Chapter 3

The sound of water, dripping from a faucet or maybe a pipe, filled the confines of this place. The smell was nothing to be happy for either, but this place was where he, the Kyuubi resided. It was here that he'd met his 'demon' and resident. Seeing as it was in his own body, or rather his own mind, Naruto knew the sound all too well. What he didn't know was why he was here, or why he felt like he was floating listlessly on the water of this dark, disturbing place; this 'sewer'.

"It won't be long now"

Naruto listened as the sound of the voice of his guest's echo ricocheted throughout the dirty halls of the sewer that depicted the fox's residence within his mind. He slowly opened his eyes and stared towards the ceiling. The light was flickering, the sign of it needing a new bulb. He started to get up, only to fail when he fell back through the water. So he went back to floating and listening.

"It won't be long!"

The voice grew louder with great excitement and the breath of the beast gave off a foul stench that greatly described its evil intentions. Chakra, red as a sea of blood, started to slowly creep about from behind the metal bars that bound him to his prison; and so the Kyuubi started laughing.

"What won't be long?"

The Kyuubi eyes, which shone a bright yet sinister red, looked down towards his host and made visible his teeth that before were hidden by the darkness of the prison. His eyes narrowed and his smile widened. He let out a roar of laughter that would have wilted any tree in his path. Naruto, still floating on his back, turned his attention away from the ceiling and towards the fox's smiling face.

"You act as though you are clueless to the situation at hand"

The Kyuubi started to pace back and forth in his cage, much like a circus tiger does when he waits for his trainer to come and let him out. The beast's eyes kept resting on the boy's sullen look, this caused the fox's smile to grow wider and wider and his laughter to sound deeper and deeper.

"Soon I will be released from my cage! And I will then destroy this disgusting village! I will start with those ridiculous stone faces that watch over the village! I will start with your precious Yondaime! The fool who sealed me inside you! If only I could kill that fool and feast on his flesh! That would be most satisfying! I'll just have to settle for his foolish carving" The Kyuubi stared down towards Naruto. "And perhaps something more…"

Naruto's temper flared up and the chakra that graced the sewer began bubbling something fierce. His anger and determination gave him enough will to stand up and walk towards the cage. He didn't notice however, his legs were ankle deep in the water and his skin was tearing away, thanks to the chakra.

"You think I'd let that happen you bastard! I won't just stand by and allow you to wreak havoc on everything I worked so hard for! Everything I'll give my life for to protect!"

The Kyuubi eyed him conspicuously and watched in an amused manner as Naruto walked furiously over to his cage. Putting his hands on the cage Naruto stared at the beast point blank.

"I'll be dead and mutilated before I let you out"

The Kyuubi's laughter was so loud in response, loud enough to burst a man's ear drum and foul enough to burn his skin. He lowered his head to Naruto's height and put his nose through the barrier stopping right in front of Naruto.

"That's the idea"

Naruto, eyes wide in realization, jumped back just as the beasts claws stretched through the cage missing him by mere inches. Again the beast laughed loudly as Naruto looked up at him and glared angrily at him.

"You coward!"

The Kyuubi was being so amused by his host. Just yelling angry curses towards him and giving him something to laugh about.

"How amusing"

Naruto was clearly getting annoyed by his resident. The fox was ridiculing him, mocking him. He'd had enough of it, why was he losing control over his own body? No he wasn't going to let this 'thing' take what he held precious and what he'd sworn to protect, even if it cost him his life!"

"We'll see who the coward is; little one"

The lights in the room started to fade and as it got darker and darker, he failed to notice the red chakra had covered him up to his waist. He had yet to even feel his skin being burned away. He was more concerned about the light disappearing.

"Bastard! What did you do?"

The Kyuubi opened his eyes and they became the only thing visible in the darkness. Knowing exactly where Naruto was, he focused on him.

"Look to my eyes Naruto, peer into them!"

Naruto stared directly at him, eyes met eyes and once again the Kyuubi's torture began. Little by little, Naruto watched his failures and his mistakes. He saw the past, present, and future, and if the lights had been on, you would see tears of blood streaming down his face, blood that was seeping from his eyes.

The feeling was like a movie theatre, the room was dark and the Kyuubi's eyes were the screen.

"Do you feel it Naruto? The pain of your memories?"

The chakra had now covered him up to his neck and was beginning to strangle the boy mercilessly.

"Do you see how you hurt them? How you hurt her?"

