A/N: Yo guys, Hollowfied here bringing you my first attempt at a fanfiction. Thoughts just bounced around my head one day and I just had to get it down on paper (err… metaphorical paper). Hope you guys enjoy! Reviews would be cool, I'd like to know how I'm doing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter 1: A New World

The night was eerily silent in the village of Konoha. Peace and quiet were beginning to return to the wary inhabitants and ninjas after the shock of Pain's relentless attack on the village. They were told shortly after of the brilliance and bravery of the Jinchuuriki kid, Naruto, and how he compelled the alleged leader of Akatsuki to revive their dead companions. Pain was no longer a problem, but fear would always have a backseat in the minds of those presiding in ninja villages – that was just the way it was. And now a new threat arose – a Fourth Great Ninja War.

Amidst the calm of the newly renovated village, two figures emerged. The first, black hair streaming in long locks behind him, flew over the gates in a gigantic leap. His chaser, silver hair gleaming in the moonlight, quickly followed in his footsteps.

The two ninjas took to the trees, silently dashing from branch to branch. The leading ninja didn't seem to be in a hurry; it was almost as if he was taunting his chaser to catch him. His chaser grunted, unamused.

I don't have time for this crap, he thought to himself. Normally a calm and collected man, Hatake Kakashi of the Hidden Leaf wasted no time in attempting to subdue the renegade ninja: he had something of great value to him. With a quick motion of his hand, Kakashi jerked his headband off of his left eye – his Sharingan.

The renegade ninja chuckled.

"Show me what you have, Copy Ninja!" he taunted behind him.

Kakashi obliged, forming quick and solid seals with his hands. Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

"Katon: Goukakyuu No Jutsu!" he yelled.

Kakashi removed his facemask to emit a large ball of flames. The renegade ninja responded by quickly flitting to the ground, avoiding the inferno with a fluid motion. Kakashi followed suit, adjusting his mask back over his face. Both shinobi drew out hidden kunais and clashed violently on the forest ground.

The Konoha shinobi kept his Sharingan eye sharp, watching his enemy's motions carefully. With his enhanced vision he easily sidestepped, parried, and blocked each strike while countering with his own kicks and stabs. The intruder merely laughed in glee at the fight unfolding before him.

"Enough!" Kakashi finally uttered, anger flowing into him at his enemy's perception of the fight, "the time for games is over- it's time for some answers!"

The Leaf ninja disengaged, delivering a strong kick to his opponent's chest while doing so. The renegade ninja stumbled backwards, indifferent towards the blow he just received. With a puff of smoke, four silver-haired, Sharingan-wielders ran at him where one once stood.

"Kage-Bunshin, eh? You'll have to try harder than that, Copy Ninja," he chided, engaging the Kakashi clones. He made quick work of two, kicking one in the face and slicing through the other with his kunai. Before he could attack the others, a hand shot out of the ground, rooting his foot in place.

The renegade shinobi stumbled, caught off guard by the underground assault. The two other Kakashi clones quickly grabbed his arms, forcing him to the ground. The renegade ninja struggled and screamed, desperately attempting to break loose. His screams were cut short as a noise began to erupt from the trees above him; normally one that wouldn't make him quake in his boots, but, in the case of his opponent, was one to truly be fearful of: the chittering of birds.

"Raikiri!"

Kakashi appeared from the trees above, swiftly jumping down towards his foe. Lightning pulsed in a blue, chakra-concentrated orb in his hand. With a quick thrust of his wrist, he cut through the enemy's chest in a flash. A bloody, lightning-encompassed arm protruded through the renegade ninja's back.

"I pierced my Raikiri a few centimeters away from your heart on purpose," Kakashi commented, "you have but a few moments to live. Now talk."

A bloodcurdling laugh erupted from his enemy, followed by a series of coughs.

"I applaud you, Hatake Kakashi," he spat, "you live up to your name and your reputation."

"Talk," Kakashi repeated, surging more chakra into his enemy's body.

The enemy shinobi flashed a bloody grin. "Everything I have told you is true," he coughed.

"Show me," Kakashi demanded, covering his Sharingan with his headband once more.

With a shaking hand, the renegade ninja pulled out a glittering stone from under his garments. The stone flashed a thousand brilliant colors and hues, bathing the forest in what seemed like daylight for a moment. In seconds the light receded back into the stone, which now looked like any ordinary diamond.

"And does it really..."

"Time travel?" the wielder of the stone interrupted, "why would I lie to you, in the face of death?"

After contemplating his choices, Kakashi withdrew his arm from the renegade ninja's body. Fresh blood spilled, and the now lifeless body slumped to the ground. It wouldn't matter in a few seconds. Everything would change.

Kakashi felt the weight of the stone in his hand. Something so light with such phenomenal power. He gripped it firmly, holding it up to his forehead and closing his eyes.

You'll cease to exist, the renegade ninja had said, everyone you know will cease to exist. Thrown away like garbage. Is it worth it?

"Yes," Kakashi told himself. With confidence, he performed the hand seals the mysterious shinobi had shown him. The stone began to glow an intensely bright glow and, in an instant, the Leaf shinobi Kakashi, along with the stone, disappeared. Mere seconds later, the shinobi world disappeared with him.

And a new one was born.

"Naruto!" a voice called from afar, "get up!"

"One more minute," a sleepy Naruto responded, turning over in his bed.

"Naruto!" The door flew open and a female figure with flowing, blue hair ran into the room.

"Ow!" Naruto shouted as a swift kick was thrown to his side, "Hinata, what the hell?"

"Sorry, but get up!" she responded impatiently.

