Dear readers, welcome yet again to 'What Time Left Forgotten' Chapter three, but please, don't let me keep you waiting. Read my fellow enthusiast… read.

Disclaimer: due to a series of unfortunate events, I still don't own Naruto, and as such anyone in the process of suing me is officially screwed over as I have now written a disclaimer. Thank you for your time, and attention.

Kurenai was, in short, confused. She had just left the Hokage's office not thirty minutes ago and now she was being called back. She did have hopes though; the messenger had said it had something to do with her team. If Tsunade had found a replacement for Kiba that fit all the requirements, she would run around Konoha fifty times if she had to and wouldn't have a complaint in the world. Well I can hope. She thought as she entered the tower for the second time that day. "Hey Sukakai-san, I was told to meet Tsunade again?" she asked the man at the desk. "Yes just a minute please Kurenai-sama." he said as he pressed the intercom button. "Hokage-sama Kurenai-sama is here should I send her up?" he asked within a few seconds she heard Tsunade's voice crack over the system. "Yes thank you. Please send her up." oh crap was the one thing running through Kurenai's mind, even over the intercom she could here the mischievous tone in her voice. That was bad as Tsunade could rival Naruto in Mischief if she really wanted, that and she didn't have the power to do anything against the hokage. "Thank you Sukakai-san" she said as she headed up the stairs. As she opened the door the smile she so feared was right there where she feared it. Grinning like a madman behind her desk was the hokage herself. "Come in, come in, and make yourself comfortable, it's going to be a long chat." Tsunade said while beckoning for Kurenai to come in. Kurenai sighed as she saw that the kage's smile was more one of good news than mischief, so a little more relaxed she obliged. "Would you like some sake?" Tsunade asked. This is weird, she never shares her sake with anyone if she can help it Kurenai thought. "Yes thanks" she said as she grabbed the offered cup.

"Kurenai," Tsunade said in a serious voice. "I have found you a permanent replacement for Kiba that I believe is far above and beyond what you ask." "Really?" questioned Kurenai, she knew something was up. "I am interested indeed because I looked at the scouting reports two days ago and not one of them even had the classes I asked for, much less had a chuunin rank. So who may I ask is this person you have selected to team eight?" it was a battle of wits now, and Kurenai did NOT want to get stuck with another guy who couldn't help at all and held back the team. "I have no doubt in my mind that you did, and in doing so checked them all carefully. All... except one. The person I have selected as the fourth for team eight not only fits what you asked for perfectly, but excels what you asked for by a mile. You asked for a decent scout, what you got can rival the Hyuuga's. You asked for a proficient fighter, what you got I would almost rather have as a bodyguard. You asked for a chuunin level genin, what you got is a Jounin level chuunin." Kurenai looked on in disbelief, there was no way she missed someone like THAT! "You asked for a ninja," Tsunade continued. "What you got Kurenai... is Uzumaki Naruto."

Slowly the words hit home in Kurenai's mind. That explained EVERYTHING, the mischievous smile, the sake, the scouting reports, everything. She wasn't just telling her team, she was pretty well asking her to be a guardian of probably the only person she would willingly call family. This was BIG. "Umm... but... I-it's" she fumbled over words in her confusion. "What you don't believe me? See for yourself." Tsunade said as she handed Kurenai the evaluation on Naruto. "No hokage-sama it's not that I do not believe you but this is Naruto we are talking about. You realize that you just placed your could be son in my hands making me his guardian? I have absolutely nothing against Naruto but are you sure it's even right for him to be on a team. I mean with power like he displayed a couple weeks ago shouldn't you or Jiraiya be overseeing his training?" she asked rushed. She had never been in a situation like this before. Mentally Tsunade smacked herself; she should have expected that, she had just asked a Jounin to personally train a possible kage's son. Screwing that up in any other situation could mean death. "Kurenai, i picked your team for a number of reasons, look at your team. One you are down a man and you will have a full team again. But most importantly you have the most level headed team in all of Konoha. every single person on you team truly accepts Naruto without a doubt and is more than willing to be his friends, right now he needs that more than anything. The Naruto you saw in my office earlier today was a mask, a ploy because he knew with your team in the room it was not the time to be straight-forward. The Naruto that walks among us now is cold, devoid of anything that even resembles compassion. It was Konoha that did that to him, I think that if he sees that there are still people in Konoha that care, we might be able to get Naruto back." she finished. Kurenai started to understand and so replied "Yes hokage-sama, may I ask when we should start." "As soon as possible, however there are some... abilities of Naruto's such as his bloodline that need explaining first so you should make yourself comfortable, it going to be a long day." (I won't make you go through the pain of reading abilities again)

