Fractured Perception

chapter 3

Iruka looked to the aged Hokage to see if it was alright to do as Naruto said. "Go ahead" Hiruzen said with a sigh as he placed his forehead in his hand. 'This is gonna be a long day' Sarutobi thought to himself as the door to his office suddenly swung open. Kakashi paled as out stepped Tazuna, an old man who reeked of sake. "I payed for top level protection and this is what I get? A bunch of brats?" the bridge builder nearly yelled in an obviously drunken stupor. Kakashi cringed at what he knew was coming. The mood in the room instantly grew to something more...sinister as Naruto stared deeply into Tazuna's eyes, the boy's own being that crimson red that screamed of something unimaginably evil. "Pest..." Naruto scoffed as he released his killer intent, and focused it all on the bridge builder. No one else in the room but the guards and Tazuna were stunned when said old man was forced to his hands and knees. "W-what is this!?" Tazuna forced out as he was brought to the ground.

Naruto simply walked out of the room with a cackle.

As soon as Naruto left the room that strange force went with him. Tazuna hacked and coughed as he stood. "Seriously....what was that...." the bridge builder panted. Kakashi simply sighed. "That was only a fraction of his power. I've seen his full power only once before...it was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen...". Everyone in the room shivered slightly.

-----------------with Naruto----------------

Naruto sat on the roof of the Hokage mansion, legs hanging over the railing. The cool breeze blew his hair in all different directions. His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be in deep concentration. Suddenly, his eyes shot open and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. Naruto sighed and said to himself, "Guess I should go back in" as he swung his legs over and dropped to the floor, making his way back to the Hokage's office.

------------back with the group-------------

Everyone in the office cringed slightly as Naruto opened the door. "Come on, let's go" Naruto said sternly as he held the door open so that team seven plus their escort could leave the room. With a silent nod to the Hokage, Naruto exited the office as well and shut the door.

Once the entire team was grouped up outside the mansion Kakashi spoke. "Alright you guys, go home and pack for a two week trip, then meet at the village gate right after. While you guys are packing I'm gonna brief Tazuna about the travel plan". Tazuna still looked a little pale from the ordeal back in the Hokage's office but still he nodded and walked off with Kakashi. "See you bugs later" Naruto spoke in his normal condescending tone as he walked towards his home to pack. Sasuke just grumbled as Sakura attempted to blow out Naruto's eardrums with her trademark banshee voice. Naruto simply ignored her and kept walking.

Naruto didn't go home at first. Instead, he went to the one place he felt truly at peace: his parents' graves. Naruto found out who his parents were rather easily. All it took was a little deduction and he figured it out. "I swear to you....I will find the man who caused this...and rip him to shreds..." Naruto spat as he turned around and headed towards his apartment.

After packing up weapons and clothes, he took some time to plan out possible attack strategies. His eidetic memory allowed him to remember every word. He even changed his outfit. It now consisted of a standard shinobi black body suit, black sandals, blood red forearm guards with what looked like claw marks running down the center, same for the shin guards he now sported as well. Over the body suit was an overcoat the same shade of red as his forearm and shin guards with the words 'blood fox' written down the back in kanji. This was all completed with a long black headband tied around his forehead.

-------------back with everyone---------------

Tazuna, Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke were standing at the gate waiting for Naruto. "When is that dobe gonna show up..." Sasuke grumbled angrily as Kakashi sighed. "He'll be here any minute. He does love a dramatic entrance". Just as Kakashi muttered that last word a voice rang from high above them. "I knew you two were ants, but you really do look tiny from here" Naruto laughed as everyone looked up to see Naruto in all his glory. "So that's what that outfit looks like on you. I knew it was a good idea to buy you it" Kakashi said as he eye-smiled at Naruto.