Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Summary: Leaving the leaf village with a promise that he'll return and become Hokage, Naruto leaves with Jiraiya after they had secured Tsunade-hime as the new hokage and finally came back 3 years later to fulfill that promise to Tsunade-hime. Three years on the road had changed him mentally and physically…he became different. But his return still remain a surprise to many people who had almost forgotten about him

Warnings: No Pairings yet…I'll warn you if there is

Things To Look Out For:

'' –talking

Italics – thinking

---------- - change of scene

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Hoshigaru

By xxSilverWingsxx

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They had spent only three years on the road. Naruto didn't want to admit it, but he missed his home. Home, where he didn't have to run for his life when missing-nins came to take his head. During those 3 years, Naruto had gained a name. A name that still sent shivers down many people's spines even though they had been friends of the blonde boy. Naruto still kept his orange jumpsuit but had decided to get a facemask which covered his mouth and nose, leaving his eyes open to the world. Jiraiya had not known what had happened for the boy to want face mask, but he shrugged it off saying the boy could do whatever he wanted. Even though Jiraiya was the boy's guardian, their powers were almost on the same level.

Naruto had worked hard to surpass his guardian and became more serious about it. Even though he still acted like his 12 year old self, Naruto had calmed down a bit and took up reading, instead of talking like before. Whenever he encountered a jutsu in his books, Naruto made sure he could do it, with or without instructions. It was a dangerous hobby since Naruto did not know the downside of the jutsu. But he didn't care, knowing that kyuubi was there to help him. While he copied jutsus, he also formed them into something that was more useful. He did not know when he become so interested in the history of the ninjas, but he had and he made good use of it.

Long forgotten jutsus and skills were remembered when Naruto made sure that he could do it. Three years was a lot of time for Naruto. Especially, when Naruto slowly perfected his chakra after a talk with kyuubi to combine their powers. No longer was his chakra wasted, instead he took good care to make sure that he used the exact amount and no more than he needed. His chakra had the power to heal almost everything and Naruto did not waste that gift.

He stayed up all night reading new books and learning new jutsus, and whenever he was overcome with weariness, Naruto would use his chakra to heal himself back up. And god, what stamina he had. He had not wanted to depend on the kyuubi, so while their powers were merdge, Naruto made sure he used mostly his own power and not Kyuubi's. And he had expanded his stamina even more by taking up running as a new hobby. And it was fun, running through the forest as he instinctively avoided objects while he read and took notes on jutsus that he should try when he finished his warm-up.

He and Jiraiya had not talked much over the three years that they traveled together. While Jiraiya researched for his books, Naruto trained to out-power everyone. They only talked at breakfast and dinner when they ate together. Sometimes, Naruto would ask Jiraiya for help on understanding something a bit more. And they had gained respect for each other that way.

They usually moved on from village to village every few months, never wanting to be remembered. Jiraiya was more famous than before for his books as he jolted down more notes to add to his books, even though he was already infamously known by the ladies who had happened to become part of his books.

Moreover, that was how they traveled for the three years. It was on their third year that they ran out of new places to go. So they decided to go home instead and visit for a bit before they might visit somewhere else again.

And that was where Naruto stood third years later. He stood outside the gates watching the people inside the village as they moved around, busy with life. Naruto was itching to go to the nearest bookstore or library to find another book to add to his collection. Even though Naruto traveled light, he had learned about a jutsu that created his own private dimension hole that would let him store everything he needed, a forgotten and forbidden jutsu. And it was almost like a giant backpack that didn't slow him down, and gave him access to everything he needed. He had not told Jiraiya about it yet, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

Naruto quietly followed Jiraiya as he led them to the hokage's office. "Tsunade-hime would be please to see that you're back," Jiraiya commented as the villagers stared at them, many of them forgetting the boy in front of them, but yet some of them recognized him and had whispered among their friends.

"So you say," Naruto muttered quietly as they stood in front of the office. Two jounins stood outside the office and had immediately let the two in recognizing Jiraiya one of the three legendary sennin.

"Oi! Tsunade-hime, look who I brought back," Jiraiya smirked as he stared at the 30 year old looking lady in front of him, who was glaring at a bunch of reports.

