I don't own Naruto

(Year and a half after Naruto's banishment)

Naruto was walking from the Land of whirl pools to the Land of fire going over in his head all that he had done and how much he had grown since he had started training.

Naruto had grown while training going from 4' 10'' to now stating at 5' 4''. His body was now well muscled but not overly bulky. Naruto's conditioning had improved greatly mostly because he started to use resistance seals. These seals increased the resistance his body had to deal with so that Naruto could release them and get a boost in both speed and strength. These seals were very convenient as they would increase their resistance on their own. They would increase in small increments and only when Naruto's body was ready for them to. This meant that Naruto didn't have to worry about adjusting and that if Naruto was ever injured or sick they would deactivate or lower their level on their own so that Naruto could still move. Once a week Naruto would deactivate them and train without them so that he was use to his speed and strength without them on.

Naruto's taijutsu had also improved successfully modifying his father's fighting style. It was still a bit rough but with experience, he would be fine.

He had learned a lot about sealing jutsu while not a master he wasn't far way. With experience and time, he would get there. There was little he could not do with seals and if there was something he couldn't do strait away given enough time he could figure it out.

He had mastered the wind element and was competent with water. He had not mastered water it but was able to use some C and B rank jutsu in a fight if needed. Naruto had also mastered the rasengan and could do it one handed as well as make it bigger. Naruto was thinking that Learning earth next would be good so that he could do defensive jutsu and the surface hiding technique.

Naruto's chakra level had also grown a lot. He had the most chakra of his class including his senseis, but with making over 100 shadow clones a day for a year and a half his level was now on par with shinobi like Jiraiya. With the increased chakra levels Naruto had increased the number of clones per day he could make for training from 80 to 250.

Although Naruto had made a lot of progress in Ninjutsu he was a bit disappointed that he didn't get as far as he wanted. This was mostly because early on he had decided to focus more clones on the library then in training, but Naruto ended up reading through much of was available that was relevant to him. Naruto decided that he would focus more on his Jutsu once he started to train again. Naruto had also improved his chakra control a lot so that it wouldn't hold him back.

He then started to think about the next things he wanted to learn. 'I have gotten better a lot better but I can't beat an S rank ninja. If I want to help save my friends and beat the Akatsuki I'll need to get better. I think at the next things I should do are complete the rasengan, learn the Hiraishin, and continue to learn elemental jutsu. Also, there is that task that Ashina gave me.'

Ashina had given Naruto a very complicated seal that he had to undo and he told him that once he had done that to come back to the vault.

(Land of fire)

Naruto continued to think about this as he got to the mainland. Then his mind started think about where he was going to go next. 'I should go see Gaara and see how he is doing maybe I could fix his seal so that the one tail isn't bothering him too much. It would be fastest to cut across the land of fire but that might not end well for me. I should probably go around through all the minor countries just to be safe.'

Naruto started to head north to the boarder with the Land of hot water. The Land of Hot Water was demilitarized with no hidden village with in its boarders. There were basically no border patrols from the Leaf in that area, so it was easy for Naruto to slip past the boarder where he started to head north to the boarder with the Land of Rice Patties.

After about an hour of travel in the Land of Hot Water, a cloaked figure appeared in his path. Naruto stopped and looked at the man. He was the man that Naruto had met the night he left the leaf. Naruto continued till he was about 30 feet away when the man said, "Well it looks like you have grown up a bit and gotten stronger."

Naruto then said "Ya, I have been training very hard. Why are you here?"

The cloaked man pulled down his hood and sat on the tree branch he was standing on and said, "Well this is just a happy coincidence I was heading to the land of lighting to deal with some stuff when I sensed your chakra and decided to come say hi."

Naruto decided not to sit down but let his guard down a bit and leaned against the tree he was standing on and asked. "Why did you help me before I left the village?"

The man responded "Well I heard about what was happening and I was in the area. I thought you could use some help. Plus, I thought you could make an interesting ally."

