The Homecoming

10 years later

"Kakashi we must hurry! We shall be late for our meeting with Tsunade-sama! If we are late because of you, I challenge you to 2,000 laps around Konoha! YOSH!"

The silver haired man ignored his companions statements.

"If Tsuande-sama really thinks I will be on time to even a meeting with her, she is sorely mistaken."

The two jounins arrived at Hokage tower and began up the stairs. When they arrived at the floor which Tsunade's office was on, they could hear more voices.

"Rin, Anko, what are you two doing here?" Kakashi acknowledge his former teammate and the other woman before leaning against the opposing wall.

"Tsuande-sama requested both Rin and myself to join in on your meeting today. Something about top secret bullshit and other stuff." Anko replied smoothly as she plucked a senbon needle between her teeth.

Kakashi nodded in understanding and pushed himself from the wall when the door opened.

Walking in he could tell Tsuande was not happy, and worried it had to do with their meeting. Jiraiya sat in the corner of the room, feet up on the edge of Tsuande's desk, looking hungover from the night before. Kakashi wondered if the two had been drinking late into the night hours again.

Rin bowed in respect,"Tsuande-sama, you asked to see us all?"

The large busted woman nodded, then quickly scanned the room, "We're missing one person, and I refuse to begin without him. Where is Asuma?"

Almost as if on que, a knock fell on the still open door and the smell of cigarette smoke followed it.

"Guess I'm not the only one who got the memo." Sarutobi Asuma entered the room and joined his friends and fellow jounins.

"Yes, well the matter at hand concerns all of you. I still haven't quite wrapped my head around it, and Hatake before you say anything, I have NOT been drinking." She said, glancing his way.

There goes that theory

Standing up, she motioned for the 5 adults to follow her.

"Jiraiya! Stay here and don't let anybody come in before I get back." The toad sage nodded and fell back into slumber.

The 6 ninja's moved down the stairs the had just come up, then moved down a new hall, a few floors below.

"Where are we? Looks like a hospital wing. Rin?" Gai asked.

The small woman shook her head, "I have no idea. I've never seen this place, even when sensei was alive I don't recall this place." She answered softly.

"That's because when I became Hokage, I had to added to Hokage tower. We built it so we could keep high risk paitents out the main hospital. I thought it was the best place to put her." Tsuande had stopped.

"Her? Who's her?" Anko asked.

Tsunade turned to face them. It was then they all became on guard, seeing the look and confusion and frustration on her face.

"I take it you all remember the tragedy of the Yuuhi Clan ten years ago, correct?" They all nodded in response.

"We lost a friend that day. A very good friend. Why bring this up Tsuande-sama? The remembrance ceremony was over a month ago..." Kakashi squeezed Rin's hand softly as she spoke. Rin had lost her best friend that day, when the compound went up in flames. There were no survivors.

Asuma had become quiet at Rin's comment. No one in the hall way needed to ask what he had lost that day. He had finally begun to accept it after a decade of suffering alone.

"We knew there was no way that anyone, ninja or not, could survive the hell of that night. We still don't have all the answers as to why it happened. Never the less, we are here and I am now demanding answers. But first, I thought you should know about it before the word gets out." They all shot a subtle glance at Asuma.

"I want you all to go into this room and tell me what the fuck is going on?!"

Swiping a key card at the door handle, the light flashed green and the door unlocked. Ushering the others into the room, Tsuande moved to the end of the lone bed and grabbed the clip board from the small holder.

Occupying the bed, was a woman around 24 years of age. Her place skin greatly contrasted against the light blue sheets of her bed. Her long black hair rivaled that of a raven's wing, shinning in the sunlight coming from the window next to her. On her one visible arm were cuts, scratches and bruises. A rather large bandage covered what they assumed was a large gash on her neck. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes were barely closed, the smallest touch of red could be seen through her full lashes. She seemed so strange, yet so familiar.

"What is this? This is not funny Tsunade-sama. Who is she?!" Asuma half asked, half demanded.

Tsuande silently handed the clip board to Rin, who dropped in the instant she read the name on the patient identification. Picking up the board, Kakashi struggled to get the words out of his mouth, all while holding a shaking Rin to his side.

"It's...Kurenai."