Note: See edited summary in first chapter…:)

A/N: Hahahaha! –rofl- Haha…-cough- Ehem…Er…pretend I didn't just do that, okay? Uh, anyway, yeah. I finally got this chapter over with…barely too…Drats…darn those exams…grr…Anyhow, thanks to all those who reviewed! Review responses are found at the bottom as well as my usual translations! And this chapter is dedicated to all those who reviewed! Thanks again! Now on to the chapter! And we'll see what happens…:D

Disclaimer: The anime/manga does not belong to me, obviously. It is owned by one of my favorite creators, Kishimoto Masaki-san. Although as usual, I'm wishing I owned even just Naruto…Just you see…one day, he's going to be mine! MUAHAHAHA! Ehem…Let's go on, shall we?

"Talking"

'Thinking'

'Kyuubi talking'

"Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time, which every day produces, and which most men throw away, but which nevertheless will make, at the end of it, no small deduction from the life of man."
-Charles Caleb Colton

I'll Be Home

By

Milky Étoile

Chapter Two

Sudden Reminisce

On top of the Hokage monument, a lone figure could be seen sitting, looking at the village below. The figure sighed again and pulled out from her shirt a gold chain. On the chain was a golden heart-shaped locket with three diamond studs on one side. She put the locket in front of her and stared at it for a while before sighing again.

It had been three years. Three long years. How long did that idiot plan to make her wait for him?

Of course, Sakura didn't know. Her blonde friend didn't say anything before leaving. When she asked their teacher, Iruka-sensei, after the he had bid goodbye to some old man, he hesitantly said that Naruto was to go with that man whom he was talking to a moment before. At that moment, she had already made her mind to follow the geezer but didn't when Iruka also just mentioned that man was one of the legendary Sannin.

Yet, even when that information had come from someone Sakura respected, she still doubted it. The man looked like that pervert who was peeking at the bath house a few days before. Well, at least the man looked powerful. At least she thought so. Or maybe not. Who knows?

Now that she thought about it, why did Naruto have to leave with that guy who smelled like a toad to go training anyways? Isn't it supposed to be that genins are in the genin teams with a jounin sensei? Sure, he might have been some sort of an extra graduate but this was weird…

Again, Sakura sighed. Even if it had been a long time since he left, she still can remember clearly what had happened that day before he left…the question her blonde haired best friend had asked…the promise…

"Ano sa, ano sa, Sakura-chan! Tell me: if ever I leave for a long time, will you miss me?" The whiskered boy looked at the pink-haired nine-year old girl with eagerness. The girl looked startled with the question.

"What are you talking about? You won't be leaving for that long, even with missions now. It's not as if genins are given year-long missions you know," Sakura said with an eyebrow raised at the blonde.

"Oh, come on! Answer the question! Just suppose I was to leave: will you remember me and think about me?" the boy asked again insistently. This made Sakura sigh exasperatedly.

"Oh, of course I will! What kind of friend forgets another? And besides, why are you asking that kind of question anyway? It's not as if you'll be going off for some kind of training for some I-don't-know-how-many years, Naruto." The blonde stiffened beside her. They were again on the Hokage monument and the stars were already shining brightly above them. They sat in silence for a while and stared at the shimmering dots on the dark sky.

As they continued to gaze at the sky, the instilled silence made Sakura feel that something was off.

"Naruto, why—" Sakura was cut off from breaking the silence.

"So, you'll miss me?" Naruto asked once more but in a somewhat serious tone. Sakura didn't notice it thought and only rolled her eyes before answering.

"Didn't I say so already? And besides, aren't we supposed to be celebrating, not talking about such things?" Naruto only grinned again and looked at her straight in her green eyes.

"Ja, let's make a promise!" he said enthusiastically.

"Eh? Yakusoku ka?" Sakura looked at him with curiosity.

"Un! I promise that if ever go away, I'll come back much stronger than I've ever been!"

Sakura's left eyebrow shot up.

"And Sakura-chan would wait for me here on this monument for me!" he continued.

The girl's other eyebrow joined the left.

"Then I would come back and protect you! And the whole village too! Then I'll replace the old man and become the next Hokage! Then I'll be able to protect everyone, especially you!" Naruto did his 'good guy' pose and showed one of his foxy grins.

Sakura sighed again and shook her head. Until now, he was still trying to pursue his dream. It seemed he wouldn't even consider giving it up at all.

