Review Response

Ookami88: Sorry to tell you but you are wrong. It is not Yamamoto Genryuusai. But I was seriously considering using him as the Shikyokage. It was close but I decided to use someone else which has yet to be figured out by anyone.

Rose Tiger: Yes she should have told him.

DriftStar: I was think whether or not I should have do that. But that would be to easy.

Cloud Shooter: I thank you for your praise. Reviews like that feed my ever expanding ego. And Naruto will get some love but it may take a while so please be patient.

Quote of the Day: Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Kahlil Gibran

Chapter 7: Lost and Found

Failure

It was something that no one is fond of. It usually doesn't matter what it was a person failed at. Failure feels the same way most of the time. But some failures hurt more then most people could possibly know. It feels like a crushing weight upon one's shoulders, it feels like a numbness spread through out one's body, people feel and react differently when presented with failure. But there's failing a task, and then there's failing a person. When you fail someone the feeling a person feels is increased ten fold. When a person is depending on you and you fail them the devastating feeling hurts worse.

That is what the people who knew Naruto were feeling as they returned to the village. When Hinata had yet to returned from her search the team had set out to look for her and hopefully Naruto. But when they found her she was alone. Her face buried in her hands, sobs racking her body, and in her arms was a backpack. At that moment they knew that Naruto had gotten away. At first no one moved, they only watched the heart broken young heiress cry. Kurenai was the first to move, making her way to her student. When she reached her she crouched down and placed her hand on Hinata's back. As soon as Kurenai's hand touched her student's back Hinata immediately latched on to her teacher as if she were her only life line left. Kakashi watched Kurenai attempt to comfort her sobbing student with comforting gestures and soothing words. But from what he could see they had little effect. He walked forward across the rain soaked ground. Kurenai looked at Kakashi with a sadden look in her eyes.

"We should return to the village. This mission is a failure." Kakashi said to Kuenai as she nodded in agreement.

When Sousa heard that she quickly stepped forward.

"But Hatake-sama we can't just return empty handed. The target is still out there." Sousa said in what Kakashi could tell was an act of desperation.

"We can't continue. Naruto has probably made it across the border by now." Kakashi answered.

"Then we should follow him across it. We can not allow the demon to fall into enemy hands."

A gasp sounded from a few of the older members of the team, Shino and Kiba were the only ones that were confused. While Hinata couldn't hear over the sound of the rain and her own sobs.

"Demon? Are they talking about Naruto? Sure he was a pain in the neck, but isn't calling him a demon a bit to harsh?" though Kiba as he took another look at his crying teammate.

Kakashi closed his eye and took in a deep breath through the hole in his mask in an attempt to calm himself. To talk like that, in front of kids that aren't supposed to know is really treading into dangerous waters. Kakashi tried once more to reason with Root ninja.

"If we attempt to cross the border we will most likely get caught because of our numbers. If we cross and we are caught Grass might see that as an act of war. And that is something that we can not afford."

"Then allow me and my team to continue you this hunt alone. We will be able to find the target." Sousa countered.

Kakashi was starting to lose his patience, which was something that never happened. But given the current situation, weather, fatigue, and stubborn ninja undermining his command it was understandable. Kakashi took in one last breath to calm himself before lost it.

"You are not going after Naruto. The risk greatly outweighs the reward," Kakashi felt a wave of guilt pass through him. He was pretty much saying that Naruto was not worth the risk. "My decision stands we are returning to the village." Kakashi finished, turning in the direction of the village and motioning everyone to move out.

Sousa anger flared. She had to control the urge to kill the one eyed man walking away from her. But she knew that would not be able to return the village she did. And just taking off was out of the question. Konoha would make them missing ninja, and being Root a seal placed on their head at recruitment would activate, killing her and her team. Sousa looked up to see that the the group minus her team had started their trek home. Ryoushi walked up next to her.

"What should we do now?" Ryoushi ask.

Sousa remained silent for a moment trying to think of a plan.

"There is nothing we can do but return to the village. And hope that Danzo-sama will be merciful." replied Sousa as walked in the direction of the others.

