Author's Corner: Yes, we're here! I know a lot of you are more excited than others. On a slightly more serious note, I'm going to have to use a few original characters in this arc. Mostly because there have been a few gaps left. These OC's are going to be very minor. They're not even going to be as big antagonists as Yumi.
Congratulations to those who guessed the identities of the people. You know who you are!
Thanks to Ibby-kun (MegaB) for betaing for me.
Disclaimer: Pryotra does not own Naruto. If she did, the manga wouldn't drag on the way it does, but it would probably move too fast.
As a little help, here the list of names and aliases again.
Shippuu no Naruto-Taiki
Arashi no Sasuke-Masaru
Sabaku no Gaara-Shinta
Rasen no Neji-Haru
Nisshoku no Sakura-Emi
Gesshoku no Hinata-Rei
Hara no Haku-Ryou
Shin'en no Sai-Hideaki
Haka no Kimimaro-Yuuma
I hear someone's voice from far away,
One after another, warriors prepare for battle
On a street that only comes back.
Forget about being prepared. Are you ready?
My body shivers straight to the core
The energy rings out like a violent stomping
It calls me, always growing, never dying out
This unstoppable comeback story.
Come on, everybody stand up!
Stand up, today's your best shot!
No one can catch you speed hunter!
Everyone come back now, YEAH!
Come on, everybody, hands up!
Tomorrow is our hero's come back!
Raise up your hands and count down!
Let's go, 3-2-1 MAKE SOME NOISE!
Hey, yo whoa. You ready to deal with all the risks?
You gotta get up no matter how many times you fall!
Only a paper-thin truce keeps our bond intact,
Those feelings have built up and solidified.
The tide of rising cheers will give you courage.
You'll suffer now as you stand back up.
But I know you'll end up smiling!
Push it all away, and feel the thrill of victory!
Everybody stand up!
Stand up, today's your best shot!
No one can catch you speed hunter!
Everyone come back now, YEAH!
Come on, everybody hands up!
Tomorrow is our hero's come back!
Raise up your hands and count down!
Let's go, 3-2-1 MAKE SOME NOISE!
-Hero's Come Back (translation) by nobodyknows
The village of Konoha didn't look like it had changed all that much on the outside from the day, five years ago, when six frightened children escaped in the dead of night. The large, imposing gates still stood, and the same symbols were painted on them. The surrounding forest didn't seem even slightly different, but then again, Naruto hadn't really had that much time to see them.
Naruto readjusted his new Kusa hitai-ite for the one-hundredth time nervously. He was not at all used to the weight and it had a way of wanting to slide down his face.
He was wearing a grayish blue jacket over a dark orange shirt, and dark pants along with black combat sandals. All of these clothes had been assigned to him by the client, along with everyone else's. Naruto wished he could have used a genjutsu to cover up his whiskers, but had already decided to tell anyone who stared at them that they were tattoos. It had been a very long time since he had left, and few people had really looked at him; they were too busy devotedly ignoring him.
Sasuke wore his hitai-ite the same way as Naruto, and had found a pair of dark pants and a navy turtle neck shirt to wear. He had bandages along his arms, but had, thankfully not found any arm warmers. He seemed pleased that this time their disguise was as a real ninja. He didn't have to worry about a disguise. As long as he didn't activate the Sharingan in the middle of a battle, most people would just assume that he was related to Sai.
Kimimaro was wearing his hitai-ite around his neck. He was wearing a loose white shirt and dark blue pants. Looser clothing made it easier for him to use his kekkei genkai, and he hadn't bothered to hide much of anything. No one would have a clue who he was. even if he took out his whole skeleton.
Hinata had placed the genjustu that made her eyes look brown in place about three hours back. Her hitai-ite was around her neck and she was wearing a white sleeveless shirt with long tan shorts. Her arms and legs were bound by bandages and the back of her shorts was a long white square of fabric that went down to her ankles. Naruto thought that it was kind of cool, in a very odd way.
Sakura had found a red battle kimono with a gold flame pattern that she had immediately picked out. She was proudly wearing her hitai-ite as a headband, to show off her forehead. Naruto had told her not to be so obvious, people might remember her, but Sakura had ignored him and said that she wouldn't jeopardize the mission.
Gaara was still wearing his gourd, and he had found a red and grey coat to wear over black pants that made him look fairly intimidating. Then again, Gaara had a knack for looking intimidating when he wanted to. He had wrapped his hitai-ite around his gourd, but it was almost impossible to see.
Neji was wearing close to the same off-white shirt and brown pants that he had worn in Wave. Actually, he and Sai were the only ones who had done that. He wore his hitai-ite on his forehead, but didn't really seem to care too much about where it would go, since, according to him, they would have to get rid of them anyway. Naruto had to admit that he really did have a good point.
