Thanks for waiting, everybody! I hope this chapter was worth the wait!

Disclaimer: This story has multiple mentions of trauma, death, and blood. So if it's not your cup of tea, please use discretion.

As a clarification, I do not own Naruto in any shape or form. However, I do own the plot so :D

Word count:6037

'Thoughts...'

"A physical speech..."

"Kurama talking..."

"Past memory..."

Enjoy!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The light of the clouded lightning neighborhood reflected dully into the candle-lit bar, the soft murmur of the bar's occupants wafting into the ears of the hooded redhead, raising his guard ever so slightly. Kinuki raised his razor-sharp eyes from beneath his hood, almost as though he were looking for something.

"Hey." A pale-haired elder with red markings raised a hand at the teen as he met with his own. "Funny to see you here."

"I could say the same." The former Kage raised a brow, walking towards the old pervert with a smile. "What are you even doing here? There are no girls to be pervy towards."

The other laughed heartily, passing a bottle of sake to the younger. He watched as the boy took a chug before replying.

"I'm here on another spy mission. Tryn' to get the council of this damn village to agree on funding for our spy unit. Of course, they don't know that and they think this is all for some damn potatoes." The older sighed. "And I can't help but understand why they would say no. I mean, who would?"

"Make up a better lie. They would agree to fund a disabled academy would they not?"

"Nah, I doubt it. The people of this town as a thick-skulled as the rocks they came from."

"You could say that again." The younger took another chug, trying to forget his sorrows.

"Why are you here? It's only polite to offer your own info before asking for another's. I thought you were a spy Kinuki." Jariaya mocked. A twinge of spit flew across the table and the grey-haired male only frowned further.

"I'm here to help the new Kage." Kinuki blew a small hair out of his face. "But of course, that was an awful idea cause now, I'm stuck on the other end of a furious Onoki while getting kicked in the ass at every corner for my new 'Identity.'"

"The Endless Red, huh." Jariaya watched as the other groaned. "You know, that ace you pulled was no joke. I don't know why you ever even decided to pull it in a situation as small as that one. It truly came out of nowhere."

"I was in a desperate situation, Pervy sage. My captain died, my teammates were wounded. We would've been wiped out if I didn't do anything."

"I understand, kid, but look at what's happening now." The sage moved his hand from one side of the table to the other. "The whole shinobi world is wondering what the heck you are and if you're a threat. Most people won't let you into the village on account of that. On the other hand, the Hokage is trying to keep the whole deal under wraps and the fact that your name is now in the bingo books isn't a godsend either. You kinda fucked now."

"Just like in the last timeline." The redhead put his head in his hands, massaging it lightly. "What if I went around in a hedge, would that work?"

"Maybe, you could always try it out." Jariaya took another chug of sake. "But you're avoiding the question. Why are you here? Last I remember we were supposed to take a trip to 'Pein.' Not on an academy field trip."

"It's A." Kinuki groaned, dropping his head onto the table with a bang. "Instead of the country treating him like a leader, they treat him as a child who lost a father. Like a fragile thing. He wasn't able to think of anything on his own, so now I'm stuck trying to fix the problems of a thick-headed man."

"Yikes, that's harsh kid."

"And it's not like I have any experience in this sort of thing. I had to work for the position of Kage, y' know. I worked my ass off to achieve the goal I set as a child and at the end of the journey, I was respected for giving my entire being for the village. Sure, it took time but it was worth it. With A," The teen sighed. "I can't help but wonder how he got out of this in a past timeline."

The two stared into the abyss for a moment, trying to collect their thoughts. Jariaya's head shot up. 

"I'll help you out if you help me out."

Kinuki raised a brow. "Sure?"

"What if you did what everyone has been doing to you?"

"Meaning?"

"Spread rumors." The pervert replied proudly, thanking his brain for the once in a lifetime ingenious thought. " If you spread rumors about how strong A was on the battlefield, the village will be proud to have a passionate leader instead of pitying a furious orphan."

"I guess that would work?" Kinuki rubbed the back of his neck. "It's always worth a try, in the end. Thanks, old man."

Jiraiya grinned. "Now, for my request."

"Ok?"