Ryoushi looked at Kemono, he had a slightly dreaded look. He cold tell that returning empty handed would be met with severe consequences. Ryoushi motioned toward Sousa with his head. Telling him to follow. There was nothing they could do.

The night was cold. It cut deep into his body, but right now the cold was the least of his worries. His steps were becoming more and more sluggish. The adrenaline was the only thing that was keeping him going but that had wore out a hours ago. His arm burned but there was nothing he could do to treat it. His chakra was almost out, only enough so he wouldn't die from chakra depletion. The blood on him had already dried, reminding him of the ordeal that happened a few hours ago.

"Yes just a little longer. I can almost taste the freedom." the demon thought.

Naruto lost his balance and fell to his knees. his legs no longer able to support his body. He slow started to shake. He shook until he felt something rising through his throat. When it reached his mouth he spat it out. He liquid splattered on the dirt. From the taste he knew what it was. He had tasted it so many times in his life. Blood. Naruto guessed that the poison was finally starting to take effect.

"Heh I guess the fox won't heal me this time." Naruto said to himself.

Naruto lifted his head and looked around him. Empty. Void of life. Dead. There was nothing. A chuckle left his mouth. Slowly his chuckle increased in strength. Slowly growing until it became full blown laughter. He laughed, and laughed. Naruto turned his head upward, and stared at the sky. The stars stared back at him.

"Are you satisfied?" he shouted to the heavens " Was my life screwed up enough for you. Was God? Or Budda, or who ever the hell is up there?"

Naruto continued to shout toward the sky. Cursing every god he could think of. Blaming them for his miserable life. He yelled and cursed until he couldn't anymore. He fell forward his arms stopping him from falling into the dirt.

Ryu stared out into the wasteland. His eyes scanning the horizon from a top of one of the dead trees that occupied the wastes. Looking for anything that might be the object he and his brother were searching for. His brother was at the base of the tree, arms crossed and leaning against the long lifeless tree.

"Hey Ryu" his brother called out " do you even know what we're supposed to be looking for?"

Ryu momentary stopped his searching.

"Hmmm. Come to think of it I don't know what we are looking for."

"I don't know Ken."

Ken sighed. Maybe they should have gotten more info from their father before heading out into the wastes.

"Hey lets head back we've been searching for over an hour and a half. I'm tired and I want to go to sleep." Ken yawned to prove his point.

Ryu ignored his brother complaints and returned his gaze the land before him. He didn't want to return empty handed. He was determined to find whatever it was looking that his father wanted found. Ken continued to complain, but Ryu blocked him out. Then he heard something.

"Ken do you hear that?"

Ken stopped his complaining to listen. The wind blew around them shifting sand and dirt. Ken was about tell his older brother that it was just the wind. Then he heard it. Ken closed his eyes and focused on what he was hearing.

"Sounds like someone shouting." Ken told Ryu as he opened his eyes.

Ryu jumped down from the tree next his brother.

"Come on." Ryu said and they were both off. Heading off toward the direction of the sound.

Naruto shakily pushed himself back up and sat, his legs out in front of him. His mouth was dry, his muscles ached, the burning in his arm was spreading. It wasn't only his arm that was burning now, his shoulder and some of his chest was burning. Naruto's vision started to blur. It was getting increasingly harder to breathe. This was it. Naruto guessed that within 10 minutes the poison will finally kill him. Naruto began to think of all the thing that he hadn't done.

"I never became Hokage. I guess the villagers ere right, someone like me could never be Hokage. There were still so many promises that I didn't keep. I never changed changed the Hyuga clan. I told Neji I would change the clan when I became Hokage. Looks like I was just full of talk. Maybe Hinata will be able to change the clan, she is the next clan head after all."

