Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Okay okay okay… so far… there are NO reviews for the last chapter. And it is depressing me. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review… I held one chapter hostage for at least 5 reviews… that isn't a lot. There are some authors that want like 10-15… I would like to ask for 5 again… I caved before when I got 3… however, I will hold out this time. I would just like to know how readers feel… good…bad… both?? Just give me something!! Reviews keep me wanting to write. – laydee kai

Ps… I am going to combine the two parts of chapter 9… I should have just kept them together to begin with… so I am not taking anything away… just putting them together.

A Son's Path: the Last Namikaze

Chapter Twenty-One: The Journey Home

Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi waited for Yuri at the gate of the Mist. After being dismissed by the mizukage, they went to their rooms, packed their belongings and checked out. Now all that was left was heading out. Naruto wasn't worried; he knew that Yuri was a stickler for being on time. And sure enough, she met up with them before an hour was up.

"Hey guys!" she greeted as she walked up.

"Everything okay Yuri-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Oh yes… I just had to speak with my uncle before leaving."

"Huh? Uncle? But Yuri-chan…you've never mentioned an uncle in four years. I thought that you were alone."

"Well… I know. I'm sorry for that. It's just that normally when I mention who my uncle is… it makes people really nervous. And it's also for my own safety."

"Wow, he must be important than Yuri-san." Sakura said.

"Oh yes, you could say that he's very important."

Naruto walked up to Yuri and place his hands on her shoulders. She looked into his eyes. She could tell that it was bothering him. He wanted to know everything about her.

"Well, the next time I am here, I want to meet him. I don't really have any family other than Daifu, but I want to know what family you have left."

"Is it really that important to you Naru-kun?"

"Hai. I want to know your family." He said pleadingly.

"Well then, that's good. Because you have already met him. You all have."

Naruto's brow wrinkled. He tried to think of when he could have met her uncle.

"I have?" Naruto questioned.

"Do you know how cute you are when you think to hard?" Yuri giggled. "My uncle is the Mizukage."

"What?! Well I could see how that would make people uncomfortable."

"But don't you see why you and I are so perfect? It doesn't really matter because your dad was the Fourth Hokage…so it shouldn't really freak you out right?"

"Yuri, if you are asking if this changes how I feel about you, then the answer is no. But I am a little stunned… you don't even look like family."

All four began walking out of the village.

"I know I don't. He and my mom looked somewhat alike, they were brother and sister. But I look more like my dad."

They walked together in silence for a while. Kakashi opted not to read his book in Yuri's presence. He had a feeling that it would no longer be overlooked. The walk to the ferry was not far and was sprinkled with easy conversation between the four. Yuri and Naruto told the others about some of their adventures when they were younger. After all, two 13 year-olds can get into just as much trouble if not more than a could of 17 year-olds. And then throw Naruto into that mix, made for some funny stories.

Naruto and Yuri continued to joke with each other. They became so engrossed in each other, that they didn't notice Sakura staring at them. She sighed. Kakashi walked up next to her.

"So Sakura… what do you think of the two lovebirds?" Kakashi asked as he continued on with his hand jammed in his pockets.

She sighed again. "I am jealous…happy… and hopeful."

"Wow, all three eh?"

"Yes. I'm jealous because I want what they have."

"You know you could have. It was no secret how he felt about you." Kakashi told her.

"Yeah… I know sensei. I was too wrapped up in Sasuke. And look where that got me."

"Don't beat yourself up over that too much… Sasuke had a lot of us fooled. And a lot of us overlooked Naruto because of him."

"Yeah I know… but I am happy for him. I know that he has had a hard life and all he longs for is love. And even if I was too stupid to give it to him… he has found someone who will. And as his friend and teammate… that means a lot. I want him to be happy."

"And the third emotion?"

"I am hopeful because… maybe even I can find love one day. It's out there… I just had been looking in the wrong places." Sakura said with a smile.