"Ne, Sakura! Can we promise to each other that?" At the boy's pleading look, Sakura sighed in resignation.

"Hai, hai! I promise that I'll wait for you here. IF you do leave that is and I highly doubt you'll be allowed to do that at your age," she replied and held up her right little finger. When Naruto saw this, he pouted and crossed his arms.

"What! A girly 'pinky promise'! That's too lame Saku—"

BAM! A whiskered face hit the floor. Hard.

"ITTE!" Naruto quickly sat up while rubbing his aching cheek and head. "What'd you do that for!"

The other unclenched her fist and pouted indignantly. "You're the one asking me to promise and when I finally agree, you complain about the way I want to do it! If you don't like it, then let's not make a promise at all!" Sakura turned away from Naruto.

"Geez…alright then! Let's just get this over with!" The blonde reluctantly stuck out his right little finger in front of him. Sakura turned back and linked her finger with his.

They looked at each other then said together, "I promise."

Sakura laughed a bit at the memory that played in her mind before sighing again. Had she only known that day…she would have…

The twelve year old girl shook her head furiously. No, she shouldn't be thinking about that now! Tomorrow was the day she was to be tested to become a genin and she was supposed to be training but wasn't. Besides that it was already becoming late. She should probably go home now. She put the necklace she was holding back on and left the Hokage monument.

All of the students in the classroom seemed to be nerve-racked. Who wouldn't be anyway if they were to take such an important test that could change their lives forever? A bit over dramatic as it might sound, it was the truth. If they pass, they finally graduate from the Academy and live as 'official' genins. If not…well they'll just have to be sorry. They might as well have to wait for another year in that boring place.

"Oi, Shikamaru!"

Well, then again, not really all of them were that nervous.

One of the students who was on one side of the classroom, Akimichi Chouji turned to the black-haired boy beside him. The said boy, Nara Shikamaru, looked up at Chouji, who kept on munching on his chips.

"What kind of test do you think we have to do? I hope it won't take until lunch though…I'm getting hungry…" Chouji continued to eat, even as a figure went near him. The person then suddenly smacked him on the head.

"OW! Whaddya do that for Ino!" the boy spat at the blonde haired girl that had hit him. Ino only glared at him though and also spat at him.

"Is all you think about really just food! Geez…If you really keep on getting fat, no girl will really like you…" Ino crossed her arms, still glaring at Chouji. Suddenly, she turned to Shikamaru who was sitting still, looking bored as usual.

"And you! You're still lazy as ever!" Ino exclaimed before storming off, still looking angry. When she had left, Shikamaru only turned to look at the window while Chouji went back to eating.

"Ah…girls are so troublesome…"

Chouji could only nod at Shikamaru's statement as they both saw Ino and her now enemy, Haruno Sakura, having another glaring contest, probably to see who would melt first in each other's gazes. It would seem they were both holding up though, seeing as their stares were still kept as hatred-filled as ever.

Chouji and Shikamaru heaved similar exasperated sighs before they turned back to what they were doing before: eating more junk food and looking at the clouds outside the window respectively.

To say that Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura were just enemies would be an understatement. No, they were rivals. One could even go on and say they were eternal rivals. But no one would really dare say that. Especially when the two were currently looking as if they could kill each other on the spot. So everyone else just kept quiet, staring at the two who were now ranting. Albeit, in very ear-splitting volumes as well.

"NANI! I SWEAR YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE HIM! NEVER!"

"YOU THINK SO! YOU CAN'T EVEN GET CLOSER THAN FIVE FEET OF HIM!"

"LOOK WHO'S TALKING! As if you can even bring yourself to go near—"

"Alright, cut that out." Their teacher, Iruka, had arrived, looking as strict as ever. "Get back to your seats. Now."

The students scrambled back to their seats as Iruka made his way to his desk. Ino and Sakura both stuck out their tongues at each other before going to their own places, obviously being as far away from each other yet as near as they could with the one they were fighting over. The silent guy didn't even acknowledge their presence at the desks by his sides. At that, Ino and Sakura shot each other glares again before turning to their sensei.

Iruka could only sigh and shake his head at his students' usual antics. He turned back to them and started to talk in a serious tone.

"Today is an important day. This is the day that you're all going to be tested to become genin. When your name is called, you will come to the room behind this door," he gestured at the door behind him before continuing. "And perform the techniques I ask you to do." The chuunin surveyed the reactions of the occupants of the room. Most were surprised, some became even more nervous, and a few remained silent, not showing any expressions.

