OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Inoichi Yamanaka read his daughter's note in shock and looked at her with a raised eyebrow "Honto?"
"Hai."
He paused, then said "The way things have gone in Konoha lately...ok."
His wife smiled "Together."
Ino grinned "I knew you guys were good guys. So when..."
"You let me know Ino-chan. I mean, you've planned this party with your friends. I don't want to mess up the timing." He smiled.
Ino thought 'Even though there are spies and it's going to be dangerous...they still...I knew they were great parents!' She jumped up and hugged him "Arigato, toussan!"
"You're welcome, Ino-chan."
Meanwhile, with Sasuke, Sakura, and Yamato...
Sasuke frowned. He didn't trust the Anbu all that much, especially because he didn't know whose side he was on. Sure he said that he was sent by the Hokage, but that didn't mean it was true.
Yamato smiled and said "You still don't trust me, huh? That's alright. Well, I am sent by Hokage-sama, like I said..." He paused and frowned slightly. "Uchiha-san, Haruno-san, follow me."
Sasuke opened his mouth and Yamato sent them both a scary look. Sasuke frowned. It was scary, but he didn't send killer intent like Orochimaru. He looked at Sakura. She was shaking.
Suddenly Yamato picked up pace and they started chasing him across the rooftops. Sakura cried out when she tripped on a ledge. Sasuke called "Hey! You're going too fast!" No response. "Kuso...Sakura..." Sakura stood back up, but whimpered and folded a bit when she did.
"I...think I twisted my ankle." She looked down and said quietly "Some ninja I am, twisting my ankle during a chase..."
Sasuke sighed "Well, it doesn't look like he's slowing down...and we should probably keep following him. Get on."
Sakura blushed "Nani? Sasuke-kun..."
Sasuke said "Look, it's not a bit deal. We'll lose him entirely if we waste any more time. Get on." Sakura got on Sasuke's back and he took off again. As soon as they had almost caught up to Yamato he dissapeared. "What..." Suddenly both of them were jerked backwards. "Hey...!" Suddenly they were both in a dark place. "What? We were just on the roofs, then we jumped down and we were...sucked into a wall?"
Suddenly a voice spoke up out of the darkness "I hope you aren't injured, Haruno-san."
"Yamato-san?" Sakura asked, looking around. "Why is it so dark in here?"
Suddenly a light came on. They looked around. It was what looked like an apartment. Yamato smiled "Welcome to my house."
"Your house?"
Yamato said "I have more than one. My official one is near Anbu headquarters, this one is my secret apartment. It doesn't exist, so it isn't monitored. Now, feel free to look around and satisfy yourself that this isn't a trap, Uchiha-san. After that, we will talk about this plan of yours."
Sasuke nodded. He took Sakura and explored the apartment. Nothing. He returned to the front room. "It's not a very big house. The biggest room is the living room here."
Yamato said "The main purpose of this house is to have secret meetings in or to stay in when I don't want to be found. Now, Hokage-sama believes that the genin of your groups are planning to help Uzumaki-san. He told this to me only, in such a way that we were not overheard. Also, I will not be relaying to him any information that I learn here."
"Why?"
Yamato smiled again "Because, Haruno-san, what the Hokage doesn't know, the council can't charge against him."
Sasuke frowned "Why did we have to chase you halfway across town to get here?"
Yamato said "For the reason I said before. It isn't monitored here and we were being followed."
Sasuke's frowned lightened slighly and he said "If there was some sort of plan, what would you do about it? You couldn't assist. You'd be labelled a missing nin."
Yamato smiled "I would either keep silent or assist. It depends. Now, I take it that Hokage-sama is not mistaken about you and the other genin. Do all of you realize the consequences between helping a missing nin? Especially one such as Uzumaki Naruto?"
Sasuke said "Hai."
Yamato smiled "It is good for you that I am not an enemy, Uchiha-san. Otherwise, I could have you all put into holding cells and interrogated just for that." Sasuke scowled. Yamato said "Hey, I just said I'm not your enemy. Now, since you've admitted to it, you might as well go and tell me your plan."
Sakura said "Wait. You never answered my question. What do you think of Naruto?"
Yamato paused "Uzumaki Naruto."
"Hai."
"He is a boy...that has been treated unfairly by this village for many years. I know what it's like to have things done to you not of your will...Also, I really don't like Orochimaru and I'd like to be a part of anything done to aggravate him." He smiled again. "Besides, I don't really have anything better to do, so, what's your plan?"
Sasuke sweatdropped. "You're pretty strange, for an Anbu."
Yamato said "Mah, get on with it already. It's not going to be simple, this plan of yours, by any means and the clock's ticking."
Sasuke sighed and told the Anbu the plan.
At the Ichiraku ramen stand...
Asuma and Kurenai sat down, but they didn't see the old man or his daughter. "That's weird. The stand's open..."
Asuma said "Maybe they're in the back. Hello?" He called.
