Sorry for such the long wait for an update I just started a new job working over nights so it's been kinda hectic. It'll calm down soon once I get used to the shift so please bare with me, thank you (bow). I'm hoping your enjoying the story as much as I'm enjoying writing it feel free to let me know what you think. Again I'm sorry for the long wait for those who have been waiting and it'll take more time for me to update from now on so I apologize in advance "gomen kudasai" (bows).

Sasuke: It' fallen upon me to apologize for the loser not being able to update sooner, Gomen. 'Ass'

Me: I know what your thinking. I'm the writer you know so I know what your thinking.

Sasuke: Well then genius I guess you can read this thought, 'Your a #&!!()#!'

Me: Now those are not nice things to say to someone Sasuke!

Sasuke: I didn't say them idiot! I swear sometimes your just as much of an idiot as Naruto is.

Naruto: I am not an idiot teme!

Sasuke: Hnn...

Naruto: Don't ignore after you insult me Sasuke! hey I'm talking to you, you lousy...

Sasuke: Again Shuken does not own Naruto and he never will, thank Kame! Really Hinata what do you like about the dobe anyway? Oh stop blushing it's annoying!

Naruto: Don't ignor...

Sasuke: Please R&R and enjoy the story.

Me: Agrigato! (bows)

It had been on one of those rare moments when he was having tea with the old lady, he did not mind when she confronted him about his past.

"So where did you say you were from Isao-san," she asked sweetly.

"I did not," he said coolly aware she was prying into his life, "I merely mentioned I was a traveler."

"Ah I see," she said as if she just remembered, "Well it's nice to have you back."

"Hmm?" he asked curiously, "Have me back?"

"Relax I won't tell anyone who you are," she said laughing softly, "I'm an old woman who has lived here her entire life. I would know someone that grew up here when I see them."

He continued to stare at the old woman feigning ignorance until he decided it was useless. He did not say anything else while he was there but just listened to the old woman talk. He felt better that someone knew him and that she was not going to say anything about it. He realized that she had been someone he must have spoken to often for her to remember him. He pushed all the thoughts away and continued to sip his tea as the old woman told him stories.

That night Isao had decided to speak with the Hokage and explain who he really was. He had not expected her to throw her desk out the window when she realized who he was, it was a good thing though. 'At least she hasn't called the whole village to announce my execution,' he thought calmly. Then the chair followed the desk soon after, 'Let's hope she calms down.'

Ooo

The shop owner heard the loud crash and looked to see a falling desk and then a chair coming from the Hokage's office. She smiled to herself as she closed up her shop, 'Young people these days.'

Ooo

Hinata was nearing Naruto's apartment when she heard the loud crash and saw a desk and then the chair fly out of the Hokage's office. She was worried but she decided it wasn't too unusual, 'She does that when she's mad. Kakashi-sensei must have made her angry again.' She smiled to herself when she thought about Naruto's former sensei.

Naruto poked his head out of his window looking toward the Hokage's office and shaking his head. "Kakashi-sensei is at it again," he said out loud. He was about to pull his head back into his apartment when he noticed Hinata standing at his door. "Oi! Hinata-chan!" he said happily," I'll be right there." He disappeared and was at the door in a flash. She kissed him on the lips as a greeting before turning a shade of red as she walked by him. Naruto caught off guard just stood in the doorway with his eyes closed lost in the moment.

Ooo

The Hokage had calmed a bit after throwing several more things out the window and was glaring at the man standing before her. She wanted to just kick the living snot out of him for all the trouble he was going to cause. She closed her eyes and took a big breath and sighed loudly. A knock came at the door to which she responded quickly and much harsher then she had intended, "What!?" A voice answered asking if she wanted a new desk and chair and if everything was alright. "Everything is fine. Don't bother with the desk and chair. I might throw them out the window before this is all said and done."

He watched the Hokage carefully and realized she was hesitant about letting others know who he was. 'Good," he thought, 'I was hoping this was the case.' She turned her attention back towards him and the look in her eyes were not promising.

"First off I have a few things to say before we continue this," she said curtly, "One. Your lucky I don't kill you where you stand. Two. I intend to know where you have been. Three. I intend to kill you anyway and then revive you to serve your punishment. Four. I don't want everyone to know who you are just yet. And five. Some will need to know for security purposes." She finished and closed her eyes and took a long deep breath before letting it out with another loud sigh.

