A/N Hello fellow FF Members and Visitors alike. This 9tailsfox2 with Chapter 13 of Escape! This is the last chapter of what I would like to call the Training Arc, which began right after my time skip. The fist Ark I shall dub the Incident Arc or the Tragedy Arc, which one sounds better to you guys? To which Arc am I going to go into next? Well read and find out! Italics means thoughts and pure unadulterated hatred during speech.

Hanabi was the first one to wake up. She laid there staring into Naruto's sleeping face for a few minutes before stroking his whisker marks. Naruto unconsciously shivered, which made Hanabi smile. If somebody told me that I would be kissing and sleeping in the same bed as Ruto-Kun every night a week ago, I probably would have punched them in the face. Hanabi giggled at that thought as she got up and got dressed for the day. Hanabi decided to start cooking breakfast with what meager supplies Naruto had. Ugh he doesn't go shopping? Oh wait that's right, everyone refuses to sell to him. Hanabi saddened at the thought. What did Ruto-Kun do to deserve this, what did I do to deserve the death of my sister and father? Tears began sliding down her face before she realized it. No! I must stop crying and moping around! Before Hanabi could wipe away her tears, she felt a hand spin her around and her eyes met with her boyfriend's eyes.

Naruto yawned as he got noticed that something or rather someone was missing. Hmm? Where did Nabi-Chan go? With that, Naruto quietly got his clothes changed and walked towards the kitchen where he heard sniffling. He knew who it was. Nabi-Chan? I guess she's still hurting over her father. With that Naruto decided to grab her shoulder and spin her around so he could look into her eyes. Suddenly Naruto shot his arms around Hanabi.

Hanabi tried to resist it but the tears just wanted to come automatically. "I hate it. I hate it when I feel like this. I feel so weak when I'm like this. I want to stop crying, I want to stop moping around, but the pain is so strong and blatant, I just can't stop myself." Hanabi's cries eventually died down to sniffles. "Why? Why do you always want be with me? To comfort me? To love me? Is it because you pity me?"

Naruto was caught off guard by that question but managed to answer before too long. "The reason why I want to be with you and comfort you is because I love you. The reason I love you is because throughout the years I have known you, my feelings for you only grew stronger."

Hanabi shook her head. "But you comforted me before we realized our feelings for each other."

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "The reason I comforted you then is because I knew you needed to be held. I knew your father wasn't going to do it, so I decided to give you the emotional support of a father and a friend, to help you, to train you, to give you food when you're hungry, to play with you and to hold you. Eventually my feelings grew into more than that, it grew into this." Naruto moved in for a kiss, which Hanabi happily accepted. The kiss said one thing and yet many things at the same time, which was 'I love you'.

Hanabi looked into Naruto's eyes. "Thank you Ruto-Kun, I guess I needed that."

Naruto smiled at that. "No problem Nabi-Chan. So, what are you cooking?"

Hanabi shook her head. "Sorry Ruto-Kun, but you only have enough food for one breakfast for two people. What we're having is toast and bacon."

Naruto looked shocked. "I have that?"

Hanabi scrunched her face up. "Maybe it's a better idea to throw away what you have and go shopping for food."

Naruto shook his head. "But Nabi-Chan, you know that no one will ever sell to me."

Hanabi smiled. "Don't worry about that, they will sell to me. But I guess Instant Ramen is all we can have at this point, and then we can meet up with Sasuke and… DANZO!" Hanabi spat the name with icy venom. Naruto looked at Hanabi in question. "The more I think about that man, the more I begin to hate him, and we're supposed to bow in front of him!"

Naruto shook his head, he also did not trust the man, but he did not realize that Hanabi was beginning to hate the man. He wondered why… "Hanabi, I know he does not seem like the nicest guy but why do you hate him so? I'm willing to give him a chance."

Hanabi shook her head. "Every time I picture him, I feel fear and anger. I don't know where it's coming from, but I know he is not a good man."

Naruto shook his head. "If he tries anything with you, I'll protect you. For now we must get there, unless you want to run 200 laps with the green duo again?"

