Have any of you noticed a pattern? No, not the fact that I've posted three days in a row. The fact that I've said the word revised in some form, shape, or fashion at the beginning of every chapter. I don't know why, but I guess it's just habit for this story. A constant reminder that this story has been done before, but I had to take it down for several reasons. Ah well, next chapter will be the last time I say the word anyway, because it's the end of the first plot. Now, onto the revision!

Chapter 8: Beginning of the end

Naruto walked away from the three feeling sick. He walked for about five minutes before jumping into a tree for a short break.

'Damn…I didn't know I would go that far…'

"I told you years ago that my chakra has a very large influence on your morality, human."

'Hey…if you know that then why are you still mad?'

"There are some lines that are just not meant to be crossed." The Kyuubi stated coldly and then cut off the chat with him.

Naruto sighed. Maybe he did cross the line when he said that to the Kyuubi, but he didn't want to admit it. Sooner or later, they would have to talk about the Kyuubi's secret anyway.

Naruto looked down from the tree and saw a cave several yards away. His evil smile returned as he jumped from the tree and sprinted to the cave. The cave was pitch black but Naruto's senses were at their peak. He stopped when he realized that the cave had stairs leading deep underground. He tried to feel any signs of chakra near him but all he could feel were the ones wafting from below him.

He began to run down the stairs again and this time he didn't stop. When he hit the bottom he automatically did a rasengan. He burst into a hall and smashed the attack into several shinobi. They were killed instantly. He looked around and saw that he was surrounded by ninja.

"Oh boy. Here we go again."

In the village…

Tsunade sat at her desk with her chin in her hands. A look of pure anguish in her eyes were reflecting off of each of her nails as she stared into the bright nail polish. Ino sat on the couch thinking about Naruto as everyone else in the village went on with their normal lives. Tsunade had told the village that the crisis was over and was to be forgotten. After talking with the council, and informing them of Naruto's banishment, they had returned to the office as if nothing had every happened.

But the tension betrayed them.

No one dared twitch, fearing that they would all breakdown. The silence filled office was depressing enough, voicing out the problem wouldn't do anyone any good at all. And worse, Tsunade was still debating on how to inform the rest of Naruto's friends, namely, Hinata. As the silence could not last, Ino finally spoke.

"Tsunade-sama, you can pull some strings for Naruto can't you?" She cried out.

"You felt it too?" Ino was confused at the question at first.

"Felt what?"

"Ino, you're not stupid. You felt the evil Naruto was emitting when he hugged you too, didn't you?"

She hesitated. She had felt it. But she felt something else also. She couldn't tell what the something was but she knew there was something else.

"I felt the evil but it went away."

"Don't lie to yourself. I don't want to believe it any more than you do, but you need to face the facts. Naruto has been corrupted by evil and there is not a damn thing we can do about it. I was foolish to let him go. He's probably never coming-"

"NO!"

Ino jumped up. She clenched her fist. "Don't say it. Forgive me but you're wrong Lady Hokage. He…he promised me. He promised that he'd come back. I know he'll never go back on his words."

Tsunade failed to here the meaning between her words and made her own outburst.

"What does it matter?! The moment he sets Sasuke's body down, the Anbu have been ordered to capture him for an execution. Naruto has by far crossed the line and he will be dealt with no matter what."

Ino began to sob. "Why? How could you?"

Tsunade looked at Ino with tears in her own eyes. "He wanted me too."

At the hospital…

Kurenai sat next to Kakashi. He was in critical condition and she didn't even know if he could hear her. Regardless, she felt the need to speak to the silver haired jounin. To express all the emotions that were throwing themselves into her mind, forcing them from her mouth. At least, trying, as all she could do was ask the only question that would escape her lips.

"Why'd you do it?"

He lay there with the beep of his heart monitor being the only thing that told her that he was alive. His mask had been removed, and a pitch black breathing tube covered his face.

"Why'd you kiss me? What was the point? The famous copy cat ninja wouldn't love some background ninja like me." She laid her hand over his.

"Please wake up. I want us to make something of that kiss. I want to know what you felt for me. Don't die on me."

A nurse walked in and told Shizune that she had to leave. She reluctantly stood and walked out of the room. She looked around and saw that the hospital was much busier than any other time and stopped a passing nin.

"What's going on?"

"The top floor has been isolated for one patient. We are crowded down here."

"Why? Who's the patient?"

"Haruno Sakura."

'Solitary confinement? They went the whole nine yards for this one.'

"What's her condition?" Kurenai asked, hoping to hear something bad. When something bad was said, she almost gasped.