"Please stop…Just Stop!!" Naruto struggled against the chakra that had somehow bound him in place. The sweat on his brow intensified as his face began turning red from the strangulation and his breathing became short as the water was also rising. He was striving to grab a kunai from his pouch, but it felt as though there was five-hundred pounds of resistance holding him back.

"Naruto…"

The voice was soft and the smell was sweet. The body was beautiful and Naruto felt a sense of relief at the sight of her. The Kyuubi had other ideas as he let a bluish moon-like light brighten up the figure. Naruto's smile quickly disappeared as he watched the light creep up higher and higher revealing a tattered and bruised girl, her arms covered in blood which ran like a river down her arms.

"Naruto…."

Naruto tried to reach for her, he tried to grab a hold of her, hug her, and calm her down or something! He struggled against the hold of the Kyuubi as he tried his hardest to get to her, but every step he took, the farther she got away.

"Naruto…" She cried "You have to stop…" She opened her eyes and stared at him, tears running down her face she pleaded. "Naruto please stop…"

His eyes opened in realization. This was a memory! This happened two years ago! This was nothing he wanted to see! Nothing he wanted to remember!

"No! Damnit….stop…STOP!! DAMNIT STOP!"

"Heh Heh…it's too late…I will soon take all their lives…and all their flesh…and you will watch obediently."

"No………….."

The chakra boiled furiously as it wrapped around his head slowly consuming him. His body dehydrated, his tears were gone and his eyes just stared at Sakura in a solemn manner as her pleading fell on deaf ears….

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Naruto sat up in a fury as he clutched his head trying to free himself of the pain and the burning that was slowly growing inside. It felt like he had been covered in oil and lit a blaze. His head was on fire! And his body was melting. His stomach was churning and his clothes were sticking to his body, like hot tar, due to all the sweat and heat that coursed through his body.

Throwing the sheets off he struggled to crawl out of his bed his arms and legs not cooperating with his mind as tripped and fell with almost every motion he made.

"Damnit!"

He cursed aloud as he tried to grab a hold of something, anything to help steady him. Reaching for the dresser, which sat next to his bed, he grabbed the corner and used what strength his still had to pull himself up. His hands were soaked in sweat, as though he'd dipped his hand into a bucket of it, causing him to slip and slam his forehead into the corner of that dresser; a split second later blood started to stream down his face.

Naruto wiped the blood from his eyes and the sweat from his brow, trying his best to lessen the stinging pain that graced his forehead, due to the salty sweat that was seeping into his wound.

Gritting his teeth and his brow furrowed, he started dragging himself across the floor. The blood dripping from his forehead helped, if only a little, slide him across the floor. Normally the Kyuubi would have healed the wound by now, or at least started to, but he was being toyed with, he could hear the Kyuubi laughing in his head as the fox's poison spread throughout his body causing him great pain and a very high fever.

No ordinary human should be conscious from such treatment.

Naruto was no ordinary human. He did after all have a monster inside his body.

"Damnit you're not gunna control my body! I won't let you!"

Slamming his fist on the ground, he searched deep in his own body, his own mind, to find the strength he needed to get up and damnit he'd been stabbed and punched and broken so many times. He wasn't going to let anything keep him from standing on his own two feet!

Bracing himself, he put both hands on the floor and with what strength he had, he pushed hard against the ground and shot his body into an upright position. His body staggered back and forth as his mind spun around and around making him nauseous and dizzy. He couldn't help but laugh though as he started to walk towards the bathroom. He knew he must look awful, but he had regained control of his body and the heat that had been resonating from within had disappeared.

His breathing was heavy and his head was light, but he was able to make it to his bathroom and then the sink. Again wiping the sweat and blood from his eyes he reached for the hand towel and tossed it in the sink. He then turned on the cold water, all the way, and let it run on the towel. He started to breathe deeply and slowly trying to calm himself down and catch his breath. He stared at the sink as it filled with water and mixed with his blood.

All he could do was stare; the amount of blood coming from his head must be staggering, as though someone had turned a faucet on his head. This was the Kyuubi's doing and that would be why he was still conscious, that damn demon wasn't going to let him fall unconscious…not yet anyway.

Grabbing the now soaked towel he applied it to his face and let the freezing cold water cling to his face as he rubbed it back and forth and up and down, trying to clean off the blood and the sweat that stained him.

"Naruto…"

He froze and ever so slowly pulled the towel off his face and he then slowly lifted his head. He looked at himself in the mirror and a look of shock graced his face….

Too bad the image in the mirror had red eyes and was grinning back at him.

