Wow! I finally updated. I guess I'm not dead. Also I don"t go over my stuff to fix my grammer. I just type and published so tough luck! To My great lil australian friend Maddie Hatter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter: 20 The Hunt

Rookie nine just stood not yet moving from their spots, they didn't know what to do. They asked their question to get an answer but all they got was, "you weren't there." What was that supposed to mean? "You weren't there." They were always there.

"That's stupid! We were always there for Naruto always." Kiba was the first to break the silence. the rest of the rookie nine just had their heads down deep in thought. They just couldn't think of anything that can state that they weren't there they were always there. They were there for him with eating ramen together, training, missions, supported his dream to being Hokage one day. They just couldn't understand.

Sasuke on the other hand. When he heard those words come from Leon's mouth he didn't know what to do but to get angry. He can sure be the only one that wasn't there for Naruto. He betrayed him, left him, almost killed him. Sure he did all that plus more but why would the rest of Naruto's team tell all of rookie nine that they weren't there for Naruto.

Sasuke broke out of thought when he saw Sakura's hand began to glow on his abdomen. She was healing whatever damage Naruto may have caused. Once the pain was no longer felt from his abdomen he grabbed Sakura's hand and she too was snapped back into the real world. She looked to Sasuke and saw him nod, a sign to let her know he was fine now. Sasuke stood up and stretched his hand in front of Sakura to help her get up. Once both stood, Sasuke made the first move to start walking towards the Hokage tower. Sakura soon followed afterwards. She turned around to wave good-bye to everyone and ran a little to catch up to Sasuke. They walked together in silence deep in thought of the what they were told from Naruto's team.

They knocked on the door and heard Tsunade say 'come in' they went inside they looked around the office looking for Naruto. They didn't see him or sense him in the office.

"It's about time you guys got here." Tsunade sounded a little mad or it was the sake talking, "so what took you guys so long? And where's the third missing person from your team?" No doubt Tsunade was a little drunk.

"We don't know where Naruto is. He was the first to leave. We thought he was already here." Sakura replied.

"Okay, so what took you both so long?" Tsunade again asked with a look of irritation on her face.

"We were stalking Naruto's team to corner them and ask why Naruto is the way he is towards us." Tsunade was surprised to see Sasuke's answer and actually say a long sentence.

"So why is he the way he is towards us?" Tsunade asked.

"We weren't there." Sasuke said in a low voice almost a whisper that tsunade almost didn't hear it.

"What the hell does that mean?" Tsunade asked the same question the rest have been thinking. "How can they say that? We were always there for the brat! They don't know anything! Stupid kids today so ungrateful!"

"Also umm... I don't think Naruto might not come." Sakura said in a nervous voice.

Tsunade rose an eyebrow, "Why?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke for a second to continue if it was okay to tell her. Sasuke just closed his eyes and nodded.

"Sasuke struck one of Naruto's team mates, hell more like he threw a chidori at Leon." When she finished they both looked at the Hokage for a reaction, waiting for a response. She just sat there looking at them, her chin resting on her two hands that were laced together by the fingers.

Then they didn't know what happened. The seat of the Hokage's was empty and Sasuke was no longer standing next to Sakura. He was sent flying through the wall to the next room. Tsunade stood there furious trying to catch her breath before she actually went to go kill the Uchiha.

When Sasuke got back, he crawled himself back to the Hokage's office. Blood coming from lip' his clothes a little torn from the impact of the wall. Minor cuts here and there all over his body. When Tsunade saw him she stalked over to him and grabbed him by the neck and pinned him to the other wall without the hole in it.

"How can you do such a stupid thing Uchiha? You know what we're trying to do and you go and do something so stupid. I don't think the word stupid is enough to describe what you did! I thought Uchihas' were supposed to be geniuses but I guess not!"Tsunade was furious she glared up at him squeezing his neck slowly and her pleasure was hearing Sasuke gasp for air. Sakura was scared and ran to Tsunade trying to convince her to let Sasuke go or get her grip to loosed but to no avail.

"Hn..." That got everyones attention. Tsunade stopped choking Sasuke and let his body drop to the floor. Sasuke started massaging his neck and gasping to get some air to his lungs. Sakura dropped to Sasuke's side and checked him to see if he was okay. When she finished she looked over to Tsunade and she stood there looking at something at the corner of the room. Saskura moved her head a little to get a better view at what was the cause of this all to end. Sasuke now feeling alive looked over too to see who saved his life from the crazy old hag.

There in the corner of the room stood Naruto leaning against the wall, arms crossed, same attire what he wore when he first arrived back but instead of being able to see his eyes he wore sunglasse. A sign that he didn't want to talk, see them or even acknowledge them.

"Can we hurry this up? I have more important things to do." The cold voice broke through the silence and gave chills to the others. That voice seemed to been used when one is going to get killed. No doubt he used that voice more than ever for his kills.

Tsuande not able to move for a minute not knowing if he was going to strike her or kill her. She was scared to move but she was the Hokage and she was his leader. So in a very cautious stroll she went towards her desk very alert if he made any sudden move that she will be prepared to defend herself. When no movement was made and she safely reached her desk she was able to breath not knowing that she was holding her breath the whole time she was walking. She looked over at Naruto still at the same spot not moving not even looking at her direction. He had his head down which seemed he was staring at the ground and just thinking to himself in his own world. A world only he and his team mates were allowed into.