"I want you to pitch the funding idea to the council." 

Kinuki nodded. "Deal. But that doesn't mean they'll agree."

"Trust me." The sage snorted. "They'll trust the man who saved their village and helped the leader build new foundations."

"Sure." The redhead mocked.

"On other notes," Jariaya grinned. "Guess who has a fanbase?"

"Oh for the love of kame-"

The elder pointed to his apprentice. "The infamous endless red! You can be sure to rome the streets of Konoha with women on every inch of your body."

"You perverted old man!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A young teen no older than 18 jumped on an old box, strong enough to support the younger's skinny frame but too weak to hold anything else. The attention of dozens of citizens focused solely on him as he told the story of a century. 

For the past week, the redhead had told the citizens pieces (that he mainly made up by the way) of their Kages story. Underlining every inch of good doings for the sake of life in the lightning village and in the hopes to higher their standard of A. As far as he had seen, it was working.

"And A was there!" The Endless Red drew out the battlefields tales to naive citizens. The crowd cheered on their leader as he faced off the mightest of armies. "Blasting rocks at anyone in his path! His strength harder than steel. His fist the equivalent of the mightiest sword. It was like nothing I've ever seen! And trust me, I've seen my fair share of A ranked killers."

He continued for days, hours poured into his every movement watched by those of the village in awe. The children had never heard of someone so strong. Not even their past leader could compare.

"Good job, kid." Pervy sage praised the younger as he shunshed to the rooftops. "I think you'll be able to leave by the end of the week."

"Wouldn't that be a blessing."

"Aka!" Kinuki heard his teammates searching the streets for the younger. He let out a faint pulse into his tattoo and was immediately enveloped in a hug. 

"You did it, big guy!" Mouse punched the younger's shoulder. 

"Maybe we can finally go home." The Hyuga groaned. "We'll all get some well-deserved rest." 

"Ain't that the truth." The teen sighed, watching as his team started to brighten up. 

As much as the younger denied it, he was feeling much better now that he regained some power and control. It seems his past leadership managed to seer into this timeline as well. Although one could argue that he had the passion from the very beginning, after being Hokage for some time, his body and mind grew used to the idea that he was a shield. He had to protect everyone around him and to do so, he had to have some control. And being captain gave him this control. 

Even though, now, he had to find a new member for his team. Who had ever heard of a three-man party? Even his old group had four members. Maybe he could give Kakashi a chance to prove his skill. To join his team. Sure, in doing so, he would distance his true team, Rin and Obito. But in the end, it would give him a chance to protect Kakashi's life like he had failed to do so before. 

He had grown fond of this group. Nowhere as much as the protectiveness of his old friends but somewhat close to it. Kakashi, although 10 times edgier than before, but retained his natural spark in life even in the future. Obito, while a bit crazy, reminded Kinuki of Naruto. The child he once was. Rin was an identical reflection a Sakura, the protective, motherly type, although without the crazy vibe Sakura had. He had no doubt, that with the right choices, he could protect them through their crazy future and prevent Kakashi's perverted and lazy personality. 

And then there was Miasaji and Hiashi. There was very little time left for them if the past timeline was anything to go by- having only about a year left if he had to give a brief estimate. Hiashi would be killed just after Neji's birth by a neighboring village and Miasaji being killed protecting academy students from an enemy attack.  

Kinuki sighed mentally. Rubbing his head in hope of some released stress, Kinuki tried to push his mind out of unwanted territory. 

"I wonder what Onoki thinks of all this." Jiraya thought out loud, leaving the others in silence to weigh their thoughts.

"My guesses are that his one mad pickle." Mouse placed a hand on her hip, watching Kinuki mutter under his breath. "Whatcha thinking about?"

Kinuki lifted his head. "I forgot about him for a while. I think we just made everything worse."

"Come on it can't be that bad." The dull Hyuga's locks rubbed against the teen's side as he placed a hand over his shoulder. "It's not our responsibility. I'm sure that Hokage will figure it out eventually."

"That would be great but, we are the once to start the contract, not the Kage." The redhead groaned. "It's on us." 

Jiraya narrowed his eyes, raising his hand to the group and leaving the other's silent. He moved his eyes towards a corner, moving his head in that direction to indicate an unwanted visitor. 

