A/N:

1) First of all my condolensces and prayers for the people of Japan in this trying hour after the disasters which struck their home. I hope the situation with the reactors is resolved soon and more lives aren't lost and the recovery efforts can begin with earnest.

2) Special thanks to DarkHeroOrion for his great Beta work. Please check out his marvelous new story 'Wild Fire' (/s/6785618/1/) as it's superbly written and the plot promises to be original and intriguing.

3) Special thanks as usual to rasengan86 and DarkHeroOrion for his input and helping me weave and moderate my plot and to LD1449 for his wonderous work on helping me improve the Kyuubi dialogue, he's truly a master of diction and conversation.

4) I'm unsure when I'll update next, I've made quite the run in the last month or so and update rather regularly but I'm about to enter a rather stressful month or so at work and the university so I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with this update schedule though I'll do my best.

Anyhow, Read, Review and Enjoy!

Japanese Word Glossary

Hi no Kuni - Fire Country
Nami no Kuni - Wave Country
Densetsu no - The Legendary
Chichiue - Father
Jinchuuriki - Power of Human Sacrifice - Nickname for the Tailed Beast Containers
Baa-Chan - Grannie
Hokage – Fire Shadow
Mizukage – Water Shadow
Tsuchikage - Earth Shadow
Kyuubi – Nine Tails
Godaime – The Fifth
Yondaime - The Fourth
Ero-Kyoufu – Perverted Godfather
Iwagakure no Sato - Village Hidden amongst the Rocks
Kirigakure – Hidden Mist
Konohagakure – Hidden Leaf

(Two days later, Hokage Tower, Konohagakure)

Naruto sat silently in his chair, fidgeting slightly at the suffocating silence he and Tsunade shared. The blonde Senju was uncharacteristically solemn. Her brown eyes were cold and narrowed, her lips twisted into a thin line and even her meticulously combed hair appeared somewhat in disarray.

'Has she been pulling at her hair?' he wondered.

He bit the inner side of his cheek in a nervous tick before he heavily sighed to expel his anxiety. "Hey, baa-chan, why did you summon me? Is Kakashi-sensei alright…? Did he wake up, yet?"

"Naruto…" She cut his bombardment of questions with a weary, almost sad manner. "Kakashi is fine. I would've preferred he recovered by now so he could accompany you on your next mission. Alas, I'm afraid we can't always get what we want in life."

He waited for her to elaborate, and she did not disappoint. "The Daimyo has taken a shining to you, Naruto. He deeply respected your father during his regrettably short tenure as Hokage and expects great things from you."

His eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head questioningly. "Isn't that a good thing?"

She was silent for several tense moments. "That depends on your definition of good." Her evasiveness made a knot of tension tighten in his chest as he locked blue eyes with callous brown. "He's requested you to fulfill a solo mission on his behalf."

The son of the Yellow Flash owlishly blinked, and his eyebrows flew upward. He wasn't quite sure what to say as he had mixed feelings rushing through him like a maelstrom. He was excited and flattered, however. This was a very important opportunity for him, but the hesitation and wariness Tsunade had projected in waves made him nervous and somewhat fearful.

"It's classified as an A-rank, but its sensitivity is closer to an S-rank mission, Naruto. Intelligence reports that there is a conspiracy to murder the daimyo. We suspect several advisors from his inner circle as ringleaders but have no concrete evidence to act. The daimyo has decided to take actions which will flush out the conspirators by giving them a false sense of security."

Naruto listened intently, his mind racing with the implications. The mission was incredibly sensitive and important. He likened himself to have improved greatly from his genin days, but to be given a mission like this? What entailed this mission, anyway?

She handed him a picture of a golden-skinned, middle-aged man wearing expensive clothing. The man had piercing brown eyes and a long, flowing beard. To his left was a smiling, fair-skinned younger woman with laughing green eyes and light brown hair. To his right was a bashful-looking little girl whose face was obscured where she buried it in her father's leg.

"This is the Komatsu family. The father, Soujirou, is a known supporter of the daimyo for many years now. He is absolutely innocent of this entire affair, but his execution will suffice for the Daimyo's will. You are to kill him and his family in a manner which leaves a clear message," she spoke in a quiet tone, but her words might as well have been a scream.

His head pounded and all noise in the room seemed to devolve into white static as he looked at the picture with bulging eyes. His mind reeled, and suddenly, it felt hot…so unbearably hot. His throat went dry and he his breathing quickened.

'W-what? She can't be serious…b-but the…this is…'

He jumped when he felt her hand touch his shoulder. When she had gotten out of her chair and gotten behind him, her other hand abruptly ruffled through his blond locks in a soothing gesture.

"It's difficult to accept, isn't it?" she asked with heavy remorse.

Naruto gulped to keep down the bile and felt his eyes sting, despite his better efforts.

"I know you don't want to do this, Naruto. It isn't fair, and it hurts to just think about it," his body stiffened when her tone, so soft and tender, seemed to tug on a part of him he hadn't even realized he missed, "but you have to put your feelings aside and see the bigger picture."

Had he ever been consoled physically like this before?

"I-I…" he stammered, trying to say something but she silenced him with a murmured shushing sound.

"You can't rationalize this shame and this pain of the soul, so don't even try, Naruto. You must learn to accept this; the true burden of a shinobi, bearing the sins and secrets of our nation to the grave as we are forced to go against our very moral fiber."

