Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, unfortunately for them, I do own this storyline.

Storyline- Naruto, after retrieving Sasuke, begins to learn a little bit more about why he's hated, who his friends really are, and why he is beginning to change.

Morgri- Thanks so much for the reviews on chapter 2, I hope you've enjoyed the story so far, I know it moves along slow, but I guess I'll have to work on that. Anyways, enjoy the newest chapter.

Anyways, thanks for reading chapter 2, and I hope you enjoy the second… Don't forget, tell your friends to read :)

Story begins after chapter 118.

Morgri- By the way, this story takes place mostly in Naruto's point of view.

"Character Speaking"

Flash Back

-POV-

Thoughts

Shift in time, or scene

When did you change?

Morgri

Episode Three- Village

Konoha, The village where I grew up, the village where everything that's occurred in my life began. We had finally arrived, and successful at that. I stared up at the huge gates; they stood like two gigantic towers guarding a castle. So many memories lurk in this village, things that I would rather not remember, yet there are other things, that I never want to forget. There not I could say happy memories, but more like the memories that make me live. If anything, it's not always happy memories that make you live, take Sasuke for example, his memories aren't very happy, I'm sure he has one or two good memories thrown around here or there, but in his case, he seems to have forgotten of them. I can't sympathies for him though, simply because I don't know how to.

You see, through out my life I've suffered things that some people could never get through, but never have I suffered anything like Sasuke. I never witnessed the death of my parents, of my clan, nor have I been forsaken by my brother… Since I don't have one. However, I imagine it's hard. From what I have seen, Sasuke really seemed to look up to his brother –Itachi- but that changed so quickly. He went from having everything to having nothing, I'm pretty sure it is what affected his life so much. See, we both had it differently, so if I say I'm sorry that all this has happened, I would simply be lying to him. How can say I'm sorry if I have never experienced it? At any rate, things will get better for him, I know it… because I opened his eyes to the truth. You don't believe me? Well you'll see, cause deep down in his hate for me, his mind is actually screaming 'Thank you… Thank you for saving me' pretty hard to believe huh?

I understand I'm not one to judge what's going to happen in the future, and I understand that I'm not one who knows a lot anyway. However, my journey through life so far has taught me so much, even if I am really young. I think Sasuke has learned a lot too, I just think he doesn't want to apply it. I think he just wants to do what he thinks is his dream, kill his brother… But hey, who am I to judge his dreams? After all mine sound silly to him as well. Oh well, just like him, I never plan on giving up my dream either. I will tell you though, he must be strong emotionally to survive what he went through, even I would have trouble with that.

"The gates are finally opening?"

I heard the voice a pissed of Temari standing right beside me. I turned to look at… I didn't take me much longer to turn away… I think I learned something new… Don't look at an angry, dirty, teenage girl… Cuase if she looks at you back… Egh… I don't even want to imagine it.

"I swear… when I get into a hotel room…"

We started to make our way back into the village, we took everything step by step, each one of us tired and gasping to reach our finally destination, the hospital. Of course, our teammates were our first concern, the Hokage could go second, I don't mind. I'm sure Shikamaru doesn't either; after all, Chouji is one of those that are hurt. Yes, as you guessed it, Chouji is prolly Shikamaru's best friend, even if it doesn't show. How do I know? I don't, I just guess, it seems reasonable you know, one extremely quiet, the other exasperatingly stingy, you get the point don't you?

We passed the village gates and entered the village, seeing a crowd of people watching make our way back. No one, however, offered to help, they just stood there, astonished, and I mean why shouldn't they be, Shikamaru just completed his first mission as a chunin, on top of that, it was a high rank mission with one chunin and a bunch of genin. To think that it was successful too, even with out deaths… or so, that had been the case so far. Heh, for us, we still had what seemed like an eternity to go. You know what they say, the last five seconds are always the longest… they weren't kidding.

The wind bristled by our tired bodies, every flag waving towards our direction. The dirt flew beneath our sandals and the grass poked our dirty feet. The wind made a chilling sound, my body shivered and the winds cold bite, and my lungs breathed out in quick faces, something like small gaps. Slowly but certainly we made our way through, until… we stopped.

The first movement we had seen in the village, the sounds of those most important to use, our teammates, and well, their families. Each one ran in looking for their beloved sons. Kiba came first, the moans of happy dog's awaiting the masters, tears of joy, and well the occasional scold 'you're never going on a mission again… but I'm so proud of you.' Next came Shikimaru's parents, followed by Chouji's who's quickly help Shikimaru, and thanked him for bringing their son back alive. Ino saluted the group, she glanced at chouji with a look of worry in her eyes, and then looked at Shikamaru with much approval, and looked over to me, or should I say Sasuke, and their came a glance of worry. Soon, came Hinata, who gave a hardly understandable 'We..Welcome back… Naruto-kun' followed by a quick look at and gasp when she saw Neji.

Everything was going according to the way I thought. Then came my second greeting, my teammate Sakura-chan.

"Naruto! What happened to Sasuke-kun? Is he going to be alright?" She asked, apparent fear in her eyes, after seeing Sasuke. "Hurry, here give him to me, I got to take him to the hospital, come on Naruto… He looks really hurt."

I looked to the ground, not really aware of why I did. I mean I was sorta concerned about Sasuke's health, but I didn't really… care about Sasuke right now… I had a weird feeling in my chest, something different than I had felt in a long time.

