DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto.

"Common speech"

'Thoughts'

"Emphasis/ japanese statements"

"Contained individual's speech/ significant jutsu"

'Contained individual's thoughts'

Naruto: Chapter 11 – Truths


The walk back to her quarters was a time of reflection for the female jinchuuriki.

She admitted that she was lost. Never before had a situation risen in such extremity as this.

How can she escape?

What alternatives did she have?

How can she go home?

No one answered her, and she had none herself.

She thought she had a glimmer of hope in pairing up with Naruto, and together, they could find a means to escape.

But the Akatsuki leader was his father, and that was certainly an obstacle.

If she could somehow talk with him in secret. Find any nuances to indicate that there was a stormy relationship between father and son, she just might have a chance.

So that will be the first step to freedom. Find a crack and create a bigger one.

Perhaps she should seduce him? That would certainly expedite things, wouldn't it?

Men could never resist the wiles of women.

She smirked. This was fact.

But did she have it in her? Could she sleep with a man she did not love?

The father was no problem. 'He's a hunk,' she admitted.

But she had to seduce the son. Have him fall so infatuated with her that he would be at her beck and call. That any whim she would have, he would do.

The father might still have relations to a wife, and she didn't know the strength of that bond. And besides, aren't the younger ones always ready to go?

She hugged herself and felt a delusional chill. She had never done this sort of thing before.

And yet, it was something that needed be done.

Leave all thoughts of passion. Make the body into a tool. Get the job done.

And with these last thoughts, she told herself to sleep on it as she went inside her room.


"Now, what is it that troubles you, my son?" asked Arashi.

"Well…what is the point of all of this? Are you going to use me and that other jinchuuriki in hunting down the remaining bijuu?"

"No. That was my initial plan ever since I formed Akatsuki…but now things have gotten quite complicated…"

"How?"

The Yondaime Hokage smiled and stated, "I never realized that what I was doing was wrong. But you and Yugito have changed all that. My only problem now is of thinking up a way of undoing all this."

"Let's just leave then."

"Leave a very organized group of S-class criminals, who are very well funded, alone? I don't think so." "And there are other matters that you do not know, and do not need to know of…"

"In the meantime," continued Arashi "I'll train you, while we are still in the cover of their ignorance. And I think it is time to teach you that technique."

"What? What?" asked the excited clone.

"How to travel as Thunder Gods do," smiled Arashi proudly.

"Hi…Hiraishin no Jutsu…"

"Yes."

"Eh…is it a bloodline limit only our family has? Because that would be so cool."

"Sorry to disappoint, but no."

Naruto's face frowned in disappointment then said, "So how come Kakashi-sensei, or any other genius shinobi weren't able to copy it?"

"That's because 95 percent behind Hiraishin no jutsu is in preparation. You could even say 99. It all becomes possble because of seals. You see this kunai? It's a special jutsu type. But the main difference of it is that it is capable of storing chakra. Also, you will need to learn how to do reverse summoning.

What happens is, I prepare the jutsu before hand in secret. When the need to use it occurs, no hand seals are required since I've already stored the hand sequence and the chakra into this seal," he said, pointing at the seal wrapped around the three pronged kunai's handle.

"Activating the seal is as simple as sensing your chakra. Simple but not easy," Arashi pointed out. "It takes practice and patience to cover a large area for chakra signature, and pinpoint it."

"Do you mean, anyone could do this jutus?" asked the clone incredulously.

"Yes. But it isn't a jutsu for the lazy man. For every single kunai I have in supply, chakra equivalent to summoning Gamabunta is stored. And then I make the hand sequence and store that into the seal. For every... single ... one ... I have in stock. "

"Sugoi…"

"Which reminds me, did Jiraya teach you the art of seal making during your time with him?"

"A little. I wasn't that interested in it. Too boring."

"Heh. I bet you prefer the real flashy techniques wherein people see your chakra burst with all the flare of fireworks."

"Heh heh. Yeah, that blows enemies away!!"

"Naruto…the mark of a great warrior is humility. That along with patience."

"Yeah, Ero-sennin said the same thing but…"

"He's a bad example so don't bother finishing your statement."

"Well, what does it mean to be patient?" asked the younger blond, somehow knowing that the question wanted to be asked.

"There are seven emotions: Anger, joy, grief, jealousy, hate, adoration, and anxiety… If you hold back your inclination to these seven, then you will soon understand all manner of things and be in harmony with Eternity."

"But we aren't just tools for war. I don't in believe that."

"In battle, use patience. When meditating, use patience. But let emotion flow when the sun shines bright, and your loved one is beside you. I advise caution because you immerse yourself wholely into emotion. It is the link between you and the Kyuubi. If you let go to this, then the kyuubi can easily take over."

