Chapter 2

In the forests surrounding Otogakure, five figures moved through the trees. They were moving at a quick pace, only stopping to reinforce their plan. As they landed on the outer trees, they looked upon the entrance of Otogakure. One of the figures, a pink haired girl, clenched their fists as she looked upon the entrance to the underground village.

"Calm yourself, Sakura." came the voice of the masked man beside her.

"But...he is in there, Kakashi-sensei." spoke Sakura.

"You know our mission, Sakura. Naruto is not a priority." spoke Hatake Kakashi, the sensei of Team 7.

As the team began to prepare to infiltrate, they felt a large wave of killer intent come through the entrance of the village. This had even Hatake Kakashi shivering at the killer intent, but they continued on, leaping down into Otogakure and making quick pace. The team of five wandered down the halls, trying to find something that would relate to their mission.

Meanwhile, deeper in Otogakure

"They are here, Lord Orochimaru." spoke a voice from the dark of Orochimaru's chambers.

The snake sannin smiled to himself as he stood up, having finished his own bandages. He looked to the owner of the voice and the smile became a smirk as he looked upon his student and the only child who he thought could even bother to surpass him.

"Go and greet them, Naruto-kun." spoke Orochimaru as Orochimaru left to speak with Kabuto.

Those words were all Uzumaki Naruto needed to hear to leave, taking his time to walk down the hallways. The boy kept his eyes straight as he thought about the upcoming battle that would happen. Yet, he couldn't get a certain pink haired girl off his mind, no matter what. It confused him, and it also angered him. He had tried hard to sever all his ties, and yet the one tie he wanted to destroy the most remained.

As he turned a corner, he heard footsteps and knew that confrontation was about to happen. He continued to walk, as he began to reach the end of the corridor, as five figures turned to enter the corridor he was in. All five came to a stop, eyes widening. His eyes did not widen, simply gaze over the group.

Moments before...

Oto shinobi rushed at the five, but were quickly taken down by the five, as they moved down the dim hallways of the village. All five were steeled for whatever they may find, but Haruno Sakura prayed that they would find Uzumaki Naruto. She knew that Naruto belonged in Konoha, not in the grasp of that bastard snake. She gritted her teeth as she punched an Oto shinobi in the gut, knocking him out cold by the sheer force.

Hatake Kakashi noticed a dead end ahead and motioned for the team to take the next possible left. The shinobi nodded, taking a turn. However, they all came to a halt as a figure stepped into the dim light. All the eyes, except for the figure's eyes widened. Haruno Sakura gasped lightly as she saw who it was. Yet, none of them could believe their eyes.

Now...

Uzumaki Naruto stared, no emotions in his gaze, at his former team. He glanced to Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and finally Hatake Kakashi. He had little curiosity about the pale skinned one, and the other jounin. As he stared, he noticed Sakura taking a step forward, and his eyes met hers.

"Haruno Sakura." spoke Uzumaki Naruto in a surprisingly cold tone.

The tone stopped Sakura, surprised by the tone that came from Naruto's voice.

"Naruto-kun..." spoke Sakura, as she tried to get words out of her mouth, but she could not.

"What brings you to Otogakure, Hatake Kakashi?" spoke Naruto, as he turned his gaze to his former sensei.

"Sorry, Naruto, but I cannot disclose that." spoke Kakashi, as he reached for his headband covering his left eye. He could tell something would happen, and was taking the chance to prepare for a fight.

However, Uchiha Sasuke was the first to attack, forming hand seals, but he never got to finish them as Naruto was right in his face as he began the hand seals. Without any further move, Sasuke was on the ground, coughing and holding his gut. The sheer speed surprised the team, as Naruto turned, moving back to his original spot. He faced the team once more, saying nothing at the moment.

"Naruto-kun...please...come back with us..." pleaded Sakura, her emerald eyes showing concern and 'love' for Naruto.

Naruto shifted his gaze to her, giving her brief hope.

"No." spoke Naruto

"Naruto, please..." pleaded Sakura once more, but this only caused Naruto to laugh a hallow laugh, as he turned away from the team.

"Leave now, Team 7, before I am forced to kill you." spoke Naruto, who began to leave them.

However, Sasuke did not like the attack at all or Naruto's words, and with that he activated a jutsu that Naruto knew too well, and charged him. Naruto came to a stop as Sasuke got closer and thrusted the jutsu forward.

"CHIDORI!" roared Sasuke, as he thrusted the assassination technique forward at Naruto.

Naruto quickly turned and drew his sword. He threw it up to meet Chidori, as he muttered a technique.

"Onipou: Oni no Kage!" were the words muttered by Naruto, as the shadows on the wall, ceiling, and ground shifted.. Chidori went right through Naruto, as if he was a ghost, shocking the entire team. As Naruto sheathed his sword, he shook his head in a disappointed fashion. He turned, only to block Sasuke's taijutsu move for move. He sighed, throwing Sasuke into the wall, only to walk past him.

He heard footsteps and glanced back, only to see Sakura, though with tears in her eyes, flying at him with her right fist ready to hit him. He turned and caught the hand, as she slammed into him. He stared down at her, as she tried to hit him with her left fist. He stopped that too, only watching her cry against his hakama.

"I am not the same Naruto you cared for, Haruno Sakura." spoke Naruto.

"Shut up...I won't believe that." spoke Sakura, with a surprising harshness to her tone. As her tears subsided, she looked up at Naruto with a hardened gaze.

Naruto slowly let go of her fists, which was a bad move as he was caught off guard. Her right fist slammed into his chest, sending him flying through the walls, breaking a hole in a number of them.

Sakura glared ahead as she began to step forward, ready to fight Naruto if she must.

"Sakura, watch out!" yelled Kakashi.

Her eyes widened as she felt someone behind her.

"Bad move, Sakura."

She could barely turn before she was hit by something she could not see.

The last thing she saw was the brightness of blood red eyes.

Glossary:

Onipou: Oni no Kage (Shadow of the Demon) -

A technique used by Uzumaki Naruto, this technique allows Naruto to 'shift' out of the physical world long enough to dodge attacks like Chidori. The technique requires shadows, Naruto's sword, and timing to pull it off. Those with speed could easily get Naruto right as the technique cancels, however in a more advanced form, this technique could give Naruto time to get things ready for one of his higher up techniques.

Author's Notes:

So, the story has started its flow and I love the reviews already. I do plan to go for 1k+ words for each chapter. I intend to reach for 2k+ for a number of the chapters, but those may take a few weeks to get out.

The custom techniques will be spaced out evenly, but I think you all will love the ideas I am putting into Naruto's strength to make up for a major fact: He does not know Rasengan and may never know it. If anyone has ideas on how he may come to learn Rasengan, please send me a message.