Authour's Note: Thanks again for all the reviews. I'm glad you enjoy it so far. To Girrr I will work on including more detail, and appreciate the feedback, keep in mind this is the first thing that I've written in years so my writing skills are a bit rusty. If you, or anyone has any ideas that my story could benefit from please do share. If you haven't figured it out by now, I've removed the Third Hokage's viewing crystal 1. because that is bogus and 2. it would have obviously ruined the plot. I lied, I still have some more yet to get out of this day, but I SWEAR this is the last of it, by the end of this chapter I will be into the next day and then some maybe.

OoO

Danzo cursed himself for his impatience at extracting the biju from it's host. If he had allowed himself some time to examine the seal he would have found Minato's charka signature incorporated into it. However he hadn't thought that the man had been prudent enough to place such a precaution in the event of the seal breaking. On top of that he managed to use his famed justu to get the boy out of his grasp, at least for the moment. 'No matter, Foo can recapture him and we can continue again. It's unlikely that Minato can intervene like that again, and even if he can I will be prepared for it.' Thankfully it had only been five minutes since he had began, so there was still time, He sent Shin to intercept Foo on his way to Hiruzen. Not moments later said ANBU appeared kneeling before him in the darkened detention block.

"Sir, I surmise there was a complication?" asked the blonde man.

"Yes, Minato was more cautious than I gave him credit for. He managed to halt me and send the boy away. I need to you to bring him in again while we can keep Hiruzen from becoming suspicious. This time I will leave your memory unsealed, find the boy and kill the girl. Go." said Danzo. He didn't show it on his face but he was livid. The Nine-tails had been within his grasp, only to be torn away from him. It would not happen a second time.

Shin returned to his side holding an unconscious guard by the back of his flak jacket. It was the guard sent to relieve the one they had already killed. "Orders sir?"

"Kill and seal him like the other, no reason the Jinchuriki has to stop at one body." He replied, planning to use it as more evidence against Naruto Uzumaki.

OoO

Foo returned Naruto's apartment in hopes that he had been sent there as well. It hadn't been that long and under normal circumstances he couldn't have gotten far, but if what Danzo had told him was true, then Naruto could be well out of reach. However the girl was another story, thus his return to the apartment. Perhaps she would have some insight, and even if she didn't, he would silence her.

He reached the roof outside the window of Naruto's apartment and crept up to it while pulling out a kunai just in case. He approached carefully and listened at the open window, and upon hearing silence, he ventured a glance into the room. Not only was Naruto not there, Ino wasn't either. Again practicing caution he slipped into the room and searched the entire apartment to make sure that it was truly empty. There were several empty ramen cups, and nothing seemed to have been disturbed or packed in a hurry. The only thing he found indicating the girl had been there were the bloody sheets and her clothes. He gathered those items and sealed them into a scroll, before exiting the apartment into the cool night air.

Unfortunately this suggested that Naruto could be in the wind by now, but there was still another place to check for the girl. He began jumping from roof to roof once more heading in the direction of his cousin's home.

OoO

After leaving Naruto and Ino to flee the village, Kakashi headed back over the wall, avoiding the patrols as expertly as he had leading the two Genin out. Once he was sure he wouldn't draw attention to himself he rushed to the Hokage's Tower. The moon still shone brightly in the night sky giving him more than enough light to go full speed without injuring himself while jumping roof to roof.

While he still didn't have proof that Danzo and a member of Saurtobi's ANBU were connected, and had altered evidence at a crime scene or attempted to remove the Nine-tails from Naruto, he hoped that he would be given the benefit of the doubt. At best he could summon Pakkun to testify to the evidence tampering as well as find the culprit if it WAS the ANBU, but that didn't tie Danzo to anything, and wasn't much in the way of proof.

Kakashi made it to Hokage tower and entered Sarutobi's office through one of the many windows. Said man was looking out over Konoha with a lit pipe in his mouth, garbed in his Hokage robe sans the hat. Despite how peaceful the village looked, it seemed to him that chaos was bubbling under the surface. He wasn't sure, but he felt there was a great change coming, like a calm before the storm. This incident with the Nine-tails chakra had seemed benign until one of his ANBU reported corpses at the scene, and convinced him to at least bring in Naruto to have the seal examined. Kakashi had come to him before and asked to be the one to talk to him, but he decided it wouldn't do either of them any good to see the other if Naruto had truly lost control, so he had ordered Kakashi to wait on the sidelines. Obviously he had gone around these orders. "What is it Kakashi?" asked the older man, not turning to look at the Jounin.

