RE:The Way of Shadows, The Way of Shinobi

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything associated with it. It belongs to Kishimoto. Obviously if I owned it, I wouldn't be posting it on a fanfiction site would I? If I owned it, things would have gone down differently. It would have been more realistic.- Only time I'm putting this here because if I didn't own it for this chapter what would make you think anything had changed from this chapter to the next or any down the line? -

A.N. - Alright people. Sorry for making you wait so long for this. I have no excuses to give you but as I've stated I will not give up on any story that I start to write without saying so. I've gone over my story and hopefully have corrected and righted any mistakes in it. Also hopefully it has a bit more depth. I shall give the name for something only once. I will have the honorifics and the original names for certain things. I don't like looking stuff up (I'm lazy that way) so won't force my readers to do that. I know that some of them are obvious and just about everyone knows what some of the meanings are but humor me. For the jutsus or techniques and some things it will depend on which version (English or Japanese) that I use. And remember that I'm making this AU obviously. Okay, on with the story!

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Chapter One: Into the Past

The village was in a state of chaos with destruction raining down upon it, yet her shinobi were still valiantly fighting to save and protect her. They were losing knowing that they couldn't defend her much longer, but still they fought on. They were sacrificing themselves so that their Kage could perform their last defense that they weren't even sure would work. It was a long shot, but they didn't have any other options open at to them. They would proudly and gladly fight to the last breath for their Hokage and their village.

In the Hokage Tower the Godaime and Rokudaime were anxiously looking down at the intricate seal that had been created on the floor. Swallowing, the Rokudaime asked his predecessor, "Are you sure that this'll work?"

The Godaime was watching those that were feeding chakra into the seal as the shinobi from Hyuga clan monitered them. The Hyuga made the best medics along with the Uchiha based on the nature of their dojutsu(1). Try and tell them that and you'd have not only an arguement based on ego but on misconceptions about strength and weakness. Of course with the Uchiha clan wiped out, all they had were Hyuga who didn't mind playing medic at this particular time. In fact it would be a badge of pride to so be selected by the Hokage to help oversee this last attempt with a kinjutsu(2).

When the seal was glowing indicating that it would soon be ready, the Kages looked over at the nervous man whose eyes were fixed on the seal, hands clenched tightly into fists. This particular shinobi had pulled off the front lines and all but dragged back to the Hokage Tower. The anger at what he thought of deserting his comrades still shown in the narrowing of his eyes and the defiant way he stood. Even if he was angry and wanted to rebel he wouldn't because not only was it pointless, but the young man grudgingly knew that this was the best way he could serve his village. That didn't mean he had to like it, but he would do as his Kages ordered him to do. The man had still been tempted to ignore the order if it not for the one who had come to deliver the message that he was needed. Lee was not one to argue with especially if the Taijutsu shinobi had it in his head that this was the best course of action. The green clad shinobi would have knocked the man out and carried him back to the Tower like a sack of potatos had he refused.

Beside the angry young man was his wife who had refused to retreat into the shelters with the others. She was from shinobi stock so knew the odds and knew the risks so despite her husband's pleas she stayed. The argument that she would be better use to protect the children and civilians falling on deaf ears. Being used to his wife's stubbornness and losing arguments to her, he relented as always. For once, they were both happy with the result of her winning and wearing him down until he agreed because now she was here to give him moral support as well as a chance for a last goodbye.

"You don't have to do this-" the Rokudaime started only to be cut off.

"Yes, I do. I'm the only one who can do this. You said so yourself." He smiled grimly, eyes glinting with determination, voice full of conviction. "I won't fail. I promise."

His smile turning sad, the man took a last look at his dark haired wife and her swelled belly. He took a strand of her hair in between his fingers. She gave him a reassuring look albiet resigned and sad. Placing his hand on her stomach, he strengthened his resolve. Squeezing his eyes shut and turning, he stepped away from her to stand in front of the glowing seal. He knew this was the best for everyone. If this worked and he was able to go back into the past; everything would be different. He'd possibly be losing what he had sweated, fought, and bled for. He'd lose everything but had so much to gain as did everyone else. Sacrificing his possible future happiness was a small price to pay to ensure those that this didn't come to pass...wasn't it?

Taking a breath as he mentally went over his mission he released the breath he held and felt a tad bit calmer as his emotions retreated slightly and the shinobi part became more prominent. He wouldn't tell the past Hokage everything of course, but enough. He already had his story lodged firmly in his mind. Taking a step nearer he was halted as the Godaime tossed him a scroll. "Take this."

Catching it, he looked from it to the Kage in question. Seeing his look or having anticipated it stated, "It might help with the Sandaime. You will also take the name Shiro while you are there."

Nodding to indicate he understood, the man secured the scroll in a vest pocket. Donning his ANBU(3) mask he took another steadying breath. "Let's get wild."

He stepped onto the glowing seal and was immediately blinded by a white light and felt intense pain. It was as if his body was being ripped and shredded to pieces. He tried to scream only to find that he couldn't for he didn't have a mouth much less a voice box to use. Then there was the sensation of cuts and pricks let him know that he had arrived as did the ground suddenly reaching up to meet him. The light cleared as he bonelessly fell in more pain then he'd ever experienced. He'd been subject to torture and he could say he would rather be tortured gladly then experience the pain currently coursing throughout his body.

The seal had emitted the biggest chakra pulse that anyone in the Elemental Lands would have ever felt. Even those with the tiniest chakra awareness would have been alerted by it. In the middle of the disturbance lay the ANBU taking great lungfuls of gasping breaths trying not to pass out. The man's mind was past recognizing anything but the basics of survival. After being in fight or flight mode for so many months, not to mention his shinobi life left his subconscious in a state that his survival instinct kicked in. There had been a trick to torture and interrogation that he had learned that helped him keep his mission in mind so that even on auto-pilot he would remember. The only part of his mind that could think beyond his survival were two phrases. They looped and replayed over and over becoming almost like a mantra. 'Must warn Hokage. Got to get to Konoha. Must warn Hokage.'

The man shakily got to his feet, nearly collapsed, but was able to make it upright albeit a bit wobbly. Subconsciously he knew that the pulse would draw attention to his arrival. It was only a matter of time before it was investigated. That was why his Kages had chosen the location in a neutral country. It was the Rokudaime who'd suggested the Land of Rivers. It was close enough for him to get into get into Konohagakure safely before falling into chakra exhausted sleep. Body and mind in survival mode which was basically auto-pilot these days, the man slipped a soldier pill into his mouth feeling the surge of energy it gave him. Quickly his hands flew through the handsigns as he molded his chakra without thinking. As it left his mouth it turned into white hot flames. The fire quickly consumed the area eradicating the evidence of his arrival. The residue of charred grass in the shape of the seal used to transport him was no longer evident.

Leaving the now blackened area that was billowing smoke would draw even those of non-shinobi ability. He ignored the burning muscles and the sense that he'd been nearly drained of all of his life force. The man knew that if he stopped for even a second his limbs would begin to shake. Quickly, the man made it to the cave only he knew about, slipping between the hidden opening. No one would disturb or find him. He would be safe while he recovered his reserves. For now, he would rest and ignore the fact that he would pay terribly for using the soldier pill as exhausted and near dead as he was. He'd worry about that when he woke up. When he awoke he would carefully make his journey and final mission entrusted to him.

Meanings -

1 - dojutsu = Eye based jutsu

2 - kinjutsu = Forbidden jutsu

3 - ANBU = Saying ANBU Black Ops is rather redundant. I'm sticking with the Japanese of just saying ANBU with this.

Edited on January 6th, 2012