Hello my lovelies. Just a word of warning I am officially going to be updating every other day starting now, so that I have time to write more chapters as my life is getting hectic again. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, some good old team seven content.

"Sasuke-kun?" Naruto giggled as the Uchiha straightened up, his cheeks flushed, "She pushed me!"

"You were eavesdropping." Karin peered in from behind her teammate, giving a grin. "Hey Naruto-chan. Itachi-san. Sorry about Sasuke-san being a moron-"

"You pushed me!"

"And I regret it-"

"Damn right you sho-"

"I should have waited until we were by stairs."

Naruto laughed loudly, and Itachi chuckled softly at the two's antics. "Hey guys."

"I was not eavesdropping." Sasuke defended himself quickly, "Karin-san is lying. I was just waiting a minute-I figured you could be discussing anything-"

"I merely came to speak to Naruto-san and offer her forehead protector back." Itachi stated smoothly, "To thank her for saving my life."

Sasuke's eyes flicked to Itachi's forehead and the metal plate shining despite the scuff marks on it. "That's fine Itachi-nii." Sasuke's gaze swung to Naruto, "I wanted to thank you too, dumbass, I figured I'd help you bring Itachi home but it seems like you didn't need my help."

"Well I had to keep my promise." Naruto grinned. "It's good to see you again it's been way too long." and then Sasuke was moving across the room, grinning as he perched on the edge of the bed.

"You could have stayed long enough to see me when you dropped Itachi off, I think it was very unfair that Sakura-chan was the only one you spoke to."

"In my defense I was busy." Naruto laughed.

They'd all grown up, Sasuke was taller now, though his clothing style hadn't shifted at all other than the addition of a Chunin vest.

He looked more content than he had since Naruto had first met him, happier-undoubtedly that was largely due to Itachi's return home. It had settled something in him, and she was eternally grateful for that fact, she'd worried how he'd chafe at being stuck in Konoha for so long but he was happy.

"No excuse." Sasuke grinned, shoving Naruto's leg, "You're home for good now though right?"

"Duh."

"Good. By the way, you and I are gonna spar later, I've gotten a lot better, I wanna show off my Mangekyou now that I can use it without any bad side effects."

"How are your eyes?" Naruto tilted her head, "Do they feel okay?"

"Yeah."

"It was a very smart idea." Itachi spoke up, "Switching them like we have. But you should still be careful Sasuke-kun, we need to be sure it worked
before you do anything like sparring."

"Ugh." Sasuke was grinning despite his groan, "I forgot what it was like having family to worry over me." clearly he was enjoying it-Naruto was happy for him she really was. He deserved it, the chance to have a brother again.

"Stop complaining." Karin was rolling her eyes, "Just yesterday you said how much you love having your brother fussing over you."

"Thank you for telling me Karin-san." Itachi smirked slightly as he pulled himself up from the chair, "I shall keep that in mind."

"Karin!" Sasuke went to grab for Naruto's pillows before pausing, "Naruto-chan were are your pillows."

"They're casualties of war." Naruto's expression was entirely straight and Sasuke frowned, looking around the room and then-

"Did you throw your pillows at my brother."

"It was a cruel attack." Itachi's voice was deadpan, "I don't know how I'll ever recover little brother."

"Did-is he joking?" Sasuke hissed the words, a stunned look on his face, "Did you-he's joking Naruto-chan!"

"What can I say I'm a wonderful influence-"

"Shit up dumbass-"

"You shut up asshole." Naruto promptly shoved Sasuke off the bed, the boy yelping loudly.

"HEY!"

Itachi took the moment of distraction to slip out of the room, and Karin snorted, "I'll leave you guys to be dumbasses alone, Sakura-chan said she'd be heading here after checking on one other patient so it'd be cramped in here anyway-"

"Thanks for looking after the asshole while I was gone-"

"I did not need looking after and I did not need that red banshee to do it!" Sasuke protested, dragging himself up so that he was back on the bed, "Naruto-chan she did not look after me!"

"I totally did!" the door slammed shut as Karin fled before Sasuke could respond and Naruto laughed brightly, a wide smile on her lips.

"The votes have been cast and it seems that Karin-chan looked after you-"

"Shut up." Sasuke elbowed her before his expression softened. "How are you? Karin-chan told us what happened, with Obito."

"I'll be okay." Naruto gave a weak smile, "Currently feeling stupid but-"

"You weren't stupid." Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You were in a real tough situation right? I don't know if I'd have handled it any better than you did-I'd
have probably just rushed him and he'd have killed one of them."

"I just... I'm meant to be the next Hokage but I can't even take him on-"

"Naruto-chan he got past your dad who was one of the best Hokage's ever right?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "So the fact that he got to you doesn't mean you're not capable."

"Y'think?" Naruto shifted.

"Of course I do you moron." Sasuke shoved her shoulder, and they both turned their heads when the door swung open and Sakura poked her head around it.

"Hey guys, can I co-"

"Just get in here already." Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You know neither of us would tell you to go away."

"True." Sakura slipped into the room, shutting the door behind her, "I'll spare you all the questions Naruto-chan I'm sure everyone else has already asked them."

"Duh." The blonde laughed despite herself, shaking her head, "I'm fine. There you didn't have to ask."

Sakura grinned, quickly making her way over to them and joining them on the bed, "Did Itachi-san come to see you? I saw him coming back to his room from this direction."

"Yeah, he wanted to thank me for saving his life."

"Yeah he was pretty lucky you dragged him home when you did."