She moved the glare to Jiraiya but it softened when the old man moved away letting her view the 16 year old boy behind the old man. She smiled as she enveloped the boy in a giant hug. Her eyes got teary when the boy returned it. "I've missed you," he said quietly as she kissed him on the forehead. "I've missed you too!" She announced as she moved back to stare at the boy in front of her.

He looked the same, minus the harden eyes and the facemask.

"I guess you guys are tired from your trip and would like a place to stay?" She asked smiling at the boy. He nodded. "You have your old house still. Because you warned me that you were coming back, I left everything intact and clean. S,o you may go back home while I have a talk with Jiraiya," she said as she shoo-ed the boy out of the door. "And I want to talk to you too tomorrow," She said smiling as she gave him another kiss on the forehead before the door shut in his face.

Naruto rose an eyebrow at what had happened. He went around town to see how much it had changed. Not too long after, he went to the library and the bookstore to add more to his humungous collection.

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"What the hell did you do to him? He's so quiet," She growled looking threateningly at Jiraiya. "Hey, it's not my fault the boy shut himself off," Jiraiya said holding his hands up defensively. "I took care of him like you told me to, how was I supposed to know that he would change. Besides…he's just shy, give him a few more days and he'll be almost back to normal," Jiraiya assured Tsunade-hime, who looked like she was about to kill him and made sure to stuff his corpse somewhere where no one would be able to find it. Instead, she sighed before dropping back into her seat behind the desk.

"Glad to see you back though, we're getting lots of troubles lately." She said getting serious as she held up some papers for Jiraiya to read.

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Naruto was currently sitting outside his house currently reading quietly as he waiting for Tsunade-hime to send someone over with his keys. He was too lazy to actually transport into the house, but anything was better than this hot weather. He had forgotten how hot it could be in the leaf village. He sighed before he closed his eyes and poured his chakra into moving himself into the house on the astral plains before he released his chakra, appearing in the middle of the room(1). His laziness could almost rival Shikamaru now.

Naruto cracked his neck as he got up to look around the house. Yep…it was going to be an adjustment if he was going to settle back home. He sighed as he took off his orange jumpsuit, before appearing back outside where he took out his book to read while he ran.

It was a different experience running while you avoided people who walked on the roads, browsing through stores and working. He was used to running through forest, having an early warning if a tree or rock was in front of him, but people were stimulating, always changing and never the same. And it was easy entertainment when he jumped over a child who was playing on the dirt ground and twisted his body to avoid a man who was carrying loads of fruits to place on the stand. Overall, it was good training, practicing his senses.

Naruto wasn't really paying attention to the book in front of him. He had already read it a few times, and knew the history from four different points of views. However, it was nice to grasp each view and decide which one you like better and forming your own thoughts and ideas.

"Naruto!" a voice called out to him. Naruto stopped in his tracks as he placed away his book in his pant pocket and looked towards the direction that the voice had came from. Immediately, he was tackled by Sakura, who he had caught in his arms as she wrapped her arms around him for a hug. He stumbled back a bit from the force as he stiffened for a second when she hugged him before he returned it.

"You are back to stay?" she asked as she pulled back from the hug to view the boy in front of her.

He has grown, was the first thing that she noticed when the boy towered over her, his deep blue eyes, penetrating her soul with his gaze. She glanced over her shoulder to wave her friends over before she gave him a smile.

"Did you get a scar or something? Is that why you're wearing a mask?" Sakura asked as she fingered the mask around his lips. He shook his head and held up a hand to the people behind her.

He untangled himself and stepped back to stare at the group in front of him. Sakura had grown up beautifully; her forehead finally looking normal while she grew taller and more slender. Her form was accentuated with the shirt and shorts that clung to her every curve. Behind her stood Lee, who looked exactly the same as before; with his bushy eyebrows and bowl cut hair and shiny white smile.

Next to him stood Neji, whose eyes had softened; his face more feminine than handsome. Beside him was Hinata who looked at him with a smile. Her hair was the same as always but she had abandoned the jacket and pants for a shirt and skirt that let her move more freely and comfortably. Kiba was next to her adorned in the same outfit with his arm slung around her shoulder as his dog rested on top of his head.

