Danzo Shimura stared at the battle map in the center of his office, a frown stretching his strangely smooth skin. The man clenched his hands against the polished wood of the Hokage desk, careful to not cause cracks to crinkle throughout the craftsman ship. The map of the Elemental Nations was the subject of his ire, tokens on the map to represent the armies of his and the Daimyo's forces against the armies of the other major powers.

"Finish the report."

"Iwagakure is accusing Konohagakure of war crimes Hokage-sama. They are claiming that Naruto Uzumaki was redeployed against Iwagakure citizens."

Shikaku looked at his leader, gauging his response. He was a hard man to read. If it were any other Kage they would gnash their teeth together in frustration, let out a shout, or at least a curse. But Danzo just frowned.

"If I may Hokage-sama?"

"Proceed Nara."

"I believe we can use Naruto Uzumaki's sudden reappearance to our benefit. While the mission to bring him back to the fold was a failure, he does still inspire fear across the nation. Iwa likely sent a squad to confront him that failed, otherwise they would be reporting of his capture and death at their hands, similar to us. Pretending he is still under our command is a good play. It may make Kumo and Suna pull back from their fronts."

"To do so would be admitting that we played a hand in war crimes that we surely did not."

"We are in a war Hokage-sama. War crimes are par for the course. No village except Ame is innocent. Besides, we both know his personality. He isn't the type to attack random civilians, even if they attempted to harm him. We could find proof that their claims are false."

"Proof would be irrelevant in dealing with Iwa's claims," said a heavily clothed man standing across Shikaku in the room. "They won't back down even with proof."

"No, Shino-san, they would not. However, it would be good politically for the rest of the world to assure them we will not commit war crimes on their citizens with some level of proof."

"I don't particularly think Kumo, Suna, or Kiri care about whether or not we'll commit war crimes. Each of them surely will."

"Enough," Danzo called out. He glanced up at the shinobi who reported it, curtly nodding at the man. He took that as his opportunity to leave. The Hokage turned to his two advisors, folding his hands behind his back.

"For now we simply make a statement denying the Tsuchikage's claims. You're right Shikaku, Naruto Uzumaki is not the type to attack civilians. But he is proving a problem. We failed to bring him back to Konohagakure forces, and now he is causing political problems for us. Everywhere he goes is likely to do the same. We cannot ignore this."

"If I may suggest-"

"If you are going to suggest using the Hatake to bring him in once more I will remove you from my council," Danzo stated sharply. "The Hatake would outright refuse the mission, and I don't have time to deal with his insubordination. He is too vital to the effort on the Kirigakure front."

"Actually sir," Shikaku stated. "I was going to recommend sending the late Sandaime's grandson after him."

"Konohamaru," Shino questioned. "He is by no means strong enough to take in Naruto Uzumaki."

"No he is not. But neither were Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Neji and we knew that when we sent them. The only shinobi we have that have a chance of defeating Uzumaki in combat are far to central to the war effort. Kakashi Hatake is holding the Kiri front by his lonesome. Might Gai and Shisui Uchiha the Kumo front. Itachi Uchiha and his father Fugaku are holding Iwagakure and their Jinchuriki at bay as well. Asuma Sarutobi similarly cannot be pulled from Sunagakure's dunes. So, if we cannot send strength, instead use emotion."

"You believe their connection when they were younger would be enough to pull him back to Konohagakure?"

Shikaku looked at Danzo, a frown on his face. "I'm unsure. His relationship with Sasuke was tenuous at best, even when they were younger. Konohamaru is much more like his little brother than a rival. But we can't be sure that will be enough. Uzumaki Naruto is well aware that most of his closest relatives and friends that are still alive reside within the Land of Fire and even then he decided to leave the village. Not once has he even attempted to rejoin. Not when news of Tsunade Senju's incident became public knowledge, nor when Hiruzen Sarutobi died. But I do know this. If we can't force him to come in through strength, we need to convince him."

"And the best bet of that is Konohamaru Sarutobi."

"Either him, Hatake, or Asuma. But those two are not capable of it for obvious reasons."

"We could bring him in through force," Shino suggested. "We have not made use of the bounty on his head."

