Chapter Seven; That One Year Mission?

Land of Rain; Naruto's Office

The rain pelts down, clouds block the moon creating a very moody midnight atmosphere as Naruto looks out over the Hidden Village, he helps manage in return for basing their group out of just like his former foes once did. Circling the cold beer in his mug as his guest finally arrives, the shadows masking them both from one another, the light from far below scarcely illuminating his frame "I trust that you were successful."

"Did you doubt me?"

"Never." His almost whisper as the figure steps beside him, holding two double vodkas on the rocks, no doubt from his top shelf and vintage from Kaminari no Kuni. Downing his beer, placing it aside, and joining his other closest ally at the desk "You didn't answer…"

"Unnecessary." As the thick binding land on his desk, wait two bindings sealed shut "The Leaf needs better security." Sipping her drink as he lights another smoke, "…or…" breathing the smoke out slowly, glancing at the woman at his side, "…you're just that good." She smirks at that, shrugging lazily "Maybe." Silence returns as he gives a cursory glance over the initial report with him in his chair, she sitting on the desk right next to him. It was comfortable.

"I want some time off."

"Kai!" Naruto whispered immediately trying to dispel the disguise, unleashing his chakra several times in quick succession earning a blush from his companion "I know… I know…" hanging her head as he fully turns to her, her blush hidden by the darkness "…I'm a workaholic."

"Karin is a workaholic. You have long since passed that." Naruto spoke seriously, "You haven't had a break since…" he trails off before she smiles longingly "That one year mission we had…"

"…Ryūzetsu…" he whispered to which she shook her head "I turned you down; not because I don't love you, nor you me, but the others and…" she trailed off before being engulfed suddenly by her closest companion, friend, and last love. "It'll be okay, ney? No ones around so you can cry if you want." The silence that stretched was painful as the sniffles echoed in the darkness "He would have been seventh birthday tomorrow." She whispered with so much pain, Naruto felt horrible that all he could do is offer his chest for her to cry in, his hands running through her long white hair like he used to do when they were on the road "I know…" his whisper drowned by the air around "Our little Tatsuka."

He pulls her to the side rooms couch, their drinks in hand as it seemed their celebration of the one left behind by time would be remembered by the only two that knew.

Eight years earlier…

Land of Wind; Kazekage Office

Naruto arrives in his Sand Anbu gear, which was comparable to their leaf counterpart but, pale dust mask with black markings, "Kitsune, glad you made it so quickly…" spoke Gaara the sand settling after the sudden body flicker in, a nod from the masked shinobi "…there's a mission that requires a delicate yet unyielding touch."

"That's one way of saying you want mass destruction unnoticed and unchained to the Sand." The masked shinobi announced. His eyes are drawn to the new pale mask at the side, the markings of the Hidden Grass "Grass Anbu?"

"Your partner for this mission." Gaara announced, sitting back in chair, as the Anbu stepped into the light of the office "I heard you're the best they have around here."

"Deception is the breath of us shinobi, no?" Naruto added causing the other two to nod, "Very well. Though, once we leave, we must stash our gear. We can't be acknowledged."

"A blank operation, huh?" earning a nod from his fellow Anbu mention, "Then… when do we leave?"

Seven weeks later…

Two hooded figures arrive at another nameless village, somewhere no one knew dared say, as they slipped into the crowd with practiced ease, reappearing in a room within an Inn, the cloaks were dropped, and the whiskered face of Naruto came into view. His blond hair was hidden by a dark bandana, though a few strands escaped by his left ear and right eye as it refused to be restrained.

Ryūzetsu on the other hand, wore a sleeveless kimono over a green top that only has a long green sleeve covering her left arm along with the green bandana. Her stoic mask was on in full, and Naruto was getting somewhat irritated by it but decided to let it slide for now, keeping his own version on as they went about conducting maintenance on their equipment and themselves.

Much to his surprise however, she was the one to break the silence, "We're almost at our objective. Are you sure you are up for it?" her unique grey eyes staring into his sapphire blues that were blank of emotion "Pretty sure sneaking into a prison is counterproductive to ones life." Amusement dancing across his eyes. She doesn't respond and the stare down continues before Naruto just nods almost imperceptibly to which she gets up and heads to the shower "Last one for a while, huh?"

"From now, refrain from referring to me in the female tense. It'll help the operation go smoother."

"Fine." Naruto snipped, "I'll watch your back and get this box destroyed." retrieving the chakra dye from his pouch, getting ready for this long-term scouting mission. "I just hope this contact of yours is on time."

"Just fill out the papers." She responded from the next room, to which he puts the pots down before rummaging through his pack again, finding the documents already filled out and places them on the desk "I have. They're on the desk."

"Good." She coming out from the bathroom. "From here on out, we're in business mode."

"You're always in business mode." Naruto snipped as he passes her by "You need to act like ANBU to…"

"You need to lighten up. We got this." Naruto blows a raspberry before closing the door and she sighs. He can be so childish.

Hōzuki Castle

A week later…

"Menma huh?" a guard says looking over the red-haired, blue-eyed man in cuffs before him "An Uzumaki perhaps?" said man spits at the ground the man stands "Screw you…" a punch to the gut caused him to cough and wheeze "Regardless, none has ever escaped from this place, and you certainly not be the first. Take them!"

Three months in.

Menma (Naruto) sits in the cafeteria with two inmates that he was usually found with when Riya (Ryūzetsu) enters and starts getting harassed by a few of the bulker groups. Leaning back in his chair, Menma watches them all try intimidating and belittle the newcomer but instead were ignored causing them to get louder. This drew more attention which goes against the plan thus Menma shouts out "Oi, Rugrats… take a hike…. We're trying to eat over here." Said men look to him a grumble before moving off. None wanted to mess with Menma. He had beaten three-quarters of the 'thugs' in a bare knuckle brawl within the first three weeks of his incarceration. His two lackeys are just two guys who are usually bullied if they leave his side.

That night, Menma steps out into the shadow behind the castle and nods at Riya who steps out from behind a tree "I think you've successfully drew their attention." She whispered and he nods "I noticed eyes on me constantly now. The plan is going well."

