Leap of Faith

Hello again, I've finally typed this chapter up (Well, I say typed but I dictated it to the PC! SO much better than typing, and I bet the new neighbours think we're weird ^_^). Here you go then, and I'll start 'typing' the next chapter tonight.

animelover:
Thank you for the kind words, and a little light will be shone in this chapter.

spoon:
Thank you very much.

Garmiet:
I'll try to keep this exciting for you. XD


And Merry Christmas, hope you get everything you want from Father Christmas. Enjoy.


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Chapter 2: Dealt Hand

Tsunade sat with her face hidden in her palms. It seemed that every book, which every protocol was written in, had been thrown at her head. She had clashed words with the Council for what felt like hours, trying everything from persuasion to outright defiance, but to no avail. The order had been given.
There were three others in the Hokage’s office. Shizune stood behind the Hokage, her face an image of defeat. She knew this was probably the end for Naruto, and all she could do was stand and watch Sakura pace frantically back and forth in front in the desk. Even Ton-Ton, it seemed, had given up, the pig just trailed the pacing girl with its head down.
Ever since the order had been passed to the ninja of the village, the three of them had been holed up in the office. Tsunade had stormed into the room with Shizune at her heels; they’d given Ton-Ton an awful fright at their arrival. Shortly after, Sakura had thundered through the door demanding to know what was going on. It had taken Shizune a great amount of time to calm the young kunoichi down, with no help forth coming from Tsunade who hadn’t said a word since the announcement. Once Sakura had calmed she refused to take part in the hunt. Neither the Hokage nor her aid begrudged her choice, and now the three were left with the task of waiting for news of Naruto.
Kakashi materialized with a worried look upon his face and Naruto slung over one shoulder. All eyes in the room rapidly turned to him, causing his relief at their safe arrival to be shot through with daggers from the women’s eyes. Tsunade stood and slammed her open palms down onto the hard wooden desk about to release her rage at this new target, however nothing but at choke escaped her lips. The rooms heavy silence quickly changed to one of shock as each of the women realised who Kakashi had over his shoulder.
“Naruto!” Sakura cried, running to the Jounin. Kakashi gently pulled the boy from his shoulder and handed him over to the pink haired girl. She immediately laid him on the floor and checked for any injuries.
Tsunade slowly sank back into her chair, eyes were wide and mouth slack as joy began to dance across her face. Naruto was safe. The relief didn’t last long as the reality of the situation began to sink in. So Tsunade started to plan as she watched Sakura fuss over Naruto’s still body. There was no denying it in Tsunade’s mind that Kakashi had done the right thing. They were all thankful for it, but this was the beginning of more problems for the boy. Naruto couldn’t remain in the village; if he did they would capture him. Kakashi had saved him this time, but how had he done it?
“Kakashi,” Tsunade began. Shizune’s head whipped to her in shock, thankful that she had finally spoken. Tsunade twitched a little in annoyance, had Shizune thought she’d never speak again?
“Kakashi,” she began again. “What happened?”
Kakashi reported what he had done after the order had been given. He told how word of Naruto being found had spread to him quickly, and reports from his nin-dogs proved it true. As soon as he’d confirmed it he had rushed to the boy’s apartment to find him already under attack, and with a curt apology, told how he thought it best to bring him to the Hokage instead of detaining him.
“The attacks were meant to kill,” Kakashi concluded. “Naruto could never receive a fair trial under the circumstances.”
A tight smile pulled at Tsunade’s lips, she knew what she was going to do with Naruto. But first there was the task of clearing the boy’s name.
“Search him Kakashi.” Tsunade said, surprising the Jounin, that wasn’t what he had expected.
“Shisho!” Sakura cried, shocked at her masters words, didn’t she believe in him?
Kakashi’s pause was barely noticeable, and he quickly got about the search. Sakura however felt mortified; didn’t they believe in Naruto? Well she did, and she wasn’t about to let them demean her friend and teammate. Kakashi was once again caught off guard, but this time by Sakura, and he barely dodged her fierce punch. But she did miss, and her momentum carried her forward and off balance. The grey haired Jounin took the opportunity and slammed her fully to the floor, putting a knee on her back and gripping her arms as restraints.
“Enough!” Bellowed Tsunade.
“No!” Sakura cried. “How can you do this, don’t you believe in Naruto?”
Tsunade’s features softened slightly
“We believe in him Sakura, but we need to do this to prove the old bastards wrong.”
Sitting on the floor Sakura was visibly mulling over the Hokage’s words, to signify her decision she let her body go limp. Kakashi slowly released her, still wary, and went back to searching the unconscious boy on the floor. Sakura sat close by watching as the Jounin went through Naruto’s pockets, and pouches, and spread everything he found out on the floor beside them. She leant forward peering at Naruto's belongings.
“What are we looking for?” She said surveying the items.
“A scroll:” Answered Tsunade from behind her hands “it’ll be small, but fat, with a seal across the flap.”
