Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but me and my plot bunnies do own the plot, so nuh!

Warnings: Rated M for safety, for whenever I decide to fit in the mini lemon for my sis.

A/N: This chapter took a lil while to come to me. As always, I'm sorry for the lateness of the chapter. Thank you for your support, I love you guys! And I hope you enjoy reading this chapter.

For the days gone by without a single reason, everything changes just like the seasons, but one thing remains the same, for everything good in life there must exist something bad… a yin and yang to keep balance

Sometimes it's better to be ignorant of the bad things in this world rather than to worry about them and wonder if a loved one was only pretending and really has more motives than he lets on. At least, that's what Naruto had been thinking for the hundredth time in two days while watching his father. Arashi seemed innocent enough, but there seemed to be an uncertainty in his aura that's a dangerous omen in itself and Naruto decided that he'd be a fool to ignore that. For now, he would show wisdom in keeping a possible threat as close as he could.

But, you can't always keep an eye on a threat when you're hokage, so he entrusted Jiraiya and Kakashi to do their newly appointed task despite the feelings they have. Jiraiya wanted to believe that his former student was still the good kid he'd been before the Kyuubi came and Kakashi wanted to trust his former sensei. Naruto cautioned both of them by reminding them that Arashi was the one who'd killed two elite Konoha ninja and beat Naruto to capture him for the Akatsuki, so old friend or not, Arashi was still a possible threat until he regained every last memory he'd lost. Kakashi was the first to agree and Jiraiya agreed as well, but more reluctantly.

With Arashi watched, Naruto could safely concentrate on the finer business matters of Konoha and its allies. He checked out mission reports and filled out paperwork, and signed a few hundred papers. Reading one mission report he'd gotten from a genin team leader, Naruto noticed something that had been in a few of the other more recent genin mission reports. Brow furrowing, he grabs up the mission reports that state one little thing that seems simple, but gives him the chilling feeling of impending doom and an enemy other than his father in their midst. Four Jounin instructors were about to have a lot of explaining to do…

With his village in danger, the Rokudaime will not rest until the danger has been found out and eliminated… Even if he himself must play detective with a certain lazy jounin genius…

Sasuke lets out another sigh as he watches Naruto and Shikamaru speak with Hinata, who had blossomed into a really good Jounin. He wasn't sure what they were talking about but lately Naruto's been cranky and brooding even more than Sasuke and it was enough to make the Uchiha worry. Naruto's seriousness was even starting to freak out the children of the village, they stayed far away from him. Even his protege Konohamaru stayed clear of his boss. If Sasuke could catch him he'd point it out to the Uzumaki, but he wasn't about to press his luck. Even Gaara was tip-toeing on eggshells around the blonde. Something big was happening, he could feel it, but what was it? Why was his Dobe being so serious and where did his trademark grin go? Sasuke had even asked Kakashi and Jiraiya if Arashi was doing anything suspicious, but both men said that he was behaving as he should be. It would still be a long time before he fully regained his memories, but he was learning more about himself and his past every day.

He watches as Naruto smiles and says something to Hinata who looks a little terrified and says something back to him that puts the stern frown on his face again. Naruto points over to where Gaara is staying and says something more that Sasuke can't hear, but the intent is clear-- Hinata was to go speak with the Kazekage. Watching Hinata leave with a well hidden curiousity, Sasuke notices that she's smiling a little and Naruto is all smiles again... for the moment at least. With a heavy sigh, Sasuke continues with his chores for the day. It's his turn to buy groceries and tidy up the house before he does guard duty at the gates.

Waiting for a sign to what I feel is near, wishing now the answers laid out before me were more clear..

Naruto looks around the village once more and lets out a soft growl. Beside him, Shikamaru feels that it's time to speak up about his friend's odd behavior and get to the bottom of it. "Naruto you've been acting like a woman PMSing lately. It's so troublesome people are afraid to come near you just to say hello. What's got you so worried you can't hide it with a smile anymore?"

Naruto looks at him and sighs. "Until my father recovers every last memory he's lost Shikamaru, he's still one of the biggest threats to Konoha. The Akatsuki are on the move again but they haven't been seen, so none of the shinobi of the other villages has been able to even vaguely keep track of their movements and on top of that, I have a sneaky suspicion that they're hiding within the walls of Konoha. There's something I've found while looking through the genin teams' mission reports that troubles me. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal because it's something so small, even you wouldn't think twice about it."

Shikamaru raises a brow at him, curious as to why he's worrying about something so small. "Then why are you so worried about it?"

Blue eyes intense, and staring up at the cloudless sky, Naruto answers, "Because every Jounin instructor who wrote it down on their mission reports has explained it in the exact same way, using the exact same words. Now unless they're pooling their reports together and having the same Jounin write the reports, that's a really big red flag that tells me it's not as simple as it seems, nor is it insignificant any longer. The bothersome thing about it all is that what each Jounin describes in at least three of the more recent D-rank missions each team has been on, is something that shouldn't be happening unless they're on C-rank missions."

Shikamaru's eyes widen slightly. "It sounds like one more thing to worry about, but we do need to look out for it. Are you going to call a meeting soon? As troublesome as it is, I think the Jounin and Chuunin need to be told."

Naruto nods a little and looks over at him. "The ANBU and Hunter nin already know, I called their meeting earlier today. Tomorrow a messenger will be sent to all Jounin and Chuunin and they will be told as well. If this means what I think it means, we all need to be ready for another battle that will be coming very soon. The worst part is, I think Arashi is a big part of whatever their planning. He may not know it, but he is and Jiraiya and Kakashi are supposed to be more for his protection than anything. If Itachi brain washed him once, he will do it again and it's easier when a victim does not have a strong hold over their memories and have barely begun to figure out who they really are."

"Troublesome, but I think you're right Naruto. Right now he's an easy target and even with Jiraiya and Kakashi hovering, he's a sitting duck. I have no doubt though, that together, Konoha and her allies will defeat this threat."

With a smile, Naruto agrees softly. "Yeah, we will rise above those who threaten our homes and families and way of life. A few of our allies arrive in two days... I will see you later Shika, I have more work to do and some children to cheer up. Thanks for the talk, I needed it." Shikamaru merely smiles before turning and going his own way. Naruto smiles his usual smile once more and heads to the Academy to speak with Iruka's class about the eternal flame of Konoha that each person carries inside...

Let sleeping dogs lie and shadows keep, their secrets as silent as the dead in eternal sleep..

A/N: hopefully this chapter didn't suck as much as I think it did. I only want you guys to enjoy the story as each chapter comes. I'll try harder to make each chapter as good as I can. As for all my supporters, if you reviewed or did anything I considered as support that's helped me keep this story going, you will be recognized in the last chapter, every single one of you. I love you guys! Review if you've got the time to. See ya next chapter!