Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey to a New Life. ❯ Chapter II: Discoveries ( Chapter 2 )

Ok, so here is my second chapter, I hope you ppl will enjoy it. It's longer then the first one so… have fun reading. Please R&R, because it would really be helpful if you told me if things could be changed, or are wrong etc. So R&R.

 

 

And once again thanks to my beta Zizzo, she's done a lovely job getting my mistakes out of this story. And I would also like to thank my reviewers, so thank you!

 

 

Now on with the fic!

 

 

 

 

Chapter II: Discoveries.

 

 

--- --- --- Outside of Konoha Gates --- --- ---

 

 

Naruto cast one last glance at the gates of Konoha. He wouldn't miss it one bit. Naruto smirked, this was the second step towards his new life, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

With the village somewhere in the back of his mind already, Naruto resumed his path.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Somewhere in the desert --- --- ---

 

 

Gaara had been traveling for a while already; he wanted to get away from here as fast as he could. He didn't know what his goal was yet, but he was sure it was far away from Suna.

 

 

Gaara had been traveling for a while and was now two days removed from Suna. He'd have a quick rest and resume his path afterwards; he knew they would probably send hunter nins after him.

 

 

/Enough water left to reach the Rice Field Country./ Gaara thought. A sound was heard and knocked Gaara out of his thoughts. A group of three shinobi must have spotted him, for Gaara was now surrounded.

 

 

“Heh, what's a punk like you doing all alone in the desert?” one of the men said. He was tall, and carried around a huge sword. His clothes were the same as those of his companions; wide pants with a pale dark brown color, a somewhat lighter brown shirt and something akin to a vest with the same color of the pants. The three men grinned at Gaara.

 

 

“Who wants to know?” Gaara replied in a bored monotone. These men might be strong, but he could take them on; he was Sabaku no Gaara after all. Gaara noticed these men bore the insignia of Hidden Rock on their hitai-ate. He smirked a little.

 

 

The three men started laughing.

 

 

“That is for us to know and for you to never find out, you little brat!” The tall guy, who was assumedly the leader, said loudly. Then he looked at his two comrades and nodded. They were going to kill this punk for showing no respect to them. “Let's get`m boys!” the tall man growled at his comrades. They smirked.

 

 

Gaara was beginning to get annoyed. These men, they were trying to fight him. /They will not survive this battle./ Gaara thought as he looked at the three hidden Rock ninja.

 

 

/We'll show that brat not to mess with us, and teach him a little lesson or two./ With that the Rock nin attacked Gaara.

 

 

Sand swirled up and formed a shield around Gaara where-ever the men tried to place a hit on him. This was futile. The men's attempts were futile.

 

 

After five minutes of trying to even touch Gaara the men looked at each other and thought they'd take it along a different road.

“Doton Doroku Gaeshi!” The leader of the team shouted. A huge amount of muddy sand was swung at Gaara.

 

 

Of course Gaara was protected by his sand again. He was really starting to get enough of these guys now. And he didn't really want to waste any more time than necessary in getting as far away as possible from Sunagakure. The leader of the rock nin had finally figured out that his attack had failed against the kid. Then he would just have to try something else.

 

 

When the tall guy was just about to attack again he made a fatal error; he took a step forward. The sand Gaara had used in his previous move was still lying there. Gaara now let it climb up the man to cover him completely. The other two men were shocked to see what was happening to their leader as the sand completely covered the other man.

“Sabaku Kyuu!” Gaara said as the man got squeezed to death inside the cocoon of sand. Gaara looked at the other two men, who now were really nervous. As they were about to make their exit, sand swished around their ankles. Gaara looked straight at the two men with an emotionless expression. When the sand had covered them, Gaara repeated the magic words;

“Sabaku Kyuu!” And with that, the battle, which hadn't even been interesting, ended.

 

 

Gaara sighed. /The fools, of course they couldn't know that this was going to be their ending. Well, it doesn't matter now. What matters is that I get away from this place. And my first stop will be the Rice Field country./ And so he continued his journey farther away from Suna.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Hidden village of Konoha --- --- ---

 

 

Iruka was going to visit Naruto in the hospital today, he would've gone earlier but he still had classes to teach. Iruka started walking a little faster; he really wanted to see Naruto again. He was really concerned for the teen's health, and he couldn't stand seeing Naruto in a hospital bed again.

