Naruto walked through the empty streets of Mizu. Well as empty as the ten or so people following him from the shadow. But for him, it was alone enough.

To be honest, the plan Shikamaru came up with was solid. It was going to be difficult to execute but it was the only option.

He was still asking himself why he agreed to work with Konoha. He didn't have any sentimental feelings for them, I guess it was a moral obligation. One last hoorah.

Now neji, he was an enigma. Sometimes he wished he was as irrelevant as he was. But then again, Hinata was the real reason his mind drifted of to him to begin with.

He needed to master the art of being irrelevant, but it just wasn't in the cards. He was Naruto now. And he didn't know that his name will outgrow him. But it has, he had some pretty big shoes to fill, who knew you had to grow into your own shoes. That was an unexpected turn of events.

he turned his head to the left.

"What you doing?" The ninja dipped back into the shadows. "I guess your not Much of a talker."

If he was expecting a reply, he didn't get one. Then his mind changed course for like the fifth time in an hour and it drifted back to Hinata.

Damn her for making him have to do that. But it was the right thing to do, it was the smart thing to do. Not to mention it was his only option. Up until know he had tried to do all he could to get away from her.

But she was his weakness, and weakness were to be eliminated. It wouldn't stop him from reaching his goal though. Plus he still had Koyuki for emotional support. She was probably angry with him. Since the trip started he hasn't wrote to her. He got plenty of letters but picking up the pen just wasn't his thing.

He must've spaced out while he was walking because he ended up in front of the peer. There were a couple of boats docked and he was surprised at the size of some. Man he needed some of those, once Asguard got their ships it was a wrap. The sea and the land would be his.

"You must be Naruto." Naruto snapped out of his stupor and turned his head to the right. It was a street walker from the looks of things. She had a short gold dress that sparkled, her legs were well toned and her hair flowed elegantly down her shoulders.

"You are?"

"Pin. Well that's what they call me."

"How could I help you Pin?" Pin smiled before violating his personal space.

"I was hoping I could help you."

"You can't." Pin frowned but smiled quickly after.

"I'm sure a handsome young man like you is in need of some help..." she rubbed his arm and Naruto had to admit she wasn't ugly, but then if he stooped that low Zabuza and Sasuke wouldn't let him live it out.

"No, I'm fine."

Pin frowned before flicking her hair.

"Strange, I'm not used to being denied."

"I didn't deny you, I just didn't need your help."

"A solo artist?" Naruto smirked.

"Once in awhile."

"Girlfriend?"

"More like Fiance."

"Lucky girl to have an honest guy like you."

"I wished she saw things as clearly as you." Pin smiled before nodding.

"You have a way with words."

"I just say what I think."

"And slick." Naruto nodded.

"Well I'll be seeing you." With that Naruto walked down the stairs onto the waterfront. He was a little annoyed that Pin followed but he didn't own the place so he didn't bother asking her why she followed him.

He walked over to a bench and sat down and looked out into the water. Scenery was always his thing.

Pin sat next to him and he tried not to groan. The point of this stroll was to clear his mind of females, pretty hard to do when you have a girl that looked like that next to you.

"So, your a loner?"

"Am I a type of book to you?"

"No, books are usually hard to read for girls like me."

"Girls like what?"

"You're too smart to play dumb." Naruto stood quiet. He was getting bored of her, she understood him and that bothered him.

"Where are your friends?"

"Friends?"

"Yes, friends."

"Probably sleeping."

"So you are a lone wolf."

"Then you could figure out why I'm so annoyed right now." Pin smirked.

"You're pretty easy to wild up."

"I get it from my mom."

"She must be a nice lady."

"She's okay. Moms are moms."

"What are you? A type of ninja."

"There's types?"

"I mean I could be considered a ninja as well."

Naruto nodded. "So they sent you to seduce me?"

"Did it work?"

"I mean if you would've pulled out a bottle of Sake from your bag I might've gave you what they wanted." Pin smiled before releasing a small chuckle.

"So there's sides to you." Naruto nodded before he went back to looking over the water.

"Give me back my scroll." Naruto said. Pin looked surprise before embarrassment colored her cheeks. Before she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a green scroll.

"When did you notice?"

"Since you touched my arm, I just didnt care."

"Then why not let me keep it?"

"Because you ruined my alone time, and because your pretty cool. If you would've opened that scroll you would've been blown to bits."

"And a heart. This Koyuki lady hit the lottery."

"You could say that." Naruto said. Before he got up. "See you around Pin. Hopefully you find yourself a lottery ticket as well. You're to smart too play dumb." With that Naruto vanished.

Pin smiled before reaching into her other sleeve and pulling out the real scroll. She decided to open it to see if Naruto was bluffing.

He was. The scroll opened up and on it there was one line.

"Don't forget to read between the lines."

Pin sighed, Mei would not be happy with her failure. But to a small extent inside of her; she was happy that she at least got to meet a person like Naruto. Too bad he was already taken. He would've been a nice trophy.

"Sasuke." Guren said as she walked up to the last uchiha.

"Hm?"

"Siroko just got back, he said he saw your old teammate Naruto." Sasuke frowned, that wasn't good.

