~oOo Chapter 1: Meeting You Again oOo~

A lone man stood in the grassy fields, staring at a slanted kunai-shaped structure. Engravings are seen on its front, displaying numerous names. The names listed signify all the ninja who died in service to the Hidden Leaf. For all the blood and sacrifice spilt for the sake of the village, a Memorial Stone was built in their honor. A shinobi's death shed for love and peace. What an honor to die for one's village. To ensure that it continues to grow, and the trees to sprout its little leaves for the new generation to come.

Though in death they are gone, but in the hearts of their loved ones their memories are preserved. A soft breeze gently brushes the man's silver hair as he continues his reverie, remembering the days when the two of them would always be in conflict. Their skills, ideas, and characteristics were completely different. He was the cool and collected one, while he was loud and brash. He would go for the best route, yet he would do the opposite. He was the top of his class, but he was the dead last. It was a funny thing really how different they were. But when put together, they were a team. From behind his dark blue mask, a small smile graces the man lips. They were a team. He was his best friend, and he was his. Obito Uchiha.

Kakashi looks at his friend's name. Almost every day, the masked jōnin would visit Obito's memorial grave. His body wasn't retrieved as he was crushed and buried by large rocks. He sacrificed himself without thinking of his well being. Obito saved him. Not just from death, but as a person as well. Kakashi remembers the days when would act cold and only deem anything good if they were useful to him. Friendship was not essential. Only the mission was important. He would do anything in order to complete the mission. Even if it meant sacrificing his comrades.

"In the ninja world, those who break the rules and laws are regarded as scum, but those who would abandon either one of their friends are worse than scum. I'm scum anyway, so I'm gonna choose to break the rules. If doing that somehow makes me less than a true shinobi, then I'll just go and crush all of the so-called real shinobi."

Obito's conviction shook Kakashi. His words pierced his cold heart. When he died, his ideals were passed down onto him just as the Sharingan that now inhibits his left eye. Kakashi is Obito Uchiha's living legacy. And it is his will to pass it down to the next generation.

Kakashi looks up at the clear blue sky. He chuckles softly as he thinks at how he had failed that part. Yes, he taught his three students Obito's words. But somehow, Sasuke never got his message. He was-how he'd put it-basically almost the same as the past Kakashi. No, the one that inherited Obito's will was Naruto. Every time he sees his blond student, he would see Obito in him. Their ideals. Their aspirations.

"And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage. Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody. Somebody important."

Kakashi eye smiles, wondering how his cute little genin was doing. Well, he guesses that Naruto wasn't that cute anymore. Now that he thinks about it, Naruto just turned fifteen three weeks ago. Kakashi pictures an older looking Naruto, but with the same goofy grin and brash attitude. The silver-haired jōnin crosses his arms, nodding his head in agreement. Just then, a voice breaks the peaceful silence he created.

"So this is where you are, Kakashi. Figures you would be here."

The masked jōnin turns around and was greeted by waist-length purple hair, dark brown eyes, and red-tinted lips turned into a small smile. Kakashi eye smiles and greets his long-time Anbu friend with a raised hand. "Hey there. Haven't seen you in a while."

Yugao shakes her head. "That's because I'm quite busy."

Kakashi puts both his hands on his pockets, looking up at the sky."Ah, lost in the road of life. Is that it?"

The purple-haired Anbu chuckles softly and walks toward the Memorial Stone, placing a bouquet of white roses at its base.

"Flowers for Hayate?"

Yugao nods. "Thought I should drop by. It's been a while since I'm temporarily free of my charge."

"Ah, how is our little firecracker doing these days?"

The Anbu heaves a deep and long sigh.

Kakashi sweatdrops, feeling a bit of remorse for his fellow Anbu. "I'm guessing it's no milk and honey."

She shakes her head and stands up. "You have no idea just how much I've had to control myself. For the first two weeks, I had the urge to take up my sword and just shut the girl up."

Another sweatdrop joins jōnin's first one. "You're exaggerating, right?"

The Anbu looks to the side. "I guess..."

A third sweatdrop sits beside the other two on Kakashi's forehead.

Yugao looks to the side. "It doesn't matter now anyway. Living together with her this past month, I think Ikari and I are starting to understand one another."

"Hmm, where is she anyway?"

"She's where she should be. And by the way–" She looks back at the silver-haired jōnin. "–my visit here isn't entirely in all honesty about...him."

He raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Lady Hokage sent me to retrieve you. It seems that your record for tardiness never fails its mark."

Kakashi eye smiles and rubs the back of his head. "Hehe, you got me there."

Shaking her head, Yugao takes her Anbu mask that hung by the right side of her hip and puts it on, concealing her face from view. "I'll be right by if anything happens."

Kakashi nods in understanding. "I'm guessing that Lady Tsunade is expecting them to arrive today." He chuckles softly. "This'll be interesting."

~oOoOoOo~

Underneath the multitude of leaves by the base of the tree line were two people walking down a rough road leading nowhere other than the village of their birthplace. The road may seem long and tedious, but for the pair of Leaf shinobi, the trip was worthwhile. After all, it's been a good two years and four months of hard work and training. And just the thought of going back home and getting to see everyone again makes the fifteen-year-old blond excited. His strides get longer, and his speed goes faster.

"Naruto." A voice calls from behind. But the fifteen-year-old didn't seem to hear it as he continues his fast pace. "Slow down, Naruto."

The second call seems to push through as the blond slows down, but only for a bit. He looks back at his white-haired perverted sensei. A grin paints his face as he points at the direction up ahead of them. "I can see it, Pervy Sage! I can see the village from way over here!"

Looking at where his student was pointing at, Jiraiya could see the top outlines of a large looming gate that could only belong to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. A wide smile lights up the man's face at seeing the familiar gates of his home. A welcoming sight for its returning shinobi.

"I wonder how everyone's doing. I wonder how much the village has changed," Naruto suddenly says.

Jiraiya shifts his gaze down to his student. He had a dazed look as if his mind was somewhere else other than his current position. Jiraiya walks over to his apprentice and places a hand on his shoulder. "Hey now, why so glum all of a sudden? I thought you were excited to go home, kid."

As that was said, Naruto seems to shake out from whatever trance he was in. Opting for his usual trademark grin, he looks at his master and salutes him. "Okay, let's go."

The master and student continue on their journey back home. It only took the two shinobi a few minutes to see the full view of the intimidating gate. And as they pass by under its gaze, Naruto felt happy. He was finally home. And that brought an ecstatic feeling down the pit of his stomach.

The two continue their way through the heart of the village, passing by the villagers as they were busy with their day to day lives. Laughs were heard. People talking and happily conversing with one another. Naruto smiles at the sight. "It's been about two and a half years."

"So it has," Jiraiya replies.

"It feels as though we haven't even left. The village still looks the same as I remember."

"Nah, it's all just in your head."

Naruto laughs. "Yeah, you're probably right. I just missed this all."

Suddenly, as idea pops inside his mind. Looking around, he notices a tall post that towers above almost all of the buildings. Grinning, Naruto concentrates his chakra on the soles of his feet, dropping his blue backpack and quickly climbing the post all the way to the top.

Putting his hand on his hip, Jiraiya chuckles as he looks up at his student. "Always rambunctious.

When the fifteen-year-old blond reaches the top, he spreads out his arms as he takes a grand look at the village of his birth. The wind brushes against his form, and he couldn't help but feel ecstatic again at the sight. "Now this takes me back! The village hasn't changed a bit! I'm home everyone! Naruto Uzumaki has returned to the Hidden Leaf Village!" He punches out his fist.

As his excitement goes down, Naruto puts both his hands on his hips, marveling at the sight before him. "Man, I'm feeling so nostalgic now." He looks around at every building, tree, and just about everything. Just then, his eyes wander at the great mountain where the stone carvings of every shinobi that took the mantle of being the Hokage. There were supposed to be only four of them, but now there was an extra face. And a familiar one at that. Naruto chuckles. "They added Grandma Tsunade's face up there."

"Naruto?! Naruto is that you?!" A voice suddenly says from below.

The blond looks down toward the ground and sees a sight that brings happiness in his heart. It was none other than his teammate, Sakura.

~oOoOoOo~

Inside the Hokage's office were three people. Sitting behind her desk was none other than the Hokage herself. Her attendant, Shizune, was pouring her a cup of tea as the blonde was busy giving instructions at their third companion.