Sakura suddenly raised up a hand. Iruka nodded to her and she asked, "What techniques will we be performing? So far, we've only been taught a few…" Again, the chuunin nodded to her.

"Yes, I was getting to that." He raised his hand to Sakura again as she prompted to ask another question. "You will have to do only two of the jutsus you have been taught, namely Henge and Bunshin no jutsu. You are to use Henge to turn into an image of me and afterwards, you are to create three clones of yourself using Bunshin no jutsu. Have I made myself clear?" Iruka glanced at his students who had muttered reluctant positive replies.

"Good. Let's begin then…"

"Come on, Ero-sennin! Hurry up! We're almost there!"

The enthusiastic boy paused, waiting for his older companion to catch up with him. When the old man had come up to him, the man hit him on the head suddenly.

The blonde boy let out a cry. "OW! Darn Ero-sennin! What was that for!" He turned furiously to the 'perverted hermit' and glared pointedly.

"Idiot! I'm supposed to be the one leading yet you go ahead of me, almost not even hesitating to leave your own sensei! What kind of apprentice are you supposed to be?" The man crossed his arms and continued on the path. He had long white hair and wore a strange outfit. Besides using sandals, the man had two red lines running down his cheeks and looked like he was already in his fifties, from his appearance.

The younger one only stuck out his tongue to his retreating form. "Well I can't help it if you're tired because we had to run out of that village we were in before just because of your stupid 'research'! You almost got caught there by those enraged women! I'd say you really should have been caught…when Tsunade-baachan finds out about this…" The blue-eyed boy trailed off after passing the older man that had stop in his tracks from having heard his remarks.

Suddenly, the old man appeared before the boy, making him stop to a halt. "You won't tell her, will you?" he asked in a pleading tone. "You won't do that to your poor old sensei, will you?"

'I swear he's sounding more and more pathetic every time…And he's supposed to be the one who taught the one who sealed me?'

The blonde's expression became an amused one when he heard his 'tenant's' snide remark.

'Heh…You know, he's got the right to be afraid of Tsunade-sensei. After all, she did make him immobile for…how long was that again? A whole week?'

'It must have been longer. I don't remember you having to tell him off for almost half a month about his…habits. And he didn't even dare go near that place…'

'Yeah…makes me thankful now that I'm on her good side…at the very least.'

'You got a point there, kit. I should remind you if ever you're getting her on the edge…'

'Oh? What's this? Is the great Kyuubi afraid of an elderly woman? Hm?'

'Shut it, gaki, or I'll make you think facing the wrath of an angry woman would be an easy task…'

'Right…' The blonde smirked at the beast's threat. After cutting off his conversation with the fox, he looked back at the now kneeling Sannin before him. He tried his best to hide the laughter in his voice as he spoke.

"Don't worry Ero-sennin! I won't tell her…"

The old man looked relieved and heaved a sigh, not even minding the name he was called. "That's good to hear then…" He started to follow the young blond boy that had already gone before him. He barely had time to administer in his mind the single word the younger had muttered before hurrying away.

"…yet…" Silence ensued for a few moments as the Sannin froze for the second time. The poor man could only call after the blonde before going after him…

"NARUTO!"

Sakura was excited. They were going to distribute them to their genin teams. She was silently wishing her crush, the one and only Uchiha, would be in her team. Although besides praying, Sakura kept her glare at her once-a-friend-turned-rival, Ino-pig.

Sakura stopped glaring all at once as their teacher entered and started a speech. She hung on to every single word Iruka said…

"…a shinobi should always keep in mind the importance of the mission. The mission should be completed unless there is a grave reason as not to do so…"

Iruka's speech went on for eight minutes before Sakura's mind started to wander off. He was now discussing along the lines of…

"…doing honor to your village and country. We cannot avoid the fact that some might lose their lives in the process of doing their job…"

However, the pink-haired girl couldn't seem to be able to register in her mind that losing her life was something highly possible to happen. Sakura had been glancing at her crush for a few seconds before turning away. And, she had repeated this action for numerous times already. By the time the chuunin's speech was coming to a close though, she had turned her attention back to Iruka.

"…you all good luck and I hope you will do your best to make Konoha proud."

At this, Sakura sat straight and looked directly at the teacher. That was after she threw her crush another glance and glared again at Ino though. Iruka now started to call out the names of the students who were part of the first team.

