He sat staring at the picture that he held in his hand, memories flooded into his mind as he stared endlessly into the picture. He gripped tighter onto the picture as his thoughts invaded this moment. Yuuka looked upon this picture fondly, those were simpler days where you knew who your friends were and your enemies were just as clear. The picture depicted a time in their younger years; there he stood in all of his thirteen year old glory alongside his friends. He had much shorter hair then, barely long enough to ever really take any form; really it just looked like he was barely a step away from being bald. Next to him was a boy of about the same age, longish blonde hair that was left un-kept, blazing blue eyes and a look that seemed to just glow with mischief, which was his friend Minato alright. Next to Minato a girl stood with a proud posture. She had long raven black hair and a pair of beautiful silver eyes which had on many occasions during their earlier days entranced many men.

Those were his friends when he was younger, their days had been better than he could have hoped for when he was a child, the village of Konoha was one of the most beautiful he had ever seen at the time and it was a place of good people. He had found recently however that maybe the things he was used to were in fact false, the Konoha that Naruto had grown up in had been a harsh life for a child to grow up in. This thought brought Yuuka's vision across to the other picture that he held in his other hand, stroking his thumb across the surface affectionately Yuuka looked at the picture of his family.

He stood right at the back of the picture, he had on some casual clothes that consisted of a white shirt and a pair of casual black pants, and he had even shaved for the picture. His wife stood at his side her long aqua blue hair laid across her shoulders loosely, she was wearing a beautiful white sundress that accentuated her curves slightly, her smile had brought a slight pink tinge to her cheeks and her purple eyes shone out in radiance to all who looked at the picture. In Narino's arms a small girl only just over a year old wearing a white dress much like her mother looked out from her mother's arms, she had a small amount of dark blue hair coming through and her eyes were the same purple colour as her mother's, her small hand was snaked out from her mother's arms and was grasped by a slightly larger one. In front of Yuuka stood Naruto, he was holding onto Kyota's hand but still looking ahead, he was wearing a white shirt much like Yuuka but he had on a pair of grey trousers instead of black. Yuuka's right hand onto Naruto's right shoulder and his left hand weaved around his wife's waist. In all they looked just like the perfect family right there and then.

Both pictures meant a great deal to him, they were glimpses into his two lives, one was his life as a faithful husband and father, the other was of his friendship and bonds in a life that had ultimately brought him sorrow. With a sigh Yuuka put the pictures down and stood up, he had been sitting on his bed staring at those two pictures for too long now. Narino was getting both herself and Kyota ready to leave for Konoha, which was not one of the greatest arguments he and his wife ever had, in fact it was one of very few he and his wife had. As he heard the thumps and bang of things being moved around he knew that she was still fuming from that argument, but he had to make that decision and it was for Naruto's sake that they go for Konoha.


Narino walked into their room at that moment in order to grab a few final things that she was going to need from this home before they left for Konoha. She walked with her face in a scowl as she swept past Yuuka without even looking at him; he guessed that she must have left Kyota out by the porch waiting for them to be fully prepared to leave. Narino opened her drawer harder than she needed to and the entire drawer came out and showered the floor with her clothes. With a frustrated growl Narino leaned down and began picking the clothes off the floor. Yuuka felt bad leaving her to do all of the work and moved over to her side in order to help her, in all of their arguments it was always him who caved in first, he just loved her too dearly to stay mad at her, even if it was her who was unhappy with him.

"Narino, please understand I'm doing this for Naruto and us as a family" Yuuka pleaded with his wife's back as he lifted some clothes off the floor and placed it onto the bed right beside him. He watched as her form turned around to him and just waited for the angry look that he would receive from his wife, her usually beautiful face whenever angry always hurt him. However, she turned to him with not a look of anger on her face but one of concern, this he had not expected.

"I know Yuuka, but I'm just scared for Naruto, what happens when he has to live in the very same village that chased him out two years ago? I hate to see my little boy in distress and I can only see that happening if we are in Konoha" Narino said to her husband with her eyes set into a distant stare as she said those words to Yuuka.

