Author's note:

3 in a 24hr period, hell must have froze.

DISCLAIMER:

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO AND COMPANY.

Last time: (honestly I needed a refresher here) "I didn't catch your name." Sakura replied basking in the amazing feeling of the water on her abused areas. The male stood before heading towards the edge of the spring, where he picked up a bathing yukata that she had missed in her inital search. "My name is Kyo, I'm just passing through." With that he left Sakura alone in the springs without catching her name in return. She couldn't help but feel a little put out.

Chapter 18: Trails

While they were staying at the Inn they asked around thew village if anyone matching the description of their missing ninja had been seen around. Unfortunately for them this was a major town for trade and ninja stopped there regularly to restock on their supplies and rest if need be. No one could seem to recall seeing any of their missing people.

Slightly put out with their results they decided to move on to the next village that Tsunade had listed, a few days travel from now.

Sakura was not pleased to learn that they would be leaving so soon, hoping that they would at least stay for a couple of days, secretly hoping to run into the guy from the springs again. Maybe go for a round two. She wasn't even too mad to wake up in the middle of the night to find Naruto not in their room, assuming that she was in with Sasuke. That didn't mean she didn't give Naruto hell when she tried to sneak back into their room that morning acting like she was coming back from the front desk with an excuse about towels.

Naruto only rolled her eyes when Sakura went off on one of her "stay away from Sasuke" rants and how, Naruto, knowing the feelings she had for Sasuke, was being a bad friend making moves on him. Deciding that since she couldn't have a round two with the mystery guy from the night before, she tried cuddling up to Sasuke only to receive a glare from not only Naruto and a sigh in annoyance from Sasuke, but a look of disapproval from Kakashi before they headed out.

Naruto was glad to be away from the village after being stuck there for so long recuperating and relearning control. She kind of hoped they didn't find Sai anytime soon, just so they could stay away longer, even though that made her feel guilty.

'Hey Kurama?'

'What? I was sleeping you know.'

Naruto smiled softly as they walked down the road leaving the village. 'You don't think we will run into those ninja again do you?' Her brow furrowed in concern as she bit her lip. 'I'm not sure I can handle going against anyone that strong right now.'

It was a couple of minutes before he answered but she could feel him considering her words, 'It's not an impossibility. I am not saying worry your little heart out, cause you are not alone, but they aren't going to stop til either they have what they want or they are dead. Hopefully it will be when you are back to your full strength before anything happens,' his voice cut off with a growl, and she had to agree.

Sasuke was walking beside her and took her hand. "Hey Naruto?"

Pulled from her thoughts with Kurama she looked over at the man beside her. "Hmn?"

"I was wondering how much you knew about your clan."

Shocked at the unexpected topic she stumbled a bit, causing Sauske to steady her before they started walking again. "My clan?"

"The Uzumakis" He looked at her like she should know this.

Speachless for a moment she didn't answer right away. "I-I never really thought about it honestly, I grew up alone thinking that everyone hated me, which they did. I never gave any thought about having a clan, I kinda figured if I had one then maybe they would have claimed me, ya' know?" she looked at the ground as they walked.

She gave a sad chuckle, "Hell i didn't even learn who my parents were until just a couple years ago when the Seal on Kurama almost broke due to a fit of rage. It was maybe a year after I found out I was a girl and still dealing with that. What a way to find out your father is a big deal." she squeezed Sasuke's hand as though to ground herself, "I got to meet my mom too, she was a amazing." Naruto smiled softly at the memory, Sasuke thought she looked a bit lost and sad but stayed quiet. "she told me how they met and that Uzumakis were great hosts for the tailed beasts due to their extreme chakra stores, lige force, and techniques with seals. She didn't go into much detail about it." Her small smile fell from her face leaving only sadness behind. "She didn't have a lot of time to explain anything really, though she did tell me what happened on the night I was born and how she and my dad died."