"And?"

"I just wanted to know if you were ready for a potential clash? You know teammates tend to be sentimental towards each other."

"If your asking if I'm going to betray you, the answer is no." Guren nodded.

"I was thinking of strategies, since you know the way Naruto thinks I was wondering if you could help us."

Sasuke got up from his bed and turned towards her.

"He's a mindless hot head with a lot of power."

Guren didn't get it. Sasuke read her easily.

"He's most likely going to go at the beast alone. I'm guessing he's working with a group, do you know who?" Guren nodded before passing him an envelope and he read the names.

"I see. Well with this team it might be a little difficult but Naruto won't go about things easily. He would want to test his power against the three tails so the plan revolves around him. He's also the most dangerous one, if we make our presence known he would hold back and save his energy." Guren nodded.

"So if we stay low and wait till he tires himself out that means that we'll have the advantage."

"No. it just means we'll have a better chance. If we really want to win, or capture the beast we would have to make things extra difficult for them. Which means we would have to distract Naruto from his main priority."

Guren nodded.

"How could we do that? Our teams is pretty much you and me and him." Sasuke nodded.

I'm guessing we still have time till they make there first move. Obviously Naruto won't be here if he didn't think someone or something would be here. Something besides the beast. We'll just have to wait to see who they are." Sasuke said reading through his old teammates antics easily enough.

"What if they reveal them self and we ourself can't take care of them? What then, we lose the beast and we lose the mission without even taking a shot." Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah but if I know Naruto is that he never does something that doesn't go bad."

"We'll integrate what you said into the plan. Thank you for helping us." Sasuke nodded before laying back down.

He activated his eyes and looked at his hand as the they glowed. He was still far away from controlling his full power but once he did, even Naruto will fall before him.

Naruto ended up settling for the roof of the hotel he was staying at. It took some time but the people following finally decided he wasn't up to no good and gave him some wiggle room. Bad choice.

"Should I add star gazer to your repertoire of skills now?"

Naruto smirked it was a welcoming insult.

"No. in fact I couldn't tell you the first thing about the illuminated sky."

"So just scenery?"

"Too simple for you?" The person nodded before removing his hood. Itachi smirked as he looked down at the laying form of Naruto to think someone so small held so much power. And yet, he treated it like it was just another tool.

"How's Tsunade?" Naruto asked.

"Angry with you for getting involved in a fight with the beast, and even more angry after she was briefed on your plan." Naruto smirked.

"That makes it just a little more worth doing."

"You're going to get yourself killed."

"You're working under the assumption that I am afraid."

"Any other person would, but then you'll say your not a regular person. Wouldn't you?"

"I'm still trying to figure out why you talk to me so much." Naruto said a little peeved Itachi stole his line, and also because Itachi also understood him.

"So your going to let them just take the beast? That would give a potential future enemy extreme power. It'll be foolish of you to give them a power that could be used against you." Naruto nodded.

"I can't control everything. And I try to keep my promises as inconvenient as they could be to me."

"But your not just one person anymore. You're thirty plus thousand people. Every move you make effects everyone, including me. And I don't feel to comfortable about this."

"Koyuki got to you didn't she." Itachi nodded not at all surprised Naruto caught on so quickly.

"What? It's not like she's wrong."

"That's not the point. The point is I promised to complete this mission and I will complete it. And like you said I'm not just one person, I'm thirty thousand people. And I have faith in the power of my people. We will not cower under the pressure of a turtle."

"You're a fool, Naruto. But a stubborn one. With the power to back it up: I don't know what's scarier."

"Relax, have some faith in me. Plus don't forget I didn't come here for the beast. I came to measure up against some pretty powerful people."

"I'm sure they're here somewhere." Naruto nodded.

"So is Sasuke. I felt him earlier." Itachi nodded.

"I'm sure that'll be an interesting confrontation."

"Are you going to confront him or are you just going to play aloof?" Itachi shrugged.

"Does it really matter?"

"No." Naruto smirked. "I guess it doesn't."

"If you had a chance to do right one time Naruto would you?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"What do you mean by do right?"

"Take care of the village. Kill off all the bad guys; you know super hero things."

"No."

"Why?"

"I am not a god Itachi. I was not put on this earth to solve everyone's problem. If I do, do that, you'll be dead. Remember you were considered bad."

Itachi sat back and pounder that. Was Naruto secretly saying he believed in second chances.

"Is that why you recruit missing nin?" Naruto sighed.

"Everyone deserves a place to call home, even the ones that don't deserve one. Everyone is welcomed because I know that somewhere some how one of my clans men; were welcomed with open arms into a village. And I know they must've felt extreme relief."

Itachi sighed. So he was saving the world in a weird anti hero way.

"When you think of Sasuke what do you think?"

"I don't."

"But let's suppose he shows up one day to challenge you."

"He won't."

"You're being an Asshole."

"You are too."

"Answer me."

"If that ever were to happen, you'll be the one to face him. I got bigger things to worry about."

"You do?"

"Like how the fuck I'm going to kill this fucking turtle tomorrow."

