Disclaimer: Ok enough with the pretense; everyone knows by now that I own nothing related to Naruto T.T

Through Crimson Eyes: Old Hatreds, Old Wounds.

"I'm home." Hinata called out softly, delicately kicking off her sandals at the entrance of the impressive Hyuuga estate. She stood facing a large well furnished room, the main hall for the Hyuuga mansion. This room, like many others in the building, was incredibly large, too large, a fact which always served to unnerve the timid Hyuuga girl. She signed deeply, her tired body just beginning to relax after so many hours of non-stop worry.

She yawned.

"You're late you know."

Caught completely off guard, Hinata immediately shrieked, leaping nearly five feet off the ground as a small, yet undeniably stern voice, made itself heard from behind her. Whirling around, she came face to face with a younger girl, who came up to only about her waist. Despite the obvious difference in age however, the younger girl carried herself with an air of confidence that seemed to fill the room. Her white eyes locked with Hinata's unflinchingly.

"O-oh, it's you, Hanabi" Hinata stuttered. Mentally she berated herself for, once again, appearing so pathetic in front of her younger sibling.

Hanabi just stared at her for several moments, her white eyes probing. Hinata shifted nervously, her fingers immediately moving up into her classical pose, twiddling her index fingers.

"You went to visit him, didn't you?" Hanabi questioned. Hinata, despite herself, blushed a light pink at her sisters' blatant interrogation.

"H-hai…"

Hanabi merely shrugged her shoulders, as if the whole situation were of only minor interest.

"Hanabi-sama." Another voice called out.

Hanabi sighed shallowly before answering "Hai."

A young woman, probably in her early 20's, came up to the two sisters. She was holding a small robe out, an elegant floral pattern. "It is time for bed, Hanabi-sama. The mistress will be very upset if you stay up any later" The woman stated, her face slightly panicked.

"Ok, ok." Hanabi said dismissively. She turned back to look at her elder sister once more, her gaze softening slightly, before she whipped back around and began to stride down the hall way.

"W-wait, Hanabi!" Hinata called out. Hanabi stopped mid stride, but did not turn around.

"Yes?"

"I-I want to talk with… with father. Do you know where he is?" She asked uncertainly.

Hanabi suddenly tensed for a moment before she replied "He's out…"

A sudden twinge of worry settled in Hinata's stomach. She shook her head and tried to ignore it, but it remained none-the-less. A feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong…

"O-oh, d-do you k-know when he will be b-back?" She asked, her voice breaking more than usual.

"He said he had business with the Hokage, but he said that it should not take too long." She said simply.

"O-oh, I see. Well, g-goodnight." Hinata said softly. She then turned and began walking in the opposite direction, towards her room.

"Sister." Hanabi called out, turning around.

Hinata stopped "Yes…"

There was a moment of strained silence before Hanabi answered "His business involves Naruto."

At her words, Hinatas eyes flew wide open at that, her hands coming to her mouth in shock. "N-Naruto-kun! Fathers after Naruto-kun?"

Noticing her expression, Hanabi gives her sister a sad look. "Just thought you should know." With that, Hanabi walked off down the hall once again, turning the corner before Hinata could collect herself enough to call out to her.

Hanabi continued to walk down the hallway to her own room, her thoughts dwelling on her sister. The expression that she had seen on her sisters' face, that look of complete horror, seemed to settle in her mind. There were so many times that she wished that she could offer comfort to the meek girl, to be there for her. Times when she could hear her muffled sobs from within her room. However, she was being considered as the new Hyuuga heir, and her father had expectations that he wanted her to meet. As she reached her door, she wiped at her eyes once, contemplating going back to her sister. She dismissed it however, knowing how her father would disapprove.

'I hope things work out for you, sister. For your sake.'

Sakura still had not returned home yet, and was still wandering the streets of Konoha. The night was rather warm, with only a slight breeze occasionally teasing her bangs as she wandered about the uninhabited streets almost aimlessly. She had been wandering like this for nearly an hour, trying to quell the unease that she had felt building since she left the hospital nearly an hour ago. Yet the feeling had become worse as time progressed.

