Yeah! Everyone seems to like the new version so far. As for pairings, I'm not sure. It was originally SasuNaru, but I'm not sure if I want to keep it that way. If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I make no money from this story.

Panther Chapter II

"What do you mean the village is tainted?" asked Iruka. The village seemed to be fine in his eyes, but he wasn't looking at from the view of one of the suppressed.

"Panther is very close with nature and he was told that this village, no matter how happy it seems, has a smell of hate in it." Kyuubi explained that nature is forever watching and knows the deeper workings of man, then man itself.

Sakura was still shock to see such blue eyes. Only one person ever had eyes that blue, but something was off. They were as blue as the sky, yet these eyes didn't show something in them. What was it? Then it hit her. The eyes were lacking any type of warmth and happiness so accustomed to Naruto. These eyes were as barren as the wastelands far in the north. Looking at them caused her to shiver. No this man could not be Naruto. Maybe he was related to the missing blond.

"Panther-san, are you related to Naruto? I noticed that your eyes are similar in color."

Naruto lifted his head and looked the pink haired woman in the eyes. "No, I'm simply someone he has met. Naruto is a good kid, but needed to drop that mask of his."

"Mask?" asked Iruka. What mask did the shorter male mean?

"Iruka-sensei, over the years I've seen that mask. It covers Naruto-kun's pain and anger. He was always making sure no one knew the real him," said Hinata. She knew why Naruto hid himself. She accidentally overheard about Naruto being a demon vessel, but she didn't hate him. No, he was innocent and couldn't help what had happened to him on the day of his birth.

"I'm sure you're wrong. I mean he couldn't be that good at acting. Naruto has always been a baka." Sakura didn't want to believe that the Naruto she knew those years ago was a lie. No way could the blond have fooled a whole village.

Panther snarled at that and walked out of the restaurant. Naruto hated people like her. They never knew when to stop. Why was he here again?

"Sorry about that. He grew close to Naruto and is very protective of him," said Fox. On the inside Kyuubi was plotting the death of the pink haired one. While making out his plans, the kitsune didn't notice the calculating looks of Neji and Shikamaru. Something was off about the new comers.

/Troublesome…I know him from somewhere. Just where/ The genius will spend the rest of the day and night thinking about the new puzzle that Panther presented.

/His chakra that is present feels familiar. I will find out who he is. No one can stay hidden forever./

After everyone else left to go home or to report to the Hokage, Kyuubi went after Naruto, but a messenger from Tsunade had him summoned to the tower.

Out in the forest Naruto was meditating on the grounds trying to control his anger. No matter how much good he has done, it seemed as though he was always in the wrong.

/Hate is such an ugly word, yet it lives in all of us. I hate people who hate and there are people who hate me for a life I have no control over./

He sighed before smoothly standing up. Night was coming and it was time to train. As one of the 'ghost' shinobi, the blond learned many things from the night; how to be silent, how to not be seen, and how to move like a ghost. Unlike the Nara clan, he and Kyuubi could control even the shadows that are covered by the darkness. No light was ever needed.

The blond's body seemed to have melted into the shadows. No trace of him could be sensed, not even by Akamaru. It was as though he never existed. All of a sudden a tree had exploded from the inside out with what looked like lightning.

"Good as ever kit." Kyuubi had finished his meeting with the Hokage and had searched for his best friend and special person.

"What's up?"

"She wants us to be tested. The council knows that you're back and they aren't too happy." The council was one of the many reasons for Naruto's departure. They were blaming the blond for Sasuke's betrayal of the village. It was always his fault. The anger that was building from the memory was pushed down by his will alone.

/Anger solves nothing. Remember you have a family out there and they will be here soon./

"Fine, then let's give them a show," Naruto said with a small smirk. So the council wanted to test him? They had no idea how strong he had became.

Kyuubi could only laugh out loud. This was the blond he knew. His precious person may hide in the clouds sometimes, but the sun will always win in the end. For the rest of the night the two trained with one another. If anyone watched they would be amazed because they would not able to keep up with them.

The next day the Hokage called in the original Rookie Nine, Gai's old team, all the senseis, and a few others that knew Naruto long ago. In the forest, where the event will be held, they gathered. Some were not informed yet of the impending test, while others were eager to see Panther and Fox in action. The council was also there, but in a secure spot with a good view of the battle grounds.