"Sakura… you really have grown a lot. You are more mature, even since Naruto has come home. Seeing him has been good for a lot of people…"

"Even you."

"Huh? Me?" Kakashi questioned.

"Hai. After he left… you closed yourself off. You became an even bigger recluse than me. I threw myself in to medic training… you into missions. It seemed like you were trying to make up for the past… but now… you seem at peace." Sakura explained. "I don't think any of us, villagers too… no one knew how much he impacted us."

"I do agree with you on that one. We should be thankful that he doesn't hate us and that he came home."

"I don't think he could ever really hate us… that's just not who he is. He may have disliked us and wanted to beat the crap out of us at one time… but I don't think he ever hated us. Even now, I don't think he hates Sasuke. I think he feels sorry for him because he has given up on everything… his life, his happiness. But I have no doubt in my mind that Naruto would do whatever he has to do in order to protect those he cares about. Even if that is killing Sasuke Uchiha." Sakura said seriously.

"I know that he will do whatever it takes. He isn't the same person he was."

"And that will be the thing that will bring down the traitor." Sakura said with venom in her voice.

Their trip home was as uneventful as the trip to the mist. They soon found themselves walking up to the large gates of Konoha. Yuri was suddenly on alert. She was looking all around her as if she was expecting something and couldn't find it.

"Yuri-chan… what's wrong?"

"No guards?"

"Not like the Mist… but just because you can't seen them or sense them, doesn't mean that they are not there. Our ANBU are quite talented at masking their chakra… you have your mist to hide you, they don't."

"So we are being watched?"

"No… you are being watched. Isn't that right ANBU-san?" Naruto called out.

The bear ANBU came out from behind a tree. Naruto knew that there was more than one hiding. Having one show himself was better than none. The ninja walked up to the three Leaf ninja. Even though you couldn't tell, his eyes remained focused on the Mist ninja.

"Hello Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura. Welcome home. I trust your visit to the Mist was without incident?" he replied.

"Hai, Kuma-san. It was a good visit with much merit." Kakashi said. It seemed easy for him to slip in to dialogue with the masked man.

"That is good to hear. Now, if there are no problems here, I shall return to my duties." The bear masked ANBU bowed and then shushined away.

"Shall we?" Kakashi said.

The four travelers turned and finished the remainder of the way to the gates. As if on cue, the two Chûnin guards stood from their seats.

"Ah, welcome home Kakashi-san, Naruto-san, and Sakura-san. What did you do? Pick up a stray?" the first guard chuckled at what he thought was a joke.

Naruto, Kakashi and Sakura held their breath. They turned to watch Yuri's reaction. She walked up to the desk that they stood behind. Even thought the kunoichi walked with grace, she projected death. The two chunin's has seriously made a mistake in judgment.

"I'm sure that Hokage-sama would love to know how her guards treat an ambassador from the Mist." She spit with venom.

"Am-ambassador? From the Mist?" the first guard managed.

"Yes. I am the ambassador from the Mist." Yuri replied coldly.

"But don't let that fool you… she is a fearsome kunoichi. And I promise that she could whip both of your asses." Naruto said with a smirk. He winked at Yuri.

"Would you care to try?" she asked with an evil look in her eyes.

"No ambassador-sama. Please forgive my partners rudeness. And please… it was not I who made the comment." He said as he threw up his hands.

"So you do not wish to have the Hokage's wrath upon you?" Yuri asked.

"No ambassador-sama." He said pleading.

"Then it would do you good to remember the way you feel now. Don't ever misjudge someone based on the way that they look. You know… like the whole books and covers thing?"

"Hai ambassador-sama. Please continue on, I am sure Hokage-sama is awaiting your visit. Welcome to Konoha." The second guard said.

Yuri bowed to them and started walking leaving her three companions behind. She stopped and turned around.

"Naru-kun! At least I showed you to the Mizukage's office!" she yelled. "Get your ass up here now!"

Naruto jumped and ran in her direction. "Coming dear!"

