Chapter 1: Return

I do not own the Series Naruto, all rights of the franchise belong to its rightful owner.

Sakura Haruno looked up towards the Hokage Monument at the face of the Fourth Hokage; Minato Namikaze, the late father of her friend, Naruto. She wasn't surprised when Naruto told her; it brightened her day to know of Naruto's relation to someone as important as him. But she also harbored a grudge for the deceased leader of Konoha, as it was his fault Naruto had to put up with such a difficult life. A life of loneliness, being bullied by the other villagers. Though she knew she also needed to be reprimanded, as she also partook in these events. She never forgave herself for what she did.

She was lucky to even be his friend. Even after all that she did to him, he treated her like his greatest friend. Sakura sighed at the thought of her friend who had left five years ago on a trip to protect the Village and continue looking for their lost teammate.

Sakura turned her head towards the gate; as if expecting her best friend to just show up. She moved towards the gate; as she always did just to see if her friend was coming home.

She did that every day since the day Naruto and Konohamaru Sarutobi left the Village.

She was quite sad that she didn't go with Naruto when he asked her, as she was actually his first choice for a partner, and she really wanted to join her friend on the five year journey. But since her Sensei; Lady Tsunade, needed her apprentices help, her duties lied with the hospital she worked at.

Naruto being the friend he was; just grinned and accepted her answer.

"I'm sure we'll have a journey with just the two of us one day Sakura!" he gave a thumbs up. He went to grab his equipment. The next day; while he waited for Konohamaru; Sakura ran up to see her best friend off; giving him the tightest hug he ever got. It was rare when he got a hug from Sakura. As stunned as he was; Naruto smiled and hugged back.

She saw the duo off; her thoughts confused, still confused in fact.

Sakura passed over the bridge where the old Team Seven met. Sakura frowned as she stopped; and looked down at the water.

She changed a little bit. Her pink hair now longer, just past her shoulders. Her headband was still in its pink cloth still sat in its usual spot. She wore a pink shirt with Konoha's symbol placed over her heart. She then wore a dark blue skirt, slightly above the knees so that she was still able to move. Her boots stuck with her through thick or thin though.

Even her eyes changed. The light shade of jade of the fifteen year old was now replaced by the deeper color of jade of the now twenty year old kunoichi. Sakura wondered if Naruto would think she matured now; after five years.

Well, that would be the case since the war ended. Sakura thought sadly.

When the issue of Hokage came up after Tsunade stepped down; there was a slight debate between the people of the Village, and the Council. Naturally; the Villagers wanted Naruto Uzumaki. But Naruto said he couldn't; noting he was still too young and inexperienced at seventeen. Kakashi took hold of the mantle out of hesitance, but strove to honor his friend's wish to become Hokage in his stead.

Kakashi wasn't enjoying his position as the Hokage for the Village, acting as the leader for the better of the Village. He had noted several times to his former student that when Naruto got back, he would be handing off the hat to him as he had no further desire to work behind a desk. Sakura had seen the amount of work her former teacher's had been putting in, and wanted Naruto to return as quickly as he could, though merely for him to finally have his dream come true.

Sakura approached the gate; and noticed a familiar face. Konohamaru Sarutobi. Sakura gasped, and started running.

"Konohamaru!" she shouted. The young ninja turned his head; and grinned when he saw Sakura.

The young ninja had changed since they last saw each other. His hair was slightly longer; darker. His light green shirt was replaced with a dark green t shirt and a Chunin Vest over it. His head band was blue with the metal, though the material looked worn. The long blue scarf was now worn like a sash around his body. Even though his eyes looked kinder; she could still see the glint of his perverted self within. No doubt Naruto being even more perverted with his student.

"Sakura! How have you been?" Sakura ignored the question and just jumped to the question.

"Where's Naruto?" she asked, looking all over for her teammate. Konohamaru sighed.

"Naruto-Sensei was the same. He's taking care of some last minute things. But he'll be coming back later this evening. I got sent ahead to inform you, and he wanted me to give you a letter."

He handed her a letter; which she opened carefully. She had been getting letters from her best friend once a week. It wasn't like she wasn't out of contact with him.

Sakura,

Sorry I'm not there with Konohamaru the moment you read this letter. I can't wait to see you! Five years is definitely a long time. I know you probably won't be that same person you were all those years ago.

I'll be on top of the Hokage Monument sometime at sunset. I figure we may as well spend that beautiful time of day together. Then we can catch up on events with each other; and talk about some serious business next. Sadly another mission; but one I want you to be on with me.