Meanwhile Naruto was walking to his apartment. Life was pretty much the same, same old stares, same old hatred, same old hell, but as long as they didn't try anything he could live with it. Only because Tsunade had asked personally however. So he continued walking but he was surprised when a young boy came flying around the corner with an ice cream cone and ran straight into him. Being the bigger one it recoiled on the boy and sent his ice cream flying. The world stopped as people looked on, worried for the little boy, afraid of what the demon might do. Naruto's icy glare snagged as they made eye contact, this was just a kid, he didn't mean any harm. Slowly he bent down and helped the kid up, then gave him a little bit of money. "Go buy yourself another one." he said, he just couldn't help it, he saw too much of himself in the boy. The young boy smiled and his eye's lit up. "Thanks mister." he said as he ran off to his parents. he stood back up to find a killing intent pointed his way.

"You monster, he's trying to bribe the boy!" one villager said as he threw a rock at Naruto. The whole crowd stopped however when the rock reached about 3 feet away from him and burst into flame, disintegrating it before it could do any harm. Well they asked for it. He thought as he did some hand seals. "Shin no ippo" suddenly no one in the crowd could move. And Naruto singled out the man who had thrown the rock. "Oh a monster is I? Ha, If you thought I was a monster before, you have no idea what's coming to you." he said as he sent the man a glare that could freeze over hell. "Not so tough now are you, Listen up everyone and listen well, I am NOT the same kid that left all those years ago. That kid wouldn't fight back because he didn't want to hurt anyone, I really don't care. What are a few hundred people here and there huh? Please understand that if you don't mess with me, I got no problem playing the game fairly, which means I'll take your stupid stares and insults muttered under your breath and go along with my day. But the moment you cross the line, I will stack the deck. If anyone EVER attacks me again I assure you will know the true meaning of pain... I'll give you good reason to call me a monster. Unfortunately we already have someone dumb enough to cross that line, and right about now, he'll pay" he said as he pulled out a kunai and walked slowly towards the paralyzed man. If anyone could see his eye's at that moment in time they would have seen that he fully intended to kill the man before him, but suddenly a voice rang out. "NARUTO WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" He whipped around to see Kakashi standing there, kunai at the ready in case he had to interfere. "I'm teaching these nobodies a lesson, I'm tired of sitting back and just letting it happen. I'm taking it into my own hands now." Naruto saw some ANBU arriving and decided to let it pass. He was good, but Kakashi and two ANBU were just two much. "Fine, they aren't worth the energy anyway." He said as he released the jutsu, freeing all but the man who through the rock. "But you my friend" he turned to the man "can find your own way out, I'm sure it's no problem for someone so strong as to attack helpless kids." and with that he vanished.

The paralyzed man was surrounded by ANBU trying to get him out, all failing miserably. "Kakashi-sama" one ANBU asked. "Do you know how to dispel this thing?" Kakashi eyed the man up and down. "Yes I believe I can." Holy & Naruto where the $#& &$# #$& did you learn a s-classed jutsu?!?! He thought to himself, that didn't need to be said out loud, there were kids around. But he preformed a couple hand seals and released the man. "Thank you Kakashi-sama, who knows what that demon brat would have done, had you not com..." he found himself unable to finish as Kakashi's hand gripped the mans neck. "If you ever, call that kid a monster again, and I find out about it, you're going to wish he got to you first, and then right after that I'm sure the hokage would like to speak with you. But for now, you are hear-bye charged with treason, attack on a civilian, and assault on a Konoha shinobi. Please expect to be punished to the full extent of the law. ANBU, get him out of my sights."

Kakashi sighed, that move Naruto used would have been far too advanced for anyone else his age. He himself only learned it about a year ago and he was a top ninja!

He was defiantly going to look into this, but he would need Tsunade's opinion first. I'll have to go back tomorrow. He thought. She doesn't take kindly to visitors about now. Kakashi had tried to walk in about this time a few years ago and found out the hard way that Tsunade's "drinking time" was not to be disturbed.

it was dark as Naruto opened up the door to his apartment, he had gone to train to take his mind off things and now he wanted sleep. Suddenly he whipped a kunai into a darker corner of the room. "What do you want?" he asked the darkness. After a moment a voice came out. "What I want is for you to stop throwing those things, troublesome." Shikamaru said as he stepped out. he had a semi deep gash on his left cheek, even he couldn't get out of the way in time. "Relax Naruto I'm just here to say its good your back, and Tsunade wanted me to give you this." he said as he tossed a small box to Naruto. "Later." his job done he left, he was wasting valuable time doing things that were far too productive when he could be wasting that time altogether. After he left Naruto started to think about the day, the gate, Tsunade's office, that stupid villager. God he wanted to kill him, it would have made him feel so much better. It was so funny; Tsunade and everyone else kept telling him. Oh they'll change, or, there are still people in Konoha that care. And now when he tried to give them another shot, when he tried to forgive them and be kind, it was Konoha themselves who proved Tsunade wrong. He was kind and was treated like dirt. "Oh well," he said to no one. "I won't be making that mistake again." and the pranks might not be so harmless this time around. He added in his mind.