"Sir, I came to report what's happened with Naruto." replied Kakshi

"I suppose I will take the time to hear you out, it's been nearly an hour since my ANBU left to secure Naruto, and hasn't returned. So I take it some treachery is afoot?" Hiruzen took a long drag on his pipe and turned around to face Kakashi.

OoO

Danzo was preparing Shin and the seal formula he would use to reseal the Nine-tails into the terminal boy. Shin was near the same age as Naruto and had been with ROOT since he was five. Danzo had done an excellent job turning him into an emotionless weapon that he believed all shinobi were supposed to be. He could see that there were still some attachments that the boy had, one being a boy he coded as 'Sai,' but soon even that would be dissolved. They had been like brothers at the orphanage he extracted them from, but in his eyes such relationships were unnecessary and kept shinobi from reaching their full potential.

Twenty minutes had passed since Foo's departure and he once again reappeared in the detention block kneeling before him. "Reporting sir. I found neither Naruto nor the girl. I went to any place I thought they may take refuge, it seems that Kakashi Hatake helped them escape the village. His apartment was turned over for supplies, and I believe he is on his way to speak to Hiruzen."

'NO, my plans! Damn you Minato!' This time anger was evident on Danzo's face, though it didn't cause Foo or Shin any distress. If he'd had a sensor within ROOT he could have salvaged the situation sooner but Foo had been his best option. 'No...there is still one way I can keep this under wraps.' he thought to himself pulling the bandages over his right eye, off. His face relaxed from anger and while his face was blank once more, in his head he was smiling. While he didn't have a sensor among ROOT he did have skilled trackers, of three prodigious clans; Hyuuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame. So long as Kakashi and Hiruzen were the only ones who knew, then Shisui's 'Kotoamatsukami' would be more than enough to rectify the situation. He had been hoping to reserve it's use for when he was inducted as Hokage on the entirety of Konoha's shinobi to enure complete loyalty, but this was a far more pressing matter, besides it's power would be restored eventually. "Here are your new orders, plant two childrens' corpses we have sealed in Naruto's apartment, burn it to the ground, and make it look like retaliation by Suna. Then alert Torune and the others they are to track Naruto to wherever he fled to. Return to me when this is done so I can reseal your memories."

"As you wish." said Foo as he vanished to complete his master's bidding.

Danzo stared at where Foo had just been planning his next moves carefully. "Wait at headquarters Shin, I shall return shortly." Danzo ordered before he vanished as well, heading to the Hokage's office.

OoO

Sarutobi stood behind his desk in a stunned silence. If Kakashi's deductions were to be believed it was no wonder why Naruto's rage shown through, he himself would have shown less mercy. The problem lay in the fact that someone had destroyed evidence at the scene and the number one suspect was one of his own ANBU. To make things worse, even if it wasn't his ANBU, whoever destroyed the evidence was working with Danzo who had attempted to remove the Nine-tails from Naruto. By some miracle Minato had managed to save his son from beyond the grave and Kakashi had helped the two escape. "I suppose I don't have to ask if you're certain of what you're telling me, but these are serious accusations with little to no proof."

"I know Lord Third, but it's the truth, and I ask that you trust me and act swiftly. Danzo is a traitor."

"Easy Kakashi, I do trust you, but we can't just enforce justice on those we may 'think' are guilty without proof of their guilt. I'm sure Inoichi and Ibiki will get the truth out of him, but Inoichi won't be back till morning, I will send for Danzo then." Said the old man calmly. 'We can't let the ninja world return to the madness it used to be. Killing each other because we can't learn to trust one another would just be a step backwards.' Both men faced the door, preparing to fight, when they felt another presence in the room.