Naruto felt his heart clench when he remembered the last time he saw Hinata. She was begging him not to him that there were people that loved him. But when he asked her who she couldn't answer. Why didn't she who. She claimed that there were people, but didn't say their names. He had said he would have returned if she had said the name of someone. If Hinata wanted him to return she should have said she love him. But Naruto knew that she didn't love him. She could never talk to him properly,she was probably scared of him. And she always pass out when she got near him. Her face would turn red, like his presence was making her sick. But even if, by some strange chance, she did love him it would never work. It wasn't in like the stories he read where the monster finds someone who accepts him for who he is. No in this world monsters are not meant to be happy.

It was getting really hard to breathe now. Naruto just considered laying down and just dieing. But the sound of foot steps caught his attention. Looking up he could barely make out the forms of what seemed like two people. They were heading right for him. The beast inside him chuckled.

"It seems they are coming to finish the job the monster could not boy." the Kyuubi told Naruto.

If it were any other time Naruto would have ignored the Kyuubi. But being the the state of mind he was in he believed him. Naruto turned over and tried to stand up. But he couldn't, his body simply refused to stand. So Naruto tried to crawl away. A pathetic attempt at escape. Naruto made it about four feet when he saw one of the figures lad about three feet in front of him. Naruto let himself collapse. Pain flared through his injured arm as he landed on it, and he let out a hiss of pain. Naruto watched as the figure in front of him slowly made his way toward him. Naruto felt like this was truly the end. But Naruto wouldn't go down without a fight. He reached into his kunai pouch and pulled out one of the blades. The figure raised his hands in front of him. Naruto heard the second person kneel right behind him. Naruto urn as fast as his injured body could and swung at the unknown person with the kunai in his hand. Naruto had hoped to inflict some sort of damage, but the person caught his hand.

"Calm down. We're here to help you." a calm voice said to him.

Naruto felt some how reassured by the voice and let his arm go limp.

"What's going on. Who are these people? They could ruin everything." the Kyuubi thought.

The Kyuubi knew that if he tried to do anything his could loss his chance at freedom, so he chose to remain silent and hope that hey did not do anything that would stop his escape.

"Ken he's hurt bad. He's poisoned. And it looks like it has spread pretty far." Ryu said to his brother.

"I got an anti venom shot it will slow the poison and get rid of some of it. But we need to get him home and fast." Ken said as he removed a syringe from the pouch on his belt.

Naruto watched as who he now knew was Ken take the syringe and place the needle at his chest and push it into his chest and injecting him with the anti venom.

"No!" the Kyuubi shouted. as he released a wave of chakra in an attempt to stop the intruders.

Ryu felt a wave of evil chakra emit from he boy in front of him.

"Rairyukami" Ryu shouted in his mind.

"Hai!" A voice answered back.

Then Ryu placed his hand on Naruto's abdomen as a light blue almost white colored chakra flowed from his arm. The white chakra met the red chakra of the Kyuubi, overpowered in and canceled it out. The Kyuubi was shock that his chakra was overpowered so easily. Either this human was incredibly strong or it was something else.

"Whoa. What was that?" asked Ken looking a Naruto with amazement.

"I don't know but the anti venom won't last forever. We need to head back now. Help me put him on my back."

Ken help Ryu place Naruto on his back. When he was somewhat secured they ran back to the village. Ken stayed behind Ryu just in case his passenger fell off. They move fast enough to to get home in about thirty minutes. They could get there sooner but didn't want to further injure the boy. Hopefully they could make it back to the village before things took a turn for the worse.

Heavy eye lids struggled to open. It felt like his eyes weighed a couple thousand pounds each. His head was pounding like crazy, like there was something in his head pounding his head with a sledgehammer. After a few moments of trying to open his eyes he finally succeeded, however the the sudden light that flooded his vision caused him to quickly close his eyes groaning in discomfort. He tried to reach to cover his eyes, but he barely had the energy to move his hand let alone his whole arm. He tried to open his eyes again. The light assaulted his sight once again, and another groan escaped his lips.

"Sasuke-kun! Your awake!" a voice sounded to his right.

Well sounded was putting it lightly, shrieked was probably a more accurate description. All Sasuke knew was that the voice was making it seem like his head was splitting apart. Sasuke then felt something attach its self across his chest. Which caused pain to shoot through his body, causing him to hiss. The weight immediately lifted itself from him much to his relief.