"Too well. I haven't found anything on my end." She mentioned causing him to frown, "That… could be a problem." She nods at that as the two fall silent for a moment. "Solitary?" she questioned, and he mulled it over for a moment before nodding "Solitary." He confirms and within the flicker of the nearby light source both were gone.

A month later…

The box was raised, drawn out by a large portion of chakra from over half the shinobi prisoners including Menma. A demon came out and began wreaking the place, and just when all hope was lost a massive punch threw it into the castle itself, protecting Ryūzetsu. Naruto lands beside her and offers her a hand "I thought you…"

"The seal only works on external sources remember?" he grins "I have sage chakra and chakra seals on my skin."

"Why didn't I…"

"You do." Naruto then presses a small tattoo on her lower back "Feel this?" she nods "channel a small part of your chakra there." She does and suddenly a rush takes over "It won't last but…"

"Thanks."

"Let's beat this thing down…" he pauses before bringing her into a firm hug, the demon smashing through the guards behind them "I'm sorry…" he whispered and for the first time, she gripped him back and just enjoys the warmth "…you know we can't save Muku now, right?"

"…but I…" he pulls back before placing his forehead against hers, staring directly into those grey eyes with multiple circular patterns, "He isn't gone but that isn't him." Placing his finger on her heart he continues "Muku will forever live within your heart. Hold him close but in his name, we have to stop that thing." Despite his words helping solidify her resolve, she couldn't just… no. In his name "I have a plan. Can you distract him?" she whispered, and he smiled, finally pulling back "No sweat. That's my job, right?" leaping off into the chaos.

Naruto ducks beneath the claw thrust, his upper cut enhanced with sage chakra forcing the limp to narrowly avoid another group of convicts to which he leaps forward and the massive jaws of the demon chomp down on him. Boom. The beast coughs smoke and flames for a moment as a rasenshuriken slaps into its side, sending it flying only for it to remain unharmed despite the direct hit. Sighing Naruto looks to the tall tower where he sensed Ryūzetsu "You better hurry up… I'm starting to run low on…" before he could finish, he leaps over the claws that attempted to grab hold.

The few other guards attempted to fire arrows and nin-jutsu at the beast, but it continued to duck and dodge until a tentacle appeared and smacked it down. Everyone looked back to see the eight tails there and start rapping, Naruto sweat drops at that and nods along with Kuruma saying that his brother had it bad. Before the demon could recover however, golden chains erupted from the ground around it, securing it tightly to the floor just as the other part of Ryūzetsu's plan came to fruition as Mui was helped atop the beast by her.

Naruto was too focused on holding it back, the beast was not one to be held back, but it was no nine tails who was cackling hard at another being held by those infernal chains, so he did not hear the parting words from father to corrupted son, but the flames did help bring him back to the situation. Before Mui was turned to ash from his own technique Naruto and Ryūzetsu combined his Rasenshuriken with her dragon flames into an overpowered blast of crimson hot flames the finally destroyed the bulk of the facility.

In the ensuing chaos, the two Anbu were able to slip away despite the Hidden Mist, Hidden Cloud, and the Hidden Leaf forces arriving to secure the facility. Or so they thought.

A/N: I wasn't going to write the entire Blood Prison out, so I skimmed it. I was actually going to make this a full arc, going into detail about how this one different from Prime, but I got bored and skimmed it. The relationship between Ryūzetsu and Naruto obviously changed the outcome, but she is still hung up on Muku so nothing outright romantic happened before this point anyway. Just Naruto being the supportive and idiotically reliable friend that he always is.

Land of Grass; Border

Two days later

Naruto was on first watch, their campfire was nothing but embers right now and he had finally gotten out the prisoner jumpsuit and recovered their shinobi gear. As he continued in the tree, his slit eyes find their way to Ryūzetsu's sleeping form and his heart went out to her. He could see the tear tracks from his spot, knowing her fatigue was far greater than his as he had no emotional attachment to this mission directly like she did, no doubt the fact that she couldn't save her childhood friend after so long was emotionally draining.

Returning his gaze to the sky above, he wonders what he would have done if he was in that position, could he have killed one of his precious people if they had gone down the path of darkness. Naturally his thoughts went to his once best friend Sasuke Uchiha, who had recently betrayed Orochimaru and was on the run. If it came down to it, could he kill him? Probably not. Beat him? Without a doubt. That being said his thoughts were abruptly halted by a clone's memories of three squads of Bolt, closing in on them.

Dropping down, he immediately buries the remains of the fireplace with a small earth technique that awakens Ryūzetsu in the process. As she snaped her eyes up to him, he signs Three squads, northeast, closing slow. She nods and they pack up their gear in less than thirty seconds. Before fading into the night. The clone guards overhear their conversation about finding the two convicts from the castle and swore they were here.

Receiving the memories of the clones, Naruto came up with a plan. A plan not even he would like but it was the best course of action. Probably. Landing on a branch further ahead than his partner, he signals for her to stop to which she lands silently beside him "They're looking for convicts from the prison."

"Are they still tracking us?" she asks to which he nods "Somehow… we'll have to find out how and then…"

"Hey kit, on your leg there's another seal." Naruto paused mid way before glancing down at his leg, but realising its taped up, he looks back to her "I have an idea, follow…" leaping off in another direction with Ryūzetsu hot on his tail.

After another hour of running through the wilderness they come to a lake. Naruto sits on the edge and then begins to disrobe, much to the shock of Ryūzetsu who went to hit him, a slight tint hue to her cheeks when Naruto growled whilst looking at the back of his calf "That must be it…" he murmurs, and she peers down to see a small line kanji printed on his skin "When did…?"

"I don't know…" Naruto admitted as he unsealed his brush "…but it's rather simple. It seems to work off the basic principles of regular pulses ever half hour or so."

"That means…" she too goes to take off her shoes before he pauses his efforts and grins, I have a better idea…"

"Oh?"

"Yeah. We keep them on and head towards Rice Country."

"Rice Country? Why…?"