Naruto still suspicious of the man asked, "Who are you and why did you want me as an ally?"

The man said, "How about this you answer my question and I'll answer your questions and tell you a bit about me." Naruto now very suspicious nodded.

The cloaked figure then asked, "What are your plans for the future and what do you intend on doing with the Akatsuki?"

Naruto responded "I plan a beating the Akatsuki and stopping whatever their plan is. Beyond that, I don't know but I will do my best to bring whatever amount of good to this world I can."

The man smiled and said "Good now that I know that we are on the same page I will tell you my name. My name is Komei Hagoromo. I am from the Mist but I left during the blood line purges, because of my Kekkei Genkai. Even though the purges have ended and the current Mizukage has bloodlines herself I don't really feel like going back."

"Why not go back?" Naruto asked.

"That's a long story that should never be told. But anyway back to the Akatsuki." Komei said redirecting the conversation.

Naruto relaxed little and asked, "So you're the fighting the Akatsuki?"

Komei responded "Yes, they are collecting all the tailed beasts. They are planning to use them to take over the world. Also, I have reason to believe that the Akatsuki are at least in some way responsible for starting the bloodline purges, but I don't have much of a lead on it. I will be up front with you right now the Akatsuki tried to recruit me and when they told me they were collecting tailed beasts I decided to join. I did that mostly because I wanted to learn more about what they're plans are. I also figured out that their leader is fucking insane and would likely kill most of the human population and enslave everyone he didn't kill if his plans are completed."

Komei's face got very serious and he said "The thing that scares me the most is that if he got all the tailed beasts he could probably go through with his plans. Once I figured that out I got all the intel on the Akatsuki I could then I left that organization."

Naruto nodded a bit shocked at all the Komei had told him. Komei continued "Anyway how about I tell you a bit about myself. I am the last living member of the Hagoromo Clan. I specialize in high kinetic energy weapons using my magnet style Kekkei Genkai. I was a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and I wield the sword Sewing Needle." Naruto nodded.

Komei continued putting a serious face on "We can't exactly be partners as you cannot come with me, but any information I get on the Akatsuki or other threats I will pass on to you. Now part of my plan to stop the Akatsuki is to prevent them from getting any Jinchuuriki. I would like you to go to the hidden waterfall and see if there Jinchuuriki is safe if she isn't then think of something to help her. The waterfall is the weakest village that has a Jinchuuriki as such she is in the most vulnerable position. She is a girl around your age with mint green hair and her name is Fuu."

Naruto nodded "I know the leader of the hidden waterfall. I'll talk to him about it and make sure that she is safe."

Komei motioned for Naruto to come over. Naruto jumped to the branch that Komei was sitting on. Komei pulled a book out and handed it to Naruto. "What's this?" Naruto asked.

Komei answered "It's a Bingo book of all known Akatsuki members and associates as well as everything I know about them. It's not complete as most of them have been staying off the grid for a while and things have likely changed since I left. You can pass that information on to whoever you think will need it, but don't go passing this to every stranger you meet it will draw attention to yourself."

Naruto nodded and he said, "I am pretty good at this point but I doubt I can take on an S-rank ninja."

Komei nodded and said "That's fine for now they won't be making there move to capture the Jinchuuriki for another year and a half or so I am looking into if I can delay them at all but it doesn't seem likely at this point. You have time but we should set up our plan to counter them and get ready. Once I hear where they will strike I'll send you a message."

Naruto nodded and took the book and started to flip through the pages. He stopped when he got to a guy that was half black and half white that had a Venus fly trap projection over his head. "What they hell is this guy?" Naruto said and showed Komei the page.