"There's no way…."

"I'm already in control…"

"No…"

"I will soon kill them…and I will feast on them…and soon they will be no more and you will watch…obediently"

Raidon was sitting in the back of the classroom, head down on the desk, wishing and hoping that some sort of malicious beast or evil super ninja would show up if only to…..

Hiroshi was sitting near the windows, in the west part of the classroom, twiddling a kunai in his hands. He was observing the metal, with how shiny it was, and he was feeling the strength, just how powerful was it? And most of all, he was testing the sharpness, just how good of a shot was he? And how much flesh would the kunai pierce? He sighed and leaned on one arm looking out the window and silently prayed their sensei would show up soon, if only to….

"Shut the hell up already! Leiko!"

Leiko ignored Raidon's yell and continued to pace back and forth in the classroom. Didn't their sensei know that she had been labeled a prodigy? A genius? The best marks and abilities seen at the academy since the great hero, the Yondaime, had graduated? She was Leiko Fukushima! And she was…

"Tired of waiting!!"

Hiroshi looked over at the yelling girl…man she was annoying and where did she find the energy to yell every time something was not going according to plan, or she broke a nail or something.

"He's late and I'm tired of waiting! Everyone else is off somewhere learning cool new jutsu while I'm here with this half-assed loser!"

Raidon didn't bother to look up as he knew he was the one she was pointing at. No matter how cocky or mean she got, she was still a twelve year old fan girl with a crush on one of his best friends.

Hiroshi was disgusted at the way Leiko treated people. A one track mind, if it was her fault then it was your fault.

"Shikamaru-sensei never said you were as good as the Yondaime!"

Leiko looked at Raidon and gave him a sour look. No one was going to tell her she wasn't best, especially in front of her future husband! That's right she was the best and she figured she could beat any high ranking chuunin, maybe even some Jounin.

"I never said I was! He's the best ninja in our village history! I'm not better than him, just pretty much everyone else"

Leiko smiled proudly at her words and waited for the applause from Hiroshi. The celebration of her quick wit and good looks; her smarts and skills were the best as well, which gave Hiroshi all the things he needed to love a girl like her. Hands on her hips she started laughing and in her own heavenly light…glowing.

Hiroshi and Raidon looked at her and then to each other, a silent agreement between the two that this girl was, and there was really no argument for the other side, completely stupid and clueless.

Hiroshi looked around and noticed something odd. "Hey where's Gina?"

Shikamaru was laying in the shade of one of the many trees in Konoha, although this particular one was near the village gates, as he waited for Suna's entourage to arrive. There would be nothing but a bright blue sky, some clouds to go with it and some peace and quiet.

"Shikamaru-sensei?"

Never mind.

Shikamaru sat up and was greeted by the curious, and somehow cute, faces of two of his students. Kameko Aomori was one of his better students at the academy. Though she was a bit of a free thinker, in the end she would follow her sensei's orders and pick up on his instructions within the first few tries. A red haired girl, similar to Gaara's, Kameko already had the eye of some of her male classmates who had discovered recently that girls were a good thing. To top it off Kameko herself was one of two girls who didn't openly fawn over Hiroshi, which Shikamaru was thanked the gods for.

Ame Tottori was the other Konoha student chosen for this group and like her counter part, Kameko, she was viewed as one of his best students and sometimes he viewed her as the best of his class. She was a patient girl who always listened and behaved and that alone was enough to make Shikamaru like her. She had blue hair and brown eyes and had a face that could get information out of the poorest fool, mainly her father and male classmates. Luckily or perhaps unluckily for Shikamaru there was something much worse than a cute girls pouting face that got information out of him and he hoped it wasn't coming.

Grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his pocket he pulled one out with his teeth, much like his sensei, and lit it. Sitting back, so he was laying down on the grass and looking towards the clouds in the sky, he sighed.

"Well where do I began…"

"How bout from the beginning?" Shikamaru looked over at Kameko…that's right, the girl was sassy as well as smart.

"Man this is a bother, I don't feel like explaining it to you guys, but I have to do it anyway."

Ame and Kameko crawled over to their sensei and laid down by him, one on each side, and took up the same position he had; staring at the clouds with his hands behind his head.

Shikamaru looked left at the smiling Kameko and then to his right greeting an equally smiling Ame. Man these girls were troublesome and they were going to be even more troublesome…..what a drag….the only thing bugging Shikamaru was a strange feeling in his gut. It was tingling, as if something good was happening...brushing it off as hunger pains, he shook his head clear of thoughts and started explaining.

