Leaving Home

I headed back to the leaf village and sighed. I would have to explain to Sakura that I haven't got Sasuke back.

I pass the gates where there were two guards watching.

"The last of the ten," one of them said.

"And no Uchiha," the other said, "Not good."

I went to hokage's office, and Minato knew from my expression that the mission was failed.

"Sasuke went to Orochimaru?" Minato asked.

"Yeah, I failed to bring him back," I answered, "I did everything in my power to try and stop him but at the end he slipped away from me, and the rain washed away his scent."

"Well the mission was a failed mission," Minato sighed.

I look down feeling bad about it.

"However the team you assemble made it out of this mission alive, so its not a complete failure," Minato said.

"What?" I responded.

"Tenten Choji Kiba and Akamaru are at the hospital recovering with minor injuries, especially since Choji didn't eat the red Akamichi pill. Neji, Shino, Lee, Ino, Shikamaru, and Hinata were released with minor injuries," Minato said, "Apparently someone thought it would be best that when the team separated, that they should at least stayed in groups of two."

I smiled hearing it as it ended up being a great thing.

"Now I want you to go to Lady Tsunade for check up after that mission," Minato said.

"Yes sir," I responded bowing.

I went strait to the hospital into Tsunade's office where she was waiting for me.

"Well fortunately you only suffered minor injuries," Tsunade said.

"That's good," I said.

Sakura came in at that moment and Tsunade decided to leave.

"Uh, hi Naruto, I heard what happened between you and Sasuke," Sakura said.

"Sorry Sakura, I couldn't stop Sasuke, he manage to copy my teleporting jutsu and used it to get away from me," I said.

Sakura look down with the face that look like she was trying to keep back her tears making me upset.

I took out Sasuke's headband that I placed in my pouch.

"Here Sakura, I think you're better off with this," I said handing Sakura the headband.

"This is…" Sakura responded.

"Sasuke left this behind, I promise you on this headband I will bring Sasuke back one day," I said, "So keep it as a reminder of it."

"I will, and I'll help anyway I can," Sakura said.

I nodded as she walked off. I knew she was still upset but the headband help gave her hope.

I decided to check on Kiba and Akamaru. Kiba's sister Hanna was treating Akamaru who was in a worst condition than Kiba.

I went to Shikamaru next after a bit which Temari was with him.

"So the mission was a failure," Shikamaru said.

"Yeah," I responded.

"Well either way consider my dept paid," Temari said.

"Dept?" I asked.

"For not killing me and showing me you're not a true monster," Temari said, "And for helping my brother Gaara from stop killing every battle he enters unless death is no other option."

"Thanks," I said.

Minato was in his office going over paperwork when Jiriaya came in.

"So the mission is a failure," Jiriaya said.

"Yeah, looks like Orochimaru is going to be a bigger threat sooner than we hoped not," Minato said.

"Maybe, maybe not," Jiriaya said.

"What do you mean?" Minato asked.

"Lets just say from what I heard, Sasuke arrived to late," Jiriaya said, "Anyways I need to take Naruto out of the leaf for almost 3 years."

"Say no more," Minato said knowing what was coming, "Train him to become the best ninja he can be."

"I will," Jiriaya responded.

Sakura was called into Tsunade's office.

"You wanted to see me?" Sakura asked.

"Yes, I been thinking about this from day one, and I thought it would be best I give you private lessons as well as regular medical ninja training with Ino and Hinata," Tsunade said.

"Huh…w-why me?" Sakura asked.

"Well according to Kakashi and Iruka you're the only one of your year, infact out of your generation, with abnormal strength," Tsunade said, "I can teach you how to use it to help your comrades and defend yourself from enemies. It wouldn't put you at a disadvantage out of your class considering Ino has her family jutsus, and Hinata has her own gentle fist fighting style. So how about it?"

"It'll be my honor," Sakura said.

I went into my apartment and tried to think of a way to bring Sasuke back.

Suddenly there was an explosion outside my window and I look to see Jiriaya on a giant toad.

"Purvey Sage!" I responded.

"Hey Naruto, I got some good news for you," Jiriaya said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well your mission was a failure but you delayed Sasuke reaching Orochimaru saving his life for 3 more years," Jiriaya said.

"How…why?" I asked.

"Well while you were trying to stop Sasuke, Orochimaru wasn't able to wait for him any longer so he had to transfer bodies to another poor soul," Jiriaya said, "And he can't transfer for another three years."

"That's good," I said, "That gives me three years to save him."

"That's another thing, you got to let Sasuke go," Jiriaya said.

I thought of Takashi being killed and Sasuke going to be killed in three years.

"I can't do that, I already lost a friend once," I said, "Sasuke could of killed me but he didn't. So unless I'm killed in battle I won't stop trying to get him back."

"If that's the case then I'll have to send Anbu after you. The Akatsuki are after you, and they probably won't get you for 3-4 years," Jiriaya said, "You're the Nine-tail fox's son, and since your father was killed, and you're alive, that makes you the new Nine-tail Fox. As a shinobi, as a Chuunin, you must make wise judgement in situations you face."

"I know," I responded, "In that case I'll create new jutsus, new combinations, and with my summonings help, master my father's jutsus so I can improve my skills, and handle them."

"Handle them, like how you handle that powerful jutsu of your fathers?" Jiriaya asked, "If you serious about training then its official, I'm making you my apprentice."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, and during the three years we have we're leaving the leaf village for some training," Jiriaya said, "I already send a message to your friend Kuroda and the chief of Mt Oinari, and they're good with the idea. We're leaving three months later to train. That's if you want to take this opportunity to train under one of the legendary three Sanin."

"You bet," I said.

…3 months later…

I hanged out with Kuroda as the chief visited Minato. It was the last day to hang out before I leave on my trip.

Sakura Ino and Hinata continued their medical ninja training.

Kiba was let out of the hospital and was hanging out with Shino.

Hiashi agreed to help Neji train to improve his skills.

Asuma was treating team 10 to lunch.

Lee and Tenten were training with Gai, although Lee was doing more training than any of them.

The next day I was at the gates with my bag and scooter as Jiriaya had his wheels.

Neji, Tenten, Lee, Kiba/Akamaru, Shino, Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Sakura, Gaara, Temari, Kankaro (The three were helping out in the village before going home), Hiashi, Hanabi, Kuroda, the chief, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, Shizune, and Iruka were there to see me off, although Gaara's team was leaving themselves.

Gaara Kankaro and Temari left soon after with our good byes.

"Naruto, I wish you the best of luck," Hiashi said.

"Thank you lord Hiashi," I said bowing.

"Naruto, work hard and don't become like your father," the chief said.

"I won't," I said.

Everyone said their goodbyes until Kuroda and Sakura was left.

"I can't believe that almost a year ago we met," Kuroda said.

"Yeah I know," I said.

"Keep training in Takashi's memory," Kuroda said.

"In Takashi's memory," I said.

Then I turned to Sakura who smiled.

"With my training with Purvey-sage, and your training with Tsunade, with the two of us combine we'll bring Sasuke back," I said knowing about Sakura's personal training.

"Right," Sakura agreed.

With the last goodbyes Jiriaya and I headed off.

After a while I turned back to the walls one last time remembering that just months ago I was going toward it as my new home, and now I'm leaving it once more for 3 years.

"The next time I see those walls I'll be a better ninja," I said before heading off.

Next Time: I return after three years of training with new tricks and new jutsus. Nothing has change since i left the leaf village. Sakura sure has grown over the years, Kakashi remained the same though. However it seems that with my arrival comes a test Sakura and I must do to find out our ranks in ninjas. What kind of test is it? Read to Find Out...