Recommended Story: 'Naruto Unchained' by voider

Chapter Six

It didn't take long for Shizune and Sakura to reach the genin kunoichi's home. The lights were off, telling them her parents were either out or sleeping.

"What are you going to tell the if you see them?" Shizune whispered.

Sakura shrugged. "Not sure. The truth I guess."

"Mind telling me why exactly you're going with us?" Shizune asked. "Not that I mind it, but I am curious."

"Let's get this over with first."

Shizune nodded. "I'll wait out here. You know what to do."

Sakura nodded and went inside. 'I wonder how long it's going to be before I come back. Will I even be able to come back?' She silently walked thru the front room of her small house. 'No, don't think like that. Of course I will be back someday. I'm not going to leave Konoha forever, just until this revolution thing ends and Naruto's out of harms way. I just hope Mom and Dad stay safe too.'

She carefully went up the stairs, using her chakra to stick to the walls rather than risk making too much noise. 'I guess I don't want Mom and Dad to ask me what's going on. I shouldn't just disappear, so maybe I should write a note for them. Yeah, that'll work.'

On the upper level Sakura quietly got to her room and went inside. Her mission-ready gear was within immediate access contained within a pink-and-white backpack. Grabbing it, she confirmed its contents. 'Kunais, check. Shuriken, check. Rations, check. First aid, check. Spare money, check. Change of clothes, check. Better bring along another set just to be sure. Bathroom products, check. Reading material, check. I guess all I need to do is grab some extra clothes and food and I'm good.'

Her door opened up, making her freeze, but she turned to see her father standing there in his dark blue pajamas. Akihiro Haruno was a tall lean man with pale hair, enough that you'd swear it was white, and the same green eyes Sakura had. He was no shinobi, instead he worked at the hospital as a technician. "Sakura, what are you doing?"

"Hi daddy." Sakura replied, sounding caught. "I'm just getting ready. Hokage-sama assigned my team a mission that we have to start under the cover of night so I need to get going."

Akihiro shook his head. "I saw the records. One of your teammates is still in care and the other just got out no less than four hours ago. Where are you really going?"

"It's the truth. Hokage-sama's assistant is right outside waiting. You can ask her yourself."

Akihiro still looked unconvinced. "Why not your sensei? Where's he?"

"I don't know. Probably getting ready too."

Akihiro looked right at his daughter, making her feel uncomfortable. "Sakura dear, I may not be shinobi, but I'm not gullible either. What are you really doing?"

Sakura frowned. "I'm telling you the truth Dad. Hokage-sama has an assignment for me and Naruto that we must start tonight. Why don't you believe me?"

"I heard a lot of commotion outside and your mother and I were worried since you weren't home yet. We've been waiting with the lights out to avoid drawing attention here all this time for you to get back, and now that you have you're heading out again to do an errand for the hokage? Surely she has more sense than to send two genin out while there's a conflict going on here in Konoha."

From behind him, Sakura's mother Mariko Haruno appeared, wearing a white bathrobe. She looked like an adult version of Sakura but with dull blue eyes and her pink hair worn in a braid. "Sakura? Where have you been?"

"Mom, Dad, I'm only saying this once. I have to go away for a while. I don't know when I'll get back, but I will when I'm able to." Sakura told them, trying to avoid telling them the real nature of what she was doing.

"This sounds too fishy to me. I want to hear from the hokage about this first." Akihiro stated.

"She's busy right now, but you can talk to her assistant right now."

"Not good enough. I want to hear from the hokage directly." Akihiro announced firmly, crossing his arms.

Sakura held in a sigh. "That's not up to you. Look Mom, Dad, I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry. I love you, but I have to go."

"But why?" Mariko asked.

Sakura now sighed. "All I'm allowed to tell you is it's for my own good and I need to do this to help my teammate."

Mariko held her daughter. "Stay safe dear and try to come back soon."

Sakura hugged her mother back. "I'll stay safe, but I can't promise to come back soon. I could be gone for a long time."

"What? No, you can't. This is your home you can't just leave it." Her mother said, pulling back to face her.

Sakura sended a single tear. "Mom, I'm going to miss you both, but I have to do this."

"Why?" Both her parents asked.

Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't tell you anything. For the time being you'll both be safer if you don't know. Just please believe me when I say I will be safe and I will come back someday."

Akihiro's gaze softened. "This isn't a normal mission, is it?" Sakura nodded her head. "And you can't turn it down?" Sakura shook her head this time. "And you want to go on this even if you could reject it?" Sakura was slower to react this time, but she nodded.

Mariko tightened her hold on her daughter, as if afraid or unwilling to let her go. "Please sweetheart, don't do this."

Sakura pushed her mother away a bit. "Mom, I told you, I have to do this. I don't have the time to tell you everything, just trust me when I say I need to do this. Maybe later I can send word to you on how I am and a better explanation, but tonight, let's just leave it at this."

Mariko pulled away and pulled a dark red ribbon out of her hair that she put in at night to keep it from going all over the place and irritating her husband. "Sakura, keep this with you. As a reminder of us and your promise to come back as soon as possible."

