"I said I'll join you in the mission to Suna." Naruto repeated for the umpteenth time that morning.

"Bu-But Naruto! You're the Hokage now! You can't just leave. You have to stay here in Konoha!" Ino protested waving her arms.

"I already send a notice to the council. I can't just sit here doing nothing but paper works while I let you guys head of to Suna!" Naruto shouted back.

"We can take care of ourselves Naruto. All of us are Jounin now!" Sakura reasoned

"Naruto, you being away from the village leaves it vulnerable and other villages might attack if the get the news of you leaving." Neji reasoned trying to change Naruto mind.

"And if they do, the journey towards Suna and back will be filled with struggles plus the village needs you to lead them if the enemy attacks." Kurenai said convincingly

"I can take care of myself. I'm Hokage now!" Naruto said

"Naruto! It'll be troublesome if you come with us. You have a responsibility." Shikamaru exclaimed

"And-" Lee began but Naruto stopped him.

"AND I can't just sit and do nothing while Tsunade-baachan and Ero-sennin are missing! You should know by now that they're the only ones I've had close to parents! I won't sit back and watch as if nothing's happened!" Naruto screamed.

"Naruto!" Came a chorus of exclaim

"Maa, Maa…enough. There's nothing we can do. Once Naruto makes up his mind it's nearly impossible to change it." Kakashi said finally giving in to Naruto's demands. Just then Nezumi returned with another scroll. The scroll was opened and inside it read.

"Naruto Uzumaki, Follow your will of fire."

"Naruto-sama, a condition from the council." Nezumi announced and Naruto nodded.

"We will agree in your decision to travel towards Suna. But in return the ANBU will accompany you." Nezumi said relaying the exact words of the council

Naruto nodded and said "I agree to their terms."

"I guess that settles it!" Yamato exclaimed exasperatedly "Naruto coming with us to-"

Naruto looked at Yamato and saw that he stopped moving. Eyes narrowed he neared his friends and saw that they were as still as a statue. Naruto noticed that the birds stopped in mid flap, the trees and leaves stopped swaying, the clouds not rolling, and the wind stopped blowing when he took note of his surroundings...Time has stopped.

Naruto eyed everything warily and doubled his guard. Walking towards the center of the square, Naruto readied himself for an attack as a thick layer of fog surrounded everything in sight. A giggle came out of no where and Naruto eyed his surroundings trying to locate the voice that seemed to be coming from every direction.

"Naruto…" the voice echoed in the silent clearing.

"Show yourself." Naruto commanded in a low yet threatening voice.

"Now is not the right time for that…" came a reply "Neh, Naruto-kun…Do you want to know where your parents are?"

"My parents are dead." At this the voice chuckled.

"Indeed they are…but how about Tsunade-chan and Jiraya-kun…I thought they were like parents to you…"

"Who are you? How do you know them?" Naruto asked

"I can't share that information…at least not yet…"

"Why?" Naruto asked eyes narrowed

"So many questions…"

"Answer me!" Naruto shouted

"Now is not the time Naruto-kun…Don't you want to know where Tsunade-chan and Jiraya-kun are?"

"How do you know they're missing? That's classified information!"

"You can't hide anything from me…"

"Liar! You might have been a spy! You did a great job on hiding your chakra!" Naruto screamed knowing that other villages sent spies to infiltrate Konoha every once in a while.

"I'm more of an ally than an enemy Naruto-kun."

"I don't believe you! Leave before I come after you myself!"

"Are you sure Naruto-kun? I have the information you seek."

"Like what?" Naruto asked

"For one, I know where they are…" the voice replied and Naruto can almost feel the smirk on the unknown person's lips.

"…You know where Tsunade and Jiraya are?"

"As the matter of fact, they're with me." At hearing this Naruto's eyes narrowed to slits

"How do I know that you're telling the truth?"

"It your choice if you believe me or not…"

"Prove it then!"

The voice chuckled as if expecting this demand and a silver kunai with a red fox engraved on the handle on fell from above and landed on the floor in front of him.

"Where did you get this?" Naruto asked realizing that it was the present he gave for Tsunade.

"We knew that you were going to ask for proof and so, Tsunade gave that to me to pass to you…"

"Don't worry, we have no intention of hurting them." The voice assured

"…Where are they? Why did you take them?"

"I can't tell you that…yet"

"Tell me!"

"No!" the voice was filled with superiority that it silence Naruto.

"I will take you and your friends to see them, when the time comes…"

"And when is that?"

"In a weeks time…But I have something else to tell you…"

"Oh, and what is it?"

"In 3 days time the 3 Sabaku no sibling will arrive in the eastern gate of Konaha at exactly 3 in the afternoon. So there is no reason for you to travel there."

"How are you so sure?"

"At noon a messenger bird will come to you bearing a message of notice for Gaara's arrival. You should know that it really is from Gaara by the way the message is written."

"I will trust you…for now. But if Tsunade is harmed along with Jiraya's body, there with be hell to pay as the whole of Konoha will come after you.

"Very well. Now in the mean time call of your search for you will never find my hideout."

"…Fine." Naruto agreed somewhat hesitant.

"I have to leave now, my companion has returned. But first a gift!"

Naruto tilted his head to the side and yelped as out of no where a white rose appeared in front of him floating in mid air.

"What is this?"

"A rose."

"I know it's a rose! I meant what's it for?"

"Its for protection. The rose will glow in warning. Red for danger, white for peace, and black…for death."

"Why would you give me something this important?"

"In this week many will attack your village…because of you."

"What do you mean?"