She was a girl with long red hair that falls down to her hips. Her face was blocked by a cat-like mask with red wavy lines at each side, an arc from the left ear that comes down to the middle top, and marks going down at the inner eyehole. Though she doesn't wear their standard uniform, just by seeing her with that mask indicates that the girl does belong with the Leaf's Anbu black ops.

The Hokage was almost finished with her instructions to the Anbu girl. Though in truth, the redhead wasn't all that listening as her mind was somewhere else. Tsunade notices this even with the Anbu mask shielding the girl's face. She was the Hokage after all.

"Hey, are you even listening?!" Tsunade says impatiently.

"There are three shitheads coming over to see you," she says. "I think one of them is probably Pink Shit."

Shizune sighs, "Language."

"Don't really care," she casually replies back.

Tsunade heaves a sigh, ignoring the casual nicknames or insults that the redhead gives. "Language aside, I think your sensory skills are improving if you can now determine which individual chakra they belong to."

The Anbu nods, putting one hand on her hip. "Uzuki has been teaching me to sense and differentiate chakra, as well as in the arts of kenjutsu."

"That's good to hear. You're learning the skills that your clan possessed."

She nods her head, and then says something off topic, "When are you going to give it to me? The item I requested."

Tsunade looks at the girl. She has been asking about a flute recently, always bothering her whenever she has the chance. Tsunade laces her fingers under her chin, regarding the girl in all seriousness. "Five more months and your probation ends. For now, I want you to train hard under the Anbu I assigned to you. Is that understood, Ikari."

The girl looks to the side. A low growl could be heard emanating from her mask. "Alright, I understand." She then looks back at the Hokage. "But I want to know when are you going to stop calling me by that stupid f*cking label and actually start calling me by–you know–my real name?"

Tsunade was about to answer, when a sudden knock on the door stops her from doing so.

"F*cking timing."

Tsunade ignores foul tongue and waits for the door to open.

Sakura comes inside with Naruto and Master Jiraiya behind her. Seeing her own master and fellow apprentice, she gives a quick bow and excitedly steps to the side, pointing at her blond teammate. "Lady Tsunade, Shizune, look who's back!"

Tsunade and Shizune look at the guy Sakura was pointing at. Spiky yellow hair, three whisker marks on each side of his cheek, and a toothy grin that could no doubt belong to none other than the Leaf's blond knucklehead.

A smile lights up the Hokage's face. "Well, look who's gotten taller."

"It good to see you, Naruto!" Shizune beams.

Grinning, the blond genin puts both his hands by the back of his head. "Nice to see you guys too."

Jiraiya crosses his arms and huffs. "Hey, what about me? I came back too, ya know."

Tsunade waves her hand. "Of course, of course. We all know that."

The Toad Sage pouts. "Hmph, you guys don't appreciate me much, do you?"

Tsunade chuckles. "Oh stop being so overly dramatic, Jiraiya. It's good to see you."

"Alright, I'll forgive you just this once." A perverted grin appears on his face. "But only if you could do me a favor by helping me write my next novel. And I could only do that if you showed me your grand and bodacious bo–"

A fast flying projectile that is a cup filled with tea suddenly zooms in the room and lands a mark right in the middle of the white-haired Sannin's face.

Tsunade scowls. "I take back what I said. It wasn't good to see you, you pervert!"

Naruto, Sakura, and Shizune all had sweatdrops on their foreheads. Naruto kinda felt bad for his master, but he knew he had it coming. Sakura and Shizune on the other hand could only look on at their master's quick temper.

And as Jiraiya grabs his seemingly broken nose and writhes in pain on the floor, Sakura notices the other person standing inside the room. It was the young Anbu she'd recently seen this past month. Although she shouldn't fear any of their allies, it unnerved Sakura how the redhead could stare at them as if boring holes right through their heads.

Naruto notices his pink-haired friend's change of mood. "Hey Sakura, are you alright?"

When she didn't respond, he then turns his gaze to where she was looking at. It slightly startled him to know that there was another person inside the room besides them. It was an Anbu girl that was probably about the same age as them. Maybe older. She had hip-length red hair with two long bangs framing the sides of her face. Instead of the usual Anbu get up, she wore a black zip up vest with a short collar, white shorts that stops at the middle of her thighs with fishnets continuing down above her knees as well as covering both her biceps, black wristbands, and bandages that covered her lower legs down until it reaches her black ninja sandals. She also had the signature Anbu tattoo on her right shoulder.

