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Missing	By : phoenixsdark Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1451 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I make no money off this and do it only for fun. I am poor.

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They were slowed by both Sasuke's condition and the load Jiraiya carried. He must be getting old if one full grown man and a kid kept him from moving at top speed. At this rate, the ANBU would notice Naruto missing before they reached the gates; bad, very, very, very bad. The buildings on either side of the street looked more sinister than usual and he steered them toward a park. There would be some cover at least; plenty of places to hide and street lights to show any pursuers.

"We have to move faster," Sasuke panted. "They'll find us soon."

Jiraiya had a scathing retort ready when six shadows suddenly appeared in front of them. The three mobile ninjas skidded to a halt as one, bunching together for safety instinctively with Sasuke and Neji slightly behind the older man who in turn gently placed his burdens on the ground and stepped forward.

"Go home, Jiraiya-sama." It was the same tiger-masked ANBU from the hospital. "You do not want to do this."

"Yes, I do." The pervert growled.

"You'll be banished from the village. And the others will suffer. Think about them."

Mentioning the children was a big mistake. The rage from before rose up in him again, spiking his chakra with killing intent. Did they really think he was going to let him take back children who were being abused? People really did have a low opinion of him. He was going to have to do something about that. Later.

"I am thinking about them. How dare you or anyone do this to kids?"

He all but roared the final word. Yes, they were nin, but they were also children. He'd seen firsthand how growing up too quickly had hurt Kakashi. He'd be damned if he was going to sit by and let it happen in front of him again. His chakra rose creating a minor wind. The ANBU took a step back suddenly very unsure if they had enough men to handle the older ninja. An enraged Sage was more than a little frightening. But they had a mission.

"There are six of us, Jiraiya-sama. You may stop four of us, however the other two will be forced to deal with the children. Shouldn't you be worried about what will happen to them? My men will not be gentle."

"We can handle ourselves," Neji sneered.

He and Sasuke took up defensive stances. It was all bravado; ANBU could take them down without effort. Not to mention Sasuke was visibly swaying on his feet. Neither of them was powerful enough to stand up to even a single ANBU. At the same time, they weren't giving up their chance for freedom and happiness without one hell of a fight.

"If you stop now, we will not tell Neji's uncle what he has done and no harm with come to the bea....Naruto or Sasuke."

"No harm with come to them anyway." A new voice declared from somewhere deep in the shadowed bushes. "Jiraiya-sama, please act quickly."

"What the...?" The ANBU tried to move and found themselves helpless; a long streak of dark, illuminated by the street lamps, held each still. "A Nara shadow trick?"

"Quickly!" The voice repeated.

Jiraiya needed no further insistence; without Naruto and Iruka to slow him down, the pervert sensei could move faster than most people could track. Not a single ANBU squad member saw what sent them into dreamless unconsciousness. With them out the way, the newcomer needed attention.

"Who's there?" Jiraiya demanded as the last ninja hunter collapsed behind him.

Almost shyly, a young man stepped into the light, sighing. "I thought this would be less troublesome."

"Shikamaru?" Neji and Sasuke chorused.

"What are you up to, boy?" Jiraiya demanded, suspecting a trick while holding a bit of hope in his heart. Had he misjudged his old friend?

"I heard what they did to Naruto. It's not right." No one seemed terribly convinced. "And all the missions I've been sent on are too much bother. Going with you should be less trouble."

"Lazy as always." Sasuke scoffed as he fell against Neji, all his energy used up trying to appear strong.

"So we just take you along?" The old man couldn't believe he'd just been saddled with another kid. Did no one in this village treat their children right? Or was this a trick?

"He did save us. If we leave him, he could be punished severely." Neji didn't want to think what that might mean. Shikamaru was lazy and easily bored, but he was a good friend.

"Fine. He can come. Pick up Naruto. I'll carry Iruka."

It didn't matter. Where they were going, no one could follow. Nothing would help Shikamaru if he decided to betray them; not even Tsunade. Besides, a nagging worry tickled the back of his mind. Something more than friendship was behind this sudden save. Coldly he watched the boy lift Naruto. There was a surprising gentleness and caring as the Nara heir arranged his charge in a fireman's carry. Perhaps this youth really did care what happened to the blonde. Or perhaps Tsunade hadn’t changed as much as he thought. He couldn't decide which he hoped for more.

"Come on. The sun'll be up soon."

