Naruto Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Author's Note: Hello!

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Irregularity. Dependence. Failure. Disappointment.

She was throwing rock after rock across the gigantic lake just outside of the Leaf Village. The scenery before her went beyond perfect. Just the sight would make anyone happy, but it just didn't work for her. She had lost her own vision on how to make the right decisions in life.

Could someone tell her to take the next road to the left? She had made some very bad decisions, but also a lot of good ones, she felt. She finally touched the heart of the one she loved. She was happy, but something else was making her unhappy.

Something beside her love-life. She grabbed another tiny rock and threw it in the lake.

Skip. Skip. Skip.

Tsunade was giving her hard missions, but they weren't hard enough, she felt. She wanted to be pushed to her limits. She felt left behind as she watched how the others had progressed.

She didn't like how her new house was arranged. Her parents had both passed away a long time ago and she didn't want to live in their old house anymore. She was unhappy with her new bedroom.

Skip. Skip. Skip. Skip.

She didn't like the fact that most of her friends were always out on missions whenever she was back in Konoha.

She also didn't like the fact that half of her old team had moved away to another Village.

Skip. Skip.

Something was dancing on her brains… And it was dancing horribly too…

This May Hurt

"So you two finally got together, huh?"

Haruno Sakura, Rookie Jounin, nodded her head with a smile, her eyes closed. Opening them again, she looked at the woman before her, the Fifth Hokage. "Yes. Now do you have a mission for me, Hokage-sama?"

Tsunade frowned a bit. "What? You don't want to be together with that Uchiha now you've finally got him?"

Sakura shook her head and frowned back. "No, it's already bad enough I have so few missions. I think I'm ready for better missions!"

Tsunade smiled and put a hand on the pink-haired girl's shoulder. "Well, I can put you up there with other volunteers, most Rookie Jounins as well, to become Instructor for a Genin Team?"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Ah, no thanks! That's not really good for someone who wants to become stronger, right?"

Sakura was about to continue, but Tsunade put her right index finger on her lips, motioning for her to be quiet. Sakura focused and also sensed someone was approaching and was about to enter the Hokage Office through the Window.

Skilfully, a figure jumped over the duo and coughed once. "Ahum, I've returned, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade's eyes widened. "Ah!" She pointed a finger. "You!"

This May Be Fun

Missions were always about time. And usually they were disappointing as well. Sasuke, in Chuunin Uniform, was walking through the Gates of the Leaf. He had been promoted to Chuunin a year ago. The reason he wasn't Jounin was because he was still a traitor two years ago.

Life had been hell for him. Returning to a Village where you were once loved would be something to look forward to. But for him, of course it was different. Now, he was hated by most of them. So he was glad when good old Sakura welcomed him with open arms. She was the only thing, or only one, who had remained the same.

It was pretty vexing to find her Rank to be higher than his, though.

Trained senses ripped him away from his thoughts as he activated his Sharingan. 'Someone's watching me!'

He looked all around him and found the Shinobi who was watching behind him. He turned, to see him jump over him and land in front of him.

"Ah, so you really have returned to this Village, eh, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke's eyes widened as he saw who it was who landed in front of him.

This May Get Complicated

"Jiraiya!" The Hokage exclaimed rather loudly. "What are you doing back!"

Jiraiya's expression however, was something Tsunade immediately understood. Something serious was going on. "Trouble has brought me here. I was pursuing some hot-headed Shinobis from the Cloud, very high-levelled, might I add… They were moving in awesome speed and they were only with two."

Tsunade and Sakura listened intently.

"I've fought with them before, but they always managed to escape."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. 'Someone strong enough to escape from a Sannin.'

"They were heading for Konoha, so since it was on my way back home, why not deal with them at the same time?" Jiraiya paused. "Only… I was also moving in high speed and I was very close behind them all the time."

Tsunade sighed. "Tell faster already! You're here, so you survived. Are they here!"

Jiraiya shook his head. "I found their corpses, completely beaten to a pulp and killed; Kunai wounds in both their throats. Someone skilled killed them and I'm very sure whoever did that was on the way to Leaf as well."