"Who do you propose could truly bring him in alive out of the rogue nin on this planet," Shikaku stated plainly.

"The Huntsman."

"Even if the Huntsman was able to defeat and bring in Naruto, which is no guarantee, he'd likely have more animosity against us for sending the Huntsman after him. There aren't many other rogue nin we could even send. The Explosion Artist couldn't defeat Uzumaki, and neither could the Red Sand. The best bet would be the Monster of the Hidden Mist and there's no way he'd consider working with Konoha."

"We need the Uzumaki back," Danzo interrupted. He frowned, pointing at the Kiri front.

"Hatake is holding well, but the Mizukage and the Rokubi Jinhcuriki are pressuring him hard. We're mostly alive on that front thanks to his ANBU experience and refusal to engage in direct conflict. Naruto Uzumaki is a great deterrant, and we need to press Kiri as hard as possible while they are missing the Sanbi Jinchuriki."

His hand moved to the Kumo front.

"Might Gai is a capable shinobi, and in singular combat against any of Kumo's three elites I would not bet against him. However, I cannot ensure he will last long against all of them. The Raikage and B have been seen marching together by scouts, and that's little to say of the Nibi Jinchuriki. Even with the larger number of Uchiha we've placed in this area, only Shisui is capable of assisting in combat against threats like those. There's a numbers disadvantage."

The Iwa front.

"Iwa is being held by Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. However, their Yonbi Jinchuriki's fighting style directly is countered by our Kyuubi Jinchuriki. More so, Naruto Uzumaki would act much like his own father on Iwa. It would cripple their morale, especially if he was to kill another Tsuchikage."

The Suna front.

"Suna is impossible to breach with their Jinchuriki at play. The desert is nigh impenetrable as long as the Ichibi Jinchuriki is alive. We've seen that very well recently. If we are to relieve pressure to allow for support on the Kiri front it must come from here. Naruto Uzumaki is the most capable counter to the Ichibi Jinchuriki we have, and he is not here."

Finally Danzo drew his eyes up to his commanders.

"And we need to break these defenses early. Ame has still outright refused to be particularly involved in the war, merely defending their borders. But the rumors of their Kage cannot be ignored. All of our spies in the area have been forced out or killed. Their Kage is rumored to have killed Hanzo the Salamander. Something is brewing there, and we need to find out what. Ideally, we'd have one of the strongest shinobi Konoha ever reared to face it."

Danzo looked at Shikaku.

"Find me a force to accompany Konohamaru to recruiting Naruto Uzumaki. We cannot afford to have this fail."

"Yes Hokage-sama."

"What will we do in the meantime, Hokage-sama?"

Danzo stared at the Kiri front.

"Break Kiri's back."

It had been a week since he had left Iwagakure, and roughly a month and a half since he had been forced from his home by Konohagakure shinobi. A week since he had decided he would live again. There was just one problem.

He was dreadfully bored.

Naruto Uzumaki leaned against the wall in a pub in the Land of Fire. He had not known what to do with this newfound life he was taking for himself. He had thought he would simply pursue Hinata's and Jiraiya's dreams. Jiraiya's wish for peace was unachievable, but perhaps Hinata's dream was. She would have wanted him to enjoy his life, but he honestly had no idea what he wanted to do. He couldn't work a civilian job, that was clear. They were just too boring for him. Blood didn't pump in his veins. He may have sworn off killing in the name of villages, but he'd be lying to himself if he didn't get excited in combat. It was part of who he was. Resisting the urge for years had only made it worse.

But he refused to fight on any side in this war. And that was where his problem began. He wouldn't go back to Konoha and serve their interests. He didn't trust Danzo Shimura and he couldn't go around killing shinobi in the name of ideals he did not believe in. Similarly, he refused to go work for Kumo or Suna. They were just as bad Konoha in his book. Iwa and Kiri?

Yeah...he'd sooner burn their villages to the ground.