Jiraiya let the others go ahead. As they passed the gates, silent and unseen, a feeling of dread came over him. What he'd just done could never be undone. None of these boys were ever going to be welcome in Konoha again. Hunted for the rest of their lives. Was this the right thing? What if he couldn't protect them from Orochimaru and the Akatsuki? What if they never did become powerful enough to defy those wanting to control and use them?

He pushed those thoughts away. Second guessing himself was a mistake. Each of those kids held the potential to be great ninjas. His duty was to see they got that chance. Neji, Naruto, Sasuke. Used, hated, controlled. The only chance any had for freedom or happiness lay outside Leaf. They just needed a little luck.

Lurking in the shadows, a figure watched the young men and Sage leave. With a sigh, it turned and headed for the Hokage's home. Instead of being entirely dark, a single candle burned in the bedroom. Tsunade sat at her desk, waiting, worried, doors to her balcony wide open. She neither turned nor acknowledged the visitor suddenly appearing outside.

"They escaped. As planned, Hokage-sama." The shadow spoke. "The ANBU have been picked up by their comrades and didn't appear to be permanently damaged."

"Thank you, Shino. You planted the bug?"

"Yes. I'll be able to find them no matter where they go."

"Then follow them and report back in a week." She didn't dare look at the boy; too many emotions were visible on her face; including fear. "If anything or anyone finds them, you know how to signal."

"Neji has joined them."

That was unexpected. Not too alarming though. "Report anything else out of the ordinary."

"Yes, Hokage-sama,” and he was gone.

Tsunade blew out the candle and tried to get some rest. She'd done everything possible. The Council demanded Naruto be contained; Sasuke begin a new line of Uchihas. Despite her objections, they Sealed both young men. However, none of the Council seemed to grasp a simple fact: there weren't enough ninjas to protect the boys.

After Orochimaru's attack, the Leaf's strength was cut almost in half. Every fighter was needed to ensure other Nations and Clans didn't try to take advantage of their weakness. Who would guard Naruto and Sasuke? Not even her strongest fighters, Kakashi and Gai, had been able to stand against Itachi and his partner. Jiraiya couldn’t be expected to enforce something he found abhorrent.

As things stood, Kakashi would be too exhausted to be of much use once his current mission was done. Gai and the others were showing signs of stress. That left people like kind Iruka and the children to take on missions far above their ability. She put them in teams to make it easier, yet sooner or later, someone wasn't going to come back. However, what other options were there? None.

Which was why she had called Shikamaru to her office and they spent a full day discussing how the Council's order would affect Konoha. Over and over they came to the same conclusion; if Naruto and Sasuke remained in the village, they were going to be taken and the Leaf destroyed. So, options were explored.

Once more, only one answer came to light and a plan was formed. Jiraiya, despite being a peeping tom and pervert, was a good man. He would never leave Naruto in the condition the Council wanted. So he was certain to kidnap the blond and run away. No doubt the old man could stay hidden; ninjas always failed to find him when he wished to remain lost. Knowing his student well, Jiraiya should take Sasuke. The three would be joined by Shikamaru whose mission was to act as spy and carry a bug planted by Shino, who in turn reported back to Tsunade.

It was the best plan either could form. Shikamaru's quick mind plotted out all the different things that might go wrong; it was still worth the risk. Tsunade agreed with Jiraiya about training the boys. Truly that was the best way to ensure their safety. Though a part of her wished to lock Naruto away, to keep him safe. Too many of her loved ones had been lost; taking this risk with him made her heart ache in a way it hadn't for years. What if this was the wrong choice? Yet things were going pretty much to plan.

So far, only the addition of Neji was out of sequence. His escaping Konoha was not shocking. Who failed to leap for freedom when it was offered? At least the back-up plan to get Sasuke into the group wasn't needed. But where from here? How many other deviations from the plan were going to happen?

Shino had to report back at least once every two weeks and later once a month. Due to being poisoned and the length of time it remained in his system, the young man would never achieve a higher rank. His skills were stunted. Permanently. Taking on this mission was his way of proving he could still help his people.

Tsunade stared into the dark. So many children were being risked. Her oldest friend. Too much could go wrong. Yet, a terrible fate awaited the boys and her home if they stayed.

Round and round she argued with herself. The ifs; the possibilities. As dawn rose over the horizon, the Hokage continued to worry, sleepless. And she knew many more such nights were to come. Though hope told her they would be well worth it.

AN: More about the ANBU later.
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