Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters that the brilliant Masashi Kishimoto has created, only my OCs.

The tall gates of Konoha had not changed in the seven years that Kazane Nomura was absent. Even from a large distance, Kazane could see that the only thing that had changed in this scenario was herself. The closer and closer she got to the front the more her heart raced. Would they reinstate her as a jounin? Would she even be allowed resume her life where it had stopped when she was 15? Could she be assured that upon recognition, she wouldn't be arrested on sight?

With her heartbeat thumping in her ears, Kazane continued on to the gates. One thing had her on alert though. Normally she would have expected to have been attacked or at the very least captured. The fact that she had gotten this close to the entrance and no ambush had happened yet had her on edge.

As she neared to the entrance, a voice called out, "What's your business with the leaf village."

Kazane turned to the small hut that served as the guard for the gate and did a double take.
"Genma?" she cried out in surprise.

"How do you know my name?" he said with narrowed eyes.

"Its me! Kazane! Kazane Nomura! Come on don't tell I've changed that much."

"K-Kazane?"

"Yeah, Kazane."

Kazane cocked her head to the side. Genma looked like he had seen a ghost, and if there was one thing Kazane knew, it was that she wasn't a ghost.

"Why- what- h-how are you here?"

"What do you mean how am I here?" Placing her hands on her hips, "You know, I know I've been gone a while but that doesn't mean I was wiped off the face of the earth. You look like you've seen a dead person"

"I don't know, it might have to do with the fact that we thought you died" Genma glared shaking his head. He couldn't believe it.

"Well you thought wrong. I'm perfectly fine." Kazane huffed.

Out of nowhere two black shadows appeared in front of the two. Both were dressed in long black cloaks and both had masks. The taller one was wearing a cat mask and the shorter one, his height barely reached Kazane's shoulders, was wearing a monkey mask.

"Kazane Nomura, the hokage has been alerted of your presence and has requested to see you immediately. Either come with us quietly or face the consequences"

Consequences? What were they planning on doing to her anyways, she was sure she could beat both anbu members if she tried. She had intended to meet with the hokage because she believed that was the only way that she'd be able to get a chance at resuming her former position at the leaf village. So far, everything was going as planned.

"Don't worry, I'll come 'quietly' as you said."

"Follow us." With that the two anbu jumped away.

"See you later Genma." Kazane waved and jumped along with the two Anbu leaving a very confused and very shocked Genma standing in his tiny hut.
Immediately Kazane realized something. There was a whole group of ninja surrounding her. She counted at least seven more, two to the right and two to the left, with the remaining three behind her. They were in position to prevent her escape. It seems the hokage is very earnest about speaking with her.

Ahhh, this explains the lack of an ambush at the front. They probably spotted me and alerted the Hokage who told them to bring me to him. Guess I'm not as welcome as I thought I was. Hokage-sama what are you planning.

At the thought of seeing the old man her heart started thumping again. He was the one who would decide whether she could stay or not.

It's okay Kazane, it's alright. What's the worst that could happen…... throw me in prison yeah, that would NOT be good. The grim thought made her purse her lips. She sighed and prayed to any higher power that that scenario would not play out.

Soon enough they were at the entrance to the hokage building. She sensed the other 7 ninja spread out and surround the building. Following the two Anbu into the building, she looked around and realized the inside hadn't changed much either. The paintings that were on the walls ten years ago were the same ones that were in front of her right now. Smiling to herself, Kazane finally faced the double doors that would decide her fate. The shorter of the two anbu went inside to speak to the hokage. Kazane held her breathe.

"Come in" an old voice said.

Kazane took a hesitant step forward and finally pushed the doors open.

"So it is true... you are alive."

Icy blue met brown and Kazane felt as if she couldn't breathe. She looked at the man who had single-handedly changed her life and noticed how much he had aged. He had been old when she first met him but the last seven years had not been kind on him. The lines in his face seemed deeper and he looked more tired than anything.