Naruto kicked a stone that was on the path, eyes following it as it skipped across the ground. "Needless to say, I don't know much. I don't even know if there are any more Uzumaki let alone a clan." She stopped walking and Sasuke stopped with her, watching as she looked up at him and smiled abrilliant smile. "What i do know is that I was wanted, I was loved, and they didn't want to leave me behind." A tear left her eye and made it's way down her cheek where Sasuke wiped it away with his thumb.

Naruto looked Sasuke in the eye and he was surprised when a mischievous glint gleamed there. "I also know that our mothers were friends and pregnant together and that your mom hoped we would be friends one day." she snickered. "Friends"

Kurama snickered 'If you guys were any friendlier there would be kits running around.' He roared with laughter as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Sasuke seeing her turn red smiled, "You ok there Dobe?"

Naruto waved a hand in front of her face as though that would cool her down letting go of Sasuke's hand. 'KURAMA!'

"Trust, me you don't want to know." she scoffed and started walking again with Sasuke trailing behind wearing a smile. He was glad the sadness was no longer in her eyes that was there.

Naruto knew nothing of her clan, or that she had a cousin, Karin. Maybe it would be good for them to talk and Karin could teach the clueless Uzumaki some things about herself. he was sure that Naruto would be glad to learn that she had some family, even if it was slightly distant.

He watched as Naruto threw her hands up in the air and growled, he just shook his head and caught back up to the blonde.

They arrived at the next village a couple of days later, it was smaller than the last and they managed to find a couple of people that remembered seeing their people. They said that they hadn't stayed long, that they seemed in a hurry and a bit worried. A few of them kept looking over their shoulder like they were being followed, or they were being watched. A couple of villagers managed to see them leave at night and told them of the direction they left in.

Kakashi had straightened up at that, concerned as to why a group of Anbu would act in such a way. There wasn't much a team of Anbu couldn't handle on their own let alone be worried about. They were specially trained after all for the worst situations.

Figuring they needed at least a good night's rest not knowing what they were getting themselves into Kakashi decided that they would stay in the village for the night and head out in the morning.

Shortly after they headed out the next day they came upon the site of what looked to be a battle between a couple of group of ninja at the very least, destruction covered both sides of the road as though one of the groups was ambushed.

The trail of debris lead off into the forest and Kakashi had a bad feeling rising in his gut about what they were going to find if they followed it.

"Naruto, behind me, Saskura after Naruto and then Sasuke take the rear."

Sasuke looked around and drew a kunai from his pouch, a quick glance told him that both Naruto and Sakura had done the same.

"Be quiet and follow me."

Slowly they followed the path of broken branches and gouges in the ground here and there. Some tattered paper bombs and black ash could be seen as though they had set up a barrier for defense. A few kunai and throwing stars scattered the ground the further they traveled into the dense forest, the path made pretty clear. If there had been any blood it was long sice washed away, and judging by the amount of destruction they followed there had to of been a lot of it.

Soon they came upon a small cave opening hidden behind what looked to have once been bushes that were now reduced to charred sticks and ash.

Kakashi put his hand up for the others to stop. That bad feeling only grew worse the closer he got to the cave and could smell the air coming from within even through his mask.

"Wait here, Sasuke," He looked back at the raven haired ninja. "Stay close to Naruto."

Sasuke nodded and did as he was told, not that he needed telling, he could tell whatever was in there was bad. Probably for their people since they never came back. Standing next to Naruto he could hear Sakura scoff as she kicked the ground.

"They're probably long gone by now, no need to get cuddly her-"

"Shut up Sakura." Sasuke glared at the pink ninja as he checked on Naruto who simply stared a head to where their Sensei had gone, not seeming to have paid Sakura any attention at all.

Kakashi made his way further into the small opening, covering his mouth with his hand to help block the smell of decay even with his mask.

The smell really should have prepared him for the sight of his comrades laying dead on the ground of the small cave, but he was hoping he was wrong. That maybe it was the enemy.

On the ground lay Sai's whole team.

Minus Sai.