Hanabi sighed. "I would much rather run 1000 laps non-stop with them than look the man in the eyes. But you are right, we should get going."

Naruto and Hanabi ate their Instant Ramen then left the apartment, locked of course and made their way to the Team Meeting Area.

Sasuke arrived there, expecting Hanabi and Naruto to be late again, but was surprised to see that they already have arrived. "So, no genjutsus or dead people to hold you two back?" Sasuke immediately regretted saying that, even before when Hanabi looked down, trying to fight the tears. Aw shit, I've done it now. "I'm soooooooo sorry for saying that, it was incredibly insensitive of me. It's just that I see you two so happy together, I just get jealous sometimes. I'm sorry Hanabi-Chan."

Hanabi sniffled as she looked up at Sasuke. "It's ok Sasuke-Kun, I know you mean well…"

"Sasuke does have a point though." Hanabi immediately stiffened at the voice as Danzo shunshined right before them. "Emotions hinder you; if you were not such a crybaby then maybe you would not have missed your first team meeting and would not have been late for your first. This is why one of the many goals of Team 7 is to kill your own emotions. By the time you are done with my training, you will have no fear or sadness to deal with; you will operate on a logic basis."

Though Hanabi looked like she was standing straight in attention, she was actually stressing out on the inside. He wants us to kill our emotions!? But that's impossible! Even if it was, there would be no happiness, although it would be nice to not feel like a train wreck on the inside all the time, it is just not good to numb your feelings like that. Also, what does he mean by one of the many goals? If I didn't know any better, he wants us to be his puppets! I'll have to talk to Ruto-Kun, Sasuke-Kun and Kakashi-Sensei about this later. Hanabi took a few breaths for the poison about to come out of her mouth as she bowed. "Danzo-Sensei."

Danzo seemed to revel in forcing his students into doing something they didn't want; proof that he already got control of the three, but only for a quick second. His face returned to normal before anyone could notice the change. "Yes my underling?"

Hanabi seethed at the use of the term 'underling' "I am your student, not your underling. Any ways, what do you plan to do with us?

Danzo smirked. "Correct me if I'm wrong but underling means follower. If you are my student, then you are my follower, and thus my underling, do you understand underling? As for your question about Team 7's goals, all will be revealed in good time."

Hanabi struggled to control herself from disabling all of this man's chakra points, "Yes Sensei…"

Danzo smiled. "To begin killing off your emotions, you have to cut off all emotional values, end any relationships you currently have, even amongst you three, and keep everything on a professional level, you shall have no friends, no personal interactions, just colleagues going on the same missions, working on the same goal. This shall start now! With that over with, let's begin our missions, after that shall be the lunch break, then finally our training, after that, you three are dismissed. Team 7, move out!"

The Missions Team 7 got today were painting fences, walking dogs, helping Mrs. Trease move to her new home, and picking through weeds. Worst of all, they could not talk, even during the lunch break. Any interaction more than professional between each other would have them running 500 laps around Konoha, as warned by Danzo. By the time training was done, all three were able to walk up and down the tree without falling off 3 times and still able to keep going.

Danzo smirked. "Great, tomorrow, we shall begin water walking. Alright Team 7 Dismissed!" With that Danzo shunshined out the field.

Hanabi fidgeted a little bit. "Sasuke-Kun, Ruto-Kun, don't you think it's odd he already has goals set in his mind?"

Sasuke sighed. "I thought exactly the same thing; it's as if he wants to control us, if his interaction with you this morning is pretty obvious. He is obviously planning something…"

"If I heard this correctly, then he is planning something."

Team 7 turned to see Kakashi approaching them. "Kakashi-Sensei!"

Kakashi smiled at his Team 7, no one takes Team 7 away from Kakashi Hatake and gets away with it. "Unfortunately, it is all circumstantial."

Naruto shook his head. "Ugh it's so irritating, Hanabi, Sasuke, want to go to the park for a bit?"

Kakashi shook his head. "I like to talk with Hanabi first, if you don't mind. After that you three can do whatever you want."