"Oh I'm sorry Sasuke-kun I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you ok?" the voice asked.

It took a few moments for Sasuke to realize who it was. Sakura, why was he not surprised. Of course Sakura would be there... Wait a second. If Sakura was there next to him that could only mean one thing. He was back in Konoha. The dobe actually brought him back. Sasuke tried to remember what Naruto did that lead to his defeat. But the more he tried to remember the more his head hurt. The only thing that came to mind. Red. It was the only thing that he could remember.

"Sa-Sakura.. what happened?" Sasuke asked his throat felt like sand paper.

"Well that idiot Naruto brought you back. He hurt you pretty bad to. He broke your arms and legs.. he almost killed you." Sakura answered him, whispering the last past.

Sasuke thought for a moment.

"Where is Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura stayed silent. She had heard that Naruto had left. At first she was ecstatic, without Naruto constantly asking her out on dates she could now focus all her attention to Sasuke. Sakura wasn't the only one who glad of Naruto's departure. The village was full of life when they found out that Naruto was no longer in the village. The news of Naruto's desertion spread through the village like wildfire. Ninja and civilians alike celebrated out in the rain, which had yet cease, but that was the last thing on their minds. Sakura was glad that Naruto was gone but she felt that all the celebrating was a bit over the top. The way the villagers acted made it seem like Naruto was some plague or curse that was lifted. Then she saw Hinata.

Sakura didn't know that a team was sent to attempt to get Naruto back, even less that Hinata was one of the people that went to look for him. Sakura had gone out to buy some new flowers for Sasuke's room when she saw her sensei's team. From under her umbrella she saw Hinata. And what she saw made her forget all dislike toward Naruto vanish. Hinata was walking toward her home, supported by her sensei. She was soaking wet but she didn't seem to care. Her eyes looked red and puffy, from what she could tell she had been crying. Sakura saw Hinata's lips moving but could hear her over the sound of the rain. Then she thought of all the things that the people of the village did to him. All the constant insults, and from what she had heard abuse. She had heard a few ninja talking once, they would talk what they did to him, horrible things, but when she would look at Naruto she would now see the damage the older ninjas claimed to have caused. She them remembered all the things that she did to Naruto. There were time she was sure that she had broken some of his bones, and yet the next day, or sometimes later in the same day, there were no signs of her previous hen felt that maybe in someway she may have indirectly also been part of the reason Naruto left.

"Sakura.. Where is he?"

Sasuke's voice brought her out of her thoughts. She looked back at him. Trying to think of something to tell him. But her mind just kept coming back to the truth. Sakura took in a deep breath before she answered.

"Naruto.. he's.. he's gone Sasuke-kun."

"What?"

"He's gone Sasuke-kun, He left the village. They sent a team to get him but they couldn't."

Sasuke was speechless. Naruto left the village. Why? Sasuke always saw a smile on Naruto's face and heard all his constant yapping about becoming Hokage. He promised, Sasuke slowly clenched his fist, the bandages around his hand stained under the tension. Naruto couldn't be gone. If Naruto was able to defeat him then there had to be something that made him strong. Even with Orochimaru's training Sasuke still lost. What did Naruto learn that enabled him to defeat him. He need to know. Naruto had kept his promise he brought him back. Now in his hospital bed laying broken Sasuke made his own vow.

"Naruto. I'll find you and bring you back. I just hope that it doesn't take a year to do it. I promise"

Yuuga was happily chatting with Tayuya while she waited with her father, waiting for her brothers to return. Tayuya was released from the hospital two days earlier, and was staying in a recovery home until they got all her paperwork finalized. Tayuya had to admit the wasteland wasn't that bad, sure it was a little hot during the day and nights were cold but she enjoyed the feeling of freedom that she had. Freedom something that she never had since the day Orochimaru came and placed that cursed seal on her shoulder. But now it was gone she now had a clean slate. A chance to start over. She had friends and a new home. She rose from her bed and put on her sandals. She decided to look around starting with wall, where she was now talking with Yuuga. Well Yuuga was doing most of the talking, Tayuya just sat next to her and listened, or pretended to listen when she wasn't interested in the topic.

