Awwh! Come on guys I know I deserve more reviews than that! After coming back from the dead. I thank you all that reviewed. Thank you so much! It motivates me! Rawr! I see you alerts too! I got a lot of those I think we can all agree all you 478 of you guys should review! Mhm! Will make a happy author very happy! Anywho! On with the story!

This chapter is dedicated to roboguy45! I remember your reviews always made me laugh! Thank you for being a loyal reader! Always look for the brighter side of things. Who knows maybe you will find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. ^-~

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! Though I could need the money!

Chapter 19: He was alone

"I don't know why I'm here? Or why I even came here?" Naruto could only say while he looked his reflection in the water. "Words bind a person. It takes a true person to be passed a man to follow through." He heard the voice tell him and could only smile. "I guess I passed now didn't I?" He stood from his sitting position by the lake and stared up at the sky. "Its almost close. I know it is. I can hear the birds becoming less and less vocal." He turned to look at the sight before him. A solitude forest and a beautiful crystal blue clear lake which can only be found when venture more deep within the depths of it. People tend to not venture on rumors claiming that within these forest contains demons that will eat your soul. He laughed when he found something of the sort but also was sad because he wished to find another close to him. Kyubbi did say this life he will live will be a life of solitude. So far he is beginning to believe it. He has a team he trust with his whole life and cares and they care back but its not the same sharing a life with that only person that will always be there for you no matter what.

As he looked up to sky hopefully getting some answers to his questions he found himself not ready to go back to the village. When he was with nature he felt right, he didn't feel lost, he felt home. So with his mind made up he went on to venture the forest in a most relaxing state. In this state he can be himself with no chains attached to him. He ran. He didn't know where to but ran to get away for a bit. Believing himself to be a whole other identity which he was and ran to the darkest of the forest.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE WE LOST THEM! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT SHIKAMARU! IF YOU WEREN'T A SLOW EATER WE WOULDN'T HAVE LOST THEM!", Sakura shriek out at him. After all the stalking they have done to find little information but also saw how loyal Naruto's team were only devoted to him. She wanted to know more. Needed to know more. Ways to get Naruto back to rookie nine to know. She just stood there before rookie nine just shaking to get catch her breath again. She had to calm down she really did. Being in a state like that can blind oneself and right now its not the time to let inner Sakura come out.

"Awwh… I don't want to go back to the mansion. All we do there is train and train some more. I'm bored of that." "You heard sousui. Our orders is to go back to the mansion and try not to destroy it. Got it?" "Awwh… but Leon… we haven't even gone to explore this boring village." "What did I say Sora? No means no. We have orders." Leon was getting annoyed with Sora for insisting such a thing. They have been going at it for about 10 minutes and he still wouldn't let up. He hated when he acted like a kid. He wonders how Riku can put up with that when he can barely handle ten minutes with this thing.

"You know he's right. I guess the Leon we know and love doesn't have it anymore. I mean where is that rebel Leon that said "where the wind blows I go." Or " I don't play by the rules." I guess that cool Leon is now long and dead. Guess we have to go find some other cool old guy to hang out with." Yuffie said with a smirk on her face and lead the way while the others followed behind her.

"I'm still cool! Hey! I'm not old. I'll show you I am still hip! Fine new plan! We all go our ways and try to find at least something cool in this godforsaken village which have no right to see the beauty of our sousui! Alright! Whoever find the coolest thing in this village wins! Meet back at the mansion in an hour! That should be enough to cover the village! Yuffie you go south." "Aye aye captain!" Yuffie saluted and disappeared to head to her path.

"You!" Leon pointed, " Sora you have west." Hai." Sora vansihed. "Last but not least Riku!" "Yeah, Yeah, I know I get east." Riku made his start to head east to the village. "Hey… How you know I was going to say east? I could have said north." "Ha! I know you Leon. You always head north. Always want to be number one always on top." Leon just slouched when he heard that. He was right but it still hurt to hear it. Riku seeing him like that in a state of gray he left.

