Naruto's Butterfly

by gadman85

While on his training trip with Jiraiya Naruto decides to do a summoning. While he does this summoning something causes it to go wrong resulting in something unexpected. This will change things for him and others. Rated M for adult situations, detailed fights and later romances taking a healthy direction.

10. Mission Complete!

Naruto's Butterfly

"Normal person speaking"

"This means someone is thinking these lines."

Flashbacks will have a break before and after.

Name no jutsu: this is for jutsus obviously no breaks for them if they are mentioned in flashbacks they will appear as so: name no jutsu, or the English names.

Demons or 'higher beings' along with inners talk and think like this.

A/N: I made some small changes here apart from just format. It wasn't anything major just changed the way one of the character's positions was referred to as and removed a certain time limiter on the story that I later forgot about for good reason.

---

Chapter 10: Mission Complete!

Kakashi was a little worried as he ran with Gaara's body to a hopefully safe location. He put his trust in Alice and Naruto, but he figured it would be alright. Gaara couldn't be used as a human shield nor would they hold back hoping not to harm the young Kazekage.

He came to a clearing away from the cave. He thought about it and decided taking Gaara there would give Sasori an advantage if he managed to swipe it from him. He wasn't sure though what to do with the body so he could go and help out Chiyo and Sakura.

{-} {-} {-}

Things weren't looking up for team Gai these fakes they were fighting proved to be tough opponents. They had all of their moves down and knew how to counter them. Neji's fake even had the Byakugan and knew all the Jukien he did.

Lee was blown back again. His fake just stood there waiting for him to make his move. He laid there for a bit and said through his intercom to the others. "Are you all having just as much of a hard time as I am?" All the others gave their affirmative.

Neji spoke up, "They know all of our moves. It is as if they made a direct copy of us from how we were the moment we touched the seals."

Tenten spoke next, "This fake has the same gear as me even it seems."

Gai added his two cents, "Mine has all of my moves but not the youthfulness I do. But in this fight that doesn't seem to be a factor."

Lee attacked again, his fake easily countered and threw him towards a tree. Once he landed, Lee thought of an answer to this problem. "Were you guys at full power when you removed the seal?"

Each member of the team's eyes widened Neji answered first, "No. A true Shinobi never goes all out right away."

Tenten smiled and said, "It is always a good idea to hide your true strength at first when fighting an opponent so you can figure them out."

Lee said, "Then the answer is quiet simple. We go all out show that we are even stronger than before!"

Gai gave a laugh and boomed over his headset, "Good Job, Young Lee-kun! So my youthfulness does matter after all I was just smothering it from my shock. That ends now!" The others gave their own yell and at that moment all three fakes knew they were doomed. It didn't take long for each to defeat their fake after that.

The three met up shortly after only a bit worse for wear. Gai smiled at his Students…. No former students and now colleagues. He boomed to them, "Good job fellow ninjas. We have done well so far."

They each gave a little smile knowing the significance of Gai's words to them. He gave a nice guy pose for a few seconds before turning serious and saying to them, "But we have much too still do. Neji if you would use your eyes to lead us back to Kakashi and the others."

Neji quickly activated his Byakugan and said, "It seems that Kakashi is in a clearing with what might be the Kazekage. Should we head to him, Gai-san?"

Gai thought for a second looked over his team and decided it would be best if they did head to Kakashi. They needed a little rest before they could be much help fighting an Akatsuki and they might be too much help and get in the way. "Yes we should. I have a feeling Kakashi would be better able to aid the others at this moment. Lead us to him, Neji."

Team Gai then speed towards Kakashi and Gaara's body. Once they got there, just a couple of minutes after the one-eyed man reached the clearing Kakashi greeted them again. "You guys look like you have been through a bit of a scuffle." He said to them.

Gai boomed to him, "We had some trouble with the seals. What do you want us to do since we are your backup?"

Kakashi thought for a second and ordered, "Stay here and guard the Kazekage. I will go and help Sakura and Chiyo-sama with Sasori. Alice and Naruto should be fine." With that, he left and was able to deliver the last blow to Sasori.

