Author's Note: This was supposed to be a quick little extra chapter, at most 2000 words. Sometimes I start writing and don't stop.

I have actually gotten multiple requests about what was happening in the Village in regards to Naruto's novel. So, by popular demand, here you go.

Leave a review of what you think of the story up until this point. If you do, I guarantee Chapter 9 will be out in less than 2 weeks! Your reviews mean a lot and actually motivate me to keep writing. Thank you for all of the positive feedback so far! Enjoy!

Omake 1: Life in the Leaf

The memorial stone looked nearly the same every time he saw it. His one visible eye glossed over most of the names on it, usually only really focusing on three names in particular. The names of his two teammates from his Genin squad, Obito and Rin, and his sensei Minato. His eye shut and curved upward, signaling that he was smiling beneath his mask. Remembering the good times he had with his team helped him numb the pain he felt from losing them. Some days were harder than others, but he managed as best as he could.

He opened his eye back up and continued skimming through the names. Considering he was there practically every day he was in the village; he knew most of the names on the stone even if he didn't know all of the ninjas personally. 'There's a new name on here.' He thought to himself somberly. He recognized the name, too. A young Chunin no older than 17 had recently died on a low-tier B-Rank mission. Apparently, some bandits who had access to jutsu got the jump on him and the convoy he was escorting. There were reportedly no survivors and the culprits were still at large.

He closed his eye and stood still, giving the fallen soldier his due respect in a moment of silence. While it was sad that someone so young had lost their life, he had done it while representing his village. There was honor in that.

'When do they have the time to carve the names into this. I'm here all the time and I never see anyone else ever around.' He wondered, trying to take his mind off of the sad thoughts that come along with visiting the memorial.

He looked up at the sky. It was early afternoon and the sun was shining brightly. Hardly a day to stand gloomily at a stone all day, but he had to come and pay his respects to his friends. What kind of person would he be if he didn't? It was his day off, so he was able to come early and had stayed there for several hours. Normally, he would stay even longer, but something was telling him to walk around the village a little bit today. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. A nice change of scenery would bring his spirits up a little.

With one final look at the tribute to the fallen, he turned around and pulled a book out of his hip pouch. The book seemed to be quite worn down. Nothing like reading Icha-Icha Innocence for what had to be the 50th time. The pure love depicted in it captures his attention every time he reads it. However, as much as he loved the first three books, he was anxiously awaiting the fourth installment in Jiraiya's masterpiece of a series. He hoped that it would be out in stores before his student and the author returned from their training expedition. Periodically, he would stop by the local bookstore and ask if they had heard anything about a new Icha-Icha novel. Each time he was met with disappointment. As improbable as a nearby release was, he had to cover all of his bases.

'I haven't been there in a while, couldn't hurt to pop in and ask.' He thought to himself, giddy about the potential good news.

As he was making his way through town his mind drifted to his blond student. Naruto crossed Kakashi's mind every day. While he was supremely confident in the abilities of Jiraiya to protect the boy from any danger, he still sometimes worried that something bad might happen. Every time he got called into an audience with the Hokage he tensed up, hoping that he wasn't going to hear some bad news. It never was, but that didn't keep him from worrying the next time.

'I wonder what you have been up to, Naruto.' He mused as he rounded the last street corner. He glanced up from his book and had to do a double-take. There was a line going out of the store. The only time he had ever seen that was when a new Icha-Icha book came out. How the Leaf Village adults loved the Sannin's work. His pace quickened, excitement visible in his exposed eye. Would today of all days be the one where he gets his hands on it? That feeling was soon dashed and replaced with confusion. He had been expecting the line to be filled with men his age and older. People who could… appreciate the contents of one of Jiraiya's books. But this line had children in it. More importantly, children that he knew.

"Sakura." He began as he walked up halfway up the side of the line. The aforementioned pink-hair kunoichi turned around upon hearing her name, along with Hinata, Neji, and Rock Lee. "What are you guys doing here?" The Copy Ninja asked as he leaned in close to them. "This book isn't something you should be reading." His voice now a whisper.