Team after team was called out and still, Sakura wasn't being called. Nor was Sasuke. She was inwardly cheering when Yamanaka Ino was called out to be with Akimichi Chouji and Nara Shikamaru. Her childhood friend had scowled at her before she had left with her team. As Iruka called out the teams, a jounin would come to get the team he or she was to be the instructor of. Also, throughout the chuunin's calling out of the teams, Sakura noticed that he had skipped a team number after glancing around when Team Six had been called out. Team number seven was yet to be called. Why the team hadn't been called was beyond her though.

After three more went out, she realized only she and Sasuke were left and was overjoyed. She went out of her trance though when Iruka started talking again.

"Alright then. Team Seven's members would be Haruno Sakura…" The pink-haired girl sat up straight at this.

"Uchiha Sasuke…" The Uchiha only looked away.

"And…" The chuunin looked around, as if looking for someone. Not seeing what he was expecting, he wondered. "Eh? He's not here yet? I thought they would've arrived already by now…"

Iruka sighed, yet again, and looked at the two new teammates. The look of puzzlement was obvious on Sakura's features and Sasuke seemed to only barely manage to conceal his curiousness.

"Iruka-sensei, who and where is this last member?" Sakura asked, a bit annoyed now that their last teammate had yet to show up. Wasn't it that being on time was important to being a ninja? This…whoever this teammate would be surely was going to experience a beating from his new female comrade.

Iruka sighed again. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be here just about—"

POOF!

"—now…" The chuunin pointedly glared at the blonde who had just arrived. The boy, noticing this, scratched his head with a nervous laugh.

"Hehe…gomen, Iruka-sensei! I had to get Ero-sennin away from the bath house, again. He kept on saying he wasn't able to do his so-called 'research' because of his training me! Could you believe that! Who would've thought someone like him was the Sannin who trained the Yondaime?" the blonde rambled, looking annoyed.

Iruka shook his head and sighed again. He was quite glad though, to see him back in Konoha. It had been quite a long time. He turned back to the two other graduates who were now standing in shock.

"Alright, Team Seven, this is your third member—"

"Uzumaki Naruto, at your service!" The cheerful boy gave them a foxy grin, holding a thumbs-up sign.

つづく
Gah! It's shorter than before! Drat…Wish I could've inserted a few more scenes but I wanted to cut it right there. Hehe…but I guess it's not exactly much of a cliffhanger. Geez…darn those exams, I think they drained my brains of the knowledge I had…er…wait. What does knowledge mean again? I swear I'm starting to lose my mind on this…Gah! Never mind! Just…go on with the translations!

Translation Notes:

Yakusoku ka?-A promise? ('yakusoku' is 'promise', 'ka' is a question marker)

Itte!-Ouch! (you know, expression of hurt—physical damage)

Baachan-grandmother (or in this case, maybe 'old lady' could do…-.-;;)

Gaki-brat

Henge and Bunshin no jutsu-If you do not know about these, I think you might as well search more about Naruto…as in the manga/anime.

Gomen-Sorry

Review Responses:

Kawaiiyuzumichan-Hehe…don't worry, no need to hurry on that one. I mean, come on! I didn't even give you anything for your birthday last April! Ah…I know you do. Be careful anyways and hope you're doing fine as always!

Annika-Yes, it was his birthday and it was a good thing we didn't have classes. Thanks for the compliment by the way…:D

Obitakuleht-Yes, I know you're Crystel…Hehe…I hope to talk to you again soon!

This Guy 222-Thanks! Glad you liked it! ;)

Madnarutofan-Friendship into love? Hehe…Thanks for the compliment! Hope you keep on reading!

Joekool-NaruSaku? It seems a lot like that but then again…Continue reading and let's see if you still think this will be a NaruSaku fic! Hehe…

And to all others that reviewed (if there really were any others), loads of thanks!

Pakisabi na lang na mahal ko s'ya, di na baling may mahal s'yang iba…Gah! I hear this song playing first thing in the morning and it gets stuck on my head for the rest of the day…I really am becoming mad. I swear, having just read the story "Promise of a Lifetime" by cryogenesis makes me really want to squeal! WAAAAH! It's just so touching! Try reading it and you'll see what I mean! Well, I ought to be heading off now. Please review! Take care! Ja, mata ne!

Chapter posted on October 15, 2005.

Milky Étoile ;)