Sai was still in his black outfit. He really seemed to like it, and due to either lack of originality or lack of caring, his hitai-ite was also one his forehead.
Haku was wearing a teal colored robe, over a brown sweater with a lighter brown sash as a belt. His pants, which seemed to be the same color and material as the sweater, went down past his knees. His hair was tied back into a bun, covered by a piece of cloth, and tied with a piece of teal-colored rope, and he still looked like he really could have passed for a girl. Naruto said nothing about this, since it was a fairly touchy subject.
Zabuza was almost completely unrecognizable. It was amazing just what wearing the traditional Jounin uniform, taking off his face mask, and hiding his sword could do. He wasn't all happy with the changes or his new name, but he was willing to put up with it, if only to avoid ever owing Hakumei anything in the future.
The gates to Konoha were closed, which was strange. Naruto couldn't remember a single time when the gates had been closed past nightfall. Naruto remembered Iruka-sensei had once told him about the gates only being closed when there was an attack or a threat, and worry began to rise in him. Had they already been found out?
There were a large group of people waiting outside the gate, looking like they had spent the night there. Hakumei edged up close to a trio about their age, who were hanging around. It was comprised of one boy and two girls, which was a rarity in the ninja world, and the three turned around to look at them as they approached.
"Chuunin Exams?" the boy, who was wearing a black suit, with a cat-eared hood and what looked like war paint on his face.
"Yeah," Kimimaro said.
"Well, that makes all of us," a girl wearing a light purplish dress, what looked like four pigtails in her blonde hair, and something that looked kind of like a club, but might not be grumbled, looking cross, "There have been people waiting here since yesterday. They only open the gates for about four hours, and if you didn't happen to get there in time, you wait."
For the first time she looked them over with interest.
"You're Grass nin?" she asked in a mildly interested, but mildly condescending tone.
"Yeah," Sakura said, looking like she was trying not to take an instant dislike to the girl, "I'm Emi."
"I'm Temari," the girl said, "This is my little brother Kankuro and Matsuri. We're from Suna."
The other girl, with brown hair that hung limply to her shoulders, bowed a little. She was wearing a green skirt and a dark shirt that showed her shoulders. On the whole, Naruto didn't think that he had met a more insecure looking person unless it was Hinata before she had become a member of Hakumei.
"It's nice to meet you," she said shyly.
Naruto noticed Gaara's eyes widened just a little. That made sense; he probably would know them from his childhood.
They all introduced themselves, mostly talking out of boredom and the common ground of all being foreign, young, and having their first Exam.
"When will they be opening the doors?" Hinata asked.
"Who knows," Kankuro shrugged and leaned forwards conspiratorially, "I hear that they'll take you up to see their torture and interrogation specialist to make sure we're not spies before we get our passport into Konoha."
Sasuke looked skeptical, "If they did that, no one would sign up."
Sai nodded, "No one's that suicidal."
Before Kankuro could say anything else, the gates opened to show an annoyed looking Chuunin with short, black hair that spiked a little at the back, dark eyes, and a perpetual frown.
"That's my cousin, Uchiha Hiro," Sasuke hissed to Naruto.
"All of you, show your identification," Hiro said, glaring around at them, "If it is verified, you will be given a visa that always traverse within the civilian sector of Konoha, you all have a room at one of the inns here, and you will be permitted to look around the civilian sectors all you like until Chuunin Exam day, which is in two days from now."
Naruto took in this information, feeling strange. They had never had permits or anything else like that before. While Naruto hadn't paid any more attention to Konoha's laws or rulings than any other six year old, he had never heard of a civilian sector or anything else like what Hiro was talking about. This was all new to him.
The check was highly humiliating. They were lined up, asked to produce their passports, and looked at suspiciously for about three minutes. Temari was very impatient when Matsuri's turn came.
"Oh, come on," she grumbled, "She's just here to fill out this team, how suspicious can she be? I mean she's deathly afraid of weapons, squeamish, and can't manipulate chakra to save her life. Let's get a move on!"
Hiro gave her a bored look, and continued, moving slightly slower, probably just to spite her. When they left, Kankoro waved cheerfully at them and called "We'll crush you in the exams," in the same way that most people would have said 'we'll see you in the exams.'
When he came to Hakumei he kept them for at least fifteen minutes because all nine of them had no last names, and Zabuza, or "Kenshin Honda", had to show a tremendous amount of proof of the fact that thet were orphans from Kusa that Naruto was very glad that they were masquerading as Grass nin with Kusa's permission. If they didn't, they would have been caught before setting foot in the city.