Naruto and Sasuke nodded at each other then walked away. Naruto stopped and turned around for a moment. "Meet us at the park Nabi-Chan." Naruto began walking away again.

Hanabi waved at Naruto in response. "Will do Ruto-Kun!" Hanabi turned to Kakashi with a questioning look. "What is this about Kakashi-Sensei?"

Kakashi took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I have something to talk to you about. It's about your father… Are you still hurting?"

Hanabi smiled sadly. "Yes, it still hurts, a lot; I hate the fact that he took his own life. I think I can forgive him for treating me the way he did while he was alive, but I don't think I can forgive him for taking the coward's way out… Worst of all, even though I have forgiven, even though I feel so much pain from this, I still hate him." Hanabi began shedding tears.

Kakashi didn't know what to do; he has never experienced comforting a crying child, especially for something as serious as this. Kakashi decided to give Hanabi a hug, which Hanabi clung onto. Hanabi's cries began to turn into sobs as she pulled away from Kakashi. "It's not as good as Ruto-Kun's hugs, but it'll do."

Kakashi smiled from under his mask. "You know I actually made a child smile for once." Kakashi then dropped his tone. "But I do know how you feel."

Hanabi looked at Kakashi in question. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Kakashi shook his head as he answered. "My father was the White Fang of Konoha."

It took Hanabi a while to process what he meant, but gasped when she did figure it out. "So your father also…?"

Kakashi nodded. "My father also committed suicide. It changed me to a man who was isolating and alienating himself to any potential friends. It was only until my last mission with Obito Uchiha that I became the man I am today."

Hanabi looked at Kakashi in question. "Obito Uchiha?"

Kakashi smiled at that. "That will be a story for another day. Anyways, the whole point of me telling out who my father was is so you understand that you are not the only one whose father committed suicide. Do not let the experience change you if you can. If your do, you should come out all for the better. I was so bitter back then."

Hanabi seemed to think for a while before smiling. "I see thank you Kakashi-Sensei for talking to me. I actually feel better now. I think I might be healing a bit even. Thank you, I guess I'll go to the park now. Bye Kakashi-Sensei!" With that Hanabi darted off with Kakashi waving goodbye after her.

Hanabi arrived at the park to see the Naruto and Sasuke waiting for her. The three children smiled as they went on the swings. At the end of the day, the three were star gazing in the park. Hanabi fidgeted a bit. Naruto, who was holding her, looked into her eyes. He could clearly tell something was bothering her. "Nabi-Chan, what's wrong?"

Hanabi frowned as she sighed. "What if Danzo caught us?"

Naruto was confused about her odd behavior. Sasuke sighed at that statement. "Hanabi-Chan, do you really think that a high ranking official such as Danzo has nothing better than to spy on a bunch of children?"

Hanabi shook her head. "I know, Sasuke-Kun, but it's just that what if he finds out? He'll be mad. I don't think we should hang out like this anymore… Ruto-Kun, I'm sorry I don't want you getting hurt, simply because you were with me…" Hanabi shook her head. "I'm sorry!" Hanabi got up, but was held back by Naruto.

Naruto pulled Hanabi back down and kissed her. "Nabi-Chan, if he catches us, then we shall take the punishment together. Like Kakashi said, those who abandon the rules are trash; those who abandon their friends are lower than trash."

Sasuke smirked. "Naruto's right, if anything should happen to one us, we must stick together and stand up for each other."

Hanabi looked at her team mates. "Thank you guys, I doubted myself and was letting that man get to me…"

Naruto smiled at Hanabi, "No need to worry about that Nabi-Chan. Oh Kami, it's getting late, we should head home now."

Sasuke smiled. "Tonight was fun. I think we should do this again sometime."

Hanabi smiled as well. "I agree with you Sasuke, but Ruto-Kun's mine! You're not getting him." Team 7 began laughing as they began walking home.

Sasuke started walking to his house as he waved. "Night Dobe, Hanabi-Chan."

Naruto waved as well "Night Teme."

Hanabi waved goodbye. "Night Sasuke-Kun."

