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This chapter doesn't advance the storyline that much, so don't be surprised. Enjoy nonetheless!

The Village/Home Sweet Home

"Great to be back home at last."

Home.

Home was what the others called this place, this village. This was where they had been born and where they lived, and every one of them was proud to be part of the village. None of them could have ever thought of a better place than this.

But not Naruto. He may have been born here sixteen years ago, but he didn't belong here anymore.

Konoha was not his home; New Bodhum was. This old, rundown house was not his home; the NORA House was. This worn out mattress was not his bed; the NORA House's couch was.

"Hmmm. Dark clouds in the horizon," Naruto said as he looked out of the hole in the ceiling. This would be an excellent opportunity to wash his clothes.

"Fucking bastard," he cursed, eyeing the bloodstains on the overcoat he had gotten from Lightning. Some of the blood was his own; some of it the ice ninja's. The coat was hanging from an old coat rack, along with his belt and the attached holster. His boots were on the floor below them, with his dirty socks stuffed inside. "I should have saved that bullet."

Naruto inspected the back of his right hand, scowling. His knuckles had almost fully healed after he had pummeled the bastard's face in. Thankfully the damage hadn't been too severe, and he had managed to avoid breaking any bones.

"Or maybe not," he said and moved to the night table where he had left the manadrive. For the umpteenth time since leaving Land of Waves he inspected it for any damage he might have unintentionally caused. He had not detected any yet, which was a relief; one of many prototypes or not, it was still a gift, and he had to take care of it. He shifted his attention to the other things on the table that he had taken from his coat's pockets: his headband and a picture from Lightning. He couldn't care less about the headband, but he was glad the picture was unharmed. It was irreplaceable.

He looked down at his shirt and realised just how dirty it was. Sweat, grime and blood covered it almost entirely; he'd have to wash it as well. He took off the shirt and threw it onto the mattress, scowling in disgust. At least his pants weren't in need of washing, he reminded himself. At times like this he hated the fact that he didn't have any spare clothes.

Thunder boomed in the distance.

Naruto sighed and gathered his shirt and coat, eyeing the sky.

He needed to hurry.

"Naruto hasn't visited in a while," Gentaro noted as Danzo walked in from the back door. "Do you think something has happened to him?"

Danzo shook his head. He fought back the urge to answer "yes", having heard of what had happened during Team Seven's last mission. He prayed the boy was alright.

"Hopefully nothing," Gentaro continued. "We haven't been able to celebrate his birthday yet."

"Ah, that!" Danzo couldn't fathom how he had forgotten Naruto's birthday. The tenth of October had gone by last week when Naruto was still in Land of Waves. It had been four years now since the last time he could celebrate it.

"Well, at least we can celebrate it this year," Nadeshiko said as she walked into the kitchen, carrying a bunch of plates. "Do you think he'll eat his traditional bowl of ramen?"

"I think so," Danzo answered, nodding.

Thunder boomed loudly outside and startled all three of them. It was still some distance away from the village, but would be here any minute now.

"All right, let's concentrate on the task at hand. Naruto will visit when he has the time. Understood?"

"Yes, Danzo!"

"Any news about Naruto?" Kakashi asked as he arrived in the clearing. It was the same place where he had held the test for his students, the Third Training Ground; a perfect and familiar place for a team meeting in his opinion.

"No, nothing," Sasuke answered. He was sitting on the slightly wet log with Sakura. "Do you think something has happened?"

"Most likely he's staying in bed to recover. You do remember what his face looks like, right?"

"Don't remind me," Sasuke muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. How could he forget something like that? The ice ninja had to have been a very formidable opponent if Naruto hadn't used his strange weapon for a quick kill like with the Demon Brothers.

"So, considering he isn't here," Sakura began after a small moment of silence, "what are we going to do now?"

Kakashi sighed. "Well, I was supposed to ask you about attending the chuunin exams, but I need all three of you to agree on it. They start in two weeks and I need to know beforehand. Does either of you know where Naruto lives so I can notify him about this?"

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged looks before shrugging sheepishly.

"You don't know?" Kakashi asked, incredulous. "Does anyone in this village know? I've asked around, and people either don't know Naruto or where he lives."

His students simply repeated their earlier gestures. Kakashi sighed again, this time more heavily, and shook his head. How was he supposed to sign them up if no one knew where to find the last member? As if the boy wasn't already a total mystery.

"Have you asked Elder Danzo yet?" Sakura asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?" Kakashi didn't see how the respected elder would have any information about this, but anything that would help him do his job was welcome.

Sakura shrugged once again. "Well, Naruto seems to be friends with him or something."

"Yeah, they seemed pretty familiar with each other now that I think about it. Naruto even calls him 'Old Man'," Sasuke said, nodding to himself.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I guess I'll try asking him. Anyways, since there's nothing more for today, I suggest you go home."