Her emerald eyes were cast downward, looking at nothing in particular, her mind flashing endlessly between two distinct figures:

On one side, there was a dark boy. His black hair falling down across his face, expression eternally stony and unreadable. His stance spoke of his silent confidence, bordering on arrogance, and his eyes were calm and serious. It was a vision that had graced her dreams for almost as long as she could remember, a figure which constantly inspired a confusing and exciting blur of emotion.

It was almost distressing to notice the shadow of those emotions were with her still, tugging at her heart, a dull ache like a wound that had been suffered long ago, and had not quite healed over.

On the other side was a shorter boy, his golden hair raised above his head in a spiked mop. Blue eyes glinted mischievously, and an almost fox like grin was plastered on his face…

Fox like grin…

The image shifted subtly, the blue eyes suddenly burning a dark red. The heartwarming smirk turned upward sharply, into a predatory sneer.

Sakura shook herself from her thoughts. The shock of Naruto's 'secret' was still setting in.

'But why am I thinking such things?' She wondered to herself. Naruto was Naruto, she had to believe that. Still she could not shake the image in her mind, him lying on the bed, screaming in anguish. His now bright crimson orbs seeming to burn into everything that he looked at.

Drawing back to reality, Sakura looked upwards to see just where it was that she had wandered to. This area seemed much larger than her part of town, the buildings towering over her. Recognition set in quickly.

"This is close to where Hokage-sama lives." She stated to herself, her face brightening. If there was anyone in Konoha that could help her to resolve her current state of emotional flux, it was Tsunade. She began to sprint, anxious to unburden herself and hopefully find some direction for her wayward thoughts.

"I assume you know why we are here?" A voice floated toward her from the darkness, from the direction of the Hokage's home. It was a voice that she couldn't place, yet the tone was unmistakable. Now that she was focused on the voice, she could hear numerous voices, as if a crowd had gathered. There were numerous angry mutterings, only a few of which she was able to distinguish. Their tone, however, was unmistakable.

Deep inside of her, that uneasy feeling was continuing to get worse.

Making her way forward quietly, she came to a large home, the Hokage's estate, located in the center of Konoha. There in front was a large crowd of people, many dressed in ninja garb, others dressed in street cloths yet bearing various implements. And there, standing in front of them, was a grim looking Tsunade, backed by an equally grim looking Kakashi.

"What is going on?" She whispered to herself.

Tsunade stood defiantly against the large crowd, her face set in determination against the growing dissent. Behind her, Kakashi narrowed his eye, gauging the crowd thoughtfully. His right hand reached up, resting on his head protector covering the Sharingan.

Hiashi regarded the two who stood before him, then shook his head in disappointment. "Now now, there really is no need for such faces you two. We…" He gestured back to the crowd behind him "merely wish to take care of something that should have been dealt with years ago."

Tsunade scowled at that statement, her hands flexing reflexively. After a moment she managed to collect herself enough to put on a false smile. It was a smile that did not even come close to reaching her eyes.

"Deal with? Is that what you call it?" She stated almost cheerfully, her brow twitching spasmodically despite the pleasant expression on her face. Behind her, Kakashi looked more than a little nervous, his eye opened wide as terror set in. He had heard the horror stories of an angry Tsunade from Jiraiya himself, the man who probably drew out that aspect of her more often than anyone else. He knew, from that very reliable source, that there was no greater horror than Tsunade when she was pissed. And right now, she looked highly pissed! He took an involuntary step back.

Hiashi, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed by the Fifths anger, gazing back at her calmly as she wrestled against that overwhelming urge to throttle him. "We have been more than kind to him these past thirteen years, allowing him to stay in our village, even going so far as to allow him to become a shinobi. Such an atrocity should have never been allowed, and yet we allowed it." Hiashi's gaze suddenly turned steely as his own anger bubbled to the surface, along with a long dormant fear. "Yet now the consequence of that kindness is coming back to haunt us. I could feel the power of the Kyuubi as the seal broke, felt it wash over Konoha, and you Hokage, as the defender of this village and its inhabitants, know precisely what that means! He is now a greater threat than ever, and we would be fools if we passed up the opportunity to destroy it now while we have the chance!" Hiashi yelled, coming to stand directly in front of Tsunade as he finished his rant.

"Yeah!" One villager yelled from the crowd.

"It has to die!" Cried another.

"If we don't, it will kill us all! Finish the work it started thirteen years ago!"