Kakashi's student cocked her head to the side in apparent confusion. "What are you talking about, Sensei?" The other Genin shared a similar look. Except for Neji. Neji looked the same as he always did, uninterested in everything going on around him. "Why shouldn't I be allowed to read Naruto's book?"

"Huh?" Was the only response the usually cool and collected Jonin could muster. Upon hearing his perplexed response, Sakura pointed to a sign placed next to the door of the bookstore that Kakashi had missed. Sure enough, it was an advertisement for his knucklehead of student's new novel 'The Weight of the World.'

"Naruto, our Naruto… wrote… a book?" The Sharingan user sputtered out, still in a state of disbelief.

"That's what I said!" Sakura agreed. "But Hinata told me that he had a book coming out! Don't you have to get something like that published? How do you think he managed something like that?" The kunoichi was going a mile a minute. She had thought she calmed down about the situation after Hinata told her, but seeing Kakashi caused her to start back up again. The Naruto she knew could barely write a coherent sentence, yet now he was coming out with a professionally published work? It didn't make any sense, but nonetheless, she had to read it. Not only to support her good friend but also because she was overwhelmingly curious about the contents of the book. Is it good? Bad? What is it about? She had to get the answers to all of these important questions.

"I have no earthly idea." The masked Jonin said while he sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. He turned to the quiet Hyuga. "How did you hear about this?" He asked with genuine curiosity. Any information he can glean about the situation would help him process what was going on.

The shy girl, seemingly unprepared for any questions to be directed at her, blushed and began to twiddle her fingers uncomfortably.

"I-I overheard some people mention s-something about it." She said slowly. The chat had been between a man who worked at the bookstore and a friend of his. In passing, he mentioned the author's name being Uzumaki. The second anything Naruto related is said aloud, the little Hyuga's sense goes into overdrive. She then rushed to confirm the validity of what her ears had picked up. After seeing that it was actually true, she was filled with many indescribable emotions and there was only one thing on her mind at that point.

She had to get her hands on a copy of that book.

"Yeah." Sakura jumped in, saving her friend from any further embarrassment. "Hinata told as many people as she could. Team 10 is out on a mission, so they'll find out when they get back. Shino and Kiba had some sort of clan thing that they had to attend. And Tenten is working in her family's weapons shop, so-."

"SO I WILL BRING HER A COPY, AS REQUESTED!" The green-clad genin who had surprisingly remained silent this entire time boomed. "Tenten couldn't miss the chance to revel in Naruto's youthful story-telling!" His eyes were set ablaze with a passion that Kakashi only saw elsewhere when he was hanging around Might Gai.

He sweat dropped but acknowledged the Taijutsu specialists 'youth' with a swift nod. If he was anything like Gai if he enabled Lee with anything more than that he would just keep talking about the 'prime of people's youth.'

"And you, Neji?" Kakashi turned to the only one of the four teenagers who remained silent. "This doesn't seem like anything you'd be interested in." The Hyuga prodigy had an interesting relationship with the person that defeated him in the Chunin exams. That's why the Copy Ninja was curious about Neji's reasoning for being there.

The pale-eyed Hyuga grimaced slightly. He had hoped he could get away from this conversation without saying anything. "If you must know, I am interested in what Naruto has to say."

"What do you mean?" Kakashi continued to prod.

"The name of the book. It piqued my interest." He said simply with a hint of finality. That was all he was going to say about the situation.

Kakashi smiled with his eye. "I agree." He concluded as he snapped his still open book closed with a soft 'thwack.' "I think I'll wait in line with you guys and get a copy for myself."

Before any of the Genin could say anything, someone began yelling.

"Hey, jerk!" A man towards the back of the line said. "If you plan on waiting in line, you better get to the back!" He warned. "No cutting!"

Kakashi, somewhat surprised at the outburst, smiled weakly and waved a hand out in front of himself in an attempt to diffuse the situation. "Sorry about that." He used his other hand to sheepishly scratch the back of his neck. He turned back to the students. "Guess I'll be right behind you guys. See ya." He concluded as he began to walk towards the back of the line. He sighed. The line was now quite a bit longer than when he had initially arrived.