Sakura and Kakashi couldn't help but laugh at the two. The both looked at the Chûnin guards who both had dumbfounded looks on their faces.

"What a man does for the woman he loves. Shall we Sakura? We do have to report to Lady Tsunade."

They both walked off towards the tower. They decided that they were going to walk a little ways behind Yuri and Naruto. They didn't want to be there incase anyone else pissed her off.

- - xXxXx - -

Tsunade was sitting behind her desk speaking with Jiraiya. He had just returned from checking on a few of his contacts and was filling Tsunade in on what he had learned.

"It seems like you pick a perfect time to extend an alliance to the Mist. One of my contacts told me that there was a recent attack on the Mizukage." Jiraiya said. "however, they did not succeed. But they were vague about who it was. I wish the Naru would hurry up."

"I haven't heard from him since they left. Hopefully they should be coming back soon. I'm sure he has heard something being there for so long."

Jiraiya was about to say something when he and Tsunade heard yelling outside of the office.

"You can't go in there! She is in a meeting!" the receptionist yelled.

"And when has that stopped me before! I see baa-chan when I want!" Naruto yelled back.

When the two heard 'baa-chan' they knew that it was Naruto. And they relaxed. After all, no one else was stupid enough to call her that.

Naruto flung the door open to see Tsunade staring at him and the back of Jiraiya's head. Since Jiraiya was facing Tsunade, he didn't see Yuri walk in with him.

"Oi Daifu! I thought you were checking the contacts?"

"I did you brat. How was the Mist? Did you have a nice time with Yuri?" he asked in his lecherous voice.

Tsunade had to stifle a giggle. After watching the beautiful girl that was behind him turn red, she assumed that it was Yuri.

"Why don't you ask her that you old Goat…" Tsunade motioned for him to turn around.

He turned ghostly pale. "Oh Kami-sama… please…" he turned around to see Yuri standing next to Naruto, fuming. "Oh… hello there Yuri-chan! Did you… um... have a nice trip to the Leaf?"

She reached behind her and pulled out her short sword. Jiraiya's eyes got huge.

"Yuri-chan… you can't kill Daifu." Naruto said. He knew that she wouldn't kill him, but he had to stop her from harming him. "he is the only family I have left."

"I won't kill the old pervert…" she said.

And with that she chucked the sheath at his head. There was a deafening crack when the two made contact. Tsunade watched the young woman, highly amused at how she handled Jiraiya. The only other person who would treat him like that was her.

Tsunade stood from her seat and walked over to where the sheath had landed. She picked it up and turned to walk to where Yuri and Naruto were.

"You must be Yuri." She said with a huge smile.

"Hai, Hokage-sama. I am Yuri. I have been appointed ambassador to the Leaf by Mizukage-sama. He wished for me to meet with you on his behalf."

"Good. But please… no formalities. I don't expect such things from someone dating a young man who is like my son. And… I must say… I love the way you handle Jiraiya. He needs to be put in his place." Tsunade said as she bonked him on the head and then handed Yuri back her sheath. "I hope you will stay a while with us here in the Leaf."

"Hai. Thank you Tsunade-sama. I have much to discuss with you. But this needs to be told to Kakashi-san and Sakura-san as well."

Just as she finished saying that, the two walked into the room.

"Good… you two are here so we can begin. Is it okay if Jiraiya is here too?" Tsunade asked.

"Hai, if you wish Tsunade-sama." Yuri said.

Tsunade nodded and motioned for them to all sit.

"Thank you. Now I am not sure if Jiraiya has picked up anything in his contacts, but about a month ago now, there was an attempt on the Mizukage's life." Yuri began.

"My contacts heard something… but not many details are known." Jiraiya said.

"Well… that's because if the people of the Mist found out whom it was, they would be in a state of panic. But this person has ties to a traitor of the Leaf. This is one of the major reasons for the acceptance of the alliance and why Mizukage-sama wishes for Team 7 to be informed."

-End-