"Hokage-sama.."

At this the old man stood up and made his way to her, placing a hand on either shoulder as if he didn't believe that she was truly standing in front of him and surprising Kazane.

"Seven years my dear. For seven years we believed that you had not survived that recon mission. And yet here you are standing before me." the hokage said with a hint of exasperation and disbelief.

"I-it's a long story"

At this the hokage smiled a little bit. "Well I better make myself comfortable then."

He signalled to the anbu to leave us and sat back down at his chair.

"Whenever you're ready." He said with a kind look.

Kazane took in a deep breath and then began her telling the slightly altered story of where she had been in the past ten years.

"My leaving of the leaf village wasn't of my own choice," she started out slowly, choosing her words carefully so as to not give away anything on accident.

"What do you mean by that Kazane?" the hokage said while leaning forward on crossed fingers. Ahhh, he's in Hokage mode now, no kind old man anymore.

Taking in another deep breath, "I mean, I completed the recon mission successfully and I was headed back to the leaf village when I was ambushed and kidnapped."

The hokage's eyes widened. He had not been expecting this.

"Do you know who kidnapped you?"

"No." That's a lie. I know exactly who had kidnapped me. "I was kept in the dark for the time that I was captured. And whenever someone came in my holding area they were wearing a mask." Another lie.

"How did you escape?"

"I waited for them to lower their guards around me, and when they finally did I got out of my chains and fought my way out." Close enough. "My circumstances when I escaped didn't exactly allow for my immediate return here. When I finally found a village, I found out I had been trapped in that holding cell for 3 years. I thought about it and decided that it would be better for me to work on myself and my jutsu. Which is why I stayed away another 4 years. I found myself a teacher who helped me work on my techniques."

By this moment, a thoughtful look had graced the hokage's face. Kazane couldn't tell if it was because he was upset with her or if he found any inconsistencies from what she told him.

"Who was this teacher of yours?"

"His name was Riku...he's gone now." Kazane said bitterly, her eyes meeting the floor in frustration and sadness.

The hokage felt a brief flicker of sadness for the woman standing in front of him, but so far her story had been vague and filled with many gaps. He wasn't sure about what to do with the situation at hand. He couldn't be sure if Kazane could potentially pose a threat to the hidden Leaf Village.

"What made you decide to return?"

"I-..." A look of nostalgia made its way onto her face, erasing any bitterness or sadness that had been present before. "I missed it. Everything about the leaf village...This place was my home. And I couldn't bear staying away any longer." That one, that one's true.

"Kazane I'll be honest with you, as much as I would like to give you back your old position here in the leaf village, I can't do that. Although you did not willingly abandon you're village, I cannot be sure that you do not pose a risk to the leaf village. However-" The hokage said sternly.

"Hokage-sama!" Kazane started to defend herself.

The hokage held up a hand to silence her. "I wasn't done yet. However, due to your past service and what you have done for Konoha, I will give you a chance to redeem and reestablish the trust that we once had in you. On the condition that you do it under the supervision of a ninja of my choosing. It is either that, or you're imprisoned until further notice."

A feeling of relief spread through Kazane, she smiled and bowed at the wais tin thanks to the homage. "I agree to your conditions Hokage-sama. Thank you." she said sincerely.

The Hokage smiled as well.

A loud knock on the door startled both.

"It seems the ninja that I have assigned has gotten here a lot faster than I expected. Come in"

At this moment time slowed down for Kazane. She watched the door open slowly. She didn't know why but she felt as if time was slowing down. Whoever was on the other side would make her return to the village easy or a living hell. She watched as the last person she expected to ever see again walked through the door.

When the two laid eyes on each other, they both froze.

In front of her was none other than Kakashi Hatake.

Hello! Welcome to my first ever fanfiction! I have been thinking about this idea for over a year and I have finally decided to put it into writing. Any constructive criticism, comments, or thoughts would be appreciated!

- Blue