Komei laughed and said "That's Zetsu and no one really knows what he is. He has a split personality the white half nice and friendly, but black half is bit of a dick. I don't know what any of his abilities are except that his white half can make clones of himself that can replace him if necessary but the black half can't. He can split in half and the black and white half's can work separately from each other. His clones can all communicate over large distances quickly. I don't know how good of a fighter he is, as he mostly works as a spy for the Akatsuki. I don't think he is that good at fighting but just be aware that he is out there and could cause some issues."

Naruto nodded and said, "Well it doesn't look like this is going to be easy, but we will just have to deal with it and fight them."

Komei smiled and said, "So where are you going to go now?"

Naruto replied "Well first I am going to go to the Hidden Waterfall and check on both Fuu and Shibuki. After that head to the Sand to see Gaara. Then I'll find a place to train till the Akatsuki come out. I may head back to the Whirlpool it's out of the way so it would be hard for the Akatsuki to find me."

Komei pulled out a scroll and said "This is a map to an old military base that I found. The country it was for no longer exists and now it's just an empty corner of the Land of wind. It is secluded enough that you should be able to train there with no issue. I was planning on turning it into a base of operations to deal with the Akatsuki. It's a bit far from a town which is a bit inconvenient but it's so far out of the way that being found is not likely."

Naruto opened the scroll and looked at it "It's a lot closer to the Sand then coming back to the Whirlpool and I won't have to deal with going into the land of Fire. I think I'll go there."

"Cool save me a room I'll be coming by there in a couple of months once I have finished some preparations that I'll tell you about in the future," Komei said.

Komei got up and shook Naruto's hand then they both went their separate ways.

Naruto continued to the boarder of the land of Rice Patties and the land of Hot Water. Naruto encountered no difficulty on his way to the boarder.

(Land of Rice patties)

Naruto had just entered the land of rice patties when he started to sense a battle. While Naruto was no sensory type he could detect if there was a battle happening.

Naruto decided to head over to the battle and see what was happening by the time he got there it wasn't much of a battle there were three dead ninja and five living ones. Four of them were wearing standard sound uniforms. They surrounded the last ninja. A girl who was about the same age as Naruto with long orange hair and a dark blue beany. She was wearing a grey ninja vest and dark green ninja shorts.

Naruto could tell that the girl was neither experienced nor skilled at being a ninja. He could tell this by the way she held her self and that she was shaking in fear at being surrounded by the four sound ninja. She didn't even have a kunai out to defend herself.

The four sound ninja where standing around the girl and talking about what they should do with her. The leader said "Look we are just going to kill her and be done with it. She is weak and wouldn't survive one minute in Orochimaru's lab. I am just going to kill her." The other three nodded and the one that spoke pulled out a kunai to kill the girl.

Seeing that they were going to kill the girl Naruto sprang into action and charging in and putting a rasengan in the back of the leader. Before the other three could act Naruto pulled out a kunai from a seal on his wrist and shoved into the chest of one of the sound ninja next to him giving the sound ninja a fatal wound. The last two jumped away to get some distance from Naruto.

Naruto ignoring the fact that he had just had his first two kills went through a string of hand signs and said 'Wind style: great breakthrough'. Sending a powerful wave of condensed wind chakra at one of the remaining sound ninja. This slammed the sound ninja into a boulder snapping his neck killing him instantly.

The last sound ninja pulled out a hand full of shuriken and threw them at Naruto. Naruto rolled out of the way and summoned four kunai in each hand from the seal on is forearm and charged all of them with wind chakra and through them in a spread that the sound ninja couldn't dodge. Two of the kunai hit one in the right shoulder and another in the stomach. The last ninja fell and quickly bleed out.

The engagement didn't last longer than about 45 seconds, but at the end, Naruto had racked up his first four kills.

When he was done he started to walk over to the girl who started to panic thinking Naruto might hurt her. When Naruto saw this he stopped and gave her a warm smile and said, "Don't worry I am not going to hurt you." She visibly relaxed and Naruto walked forward and said in a calm voice "Are you alright?" Naruto held out his hand offering to help her up.