"We will be there to watch over him as he grows up, we will teach him how to look after himself, we will comfort him if he is ever hurt, we will help him if he is ever confused, that's our duty as parents" Yuuka finished as he looked at his wife with a smile on his face. Narino had to concede to herself, Yuuka definitely had her whenever he used that smile, many said it was his main selling point as a merchant, they were damn right. Narino nodded with a smile on her own face as Yuuka brought her into a tight hug, while within that embrace Narino whispered something that had been worrying her.

"What about the thing that is inside Naruto? Won't it cause problems for him even without the villagers?" Narino asked as her concern came over her voice again. Yuuka had thought about this and after realising what he had asked the Hokage realised that it would be exceedingly hard for the Hokage to get a ninja to willingly tutor Naruto without any ulterior motives.

"I will teach him how to control it, I will teach him as best I can in order to look after himself, I will make sure that no person will be able to hurt him again without any kind of consequences" Yuuka said to his wife as she leaned back and looked at Yuuka, it had been a while since she had saw that look on his face, this face meant that Yuuka would put his entire soul into this. She smiled at her husband and leaned forward into him again and captured his lips within her own in a quick kiss before they both got to their feet.

"Are you ready to go yet love?" Yuuka asked his wife happily as he made his way towards the front door, keeping Kyota herself for long periods of time did not go down well with the toddler, Naruto could attest to that every time that he returned home from his and Yuuka's long journeys. Narino moved over to the top of the chest of drawers and lifted up a set of jewellery alongside one specific piece before walking over to him.

"Yes I'm ready to go now Yuuka" Narino said to her husband as she walked past him and grabbed his hand making him come with her. Yuuka took one last look at the room that had served as his wife's and his own bedroom, many memories were within the confines of these walls, and there those same memories would stay, their only other place of refuge being his and his wife's minds.

As he and Narino made their way to the front door it finally came to Yuuka that he had forgotten to bring back the horses and cart with him, he turned to his wife with the most sheepish smile that he had ever conjured, Narino noticed this instantly.

"You forgot the horse and cart didn't you?" Narino asked softly as Yuuka nodded slightly and dropped his head, Narino giggled at her husband's show of childishness and cupped his face in her hand. "We'll just have to do it that way then wont we?" she asked sweetly.

Yuuka had already thought about that and had already prepared for such an occasion. Pulling out three scrolls his wife turned to him with a smile on her face "You planned this didn't you?" she asked with a giggle.

"Maybe just a little, in order to get there faster than by walking or by horse" Yuuka answered as he set about getting things prepared, while Narino simply watched him as an amused smile danced across her face.

"You really like using that one don't you?" Narino giggled to her husband as he looked back up to her with one of his smiles again.

"But of course, it's one of the few ways I am able to remember my friend and also…" Yuuka said before he vanished in a flash of black and dropped down behind his wife "…because it is one of the most useful things ever" Yuuka finished as his wife near enough jumped right out of her skin.

"I thought you couldn't just spontaneously do that!" Narino complained as she looked to Yuuka with an annoyed look about her, this only managed to get Yuuka to chuckle.

"I can't, I had to set that one up and this was the first time I could finally do it, just had to take the chance" Yuuka finished with a huge grin now. Narino simply softly shoved him in the shoulder before she turned around and lifted Kyota into her arms before Yuuka placed the last of the things away.

"Right I think we are ready to go now dear" Narino said to her husband as he nodded his head and moved over to her, he lifted her into his arms in the bridal style and opened the front door, managing to lock it again somehow he turned back facing the outside again. The cool night air caressed his cheek as he took a deep breath. Looking down to his wife and child he smiles slightly.

"Cover her eyes and ears, she might get a fright" Yuuka asked of his wife before she quietly accepted and done as she was asked. "Here we go" Yuuka said before him, his wife and child had vanished into a black and blue flash.


"Your father is on his way home…" Inoichi began before Naruto had already interrupted him with his face contorted in fear at the mention of his father leaving him.

"Why did my daddy leave me?" Naruto asked quickly as tears began to make themselves noticeable in his eyes as he looked up to the seasoned ninja, Inoichi struggled to regain his composure and was only saved by Kane joining in the explanation.