Remembering the package he opened it to find a new Konoha headband and a letter, with curiosity he opened the letter.

To: Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto, you are to report to training grounds 3 tomorrow at 8:00 sharp, don't be late. Also, as of now you are the fourth and final member of team 8, Inuzuka Kiba has recently moved to Suna and you are to fill the position. Your teammates will be Aburume Shino and Hyuuga Hinata, your instructor is Yuuhi Kurenai.

Tsunade...

Wow, Tsunade got that out of the way fast. He thought as he ran his hand over the new headband. It was shiny and light, that and it didn't have all the scratches his current one had. Maybe it was time for a new one. Slowly he untied his old one and took a good look at it, it was the only thing anyone had ever given him with no strings attached. Hell even Tsunade's necklace he got because of a bet. This was his only gift; he couldn't believe he almost left it in Konoha. Carefully he folded over the cloth, opened one of his scrolls and sealed it away. It may be time for change, but that meant something and he intended to keep it. With haste he put on the new one and fell in the bed, he was tired, and tomorrow looked to be nothing but trouble.

8:00 the next morning...

Well I'm right on time, but I don't see anybody... wait, there's Kurenai-sensei. He thought as he looked across the training field. She was pretty far off still and looked to be alone. Huh, i wonder where Hinata and Shino are. It didn't matter at the moment as Kurenai had spotted him and was making her way over. I guess I'll ask her myself.

"Hello, Kurenai-san. I was lead to believe that you are to be my instructor and i am to be placed on team 8 correct?" Kurenai looked at the boy and tried to remember what Tsunade had said. That boy doesn't care if your god, Allah, Jesus and Moses all wrapped in one, if you want his respect, you're going to have to earn it. Tsunade's words ran through her head. Remember, normally if he addresses you with a respectful term such as sama or dono, he doesn't give a crap about you... yet. He has a very reverse way of letting you know he respects you, almost as if the only way he will show it is to be disrespectful. I had his respect for a long time, if you remember I used to let him get away with calling me Baa-Chan, it's cause I knew in his way he was being kind. Her head started to hurt, this was too much to remember, it had been a long night last night and while she still got to bed early, she had learned a lot of thing that night, some she wanted to know, but a great deal more that she didn't. "Yes Naruto, from this point on you are a member of team 8."She said as she pulled herself together. "The may I ask where Hinata-san and Shino-san are?" he said monotone. She could see it, she cold see what Tsunade was talking about in his eyes. "They are waiting at this little dango shop down the road a little ways. We meet there a lot to celebrate after a mission." she relied "To celebrate, I have to say that's something I have not done a lot of in a long while." Kurenai saw his eye's get a far off misty look for a second but decided to live and let live. "Anyway I decided it would be the perfect place to meet and get the introductions out of the way. So follow me, breakfast closes in a hour." she turned and walked away beckoning him to follow.

It was a long silence all the way to the dango shop, Kurenai couldn't think of anything to say. She had learned so much about the boys past last night and knew that though they only scratched the surface, in his place she would have lost it long ago, what do you say to someone like that? Somehow she got the feeling that "Hi, how's it going, hope the villagers haven't tried to kill you lately" wasn't a good ice breaker. Thankfully the shop was coming into view. "Please wait here Naruto, I'll go in and get them." she said as she opened the door. Naruto simply nodded and Kurenai went in to find her team.

It was a joyous atmosphere inside the shop, it had just had its anniversary and peaces of decorations could still be found hanging from the walls and ceiling. It only took a quick look around and she located them in there usual spot. Looking at here team as she walked over she smiled. I wonder how Hinata is going to take this. After a few moment of recollection she corrected herself. I take that back... I already know. Anything that ever involved Naruto always involved fainting, or getting knock out as the case in the chuunin exams. "Hello Hinata, Shino, good morning." she said, her grin still in place. "G-good morning Kurenai-sensei." Hinata responded. Shino simply nodded his head; it was very Shino-ish to avoid words. "Ano... Why did you ask us to meet h-here? S-shouldn't we be t-training?" Hinata asked. "No, today is a free day, and before you ask why, I'll tell you. I have some very good news to give you, as of 9:30 last night, Team 8 is officially a four man team again." she said with a knowing grin. They had been looking forward to having a full team again for a long time. Then for one of the few times ever Shino's smile was so wide it could be seen above his collar and Hinata damn near forgot she was shy when she jumped out of her seat. "I think the only question left is... who is it?" Shino questioned, apart from the smile that slipped through he was still the same old Shino, sometimes she swore he didn't have any other expressions than that straight face of his.