Tentatively, the young genin accepted the offered ribbon and put it in her pack. "Bye Mom. Bye Dad. I love you both." She hugged them one more time and went downstairs.

Mariko embraced her husband for support. "Do you think we're doing the right thing by not putting our foot down?"

Akihiro shrugged. "Maybe we should have. But sadly we're not the only authority figures in our daughter's life anymore and we have to trust her to know what orders to follow and what ones not to." He put his arms around his distraught wife. "C'mon, let's get back to bed. All we can do is hope for the best."

"Mom? Baa-chan?" Naruto called out.

"What is it Son?" Kushina asked, bringing them to a stop.

"Before we go, there are two people I have to see. I owe it to them to let them know I'm not going to be around anymore." The whiskered blonde told the group.

"We don't have too much time, but if it's really important Naruto then make it quick." Tsuande told him. "I'll be at the top of the monument. Kushina, you come with me. Hinata, you go with Naruto to keep an eye out for him."

The genin nodded and although Kushina looked reluctant to obey she did not argue. Then the two teens broke away and headed back into the village.

"Where are we going Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.

"I need to see Moegi and the Ichirakus. I can't just leave without saying goodbye, not to them. Moegi is closest so I'll get to her first."

"Why her?" Hinata asked, not objecting, just wondering.

Naruto struggled to answer. "Her mother died tonight and her dying wish to for me to keep an eye on her. If I can't be here to do that I need to tell her why. Would you like to let your family know about you while we're at it?"

Hinata shook her head. "No, I don't. If I did they'd try to stop me and they'd likely succeed. It's best if we just ignore them."

Before more could be said, the pair arrived at Konohamaru's house. Naruto knocked at the door and Konohamaru's mother answered the door. "Welcome back Naruto. Is something wrong?"

"Boss!" Moegi screamed, running right to the orange-clad ninja.

"You ok Moegi?" Naruto asked.

The orange-haired girl nodded. "I'm just afraid of being away from you right now. You're strong enough to keep the enemies away."

Naruto was afraid to burst her bubble right then, but had no choice. "Umm... Moegi, I'm going to have to go away to make sure they stay away. So I won't be around here to keep you safe for a long time."

Moegi was wide-eyed. "What? No. Don't go Boss. I need you."

Konohamaru was equally surprised. "You can't go Boss. Konoha needs you here to become Hokage."

"I know Konohamaru, but Konoha unfortunately doesn't want me here for the time being, and they're going to try to kick me out or maybe even kill me. I have to leave until they change their mind." Naruto explained.

"Can I go?" Moegi asked.

Naruto shook his head. "I'm afraid not Moegi."

"Why not? I'm all alone here. Where will I go?"

Naruto looked at the Sarutobi's. "Could you watch over her?"

Konohamaru's mother shook her head. "Maybe for a night or two, but nothing long term. It's not that we don't want to, but we don't have the room or money too."

Hinata looked at the young girl. "Do you have any other family?"

Moegi shook her head. "I was adopted. Unless Boss takes me with him, I'm going to have to go back to the orphanage."

Naruto cringed. That was a fate he wouldn't wish on anyone. "I don't know what to do, but... maybe Baa-chan would. You want to go ask her?" Moegi nodded and Naruto faced Konohamaru's mother. "Thanks for watching her. If I don't bring her back tonight, just know she'll be in good hands."

"Hey, can't I go where you're going Boss?" Konohamaru asked.

Naruto shook his head. "Sorry Squirt. Your mother needs you and I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on Konoha while I"m away. Plus someone has to tell Udon everything right?"

The young boy sighed then stood diligently. "I'll do what I can to make this town see it needs you Boss."

"Thanks Konohamaru. I'm counting on you."

After saying goodbye to Konohamaru's family, Naruto created a clone and had it take Moegi home to gather a few things she wanted to keep on her before heading to Tsunade. During that time he and Hinata headed to Ichiraku's ramen.

Naruto was quite surprised to see the lights on. "Maybe they're pulling a late shift tonight." He thought aloud before entering. "Old man? Ayame-nee-chan?

"Naruto?" Teuchi and Ayame called out before coming out of the kitchen. "You alright?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Despite this weird thing." He then held out his tail.

The ramen chefs gasped. "What is that?"

"Some strange tail that appeared tonight while I was fighting. Even weirder, my mom showed up today and she even has one too." Naruto answered.

Hinata looked at him. "She has one too? I didn't see one."

"She can apparently hide it. I don't know what's going on here."

"How do we know you're really Naruto then?" Teuchi cautiously asked.

"Who else would ask to eat their own weight in ramen and ask if you had a scale to determine how much ramen that really would be?"

Ayame smiled. "Good enough for me. We thought you might show up with all those clones we saw in the streets. What's going on?"

"To put it short, I'm going to have to flee town for a while." Naruto told them.

Teuchi made an understanding 'ah' sound. "So it's finally come, eh?"

Naruto nodded. "Looks like it. I wanted to say goodbye since you guys have been like family to me."

"Speaking of family, could I go see your mom? There's something I'd like to ask her while she's here." Ayame asked, a stern look in her eyes.

"Uhh... I guess, though we have to move fast."