"About two months ago the Kazekage and the Hokage met in what has become an annual meeting to evaluate the strength of the alliance. These two great villages have become a cornerstone for peace and prosperity. This time around they decided to see just how far our villages have come and how far they can go. So in their wisdom…and most likely their drunken stupor…they decided to put four of the best graduating genin in a group, two from each village, and see how they mesh."

"How we mesh?"

"That's right. You two and I are part of an experiment along with two Sand genin and a jounin."

"But sensei, aren't you only a chuunin?"

"I've been a jounin for four years. I just enjoyed teaching at the academy and Tsunade-sama felt I would be more help for the students in the classroom, rather than the field."

"So" began Ame "Why were Kameko and I chosen for this experiment? We all know that Leiko and Hiroshi were the best in the class and the whole academy and if this is supposed to be some experiment to strengthen the alliance between the villages why wouldn't you want the best?"

Shikamaru turned his head away from Ame and looked towards the clouds. How could he explain it? The thing that made these two girls important to the survival of the leaf and the sand and most importantly, the protection of the leafs' dark secret; Naruto. He was the only one in the village who could single handedly take on the Akatsuki, however rumors abound had reported the last Uchiha aiding them and his powers could tame the demon in Naruto. Although he had, in secret, been struggling for control with the Kyuubi for not more than two years, he had learned to harness the chakra of the nine-tails better than ever before and in doing so multiplied his chakra ten-fold.

However, Shikamaru suspected that this training Naruto did after the death of Jiraiya ultimately loosened the Fourth's seal and began the internal struggle in his body. Any attempt to reseal the fox was rebuffed by Naruto, he took on the challenge of the Kyuubi to become stronger and in turn protect those he still had left, those he loved and those who were precious to him. Losing Jiraiya was harder on him than he showed, and that's saying a lot.

But who could blame him? He was the only true father he'd ever had.

"Sensei? Are you alright?"

Shikamaru shook his head free of thought and back to the topic on hand.

"Yea, yea, I'm fine, just thinking. Anyway you two were chosen because one, you have more overall ability than Leiko."

"No we don't!"

Shikamaru turned to Kameko. "Actually you do. While it is true that Leiko's numbers and abilities are off the chart, virtually unheard of from genin her age. She does not have the ability or the skill to think of anyone but herself. She could and probably will be responsible for many squad mates' deaths on the field of battle. This is why she has not been allowed to graduate for now and why I expect she won't pass her graduation exam. Also it was agreed that Konoha would provide the male jounin and the two kunoichi genin."

"Didn't we just pass the exam though?"

"You two are special cases and are the two chosen to be a part of this program. You both showed the best combination of skill, ability, and teamwork among your classmates. The other genin have to pass a test setup by the sensei's of their new squads and only three squads will truly graduate and not be sent back to the academy. Leiko will be the downfall of her teammates and most likely never become a ninja."

"But if you know all this, why make Raidon, Hiroshi, and Gina lose out?"

"Leiko needs to learn these things herself and if the other three are truly going to become ninja they need to be able to recognize the weakness and make it a strength. The Jounin I assigned to them is perhaps the best and most qualified for the job. The things' he's accomplished is unheard of and miraculous, his life has been nothing to be happy for and yet he is the happiest person and noisiest and most annoying person I know. He is not only the best hope for Leiko but perhaps for Gina as well."

"Who is he?"

Shikamaru sat up and leaned against the tree. He couldn't help but smile at the memory of the battle that made Naruto famous. An uprising by the grass village had caused turmoil through the fire country and the mere surprise attack had left the village vulnerable. Not two years ago the village had been besieged by the surprisingly large force. With most of the jounin off aiding Suna with their own uprisings the village was in danger of being wiped off the map. It was Naruto who turned the tide and helped the village escape with very few losses.

"Naruto Uzumaki"

"What!" screamed Kameko "The hero of Deep Valley!?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Yea the one and only"

The girls giggled with excitement. They had heard the stories of how Naruto Uzumaki had almost single handedly defeated the combined army of grass and their mercenaries at a valley about ten miles away from Konoha.

"Were you there sensei? You seem to know a lot about it!"

"Yea I was there…." Shikamaru turned his head and stared ahead. Yea he was there, he saw how Naruto saved the village and how he won the battle. Unfortunately that battle took its toll on Naruto and changed him. A change only those closest could see, on the outside his fun loving and excited demeanor didn't change. Behind closed doors however, his friends could tell and it bothered all of them. It was a memory Shikamaru didn't want to revisit. It was a painful memory and something these girls weren't ready to hear.