"That's wont' be necessary Hiruzen, my old friend." Both Kakashi and Sarutobi prepared to attack, but it was too late. Danzo activated Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan and they both fell victim to Kotoamatsukami. "Stop." And both did as he said, thinking nothing of the action, they simply felt that nothing would come of acting rashly so they waited, still tense and poised to attack. "Kakashi Hatake you will forget having investigated the scene of the crime and helping Naruto and you both will forget everything you discussed here within the past hour." Both men hadn't so much as moved, but they dropped their hostile stances. "In the morning you will announce the deaths of Naruto Uzumaki and Ino Yamanaka due to the tragic fire at the boy's apartment, and begin an investigation into the cause." Again both men had a noticeable reaction as their faces saddened. Danzo had thought to ask about the location of the Jinchuriki, but it would serve no point as his trackers would take care of that, and to the rest of Konoha, he would be dead. "Neither of you will remember that I was here." And with that Danzo turned and left the room, smiling to himself.

Kakashi turned towards Sarutobi, tears running down his visible eye. Lord Third looked equally as down trodden. The loss of two children who had dreams and many years ahead of them, weighed heavy on their hearts. "This shouldn't have happened." Kakashi whispered. 'Rin...Obito...I can't seem to protect anyone.' He thought morosely to himself.

Sarutobi turned and looked out over the village to see the fire burning in the night. He could make out some ninja already reacting and taking care of the flames. "I will announce their deaths in the morning." he replied as tears streamed down his face. Naruto had been a prankster and many thought he was a brat, but the boy had guts and a spark that would have blazed into a fine Will of Fire. Ino had been thoughtful, kind, and would have grown into a fine, beautiful kunoichi. Her fued with Sakura wouldn't have lasted forever. "I will have my ANBU investigate the cause. You're dismissed."

Kakashi walked out of the office slowly making his way out of the Hokage's Tower. Some ninja were hurrying about him in the night but he paid them no mind. His feet were moving, but he wasn't sure where they were taking him till he rounded a corner and saw the ramen stand that was Naruto's favorite place to eat. It was closed but he could still imagine Naruto still on one of the stools behind the flaps talking animatedly to Iruka about one mission or another that was beneath him. His feet began moving again and eventually he could see the dim light that was coming from the dying flames, where Naruto's apartment had once stood. He watched as ninja worked together to put out the embers using water style justsus, there was nothing left of the building. Again without thinking he continued on his mindless trek until he was standing before the Hero's Monument. His eyes passed over a handful of names. 'Obito Uchiha,''Rin Nohara,''Minato Namikaze,'and 'Kushina Uzumaki.' Why had he trained to get strong if he couldn't protect those around him. He had recommended Naruto for the Chunin exams, it was supposed to be a stepping stone for his dream, and show him how far he'd come. He couldn't help feeling he failed everyone of those names.

Suddenly a bunch of memories returned to him. He had been in the bathroom and created a shadow clone as well as summoning Pakkun so that he could investigate a crime scene. The clone had been with Ibiki in one of the break rooms waiting to be given some information about what was going on with Naruto.

Kakashi's clone sat lazily on the couch reading Make Out Paradise while Ibiki stood in a corner supposedly keeping an eye one him. Ibiki wasn't exactly great company so instead of striking up a conversation, the clone pulled out his book and began reading. So far Ibiki hadn't noticed the switch or if he had he certainly didn't allude to it.

After about thirty minutes Ibiki spoke up. "So don't you think you've given yourself enough time to find what you were looking for."

Instead of looking surprised clone Kakashi just looked up over the top of his book and shrugged. "He can dispel me anytime he likes. And whether he finds something or not, you have plausible deniability. You were doing as ordered, and keeping an eye on 'Kakashi.'"

"Hahaha You're a shrewd one Kakashi, not sure whether I should commend you or kick your ass." replied Ibiki, smiling at his fellow Jounin. "It's obvious you care a lot about your students."

Clone Kakashi eye smiled and nodded. "They certainly make my life interesting." They waited again in silence for about another thirty to forty-five minutes when a Chunin brust into the room and alerted them about the fire, and having found the bodies of two children. Both Kakashi and Ibiki ran out of the room and outside to see the inferno in the distance. 'Damn it, that's Naruto's place.' thought the clone taking off in that direction. He started helping fellow shinobi put out the blaze, once he was certain they could handle the rest on their own he headed back towards Hokage Tower. 'Something is wrong he should have dispelled me by now, and I'm running low on chakra.' He entered the tower just in time to see one of Lord Third's ANBU head downstairs into the detention block. 'That's strange.' As far as he knew no one was being detained at the moment, and the only person who should be going down there was the patrol guard or those related to ROOT. He quietly followed the ANBU downstairs and stopped when he got to the doorway. He carefully glanced in and saw the ANBU kneeling and speaking with Danzo, the head of ROOT. Clone Kakashi lifted his headband and activated his Sharingan with the remaining chakra he had left. He was too far away to hear what they were saying, but this way he could at least read Danzo's lips.