"That thing killed my brother, and I want justice!"

All about, the increasing demands for retribution grew amongst the rabble, rippling like a wave amongst them. They began to shout with greater intensity.

Tsunade continue to glare at Hiashi, not backing down. Her almost maniacal grin never wavered, nor did the murderous intent in her eyes. "Do you honestly believe that I would allow such a thing?" She asked sweetly "Is this what the shinobi in Konoha have been reduced to? Reduced to nothing more than a whining, simpering mob!"

"I am warning you Hokage, stand in our way, and we will be forced to deal with you as well. Konoha has no need for a leader who harbors demons!" Hiashi growled, his composure completely broken.

"Nor does Konoha have any use for a mindless rabble!" Tsunade shot back.

"We seek to protect our families and loved ones from the tragedy that occurred all those years ago! Do not seek to judge us for wanting to protect that! You, who abandoned our village could not possibly understand!"

Tsunade was no longer even attempting to hide her anger. Her rage boiling over, she was about to erupt at Hiashi before she caught a hint of movement out of the corner of her eye, from the roof tops just behind the crowd. She smiled inwardly before adopting a defeated expression.

"Very well, you win Hiashi. I do understand your concerns in this matter; I understand the pain that you must still feel at your loss, and the loss that you all have felt." She gestured in the direction of the hospital "You will find him in the hospital in room 2-C" She concluded, her expression sorrowful.

Hiashi was momentarily taken aback at Tsunade's sudden change in attitude, his own anger deflating suddenly. Recovering, he bowed slightly to her, "Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama. I hope that you can forgive my harsh words as well." He then turned to the crowd behind him "The time has come! It is time to finally destroy the monster that has been living in our midst for these many years. The spirits of your loved ones will finally be put to rest!"

The crowd roared their approval before departing, their yells and chants still resounding in the air. Tsunade watched them as they left, a grin spreading across her face.

Kakashi, who had been standing off to the side, gaped at Tsunade, completely aghast. "Hokage, do you know what you have done? They'll kill him!" With that, Kakashi immediately prepared to take to the rooftops. Tsunades hand rested upon his shoulder gently, stopping him short.

"Don't worry, Kakashi. Everything is under control." Tsunade stated calmly, her grin still in place. Kakashi strained against her deceptively light grip before finally relaxing, his shoulders slumping. She gave him a sympathetic look "everything will be fine. There was no need to delay them any more."

Kakshi looked at her, shock clearly evident on his face "Delay them, you mean you were…"

Tsunade nodded as she gazed back in the direction of the departing mob, her eyes distant.

'I'm counting on you Jiraiya…'

"Oh God, I have to warn him!" Sakura said to herself, already shooting off down the alleyway towards the hospital. Her mind was in greater turmoil than ever, her feelings thrown into disarray. She had left just shortly after Tsunade acquiesce to the mob, the apparent betrayal cutting her deep.

'How could she do that to him?' She yelled mentally to herself.

'Hell yeah! What does that bitch thinks she's doin' Inner Sakura raged, her eyes burning, hair waving about dramatically.

She increased her speed, using all of her chakra to hasten her steps. If she could get there in time, she could warn Naruto. Despite her concerns about him, she was sure that Gaara would be able to help too, and right now she was willing to do anything that it took.

"I already lost one teammate! I will not lose another!"

Gaara had been watching him sleep for sometime now, his mind buried in past memories. Naruto's innocent question had sparked a torrent of pent up emotions, the strength of which threatened to consume him. Feelings of fear, of hatred. The faces of the villagers, their wide frightened eyes. The eyes of his siblings, Temari and Kankuro, filled with fear.

He remembered feeling betrayed, unloved, unwanted. His own father thought of him as no more than a mere weapon, then later sought to discard him as a dangerous failure, a mistake which needed to be dealt with.

And yet, the boy who lay before him had suffered the same pains, the same loneliness. He had been cast down, belittled, treated worse than trash. And yet, he had endured.

He had been jealous at first, seeing how he could smile so freely, so openly, despite the aggression leveled against him. After some consideration however, he found that he admired him, his determination, and his defiance in the face of adversity. He was truly strong, where he himself, in his isolation and immersion in his hate, had been weak. Their battle had shown him that.