"I thought you was gonna just knock it out."

"Meh, I mean if you kill the soul the chakra is still there. That's what they really need."

"You're an asshole."

"So are you."

"Why not use the Kyuubi?"

"I don't want to."

"You're an idiot."

"You thought I actually paid attention in school."

"But you always passed."

"I said I didn't pay attention; I didn't say I was stupid."

"But you are an idiot."

"Yes. But out of necessity."

"What do you mean?"

"If I didn't act like this, then I will go crazy. Life if a lot easier, when you don't give a fuck but act like you don't give a fuck while secretly giving a fuck."

"So you don't give a fuck?"

"Not about this."

"But about asguard."

"Pride and joy." Naruto said smirking before his eyes flashed to the Sekai.

"I wonder what's on the moon."

"Why don't you go find out." Itachi said smirking.

Naruto didn't reply but the small smirk on his face was enough to signify he had every intention of doing just that.

'You might as well leave those thoughts as just thoughts.'

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

'We'll talk later.'

The next moment Naruto jumped off his feet pushing Itachi out the way as a spiral appeared out of thin air.

"Tobi."

"I thought it was Mitsu."

"Me too:"

Tobi smiled before turning into a vampire before reverting back to his regular self. His red eye glowing.

"So the rumors were true you got Itachi to join you."

"Took a little roughing up but he came around." Naruto said smoothly before turning his eyes on. Tobi smirked, Itachi was on edge but he stood close.

"So why are you here? Came to join the party?" Naruto asked.

"No, if you seal the beast into the bitch I'll just kill her later. So no, don't expect us to come around. I just wanted to see it with my own eyes, Itachi really left." Tobi said rubbing his chin as he looked at Itachi.

"We'll give you Sasuke?" Itachi frowned.

"He's a good candidate but it'll take some convincing."

"He wanted Itachi, Itachi is with me. You will eventually come after me, who is always around Itachi. Everyone has fun."

Tobi nodded.

"You talk as if we're no threat to you:"

"You're not." Naruto said. Before Tobi frowned. He couldn't feel his legs for a second it was short but it was enough. The problem was he was intangible, so any physical technique shouldn't effect him.

"You've gotten better."

"I heard practice was the motto."

"When I come for you, it won't be as friends." Tobi said as he began to bend away.

"Naruto frowned before letting go of a sigh he didn't know he was holding.

"I was putting all my power into crushing him and all he felt was a tickle." Naruto said looking at Itachi who was looking at the place where Tobi was. Naruto frowned.

"Don't worry. If Tobi ever does get Sasuke."

"You don't got to say it. I know."

Naruto frowned as he looked into the distance.

"Sorry Itachi but I got to go." The next moment he was gone.

"Who are you?" Pin asked as she turned around.

"An old friend." Naruto said as he took a seat next to the the girl at the bar.

"How old are?"

"23." Pin said smoothly as she looked at the muscular form of Naruto.

"I got some champagne ." Naruto smiled but shook his head.

"That bird been flew away. You got something that belongs to me." Pin smirked.

"Finders keepers."

"Losers?

"Lose things." Naruto laughed a small chuckle.

"You understand me."

"No I don't." Pin said honestly. " I just talk to you like I'll talk to anyone, maybe your not as confusing as you think you are."

"I think I'm pretty confusing. Sometimes I have red hair, sometimes it's blonde. Sometimes I'm an asshole, sometimes I'm nice. My partner Itachi thinks I used my powers unwisely, sometimes purposely."

"What do you mean?" Pin said not forgetting her original mission.

"I need you." Naruto said.

"For?"

"To give me my scroll back."

"You do?"

Naruto nodded. Pin frowned but passed him the scroll.

"What do you mean by read between the lines?"

Naruto shrugged his arms.

"For everyone it could mean something different. For me it means there's a hidden meaning in everything, and you should read deeper into it. But you could plainly see that it means nothing. The beauty of finding something in nothing, is the relief you get when you piece things together that weren't there. Those are the moments I live for, those are the moments that categorize life. Not when you have everything. But when you have nothing, what could you find in it? What could you learn from it. And that Pin is what I mean by read between the lines. But then again from your perspective, it'll be completely different." Pin nodded as she downed her glass of champagne.

"This Koyuki girl, she's really lucky."

"Of course, i might not know much about girls but if I know one thing is that the ones that believed in you when you were just planning are the ones worth sharing the plans with. Thank you Pin. Hopefully we meet again."

"Hopefully we do."

"Do you?"

"No." Naruto said smirking before flashing away.

Pin sat on the bar, and asked for another glass. There's was nothing to celebrate but what Naruto said was resonating with her.

"Who are you Naruto."

Koyuki smiled as she read the small line on the scroll delivered to her from Naruto."

"I'll take this lost for you. Thank you."

koyuki smirked.

"Just like him to keep things so simple."

naruto laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling smiling as he reminisced about his evening . If there was something he loved was ruining plans, but for once. He wished everything went as planned.

"Do nothing and pretend it's something. Or pretend it's nothing and believe in something."

His mind drifted off to Koyuki and he smiled. She understood him. And it bothered him.