With a nod the young kunoichi picked up all the scrolls Kakashi had laid out, and turned each one over in her hands. They all looked like normal scrolls, and none of them were sealed. Sakura looked up at Kakashi and shook her head. He sighed in relief, as did everyone else in the room.
He didn’t take it; thought Tsunade. But that didn’t change what must happen.
From the floor there was a weak groan, and everyone’s eyes darted to Naruto as he began to stir. Kakashi moved back to give the boy some room, while Sakura crawled forward on her knees to be right beside him.
Naruto was vaguely aware that he was alive, but it felt like Shukaku had leapt on his head a few times. The dazed boy struggled to sit up, and to see him this way hurt Sakura, it felt like someone had punched her in the heart. She put her hand on his back and helped him sit up. He groaned at the movement, and groaned some more when he was finally sat upright. He decided it was more like Shukaku and Kyuubi had been dancing over him. A piercing pain shot through his stomach, and it was joined by one in his head, and all coherent thought was wiped out as Naruto slumped across Sakura with an agonised expression on his face.
Sakura squeaked in alarm and her fingers flew to Naruto’s throat, desperately hoping for of pulse. There was one, and it was wonderfully strong. She sighed in relief, and not for the first time this day. She was about to lay him flat again, but a terse “Wait” from Kakashi made her pause. The Jounin reached forward and down Naruto’s collar, when he pulled back his hand there was a scroll within it. Everyone’s eyes followed the small item, and they unconsciously held their breath in anticipation. No one wanted to believe that this was the missing scroll, but they couldn’t help it. Why else would it be hidden in such an odd place?
Sakura squeezed her eyes shut, and squeezed the boy in her arms even tighter. After a few silent seconds she opened one eye. Why hasn’t anyone said anything? She peered across at Kakashi and knew by the look in his eye that this was the scroll. Her heart was hanging by a thread. She began shaking her head and missed Kakashi turning it for everyone to see. The wood down the scrolls centre was charcoal black, and the paper a dusky yellow. Spanning the lip was a pattern of complex design which seemed to have no order, as though it had been muddled up, or perhaps had not been completed. Kakashi slowly stood up feeling a great weight upon his shoulders.
Tsunade watched him as he strolled over to place the scroll in front of her. She stared at it, willing it to disappear from her sight, and for this to have never happened. She didn’t want to believe that Naruto had stolen it, and she didn’t want to have to send him away; but he had, and she had to. With a heavy sigh the Hokage picked up the scroll and handed it to Shizune who still stood behind her. The woman hadn’t said a word, and upon turning around Tsunade saw tears about to erupt from her eyes.
“Shizune!” Called Tsunade to snap her assistant out of her daze.
Shizune whipped her head around at the call of her name and visibly shrank at the deathly look Tsunade was aiming at her. She glanced down as Tsunade thrust the scroll into her view and tentatively reached out to take it, but not really wanting to touch the damned thing.
Once Shizune had taken the scroll and deposited it out of sight, Tsunade turned back and regard the unconscious boy on the floor. Sakura was still clutching him and shaking her head furiously. The Hokage diverted her gaze to Kakashi, and began to seal Naruto’s future.
“Why is he unconscious?” She began.
Kakashi looked back and shrugged. Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him, her anger was rising quickly. Kakashi saw the rage on her face and prepared for the onslaught, but Sakura him to his rescue.
“Exhaustion.” She stated, never looking away from the boy her arms.
“Exhaustion?” Repeated Tsunade, “Stupid boy.”
“It’s as if,” Sakura continued as though she had not heard the Hokage speak. “He hasn’t slept in days, and had being training continuously.”
Tsunade’s eyebrows drew together in concentration. “Kyuubi.” She finally said.
Everyone in the room stared at her in shock.
“As soon as Naruto became the prime suspect for the theft, a detailed account was made of his comings and goings over the past few days.” The Hokage had everyone’s rapt attention as she regaled them with the details of the report.
“Yesterday, the night of the theft, Naruto was reported to have returned home at an early hour. People that saw him described him as groggy, in a daze even If. The tiredness however couldn’t be explained. The days previous he had been sighted sleeping at various training grounds. Rock Lee commented: a sparing match between them was ended as Naruto, literally, fell asleep middle of it. This behaviour is not normal, and I think it can be linked back to the demon.” The room was silent as the news sank in.
Shizune broke the silence and asked what both Kakashi and Sakura were thinking.
“Why do you think it’s the Kyuubi?” She asked the Hokage.
Kakashi was the one who answered though.
“Birthday.” He said with realisation in his voice.
Shizune looked at him oddly, but Sakura comprehended his meaning.
“It’s Naruto’s birthday, or it was yesterday.”
“It was around this time that the Kyuubi was sealed, it’s no surprise that it gets agitated this time of year.” Finished Kakashi.
Shizune thought if he had said that in the first place it would have saved her confusion.
“Wait,” she said in a low voice, suddenly realizing what they had said.
“It was Naruto’s birthday? But…” Tsunade interrupted her.
“Grab him Kakashi. We need to find out what the demon’s done.” The old chair groaned as she got out of it for the first time in hours.

Don't always go for the sure thing, sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.