Quote of the Day: Every cloud has its silver lining.- Don't know who said it.

Chapter 10: Here and There

"It is now time to vote." Danzo said from his spot at the end of the counsel meeting table.

"Danzo what you are purposing is unjustifiable." Inoichi Yamanaka said from the shinobi side of the table.

"I agree the Hokage should be present if you want to do this." Shikaku Nara replied.

Danzo scanned the room. Looking at each and everyone of the councils members. He had called this meeting in order to decide the situation concerning Naruto. Of course he didn't inform the Hokage, he didn't anything interrupting this proceeding.

"The Hokage's presence is not necessary." Danzo said calmly.

"Considering what you are proposing the Hokage's presence is absolutely necessary." Shikaku shot back in a just as calm voice.

Danzo stared at the head of the Nara clan, his face never showing any emotion.

"Nara-san as you know the Hokage is not always needed when when making these kinds of decisions. And also, right now as I'm sure all of you know the Hokage is not in any condition to lead right now. Be glad that this meeting is not about her questionable leadership and less then tolerable attitude."

Shikaku didn't answer back. As much as he didn't like the situation he didn't want Danzo to call in to question the leadership of the current Hokage. Danzo would sure as hell say that he would be a better leader, he knew that he should now keep his mouth shut as much as he hated that situation. Inoichi placed a hand on his friend's shoulder trying to comfort him. Shikaku just stayed silent.

"Well now can we continue this meeting, I for one wish to return home." the calm voice of the head of the Hyuga clan.

Murmurs of agreements were heard around the table.

"Very well, without any further interruptions let us vote now." Danzo said as he stood.

"Now all in favor?" Danzo asked.

The entire civilian side of the council table raised their hands. If Danzo ever showed any emotion he would be smiling right now. The civilian council members were so easy to manipulate. A few choice words, promises and a few threats when it was necessary and he could have them agree to everything. Danzo looked to the shinobi side, and to his delight two members had their hands raised.

"Shibi?" Inoichi said in surprise.

"My vote is unbiased, and based on the evidence presented. I'm sure that if it where any other person you would be raising your hand as well." the normally silent bug user explained.

Homura Mitokado was the other person that had his hand. When the Third Hokage died with helped Koharu Utatane keep the council together as well as the village. Homura one would say was "in charge" of the shinobi side of the council, while Koharu was "in charge" of the civilian side.

"Now all opposed?" Danzo said even though it was completely unnecessary.

Shikaku, Inoichi, Tsume Inuzuka, and surprising Hiashi did as well. A sound defeat on their part. Danzo slowly arose from his seat.

"So it is decided. From this day Naruto Uzumaki is now a rouge ninja."

Naruto was sitting up in his hospital bed. He had only awoken a few moments ago. Naruto looked toward the window, he could see sunlight through the sides of the curtain. The blond that was sleeping in the chair by the window was gone when he woke up, leaving Naruto alone in his hospital room.

"I wonder where I am." Naruto thought as he stared at his bandaged hands.

"That's a good question kit." a voice brought Naruto out of his thought.

Naruto's brow furrowed. He hadn't heard from the fox since he entered the wasteland. And right now the prisoner in him was the last person/demon that he wanted to talk to.

"The silent treatment huh? What did I do to deserve that?" Kyuubi chuckled much to his jailer's disdain.

Naruto remained silent. He could have countered back at the Kyuubi with all the things that had happened in his life. But showing any interest would mean that the the "King of the Bijuus" would win, so he continued to keep his mouth shut. Silence filled the air as Naruto continued to ignore the monster.

"You can't ignore me forever kit. Whether you like it or not sooner or later you and I are going to have a proper talk. But for now watch yourself, there is something about these people." Kyuubi told Naruto.

The Kyuubi's last comment got Naruto's attention, but before he could ask what he had meant the door of his room opened and in walked the doctor and old man from the night before, Naruto could now see that he was not hallucinating this time. He could clearly see the horns on his head. There was another person with them as well. She was dressed in a similar coat as the horned doctor, except where the male doctor left his coat open, her's was fully buttoned up, her black hair tired into a neat bun, a feeling of professionalism radiated from her being as she walked up to Naruto's bed side.

"So your the new one?" the women ask Nartuo.