"She was in critical condition for the majority of the day. Right now we have several surgeons working with her. Her vocal cords have been severally damaged. We're not sure if she'll be able to speak again."

"What? How'd that happen?" Kurenai asked, actually feeling a little sympathy for the girl.

"Well, what one of the doctors said is that Hinata Hyuga did it. She attacked Ms. Haruno for some reason." The nurse must not have known about the events that took place.

'Hinata? Well, looks like she's not as shy as I thought she was…'

Somewhere else in the hospital…

Shikamaru walked solemnly towards room 23B. His head down, and hands in his pockets, he constantly tried to shake away the bullshit he had heard from Sakura earlier that day, but time wasn't enough to make the thoughts go away. He got back at her though. He had told Hinata of everything that had happened, and knew that Hinata wouldn't stand for it. He was right too. As soon as he returned to the hospital, he found Neji carrying Hinata out, seeming to have cried herself to sleep. Once inside, he found out that Sakura was in critical condition and would be dead if Neji hadn't gotten a nurse.

'Damn that Hyuga…' Shikamaru thought, holding no ill will to Neji, but finding it sad that he saved the kunoichi.

Getting past this thought, he decided to focus on the reason he was at the hospital again that day. Subaku no Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna, had been brought in after a run in with Konoha's sunshine ninja. Of course, he was worried about Gaara, seeing as they could be considered distant friends, close associates, but there was a certain sandy blonde he was on his way to see as well. The only regret he had was that said blonde wouldn't be ready to give him that beautiful smile she always did. That smile always made him feel better, even when he didn't want to be bothered. As he reached the room, he heard talking on the other side. He wasn't one to eavesdrop, but when he heard his teammate in the conversation, decided to steal a page from his mothers book for once.

"Why? There's no other way?" The muffled voice of a male, most likely Kankurou called out.

"That's what she said isn't it?" A voice Shikamaru knew well. Temari was most likely scolding Kankurou at that point.

"I…I know it's asking a lot…but please, that's the only thing I can think of right now." Ino said. She sounded like she had been crying, and was begging for something from the two sand siblings. Silence filled the room for a few seconds, only being broken by a sigh.

"I don't know…this will be up to Gaara when he wakes up. He's the Kazekage." Temari said dejectedly.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Came Ino's voice. With that, the door opened wide, in which Shikamaru pretended that he had just walked up.

"Er…how's it going?" He asked monotonously. Ino looked up at him wide eyed. Then she smiled sadly.

"Hey Shikamaru-nii-san. Are you here to see Gaara too?" She asked, somewhat rigidly.

"Yeah, JUST to see Gaara." Kankurou teased, earning him a hard elbow to his stomach by the sandy blonde.

"Hello, Shika-kun." Temari greeted with the warm smile Shikamaru wasn't expecting that day. He smiled back at her, but frowned once he saw the bed in which Gaara occupied. Temari followed his gaze to the bed. Gaara looked downright horrible. His shirt off, he lay in nothing but his pants. But he looked like he had taken all three of the Akimichi food pills.

"Don't worry, he only passed out from chakra exhaustion. He's recovering quickly because of…well, you know." She said, almost whispering the last part. Shikamaru nodded and entered the room, as Ino left. Kankurou stood by the window, eyes lingering over his little brother. Shikamaru sat next to Temari, who upon habit grabbed his hand and held it between hers on her lap.

"Hey, Shika-kun? What's Ino's relationship with Naruto-san?" Temari asked, eyes never leaving Gaara.

Shikamaru sighed. "As far as I know, she loves him…"

"And Hinata?" She asked, now facing him.

Shikamaru rose an eyebrow. What exactly had Ino asked her?

"She…feels the same way I guess."

'Hmm…' Was her reply as she once again began to look over her little brother. Then she turned towards Shikamaru and kissed him.

"Okay…what was that for?" He asked, a slight blush on his face from the sudden display of affection.

"No reason. I just felt like it." She said, her eyes glistening with tears for a split second. She turned from Shikamaru, and silence enveloped the room, as he was left to think of his girlfriends strange behavior all of a sudden.

Underground cavern...

Naruto stood happily amidst the slaughter he had just wrought. Then he could here footsteps coming his way. Naruto sprinted towards the person. He came to a corner and turned entering a giant room. There was a big circular platform with no rails and a giant fall on all sides. Standing on the opposite side of the platform was…

"Wow…Kabuto…so Orochimaru hasn't gotten tired of your sorry ass yet." Naruto called, trying to agitate the gray haired medical nin.