"Tell us about it!"

"Yea tell us how he did it! How he beat up the grass ninja and saved the village!"

Shikamaru didn't have to bother saying no as he was saved by the arrival of another problem of his.

"Lazy-ass! You were supposed to meet us at the gate! Not to the east of the gate!"

Ame and Kameko looked towards the new voice that so rudely spoke to their beloved sensei. Shikamaru however just smirked and bit back.

"As spunky as usual woman, you know how I hate spunky people. This must mean you missed me then?"

Temari, with company in tow, walked up to Shikamaru and dropped her bags at his feet. "Why don't you sport some of that man and woman talk of yours and carry my bags."

She put a hand to her head and feigned fatigue as everybody watched. The four genin looked at her in a weird and disgusted manner as Sakura smiled in her own way at the old friends.

"I feel faint and tired; I need a strong man to help me get to my room."

Shikamaru, still sporting that smirk, picked up her bags and greeted her. "It's been awhile Temari; I trust everything went without a hitch on your way here?"

"How dare you speak so casually to Temari-sensei like that you leave scum! She deserves to be spoken to in a manner befitting a Suna jounin of who are superior to leaf in every way!"

Shikamaru looked at the boy and back to Temari who seemed a bit embarrassed by the behavior of her student, her embarrassment was a quality that Shikamaru or her brothers could normally spot but hard for others to notice.

"And you are?"

"I'm not telling you my name!"

"You're annoying kid"

"And your scum!"

Temari stepped in and covered the boy's mouth from further insults towards his, unknowingly, leaf sensei.

"This annoying brat, personally picked by the Kazekage, is Kisho Shonji and the other one is Hikaru Miki."

Temari struggled to keep the boy still, he was surprisingly strong for a genin, and he broke loose for a second and spit at Shikamaru's shoe.

"As you can tell he's real happy to be here."

Shikamaru smiled and bowed to the boy and was about to introduce the kunoichi, however they had had enough of this kid from Suna disrespect their sensei.

Kameko was definitely the loud one. "How dare you treat Shikamaru-sensei as such! He is a great man and you're nothing but a spoiled brat! I bet you're all talk!"

Oh that was it! No one talked to Kisho Shonji like that! He was the son of a Suna hero and council member. The son of a man equal to the Kazekage, no stronger than him and he was not going to be disrespected. Now if only he could break loose from Temari-sensei's grip.

"Why the hell are you so strong sensei!?"

"Because I'm not being an idiot like you now calm down Kisho, do you wish to disrespect Suna further than you already have?"

Kisho, still growling, slowly relaxed and glared evilly at Kameko who returned the look with a glare of her own.

"I can tell this is going to be a very troublesome year."

Shikamaru stared at the children as they sent telepathic messages to each other of how they were better than the other and how they were going to beat up the other and prove than their village was better than the other village.

"Man what a drag….."

"Shikamaru Nara"

Shikamaru turned around and was greeted by the mask of the ANBU, the elite. The void of the eyes and the straight-faced animal mask always made him uncomfortable. Even more so whenever they searched for him specifically.

"What is it?"

"You are to report to Kakashi Hatake at the residence."

"The residence?" Temari questioned

The ANBU turned to the Suna jounin and bowed in an apologetic manner. "I'm sorry this is only for Shikamaru Nara."

Within a blink of an eye the ANBU was gone and Shikamaru's carefree demeanor turned into an immediate scowl. How bad was it this time? And just what would make Kakashi send Sai to deliver him a message. It could only mean Naruto, as residence, although a general term became the codename for the Kyuubi's keeper. Shikamaru looked over his shoulder at Sakura who had gone from laughing at the mischievous genin to a look of fear. She may not know the extent of Naruto's condition, but she knew that something was up, she wasn't exactly an idiot.

"Temari"

"What?"

"You know the way to the hotel right?"

"I understand…"

"Good. Sakura come with me"

Without a word she nodded and the two jounin disappeared into the crowd. Temari watched them disappear with a look of concern on her face. It wasn't hard to figure out, especially since she was one of the few Suna ninja who knew of the plight that faced Naruto Uzumaki. Just what was happening though, Shikamaru was one for concern when it came to his friends, but he seemed different. She couldn't place it, but he definitely knew something she didn't.

"This is stupid. Sensei can we go check in and get this stupid 'experiment' over with?"

