His eyes slowly fluttered open to darkness. It was cold once again and he felt utterly sick in his mind. He completely forgot what had happened at the moment he fainted but he didn't forget how he had fainted.

Flashback:

Naruto couldn't stop screaming. It was...it was too painful.

The masked man cut along the Tri-gram seal's outline, continually pulling out chakra while Kabuto laughed hysterically behind him.

The blond still struggled in his bonds that held him to that cursed table. He could feel the warm liquid from his burning wrists and ankles pooling down around him. He was finally able to utter a few words through his pain. "Help me...Kurama."

He immediately fell into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw was Sasuke's emotionless face.

Naruto's eyes began adjusting to the dim light when he noticed that he was back in his 'cell'. He stifled a cough, only hoping he hadn't for his entire chest and abdomen felt as though they were being ignited. He groaned in pain and grit his teeth.

"Naruto. You okay?"Kurama was staring down at him, concern clouding his now dulled eyes.

Naruto scoffed, also regretting that. "I didn't know you had a soft side?" He coughed up blood into his hand. "Kurama...did you...do you know anyway I might be able to escape?"

The fox seemed to slightly smile and closed his eyes for a moment.

A few minutes had passed before he re-opened them. His ear twitched and he gave a foxy grin before he heavily stood onto his feet.

As the Kyuubi's tail was removed from behind Naruto he immediately fell onto his back and into the small puddle of water. "Ghah!" He coughed up his breath. Inhaling deeply before struggling to his feet. "Did...did you figure...did you find something?"

"Yeah. That damn Madara. He's so fucking stupid that he didn't see a flaw in his seal."He chuckled lightly.

A faint flutter of hope filled his heart. "Lets-" He fell to his hands and knees, gasping for breath.

Kurama let out a faint sigh. He reached down for the blond and gripped the scruff of his shirt. (Madara had placed it back on Naruto as he slept; after they were done 'experimenting' on him.) He slowly lifted him up into the air.

Naruto struggled as the feeling of the fox's teeth pushed against his neck. He could feel warm wind hit him as Kyuubi attempted to speak to him.

"Stop moving, will you?"

The fox lifted him and carried him to the back of his neck where the boy gripped his fur, tightly gripping it to stop himself from toppling off.

"Thanks, you damn fox."

Kurama walked off out of the room and to a long corridor filled with pipes and several different curves and passages.

"I-I've been here..."

"Yeah, it's your mind, isn't it? Your mind maze."

That's right. I was here the first time I met Kurama, wasn't I? I had to find find my way through this hall. But, it was so long ago. I don't remember much.

"So this...is it, huh?" It's bigger than I remember.

"Kheh. I made it bigger so that I could walk through it, kid."

Right. He can read my memory. "Where are we going?"

"To the room with the seal. He made a mistake in the signature."

"Are you sure?!"

Kiba stood panting in front of the Hokage's desk. "As hell, I am!'

Akamaru barked next to him.

"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura slightly smiled. "We have to go get him!"

The fifth Hokage stood up from her seat and paced around the room, lost in thought.

Kakashi finally spoke up. "Tsunade-sama. We should act accordingly and as quick as possible. They may be..." He nearly whispered. "Preparing to extract the Kyuubi..."

Shikamaru solemnly nodded. "Hai...hopefully they haven't done it already..."

Lee stepped forward. "No matter what, we have to get him back."

Tsunade finally sighed and turned toward the group before looking at Guy. "Something's just come up, Guy. Your team will have to stay here and take over another mission."

Lee, who had been saluting, lowered his hand. "Temo..."

"Sorry, Lee. It suddenly came up."

Tenten and Neji placed their hands on their teammate's shoulders.

"Come on, Lee." Tenten said.

Guy brightened up and smiled. "If we triple our speed we'll make it back right on time! We'll be here to see Naruto's return, Lee."

Lee nodded before heading out the door with his team.

"Kakashi, I need you to bring Iruka here immediately. We need another skilled Shinobi in case you run into trouble."

He nodded and 'poofed' away.

"Alright, the rest of you will head to the front gate and wait for Kakashi and Iruka's return. I'll give your mission orders to Kakashi. Go!"

The teams rushed off.

Tsunade closed her eyes and sat back at her desk. She removed a lottery ticket from her drawer and scratched off the spaces.

7, 7, 7

She stared in horror at the winning ticked. A tear trickled down her face.

Pleeeaaase review. Remember to tell me what you think about my writing. Do you want more of Konoha's point of view or Naruto's? Thanks so much for your support!