'Since I'll be here a while…' He mused as he once again took out his precious Icha-Icha Innocence.

Having already read the book so many times, sometimes, although he would appear to be reading it, he was actually instead acutely aware of everything going on around. Sometimes he just liked to use the book as a tool to make himself unassuming, which gave him free rein to survey his surroundings. He was surprised by how many people were at this book release. While, yes, the Leaf Village did not have an as negative perception of the young author as they used to, there were still many within it that still viewed him as an unstable and dangerous monster. And by many, he meant most.

It has been the blond's actions that have been very slowly gaining the attention of some of the townspeople. From his mission in the Land of Waves to his heroic efforts during the Chunin exams, and lastly his role in bringing the Fifth Hokage to the village in its time of need; all of these things seemed to have convinced a couple of people of just who Naruto is. While he still has an arduous journey for the acceptance of the entire village, he is making small and important strides in that direction. And they, just like all of the boy's friends and loved ones, are curious to see what his novel is all about.

'If only you could see this for yourself, Naruto. I guess I should be more surprised than I am that you actually wrote a book. But I stopped counting you out a long time ago.'

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"That'll be 215 Ryo." The polite shopkeeper said.

Kakashi reached into his wallet and handed the man the necessary money.

Accepting the money, he handed the Jonin a bag with the book his student authored. "Enjoy. Have a nice day."

Kakashi nodded and walked outside. 'Not exactly the book I was hoping to buy today, but this is definitely a pleasantly interesting surprise.' He thought to himself as he reached into the bag. Upon seeing the book he sweat dropped.

"Really, Naruto? Bright Orange?" He said aloud humorlessly. "At least it'll be an attention grabber."

"About time, Sensei."

The Copy Ninja looked up from his musing. The little Genin had been waiting for him. Except… "Where did Hinata go?"

"Hinata-sama seemed to be in a hurry after buying the book. As if she had to go somewhere important." Neji answered, slightly confused himself as to where the Heiress rushed off to with such urgency."

"She's probably dying to read Naruto's book." Sakura said knowingly. It was beyond obvious that Hinata had feelings for the hyperactive blond. Well, to everyone except the boy himself.

"But it is not going anywhere, right Sakura-chan?" Lee asked with similar confusion to that of his teammate.

Tsunade's disciple let out a big sigh.

Well, to everyone except Naruto, Lee, and Neji.'

"Today Lord Hiashi has instructed me to watch over Hinata." He began, he too, was about to leave. "I must go find her." With a swift bow, he left in the direction of the Hyuga compound.

Sakura chuckled. "He might be dying to read the book too." She shrugged. "I don't know, it's hard to read him sometimes."

"You are not dying to read it, Sakura-chan?" Lee questioned.

"No, it's not that." Sakura waved off. "I am, it's just they seem extra interested."

"Well, I for one am not going to take this sitting down!" The busy browed Genin exclaimed.

"Huh?" Both Kakashi and his student blurted out dumbly. What was he talking about?

"This challenge that Naruto-kun has issued!" His eyes were once again lit up fiercely with a blazing fire. "While I cannot write a book myself, I will still accept the challenge! For every sentence that is in this book, I will do one pushup! And if I cannot do that, I will do one squat for every sentence, and if I cannot do that, I'll-"

I think we get the point, Lee." Kakashi said with a chuckle. "I'm sure Naruto accepts your challenge."

Upon hearing that response, the green-clad boy gave the two a passionate thumbs up with his trademark blindingly bright smile before running off towards the training grounds. Sakura and Kakashi had to shield their eyes so the boy's teeth didn't stun them.

It took them a moment to recover, but once they did teacher and student began walking down the busy streets of the Leaf Village.

"So." Sakura began. "What do you think his book is about?" She asked, waving around the bag containing the novel for added effect.

Kakashi thought for a moment. "If I know Naruto as well as I think I do, my first guess would be that it's about ramen." Most people would assume that he was joking, but he actually wasn't. Naruto really was THAT obsessed with noodles and broth.

The pink-haired kunoichi giggled fondly. "I could definitely see Naruto dedicating an entire book to ramen." She looked at the title of here close friends work. "But not in this case." Her tone a little more even, one could even detect a trace of sadness in it.

