I don't not own Naruto or anything else created by Masashi Kishimoto.

"Hey gaki quit laying down on the job. Tsunade would unman me if she found out I let you sleep while she is worrying herself into a drunken stupor."

Regaining consciousness Naruto blinked wearily at the strange talking blur of white, red, and green. "Huh? Ero-sennin what're you doing here?"

"Looking for you. When your team returned to Konoha with the news that you gotten captured by Akatsuki she sent everyone she could out looking for you."

"In other words she only sent you cause the council wouldn't let her send anyone else, but they couldn't stop you."

Sheepishly Jiraiya replied, "Uh yeah actually that's exactly what happened."

"So just where are we Ero-sennin?"

"Well actually we're in Bird Country. This area used to be a cave, but from reports it blew up about three days ago. I'm guessing that was your doing."

"Yea! I took out all of Akatsuki!" 'Probably shouldn't tell him I also released all the Bijuu they had.'

"Oh really and just how did you manage that when you were their prisoner?"

"Easy. Kyuubi helped!"

"Gaki they wouldn't have been able to capture you at all if you could overwhelm them with Kyuubi's chakra so throughly that you didn't get seriously injured."

"No no no not the fox's chakra the fox itself." Revealing the tattoo Naruto said, "See this mark allows me to do all sorts of cool tricks. That includes releasing a wave of power that destroys anything it hits."

Looking wise and serious Jiraiya looks into Naruto's eyes and says, "There is no way the Kyuubi would give you something that powerful unless it had a cost, has the fox told you the cost or do you not know."

"Well there is a small cost."

"You can tell me what it is Naruto, after all worse case scenario you just can never use it again."

"Do you swear not to tell anyone?"

"Yes."

"Not even Tsunade-baa-chan?"

"Well..."

"If you can't promise me I'm not telling you."

"Fine I promise, but only on the condition that there is nothing she can do about it even if she knows."

"Deal. Okay so the biggest and most important down sides to the mark are that I can't control what it affects yet and that it turns me into a demon the more a use it."

"Well the first one isn't a problem, but the turning into Kyuubi one is. Now I'm..."

"Ero-sennin! I never said it would turn me into Kyuubi!"

"You didn't? I could've sworn I heard something about turning into a demon..."

"Yeah a demon not Kyuubi itself."

"Well what demon are you going to turn into if the mark doesn't turn you into Kyuubi?"

"Me."

"Me? I don't know of any demons called me."

"No that's not the demon's name that is what demon it'll turn me into. A demon version of me."

"So the mark simply destroys indiscriminately when used and slowly makes you a demon?"

"Yea."

"Well... that actually doesn't sound like too bad of a deal from the Kyuubi, but still try not to use it unless you have no other choice. And if anyone asks about the mark just say you thought that the design would make for a cool tattoo or something."

"That's pretty much what I was going to do anyway. Now can we get back to Konoha I miss Sakura-chan."

"Sure, but don't you wanna stop off in Suna since it's on the way?"

"Nah don't want to distract Gaara from that paperwork he enjoys so much!" Rushing off back towards Konoha while thinking on the conversation with Jiraiya Naruto decided it was a good idea not to mention the bit about being Kyuubi's servant. After all it's not like he'd have to do anything he wouldn't normally... right?

At the gate the two returning shinobi were held up by the guards. "Naruto you really did it this time. I mean getting captured by Akatsuki? Do you actually try to cause as much trouble as you can or is it a strange coincidence that importantly troublesome events that occur closely involve you?"

"Eh-heh-heh I guess I'm just lucky like that Shikamaru."

"Gah Naruto you had everybody worried with that stunt of yours! I mean really you go and try to fight off two S-class missing nins on your own just so that the team of Jounin with you can return to Konoha safely."

"But Ino-chan its not like those three would've been any help in holding off Itachi or Kisame. At least by sending them to Konoha I had a chance for them to get reinforcements to come and help."

"You baka Konoha was two days travel from there. By the time they got reinforcements and returned you could've been killed or worse. Which is exactly what happened!"

"Look I'd hate to break up the lovely couples reunion, but Naruto and I really need to go report to Hokage-sama."

"Yeah yeah hurry it up will you Jiraiya-sama I'm not sure hold long I can hold Ino back."

"See-ya Shikamaru, Ino-chan."

"Oh Shika-kun. Just why would you need to hold me back from showing the great Jiraiya-sama my appreciation at returning Naruto-kun to us?"

