Mizuki never got to shoot his mouth off at Naruto the night he took the Scroll of Seals. Other than skipping a half-manic monologue from him what exactly did this change for everyone's favorite blonde ninja? Who knows? Rated M for language/later events.

Naruto is taken out of Konoha by Itachi at the age of ten for tutoring, returning two years later to fulfill his dream. Smart, strong Naruto, hopefully not too OP. NaruSaku, implied NaruSakuIno, all other ships implied only. I expressly avoid bashing ANY characters, and if it seems like I am doing so, there is either a reason for it or it is an accident. NO SASUKE-BASHING HERE.

What if Simba was never found by Timon and Pumbaa but another lion pride? Taken in by a young lioness. Growing up, he finds himself feeling for another, but when the time comes will he go back or stay and forget the his past completely?

Sasuke is back. Naruto has joined ANBU. Sakura is spending more time in the hospital than in the field. Team 7 struggles to redefine itself, because sometimes you don't know what you really want after all.