"You know I can tell you." Kurenai said, prolonging the wait "or I can do you one better and show you. Come on, he's waiting outside." She said as she walked towards the door, beckoning them to follow. With haste the two got up to follow, they wanted to meet their new teammate. As Kurenai opened the door she said. "Hinata, Shino, I would like to introduce you to your new teammate… Uzumaki Naruto." and she moved out of the way to revile Naruto waiting outside. "I guess we are teammates know huh?"

Then and there Hinata did the same thing any respectable girl would do in her situation… she fainted. Luckily Kurenai was expecting that and caught her before she hit the ground. Shino however simply froze for a moment, yes he was surprised, but it made sense when you thought about it. Team 7 was gone and done for, team 8 had an open position that needed filling, and they saw in the Hokage's office that Naruto was being reinstated. When you looked at it from that angle, it was all perfectly logical. Probable, no, Shino was a smart kid and knew that someone was pulling some strings, but right now he would enjoy the moment. "Welcome Naruto, I can't think of anyone I would rather have with me." He said as he held out his hand. Naruto turned his back and started to walk away. "Don't take it personally Shino as you are one of the few who has been nice to me, but I'm not here to care, I'm not here to be friends and I'm not here to have fun, I'm here because I have to be if I want to find my family and that's all. I'll do all the missions and I'll do all the training but I'm here to get stronger, not get close to anyone, I made that mistake one too many times." He said "oh and don't worry, I'll be at the training grounds tomorrow." Then he faded of into the forest of buildings.

"Although I'm already quite sure you don't have one I must see if you have an explanation." Shino said as he turned toward his sensei. "These are interesting developments, and I have only seen Naruto for a couple of minutes. This is not a good sign, while I can see where he may have changed from recent incidents, he looked quite ready to kill us." His eye's narrowed behind his sunglasses. He didn't like to be left out of the loop, especially when lives were left in the hands of unknown variables. He didn't care if they were his superiors, he wanted answers. "Kurenai-sensei…" it was a cold serious voice. "Is there anything else we should know?" Kurenai sighed as she set Hinata safely on the ground, Shino was mad, and he had a right to be. She knew Shino would have the hardest time getting used to Naruto, even when Naruto was Himself all those years ago his actions were… random, at best. While Naruto had become much more consistent the change In character over the last two weeks left Naruto as a possible time bomb. In short, Naruto's very being itself just had too many loopholes for someone like Shino. While the two got along very well, it would take some getting used too. "Yes Shino, there are something's that we need to sit down and talk about, but we should wait until Hinata wakes up."

Meanwhile inside Naruto's mind…

"Naruto what the hell, I told you to try and make friends. Those are your teammates and I can't exactly say you made a good first impression." Kyuubi raged on in his mind. "Friends, Naruto, don't you want too have any friends? You know I normally stay out of your life so don't you think this might be something important…" "I don't need any friends!" Naruto cut her off, he was so tired of hearing the same speech over and over. "I tried that once remember?!?! Look where it got me. I don't need or want any friends and I sure as hell don't need a mother, so why don't you just back off!!! The words were out of his mouth before he even knew what he said, instantly he regretted them though. He saw the look on Kyuubi's face and he realized what he just said, after all, if there was anyone who still understood him it was her.

"Wait Kyuubi I didn't mean…" "No your right, after all, I wouldn't want to be a bother." She said as she did some hand seals. Suddenly Naruto felt himself being pulled down that long hallway and back into the real world. Felling himself back in his own body he cursed. Damn, no Kyu-chan wait please I just want to say I'm sorry!! He tried to yell to her in thought. But it was too late as he felt Kyuubi recede in his mind to the point where he almost couldn't even find her. I have to get this straightened out. He thought, after all, she was the only person in Konoha he could turn too. It was then he started to do something he hadn't done in a long time… slowly but surely, he started forcing Kyuubi's chakra to the surface…

It seems Naruto has hit a wall, Hinata might be in too deep, and it seems as though the old Naruto might truly still be in there. Find out all this and more, next time.

Peace…

Ghost.

AN: yes, I'm sorry their wasn't much Hinata in this chapter bet there should be a lot in the next so I hope you all can find it too forgive me.