She took his hand and got up. "My name is Sasame Fuma thanks for saving me." She said in a timid voice. Naruto gave her another warm smile and said "Nice to meet you Sasame. My name is Menma Uzumaki." Naruto gave her a fake name so It would be harder for the Akatsuki to find him.

Feeling calmer now that the threat was gone she said "Thanks for saving me, but why did you step in."

Naruto responded "I don't exactly like the sound village they have hurt me and my friends in the past. Also, I just couldn't stand by and watch you get killed I couldn't live with myself if I did that."

Naruto then said, "Do you know who the other three are?"

Sasame nodded "We are all members of the Fuma clan."

Naruto nodded and then Sasame said "It's going to be dark soon and there's no town nearby. You can stay with my clan for the night if you like. They don't like outsiders but since you saved me they won't mind."

Naruto smiled and said "Thanks, I would appreciate it. I'll go put the bodies of your clansmen in a scroll so we can take them back to get a proper burial." Sasame nodded sadly now remembering that three of her family had been killed.

Naruto quickly collected the bodies and then walked off with Sasame.

(Outside Fuma clan compound)

As Naruto and Sasame were approaching the compound. Four figures appeared out of nowhere. The lead one said "Sasame who is this and where are Kamikiri, Kagero, and Jigumo."

Sasame responded "This is Menma Uzumaki and Kamikiri, Kagero, and Jigumo are dead. We were attack by some sound ninja and they were killed. Menma stepped in and saved me before I was killed."

Naruto then said, "I have their bodies sealed in this scroll." While showing the scroll that contained the three bodies.

The lead one said "Dam we lost three more to the sound. Well, thank you Menma for saving Sasame and bringing their bodies back. Most of the time we don't get the bodies back either they are captured or the bodies are taken. They do that so they can experiment on them. Anyway, we shouldn't think about such awful things right now. I presume that she offered you a place to sleep for the nigh?"

Sasame said, "Yes Arashi I know we don't normal let in outsiders but he saved me and there was nowhere else for him to to go."

Arashi said "It's ok if he helped you then its ok if he stays here for a while. If he stayed out in the wild the sound would likely come and try to capture you. We should go and see our leader Hanzaki."

With that, the six of them headed into the compound.

(Inside Fuma compound)

When Naruto enter the compound he noted that most of the buildings were in disrepair and run down a bit, but all seemed like they were built well enough that they wouldn't fall down any time soon.

He was lead to the largest building. Arashi lead Naruto and Sasame to the head of the Fuma clan when they entered Arashi said "Sasame has returned but Kamikiri, Kagero, and Jigumo are all dead. They were killed by some sound ninja. This is Menma Uzumaki he intervened in time to save Sasame."

"Dam that isn't good the sound has really been pushing use lately and I don't know how much longer we can last. Well, we can think about such morbid things later." The clan head said "Menma Uzumaki was it, well thank you for saving Sasame. It's late and you can stay the night here if you want."

"Thank You Hanzaki-san. Also, I have the bodies of you fallen clansmen in this scroll." Naruto said as he pulled out the scroll that contained the bodies and handed it to Hanzaki.

"Thank you now they can get proper burials. We have already served dinner but you and Sasame can go to the kitchen and make some dinner." The Clan head responded.

Naruto said "Thanks."

Naruto and Sasame went into the kitchen and they went over to look at what they could make. Sasame said, "I don't really know how to cook, so I don't really know what we should make."

Naruto then said "Don't worry I know how to. Let's just do something basic how does fried rice sound."

Sasame said, "That sounds fine."

Naruto quickly made the fried rice and he and Sasame sat at a table in a large mess hall to eat.

After a little bit, Naruto asked, "So why are the sound trying so hard to destroy your clan."