And thus he was sitting in a pub in a village on the outskirts of the capital, a simple jutsu changing his appearance. He supposed if he didn't know what he wanted to do he would observe the world around him until he found something, and the first step to observation was gaining information. He had been disconnected from the world for three years, and the war was all anyone talked about. It only made sense to catch up on recent news. The Jinchuriki were on the battlefield and Hiruzen had died. What else had changed? He supposed he could have gone to a library to learn this information, but then he'd have to sift through the propaganda pushed by the Land of Fire, or whatever nation he decided to venture to. And thus, to avoid this he went to the pubs and listened.

"Did you hear? Kumo apparently is about to push Kiri back from their coastal islands."

"What? But if Kiri no longer has a foothold in Kumo then they can focus their attention entirely on us!"

"They're already pushing us hard," a third voice interrupted. "I heard that the only reason we're alive on that front is because Might Gai and Shisui Uchiha are drastically more powerful than the Raikage and his two Jinchuriki."

Naruto wanted to snort. Sure Gai and Shisui were strong, great deterrants, but they were not capable of holding back two Jinchuriki and a Kage by themselves. There had to be another support structure there for them to be holding there. Either the Ino-Shika-Cho trio or someone like Hiashi Hyuga. Still, if Kumo was trying to push back Kiri on their southern islands then it was likely they were committing their entire military force. If Kiri was pushed back, it would undoubtedly spell trouble for Konohagakure and its residents.

"Bah, who cares about Kumo! It's Suna we need to worry about you hear me, Suna! You remember what they say about how-"

"Be quiet, you know we're not allowed to talk about that!"

Naruto's curiosity was peeked. What weren't they allowed to talk about? What was the secret?

"Right..." the man stated. "Still, their Jinchuriki is something else."

"Yeah, they call him The Demon Child, The Red Psychopath, and Fountain of Blood."

"We can't even crack into Suna because of him alone. He's a fucking psychopath. I heard he drinks his enemies blood for fun."

"Well I heard he spills so much blood that the sands of the Land of Wind have turned red."

"I heard that he's the most powerful Jinchuriki on the planet."

Naruto almost snorted.

"Let's not get too crazy," the bartender said, joining in on the conversation between the three men. "After all, Konoha has it's own Jinchuriki no?"

"You mean that Naruto Uzumaki guy? He hasn't been seen in years. He probably got killed by Gaara."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched. Garaa stronger than him? Insulting.

"No I heard that he was spotted in the Land of Earth a few weeks ago," the bartender said. "Iwagakure made a public denouncement towards Konoha claiming that Naruto Uzumaki was slaughtering civilians there."

"So he's alive?"

"Where has he been all this time?"

"He musta been sent by the Hokage."

"To kill civilians?"

"Don't you know Jinchuriki are demented motherfuckers? They're all insane I say. Sending one to do terror attacks is exactly what they should be doing."

"But isn't the Kyuubi Jinchuriki some kind of war hero? He killed the Tsuchikage about a decade ago."

"I heard he also beat the Gene Stealer."

"That was never confirmed."

"Look," the bartender interrupted. "All I know is that Naruto Uzumaki is definitely not dead. And that guy has a Flee on Sight order. Does Gaara have a flee on sight order?"

The other men were quiet.

"Besides," the bartender placed a Bingo Book on the table. "Look at this."

Naruto was curious, stumbling over to the group and glancing down at the Bingo Book on his way out. It was his page. Nothing seemed much different, except for one thing. His bounty.

'1,500,000,000.'

Naruto rolled his eyes as he walked towards the exit of the bar.

"Of course they did this," he muttered. That much? That was the tenth highest bounty given, ever. He was in the realm of legends now. Money like that was enough for anyone to risk going after him. It was enough to do serious economic damage to a village if they actually had to give it out. Numbers like that were reserved for special threats.

Hashirama Senju.

Madara Uchiha.

The Nidame Tsuchikage, Mu.

Tobirama Senju.

The Nidame Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki.

The Sandaime Raikage, A.

Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Minato Namikaze.

And of course the only person alive with a bounty that was higher than his.

Orochimaru of the Sannin.

Naruto sighed. That level of money wasn't something people could ignore. He would be hunted down like mad now. The Huntsman would definitely be coming for him now, if he wasn't hired to kill him already. Naruto shook his head, leaving the establishment and looking up at the setting sun.