“Iruuukaaaaa-seeeeensei!!!!!!” Iruka heard from somewhere behind him. It sounded suspiciously a lot like Konohamaru. /Great, I hope this won't take long… I really wanted to get to see Naruto soon./ the Chuunin thought as he watched his student run up to him.

 

 

Konohamaru stood there for a good minute panting, until the turned to Iruka. “Sensei, are you visiting Naruto-niisan?” Konohamaru asked and waited for the answer greedily, since he hadn't seen Naruto in a quite a while now.

 

 

“Yes, I am. Why do you ask Konohamaru?” Iruka of course already knew the answer to this. Konohamaru was going to ask if he could come along. /Ah well, it probably won't hurt to take him along./ Iruka thought as he looked at Konohamaru.

 

 

“Can I come along sensei? Pleeeaaaase?” Konohamaru expected a no from his sensei, but then he would just follow anyway.

 

 

“Fine.” Iruka said, rolling his eyes at the boy, who had apparently expected a `no' and was now whining.

 

 

“Ara?” Konohamaru looked up at his sensei. “I can? Thank you, Iruka-sensei! Thankyouthankyou!” And with that Konohamaru dashed of towards the hospital, not waiting for Iruka to follow him.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Konoha Hospital --- --- ---

 

 

Konohamaru was already waiting at the information desk for Iruka. When Iruka finally appeared, all Konohamaru did was gain a look of disapproval.

“What took you so long sensei?” the boy snorted. “We have to see Naruto-niisan!” Iruka just ignored the boy's commentary, and now addressed the lady behind the counter.

“We are here to see Uzumaki Naruto.” The woman behind the counter nodded and started looking up Naruto's room in the register.

“Uzumaki, Naruto. Ah, here he is room 102. If you would please sign your name in this register. Thank you.” The lady behind the counter stated and passed forward the paper for them to sign. With that she just returned back to her earlier work.

 

 

Iruka and Konohamaru were now on their way to Naruto's room. Of course, on their way they saw Sakura sitting at Sasuke's bed, not even caring for Naruto who had gone through all the trouble to bring the other boy back. Iruka snorted at the sight, he really didn't like that Haruno girl. He had to give it to her, she was good at learning, but that was just about everything that was good about her.

 

 

Ah, here it was; room 102. Konohamaru almost shoved open the door, but when they entered, the room was empty. The bed was a mess and there were used bandages on the floor.

 

 

/Oh no…/ that was the first thing that came to Iruka's mind.

“Ara? Naruto-niisan is gone?” Konohamaru stated the obvious.

“Nurse!!!” Iruka yelled, “Nuuurse!” A woman came running into the room. “He's gone! Naruto is gone!” Iruka shouted at the poor woman. “How could you have let him *leave* in the first place?!?”

 

 

Sakura heard the yelling in Sasuke's room. It sounded a lot like Iruka-sensei. Her curiosity peaked, so she went to check what all the fuss was about. She was right; Iruka-sensei was standing there in the hallway yelling at some nurse. Then Konohamaru came running in her direction on his way out.

 

 

“Iruka-sensei, what's up?” Sakura asked on her annoying-yet-innocent tone. Iruka could've killed that girl right at the spot.

“Can't you see that Sakura?!? Naruto is missing… again!!!” Iruka turned to shout another insult at the poor nurse, who was now shaking in her shoes. But about half way through the insult, he seemed to think of something, and rushed off.

 

 

/Naruto is missing again? Ah, well, that doesn't really matter. At least my Sasuke-kun isn't gone./ And with a happy smile Sakura walked back into Sasuke's room to continue sitting next to his bed like a bag of salt and continued doing nothing in particular except for stare at a unconscious Uchiha in adoration…

 

 

 

--- --- --- Somewhere in the streets of Konoha --- --- ---

 

 

Iruka raced through the streets following Konohamaru, who was going towards Naruto's apartment. On the way there he bumped into several people, including Kakashi.

 

 

“Iruka… watch your step will you?” Kakashi remarked to a very irritated Iruka.

“Watch my step?!? I don't care if I'm not watching my step!” Iruka shouted at the masked jounin.