"Wait a second! Are you saying we came here for nothing?" It was somewhat surprising to see Sasuke asking this; Kakashi had expected Sakura to object more than him.

"Well, you now know about the chuunin exams," Kakashi pointed out. A small grin formed under his mask when he saw his students fuming. They were starting to leave while glaring daggers at him, cursing his name and antics in their little heads.

Chuckling to himself, Kakashi left his students. He had an elder to meet.

"Well, no wonder I've been waking up at the most untimely hours!"

Danzo wondered what was so enlightening about the small pocket watch he had given. It was a downright ancient thing, a bit rusty in places and barely in working condition. It had lain at the bottom of his cabinet ever since he had taken over his parents' business after injuries had forced him to retire from his ninja career.

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

Naruto turned his gaze away from the watch in his hands. "Well, it seems this world has twenty-four hours in a day, which has caused me some minor problems. With sleep mostly."

"So, you're saying Gran Pulse doesn't have a twenty-four hour day?"

"Correct." Naruto once again inspected the watch, turning it around and back. "I've gotten used to a twenty-six hour day over the years. Hmph, I should have noticed this earlier."

"It sounds like a truly interesting world to live in."

"Oh, you have no idea," Naruto nodded as he turned to face him. His wide, toothy grin revealed that a part was missing from one of his teeth. This only added to the unease his bruised and beaten-up face caused. "Well, thanks for the food and all, Old Man! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see how my coat is drying."

Danzo allowed a small smile to grace his lips when he heard it. He had wondered why Naruto had shown up without his trademark overcoat, but now he understood; yesterday's rain, of course. Why hadn't he considered that?

"Great to be back home at last." With that said, Naruto left through the back door like he always did.

Danzo sighed, wondered how much living in a different world had changed the boy. He sensed Naruto's last words hadn't been truly honest, like he had forced himself to say them. Was he not happy to return at all?

"Danzo, there's someone who wants to speak with you," Nadeshiko announced from the doorway. "He says it can wait if you don't have time."

Danzo turned to face her, his expression curious. "Let him in," he said after a few seconds of thinking.

Nadeshiko nodded and turned around to say something before walking off.

A man dressed in black clothes, chuunin vest and face mask walked in. "Elder Danzo," he greeted with a small bow.

"Kakashi," Danzo said with a nod. The long, silver hair was a dead giveaway of the man's identity. "What brings you here?"

"Well, I was told you and Naruto know each other so I came to ask if you know where he might live."

Danzo raised an eyebrow. "You... Why exactly do you want to know that?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head as he continued. "I need his agreement before I can sign up my team for the chuunin exams. The applications need to be delivered by the end of the week."

Danzo nodded. "I'm sorry to say this, but I don't know where he lives. He left just a moment ago, so you might catch sight of him if you're quick."

Kakashi's eye widened in surprise and he looked over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't just unknowingly walked past his student. He scanned the large windows and the street beyond for any signs of the boy, hoping to see him in the small crowd of people passing by. It looked quite humorous to Danzo, who allowed himself to chuckle quietly.

"He uses the back door," he said when Kakashi finally turned back to him. He opened the door for the jounin who quickly ran outside and looked around frantically. He returned inside after a few seconds, disappointed.

"He also disappears pretty fast," Danzo continued. He knew Kakashi wouldn't have caught Naruto even if he had arrived earlier; the boy seemed to know how to vanish into thin air when no one was looking.

Kakashi hung his head and sighed heavily. He thought of something for a while, then raised his head. "Can you tell him about the chuunin exams when he drops by again, Elder Danzo?"

Danzo nodded. "Of course, Kakashi."

"Thank you, Elder Danzo!" Kakashi bowed one last time and then left, leaving Danzo alone to ponder about the coming exams. He had some doubts about the team's success, but he would have to wait and see.

The last two weeks had gone by slowly.

Danzo had informed Naruto of the exams when he visited the next day on his way to a team meeting. He had told him how succeeding well in the exams would let him become a chuunin and thus advance on his ninja career. Naruto had thanked him for the information, but he couldn't really care less about his career.

Team Seven had tried to keep itself busy with numerous D-rank missions, but waiting for the exams to start had made them anxious and distracted. After a little persuasion, Kakashi had agreed to let them spend the next week without a single mission so they could prepare for the exams. Naruto had spent most of his days in his home, leaving only to greet Old Man Danzo and get something to eat. Most of his wounds had healed, save for a few minor bruises; the missing part of his tooth was still causing him a great amount of annoyance, but he could live with it.

A few days before the chuunin exams were to start, during their last scheduled team meeting, Kakashi had told them where the exams would be held: the third floor of the academy building. He had told them he would be waiting in the lobby to show the way just in case. He had concluded the team meeting after that, much to his students' increasing annoyance.

"And he did it again," Naruto complained loudly while all three of them were walking down a thankfully empty street. "Always the same fucking idiot."