"It would caste suspicions of Sound's involvement with Grass. It's not too farfetched and it would be hilarious to see the cloud take on that Ox, wouldn't it." Naruto adds with a mischievous glint in his eyes, this prank for the snake-teme would get him back for all the bull he's put him and his friends through.

"You know that this is crazy right?" Ryūzetsu with narrowed eyes only for Naruto to shrug, "this is meant to be a blank op, right? What better way then to end it by framing someone else?" she could refute that. Sure, she was now technically a rouge element, a nuke-nin, but still. She sighs at that, something she's only done in the presence of this man "Fine. You're right." He grinned massively at that as he retied his legs wraps "…but you owe me after this…!"

"Sure thing." Naruto waving her off, leaping to his feet before looking around and nodding "Those guys are probably nearby based off the timing…" Naruto began and she looks him incredulously for a moment before going blank faced again "Business mode." She orders and he sags his shoulders "Again?"

"Yes." Her curt response to which he sighed harder and nodded before they both took off towards Rice Country.

A week later

"FIGHT ME DOBE!" Naruto facepalmed at that idiot that just tried to Chidori him out of fucking nowhere, his two cronies at his side "Look. I really don't have time for your bullshit, Uchiha." Completely blank face as Ryūzetsu observes with only mild interest. "You will fight me so I can get my…" Naruto takes up Ryūzetsu's hand before the two-body flickered away, but just as the trio were about to give chase, a bolt team arrive and spot him "Uchiha, a good prize huh…?"

"…and you are not worth my time. Begone." Sasuke looking in the direction of Naruto and his friend for only a second before the Bolt team moved to strike. The Ravenette eyebrow twitched at the fact that he was just passed a tracking Anbu team by his former idiot teammate.

Crunching through the Snowy mountains of the Land of Iron wasn't what Naruto had in mind for a relaxing time. After passing through Waterfall, he thought they had lost them but a ping on the edge of his clone's sensory range shattered that hope. Whose idea was this again? Oh right, his. Glancing to his shoulder, Ryūzetsu was still out cold, those guys almost had them at the border had it not been for the samurai who missed their hasty retreat and forced the Bolt guys back.

Chuckling to himself, Naruto looks to the cloudy sky "You're probably not going to let me hear the end of it, right, Ryūzetsu?" before continuing his trek as he can see a cave not to far away though the lack of tree's means firewood is likely to be even scarcer. Stopping again for a moment, a pair of shadow clones appeared only for one to fall asleep immediately earning an eyebrow twitch from the original who then sighs again "It has been what, forty-eight hours…"

"Ninety boss." The clone yawned and stretched before moving in another direction "Right." Naruto murmurs before continuing his way, forgetting the sleeping clone where it lay. Perhaps he'll gain some energy from it when it dispels.

In the cave, which turned out to be a lot further than it looked, probably, Naruto put down his friend against the floor before looking around. It was quite large, at least five to six metres tall and wide but best of all out of the snow storm that has just started to form "I hope my clone gets back soon." He sighs again as he begins to redress the wounds upon Ryūzetsu. Reaching into his pouch he pulls out two rolls of bandages and finds himself sighing again, "Times like this, I really wish my chakra wasn't so corrosive."

"Sorry brat. Just unlimited chakra with a hint of toxicity. Not that…" Naruto cut the connection, two tired to argue with the furball as he continues to clean the shoulder wound of his partner. By the time he had finished, the clone had returned and only barely placed the few branches down before it dispelled. The small influx of chakra was helpful but not required.

Lighting the flames, Naruto moved the comatose kunoichi closer to the warmth as the snow began to really come down. Sitting by the entrance, keeping watch again, he glances back at his friend "It's been a day and a half, I hope you awake soon." Sighing again he looks out and finally receives the memories of the clone he left behind. He nods, no one followed them. The first bit of good news in a while.

A few hours later, Ryūzetsu awoke to find herself in a cave atop a futon. Looking around she is reminded by her injuries by a dull thumping on her shoulder when a comforting hand slowly pushed her down "Easy there. Your wounds have only barely closed. Don't mess them up."

"How long was I out?"

"Two days." That caused her eyes to snap open, those piercing blue eyes staring back at her dully "Then, let me at least…"

"Your still injured." Naruto shaking his head but she pushed herself up, clutching her left side "Get some sleep, you moron." Glaring at him "You were already on fumes when we stopped to camp before the ambush. Almost five days now…"

"I've running on food pills and Chakra. I know what I…"

"Shut up and just listen to me for once." She growled causing him to blink owlishly at her "Just…" sighing again she looks into his near lifeless eyes "Naruto. Sleep. We won't be going anywhere fast. So do us both a favour and get some sleep." He pursed his lips in a thin line, he knew he wasn't exactly thinking straight and were it not for his partners chakra, he would have already been out cold long ago. No doubt he'll be asleep for a day at least, three at most, but "Okay…" he barely whispered, "But the slightest sign of trouble and you wake me." Glaring at her to which she nods at "Fine by me." Slowly and with great effort standing up, and shuffling over to the cave entrance, where she found a small pile of branches and wood for the fire already died and prepared. Looking back, Naruto was already out like a light.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, due to the high concentration of biju chakra that was running through his core, many of his cells became damaged as a result. Kuruma noticed this and withdrew it all back, yet the damage was already done. Help came, however from an unlikely source which is when Naruto's Uzumaki genes would fully awaken though the Namikaze ones were still as stubborn as ever.

Two days later.

Ryūzetsu had a lot of time to think about the mission, self-appointed it may have been but ultimately for the greater good it was better that everything ended with the box destroyed and her friend finally laid to rest. She had noticed the sown together patches on Naruto's gear, it was clear that he had taken a direct hit and the only time that his guard was down was when he had caught her after the narrow escape at the cut to her shoulder. The man was clearly going for the kill, but she managed to shift it enough to save her life.

Then, despite being injured himself, her partner had carried her up the mountain range and find shelter before the snowstorm hit, all whilst not having slept. He really is a dedicated friend. Though for some reason her heart hasn't stop beating in her ear. He's just like. Nope. Not going there.