"No Naruto, he is his way home to retrieve your mother and sister, they are coming her to live in Konoha" Kane explained as Naruto simply looked up to him in confusion.

"Why are they going to live here? What's wrong with home?" Naruto asked the confusion on his face clearly showing that none of this was making any sense to the small boy, although what had they expected? He was only a child.

"Nothing is wrong with it, they just wish to move here to Konoha, you will be with them too, and this place will be your home soon" Kane said to him as Naruto seemed to come under greater understanding of what it all meant now. Naruto looked at all of the people within the room now, there were two men and women with two girls in there too, Naruto felt wholly outnumbered.

"You all live here?" Naruto asked as all of the adults looked to each other with looks of 'did he really just ask that?' the girls however were less quiet about it.

"Of course we live here idiot! This is my house and Sakura lives just down the street a little" Ino told Naruto forcefully making Naruto sink back into the couch slightly at the sudden raised voice aimed in his direction.

"Ino, there was no need to shout" Laurel reprimanded her daughter as the little girl looked up "Sorry" was all she said before turning back to the small boy who had occupied her couch.

"Don't worry Naruto, we are all nice people here, we won't hurt you, we are here to help look after you until your family gets here" Sachi said as Naruto turned to her and she had to fight down the feeling that his face minus the whiskers was familiar. Sachi cocked her head to the side in order to get a different look at the boy but was slightly amused when the boy basically copied her action and looked at her with a puzzled look across his face too.

"Sorry Naruto, I thought you looked like someone I used to know" Sachi apologised as Naruto just simply shrugged his shoulders before telling her "That's ok ma'am". That had definitely taken Sachi by surprise; she had not expected the boy to talk quite like that anyway.

"How old are you Naruto?" Inoichi asked out of curiosity as he was quite surprised by the degree that Naruto had reached in his conversational skills, especially at his age. Naruto brought his hand up to his chin as he thought about it.

"I'm seven years old!" Naruto proclaimed as a smile found its way onto his face, every one of the adults were astonished at how much that smile resembled the one that Yuuka had. Damn that smile itself got him attention and by the way Naruto used he would get much the same attention too. This information was not however lost on the two girls who had heard his proclamation and had instantly jumped at the opportunity.

"So are we!" Sakura shouted to him as her smile made it known on her face, Ino's doing much the same thing on her face. Naruto looked at both of the girls who were smiling at him, it was nice to have people smiling at him, and if people smiled at him then it meant that they didn't hate him. Whenever he saw that smile on a person's face he came to the conclusion that he could maybe get a friend out of these people.

"Would you like to be my friend?" Naruto asked suddenly as both girls stopped their smiling and looked at him seriously for a moment before looking at each other. Naruto waited patiently for their answer as both girls shrugged their shoulders before turning back to him and smiling yet again.

"Yes" Ino replied for both her and Sakura. The adults within the room looked upon the scene with amazement, those girls did not let many people integrate into their duo, and if anything it seemed as if they could not be separated. Yet they had just watched as Naruto basically talked to them for less than a few moments and had managed to integrate himself into their duo which would now probably be more aptly named a trio.

"But…" damn, should have known that it would not be quite as easy for the small boy, they had to give him credit though, some kids did not even get to that stage. "… you have to play with us all the time" Ino told the small boy with her smile shining out to him, he simply smiled in return "Ok" was all he said before he was yanked out of his seat by both Ino and Sakura and quickly whisked away upstairs.


"Wow... They're good" was all Laurel could say after the door had been closed behind the trio and soon enough the giggles of the girls and the laughter of Naruto could be heard.

"Hey, they're kids who better to understand kids than kids themselves" Kane pointed out as all the adults had to admit that he proved a valid point. They all made their way over to the couches as they collapsed down into them with the men sitting and their wives leaning into their respective husbands.

"What do you think it will be like with Yuuka back in the village? Do you think that the people will remember him or anything that he done for us?" Laurel asked all present as they were all forced to face the fact that that statement already had an answer and nothing very positive came of it. Yuuka's exploits were legendary but they all had doubts that many besides themselves, the Hokage and some Hyuuga's would even remember him.