'So two people strong enough to keep Jiraiya-sama at bay, were defeated in seconds?' Sakura tried to understand the story.

"There's no need to worry, whoever killed them was enemy to the Cloud. Enemies of our enemies are our friends." Tsunade reasoned. "Maybe Shinobis from the Sand?"

Jiraiya frowned. "Who's strong enough to deal with such foes in seconds?"

"We are!" A voice from behind Jiraiya said.

The trio turned towards the window to see a familiar sight.

This May Get Annoying

"Kakashi. I heard you were stationed elsewhere, what are you doing here in Konoha?" Sasuke asked bewildered as he saw Kakashi in a weird Jounin Uniform. "Your headband… it's from Suna!"

Kakashi nodded and grabbed another headband from one of his pockets. "Yup! I'm officially Konoha Jounin and Suna Jounin. I returned to Konoha, my duties in Suna are over."

Sasuke sighed tiredly. "Well, I have to go; I think Sakura is waiting for me at the Hokage Tower…"

Kakashi's eyebrow rose. "Oh? You two hitting it off?"

Sasuke shook his head at Kakashi's curiosity. "Yeah, since recently… I'll be going now, Kakashi."

Kakashi narrowed his eye at Sasuke's back. Next to him, a ripple in the air suddenly appeared and a second later there was some kind of Gate. Through that Gate stepped a see-through person. "Oy, Hatake-dono..." A cold voice whispered. "You think it'll be more fun here?"

Kakashi sighed as he watched how his comrade changed into his real body. "I hope so."

---

Jiraiya turned with towards a window and what he saw made him smile wickedly. "Temari-chan!"

Tsunade jumped to the side to allow Jiraiya to be sent into a wall. "I would've done that…" She mumbled.

"Stupid old pervert. Only one man is allowed to call me Temari-chan…" Temari whispered dangerously. "Hokage-sama, Sakura-san." She bowed formally. "The Leaf Team in Suna returns back and has finished its duties in Suna."

Tsunade smiled. "That means they're back!"

Temari suddenly shot a very serious gaze to the Fifth. "Do not assume they are still the same. They've changed a great deal, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade frowned at the bowing Temari and sighed. "Heh, whatever you say, Temari-san. Tell them they should report to me immediately."

Temari rose from her bowing position and sighed a bit embarrassedly. "Well, you see… I think all of them have already turned to bed."

Tsunade almost glared Temari out of Konoha again.

It was here, where Sakura decided to join the conversation. "What about you, Temari-san? Will you stay in Leaf as well?"

Temari nodded as she dodged Tsunade's glare. "Yes, I will stay here… I've decided to become a Konoha Shinobi."

This May End

"Tcheh, how boring." An arrogant voice mumbled through the winds that floated against and between the buildings. "At least in Suna, we had challenges on every block of every street!" The spiky-haired boy turned towards the man walking next to him. "Especially during night, right, Gaara-dono?"

"This is not Suna, idiot." He replied. "But it is very quiet at this hour in this Village…" He narrowed his eyes as he turned to stare towards one of the roofs behind them. "Kiba."

The spike-head nodded and sniffed his nose once. As soon as he smelled who was there, his mouth turned into a smile. "Ah, no need to worry. It's our remaining Team Members."

Gaara knew who split up with whom as they had arrived in Leaf. "Tcheh, so it's only Lee and Hinata."

Kiba nodded as he jumped up to the roof to join the other two. Gaara looked downwards, almost eye-level actually, to stare at the huge wolf-dog Kiba left behind. "Your master is a fool, Akamaru." He said as he continued his walk towards some hotel that was still open.

Akamaru watched him go and waited for Kiba to return to him.

---

The next day…

Sasuke awoke with giant headache and refused to let sunray touch his face, so he went under the blankets.

Kakashi had returned to the Village, so there might be some news coming from him. Things had been rather boring these last few years. When he had returned to Konoha, he found many people gone. The Fifth had then explained that a few were sent to Suna to be trained there. Also, that those would become Suna Shinobis and might never even return.

