"What?!" Lee heavily stepped forward. He had been summoned by lord Hokage and was pulled out of training with Guy sensei.

Teams Guy, Team 8, 10, and the remainder of Team 7;which consisted of Sakura, Sai, and Kakashi, were gathered around Lady Tsunade's desk. Sakura, already aware of the entire situation stood at the fifth Hokage's side. Her head was bowed, seemig to be lost in deep thought.

"Yes, it's sadly true. Sakura found him missing from his home." She brought her hands to her face. "She also found his blood."

Akamaru barked. Kiba slashed his hand along the air. "No way could somebody just sneak in and take him. We have high-tech security, don't we?"

"Besides," Shino pushed up his glasses, "He wouldn't have gone along quietly. Somebody was bound to notice."

Tenten set down the pack she was carrying. "Did anybody happen to see him last night?"

Silence.

Sai frowned. "I think I saw him when I was returning from a mission."

Everyone's attention was pulled towards Sai.

Finally, Shikamaru spoke. "Where was he, exactly?"

"Leaving the Ramen stand. He looked pretty shaken up, I wouldn't know much about that, though."

"That means that Teuchi may know something, most likely."

Tsunade stood from her desk. "Alright, Shikamaru and Sakura, I need you two to find out as much as you can from him and report back to me. Everyone else will be assigned in search parties for the time being."

"Hai!"

Sakura and Shikamaru raced out of the building.

"What was he doing yesterday, exactly?It was his day off, wasn't it?" Shikamaru had recently completed a mission to the Sand village and had only just returned.

They turned a corner.

"He went off looking for Sasuke-kun. I don't know the rest." She faced forward, not attempting to even look at Shikamaru as she spoke.

As they got there, seeing as nobody was running the stand, they yelled out to the back of the restaurant. "Teuchi-san! We need to speak to you!"

The old man exited from the back and stepped to the front, a smile on his face. "Oh, Sakura-chan, Shika- what is it?" His face was concerned when he realized the two were breathless with frowns on their faces.

Shikamaru was the first to speak. "Did you see Naruto last night?"

"Oh! Yes, I did. He seemed so tired. He came in and asked me for some Ramen." His face saddened. "He collapsed and woke moments later feeling terrible. I sent him home since he didn't want to bother about going to the hospital."

Sakura turned to Shikamaru. "Do you think..."

Teuchi scratched his head. "Why? Is Naruto okay?"

"eh...Do we tell him?" The pink haired girl asked Shikamaru.

He automatically answered to Teuchi. "He's gone missing."

"Are you sure he's not just somewhere roaming around the village?"

Shikamaru sighed. "We found his blood all over his apartment."

Sakura continued. "His room was trashed and his uniform was found as well."

"I believe, from analysis, that he may have been poisoned while looking for that bastard."

Teuchi was speechless. He turned and pulled something out from under a towel that sat on the stove. "Then that explains why he left this." He handed it to Sakura whom stood there in silence.

"Naruto's headband."

Naruto awoke from a dreamless sleep. He was beginning to feel himself cold again and didn't like it. He opened his eyes to find the warmth had been removed. He reached for his stomach with his left hand to feel if he was still bleeding. It was clean.

wait. My left arm?

He finally realized that he wasn't chained anymore on either arm or legs. He tried to think of an escape plan fast. Then, his hairs on his neck stiffened as a breath whispered into his ear.

"I'm glad you're awake, Naruto."

Naruto turned slowly and realized that he wasn't alone in the room and he wasn't released from his bonds for no reason. Something bad was going to happen and he could sense it.

"Naruto. Tell me where Konoha hides their Ninjutsu scrolls."

That's it! He wants to use me to gather information! He was furious. He threw his fist at the masked man but was immediately stopped. Madara had grabbed his fist, flicking it in the opposite direction. Naruto yelled out in pain as his wrist was twisted and the crack of bone echoed along the room.

Madara clutched the boy's neck with one hand and pushed him against a wall. He used his other hand to pull Naruto's hair up to keep them in eye to eye contact.

Naruto lay there limply, shutting his eyes closed. He was gasping for breath and could only use his right hand to attempt to pull at Madara's arm to realease him. He was only able to paw at him since his arm was still attached to an IV bag, which was now on the floor, and his shoulder still hurt from having been unproperly popped back into place.

"I won't let go until you tell me where they're hidden." His grip tightened around Naruto's neck.

"I-"

"Naruto, don't tell him anything! He's been experimenting on you and I know exactly why he wants to know. Whatever you do, don't give in!"

"I...I don't...I don't know...where it is..." Naruto chocked out the words. I don't know where they are. Nobody ever told me.

"Come on, Naruto. They wouldn't tell their hero such valuable information? You do have a right since you defeated Nagato." He smiled beneath his mask.

Naruto peered through slit eyelids. He was beginning to feel lightheaded. "Nobody knows where they are..."

Madara only chuckled. "I'm sure you've heard it from someone."

"I didn't."

"I'm sure you know which Jounin knows, don't you?"

"I...I...don't..."

"Hatake Kakashi, maybe?"

He was tired of hearing all the nonsense. As he spoke he could hear Kurama's rage in his own voice. "I don't

fucking know!"

A frown was put underneath Madara's mask. "Very well."

He released his grip on Naruto, the boy falling to the ground, crying out in pain as his arm crunched beneath him. He immediately lost consciousness.