After an agonizing few minutes in which all of them were probably certain that they would be caught just because of their facial expressions, they were allowed into Konoha. Apparently everyone looked guilty when they were checked.
"Remember, stay in the civilian section," Hiro warned them, "If you're caught in the ninja sector, you'll be dealt with as spies."
Zabuza growled something under his breath that might have been, "and I'll use your intestines to strangle you" but might have also been "Thank you, have a nice day."
Naruto was betting on the first one.
Hakumei was the last group to be accepted in, and the doors slammed shut behind them.
For the first time in almost six years, Naruto looked at his home town. At first, it didn't seem like much had changed. The Hokage building and Monument were still in the same place, the buildings hadn't changed much, if at all, and the smell in the air was almost the same. But then Naruto realized just how much had really changed.
Danzou's face now looked out from the Hokage Monument, glaring at everyone with his one eye. Naruto noticed that all the ninja, including Genin were wearing the standard uniform, and Naruto wondered if the Genin just wore normal clothes on missions or something, and he realized just how many Uchihas were hanging around. They were everywhere. Naruto recognized them by the crest at the back of their shirts, and the scowl on all of their faces. Not one of them looked younger than twenty. ROOT seemed everywhere too. When Naruto was younger, it was really rare to actually see the ANBU when they were on duty, they prided themselves with never being seen, but ROOT was obvious, almost as if they were intimidating people. The civilians were different too. Naruto was used to looks of cold hatred or indifference, but this was nothing like those. The eyes of almost everyone who looked at them were filled with fear. They looked like they were afraid that Naruto would just go nuts and attack for no reason.
Naruto found himself being jostled about by the crowd, and was so lost in his own thoughts, that he didn't notice that he was separated from the others until he had walked down several streets.
Sasuke was also lost in his own thoughts as he walked. It was the first time that he had seen anyone from his large clan in a very long time and for the first time it really occurred to him that he might see his family again. Yes, he had thought of that before, but the meaning and ramifications hadn't really come up until that moment.
What would happen if he met his mother or Itachi?
Sasuke was certain that either of them would recognize him. Itachi might not say anything. He had allowed them to escape and obviously hadn't told anyone, but his mother would want an explanation. He would have to avoid her.
Sasuke looked up to ask Naruto a question, only to realize that he was alone. He muttered something that he had learned from Zabuza under his breath and tried to catch his bearings. The large building in front of him with the Uchiha crest on it made him know exactly where he was.
Of course, without thinking, he had started walking towards one of the two places he was thinking about most.
Sasuke knew that he should probably leave, but he found himself sitting on one of the benches facing the station. He hadn't seen it since what seemed like an eternity ago, when he had sprained his ankle training with Itachi. Now looking at it again, he had to smile a little at the memory. It had been a long time since he had hurt himself training. It had been even longer since he'd even seen his brother.
He wondered if Itachi worked from the Military Police now, since the ANBU was gone. Maybe he would help them, but he probably shouldn't try to make contact with him.
Sasuke stood up to head for the hotel, and then realized that Hiro, always trying to act cool and half the time forgetting important things, hadn't remembered to tell them where they were staying.
Sasuke tried out a few creative new words that he had learned from Zabuza and started to think of all the hotels that he knew.
"What are you doing here?" a female voice that sounded more then a little unfriendly asked.
Sasuke looked up at almost allowed himself to start or look surprised.
Uchiha Mikoto stood, watching him with a disdainful, expression, carrying something that looked like it was someone's lunch. She looked a little older than Sasuke remembered, and the expression on her face shocked him the most. He had never seen his mother without a soft look in her eyes, but now they were like to pieces of obsidian: cold and completely uncaring.
A horrible realization came to Sasuke; adults didn't usually change much over time. Their personalities were very set. His mother had probably always been like this to non-Uchihas.
What was even worse was that she didn't recognize him.
"Well?" Mikoto asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I guess I got lost looking for the hotel," Sasuke managed out.
"Let me see your passport," Mikoto commanded, walking up to him and holding out her hand expectantly.
Sasuke took out his passport and handed it to her, feeling slightly sick. Mikoto looked at it almost as if looking to see a forgery.
"I see, Masaru from Kusa," Mikoto said coldly, "You should have received a map indicating where to go. The hotel is in the center of the market. If you retrace your steps and go to the left, you will eventually reach the market place. The hotel has a large amount of balloons in the front and a sign welcoming the foreign exam participants."
Sasuke couldn't help but hear the bite in her voice when she said 'foreign'.
"Thank you," Sasuke said, bowing politely, and wanting to throw up.
"Hn," was the only answer that Sasuke received.
