Chapter 32: Regret

(Italics: Thoughts/Flashbacks/Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's / Demon's / Inner Naruto's / Inner Sakura's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)

Ino's breaths became more shallow with each step as she hurried toward the Hokage Tower. She sprinted down a trail as the Hokage tower came into view in the short distance. Ino hurried through the door and sprinted up the long spiral staircase that led to the Hokage's office.

As soon as the office door came into view Ino suddenly had the impulse to swing the door open immediately and consult the Hokage on her feelings that no matter how much she thought she knew Naruto there was more to him than meets the eye, as she reached for the door handle she hesitated and pulled her hand back slightly as she took a moment to meditate and compose herself, no matter how important this matter about Naruto was to her she had yet to report the attack on her.

After a deep breath she knocked on the office door, the sound of paper shuffling came and went just as fast as it had come, after a moment of silence a voice called out:

"Come in."

The office door slowly opened and the form of Ino emerged from the doorway. Tsunade and Jiraiya were both sharing a drink and seemed to had been engaged in conversation the moment before Ino had arrived. Ino bowed politely and said:

"Lady Hokage I'm here to report an attack on myself from the village border."

Jiraiya and Tsunade's eyes' widened in surprise and shock as Tsunade immediately responded: "Are you okay?!"

While Jiraiya asked: "What happened?!"

Ino took a breath and said: "I was going for a walk and was ambushed by Zero."

Tsunade was surprised at this statement, she looked at Ino in disbelief and said: "You were ambushed with your level of training?"

Ino sighed and nodded slowly as she said:

"Me and Naruto had a... Misunderstanding you could say and I was a little confused and self absorbed that I lost focus on my surroundings, that was when he struck."

Tsunade nodded and said: "So I take it you eliminated the target?"

Ino shook her head, this caused Jiraiya to think about it for a moment, after a moment of silence Jiraiya asked: "Was it Naruto?"

Ino sighed and replied: "Partially..."

"Partially?" Repeated Jiraiya and Tsunade questionably in unison.

Ino nodded and said: "He performed a summoning Jutsu and that being alone finished off Zero, only this summoning Jutsu was different... Instead of biting down on his thumb and performing hand signs he smeared his blood on this strange, ancient looking scroll..."

Tsunade and Jiraiya's facial expressions immediately shifted into completely serious ones, they made eye contact and nodded in understanding that they knew the situation as Tsunade asked: "Ino do you remember what form this summoning took?"

Ino almost had trouble explaining what she saw, but even worse she strangely felt guilty, like she was betraying Naruto by coming here and telling them this. Ino took a deep breath and replied:

"It took the form of the a giant red fox with Nine enormous tails, but what scared me the most was the bloodlust radiating from that thing... I felt like I was going to die if I got any closer to Naruto, I tried to approach him about his connection to the fox but every time I try he-"

But she was cut off suddenly as Jiraiya rose to his feet, enraged as he said:

"The Fool! I bet he has no idea what he's just done."

Ino flinched at this sudden outburst and said:

"Please tell me! What connection does Naruto have with that fox thing?"

Tsunade pretended to not heard her as she immediately snapped her fingers three times, three ANBU Black Ops appeared before her, the leader of the particular squad steps forward and asks:

"Your orders Lady Hokage?"

Tsunade sighed and said: "Bring me Naruto Uzumaki at once."

The ANBU bowed his head and said:

"As you wish..." And with those words the three ANBU Agents vanished into darkness.

Ino had a look of desperation in her eyes as she begged:

"Tsunade! Please tell me!" Tsunade responded with a sigh of her own as she replied:

"I'm sorry Ino that's something Naruto, and only Naruto can tell you when he feels ready to share it with you... His burden."

As Ino sat down and poured herself a glass of Sake to calm her nerves under recommendation of Tsunade, she began to think:

I wonder what Tsunade meant by: "Ready to share his burden." ?

Naruto lied in his bed, reeking of alcohol. He stirred slightly in his sleep as he felt three chakra signatures enter his bedroom, unfortunately he was too drunk to care or even tell the difference between what was really happening and a very strange dream. But in dreams you could do anything you want right? With this thought in mind Naruto rose from his bed and eyed his invaders with newfound interest, he points to the closest person and says:

"You! Bring me a bowl of ramen for I am hungry." The ANBU eyed him suspiciously and made eye contact with the squad leader, the leader merely nodded to confirm they had permission to use force.

The last thing Naruto remembered before passing out again was receiving a quick blow to the stomach and being tied up and bound... And then only darkness...

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Ino waited patiently, after a few minutes of silence an audible knock sounded from the other side of Tsunade's office door, she sighed and called out: "Come in."

The three ANBU emerged from the doorway, the leader dropped the tied up form of Naruto on the ground and looked up at Tsunade and asked: "Mission complete, is there anything else you ask of me Lady Hokage?"

Tsunade nodded and said: "Good work, you are dismissed."

The ANBU nodded in confirmation and vanished into darkness. Tsunade walked over and pulled a sack off of Naruto's head. Naruto looked around annoyed and said: "Tsunade! What's the big deal!?"

Tsunade's eyes narrowed in focus on the blond Jinchuuriki and did not move, as she was staring she said: "Ino this is a private matter between me, Jiraiya, and Naruto, please remove yourself from our presence."

Ino, although disappointed she would be left out on knowing what was going on merely nodded in response and left the room as she replied: "As you wish Lady Hokage."

After Ino had left Jiraiya placed a silencing seal on the office door, their eyes both stopped on Naruto as Tsunade said: "Naruto... We need to talk."

A/N: I thought I'd escalate the plot a bit and have Naruto's contract with the Kyubi be considered a Kinjutsu, and FYI Kinjutsu means forbidden technique, not swordsmanship.

I just figured the power to Summon a Demon would be considered forbidden. And during all this Ino's mentally putting together puzzle pieced to try and understand Naruto more.

Anyway this is what I came up with to keep the story going, I'm doing my best to make sure it ends soon with a big bang so I can create more fan fiction projects to work on. Possibly even a sequel if I can figure out how to create one for this story. Anyway REVIEW if you care!

Peace! - DemonicLove555