Before the man cloaked in black could even blink, he was thrown into the middle of the group by his collar, moving frantically to get away but being tripped in the process. The spy drew out a kunai, aiming it towards the red path he saw shining as a shinobi moved. 

"Who the fuck are you!" Mouse withdrew her katana, aiming it at the man's neck. 

But the man stayed silent, his eyes moving back and forth as he searched for an escape. 

The old sage moved swiftly, grasping at the young girl's sword and using the hilt to knock the man down instantly. He lifted the man's hood revealing a crossed leaf symbol at his forehead. 

"Should I even ask why you did that?" The Yuhi sighed, watching as Aka picked the man up and threw him over his shoulder. 

"We're going to the Raikage immediately. Team 007 move out." 

"Yes, sir." The two hollered, following their already moving leader within the shadows. Left behind, Jiraya shunshed to the office, leaving nothing but leaves in his place. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"This man, spied on 3 ANBU and a sanin?" A raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms to show his mistrust. "I don't believe it."

"Seriously?" Kinuki sighed, "What would I have to gain from lying."

 "As much as I don't want to believe it, I'm getting old alright." The elder sage chuckled dryly. "I would've spotted him in a heartbeat in my prime." 

"Agreed." Sloth breathed out, only to be slapped in the back by the older.

"Hush, boy. You are young. Naive- but still young."

"Alright, say I do believe you." All attention fell back on the kage. "Why would a man of your own village try to harm you."

"Maybe because he saw me as a threat to the village?" Aka frowned behind his newly made mask. "I mean, I don't exactly have the best reputation."

"Maybe?" Jiraya mused, digging within his brain deeply before watching as the redhead moved towards the now listening and awake spy. 

"Hi." The teen put on a cheery voice. "Who the hell are you?"

The man struggled in his seat, gnawing at the ropes around his arms. When he finally caught a grasp on the situation, he scowled deeply. 

"Go to hell." He spat, watching in hidden glee as the saliva made it's way down his blank mask slowly. 

Aka's chakra spiked, warning the entire room of what was to come. His eyes glowed a bright red. A color that could be nothing but described as bloodlust. With swift movements, Kinuki threw his arm back, grabbing the katana out of his holster and shoved it centimeters away from his throat.

"I tried doing this the nice, civilized way but it seems you don't want to cooperate. Now, who do you work for!"

Aka sighed as he saw no intention of a change. He drew his blade closer, the tip digging into his neck lightly, drawing trickles of blood.

Slowly, the shinobi stuck out his tongue, revealing a seal that the teen knew all too well. Aka sighed, turning towards the group and withdrawing his katana from his neck. 

"It's Danzo." The redhead groaned. "It's a curse of sealing. He can't talk even if he wanted too."

"Isn't Danzo dead?" Mouse rubbed her neck. "I thought we killed him."

"I don't know," Aka withdrew an empty pen from the seal on his forearm, pushing his deep red locks out of his face and onto one shoulder. 

"What are you doing!" A shouted as he opened the Konoha man's mouth. 

"Placing a seal?"

Jiraya made his way towards the two, eager to learn something new. 

"Do you actually know how to unseal it?" The sages voice shrunk in excitement. "Can you teach me!"

"Later, and yes I do know it, it's fairly simple." The teen pushed the sage back, revealing more light to the man's mouth. 

And as he moved his pen closer and closer to the shinobi's mouth, he heard the mumblings of a prayer. A prayer that he would never forget. 

"In the name of all that is holy-"

Sai's blade spun in his hand, waiting for its weight to become acquainted with its owner. 

"Let there be light-"

His eyes shone, his smile a dull facade. 

"in the name of Danzo, our savior-"

The snake-like teen ran towards the young Kage. 

"Let my movements be just and right!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Naruto dropped to the floor, the blade of his once friend deep in his gut. 

"Sai," His tired, chakra ridden face showing nothing more than sadness. "This isn't you." 

Sai pulled the Watanabe out of the teen's torso, taking deep breathes as he watched his once teammate groan and cough up blood. 

"Sai, I know you're in there."