"Well that wasn't what I hoped to gain from that."

The blonde walked through the town, idlying looking at the citizens. Most of them were working some job or going places to spend their money. Children were being rushed inside by their parents due to the setting sun. It wasn't safe to be out late at the best of times, but it certainly wasn't safe during wartime. Curfew would be setting in soon for border towns like this. Unless you had a permission slip, it was easy to spot people who were up to no good, criminal, delinquet, or foreign asset. The amount of extra patrolling samurai was clear.

Naruto paused to look at one trio of samurai that passed by him. Their armor was neat, tight. Masterfully put together. The metal had been dyed a beautiful red and pastel blue, the national colors of the Land of Fire. The green hilt of their blades were the Daimyo's personal colors, with a masterfully drawn black ember on the sheath. It was a work of art. A work of art that had clearly been made with elite grade metal. They were on the border, so he had expected to see better equipment but this was surprising. Had Konoha worked out a deal with the Land of Iron recently to improve their gear? The northern country was undoubtedly profitting from the war. Their primary trade partners were Kumo, Iwa, and Konoha, and with the trio deadlocked in war they had to be having a great time war profiteering. Their metals were a major reason Kumo, Iwa, and Konoha were looked at as the three most powerful villages.

The blonde sighed, walking away from the guards. He supposed it wasn't his business what the economic situation of the world was like. He wasn't interested in that. He needed something to do. But the only thing he could say for sure he enjoyed was fighting, and he refused to fight on behalf of any village ever again. He could fight for himself, but what type of life was that? He would be nothing more than an adrenaline junkie at that point. No, he needed something greater.

His mind idly pondered Jiraiya's goal.

Peace.

Was that what he wanted?

Sure it was a great idea. But it was a pipe dream. His own personal peace had been destroyed. If he couldn't guarantee that how could he guarantee the peace of the entire world? No, it was completely impossible. The shinobi world had warred long before him and it would war long after he perished. He couldn't fight for such a lofty goal. It would be like chasing a shadow his entire life.

But that was the only thing he knew he enjoyed. He had lost his hobbies long ago to the grueling training he had endured to become who he was. All he knew was training and war. It was the air that fueled him, the fire that pumped through his blood. How could he simply avoid that? Hinata would have wanted him to enjoy his life, but what was enjoying his life? What bond did he have? What reason did he have for living?

The blonde hung his head. He wasn't getting anywhere. Perhaps he was approaching it from the wrong angle? Instead of living for others, maybe he should live for himself?

But he didn't know what he wanted at all.

Frustrated, he gave up this line of thinking, instead thinking back to what he had overheard at the bar. A high bounty huh? The Huntsman would come for him. It only made sense. The man was notoriously obsessed with money. Even if Naruto would be a hassle to defeat, if not outright impossible for the immortal man, that amount was simply not something that could be ignored. But why did that make the blonde feel excited? This would make any normal person fear for their lives, but him? His blood was pumping. He had to fight back the grin that threatened to split his face. Why did he feel this way? Did he really miss combat that much?

He shuddered. He refused to let blatant combat be his purpose. He would just be contributing to what made the world what it was. But then again, it was the only thing that called to him. Demented or not, twisted or not, the blonde knew that. He had always loved combat, even as a child who was innocent to the ways of the world. It was all he knew. He had worked himself to the bone and it had worked.

But maybe that had stunted him?

The blonde walked to the edge of the town, looking back at it. He let his transformation drop, revealing his true form to the open air.

"Maybe fighting the Huntsman will give me some perspective," he muttered. "Maybe that'll let me know what I want to do."

The blonde looked at his hands.

Maybe he should just listen to the adrenalien in his veins? He didn't have to be a servant of any government. But it was impossible to deny he longed for combat. Perhaps he could find a way to enjoy life through that? Find a creed, an ideal that he truly believed in and fought for? Something that made this world better than what it was.

The blonde snorted.

Unrealistic.

But perhaps he would have to try?

