Chapter 2: Years Gone By

It has been seven years since the departure of one Uzumaki Naruto and many things have changed. The first change occurred after Naruto left and Jiraiya's return. After being calmed down by Tsunade and Shizune, he tore into the council. He informed them that they were idiots who had no faith in the seal of their supposed hero and that the only way the fox can get out is if Naruto himself lets it. Even if Naruto died the Kyuubi couldn't escape. This caused many whom only agreed to his banishment because they thought the seal was weakened, to feel ashamed. Jiraiya also informed them that a group of S-Rank shinobi called the Akatsuki are after the tailed beasts and they had just virtually given them the nine-tails. This piece of information caused a large disturbance among the council. Some wanted him back, either out of guilt or because they didn't want such a weapon to be in the hands of missing ninja. Others wanted him to stay gone saying that this way the group wouldn't attack the village. What caused the most upset was the last bit of information Jiraiya gave, it was the final nail in the coffin. He told them Naruto's parentage. Naruto Uzumaki was the son of Kushina Uzumaki the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero and Minato Namikaze the Yellow flash and Yondaime Hokage. Jiraiya had never felt so much pleasure than watching the melt down of the council.

Another change was the rookie 12. After hearing about Naruto's banishment and subsequent disappearance they threw themselves into training. At first they were devastated and angry. Then they decided they wanted to be strong enough to bring him home one day. It wasn't just increased training that changed but also the dynamic of the rookie 12. While everyone was distraught over the loss of Naruto only Sasuke and Sakura weren't. This caused Ino to denounce Sasuke as her crush but also Sakura as her friend. However despite the exclusion of Sasuke and Sakura, it brought the rest of the rookie 12 closer then ever. Every week they would meet up and eat at Ichiraku Ramen in honour of Naruto. This was a great joy to Ayame and Teuchi whom were incredibly saddened about the loss of the blonde. It wasn't just the rookies that changed so did the sensei's. Kakashi understandably took it the worse, he was originally angry at both his students for using A-rank techniques. Then he discovered from Tsunade that Naruto had underpowered his Rasengan so it didn't endanger Sasuke, but Naruto actually took two fully powered Chidori's to the chest. His guilt only became worse when he discovered that naruto was actually his sensei's son. He sought to absolve some of his guilt by training Sakura properly however, to his disappointment she was still nothing more than a fangirl. All the sensei's started to train more regularly and harder in order to keep up with their students.

Team 7 also went through a change, with Naruto gone the team was taken off rotation until a replacement could be found. That replacement became Sai who used to be a member of ROOT and Danzo's spies. Sakura who had asked for training from Tsunade before Sasuke tried to deflect was refused. Tsunade turned her down due to her fan girlish ways. Sasuke himself is as horrible and broody than ever. He was let off virtually scot free, he was simply put on house arrest for three months.

The biggest change was what happened to Danzo Shimura the leader of ROOT. A year and a half after the banishment of naruto, Jiraiya and Tsunade finally manage to get him executed and ROOT disbanded with the surprising help of Sai. As it turns out the rookie 12 manage to get Sai most of his emotions back and with the help of Ino his memories as well. With his memory returned he no longer wished to serve Danzo. So with the assistance of Jiraiya the seal on his tongue was removed and he became Tsunade's spy.

Now a full seven years later and everyone has lived up to their changes. Ino is now married to Sai and both are jounin. Neji and TenTen are engaged, Neji is a hunter in ANBU and TenTen is a jounin. Kiba is a jounin and ANBU recruit with Akamaru. Shino is an ANBU captain and is dating Hinata who is an academy instructor. Shikamaru is head of the ANBU strategic division. Both Choji and Lee are jounin instructors. Sasuke was forced to marry Sakura in order to restart his clan. Sasuke is a jounin and Sakura is a medic at the hospital. Iruka got out of his depression and is engaged to Ayame. Kurenai and Asuma are married and have a son named Hiruzen after the third. Kakashi is surprisingly dating Anko. Gai opened his own dojo which is ran by his civilian wife. Shizune married Genma and they are expecting their first child. Tsunade finally said yes to Jiraiya and they are currently dating.

Now though our rookies and their senseis are preparing for a trip to another village. Their job is to find the Kōshoku no kage (Crimson shadow) who is said to reside there and ask him to join the leaf.

Everyone was standing at the gate. Kakashi let his lone eye gaze over the group. They had all come a long way…well except two. He couldn't help but sigh when he thought about those two. He also couldn't feel anything about guilt when he thought about his third student. Despite Jiraiya's spy network and contacts he couldn't find anything out about Naruto. as he finished that thought everyone finally arrived.

"Okay! Now everyone's here, Our mission is to head to Tsukigakure (Hidden moon village) and find the Kōshoku no kage and ask him to join the leaf village. Also Lady Tsunade stated that at this of year Tsukigakure has a festival on. We will be arriving a day before the festival begins, if we find the Kōshoku no kage we are to send his reply via messenger bird and stay until the end of the festival. Any questions?" Stated Kakashi. Kiba was the first to ask the obvious.

"Did Lady Tsunade just basically give us a mission to enjoy a festival?" He asked confusion clouded his voice. "Yes." Kakashi eye-smiled. Hinata raised her hand shyly.

"Yes, Hinata?" Asked Kakashi politely.

"Umm who exactly is the Kōshoku no kage?" Hinata asked quietly. After all academy teachers aren't exactly kept in the loop about bingo book entries.

" The Kōshoku no kage is and S-rank bingo book entry. He is not a missing ninja because he is apparently not affiliated to any village." Answered Kakashi. TenTen was quick to voice her concern.

"Why exactly are WE being sent, if he's an S-rank and how is he an S-rank."

"Apparently" answered Asuma "He pissed off a bunch of the wrong people. His bounty on the black market is worth more than mine and Chiriku combined and we are former twelve guardian ninja."

Everyone looked shocked except Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, Kurenai and Sasuke who looked excited.

"As for why us…Ask Lady Tsunade" said Kakashi.

"What are his skills, just in case we get into a confrontation." Asked Neji.

"Here's his Bingo Book entry, take a good look and memorise it." Said Kakashi as he held up a small black book.

Name: Unknown

Alias: The Kōshoku no kage (Crimson shadow)

Age: unknown

Traits: Blonde hair and wears an ANBU styled mask. Always wears Black trench coat and a single Silver earring.

Village: Unaffiliated

Known Affinities: Wind, Water and Lightning

Taijutsu: Excellent uses an unknown style.

Kenjutsu: Excellent uses Edge Blade Style. Has a katana with a red and white handle with a black blade. The blade is known as Eien no kizuato (Eternal Scar)

Chakra Level: Kage or higher

Rank: S

Jounin engage with caution. Chunin and below do not approach.

Bounties:

Otogakure: Wanted dead or alive $800,000 ryo

Iwagakure: Dead or alive $850,000 ryo

Kumogakure: Dead or alive $680,000 ryo

The group looked stunned. They quickly composed themselves and took off. Little did they know they'd be meeting an old friend very soon...