{-} {-} {-}

Naruto had to admit if the situation wasn't so dire he would be the happiest ninja in the entire world. He was sitting behind Alice with his hands wrapped tightly around her waist so he wouldn't fall as they flew on Gryphon's back. He actually enjoyed the sensation of flying anyways as it was. However, they still had to complete their mission so he couldn't fully enjoy the ride.

Alice would have liked this whole thing much better if they didn't have to worry about the mission and helping Naruto's friend Gaara. She noticed they were coming close, but there were two ways to proceed.

She turned to Naruto and she was inches from his face. She blushed a little bit just then realizing how close they actually were before speaking to him. "Naruto it seems there are two groups of signatures up ahead. One at the cave the other in a clearing to our left. Which one do we choose?"

Naruto thought for a bit and said, "The clearing. That is probably Team Gai with Gaara." With that they turned left and continued.

After a little bit more, Alice said to him, "Good thing we went left the others are now headed that way as well. They will get there a little bit before us. I think." Naruto just hummed a response.

{-} {-} {-}

Kakashi, Sakura and Chiyo just got into the clearing. Sakura's eyes widened she could tell that Gaara's case was really bad. She ran faster the last couple of seconds and started doing medic jutsu right away.

She didn't like this, it was looking really bad. She could tell that she was repairing the damage to Gaara's body but not much else. They soon heard a whoosh of what sounded like giant wings and then a shout, "Gaara!"

Naruto jumped down and immediately got to Gaara. The blonde was starting to panic now. He kept saying loudly that Sakura should help him. He didn't mean to but it actually hurt Sakura a bit hearing him say that.

She said in a frustrated voice, "I am Naruto! What do you think I'm doing?! I can't do everything. I haven't finished my training yet."

She then said quieter hoping he wouldn't hear, "I can't bring back the dead…." She then turned away not able to do anything else. She had fixed his body, but it seemed his soul was already close to crossing over.

Chiyo then made her decision to herself. She would do the life transfer and save Gaara, who the village needed more than anyone else right now. She knew she would die, but it would be worth it. She had no more regrets nor anymore wishes to fulfill. She came over and said in a soft voice with a little pride, "I can save him. I know a way to do so. It is something even that slug princess can't do."

Sakura made room wanting to see what the elder was talking about, and hoping she could learn it to use herself. She did want to ultimately surpass her Sensei. Chiyo's hands started glowing blue as powerful energy that no one knew the old woman had came forth and covered Gaara's body in a blue glow. Neji used his all-seeing eyes and was the only one to realize the elder was using not chakra but her own life force and giving it to Gaara.

Chiyo began sweating a bit from the strain. She knew her energy alone wouldn't be enough so she said, "I need a little extra oomph due to my recent battle. Can anyone lend a hand?"

Naruto immediately placed his hand on her left shoulder and she told him what to do. It was the boost she needed. She was pleased that after a little bit longer with the end of her life she will have redeemed herself a little bit for all of her mistakes in life.

Naruto kept saying quietly "Come on, Gaara. You can't die yet. You finally reached your dream of being a Kage. Besides I haven't become a Kage yet and shown you how it is done, friend."

{-} {-} {-}

Gaara found himself in an area surrounded by white. It was peaceful here but he also felt like he shouldn't be here, not yet at least. He still had to do a lot for his village. He thought about his village how things were getting better.

He liked this peaceful place.

He thought about his life and everything in it.

He was starting to feel that maybe he could rest finally. He felt a burden had been lifted from him. His first duty was over with now. He was thinking he could just let it all go.

He then thought about the people he met in his life. The things he had yet to still do. He also thought of a certain Kunoichi that he helped save a couple of years ago.

She was just a little bit older than him but not even a Chunin. She was scared of weapons and wasn't a full on Kunoichi a couple years ago.

Each Ninja has to choose a weapon of some kind before they graduate in Suna. He had trained her to use a weapon that suited her. She would have been a Chunin in no time, but she chose instead to help Gaara, since he was important to the village and some still feared him.

She had been sort of a secretary to him and helped him run the village smoothly. He also thought that maybe there was something more there between them. He was still new to feelings that weren't all about killing to validate his existence like he was as a Genin.