Mikoto watched Sasuke as he disappeared down the street, but turned around and didn't see him rush into some bushes and relieve his stomach of his breakfast.
That was his family? Yes, he had been angry that they had ignored him, but showing them that they were wrong and eventually rejoining the clan had always been Sasuke's eventual plan. Now he didn't feel so sure. His mother's eyes were etched in his memory as being cold, and completely uncaring.
"Aniki," Sasuke breathed, "Are you the same?"
Sasuke was sure of one thing; he didn't want to see anything more of his family until he had had time to think.
Uchiha Fugaku had watched the boy for a while until his wife had appeared and shooed him off. He had been a Grass nin with dark hair, and vaguely he realized that Sasuke would have been about his age now.
Sasuke. That name brought up so much annoyance in him. He was the cause of Fugaku's dishonor, and even though Fugaku knew that it was stupid to blame a six year old, who was probably dead now anyway, he couldn't help it.
The night Sasuke left, his room had been clean, some clothes packed and money gone. The little brat had run away, only to get kidnapped by Iwa, and Fugaku was short one son. While that was bad enough, it had not been total dishonor. That had come from his older son.
Itachi was born calm. He had never cried, only making soft mewling noises when he was hungry, and had figured out how to talk much earlier then most other children. Fugaku had known a genius when he saw one, and he was thrilled to have one as his heir. He supposed that he had pushed Itachi a little too hard by sending him into that battle; Itachi stopped smiling almost completely after that.
Before Sasuke was born, Itachi had not smiled at all.
Sasuke.
It was traditional for Uchiha brothers to be on bad terms with one another. Only the great Madara had ever seemed to get along with his brother, and that had probably been a ruse of some kind. Fugaku himself had to be restrained when his younger brother had been born or he would have killed him. Fugaku had kept that in mind at Sasuke's birth, making sure that there were some of the older Uchiha there to keep the five year old Itachi out of the room where Sasuke was born. After all, if he had almost killed his brother, Itachi might succeed.
When he had taken his crying son from his wife, Fugaku had been disappointed that he had not been calm like Itachi had been, but reminded himself that it was rare enough to have one genius, and the boy was healthy. The shock was when someone carefully managed to take Sasuke away from him when he was thinking those things.
Fugaku had turned around to see Itachi, who had somehow made it past all the guards, holding his new brother, looking like he was studying him, almost unsure of how to react. Some of his hair fell into Sasuke's face, and the infant began to try to eat it.
Slowly, a smile formed on Itachi's face as he brushed the hair away, two fingers accidentally pressing against Sasuke's forehead.
"Hello, Sasuke," Itachi said softly.
Sasuke, as to be expected, said nothing.
It was difficult to wrest Sasuke from his older brother's clutches, and after that, Itachi seemed to always be around Sasuke, even when they got older. Most of the time older siblings seemed to be allergic to their younger siblings, but Itachi seemed to take time out of his day to play with Sasuke. After a while, Fugaku began to realize that Sasuke was the only person in the family that Itachi actually seemed to have any feelings toward. He had accepted his arranged betrothal, and would hang around Shisui, but there was always a distance between him and anyone else.
When Sasuke had been kidnapped, Itachi's only bond to the family had snapped, and Itachi had gone. Probably to look for Sasuke or take revenge on Iwa personally.
Itachi had disappeared off the face of the earth, and it was all Sasuke's fault.
Now Fugaku had no heir, and all attempts had been in vain.
Actually, there had been no children born since Sasuke, and some of the lesser clans were starting to whisper about the Uchihas being cursed.
The door opened and Mikoto came in carrying Fugaku's lunch.
"You got rid of the Grass Genin?" he asked.
"Yes," Mikoto said, "Honestly, I don't know why Danzou-sama even allows them to come here. You've been working on that plan for two days now, haven't you?"
"Three," Fugaku grunted.
"That would be unnecessary if there were no foreign Genin permitted at our Exam," Mikoto sniffed.
"Yes, but we would never see what these Genin, who might later become Jounin are capable of," Fugaku told her, "All of the work for this plan is nothing."
Neji looked around for the others, but couldn't see any sign of them. Blasted crowds, he thought, they were probably completely separated now. What was more annoying was that the guard didn't seem to have the presence of mind to tell them where the hotel was; he was too busy intimidating them.
Neji resisted the urge to use the Byakugan to see if he could find them. Anyone here would know that kekkei genkai on sight, and they would wonder just who he was, and ask questions that were better left unanswered. Neji looked around one final time and started to walk again. There was no way he would find anyone in this crowd, and perhaps if he found the hotel, the others would eventually find him.
