Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


A/N: So, for those of you who have had the misfortune of reading the old version of this story, I'm sorry. If your eyes bled because you read that… That's no surprise. Anyways, on to the actual first chapter of the story. Enjoy!

-Ah! Is he?…-

On the dirt path leading to Konohagakure no Sato, a figure could be seen treading the worn dirt path. The figure's black sandals plodded against the dirt path, the kunai holster upon the right thigh producing a dull 'clunk' with every step the right foot took.

The figure let out a contented sigh, the gates of Konoha coming into view. The figure ran a hand through his hair, the short, black hair being pushed down before standing again.

"Ah… Home sweet home…"

A certain blonde shinobi named Uzumaki Naruto could be seen outside Konoha's gates, meditating. He had gotten into the habit of doing this ever since he had returned from his two-year training trip with Jiraiya. As he continued to meditate upon the chakra signatures around him, he sensed a strange chakra signature come in to range… One that he hadn't felt in a long, long, time…

"Ah! Is this… Could it be?…"

As the previously mentioned figure continued to make his way to the gates, he was surprised to see a face he hadn't seen in a long, long time…

"That's… It is! Yo! KAIJIN!" Naruto yelled, running at the figure identified to be Kaijin.

"Yo."

"KAIJIN!" Kaijin heard. He looked at the figure, studying it more carefully. The blonde spiked hair, the three whisker-marks… Yep.

"Yo. Naruto. How long has it been?"

"Haha! Hey! Too long, I say. How were ya? Three other passed through about two days ago. Were you with them? Huh? Where did you guys go? What was it like?"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Naruto. Why don't I tell you over a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku? My treat."

"Really? Sweet! Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" And with that, the two boys were off, dashing the rest of the way to the mentioned ramen stand.

"Dammit, Naruto," growled a pink haired girl, sitting cross-legged on a field of grass. She slowly opened and closed her fists, her arms slowly flexing and relaxing. "I finally find the time to spar with you, and you just blow me off, just like that? Baka… Just wait till I find you…"

"So, where did you go?" Naruto asked, much calmer now that ramen was in his systems. Kaijin merely looked at the stack of ramen bowls that were on the table on Naruto's side, then sadly looked down at the pockets of his black, shin-length shorts, where his wallet was resting.

"Naruto," Kaijin said, a subtle mixture of rage and sorrow in his voice.

"Yeah?"

"I… will… never… ever… ever… treat you to ramen… EVER."

"Ehehehe… Sorry. Anyways, where did you go?"

"Well, about that… You see, I crossed the Western Sea, having passed through Kaze no Kuni."

"So you really went West, huh?" Naruto asked, looking down longingly at his ramen. The glint in his eyes said it all. He was jealous.

"Yeah… I stayed mostly in Hagane no Kuni."

"Land of Steel, huh? So, did you learn loads of foreign jutsu?"

"Yeah… Although, they mostly excelled in Taijutsu…"

"Oh…" Naruto said, looking down sadly at his ramen, once again.

"But don't worry," Kaijin said, slowly leaning back in his chair. "I still learned several cool new jutsu. In fact, I'll tell you as soon as we finish."

"For real? YES? I'd better hurry and-"

"NARUTO!" came a loud howl from a certain vengeful pink haired medic-nin. Completely caught off guard, Kaijin leaned back too far and fell backwards on his chair, hitting this ground with a loud crash.

"S-Sakura-chan? Crap! The spar session! Oh! I'm so sorry, Sakura-chan! Really! Completely slipped my mind! Honest!"

"I knew I'd find you here, you no good-" However, Sakura stopped in the middle of her dangerous approach towards Naruto, having stomped on something that was noticeably softer and squishier than the floor of Ichiraku Ramen Bar. She looked down, and was distressed when she discovered she had just stomped on a poor shinobi's stomach. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were there, and what with Naruto and-"

"Hey, Sakura-chan! Guess who that is?"

"Eh? Who, him?"

"Yeah!"

"Umm…"

"It's Kaijin!"

"Kai… jin…?"

……………

A/N: Well, not a bad way to start off a rewritten story, I suppose. Anyways, any forms of reviews as long as it's not flames are accepted. Thanks!