This caused him to think about the Chunin exams and his first defeat. It was also when he finally realized his views at the time were wrong. It was because of his first friend and fellow Jinchuriki that he found out how to become truly strong and a better way to 'prove' his existence.

"Uzumaki Naruto" he thought to himself and gave the smallest hint of a smile. The blonde had done great things for him when he won their fight with only using a small amount of the Kyuubi's chakra if any.

As he thought about Naruto, he heard his voice. "Don't die on me, Gaara. You reached your goal of being Kazekage. You need to protect your important people. You need to at least wait until after I become Hokage and show you how a Kage does things."

Gaara smiled he wanted to head back now. He wasn't ready to die. It wasn't his time, but he still couldn't figure out how to get back.

Suddenly Gaara heard a voice seemingly form everywhere. "You can't die yet, Gaara. Naruto still needs you. Your village still needs you. I have yet to meet you. Naruto told me about you and I want to meet you." The voice had a pretty accent to it. While being warm it also sounded as if it was ordering him to stop being dead.

He focused on the second voice and used it to guide himself back to the world of the living. Naruto gave him the push to make his choice. The girl's voice gave him the focus to get back to his body.

The whiteness around him started to disappear. He started taking in his surroundings. He knew Shukaku was gone now. He feared if it would severely affect his abilities or not, but was also glad the mad voice pretending to be his mother was gone for good.

{-} {-} {-}

Chiyo was ready to die. She felt the last of her life force about to drain away when suddenly to her shock and amazement she felt her life energy returning to her. She feared that something had gone wrong with the ritual and that it wasn't going to work.

She noticed life returning to Gaara as well. She looked to her left and figured it couldn't possibly be him. She then looked to her right and saw Alice's hand on her shoulder as well. She looked up and saw a look of determination in her green eyes, but she wasn't the key either. She also noticed the girl whispering "You can't die yet, Gaara…."

Chiyo just stared as the ritual finished and Gaara opened his eyes to see the people gathered around him. He immediately noticed Naruto whose mouth was hanging open before the blonde gave him a hug.

Naruto said to him, "I knew you couldn't die on me like that, Gaara!"

Gaara reached up with one arm and returned the hug while saying, "Uzumaki Naruto. It is good to see you again. What all happened?"

Naruto was about to say something when suddenly he was shoved aside as two sand Kunoichi pushed him away as they hugged, Gaara. Temari and a few others had arrived just when Gaara was waking up. The two Suna girls kept going on and on about how they feared they lost Gaara and how they would get stronger so they could do better in the future to help protect Suna and their Kazekage.

The scene was touching but Naruto didn't like it. He wanted to talk to his friend that he had almost lost. He sighed and realized he would get to later and the villagers and ninja should get to rejoice in the return of their Kazekage. He still didn't like it though and he was just a tiny bit jealous of the attention Gaara was getting.

Sakura gave a little chuckle at the sight, half in amusement and half in relief. She turned to Chiyo and said, "That was an amazing technique you used. What did you do?"

Chiyo still wondering what was going on said in shock, "I was using the life transfer technique… It is a Suna jutsu that is forbidden to use most of the time. In essence, it takes the caster's life force and gives it to the recipient."

"What happened here today was a miracle. I should have died, but I didn't. I am not sure what to do now. I had made my peace and I don't have anything really left now." The suna elder finished.

Sakura gave her a soft smile and went to get Naruto up off of his ass. Chiyo was thinking that maybe the combined force of her, Naruto and Alice wanting Gaara to return had somehow reached the ears of Kami who took pity on them.

As Sakura forced Naruto to finally stop fake mopping and get up off the ground, Alice leaned in and said to Chiyo in a whisper she would only hear, "Help the young ones. If not as a puppetry instructor then in another way."

Chiyo thought for a second on that. Suna was recovering very well, but still there were things that needed help. They still had orphans to take care of after they were tricked into that doomed invasion about three years ago. They also couldn't let Konoha and the slug princess get more of a lead on them in medical ninjutsu. There were other things as well.

The old woman chuckled to herself and thought, "Seems the old can still learn a thing or two. Maybe I am getting senile. I hadn't thought about helping in those ways even with how things with my grandson turned out."