It took Neji about three turns into unfamiliar looking places for him to realize that he was lost. Truthfully, it wasn't completely a strange thing. Neji and Hinata had seldom been allowed to leave the Hyuuga Compound when they were very young, and they had almost never been allowed to explore. While Naruto or Sakura would probably have a good memory of the place, and Sasuke might have some memories, he and Hinata would be lost.
The place he was in wasn't anywhere near the Hyuuga Compound either. He was in a park or something like one, and as Neji looked around, he began to recognize the place. That playground…the bushes…they were taller now… This was the place where the Sandaime had been murdered. Neji was surprised that there hadn't been something to commemorate it. Neji looked around; this place had been a part of so many dreams and talks. It had changed his life.
It was strange how now; it didn't look that different than the many other play grounds he was used to.
Neji noticed that there was someone else coming towards him, but paid no attention until he realized that whoever it was seemed to be about to attack him. They were running towards him, and had jumped in the air to land a kick.
Neji jumped back, prepared to fight back, but all thoughts of defense stopped when he saw his attacker.
It was easily the strangest person that he had ever seen. He was wearing what looked like a bright green jumpsuit of some material that did nothing to flatter him, and his hair was in a very shiny looking bowl-cut. What really caught Neji's attention were his eyes and eyebrows. Tsunade had always told them not to judge by appearance, but Neji decided that there were two options for this person: either he was the greatest genius he had ever seen for using such strange things to make people underestimate him, or he was completely insane.
"Enemy ninja," the person, Neji realized he was about Neji's age, said, striking a pose, "I will defend the city against your attack as the Beautiful Blue Beast of Konoha.
Neji wondered just what about this person was blue, or beautiful.
"…I'm here for the Exams…" Neji said in his 'talking to idiots' voice, "I'm not attacking Konoha."
Yet.
The green jumpsuit clad boy began bowing from the waist repeatedly.
"Gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai," the boy said, bowing with every 'gomenasai', "I had no idea that you were one of the participants in the Chuunin Exams. I simply saw you and the fact that you had a foreign hitai-ite, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion."
"…Well, mistakes happen," was all that Neji could think of saying.
"Such youthful words!" the boy cried, "You inspire me! I will perform three hundred pushups!"
Neji once again wondered if this person was insane or a genius.
"So I suppose I'll face you in the Exams?" Neji asked.
It looked like the boy would start crying.
"Oh, Gai-sensei, you would be so proud!" the boy cried, "To have a true ninja see me, a lowly civilian as an equal! I, Rock Lee, declare you my friend and eternal rival! One day, when I am recognized as a ninja by Konoha, we will fight as other rivals have done before us! Tell me your name, oh Eternal Rival!"
This was a turn of events that Neji had no anticipated or ever dreamed would happen.
Lee had already embraced him, declaring some kind of friendship rivalry that sounded faintly disgusting and repeating his request for Neji's name.
"I go by Haru," Neji told him, "Just Haru, I'm an orphan."
Lee leapt to embrace Neji again, but this time, he dodged.
"Look, will you just tell me where to find that hotel where the Chuunin Exam participants are staying?" Neji asked, losing his cool.
"Of course, Haru, my Eternal Rival!" Lee crowed.
Neji didn't know it then, but he had probably met his best friend.
"Well, at least we didn't get separated from one another," Sakura signed, "I forgot how crowded Konoha was."
"I didn't really know," Hinata admitted, "Do you know where we are?"
"The marketplace," Sakura looked around, "My aunt always used to take me shopping here before…"
Sakura trailed off and looked at the ground.
"Do you want to see them?" Hinata asked, "We could, and I'm sure we could do it without anyone seeing us…"
Sakura opened her mouth and closed it again, and she closed her eyes and sighed a little.
"No," she said, "I don't think that I should. I want to see them again, when I can tell them everything, when they can know I'm their daughter…not when they don't even know me, and not when I'm…well…"
She pointed to her hitai-ite.
Hinata nodded.
"I understand," she said. "Don't worry. You'll see them again, and when you do it'll be when our problems are gone. You'll probably have to introduce him to them though…"
Hinata was smiling a little and Sakura blushed, glaring at her friend.
"Emi! Rei!" Both girls saw Neji coming towards them with the strangest looking person either girl had ever seen.
"Ano…Haru…who's that?" Hinata asked, looking very unsure.
"This is…" Neji began, looking like he was thinking about just how to explain this.
"I am the Beautiful Blue Beast of Konoha, Rock Lee!" the decidedly green clad boy said, grinning at Sakura, "and you, fair maiden, are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. It is a shame that you are a ninja from Kusa, and I a lowly civilian, for our love can never be…"
Sakura looked over at Neji at Hinata in a way that asked, "This is a human being, right?" and smiled a little nervously at Lee.
