I DO NOT OWN NARUTO AND/OR THE CHARACTERS

Demonic Departure

Naruto listens as Gaara tells him his story, the story of how his own father tried to kill him repeatedly, of how the only person ever to so him any form of compassion tried his hand at ending his life. During their titanic clash, the story wraps itself around Naruto's mind.

Naruto: I can't believe that there's someone else out there like me.

Naruto begins to think about how he was treated growing up and the people he came to know, to Gaara's surprise, Naruto stops.

Gaara: Why do you stop? Come on, show me the power you used to defeat the Hyuuga!

Naruto: I've stopped because we shouldn't be doing this, you and I are no different. I am an outcast because of the demon that resides in me, along the way, I met people. Most of them seem to have a genuine interest in me but most of them continue to treat me like I'm not worthy. The girl you're holding hostage treats me like a bother most of the time in favor of the guy you were just fighting, the one who couldn't defeat you no matter what my sensei taught him while neglecting to teach me anything for the same set of matches that he was about to take place in. Speaking of the guy you just fought, he acts like the world revolves around him and the people of this village still look at me like a criminal. I'm sick of it.

Gaara: Why are you telling me this?

Naruto: Because I've had a change of heart, I no longer want to be apart of this village. I know where I'm not wanted and it sounds to me like you do too. Meeting you has made me think that there may be others like us who were treated the same, I'd like to meet them and maybe find someplace where I belong and I'd like for you to come with me. What do you say?

Gaara thinks it over.

Gaara: A place where I belong, does such a place really exist?

He looks at his sister then back at Naruto.

Gaara: Let's go.

The two Jinchuuriki leave and Temari and Sasuke give chase.

Temari: Gaara, where are you going?

Sasuke: You'll be branded as a traitor, Naruto! You can't leave!

Naruto and Gaara stops which prompts Sasuke and Temari to do the same.

Sasuke: Naruto, what are you doing?

Naruto: What does it look like? We're granting everyone their wish, we're going away.

Temari: What do you mean?

Gaara: My own father has tried to kill me repeatedly, if that's not a clue that I'm not wanted around, I don't know what is.

Sasuke: What about Sakura? Are you just going to leave her there unconscious?

Naruto: Aren't you?

Gaara: My sand has already left her, you should get her to a hospital.

Temari: I'm not letting you go.

Sasuke: I'll stop you by force, if that's what it takes.

With that, Naruto and Gaara quickly incapacitate them.

Naruto: The only reason you're still conscious is because you need to get Sakura and that puppet guy.

Gaara: Even demons have compassion.

Naruto: I don't know what you two are so worried about anyway, people like you.

Unable to follow, Temari and Sasuke watches as their teammates leave. 9 years later, a saddened Hinata was sitting at Ichiraku Ramen.

Hinata: We're did he go? I can't believe he just left like that.

Two shinobi approach the village gates, one was a tall man with long black hair and whisker marks on his face and the other was a green haired muscular man with darkened rings around his eyes and the word love on his forehead. They wore unique forehead protectors, the tall man on his forehead and the muscular one on his arm. They come to the gates and the guards ask them their business.

Guard: What are you here for?

Tall Man: We are here with a business proposition for one of your merchants from one of our village leaders.

Guard: What village are you from? You wear different symbols on each your forehead protectors and I don't recognize either of them.

Tall Man: We are from the Village Hidden on the Other Side, my forehead protector bears my name. My name is Makoto.

Muscular Man: I am called Kenta.

Guard: You may enter.

Hinata was still sitting at Ichiraku when Makoto and Kenta appear.

Hinata: Those whiskers.

Makoto: We're looking for Teuchi Ichiraku.

Teuchi: That's me.

Makoto: We are honored to meet you.

They both bow to him and Ayame.

Teuchi: Now, now, that's not necessary. Now, what can I do for you?

Makoto: We are here to ask if you'd be willing to relocate to our village.

Teuchi: Relocate?

Makoto: Yes, one of the leaders of our village is a huge lover of ramen and he often tells us that yours is the best.

Kenta: He says that he's been trying to find ramen that's on par with yours but hasn't so he sent us to ask you if you'd be willing to join our village.

Teuchi: I don't know, I make a pretty good living here.

Makoto: He guarantees that he alone can bring you half your business.

Teuchi: Half my business? Heh, I haven't known anyone that could've done that since Naruto was here.

Hinata notices a slight reaction in Makoto and Kenta at the mention of Naruto's name.

Kenta: You'll be given special status in our village as his personal cook, your security will be assured.

Makoto: Take all the time you need to make a decision, we've been ordered not to leave until you make a choice unless absolutely necessary.

The two shinobi leave as Hinata watches them.

Hinata: Could they possibly know about Naruto?

She decides to follow them as they find lodging, unfortunately, they were able to detect her and lead her down an alley. She follows them to run into a dead end with them no where to be found.

Hinata: I can't believe I lost them in my own village, why am I still even a shinobi?

Kenta: Why are you following us?

She turns around to find them staring at her curiously.

Makoto: Well?

Hinata: I, I…

Kenta: Spit it out already.

Hinata: I wanted to ask you about the person who sent you here.

Kenta: Why should we divulge any information to you?

Makoto: Kenta, please, we aren't here for any hostilities. If we are able to answer your questions, we will.

Hinata: It's just that he sounds so familiar, like a shinobi that one lived here and you wear those whisker marks on your face like he had. His name was Naruto Uzumaki.

She sees Makoto and Kenta look at each other with a telling glance.