"You are wrong." Sai slashed at his chest again, drawing more and more blood. "I'm not the Sai you know. I am a fearless and strong killer of evil."

" I know you are." Naruto took shallow breaths, not having the strength to move a single finger as he lay on the hard concrete floor. "Come back to me Sai."

Knowing his time was coming, the kage of the leaf closed his eyes, greeting the darkness with open arms. All he wanted was rest. His fight was over. After fighting thousands of Shinobi singlehandedly for days, he could finally let loose a little. 

A small tear made it's way down the raven's porcelain face, easily missed if you hadn't been looking for it. 

Sai stared at the blood-washed blade, gasping and heaving as he tried to withhold his vomit. He had just killed the one person who gave him a chance. Who loved him as a brother even after he was replaced by Sasuke.  

Why? What in the world told him to do so? What was wrong with him?

With a shaky hand, Sai raised the sword to his throat, the smile on his face never faltering as he dropped to the floor near his friend. In his last movements, he placed his foul hand onto the bloody other's, hoping that he wouldn't see the other in hell with him. And that in peace, he would find a way to forgive his sins.

It wasn't long before the duo was discovered, dozens of shinobi rushed into the building searching for their shield. There one and only savior. Their Hokage. 

"Naruto!" Tsunade cried, rushing towards the bloody redhead laying silently in the middle of a filthy and disregarded room. She moved her glowing green hands towards the gashes on his chest, praying for her godson to survive.  

"Damn it, Kurama! Where are you when we need you!" 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Kinuki?" Mouse put a hand on the other's back, comforting as much as she could.

"Fine." He said dryly, picking up his pen once more. 

With 3 hand seal's chakra quickly flowed into the pen, it's golden color reflecting onto the face of the terrified shinobi. 

Jiraya held the man's mouth as Aka used the golden chakra to write another seal over his tongue, watching in mirth as the redhead revealed yet another of his many tricks. 

"There," Aka resealed the pen into his storage seal.  "Now speak."

Sloth came up behind the man, pulling a kunai up to the back of his neck, making sure that the other could feel it. 

"My name is Tsuji Katsumoto, I am a spy of the root."

"What was your goal, spy of the root?"

Tsuji felt the kunai dig deeper as he took his time answering the question. 

"To gain information on the infamous Endless red." 

Aka groaned, gaining laughter from the others in the room. All except one, the most ferocious of them all. 

A stomped up to the spy, picking him and the chair up by the collar. 

"You will speak or have your head chocked off by the likes of me! Do you understand!" 

Tsuji gulped, nodding.

"Good," He set the chair down.

"Anyways," Aka advanced, motioning for the man to continue. "Is Danzo still alive."

A nod. "Of course, he is."

"Kami damn it I knew it!" Jiraya shouted, getting closer to the tied man. "He's the one behind the Akatsuki, isn't he? Isn't he!"

Another nod.  

"If only we made sure to kill him." Mouse looked towards the man in disgust. "Then all this would be prevented."

"I said 'hey why don't we check his pulse," Sloth retorted, "But Master Jiraya said-"

"Don't bother there is no way anyone who faced the wrath of two psycho's would still be alive." The sage seethed, hitting his head. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. I am nothing but a fool. My own student is suffering under his control. Killing because of Danzo. And it's no one's fault but my own!"

"You know it's not your fault, pervy sage," Kinuki reassured the other. "If it's anyone's fault it would be mine. I knew the final strike wasn't hard enough and just left him."

Jiraya fell back on himself, leaning against the wall in shame. He wouldn't be able to convince the others that it was clearly his fault. So what was the point of even arguing? 

Deep down, Kinuki he had to tell his sensei about Pein's future deeds as much as he didn't want to. But that was a conversation for another time. And of course, not in front of so many. 

Aka turned back towards the shinobi who looked as though he were to wilt in his place. 

"Is Danzo the one expanding the Akatsuki? "

Tsuji nodded. 

"How so?"

"W-well," The man cleared his throat. "He is trying to take over Ame through the use of Pein. And since the people of Ame put their trust in the Akatsuki, they are hoping to put up an uprising against Hanzo again."

"Hanzo?" Jiraya furrowed his brows. "Don't they know not to pick a fight with him? They almost died last time."  