"Hey I don't wanna work with you either so just shut your mouth and make it easier on all of us!"

"Make me bitch!"

"What the hell did you call me?"

"You heard me you leaf bastard!"

"I'll kill you!"

"Bring it on!"

Temari rolled her eyes and silently cursed. Shikamaru was right; this was going to be a real drag. Several ninja watched as Ame and Hikaru had their backs turned to each and Temari held the collars of Kameko and Kisho as far apart as she could.

Kakashi watched as the boy threw his blood-stained clothes into a pile of what looked like old dirty outfits that were used as nothing more than rags. The clothes that he'd had on were so soaked with blood that it weighed a good five to ten pounds. Kakashi had noted that all the blood Naruto had lost would kill any normal human. Unfortunately and fortunately Naruto had the Kyuubi which helped accelerate his healing and yet was the cause of all this. This whole situation had certainly become a double edged sword.

"You're in no shape to be moving around."

Naruto zipped up his pants and tied a white strip of cloth around the wounds on his head, blood clearly still coming from his temple. The marks across the boy's side and chest, Kakashi noted, were most likely from himself as he grabbed them in an attempt to distract the pain coming from his head.

"Not like you'd listen to me anyway"

Naruto looked over his shoulder and flashed a wry grin and went back to dressing. Kakashi shook his head at how strong and perhaps foolish the boy was. He certainly showed a strength not seen from any ninja save for a kage. Even the legendary Sannin didn't have such an emotional strength save for Jiraiya. Jiraiya survived the death of his sensei, his student, and the defection and sickness of his best friend. Perhaps when Naruto lost Jiraiya he lost the only one who could truly understand that part of his feelings.

"You really are a knucklehead you know that? And I will say I'm proud of you in every way possible."

Kakashi sighed as he remembered the good times he'd had with Naruto. He was the closest person he had to a family member and the mere sight of an unconscious Naruto lying in a tub of cold, bloody water made him cringe in fear. He may not show it but he cared a great deal for the boy. After all he reminded him so much of his sensei.

"You worry too much Kakashi. It won't be long until I take back full control of my body."

"I've agreed not to tell the council but remember our deal. I don't talk as long as you tell Sakura. I'll be sure to give her some of these seals just in case." He waved the paper in the air.

With his back towards him Naruto zipped up his jacket and reached for the leaf headband that sat on his dresser. He took a long hard look at it. He hadn't donned this headband for two years and by merely picking it up he had brought back some painful memories and some good ones. He smiled wryly and tied it around his forehead. Turning around he sported a foxy grin and tossed an envelope to Kakashi.

"Give that to Sakura for me will you?"

"Care to elaborate on why you cant yourself? After all you'll be working with her again."

"She's nothing more than a bodyguard the council wanted. Personally I don't want to teach genin. However it beats being locked up in the village doing absolutely nothing. Besides, it might give me a shot at the Akatsuki."

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at his explanation. "You're willing to put four genin at risk like this? That's a bit heartless, not too mention foolish."

"Should these kids even pass my test, you know I will never let harm come to them. Besides Sakura will be able to get them out and escort them to safety."

"How do you know everything would go according to plan should you be attacked?"

"I'm the target."

"True"

"I don't know why the council did this as it does indeed seem very, very foolish and dangerous."

"No it doesn't make any sense, however I'm willing to bet that Tsunade convinced them that this was the best way to go. Akatsuki would not dare attack the village at full strength and by keeping you on the move with little tasks here and there. It will be hard for them to pinpoint your location."

"Maybe"

Kakashi looked over his should and towards the door as he listened to the hurried steps of what sounded like two pairs of feet. Interesting considering he asked Sai to only bring Shikamaru. He turned his eyes back to Naruto.

"Looks like you have vis….."

The curtains around the window blew wildly from the incoming crosswind and a fading Naruto was jumping across the buildings towards the academy. Shaking his head he turned around to greet Shikamaru's calm demeanor. He clearly knew what had happened. Kakashi didn't expect to see Sakura however and the look on her face said it all.

Sakura clutched at her heart much in the same way she had the first time Naruto had transformed. She looked around trying to steady herself. She had seen so much blood working at the hospital that she'd become used to it. Every time Naruto bled heavily though, it ate at her gut and tore her will to ribbons. She knew this was his blood and she knew he'd been struggling mentally with the Kyuubi. However…no one had actually told her the extent of it. She could hardly speak her voice quivering in shock and fear.

"Where's Naruto….."