After a minute Ayame came out. "Oh, hello. I'm sorry to keep you waiting." She sniffed. "Can I take your order?"
Kurenai asked "Are you alright? You sound like you're about to cry."
Ayame said "Oh, no, I'm fine." She looked around, then said "Business hasn't been very good lately, ever since Naruto-kun left."
"I wouldn't blame him if he never came back."
"Toussan..."
"Ichiraku-san, what happened to your arm?" Asuma asked.
Teuchi replied "Nothing much. There was a fight here the other day, with somebody trying to badmouth Naruto. I may have gotten involved."
"Ichiraku-san..." Asuma put his hand on Kurenai's shoulder.
He said "So, Ichiraku-san, you don't think any differently about Naruto?"
Teuchi said "You mean do I think he's become the Kyuubi?" He paused and said "No, I do not. I saw the way he was mistreated. I would have adopted him myself, but it's difficult just supporting the two of us. If he didn't let the Kyuubi out any of those times, why would now be any different? I don't know the whole story, but I don't think what's happening is his fault."
Kurenai smiled. She said "D'you mind if I help in preparing food, since your arm is hurt, Ichiraku-san? I'd like to talk to you about something."
Teuchi was surprised. He said "H..hai." Kurenai jumped behind the counter and dissapeared with Teuchi.
Asuma smiled. He said "I'll order for the both of us. Four bowls of chicken ramen please."
"Hai."
Meanwhile...
Kiba was up in his room, sitting on his bed annoyed, when his mom came in. "Go away."
"Kiba..."
"I didn't think you'd be like the others mom...you and sis..." He was turned facing the corner.
"Kiba...we talked a little after you left...and maybe we were wrong about some things. We need to talk about this."
Kiba turned around. "Does that mean you guys have changed your minds?"
Hana showed up "We've started to think that maybe it was out of the cub's control, but the important thing to consider, Kiba, is if he is beyond saving. You ran into him, right? What do you think?"
Kiba thought back to the last time he had seen Naruto outside of the cave. It had been after they got the lettter, after they had decided on the plan.
Flashback.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Just then they heard buzzing. Two bugs! They all got up from where they were in a circle, excited. As expected, a clone of Naruto appeared again.
"Why haven't you come until now?"
Naruto said "Had to wait until dark." Everyone noticed that it was indeed twillight. Where had all the time gone? They noticed his expression too and decided not to further question him on that.
Naruto frowned at them "Why are you still here anyway? You don't still plan on bringing me back, do you?"
Sasuke said "Things have changed since the last time we talked, d...Naruto. Just take a look at this." Naruto took the piece of paper and read it.
'What the hell?' He said "So you'll be leaving now?"
Sakura cried "You baka! We're all going to be risking our lives for you and that's all you can say?!"
"Risk your lives?" Naruto was truly confused. What were they talking about? "What do you mean? I don't get it. You're not going back?"
Shikamaru said "Only half of us are, but we'll all be back. We're leaving Konoha."
Naruto said "So you can all become missing nins?" He looked at them sharply "That's idiotic, for all of you to risk your lives so for one person."
Sakura slapped him "How dare you!"
Naruto held his cheek. She just hit him. He frowned "Why did you do that?"
Kakashi said "You matter a lot more than you think you do, Naruto. Your part of my team, I won't leave you behind."
Sasuke said "You were my first and only friend." He looked away.
Sakura said "You're my team mate." She looked at him hurt.
Naruto frowned. What has this...feeling? This had to be an act. It had to be, they couldn't really feel like this, he would have seen it before, they would have shown it before. It felt...it hurt...' He groaned, squeezing his shoulder.
Kakashi said "I can seal that."
Naruto hissed "No, Orochimaru will know. I can't blow my cover." He looked at them "I don't understand."
Hinata said "None of us want to see you go down the dark path, Naruto-kun."
Sasuke said "The council needs to pay."
Neji added "The bastards have gotten too used to everybody doing what they want."
Naruto frowned, confused again, "What the hell are you planning? What's the purpose? I don't understand...why...do this for me? I don't matter."
Hinata cried "You're wrong! You do matter!"
Naruto frowned "What will you do after defying the council hmm? What do you expect from me? For me to leave and come join you and we can all be a happy family?" His curse mark twinged again and he hissed. "I have plans of my own."
Sasuke said "And they would be?"
Naruto said "Like I would tell you."
Sasuke said "I'm risking my life for you!"
"Don't!"
Sasuke yelled "I will! Stupid dobe! You saved me! Don't you realize that?! I'll do what I want." He quieted down at the end.
Naruto felt his eyes as they felt weird and frowned as he felt moisture at the corners, then he cried out again as the pain was sharp at the curse mark. "Sasuke..."
Kakashi said "Tell us your plan."
The clone had fallen down to his knees. He whispered something and was gone. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO End flashback...
Kiba looked at his mom and sister and said "The last time we met him, we were talking and he was saying how he doesn't matter and Sasuke kept on about how he was his team mate and his friend and all. At the end..." Akamaru barked.