"Thank Kami for that." Sasuke's little smile said a lot more than any words could. Naruto knew that if she could sense positive emotions then she'd feel gratitude and relief and happiness.

Sasuke was no longer the sullen angry lost preteen he had been.

He was stronger, emotionally as well as physically, he didn't want revenge anymore, what he wanted was to be strong to protect his family, he wasn't afraid of caring anymore.

And for that matter Sakura wasn't the desperately lonely lost girl who'd clung to dreams of romance without realizing the reality of the life she'd chosen.

She had a level of confidence now, it was in the way she held herself and moved, but it was a quiet confidence, one that was earned.

Naruto felt ridiculously proud of her friends. They'd both grown up so much-and so had she of course, though sometimes she felt more lost than she'd ever been before when her life had been simple and easy.

Still, sitting with Sasuke and Sakura-knowing that Karin and Itachi and her mom and Kakashi-sensei were close by, were happy.. that made any of her doubts worth it, and so she pushed them down.

"Y'know what you guys, do you wanna get out of here?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "What are you planning Naruto-chan?"

"I feel like some ramen-"

"I wish I was surprised." Sasuke laughed, shaking his head, "You're still the same old Naruto-chan even after so long away."

"So are we going or not."

"You are not going looking like that." Sakura declared, gesturing to the bloody clothes. "No way, you'll freak people out. Not a chance." she paused,

"But if you want I could go and grab some takeaway ramen, if I mention it's for you you know that Ichiraku-san will give it to me in some tupperware tubs-"

"Genius Sakura-chan!" Naruto laughed, lunging at the pink haired girl and hugging her. "You're a genius! See Sasuke-kun this is why Sakura-chan is my favourite."

"Hn, and here I thought I was your favourite. I see how it is, I guess you don't need a big brother anymore-"

"If I had a pillow I would hit you with it." Naruto declared, giving him a dirty look.

"Well you don't because you threw both of them at my brother." Sasuke shot back easily, "so it looks like you can't assault me like you did him-"

"Screw you." Naruto poked her tongue out, "I could still beat your ass."

"Our future Rokudaime ladies and gentlemen-"

Naruto's eyes narrowed and her hands flashed through familiar signs and then she blew a fairly concentrated blast of wind at Sakura, sending her stumbling backwards, which made Sasuke laugh. "Screw you guys." Sakura grinned widely before whirling around and shutting the door behind her, leaving Naruto and Sasuke alone, and Naruto shifted, turning her gaze to Sasuke.

"I asked your brother to be my advisor, when I do become the Hokage. It might keep him kinda busy."

"Good." Sasuke shifted, "Naruto-chan..." his expression softened, "Thank you. For..." he swallowed hard, "For bringing him back to me. And it'll be good for him, he's smart he always has been, he'll be a good advisor. And.. and I'd rather have him close to home at least, not on stupid missions where he could get killed."

"If he's my advisor he'll have to spend most of his time in the village so you wouldn't have to worry about that." Naruto paused, "I'll still come to you and Sakura-chan too-"

"I'm not the type to be an advisor and neither is Sakura-chan. We'll be out there taking care of stuff for you and saving lives."

"Good." Naruto found herself grinning, "You two will be two of my most trusted shinobi you know that right?"

"Yeah well, we better be." Sasuke paused, flushing, "Sakura and I both agreed to turn down promotion because we wanted you to be the one to make us Jounin so you best do that first thing you hear me?"

"Really?" Naruto asked softly, a warmth in her eyes.

"It was Sakura's idea, she said it'd be fitting, after all you're the reason we became a functional team." Sasuke snorted, "Kami only knows what would have happened if we'd never got that mission to Wave. I might have taken Orochimaru up on his offer and Sakura would-"

"Still be an insane fangirl?"

"Exactly." Sasuke laughed, "And for that matter you'd still be back in Wave probably bored out of your mind wishing you could do something more."

"Definitely." Naruto laughed, "I love it there don't get me wrong, but I'd just... I wanted more with my life."

"And you definitely got it." Sasuke snorted, "You're already running around trying to change the whole world."

"I will change the world." Naruto grinned, "And you and Sakura-chan will do it with me. So, how's your training been?"

"Really good. I can use a full Susanoo now-you remember that thing that protected us when-"

"When Itachi and his partner showed up and you rushed after us to protect me?"

"Yeah, I can use it now, and there's other stuff too. I can use this fire called Ameterasu. It's the ultimate fire, just doesn't stop burning until it's burned through it's target-usually anyway. I can control it which Itachi says he can't do."

"That sounds badass." Naruto grinned, "Really badass. You'd be a tough match these days huh?"

"I could take you-"

"Oh?" Naruto grinned, "Oh it is so oh Sasuke-kun I am gonna kick your ass so hard you're gonna run crying back to Itachi-san."

"I'll kick your ass so hard you go running back to your mom." Sasuke grinned, "Then I'd be able to say I've kicked a Kage's ass."

"Sure, if I put limitations on what I use." Naruto shot back with a smirk back at him, "You see these days I'm like a mega ultra badass."

"If you're talking about being bad at fighting then sure-"

"That was lame and you know it-"

"This coming from you-"

"Shut up asshole or I'll tell Karin-chan that you're picking on me!"

"You're such a dumbass!"

"Am not!"

"Are too-" Naruto yelped as Sasuke shoved her off the bed, and then giggles overtook her and she sat on the cold floor just laughing, and Sasuke found himself joining in too at the sight of her there.

It was perfect.