I would love to have reviews from all who read. Please do tell me whether you like it or not.

My work is unbeta'd for now. I'm looking for a beta. Please anyone who can help me in this regard, please tell me. I was unable to find one on my own, and I desperately need one. I know that.

Summary: Naruto leaves Konoha when he is 16 years old. Nobody knows why he left. Six years have passed when he returns from where ever he went. Will everything be the same or will it be different after all this time, will Naruto be same old knuckle head that he was known to be????????????

Paring: Narusasu (not the other way round)

Rating: M

English: Drama/Romance

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. (Weeps)

immmmmmmmm - kyuubi speaking

It was too much he knew he had to leave soon and very soon at that. He knew he deserved much better.

Glad you are taking sensibly for once, you stupid brat;

Shut up fox, I'm not doing it for myself.

Whatever brat, just leave this goddamned place.

I guess you are right for once fox. Nobody is going to miss "the Dobe" not even Sasuke teme.

So in the dead of night one spring Uzumaki Naruto left the village of Konoha. Not to see it for many years to pass.

Six years later………

Hey, baachan don't be angry with me. You know I need to live too, have a normal life for once, even if this is just once in a life time chance. I will come back. Don't worry, I will. (Uzumaki Naruto never goes back on his word). I'm only leaving the Hokage title with you for a while longer. Keep Konoha safe.

The future Hokage: Uzumaki Naruto

No matter how many times Tsunade read that short letter she felt the pain in her heart only increasing. Naruto had always been like her little brother. Losing him was like losing Nawaki and Dan allover again. At least he was alive. Of this she was sure because if a jinkchuriki like him would have been killed or captured, word would have reached Konoha.

She blamed herself for this. The village had failed Naruto, she had failed Naruto, that's why he left. She cursed herself every time she thought about her little brother. She prayed for his well being and hoped with all her heart that he would return some day.

Sighing she placed the letter back in her drawer and bent over the report that she had to work on. Hurry back Naruto, I can't keep up with all this work anymore, its time for you to take over.

In some other place……..

A small boy of four years was running around the market after the old man who was selling colorful balloons in shapes of different animals. He had plump round fair face, black hair and blue eyes.

"Oji san, hey, Oji san, I want that dragon" the small boy yelled when he reached the balloon seller.

"Here you go, son" the man said smiling at the little boy, he handed him the string of the balloon dragon, it was blue in color and had red eyes.

"Cool…." He was real excited, "Thanks, Oji san" he paid for the balloon and ran away.

"That kid is so cute and he seems really excited." The old man muttered to himself.

In the busy market centre……..

"Where could he be???" a young man was running around panicked, muttering to himself. "What if something happens to him, I won't be able to forgive myself."

The man was quite handsome, strong athletic built; light brown hair and soft grey eyes, which were frantically searching left and right. Fear was written all over his face.

Please be safe, please be safe, please be safe……… the mantra was going on in his head. He was praying silently while searching.

That is when he spotted the small boy running towards him with a dragon balloon in his hand.

He had only taken an eye off the boy to buy something to eat. That was when the little mischief had given him a slip and run off. By the time he had turned towards where the boy was he had disappeared.

He ran over to the boy picked him up and hugged him to his chest. "Kei, oh Kei" he said breathless. "Kei, don't ever do that again; don't ever disappear without telling me, you nearly gave me a heart attack." He was trembling within hidden emotions while holding his little boy. "If something happened to you I would not survive." Keitaro was his life his only anchor to the world.

Then he did something he had never done before. He slapped his son. Not hard but not very light either.

Keitaro had never seen his father so distressed. He never disobeyed his father. He admired his father, he was his hero. His father never hit him. But now, the look on his dad's face was of so much fear, so scared, that he felt ashamed of himself for causing his father so much worry. "I'm so sorry dad. Forgive me" he hugged back and clung to his father burying his head in his shoulder.

"Please don't leave me like this, please don't leave me" he said desperately to his son. "You're the only one I have now" he was almost pleading; distress written allover his face, his eyes full of pain, he wanted his son to understand.

"I will never do it again" his father loved him so much; he never intended to cause him pain. His eyes were watering; he couldn't bear to see his father so sad. He was the one who had hurt his father's feeling, he did not understand how, but still he was the one because of whom his father was distraught. Slowly tears escaped his eyes. "I'm so sorry. (Hiccup) I'm so sorry dad……" he was sobbing as he held onto his father.

It was when his little boy started crying that he realized he may have scared the boy with his emotions. He was just a little kid after all. And all kids are like that. He should not have slapped his son. "Sshhhhh son" He kissed is son on both cheeks and wiped off the tears muttering, "It's ok son, don't cry. Shhhhh… It's ok" he fingered his son's hair in soothing motion. He let him cry into his shoulder, slowly the sobs ended, seeing the boy had calmed down a little. He attempted to cheer him "Lets get some ice cream, all right Kei?" he asked ruffling his son's hair a little.

"Have you forgiven me dad???" he was sniffing a little. Wide innocent blue eyes were staring at him, shame written allover his small face.

He looked at his son he knew his son never meant what he did. He was just a little kid; he couldn't understand his father's fears. His eyes softened and he sighed, "I won't be able to stay angry with you even if I want to. I love you too much, Kei." he kissed the boy's brow.

"Thank you, Dad. I love you too" he threw his arms around his fathers neck, but now he was smiling again.

"Yeah, yeah, all right, next time tell me when you feel like disappearing, now let's go" he said smiling to his son he moved toward the ice cream place carrying his son.

At the ice cream place………

He ordered two triple chocolate ice creams with vanilla and nuts. It was there favorite one. While his son showed him the balloon he had bought chatting excitedly that he wanted to show it to his friends, how cool it looked and whether his friends will be impressed or not. The balloon was apparently the reason for his son disappearing all of a sudden like that.

That was when he remembered he had news he had to break to his son.

"Kei, you like your ice-cream?" his son was smearing his face with the ice-cream, chocolate dripping down his chin. He was trying to stuff his small mouth with another spoonful, nodding at the same time.

"I guess I shouldn't have asked that" He laughed at his son's antics. He grabbed some tissues and wiped his son's chin. The boy had an awful appetite for ice-cream. His son had half his cup finished while he was just starting to eat his. I guess you take after me in your appetite. He smiled at his son occasionally wiping his dripping mouth. When he finished his ice-cream he pushed his filled cup towards his son. "Take this as well, but eat it slowly this time" he told his son "the more you savor the ice-cream the more you enjoy it"

He took a spoonful "mmmmnnhhh tasty" he looked at his son "let it melt in your mouth and spread its taste" he held up a spoonful for his son, "here try it" Kei opened his mouth and took the spoon. He did what his daddy told him. It actually tasted much better.

"It tastes so good dad" he had his eyes closed in pure bliss "you were right dad; this is much, much better"

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