Looking between the quickly fleeing Sannin and apprentice and the blonde before him Shikamaru could only think of replying with, "Troublesome woman." Unfortunately that wasn't the right answer and he later regained consciousness in the middle of the village wearing a bright pink dress with the a sign reading, "Will do any work for free! Ignore all complaints." Attached to his back with chakra.

Outside of the Hokage's office said Sannin and his apprentice were trying to decide who would go in first. "Okay now on the count of three. One. Two. Three."

"Ha-ha I win Ero-sennin! Scissors beats paper now get in there and report to Baa-chan. I'm heading to Ichiraku's."

"Oh come on. Isn't it best two out of three?"

"Actually it was eleven out of twenty and I won all twenty times. Now get in there and face her like a man."

Being pushed towards the door Jiraiya played his last card, "If I'm going in there I'm taking you with me Naruto." And thus he grabbed the twenty-one year-old Jounin ninja of the leaf and began to drag him kicking and screaming into the Hokage's office.

"Nooooo lemme go Ero-sennin she'll kill me for this! You gotta let me go if she doesn't beat me to death for letting myself get captured she'll hug me till I suffocate!"

"Shut up brat you say that like it's a bad way to go or something. Have you learned nothing from me as my apprentice?"

"The point is I didn't escape Akatsuki just to die here!"

"Too late we're already in her office."

"Na-ru-to. Just what were you thinking?"

Getting out of the pervert's grip Naruto bravely turned around to the source of the falsely sweet voice he heard. "Hey Baa-chan I just thought that I could take out Akatsuki from the inside." 'Yeah I'm sure she'll buy that one. That excuse was almost as bad as one of Kakashi's.'

"Oh really and just how did this mission go Naruto?"

Trying to hide behind Jiraiya Naruto replied, "Complete success all known and unknown members of the Akatsuki organization are dead."

"Jiraiya is this true?"

"Um which part?"

Glaring at the two who were stalling while trying to sneak out the window she said, "All of it, now sit down or else."

Now truly frightened the two shinobi quickly sat in the chairs in front of her desk where at least the paperwork would shield them from her glare. "I found no traces of any Akatsuki members at Naruto's location, but I also only found scattered pebbles remaining from the cave that was supposed to be there."

"So you two are telling me that Uzumaki Naruto came up with a plan to infiltrate the akatsuki by being captured so that he could destroy them while they tried to extract the Kyuubi from him, and then succeeded in this self appointed mission so well that there wasn't even enough left of them for identification?"

"Well Baa-chan when you put it that way of course it sounds unbelievable."

"I'm not going to get any other story from you two am I?" Looking over the paperwork at their shaking heads she just sighed and said, "Fine I'll accept that for now, but I'm not telling anyone about it just in case you made it up. Now Naruto I want you to report to the hospital for a post-mission check-up. I know you've probably healed from any injuries you obtained, but I want to make sure. Besides Sakura is on duty at the hospital right now which means you were going to be going there anyway. If you are approved for duty by the medical staff report to my office tomorrow for your next assignment. Dismissed."

Watching Naruto rush off to the hospital Jiraiya stayed in behind to speak with Tsunade alone. "Tsunade I'm not sure about the self-appointed mission bit and he hardly pulled it off without problems, but I think the part about Akatsuki being wiped out was true. In order to escape capture the Kyuubi apparently put some kind of demonic seal on him. He told me some of its effects and none of them seem that bad, but I can't help but think he knew more about it than he said."

Pulling out some sake Tsunade sighed then said, "He would tell us if there was anything dangerous about it. Even if he didn't if it is doing anything harmful to him they should be able to tell at the hospital. Now if that's all there is to report how about we celebrate your return with Naruto by getting drunk?"

In an examination room Naruto is suffering through his checkup by Sakura. "Sakura-chan you know that if I'm conscious when I come in here I'm fine so why can't you just write down that I'm fit for duty?"

"Because Naruto its my job to make sure that you are in fact fit for duty and you aren't exactly known for resting when you need to. Now stop squirming and this will go faster."

Pouting at his treatment Naruto decided to see what had happened while he was gone. "Ne Sakura-chan what happened while I was away?"

"Well as you saw when you came in Ino and Shikamaru have been stuck with guard duty for the next few weeks after they helped Shizune keep Tsunade-shishou awake and sober at work for a whole week." Being interrupted by Naruto's laughter she said, "Naruto hold still or I'll never be able to finish this. So anyways Gai-san and his team are still on that long term mission to find out how Oto is doing after Akatsuki's assault on Orochimaru. No one has seen Hinata in about a week due to some Hyuuga thing that is going on. Kurenai was finally sent on a mission outside of Fire Country. She is on mission to wave along with Kiba and Chouji. Finally Shino is busying getting his Genin team ready for the upcoming Chuunin exams. And that would be it, also you're free to go I'm done with the checkup and your fine."