"Yeah." Kakashi agreed, thinking the same thing as her. That title alone told them that this wasn't going to be a funny story about food. It was going to have more substance.

"To be honest, I think I'm more interested in how he was able to even write a book," Sakura said, apparently still not over how this was even possible. "When he comes back, I'm gonna ask him how he did it."

"I'd be interested to hear that answer, too."

Sakura smiled brightly. "I'll see you later, Kakashi-sensei." She looked down at the book she was now clutching to her chest. "I guess I'm going to go… read a book by Naruto?" She shuddered. Just saying the words alone felt so surreal she got a slight chill. Not that it was a bad thing, it was just so very strange.

Kakashi nodded and watched his little student scamper off. Now he was all alone. 'I can't be the only one who's not reading it.' He thought to himself as he opened the book to the first page.

'This book is dedicated to Team 7. My first family.'

His teacher's visible eye widened slightly. He focused in on those words for what felt like 10 minutes. He was fully aware that Naruto grew up with practically nothing. No family, no friends, no one besides the Third Hokage he could actually spend any quality time with; and the Third was always so busy that he didn't even get much of that. However, despite that, Naruto never complained about any of it to him or the other members of Team 7. The boy always wore the brave face, acting as if nothing ever bothered him. So he was surprised to see such introspective and emotional words.

'He probably didn't expect us to ever see this.'

He turned to the next page.

'Chapter 1: Isolation.'

Kakashi was stunned.

Every word, every page, it felt as though what he was reading was coming to life right before his eyes. Well, now that he thought about it, it was coming to life in front of him. The main character, Menma, held very similar beliefs to his blond student's. They both were caring, optimistic, and confident. Along with their comparable backstories of being shunned and ostracized, it was clear where the author got his inspiration from.

There is a key difference, though. Naruto, despite all of his hardships, puts on that impenetrable brave face all of the time. He never wants people to see how he is truly feeling. But in the story, we see all of Menma's struggles. The pressures that are continuously stacking on his shoulders, the sadness his past has left him with, and the loneliness he feels all of the time. All of these factors, plus the antagonists who are trying to steal the very power that has caused him to be isolated, affect his mind.

Simply put, an imperfect hero.

'It's as if this novel is giving us an all-access pass into Naruto's psyche.' The Copy Ninja thought to himself with a touch of sadness. 'I always knew he had to be dealing with a lot, but I never knew it was to this extent. I wonder if he was even consciously aware that he made a hero so much like himself.'

Kakashi blinked, then took in his surroundings. It was… dark? So dark, in fact, that the streetlights were on, illuminating the dim streets of the village. 'How long have I been walking around?' The usually hyperaware Jonin thought to himself, slightly shocked at how enthralled he had been in his reading. If he was being completely honest, the masked ninja didn't have high expectations for the book's quality of writing. After all, his student had, by far, the lowest academic tests results in the academy, sans Shikamaru; and that was only because the spiky-haired youth fell asleep during half of his tests.

In short, Naruto should have no business writing as well as he does. So that begs the question…

'What kind of training is Master Jiraiya putting him through?'

Author's Note: Some people may be upset that we are diverging from the main story, but there are some people who have been interested in if Naruto's book had reached the Leaf village. There will be a part two to this Omake, but probably not until after what is happening up by Jiraiya and Naruto. If I made this 5000-7000 it would delay the actual progression of the story, so I figured splitting into two would be the best decision.

Tell me what you think (good or bad) in the reviews. Thanks for reading!

Kail990: Thank you for your open-mindedness and kind words, and I'm not accusing you of anything but your comment did mention something that I'd like to address. I don't think death has to only occur when it is 'needed.' Death happens around all of us everyday for no good reason at all. So I think an author that shies away from killing off characters either because they couldn't find a way to make their death seem needed or because they are afraid it will upset the audience is not doing as good of a job as they could be. That is not to say that every story needs to have character death, but it shouldn't be something you avoid for poor reasons like the ones I mentioned I make people mad? Probably, but that's alright. I can live with that.