"So you wanna come to The spot tonight?" Yuuga asked

The spot was the main hangout place for most of the ninjas in the village. That is where nearly everyone goes to just chill. It's owned by Gakuden family who are a family of musicians that could play nearly every instrument in the world. The children of the Soro Gakuden played the music nearly every night. They usually played what they call rock and metal, but were also talented in may other genres, it just mattered on the occasion.

"I don't know."

"Aww come on. It'll be fun!" Yuuga said trying to get friend to join her. " I'm sure Basu would really like having you there." Yuuga nudging Tayuya with her elbow

Tayuya blushed as she pushed Yuuga which effectively stopped the nudges.

"..Whatever." Tayuya said getting up, " Going to get some shut eye. See ya later." Tayuya said being careful to watch her language around the Shikyokage.

"Bye."

Tayuya left leaving Yuuga alone with her father. A cold wind blew causing Yuuga to shiver. The Shikyokage looked down at his daughter. He removed his white Shikyokage coat and placed it on her shoulders. Yuuga looked up at her fathers face and smiled wrapping the coat around herself to better protect herself from the cold.

"Do you think Ryu and Ken are alright?" Yuuga asked her father worry evident in her voice.

"You don't have to worry. I would not have sent them out if I knew they would not be able to handle it." the Shikyokage reasured his daughter, as he raised his hand to stroke his beard.

Yuuga nodded to herself, He was right. Ryu and Ken could take care of themselves, they were strong. Ryu especially, his physical strength was unbelievable. He had heard some ninjas in the village say he was Hercules incarnate. Whoever that was.

"They're back." Yuuga heard her father say.

Yuuga looked out into the wasteland. It took her a moment before she saw them heading to the wall. When they got closer she saw someone on Ryu's back. When Ryu and Kenpachi reached the base of the giant wall Ryu removed Naruto from his back and held in a more safe position as he and Ken bounded up the wall. They reached the sister and their father at the top of the wall, gently placing Naruto on the ground.

"We found him out a few miles from the village. He has been poisoned, the should hold at least for another few minutes." Ken said to his father.

Yuuga looked down at Naruto. She was worried. He was covered in dried blood the wound on his arm looked infected, and his breathing looked labored. Naruto's vision swam. He could barely makeout what was in front of him. What he could see was what looked like a giant. It knelt down next to him. Naruto panicked and tried to move but his strength had finally left him, leaving him helpless. The Shikyokage moved his hand toward Naruto. Naruto closed his eyes. But what he didn't feel a strike, instead he felt a hand on his forehead. Naruto opened his eyes and looked at the large man above him.

"It is alright. Your safe now." the Shikyokage said repeating the words of his dream, as he lifted Naruto into his arms carefully as not to injure him further, and made his way toward the hospital. His children following closely behind.

Naruto could do nothing but let the man take where ever he was taking him. But Naruto felt safe, a feeling that he never felt in Konoha. Naruto felt his eyelids growing heavy until he lost consciousness.

"Your home now."

4,332 word my longest yet. This was supposed to go up the 31st but my computer decided to go on strike. Well whatever I save my chapters on FF anyways. Right now I taking care of my cousin's dogs for the week and using his laptop so that's cool. And scenes take more words then I picture in my mind. Well I hope you like it. Also a few chapters a ago I mentioned my cousin and how he was right about FMA ending. Well he demanded me to tell you all his name, don't know why but whatever. His name is Chris. There I said. Also I'm thinking of doing one of three things either going back and fixing the mistakes in my previous chapters, starting the new chapter or writing a pilot chapter for one of the two other ideas I have. Don't know what yet. But maybe you guys can tell me what you want. No rant this time to mush to rant about. Maybe next time. Also I want to thank everyone that told me about other manga sites you guys are Kool yes with K not a C there's a difference ya know.

Well See Ya Squall Leonhart Out.