The sound of groaning and stretching brought her back to the mission, looking back into the cave Naruto had finally shown signs of awakening. Being injured, she hadn't been able to find food, and like him, had been surviving on ration bars, and food pills. It's for the mission.

As he sat up, rubbing his eyes, it only took five seconds for Naruto to recall the situation and become alert "How's everything?"

"We're still in the clear." Ryūzetsu confirms before looking out at the mountain tops, "Though, not sure how long this storm will hold up."

"Then we should get moving now. We should be able to…"

"Kit, you really aren't in a condition to travel through a storm like that." Kuruma almost shouts at him 'We don't really have a choice here, furball. The moment that storm lets up, the samurai, the Cloud and the Leaf will come storming up here. We need to leave now.' Earning a growl from the fox from that furball comment but ultimately stays silent "Take a nap, Ryūzetsu. I'll wake you when it's time." He added to which she nodded and went back to the futon and did so. Making a squad of clones, they immediately ran into the storm for two reasons; one to find food, and two to test the weather further down the mountain.

Sometime later…

"Ryūzetsu, time to get up." Naruto shakes her away to which she sits up quickly only for Naruto to help steady her. He smiles at the confusion on her face before she schooled it "Eat." Presenting her a plate of meat to which she rips through rather un-lady like not that Naruto cared. After finishing up the two rabbits, the two set off into the snow bound mountains and continued to head to the east, much to their pursues dismay, and during their snow walk Naruto handed Ryūzetsu a parchment "What is…?"
"When we get across the border, activate it. It will destroy any seal currently active on your body." Naruto explained causing her to look at him confused to which he offered a weak smile, the bags under his eyes added to the wariness in his voice "…I had a lot of time to work on it." A shrug as he continued to advance ahead, the duo walking in line with one another disguising the fact that they were leading their chasers into a trap.

Land of Rice; Rane Village

Naruto slumped down at the bar, Ryūzetsu beside him as she called over a waiter "A bottle of sake and two saucers." Gaining a nod only for Naruto to sit up "Any smokes?" earning a slap to the back of the head from Ryūzetsu, "Hey! What gives…?"

"You shouldn't be smoking." Ryūzetsu chides earning a glare from him, but she smiles at him "…or are we going to have a problem?" Naruto gulps, sure he had been prodding her the entire time he's known her but that smile. A cold chill down his back and automatically he shakes his head in the negative "No ma'am."

"Good." The smile is put away and every man in the establishment let out a sigh of relief, that smile put them all on edge. As they continue their drinks, Naruto taps the table three times with his finger and she pulls out her tag, just as he kneels as if adjusting his shoe and beneath their breaths, they both declare "Kai." And the tracking seals fall silent.

Standing back up, Naruto nods at her to which she nods back, and they both raise their saucers "To a new adventure…"

"To a new future." She adds to which they tap before downing it.

Naruto drop down into his bed, somewhat tipsy as the stingy fox was still hording his chakra, something amounts corrosiveness or something. Without it, his body couldn't keep up with the consumption of alcohol he had maintained for the last three hours. The other bar patrons had heard their declarations to themselves and assumed something good had happened and a party broke out. For no reason, they all cheered, and the village came out in force and a celebration was had. It was fun. At some point Naruto swore they saw shinobi in the crowd but none stayed too long even after the party had thinned out.

Now though, laying on his back staring blankly at the ceiling Naruto has finally had a chance to actually think for a moment. No longer on the run, the mission was finished and no ties to the Sand can be uncovered. They were on the home stretch. In the morning they'll get out of Rice Country before the Sound can respond to the intrusion of Cloud, or during the confusion. Shrugging either or he supposed just as his eyes close, his instincts causing him to snap up, defensive stance with kunai, only to find Ryūzetsu with hands up "Umm… hi…"

"Yo."

"Do you mind if we talk?"

"Sure." returning the kunai beneath his pillow, she sits beside him as the moonlight illuminates the room "You see… the thing is…"

A month. It took a month to get here. What an absolute shit show. Naruto curses for the fourth time as the Hidden Sound reinforcements arrive at the edge of the clearing, "Ryūzetsu, we got more bad guys." Behind him said kunoichi was trying to help a small girl whose caravan had been attacked by the Sound shinobi they had already slain. "Give me another minute. The wounds almost closed." She orders to which he sighs "Fine." As half a dozen clones appear from clouds of smoke "Hold 'em off!" Naruto's battle cry as he charges the six-ninja approaching.

As Ryūzetsu continues her delicate work, she recalls how things had seemed to go pear-shaped the moment they left that village. Sound Anbu had clashed with Cloud's Bolt division across the borders which then escalated to a skirmish as Chunin arrived later by Jonin on both sides. They did their best to avoid the hotspots and were initially rather successful. It wasn't until a squad of Sound Chunin led by a Jonin attacked the Traders they were merged in with. She and Naruto were able to defend them with minimal effort but that was the problem. They used minimal effort. Any trained shinobi could tell that and the Kumo team who witnessed the fight reported it back.

When Kumo arrived, they tried to negotiate the two into a false sense of security, but they were both not intreasted in joining the fight for Kumo and were set upon by the team. The fight was harder, but Kumo was forced to retreat, though much to their frustration, not one fatality appeared among their ranks. That was last week. Many running battles and the duo decided to split from the caravan but by doing so the Sound attacked it anyway. They rushed back to find only the daughter of the Cravan leader still alive, the others. It's better not to ask.

The last Sound shinobi dropped after a kunai punched through his throat from behind, as Naruto glanced around sensing something was off and along with his clones backed off slowly, making their way towards Ryūzetsu "Can we go now?"

"Yes." Picking the girl up, bridal style, "Good. I have a bad feeling we're being watched by someone we don't really want to fight." He whispered back to which she nodded before setting off, Naruto and the clones following after out of sight of the green slitted eyes within the shadows of the trees "Kukuku – my how much you've grown Naruto-kun…"

Land of Rice; Fūma camp

"Thanks for the help, Sasame." Naruto spoke strolling through the makeshift camp, the girl and Ryūzetsu in the infirmary as said woman was clinging to him "For everything you've one for us, taking her in is fine. If she can't fight though…"

"I understand." Naruto sighs as they reach the dining area "…I'll try smuggle some more iron to you guys as soon as I get back."

