Disclaimer: I dont own Naruto or any of the characters. This is a fanfic and nothing more.

I do want to thank Greaser97 and BackYard for their review and suggestions.

I also want to thank Insomnia009s, and Comrade N for their reviews. I appreciate all the help I can get to make this story better.

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The sun shone brightly in Konoha the next day. Naruto could attest to that fact as it shone right onto his face rudely disturbing the first night of uninterrupted sleep he'd had in three years. "Note to self, buy dark curtains" He grumbled to himself as he slid out of bed and automatically felt the cold of the dust floor under his feet. "Ugh! Guess I'll clean this place up before I do anything else today." It was a blur of green, white and gold as Naruto tore through his tiny apartment sweeping and dusting, mopping and washing every surface he could reach until the small living space was squeaky clean.

He collapsed into the only chair in his apartment which sat at the only table. Looking around he realized just how small his home is. "Maybe I should talk to baa-chan about getting a bigger place." just then a new thought occurred to him as his stomach began to growl at him for lack of food. "He-he, oh yea....hm I wonder if the instant ramen in the cupboard will be any good anymore?" Taking the cup and opening it it was just fine, he added his water and popped it into the only electronic in the place, save the lamp on his night stand, the microwave. After a minute he was sitting at his table, chop sticks in hand "ITADAKIMASU!" he exclaimed and dug in.

Going to his closet he was horrified that all he had was orange. For the longest time he had the urge to change his wardrobe, but...being on the move so much dictates wardrobe can wait until the mission is complete. Being so limited he decided to shower and throw on some clean boxers. Coming back out he put on a pair of his orange pants and a black tank top that showed off his new muscular, yet still lean physique quiet well, along with his black sandals and hitai-ate holding down his blond hair in the front.

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Strolling through the streets wasn't as different as he hoped it would be. People still stopped and stared at him, the older crowd still pulled in their children and grand-children and told them to stay away from him, occasionally catching the words "demon" and "monster."

"Tsk, you should let me out more often kit, then we'll show them what a real monster is." came the voice from the back of Narutos head, that only he could hear.

'I don't think so, its bad enough everyone thinks I'm a freak already but at least they let me live. I don't need them having a real reason to skin me alive.'

Getting caught up in the argument with the Kyuubi, Naruto had stopped paying attention to where he was going and walked right into a young beautiful blond woman carrying flowers.

"BAKA! Watch where your going to stupid mother-" A surprised look stuck to her face as she looked up into the bright blue eyes above her with her own teal blue ones. "Naruto? Is that you?"

He couldn't resist the giggle, "Yea its me Ino-chan. How have you been?...Ino?....Ino?" Snapping his fingers in front of her face brought her out of her daze

"Huh? What? Oh..um I've been just fine Naruto. When did you get back into the village?" She asked standing up and dusting herself off before picking up the flowers she dropped.

"Oh I got back in last night...." That was all she heard as she got caught up staring dreamily into his eyes.

'Mmmm, Naruto sure has grown up...I want those muscly arms wrapped around me and....WHAT AM I THINKING?!'She shook her head to listen again but Naruto was just staring at her. "What? Did I fall in something?" she twirling around trying to check herself.

"No but you were drifting off their for a minute. Hey I have an idea, why don't we catch up while we go shopping? I need to get rid of all the orange in my closet." That was all she needed to hear, she dropped the flowers with her mother and they took off together.

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Ino was rolling around the floor of the clothing store laughing hysterically as Naruto, dressed in a green leotard jumped out of the dressing room and struck his best "nice guy pose." Trying to pull herself together Ino was finally able to sit up, "Stop! Stop! That's enough Naruto, I cant breathe." was all she was able to get out while still gasping for air.

The next outfit shocked Ino into silence. It wasnt shinobi gear, he and Ino had picked out enough of that, this was a make her mouth water and knees weak outfit.

Naruto stepped out of the changing room wearing a short sleeve, collard button down shirt that fit his muscular form nicely. It started out a deep red at the hem and slowly mingled upwards into a dull orange and again into a bright yellow that seemed to flow effortlessly into his hair causing his bright blue eyes sparkle and stand out even more. His pants were a dark denim, not really black but not really blue either with the leaf symbol on the right back pocket. His feet were now encased in a pair of black leather boots. Finally the last piece caught her eye the most, the dark denim jacket, the same as the pants only a fox on the back its nine-tails spreading out from shoulder to shoulder.

"What do you think Ino? Does it suit me?" He asked smiling while the blond girl stared mesmerized at him.

"Wow!" Was the first thing that came from her mouth, she realized how much excitement it contained and quickly changed her direction "Who knew the number-one-hyper-active-ninja could clean up so well."

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Ino and Naruto went their seperate ways after Naruto treated her to some ramen and they caught up on the past three years. Naruto told her of someof the new techniques he picked up and some of the near deaths he had because of his sensei and his "research" he air-quoted.