"So…emotions are what weakens the seal?"

"I wasn't able to study the intricacies of your seal enough. But seeing recent events, and from what Jiraiya has told me about this fox's coat, I would think yes as the answer; especially when you are angry. Now, let's move on. Please hold these chakra leaflets so we can determine what your affinity is."

"I already did this with Kakashi-sensei. My chakra's affinity is wind. Just like yours."

"That was when you had control over your body. But now, kyuubi's chakra is what runs through your coils."

"Oh yeah…" Naruto reluctantly took one piece and applied chakra into it. But strangely, nothing happened.

"Um…now what?" asked the bewildered clone.

"My chakra cannot be discerned with this mundane method," stated the demon king as he returned.

"Can you tell you tell us then what affinity your chakra is, Kitsune-san?"

"Hellfire."

Father and son stood side by side, bewildered by this revelation. Then the clone burst out "WHAT?! You mean to tell me that I have to start elemental chakra training from scratch?!"

"Naruto, you already know nature manipulation. That skill alone is already more than half of what you need to know. All that is left to learn is effective application," replied the Kyuubi. "Let me demonstrate…"

Pulling back the sleeves of the orange jacket, the demon fox began to mold chakra on his right hand and a blue sphere began to take shape.

He then held his left hand over the sphere and within seconds, four spikes began to circle the globe. The shape increased in size to about two feet in width, humming with bated anger. The dead calm wind in the cavern came to life, commanded by the force at the demon's hand.

"Behold, Hokage Arashi, the jutsu your son created. Fuuton: Rasenshuriken in its complete state."

"How…?"

'Ah…you are up and about. I have been in existence for countless millennia, boy. Taking your jutsu to its completed state poses no difficulty for me.'

"And you didn't think about teaching me?!"

'What would I have gained? And did you not renounce my power? Boasting that you shall conquer all with your power alone.'

"Renouncing your power and teaching me is different!"

'Renouncing my power is equivalent to renouncing me.'

"Screw you, you bastard."

'Tell me, Naruto. How does it feel to be caged?

"Hmph.

Arashi will find a way to bring me back. And when he does, I promise you, I will have my vengeance."

The demon king mentally shut out the conversation as he dispersed the jutsu, the last statement disturbing him.

What if Arashi did find a way to return him to his cage? That was a thought he did not wish to dwell on.

"Naruto, I'm proud of you," declared Arashi. "Until now, I've never been able to fuse elemental chakra into the Rasengan. This jutsu goes beyond S-class."

"Eheh. Thanks. It wasn't easy. Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-taichou really pounded me to the ground with it," replied the clone while scratching his head in an act of modesty.

"I would certainly think so…Kitsune-san…where were you just now?" asked Arashi.

"Hmm? I am right beside you, Fire Shadow."

"No. What I meant was, your mind seemed to drift off for awhile there."

"Ah…yes…your son and I…we were having an internal conversation."

"I see. About what?"

"Over a trivial matter… It is nothing."

"Very well. It's getting late. Naruto, you can disperse yourself now so you and Kitsune-san can rest. Also, I won't be around tomorrow, thus he and you will just have to make do without me."

"Okay," replied the clone and watched as the disguised Hokage left him alone with his real body.

"Hey Kyuubi, can you teach me some techniques using your chakra tomorrow?"

The clone obviously had no inkling about the conversation between the fox and the imprisoned Naruto.

"Tomorrow shall be tomorrow. I think it best that you rejoin your real self before planning the next course of action."

"Wakarimasu."

And with that, the clone dispersed in a plume of smoke. Leaving the master of Hell all alone in the silent cavern.


Konohagakure no Sato…

She was weary.

The task of informing the closest relative of a shinobi killed in action is never easy.

The deceased was part of the daily patrols for the 50 kilometer radius check of the village's perimeter.

They were nearing the North Western checkpoint, when an ambush occurred.

The border office for that area soon noted of their delayed arrival. A search team was immediately sent out and found the four man team decimated.

All killed except for one.

He was given first aid and then rushed to Konoha Hospital, but his heart had stopped for more than four minutes before he was discovered.

These guerilla ambushes were increasing in frequency, and they still had no idea who was responsible.

Fortunately, no civilians or clients of Konoha have been harmed. It was always border patrol, that were attacked.

Haruno Sakura could do nothing. The brain damage was irreparable, and even if the heart had kept beating, the physical injuries sustained by the internal organs would still have left him in a vegetative state.

No, nothing could be done, but the guilt still lay heavily within her. And now, it was her task to inform the 18-year old chunin's parents of his demise.