"How about some of that chakra sand you sent us last time?" Hanzaki asks from his seat at the front to which Naruto thought about if for a moment before nodding "I can arrange that, yeah." Naruto nodding as he sits down, Sasami basically melded to his side "Anything else that's dire?"

"Nothing comes to mind right now." The Fūma leader reports and the others nod along before idle chatter breaks out over the food.

Naruto enters the infirmary tent to find Ryūzetsu slowly stroking the hair of the civilian girl's hair, it was a dark shade of brown and she was constantly bugging said kunoichi like a little sister her elder. "She's so innocent." Ryūzetsu whispered as Naruto approached "I know…" equally as softly as he placed a plate down on the tray before handing one to her "Eat. We'll be staying the night and Leave Rice come morning."

"But what about…" but he shakes his head causing her to tighten her jaw "There's nothing more that we can do. If she wants to live, she'll pull through… shinobi medical jutsu aren't miracle workers. They help greatly but she's on her own from now."

"How…? How can you be so callous about this all?" she looks at him, but his blank mask was on, her eyes harden "You, who's always preaching about bringing peace to the ninja world; breaking this damn cycle of hatred…"

"That's still my goal." Naruto cut her off but sighs so hard, he seemed to age a century in that one act "I've tried so many times to save everyone. To defend the world from itself." Looking down at his hands "I've tried so hard to stop it all; but yet…" his eyes turn as cold as the mountains of Iron country "…in all my efforts to protect the world, I let so, so many things slip through these fingers. I lost sight of everything and everyone and cost me more than I care to recall. It's not that I am callous, uncaring, nor am I unbothered by it." He glares at her this time, no heat just resolves "We are shinobi, as much as I wish we could do anything, we can't save everyone. I will try, Kami knows I will, but I won't lose my sight on those around me to achieve my goal." Before walking off, now very much in a bad mood.

That night was the first time the two did not share a bed, a habit they developed to better defend one another when out in the field, but it seemed only Ryūzetsu was bothered by this. Naruto wouldn't say anything as he too was somewhat used to her being at his back but wouldn't admit it.

The girl didn't survive the night. She was buried along with her family in the nearby town. Naruto and Ryūzetsu were the last to leave the small ceremony.

Land of Hotsprings: Capital

Naruto and Ryūzetsu arrive in the capital of the Land of Hot springs. Naruto personally didn't want to be here, there was a high probability that there were toads lurking within the steam, but Sasame had basically ordered him to come to help get Ryūzetsu out of her emotionless slump. Her mask of indifference was firmly affixed, and Naruto was growing further annoyed by its presence. Idly he wonders why so many of his female friends are so pushy and bossy all the damn time and not listen to his input.

Sighing as they reach their destination, a mid-class inn with private hot springs able to be rented for a price that Naruto personally thought was robbery. After reaching the room, the whitenette sat on the bed then stared at him with that piercing glare "So are we here?"

"To relax, obviously."

"But the mission is…"

"Finished." Naruto cut her off, short fuse already lit from this emotionless act she had since Niumi died "We are free agents right now. You are presumed dead or missing, and I have a long, long-established habit of going underground for a month or two at a time."

"I'm leaving." She gets up only to insticually catch a thrown robe at her "Take some time to soak, clear your head, then come back and we'll eat." Naruto ordered as he went to take a seat, to remvove his shoes "You aren't my…"

"Move." His eyes narrowing at her, his tone as solid as steel promising to stand against any counter she could muster. The glaring matched thirty seconds before she sulked off, she was definitely sulking even with that emotionless mask on, to which Naruto sighed again, "She's so hardheaded."

"Kettle, meet pot."

"Save it Kuruma." Earning a snort from the beast within.

Ryūzetsu wasn't expecting much of anything when she finished washing herself, stepping into the water was a simple affair until she was fully sat in and her body tension slowly subsided. She felt calm and collected, truly this time, allowing her to contemplate the back log of thoughts he had pushed back in place of thinking about the mission. Letting out a breath, not a sigh, she wondered if she had done the right thing. They had left the traders in hopes of drawing off the shinobi attacks, but those Sound Bastards targeted it anyway. For no apparent reason other than it is having adequate guards. If they had stayed Niumi and her parents would have survived right?

Her tail of thoughts halted upon another set of women entering the spring not to far from her, looking up she was met with lavender tinted eyes that looked surprised upon meeting her own "Sorry if we startled you." She said but her response was rather soft spoken "It's fine. I should have been paying closer attention to my surroundings." Earning a slight giggle from the newcomer "Hey, Hinata, she a Hyuga like you?" asked the platinum blond girl at her side to which Ryūzetsu shook her head "No. I am not a Hyuga. I'm here on vacation from the Land of Fang." Lying smoothly as the Anbu operative she is "I see, its just your eyes are so similar to…"

"Similar but not the same." Ryūzetsu sighed as the blonde bimbo kept yapping on about their eyes, colours and then fashion of the capital. Not even two minutes later Ryūzetsu had enough and got out without saying a word to the two left behind. She could overhear their whispered words however "She's definitely a kunoichi."

"Yeah, her chakra levels are higher than mine."

"Is she here alone?"

"I think so. We should check in with Kurenai. See if she's in the bingo book." Ryūzetsu scoffs at them trying to be discreet. She isn't in that book, yet at least, and by the time they checked they'll be long gone.

Naruto had just finished setting the table with the food he ordered when his partner walked back in, clean and fresh and somewhat more relaxed. Nodding at her, she nodded back unaware of the seals that lit up upon the door closing "Have fun in the spring?"

"No. Two kunoichi kept yapping about nonsense. I had to leave, or I'd go mad."

"I bet…" Naruto chucked and the two sat to eat. Mealtime was silent but the moment they both finished Naruto just stared at her who stared back "It wasn't your fault. Nor mine."