Ayame smiled. "No problem. Just let me get ready. I'll be a moment." She then turned and went in back.

Teuchi looked at the young boy he considered the son he never had. "Where will you go Naruto? That Wave country you told me about?"

"Likely. It's nearby and somewhere I know I'd be welcome in."

Hinata tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "Naruto-kun, maybe you should think of somewhere else. If any hunter nin are sent after us, that might be the first place they'd search."

"Really?" Naruto asked.

"Actually that makes sense." Teuchi added.

Ayame appeared. "I'm all set." Naruto was surprised to see her. She wasn't dressed in her ramen server outfit, probably the only thing Naruto had ever seen her wear. This time Ayame dressed an awful lot like Anko, wearing a black open jacket with a dark purple mesh shirt underneath that almost made her bust look half a cup size bigger than her normal outfit led others to believe. She wore skin-tight black leggings under a black skirt with a blue belt and a ninja tool pouch strapped to her right thigh. On her back was a purple backpack. "There. I'm ready."

"For what?" Naruto asked, not expecting this.

"If I'm going to see your mother Naruto, I want to make a good impression on her. As well as show her I'm no pushover." Ayame calmly explained.

"Are you expecting to fight her?" Hinata asked, quite surprised.

"No, but if she says something that will make me want to kick her ass then I'm sure as hell not going to do it dressed as a chef." The brunette told the younger girl.

"We should get going now though. Old man, thank you for everything, and be ready to really get to work when I come back." Naruto told Teuchi.

The old man nodded. "Will do." He then shared a knowing look with his daughter who nodded, as if they silently came to a conclusion the two genin didn't understand.

Rather than worry about it, they both left the ramen stand with Ayame following them, moving with the grace and speed of an experienced kunoichi.

"Naruto-kun, you never said she was a shinobi." Hinata mentioned.

"It never came up. Besides, she resigned years ago. I'm not sure why, she just said she was mad at someone and refused to do more work so she quit and started working with her dad. I asked why but she always told me not to worry about it." Naruto told her.

"How good is she?" Hinata asked.

Naruto thought it over. "Let me put it this way: When she tells me I've had enough ramen to eat, I don't argue anymore."

While still a vague answer, Hinata knew it had big implications. 'She can actually make him STOP eating ramen? Holy crap!'

Tsunade and Kushina were on top of the monument discussing something when Sakura, Shizune, Naruto, and Hinata showed up. Both older women were surprised to see two extras accompanying them. "Naruto, who are they?" Tsunade asked.

Ayame walked p to Kushina. "I'm assuming you're Naruto's mother?"

Kushina nodded. "Yes I am. Are you one of my son's-?" She was cut off by a solid punch to her jaw that knocked her on her ass.

"Bitch where the fuck have you been all this time?" Ayame yelled at the redhead, surprising those around her.

"Ayame-nee-chan!" Naruto called out in shock, but the brunette paid it no mind.

Kushina got back on her feet and glared back at the ramen chef. "That was unwise brat."

Ayame refused to back down. "You've been gone for twelve years leaving this poor boy all alone in the world and NOW you decide to come back and be a part of his life? Not while I'm around. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick your ass for leaving Naruto alone like that."

Kushina smiled. "You care about him, don't you?"

"He's practically family to me and probably the only decent boy I know of any age. Now answer my question dammit!"

Kushina looked at Naruto and smiled. "I like this one Naruto. Fierce and not afraid to defend her turf. Don't lose this one."

Everyone was confused. "What?"

"Never mind this. Naruto, why did you bring others here?" Tsunade asked.

"Ayame-nee-chan wanted to see my mom, and Moegi here has nowhere to go. You saw what happened earlier so I can't just ignore her. What should she do?"

Tsunade knelt down to look at the young girl who was clinging to Naruto. "Do you have any family to stay with?"

Moegi shook her head. "I was adopted and Mom never mentioned any other family. Please don't send me back to the orphanage. I don't want to be orphaned twice."

"Why not bring her along?" Kushina suggested, catching everyone's attention. "I don't see why not."

Tsunade shook her head. "Not the best idea. It could slow us down and make us more vulnerable to anyone who wanted to do harm to us."

"Got a better idea? Because so far I only see three options. With us, in the orphanage, or find a new guardian right now." Kushina asked.

Finding a new legal guardian right then was definitely impossible for Tsunade. The Anbu were disorganized and it was impossible to tell for sure where everyone's loyalties lay. Not to mention it would look suspicious if Tsunade was in a hurry to give one girl a home within an hour.

Tsunade sighed and got back up on her feet. "I still don't think bringing her with us is a good idea, however leaving her doesn't sound any better. Just do what we say little lady, understand?"

Moegi smiled and nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

"So where are we going?" Sakura asked.

"Hinata-chan says we shouldn't go anyplace we've already been, like Wave or Tea or Snow." Naruto stated.

Shizune nodded. "Yes, and even though we could probably catch up to the three from Suna who are going home, it would be unwise to get them involved in this mess."

Tsunade snapped her fingers. "I know the perfect place to head to for now anyways."

"Where?" Everyone asked.

"Sea Country."