Tsuji shrugged, just hoping deep inside that he wouldn't be killed my Danzo after revealing so much.

In moments, the village became a literal chaos, children screaming, crashing being heard from all over the village.

A stomped to the window quickly, trying to gather what had happened in such a short amount of time. 

It was clear that the village was under attack, but by what forces? With so many soldiers, it would be easy to spot from a distance, so why didn't anyone send a signal or at least a report?

"Sir!" A shinobi threw the door open, throwing the shinobi into the room in a deeper hole of confusion. "Stone forces are attacking! The leader is requesting for the Endless Red to show himself."

The redhead groaned, still trying to get used to the good awful name. Maybe he could convince the shinobi forces to give him another one. To use some of their pea-sized brains.

"How many units are available for attack?" A shouted. 

"72 out of the 103, sir. The majority of squadrions are outside the village on missions or taken out while on patrol. It-" The shinobi gulped. "It all came to fast."

"Wow, no shit. I want all genin on duty on getting the citizens to safety and all chunnin on the walls. Any jonin is free to join where they see necessary or in dire need of help."

The man's face gained hope; if even a trickle. Bowing, he exited the room swiftly to relay commands. 

"A-" Kinuki started, trying to regain his composure. He had to be himself at this moment. To be steady and calculating without being self-deprecating. 

"Kinuki I need you here with me, I am not sending you out there."

"But A-" 

"Kinuki!" A glared daggers at the boy, swatting him into his place.

"Mouse, Sloth." Kinuki turned toward the two, their eyes already knowing what he was about to say. "Keep 'em safe."

"Yes, sir!" The two disappeared instantaneously, their chakra signatures reappearing on the battlefield. 

"What do you need me in here for?" Kinuki fused. "There are thousands out there, let me help them!" 

"He's right here, Kinuki." Jiraya agreed with A. "You have to stay here. If you go out there, you're just going to make things worse for both the village and yourself. Just stay on the down-low for now."

Just as Kinuki opened his mouth to retort, the raikage cut him off. "My shinobi are strong, don't you doubt that. If things go down-hill too fast I will send you in. But that is only if, do you understand?" 

Kinuki let out a sigh, nodding and turning back toward the spy. "Let's try getting some more information out of you.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In a white and clearly bleached room, a young boy lay under the covers of a silk bed, his abdomen covered in layers of gauze, his eyes slowly. With him, the past kage of the leaf sat, on a chair nearby, her green robes moving up and down as she herself slept. 

"Granny,"  The boy moved to wake the kage, only to hiss in pain. 

Lady Tsunade raised her head with a burst, standing to her feet to help the redhead. 

"Naruto, where does it hurt? Can you hear me?"

"Granny," Naruto repeated again. "Where is sai?"

Tsunade ignored the teen."I need you to try to stay still, we need to check on your wound. Kurama lost too much chakra to heal you properly."

"Granny!" The woman paused, looking deep into his eyes, eyes filled with passion and sorrow. "Where is sai?"

"Sai," She started. "Fell into the wrong mindset after meeting some rouge ninja. He was sealed against his will and wasnt able to think for himself anymore." 

Naruto fittled with the top of the silk sheet. "He's dead, isn't he?" 

"Yes, Naruto." 

The room fell silent. 

"Naruto?" The women questioned, expecting an outburst. 

"Yes, Granny?" He said quickly, without hesitance or any sort of emotion. 

"Are you ok?" 

Naruto moved to the side of the bed, ignoring the bursts of pain that covered his body. "I'm ok."

The redhead stood up, using the wall as support as he limped slowly. Blood slowly pooled out of his bandages and onto his garments. 

"Where are you going?" No reply. "Naruto, where are you going!"

"To train, I need to get stronger."

"You will sit back down right now, do you hear me?" 

"But this can't keep happenin-"

"Naruto get back here!"

"I can't keep losing everyone!" Naruto shouted, stopping the women in her tracks." Sakura, Shikamaru, Kiba, Negi, Hinata, Sai. They're all dead because of me! Because I failed to protect them. If I was stronger and better they would still be here. They would have a future with theyre family and kids and we would all grow old together. But they're gone! And nothing is going to change that!"