Sometimes, she hated her job.

She was now heading for the waiting room, two floors below, and opted for the stairs. She was reluctant with every very single step.

She wanted to tell the head nurse to be the one to inform the parents, but that would be evading her duties as head physician on duty.

No…it had to be her. And that just sucked. Big time.

Somehow, it never seemed fair that a visitor can only learn moments later that the patient passed away.

That they didn't know about it firsthand. That they weren't there during the final moments.

How do you tell someone that a significant other is no more?

How does one tell a mother that the child she gave birth to is now deceased?

How can one begin to empathize?

She could always go about it scientifically.

'The brain did not receive oxygen due to a cardiac arrest. Therefore, resuscitation would serve no purpose, since doing so would have left the body in a vegetative state.'

No.

That would've been too cold. Way too cold.

And she didn't like being cold.

Ever since Naruto's disappearance, she felt alone. And she hated it. It was another team mate, gone all over again. But this time, there was no team 7 comrade/teammate to lean on to.

There was always Ino. But her team had joined the 20th legion, and was rarely home. And Kakashi-sensei always had missions.

She realized that she was never that close with any of the others of the Rookie 9.

And Sai was just so…Sai. Although he has been making an effort, he is still far from what the original team 7 had and shared.

One day passed on to the next with no meaning. No objective. No purpose.

And she herself felt like being in a vegetative state. Wasting the time away in redundant tasks like a programmed machine.

She missed the spice of life. The spontaneity of it. The spontaneity of Naruto.

But missing him will have to be put on hold for now. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand and not slip up. She had to resume being the programmed machine.

Because the door of the waiting room now lay before her.


"Tsunade."

"Just this once, and you know as well as I do that this is indeed very rare, I'm going to be polite… Can you PLEASE use the door?! That is where the entryway is. That is it's purpose. And other than that, where the hell have you been?!"

"And go through the trouble of knocking then asking if I can come in, at which point you know it is me, at which point you can then decline my passage. Whatever."

Jiraiya felt the spike in her chakra but didn't care. The news he bore was much too important.

"Did you hear me? I asked where the hell you've been for the past year and a half!!" she shouted, facing the toad hermit, who was sitting on the windowsill.

"I've been gathering information."

"HA! What a laughable ex.." "War is coming…" "…cuse. Wait, what?!"

"Another shinobi war is coming. There has been a lot of military mobilization occurring in Iwagakure."

She sighed. "Iwa again? Why are they such war crazy people?"

Jiraiya was looking over the village, thinking along the same lines.

Tsunade remembered that war in which Konoha had won, thanks to Konoha's Yellow Flash.

She had only heard about the details in the aftermath, since she no longer resided in Konoha during the time.

This time around, the Konoha Flash was no more. The professor was no more. And countless other legends she hardly could remember were either swept away by the tides of time, or retired.

This time, they had the Copy-cat Kakashi, the mighty Green Beast Gai, Asuma of the 12 Fire Lord Guardians, the former ANBU Yamato, apprentice of the Snake Sannin Anko, and Ibiki the merciless interrogator in the jounin specialist ranks.

Konoha also had the elite ANBU, as well as the mysterious ANBU of the Ne in their arsenal.

And of course, they had two of the legendary Sannin.

They would be the frontlines. The tip of the spear. The first to face possibilities of death.

Whereas the countless Chuunin, and medic nin would be the ever important support.

They would have to make do. There might not be much time left.

"When?"

"I still don't have the specifics. But we should prepare nonetheless."

"Yes…there is another matter that you need to know…"

"What is it?"

"Naruto is missing."

The toad hermit quickly face the blonde Hokage, "WHAT?? For how long?!"

"Nearly two years now."

'Could he possibly be with Arashi? If so, why didn't he tell me? Damn it!!'

"Jiraiya, you heard nothing of this in your spy network?"

"No…Tsunade, I need to go. I need to meet someone right away," he replied as he quickly jumped away from the window.

"Wait!"

But he was already too far away to have heard her. Konoha was victorious in round 1. Who will win round 2?


Knock, knock.

"Enter."

"Sir, I did as you ordered. It seems that your information about Iwa are accurate."

"I see."

"And not only Iwa. There has been heavy activity in Amegakure, and Kusagakure. Also, many of the nuke-nin in Taki no Kuni have banded together and have become alarmingly organized.

"Takigakure no Sato has long been assaulted with civil wars because of divided factions for many years. It is interesting that something would make them band together."

"Yes."

"Thank you. We might be mobilizing sooner than I expected. Be at the ready, Itachi-san."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama."


Next Chapter's Title: Exodus