Her words drilled into his mind mercilessly, tearing into the last vestiges of childlike innocence and ignorance he clung to, even after taking his first life. 'This…just like what Haku said…'

"I believe in you, and I care about you, Naruto. More than is perhaps healthy, given my position," she intoned with a wistful air coating her words. "You are a proud shinobi of the Leaf, no matter what. Remember that, always."

"W-what if I can't?" he choked out, unable to help it. His strangled tone affected his 'granny' as her hands tightly held onto him.

"You must," she whispered softly, "and you will," she then punctuated with confidence.

"Do not become a martyr for your ideals like Hatake Sakumo. He stood at a crossroads in a crucial mission similar to your own and chose his ideals over the objective. He chose his comrades and abandoned the assignment, and the consequences were disastrous. Suna and Iwa took advantage of the 'excuse' provided and opened war against us, and hundreds of lives were lost."

"I-I understand," Naruto murmured quietly and shut his eyes, and, when he heard her move away, he stood up rather quickly. He opened his eyes and noticed she resumed sitting by her desk, though she appeared several years older, wearier than she was before. "Should I leave now?"

She nodded once, unable to meet his eyes, it seemed. He felt some solace at the knowledge she was as pained by his mission as he was. Her next words were formal…detached, even. "Yamato will escort you to the capital. Once you arrive, find your mark, destroy the photo and fulfill your mission. Kakashi will join you in three days, and then, you two shall go report to the daimyo."

Naruto nodded once. He felt sick—disgusted by the mere notion, but he pushed down the bitterness and pragmatically clung to her words. He would be strong. He had to be.

"I-I won't disappoint you," he promised, his voice growing firm like the roots that supported a tree.

(Several Hours later, Streets of Konoha)

Shikamaru sighed as he walked down the streets of Konoha. He kept his hands in his pockets and his eyes forward, only briefly glancing to his left, where his former teammate and childhood friend, Ino, shuffled by in a miserable heap.

He was wearing his chuunin attire, whereas Ino was clad in her routine genin outfit, though she opted to change the color from violet to black and used dark blue bandages instead of white for stealth purposes.

Ino tried to school her features to project the air of 'business as usual', but he could see the underlying worry and sadness in her body language and her eyes. He knew her better than most people, and one didn't need the Byakugan when she heaved a long sigh and bit her lower lip every time someone mentioned her significant other.

'Geez, she's got it bad for you, Naruto. You troublesome bastard… I guess I'll pitch in to make sure you two stop being so miserable,' he reflected with a hint of fondness mingled with exasperation.

He surprised Ino by hooking his arm with her; leading her toward a small sushi stand they passed by. "Hey, Ino, it's getting late, so let's go grab dinner. It's on me. Besides, we need to talk."

"Stop pulling me, Shikamaru! I can walk fine on my own!" Ino irately complained and pulled her arm from his clutch. The Yamanaka heiress pouted, her features scrunching up as her temper flared, but for all her fuss, she did follow him through the shouji and sat in front of him.

"Good evening! What can I get you two?" a waitress kindly asked them. She then immediately added a suggestion as a knee-jerk response. "If you don't mind, I recommend the special lovers' palette. It's a big hit amongst the young couples!"

Shikamaru gulped and paled a bit as Ino glared daggers in her direction. Her eyebrow dangerously ticked, and he scrambled to save face by waving his hand. "We aren't a couple, miss. We're just friends..." he clarified and watched typhoon Yamanaka ebb somewhat, though the tension in her jaw and the gleam in her eyes kept him on edge.

"Really? I'm sorry, but you two just look so adorable!" she airily cooed. "So, what can I get you?"

Shikamaru let loose a long sigh and thought about how troublesome it was to go out of his way to help another couple, even if they were his friends. "I'll have the seafood combination, and she'll have the…?"

"I'll have the vegetation combination," Ino ordered in a nonchalant tone, slightly glowering at the waitress who seemed to marginally flinch. She bowed and vanished, leaving a moody Yamanaka at the lazy prodigy's table.

"So what'cha want, Shika?" Ino murmured to herself as she impatiently fiddled with her hands.

'How troublesome. You owe me for this, you damn blonds!' the Nara thought and folded his hands together. He shut his eyes for a moment, before he took the first step.

"Ino, you've been bottling up your problems for weeks now. You're moody, unfocused and jittery whenever Naruto is mentioned. This has got to stop."

"Not you, too…" Ino wearily groaned out and covered her face with her hands. "First, it was my dad. By the gods, that was awkward!" The mind-walker removed her delicate fingers from her face and plopped them—rather unceremoniously—onto the hardwood.

"Then, it was that cheeky bitch Hinata who had the gall to say I don't deserve Naruto." Her voice was low, but the undertone of fury was palpable behind her words as her cyan pupils burned with indignation. "And now, you…Why don't you guys let Naruto and I settle our troubles on our own? Or do you want to tell me I'm overreacting, too? That I'm being unreasonable and selfish?"

The shadow-user made a thoughtful sound and looked deeply into her eyes. "I think you're right, Ino." That shut her up and she looked at him with a hint of suspicion. "Naruto has been neglecting you, but I think you're wrong about the reason he's doing it."