Can't wait to see you!

Naruto

Sakura smiled when she read the letter; and looked towards the Hokage Monument where she was looking at earlier.

"I'll be there soon Naruto." she whispered as she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Konohamaru snickered. Sakura turned to face him with an angry look on her face.

"What!" she shouted. Konohamaru bursted out laughing.

"Are you two linked in minds or something? I swear Naruto-Sensei does the same thing every time he mentions you. Hell, I told him that if he missed you that much, I could just Transform into you or something."

That didn't go well with Sakura. She closed her eyes, clenched her fist, and round house punched Konohamaru in the face and sent him flying the way he came in.

"Little perv," Sakura mumbled. "What the hell has Naruto been teaching that kid?"

"Nothing but the important stuff." Konohamaru said as he rubbed the side of his face as he ran back up, seemingly not inflicted by the pain. She turned towards the young ninja.

"And does that includes stupid and useless Techniques?" Sakura asked with an eyebrow raised and her hands on her hips. Konohamaru shook his head.

"Sakura; Naruto-Sensei hasn't done anything perverted nor said anything like that since we left. I think he got tired of getting hit by you or something. But he's started smacking me upside the head every time I do something or say anything perverted. Our training was strictly training. We had a mission here and there, but it stayed to Naruto-Sensei's schedule."

Sakura was a little confused about what she was hearing.

Naruto was always a goofball. Why did he stop? I mean; it's not bad but it sort of made him, 'him'. I highly doubt it has anything to do with the War. But I guess since from leaving the Village again, Naruto wanted to be taken a little more seriously. Yet I don't believe that could ever happen. This is Naruto we're talking about here.

She looked at Konohamaru. "I take it he hasn't been easy going since the two of you left?"

Konohamaru shook his head. "Nope; he's even been hard on himself. He's constantly training. Finally got the Fourth Hokage's technique down, and was doing a lot of work with the … um … Bijuu." Konohamaru shuffled his feet around as he said that. Sakura understood.

Naruto Uzumaki is the Jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox named Kurama. It was because of this status that he was picked on by the Villagers, and Sakura. Though Sakura didn't understand at the time of why they picked on Naruto. To her; he was the prankster. Even the Fox tried to make his life miserable. Constantly offering his power just to ensure its escape from Naruto. When Naruto did tap into such powers; he would sometimes lose control. The farthest he went was eight tails, and that was the last time he tapped into the dark powers; but not before finding an alternative and taking the advantage; allowing him to create a form far stronger than the rest increasing his speed and power. When he fought Obito Uchiha; the two melded their chakra and created yet another form; stronger than the last.

Yet despite all the advances Naruto made in his progress with the Tailed Beast, Sakura still harbored a grudge for what was inside of Naruto.

"Now he's coming back and life should go back to the way it was." Konohamaru tore Sakura from her thoughts. Sakura nodded.

"Alright; I'm going to go up to the Hokage Monument to wait for Naruto." She turned and jumped up onto the roof tops of the Village. Konohamaru sighed.

"He's not exactly the same person he was when we left." He then started to walk towards the Ichiraku's to get some ramen.

It was nearing sunset as Sakura sat on her Master's head. The sun slowly lowered itself into the horizon. She constantly looked behind as she tried to look for Naruto. She was starting to get antsy; she was also trying to figure out how she was going to react when she saw him.

The wind started to pick up, blowing into her face and brushing the hair out of her face. She sighed.

"I really missed you Naruto." she whispered.

"Well I'm glad to hear that Sakura, cause I'd be lying if I said I didn't." a familiar voice said. Sakura gasped and turned her head towards the voice. And there standing on top of the Fourth Hokage's head was the tall blond who was her friend; standing in a short sleeved black coat with orange flames at the hem with the wind trying to pull it back. His pants were still orange, but now had black flames at the hem of the pant legs. His hair had grown longer, kept together by his forehead protector, now in a much longer black cloth, also being picked up by the wind. He turned his head towards Sakura; she smiled when she saw his face. He was smiling at her. His blue eyes now darker in color like a sapphire.

Sakura felt tears moisten her eyes. She quickly got up, and jumped towards her teammate.

She tackled him into a hug, Naruto hugged back tightly. She leaned her head into his left shoulder, but felt him cringe as if in pain. She looked up, he still had his smile, though something seemed to have pained him.

"Are you all right?" she asked. Naruto nodded.

"Everything's fine; I'm just glad to be back home." Naruto said as he pulled her back into a hug. Sakura sighed.

At least he was home.