"I have you here to test the newest additions to our forces. Fox and Panther are requested by the council to show their abilities." Tsunade was not happy. Most of the council actually learned to like the gaki before he left, but still there were others that tried everything in their power to make his life miserable.

"Why so many of us?" asked Sakura. It didn't seem to be a fair fight.

"They are the best and we needed the best to test them," replied Tsunade. She too was going to join in the test. She had not gone against Naruto since he brought her back the village after their first meeting.

"May I also join in this test?" asked another person. Looking to her left Tsuande smiled to see Jiraiya. He still hasn't changed one bit.

Tsuande nodded her head. She knew he wanted to see how strong their 'son' has became. The power didn't ooze off his skin like it did with Kakashi and Sasuke. No, Naruto's powers were much different. They were hidden from them all and that type of power was much more dangerous.

"Where are Panther and Fox?" asked a council member. They were eager to see the vessel lose.

Unsure what to say Tsunade could only look around and hope that the two showed up soon or the council will try another tactic on them. Before another second went by two shadows seemed to have swirl out of the trees. They converged into the middle of the group and formed the bodies of the two late shinobis.

"Ah, sorry I was hungry," said Fox with a big toothy grin.

"Then lets begin," said Tsunade.

Sasuke and Kakashi began with the famous katon jutsu. The fire dragon headed towards the two unmoving figures. Tsunade held her breath when she saw the flames hit, but then had a confused look. Where were they?

"Really do you think that could have stopped us?" asked a voice with laughter. The mocking laughter bounced off the trees causing the testers to go on high alert. No one could sense them. It was like they were there.

Suddenly Hinata and Sakura screamed. Turning around and everyone found them stuck halfway into the trees' barks. It was like the jutsu Kakashi once used on Sasuke, but instead of into the ground they went into the trees.

Another sound had the group turning again. The shadow user Shikamaru and his best friend Choji were knocked out and hanging upside down.

"When did they have time to set up traps?" asked Ino.

"They couldn't have," said Kurenai-sensei.

A signal was given for everyone to spread out. Maybe then they could make a move against the two that were hidden from them. It would have worked, but it also caused people to lose sight of one another.

A prison of earth and stone soon surrounded Asuma, Ino, and Kurenai. Kakashi thought that maybe the two were unground and jumped into a nearby tree. He unveiled his Sharingan, along with Sasuke. Neji decided to use his Byakugen and search for the chakra signals. All three blood line limits could not pick up a trace of Fox and Panther. That was impossible!

Lee and Gai-sensei were nearby when a swirl of wind threw them back and the trees seemed to have sucked them into the barks like Hinata and Sakura.

"Gai-sensei, their youth is great for them to beat us so easily!" exclaimed Lee.

"Hai, their spring time of youth is indeed great!"

Everyone ignored the two in favor of protecting themselves. Kiba and Akamaru were in their beast forms and ready to attack, but sadly it was too late. By the time they sensed any movements the two were knocked out by an exploding tag.

"Kakashi-sensei, I can't find them anywhere," said Sasuke. The Uchiha was not happy. These two were powerful, maybe even more so then Itachi. Jealousy was boiling in his blood. How is it that there is always someone he can't beat?

/No, I will become stronger and I will beat Itachi. Then Naruto, I'm coming to bring you home this time./

Kakashi couldn't reply since he was now trapped in a maze of nin wires. One move could trig a trap and for some reason he could not use his chakra to get out. Those two could also mess with your chakra?

/Interesting…how strong are they/

Sasuke was not sure what to do. How do you beat an unseen enemy. Normally you force them out into the open. Yet, these two were different. They were everywhere and no where.

"Hn, I'll beat them." He jumped up into a tree and surveyed the area to find the best counter measure in fighting the ghost shinobi.

"Oh, really? Can you stop the wind then?" asked a mocking voice.

Sasuke was soon caught in a wind, but unlike the one that hit Gai-sensei and Lee he was trapped in the eye of storm. The storm reminded him of Naruto's Rasengan. It could cut you to pieces if you touched it.

All who were left were Tsunade and Jiraiya. The two sannin smiled because their 'son' was indeed very powerful.

"Come out you two and fight us head on," called Tsunade with an amused glint in her. For those that were still awake and could see the field were surprised to see the two figures merging right in front of the two sannin. The reason for the shock was they didn't use shadows. Oh no, instead it was like watching angels descend from the sky. Light had filtered in and they had appeared.