She said nothing, but the way her slender brow rose beckoned him to elaborate. "Look," he spoke slowly, feeling a bit ashamed of his younger self as he explained, "you didn't know him as well as I did when he was growing up. You were always busy chasing Sasuke and playing with the other girls. I can't say I was much of a friend to him. I might've hung out with him and snuck him some food, but I also didn't give him the time of day…"

"I know about…!"

He made a silencing motion with his hand, making her protest peter out in the wind. "I'm not done! Your expectations of him are a bit unrealistic, Ino. Naruto never had any parents to teach him about these things. He just learned about friendships and bonds when we graduated the Academy."

Ino frowned. "I know all about that!" she rebutted in a drained, exasperated manner.

Shikamaru realized the roundabout subtle approach wasn't working and asked her bluntly. "Look, do you enjoy being with Naruto…or not?"

The blonde defensively bombarded him with a reply. "Of course I do! He's great. He cares a lot, he's thoughtful, funny, free going and… when we kiss, it's like my body is…"

Shikamaru waved his hands, mortified and attempting to stem the rush of heat to his cheeks. "All right! I get the picture. So, if everything's so great, and you two get along so well…what's the problem?"

Ino bit her lower lip. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm an afterthought to him, and I don't like feeling like that. I know he cares, but I don't know if I can take being his last priority. Hell, he spends more time with those stuffy Hyuuga and you chuunin than he does with me!"

Shikamaru's brows furrowed in unity. "Ino, Naruto's a chuunin now. Hell, I don't have time to stare at clouds, anymore. Our mission load is packed tight, and, considering they're training him to be one of Konoha's trump cards in the next war, you can't really blame him for being busy…"

"But that's just it!" she roared in defense. "I miss him, and even when we're together, he's usually tired, or distracted or…" In the middle of her fiery sermon, she failed to notice that she almost knocked their food right off the waitress' tray when she approached them.

Shikamaru smiled apologetically at the young woman, and she returned the smile and quietly shuffled away as Ino continued her tirade at full throttle, her skin flushed and hushed tone growing a bit louder. Much to the Shikamaru's discomfort, everyone in the room shot them curious looks.

"Cut it out! You're making a scene!" he whispered urgently and felt a sliver of satisfaction fill him as her lips clamped tightly and she blushed deeply. Her body seemed to fold in on itself before she occupied her mouth by nibbling on a sushi roll.

"The way I see it, you've got two choices," he plainly put, not sugarcoating in the least. "One, since you're obviously head over heels for him, and I know he's smitten with you, you try and understand Naruto. He's led a very sheltered life in comparison to us. So, be patient with him. Try to appreciate how hard he's working to make time for you and adjust to the strains on your relationship together, just like Hinata advised you, despite how much you hate to admit it."

Ino shot him a withering glare and he gulped. 'Note to self, don't mention anything positive about Hinata near Ino.' He sighed and closed his eyes, before he continued his direct and candid approach. "Or, you dump him and go look for a more conventional boyfriend."

Ino gaped at him, choking on her food. She coughed hard and hit her chest. "Wh-what?"

"Naruto's life has always been different than ours, and he'll never be normal. He's a Jinchuuriki and the son of a kage. He'll always be pushed hard; always trying to prove himself more than anyone else, and, worst of all, he'll always have the largest target on his back."

Ino seemed to visibly shrink like a balloon, her shoulders sagging as she bowed her head. She inhaled a shaky breath, and Shikamaru cursed under his. 'And now, she turns from a temperamental woman into an emotionally deflated girl…How troublesome…'

"You have to decide, Ino. Personally, I think you two are good for each other. You're both loud, troublesome and you're always running your mouth without thinking when you aren't tongue-wrestling in front of everyone. But, you're my friend, Ino. We go way back, and I'll support you, no matter what you do."

Her head jerked up and she looked at him with a watery smile, her eyes moist as she suddenly leaned forward and latched onto him like a drowning girl in the ocean with a flotsam. He blushed and tried in vain to push her away as she mumbled her gratitude into his shoulder.

He smiled, despite himself, and casually patted her back, though he couldn't help feel just a bit afraid. 'If she does break up with Naruto, and it's because I pushed her to it, then I might need to look into writing a will…'

(Two days Later, Komatsu Family Mansion, Capital of the Fire Country)

Naruto currently flattened himself against a harsh wooden surface, dangling upside down from the ceiling of the living room of the Komatsu family. He was clad entirely in black, the only visible part of his body being a slit of skin and his bright blue eyes.

Capitalizing on the fact that the dining room was several rooms away, he slipped in while the family ate their dinner. The hired help was easy enough to sneak by; the maids and cooks preoccupied about their job and unable to detect him as he snaked through the upper floor's window and carefully crawled atop the ceilings to his current position.

His heartbeat started racing when he heard a tinkling female laughter. In his mind's eye, he associated it to Ino and he bit hard on his lip to quell the mounting nausea. He watched the young woman chase after the toddler, and it took a great deal of restraint to hold down the bile. 'Keep your head in the game, Naruto!'

He had to force himself to remain silent; to keep his breathing even, lest he give away his position. The hired help should retire soon, if his surveillance and the dossier Tsunade gave him was any indication. "Mommy! Mommy! I don't wanna go to bed, yet!"

'Focus…Focus, damn it!' he furiously thought, trying to block away the phantom images his guilty conscience conjured as he watched the woman scoop up her child and hold her closely, muttering nonsense in her ear. 'Damn it…I don't want to do this…'

He shut his eyes and channeled a fraction of the Kyuubi's youki through his body, letting the monstrous entity's power augment his senses. He sharply breathed in through his nostrils and listened with great intent.

