Well he'll be dammed. The kid does have a mind of his own. And a stubborn one at that. Shocking.

Collapsing to the ground, Naruto got back up again despite his shakes and continued trying to do the tasks Jiraiya made for him.

For some reason he just isn't able to deplete all his chakra. So on to idea number two. Heheheh, he can't wait to do this.

"Hey Naruto, put the mask back on and follow me!" Without waiting, Jiraiya started walking into the woods.

*****

"Lord Jiraiya, what is it that you would like me to do?"

His face turned into one of anger and impatience. "Well, since you can't seem to listen to my training, I have another method for you to use. Remeber the summoning contract you signed?"

Naruto nodded in return. "Great" poking his forehead, Naruto could both sense and feel the surge of energy that flew him back till he hit a random tree and fell into a ravine.

His second mask now shattered from the force, his first goal was to get a new one from his scroll. He needs it. He does, he does, he does.... and he is listening, he swears‐ no. He shouldn't have to listen to the words of anyone but Lord Danzo and Lord Hiruzen.

No one else should matter, right?

So why does he feel this need to listen? And to answer for himself? This isn't natural.... this can't be something he let's either of his masters find out about.

He.... he can't go back there. He'll sooner die then go back to that hell on earth.

Now isn't the time to focus on such deserving repercussions though. Now, he needs to figure out his situation.

The walls of this ravine are slick and he won't get any sort of grip even with chakra.

What to do? What to do?! Why is he panicking? This isn't anything new. So why is he so uncomfortable and confused? True, it's been at least a week  maybe more since he last had a break and longer since he last slept. But that shouldn't change anything!

He has to master this. He has to prove useful..... he just has to. Besides, the final stage of the exams are just around the corner and he has to be ready for them.

Damn it, no more excuses!

'Hey Ninetails! It's time you pay me rent for all this lounging around you do, so pay up!'

The beast chuckled, red eyes pearing open behind the cage. Patience, that's all he needs.

'Fine. Consider this as a favour. You will repay me later'

Red chakra seeped out of the bars and into Fox, who felt rejuvenate from the needed boost.

Holding his hand out, it got cut on the sharp stones that line the walls.

Using the appropriate signs, he felt what must be adrenaline burning inside him. This. This right here is what he has been needing.... freedom to feel what he does.

And yet he still can't. More like he doesn't know how.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

As chakra moved into the shape of a sphere, he came to a sudden halt atop something slimy.

"What the? Who dares summon the great gamabunta? Eh?" The toad was beyond booming and Fox already felt that he was going to be a pain to tame. "Huh?! An Anbu black op?"

Fox stayed quiet and analyzed his situation. Lord Jiraiya told him a little bit about the different toads that the summoning usually brings and Gamabunta, who is the chief of the toads, was among them.

Known mostly for his stubbornness and ego, he would have to bargain with him if he is to be aloud access to a summoning as strong as him.

Once the chief was done arguing with the sannin, the bargain was underway and so was the nausea.

Trying to stay atop his head till sundown is proving more difficult then anticipated. But he cannot let his Masters down.

Jumping all across the valley, shaking his head vigorously, Fox's head was nearly swimming at the intense motion he was dealing with.

Even the chakra that was focused at his feet didn't do much to keep him still on such a slippery surface.

******

Now. Now he is impressed. Just like his father. "Well done Naruto, you did it. Come on down!" Once he finished shouting at him, Naruto jumped right down and even under the act, Jiraiya could feel the exhaustion radiating off of him.

"The... the task of complete... Lord Jiraiya" even out of breath, the kid is still going. "What.... what is it that you would like me to do next–"

Before he could finish, Jiraiya caught the passed out blond and simply chuckled. About damn time. Since he began training the kid, he hasn't stopped.

"I want you to stay asleep, that's what." What a pain this turned out to be."

Gamabunta looked satisfied with the result and after taking, went back to his home and left his friend with the Uzukami.

You know what? He's going to do it. Sarutobi sensei will probably curse him dead, but he's already been doing that for years and it hasn't seemed to work yet so he'll take his chances.

******

"Excuse me, nurse?" Jiraiya caught a woman wondering through the corridor. Though startled by the abrupt encounter, she held herself in a professional manner.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Well you see, I'm afraid that my student here has collapsed from chakra exhaustion and I would like to place him in your care."

Even with the raised eyebrow, she agreed.

"Oh and one more thing, I want you to keep him out of the records. No need telling the Hokage about this. He already knows."

Her stomach churned at the thought of knowing withholding information from the Hokage himself, but she knows this man. And trusts him at that, so she'll listen.

With Jiraiya carrying the blond through the hospital, he followed the nurse through the halls until they got to their destinations.

"There is one other boy in here, I hope he doesn't mind. By the looks of him, they might be around the same age."

"It shouldn't be a bother."

Setting Naruto onto the bed, he took all the equipment he had on him and even took his mask. Wouldn't want anyone being suspicious about an anbu in the hospital, now would we?

"Um... Master Jiraiya? If I am to refer to him to my colleagues, what am I to call him?"

"Didn't you say that you were the only nurse for this room?"

"Ah yes, however the boy that he now shares the room with has visitors quite often. So what name shall I call him for the time being?"

The reasoning makes enough sense to agree to it. Now to pick a name.

"For now, call him Nagato. I will come and get him when he is well enough to leave. Goodnight Ma'am."

******

His muscle are screaming at him. And his chest is so heavy, like bricks are just sitting on him.

His naturally heightened senses quickly became overwhelmed as everything flustered him.

The clean bed sheets, nauseas; alcohol scented air and open window with curtains moving in the breeze... he was in a hospital.

Sitting up as quick as he could, he looked at the nightstand nearest to him and quickly realised what that cruel man did.

Lord Jiraiya plays dirty, doesn't he? Taking his equipment pouch and uniform—Damn it, he needs to get back to Lord Danzo before there is any possible punishment.

Wait-.... what is that awfully familiar chakra signature? What has this rest done to him? His head is so screwed up and as are his senses. Nothing is coming in clear and everything is out of whack.

All these busy bodied chakras are flowing in faster than he can register.

Head beginning to pulse at the base of his scull, he attempted to sift through the multitude of signatures and even started a nose bleed from the wracking of his brain.

"Hey, are you alright? Hello? Are you there?"

Piss off–

"Don't be so mean Shikamaru, he looks pretty tired."

"I know Choji. Man, what a drag...."

Realising the mistake he made, he just stopped the searching and let it come naturally. Much to his own suffering.

'Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akamechi. The two heirs of their respective clans and part of the famous "Ino-Shika-Cho" trio.' Fox thinks as he recalls all information he has on him.

Choji gestured to Shikamaru to come over to his side of the room. The Nara pulled the curtain and separated the room much to Fox's appreciation.

"Hey Shikamaru, doesn't he remind you of someone?"

"Kinda, why?"

Whose chakra was this? It feels fuzzy.  Full of rage, conflict, and its numbing. He hates it. He despises the person who holds such a chakra. Even if he doesn't know the wielder.

The pink haired Kunoichi is here visiting Lord Uchiha, meaning that all the those wounded in the preliminary round.

Now that distinct chakra signature made sense. Gaara of the desert must be here... is he after that bushy browed kid he nearly killed?

Oh no—

"Hey, your name isn't Naruto, is it?"

A/N:end of chapter

Sorry for the crappy chapter! But I am jumping the gun on this one and publishing early since the next chapter is going to be stupid long.

And I was curious, so I'm writing a book where I am bringing in different versions of characters and was curious if I should throw this version of Anbu Naruto in it? If so, do I do that version or an older version?