"Well, I suppose there are other girls and other guys in the world…" she said awkwardly.
"Spoken like a true maiden in the springtime of youth!" Lee shouted.
"Does he do this often," Hinata whispered to Neji.
"Apparently, all the time," Neji hissed back.
"Well, he's interesting," Hinata shrugged.
"You're sure?" Sai asked, looking very interested, "It's been a while, you could be wrong…"
"I would know my own siblings," Gaara shook his head, "Those were them. I vaguely remember the girl, Matsuri. She was usually sitting alone like me, and the other kids teased her a lot. She left Suna before I left. I think her parents went out on an extended mission."
"Your siblings didn't recognize you," Kimimaro pointed out, "Do you think that they were just hiding it?"
"My siblings and I didn't see each other too often," Gaara sighed, "It's really unlikely that they would know me at all."
"I'm sorry, Shinta," Haku said quietly, "It really must be hard for you to have to face them. When this is all over…I'm sure you'll have a chance to talk to them."
"You're all disgusting, you know that?" Zabuza chipped in.
"Just because we don't attempt to disembowel one another at every opportunity doesn't make us disgusting," Sai pointed out, "It makes us somewhat normal."
"It's unnatural…" Zabuza growled.
"Not as unnatural as his lack of eyebrows…" Kimimaro muttered under his breath, which caused a few giggles, "Where are we anyway?"
"Why do you think I know?" Zabuza asked, sneering a little, maybe Sasuke should hypnotize him before the Exams, just so that he didn't end up starting a war between Kusa and Konoha.
"Didn't that guy give you a map?" Gaara asked innocently.
Zabuza blinked and searched his pockets.
"I'm going to kill him," Zabuza muttered.
"That would start a war," Haku pointed out.
"But it will make me feel so much better,"
Naruto tried to resist the pull on him, but failed miserably. The temptation was simply too much for him, the leader of Hakumei to resist. It had been so long since he had been faced with such a hard thing, and it might jeopardize the mission, but Naruto just couldn't say no. Besides, he was sure that he had time…
He entered Ichiraku Ramen.
Pushing the flap open, Naruto noticed that the place seemed a little more run down than it had when he had last been there, but the smell was just as intoxicating as it was all those years ago.
"Hello," Naruto called, "Anyone here?"
Teuchi, the old ramen chef's, head appeared almost immediately. He took in Naruto's headband, but didn't say anything other than: "You're a costumer?"
"Yep," Naruto nodded, "I want a double miso ramen. The works."
Ayame, the assistant and daughter of the owner poked her head out, and bit her lip.
"'Tou-san…" she hissed.
"Beggars can't be choosers," was the only reply.
Naruto could tell that they had fallen on very hard times. Before, they had seemed to so cheerful, but now, they looked like they just wanted him to pay and leave. When the steamy hot bowl was set in front of him, Naruto snapped his chopsticks apart reverently. At last, a bowl of Ichiraku ramen not that awful pre-made junk.
Naruto took a large bite and felt tears coming to his eyes.
"This is the best ramen in the history of ramen," he said, his eyes closed.
He really should have paid more attention to the fact that that had been one of his oldest expressions and one that both were very familiar with.
"Na..ru.." Ayame began her eyes wide.
"Oh, yeah," Naruto said, smiling, "I didn't introduce myself, I'm Taiki, just Taiki," I'm an orphan from Kusa."
"Taiki?" Teuchi asked, "Oh, yes, Kakashi-san mentioned that he thought that you were Kusa nin who would be coming for the Exams."
Naruto was really interested now, what was Kakashi doing…or…was…
"Really? I thought that we had done a pretty good job," Naruto smiled.
Further conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Sasuke. He must have seen the back of Naruto's shirt while he was passing by. Naruto cheerfully waved, but noticed that something was wrong. Sasuke's eyes were blank looking, almost unseeing, and he looked even paler than he usually did.
"Hey, Masaru, want some ramen," Naruto asked.
"…Not right now…" was all that Naruto could get out of Sasuke.
"Must be tired. He usually loves places like this," he told Teuchi and Ayame over Sasuke's glare.
"Yo, old man," Naruto was on guard the instant that he heard Kiba's voice, "We got you're stupid deliveries done. Pay up."
"Kiba, you should be more polite," Shino, oh, things were just getting better weren't they.
"At least pretend that you have dignity," Sasuke looked up and his eyes narrowed to slits.
"Hey…wait," Kiba noticed Naruto and Sasuke, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
"Eating ramen," Naruto answered.
"And entering the Exams," Sasuke added, his eyes on Yumi.