Then a grand and noble voice was heard from near Alice, "Is there any other way I can help you, Mistress Alice?" Everyone gathered paused and stared at the Noble creature before them. No one noticed Gryphon standing there because they were focused on Gaara.

Alice walked over to Gryphon, placed a hand on his beak and said, "That will be all, Gryphon. I am sorry to have used you without first meeting you again after all these years. Thanks for your help."

The summon bowed his head and said to her, "Worry not, Alice. It was my pleasure and honor to aide you once again." Gryphon then vanished in a puff of light blue smoke.

Alice turned around and was a bit surprised to see everyone staring at her. She felt a bit uncomfortable and did what came naturally to her. Alice gave a curtsy and then said, "I am Alice Liddell. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Gaara then returned her greeting with a bow and said, "Liddell Alice, it is nice to meet you as well. I am Gaara of the sand, Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure. I wish to thank you and the rest of Konoha for your aide." He then turned to Gai and his team and bowed to them as well. Next he thanked Sakura and Kakashi along with elder Chiyo for their help.

Finally he turned to Naruto and said, "Uzumaki Naruto, I especially thank you for all you have done." He then gave him a deep bow along with all of the gathered Suna ninja.

Naruto gave a bit of a nervous laugh and said, "It was no big deal. Gaara. I mean, Kazekage-sama."

Gaara smiled at him and said, "You are my friend, Naruto and have done a lot for me. You may call me, Gaara. I do hope you and the others will stay and recover before heading back to Konoha." He turned to Kakashi at the last part.

Kakashi said, "We should probably head back right away-y-y." Kakashi then collapsed on to the ground.

Gaara looked concerned and questioned Naruto, "Is he alright?"

Naruto just smiled and said to Gaara quietly, "He probably just used too much chakra and needs some rest. It was a tough fight."

Gai let out a laugh and said, "Seems my eternal rival needs to recover. I guess we will have to intrude on you hospitality for a bit longer, Kazekage-sama." Gaara nodded and Gai said he would carry Kakashi back to the village on his back. Naruto and Sakura then hefted him on to the older bowl cut's back.

Lee saw this and was inspired, thinking it could be some new kind of training and so he said, "Neji-san. Let me give you a lift back to Suna as well!"

Neji grimaced and answered, "Not happening, Lee." Lee pouted but then decided he would just head back using his hands only and walking backwards.

They headed back and everyone kept whispering, "Did you see that summon?! I've never heard of one like that."

A Kunoichi whispered, "Maybe it was a lost one or something that Alice-san found and signed."

There were other whispers as well and Alice tried her best to ignore them though she was wearing a disapproving half frown the whole trip back. Naruto tried to calm her down, but it was too little avail.

{-} {-} {-}

The gate guards were extremely happy to see their Kazekage returning leading everyone else. The villagers gathered near the entrance, waiting to hear the news, shouted out Cheers and praises once Gaara returned.

Many who still had some worries about him no longer held them. They respected him and feared him, but now as anyone would a Kage. That night there were many celebrations in Suna with the return of their Kazekage who defended the whole village himself at the risk of his life.

{-} {-} {-}

It had been a couple of days and Alice was looking through the selection at the grocery store in Suna. The prices were a bit higher than she was used to but she supposed that made sense. You can't really grow much in a desert after all.

She kept looking and as she made her choices and paid the cashier she heard more whispers around her. She did her best to ignore them, but the only thing that kept her from losing her temper was the fact she knew the whispers were actually good ones. She headed back to the guest house Gaara lent them while Kakashi recovered.

She entered her room and placed the ingredients for tonight's supper and tomorrow's breakfast away. She sighed and greeted Neji who was one of the few that stayed in the house most of the time. Gai and Lee had taken to training around Suna. Sakura was doing her best to help with the injured from the Akatsuki attack in the hospital. The pinkette insisted, saying she couldn't just sit around all day. Tenten was being shown around the city by Temari.

Naruto was spending time with Gaara and would pop in form time to time, so that he didn't keep the Kazekage from his duties too much. Matsuri, a girl that had taken to serve as Gaara's secretary, had chased him out a few times saying he was just distracting Gaara. The Kazekage didn't mind though, he was able to work as well as catch up with his friend, but Matsuri could be very persuasive when she wanted to be so Naruto complied.

