweight nailed him directly above his ear, causing him to drop the orange-covered abomination as he slid bonelessly to the floor. "PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOUR HOKAGE IS SPEAKING!" Tsunade bellowed at the fallen nin from across the desk, causing everyone else in the room to jump slightly.

Sitting back in her chair, she took a deep calming breath and started over. "As I was saying, I've called you here to discuss the events that were reported yesterday. Before we begin, however, I must ask you two," she gestured to Shikamaru, who nodded, and Kakashi, who was rising shakily back to his feet, "not to mention this to anyone. For the time being, this information is classified as S-class secret."

Everyone present straightened imperceptibly at the announcement. Tsunade continued, "Yesterday, Team Baki reported to this office that Uzumaki Naruto had escaped this village and travelled to Suna, where he met Gaara briefly before wandering into the desert. The assumption," she looked pointedly at Gaara, "is that he died there."

Shikamaru and Kakashi's eyes widened. Shizune, who also had missed the report, gasped in horror. Baki's expression was strained, but controlled. Gaara, as always, betrayed no emotion.

"Obviously," Tsunade went on, "we must verify these claims. But I must tell you," she nodded to Team Baki, "that this is not simply a case of determining a missing nin's status. If what you have told us is true, there exists a great possibility that our villages are now threatened by one of the Bijuu." Baki's eye widened, while Temari and Kankuro rocked back, stunned. Gaara still showed no reaction.

Tsunade had been watching this time. So, he already knew about the Kyuubi. Interesting. Pushing forward, she continued. "Naruto was the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune." This time, Baki let loose a strangled gasp, to which Tsunade nodded. "Indeed. I know Suna has its own experience with at least one of the tailed beasts. However, in light of recent... events, your village is unprepared to deal with another encounter of this nature. The Kyuubi is far more insidious and powerful than Shukaku. For this reason, I'm sending the six of you to Wind Country to search for signs that will confirm Naruto's status and determine whether or not the Kyuubi has escaped its container."

She looked at Baki and his genin team with sympathy. "I know that you do not take orders from our village, but I'm sure you can agree that this is absolutely vital. The shinobi of Konoha do not possess the training or the experience to weather the great desert. We're counting on you."

Baki swallowed heavily and stepped forward. "In the interest of averting this crisis, Suna is fully prepared to assist its friend and ally. We will gladly guide and assist your team in this search."

Tsunade nodded, relaxing slightly. "Thank you, Baki. Now," she looked between Kakashi and Shikamaru. "I've specifically requested you two for a reason. Kakashi, as Naruto's team leader and sensei I imagine you are the most familiar with his patterns and behavior. You'll be in charge of planning. Hopefully you'll be able to anticipate your student's steps."

Kakashi nodded once, appearing steady except for a telltale trembling of his hands. "Hai."

Tsunade nodded and turned her attention to her other charge. "Shikamaru. As a friend of Naruto's and a Nara, we will be counting on your analysis to determine the accuracy of Suna's claims. No disrespect to you, Baki," she faced the Suna nin apologetically, "but I'm sure you can see the necessity of this course. If everything you've reported to us is true, we must still recover Naruto's remains. And if it turns out he has somehow survived, he will need to be brought back to Konoha."

Baki nodded. "We understand, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade nodded once more. "Very well. The mission departs for Wind Country in one hour. For the sake of expediency, I am reassigning all other missions for which you've been scheduled. This is now Konoha's number one priority. Am I understood?" Everyone nodded, each steeling themselves for what was to come. "Dismissed!"

Team Baki filed out, with Shikamaru following. Kakashi moved toward the bay windows behind the Hokage's desk when Tsunade stopped him. "Stay a moment, Kakashi." Turning, she caught the eye of her apprentice. "Shizune, if you don't mind."

Shizune nodded. "Hai, Tsunade-sama." With that, she also headed to the doors and let herself out.

Tsunade turned back to the copy nin. "Kakashi, I need to know if anything happened between you and Naruto before his disappearance."

Kakashi stiffened slightly, but turned to face the Hokage squarely. "The last time I saw him was four days ago. We spoke about his fight with Sasuke, among... other things."

Tsunade nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "Tell me everything you know."

Woo! Another chapter finished, and finally the story is beginning to move! I don't really have anything to add for this one, so send any questions through PM. Reviews welcome!

Edit: In one of my latest readings of this chapter I spotted a few things that could be fixed, and at least one glaring mistake. Everything should be good now.