"Now, now, Kairi-chan, it's late, and you have to go to sleep," a firm, male voice interrupted the touching moment, the man of the house joining his wife and ruffling the child's head affectionately. 'Do it…'

He tried to will himself to move, but his body felt bolted in place, his heartbeat pounding in his ribcage as he heard the malevolent laughter of his tenant echoing in his skull. The deep rumbling sound sent chills through his spine; it had lurked silently at the edge of his consciousness for quite a while now, laughing, taunting and whispering dark promises whenever he was weak.

Naruto took a deep breath, satisfied that they were alone. He quickly channeled some wind chakra through his middle and index finger while stopping the channeling of energy through his hands and feet.

He soundlessly dropped to the ground behind the couple. He moved silently, drawing his wind blade across the husband's neck with a quick motion. The woman tried to shout, but it was stopped when his other hand shot forth and smashed into her wind pipe with crushing force.

The child looked at him with wide, fearful eyes and inhaled. He quickly moved and put a hand over her mouth, cutting off her scream. He saw a reflection of twin glacier eyes reflecting into wide blue looking up at him and exhaled through his nostrils. The blond bit his lip, and, in one quick motion, he snapped the child's neck.

He let her sink to the floor, lifelessly lying on her parents' broken and bleeding corpses. He looked down at his handiwork in a silent daze. He expected to feel a great deal of difficulty; to cry, to scream, but all he felt was a tantalizing emptiness. It was too easy that it hurt.

'Keep it together, Naruto. You can't screw this now. It won't be in vain…' he reminded himself as he made a hand motion and summoned two shadow clones. Then, he made a different set of hand seals and created another single clone.

He failed miserably in screening out the great delight he felt from his tenant whom stressed its satisfaction with a blend of amusement and sarcasm. "Ah, now what's this? Has the little boy finally grown up? Just a slight twitch is what it took to extinguish the gift of life. Such power, such effectiveness…Ahh, and what's this I feel? What's this I see? Satisfaction? Vindication? How very...expected..."

Naruto gnashed together his teeth, trying to ignore the words which mirrored his innermost fears. He rushed up the stairs, leaving the three clones downstairs.

'I'm not like you. I am not you!' Naruto exclaimed in his mind, in a cool, clipped manner.

"No lies are stronger than those we tell ourselves, little boy. Do you deny me, or do you deny yourself? Is it ignorance or pride, I wonder? I can never decide…" the demonic entity taunted gleefully and resumed laughing in his mind.

He could see the dark, burning crimson eyes glaring at him icily. For a moment, they turned blue and he saw himself, with the visage of a monster and he felt a chill run down his spine. 'Not likely, fox. I am a proud shinobi of the Leaf, doing his mission for the sake of my village and precious people.'

"Justification, juxtaposition, virtue, malice, right and wrong, good and evil…So many things we tell ourselves, no? So many little lies with which to cover up the horrid void that is truth…Murder is murder, no matter how you spin it. "

He stealthily climbed out of the window he snuck in through earlier, and, once he reached the roof, he jumped to an adjacent building. He turned around, making a single hand seal and the mansion from which he just escaped erupted into a massive scarlet inferno, his two Kaze Kage Bunshin increasing the force of his single exploding clone.

Naruto had no witty retort. The fox had a point, but now was not the time to mull over his sins and their consequences. He quickly breezed through some hand seals and vanished in a swirl of leaves via the Shunshin no Jutsu.

(Meanwhile, Across the continent, Tsuchikage's private compound, Iwagakure no Sato)

Sumiko inhaled deeply through her nostrils, mentally weighing the wisdom of her next actions. She fiddled with the sleeves of her black kimono. Her tanned skinned glistened slightly in the moonlight, and she took some time to adjust her garb as to not expose too much of herself.

Then, her other hand rose to push some hair behind her ear. The proud princess of Iwa idly noted it was odd how her auburn hair had become sun-bleached from the extended exposure to sunlight for dozens of hours in the last two months, its color now closer to dark red.

She folded her hands together and slowly walked down the corridor she situated, her forehead creased with lines due to a resolute scowl. She was visiting her father in his private mansion. He had invited her to come for dinner and update him on her progress, personally. 'I won't back down this time, I will learn the truth!'

A pair of jounin that guarded the door bowed to her in a humble manner and pushed open the door for her. She returned the gesture by tilting her head roughly ten degrees as she crossed the threshold. She was immediately assaulted by the aroma of spiced meat, fried sea food and more.

She hid the frown threatening to cross her features and curtsied before her father, who sat on a chair on one end of a small rectangular table. 'Our budget is strained as it is, and Father lavishes with food like this…'

"Chichiue," she murmured inaudibly as she unhurriedly sat in front of him. His sharp, angular features contorted into a bored expression, and one hand moved to stroke his long, black beard as he acknowledged her with a low grunt.

"You're late, Sumiko," he calmly commented and didn't wait for her to explain herself before he rudely proceeded to grasp his chopsticks and grasp at some of the rice.

Her eyebrows creased and her lips twisted into a small scowl. She collected herself and sat up in her chair, jade eyes looking dead ahead at a set of dark brown. "We need to talk."

The Tsuchikage's left eyebrow rose slightly as he slowly chewed on the pure grain, his other hand motioning her to proceed.