"Tsunade-hime, I'm sure you and Jiraiya-sama would like to test him on his own. I'll wait and guard our prisoners," said Fox with a grin. He knew both 'mother' and 'father' wanted to see the strength of their 'son.'

"Let's dance, kaa-san, otosan." The whispered challenge was only heard by four people. It was a way for the blond male to show that he has grown and wanting to make his parents proud of him.

Tsunade stomped the ground with a chakra filled kick causing a small quake. Panther merely jumped up into the air and landed without a sound. He moved with the same grace as the animal he was named after. Each of his movements was deliberate and smooth. He danced around his kaa-san and not once was touched. Tsunade was proud to see how much her son grew. He was truly fit to be the Rokudaime.

Panther once again avoided a chakra filled punch and smoothly went in for the stopping blow. He pushed on the point in her neck and put Tsunade out cold. While to some it looked easy, it wasn't at all. He needed to wear her down in order to get under her guard. Tsunade wasn't sannin for nothing.

Jiraiya gave his son a toothy smile. It was rare for anyone to be able to beat Tsunade.

"Well, let's see what else you have learned on your journey." Jiraiya powered up a Rasengan in his hand and ran full speed towards the younger male. Naruto stood and assessed how much power he needed to use.

/Kit, just hold back at least two thirds of your power. Wouldn't want to hurt him./

Naruto closed his eyes for a sec and reopened. It was time to show the council one of his stronger techniques. The light that did filter in from the canopy of trees began to dance. The light swirled around the younger male and caused people to blink. The intensity of the light grew so strong that it blinded many for a bit. Opening up their eyes again they found an astonishing sight. Jiraiya, the Toad Sannin, was captured within the light. If he touched it he might be burned.

"Oi, what is this thing?" asked the older male.

"That is Panther's Heaven's Charge. It uses the light of the sun or moon and creates a prison that comes from the Heaven's itself. No one can escape it."

Jiraiya was impressed. This jutsu was powerful and both good in offense and defense. It kept the enemy from getting towards you and it had an attack within itself.

Sasuke was surprised because he couldn't copy that technique. It was like the Rasengan. The Sharingan was useless it seemed against an opponent like Fox and Panther.

The group was awaken or released at the end of the test. The council had no choice, but let Naruto and Kyuubi rejoin Konoha as one of their shinobi. An account of the test was given to those who missed it because of being unconscious or trapped too far away to see it.

"Where did you learn those from?" asked Kiba. To be able to be the elite of Konoha meant those two had to go through some intense training.

"That is a secret Kiba-san," said Fox. Kyuubi was happy for Naruto. He trained the hardest out of the two, so it was fitting that his secrets stayed secrets.

Neji and Shikamaru noticed that not once did the Panther ever use his sword. In fact he only used one kunai during the whole test. The rest was either ninjutsu or taijutsu. He and Fox did set up traps, but that was it.

"How come you didn't use your sword?" asked Neji.

"I only use it in the most extreme of cases," said the quiet Panther. He wanted to get away from the group and meditate in the forest.

"What do you consider extreme?" asked Sakura. The pink haired girl was still sure she knew him. He couldn't be Naruto baka, since there are no whisker marks and the other male was quiet. She never could imagine a quiet Naruto.

"Extreme would be like facing off with a shinobi army the size of Konoha," answered Fox for his partner.

This answering for Panther hadn't gone unnoticed by a few. They hoped that they didn't have another Uchiha on their hands. One was bad enough. Fox though did say that Panther wasn't one to talk much. Plus he didn't give off the air of arrogance like Sasuke or even Neji.

/They will be here tonight kit. Make sure to tell Tsunade about our friends coming./

/I already have. She is extremely happy. I feel like a girl bring home her boyfriend for her parents to inspect./ Though he didn't seem it Naruto was happy. The rest of his 'family' will finally be here with him.

The once shunned and tormented boy was in peace now. His family was almost with him. Each were precious to him, but none more so then Kyuubi.

TBC

No, I am still not sure if there is pairing in here. Some one did request a Kyu/Naru relationship, but I probably won't have one. As for Oc/Naru, I really don't like them that much. ONLY if they are written extremely well. Please Read and Review!