Naruto didn't answer. He was to busy staring at her face. She was very pretty, but is was not her beauty that had him staring. It was her eyes and face, well more like what was on her face. Her eyes were yellow, and not just that they were slitted, and around her cheek bones were something. If Naruto was not seeing things the area of her cheek bones was covered in scales. The scales were a bit of a light grayish color, the stood out from the rest of her peach colored skin.

The female doctor looked at Naruto with a bit of confusion. Was there something on her face that was the source of the kid's attention?

"What? Is there something on my face?" the woman asked as she felt around her face.

Naruto watched as the woman ran her fingers across her face. Naruto watched as she ran her fingers over the scales but did nothing. That confused him, could she not tell that there were scales on her face? So Naruto thought he should help her by pointing them out.

"You.. got scales under your eyes."

The woman stopped and stared at Naruto.

"So?" she asked

Now Naruto was more confused. She sounded like she knew that there were scales on her face. It was about this time that the old man from the previous night decided to intervene.

"So it is as you said Ayane-san, he is new." the Shikyokage explained to the dark haired doctor.

Realization crossed the yellow eyed medical expert's face. Of course he would be confused about the scales on her face. But he really shouldn't be that confused. If he was a ninja then things like appearance shouldn't really be all that puzzling.

"Well that aside let see if you're ready to leave." Ayane said as she pulled out a small flashlight from her coat's breast pocket and began to check him over.

After about ten minutes on examination Ayane turned to her leader and co-worker.

"Well he looks as healthy as can be. I say he can leave when ever he is ready." she said giving Naruto a light tap on the head.

With that she took her leave, behind her followed the horned doctor leaving Naruto alone with the old man. The Shikyokage walk up next to Naruto and place and package on his bed.

"Change into these and we can leave, then I will answer your questions. But I want to know something first." the Shikyokage told Naruto.

Naruto looked at the Shikyokage waiting for the question. He hope that it wasn't personal, like why he was wandering the wasteland.

"I would like to know your name."

A simple question. Naruto guessed if their roles were reversed he would probably would have asked the same thing.

"My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto answered.

The Shikyokage's eyes widened slightly.

"Uzumaki? Then that means that.."

The Shikyokage's thought was interrupted when Naruto cleared his throat.

"Well, when you finish dressing yourself we can leave. I shall be waiting outside." The Shikyokage told Naruto was he left the room to wait.

Naruto looked and the bundle in his bed. He opened in and found some clothes and a pair of shinobi sandals inside. Naruto placed the clothes aside and got up from bed. The ground was cold and Naruto found in a little difficult to stand he must have been out for awhile since his legs felt a bit weak. After a few minutes his strength start to return so he was able to stand now, so he began to remove the bandages from his body. There was one on his head, both his hands, his right forearm, left bicep, and his torso. He remove them one at a time. When he removed the bandage on his bicep and saw what was under he was shock. On his arm was was a scar. One would think in his line of work scars were very common, in fact they were. But Naruto learned at a young age that he never got scars, except the emotional kind. The scar upon his arm a lighter color than the rest of his skin. It wrapped around his bicep from one side to the other. From what Naruto could tell, the doctors managed to close the wound enough so that the scar was not as big as it could have been, the scar looked about 5 centimeters at its thickest.

Naruto decided to dwell on his scar later as he proceeded to remove the hospital gown and the bandage on his torso. After he removed the bandages he put on the clothes that the Shikyokage had given him. The shirt was a plain white one, with the shirt he got some equally white shorts that went a little past his knees. He slipped on the sandals and opened the door of his room. The Shikyokage stood patiently outside his door. Naruto hesitantly exited the room, eyes darting in every direction. The hallway looked like any other hospital hall, white and clean. A familiar sterile smell became apparent as he inhaled. He always hated that smell.

"Are you ready to go?" the Shikyokage's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"Y-yeah." Naruto answered.

"Then let us take our leave." he said as he began to walk down the hall.

Naruto followed, choosing to stay close. He still didn't know where he was. It was then that he noticed that there were a few other people in he hall. As they past them Naruto now knew that he wasn't seeing things. On his right was a man reading a chart. What stood out from him was the fangs that protruded from his mouth. Further down the hall was a woman pushing a kart of medical supplies, and behind her another kart seemed to follow her. She seemed normal at first, she greeted them as they past. That was when he noticed that the kart behind her was being pull, by what looked like tail. Once he saw the tail he stopped. The tail was wrapped around the handle of the kart as she pulled it to where ever it was she was going. Naruto had never seen a tail on anything other than an animal.