Alice and Temari had become friends after everything that happened. Alice wished she could have gone with Temari. She wanted to see Suna and the sand Kunoichi asked her to come.

However, Alice knew there would be lots of whispers and curious children following them around. She didn't mind it at first but it really did get old fast and irritating. She really liked Temari and even gave the sand Kunoichi a nickname. Alice smiled as she remembered it from before the whispers got really bad.

- Flashback-

Temari was showing Alice around the outside of Suna. She wanted to give the dark haired girl a tour inside, but Alice felt she would get in the way of the village celebrations. She was showing Alice one of their evaporated salt basins they harvested for export and domestic purposes.

Temari was explaining to Alice how they retrieved the salt when she noticed the girl stopped and was staring at something on the ground. Alice had a faint smile on her face as she reached down carefully and picked something up.

"What do you have there, Alice-chan?" Temari asked. Alice looked up and beckoned the sand Kunoichi over to her. Temari walked over to her wondering what it was Alice wanted to show her.

"Desert Rose. I have only seen them in a geology classroom before when my dad took me on a tour and it wasn't this beautiful." Alice said as she looked at the rock closely. It had two clumps with many well defined plates in a pattern that, as its moniker says, looked like flower petals. It had two well defined, 'roses'.

Temari was also mesmerized by it. She had seen some of these before, but this one was particularly pretty. Alice smiled and looked at Temari and said to her while holding it out, "Here you should take it, Temari. You are also a bit like a Desert Rose."

Temari blushed and shouted, "I am not!" She paused for a bit looking away before asking, "H-h-how so?"

Alice gave a little giggle and said, "You are. You were raised or made by these harsh sandy conditions. You have sharp defined edges, but at the same time you are still beautiful."

Temari, still blushing, took it. She didn't know what to say. She did feel a little happy. Despite being tough and serious she still had a soft side to her. Few saw it though, her siblings did a bit but other than that only Shikamaru and now Alice saw it as well. Temari looked at it closely and then she broke the two 'roses' apart and gave one to Alice.

Alice looked at her questioningly as Temari said, "Take it as a souvenir and a Thank you."

Alice looked at her and said, "Thanks for what Temari?"

Temari looked away and said, "For helping of course."

Alice was still a little confused and asked, "Why? I was simply doing my mission."

Temari turned around and looked her in the eyes and said, "When I saw Kankuro in the hospital you comforted me. No one else would have done that. Also though it wasn't the best attempt you tried to comfort me on the trip after I heard about Gaara. I still wonder why you seemed so concerned and worried. It couldn't have been just because of the mission failing or Naruto losing his friend. It seemed deeper than that."

Alice held the desert rose to her chest and said, "I was hoping you wouldn't have to suffer what I did. I hate seeing death in that manner."

Temari looked at her questioningly so Alice continued, "I lost my family when I was younger. I blamed myself. It drove me mad and where I came from they didn't really have good ways of treating people like me."

"I don't want anyone else to go through what I did. Fortunately it seems that they are a bit if only slightly better at treating people here from what I have seen." Alice finished. Temari still wasn't clear on the matter but she knew not to press.

The two continued their tour before heading back. Temari immediately went in to her room and picked up a small display box she found a while back and placed the Desert Rose in it. Temari smiled to herself and thought, "She may be different and I haven't really known her for too long, but maybe she is a friend I will have in Konoha." Being a Kunoichi she didn't have many she could call a friend.

She felt she could think of Alice as one even if she was in a different hidden ninja village they were allied with. Usually alliances were only there for convenience to be broken when deemed necessary. However, the current Hokage and Kazekage were dead set on making this a permanent and strong alliance along with most of the ninja and villagers in the two hidden villages. The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind for all other purposes had a really strong alliance anyways so it would only be right that the ninjas did as well.

- End of Flashback-

Alice smiled as she looked at her Desert rose she placed in a box she found yesterday at the market for safe keeping until she got back to her place.