'Good job Foo. Don't worry about the Jinchuriki, Torune and the others can handle two Genin. I've taken care of Kakashi and Hiruzen. Now we have plenty of time to retrieve the Nine-tails. I will find you when I need you again. Peace is the lie of the weak.' Kakashi read Danzo's lips. With that the ANBU started coming towards clone Kakashi, who decided this was as good a time as any to dispel, he was running on empty anyway.

Kakashi could feel a wellspring of hope spring forth from his despair. 'Naruto and Ino are alive.' His clone had provided him with valuable information, and he would not allow it to go to waste. Obviously Danzo had done something to alter his memory, but he couldn't remember even seeing the man tonight much less allowing him to have the chance to put him under some kind of genjutsu. Lord Third must have had the same thing happen, so best to lay low and go along with this turn of events for now. He would eventually be sent out on a mission and then he could do some investigating. He however wasn't looking forward to having to keep this secret from Sakura and Sasuke.

Kakashi returned to his apartment. When he got there most everything was in it's place. He was missing some food items, and extra packs, and some ninja tools, along with some money. But the thing that made him certain that he had helped Naruto escape: the kunai that Minato sensei had given him was now absent from his wall behind his bed. He was planning to save that to give to Naruto once he knew who his father was. 'Wherever you guys are, you be safe out there.' He thought happily, while looking at the picture of his current team. 'I'm going to see that you have a chance to make your dreams come true.'

OoO

Naruto and Ino and been running through the thick forest all night, both given the strength and stamina to keep pushing their bodies by the soldier pills Kakashi had given them. Kakashi's plan had worked out perfectly, Naruto even created several more pairs of clones to send off shortly after they set out. A trio of ninja had taken down a few of the pairs so Naruto knew exactly where they were. Luckily they had chased the clones he had sent north and they were putting more and more distance between them.

"Are they still tracking us?" asked Ino, curious. She was still troubled over having to leave her home, but was definitely glad she did when Naruto told her they had straight up killed the first two clones he had transformed into her while attempting to capture the Naruto clones. After doing that twice they stopped, not wanting to risk killing Naruto if he was transformed into Ino, at least that's what she guessed.

"The last clone pair they got was about an hour ago, and they were pretty far north. I think they are, but we should be in the clear." replied Naruto. 'Thank you Kakashi sensei.' He didn't realize how awesome Shadow Clones could be. He wish he had known this jutsu at the academy, he could have just sent a clone to classes for him while he stayed out and trained!

Ino had the same thought, and again was a little jealous of Naruto. 'Maybe he'd be willing to teach it to me.' She thought to herself, thinking of all they ways she could use an extra 'her.' For instance she would have sent one to get her some clothes from her house. She was running through the forest in pajamas and had ten times over cursed her misfortune. Kakashi had given them enough to get some clothes once they arrived at the border town, but it would still be embarrassing to walk into a clothing store while dressed in her PJ's.

The forest around them was starting to come to life as they started seeing birds and deer moving about the trees, fleeing at their advance. It truly had been a long night for both of them, and while their bodies were able to keep going, their minds needed a break. They started ascending a hill as the light of the sun peeked over the horizon behind them. When they reached the top of the hill the light shown on their backs and before them lay Tanzaku Town. It seemed to be slumbering in the shadow of the tall hill. They were halfway to the border of the Land of Fire.

As they began the decent down the hill towards Tanzaku Town, unspoken between then, they stopped running and slowed to a leisurely walk. The bright green grass on the hill was wet with dew from the cool night's air. Ino wondered what her teammates would think of her absence, and she thought of Sasuke, but she couldn't see him worrying about her. He didn't seem to worry about anyone, but that's part of what made him so cool. 'It would be nice if Sasuke DID worry though.' She glanced over at Naruto who was keeping pace with her. He was definitely not handsome like Sasuke, but he gave off a warm vibe every time she saw him smile, it was something she never felt around Sasuke.

