(This story is set just after orochimaru was killed by Sasuke, It deviates from the manga/anime, as I have been writing it for a few years in comic form, you can find it here .com. but as my work is growing, and my free time shortening, I am finding it hard to put pencil to paper, and it is faster to write then it is to draw, and so, I am documenting this story in word. Though in time the comic will continue)

Small Gestures

The village was busy as usual, Sakura stood outside Naruto's apartment complex, not in her usual attire, her hair was bereft of her forehead protector and she wore a simple red top with a black skirt, the noise and chaos around them almost swallowed up the pink haired kunichi's shouts, but never the less, she stood resolute and shouted up again. 'NARUTO!' only the wind stirring the curtains of his window gave any response. Finally the girl turned to the pale boy standing next to her.

'I don't understand this, he should be here, he hasn't to report to Tsunade for another two hours, so…' She tilted her head slightly as she saw the plain look of disappointment on Sai's face, The boy was showing more emotions now, most of which he had no concept of. The girl was not stupid by any means, not like that idiot Ino, The girl thought she had a chance with Sai, but Sakura knew better, Choji had more of a shot then that girl. 'was it important Sai?'

The pale boy looked away from her, seeming somewhat despondent as he reached a hand to touch his backpack. 'Well it… no, no it can wait.' He looked back to her and brought out the smile that she hated, she had hated it before, purely because he was lying to her with it in effort to be part of the team, but now… Now she detested it, as it meant he did not trust her with his truths… they were friends, but he still hid a lot from her. But… not from Naruto, her eyes narrowed a touch as he nodded to her slightly 'I am sorry, but I also have a meeting with Tsunade-sama, I should leave'

She watched as he began to walk away from her, only to then see him pause, turn back and look at her for a moment before speaking so softly that she almost missed what he said 'Ah yes, Thank you, Sakura… it was kind of you to help me' and with that he was gone, leaving the girl to stand alone on the crowded street.

She said his name softly, and then looked back to the window once again… no, Ino had no chance with the boy, but Naruto on the other hand, She was not stupid as was mentioned before, Far from it, she knew beyond a doubt, that Sai cared for the blond more than just teammates care for each other, more than just friends… but then… she knew all about that, at least he was not being as obvious about it as she had been with Sasuke… that thought was enough to make her blush, and hang her head in embarrassment at the same time. There was also the other issue… Naruto himself, oh she knew she did not love him love him… but… there was something, and he had never been shy about saying how much he loved her… the thought had festered.

She eventually shook her head and began back the way she came, after all, even if Sai did confess, Naruto was not that way inclined, as his protests showed when Konohamaru had made that Sai and Sasuke Jutsu… She had to laugh at that, and that memory also brought a blush to her face, but for a very different reason. 'I wonder what Naruto will do?'

[in the outlaying forests of Konoha]

There was hardly a breath in the air running through the tree's, the only sounds were of the wildlife, and even that was scarce, it was dark, and richly scented with rot and foliage, as only old forests smell, and in the midst of it all was a blond, he was hunkered down on a branch almost as thick as a tree trunk itself, his eyes were closed, and only for the bright colours he was wearing, you might not have seen him at all.

Suddenly a burst of sound erupted, and the blond moved in a heartbeat, just shy of being skewered by the blades sent his way, more then came from his left, and then after from behind, Naruto felt himself being driven, he moved forward, and if he changed route, he was forced back on track with more projectiles. He knew he had to get behind them if he had any chance of throwing of his pursuers, and so at the next branch, he aimed low and swung around it to project himself upwards, landing softly on a lighter branch he then spun and back flipped mid air, and there he was, one of five identical clones, staring up at him in shock, Naruto sent out a spray of stars, and the clone dispersed.

After landing, the other four arrived to his side, they looked as tired as he felt, he had been hours out here. He found, training with his clones was better then with some of the other ninja's, After all, it is hard to outsmart someone that knows you inside out.

He had perfected his elemental training not so long ago, and it came to him that this method was also good, as he gained more then just the pursued's experience, but also that of the pursuer.

Sitting down on the branch again, he made a seal to release his other clones, and then he closed his eyes and tried to meditate as he was shown by Jiraiya, with each breath he took he reached a little further, the wind… the trees… the giant centipede that was coiling on the fifth tree over from him, and then… there was something else. He stood, staring long and hard at a tree to his left, there was silence, even the wind seemed to die down.

