See Me

Another short update, but at least it was faster this time! *runs away*

...K..A..K..A../..N..A..R..U...

The team was quiet and somber as they positioned around Naruto like he was some sort of criminal. Silently and sadly they passed through the gates of Konoha.

’This is stupid Kit.’ Kyuubi grumbled as they walked through the gates. ‘Why don’t you just let me scare the elders into behaving? I won’t kill them, promise.’

‘No, look things will work out I’m sure of it. If Gaara and the others can’t make them come to their senses… then I will let you come out to play.’ Naruto thought with a bit of a grin.

Kakashi raised his eyebrow as he noticed Naruto’s grin. The blond shook his head in response to the silent question and then went back to looking somber.

The walk through town and to the Hokage’s office should have been a short one. It seemed the villagers were outraged at seeing the blond in shackles. Naruto was shocked and touched to hear them demanding his release. Threatening various things from refusing them service any longer to bodily harm. Those that did not yell threw food and other objects at the team.

He jumped back when the knife that Neji had ducked almost hit him. The thrower stood in shock and kept apologizing to Naruto over and over. He had to fight back his tears as he thought of what he had almost done. He was sure that his death was what Konoha needed; he didn’t even want to think of what would have happened if the mission had been successful. He was grateful to his friends and Kyuubi for making him fail in his mission.

Naruto broke from his musing just in time to see a blur break through his surrounding guards and barrel into him.

“Naruto-Niisan what have they done to you?” Konohamaru asked while grabbing the blond around his waist.

“Shh, it’s ok otoutosan, they are doing what they have to do.” Naruto said while trying to calm down a very angry genin.

“Why do you have my Niisan in cuffs you big bullies?” The young nin said as he turned his attention to the captors.

As much as it touched Naruto that the young nin looked up to him and was worried about him, he didn’t have time to explain what was going on. Growing tired of waiting for the young man to wind down Naruto placed his hand over the current loud mouth. “Konohamaru, I promise after everything is over I will explain what is happening. Right now though we don’t have time. Plus if you don’t stop yelling at them you will feel really bad when I explain why I am in cuffs. OK?” he whispered.

After he received a nod he let go of the young nin. “Promise you will tell me?”

“Have I ever broke my word to you?” Naruto asked seriously.

Konohamaru shook his head then turned and grinned maliciously at the men surrounding them. “You better hope that Iruka doesn’t see this. You won’t get off so lucky if he does.” With that bit of wisdom Konohamaru took off to the training grounds.

“Was I ever that annoying Kakashi?” Naruto asked seriously.

Kakashi looked over to the blond and grinned widely before answering, “No, you were worse. You were louder, more persistent, and a lot more hyper. Now if you don’t mind we need to get to the Hokage’s office.”

The blond glared at his mate’s response before turning to walk to their destination. As they neared the building Naruto paused and looked on in horror as he saw the one person he knew should be avoided at all costs. He saw Iruka walking with his arms full to the missions building. This was bad; he knew that someone was bound to get hurt if Iruka actually reached them.

“Everyone… umm… yeah… run, run fast and run now. It doesn’t matter the direction just do it.” Naruto told his friends in a bit of a panic as he saw Iruka notice them and drop the scrolls that he had in his arms.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes before stopping and looking at his stunned captive. “Tch, you’re troublesome, the Hokage’s office is just a few feet away, why should we run?”

“That’s why.” Naruto squeaked out as he saw the usually calm teacher tackle and strangle his mate.

“What have you done to Naruto you perverted old scarecrow?” Iruka asked as his hands found their grip.

“Iruka sensei let him go!” the blond in question said in a panic.

“Not until I get some answers!” the brunet said while squeezing harder on Kakashi’s neck.

“Please let him go,” Naruto pleaded as he noticed his mate start turning blue. “He can’t answer if you’re choking him.”

Seeing the truth behind his favorite student’s words, he reluctantly let go and allowed the gray haired nin to breath.

Kakashi coughed as oxygen was allowed back into his lungs. He gave the blond a silent thank you, since he couldn’t yet speak.

“Now I ask you all, once again, what have you done to Naruto?” he asked as he glared daggers at the surrounding shinobi.

The shinobi in question looked at their old sensei nervously. They couldn’t talk about what was going on out in the open, then again none of them wanted him to lose their tempers at them either.

Gaara cleared his throat before trying to explain that they couldn’t answer. Much to his surprise he was not above getting into the proverbial doghouse with Iruka.

“And YOU,” Iruka ranted at the Kazekage “You’re supposed to be his friend. Why on earth would you allow them to do this to my Naruto? You’re a Kage for Kami’s sake, couldn’t you stop them?”

“Iruka sensei,” Naruto said softly, “Please stop yelling. Things are not what they appear. Why don’t you follow us to Tsunade Baa-chan’s office so you can find out what is going on?”

“The explanation had better be very good Naruto.” Iruka said as he stood up and dusted off the dirt on his clothes. The group breathed a collective sigh of relief as the brunet calmed down.

The rest of the journey was filled with tension everyone seemed to think the same thing. If Iruka the usually calm teacher reacted this badly to seeing Naruto in chains, then how would the Hokage herself react?

They should have known by the villager’s reaction that the shinobi of the village would be worse. Most of them had worked with Naruto after all, and most of them had developed a bit of a soft spot for the loud mouth.

The mission of getting Naruto back was growing more dangerous the closer they got to their destination. There was more than one shinobi who let a shuriken or kunai slip through their usually steady grips. Strangely, they always seemed to lose their grips in the general direction of the team.

When an explosive tag went off near them, the team lost their nerve and decided to run the remaining distance. Breathing a collective sigh of relief they reached their destination. Neji raised his hand and knocked on the door in front of them. Hearing permission for them to enter they all took a deep breath and opened the doors.

TBC…

Next chapter… Tsunade’s reaction and planning to thwart the elders.