Sasuke remembered who of the Konoha Shinobis went and wondered if all of them had returned.

A sudden knock on the door seemed to throw him out of bed. "Sasuke-kun! Let me in, I have to make breakfast!"

Sasuke groaned as he quickly jumped down and opened the door for his girlfriend. They were still trying to get used to each other and kisses didn't come easily for either of them. "Ah, Sakura. I overslept, so… Make yourself at home." He announced, before he took the stairs again and probably went to change clothes.

Sakura already knew the way so she immediately walked towards the kitchen. 'I wonder. Temari did say all of them returned, but… she also said they all changed?'

Suddenly, a cute little bird chirped. Sakura, a bit dumbfounded at first, looked at an open window. "Oh, Hokage-sama is calling for my attention?"

The bird chirped again.

Sakura laughed and turned away from the bird. "Sasuke-kun! We don't have time for breakfast! Hokage-sama requests both our presences!"

A soft groan came to her ears and she watched how Sasuke, in Chuunin Uniform, appeared in front of the door. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go, then."

Sakura followed him out.

---

As the duo made their way to the Hokage Tower, Sasuke suddenly spoke up. "I met up with Kakashi yesterday."

Sakura looked a bit surprised. "Oh? Yeah, I saw Temari. She told me everyone has returned."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes ahead of him, in the distance he could already see the Hokage Tower. "Everyone, huh?" He mused. "You weren't in the Hokage Tower when I arrived last night."

Sakura nodded apologetically. "Yes, I know… I had to show Temari to one of the Hotels nearby. When I returned, Tsunade-sama said you had come about an hour ago. I figured you had already gone to sleep by then."

Sasuke nodded. "Yeah, I was tired from the mission."

Sakura smiled gratefully, glad that Sasuke wasn't angry. "So you remember who went away to Suna all those years ago?"

"Of course." Sasuke commented. "The other half of Team Seven. Inuzuka Kiba, Rock Lee and Hyuga Hinata."

"I wonder how he is now…" Sakura mused out loud.

---

"They're here."

Shizune opened the door before Sasuke or Sakura could to allow them in.

"You're late. Didn't my message include you had to be quick?" Tsunade bellowed softly, if that was possible. "Just take a seat, if you can find one."

There wasn't a seat left for them, since there were only two chairs in the Office. One for Tsunade and the other for whoever was sitting on front of her. Hatake Kakashi was the lucky guy.

Sakura glanced to her left from the corner of her eye to see a masked Shinobi lean against the wall. On her other side was another masked Shinobi, also leaning against the wall. Her eyes fell to a couple holding hands. The hands belonged to Inuzuka Kiba and Hyuga Hinata. In front of her was Temari and on the chair Hatake Kakashi. Rock Lee was standing next to Sasuke. They all had changed so much…

'One of them is Naruto, but which one? And who is the other?' Sasuke wondered as he was also observing all of them.

"I've called for you two, because team Seven will be reunited only for today. An important mission for you four." Tsunade started. She was also staring at the two Shinobis who were leaning against the wall, both with black masks. 'I haven't seen you yet, Naruto… Which one are you?'

"Ah, who will be the leader, Hokage-sama? I am a Jounin, too, now." Sakura stated proudly as she stared between he two masked Shinobis and Kakashi.

Tsunade sighed. "Uzumaki Naruto will be the leader."

Sakura frowned at that and Sasuke's eyes narrowed a great deal. 'That means the dobe probably has a higher rank than Sakura.'

"Temari and Gaara, Shizune will help you in finding your way in this Village today."

'Gaara!' Sasuke and Sakura thought.

"I will not be staying…" Gaara suddenly spoke up. One of the masked Shinobis was Gaara.

'That means the other is Naruto…' Sakura thought as she stared at the other. 'Man, he's become really tall.'

"I am the Kazekage. I am here only to have a meeting with you, Hokage-dono." Gaara said. "I will leave again tomorrow."