Naruto came in and wondered why Alice and Neji were both inside. He figured Neji would be but Alice he thought would want to see the sights. "Hey, Alice-chan. Why are you inside? I mean the rumors can't be that bad. Can they?"

Alice sighed and said, "No they aren't bad at all. It is the only reason I haven't told them to stop talking about it forcefully. But really they are getting out of hand."

"I am not some warrior princess from a long forgotten land that finally rejoined the world at large to help fight Akatsuki and find myself a Kage to marry…. " Alice sighed again.

Naruto laughed louder than he meant to laugh but he couldn't help it. The whole thing was funny. When Alice sent him a glare he stopped and said, "I'm sorry… heh heh I'm sorry, Alice. But I mean it is kind of funny. Besides it is mostly because of your great manners and the fact Gryphon called you his mistress."

Alice gave a little smile and relaxed as she said, "Well for all intents and purposes I suppose I am his mistress. I can summon him at will and I did save Wonderland by defeating the Queen of Hearts. I then saved it again later from the ruin. Perhaps I am lucky he didn't call me something more embarrassing like Queen Alice."

Naruto smiled and then said thoughtfully, "Queen Alice hmmm? Ha ha… I like it."

Alice gave a little smile and said, "I guess it does have a certain ring to it. However, don't you dare call me something like that. As for my manners, they are only natural. Father and Mother made sure Lizzie and I were well behaved young ladies when need be. Though Lizzie did have a bit of rebellious streak to her." Alice smiled thinking about her departed sister.

Naruto then said, "Anyways I just checked in with Sakura and she said Kakashi-sensei should be rested by tomorrow afternoon."

Alice let out a breath in relief and said, "Good! I can't get away from here soon enough. I just hope people don't start calling me Princess Alice to my face."

Naruto gave a foxy grin and said, "hmmm… I think I like that better than Queen Alice."

Alice gave him a mock glare and said with fake agitation, "I said don't call me things like that."

"Sure thing, Princess Alice." Naruto barely dodged the pillow thrown at him and laughed a bit before saying, "In any case we should leave the day after tomorrow. If it took him any longer to recover I was half tempted to ask Gai-sensei to carry him all the way back to Konoha. Sakura glared at me and scolded me."

He cleared his throat and said in a horrible imitation of Sakura, "How dare you, Naruto! No one deserves that fate. If you believe he does maybe you should be forced to ride on Lee's back all the way to Konoha."

Alice rolled her eyes and stated sternly, "I should lecture you on proper etiquette for saying something like that, but the imitation was so far off I don't see any reason to do so. However, if this becomes a habit of yours Naruto. I will tell her all about it, and allow her to deal with you as she sees fit."

Naruto gulped and paled a bit remembering how Sakura more or less vaporized that giant boulder in front of the cave with just one punch. Alice gave a satisfied smile knowing she got her message across.

{-} {-} {-}

Kakashi did wake up as Sakura predicted and that night they shared a meal hosted by Suna in honor of their help in retrieving their Kazekage. The Konoha ninja tried to back out, but Gaara demanded they wait until tomorrow morning before heading back with an honor guard to the border.

At the meal, they were in a place of honor seated with the Kazekage and his siblings. The meal wasn't a large feast, but it wasn't small either. It was a modest amount food wise and the taste of the food was exquisite.

Alice actually enjoyed herself with the others. There were other important people from Suna in attendance as well. Luckily it wasn't a large crowd and they didn't whisper loud enough for Alice to hear they were gossiping.

Alice displayed impeccable table manners as she usually did. Sakura was nervous, but tried her best, which was passable for sure. Kakashi was used to things like this having done infiltrations into parties of high standing people in other villages to gather Intel.

Naruto was nervous just like Sakura, but he wasn't hiding it as well. He kept mentally repeating to himself the things Alice had taught him during their trip saying to him, 'If you want to be a Hokage you will need to have half way decent manners at the least.' He managed to make it through the dinner anyways and had an enjoyable enough time talking to the Sand siblings.

Alice was really relieved to be away from all of the gossip. So relieved in fact she didn't notice Neji was studying her with admiration. "If I could somehow invite her over for dinner at the Hyuga residence it would be worth it to see them brought down a peg by facing her." He thought to himself. He knew the main family would be shocked and bring their heads out of their asses, if only a little, if they saw someone like Alice, who wasn't from a well-known clan or anything, display manners they would envy.