"You could be gentler," he grumbled, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Sorry," Hyuuga Hinata emphasized again sarcastically, kissing him on the cheek, "how's that?"

"Better," he smiled back.

He wasn't used to it yet, but Naruto was definitely glad that Hinata was around. He had only recently noticed the shy, timid girl watching him as he trained, supporting him, even if most of the time it had been from afar.

"Get up," Hinata repeated, more sternly this time.

"Ok, ok, I'm up," Naruto sighed in response, "what's the rush?"

"Hokage-sama wants to speak to us," she responded nonchalantly.

Naruto gulped. "Us?"

"No, not us us," Hinata laughed, "Us as in a mission us,"

"Oh," Naruto sighed in relief, "sounds good."

Hinata left as Naruto got around to preparing himself. He showered and brushed his teeth while haphazardly putting his blue jumpsuit on. He yawned loudly as he put on his flak jacket and Konoha headband.

"Spiffy," Hinata jokingly commented from the doorway.

"Shut up," Naruto replied, unable to hide a grin.

Naruto couldn't help noticing how much she'd grown as a person as she didn't hesitate to hold his hand as they walked through the village. Mere days ago she would have fainted just by being two feet away from him. I can be braver, she had told him, I can be more like you. He had responded that she was perfect as is, but Hinata was determined to be less shy and more proud of herself and those around her.

"What's that look for?" Hinata asked.

"Nothing," Naruto looked away, whistling.

The village was in pristine condition – it seemed to glow in the sunlight. Naruto and Hinata waved to the townsfolk as they shouted their Good-mornings and How-are-yous to them. Their peers always seemed to joke that they were the village's favorite couple, which they just laughed off.

"Hey guys," Ino called from within the flower shop, "flowers for the happy couple?"

Naruto responded with a retort of his own as Hinata blushed bright red. They continued to walk after a few exchanges of friendly banter.

"Haven't fainted yet? I'm impressed," Naruto mockingly whispered.

"I'm not going to faint," Hinata responded, punching him lightly on the shoulder, "I've changed. Really."

The couple continued to talk and laugh as they made their way towards the Hokage's headquarters. Hinata hadn't said it out loud thus far, but she was happier than she'd ever been.

"Oh shit, we're going to be late," Naruto finally said, "we better hurry."

"Nice to see you've finally made it," Shikamaru called from the entrance to the Hokage's chambers.

"Of course you made it on time," Naruto shot back.

"Actually, I was late," Shikamaru sighed, "too troublesome. You guys, on the other hand, are very late,"

They entered the Hokage's chambers to find the rest of their apparent team for the mission already there: Kiba was feeding giant biscuits to a constantly growing Akamaru, Shino sat in the corner mysteriously as he always did, Chouji sat on a beanbag munching on snacks, and a ninja behind an ANBU mask Naruto wasn't acquainted with stood idly in a corner.

"About time you showed up," Kiba called, petting Akamaru on the head.

"Who's he?" Naruto yawned, sticking a finger at the unknown ninja.

"Beats me," Kiba responded, "he's supposed to lead us apparently."

"Where's Hokage-sama?" Hinata asked as she took a glance around the room.

"Not here yet," the ANBU member sighed, apparently bored, "he said he'd be here eventually. While he's away, he's told me to fill you in with the details."

All heads turned to the shinobi as he cleared his throat.

"There's some suspicious activity in Amegakure," the ninja stated, "we suspect that some other villages are preparing for some clash there. We're going purely for a scouting mission. Wars have happened there before, wars will happen there again. Our job is to make sure that if a war is going to happen, it won't involve us."

"Boring!" Naruto interrupted.

"Naruto, show some respect," Hinata scolded.

"Well, it is!" Naruto retorted, "a scouting mission? Come on!"

"As much as I detest Naruto's method of going about it," Shikamaru interjected, "I'd have to agree. Do we need this many ninjas merely to scout about Amegakure?"

"Purely for safety, I'm afraid," the ninja sighed in response, "Pain hasn't been flushed out yet. He remains a threat to safety for even mere scouts."

"But we're grown chuunin, we can do it ourselves," Naruto responded, "Why do we need ya?"

"Naruto," Hinata scolded again, "respect!"

"Respect what? He didn't even tell us his name yet, why don't you scold him?" Naruto pouted.

The unknown ninja scratched the back of his head.

"My apologies," he sighed, removing his ANBU mask.

"My name is Hatake Kakashi."

In turn, Kiba, Shikamaru, Chouji, Shino, and Hinata introduced themselves. Naruto remained silent.

"Naruto," Hinata urged.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, respect, respect," Naruto waved her away.

"Namikaze Naruto. Don't wear it out."

Kakashi raised his eyebrow as the door banged open. A flushed assistant ran into the room.

"Esteemed Hokage apologizes for being late. He-,"

"I told you, no need for formalities, Yuzu," the Hokage called from behind the flushed assistant, "we're all friends here, aren't we?"

Besides Naruto and Kakashi, the ninja around the room bowed as the young, blonde haired Hokage walked into the room.

"Dad," Naruto acknowledged, as Yondaime Hokage strode the room.

A/N: Ooh, you liked that ending, didn't you? I combined my original first and second chapter due to them being too short, so this is my new Chapter 1. If it leaves some people confused, I hope it's established that with Kakashi time travelling to the past, he changed the future, so the Naruto (person and series) we know and love never came into existence – this is kind of my alternate storyline. Any questions, feel free to ask! Reviews make me feel like I'm not worthless! (just kidding, but yes they would be nice :P)