He was jolted out of his thoughts as Naruto stirred, his head twisting about before his eyes opened, glowing slightly red in the moonlight.

"Mmmnnn, damnit! What the hell is all that noise!" Naruto grumbled sleepily, sitting up in his bed. He grimaced slightly, but the pain was nowhere near as intense as it had been earlier. His ears twitched slightly.

"…Noise?" Gaara questioned.

"Huh, oh hey Gaara, you still here?" Naruto chirped, a large grin spreading across his face. At the red heads nod Naruto took a look out the window "Yeah, there's a real racket out in the city, like a big crowd or something."

"I haven't heard anything" Gaara said.

"Huh? Maybe it's a party!" Naruto yelled, his body shooting forward before he groaned in pain, flopping back against that pillows.

Gaara just stared at him. He couldn't figure out how Naruto had come to that conclusion.

After sighing in disappointment, Naruto crossed his arms grumpily "And here I was hoping for some good party ramen, hmph."

"Ramen…"

"Yeah, the best stuff in the world! Have you ever had ramen?"

Gaara shook his head, his face a mask of bewilderment.

"WHAT! You've never had ramen! Well we'll have to correct that! When I get out of here, I'll take you to the best ramen bar in town! What d'ya say?"

Gaara stared at him for a few more moments before stuttering "… O-okay…"

"YEAH! You'll love it! The guy who runs the bar, I don't remember his name, but anyway he makes this really kick ass miso ramen and…" Naruto stopped short as his ears twitched again. Gaara, now hearing the noise Naruto spoke of earlier, looked out the window, his trademark expression once again set on his face. The two boys then looked at each other, the light mood dissolving into nothingness as worry began to set in. What ever this crowd was, it was certainly not friendly.

"It's getting closer…"

"… Yeah…"

Another sound drew their attention back to the window, to a figure crouched upon the sill. The figure was rather large, that of a slightly overweight man. His white hair was spread out from his head like a wild mane, held back only by a spiked forehead protector. Two stripes ran down from each eye, making him look like something out of a poorly funded Kabuki play.

Jiraiya gave them a small salute, his face splitting into a grin.

"Yo!"

AN: Well, another chapter done. Things are beginning to heat up for Naruto now thatnews of his broken seal has spread, sending a wave of panic and paranoia through the residents of the Hidden Leaf. From here on out, things will definitely get more action packed.

The next chapter should be out very soon, since this chapter is really just one part of a much larger whole. So it should only be a few days for me to go back over the second part before I put it out.

A note to Kenjiro Akisama: Your review was really in depth and well appreciated. In response to your uncertainty regarding Gaara's interest in Naruto, bear in mind the battle between the two of them, something that will be mentioned in story. I think, in that moment when they faced each other for the final blow, that they had each seen something in each other, a kinship. Not to mention that Naruto's new situation is probably a beacon for those who are sensitive to demonic energy. And if you want something a little more concrete, here is a small quote from Naruto Chapter 249:

"Hate, sadness, and even happiness… to be able to share it with another person… Uzumaki Naruto… from fighting with him… I learned that. He knew pain like I did. And then, he taught me that you can change that path."

This just gives an example of the kind of respect that Gaara has for Naruto, even if it's slightly out of context.

Regarding the ptentialOOC-ness for Naruto's development, I can see where one would be concerned, but I will state right now that any dramatic changes in his personality will be purely reactive to events that occur, not so much through the changes that he is experiencing, although that will have some affect as well, and it certainly will not be out of the blue. I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way about overdoing OOC-ness, and that I will endeavor to develop him in a believable manner.

The little interaction between Hinata and Hanabi was done because I really wanted to develop the bittersweet nature of their relationship, something that I feel is often overlooked by many writers. I wanted to demonstrate the strained interaction, and how the gap between them is one that neither truly wants, but are none-the-less seperated by, the ultimate crime of inter-family politics. And yes the mistress the maid spoke of is Hanabis mother, which makes them half-sisters. It's my story after all!

As for the coupling, I have an idea formulated now! And NO I will not tell anyone what it is :P. There will most likely be other pairings as well, some generic, others not. However, there is always the potential for change, so readers are still welcome to send in their preferences. I would also be interested in peoples ideas for couplings other than Naruto/.

As always, thank you to everyone for your support, critiques, and compliments.