Neji had gotten better in accepting things and wasn't as hot headed about fate and such, but he still had a beef with many of the head family. He secretly hoped now that Hinata was proving herself, even if just slightly, she would grow into a great head of clan. There was still some debate as to if she would be head or if Hanabi would be though.

Fortunately Hanabi was also starting to think like Hinata about changing the clan for the better. However, Hanabi would be under the thumbs of the elder council too much. Hinata, who he was seeing as defiance to the old ways, would be strong and able to do what she knows should be done. Hinata just needed to finish growing her backbone.

Neji looked around the hall and thought to himself, "Unfortunately for Alice she will for sure be seen as some long lost princess from a most noble clan after this it seems." It was unfortunate but he also did find it a bit funny nonetheless.

These important people were holding their tongues now. Once they started in the morning, they would be all over talking about how they were able to dine with not only the Kazekage, but also 'Princess Alice' last night. If they actually thought she was a princess or not, wouldn't matter. Looking around the room though it was obvious they thought she was. They thought her a warrior princess, but a princess nonetheless.

{-} {-} {-}

The next morning the Konoha ninja met Temari and Kankuro at the front gate before their Honor Guard got there to lead them to the border. The two siblings once again thanked both of them for saving Gaara. Temari pulled Alice's ear to her mouth and whispered, "You know after last night's dinner everyone is now 100% sure you are some kind of princess."

Alice frowned. She expected this, but still wasn't happy about it. Temari saw her frown and concluded, "Not some delicate princess though. But still a princess nonetheless." Alice was partly mollified to hear that at least.

Naruto turned to Kankuro and asked him, "Hey man where's Gaara? I was hoping to say good bye to him here at the gate, and thank him for letting Kakashi fully rest up before we head back."

Kankuro smiled and said, "Well, Naruto. Gaara is currently doing something he hasn't in a long time. He doesn't have to worry about the one-tail anymore."

Naruto smiled and said, "I only hope he doesn't end up becoming lazy like Kakshi-sensei." The two laughed at that. Naruto had told both Gaara and Kankuro about the one-eyed Jonin's perpetual tardiness before.

Sakura had already said her goodbyes and waited with team Gai and Kakashi as Naruto and Alice finished up. She actually felt a bit left out that she didn't get to know Temari or Kankuro any better. She didn't let it get to her though because she was busy helping with the hospital and she even learned a couple of things she could improve on and use in Konoha.

Alice had finished with Temari and now waited with the others. Kakashi eager to get back said aloud, "Naruto, we need to get going."

Naruto looked at him and then said, "Later, make-up man."

Kankuro growled a little and said, "It is war paint!" The two then gave each other a friendly jab to the other's arm followed by a laugh and a fist bump.

{-} {-} {-}

The trip back was actually more reasonable and uneventful. Naruto got anxious for a bit when he heard Sakura share with them what she was told by Sasori before he died. The blonde haired shinobi calmed down realizing he couldn't make time travel any faster. He ended up enjoying the trip back after that and once they got back there was still almost a week and a half to go before the meeting at the bridge.

Once Kakashi checked them all in, Gai and his team were dismissed since they just provided backup and had already sent a report to Tsunade. Kakashi would have dismissed his team but he figured they might be needed in the debriefing.

{-} {-} {-}

"You're willing to take this risk for a meeting on a bridge?" The Fifth Hokage asked.

Naruto and Sakura nodded vigorously. Alice said, "If Naruto wants me there I will go as well."

Alice wasn't so eager to go meet a spy in the snake man's ranks. She wasn't so sure this was going to work out like Sasori made it seem, but she also knew both Sakura and Naruto thought this as well. However they would risk the meeting if it would prove fruitful in their quest to get Sasuke back. Alice didn't like it, but would go and help if Naruto wanted her to go along.

Tsunade wasn't sure about this situation. She saw the determination of the ninjas in front of her though so she said, "Alight in a week and a half from now you will be going to this bridge." Naruto and Sakura cheered.