Sasame sighed and said "It's a long story so I'll start from the beginning. Most of the shinobi clans in the land of rice patties were nearly destroyed during a war of expansion that our daimyo forced us to do. Where we invaded the land of hot water to the east and the land of woods to the west. The war was a complete failure and many of the shinobi clans were almost destroyed. Not too long ago Orochimaru started to create the hidden sound village. All of the shinobi clans were asked to join the sound village. Half of my clan saw it as a way of regaining past glory while the other half saw through Orochimaru's deception and refused to join. So our clan split half with him and half stayed independent. Orochimaru sees us as a possible threat as we know some of his secrets from those who changed their mind once they saw what Orochimaru was doing. So while he hasn't sent his full power at us he has made it impossible for us to get out of the country to ask for help. He also likes to experiment on those he captures."

Naruto nodded and said "Ya where ever that snake bastard goes death and trouble follows. Is there anything you know I could do to help?"

Sasame seemed surprised and said, "You would help us fight Orochimaru."

Naruto nodded and said "Of course you aren't the only one who what to see that bastard taken down. Orochimaru killed the man I saw as a grandfather and he has hurt many others close to me."

Sasame then said, "I don't know, but Hanzaki-sama might have some ideas."

Naruto nodded and said, "I'll ask him tomorrow before I leave." With that, they finished their meal and put the dirty dishes in the sink. Sasame then lead Naruto to a spare room when they both went to bed.

Naruto tried to get some sleep but he couldn't whenever he was close to sleep he would remember that he had killed for the first time earlier that day and he would become fully awake again. After a while, Naruto gave up on trying to sleep and decided that a walk around and some fresh air would do him some good. After a bit of walking around the compound, he sat under a tree and looked up at the stars.

After a while, one of the clan members he had met when he arrived came up and sat next to him.

Arashi asked, "Can't sleep?" Naruto nodded and said, "I just can't get the thought out of my head that I kill someone to day."

Arashi nodded and asked, "Was it your first time killing."

Naruto nodded and said, "I have been in life or death fights before but I have never killed."

Arashi replied and said "I know I only met you a few hours ago, but do you want to talk about it. It will likely make you feel better and it won't make you feel worse."

Naruto shrugged and said, "I would but I don't even know where to start."

"Well then how about I start. When I had my first kill it was kind of like you I couldn't get it out of my head and I didn't know how to feel about it. After a while I started to focus more on why I killed then the act of killing. My first time I did it was to protect one of my friends from a bandit. For me, at least the reason I seek to become stronger is to be able to protect my friends and family. Sometimes that means that I have to do things I don't want to do like kill. But if I don't do what is necessary to protect them I am failing to live up to my promise to protect them. By not killing I am saying that the life of someone else is more important to me than keeping the promise to protect those who are precious to me." Arashi said.

They sat in silence for a bit and then Naruto got up and started to walk away. Arashi then called out "where are you going?"

Naruto replied "Back to bed" as he walked away with a yawn.

Arashi chuckled and thought 'Well it looks like I helped.'

(The next day)

Naruto got up later then he had in a long time and feeling a lot better than he did yesterday. He thought back on what Arashi told him 'Arashi is right sometimes protecting the things I care about means that I have to do things I don't like. I don't ever want to be the type of person that likes to kill, but I will do what is necessary to protect those I care about.' Even though Arashi was a stranger to Naruto he had helped him a lot.

Naruto got out of bed and packed his stuff up and got ready to go. After everything was packed he left his room and went to see if Hanzaki was free to talk.

When Naruto got to Hanzaki's office he saw that Hanzaki was free so he knocked on the door. Hanzaki called out "come in."

Naruto entered and sat in one of the chairs in the office. Naruto then said "I talked to Sasame last night about the sound. I was wondering if there is anything I could do to help you."

Hanzaki thought about it for a minute Sasame had told him that Naruto had his own reasons for fighting against the sound and that they were similar to his own. "Do you think you could get a message to the hidden leaf for me? Every time I try and send one of my men they end up getting killed by the sound."