"You shouldn't stare so much. You might make someone feel self conscious." the Shikyokage told Naruto.

"S-sorry. I just, ya know, never seen a tail on a person before." Naruto apologized as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

The Shikyokage chuckled at the blond.

"There is nothing to apologize for. But don't think you should really be surprised, you are a ninja correct?"

"Well kinda." Naruto answered somewhat sadly.

The Shikyokage decided not press the matter and motioned for them to continue. Walking through the rest of the hospital Naruto saw several more unusual things. He saw more tails, some different than other, ears, and not just normal ears. Ears that look like animal ears, some looked like cat ears, some were pointed. Naruto start to feel a little embarrassed. Being a ninja he had seen some strange things. One of them being a guy with six arms. Six arms! And he found himself confused by things like tails and ears. After a few more minutes of walking they reached the entrance/exit of the hospital.

"Now then allow me to be the first to welcome you to Aranoakure." said the Shikyokage as he lead Naruto out of the hospital.

The first thing that Naruto noticed was the weather. It was surprisingly not as hot as the wasteland should be, well it felt like the temperature was bordering in the high 90's. Almost like he had not walked through a desert. It felt like heaven compared to how hot it was when he was walking through the open land of the wasteland.

"Is this still the Wasteland?" asked Naruto.

"Yes." replied the old man as he began to walk again.

"Then why isn't it as hot as it is out there?"

"That young one is a village secret." the Shikyokage answered with a small smile.

The Shikyokage lead out of the hospital compound, and into the village streets. Naruto looked around taking in all the sites as he followed. It reminded him of Konoha with all the different buildings lining the streets. Various residence of the village where out walking the streets. Naruto looked at the many people that were walking up and down the street. Naruto saw that a great deal of the residence of the village also had animalistic traits, he also noticed that there where a lot of animals accompanying the people. He saw several different kinds of birds perched of people's shoulders, snakes wrapped around peoples bodies, wolves walking next to their masters. Naruto also saw several children running around. Their parents attempting to control them, some of the children where riding atop the animals laughing as they went along. Naruto saw a shadow pass on the ground and looked up. Several people were using the rooftops to get around. It looked almost exactly like one would think a ninja village would be like.

Then Naruto heard something. It sounded like sniffing. Not the kind one would hear if one were crying. But the kind one hear if someone, or something was smelling something. Naruto looked down. There was a child no more than 5 years old. He was sniffing Naruto like an animal sniffs new surroundings. Naruto saw that he had two black pointed ears atop his head matching the rest of his hair. Next to the little boy was a little grey fox, also sniffing Naruto. Naruto was about to question the little boy, when suddenly the kid looked up smiling up at Naruto. The little boy had blue eyes, little fangs, and light colored skin.

"You smell like me aniki." the little boy told Naruto.

The kid bent down and scooped up the fox.

"Say hi Kiki." the little boy said to his fox as he held it up in front of Naruto.

Naruto didn't really know how to respond. This little kid just came out of nowhere and called him brother. He really wasn't used to strangers coming up to him and calling him brother. Naruto just started at the fox that was in front of him. The fox stared back with its black eyes.

"Uhh.. Hi." Naruto finally answered, unsure of what else to do.

"Zeri there you are." a voice sound from behind the boy.

"Uh oh." the little boy said as he turned around.

Naruto looked at the new arrival. It was a woman, Naruto guessed it was the boy's mother. She was wearing a black kimono, everything was black. Her skin was a peach color, her hair as black as the child's, and atop her head she also had two ears, twitching occasionally. She was pretty, green eyes that where currently looking at at the mischievous child. She also had whisker marks on her cheeks, except she only had one line on each side of her face.

"What have I told you about running off?" the woman asked her son her hand resting on her hips.

"But oka-san it was Kiki's fault. She said she found our new aniki." The little boy tried to explain, the fox looked up at the boy and looked like it was glaring at the boy mad that the blame was placed on her.

The woman looked up at Naruto.

"Sorry about my son." the woman said as she bent down and picked up the little boy. "He was just really curious when we smelled a new scent in the village."

"It's okay." Naruto said

"My name is Hitomi."

"I'm Naruto."