The teen reached the door. "Naruto, as godaime kage and as your doctor, I order you to sit your ass down right now and let me heal you." 

Naruto opened the door and slammed it closed, flinging his body threw the door. "Save it for someone who needs it." 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"This has gone long enough they need me out there!"

"Kinuki!" A shouted, getting back to his feet. "It's only been 3 hours, calm down!"

"Three hours too long. Do you value peace over dozens of lives?" 

"Of course not!"

"Then let me out there! My teammates are wounded, they need my help!" 

"Jiraya had been sent to help them. They are allowed to retreat if they need to. Sit down!" 

A Shinobi covered in grub and mud opened the door, ready to report when told. He had been giving reports by the hour, and so far, only handled bad news. A nodded towards the man, ordering him to report without even saying so.

"There are only 23 squads left against roughly 44 squads out of the beginning 80. The majority of their chunnin has been whipped out leaving mainly jonin."

"Damn it to hell!" The kage yelled slamming hard down onto his desk as he let out his rage. Sighing in defeat after calming down, he turned to Kinuki, nodded firmly.

In an instant, Kinuki flew out the window, gold chakra covering him as he moved faster among the buildings. 

The battleground emitted nothing but chaos. Blood splattered everywhere, children crying as they tried to free their parents from debris. It was horrifying to say the least. But, at this point, the teen was used to it. No matter how bad it may have seemed. 

Kinuki turned quickly as he felt the radiation of chakra emerging from behind. A man, covered in red garments and silk ties, blasted his way through the town, breaking everything in his path. Civilians and all. 

In the east, he could feel dozens of shinobi moaning and groaning for back up. For any sort of help. 

And so, with a plan quickly set in his mind, one Aka became a hundred Aka's, all flying in different directions. Just as the fourth shinobi war, the battleground became littered with gold flashes, with determination to protect. 

The real Aka, however, would face the real issue. With A now by his side, he made his way towards the gate of the village, trying to find whoever was commanding the squadrons. 

Past red flames, red lock's released wind the power of hundreds of typhoons, blasting everything away from its path. The weak and chakra-less fell, leaving the large man standing tall in the middle, his garments catching flame as the fire spread towards him.

Kinuki withdrew his katana, pushing as much chakra through it as he could before running forward in a burst. Slashing and turning, Kinuki wounded the man as much as he could before letting A take control. 

With a single one of his punches, the shinobi crumbled to the floor, breathing heavily as he tried to pick himself up. Ribs cracked, brushed and bleeding, he still managed to stand once more. He was a god damn monster

"How the fuck?" Kinuki scratched his head before kneeling in pain. He eyed his leg, bleeding and bubbling in all its glory. "Shit." 

"Are you hurt?" A said as he bounced backward. 

"I'll be fine." Aka heaved himself using one leg, "Let's take him out with one punch." 

A nodded, focusing all his chakra in his fist while Kinuki readied a Rasen-Shuriken. 

Swiftly, the two Kages punched at the man's stomach, crushing through it with a disgusting crunch. In his last moments, he used whatever chakra he had left to blast at Aka, throwing him into a building as he crumbled over him. 

A ran towards the teen, pushing the brick building off of the bleeding teen. One by one, gold left the battlefield in a waft of smoke, leaving everyone littered with confusion and frustration. 

'Damn it Kurama, why aren't you healing me!'

"If you wouldn't heed my warning's then you would at least heed the warnings of a doctor. You are unstable, kit. You need help." 

'Screw you!' Aka moved to pick himself up, only to fall back down.

"Shit!" He moved to pick himself up again, "Damn it, no!"

"Aka-san stay down!" A's words faded into white noise. 

The redhead felt lost. He couldn't help anyone in this state, he had to get up. But the more he tried, the more he realized that it was impossible. He couldn't help anyone. He was useless.

Medics rushed from every side, healing him as much as they could before transferring him. But by the time the familiar warm feeling of healing fell upon him, he was out. Stuck in his dark and lonely mind. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Mr.Totsuka, for the millionth time your teammates are fine. They are awake and healed with any grave medical issues. You need to calm down."