"A beast leading a village as a Kage is an outrage on their part."

"I will bring danger to the village? Just because I'm a Kage…"

"Don't take it to heart. The rose will help you prepare the village."

"How?"

"Lay out a map in your office and the rose will show you where the attack will take place."

"Thank you for this gift but I still can't trust you enough.

"I understand. But in a weeks time I shall have your decision."

"Whether to trust you on not…" Naruto thought before saying "Thank you."

"In a week's time…at the place we shall meet… you shall learn of your heritage…your father believes that you are now ready to know…"

"…my parents…my real parents?" Naruto asked but the voice did not answer right away. Naruto was about to ask when the voice

"Naruto Uzumaki..." the voice called now eerie and low.

"A warning before I go…." At this Naruto's head snapped with attention. "A heavy burden will be place upon you and the others and the worlds fate will be placed in your hands…but to save it you need a betrayer's help…the person whose betrayal wounded you the most…a former friend and ally…"

Naruto strained to hear the last words as the voice slowly disappeared, then, time moved once more. The birds began to flap, the trees and leaves swayed as the wind blew, and his friend with everything began to move as if nothing happened. But Naruto stared at his hands where a lone white flower along with a golden bell was being held by him, the kunai gone from his other hand. "A former friend and ally…"

"-Suna-wait. Naruto? How'd you get there?" Yamato said from behind him realizing that his former student who was just standing in front of him a second ago (or so he thought) was now at the center of the square.

Ignoring Yamato, Naruto ran in a blur and went to stand at the place he was moments ago. Seeing Naruto's distressed look everyone looked at him seriously. When Naruto was in hearing range he began to shout commands.

"Tora (tige) go to Shizune-neechan and have her spread every single map of Konoha we have in my office. Zou (elephant), Yagi (goat), Risu (squirrel) spread the word that I'm calling off the search! I want everyone back in Konoha NOW!"

"Naruto what's going on?" Kakashi asked wondering why Naruto suddenly ordered the ANBU to call of the searched.

"Yeah! I though we were heading to Suna!" Kiba whined

"I'll explain later! Kakashi-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Yamato-taichou, and Gai-sensei head to my office and help Shizune-neechan then wait for me there." Naruto said facing his former teacher before turning to his friend. "And the rest of you head out and help the ANBU call everyone back!"

Knowing that Naruto was serious they all went to do their appointed task. Turning to the 11 ANBU's left he said.

"The 6 of you spread the word to the Jounins and ANBU's here in Konoha to double the security and interrogate strangers that are sneaking around! And the 5 left will come with me! Dismiss!"

The 6 ANBU's that Naruto pointed disappeared in a flash. And the remaining 5 followed Naruto to his office. Once there the 4 Jounins were quietly taking out every single map of Konoha before laying it out neatly on the big rectangular table which was used for strategies during war.

"Naruto everything is ready." Shizune announced once the final map of Konaha was placed on the table. Naruto scanned the maps and handed Shizune the ones that weren't needed. After a few minutes only 2 maps were left of the 20 ones that once littered the table. A giant map of Konoha was placed in the middle and the small one was at the corner.

A knock came from the door and his friends came in the spacious room. After a few convincing reasons Naruto got the village to renovate the once small Hokage office to a much bigger one that can fit at least 50 people the size of Chouji.

"Everyone's back in the square waiting for you." Neji notified and Naruto nodded at him before staring at the rose in his hand.

"Good!" Naruto said and stared at the ANBU's that appeared behind him.

"Naruto-sama the security has been double and everyone is on guard."

"You may return to your ranks. Kurenai-sensei what time is it?" Naruto asked

"It's 5 minutes till noon." Came a direct reply from the female Jounin.

"Gai-sensei a messenger bird will come by her by noon bearing the mark of Sunagakure. Go there and wait for it. Bring Lee with you." Naruto ordered and everyone looked puzzled on how he knew that information. Nodding Gai and Lee went towards the messenger tower where most messaged were received.

"Naruto what's going on?" Ino asked nervously.

"I'll explain it later!" Naruto's voice held a firm authority in it that everyone just watched as their Hokage became more and more agitated. When noon struck Gai and Lee poofed into the room holding a messenger bird with the mark of Suna on its pack. Everyone stared in wonder as Naruto got held of the scroll and a frown smeared his face.

"If this is true then."

"Naruto?" Shizune approached a bit reluctantly.

"Prepare 3 rooms for the Sabaku no sibling. They'll arrive shortly after 3 days." Naruto ordered and Shizune went out of the room to carry out Naruto's order.

"Damn! Everything she said about this fact was right!" Naruto muttered lowly but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Naruto…" Shikamaru called uncertainly when he notice something floating above the map.

"Naruto!" Looking at the place his friends were pointing at he saw the white rose glowing crimson red as it hovered on the northern gate before going to the North West side of Konoha it repeated this pattern and stopped in mid-air before dropping back on the table..

"Naruto what's happening?" Yamato asked frantic but instead of answering Naruto turned abruptly and gave a full pack of orders that sent everyone to worry.

"Get every villager and civilians as far away from the northern and north west side of Konoha! Have the waiting Nins in the square guard this area then get the Genin teams to escort the villagers on this part to the square! Evacuate the entire area and maintain guard!"

Everyone stared at Naruto as he made 5 clones of himself.

"You guys stay her and guard the rose!" he said addressing to his clones.

"Naruto what the hell is going on here?" Kakashi asked and everyone considerately paled as the next words slipped from Naruto's lips.

"I brought danger into our doorstep…Konoha is under attack…"

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