Disclaimer: Isn't Naruto a great story.

I don't know why, but I really had trouble writing this chapter, until yesterday. I really like how it turned out.

"The circus is in town!" Naruto said jumping up and down. "Let's go see Jiraiya!"

"What are you ten?" The perverted man said.

"I can learn a lot if I can get someone to teach me." she said her eyes bright with hope.

"And all along I thought I was your teacher."

"Yeah, but you are a guy. I need to learn about being a girl." Naruto pouted and folded her arms.

"Isn't putting on make-up enough?"

Covering her cheeks Naruto scowled saying, "I have to wear make-up and it doesn't have anything to do with being a girl." she ran a few yards ahead then turned around and stuck out her tongue. "Go be a pervert! I'm going to the circus!"

ooo

When Kaiya had figured out Kakashi's weakness Sakura had happily gone along with her plan. They had been fighting for hours and she would have done anything to make it end.

"So where are you from Kaiya?" Sakura asked.

Turning towards her Kaiya said. "I was born here Sakura, but I have been gone for a long time. I met Jiraiya by sheer luck and was lucky to be able to learn from the master."

"What about Naruto, did you train with him?" Sakura asked as she watched the bustling morning people.

Kaiya laughed softly, "He's not as clumsy as he used to be, but he still managed to fall into a river without much effort on his part not to long ago."

"That's Naruto, alright." Sakura said smiling then her smile dropped.

"Are people usually this happy?" Kaiya asked.

"Yes, you don't remember?"

Kaiya sighed, "I guess it was just me."

They walked in silence for a few minutes. Sakura studied the girl next to her, something had seemed familiar to her while they were working together in the forest. The way she crouched the way she moved seemed to strike Sakura's memory, like she knew Kaiya, but she couldn't figure out how.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but isn't Kaiya a boy's name?" Sakura asked. Kaiya stiffend.

"Yeah, well that's what my Dad wanted, I think." Kaiya said lightly, but her eyes looked dead.

Sakura couldn't help herself, "You think?"

"He died when I was just a baby."

Suddenly she turned to Sakura and said, "This is were I'll be leaving you. Hope to see you soon Haruno-san."

Hearing her last name she realized that Kaiya had been calling her by just her first name in the forest. It had sounded so natural that she didn't even notice.

000

People waved and smiled and noise was all around. Naruto stood still in the middle of the pathway and nobody yelled at her to get out of the way. If she had been dressed like she was when she had been a boy no one would be smiling and people would be looking down. Naruto smiled.

"I knew they were better than that." she whispered, then continued down the road. She took a side street and was suprised to find it empty. She walked with light footsteps happy just being able to be back in the village then she froze as she felt the presence of someone. Slowly she turned to her right so find a hooded figure with glasses and let out a sigh of relief.

"Shino-san, you almost scared me to death!" she said scratching the back of her head.

Shino's head was bowed, but he said, "It is good that you are back, Na-"

In a flash Naruto hand her hand over his mouth, at least she hoped she did since it was covered with the collar of his shirt. "Kaiya!" she whispered. "If you would."

He looked up and jumped a little when he saw her. "U-ou a-w gu-l."

"What?" she asked then removed her hand.

"You are a girl." his statement sounded more like a question. "But I just thought something was wrong with my bugs." he looked her over and asked. "Are you really Naruto?"

Naruto sighed then leaned on the tree next to Shinto. "My name is Naruto, but the Naruto that you knew has changed. I spent my childhood doing things that I thought a boy would do because that is what I was told I had to do, but I was also able to enjoyed myself. Now I have to work seriously for my goals. In short yes, I am Naruto, but then again I'm Kaiya.

I need your help in keeping this from everyone alright?" she asked looking over at the dark glasses. "Have you ever gone a day without wearing those?"

Shino took off his glasses and said, "I don't know how long you think you can keep this from everyone, but I'll keep your secret, Kaiya-san."

"Hey! Shino, so this is where you've been. Akamaru? what are you doing to that poor girl! Come here." Kiba managed to pull off his massive white dog, but not before Naruto was covered in saliva. "Sorry about that-" Kiba sniffed the air then laughed, "No way, it can't be." he mumbled then looked studied Naruto as she slowly stood up. "Sorry, but you smell just like a friend of ours. That's probably why Akamaru attacked you."

Finally back on her feet Naruto tried to wipe off some of the wet muck. "Oi, Kiba," she said without thinking.

"Do I know you?" the dog boy asked.

"Ah," Naruto said haltingly, "No, not really, Shino-san was just telling me about his teammates and since you have a dog I guessed you were Kiba-san." she smiled then pet Akimaru's head. "I'm surprised at how big Akamaru is. You must be a wonderful trainer Kiba-san."

She watched his cheeks turn red as he nodded. "Yes. We train together everyday don't we Akamaru?" the dog barked in answer.

Naruto smiled. Everyone has been working hard. I just hope it isn't in vain. She thought. "Good." she said softly.

Naruto saw a figure round the corner, her eyebrows lifted slightly as she recognized who it was.

"You sure took your time Hinata-chan." Kiba said berating her. Her cheeks tinted red and Naruto realized that they weren't permanently red like she had thought.

"Sorry to make you wait."

"I heard you were pretty, but the only word that I can think of to describe you is beautiful, Hinata-san, you need to tell me your secrets."

Hinata looked up until she found Naruto then bent her head trying to hide the fact that even more color was flooding her face. "Th-thank you." she finally stuttered out after a good ten seconds.

"I only said what was true." Naruto chuckled. "I has been a pleasure meeting you all, but I should get settled in. My bag was only dropped off at the door of my apartment and I don't want to have to worry about it. I hope to see you all soon." she said taking off at a run and waving behind her.

000

Naruto sat her things down on the dusty mattress. She hadn't been surprised that her old apartment was empty, she had almost counted on it, but she was surprised of all the memories that came with her return. She walked slowly to the floor board she had taken hours to hallow out and hit it open with her foot. There lay all the treasures that were too precious to take with her on her journey. She had thought, no, hoped that she had forgotten, but there it was, the stupid picture of team seven on top of everything else.

Taking it out she blew off as much dust as possible then wiped it with her hand. Tears filled her eyes as she cried, "Stupid Sasuke!"

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