A frowned in the large tent, looking over at the news pamphlet published by the largest international news publisher in the Elemental Nations, The Shinobi Daily. He sighed, throwing the paper on the large table and scattering the pieces on the war map in every manner.

"Sir we're going to have to rearrange that," a shinobi stated. A waved him off, rubbing his chin.

"So Uzumaki is back in play huh."

"I don't think there's much to worry about sir," Samui called, her eyes piercing the Raikage. "We have B who is entirely capable of defeating Uzumaki Naruto in a fight, not to mention yourself or Yugito."

A snorted.

"Samui...I'm not sure anyone other than B can beat him."

"But sir you're the Raikage."

"And he is perhaps the strongest man on the continent. There are few in his echelon. The death of his master, Jiraiya, was a challenge, and the boy has long since surpassed the man."

"Sir, if you truly believe he is such a threat perhaps you should do what you did with his master?"

A pondered the idea before he shook his head, a frown on his face.

"A mobilization of the size or persons required to defeat him would draw far too much attention from the main battlefields. I have no doubt that's why Iwa wasn't able to bring him to justice. We can't play this so easily. The mobilization last time was done before many major players were on the battlefield. Remember, there's still Might Gai and Shisui Uchiha to worry about from Konoha's flank. And Kiri has sent Jinpachi Munashi, Mangetsu Hozuki, and his brother Suigetsu Hozuki to hold against our assault. That's three of the current five swordsmen at Kiri's disposal. Darui is going to need help soon to push them back, so much so I may need to send Yugito to assist him. I can't thin our lines any more than that."

"Then what do you suggest?"

A grinned.

"Get in contact with bounty collectors. Tell them to put a notice out."

Samui raised an eyebrow.

"Kumo will personally gift the Huntsman any jutsu of his choosing along with the bounty if he brings us Naruto Uzumaki's head."

Konohamaru grunted as he polished his weapons. Kunai and shuriken were splattered across the ground, organized in a way only he could understand. Each was completely spotless and the edge on them was sharp. It looked like the slightest mismanagement would lead to a deep cut forming on the body. The Sarutobi was completely focused on the task at hand. Finally when he finished he placed the weapons delicately into his two weapons pouches, one he tied to his right hip and the other his left thigh. He stood, cracking his neck in the process.

"Konohamaru."

The young adult turned to face the voice, surprise on his face as he saw one Ino Yamanaka looking at him.

"Can I help you Ino?"

"Just checking in on you," the girl said, leaning against a tree the man was near. Konoha shinobi swirled around the area, all active in the camp. The sun was low, and people were beginning to go to their nightly duties. Luckily for the both of them they were completely free tonight. It was good, after the battle they had just had with Sunagakure they would need it.

"I assure you I'm not too shaken up by facing Suna's Jinchuriki. I'll have a counter for that sand of his the next time I see it."

"Well, that's good to hear. Your Katon (Fire Release) was the only reason as many of us got out as we did."

"It wasn't good enough," Konohamaru muttered. "Twenty shinobi killed just by him, not to mention the total amount killed in the battle overall. I have to be better."

"That's not exactly fair. You're not even the commander of the force."

"Uncle is a capable shinobi, but he isn't a good matchup for Gaara. He can use Katon but that isn't his primary release. He's a Fūton (Wind Release) user. He's strong, stronger than me. But in a combat situation against the Ichibi Jinchuriki it's my responsibility to be the spear for this force. It's my job to defeat him."

"You know Kiba, Choji, and I are there for you to lean on right? We're willing to help."

"Both Kiba's and Choji's fighting styles are ill suited to combat against the Suna Jinchuriki," Konohamaru stated. He looked up at the woman, his eyes becoming a shade softer before he spoke again.

"And, with all due respect Ino, you're mostly a support role. Unless you think your mental techniques can effectively paralyze him?"

"Harsh," she winced. "But not inaccurate. Still, you can't put the burden of this on you."

The woman gestured around her, revealing their location. A flat land, rocky outcroppings all around. There were relatively few trees to provide shade, and they were centralized to the several small ponds in the area. Not enough water for the trees to grow if not for the underground water that flowed through the area. Even then, it wasn't much. Cacti could be seen not far in the distance, their bodies waving in the heat waves.