"A-are you sure?" Kinuki felt insecure about the vast amount of white and erely silence that he felt in the room. He hated hospitals.

"Yes but I am here to talk about your medical condition, not theirs." The doctor pushed up his glasses, flipping through the paper's on his checkboard before setting it down and looking at the boy at the edge of his seat. 

"Mr.Totsuka-"

"But I'm always healthy doc!" Kinuki smiled pointing to his teeth. "See!"

The doctor frowned. "Mr.Totsuka you have a deficiency in almost every vitamin, we have fed you by tube for the day's you were unconscious but before then, you were severely malnourished. I'm not sure who gave you clearance to go on the battlefield but it surely wasn't a smart man."

"I'm fine doc, promise!" Kinuki said cheerfully.

"Which leads me to another thing. There are many points that lead me to believe that you have severe PTSD and anxiety, if not more than that. Now, I don't know the life you've led, Mr.Totsuka, but you have to take better care of yourself. I would suggest taking a break from the field until-"

"No," Kinuki said blankly. "Is that all? Would I be able to leave now? I just want to go back to Konoha after so long."

The doctor sighed, he would never get passed the amount of determination to fight a shinobi had. "No, in the state your in, I'm surprised you're even standing. You're sticky thin and unstable, you need rest-"

The redhead stood, moving to the door. "Thank you, have a nice day." 

The door was locked. 

"Mr.Totsuka, you cannot leave!"

Kinuki made his way towards the open window, smiling before going down the building walking peacefully sideways. He opened his seal, happy to find the lion mask Kakashi had once spared him and slid it on as a substitute to his shattered old one. He really had to start reinforcing them.  

"Why didn't you listen to the doctor?"

"Because," The teen turned to face the Hyuga, his red locks radiating in the day's light Sun. "He was spouting nonsense."

"He's a trained professional, he knows what he's doing."  

"Nah," Kinuki waved his hand. "I'm fine"

Sloth frowned, looking towards the hidden mouse. 

"A said that he wanted to talk to us before we leave." Kinuki started walking towards the kage's tower. "We leave exactly after that so make sure to bring your bags. You got that mouse!"

Mouse raised a thumbs up from her hiding spot.

"Good, we meet back up in 20 minutes!" 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"So," Kinuki stared, looking at the proud man in front of him. "I take it the battle went well?"

"Swimmingly!" A said sarcastically. "But in the end, it helped my reputation quite a lot. So I thank you."

"For what? I didn't do much. So many people lost their lives in this battle and it's all my fault." 

"Jariaya told me how much effort you put into giving me a good name. And so, I grant you a reward." He pulled out a large bag from the bottom drawer of his new desk, pushing it towards the team. "The equivalent of an S ranks. I hope it is split accordingly."

Mouse and sloth bowed, taking the money and sealing it quickly to be distributed later. "Thank you, sir."

 "I am in your debt, Kinuki." The redhead's eyes widened, considering the words that were never said before. 

"Thank you." Kinuki smiled. "Although I have a question before leaving."

A nodded. "Where is B?" 

"Ah," The Kage nodded. "The jinchuriki? He is currently being trained to hone his skills, he will be back in the next week or so." 

"That's all I needed to know," Kinuki smirked. "Tell him I said hello."

The kage raised an eyebrow but nodded none-to-less. "Alright. Dismissed."

And so, after weeks of the lighting village's bullshit, Team 007 went home. 

Past the stone gates, past the lakes and rouge ninja. Was home. And they couldn't be happier. If not the journey that was sure to last an additional week. Mouse groaned. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Another chapter done! WowWee this was a weird one. But it's finally done and ahh does it feel good to be writing again. 

Thank you guys so much for the support you have been showing me. I just want to hug and squeeze you all! For those of you who are in school, I'm so sorry, I hope you're having a nice weekend. And for those of you who are starting in a week like me, good luck! 

ƭɦαɳҡร ƒσ૨ ૨εα∂เɳɠ! ԋαʋҽ α ɳιƈҽ ԃαყ,

Aɳԃ ԃσɳƚ ϝσɾɠҽƚ ƚσ ʋσƚҽ αɳԃ ƈσɱɱҽɳƚ!