"I think it will be good for him to be back in the village, it will give us one of our friends back and give you and Sachi a chance to finally get to know his wife, you always said you wanted to meet the woman who managed to calm down Yuuka Inoyichi" Inoichi answered her as he chuckled at the expression both Sachi and Laurel had taken, they definitely had to meet this woman.

"I could fall asleep right now, I haven't had a good rest since early this morning" Kane said as he looked over to the clock on the wall "Okay scratch that yesterday morning then" Kane corrected himself as he sank deeper into the couch, well damn if he could not just fall asleep here, it was just so inviting and comfortable. "Wait, shouldn't Sakura be in her bed?" Kane asked as he perked up slightly and moved his wife into an uncomfortable position, bad idea.

"Lay down again, I was comfy and you moved m, so I repeat LAY DOWN" Sachi demanded of her husband who obeyed happily, not quite with enough energy in order to take on an angry wife, he would require a lot for that, especially with Sachi. "Anyway it's technically Sunday today so she can sleep in well into the day" Sachi explained as she made herself comfortable on Kane again.

Inoichi had taken it upon himself to chuckle lightly at the antics of his friends, they made a weird couple and Sachi enjoyed it when she got her way with Kane. She knew very well that there were lines that could not be crossed but otherwise she could almost get Kane to do many things her way. With the slightest of vibrations he made Laurel was made aware of his movements and turned on him. "Don't think you're gonna get it any easier bud, keep moving like that and I will hit you" Laurel said to Inoichi as he instantly stopped his chuckling in fear of his ribs finding themselves in pain.


Kane and Inoichi found their eyelids becoming heavy and found that staying awake was beginning to get harder. Their wives who had become overly comfortable on their bodies had fallen asleep. Both men looked to their respective wives and then to each other.

"Wish we could go to sleep just now" Kane complained to Inoichi as he stroked a strand of hair away from Sachi's brow, Inoichi smiled as he watched his friend acting this way around his wife, a ninja's life is fleeting so one had to appreciate the time that they had with their loved ones. It was then that they realised that things had gotten quiet upstairs; Inoichi looked to Kane who cocked his head to substitute for a shrugging of the shoulders.

"Maybe they fell asleep too?" Kane said to Inoichi as the blonde haired man decided that it was probably the most logical explanation to the sudden quietness. To both of their surprises the form of a small boy came down the stairs rubbing his eyes tiredly and smiling slightly, he noticed both men looking at them and gave them a weak smile before explaining himself quietly.

"Ino-Chan and Sakura-Chan were tired and wanted to go to sleep, I left to let them go to bed" Naruto explained quietly, almost as if he knew that the women were asleep.

"That's nice of you Naruto, what about yourself, aren't you sleepy at all, you know you can use the spare room" Inoichi said to the small boy as he indicated the room that he meant with his head only to see Naruto shaking his head at his indication.

"That's ok sir, I'll just wait here until my daddy comes to pick me up" Naruto answered him, yet again surprising him with his level of respect for him, honestly Inoichi could not believe that Yuuka had managed to teach a boy of that age to use manners, not that he was referring solely to Naruto, he meant boys in general at that age.

"Are you sure, you look pretty tired" Kane asked as Naruto turned to him this time his tired smile still on his face.

"Yes sir, I'm pretty sure thank you" he answered as he took a seat on the floor to which Inoichi instantly noticed and spoke up about. He really didn't need to sit on the floor there was still space on the couches to accommodate him.

"Naruto you can sit next to me while you wait for your father, as you can see I can't do much with my wife clinging to me like this" Inoichi joked as Laurel involuntarily hit him on the head in her sleep. "Damnit!" Inoichi groaned in a low tone so not to wake her and face her full wrath. Naruto looked to Inoichi and without feeling any sense of danger made his way over, pulling himself onto the couch Naruto leaned up against the armrest at his side and watched the door intently. Inoichi looked over to Naruto and could see he was losing the battle against sleep, he smiled slightly. "You know Naruto; you could go to sleep while you wait for your father, me and Kane will make sure to wake you when he appears" Inoichi told him as the boy looked to him.