"We're in his element. Any further than this and we're in the deserts of Suna. That's hardly a winnable scenario for any of us. You held him off as best as you could."

"People died! That's not good enough! I can't be satisfied with holding him off! I have to beat him, or else another person doesn't go home to their families! That's on me Ino! That's my responsibiltiy!"

The woman stepped back, shock on her face at the sudden outburst. Konohamaru's eyes widened before he looked at the ground, ashamed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."

Ino gently smiled.

"It's okay. I understand."

The duo were silent for a moment, Konohamaru continuing to stare at the ground the entire time.

"It's just...I don't wanna lose someone else. I don't want another person to feel what I felt."

Ino frowned, placing a hand on the boys shoulder.

"You're not the Sage Konohamaru," she whispered. "You can't control everything. You're not all powerful."

"He would have beaten him. And he wouldn't have lost anybody to do it."

Ino was silent. She heard the spite in his voice. It wasn't healthy. He hated the man and yet he still couldn't stop comparing himself.

"That's not a fair standard," she said tentatively.

"But am I wrong?"

Silence.

"By the time he was my age his list of accomplishments were insane. He was already Konoha's new boogeyman. I mean do I have to list them? Killing the Sandaime Tsuchikage. Becoming the world's greatest master of Fūton ever. Forcing back Kiri's Kekkei Genkai unit. Leading Konoha's armies to the eventual conquering of Kusagakure. Reaching ANBU captain by the age of fourteen. He defeated Hiruko The Gene Stealer, and only didn't kill him because he had to go save the rest of his force. He earned Jonin by defeating Tsunade of the Sannin in one on one combat. When he was fourteen he beat a Sannin."

"And that's exactly why it's unfair to compare yourself to him. Naruto...he was on the fast track to greatness at a young age. You should know better than anyone, he lived with you growing up. He was our generations Itachi Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, or Kakashi Hatake. That rate of growth was not something that just anyone can do."

"He was in line to be the next Hokage," Konohamaru stated. "He would have been had he not left. And if he didn't leave my grandfather would still be alive. And if he didn't leave Gaara the Red Psychopath would already be dead."

Ino paused at the venom in his voice, tentative to respond. This was dangerous ground.

"You can't hold yourself to his standard."

"I have to," Konohamaru stated, his voice hard and cold. Venom filled his being. If Ino didn't know any better she would think it had gotten hotter around her. Was he releasing his chakra? The Sarutobi stared resolutely ahead, hate burning in his eyes. Ino could only stare. She knew it was bad but this? He was actively releasing his chakra and turning up the heat.

For a moment a younger Konohamaru filled her vision, one that idolized Naruto Uzumaki. One that looked at him like an older brother. Naruto was his hero, right after his own grandfather. And now...

Ino couldn't think of someone Konohamaru hated more in the world except for the man who had actually killed his grandfather.

"How else am I going to kill him," he whispered.

Ino stared at the declaration in shock.

"Konohamaru surely you don't mean that!"

"I'm sorry Ino," he stated. "I know you probably care for him considering you grew up together, but I can't forgive him for what he did. It's his fault that Ji-chan was out here fighting. His fault he faced that monster."

Ino was silent.

"I'll avenge my grandfather," Konohamaru muttered.

"First, I'll kill Gaara of the Sand, and then I'll kill Naruto Uzumaki.

"Come on Naruto, you've got to understand the shapely body a woman!"

"No way you big pervert! I'm not getting attacked by kunoichi just so you can go be a peeping tom!"

"Please, my taste is much more reknown than that of a mere pervert. I am a connoisseur. I am a MEGA PERVERT!"

"Why the hell are you my sensei for the Chunin Exams?"

"Now now Naruto," came the wise voice of the Sandaime Hokage. "Jiraiya here is quite the capable shinobi. I trained him myself."

"No wonder he's a massive pervert! You are too Ji-chan!"

"I am not a pervent Naruto-kun. I am an admirer of the female form."

"Sounds like pervert with extra steps."

Jiraiya rolled his eyes.

"You'll learn when you grow up brat! Who are you facing for your match in the Chunin Exams anyway?"

