Chapter One

Naruto's Return

Two years had passed since Naruto left the Village with Jiraiya. Shikamaru and Zemaria were busy with planning their wedding and the Chuunin Exams were starting up again. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were in the Village to assist with the Exams. With all the things going on, Naruto though loud as he was actually was able to come in the Village undetected. The only ones who noticed were Kotetsu and Izuma who were on duty at the main gates.

"Man it feels so good to be back!" Naruto stretched his arms up and smiled.

"Naruto? Hey, you're back!" Kotetsu said happy to see him.

Naruto went walking around the Village. It felt so nostalgic after being gone for two years. He jumps to the top of a pole and looks around. Tsunade's face had been carved into the mountain with the other Hokage faces. Shikamaru was the first to catch sight of Naruto as he was walking along with Temari.

"Huh? N-Naruto?" He asked looking up to the pole Naruto was on.

Naruto looked down, "Hey Shikamaru!"

He jumped down smiling. He noticed Shikamaru was with Temari. After the attack on the Leaf two years ago, the Sand Village had become allied with the Leaf and broke off their alliance with the Sound. Shikamaru looked bored like always. Temari seemed more sophisticated than those years ago. Naruto had a new look too.

His clothes were orange and black instead of his old outfit of orange and blue with white on the jacket. Jiraiya left him to see Tsunade. He wanted to report on his progress since they had left the Village and report with Intel on the Akatsuki. Sakura made a quick trip to the main gates to obtain status reports from Kotetsu and Izuma.

"Sakura, have you seen yet?" Izuma asked.

"Huh? Seen what?" She asked in confusion.

Kotetsu smiled, "Take a look around town and maybe you'll find out."

Sakura was still confused and obtained the reports from them. As she was walking around the Village she finally came across Naruto. He was still talking to Shikamaru and Temari.

"Yeah, Sakura, Ino, Chouji, Hinata, Shino, Kiba all of us original nine rookies are now Chuunin. Also, Neji, Tenten, and Lee are now Jounin," he told him.

"What!? No way! Seriously?" Naruto sounded disappointed.

Shikamaru laughed, "Basically you Naruto are the only Gennin left of us."

Naruto gasped, "Hold on, what about Gaara? And Zemaria? Is Zemaria still a Chuunin?"

"Gaara? Oh, he's Kazekage now," Temari told him.

Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro all were basically the Kazekage. Gaara was the official leader of the Sand Village though. Shikamaru told him that while he was away, he and Zemaria found a place of their own and were living together. She was still a Chuunin but would be taking the Jounin Exam in about a week. She insisted on Naruto being Shikamaru's best man for the wedding even though his best friend was actually Chouji.

"So Zemaria is going to take the exam to become a Jounin and she asked you to have me as your best man for your wedding?" Naruto asked.

Shikamaru nodded, "Yeah, that's right. Sakura is going to be the maid of honor. The bridesmaids are going to be Hinata, Ino, Tenten, Anko and Temari. I've chosen Chouji, Kiba, Lee, Kakashi, and Asuma as my groomsmen. I didn't choose Shino or Neji because let's face it, they wouldn't really put on a smile even for a wedding."

Naruto laughed lightly. Shikamaru also mentioned Konohamaru was going to be the ring bearer and Moegi the flower girl. The wedding would be one week after Zemaria was to take the Jounin Exam. Sakura stopped in her tracks seeing Naruto. He was taller than she remembered and his clothes were different. The headband was different too. This had black fabric instead of blue like he used to.

"Hey Naruto!" Sakura ran over.

He turned around, "Sakura? Sakura! It's great to see you again!" He smiled.

She looked him over, "You've gotten taller. And you're clothes are different. I can't believe you look so much more mature than when you left."

"Ha ha. I suppose I have gotten taller in the last two years. You haven't changed a bit Sakura!" He said.

Sakura gave him her demon eyes and clocked him one. Of course she had changed. She filled in and also got a bit taller. Her appearance was a lot more womanly. Her strength was a lot fiercer. Naruto had got clear through a fence from that punch. Shikamaru and Temari were a bit scared of her strength.

"Oh, Temari and I need to get going," Shikamaru said.

"Going? Going where?" Naruto asked standing up.