She nodded once and spoke in a slow, deliberate manner, "I want to know who my mother was." Her tone came out far stronger and firmer than she felt when his eyes darkened as soon as the words slipped out of her lips.

Her father swallowed just as serenely. "It's none of your business, Sumiko," he replied with a hint of finality. "She's dead, and there's nothing more to it."

"How can you say that?" she inquired heatedly, forgetting decorum once the force of his blunt dismissal hit her like a slap to the face. She clenched the hem of her formal wear, trying, with all her might, to save face and not slam her fist into the table. "She was my mother! I have the right to know!"

Ishimaru's chakra threateningly spiked, and he had no such restraint, for his fist struck the wood and rattled the silverware and food. "Don't talk back at me, child! Know you place before I decide to educate you like I did back then!"

She weathered his fury with quiet determination, her eyebrows furrowed, eyes narrowed and body stiff but held up proudly. "I want to know why you've classified everything about her! It's obvious she's a foreigner, since there are no records of her…anywhere."

"This is your last warning, Sumiko."

"I want to why you had me train with that crazy old bastard, Roushi! He tried to kill me, but you obviously know that by now, and yet, you don't seem to care. Hell, I can't remember a time you've ever truly given a damn about me! Did you only keep me because my mother could suppress bijuu youki with her chakra like I do?"

"Enough! The information is none of your business, and that's final. Now, you're dismissed," the bearded man simply commanded his infuriated expression melting away to a very smug and pleased one. Obviously, her blurted confession regarding her new ability had pleased him greatly, her suspicions regarding the bastard she happened to share genes with was accurate, it would seem.

She had always tried to make him proud, to make him love her, but he always disregarded her, and now…After nearly dying for his ambition in Konohagakure, she was close to losing all shreds of respect for the zealous madman before her. She stiffly bowed before him, her body trembling beneath the cover of her thick formal garment.

She briskly left the room and nearly ran until she reached her private quarters. She leapt onto her bed and buried her face into her pillow, muffling her scream of fury mingled with utter helplessness and felt the fabric begin to tear beneath her fingers. 'Damn you! Damn you for this…'

Her eyes stung as her chest heaved out trembling, choked sobs. It hurt; the rejection, the utter dismissal of her importance. Why did everyone but him seem to care and respect her when all she wanted was for him to smile at her?

She sat up after a while, and looked out the single window in her room. She wiped the tears from her eyes and settled her breath, oddly entranced by the moon accompanied by the sound of a toad or frog croaking in the distance. The amphibians were very rare in Tsuchi no Kuni, considering the arid weather, but, when they were seen, they were considered a good omen. Well…except when attached to Densetsu no Jiraiya of Konoha.

She softly sighed and started the meticulous routine of removing her kimono. "Who were you, Kagami? Mom…?" she wondered out loud, even though her spirits fell as she doubted anyone in Iwagakure would ever tell her the truth.

(The Following Evening, Palace of the Fire Daimyo, Capital of Hi no Kuni)

Naruto looked at himself; the yukata Kakashi brought him and forced him to wear was stifling and hot even in the mid-afternoon breeze. The rich garment was suggested to him by Hinata and Neji but was purchased during a torturous affair in which Ino dragged him to every fancy clothing shop in Konoha.

It was deep blue, with white and aqua wave motifs decorating its edges and sleeves. On the back of it, embroidered in red, was the red Whirlpool symbol which also, coincidently, was his family symbol. He silently walked beside Kakashi, who was clad in a dark gray yukata with birds decorating the material, along with his mask.

The only identification of their shinobi status was their headbands, which they wore as per their duty and with pride.

Naruto's eyes pointedly looked forward as they went. They had not shared much in terms of conversation since they rendezvoused only an hour earlier. His sensei seemed as morose and preoccupied as he was, both shinobi having demons they were tangling with alone.

He was glad his sensei was better; it had scared him to think his sensei's life could be snuffed out so very easily, in the blink of an eye. The Uzumaki's fists clenched in his pockets, a very thin line of pressure visible on his forehead and in his jaw as the flashing image of his emotionless face reflecting in that child's blue eyes haunted him.

There were large bags under his eyes, and sleep continued to elude him, just beyond his reach. His rest was not easy; the bijuu sealed within him quite happily exploited his weakness of spirit and heart. With how hard he was stamping out his emotions and pushing down the despair and remorse, it was increasingly hard to block out its voice.

It made it its business to constantly laugh, ridicule and project images into his mind. It was wearing on his sanity and peace of mind.

The blond chuunin ignored the voice of the monster in his mind and flicked his eyes over his sensei. "Kakashi-sensei," he whispered softly. The Copy ninja's shoulders tensed momentarily before he shifted his gaze to meet Naruto questioningly, a small cursory sound escaping the older man's throat.

"I'm happy you're well," he revealed the thought which haunted him until he saw him in front of him, well if somewhat quieter than usual. His voice was hushed and somewhat choked with emotion and the subdued and stormy countenance he wore melted away to reveal a wide smile.

The Copy ninja's tension seemed to abate as his eye crinkled happily. "Thank you, Naruto," he replied thoughtfully before his single visible eye quirked. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and squeezed gently, his voice softening some. "Are you all right, with the mission and what you had to do?"