"The annoying bastard!"

"Annoying bastard?"

"Sasuke Uchiha," Hiruzen stated with a short laugh. "The two have had a rivalry throughout the Academy, competing on who will be the Rookie of the Year."

"Oh? I thought you aimed for more balanced teams."

Hiruzen smiled.

"Yes, that is usually the case. But, imagine the great things they both could do if they pushed each other."

"What are you talking about?"

The two older shinobi looked at the recently minted Genin, images of his father flashing through their eyes briefly. Then his mothers smile.

"You'll care when you're older. For now, you wanna learn a new jutsu?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Langauage Naruto-kun."

XxX

Naruto's eyes shot open, a cold sweat on his body as breathed heavily into the night. The man placed a hand on his chest, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. It was a drum, and he could only hear the booming sound of blood in his ears. He shook, his eyes crazed before he tightly clenched his fists.

'Calm down.'

He repeated the phrase in his mind like a mantra, desperately trying to slow his breathing. He didn't know how long he sat there. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? It felt like an eternity. But eventually, slowly, he began to calm. By the time he felt normal the suns rays were peaking over the night sky.

Dawn.

The blonde shook himself, carefully glancing over his area absentmindedly. A surge of memories hit him as the clone he had stand watch disappeared. Nothing of interest had occured.

The blonde stood, his fist still clenched around him.

"The same dream," he whispered.

He stretched, desperate to take his mind of the dream but he just couldn't.

"Jiraiya-sensei...Ji-chan..."

Naruto clenched his fists. Those two men...they were the closest thing he would ever get to a father or grandfather. His own father had seaed the Kyuubi into him. His mother had died when it was ripped from her stomach. Jiraiya and Hiruzen had taken him in. Treated him like family because, for all intents and purposes, they were family.

And he had lost them both.

Jiraiya taken by the Tsuchikage. Not even a body left to bury.

But who had killed Hiruzen? He never asked the ANBU that came to look for him, to preoccupied by their request for him to return to Konoha. Who had the power to kill the man? Even in his old age he must have been one of the strongest shinobi on the planet. He wouldn't have much stamina, but in bursts there shouldn't be many people who could overpower him even in his old age.

Then again he was old. Eighty-one to be precise. It was likely that he was weaker than Naruto remembered. That had been the case even for Onoki. Onoki had been older than Hiruzen, and he was significantly weaker than he was in his prime when Naruto had killed him. Naruto had no doubt that if he had fought the Sandaime Tsuchikage in his prime things could have been very different.

Had the old man really covered up this much of his decline? He supposed it was possible. He would have been what? Eighty-one? That was old, especially for a shinobi. Him being Kage at that age by itself didn't make much sense. At that age...it was likely he wasn't capable of defeating much of anyone. His chakra network would be worn, his stamina would be incredibly low, not to mention the risks to his body and injury. So to be fighting on the frontlines of a war?

Had he really covered up that much bluster from the old man? But why lie to him? Hiruzen had always said he was plenty strong enough. If he wasn't Naruto would have gladly taken more burden away from him to make his life easier. So why lie? Did Hiruzen not trust the him?

The blonde made a mess of himself thinking of the answers. It was fruitless. There was no way to know unless he asked Hiruzen himself, and Hiruzen was dead. There was no changing that. But then, how was Danzo Hokage? They were the same age.

Danzo should be frail too. Good for mentoring the younger generation and political power, but he should be well into the age where he was only a last resort for the village. Front line combat should be a death sentence, especially considering Hiruzen was stronger than Danzo at their peaks and had to maintain his conditioning due to his status as Kage.

Something strange was going on. That much was definite.

Naruto clenched his fists. Perhaps he shouldn't fight the Huntsman, at least not yet.

He couldn't let the mystery surrounding his surrogate grandfather's death remain a mystery after all.

Rippling eyes stared at the piece of paper, a curious look on their owners face.

"So he's back..."

The figure rose, walking towards a nearby window where the rain poured down. The figure stared out it for ages, eventually broken from their pondering by a female voice.

"What will you do?"

Silence for a moment.

"Convince him."