"Awwh… man… after I was in just high spirits too. Doesn't matter! Because I know I will find the best coolest thing ever to exist in man kind in this lame village! Ha ha ha ha!" He took off with the flame of determination.

All of rookie nine could not believe what just happened. There while they were staring at the team in front of them they were talking as if they only existed and nothing around them. They couldn't believe that they didn't see them. They weren't hiding or spying they were there out in the open just waiting for Sakura to calm down and catch her breath then here comes that team. Making all this fuss and not even caring if anyone else hears or not. They couldn't believe that this team that they lost not so long ago just appeared and now were talking about almost a scavenger hunt of finding something cool? Going their separate ways they disappear once again. Only now difference is is that they know where to find them. Where they went they know how to track them.

"That's it! We have our chance now! This is our time to hunt them down and corner them and demand them to tell us all there is to know why Naruto left!" Sakura turned to face all of rookie nine and they all nodded to this plan. This is their chance to ask them and get answers they need.

"Right. Now all teams you who to go after. So here goes-"

"I'm going after Leon." Sakura was cut short when she heard this. Everyone turned around to see the Uchiha prince spoke finally to this whole plan.

"But Sasuke we're supposed to be in teams."

"Do what you want but I'm going after that bastard." Sasuke left everyone behind to go encounter the one that is Leon. That's always touching what's rightfully his.

After much deciding everyone knew who to go after. Yuffie will be hunted down by Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru. Sora will be hunted down by Kiba, Shino, and Hinata. Riku will be hunted down by Neji, Tenten, and Lee. After the teams went to make their way to their targets Sakura and Sai were the only ones left behind and nodded at each other to go after Sasuke. Who knows without them there what he can do. They can not risk anything to make this situation they have with Naruto worst than it already is.

"Oooooh… This looks good." Sora saw some wind chimes oddly shaped. They were made out of glass but the way the maker designed them the glass pasted together were remarkable. He thought this was the most coolest thing he has ever seen in his life. He has seen a lot of wind chimes but not like this. He was sure to win the hunt. He made to go buy it from the owner and paid the man more than what it was worth.

"Keep the change Mr. owner man." Sora smiled and was sure he was going to win. With a happy mood he was in he made his way back to the mansion with his prize in his hand.

"You! We need you to answer some questions." Sora's great mood had turned one into a sour one. He glared at the three man team in front of him blocking his way to sweet victory.

"We aren't leaving until you answer us. Now why is Naruto like this? Like this toward us?" Kiba was once again talking, Hinata just stood there watching the scene, and Shino stood quiet as always. Sora stood there looking at them with a smirk on his face.

"Wow. I guess Konoha is a boring village." Yuffie kept wondering around, walking with her arms behind her head and looking aimlessly around trying to spot something out in this dragged village. Then she spotted something. At first she couldn't believe how huge it was but it was big enough to be use as a blanket on a king size bed. What she saw was a wall scroll but it wasn't the size of the wall scroll that caught her attention it was on it. She knew she found the best cool thing! She had to buy it! She went right in and told the owner, no she demanded the owner to give her that scroll. After much troubles since the owner was having a hard time to get the scroll off on its perch. With luck finally working on his side he rolled up the scroll and handed it to Yuffie. She paid the scroll and rewarded the man for his troubles by a generous tip. She knew she could have taken that thing down in seconds flat but she needed some entertainment. So off she went. She strapped the scroll on her back making it receiving strange looks to her. She didn't care all she was focus on was getting back to the village for her sweet victory.

"Stop. We need you to answer some questions for us." Yuffie stopped dead in her tracks and looked to who dared ruin her moment to shine. She glared at the three member team blocking her way to a shinning moment in her life. To surpass the all and fly up above.

"We're not moving untill you answer us. What happened to Naruto to hate us so much? What did we do to him for him to treat us like this?" Ino was pretty much begging this kid to answer her questions. She couldn't bare to see Naruto like this towards them. All they have ever done was be a friend to him. She knows they did nothing wrong in their doings to him. Choji just nodded to what Ino said while he munched on some more chips. Shikamaru looked at Yuffie in a bored way but Yuffie caught the glint in his eyes of interest in this situation they are in. Yuffie stood there proudly and just smirked at them.