Tsunade shrugged. "Fine, Shizune will lead you around the Village, Temari."

Temari pouted. "Aww, can't I wait til Uzumaki's done with his mission? He'll show me around!"

Sakura was a bit surprised after hearing that.

"If you can find a place to stay until that time, fine." Tsunade replied. "Lee, Hinata, Kiba… You three also have a mission. But the mission only requires the three of you."

---

Kakashi was leading his ex-team to their old training spot. Naruto was actually walking next to him, while Sakura and Sasuke just followed them.

"Naruto, how come you're the leader for our mission?" Sasuke suddenly asked as he walked a bit faster to touch Naruto on the shoulder. His hand went through his shoulder somehow, though. 'Genjutsu?'

Naruto turned his head, or his mask, to regard Sasuke. "I suppose you're wondering about that…" With that, he turned away and continued walking.

'His voice…' Sakura thought. 'It's so different…' She shivered after hearing it.

"Hey, that's not an answer…" Sasuke frowned. "What's with the mask anyway?"

Naruto didn't answer.

"Kakashi-sensei! Why aren't you the leader?" Sakura asked.

"Because, as a Suna Shinobi, Naruto outranks me…" Kakashi replied back.

Sakura and Sasuke both froze after hearing that…

Lastly, This May Be Surprising

"What do you mean, he outranks you?" Sasuke demanded.

"It means… As Gaara is Kazekage… Naruto was elected to become Kazekage as well." Kakashi replied. "Though Gaara has been a Kazekage for a long time, it is possible that there are more Kages in one country…"

Sasuke's eyes widened. 'Naruto's on the same level as a Kage?'

Sakura swallowed nervously. "Naruto? Are you really that far now?"

Naruto removed his iron black mask, to reveal another mask of cloth covering his entire face, including his eyes. He sighed. "It's been a while, Sakura, Sasuke…" He said. "As leader, I now announce Kakashi to be second leader."

Sasuke and Sakura, both still a bit confused, paid attention to their 'leader.'

"I have to know your skills." Naruto started. "So I will observe while you two try and defeat Kakashi."

"Heh, why not try and defeat you…" Sasuke continued mockingly. "Captain?"

Naruto shook his head. "Times of rivalry no longer exist for me, Sasuke." His voice sounded very superior, to Sasuke's surprise. "I would appreciate it, if you acted a bit more mature during this mission."

Sasuke was surprised, so he didn't say anything back.

"Ah, Naruto… taichou…" Sakura commenced. "Don't we have to see your skills as well? And…" She hesitated in continuing. "Why are you wearing another mask?"

Naruto sighed as his hands went for his face. "Since you are old teammates of mine, and I have to work with you… You might as well know…" He removed the mask of cloth to reveal a face that resembles…

'Yondaime!' Sakura thought as she stared at his face full admiration.

"Yes, I look like the Fourth… However, that's not the reason I wear a mask…" He explained. "As soon as I want to fight or am threatened… this happens."

Sasuke's and Sakura's eyes widened as Naruto's face changed a bit. His eyes turned bloodred, his teeth were like that of a wolf, his ears grew in their size and his nose seemed to grow more advanced. All in all, Naruto's face resembled that of an animal's.

"I've seen that before." Sasuke said, almost uninterested. "I assume Gaara is wearing a mask for the same reason?"

Naruto nodded his head and turned back to his old self. "Yes. Now then. Hatake-dono, perhaps you should start off?"

Kakashi sighed lazily and held a Kunai in front of him. "I suggest both of you come with an intent to kill, because… I've grown immensely during my times in Suna…"

---

TBC

Hehehe, small prologue!

There will be pairings here, but mostly in form of angst. I'm going to bring it realistically, too! Or try to anyway… Prologue is short, I know, Chapters will be a lot longer, though! I'll try to make them a lot longer, anyway. But longer they will be, for sure!

Greets to all of you!

Oya, Happy New Year! Best of Wishes, eh?

Hope I didn't bore youtoo much with this one!