"I've been given the mission of being Temari's escort during her stay in the Village for the Chuunin Exams. It's such a drag but I have to do it," he answered uninterested.

"I see. Well, I'll just check in with Grandma Tsunade. I was supposed to do that once I got back but I got sidetracked," Naruto said parting ways with the two.

He started in the direction of the Hokage building. Kiba crossed his path with Akamaru. They changed a lot in the last two years as well. Akamaru for one was enormous. He wasn't the tiny little pup he once was. He was so big that Kiba was able to ride him instead of Akamaru riding in Kiba's jacket or on his head.

"Well look what we have here Akamaru! It's the kid!" Kiba gave a big smile.

"What the- Kiba? No way! Is that really you? Whoa, what happened to Akamaru?" Naruto was surprised to see them.

Kiba looked confused, "What do you mean what happened to Akamaru? He's the same as always."

Naruto stared at the huge dog, "Are you kidding me? He's huge! Last time I saw, he was always in your jacket or on your head."

"Oh!" Kiba laughed, "I guess I've spent so much time with him that I never realized how much he had grown."

Naruto and Kiba caught up with each other for a few minutes before Shino showed up. Hinata was on her way to meet the both of them until she saw Naruto and decided to shyly hide.

"Long time no see... Naruto," Shino said in his usual creepy way.

"Mm... who are you?" Naruto asked staring closely at him.

Shino said, "Surely you of all people wouldn't forget about your friend."

Naruto looked closer at Shino, "Um- nope. Not ringing a bell."

He grew frustrated, "Come on, there's no way you could ever forget me."

Naruto shrugged. Shino wore a different jacket. This one had a hood and his sunglasses were more like sun goggles. Of course Naruto wouldn't recognize him and he told him that.

"Naruto is back. I didn't even know. What do I do?" Hinata asked herself.

Naruto had a feeling she was around, "Hinata? Is that you?"

He walked over to where she was trying to hide. Hinata started blushing a bit as he waved and smiled at her. What was she going to do? He was coming over to her.

"Are you okay? You're looking a little red in the face," he said placing a hand on her forehead gently.

She of course fainted. After keeping an eye on her until she woke up again, Kiba explained his team was given a mission and they were just waiting for Kurenai to meet up with them before they were to leave. Shino was super bummed out that Naruto didn't know who he was. He was also still upset over being the only one not on the Sasuke retrieval team.

Kurenai eventually came along and they too parted ways. Sakura during this had went on her way to find Tsunade to hand in the reports. Naruto kept making his way to Tsunade also. As he was casually on his way, Zemaria ran into him quite literally. She seemed to be in a huge hurry.

"Hey what's the big idea?" Naruto asked, "Zemaria? I didn't know it was you that ran into me."

"I'm so sorry Naruto. I'm in a hurry. I just found something out and I have to tell mother right away," she said, her voice was a bit shaky.

"She looks like she was crying," Naruto thought.

Zemaria asked him, "Something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'm on my way to the same place. Grandma Tsunade wanted me to check in with her once I got back to the Village," he said.

"Mind if I walk with you then?" She asked.

He shook his head, "No not at all. I don't mind."

They walked to the Hokage building together. She brought him up to speed about what had been going on in the Village. He told her how he saw Shikamaru and he told him the details of the wedding, everyone's ranks, and how he and Zemaria found their own place. They laughed as they reminisced about past missions and missions Zemaria had been on while he was off training.

Finally, they reached the building. Together they entered the room. Sakura was still there along with Jiraiya. Tsunade smiled seeing Naruto back in the Village. It had been quieter without him. The Village wasn't all quiet though as Zemaria kept things lively and kept everyone on their toes. She had about as much energy and spirit as Naruto.

"It's good to have you back in the Village Naruto," Tsunade said.

He laughed, "I'm glad to be back. Man, looking around at the place it feels so nostalgic."

"Mother, I have something I need to tell you," Zemaria interrupted their reunion.

"Hm, what is it?" She asked.

"Well- I- uh..." Zemaria started unsure of how to tell her.

"Just say what you need to say," she told her.

"Mother, I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

Naruto, Sakura, Tsunade, and Jiraiya all said in shocked unison, "What!?"

Tsunade nearly fell out of her seat, "Pregnant? Did you say you're pregnant!?"