 

 

“…Is something wrong Iruka?” Kakashi asked the angry man in front of him. He didn't really know Iruka that well, but the man seemed really out of it today.

“Is something wrong?!? *Everything* is wrong!” The other man shouted at him again.

“Now, now Iruka, you should calm down, it can't be that bad, now can it?” Kakashi tried, hoping to placate the angered man in front of him

 

 

Iruka's shoulders were now slumped. /I have to get to Naruto's apartment and fast! And Kakashi is only in my way/ the Chuunin thought miserably.

 

“I don't have time for this now, Kakashi!” Iruka yelled at the other man while he pushed him to the side, hoping to find Naruto in his apartment.

 

 

/I wonder what that was all about. That moron looked really upset./ Kakashi decided to follow Iruka, letting his curiosity take over.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Naruto's apartment --- --- ---

 

 

Konohamaru had beaten Iruka-sensei to Naruto's apartment, and had figured that Naruto being who he was would probably leave the door open. Konohamaru went inside Naruto's room, only to find a messy and empty room.

“Naruto-niisan? Are you in here?” Maybe Naruto was in the shower or something. “Naruto-niisan?” Once again, Konohamaru got no answer.

 

 

Konohamaru walked through the empty room. On the floor were empty ramen cups, some bandages and scrolls. Naruto hadn't been here in a while; Konohamaru could tell because it still was the same mess as when he had last visited. Except for the lack of clothes on the floor.

 

 

Going on another round through the room, he saw something on the table that hadn't been there before. /A note… from Naruto-niisan!/ Konohamaru mentally exclaimed as he eagerly grabbed the note of the table, immediately recognizing Naruto's handwriting.

 

 

After reading the note, Konohamaru was shocked. He hadn't expected this from Naruto-niisan. He fell to the floor on his knees, still holding the note, staring at in shock. And this was exactly how Iruka found him when he arrived a few minutes later.

 

 

Iruka raced into Naruto's apartment, Kakashi apparently on his heels. The first thing he saw when he came in was Konohamaru sitting on the floor, staring at something with a look that seemed to be one of shock.

 

 

“Konohamaru, what's wrong? What's that?” Asked Iruka, pointing towards the note. Kakashi was standing in the door opening, watching the conversation take place.

“It... It's a note from Naruto-niisan.” Konohamaru whispered out. Iruka took the hastily scribbled note from Konohamaru's hands.

 

 

~* On Note *~

 

To the person who finds this note; (probably Iruka-sensei). Don't look for me; I am no longer in Konoha. I have grown tired of the village, I have grown tired of the people not excepting me for being me; simply Naruto.

 

 

I am sick of all the glares filled with hatred, the harsh words flung to me every day. I can no longer hold up the smile I have smiled for many years now. My mask is beginning to crack; I can't live like this any longer.

 

 

The village has finally got his way. And I have accepted the simple truth; I will not be accepted in Konoha, not now, not ever. So from here on I have left to start a new life. The life I deserve, so don't come and try to stop me, you will fail miserably.

 

 

I am sorry Iruka-sensei; maybe someday we will meet again.

Naruto.

 

--- --- ---

 

 

 

Kakashi saw Iruka's expression change with every word he read on that note. It was filled with utter shock and sadness.

“Iruka, can I see that?” Kakashi asked the man gingerly, as he took the note from Iruka's hand.

 

 

He hadn't expected this. Naruto was his student, he should have known…but still Kakashi still hadn't expected this. He sighed, setting his way off to the Godaime's office. This wasn't good, and he would find a way to bring Naruto back.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Tsunade's office --- --- ---

 

 

Tsunade carefully read the note again; this was definitely Naruto's handwriting. She sighed; she hadn't expected Naruto's departure from the village either. /Naruto, how could you leave like this? There must've been something we could've done to stop you!/ Tsunade studied the note again. Then she looked over the faces of the people in her office once more, contemplating, but she was now obligated to put Naruto on the missing-nin list.

 

 

She sighed again; she would have to send a team after Naruto now. She had already made up her mind on who would go, it of course would be friends of Naruto. The team would consist of that lazy Chuunin Nara Shikamaru, the young genius of the Hyuuga clan Neji Hyuuga, the dog boy Inuzuka Kiba and she would put a medical nin in the team, so Haruno Sakura would come with them as well. She could not yet send the Uchiha since he was still in the hospital from when Naruto brought him back.