"You know, Naruto," Sakura said, "you should lighten up a little. Disrespecting Kakashi and swearing constantly isn't going to help."

Naruto showed no sign of hearing her before going on with his rant. "Why can't he send a fucking letter? Oh, wait, I can't read. Well, I could get someone else to read it for me! Or why couldn't use a phon- right, none of those here."

Sasuke tried to say something, anything that would make Naruto stop rambling. It was unusual for Naruto to constantly complain in this manner or talk this much at all; in fact, he hadn't acted like this before today. What had happened to him?

"Why are you two even following me?"

"We're not," Sakura answered quickly and unconvincingly.

"Sakura, I know for a fact you live on the other side of the village. Why are you following me?"

"No reason really," Sasuke answered with a shrug.

"Right." Naruto's tone made it clear he wasn't buying it, and Sasuke hadn't expected him to. "And you are most certainly not just following me around to see where I live. Most certainly not!"

"Naruto, please," Sakura said, hoping to get him to calm down. "We just want to get to know you, that's all. We hardly know anything about you, like what's your favorite color-"

"Orange."

Sakura wasn't expecting him to actually answer, and neither was Sasuke. "Oh, uhhh, you don't wear much orange, though."

"Yeah, well, unlike maybe you two I don't like prancing around in my underwear!"

Sasuke again wondered what had caused such a drastic change in personality.

"So, what does that say anyway?" Naruto asked suddenly, stopping to stare at a small sign attached to a tall, wooden fence.

Sakura and Sasuke stepped closer to the fence to get a better look of the sign. It was quite old, and the text painted on it had faded badly.

With some squinting, Sasuke managed to read it. "It says 'beware'. Beware what?" He looked skyward in hopes of seeing something over the fence. He could only see the edge of a roof and nothing more.

"I guess someone misplaced it," Sakura said, wiping some dirt of the sign. She turned around, and her eyes widened when she noticed something that shouldn't have surprised either of them. "He's gone!"

Sasuke spun around instantly and saw no trace of Naruto in any direction. He had obviously used the sign and their curiosity as a distraction. Maybe he had entered one of the buildings on the other side of the street or maybe he had climbed to the roof; either way, he was long gone.

"Dammit! I can't believe we got tricked."

Sakura sighed quietly. "I think we should go home ourselves," she suggested, looking around one last time.

"I think you're right," Sasuke said with a nod. "Well, see you later then."

"Yeah, later."

They went their separate ways after that, heading straight home.

"Sheesh, never thought it would be that easy to get rid of them." A little distraction, and he was free to leave without anyone noticing. He couldn't believe they actually fell for his over the top act.

Idiots, all three of them.

Naruto checked the time from the pocket watch he had gotten from Old Man. Afternoon was just starting; plenty of time left for today. But what could he do? Hang out with his friends? He had no friends here. Visit Old Man? The afternoons were always the busiest time of the day, and he would only be in the way like usual. Study? There was nothing to study. Go for a walk? Not in a million years.

Naruto lay down on the mattress, hands behind his head, and just stared at the ceiling. He thought about Lightning and New Bodhum, and wondered how things were in that distant yet idyllic town. It had felt wrong to say goodbye to everyone, but he knew he couldn't return there.

"Hmmm." He turned his head towards the coat rack, staring at the clean overcoat hanging there. It had taken him some effort, but he had managed to get the bloodstains off. Now it looked almost as good as new. What would Lightning say if he didn't take care of her gift?

Naruto sat up eventually, rubbing his forehead. He tried to think of something else to do instead of lying here until the exams began. He looked around until his eyes locked on to the gunblade in its holster. He realised he didn't have any training with a sword, let alone with one that was also a gun.

"Might as well practice," he said as he stood up and walked across the room. Slowly, as if afraid of getting shocked, he reached for the grip of the gunblade and pulled it out. He swung it around a bit before shifting the weapon to its sword mode.

Naruto raised the blade higher and closer to better observe it. He traced one finger along the yellow cutting edge while moving another along the reddish inner part of the blade. He tried not to press too hard to avoid cutting himself.

Sighing, he swung the weapon in wide arcs around him. He repeated the process a few times after that, changing the way he swung and what hand he used every time.

He spun around mid-swing and brought the blade to a stop in front of him, holding it sideways with both hands, its tip pointed towards the ceiling. He eyed it with a big frown on his face, unsatisfied with the way he handled the precious weapon. Something like this deserved to wielded with respect and skill.

"Yes," Naruto whispered after a long silence. "Practice is what I need."

And that's it.

Next time is the first part of the chuunin exams, then the second.

Bye!

Fun Fact: Originally, Naruto's manadrive would've been able to use cure, ruin and single target versions of Synergist and Saboteur spells. The idea was abandoned because most of them were either gameplay mechanics or I couldn't get them to work properly.