"I know." Ryūzetsu sighs as her mask finally comes down as the blond stands up and comforts her for the first time in forever, the former flower group Anbu wept in the arms of another.

Midnight arrived to find Naruto leaning his back against the headboard and his partner, who had cried herself to sleep, resting against his chest, as he stared out the window. Absent mindedly he was running his hands through her long white hair that she had finally let loose as if representing her own mental changes.

He himself however wasn't sure what kept him awake. For the last few months they had taken shifts in sleeping, sure, but now they were relatively safe and even had a barrier over the room to prevent detection of either of them. Yet here he was, wide awake whilst lost in thought. Her breath slowed minutely before she slowly lifted her eyes to see his cobalt blue seemingly reflect the dazzling moon outside, clearly lost in though as she finally does something that she had only thought about in passing.

Naruto was jolted out his thoughts when his lips were captured by those belonging to Ryūzetsu and that moment of shock was further extended by her invasion of his mouth. After a quick reboot, he responded in kind for all of ten seconds before she pulled back, and they stared at one another "…Ryūze…" her finger stopped him "Just for tonight…" to which his eyes soften and nods.

A/N: Removed as this is a T-series; not an M. For my eyes only then.

The sunlight perfectly lands on the eyes of one Suna shinobi known as Naruto Uzumaki, who immediately began cursing it for waking him until the smell of clover registered in his mind. Peaking one eye open he is greeted to a mop of white hair and a warmth in his chest, hugging tighter, a sense of contentment fills him as he lets out a full sigh as he kisses the head in his arms, unaware of the fact that his bed mate was already up and trying to escape before he did. His actions however caused her to blush so hard, a nearby heiress would have been impressed then furious that her man was taken from her.

After some deep contemplation, and the relaxing aura that came from him Ryūzetsu didn't feel the need to anything to escape. This is a vacation after all right? She should relax. Relax. Relax into this warmth Naruto was giving her. Yes. That sounds like a good plan.

Land of Noodles; Kal Port

Ryūzetsu would never admit to anything. Even under the threat of death. That being said, they had spent three days and four nights in that room. Food was delivered to them, but they didn't come out. She had no ideas she could flex like that. Thinking back always brought a rose tint to her cheeks, even if she said just for one night. It turned into four. Then again, that last day was needed for recovery, for her, even assisted by medical ninjutsu. They could have stayed another night but the ship they were waiting for wouldn't be back for another week. She had to put her foot down.

Didn't help the crew though.

The Two-day trip was an encore. The only reason anyone else got any sleep was due to Naruto's privacy seals. Now walking off the ship, they still got glares from a few members of the crew, no doubt the cleaners and she doesn't blame them after what the two had done to their cabin. It'll be condemned for a week at least, two at most. She grinned. Being a kunoichi has its perks, stamina wise, and her friend is both a shinobi and Uzumaki. Stamina is basically infinite.

Following after him as he spoke to another captain about passage to the next leg of their journey, Ryūzetsu contemplates what she should do with herself now that she can't really go home. Sure the Hidden Sand would take her, Naruto could vouch for her, but working for another village seems a bit to treacherous for her liking. Serving the death machine doesn't really sit well.

Settling down and starting a family? Perhaps. A quick glance to Naruto shows they were negotiating a price, his business mode in effect, she taught him that, giggling internally with a stone-cold exterior she ponders things further. In their time together, she knew he had feelings for another, and what they did was sophisticated gymnastics and once they get back to wherever they are going, a choice will have to be made.

Strolling through the marketplace, the duo was burning daylight as they inspected the wares, grabbed a bite or two. Resupplied their emergency rations, just to be safe, but didn't restock their ninja supplies. It was too dangerous and might draw the wrong attention.

Reaching the ship and midday, the duo checked in to their cabin and sat on either side of the room now both confronting the growing tension throughout the day. Blue meets white when they both spoke "We need to talk." Blond scratches the back of his head "You go first." To which she nodded "I've been thinking about my future…" she began earning his business mode, cursing internally she continued "…I am not really interested in joining Suna's shinobi forces, and I don't think I'm ready to settle down either." Earning a nod to continue "So I was thinking about founding a mercenary group, perhaps with…" he raised his hand earning her to pause. "Already have one." Naruto cut in earning her a confused face "While it is true that I am a registered Suna Shinobi, that's just a part time thing I do when Suna needs extra hands, the Kazekage wants to project power during negotiations, or if a task is too costly for the regular shinobi. We are called in." he began to explain "Me and a few others have begun to set up shop in my cousins' village. We have a few working titles, but we have about three dozen shinobi in our group. It isn't much as most a C-rank, but we are training them up to be an effective force for neutral nations to call upon if they are in trouble."

"…that sounds a bit…"

"Idealistic, yeah." Naruto agrees before offering a half smile "I told you back in that camp that I couldn't save everyone, right?" to which she nods and he smiles fully at her "Well, if I can't do it alone, then I'll just have to gather people who wish to help and we can do it together, right?" this caused the ever stoic, high libido woman to burst out laughing at the fact that this man, Naruto Uzumaki, had created a path to follow for her and she didn't even ask for it. He truly is as unpredictable as the Kazekage said he was.

Upon calming down she offered him a satisfied smile "Thank you, Naruto. I think I'll join you on that path. Let's try and save as many as we can." He smiles and nods with sparkling eyes "We'll save everyone!" pumping his fist.

Land of Tea; Port Degarashi

A week on the sea's was typically boring when trying to avoid suspicion but the two shinobi managed to keep busy. Stepping of into the town, Naruto caught a sense of nostalgia as the town was doing much better than last time he was here "What do you mean?" Ryūzetsu questioned causing her companion to look to her "One of my last missions for the Leaf was here, to escort the runner for the Wasabi Family during the annual race that used to be held here." Naruto explained earning an understanding nod from the whitette "I see. So, how long are we staying here?"

"I guess a day or two. I could take care of some business seeing as I'm already here." Naruto scratching the back of his head as Ryūzetsu stares at him blankly "Are you… feeling, okay?" his eyes narrow at her "What are you trying to say?"