"Yeah…" Is all I could say, after all, there really wasn't anything else to say.

I saw Tenten wiz by me with Lee, Neji in her arms and Lee by his side, it was apparent where they were going. It was where I was about to go. Then Ino appeared in front of me…

"Is Sasuke-kun gonna be alright Sakura?" She said, looking at the unconscious boy that lay on my shoulders. Once again, I felt that feeling cringe in my stomach, but I guess I should just ignore it, it useless to wonder what it is at a time like this I suppose. I saw Temari glance my way with a 'Those girls need hobbies' disproval look. I decided to look away.

So, I started to move once again towards the hospital, Sakura-chan and Ino following me behind. I heard them mumbling some stuff to each, each trying to sound more worried than the other, or so… that's what I could make out. I increased my speed, hoping to actually gain some distance from them, for some reason, I really didn't want to hear them, nor acknowledge them. Finally I saw the hospital, and I made my way towards the building. Pacing didn't help my own condition, I felt my through fill up with air.

"Cough, Cough… Cough" Ouch those were kind of painful, but that's alright. I'm almost their, just a couple more feet and… yes! I made it, now just to get Sasuke to a doctor. I went into the building and up to the desk, "I need a doctor," To my surprise it took her only seconds to go get one after she saw the unconscious Uchiha. I felt the nurses lift the boy from my shoulders, and watched them take him towards an operation room. The Doctor stood there, waiting for the nurses to put the boy on the table.

I felt myself being pushed to the floor, the two girls rushed towards the operation room, only to be stopped by a nurse.

"You can't go in there, they are operating, please wait in the room over there." She said.

Obviously, Ino and Sakura tramped into the waiting room and sat on the nearest chairs to the operation room. I got up and decided it was time to go. To tell you the truth I wasn't that happy, cause I had better things to do, than to watch the two girls mope of Sasuke.

My clothes are torn, it must have happened during my battles with Sasuke and the freaky bone guy. Shoot, it was my last pair, I might as well go and get some new ones, being I don't want to wear these for the rest of my life. So I left the hospital and started to go towards a clothing store.

So I left the hospital and headed towards my new destination. I walked through my village, passed my favorite ramen stand, passed my house, our training ground, and finally arrived at a clothing store. I bought what I needed, of course clothes weren't my greatest concern right now, I still had to check with the Hokage… Well, I think. Besides, I don't think it will be that harsh to visit her, I mean she is kind of nice to me… a little I guess. Anyways, It's a lot better than you know, being alone…

So I began to walk towards the Hokage's home, only to be stopped by some one else.

"Naruto! Good job on your mission,"

I turned around to see the smiling man, it was Iruka, I smiled my normal smile and went to him. "Hmmm…? Ah Iruka-sensei, I guess I did a good job this time," I said.

"You sure did! Anyway, to celebrate how about I take you out for some ramen tonight? Say at like 9:00 or so? I got some stuff I've got to take care of before I can, but what do you say?" He asked me, and of course I would never wave an opportunity to get some ramen, it's just to good of a deal, especially from the Ichitaku.

"Ok, Iruka-sensei, I'll see you then! I have to go see Hokage first."

"Then it's settled, see you tonight Naruto." He said, and with that he was off towards the Ninja Academy to do some teaching.

Free ramen tonight, hmmm maybe today isn't such a bad day after all. Now to go see the Hokage.

Once again, I made my way towards the Hokage, it wouldn't be long before I got there, after all it wasn't that far away. House by house, block by block, road by road, I finally made it to the Hokage's place. I went upstairs to knock on the door, but before I could she had already answered…

"Ah, Naruto-kun come in, come in,"

"Hai, Hokage… Eh Oba-san,"

"I'm am really proud of how the mission turned out, no one was killed, Sasuke Uchiha was retrieved, and now Orochimaru will have to come up with a new plan, which gives us time to think…"

"Since when did you start thinking," I asked, obviously just trying to tick her off. I was awarded with the hand to my head, and sever pain afterward. Note to self, don't make Tsunade mad, cause it hurts.

"How do you feel?" She asked out of the blue.

"Huh?"

"How do you feel, About the mission?" She asked again.

"Well, I'm happy that we made it back, and that everyone is safe… I'm happy because…" I couldn't think of much else to say. "Iruka-sensei is taking me out for ramen tonight!"

"Ah! That's great, well I hope you enjoy it, for now though, I have to get back to all this annoying, never-ending paperwork." She sighed… "Ah by the way, I like the clothes," She winked.

"Huh, these ugly things… PFFFF… I'm just waiting to get another one of the jackets fixed, my other got annihilated."

"Hmm… whatever you say… Good-bye Naruto-kun." She announced and left towards her messy desk.

Time went by slowly and walking at the slow pace I was going did help either. So I ran back home, eagerly awaiting for 9:00, but with my luck you know that won't come soon… Humph stupid 24 hour days, THERE TO LONG!!!!!!!! Okay calming down, I guess I'll just go to sleep for a while.

I went to my bed, I made my self comfortable. Now I just… got… to… fall asl… asleep…

-End Episode three

I forgot what the name of the ramen stand was, so if you can give me it I would deeply appreciate it.

Morgri- Yes I know, and short and slow chapter. I'm sorry it took so long to get up there, I've just been so busy. Anyways read and review to tell me what you think. Also suggestions are welcome, and tell your friends to read as well. Thanks.