He let her settle down before he spoke. "Well I have a few things to say myself," he began before she had a chance to continue, "First. You could try to kill me but I highly recommend you not try. Second. I thank you for keeping who I am a secret. I know it is for your benefit and not mine but it helps me out. Third. I understand some will need to know but I would like to ask that certain people be left out."

Tsunade was taken aback by two things that had just happened. First being she did not expect the answers he gave and that they were polite, at least for him anyway. The second being when he said he recommended they not try to kill him she was slightly frightened.

"As you said everything is for our benefit not yours. As for those you wish not to know, who may they be?"

"Gai-sensei," he began, "He would find it hard to lie to his pupils about who I am. Naruto and Sakura and the Rookie Nine. They have suffered the most because of my actions and would cause problems if they knew. And the general people of Konoha for they would surely riot and cause more trouble for you and me."

She had agreed with all the points that he had made. She was also surprised that the you came before the me when he was speaking. "I agree with you on all your points." 'Gai is the first person I thought about as well.' "Who would you like me to tell first."

"I must speak with Kakashi-sensei," he demanded, "Please."

She nodded left the room returning shortly after. "I have sent for him," she said, "You have changed a lot since last I saw you." He simply gave a short nod indicating he heard her. 'Your still annoying but you have changed somewhat."

Kakashi was lounging in a tree reading his oh so famous orange book when he was interrupted by someone, "Kakashi-sensei the Hokage would like to speak with you."

"Hmm," he began lazily, "What's she want now?" he hopped down from the branch and stretched his limbs before nodding to the ninja who had come to "fetch" him.

He entered the Hokage's office without knocking or waiting for permission. "You summoned me Hokage-sama?" he said from behind his orange book. Tsunade's eye brow twitched several times before she took a deep breath to calm herself. She simply looked at him waiting for him to notice the other man in the room.

Isao stood in the corner waiting silently for Kakashi to notice he was there. The silver haired shinobi looked around his book at the Hokage curiously. She had not yelled at him or thrown an object either so he was curious as to why that was the case. "Someone is here to see you Kakashi."

He turned towards a rustling noise to see a dark figure emerge from the shadows. He wore plain clothes and a pair of sun glasses. He recognized the man as the one working for that old woman he visited on occasion. He was impressed by the scar on his face but something seemed familiar about him he hadn't noticed before.

The man began to remove the sun glasses as he spoke to him, "Arigato Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi was caught off guard by the greeting until he heard the next words, "Still a pervert I see." When he saw the eyes looking intently at him his "oh so famous" orange book fell from his hands and hit the floor with a thud.

Ooo

Hinata lay comfortably on the couch with her head in Naruto's lap as he stroked her hair. He had calmed down considerably from his younger days unless it dealt with ramen. He had come to love stroking her hair and it seemed to calm any troubles he might have. Now it was just nice to sit and talk with his beautiful girlfriend.

"Are you going on a mission Naruto-kun?" she asked him gently.

"Hai," he replied, "I'm leaving tomorrow. I won't be back for a few days." He looked her deeply in the eyes as if he was never to return. She sat up quickly and hugged him.

"Come back to me," she said quietly, "Promise."

"Hai." He kissed her quickly and began to tickle her lightly. She started to giggle and push him away only to encourage him more.

"N-Naruto!" she exclaimed, "S-stop t-that." She started to push and kick him as he continued to tickle her. They never liked leaving for missions because frankly no one knew what would happen. No matter how easy a mission was they always felt a little uneasy when one left. So they would always promise each other they would return the tickling was just Naruto's goofy way of dealing with awkward situations. 'Kami his such a goofball.'

Ooo

Hinata was finally able to break free from Naruto after what seemed like forever and proceeded to tickle him back. 'Payback baby,' she had thought and was thoroughly enjoying herself and forgetting he was leaving the next morning. That is until she was in her own apartment, alone. Thinking about Naruto brought back memories of when she finally confessed her love for him. A lot had happened then and most of it were pleasant memories.

"Hinata," Hiashi called to her, "I need to speak with you in my office."

