Authors' notes: First and foremost, sory for the delay. I've been terriblyy busy for the past few days so I wasn't able to write and I had a massive writer's block when I had time to. So here is the next chap. And thank you for your reviews!!!

Chapter 5: Crossing paths

Reiji and Konohamaru were frozen on the spot. The rogue raised his head higher. A strong wind carried his hood and eventually his face was now revealed. Konohamaru was speechless. Reiji was still so frozen that he even had a hard time to breathe. The rogue looked so much like Naruto. His eyes were as blue as Naruto's eyes. His hair was spiky and blond too. He had those whiskers in his face.

'Otousan…' the frozen Reiji thought. He shook his head. 'No it can't be… Otousan is a very kind hearted man he would never ever try to do bad things like this… especially in the fire country…' Reiji thought. He gripped the Naginata tighter. He gritted his teeth. He tried to move but to no avail his body didn't seem to move. 'Damn, if I don't move… maybe I'm gonna be history… what's worse is… how will Okaasan deal with it? I can't die now!' Reiji screamed the last sentence in his head.

But the rogue seemed that he was in pain. He lowered his arm which was clutching the handle of the sword. His figure slouched back and he gritted his teeth.

Konohamaru was too shocked to move. What was he supposed to do? If the rogue was really Naruto, how were they supposed to beat him? Konohamaru can't even beat him on simple training where Naruto seemed to only play with him.

"You win this one…" the rogue whispered and he leapt into the forest.

Reiji dropped on the ground. He was sitting and he was very confused. Was the rogue really his father? If he was, why was he doing this? Reiji put down the Naginata on the ground and he covered his young face with his hands. There were too many questions in his mind right now. Too many questions that he wanted to ask a dead man… who just showed up this night if he was really him.

When the rogue left, he put down the two Genins who were unconscious. 'Naruto-nii chan' he kept saying in his head. Shiro then woke up. He looked around to only see a dazed Reiji and Konohamaru.

"Oi, Shiro, a-are you alright?" Konohamaru stuttered.

"Hai sensei, what happened anyway, why do you look like that?" He asked.

"I'll tell you later…" Konohamaru said while Mayu woke up.

"Oi, are you all alright?" someone shouted form the distance. Konohamaru looked at the forest's road. He was only able to see a small lamp flying in the air. As seconds passed by, the lamp grew bigger and Saito's figure was the one holding it high in the air.

"Saito-san, we are alright…" Konohamaru said.

"You're lying! Look you're shoulder is bleeding!" Saito exclaimed.

"You better go to the clinic now…" An old man said behind them. (AN: a clinic because it's just a small town…)

"Ah, Elder Ryuu…" Shiro said.

"Looks like you were able to protect the Naginata from that rogue." The elder stared at the dazed Reiji who had the Naginata lying on the ground beside him.

"Sensei, we better get you to the clinic now…" Shiro said.

---

At the clinic, Konohamaru was sitting on a chair with a couple of bandages wrapped around his body. He then grabbed his turtleneck shirt and he put it on. He looked at Reiji who was leaning at the wall playing with his necklace.

"You better not play with that, Tsunade-sama entrusted that to you and she wants you to keep it in one piece." Konohamaru said at Reiji. Reiji then looked at him for a moment and he placed the necklace back at his neck. Konohamaru then turned his attention at Mayu who was now very sleepy. Shiro was just quietly staring at his sensei. The door then opened and Elder Ryuu and Saito came in. Elder Ryuu was smiling at them.

"Well I guess I have to congratulate you again for accomplishing this mission." Elder Ryuu said "I will give you the payment for your service early tomorrow before you make your way back to Konoha. And Uzumaki Reiji…" the elder paused and he looked at the young boy with a grin on his face. "Let me tell you a story…" He paused again and he looked up at the ceiling, he was twirling his long beard with his fingers. Mayu shook her head to wake herself. Shiro just continued to watch them quietly.

"This small village had a tradition, a tradition concerning that Legendary Naginata." He continued to twirl his beard "Yearly we would choose talented Ninjas from different countries to let them carry the Naginata…"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Reiji asked.

"You see, I uncovered a rather very old scroll. It was said there that 'whoever can wield the Naginata easily will be its owner.' In your case, Reiji-san, you were able to lift it lightly and you were able to wield it with ease. And that means…"

"Reiji is the owner of the Naginata…" Konohamaru finished the elder's sentence.

"But elder Ryuu, that Naginata is a treasure of this village. Why would you give it to me?" Reiji asked.