Tsunade then said, "However, I feel for this mission and maybe some others in the future someone else will be with your team. Due to what I read about in the report." Naruto looked downcast knowing it was because he lost his cool and used the Fox's Chakra without meaning to do so or realizing it.

Tsunade saw Naruto's look and thought maybe she could cheer him up just a little bit with what she said next. "You will still work with Kakashi a good bit, so don't worry. However, the civilian council thinks you should be watched a bit to make sure nothing unexpected happens, dealing with your special circumstance, Naruto." Naruto wasn't as sad now, but it might have been because Alice placed a comforting hand on him.

Sakura was wondering what this special circumstance Naruto had was. She remembered hearing Kakashi mention it during their trip to rescue the Kazekage. She might have pressed, but she noticed it seemed to really weigh on the blonde ninja's shoulders. She hoped maybe Naruto would tell her sometime soon.

Sakura also felt a little jealous that Alice seemed to already know what it was. "Really just how much more does she know him better than me now? It seems everyone knows my own teammate better than I do." The pink haired girl thought to herself.

Tsunade then said, "Kakashi, I have a mission you need to deal with at the same time. It requires your special skills and experience. I want you to rest for a couple of days before you go. In fact, I want all of you to rest for a couple of days."

"That means no intense training if you do any. I heard and read you all had a pretty tough mission and broke the record for crossing to the border between fire and wind. Even though you rested in Suna I still want you to take two more days rest." The Fifth Hokage then gave her gathered ninja a stern look that said, 'don't even think about disobeying that order.'

The Hokage then said, "Also Jiraiya left to look into some important things so he won't be back until at the earliest after your mission to the bridge. You are dismissed." Naruto, Sakura and Alice then all three left the office. Kakashi stayed behind though, he wanted to talk a little bit with the Hokage.

Tsunade sat down in her chair and said, "What do you want, Kakashi?"

Kakashi stepped in front of the desk and said to her. "A couple of things. From what Alice and Naruto told me, the two of them managed to work together and kill Deidara."

Tsunade waited for him to continue. "I wanted to say that the two are really good for each other. And they seem to somehow just mesh well. Alice also managed to calm Naruto down a few times and stop him using the Fox's chakra. I sort of left that out of the report I figured it would garner needless attention to the two of them but I wanted you to know."

Tsunade smiled and said, "I could tell there was something between them. I'm glad to hear that Alice has that effect on Naruto. What was the other thing?" Tsunade did wonder if part of the affect Alice had on Naruto was due to her being the only one to actually show him true affection of some kind.

Kakashi answered, "I wanted to know who my Replacement team lead was, since I have that mission."

Tsunade nodded and then summoned for an ANBU Captain. The man was decently tall with brown hair. He wore an ANBU mask that looked like a cat but had green and purple markings.

Kakashi recognized him. The two of them worked together a lot when he was still ANBU. Tsunade then said, "Please remove your mask." The man did as told. He had large almond shaped black eyes and he wore a black shirt that went up to his chin.

Tsunade then said, "You are now known as Yamato. You know what your new duties are. Make sure you get your required uniform change."

Yamato then bowed and turned to the one-eyed Jonin and said, "Kakashi-sempai. I am pleased to be working with you again."

Kakashi gave an approving nod and said, "Well I am sure you will do a good job with them Tenzo."

Yamato frowned and said, "I am Yamato now…. Not Tenzo."

Kakashi eye-smiled not really caring and turned to Tsunade, "Does he know about her?"

Tsunade looked a bit offended. Did he really think she wouldn't have briefed him about Alice? She said to him evenly, "He knows about Alice. In fact, he was one of her guards when she entered Konoha and escorted her to her interrogation. That and his abilities are the reason why I selected him to be your temporary replacement. He can use Wood release very well now."

Kakashi's eye widened. He knew Yamato was always good, but to now be able to use the wood release he was given in an experiment when he was younger, while so many others died from it, was out right impressive. It was a benefit from Orochimaru's horrible deeds, but still not worth the price. Kakashi and Yamato bowed to Tsunade and the two of them left to go and catch up as well as discuss their team.

Tsunade leaned back and stretched for a bit before sighing in frustration and getting back to that dreaded paperwork.