She cleared her throat a notion to let everyone know the meeting has now started. Sakura helping Sasuke once again healing him and getting him up now both stood in ffront of the Hokage while Naruto remained were he was.

"It has come to my attention that there has been an unusual sighting in the forest. Some villagers said they saw a creature running about in the forest today. What I am about to say isn't a joke and may not seem believable but the creature is none other than a fox... a demon fox."

Sakura gasped and Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Tsunade looked over to Naruto and he remained as is.

"So what are we supposed to do then?" Sakura asked.

"Well i figured you threee to go investigate to see if what the villagers say is true." Tsuande answered.

"And if it is?" Naruto spoke, "What do we do to it?"

"It's a threat to the village and we need to kill it." Tsuande said in a serious tone.

"Then why not kill me also?"

That got everyone surprised. They all turned to Naruto. They were all thinking if he was serious .

"Then kill me. Aren't I just as a demon as the fox in the forest?"

'No' Tsunade thought, 'your human not a monster'

"Have you forgotten? I am Kyuubi." Naruto said in a deadly voice.

Tsunade snapped, "How dare you refer yourself as Kyuubi! Your nothing like that demon! You didn't kill thousands of people. You dont bring hurt and pain to others!"

"But I am the Kyuubi. Don't forget when we merged I took all of his powers, all of his strength, and most of all his memories as they were my very own. I am him and he is me. Though I may not hear him anymore since he is no longer a separate entity but he lives through me." Naruto finished explaining.

"Your not him." Tsunade said to him in a low voice.

"I am." Was Naruto's reply.

"Your not! Kyuubi was a demon and he killed and destroyed mostly all of the village. Your not like that." Sakura yelled at him trying to get him to see he wasn't what he was claiming to be.

"You don't know anything about me. My travels, my missions, how many countless of people i have killed or ruin a village for what h-h..." Naruto slowly took off his sunglasses and when he revealed his eyes. His eyes were that of Kyuubi's. His eyes were that of a color bleeding, his pupils slits of that of a cat. Emotions expressing in those eyes that has seen battle and has seen chaos.

"So just to get it straight. You want me to hunt down this fox in the forest, kill it since its a danger to the village. When said village always said I was the fox and I was dangerous to the village and I should be killed."Naruto challenged this.

Tsunade didn't know what to say. She is saying just what the villagers said to him his whole childhood. She didn't know what to say to that what could she say?

"I'm not killling it," Naruto said, "I'm not killing something that is innocent and has not done harm to anything. If a villager saw it why didn't the fox kill him then? It has no intentions to!" Naruto spat out the last part.

"If its just like Kyuubi it can attack us! We need to kill it!" Sakura said.

"How do you know its a demon? Its just a fox." Naruto questioned her.

"Because that fox had nine tails juat as Kyuubi. Unless your story is false and Kyuubi didn't merge with you then why is there a fox out there in the forest with tails just as Kyuubi?" Tsuande was now yelling at Naruto.

"Have you forgotten my little demonstration earlier? Unless you know someone else with blood red eyes with pupils that are slits just as a fox would be. The Uchiha over there can turn his eyes red but not slits as pupils. He has stupid comas spinning around. So do you get it?" Naruto narrowed his eyes to Tsunade and put his sunglasses back on.

Tsunade just nodded. Didn't know what to say. It was true what he said and he still has those eyes of Kyuubi and also other skills.

"Your all stupid. I decline this mission. I don't kill the innocent especially more not my kind." With that Naruto left the office in a puff of smoke.

Sasuke didn't know what happened he felt like he was just in a crossfire. But also he was happy to hear Naruto talk so much. Even though it wasn't a pleasant talk but was happy nontheless. Though he was sad that Naruto still refers him to Uchiha. He did deserve it though. He was an Uchiha and he meant that of an Uchiha like his father and Itachi. He was still on the bad side but he wants to change that. He doesn't want to be like the Uchiha he was raised to be or the reputation that was heard of because of his name. He wanted to change to open Naruto's eyes and see him and be only with him not with the other guy. He was better than him and surpass him in any way that guy can do.

"Alright then. I guess you two are on this mission." Tsunade said smoothing out her clothes so she can sit back down. Somewhere during the conversation with Naruto she got up.

"By doing this wouldn't it just push Naruto further away from us then bring him closer to us?" Sasuke said in all seriousness.

Tsunade sighed she knew he was right but what can she do? "Yes, it would but my duty is to make sure the village is safe and no danger comes to it."

"Okay.. so where was the fox spotted?" Sakura asked.

"Up in the forest by the lake it was about when the sun was setting so that's when you should look for it. Now go." Tsunade demanded. Both bowed and made their way out.

"Sasuke, what do you think we should do? This will only cause more harm than good." Sakura looked at Sasuke as if he had all the answers.

"Hn..." Sasuke too didn't know what to do. He was thinking how this mission will all play out. Sakura and Sasuke made their walk in silence. They parted ways to their own home. They start the hunt tomorrow.

Wow. Who knew it took a sprained wrist to have time to update all them years. Okay tell me what u guys think. This is the reason i havent updated cuz i think what i'm thinking about to play in this story is lame... so yeah. It will take me a few days to update again since i'm only typin with one hand and yeah... Alrighty reviews please! i know i have alot of alert peoples out there! Review for my return from the undead! Till next time!

Bye bye! ^^