"You promise?" he asked sounding like he had almost already departed from the world of the waking, this caused Inoichi and Kane to look at the boy with warm smiles.

"Of course, the next time you wake up you'll see your dad, Naruto" Inoichi said as Naruto smiled at him and set his head down on the armrest and instantly fell asleep.


"He's a cute kid you know that?" Kane asked as Inoichi looked at Kane and then back to Naruto again.

"Yeah he is, he's been through far too much for a kid his age, I can only hope that he doesn't have to go through what he did before, he's too nice a boy to let a few idiotic people spoil" Inoichi spoke out as Kane nodded his head at each statement.

"On the plus side though, he seems to have gotten in with our daughters, managed to make him their friend already" Kane remarked as he and Inoichi chuckled with each other.

"One other reason he should stay around, we have to scare the living shit out of him whenever he tries anything with our daughters" Inoichi said as Kane looked at him with a look that said 'chances of that are slim'.

"Come on you saw the way he has been acting whenever he's talked to us, he's definitely going to grow up to be a gentleman and if it is Yuuka that has been teaching him these manners then he will be the grandest of gentlemen" Kane said as Inoichi had to concede defeat at this valid point.

"I'd love to say that it was indeed me who had taught him his manners but he taught himself them" a voice from the shadows said that Inoichi and Kane looked over to.

"Hello Yuuka, as you can see your boy is safe and well, he just wanted to wait for you here, although we coaxed him into sleeping at least, you want me to wake him up now you're here?" Inoichi asked as he sleepily watched Yuuka and his wife step out of the shadows with a small bundle in Narino's arms rising and falling gently.

"No it is ok, I have talked with the Hokage and our living arrangements have been made, I'll take Naruto now" Yuuka said as he stepped away from his wife towards the sleeping form of Naruto.

"Yuuka, I know you don't entirely like the idea of having Naruto in this village, but trust me when I say that both my own and Kane's family will help to make sure that he is looked out for, he too much of a gentleman to say no to" Inoichi said as a smile found its way onto Yuuka's face. He bent down and lifted Naruto into his arms before turning back to the two men.

"Thank you, from the bottom of my soul I thank you for what you have done and what you promised to do, I will not forget it and I will make sure that Naruto knows of it too. I bid you farewell and I do not doubt that we shall see each other around the village from now on, goodbye my friends" Yuuka said as he began walking for the door with his wife not far behind him.

"Wait a second, how did you get inside my house without tripping any traps or coming through the front door?" Inoichi asked in confusion.

"Simple, I got one of the seals set up outside your house and I know all of your traps too well, so it was easy for us to get in, even without waking Kyota" Yuuka answered with a proud smile on his face at his accomplishment.

"I got to change the traps then, don't tell Laurel you got in or else she will have my head" Inoichi almost pleaded with Yuuka who only laughed.

"Don't worry, she'd want to kill me just as much as you for it, anyway I will see you guys later" Yuuka said as he smiled to both of them that great smile of his and walked out the front door, closing it behind himself once his wife and daughter had exited.

Inoichi and Kane shared a look after Yuuka had left with his family. The village had better hope that they did not do anything to anger Yuuka, he was kind by nature but threaten something close to him and he would kill, it was that simple. Suddenly both wondered even though he was a close friend and undeniable ally, was it not a bit risky to let such a volatile man run free through Konoha? Questions aside both men were given what they craved and finally fell asleep on their respective couches with their wives acting almost like blankets, who in turn had used their coats as blankets.


Yuuka and his family arrived at the front door of his new home, semi-large doors greeted them and Yuuka knew this home from before, it was just like a long gone homecoming, this was his old home, perfect for everything his family needed, even had a training area for him to help Naruto.

"Perfect" was all Yuuka said as his wife looked to him with a smile before they both made their ways inside.


well here you guys go a nice new chapter for this story i hope that you guys enjoy this chapter and forgive me for any technicalities that you may be able to pick out with this story but all i can really say is that it is my interpretation of what might and might not happen, i ask that you please understand that and if you dont like it then i apologise, anyway as always could you please R&R and i will see you all next chapter =] - Varrukh