Naruto didn't reply immediately, mulling over the words while chewing on the inner side of his cheek. His eyes clouded over for a scant second, and he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure, Kaka-sensei, but I'm getting there..."

"Good." His sensei surprised him and his eyebrows flew upward as he gawked slightly. "If you were depressed, I'd be concerned, but if you were fine with it, I'd be disappointed," Kakashi cryptically commented and led him slightly onward.

The younger shinobi slowly blinked. "I don't understand."

Kakashi's smile was obvious through his tone, even concealed as it was behind his mask. "Every ninja gripes with the burdens we carry for our country. You're strong enough that you haven't broken, but also human enough to feel the pain and remorse, which is fitting in the situation."

Naruto didn't feel strong; if anything, he felt weak. The horrible memories of his actions were burned into his mind and the barbed words of the conniving monster within him kept whispering at the corner of his consciousness, like a predator prowling in wait.

"We are shinobi, Naruto. We love, we hurt, we bleed like humans and yet, unlike normal people, we kill upon order. It's true that, many times, our actions are justified, and often, they are not. It is the crux and cost of our profession."

"Cost…Yes, cost. Flee from what you owe them, boy. Flee from the weight of the burden you now rightfully bear in the arms of warm, comforting, little deceits. Form your foundation strong enough, and the pillar of delusions shall hold forever, I'm sure, for your sake, at the very least."

Kakashi's words confused him; they seemed to contradict with so many other things he had been taught. The fox's words stung and it vexed him. That couldn't be right. They were human and a family of ninja, as Kakashi told him his father used to say. He felt a bitter fury begin to pound through his veins as his hands tightened into fists. "But we aren't tools. That's what you said back in Nami no Kuni. We're more than sacrifices for the Daimyo and Hokage, right?"

"Yes, we are," Kakashi's voice was firmer now, his eye locking with Naruto's slightly wide blue as he restrained his hand from flailing about in his excited, and passionate, rant. "We are tools, but we are not mindless. We consciously put trust in our leader to make the right decisions and give us direction in which we can only exercise some leeway and flexibility. And yes, we do sacrifice a lot, and every day, in our lives, we place our sanity, lives and future on the line."

Naruto's eyes briefly grew to mere slits, questioning the sense made of what his mentor just relayed to him, including Tsunade's whole withdrawn and pained disposition when they last talked. The way she tried to console him while pained with guilt and sadness; she really did care about him and hated the mission she was forced to place on his shoulders.

"That is the true burden of the kage seat Naruto: the weight of knowing every decision will damn or save your subordinates and carrying the horrible knowledge all alone," Kakashi affirmed and articulated what Naruto had already started realizing on his own.

Naruto nodded and things started coming into perspective. It hurt, and the scars would remain for a long time, but it was a small cost to carry and he would take it with honor and understanding. 'I'm sorry, Baa-chan. I've taken you for granted for so long. Made your job a lot more difficult than I should have, but not anymore. I trust you, and I love Konoha…I'll protect you and everyone with everything I can…no matter the cost.'

"These scars shape who we are, Naruto. Every sin we bear compounds upon us, but never forget that every death on our conscience is one less on one of our comrades. It means more prosperity and security for our loved ones. Keep your fire burning bright, Naruto. I'm proud of you, and so is everyone else. While we may not be able to take away your pain, we're here to help ease the weight and make it become just bearable enough for us to keep on living, and maybe, even be happy."

He got somewhat startled when Kakashi led him through massive steel double-doors. He hadn't even noticed they had crossed through the courtyard and passed by various Samurai guards in his deep deliberation.

A man was standing beside a large, lavish throne, holding a large scroll. On that chair sat a gaunt, middle-aged man who concealed his face with a fan. "Now approaching the throne: Hatake Kakashi of the Sharingan and Uzumaki Naruto," the man spoke audibly, announcing their presence.

Naruto walked at a slug's pace, matching his sensei's relaxed gait, and they both knelt to their knees in unison before they bowed before the leader of Hi no Kuni. They sat up but remained kneeled where they were, as a sign of fealty in his court. 'Thank the gods for Iruka-sensei and Hina-chan preparing me for this stuff. I don't even want to think about the damage I would've done if I came in here in my orange jumpsuit and spoke obnoxiously…'

"Leave us." The Daimyo coolly remarked and made a dismissive gesture with his hand in an authoritative manner. Obediently, everyone in the room—advisor, servant and guard—shuffled out around and behind the two shinobi.

Naruto discreetly analyzed the most powerful civilian in the Fire Country. His eyes were half-lidded and somewhat cold upon first glance, though he kept his face calm. The blond simmered from within, though; feeling unable to shake off a touch of resentment at what the man had forced him to do. The slightly smug and pleased way his eyes crinkled sent jolts of ire coursing through his veins.

He shut his eyes as he felt the demon within him shift behind the edges of his consciousness, its noxious presence and rumbling voice unnerving him, no matter how many times he dealt with them.

"Servitude, and then, searching for stability, simplicity, and complacency. What wretched little things they all are. And so, you shall be merely another pawn; merely another little tool to be used. I suppose it was always too much to hope that you would be of the few to stand; to rise above the station deemed unto you by the Mandate of Heaven. No, no you would never do so, would you not? So satisfied, you are. Never to hurdle the world into the chaos which it so fears. Never one to make it tremble in the wake of your leave, then."