The blond moved from branch to branch, stopping on the trunk of the tree he had stared at, and there he paused. He knew better than to just face whoever it was alone. After all, perhaps that was what they were looking for, Naruto was by all mean, far from weak, but if something did happen to him here, no one would find him. considering he had not told anyone he was training here… No, he knew it now, it was better to report this in then to risk himself. And so he left. He had a meeting with Tsunade as it stood, so he would not have to wait to report this.

As the blond retreated, a shadow emerged, pale face and dark hair, dark eyes that seemed dull as he watched the blond leaving. He was frowning, this boy… no, he could not think of Naruto in that way anymore, he was a man grown, just as he was himself… but… Naruto was not the same as he remembered, not just in features, but in attitude… he had only seen the last part of the ninja's training, but even that was more than he had expected… he was irritated too, after all, he was just returning to get a look at the current state of his former village, and had hoped to avoid meeting the blond entirely, but even as he prepared himself for the confrontation, the blond had left, and he was not sure if that annoyed him more than the thoughts of having to fight him. It didn't feel right to him, he had once known this boy as well as he knew himself… but now, it felt odd, not knowing him, perhaps that was why he felt so annoyed? And when Sasuke Uchiha was annoyed, he was worse than a starving dog with a bone.

meanwhile, back in Konoha

Even as he was walking through the busy streets, he began to have doubts, something had felt so familiar about that presence, but he knew that there was no point in going back either, it was better to report it, his meeting with Tsunade was in an hour, so he could do it then, and receive his next mission, though it was only meant to be a b rank, it would be a nice change of pace. 'NARUTO!' The blond looked up out of his reverie and saw Shizune looking at him , her smile was bright and she rushed over to him, grabbing his arm.

'Shizune?' He was about to report to her, but she cut him off. 'Naruto, where have you been? We went looking for you but you where nowhere to be found' Naruto raised his eyebrows and tried to report in about the presence he had felt, but again found himself cut off 'Yes yes yes, you can tell us about it once we get to the office. Tsunade has been waiting for you'

Naruto followed, but he looked rather confused, 'Waiting on me? But my meeting is not for another-' Shizune waved a hand impatiently. 'less talk more moving, your meeting is cancelled, this is a mission' The woman jumped ahead of him then, with no further explanation, and Naruto had no choice but to follow, leaping from roof to roof till he made his way to the oval offices where Tsunade spent most of her day.

Once in the office, Shizune announced there arrivals, and as to be expected, Tsunade snapped at him straight away, Naruto recoiled slightly, and instantly began to explain that he was training in the forest, but just like Shizune, she cut him off, and it was beginning to try his patience. That was, until he noted her tone, she was rather serious, and so he remained quiet.

'Naruto, You and Sai are to depart on a special mission, our options are limited as we have only scant reports to go on, but from those, it has been deemed an 'S' class'

S class missions usually denoted a four man team at least, but… 'just Me and Sai?' Tsunade nodded to him and continued 'I would rather it be a larger group, but this is infiltration, not outright attack.' Naruto was frowning now, infiltration was not one of his strong points. 'Grandma, I am not really…. I don't blend into shadows well, Sai might, but why not send the anbu?'

Tsunade tsked loudly. '6 anbu have been sent out, only one returned, with no information other then the point he was attacked, and not knowing where the others where. After that, I began to look at the victims, of our s class ninja's, only you and Sai fit the profiles we need.'

Naruto moved closer to her desk then, trying to get a better look at the papers laid out on it 'Profiles? What kind of mission is this?' Tsunade turned a page towards him, and then spread out more than a dozen pictures. 'Missing children, for little over a year now, we have been receiving requests to find missing children, the reports were scattered, so we had never linked them together, but soon the rate grew, no matter how many scouts we would send, we could never find any trace. Until today. Two hours ago, our anbu that returned gave us the information we needed. A Location. There is an outlying village four weeks march from here, it was reported that many of the missing children were lost in this area or its surrounding lands, but none were found in the town itself.'

She handed another sheet of Paper to Naruto as she began to explain.

'Naruto, you and Sai will pose as travellers, Sai is an artist, and you are his friend, you go from town to town looking for work, you will not present yourself as Ninja, no ninjutsu, no weapons, and if you must fight, keep it basic.'

Naruto looked up from the paper. 'We are to pretend to be helpless?' The older woman nodded and continued speaking 'Leave your forehead protector here, also your necklace as that is directly linked to the leaf and could be recognized. Naruto, I can not stress the importance of this…'

Blue eyes locked to her honey toned browns and he nodded slowly while removing this konoha leaf. 'Don't worry granny… I won't Fail.'