"Thanks Sakura-chan!"

"By the way Naruto, when did you get the tattoo?"

"Huh? Oh you mean the fox? I got it after taking out Akatsuki!"

"Yeah right Naruto. If you don't want to tell me just say so no need to make up excuses like Kakashi-sensei."

"Eh yeah right. Well bye Sakura-chan!" Leaving the hospital to go to Ichiraku's Naruto can't help but think, 'Guess I don't have to worry about keeping it a secret if not even Sakura believes me about Akatsuki. Wonder what kind of mission Baa-chan has for me. And what kind of favor could the fox want from the other Bijuu. Dammit this mess is making me think to much! I'll just get ramen, sleep, and then get that mission first thing in the morning.'

"Wake up Tsunade-baa-chan I'm here for my mission not to watch you nap!"

Hitting him in the head Tsunade replied with, "Dammit Naruto stop calling me that, and just what the hell are you doing here this early the sun's barely even up!"

"Well I'm bored mostly I can't really train on my own to become Hokage anymore and nobody I can spar against is awake or even in the village."

Releasing a long suffering sigh at Naruto's antics Tsunade wearily says, "Naruto are you ever going to grow up? Never mind I'm afraid of the answer. Anyway I do have a mission for you and you in particular. It's an S-rank mission from the Kazekage and he specifically requested you and Jiraiya. Due to the lack of details and the missions rank I'm going to send Sakura and Kakashi with you two. Got it?"

"Yeah, so can I go get them now?"

"No, Naruto let Jiraiya and Sakura wake up on their own, once Sakura reports to me for work I'll have the two of you track down Jiraiya and Kakashi."

"Alright, but if I'm going to be waiting on them can I at least train from the forbidden scroll?"

"Naruto how many times have I told you that I'm not letting you read that scroll again so long as I'm Hokage?"

"I lost count around 1,056,348,912,700 times."

"You actually counted? Whatever if it was that many times why do you keep asking!? Now get out of here and go bug someone else for a change!"

As he walked out of the Hokage's office Naruto heard a dark voice speak to him. 'Go to the training grounds servant.'

Shocked Naruto recognized it as, 'Kyuubi!'

'Correct now do as I say servant.'

Figuring that following orders from the fox was better than boredom at the moment he set off to the training grounds and only asked the fox, 'How are you talking to me right now?'

'The mark lets me communicate with you no matter what separates us.'

'Alright here we are now what?'

'Now you are going to meditate so I can draw you in here easier. It is less trouble to talk to you face-to-face.'

Cursing the fox under his breath Naruto gets into a meditation pose not unlike Shikamaru's thinking pose. 'Well fox when are you gonna draw me into your prison?'

"I already have servant now open your eyes and listen up. If you meet Shukaku on this mission don't under any circumstances use the mark. Not only would it not affect Shukaku. Unless there was something else around for it to affect it would kill you."

"Uh-huh is there anything I didn't know that you want to tell me?"

Growling at his servant the Kyuubi simply said, "Yes actually. In the interest of you not getting killed by more skilled opponents I want you to see if you can track down the ruins of a city I destroyed a few centuries back. It was located in what is now Wind Country somewhere in the western reaches of the desert I believe. If you can find the ruins look through them for any weaponry or information on their weapons and techniques to take for your use."

"Why?"

"Because they had weapons and techniques that even managed to hurt me when I was destroying their city. Now go see if your teammates are ready to go yet, if not make them ready you've wasted enough time."

"Yeah I'm going you damned fox." Returning to the outside world Naruto found himself still alone in the middle of the training grounds. Looking at the position of the sun he realized the fox had kept him for a few hours, and so he went straight to Tsunade's office expecting the others to already be there. He was unfortunately right.

"Hm. Naruto I thought I was the one who was always late."

"Well I at least have a good excuse!"

"Oh and what is it?"

"I was meditating."

"Naruto! That excuse might be good for someone else, but there is no way anyone would believe you were meditating!"

Closing the new book Jiraiya had given him Kakashi commented, "She's right that was a pretty bad excuse even by my standards."

"Fine! Whatever I'm here now so can we go already."

Looking to Tsunade for her approval Jiraiya said, "We're all ready to go Naruto you were the only thing we were waiting on so... yes we can go now."

Rushing out Naruto said, "Hurry up then! We're running late!"

Giving a communal sigh of defeat the other three followed.