"So, you're a ninja," Yumi said her gaze level.
"It's good to see you both again in good health," Shino said, bowing slightly, "And even better to know that my first assumption that you were all ninja was correct. I am slightly surprised that you are from Kusa as your style isn't familiar, but that may have to do with the fact that you're orphans, or are you perhaps originally from another region?"
Naruto looked hard at Shino. This guy was so creepy it wasn't even funny. Naruto had to wonder just what his other assumptions had been. Thankfully, both the others were ignoring Shino, which seemed normal. Kiba wasn't sure that he was happy or angry or surprised or what, and Yumi and Sasuke were off in their own private battle. Shino's question would have to remain unanswered.
"Well, it looks like we'll be competing against you if your sensei lets you in," Naruto said, trying to gloss over things.
"Who is your sensei anyways?" Kiba asked, "We never saw him… and what were you doing in Wave?"
"Classified," Naruto smirked, "We're being taught by Honda-sensei. He was busy with other things, and we were supposed to do the mission alone."
"You don't have to have a sensei!" Kiba always sobbed.
"Kusa is too small to have a student-sensei system like ours. Usually the sensei will teach up to three groups and even then, there are times when they are called away and the Genin are forced to complete missions on their own." Shino seemed really well informed.
"How do you know all this?" Kiba asked.
"He reads," Yumi said calmly, "it involves books and it is generally done to gain knowledge of things around you. I'm sure you've never heard of it before."
"I notice you didn't seem to know!" Kiba shot back.
"That's because, unlike Shino, I have no interest in being a walking book."
Shino did not seem to change visibly; in fact he had no reaction at all. At least, not visibly.
"Your bill," Teuchi said with a bright smile, placing a slip of paper on in front of him. At first Naruto didn't really understand. There was a bill, but something was writing under it.
Hotel lobby. One o'clock. Wear uniforms. Someone will meet you.
Naruto's eyes flickered up to Teuchi, but he didn't show any reaction, he just fished out his wallet and took out the money. So, Teuchi was part of Kiren. That was something that Naruto hadn't expected. Then again, Naruto knew next to nothing about the old chef, other than the fact that he had been one of the only people who had treated him normally before he had left. For all Naruto knew, Teuchi was the leader of a secret organization who had decided to win Naruto's favor because of the Kyuubi. But really, it was kind of comforting to know that someone who he had cared for was going to help him now.
"Thanks a lot! Come again," Ayame called as Naruto paid and left, accompanied by Sasuke.
"See you soon," Naruto called back.
"There you are!" Naruto whirled around to see Zabuza, Gaara, and Sai, "You idiot! Pay attention next time you're in a crowd. I don't care what you were thinking about. Knowing your age group and the company you've kept it was something perverted. The next time you two do that, you're going to get a special 'training session'!"
"I don't see you doing any better," Sasuke grumbled, but he was still a little subdued, "Besides, I found out where the hotel was."
"Well, at least you did something useful," Zabuza admitted.
"Yes, Honda-sensei," Sasuke said with a smirk.
"And what were you doing?"
"Sampling Konoha ramen!" Naruto grinned.
"That's your sensei?!" Kiba exclaimed. He leaned close to Naruto, "He looks like a complete psychopath."
"He is," Naruto hissed back, for just a brief moment forgetting everything and going back to when he and Kiba had been friends.
"Well, it'll be interesting to see just how strong you really are," Yumi said, looking over Sasuke with a slight sneer.
"Yeah," Kiba agreed, "Kusa's reputed to be a bunch of pushovers."
"They may surprise you, Kiba," Shino cautioned, "They are ninja, and true ninja are taught to hide a great deal about themselves."
"Yeah, yeah," Kiba rolled his eyes.
"We'll see you soon, Masaru-san, Taiki-san," Shino said bowing, "By the way, Taiki-san, there was a spider very close to your ramen, why didn't you kill it?"
"…It wasn't hurting anyone," Naruto said almost instantly, "and I don't mind spiders as much as some people."
"…I see…" Shino said, "Good luck in the Exams…"
With that all three left, Kiba grumbling about Kakashi and some mission and lateness.
"That guy might have to be killed," Zabuza pointed out.
Naruto nodded, "But he was always kind of creepy, so that might just be him…"
"Anyway, let's get back," Sai cut in.
"What happened while you were separated?" Naruto hissed to Sasuke.
"I'll tell you later," was all that Naruto could get out of Sasuke.
Naruto looked at the Hokage Monument, and at Danzou's face. Everything was so different, yet similar. Like a distorted painting that someone had done, with only vague memories as a guide. This parody was the reality though, Naruto reminded himself, and tonight he was meeting his allies.
