Chapter one

The Return

It is early morning in Konoha and the sun has just risen from his slumber. The owners of various shops and markets have begun the early morning preparations in anticipation of the new day. Several glance up and wave as they pass. It has been three long years since he and his apprentice have walked the streets of Konoha.

"Wow it's good to be home, right sensei?"

"Yes it IS good to be home." Over the past three years his apprentice has been making exceptional leaps and bounds of progress. He was very proud of his young pupil and the efforts he has put forth. Soon it would be time to re-introduce him to Konoha. "Remember what I have told you about your training. You have become very strong in these last three years and if you train with someone below your level you need to be careful not to hurt them."

"Right! But sensei I don't think that I will have to hold back because I'm sure the others have been training hard as well." He responds with his defining grin. You have no idea how strong you have become my young friend, no idea at all.

"Maybe." He responds softly. His father would be proud to know that his son will soon share the title he was known as before he died. He has come a long way Sensei; he will not let you down.

"Sakura."

"Yes."

"It seems that a certain Sensei and Apprentice have returned to Konoha."

"REALLY! They are back! When can I see them?"

"I can take you to them right now."

"Sensei?"

"Hmm."

"I...umm…could we…" He sentence was interrupted by an enormous growling sound.

"Ahhh, so that's it." He responds.

"Yes sensei!"

"Well I guess it would be all right if we went there."

"YEAH! Ichariku Ramen Uzumaki Naruto is back in town!" With that Naruto takes off at break neck speed towards the ramen shop.

"Eh? Naruto wait… well I guess I'll just have to catch up." Hatake Kakashi says softly, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Naruto is in such a hurry to get to the ramen shop that he nearly knocks over black haired young woman.

"AHHHH! I'm sorry miss I didn't mean to…" Then he suddenly recognizes her. "HINATA! Hi how are you doing?" He asks totally oblivious to how red her face is.

"Hi…Na…Na…Naruto-Kun." She says in a timid and embarrassed voice.

"Hinata you should speak up, you have a beautiful voice and no one can hear it when you are so quite."

"Re...Re…really Naurto-Kun? You think… I…have a beautiful…umm…voice?" She asks speaking up slightly

"Yeah, you see that is so much better." He says smiling, and she returns a timid smile in return. "It's really good to be home, and it's really good to see you too. I'll talk to you later ok Hinata, because I'm on my way to the ramen shop with Kakashi sensei."

"OK Naruto, I will talk to you later." After he left she realized that she had gone a whole sentence without stuttering once. He has gotten so handsome since the last time I saw him. And to think I was the first one to see him again out of all the original rookies.

"Hinata….hey Hinata...HELLO ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME!"

"WH…what?" She asks looking around in confusion and embarrassment.

"Sheez what's wrong with you. I said do you want to train with me and Shino in ten minutes?"

"Yeah, sure that would be great. Tell me where and I'll be there in ten minutes." Kiba's jaw drops in amazement. "What…What's wrong Kiba? Are you feeling OK you look kind of pale."

"You… when did…do you realize that you have now said two consecutive comments with out stuttering once."

"Yes."

"Well!"

"Well What?"

"Why the sudden change?"

"Oh… well some just told me that I have a… beautiful voice and that I should speak up more so others can hear it."

"I've been telling you to speak up for years and you haven't listened to me a damn bit! Who told you this anyway?"

"Naruto-kun." She says with not a hint of hesitation.

"Naruto? Umm…Hinata you do know that Naruto is not here right now right?"

"Kiba, how stupid do you think I am! He just got back today!" Kiba's eyes nearly pop out of his head at the sarcastic remark Hinata just hit him with. What has gotten into her?

"Wait… did you just say that Naruto is back?"

"Yes I did, pay attention."

"Well… I think he is right Hinata. What he could have said that I didn't I'll never know, but at least it worked. Meet us at training ground four in… 4 minutes now." He says and heads towards Shino's place.

Meanwhile at the ramen shop Naruto has downed fifteen bowls of ramen to Kakashi's three. For some odd reason though, Naruto could never catch the slightest look at his face.

"Sensei, what is under your mask?"

"Under my mask?"

"Yeah, I've never seen you without your mask so I was wondering what's under there."

"Why… My face of course." He says making the hand symbol for gratitude as he stands up. Naruto falls off his seat. AHHH IT FIGURES! OF COURSE SENSEI WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OHHH MAAAN!

"Naruto?"

"Eh! Sakura is that you?"

"Of course you dumb ass who else would it be!" She responds heatedly. Yup definitely Sakura!

"Hi Sakura-Chan!"

"Naruto what the hell are you doing on the floor at a time like this!"

"Eh? A time like what? Is there a mission that I need to go on? I'll do it and I will succeed… what's so funny Sakura-Chan?"

"I wasn't talking about a mission dummy. I was talking about the fact that I haven't seen you in three years and I find you sitting on your ass, what kind of first impression is that." She says still laughing at him.

"Oh… Well if it's a first impression you want then…" he smiles mischievously before suddenly disappearing. "This is for you Sakura-Chan." He says from behind her. She flips around quick as lightning. He is holding a beautiful porcelain figure depicting a young woman walking through falling cherry blossoms and then he softly kisses her on the cheek. She looks at the figure, blushes, and then slowly she brings her hand to the place that Naruto kissed.

"Thank you Naruto it is very beautiful, where did you get it?"

"Well… umm … actually I made it… for you." Her eyes widen and she looks at it in amazement.

"You made this?" She breaths softly. He just smiles and nods.