AN:

Okay, so before you ask questions, I'd like to point out that each chapter in the story takes place in a different timeline/world from each other. It can be a NaruAya now, and then become a NaruHana this time, then a NaruHina on the next. Of course, all of them are AU in their own way. Okay, now on with the next story, 'Memories'.

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"Has he really returned?"

A young woman's voice broke Kakashi's trail of thoughts (perverted, of course) which were focused on his little pink book as he walked down the halls of the academy.

"Who?" the gray haired jounin asked, a little disturbed by the fact that someone had managed to sneak up on him. Maybe he should take Shizune's advice and train a bit more. Maybe. He was even more disturbed when he found out that the halls were empty except for him. Huh?

"Up here."

Forcing back an urge to slap himself, Kakashi peered out the window and up into the tree. A girl stood perched on one of the branches, giving him a blank look. Sporting a black, long-sleeved shirt and equally black, baggy shorts, with waist length hair fluttering with the wind, one would mistake the girl as just another teen with an obsessive love for black. That is, if you ignore the navy blue scarf with a metal plate tied on her neck. And the fingerless gloves on her hands. And the kunai pouches on her waist and legs.

"Oh, it's just you Hanabi," said the jounin, eyeing his newest student with a slightly confused expression. Though he was assigned to her genin team only a few weeks back, they had already accomplished over a dozen missions together, so he already knew a bit of Hanabi's personality. She was the de-facto leader of their little trio (which consisted of her and two other males who basically just followed her around everywhere), and rarely talked except for when planning for missions. Fast and agile Hanabi also took planning for missions quite seriously even if the mission itself was not so serious. Kakashi was pleasantly surprised to see someone following in Shikamaru's footsteps and was always thankful that she wasn't incorrigibly lazy like the young Nara. And that she has never talked to him while he had his face buried in his book. Ever. Well, until now. Today sure is a good day for surprises, he mused. So Kakashi decided to tease her a little bit. Just a bit.

"Little girls shouldn't go around sneaking up on their elders, you know," he said in a reproachful tone, wagging an index finger at Hanabi. He was met with a raised eyebrow before the little girl promptly vanished from the branch and stood in front of him in an instant.

"That's better… little girl," he said with a small grin. "Now, you were saying something?"

Hanabi's eyebrow twitched a little bit at being called a little girl again. While she acknowledged that she –is- a girl, she hardly considered herself little, being a few inches taller than the tallest male genin. She only stood a head and a half shorter than Kakashi too. She really was tall for her age. Add in her mature grace and demeanour, she can already be considered a fine lady of the Hyuuga court. So she decided to overlook her sensei's little comments today. There were more pressing matters that needed her attention. Concerning him. She was already having a hard time keeping her face and voice neutral with the excitement she was feeling. She was always feeling a bit giddy lately, with the thought that he was going to be back soon. And of course, there was no need for Kakashi-sensei and the others to know that. Of course.

"I just wanted to know if he has really returned…Kakashi-sensei," Hanabi said in an eerily neutral voice.

"Who's returned?" the man replied in a casual tone, again, a bit surprised at the lack of annoyance in her voice. She was always testy on being called little, after all. Instead there was something else in her voice…Is that excitement that I hear?

Feeling a little bit stupid, Hanabi calmed her thoughts a bit. "Naru- I mean, Uzumaki Naruto-san, your former student, sensei," feigning nonchalance. "I've heard talk within the village that he has finally returned with Jiraiya-sama."

"Oh," was all Kakashi could say, surprise clearly visible on his face. Well, more on his eye, actually. "You two know each other?" he asked with incredulity in his voice.

"More or less," Hanabi replied, keeping her voice as emotionless as possible. "So has he really returned?"

Deciding not to ask her on the reason as to why she asked about the blonde loudmouth- I'll just follow her around later, he thought; Kakashi just let out a "Yup!" before bringing his favourite book up to his face once again. After side-stepping around Hanabi and walking a few paces, he looked over his shoulder at her and added, "He's probably stuffing his face with ramen somewhere as we speak." With that he gave a small wave and promptly vanished with a poof of smoke.

Scanning the area with her byakugan, Hanabi let out a sigh when she saw that she was alone.

Finally…Naruto-nii…she thought with a smile.

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AN:

Well, that's all for now. Next chapter continues where it left off (along with how Naruto and Hanabi met before), and will hopefully be much longer. I'll probably finish in a few days. Or maybe tomorrow. Maybe. XD