Shikamaru and Chouji was next to each other as Shikamaru also looked the same while Chouji carried a giant bag of chips, which he was currently eating out of.

Ino and Tenten were gazing at Naruto as Ino dressed in a comfortable shirt and shorts while tenten favoured a dress that did not hinder her movements and yet clung to her curves.

And last of all, Sasuke stood a bit away from the group as he grew up to become a replica of Itachi. His eyes were stained a permanent red from the Sharingan and he had abandoned his blue shirt for a black one instead.

All in all…the group had not changed much Naruto's three year's absent.

All of the young ninjas in turn stared at the blonde-hair boy in front of them. Naruto had changed. Long gone was the clumsy, cheerful blue-eyed boy. Instead, the boy had become calm and quiet while sporting a pair of serious eyes and a facemask that covered his mouth. He had the same outfit minus the orange jacket. And they could see despite them being shoved into his pockets that his arms were covered with bandages all the way to his fingertips.

"Long time no see," Naruto said quietly breaking the silence that had fallen on everyone as he lightly fidget from the stares. They shivered. His voice too had change. It was smooth and quiet, unlike his usual happy-go-lucky voice.

"When did you come back Naruto?" Sakura asked as she force a smile at the blonde hair boy. "Just a few minutes ago," he said quietly, kicking a loose rock.

They all glanced at each other for a second, not knowing what to say.

"We're happy to have you back," Hinata said shyly. "Thanks," he said smiling slightly under his mask.

"Nehhhh, why don't we all go out to eat? Since Naruto's here, he can join us," Ino said as she moved forward to grab a hold of Naruto. He blinked for a second before he found himself dragged into a nearby restaurant.

"Welcome, how many people do you guys have?" A waiter asked as he grabbed some menus. "We have eleven people," Neji spoke as the waiter led them to a far corner that was big enough for fifteen people. He left the menus on the table as he went off to the kitchen.

Naruto plopped down into the nearest seat with Neji on his right and Sakura on his left. Lee sat next to Sakura and Tenten sat next to Lee. Sasuke sat next to Tenten while Ino sat next to Sasuke and Chouji sat next to Ino leaving Shikamaru resignedly sitting next to Chouji and Kiba next to him with his Akamaru still on his head and Hinata between Kiba and Neji.

"Hi! I'm your waitress tonight, can I get you guys anything to drink?" a girl practically jumped up to them, surprising the whole group. "Water, please." Naruto muttered quietly while everyone agreed with him. "Alright then, two…four…six…eight…ten…eleven waters!" she said happily as she bounced off to another table.

"Ohhh…look…they have sushi, noodles, and rice," Ino squealed happily. "Idiot...of course they would…" Shikamaru said boredly.

She glared at him before she returned back to the menu. "Neh…what would you guys like?" Hinata asked quietly as she also picked up a menu.

"Lets get a bit of each, so we can all share," Sakura said excitedly as her eyes roamed the whole menu.

"Whatever you want," Naruto said shrugging. The rest of the boys agreed, none of them wanted to get on a girl's bad side anyways. "Ohh…lets get 4 rolls, and then…2 noodles and 3 rice plates?" Tenten asked excitedly. "That sounds good…lets get a variety though, so that way we can all try something new," Ino said as she scanned the list of food.

At this point, the boys tuned the girls out, huddling together to talk while letting the girls decide.

"I heard their curry noodles are good," Hinata said shyly.

"You idiot…Akamaru is going to shed on my food…" Shikamaru complained while the girls chose the food.

"…My dog does not shed fur you wimpy guy who listens to girls!" Kiba yelled outloud, eeping when the girls and Shikamaru shot glares at him.

"I'll shut up now…" he mumbled as Ino nodded glaring at him.

"Anyways…lets do it this way then…11 miso soup, 2 fried calamari, 2 sashimi mix and…2 nigiri plates. 1 chicken katsu curry and 1 udon noodle, 1 pork teriyaki 1 ginger beef, and 1 tempura shrimp plate," Ino said as she listed the food.

"That sounds great," Tenten agreed. Slowly, everyone else agreed and waited for their waitress to come back with their water.

"I'm sorry about the wait," the waitress said as she came back with 11 glasses of water. "I guess you guys are ready to order?" She said smiling sweetly.