Don't worry, Naruto found himself thinking to the other four Hokages who, to Naruto's mind, looked unhappy about the new addition to their company, We'll make things right. That's a promise of a lifetime!
Omake: A Very Puffy Christmas
Everyone stared at the red and green Ninja Puffs that Tsunade had set in front of them. Slowly Sasuke poked them.
"What is this?" He asked apprehensively.
"A present," Tsunade replied, "now eat before I think better of it."
She glared at them all and left the room, muttering about ingrates and the amount of work she went through for them on a regular basis.
Slowly, like they were about to eat poison, they all moved the strange looking cereal to their mouths, and one by one their eyes widened with pleasure.
"This tastes like pork ramen and miso ramen! What a combination!" Naruto exclaimed happily.
"Mine is different," Sakura said, "The red ones are like strawberry ice cream and the green ones taste like wasabi!"
"That is disgusting," Neji pointed out, "My red ones taste like Oyakodon, and my green ones like Nori,"
"Boring," Sai said rolling his eyes, "Mine is a combo between apples and sausage, and it's a really interesting combination."
"Mine tastes like two of the dishes from back home," Gaara said smiling, "There's a curry I used to really like and a rice dish."
"I have two types of tomatoes," Sasuke smirked.
"Sushi and Sashimi!" Hinata smiled, "I love sushi and sashimi!"
"Mine is two different kinds of cheese," Kimimaro said with a very content smile, "it kind of melts when you eat it…I wonder if I can get it warm next time…"
"This tastes like a pancake dish I used to have…" Haku looked like he wasn't sure whether he was happy or not.
"Wait," Sasuke looked up, "She could have made them taste good anytime she wanted!"
"Of course." Jiraiya said, popping up, "She sometimes makes mine taste like…" He giggled a little, "Well, maybe I shouldn't say…"
Jiraiya scooted out, and for a second everyone stared at one another.
"I don't even want to know," Naruto said.
"Seconded," was then general response.
Sasuke never did forgive Tsunade for not making Ninja Puffs taste good all the time.
Sorry for my late update. I had a combo of finals and the natural Christmas rush/visits.
Merry Belated Christmas or whatever it is you celebrate. I celebrate Christmas, and I refuse to say Seasons Greetings or any other such 'politically correct' term. They are technically religious holidays (I may be wrong about Kwanzaa), but even if someone personally is not religious doesn't give them the right to tell everyone they can't use the holiday's real name. Ok, my rant is over.
As you can see, this chapter was mostly just revisiting Konoha and showing a few of the changes. There's going to be more of them later, but I wanted to have this chapter. Also, I thought that Sasuke needed to meet his family early on. I'm just getting started on the Uchiha clan, and I am by no means finished. I think that I enjoy portraying them like this a little too much, but it really makes sense for them to be the way I've showed them, looking at Sasuke's flashbacks. There was something seriously wrong with the clan.
Shameless Advertising: MegaB's story: Konoha: Naruto's Playground. It has humor, drama, jumping off the Hokage Monument, suspense, and plot twisty goodness. Also, he updates faster than me. Go read it!
Temari and Kankuro: Ok, these two gave me some trouble, particularly Kankuro. I mean, he's got almost no characterization… Usually he's portrayed as a bit of a womanizer, or something else, but I really don't want to do it. As far as Temari, goes, she strikes me as being very impatient with girls who she'd see as weak. Look at how she treated Tenten.
Zabuza's name: Sorry, I just couldn't resist. I mean, doesn't he seem the type to want a name involving a sword?
Mikoto: Yes, I am the proud creator of the first evil Mikoto I've ever seen. I've noticed that in almost all fanfictions, she is described as the only Uchiha who is caring, or that she's just weak, but in life, I've seldom seen a husband do anything that was not with his wife's knowledge and full consent and encouragement. In other words: she was just as bad, if not worse, then Fugaku. Also, I never see her do anything that's all that kind to Sasuke. Telling a child 'oh you're father doesn't ignore you, you're imagining it' isn't all that kind. Trust me; I know.
Sasuke's reaction: Well, what would you do if you realized your mum was for all practical purposes, your enemy who would kill you if given a chance?
Lee: Originally, I had planned on an 'evil Rock Lee', but I just couldn't go through with it, and then I realized that there was no way that Danzou would allow Lee to even be a ninja. Lee required special attention that a war machine like the one Danzou was building wouldn't be willing to give. And while Gai has obviously made Lee his 'project', he's not a ninja. I'll explain what's up with Gai meeting Lee later.
Oyakodon: It's a rice dish with egg and chicken.
Nori: Seaweed. Some people eat it for snacks
Wow, there were a lot of notes this chapter…
Review!