The girl was staring at him, and Naruto couldn't help but stare as well, not just at her mask-covered face, but at her long red hair. He couldn't help but think that it was beautiful. Naruto shakes his head, while the Anbu slightly tilts her head to the side.

This silent conversation didn't go unnoticed by the two Sannin and attendant inside the room. The two women knew all too well what ties the two teens, while Jiraiya didn't recognize the girl at all. He knew all of the Leaf's Anbu's identities. She was probably new.

Tsunade coughs, breaking the silence. She looks at the girl. "You're dismissed, Ikari."

The redhead regards the Hokage for a moment, before casually heading towards the door.

Jiraiya lifts an eyebrow at that.

All of them watch as the Anbu passes them by. But a sudden knock on the door stops her advance. It opens up to two shinobi. One was a black-haired chūnin with a high ponytail, while the other one was a blonde jōnin from the Hidden Sand.

Sakura smiles at the faces of Shikamaru and Temari. She was about to greet the two and to tell them who was back, but it all falls silent as a sudden mass of killing intent fills up the room.

Temari's eyes widen at the heavy amount of KI directed solely on her. Sweat drips down her brow, and she immediately grabs her fan, staring daggers at the redheaded Anbu girl in front of her. "Who are you?"

"Oh, you don't remember me." She moves up her hand to free her mask.

Tsunade stands from her chair and glares at her. "Ikari, I order you to stand down!"

The redhead stops and slowly drops her hand, but her death glare didn't falter.

Before anything unnecessary could happen, Shikamaru tries to stand between the two girls, putting his hands up and planning the next two-hundred steps to calm things down. "Now wait just a second. We're all allies and friends here." He eyes the redhead as he says the last part. "So drop the weapons and the glaring and all. Everyone just take a deep breath and calm do-"

Suddenly, the girl's finger twitches, and Temari automatically goes for the attack. However, the blow never came as a purple-haired Anbu and a silver-haired jōnin suddenly appear. Kakashi grabs a hold of Temari's fan held hand, while Yugao places a hand on top of the girl's head.

Tension fills up the room as the two girls continue their glaring contest, ignoring the two shinobi by their side. Naruto and Sakura could only stare in confusion, while Jiraiya observes the tempered redhead. He shifts his eyes to Tsunade and gives her a look that says, 'We need to talk'. The blonde Hokage just nods an affirmative, before turning back her attention at the two.

Yugao looks at her young charge. She really was a handful. Chuckling to herself a bit, she pats her head and strokes the top of her hair. This technique seems to calm the girl. And gradually, her anger diminishes. Temari also seems to calm down, but was still wary. Shikamaru on the other hand breathes a sigh of relief, muttering about how troublesome women are.

Eyeing the girl one last time, Temari turns her attention to the blonde Hokage. "Lady Tsunade, may I ask why one of your Anbu tried to attack me?"

"Well actually, she didn't really attack y–" Shikamaru starts.

Temari glares at the chūnin.

He holds up his hands in defense. "Whoa, easy there. I'm on your side." He then casts a glance at the redhead, who in turn looks back at him.

Tsunade pinches the bridge of her nose. "Uzuki, please escort her out of this room before anything more regrettable things could happen."

Nodding her head, Yugao places her hand at the younger Anbu's back, leading her towards the door. The redhead looks one last time at the Sand shinobi, giving her a glare. Temari frowns and narrows her eyes, contemplating what the girl had said to her earlier. And before she got out, the girl shifts her eyes from the Sand girl to blond genin, catching his cerulean blue eyes with her hidden ones.

~oOoOoOo~

Tsunade drinks her cup of sake in one gulp, and then pours herself another. This cycle continues on for more than a few minutes before Tsunade groans and lies her head down on the table.

Jiraiya looks at his big busted companion, drinking his own cup of sake. He then puts it down and props his head on his right palm. "So..."

"So..."

"So...now that Team Kakashi is newly reformed and all, how about that explanation you promised me earlier."

Tsunade shifts her head and looks up at Jiraiya's steely eyes. Sighing, she sits up and pours herself another drink, before leaning back down on the couch. "What do you want to know?"

"That redheaded Anbu girl you have."

"You mean Ikari." She drinks up her sake.

Jiraiya nods. "I can tell that she's not just your ordinary shinobi for you to be lax about her not following orders."