She nodded, "Yeah, that's right."

"Shikamaru..." Tsunade cracked her knuckles.

"I know that look! Don't you dare even think about killing my Shikkie-Chan!" Zemaria yelled at her.

There was a sudden thud from outside the window. They all walked over and there on the ground twitching from shock was... Kakashi. He had been outside the window on the roof waiting for Tsunade to announce his presence. Jiraiya was so happy he was crying and going on about being a great grand god father. Or he could be considered a Great Uncle.

Sakura gasped, "Kakashi-Sensei?"

Zemaria blinked confused, "Where'd he come from?"

"Pregnant... so grown now," Kakashi said still twitching.

"Well this changes everything. I was going to have you, Naruto, and Sakura go up against Kakashi to see just how much you've all grown since squad seven was put together. I suppose I can still have Naruto and Sakura go up against him," Tsunade decided.

"Hey, does Shikamaru know this?" Asked Naruto.

"Do I know what?" Shikamaru asked entering the room.

"Shikkie-Chan!" Zemaria greeted him with a tackle.

Tsunade glared at him with evil eyes. Sakura told him the good news before Zemaria could get it out. The once confused look on his face turned to fear as he noticed Tsunade's expression. She looked like she wanted to kill him right then and there. It sent an eerie cold chill straight down his spine.

"Whoa! Hold on now! Don't look at me like that!" Shikamaru waved his hands in front of him.

"Relax, I'm not going to kill you. Zemaria would put me through a wall if I did that," she told him.

"Zemaria? Putting Tsunade through a wall?" Jiraiya thought doubting Zemaria could do that.

Shikamaru was paying a visit to Tsunade to give her progress information about the Chuunin exams. Kakashi got himself together and was back on the roof outside the window. He was holding his usual Make Out Paradise in his hand. Even now he couldn't put that raunchy book down. Naruto handed him Jiraiya's newest installment called Make Out Tactics.

Naruto and Sakura were curious to know how far along Zemaria was in her pregnancy. She told them only a couple of weeks but she had found out that morning. They didn't know what to say. The only one with the most reaction was Jiraiya. He was still bawling with happiness.

"I'm going to be a father," Shikamaru finally said as he placed an arm around her waist.

She looked at his expression, "Hm, interesting."

"What is?" He asked.

"Well I thought you were going to say "this is going to be such a drag" or something along those lines like you normally do."

"No, I'm very much happy about this," he placed his other hand on her stomach.

Zemaria suddenly looked terrified, "Oh god."

Shikamaru asked confused, "What? What's wrong?"

She face palmed herself, "I just thought about what your dad's reaction might be. You know how he kept interfering with us getting too close. If you think Mother is bad I can't imagine your father."

"You're right. He had tried to do everything possible to keep us from- well..." Shikamaru said trailing off at the end.

"Hold on," she said and paused, "this means that... I won't be able to go on missions for nine months!"

She started crying and dropped to her knees. This was a very big deal since it was pretty much her income as a Shinobi to go on mission. It was also an opportunity to get out of the Village and meet new people and see new places. Shikamaru knelt down beside Zemaria and placed a hand on her shoulder.

She added, "Now I have to wait to take the Jounin Exam too!"

"Hey, it's not that bad," he told her.

"You just don't understand. You hate missions and anything that seems like too much work. Lazy," she said still pretty much crying.

"Oh man, if this is what pregnancy does then this is going to be a drag," he said.

She gave an evil eye and face palmed him across the room. Everyone were taken back by her reaction and had wide eyed expressions. Kakashi poofed away during all of this to go read his book.

"And I thought Tsunade was bad," Jiraiya thought.

"Geez and I thought Sakura was bad," Naruto thought.

After everyone got themselves together again, Shikamaru gave Tsunade his report. Sakura and Naruto left to get some last minute training in before they had to battle Kakashi. Zemaria and Shikamaru had been invited to his parents' house for dinner that night. They sat at the table. Shikamaru barely touched his food.

"You know, you've been fiddling around with your food since you got it. Is something wrong?" Shikaku asked him.

Shikamaru's hand was shaking. Zemaria placed her hand on his. His hand started to calm down. He was clearly nervous about telling them the news.

"Uh? I- well the thing is-," Shikamaru started.

"We're pregnant!" Zemaria blurted out... again.