"Reiji-san…" the elder now lowered his head to look at Reiji. "The main purpose of showing that Naginata was for it to choose its owner…" he smiled at Reiji. "You see looks like the Naginata has a soul of its own… a spirit which aids its power. And that spirit was very picky; it only chooses the one that it feels that is really worthy of its power. Hard to believe but the Shinobigatana does the same too. It means that it chose the rogue as its rightful owner. Btu according to legend, both chooses a kind and good soul… it really confuses me now…" the elder sighed. "Anyway, you can get it from the museum before you leave. And you can leave anytime you want as long as you inform me. Once again, thank you…" The elder and Saito bowed down.

"We are glad that we were able to serve you, Elder Ryuu." Konohamaru said.

"Well, you better rest now. Come, I will lead you to the hotel where you would get to stay for free." Saito said.

---

Reiji and the others rested. Meanwhile, the rogue who was walking in the road slowly because of his injury, he had the hood cover his face again. After a few minutes of walking, he encountered two ways in the road where the right one leads to Konoha. He recalled that his colleague wanted to meet him there. He took the right path and he stopped by a small abandoned temple to rest. It was night, after all and he was wounded. He needed rest. He removed his robe and he threw it a few inches away from him. He grabbed bandages from his pouch and he started to wrap it around his body. After wrapping it around clumsily around his body, he observed the necklace dangling from his neck. It was a locket with the Konoha leaf sign on it. He wondered why he had such a thing…he couldn't remember his past. He then stretched out and he looked at his hands. On the other, he stared at the ring on it. It was wedding ring, he laughed a little bit and he pulled it from his finger. He played with it by throwing it up and catching it again and again. After he got bored from such aimless work, he observed the ring closer. He stared at the inside of the ring. Names were carved on it.

Naruto and Hinata forever

His head hurt and he then put it back and he retired for the night.

The morning after, he got up quickly and he put on his robe. He left the temple and he grabbed an apple from the nearby apple tree he passed. He passed a small and clean stream and he washed his face and he cleansed the apple. He then started to munch on it while he walked on the path to Konoha. He was only a few miles away from Konoha and he felt something every time he would take a step towards it.

---

A red-haired man (no not Gaara, the man named Maeda Kenji in part 2) walked on the busy streets of Konoha during the morning rush. He was expecting his colleague to meet with him here. He stood there waiting for his colleague. His navy blue jacket swayed back and forth while the air came.

'Damn, where is that nameless guy?' he thought. He was a very impatient man. And indeed, after just a few minutes he left his spot to entertain his self a little bit.

---

The rogue entered the gates of Konoha pretty easily. He recalled again that his colleague wanted to meet him at the village's center. He still had a hood covering his face and the Shinobigatana tied in his back. He made his way through the streets without someone noticing him, even if he was looked pretty suspicious with that cloak and all. He didn't mind, his body hurt and that was all that he thought of for now. And then he saw someone, a blue haired woman walking towards him. His heart skipped a beat when she got closer. She looked very familiar to him, very familiar indeed. But his body really hurt and he wanted to meet up with that colleague of his so he can fully rest his self. And they both passed one another.

---

(Earlier) Hinata woke up pretty early. She had a different feeling today; she felt that something was going to happen. She went to the bathroom for a shower. After putting her clothes own, she went down and she prepared breakfast for herself and she ate it. She fixed up the kitchen and dining room and she decided to go for a walk. When she opened the door, a jolly faced Kiba greeted her with the bigger Akamaru wagging his tail.

"Kiba-san, what are you doing here? Would you like to go in first?" Hinata asked.

"No thanks I just came here to tell you good news." Kiba smiled and Akamaru barked.

"Good news, what good news?" Hinata smiled while she asked.

"We just received a message that Reiji accomplished the mission and he will be home anytime now!" Kiba said.

"I'm glad!" Hinata smiled again.

"Then, see you later!" Kiba waved goodbye and he left.

'He'll be home anytime…' Hinata thought. She got out from her door and she locked it and she made her way towards the gate where Reiji and his team mates and his sensei would probably enter. She decided to welcome her son back home and congratulate him.

On her way, she encountered a hooded man walking towards her. He looked very suspicious but she didn't feel any fear instead she felt a very familiar feeling. She passed him and after that she paused for a while and she looked back. She was now looking at the back of the man. She thought of Naruto as she stared at his back. He had the very same built and height just like Naruto. But she knew this could never happen (ximena: Oh really?) She turned around again and she continued to walk.

---

"Oi, Kenji…" the rogue said.

Kenji turned around and saw his colleague. "Finally…" he whispered. "What? I don't see the Naginata anywhere…" Kenji said.

"Obviously, I failed…" The rogue said.

Kenji slapped his face. "Oh man, you're in big trouble!" he exclaimed.

"Hey, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Forget that now…" Kenji sighed.

"Don't worry; He will not punish me…"

"What do you mean?"

"The Naginata chose the kid. It means that the kid is its owner ands I have no way whatsoever to get it from him. If I do get it, it'll be no use to us." The rogue explained.

