Naruto sat in the Hokage's office not making eye contact with anyone. Tsunade was sitting behind her desk as Gaara and his siblings stood in front. Tsunade massaged her head as she thought over what she had just heard. She sighed, "I'm sorry Kazakage-sama, things are not the same as they are in your land. Here, Naruto is seen as a hindrance not a shinobi."

Gaara scowled, "Then the people of your village are foolish. They fail to see that Uzumaki has saved them many times from many threats, myself included."

"I realize that. But the villagers see him the Kyuubi not a vessel of it."

Naruto kept his eyes on the ground. He had gotten used to the mistreatment. He had gotten used to the threats. He had even learned to live with the hateful looks. But what he saw today had broken him. Sakura had looked at him with fear in her eyes. The most valuable person in his life was terrified of him. He knew he really had no other choice: he had to leave the Leaf for good. He cleared his voice, "Tsunade ba-chan? I need to ask you for a favor."

Tsunade decided to let go of the disrespectful remark, "What is it?"

Naruto looked up to her with pleading eyes, "Allow me to leave The Leaf."

The room was silent.

"Ero-sennin does it. Just let me be a hermit like him."

Tsunade kept her gaze on him, "I don't think that is necessary. This is nothing new for you-"

Naruto tried his best to hide his shame. "Sakura knows." For the first time in his life, he was truly ashamed of what he was. He had been sorry but never ashamed. "I failed bringing back Sasuke. I broke my promise. She'll never forgive me for this one."

"What about your dream to become Hokage?"

Naruto stood walking over to the window looking out, "I'm starting to think that no matter how strong I am I will never be accepted. If I become Hokage, the village would enter civil war. To live out my wish with knowing that, it would be selfish of me."

Tsunade bowed her head, Has he really become this broken?

Gaara cleared his voice, "I have a suggestion."

Tsunade and Naruto turned to Gaara.

"There have been rumors of an uprising east of our village. I have sent numerous scouts but none have returned. I need someone to help lead a group to gather information about the enemy."

Tsunade seemed to think this over.

"Must I remind you that we aided you when the Uchiha first left the village. I simply ask for your assistance in return."

Naruto looked at his friend, "You want me to come?"

Gaara nodded.

"I'll take it."

Tsunade pounded her fist on her desk, "You forget that I give the orders around here blondie! And I say you stay here until you have a clean bill of health. And then I may consider sending you to help The Sand."

Naruto took a deep breathe, "Approve it or not, I'm leaving tonight. All that changes is will I leave as a Shinobi of the Leaf, or will I leave as a missing-nin."

The two gazes met. Both were stubborn and used to getting their ways. Both didn't know how to back down. After a few minutes Naruto started out of the room.

"I DIDN'T APPROVE IT!" yelled Tsunade.

Naruto sighed, "Then I better take one last look at the village." He then continued to the door.

Tsunade's gaze met Gaara's, "He's like a brother to me. If he gets hurt, that will deathly injure our countries' relations."

Gaara bowed, "Uzumaki would not do anything as foolish as to die."

Tsunade nodded, "I am trusting this village's future to you."

"And I am grateful for it." Gaara then motioned to his siblings as they started for the door.

Tsunade bowed her head, "SHIZUNE!"

---Later that day---

Naruto stood at the monument of shinobi killed in action. He smirked slightly, "I never understood why Kakashi-sensei did this till now."

A chuckle was heard. The famous copy ninja made his presence known, "Everything has come full circle. Obito would have a good laugh at this." He stopped in front of the monument the traced the name of his former team mate.

"Obito?"

Kakashi looked at his student. He touched his forehead protector that covered his eye, "The one who gave me this."

Naruto then turned back to the stone, "Sasuke's name will be added in a few days. Could you please come by every now and then and check on him?"

Kakashi nodded.

Naruto picked up the pack that he had placed next to the stone and started towards the gate.

"You know Hokage approved your mission. When you come back, you will get a hero's welcome."

Naruto looked at him and gave him a solemn smile, "Thanks, but I'll never be a hero to this village." He then continued on his path. He then stopped, "I have one more favor to ask of you."

"Name it."

Naruto clenched his fist as he tried to hold back the tears, "Tell Sakura it's still okay if she hates me now." He then started for the gate.

---At the Gate---

Naruto arrived about 10 minutes after his conversation with Kakashi. Gaara and his siblings stood waiting for him. He took a deep breathe and smiled, "I just got back and I'm already leaving." He took a look at the village, "The older I get the more I keep leaving this place behind."

He turned to leave and was met with a poof of smoke. Jiraiya stood in front of him.

"Ero-sennin! Are you coming with us?"

The old man shook his head, "I just came to give you a message from Tsunade." He put his hand on his student's shoulder, "You better not die. Because if you do, you will be a disgrace to the name of sannin."

"S-Sannin?" stuttered Naruto.