Shikaku almost choked on his tea and dropped the cup, "You're what!?"

Yoshino smiled lightly, "Oh my goodness. Our little Shikamaru is going to be a father!"

Shikamaru placed a hand on Zemaria's over his other hand. Yoshino picked up the pieces of the cup that broke after Shikaku dropped it. After everything was cleaned up, they had a long conversation about why they were still too young to be having kids.

"Shikamaru, you're still a kid yourself. You're far too young to be reproducing at your age," he tried to tell him.

"Well it's too late to change things now. Man..." Shikamaru said.

"If you say 'what a drag' I'll smack you again," Zemaria cut him off.

They headed back home. It had grown pretty late. The two got ready for bed lying next to each other. It wasn't long before they fell fast asleep. As they slept, Orochimaru was already in the Village. He made his way inside their bedroom. The night progressed on and Orochimaru just crept about and lurked in the shadows of the room until daylight.

He watched as Zemaria rolled on to her back, stretched her arms, and began to open her eyes. He walked out of the shadows and over to her bed. Seeing him, she sat up.

"Father, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"I'm here for the wedding remember?" He said.

"Yeah I know but that's not for another couple of weeks," she told him.

He smiled, "It's okay, I actually have permission to be here this time." He held up a visitor's pass.

She stared at it, "Amazing. You're actually here legitimately for once."

Shikamaru started to wake up. Orochimaru sat at the foot of their bed. Like a number of guys, Shikamaru slept without a shirt even without his fishnet shirt. For some reason Orochimaru thought it was normal to just stare at him.

Shikamaru gasped, "Orochimaru!? Why on Earth are you here!?"

"Relax Shikkie, he's here legitimately this time. He decided to show up a couple of weeks early for the wedding."

"My you're very fit aren't you? I can see why my daughter chose you to spend her life with. Although from experience you don't seem to be very motivated when it comes to a lot of work," he observed.

Shikamaru was going to say something until there was a knock at the bedroom door. Shikaku came over looking for Shikamaru. Everyone went silent.

"Shikamaru, the Hokage wants you in her office right away," he informed him.

"All right dad. I'll be out in a minute," he told him.

Zemaria cleared her throat, "Father, do you mind?"

Orochimaru stared at her, "Mind?"

Shikamaru said it for her, "I don't think I want to be changing with you staring at me the way you were."

"Oh, I see. No problem," he said and walked over to the window and stared out.

Shikamaru changed into his usual outfit, gave Zemaria a kiss, and walked over to the door. As he opened it, Shikaku was standing there. Zemaria got up from the bed. Shikamaru walked past his father to start on his way to the Hokage. Shikaku realized that Orochimaru was standing there in the room.

"Orochimaru, it's been a long time since you were in the Village," Shikaku said.

"If you're going to ask me why I'm here, the answer is simple; I'm here for Zemaria's up and coming wedding," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Shikaku looked at her, "I was going to invite you to breakfast but I see you're preoccupied with other things."

"Zemaria, why don't you and I go around the Village like we used to so many years ago? It will be nice to revisit old memories," Orochimaru offered.

Shikaku reluctantly left them be. Together Orochimaru and Zemaria went out around the Village. They went to all of the places they used to stop at. Along the way they stopped to get breakfast. They had ended up spending the entire day together.

"I act like I don't want to really be around you anymore because of all the pain you caused me, but to be honest... I've missed you so much and how much time we had spent together in the short while you were around," she told him giving him a hug.

"I've missed those times too," he hugged her back.

Tsunade got wind of Orochimaru's arrival, "You got here really early."

Orochimaru smiled, "Tsunade, I see my arrival wasn't all undetected. Look at us; the three of us together in one place. We're like one happy family again."

"Don't get ahead of yourself Orochimaru. You were only allowed in the Village for one reason: Our daughter's wedding. After the wedding is over with you will leave without causing trouble," she told him.

They went on reminiscing about old times. Orochimaru told of stories from when he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were all kids and Sarutobi was their Sensei. Jiraiya was a pervert even way back then. He would peep at the girls' bathing while they bathed in the hot spring. Tsunade admitted back then that she would have sooner dated Orochimaru before she'd date Jiraiya.

"So that's how it all started," Zemaria said slyly.