When we got to the Hokage tower, I realized that things weren't as good as I hoped.

I burst into Tsunade's office, only to see that Danzo and, from the looks of it, the ANBU that were in the room we just got out of, were all standing in there. The way Danzo was staring at us was unsettling.

"Speak of the devil." Danzo said.

"Naruto. Sasuke." Tsunade folded her hands on the table in front of her. Oh shit, she was pissed. "Can you explain what's happening? Now?"

The intensity of that last sentence was sending shockwaves of panic through my already high-strung nerves. What a way to fuck things up.

"We just came to see you about that." I said, glaring at Danzo, "Danzo - "

"Danzo," Tsunade interrupted, "is saying that you two attacked his ANBU for no reason."

I flinched at her tone. She didn't believe him, did she...?

No, clearly not. It was actually blatantly obvious she was just as freaked out as I was. I took a look around and noticed the other two elders there too. That explained it.

"Do you believe him?" I asked.

She furrowed her brow and leaned back, still tense, "I'll decide who I believe once I hear both sides of the story." she glanced over at the elders, who no doubt stood against me.

I sighed, "Well, I don't know about Sasuke, but I was just training in the woods when this guy," I pointed at the ANBU who escorted me, who, to say the least, seemed surprised that I picked him out so easily, "came up to me and told me to go with him. Not seeing another choice, I followed him into a room where I saw Sasuke too, and then Danzo came in and started ranting about how wonderful we'd be as weapons, and then I did what anyone would do to protect myself and grabbed Sasuke and ran the hell out of there-"

"Sasuke?"

"Hn. Some ANBU came up to me on the street and said basically the same thing."

"You ran out of there?" Koharu asked, clearly looking for some way to trap me. "How did you do that?"

"I had to break out, obviously. Wouldn't you at least try, in my position?" I countered.

"Don't get too snobby. They might use it against you."

'Sure, sure. But damn it, they make me wanna kill somebody.'

Kurama growled, "How I wish to spill their blood."

"How exactly did you break out?" Homura asked.

"I had to use Kurama's chakra." 

"You used the Kyuubi's power against shinobi of your own village?" Koharu said, "Tsunade, you must do something about this absurd behavior! He cannot walk around freely! He broke the law of shinobi -"

"If I recall." Tsunade snarled, "Danzo also broke the law. I clearly remember telling you three not to mess around with Naruto, yet he's cut way too close on multiple occasions. Don't forget, he's a Konoha shinobi too. Your behavior towards him is an offense to your village."

"Tsunade!" Koharu shouted, "You have shown irresponsibility as Hokage! This is the Kyuubi jinchuriki we're talking about. We must be careful -"

"Shut up, for once in your life!"

Everyone in the room silenced at my sudden outburst. I growled, unable to hold back this time.

"I'm sick of everyone deciding my life for me. Yes, I'm a jinchuriki, what of it? Does that mean I'm destined to suffer with no choice in the matter? I'm tired of it! I'm tired of everyone talking about me like I'm a superpowered vegetable or something. Is it too much to ask to just be treated like I'm human for once?"

There was no response. I groaned, putting my face in my hand, "GODDAMMIT, no matter how many times I say it, everything always turns out the same! There isn't much point, anymore, is there? Fine, say what you like, as if I give a fuck."

I turned and left, not even bothering to close the door behind me as I strode down the hallway. I walked out the building, into the forest, and didn't stop until I was far away from anyone.

Then, I collapsed on my knees, and didn't stand up again for quite some time.

No one's POV~

Tsunade and Sasuke watched, struck by Naruto's words, as the boy simply walked out the door and left.

The same thing went through their minds at that time.

He snapped.

He finally snapped.

Kurama POV~

"Naruto."

No reply.

"Kit."

"Kurama?" he mumbled out loud. "Why...do they hate us?"

I sighed. This conversation again. Although I acted like it was a hassle to console Naruto at times like these, it saddened me to see him like this. Him, the first human to break through to me and show me that there's actually some good in this hellish world.

To see him like this...my presence and the presence of those few people that helped Naruto anchored him, kept him sane all these years. 

To see him hurt...it hurt me as well.

"Because they're idiots." I said, "They can't see how amazing you are. So, they don't deserve someone as forgiving as you."

He chuckled, a low and humorless sound, like an empty shell. 'Yeah, yeah.'