Riku made his way through the village walking already for half an hour and he only had thirty minutes left but he didn't care he didn't want to bother with this childish hunt. When he was passing through a store something shiny caught his eye and he went in to the store to check it out. What he saw he wanted it. He knew with this he would win. He told the owner to box it and to hand it over. The owner misunderstood and thought Riku was stealing it. Riku rolled his eyes and explained to the man he was going to buy it and to show proof he took out some money and laid it in front of the man. With the man seeing so much money laid upon him, he got to wrapping the thing Riku picked in no time flat and handed it to him when done. Riku left not waiting for the change back. He just was excited as to what the outcome will be. With high hopes he made his way to the mansion only to be blocked.

There ahead of him were three members of the ex team of his boss. He had no interest in dealing with them so he made a move to turn only to be surrounded by them. He was getting annoyed by this. They had no right to come up to him for anything. He knew all they want is information about his taishou.

"We wont let you go until you answer some questions for us." Neji spoke to Riku in a threaten voice. It almost felt like a dare to Riku. If he wanted to he would take this challenge and start a riot with them but if he did he knew he would be in so much trouble meaning no meals. No meals from his taishou for a whole day will be crazy to do. His taishou's meals are that made of higher power. So as he was told he be a good boy. So there he stood no movement to indicate he would attack them.

"We need to know. What has happened to Naruto to hate us? Did we do anything to him to make him hate us? Or is it from you guys that made him believe that we inflict harm to him." Neji stared down at Riku thinking he has seen through him. Tenten stood there ready for anything, ready to strike Riku down. Lee had that nice determine Guy look on his face. Riku stood not even moving an inch and just smirked.

"Ah. This will do. I bet no one will find something like manmade. It is impossible for them to find such a thing like this." Leon was found in the woods in the north. He came across this thing out in the forest and knew he would win because this was not manmade it was nature that made it. He tucked the thing in his inner pockets in his jacket. He made his way to the entrance of the village only to be stopped by.

"Chidori!" A yell was heard and Leon moved out the way right before it hit him. He jumped to a tree to see below him was none other than the Uchiha prince. He could tell the man was blinded by anger at the way he was franticly looking around for him with those spinning eyes. He smirked and jumped down right in front of him. Sasuke saw him jumped down and hissed at him.

"You must be foolish to jump in the middle of a fight to be known. You must have a death wish to be standing there like a deer. Ready to be killed." Leon just look at him with a bored look not only bored but kind of thinking of the words that came out of the Uchiha's mouth. I mean can that have come out any more lame? He thought about the words that was said that he wasn't paying attention to Sasuke getting ready to throw another chidori at him.

"Sasuke stop!" Sakura came in to hit his arm up to make the chidori gone. When Sasuke lost concentration on it the chidori went away. He stood there breathing heavily and compose himself to glare at Sakura. Sakura dismissed the glare and went to stand before Leon. Leon stood there looking down at Sakura. He towered her a good five inches. He looked down with a bore look and Sakura put on this innocent look and put her two hands up on her chest in a begging plea.

"Please… Can you answer us as to why Naruto is like this? Why he hates us so?" Sakura asked in the most pleading eyes she can muster up. Leon looked down on her and just… laughed.

"I can't believe you would try to work that female magic on me. Woman please… your too much. Just stop with that pathetic look you call begging." Sakura glared at him and put her hands to her sides and her hands were now fists. She had a angry face that was ready to explode. She couldn't believe that this man just insulted her like that. Sakura was ready to tell him off until Sasuke stepped in again.

"TELL US! WHY IS HE LIKE THIS? WHHY WON'T HE TALK TO US? WHAT ARE YOU TO HIM?" Sasuke had his sharingan spinning with each questions he asked. Leon just stood there with a smirk.

"Its simple. You weren't there."

"You weren't there."