Ino told him of her training with Asuma, Shikamaru and Chouji and how far her mind techniques had come. She told him how she was in a relationship with Shikamaru for the first year but they decided to just stay good friends. She also told him about how Sakura was still hell bent on finding Sasuke and making him hers. At her name Naruto moved his had to his scar without realizing it.

"Can we please not talk about the bitch and the teme." He asked, his head drooping a bit and his smile fading.

Ino was about to apologize when a hand came in through the curtains of the little ramen stand and rested on Narutos shoulder.

Swiveling around on the stool, Naruto was face to face with his first sensei from the academy and a wide smile came across his face. "Hey Iruka-sensei, long time no see."

"Yes it has been a long time Naruto, and I wish we had some time to catch up but Lady Tsunade wants to see you in her office, right now." Said the young man with his hair pulled back in a pony tail, dressed in a blue long sleeved shirt, blue pants, and blue sandals. The most defining mark about this young man was the scar across his nose.

"Ok." Naruto said before slurrping down the last of his miso ramen and turning to Ino. "Maybe I'll see you around again Ino. Be safe on your walk home." Naruto paid for both of their meals, turned and headed off to the Hokage tower.

"See ya around Naruto!" Ino said in a low breathe and was astonished when Naruto waved to her without turning around. 'Did he actually hear me?' she thought to herself. Bowing to old man Ichiraku and Ayame and turned on her heel and headed for home.

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Naruto and Iruka walked leisurley on their way to the Hokages office, chatting about how they had been since they last saw each other. Naruto told him the same things he told Ino and wasnt surprised to hear that Iruka was still teaching at the academy . What he was surprised to hear is that he started doing missions trying to find clues for both Sasuke and the mysterious ice popping up all over the hottest parts of the fire country.

"Enter!" came the familiar sound of Tsunades voice when Iruka knocked on her office door. Their in her usual place of the high-backed chair not facing them was Lady Tsunade, the Godaime Hokage.

"Hey baa-chan, you wanted to see me? Naruto asked grinning his foxy grin, his fangs slightly over developed because of the Kyuubi.

"SHOW THE HOKAGE SOME RESPECT BAKA!" Narutos grin disappeared immediately at the sound of the one person who he thought he would never get tired ofs voice. Under here breathe he was sure he heard her click her tongue and mutter the words "Stupid demon."

Narutos hand automatically went to the scar as he stared at her, his bright blue eyes which had always been warm and accepting could have turned a volcano to ice with this stare. "What are you doing here Sakura? Shouldn't you be off worshiping the temes abandoned estate?"

Sakura had backed off slightly beause of the cld sare he gave her, but she quickly gained her composure back at his jab about Sasuke. Before anyone in the room could react, her hand was in her pouch and her finders wrapped around a kunai that would have been in Narutos chest....except that her wrist was caught in the gloved hand of the silver haired Jounin that carried him back through the forest.

"Nice to see you again Kakashi-sensei. But she cant touch me anymore....come to think of it, I dont think you could catch me anymore sensei." His grin returned and spread even wider than before. Even the one eyed jounin had to smile, or what they knew was his smile as his good eye crinkled.

"You always were a confident little guy Naruto. Glad to see that hasn't changed at all." Continuing the one eyed smile they would have to finish their conversation later as the sound of a throat being cleared caught all of their attention.

"HM HM, I believe I called you all hear for a reason." Tsunade said in an even, yet commanding tone of voice.

Everyone snapped their attention back to Tsunade...all except Naruto who refused to stop glaring at Sakura, but did decide that instead of sitting he would take a seat, and did just that. To no ones surprise except Sakura, Naruto sat in one of the chairs in front of Tsunades desk and looked as though he were ready to fall asleep.

"So why the reunion baa-chan. I probably have better things to do than sit here with someone who tried to kill me." He said while again glaring icily at Sakura.

Before Sakura could react this time, Tsunade hand her hand in the air to halt the girl where she stood. "I know that SOME people in this room have done some very stupid and shameful things to you Naruto. But you cant hold onto the past forever." she spoke slow, and deliberately. The last part was aimed towards both Naruto and Sakura.

"Now, onto the reason your all here, Another ice patch has formed. Very close to Konoha this time, I'm sending you three to investigate. If it is a kekei genkei then it is vital that your team take care of it, especially you Naruto. You are the only person in this room to face this ability head to head." After she finished explain she tried to get beat on what they were all thinking. Of course Sakura and Kakshi were nearly impossible, Tsunade had trained Sakura herself and was regretting the day she taught her how to keep her expression blank. Kakashi was a jounin so of course he could control himself. 'Thank Kami for Naruto.' She thought to herself with a smile in her own head, though her outter expression remained calm.

Naruto on the other hand was having a harder time contemplating what he had just heard. 'Theirs no way she could be alive. Kakashi used Raikiri and it struck her directly in the heart!' He thought to himself, he knew they were all watching him now as hia face was contorted into a mix of shock, grief and rage.

After a minute Naruto was finally able to control himself long enough to ask. "When do we leave?"

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Thats chapter two everyone. Possible combat in the next chapter....maybe even some Lemon. Please R&R. if you have suggestions I am open to ideas.