"Heh…so funny Naruto-kun. But I do want to know, why are you here? Did you really think Lord Orochimaru would venture this close to the village without a probable cause?" Kabuto called back, a smirk on his face.

Naruto shook his head while smiling. "So naïve Kabuto. I expected more of you. You should know that there is someone else whom I seek." He drew a kunai and let it hang lazily from his finger.

"And you should also know that you don't stand a chance in hell up against me."

Now Kabuto was close to falling apart laughing. "Really? Just because you've become stronger, you think you can beat me? Not only me, but Sasuke as well? This is priceless." He began to laugh, that annoying idiotic laugh. Naruto frowned.

"I can kill you in two seconds." Naruto said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Kabuto didn't hold his mirth in any longer. After another long cackle, he drew his kunai and ran towards Naruto. For some reason, he didn't stop. Instead, he took several steps past Naruto, slowing to a stride.

"Told you so." Naruto said, as a low gurgle came from Kabuto. Then his head fell, and bounced off of the edge of the long platform, tumbling down into the dark depths below, his body following after. Naruto flicked his wrist, cleaning his kunai of Kabuto's blood.

"Fucker shouldn't have underestimated me. He was way smarter than that when we fought before." He spoke to himself, seeing as the Kyuubi was still highly pissed at him. Then another chakra began to emerge from the other end of the platform. Sasuke strode in, chakra seeming to flow from him just by walking. Then Sasuke drew his sword, swinging it to his side so that the air whipped around it, and made the chakra subside. Naruto stared at Sasuke with his mouth gaped open. Sasuke saw him.

"Does this frighten you, loser?" Naruto snapped back to his senses.

"Hell no. That was cool. And I should get me one of those swords."

Sasuke didn't expect such a latent response from Naruto. "You are different. Did you finally see that the darkness held all the power?"

"Yeah. It feels good."

"So you are here to join me."

Naruto laughed evilly. "In your dreams. Like I said, I want that sword."

Sasuke looked at Naruto. "I respect that Naruto. You are different, but still stupid. You are not strong enough to beat me, and even if you do have the will to kill me, you won't get the chance."

"I'll kill you with one hand." He put his left hand in his pocket again.

"Don't underestimate him. You are being reckless." The Kyuubi growled from the back of his mind.

'I'm only seeing how much he's changed since the last time.'

Sasuke rushed at Naruto with the katana. He slashed at him but he side stepped easily. He slashed again and Naruto ducked. Naruto jabbed into Sasuke's stomach with his free hand and then spin kicked him in the face sending him sliding back over the ground.

"You've improved. I guess I will have to use my sharingon." Sasuke closed his eyes. When they opened, they were red with three dots surrounding the pupil.

"You've juiced up your sharingons? I may have to use both of my hands for this one." Naruto smirked. "But maybe you don't have enough hate to fight at your full strength."

Sasuke was angered slightly from the remark. "Just as I did Itachi, I will kill you Naruto. I have nothing but hate and I won't need to use my full power to destroy you."

He rushed in again. This time he threw the katana at Naruto like a kunai. Naruto turned to the side to dodge the sword while keeping an eye on Sasuke. He saw him doing hand signs.

"Katon: Goukakyou no Jutsu!" (We all should know that this is the Grand Fireball technique by now.)

The giant ball of fire rolled slowly towards Naruto. He didn't move. As the fire ball came two inches from Naruto, he gathered chakra towards the bottom of his foot. He put one foot on the ball then the other. He ran over the ball letting it hit the wall behind him. He looked around but Sasuke was gone.

"Hiding isn't going to save your life."

"Who's hiding?" Sasuke came from behind and slammed the katana threw Naruto's back.

"I was in the fireball. Now, let's continue this fight. Hiding isn't going to save your life."

The clone disappeared. Naruto dropped down behind Sasuke.

"Fine let's take off the kiddy gloves then."


Alrighty then. It's time for the final chapter, of the first plot, to come to forefront! This chapter will tie together a lot of mysteries, leave some up for discussion, and maybe even just piss the hell out of people for no apparent reason at all...

Oh yeah, there's a poll on my profile about the harem. Those of you that still wish to influence the tally, go ahead and vote. Standings right now are as follows, and suprisingly, it's not what I expected.

Anko-6 votes

Hinata-4 votes

Ayame-4 votes

Shizune-0 votes

All of them-2 votes

Do not make a harem-1 vote

You have until either chapter 9 or 10 to still influence this. It's all up to you, readers.