Nisshoku Vladdy sighed. "Tsuande-sama is always sending me on these errands, what am I now? Shizune?"

She walked passed the Shuensha flower shop, and stopped. It had already been three years since her rival and best friend had left the village. When would she return?

"Goodness, I finally return with Asuma-sensei and the guys, and I takes me THIS LONG to find you?! You surely are busy these days."

Vladdy jumped at the familiar voice, turned around, and gasped.

"N-No way!" she whispered. Standing only a few feet in front of her was Axel, the teammates she had just been thinking about.

"Long time no see!" Axel waved, smiling. Vladdy wasn't the only one who had changed. It was visible that Axel had gotten stronger.

Vladdy smiled and threw her arms around her old friend. "I can't believe your back!" tears were rushing to her eyes.

Axel laughed. "Well, I am!" she returned the hug. "We have a TON of catching up to do!" Axel looked around, taking in the place she had grown up in. "Want to grab a bite to eat?" she asked.

"OF COURSE, but first I need to go to the hospital for a quick errand, come with me."

"Ha, becoming the next Tsunade, eh? I remember our first lesson with medical nin-justsu." Axel laughed.

"Hey Naruto, look who's back!" Vladdy and Axel entered a hospital room full of people. Naruto was lying in the bed, surrounded by: Kakashi-sensei, Asuma-sensei, Shikamaru, Choji, and a man who was similar to Sasuke.

"It looks like you found her, Axel." Shikamaru laughed.

"Shikamar! Choji!" Vladdy smiled. They had been gone from the village for a few months.

"Oh, joy, she's back," Naruto grunted.

"Nice to see you too," Axel replied. But the rude comment didn't distract her; it was the man who resembled Sasuke.

Vladdy saw Axel staring, and elbowed her in the side. "He's mine, no staring!" she ordered.

Axel blushed, and turned to her rival. "That's fine, besides, I still need to visit Kyoya-sempai, but first…" She smiled and walked over to the stranger, flipped her hair, and held out her hand. "Shuensha Axel, it's a pleasure," she batted her eyelashes, laughing on the inside as she felt Vladdys anger flood the room.

"My name is Sai, Vladdy has told me much about you." He smiled and shook her hand.

Vladdy grabbed Axel's arm, and started pulling her out the door. "Were going to get something to eat!" She yelled.

Sai ended up getting squished inbetween Vladdy and Axel, who sat across from Shikamaru, Choji, and Naruto.

"So whats been going on?" Axel asked.

"Well, I have been working under Tsuande-sama lately, and as Shikamaru probably told you, Gaara left to join the san village." Vladdy answered, her eyes dropping at the mention at her cousins leaving.

Axel was silent for a moment. "Yeah he told me," She said, looking at Shikamaru, who had his eyes on his plate. She sighed. "Its not the end of the world, she'll visit, right?!"

Vladdy chuckled, "She has visited quit a lot. Of course, she always has to show off the fact that she's a jounin every time I see her."

Axel gasped, "A JOUNIN?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!"

Vladdy realized something at that point and laughed. "Your still a genin!"

Axel's faced turned red, and a smug look appeared on her face. "You wanna see how much of a genin I still am?" she challenged.

"Bring it," Vladdy said, standing up.

"Guys, chill out, we haven't even ordered yet," Choji sighed, hungry.

Vladdy and Axel laughed in unison. It was just like old times, minus Gaara not being at the table. Axel looked at the door of the restaurant and her smile faded. It was her previous sensei's: Hyuuga Neji, and the despicable monster and reason she left, Uchiha Raidon.