"Well nice to meet you Naruto. Well sorry but I have to go, this little guy had an appointment with doctor. Good bye Naruto-san, Shyokage-sama." Hitomi said as she bid them farewell.

"Bye aniki." Zeri yelled as he and his mother headed in the direction Naruto just came from.

Naruto waved back a small smile on his face.

"Come now Naruto let us continue. There is still much to see."

Naruto nodded as they continued stopping when more people would greet him. The people here were friendly, and for once he felt like he didn't need to be constantly looking over his shoulder.

The rain had not stopped. It continued to pour. Not as bad as before but still a good amount. However the rain didn't stop the person that was out in his team's training field. Most ninja teams continued their training in the rain. His team's training session however ended over an hour ago. But that still did stop him as he struck the boulder in front of him with open palm strikes. There were several cracks the webbed out from the spot he was striking, testament to how long and how hard he was striking the rock. He had done that every time before and after practice, ever since he had learned that Naruto had left the village.

He struck again. He could feel the blood coating his hands, from the cuts that now "graced" his hands, but he did care. He was angry, furious even. He should have know better than to believe in the words of a person like him. He was a prankster, a trickster. And this trickster with his sliver tongue actually made him believe in his honeyed words. And he had actually changed. His team told him that he had changed. Now he sees that his change was based on a lie. When Naruto said that he would change the Hyuga he believed him like a fool.

He struck again a cracking sound was heard and he wasn't sure if it had been the boulder or his hand, but right now he could care less as he continued his strike.

From under an umbrella she watched him. Watched as he ran himself into the ground. It hurt her seeing him like this. He was the pillar of strength in the team. He was the person that you can count on to not let anything bother him. A walking symbol of strength, her strength. And now he looked broken, and determined to continue into exhaustion. She slowly made her way toward him, unsure what to do when she reached him. Before she could think of anything she was already near him. He didn't acknowledge her, he either didn't know she was there or he didn't care. She opened her mouth to say something but shut it, she tried once more.

"Neji. You need to stop pushing yourself so hard. And if you don't get out of the rain you'll get sick."

Neji seemed to ignore her as he continued to strike the rock.

"Neji..."

"I was... a fool." Neji finally said in between strike.

"Neji..."

"Like.. a fool... I... believed.. him.. thinking.. that.. he could... change.. the... Hyuga." Neji continued.

Tenten bit her lip, unsure of how respond. When she had first noticed Neji's change in attitude she was the only person he told the reason for it.

"He promised that he would change the Hyuga, I don't know how but I want to be there when he does it."

That was what he told her. Now with Naruto gone Neji was slowly returning to his old cold self. She heard a crack and saw Neji flinch for a second before he return to his striking. She had to stop him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. The action did not have the desired effect. Neji turned and grabbed her and all but slammed her against the rock,almost knocking the air from umbrella fell from her grasp.

"Neji?" Tenten called to him,

Neji had her pinned against the rock by her wrists, his head looking down.

"I'm scared Tenten." Neji told her.

Tenten was shocked. Neji scared. Neji was never scared, and even if was he would never admit it. Tenten stayed silent.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Neji admitted to her.

She understood now. Neji was going to help Naruto change the Hyuga. Naruto was going to do what he couldn't. Now with him gone he felt like the one chance to change the family had gone with him. Tenten slowly wiggled her hands free from Neji's grasp. Neji just let his arms fall to his sides. Tenten boldly placed her hands on both side of his face and tilted his head up until he was looking at her. Brown eyes stared into pale lavender ones. Then slowly she moved forward and placed a light kiss on his lips, an innocent and simple touch with a deep meaning to it. Neji looked at her shocked as she moved to wrap her hands around him and hugged him.

"You don't have to be scared Neji." she whispered to him just loud enough so he could hear her over the rain. "I'm here for you, you are my strength, now let me be yours."

3,903 words. Longer than last time. And now for the apology. Sorry for the long computer broken literally and was out of commission for like a month so yeah. I had wanted to post this on my birthday but I got a error message and could not oh well. And sorry it the Neji Tenten was rushed. For the sake of the story I need their relationship to be really strong. Nothing to rant about. So please R&R. Next chapter will be a review response so if you have any question put them in your review and I'll try to answer them. Oh and I will be releasing the pilot chapter of another story of mine so If you want to read it just author alert me.

Well See Ya Squall Leonhart Out.