"Is there something on my face?" Naruto asked noticing Ino staring at him. He brought a had to his cheek and felt around for something stuck there.

Ino looked away, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, but Naruto didn't seem to notice in the shade of the hill. "No it's nothing," she said quickly, "just thinking if you'll look like the Fourth Hokage when you're older." Her blush deepened but again he didn't seem to notice. 'Oh god I didn't mean to say that.'

"Hahaha." Naruto laughed as he rubbed the back of his head, "I don't know, but I hope so, my dad looked really cool, and he said he thinks I'll be a better ninja than him!" He stated beaming his warm smile.

'I wouldn't have agreed with that yesterday.' she thought guiltily. But that smile he was giving her really made her want to see if that was true. "Well then, you better live up to his expectations Naruto." replied Ino, matter-of-factly, as she smiled back at him.

"I already promised I would." Naruto stated as he looked up into the violet/blue sky lit by the rising sun. "And I never go back on my word, yaknow."

They reached the bottom of the hill and entered the edge of town. Before going any further they both used the Transformation Jutsu to change their appearances. Ino changed into a girl her age with straight bobbed brown hair and brown eyes, her clothes into a simple sleeveless purple top that cut off about her navel, and a purple skirt, with white stockings. Naruto changed into a boy his age, with dark hair like sasukes only straight and dark eyes, his clothes into a black sleeveless shirt with his wrists wrapped and dark blue shorts. They both begrudgingly removed their Konoha headbands, and continued into town.

Most shops were still closed but a few cafes were open and starting to serve breakfast, so they stopped at the nearest one and ordered something to eat. The streets were mostly empty but there were a few passersby. One such couple that was causing some disturbance or another, was a tall blonde woman with a large bust in a coat with the kanji for 'gamble' on the back, followed by a younger dark haired woman in black attire, carrying a pig with a red jacket and bead around it's neck. They seemed to be running away from a group of angry men, shouting about running out on a bet.

One of the men stopped by the table where they were eating breakfast. "Did you two kids see two women run by this way?" Ino couldn't help herself from cringing away from the man, but both Ino and Naruto pointed to the alley they had ducked into where a loud curse was heard, then the group of men rushed into the alley.

"That was weird." Naruto said as he finished the last of his food.

"Tell me about it." Said Ino with the same deadpan look that Naruto had.

Once they finished their breakfast, they searched around town for a clothing shop so that they could buy a couple sets of new clothes and dump their old ones. After about thirty minutes of wandering the streets they came across a clothing store that was open. They entered and were greeted by a young woman who showed them to clothes in their size. Ino picked out two outfits much like what she was wearing only decided on red instead of purple. Naruto picked out two orange shirts like the one he was wearing and black shorts.

They left once they finished their purchases, and decided to find a place to take a bath. Thankfully it didn't take too long to find a bathhouse that was open, and conveniently uncrowded. They went to their respective sides, and cleaned off the sweat and grime from their extensive run. Naruto got faint halfway through his bath as most of his clones dispelled themselves. He had seen the trackers once more from the memories of a pair of his clones while they ate, but they were further east now, way off their trail. They left the bathhouse and Ino suggested they ditch their old clothes all together so that their scent wouldn't bring them trouble from the trackers. Naruto regrettably agreed and they found a trash can to dump them in.

It was nearing afternoon when they decided to continue on to the border town, heading west again they left Tanzaku Town. As they neared the edge of town they looked at each other when they heard a woman's cry in the distance. "AAIIIIEEEEE" Deciding to ignore it they left town, dropping their transformations and began running again.

OoO

There we go FINALLY done with the first day. To Girrr I hope I've improved upon the detail at least a little, I certainly don't feel like I'm rushing considering it took me three and a half chapters just to get past the first day, and it's not like I'm anywhere near finished. I have plenty of ideas, and always looking for more. I kind of got away from the Ino hurt thing but it will return I just didn't want to bring it back up in Tanzaku Town, I figured I'd get a little comedy in there. I kind of liked the visual symbolism of the violet/blue sky myself. Hope everyone enjoyed it and thanks again for reviewing.