Putting down her cup, the blonde sighs. "Well, you're completely right about that." She then looks at him in the eyes. "Let's just say that she's someone special."

He raises an eyebrow. "Oh, care to explain."

"She has...special chakra."

Jiraiya narrows his eyes. "Wait, special chakra? Are you saying that she's..."

Tsunade nods. "She is. And I'm keeping a close eye on her before anyone has a chance to take her away."

"Danzō. " It was a statement rather than a question.

She nods again, pouring herself another cup of sake.

"It's also the reason why you made the girl an Anbu."

"To keep her close."

"And to keep her a secret."

"Yes."

Jiraiya leans back on his seat. "Even if she is a member of that clan, it's not an excuse to just hide her from the world. There's still something you're not telling me, Tsunade. And I want to know what that is."

The blonde looks at her cup of sake, before drinking up its contents. She then looks back at her teammate, telling him everything.

~oOoOoOo~

Opening the door, Naruto switches on the light on the wall, illuminating the room. "Finally home sweet home! The old place hasn't changed a bit!" He beams. Taking off his sandals, he walks inside, his footprints leaving a mark on the dust-covered floor. "Oh, well bound to be a little dusty being closed up for a couple of years." Moving on toward the door to the small corridor and then to his bedroom, he opens it and switches on the lights.

Cobwebs littered the corners of the ceiling. There were also spiders crawling on their silky webs. Cracks on the walls were beginning to form. Dust covered all the furniture, as well as hanging above the stale air. Molds could also be seen here and there.

Naruto looks on, a bit unnerved and disappointed at the welcoming sight. Holding his breath, he quickly walks toward the window, putting down his backpack on his bed before opening the window. He coughs out the bad air and inhales good amount of fresh air. Looking back inside the room, he moves around the bed to his bedside drawer where a small picture frame can be seen. Dust covered its glass, and Naruto brushes it away with his right hand. It was their official Team 7 picture.

Picking it up, he smiles at it fondly as he sits back down on the bed. "You see, I finally made it back here, Sasuke." After a moment, he stands up and puts it back. He then stretches his arms, looking around his room. "Alright, I guess I'd better clean this up before I turn in."

Concentrating chakra, Naruto crosses his index and middle fingers in a familiar hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Six other Narutos appear in a cloud of smoke. The original Naruto puts both his hands on his hips, looking at each of his clones. "Alright you guys! Time to clean up! You two will clean this room, while two others on the bathroom. Me and the rest will handle the kitchen slash dining room." He then pumps his fist. "Okay, let's go!"

"Right!" the clones shout in unison.

~oOoOoOo~

It took only half an hour to clean and sweep away the dust everywhere in the whole apartment. After they were done however, all the Narutos came to the dining area and helped themselves with a cup of instant ramen. There were no other eatable foods inside the kitchen's cupboard as all were rotten or expired. Coincidentally, there was just enough instant ramen for the seven of them inside the original's backpack. Naruto didn't have a problem of sharing with other people. After all, the six of them were technically him, if not clones.

With a tired yawn, Naruto stands up from his seat. "Hey guys, I'm gonna head for the bed."

"Okay," one of them says.

"Goodnight, boss."

"Sweet dreams about Sakura-chan!" Another one salutes.

Blushing, Naruto rubs his head, and then makes a clone hand sign, dispelling the jutsu. Walking inside his room, he opens a small closet. There were a few clothes inside that didn't fit him anymore. One of the other things inside was his cute little black and white night cap. He smiles at it. Picking it up, he tries it on, but unfortunately it didn't fit him like it used to. Shrugging, he puts it back, mentally reminding himself to clean it one day. He might as well give it to someone who would use it.

Shutting the closet, he walks toward the bed. Opening the backpack sitting on top of the bed, he pulls out a light blue shirt. After that, he unzips his black and orange jacket, taking it off as well as his fishnet shirt. After that was done, next were his pants. But just as he grabs its casing, he suddenly hears something coming from the window. Checking it out, he looks outside. When he saw nothing there, he shrugs it off and turns back to the bed.

He puts on his light blue shirt and takes off his orange pants, leaving him in a pair of green shorts. And as he sits down on the bed ready to sleep, the blond notices a piece of neatly folded paper on top of his bedside drawer. Reaching for it, he opens it up and reads what it says.

Naruto tilts his head to the side. "Huh?"