"Yes can we have…," Ino said as she repeated the list.

"Anything else?" the waitress asked sweetly. "No," Hinata said smiling back.

The waitress came back with surprisingly quick speed with their miso soup compare to the wait with the water. She had set the eleven bowls of soup in front of each operson before she left. Naruto had waited for the waitress to leave before he stopped them from digging into their soup.

"Don't drink it," Naruto ordered as he took out a needle. He placed it in everyone's bowl and smiled slightly when it came out the same color. But his eyes darkened when the color changed after dipping it in his soup.

"Does that mean…" Hinata asked…her voice trailing off.

Naruto didn't respond. Instead he stared at the soup before he took out took an empty scroll and started writing in it. When he finished writing, he poured the soup in the middle of the circle that he had drawn.

When he replaced the empty bowl, in the middle of the circle stood the word gekiyaku (poison I think?). He frowned before he tied up the scroll and placed it on his pocket.

"Just eat the miso, and pretend nothing happened," Naruto ordered before he leaned back and closed his eyes while the others listened to his command, silently pondering about this new Naruto.

"So…how goes those damn evil snakes that tried to take over the world…" Lee said as the whole group fidget nervously.

"Idiot," Neji commented making Lee glare at him.

"EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE MY RIVAL! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL THIS WONDERFULLY STRONG HANDSOME RIVAL AN IDIOT!" Lee bawled as the rest of occupants of the restaurant stared at them.

"I'm sorry for the wait, here's your appetizer," the waitress said smiling as she placed down the fried calamari and left, not before glancing at the boy in front of her. Like before, Naruto took out his needle and poked at the food only to smile when he realized they were safe. He took a bite out of the fried calamari and ate as if nothing was going on. The others followed his lead.

"Don't worry," Naruto said as he took another bite. "You guys will be fine, she's aiming to kill me though," Naruto said this as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"What are you doing here then?" Sakura muttered annoyed at Naruto for being so calm when his life is at stake.

"Finding out who's behind this," he said smirking. "This is pretty good," Naruto added as he took another calamari. The others sighed exasperatedly as the waitress brought out more food, still continued to stare at Naruto every so often.

"I hope you guys enjoy it," she said smiling happily before she retreated back to the kitchen. Carefully, Naruto poked at the foods and nodded at them before he served some noodle for himself. The others sighed as they did as he told.

"They actually have really good food," Naruto said smiling slightly when he noticed the waitress watching his every move. "Only you can say that when someone tries to kill you," Neiji said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ouch..that hurt," Naruto said calmly before he went back to his meal.

The meal ended up fine, minus the soup. "I'll pay," Sasuke nodded as he stood up.

"No...I will," Naruto said smiling slightly as he got up and pushed Sasuke back down.

Naruto whistled as he went up to the cash register to pay. "I hope you enjoyed our meal," the waitress said as she rang up the price. Naruto paid calmly before he turned around and collapsed on the gound.

The girl smirked before she stood next to the body and kicked it gently. When it didn't move, she stood up and smirked at the ten people who had ran to Naruto as soon as he fell.

"I don't see why you're so happy to see me dead," Naruto said as he appeared behind her with a kunai at her throat. She growled when she realized he got her.

"You made it so obvious at the beginning, you know?" Naruto said calming in her ear. "And it been only a year since I last saw you, Kanouri," Naruto whispered as he tightened his hold on her. "I still don't see why you want me dead so much," Naruto whispered smoothly.

"You took everything away from me," she growled as she dropped her jutsu revealing a thirteen year old girl with light brownish redish hair and brownish eyes.. Naruto smirked. "Don't you mean…your parents took everything from you? Seeing how your parents wanted to fight me and it's not my fault they wouldn't leave me alone till they died." Naruto's smirk deepened as blood dripped down her neck, the kunai gradually cutting into her skin.

"Kill me then," she whispered dangerously. "Or one day you'll suffer for letting me go again," she growled. "If that's what you want sweetie," Naruto said kissing her ear. "I'll grant you your wish then,"

And then, he slit her throat, dropping her onto the ground carelessly.

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Do you like?? Teehee..ending ending…whooo!!!