'Sometimes, there is strength in restraint,' Naruto bitterly retorted, repeating one of the adages and key phrases Jiraiya and Kakashi kept on drilling into his brain, 'or else, we wouldn't be stuck here together if you hadn't rushed my father and got yourself defeated…'

The fox's presence violently throbbed, and it took a great deal of concentration to remain still and push down the waves of youki gushing through his tenketsu. "So certain, are we? So sure of his might, so certain, and strong in conviction, then? Ahh, but it is an old, old story, at least to the infantile ears of the young and naïve. So full of embellishments and additions over the years. I hear mention of him alone, but where is the other, I wonder?" the beast of burden chided the boy like it talked down and belittled an infant. "Where is word of the only chain that could ever bind me? Where is word of her, then? That Kushina woman who gave her life to hold me still as your Yondaime sealed me, hmm? Ah, but no, glory and immortality to the heroes; unmarked graves for the dead. Such short memories, the withered bloods have. Such short memories, indeed."

'So both of my parents beat you, then! Hah! I guess we humans aren't so weak and pathetic after all, then, are we?' Naruto mentally reproached, his lips twitching, despite his better efforts, as he felt the Kyuubi claw and rage to no effect in its cage. 'Now, shut up, and let me concentrate!'

"Ahh, is this barbed tongue another token, apart from restless nights and nightmares of children?" It then began to chuckle in wondrous delight. "It seems I will have to watch myself from now on, then, won't I?" the Kyuubi dryly commented, but receded for now. Naruto knew this wasn't nearly over; the fox would punish him later, and that was certain. The only questions were when and how.

His musings became disjointed by the more prominent presence in the room.

"Naruto-kun," the daimyo greeted once the hall was empty, sans the shinobi and him, "it's a pleasure to finally meet you. You may call me by my surname, Shijimi, if you feel more comfortable." The man's jovial, slightly high-pitched voice apparently clashed with his shrewd and calculating eyes. One did not rule Hi no Kuni and maneuver with various kage for two decades by being stupid.

"Daimyo-sama, I'm honored to make your acquaintance, " Naruto quietly replied, bowing his head once more. He dared not act casually with the man—at least, not yet. Hinata and Iruka had been insistent that nobility, even if they acquiesced to familiar language and honorifics, didn't really mean it. It was safest to be humble and kind to prevent disaster.

"Ho, ho, ho…So polite…just like your father…" the man wistfully intoned and removed his fan, folding it quickly and pushing it into his sleeve. Then, the feudal lord sat more comfortably. "Tell me, Naruto-kun, how do you feel about what I asked you to do?"

Naruto wondered why the Fire Country's lord was ignoring Kakashi, but he noted it didn't bother the Copy Ninja one bit. The man's critical gaze was measured, though; obviously tense as he awaited Naruto's answer. 'Oh boy, choose your words carefully, since insulting him would be bad…baa-chan'll kill me if I lose her funding…'

"Personally, I would've preferred to avoid shedding innocent blood, but I understand that we can't always get what we want in life," he sullenly answered, ignoring the fox's snort and rumbling chuckle.

His hands tensed at his sides and he shut his eyes as he bowed his head. "I…understand necessity and burdens of power and accept my duty and your decision, Daimyo-sama. It'd be far worse to lose you and your support and send Hi no Kuni into a power struggle. You have my condolences for the loss of your close friend."

He felt the weight of the noble's cunning look and then a soft laughter banished all his anxiety and nervousness. "I'm glad I have your support, then!" the older man chirped. "You're ready to do what needs to be done when the going gets tough. That, my boy, is a good thing. You're very much like your father in that manner…more so than Hiruzen in his later years."

Naruto felt a pang of hurt at the words, and while he idolized his father, he cared deeply for the Sandaime as well. "Sandaime-sama was a wise man, Daimyo-sama. I think any mistakes he may have made were due to him being forced into an impossible situation at the worst possible timing for him, and it is unfair to harshly judge him in hindsight."

The Daimyo kept silent, his eyes smoldering with icy fire for a moment before his mask broke and he covered his face with his hand and jovially laughed once more. "You're gutsy, young man! Not many men would disagree with me…even so diplomatically. I like that! Though, don't make a habit out of it, Naruto-kun!"

Naruto laughed a bit nervously, nodding and physically straining to keep from rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. 'That last bit wasn't a joke. Even I can tell that!'

Kakashi's hand discreetly brushed his and he cautiously glanced at his sensei. He faintly grinned when he saw the jounin's eye crinkle happily which meant: 'good save!' He licked his teeth behind pursed lips and braced himself; this was going to be a long, nerve-racking, and overbearingly formal night.

(Several Days Later, Kirigakure)

Haruno Sakura happily hummed to herself as she traversed the busy street. She was wearing her new training attire. Her lower body was covered by a pair of blue pants and black metallic shin guards, and a loose, black, long-sleeved shirt covered her upper body, concealing the mesh armor covering her lithe frame and the arm guards.

She had decided to change to her entire look for safety purposes; at least, temporarily. Thus, after some prodding and convincing, she acquired a similar hair dye to the one Danzou had applied on her; only this time, it was black. It would be foolish to be identified by Ne's agents if she were spotted by chance, and hence, she moved to mitigate that chance. Once the danger abated, she would remove all dyes and return to her natural hair color.