Makoto: I'm sorry, I've never heard that name before and I'm sure that their similarities are just a coincidence. As far as my whisker marks go, they're just a fad in our village.

Hinata: That's okay, thank you for clearing it up for me.

Makoto: We were happy to help, believe it.

She stands frozen in disbelief as they leave.

Hinata: Did he just say, believe it?

The hokage was in a meeting with what was left of Team Kakashi when a shinobi came in with news for the hokage.

Shinobi: Lord Hokage.

Jiraiya: Yes, what is it?

Shinobi: There are two shinobi here from that new village, the Village Hidden On The Other Side.

Jiraiya: Really? What are they here for?

Shinobi: They've come here with a business proposition for Teuchi Ichiraku.

Jiraiya: Hm, tell them that I'd like to speak to them.

Shinobi: Right away, Lord Hokage.

An hour later, Makoto and Kenta are brought to his office while he was still talking to Team Kakashi.

Shinobi: Lord Hokage, I've brought our visitors to you as requested.

They walk in and their appearances strike Team Kakashi.

Sakura: Those whisker marks.

Jiraiya: I've asked the two of you here because I'm curious about your village since it just sprung up a few years ago.

Kenta: There's a reason for that, we need only our village and love only our village. We don't interact with other villages because of this.

Sasuke: He sounds like Gaara.

Kenta: Besides, we've been told of the so called Five Great Shinobi Nations and the rest. You people ridicule and ostracize people for things that are beyond their control, anything that makes them the least bit strange. Things like being born second or bug eyes or big foreheads.

He looks at Sakura's forehead.

Kenta: That is a big forehead.

Makoto: Are you trying to start things with other villages? Look, we're only here to make our offer to Ichiraku and that's it. We'll be out of your hair after that, believe it.

Team Kakashi looks at each other.

Jiraiya: That'll be fine then. You may leave.

They leave and Jiraiya turns to Team Kakashi.

Jiraiya: What do you think?

Kakashi: I don't know, what do we know about their village?

Jiraiya: All we know is that their village formed about a few years ago and they're only known for their ability to handle any kind of missions.

Sakura: Something strikes me as odd, though. That tall one had whisker marks and spoke like Naruto.

Sasuke: And the other one had rings around his eyes and spoke like Gaara of The Sand.

Jiraiya: I'm going to talk to the council about this.

Later that night, Hinata was sitting in her room.

Hinata: I'm sure they know something about Naruto, I wish I had told him how I felt before he left. Maybe I'm just destined for this life of mine.

The next day, Hinata was back at Ichiraku Ramen when Kenta and Makoto came back.

Teuchi: I'm glad you two are here, there's something I want to ask you. How do I know the man who sent you will keep up his end of the bargain? It's a lot to relocate, especially if what I'm moving for is a totally different thing when I get there.

Makoto: You don't have to worry about that, he gives you his word and he never goes back on his word. That's his ninja way.

Hinata: That tears it, they know Naruto.

Teuchi: Well, that's good enough for me. I accept your offer.

As soon as those words were spoken, Kenta and Makoto kneel before Teuchi.

Teuchi: What's going on?

Makoto: We are now at your command.

Teuchi: Really?

Makoto: It seems you underestimate the importance of your ramen.

Teuchi: Well, we'll take the rest of the day to pack up and we'll leave tomorrow.

Kenta: That's fine, we'll help you get your things ready.

Hinata leaves and a decision weighs heavy on her mind.

Hinata: I have no choice if I want to find Naruto, I have to go with them. I'll be labeled a missing-nin but at least I'll be able to be with Naruto. Even if he isn't there, at least I'll be closer to finding him and anything is better than my life now.

Later that night, as Teuchi and Ayame go to sleep, Hinata sneaks into their things. The next day, they travel to the Village Hidden On The Other Side. After a few days travel, they come to a beach with an island in the distance. Makoto steps out onto the ocean and takes out a scroll.

Makoto: Summoning Art: The Crystal Ship!

A crystal ship appears in a puff of smoke, they board the ship with Teuchi and Ayame's belongings and set sail for the island. After landing, they continue to travel until they reach their destination. The gates open and they enter a festive village, the first person to greet Teuchi was someone that seemed very familiar.

Naruto: Hey, old man.

Teuchi: Naruto?

Ayame: Is that really you?

Hinata could hear them from where she was hiding.

Hinata: Naruto?

She makes some noise that alerts Kenta.

Kenta: Come out of there, now!

She comes out and the first person she sees is the person she missed for 9 years.

Hinata: N, Naruto? It's really you.

She knocks Kenta out of the way and runs up to Naruto and embraces him, he embraces her back.

Naruto: It's really you, too. Who are you?

Hinata: Don't you remember me? I'm Hinata.

Naruto: Hinata, Hinata.

He looks at her eyes.

Naruto: Oh, from the Hyuuga. What are you doing here?

Kenta: Sorry, sir. She stowed away, I'll deal with her right now.

Naruto: And start a war? You're just mad because she pulled one over on you and good job protecting me just now.

Kenta: But she's not one of us.

Naruto: And who are we?

Kenta: The Other Village.

Naruto: And why do we call ourselves the Other Village?

Kenta: Because we are not those of the accepted villages, we do not follow their customs.

Naruto: And what do you think they'd do to her?

Kenta: The same thing I was about to do.

Naruto: Did you think to ask her why she snuck into our village?

Kenta: My apologies.

Naruto: No problem, you only acted out of love for our village.