Naruto nodded and said, "It might take a while but I can do that."

Hanzaki smiled and quickly wrote up a letter and handed it to Naruto. Naruto took the letter and said "I'll get this to the leaf as fast as possible, but can you do me a favor and not tell the leaf I was here. It's not that I dislike the leaf but the fewer people who know where I am the better."

Hanzaki was curious to why he would ask for that, but decided against pursuing that line of conversation and said, "Thank you and I won't tell them you were here."

Naruto nodded and then left the Fuma compound. He moved more stealthily through the land of rice patties then he normally otherwise would have, so that no sound shinobi would find him and get in his way. Since he was moving slowly it took him a day and a half to get out of the Land of Rice Patties.

(Land of woods)

The land of woods did have a minor hidden village, so Naruto decided it would be best he if took normal traveling routs to avoid any unnecessary attention. Naruto didn't want to deal with other Ninja.

While he did this he started to think of how best to get the letter to the hidden leaf. 'The fastest way to get it to the leaf would be to just take it there, but that is out of the question as I could be killed on site for being anywhere near the leaf. I wonder if Shibuki could get the letter to the leaf for me. Last I knew the leaf and waterfall were allies so getting a message to the leaf is something that Shibuki should be able to do. Ya that will work then it can just play it off as the waterfall working as the go between and I can stay out of sight.'

Naruto continued to pass through the land of woods without incident.

(Land of Rice Patties)

In a large dark room, all that could be seen were two blood red eyes with 3 black marks in each eye. Just below the eyes a burst of light came and the sound of birds chirping. The light revealed a boy in his mid-teens with Black hair and wearing only a pair of purple pants with a large purple rope as a belt. This was Sasuke Uchiha and he was currently training trying to adapt the Chidori into new jutsu.

Now in the darkness again he pointed his hand at one of the training dummies and thought 'Chidori Spear' and a spear of lightning came out of his hand and it impaled the dummy. He thought 'perfect this is the power I need to kill my brother. Soon I'll be able to deal with Orochimaru as well. If he thinks I came here, just to hand over my body to him he's an idiot. Soon his body will start to break down and weaken just like the last one and once he is at his weakest I'll kill him and go after my brother.'

Sasuke retracted the lightning spear and continued to think, 'I'll need a team in order to deal with my brother as his Akatsuki friends are not likely to just let me kill him. The idiot suigetsu will be good he is very skilled, so he will be a good to take.'

Sasuke decided that he was finished training for the day because he was low on chakra he continued to think. 'She might be a massive pain in the ass but Karin is a medic and possibly the best sensory ninja on the planet she will be worth taking. If I can control Jugo like Kimimaro used to be able to I'll take him if I can't I'll just kill him.'

As Sasuke was walking back to his room he saw Kabuto walking towards him and Sasuke thought 'He is probably off to do one of his hideous experiments.'

Once they were close Kabuto said, "So how was your training Sasuke?" Sasuke just grunted "Hn" and continued walking in the other direction.

Kabuto smirked and thought to himself 'He thinks we don't know he is planning on betraying us once Orochimaru is weak but that won't be an issue even at his weakest no one can stand against lord Orochimaru.'

End of chapter

Well at least now you all get to know a bit more about the cloaked dude. To his ability with kinetic energy weapons if you don't get what I am talking about look up what a rail gun is. That's what I am basing his ability on. Also for magnet style I am changing it from wind and earth to lightning and earth. Anyone who knows about Biot–Savart law and how rail guns work will know that makes a lot more sense. This change will also apply to Gaara and the other two Kazekage if it comes up I don't know if it will yet.

Ya I know the Naruto and Arashi part is a bit cringe worthy but I couldn't have Naruto just ignore that he had killed for the first time and this was the best I could do.

I am staying pretty close to the official Naruto map and I am making the Land of woods the place here Mountains' Graveyard is. It is the same Land of woods for the Kakashi chronicles anime arc.