'You've been awfully chipper as of late, Sakura-chan. We mustn't be complacent, dearest; you can't trust any Kiri-nin. You know they're only helping because we're useful. You know what they do to kunoichi in particular once they become expendable…' the voice of her ever-cynical and paranoid inner self cautioned in a hasty manner.

Sakura frowned to herself as she vaguely skipped, rolling her eyes. 'Knock it off. We're finally getting along with people. We aren't a pariah that nobody would touch with a three-meter pole. I really think we can find a home here. The people aren't as hypocritical as they were back in Konohagakure; they look life in the eye and don't flinch and make pretty excuses like the 'Will of Fire' bullshit.'

She caught a flash of her mirror image in her mind, the solemn and cold-looking version of her glaring at her icily. 'Has our life up to now not proven to you to keep your guard around everyone? We are deserters; we couldn't hold allegiance to our own home, so what makes you think they'll trust us to keep it to their home?'

'This is my chance to finally find my place; I won't ruin it with petty manipulations and mind games I can't possibly win. Every time you try to convince me to use and twist my relationships with people…I've gotten fucked over. First, it was Ino, and then, it was Tenten and Lee. I won't…' Sakura mentally jeered, the recent epiphany she had undergone revealed to her shocked alter ego.

'I saved us on more than one occasion, and now that you feel somewhat safe, you turn your back on me?' the dark side of her persona questioned incredulously before a cruel, harsh laughter rolled in her mind. 'I'm so proud; you're turning into me all on your own. Selfish, treacherous and ungrateful…hahaha! I'm loving this! Go ahead and play house with your little friends, while I'll keep an eye out for us, regardless of your little delusions.

Sakura snorted, smirking widely to herself. A rush of glee and satisfaction filled her, in spite of her inner side's supposed amusement. She had won this argument! She was excited for more than her little personal milestone; living in Kirigakure had done nothing but benefit her so far. It truly felt good to be alive!

She and Suigetsu had started training several days ago, and she was enjoying every moment of it. The sharp-toothed Kiri-nin's growth was pretty impressive; the tutelage of the legendary swordsman Mashashi truly honing him his kenjutsu abilities, and his Suiton ninjutsu were nothing to sneeze at.

She found she liked spending time with him; more so than anyone of her age group back home, even before her disastrous spiral following the debacle in Nami no Kuni. He was real, gritty, raw and honest like life. He didn't mince words, or hand out platitudes for the sake of it. They bickered and joked around and hung out nearly daily, considering they were neighbors.

She softly whistled to herself, her hips jiggling a bit as she thought about her own growth. Several weeks of intense physical training and a carefully monitored diet, she was back to her healthy weight and recovered most of her speed and strength.

Her sensei was surprisingly patient, despite her harsh and sarcastic behavior. She was learning a lot regarding lightning manipulation and genjutsu. The woman was a true mistress of silent killing and assassination techniques, and it reflected in the jutsu, anatomy lessons and illusory techniques she taught her.

However, the most satisfying portion of her training was the art of kenjutsu; her coordination, speed and flexibility had grown by leaps and bounds as she grew more proficient in using her double kodachi.

Also, she had found herself bastardizing the Serpent-style Anko taught her with her sensei's lightning-fast taijutsu style, the Praying Mantis-style. Her new technique was augmented further by using wrist blades she had specifically ordered and paid to be integrated into her arm guards to strike lethal blows to any foe; oftentimes, while charging the blade with lightning.

The most fundamental change, however, was that she had found it more comfortable to use only one chain around her left arm to supplement her kenjutsu and taijutsu, using it to pull, bind and electrocute an opponent or, in extreme situations, protect her nimble frame from bodily harm.

She simply loved being taught by someone who actually gave a damn if she improved or not! Plus, she had things patiently explained to her, and when she made mistakes, no violence or profanity followed…just astute criticism. She felt herself truly flourishing for the first time in her ninja career.

'Now, I just have to prove myself to the Mizukage,' Sakura cogitated and shuddered. Her sunny smile melted into a cringe as she remembered the last time that woman had summoned her. No matter how she spun it, that woman scared her. She had the creepiest smile, and she bet Mei could seem like the loveliest woman on earth as she kindly told someone she was going to fillet him on a katana.

'Good luck with that! Terumi Mei is more dangerous than even Danzou to our health. She's a lot quicker to lose her temper and far more likely to show her displeasure in the form of physical violence than that old son of a bitch…' her inner voice piped in a sing-song, bemused intonation.

Sakura screened out the annoying voice in her head. She was going to stand on her own two feet and grow strong, and, for the first time since Sasuke's death, she felt a bit less obsessive and impatient about the need to avenge him. It was unlikely Naruto would die any time soon, and she was enjoying the moment!

As she approached her apartment complex, she slowed down a bit. Her eyes suspiciously narrowed, and she bit her lower lip. A young man, clad in ripped and filthy clothes was rummaging through the dumpster outside a nearby building.

She had lived in the area for almost two months, and she had taken note, thanks to her paranoid and overly cautious alter ego, to all the possible security risks in her living vicinity, including homeless people, pickpockets and any foreigners who seemed mistrustful. 'Hmmm…why isn't he looking through the dumpster near the restaurant district? That building houses the blacksmith and craftsman guild…'

The green-eyed nuke-nin shrugged her shoulders.

'I'll keep my eye on him if he keeps on skulking around by later tonight or tomorrow. Right now, I'm late for lunch with Suigetsu and that means he'll eat all my eel sushi again!'