The next day everyone gathered on the same spot, same old boring missions, only to be made worse by the lack of conversation. In conclusion, having Danzo as your sensei was miserable, and there was nothing they could do about it. Finally it was training time and they were to walk on water.

Danzo walked them to the river on Training Ground 7. "Here you three shall learn water walking. Like tree walking you have to use chakra to stick to the surface, unlike tree walking, you have to have keep adjusting the way the charka distributes to the surface, to compensate the ever changing surface of the water. I hope you brought a change of clothes, if not I'd suggest doing this in your underwear, unless you want your clothes wet."

Hanabi went red instantly, as Sasuke shrugged and took off his shirt and pants only leaving him with boxers. Naruto hesitated a bit but did the same thing, revealing the ramen pattern boxers he had on. "Come on Nabi-Chan, do you want your clothes wet or something?"

Hanabi shook her head. "I don't want to get half naked in front of anybody." Maybe except for you, Ruto-Kun. Hanabi blushed even harder at the thought.

Danzo shook his head. "I'm not interested in children, such as you. So unless you want your clothes to be wet, please do as I say."

Hanabi shook her head. Naruto grabbed her shoulders and looked Hanabi in the eyes and whispered into her ear. "If you really don't want anybody to see you, I shall block everyone's view from you, or if you like I could have a clone train with the group, while I train with you, to make sure you don't get hurt of course.

Hanabi smiled. "Thank you Ruto-Kun."

Naruto smiled. "Danzo-Sensei is it ok if I train with Hanabi, personally, I could have a clone train here with the group."

Danzo shook his head. "Alright, for today I shall accept that, but tomorrow you shall train with the rest of the group. I can't have you being self-conscious about yourself while training.

Hanabi smiled as Naruto made a clone and left with Hanabi into a more secluded part of the woods. When they were out of hearing and sight range of the group, Naruto smiled. "Alright Nabi-Chan, why do you wish to only me to train with me you while you have your shirt off?"

Hanabi got red instantly. "W-well, y-you see, we're boyfriend girlfriend no? M-my body is only for your eyes, even if it's o-only half n-naked."

Naruto got red at that. "W-Well thank you Nabi-Chan. Well, why don't we start training now?" [Sorry no lemons… yet… maybe ;)]

Naruto and Hanabi began training on their water walking, but could not help but steal glances at each other, but they did not let that get in the way of their training.

Because the Team had so much experience with chakra control, that by the end of the day they were able to stand on the water without falling. Danzo seemed intrigued that three gennin fresh from the academy were able to walk on water already, but he did not say anything on it as he dismissed Team 7.

Like yesterday, Team 7 enjoyed their time in the park, but this time, they trained intensely on their tactics again. To say the least, they were making enormous progress.

The next day Team 7 gathered to receive their first mission of the day, and they were about to get a huge surprise. The third Hokage smiled as he brought up a paper labeled Rank-C. "I am to say the least surprised. Danzo has mentioned how impressed he is with you guys. As a reward, I shall assign you a C-Rank, will out client please come out?"

An old white haired man walked out the door. "Hello Team 7, I am Jiraiya, and the purpose of this mission is to retrieve a friend of mine."

A/N I like this chapter, the point of this chapter was to begin showing the true nature of Danzo, but not completely. What do you think his plans are? Guess and find out. If you haven't figured it out yet, which I hope you did, the next chapter begins the Tsunade Retrieval Arc. Yes I'm doing this before the Chuunin Exams get over yourselves. I'm doing an early Tsunade arc to make things easier with my story, more specifically, Naruto and Hanabi's training. Ok here's my revised plan, Tsunade Arc, Chuunin Exams Arc, Invasion Arc, Sasuke Arc, Time Skip into the Final Arc, where the true plot begins. 'Aw but 9tailsfox2, why can't you just cut straight to the Final Arc?' Well my friends, believe it or not, all this is to set up for the Final Arc. Trust me the story will be all the better for it. Anyways, like always, R&R and this is 9tailsfox2 signing off!