Hana asked "He was crying?"
Kiba nodded. "I think the Naruto I went to school with is still in there somewhere."
Tsume said "That's what we needed to know. Kiba..."
"Hai, kaasan?"
"Is there something else you've been hiding from us?"
Kiba paused. He said "Kaasan, did you change your mind, with how you feel about Naruto?" He paused. "What do you think of how Konoha is going downhill, huh?"
Tsume said "Yes, I think I may have been wrong about Naruto. Konoha...is my home...we have always lived here..."
Kiba said "The people who are precious to us form our pack. If the pack moves on, would you stay behind?"
"What do you mean? I would never abandon my pack."
Kiba said "What I'm about to say can't be said to anyone else outside of this room. If it is, it could put a lot of people in danger, including us. Understand? Not a word to anyone, even Anbu or Hokage-sama."
"What is it?"
"Do you both promise not to tell?"
Hana nodded "Hai."
Tsume paused, then sighed "Hai, Kiba, but I have a feeling that I'm not going to like this much. Talk."
Kiba smiled slightly. He knew he could count on his family. He told them the plan they had discussed back on the outskirts of Oto.
At the Hyuuga household...
Hinata and Neji finished their spar just before Hiashi called Hinata.
Hinata went back in, Neji following with a scowl.
"Hinata."
"Hai, toussan?"
"I heard Neji's opinion of Uzumaki Naruto, but you ran out before I heard yours." He paused "I hope that the turn of events has convinced you of the brat's true nature."
Hinata took in a breath. 'It's acting time, Hinata. You can say it. Come on...' She said "I...I never thought that he was like that, b..but..I g..guess I was w..wrong. He w..was just like the s..stories, like the k..kyuubi." She couldn't help the tears that were coming to her eyes.
Hiashi smiled and said "Maybe you're not as dumb as you let on. Now that that nuisance is out of your thoughts, you can concentrate on training and become a decent ninja. Spar with Hanabi."
"H..hai, toussan." Hinata walked up, meekly.
Hanabi sneered at her. She said "What's wrong, sister? Did you love him?" She started striking "Bet it was a shock when you found out he was a monster!"
Hinata's eyes opened wider and she felt rage start to build up. She struck back harder than she usually did sparring with her sister. "Byakugan!"
"Byakugan! What's wrong, sister?" Hanabi spat. "Did I say something to make you angry? Was it about your bakemono boyfriend?"
Hinata scowled as Hanabi approached, then said "You are within the range of my divination. Eight trigrams sixty-four palms!" She struck. Hanabi fell over coughing afterward, the attack having caught her by surprise.
Hiashi said "Match." He paused "Hinata. That was the most spirit I've everseen you put into a fight."
Hinata hissed "Tell my sister that she should know better than to say such things. The boy I am in love with is no monster!"
Hiashi asked "Who is this boy that you are in love with?"
Hinata paused, rage fading, as she realized what she had gotten herself into. 'I can't say Naruto. I'll have to pick someone else, but who... She was caught off guard when she felt a hand catch hers and shocked by what she heard next.
"It's me, Hiashi-sama. I am the boy that Hinata-sama loves."
Hinata blushed. Hiashi looked thoughtful. He said "Your cousin is a much better choice than that brat. I approve. I will arrange the marriage with the clan. You are dismissed."
Hinata walked off to her room in a daze. What had just happened? Neji pulled her into a hallway.
"Hinata, snap out of it."
"Neji? What...?"
Neji said "I knew you couldn't say Naruto and it looked like you were having trouble coming up with somebody, so I stepped in. Don't worry about it, we'll be gone before the marriage anyway. We're leaving in a week."
Hinata thought 'Was that the only reason...?' "Neji?"
"Hai?"
"N..nothing." Hinata blushed slightly again.
Neji smiled "You did a good job back there. I think you've got Hiashi convinced. Just keep it up until we get out of here." Hinata nodded.
In another hiding spot on the outskirts ot Oto...
Kakashi, Gai, Lee, Tenten, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Shino were talking.
Tenten asked "Do you think we should keep trying to communicate with Naruto?"
Shino said "He may not come to talk to us, in fact, I doubt it highly that he will."
Tenten said "It wouldn't hurt to give him the option."
Shino said "I'll send a bug out to observe." He sent one out.
Shikamaru sighed "I hate being left behind here. There's too many outcomes...and we have no contact with the others..."
Chouji said "Hey, nobody does, but what can we do?"
Kakashi said "We'll know by a couple of weeks. The others should be back before then."
Lee asked "Ano...Shino, if your dad wanted to communicate with us, he could send one of his bugs, right?"
Shino nodded "Hai."
Lee said "Yosh. We still have some communication with the others then!"
Shikamaru said "But that's only after the others come into contact with him, which could take a while if they do it carefully enough to avoid getting caught."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I hope you guys liked it. Don't forget to review. Ja ne.