The Third Uzukage by Dark-Nate18

Chapter 19: Demon Meets Demon

Kakashi watched as Naruto tossed and turned in his sleep, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. Kakashi looked at Naruto sadly, knowing he couldn't help with the nightmares, knowing that they were a bane that all shinobi experienced. Sakura slept near Sasuke, fear of him magically dying in the night had gripped Sakura. Tazuna sat looking at the fire, unable to sleep.

"You shouldn't have lied Tazuna-san" said Kakashi, Tazuna winced slightly. Naruto had walked back into the clearing, a cold look directed Tazuna. Naruto had then explained how Tazuna had lied to them all from the beginning. Tazuna had yet to give the full story, but Naruto had explained enough.

"I know, but my country couldn't afford a higher mission." Said Tazuna, he was about to continue when suddenly Naruto sat bolt up, his eyes open wide, his breath coming in pants. He turned his head and looked at Kakashi and Tazuna with a cold look, before his eyes softened. Kakashi watched as the red swirls faded from Naruto's eyes.

"Nightmares Naruto-kun" asked Kakashi quietly into the early morning air, Naruto nodded and removed himself from his sleeping bag. Kakashi smirked slightly at the topless Naruto; Sakura had thrown a fit when Naruto had suddenly taken off his shirt when he went to sleep. Sakura has blushed and stammered causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow. Naruto now quickly grabbed his t-shirt and zipped it up, flipping the collar up this time. Naruto then grabbed his boots and socks and pulled them on. As he stood he gave a stretch letting his joints pop. Kakashi went back to reading whilst Tazuna stared at the early morning sky. Naruto had finished putting on his tanto and had finally pulled on his black coat.

"Couldn't sleep Tazuna-san" asked Naruto, his tone borderline uncaring. Tazuna smiled at Naruto slightly.

"No, worried about my family and my town, we are so poor..." Said Tazuna but he was cut off by Naruto.

"The worst two people to be begging too Tazuna-san" said Naruto simply, Tazuna felt a sweat drop fall down his face.

"S...Sorry" said Tazuna, Naruto raised a hand.

"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei, there was a river close by, I shall go fill up our water holders." Said Naruto simply, Kakashi raised a hand and Naruto disappeared in blur.

"Are all your ninja trained to be so heartless" said Tazuna, Kakashi shook his head.

"Naruto never used to be like that, he used to be hyperactive, loud, and expressive, an all around idiot. But he was met with a lot of hard truths, hard training and a hard life to boot. It took its toll I'm afraid. He is still expressive in his own way, but it's more muted. And I think even he likes the change in him, which is why he is so reluctant to go back to the way he was." Said Kakashi, Tazuna blinked as he looked at Naruto's now clean sleep space.

"Such a hard life for a kid" said Tazuna, Kakashi nodded and was about to answer when Sasuke gave a groan.

"Ah good morning sleeping beauty, how are you feeling" said Kakashi, in his usual mocking tone.

"Like I have been beaten up by a kage" said Sasuke, Kakashi chuckled.

"You were poisoned when the claws dug in, Naruto had to retrieve the antidote for you, otherwise you would have died" said Kakashi, Sasuke snorted, though the action gave him a headache.

"So he should, I almost died because of him" said Sasuke, Kakashi was about to answer once more, when Naruto suddenly butted in.

"And now I saved your life, debt repaid jackass" said Naruto in his calm tone. Tazuna smirked and Kakashi chuckled. Team seven and Tazuna all began walking towards the calm forest, they had just got off of the boat and were now relaxing due to the fact they were close to their destination. Naruto was trying to get the Kyuubi to talk, but the beast was being stubborn. Naruto was also playing around with his chakra, sending small parts out in a pulse to see if he could sense things around him. So far he had been unsuccessful, but that was until Naruto sensed a large chakra signature moving directly towards them, behind this large chakra was a smaller chakra, Naruto felt his Rinnegan activate almost instantly, and then Naruto gasped as he felt like he was flying, trees and plants and bugs all moved past his vision at high speed, but each in extremely high definition, cataloguing everything he saw.