"That you don't think before acting." She spoke so blandly that the people around actually stopped and stared for a moment. Naruto's eyebrow twitched at that, sure he isn't the planner type like those lazy ass Nara's, but he can think ahead. This time a snort from within his mind was heard and his twitching eyebrow was joined by a tick mark "I ain't stupid, sure, I rush in abit, but I always come out with a good plan after the first punch."

"Yeah…" she snorted, surprisingly gracefully, with folded arms "…sure. You're so reckless and irresponsible, I'm surprised that…" she paused as she glanced around at the gathering crowd, but it wasn't the civilians that put her on edge but the ones trying not to be seen. "I sense them too." Naruto whispered entering his business mode, taking her hand "Hang on. This might get a little rough…" before she could respond they just vanished. No smoke. No leaves. Just they faded as if never there.

Jirōchō Wasabi was not expecting to see this genin again after the news he received from his old friend Tsunade about his banishment. Yet here he was, Naruto Uzumaki, in the flesh with a friend at his side "Welcome Naruto to my abode, to what do we owe the pleasure?" with a gentle smile that would lower the guards of most, not these two though "Well, old man, I need a small favour if you could. Two infact."

"If its within my power… You've helped this family a lot so it's the least I could do." Jirōchō replied to which Naruto smiled back with a nod "Well, firstly, could you hold off on reporting my presence to the hokage. I know you two are friends, but as a banished shinobi, the last thing I want is attention drawn to me." The man thought on it for a moment before nodding, "Seeing as you overlooked Idate, I can do the same for you two. The second?"

"Can we stay here for a night, two at most? We just got sailed in this morning and wish to spend some time ashore before heading out again." Naruto bowing his head now, hoping to curry some favour with the head of the Wasabi family "Oh, that is not a problem my boy. I'm sure Idate would love to have another race with you so please stay as long as you need." With that same grandfatherly smile upon his face earning two nods but a thought came to him "In that case…" Naruto pulled out a pot of ink, a brush and some paper and began to scribble out a new seal. Once done, he activates it and the mood shifts, "This is a privacy seal to ensure only us three hear this." The older man nods and he continues "I have come into contact with my clansmen and together we have begun to restore our clan to its former glory in the sense that we are searching for our brethren and recovering lost scrolls and such…"

"That is good to hear. The Uzumaki clan was always well respected."

"It also means I am rather skilled in the sealing arts." Naruto continued and the old man caught on immediately causing Naruto to smirk "Whilst we stay, as payment for keeping us secret – I'll upgrade your security system."

"Deal." The man extending his arm to which Naruto took with a smile. Little did the three know, this would end up being a very valuable but costly endeavour.

Naruto jerked away, the seal on his forearm alerting him to an intruder within the Estate causing him to untangle himself from Ryūzetsu, her enlarged stomach poking through her night robes as he dressed. In thirty seconds, he had fully equipped his shinobi attire, and summoned two clones to guard this room before heading to Jirōchō's room.

On his way Idate appeared at his side "Six intruders. Coming over the north wall." Naruto explained as the two turn into the corridor leading to the head of houses room "Any Identification yet?" Idate asks as they reach the door "No, not yet. They aren't registered thus set off the silently alarm. The others should be reaching their posts now."

"I know we drilled this but to think we would actually have to…"

"Focus." Naruto called taking out a kunai in each hand, wind chakra flowing through them just as Ryūzetsu had taught him a few months ago. The older former genin placed his hand on the door, confirming that the barrier did activate immediately and it's integrity is holding "Good. It's working."

"You doubted my work." Naruto sweat dropped "Well… you know… you aren't exactly…"

"Whatever, our guests are here." Naruto with narrowed eyes at the masked shinobi that stepped out into the corridor ahead of the duo. Idate took out two kunai too, reverse grip and defensive stance just as he learned from his joint training with Naruto and Ryūzetsu. It was Jirōchō's idea for him to further his ninja studies to help protect himself and the clan whilst he had the chance too with Naruto's presence here. Now, he was glad he did.

"Anbu…" Naruto mutters, eyes narrowed "…Root."

"Root?" Idate questions confused, no village called their Anbu forces Root. Leaf had Anbu, Stone had Gem, Kumo have Bolt, and Mist has the Hunter Corps. He doesn't remember the Hidden Sands one though. "Think of them as living zombies. No emotion. No self-preservation. Just dolls to be used and discarded." Naruto all but growls out causing Idate to gulp at that, this was truly a kill or be killed moment. "In case you are wondering, think of this as a reunion, a twisted bloodbath of a reunion." Naruto reveals as Idates eyes widen "They're from the Leaf."

"Yes, they are." As the first two charge forward, the hall too small for anymore than that, unfortunately for them. A gravity seal trap was triggered, and they fell flat on their faces. Two wind charged kunai later and two weren't getting up. The two at the rear started going through hand signs, "Grand fireball. You're up Idate." Naruto calls and said teen steps forward going through hand signs himself "Fire Style; Grand Fireball!" called out the Anbu "Earth style; Mud wall!" Idate cries and a thick slab of mud rose and took the fireball no problem, the sound of the footsteps alerted the duo of incoming danger as the wall suddenly exploded out toward them, thankfully it was only dust as the chakra used to keep it together had already drained, but Naruto managed to parry his opponent just Idate did by sheer chance.

Naruto parried the tipless tanto, sliding beneath and around slashing at the Anbu's back who parried the strike before lunging forward but was knocked aside as Naruto threw his off-hand kunai at Idates target, hitting his right shoulder blade allowing his ally a chance to regain his stance. Naruto ducks another slash while retrieving another kunai and the two seemed to walk around one another "Jinchurki of the Ninetails. You will report to Lord Danzo for reprogramming."

"Sure thing. Let me just send you back first, in a body bag." Naruto charged than stopped, causing the Anbu to leap backward unaware of the tanto that awaited him until it ran through his heart. At the same time, Idate's attacker had finally cornered the former genin and cut off any way to escape "No sympathy for deserters…" crack. The body fell limp and is replaced by a slightly winded Naruto "Yo." Waving at the downed boy who just watched a mans neck snap like a twig.