"H-Hai," she replied hesitantly. She overcome her habit of stuttering around Naruto but was still unable to overcome it when her father was involved. She was still nervous around him even though things began to improve between them as old wounds within the Hyuuga family healed, slowly.

She knocked lightly on his office door and waited for permission before entering. She received the muffled "enter" shortly after. Closing the door behind her she stood quietly waiting for her father to begin speaking.

"I have heard you and Naruto," father knows his name and there is no hint of disgust in his voice, "have been seeing each other recently," he said coolly. She began to say something in their defense but stopped when he raised hand indicating he was not finished. "I wanted to discuss a different matter with you right now," he took a deep breath before continuing, "Hinata…" he stopped and seemed at a loss of where to go from there. It was unusual that he was having difficulty speaking to her, "Gomen, please forgive me."

Hinata's jaw hit the floor when his words registered in her mind. "F-for what f-father," she could not help but stutter.

"I know I have been very harsh on you since…" he stopped before he could finish his statement and she could see the pain in his usually blank eyes.

"Mother died," she finished for him. He simply nodded his head. She couldn't look at him as he struggled with himself for what to say next so she stared at the rug.

"I…I'm," he began again, "I'm not asking you to forgive me right now I'm simply asking for a second chance," he looked away after saying this, turning so she could not see his face as he continued to speak, "When your mother died and left me with two daughters I…I didn't know what to do. You are so much like her," he looked at her at that moment and she saw something she had never seen before, sadness, "…I was angry because you reminded me of what I had lost. So I decided to try and change you and make sure Hanabi would not be the same way," she couldn't believe what she was hearing and it was coming from her father, the one who used to call her worthless.

"Your mother is most likely ashamed of me for how I have treated you," he said and she could hear regret in his voice, "And I am ashamed that I failed you as a father."

Tears began to weld up in her eyes when she realized what her father was trying to say to her. She realized that he was trying to mend their relationship and begin anew. She could not hold the tears back any longer as she began to cry. She expected him to scoff at her for crying but he simply walked around his large desk approach her and wrapping his arms around her. 'Is this really happening,' she thought to herself, 'I must be dreaming.'

He held onto her as she wept softly into his shoulder and he berated himself for being such a fool for so long. 'How could I have been such a fool. First with Neji and Hinata then Hanabi.' "You must truly hate me for everything I've done," he whispered softly.

She slowly regained her composer and pulled away from her "changed" father, "I-I n-never hated you f-father," she said between sniffles, "I-I just n-never understood w-why." She closed her eyes and hugged him again feeling for the first time in a very long time comfortable with her father.

"Arigato Hinata," he said softly knowing this was only the beginning and that there was a lot to be done if they were to be truly a family. Next he needed to talk with his nephew and younger daughter but Hiashi felt a weight had been lifted from him somehow. 'Arigato,' he silently sent skyward.

It brought a smile to her lovely face when she thought about how things had changed and how she really did love her family. Not only did they accept her but they also accepted her decision to be with Naruto which surprised her. She had thought both Neji and her father would object but they simply warned him not to hurt her. With those happy memories floating through her head Hinata drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Ooo

Naruto sat staring out his window at the moon as his thoughts drifted back to the day he met Hiashi, Hinata's father, for the first time. He shivered slightly recalling how the man seemed to tower over him in spite of the fact he had grown a lot over the years.

"Neji tells me you and my daughter have been seeing each other," he said only after Hinata had left the room. All Naruto could muster was a nod of his head, for some reason speaking to this man was difficult. "I am willing to allow you to see my daughter," he began coolly, "However if you hurt I will deal with you personally." It seems that Hiashi had gone from disapproving father to over protective and Naruto couldn't decide which was worse. He smiled and nodded his head indicating he understood completely.

'Great,' Naruto thought to himself, 'Not only will Neji erase my existence if I do anything to her; her father will do something to me as well.' Frankly Naruto didn't even want to think about what that 'something' would be. He just mentally noted that he would never in his entire existence do something that stupid.

Again he shuddered thinking about what both Neji and Hiashi had said. He sighed slightly to himself as he fingered the object in his pocket as he came to a decision 'Tomorrow before I leave.'