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I fed small amounts of my chakra to him, knowing that it helped sooth him.

'Kurama?'

"Hm?"

'We should...leave the village again.'

I saw this coming. "You sure?"

'Yes. I realize, now, even though Tsunade's doing everything she can, it won't stop anyone else from trying to manipulate us. I'll leave another letter, put it somewhere in the Hokage tower, and the two of us will disappear. We'll disappear off the face of the Earth. I can live out my life without the burden of this village, and you can finally be free again one day. It's okay to be selfish, just once, right? There won't be all these fights about what to do with us. Like I said before, Konoha is strong. They don't need us. And you're right.' he smiled softly, 'They don't deserve us.'

Naruto POV~

I began the preparations, once again packing a small bag full of necessities.

As a final goodbye, I took a walk around the village. It look beautiful, in the light of the setting sun. For once, I felt at peace. I knew, this time, I wasn't coming back.

I had a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku's. Happy times.

I went to see Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei. All the people who made me happy, just one last time.

I couldn't tell Tsunade what I was planning, and I couldn't tip her off. So, once I made sure all signs of Danzo's presence was no longer in the Hokage tower, I went to her office in the evening as usual.

As soon as I walked in, I was engulfed in a hug.

"I'm sorry, Naruto." she whispered, "I'm sorry."

I smiled and patted her shoulder. "I'm sorry, too. You must be stressed already, and I know all this fighting with the elders is annoying."

"Hey." she pulled away, bonking me on the head good-naturedly. "I can take it. I'm the Hokage and one of the Sannin, after all."

"Ow." I rubbed my head and gave her a lopsided grin, "If you say so."

"Hey, what about me?"

I glanced over her shoulder and immediately cracked a smile, "Welcome back, Pervy sage."

"Yo." he patted me on the head. "Good to see you again, gaki. You been training?"

"You know it."

He laughed, a warm, hearty sound. "Glad to hear it."

"Oh, speaking of which." I glanced at Tsunade. "I'm guessing you know about...Kurama."

His gaze went serious. "Yes?"

"Well, he doesn't exactly like being sealed the way he is...I was thinking, is there any way to undo the seal? Just so that he's not caged up like some monster?"

Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade, "Yes, I heard about it. And yes, there is a key to the seal. Are you sure...?"

"Kurama's my friend." I said, "Of course I'm sure."

Jiraiya sighed, then chuckled. "Well, the Great Elder Toad prophesied it, and he's never wrong. Yeah, I'll give you the key, if you promise me that...Kurama won't...you know."

"I can promise that, 100%." I said.

So then began the rather strange process of Jiraiya spitting out a frog, and me swallowing said frog. Once I was finished gagging, Tsunade cleared her desk.

"Anyways, I was just finishing up here, so you can rest." she looked back at me and Jiraiya, her caramel eyes softening. "Good night."

I smiled at her, "Good night, Baa-chan."

She scoffed, "Gaki."

That was the last thing I heard from her as I walked out the office and made my way back to my bedroom, where I already had a bag of things packed and ready to go.

Later, under the cover of night, I made my escape.

There was one last thing to do...

I snuck out, sneakily making my way across the village toward the exit. On my way, I saw a figure, leaning against a tree on the side of the path.

"Funny." Sasuke said, "This was exactly where Sakura tried to stop me last time I tried to leave."

"Really?" I chuckled, "I can imagine what that involved."

"Don't worry, I won't try to stop you." he glanced up at me, his obsidian eyes reflecting the light of the moon, "But if you need a friend waiting for you..."

"Sasuke, promise me one thing."

He fixed those glimmering black eyes on me and tilted his head.

I stepped up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Please, stay in the village. I'm leaving because I have to, but please...don't follow. Stay behind and hold down the fort, will ya? I know you can do great things to this place."

"Dobe. You sound like a guru or something."

I laughed. "Promise me."

He gave me a small smile. "I promise."

"And, one more thing." our eyes met, blue to black. "Promise me, that no matter what, you'll never forget me."

"Tch. How could I forget the guy who literally saved my life." it was his turn to put a hand on my shoulder, "I'll make sure nobody forgets Naruto Uzumaki. You can count on that."

I grinned. "Thanks."

"Now you promise me something, dobe."

"Yeah?"

Sasuke clicked his tongue, "Don't you ever come back."