"Oh... well I better go to the rain and tell him…" Kenji said. "You better not follow me, stay here…"

"What will I do then? Here in Konoha?" the rogue asked.

"Just think of it as a vacation…." Kenji patted his colleagues shoulder. "Better get going…" Kenji then started to walk away.

"Hey, could I also stay at the other villages?"

"Sure, just don't leave the fire country."

---

Team 21 was walking in the road that leads to Konoha. Reiji had a big smile on his face. He was holding his Naginata on his other hand. After minutes of walking they finally saw the east gate. Reiji ran towards it when he saw a blue haired woman waiting there.

"Okaasan!" He shouted and he dropped his Naginata to the ground and he ran towards the woman and he hugged her.

"Welcome back, Reiji-kun!" Hinata said and she hugged her son back.

"Oi, Reiji, you better get this Naginata coz' we can't pick it up!" Konohamaru said.

"Well how did you do at your mission?" Hinata asked.

"Err…"

"He did great…" Konohamaru said. "He was even the one that beat the enemy, right guys?"

Reiji's two team mates nodded.

"Well, I guess you did great!" Hinata smiled.

"Ne, Okaasan…"

"What is it Reiji-kun?"

"Are you proud of me?"

"Of course I am. Who wouldn't be proud of you?" Hinata patted Reiji in the head. Reiji just gave his mother his foxy grin. And then suddenly there was silence. Reiji turned his head to look at his sensei. Konohamaru looked serious as well as his team mates. They were looking inside the gate. Reiji looked at the gate too. He glared at the man he saw. Hinata wondered why they were very serious. She turned around and she saw the cloaked man she saw earlier. She turned her attention at her son.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"That's the rogue that tried to steal the Naginata." Shiro said.

"Why is he here?" Mayu asked.

"For all I know, he shouldn't be here…" Reiji whispered.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Konohamaru shouted at the rogue who was walking towards them. The rogue stopped and he raised his head, again his eyes were shown. Reiji almost froze up but he looked at his mom. He saw that she was showing the very same expression he had when he saw the rogue's face.

"Oh, what good timing…" The rogue said.

"Answer us! What are you doing here?" Reiji shouted.

"Nothing bad. But you really came at the right time." The rogue said.

"What do you mean?" Konohamaru asked.

"I was supposed to wait for you at the road and try to take the Naginata away from you." The rogue said.

Reiji froze up. 'The Naginata!' He screamed inside his head. His team mates and sensei rushed near the Naginata and they pulled out their kunais. But at a blink of an eye, the rogue disappeared and reappeared near the Naginata. He punched Konohamaru, who was still injured, and Konohamaru flew in the air. Reiji turned around and he ran towards the Naginata. While he was running, the rogue snatched Shiro's kunai away from him and he counter attacked Mayu's attack with it. Reiji arrived near the Naginata and he quickly bent down to get it but the rogue bent down to. Fortunately, Shiro tried to stop the rogue so Reiji can get the Naginata. The rogue quickly grabbed Shiro's shirt and he slammed Shiro to the ground. Mayu attacked the rogue again but she only managed to punch the rogue in the face. Because of his team mates' efforts, Reiji had the Naginata now. The rogue then punched Mayu and he spun around to face Reiji.

"Reiji-kun, watch out!!!" Hinata shouted when she saw the rogue do an uppercut.

Reiji did a quick back flip and he dodged the rogue's uppercut. Instantly, after doing a back flip, he charged at the rogue with his Naginata. The rogue quickly unsheathed his sword and he was able to avoid Reiji's attack. The rogue swung the sword at Reiji and Reiji guarded with his Naginata. The two were now caught in a deadlock.

The rogue took a step forward and Reiji was pushed backward with his feet still in the ground. After seconds, Reiji's Naginata flew in the air and it landed feet from him.

He panted and he thought. 'What an enormous power…' Wasting no time, he charged at the rogue with bare fists. The rogue tried to hit him with the sword but he dodged the blade. He then punched the rogue in the stomach, hitting the wound accumulated last night in their encounter. Reiji backed away and he rushed near the Naginata. The rogue winced in pain. Reiji picked up the Naginata and he charged at the rogue again. He tried to kick the rogue in the face first but he failed. The rogue dodged his foot by throwing his head back slightly and his full face was shown. Reiji did a back flip.

He thought that he could fight but he had no courage to fight a person that looked like his father. He gritted his teeth as his body froze up again. He stared at the panting and pained rogue that looked like Naruto. He just couldn't fight the courage. Something in his soul is telling him that the rogue is Naruto. He then turned his eyes to his mother and he noticed that she was very shocked.

Next chap will be titled "Hide and seek" or something better... laughs I will enjoy writing it.