"You weren't there"

"You weren't there"

That's all they got from Naruto's team. They all said the same thing. All teams stood there not getting what they had said. What do they mean we weren't there? That question ran in their heads. It was just impossible they were always there, right? When they were all about to ask why they would say that they heard a loud whistling noise. Yuffie, Sora, Riku, and Leon looked up to the noise and ran to it. All the teams saw this and made a run to chase after them.

Before Leon made a dash for it he turned to Sasuke and said.

"I am where you wish to be with him." With a smirk he left to the source of the noise. Sasuke stood there with a lost look on his face. Those words he said were true that it hurt him. Sakura yanked on his arm to snap out of it and told him to follow after him. While they were chasing after him he saw the others from Naruto's team as well making their way to the source of the noise and not far behind them were all of the rookie nine also following them. They came to a stop when they saw the people they were chasing stand behind the person they need answers to.

There stood Naruto with an air of confidence always around him. You can feel his pride for what he has done around you. Never letting his guard down he was prepared to fight if needed to be. His hand ready to get his sword for harming any of his team members.

"We didn't hurt them in any way Naruto." Ino was the first to step in and say. All of rookie nine nodded in agreement. Naruto then turned to his own team to see if it was true to what they were saying and they all nodded.

"Well have true." Leon spoke up. Sakura dreaded to what he will say. Sasuke just looked on and turned his head to the side not wanting to see the look disgust from the one he loved.

"The princess over there tried to destroy your one and only love. I think it was called a chidori as he called out. I mean who will shout out their attack when you are trying to get them when they're not noticing. I mean I hear he is the best of all and yet what a stupid move. Also his comments are really stupid. And he is called a genius… pft…" Leon just stood there with a smile of triumph. Naruto could only glare at Sasuke for doing such an idiotic move not only that trying to hurt his team member.

No one saw it coming or saw it. Naruto moved with such speed they didn't get to catch him hit Sasuke. Naruto hit Sasuke hard in his gut it sent him flying a good feet. All of rookie nine went to check if Sasuke was alright. Sakura checked him over and he seemed to be fine though it will leave a nasty bruise but she knew he deserved it. It was his fault and now things are more complicated thanks to him.

"Whats wrong with you?! You rather struck your own friend just for those things behind you?" Kiba was furious. They were his friends too. His buddies why would he struck one of his own member from the same village. They weren't from the same village as them. They didn't grow up with Naruto like they did and yet they had more of him than they ever did.

"If you call yourselves friends. If that was true they would not have tried killed another out of pure jealousy." Yuffie said from behind Naruto. Naruto stood there with the support of his team behind him knowing if anything was to go down right now they will be right there. Ready for the moment to arise. Before anything can be said or done a messenger popped in the middle of it. It was the one and only.

"Yo! Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto. The hokage summons you to her office. A mission has arised and this is an urgent one. Make your ways over now." With a smile from what it was seen from his only eye he vanished. Not only him but Naruto and the others as well. The rookie nine just stared at where Naruto stood and knew they were far from getting near him. Some got up from sitting next to Sasuke making sure he was okay. They all made their own ways before giving a good glare to the Uchiha prince for ruining any chance to get Naruto back to them. Sakura even glared at him before telling him to get going to the tower.

Sasuke can only wallow in his guilt. He knew he had to do something to make things right. Meaning to confront the man again and apologize. He made his way to the tower, thinking what to do.

"You think they will be able to figure it out?" Yuffie said. They all have disappeared in the trees to spy on the rookie nine.

"I doubt it. No one will ever know. You saw what happened. He was all alone." Leon said with a sad look on his face as did the others.

"He was alone."

OKAY!! SO WHAT YOU GUYS THINK!! WAS IT GOOD! OOH! WHAT CAN THE MISSION BE? PLUS LONG CHAPPY! COME ON REVIEW REVIEW! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK! LEAST GIVE ME 15 REVIEWS IF I GET THAT I WILL POST FASTER! THANK YOU ALL THAT REVIEWED! HI SWEETTRAGEDIES! WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPPY ROBOGUY? IT WAS FOR YOU!

Till next time!

Bye bye! ^^