 

 

Ok, the plan was set, team Shikamaru would be sent to retrieve Naruto.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Somewhere in Sunagakure --- --- ---

 

 

Temari hadn't seen Gaara in a while, it wasn't unusual for her little brother to not show himself, but now she kind of wondered where he was. Gaara had become more of a little brother after he had fought and spoken with that boy, Uzumaki Naruto.

 

 

Temari sighed; Gaara hadn't been out of his room in a day now. Usually he would be out already. /Well, then I'll just have to take a look./ Temari thought as she walked to Gaara's room. She hoped her little brother was alright; he seemed kind of out of it when they returned to Suna. He hadn't really acted like the Gaara she knew.

 

 

She knocked on Gaara's door; she knew the boy hated to be disturbed. No answer. She knocked again.

“Gaara? Are you in there?” Still she got no answer. Gaara would have normally reacted by now, even if it would have been in a 'don't bother me' way.

 

 

Temari slowly opened the door, only to find an empty room. Gaara's gourd, his clothes and his traveling gear were gone.

 

 

It was exactly the same situation as in Konoha, but Temari did not know of that.

 

 

As in Konoha there was a note, only this time it was lying on the bed. Temari picked up the note, and began to read it.

 

 

 

~* On Note *~

 

I have left Sunagakure, do not follow me. I am sick of the village, therefore I have left. Even when I tried to help this village the people were still scared of me, though I did not hurt anyone. They feared me, and found that I am a monster; I could not cope with their stares and words any longer. For these reasons I have left and am now going to live the life I deserve. As I have said before, do not follow me, it will only result in failure.

 

 

Gaara.

 

 

--- --- ---

 

 

Temari had read the note three times now. Her little brother had left Suna… and she hadn't even noticed. She had known it was hard for him to get those glares of the people, but she didn't know it had bothered him so much that it had come to this. Sighing again she went of to look for Kankurou.

 

 

“Kankurou!” Kankurou heard his sister coming his way, she sounded quite panicked.

“Temari, is something wrong?” Kankurou looked at his sister again.

“Gaara…” she said panting, apparently she had ran quite a while to find him. “What's with Gaara? Did he kill someone again?” he asked while still looking at his sister.

“Gaara… he's gone. He left Sunagakure!”

 

 

/Gaara has left Suna?!/

 

 

Kankurou took a few minutes to let the words sink in.

“What do you mean he left Suna?” he asked while looking at his sister in shock. Temari handed him the note. It was clear that his little brother had left this; it was his handwriting. “We… we should report this to the Kazekage.”

And with that said Kankurou and Temari left for the Kazekage's office.

 

 

 

--- --- --- In the Kazekage's office --- --- ---

 

 

“And you are certain he left?” the Kage asked Temari.

“Yes Kazekage-sama, I am certain he left.” Temari said as she handed him the note.

 

 

“I see, well then. If he thinks he deserves a better life, let him be.” Kankurou and Temari looked at the leader of the village in shock.

“What… what do you mean let him be? We can't just let him be, he's our family!” Kankurou snarled at the Kazekage angrily.

 

 

“You know your brother was there to protect the village do you not?” the Kage asked them. “Hai, but what does that have to do with this?” Temari asked the man sitting in front of her. “You also know that instead of protecting the village, he did not and scared the people in Sunagakure. So it is best to let him be, that way he is not our problem anymore.”

 

 

Both Temari and Kankurou looked at their leader in disbelieve. How could he say that after everything Gaara had done for this village? Without even saying a word, the two siblings left the office.

 

 

 

--- --- --- Outside the Kage's office --- --- ---

 

 

“How could he say that? Gaara has done more for this village then he ever has!” Kankurou growled at Temari, who seemed deep in thought.

“If he isn't going to send anybody after Gaara, I will go and find him.” Temari said with a determined voice.

“If that is so, I will come with you.” Kankurou said. “After all, he's my little brother as well.” And with that both siblings also packed their bags and left in search of their little brother.

 

 

TBC?

 

 

 

 

Dunno if I'm going to write a new chapter. It depends on how many reviews I get. So just R&R!

 

 

~Morgaine Stormwind~