The final choice was Kumo, but Naruto didn't want to go there, since he didn't know much about the village, other than what Neji had told him about how they attempted to kidnap Hinata. He also heard that Kumo tried to kidnap her again during the Suna and Oto invasion, which was prevented by Neji and his team. Needless to say, Naruto did not have a very high opinion of that village. This left him only one choice, to wander around on his own trying to find a way to get these seals off him himself and keep on training with the scrolls he had took from his family home.
Naruto was in a dense forest in the middle of a heavy rainstorm trying to find some shelter. He was unsure of where exactly though. He had run out of food several days ago. He had tried hunting but had no luck. He didn't go to town, for fear of being spotted or recognized from any chance meetings with Akatsuki, or their agents.
Soon enough though, Naruto collapsed on the wet ground, weak from tiredness and hunger.
"So this is how it's all going to end. Not the way I had wanted, but it could be worse." Naruto thought sadly as he was about to drift into unconsciousness. Until he forced himself to wake up "No! I still have my goal to accomplish! I can't give up. I won't give up!" Naruto thought as he tried to get up but fell back on the ground.
As he was drifting in and out of unconsciousness he heard the chiming of small bells. When he glanced up, he saw two figures strolling towards him. Even though it was dark he could make out two very important facts. Both of them were wearing conical straw hats with small spike-like balls hanging down to cover their faces and both were wearing dark cloaks, with chin-high collars that covered their faces.
One word popped into his mind as he fell into unconsciousness.
"Akatsuki...!"
XXX
Ten years Later
-In The middle of the ocean-
Currently in the middle of the sea that separated Cha no Kuni (Tea Country) from the islands of Nagi and O'uzu, a single royal ship belonging to the Daimyo of Umi no Kuni (Sea Country) was sailing on it way to Tsuki no Kuni (Moon Country). On board the ship was the Daimyo of Umi no Kuni, the only daughter Princess Sachi.
The Princess was extremely beautiful although she did not wear expensive clothes, jewelry, or makeup like most Princesses. Instead, she wore a simple, yet elegant purple Kimono with red slash around her waist. She was slimly built and had long, silky raven black hair that reached down to her lower thigh, bright sky blue eye's and had an angelic like face. Her beauty had often won the attention of many different suitors from her own Country as well as from others but the Princess had shown no interest with any of them.
Another thing about the princess was that, unlike most Princesses, she did not spend her time going to parties and looking nice just to attract suitable husbands. She preferred to spend he time learning. She enjoyed reading poetry, writing, singing songs, and reading books as well as playing with children. She wanted to learn as much as she could so if needed be, she would be able to help rule her Country. She was passionate for the peace and prosperity of her Country. Even though she was not the next ruler of Umi no Kuni (her older brother Tachihiko was), she wanted to at least contribute a bit. She did not like fighting and believed that force should only be an absolute last resort once all options for peace talks and communications have ended and there is no other choice. The Princess was also a very skilled diplomat and had helped her father on several occasions during talks with other Countries in terms of trade rights and other things; she was a very gifted speaker due to her passions to help people who needed it.
The reason why the Princess was heading to Tsuki no Kuni was because she was engaged to the Crown Prince of Tsuki no Kuni, Prince Tsuki Hikaru heir to the throne of Tsuki no Kuni. Both the Prince and the Princess had met often over the years and had been friends for many of those years since both Tsuki no Kuni and Umi no Kuni were strong allies with one another. Hikaru's Grandfather, the previous King of Tsuki no Kuni, his son Tsuki Kakeru current King of Tsuki no Kuni, as well as Hikaru himself had often visited Umi no Kuni when Hikaru's Grandfather had business with the Umi Daimyo over ships, trade issues, or other political matters. Sachi, Tachihiko, and their father, in turn, would accompany the delegations to Tsuki no Kuni often. They would also come and visit just for a vacation, since Tsuki no Kuni was famed for being an excellent Country for people on holidays.
Over time, both Sachi and Hikaru had grown close with one another, often wrote letters to each other. It had been obvious that the two were falling in love; whenever they were at the same parties both could be usually found talking to one another or even dancing together. Eventually, Sachi's father told her and Hikaru that, at some point when the children were each ten years old, Hikaru's Grandfather, Tsuki Kakeru, suggested an arrange marriage between the two since he believed that Sachi would be an excellent wife for his Grandson and would help him rule wisely over the people of Tsuki no Kuni. Further, such a marriage would make the Alliance between their two Countries even stronger. Sachi's father had agreed to this so long as, when the two were of marrying age, they agreed to the conditions also. Hikaru's Grandfather, Tsuki Kakeru, had agreed and both men signed a contract stating the agreement between the two rulers. When both the Prince and Princess saw the contracted between Sachi's father and Hikaru's Grandfather, both agreed to the contract.
The wedding was to be held in Tsuki no Kuni. Sachi would have to be in Tsuki no Kuni two months before the wedding so that she could help prepare for the ceremony and prepare herself for the duties that she would take as the future Queen of Tsuki no Kuni. Sachi's father, along with her brother Tachihiko, would come later on for the wedding itself to give her away.
When she was leaving, Sachi's father had originally wanted her to have an entire fleet as well as one thousand royal guards to protect her on her way to Tsuki no Kuni, but she had batter her father down to one ship, twenty royal guards, and a squad of Ninja's to protect her since she did not want so many men around her all the time.
Sachi's father had hired a squad of Konoha ninjas to Guard her. Although Hikaru had offered to send some ninjas from the newly founded Shinobi village Tsuki no Kuni the Getsugakure no sato (the Village Hidden under in the Moon) or hire Ninja's from other villages, such as Kumogakure no sato (the Village Hidden in the Clouds) or the newly formed Heavenly Alliance, whom Tsuki no Kuni had been allied with the past two years, they were politely refused. Sachi's father had insisted that he use the ninja from Konoha since he had held them in high regard ever since a ninja from that village had saved his life many years back.
As the ship sailed, the Princess could be seen on deck seated down on a small stool reading a book to pass the time. At times, she would also watch some of the Ninja's from the Konoha team spar with one another to pass the time. As time passed, the Princess could not help but think that the trip was becoming quite uneventful, believing noting would happen.
Oh how wrong she was.
-On the bow of the ship-
Currently standing at the bow of the ship looking forward was a tall, attractive raven haired woman with bright crimson red eyes. She wore a single red sleeve and white patterned bandages with a Ninja fishnet shirt underneath it. This woman was none other than Yuuhi Sarutobi Kurenai, Konoha's famed Genjutsu Mistress, and was the team leader of this mission, which was of vital importance to Konoha since the village had been on some hard times of late and was in growing danger from its enemies. The marriage between the Princess of Umi no Kuni and the Prince Tsuki no Kuni would strengthen the already strong Trade Alliance between Umi no Kuni and Tsuki no Kuni and, if they successfully accomplish this mission, it would put Konoha in good favor with both Countries. This would then allow Konoha to negotiate for a Trade treaty with them since the Trade Alliance between Umi no Kuni and Tsuki no Kuni controlled all Trade in the Southern part of the Elemental Sea (Author note don't know if this is what the Sea is called in Naruto so I just calling it that).
Also, if Konoha was able to get a Trade treaty with them, it would give Konoha a new, much needed source of Trade and missions. Not to mention it could lead to a possible alliance between the newly founded Tsukigakure no sato and Tsuki no Kuni. As Konoha currently needed all the allies they could possibly get.