"…how?" the man questioned with Naruto pointing over his shoulder to see Ryūzetsu, at the end of the corridor, wiping her chakra tanto clean, whilst leaning against the support pillar in her night gown "Seemed that last two tried to abduct her. I know who but I'm more concerned as to how they know of her."

"I'm going back to bed." Ryūzetsu informs having finished her cleaning, "I'll be right there." Naruto responded, "Bring chocolate and wasabi sandwich." She called back earning a raised brow from Idate "Chocolate and wasabi?" look bewildered but Naruto just chuckled, looking at the man "Cravings man. They're crazy."

"Root huh…? Well, isn't this a problem?" Jirōchō spoke the following morning, Naruto and Idate sitting before him "Any proof?"

"Only these." Idate presenting five bloodied masks, and a scroll "The scroll has one body in it as the others burst into flames." He continued to which the old man nodded at "That's their usual MO." Naruto explained further "Then, we're going to have to inform the Daimyo about this…" before looking up at Naruto "…and the Hidden Leaf." But to his surprise Naruto just nodded "That's about what we expected."

"What will you do?" Idate asks to which Naruto smirked before being enveloped in a cloud of smoke that disappeared to show Ryūzetsu, but not with a firm face white hair in a ponytail, and the signature white eyes that she was so often known for. "Narien is my name, sir. It is an honour to serve with you Idate-san."

"A hinge? That's your play?" the former genin looked incredulous "Even I could see through that." Bringing his hands up into the Ram hand sign "Kai." Nothing happened, charing up a large pulse "Kai!" but nothing again and Narien just smirked "This isn't a hinge. This is a full-on transformation. It won't be dispelled by anyone, nor can it be pierced by dojustsu. I am actually like this until I release it."

"Cool." Idate stary eyed "Can you…?"

"No." instant rejection as Naruto turned back to Jirōchō who nodded "Send your letters. We shall be fine."

"Very well, Nar... Narien."

Two weeks later…

When news broke of a shinobi attack on the Wasabi Family, the story that was spun those members of the now defunct Wagarashi family seeking revenge. They didn't get much traction but those purposely spreading them were detained on charges of attempted incitement. During the investigations they would all turn up dead in various ways with no witnesses stalling the investigation a fair amount.

A group of Chunin were sent to the Wasabi family home to 'secure' and investigate eh scene of the crime. A team Narien was not familiar with, Team Thirteen, consisting of a Inuzuka, a Hyuga and a civilian girl who seemed to have taken charge. They were freshly minted Chunin if what Narien was able to overhear. Though he has a mixed feelings about them, on one hand, as none of them know him, they can't report his where about regardless of his disguise or not. On the other hand, it would have been nice to run into his… let's stop that.

They acted professional even if the Inazuka was a stiff as a board, his partner not much better than paper mashie trying not to damage anything. They stayed a few days, and thankfully they didn't even ask about the barrier when Narien expected that at least the Hyuga would. Though the interactions between the girl and Ryūzetsu was funny, the girl wanting to touch her stomach and Ryūzetsu straight up telling her to leave, in not so kind of words. It also hit him that these Chunin must have been promoted in Suna, the reason he hadn't returned earlier as permitted by Gaara via summons.

Naruto upped Idate's training and pushed him up to high-chunin with help from Ryūzetsu whenever she decided to get out of bed at some point during the day. She had just entered her eighth month and still ran through her tanto kata's and ti-jutsu too. She used to attend yoga workshops with the other members of the staff and family but that stopped when her stomach started bulging. Doctors' orders.

As the boys chatted amicable as Naruto continue to give pointers with a kunai in hand as the three would never be this comfortable with one another again, this moment was captured in that moment, a photo that would be the greatest moment and the final light before a storm that would break part this trio. This same picture was carried by all those involved in but rarely ever viewed in the light they represented.

That night everything changed.

The entire estate was ablaze in flames, smoke and ashes. Bodies of shinobi littered the grounds in piles of ashes with the dust with the updrafts that rose from the grounds as Naruto cried silently beside Ryūzetsu, their child, born prematurely, within their arms lay unmoving and unbreathing. No life remained with this little body. The words spoken came from the unrelated "I'm so sorry."

Present

Land of Fire; Hokage Office

"Is this accurate?" Tsunade eyes the report her kunoichi before her "You've been gone only a few months."

"Yes. I managed to get into Naruto's office, though it wasn't long, but I did get names, but not all matched to pictures." Ino gesturing to the red file which Tsunade picks up and whistles, five Uzumaki adults…"

"Six." Ino added gaining her kages attention "I don't have a photo but when Naruto visited me in the dungeon, his new assistant was called Symāru Uzumaki. She appeared to be late teens or early twenties. Apparently, she's his daughter by blood." This confused the Kage "Impossible." Whispered but Ino shrugged "Didn't have a chance to investigate it."

"This is troubling. They have contracts around the world, many missing nins earning their way out of the bingo books and even our own daimyo is keen on hiring them."

"The Mist Contract seemed to be the biggest contract and the moment." Ino explained "I did manage to delay it for a bit as the head of diplomatic team."

"I see." Tsunade looks back at the teen before them, "Anything else? Numbers of their forces? Headquarters?"

"Their headquarters is in Land of Rain, the three tallest towers hold the Administration, the Hospital, and the high-level residential district." Ino informs gaining nod from the woman "You've done well, Ino. You are dismissed."

The leaf was unaware that the information, they had although somewhat accurate, it left them to assume several scenarios that White Dawn were waiting for them. After all, Konoha wasn't the only ones with Nara's but the pranking habit of the Uzumaki were solely a White Dawn speciality.

A/N: Had to cut this down as much as I could. Though it still rather lengthy. Ch8 covers Naruto's mercenary days, starting Two months after the Tea incident and the introduction of the Dawns equivalent to Anbu. If their regular forces bring the White Dawn, then their Anbu are that of the Moon.