Chapter 6: It's Time to Return

(I don't own them!)

"I don't know what I am doing here standing before this huge wooden door. I don't why I have come back if it wasn't Hinata's request, I would have stayed at my tree-house. But somehow I've really missed this place. Shall I bust in through here? Maybe not…I could probably cause a commotion besides I told that old hag that I'll keep out of sight. Guess I'll take the high way…,"

Naruto released a constant amount of charka on his feet and started climbing the wall then when he could finally leap over it he exploded the charka on his feet to give him a boost. In the air, he saw the whole of his beloved village and felt that how much he really missed it. He also saw the Hokage monuments and when his vision came across the third, he couldn't help it but feel sad.

"Old man…I'm sorry if I left this village, if only I didn't…I could've attended your funeral properly…,"

Naruto remembered how he attended the funeral. Jiraiya allowed him to go but under the disguise of a citizen. He agreed but when he went there he didn't even wanted to come closer. Afraid that he might be seen, he just watched closely at a nearby rooftop.

"Now, I have returned Old man, even just for awhile I could visit my hometown," Naruto cheered up a little. Landing at a rooftop, he scouts the area for anyone who could've seen him but luckily there wasn't anyone around at the moment. While looking he saw the Ichiraku Ramen house and an idea popped out in his head. "Hmm, well it wouldn't be a big fuss if I just eat a ramen or two,"

Without hesitation, he disappeared from his position and headed towards his favorite ramen house. It has been a while since he ate ramen. Although he lived in the woods, the ero-saanin brought him some ramen or two once in a while. Now that he's visiting, he wanted to order one by himself and besides he also misses the old man of the ramen house.

It was only early morning and there wasn't a single customer yet inside the place. The owner and his assistants were still busy preparing everything for the day when someone entered. The old man went to see who it was as they weren't open yet.

"Gomen, we're still not yet done prepa-," The Old man was surprised at whom he saw. "N-naruto!"

"Ohayo! Old man! I guess I am a little too early for a ramen, am I?" Naruto chuckled.

"No you aren't boy, come in and have a seat. It's been a long time…only Jiraiya-sama comes here to get the ramen for you," The owner said to Naruto before shouting at one of his assistants to make a bowl of special ramen.

"I thought we aren't open yet?" The assistant asked. "Baka! Just prepare one, we have an important guest here!" "Okay, Okay…,"

"Old man, you don't have do be too harsh but anyway thanks. I haven't eaten a ramen in a month. Jiraiya-sama is busy with his information gathering so he couldn't buy me one till he's back but I doubt if that's what that perverted-saanin is doing right now," Naruto said as he sat on one of the chairs before the counter.

"So what made you pay a visit to the village?" The old man asked while the assistant shouted the ramen was ready. "Alright bring it over here," The assistant came out with a bowl of ramen in his hands and placed it down on the counter. "There you go, special, just like what you order often," The old man uttered as he pushed the ramen to Naruto.

"Wow, just smelling the aroma makes me full, haha, thanks old man, …about your question well…I don't have plans really but a childhood friend of mine somehow persuaded me to, besides I realized that I also missed everyone in this town even though some still despise me…," Naruto lowered his sights on the bowl of ramen in front of him. The old man felt pity for the kid.

"Well there's no reason for you to be sad today, eat up, it's on the house!" With this Naruto cheered up again and started to eat the ramen in front of him. "Thanks old man, Mmm…your ramen never fails to satisfy me," "Just don't go too fast okay, slow it down," Just as the old man said it, Naruto coughed. He immediately gave Naruto a glass of water. The kyuubi-child drank all of it and felt relieved.

"I told you so," Naruto just laughed while the old man followed.

"If only people would understand the pain and the burden Naruto carries, everything would have been fine but they do not," The old man said to himself as he watched Naruto happily eating.

"Aregatou Gozaimasu! Old man!" Naruto said as he stood up and prepared to leave. "Leaving already, why don't you have another round?" "Nah, It's alright, just one ramen is enough for now but don't worry I'll visit again sometime if the situation permits me to. Anyway people will be coming in at any moment; some may be able to recognize me. I mustn't be seen or else I'll cause a commotion,"

The Old man just smiled. "You would probably not, Naruto-kun, but if you say so, just come by when you have the time," Naruto also smiled. "Hai! Well I'm off!"

Naruto went outside. The streets were getting busier and busier as the day pass by. "At this rate, somebody we'll surely recognize me, well what the heck, Hinata is the only important person whom I must meet here…," He was about to take the ground route but then he saw someone whom he knows.

"Sakura-chan! The girl that I liked years ago…I don't know whether she still recognizes me but I mustn't take the chance, I guess I'll take the high road again…," Naruto disappeared from sight and again jumped over to the roofs.

"My former classmates…I wonder…what they are doing right now. We were still little kids back then, do they still know me? I doubt…I was just a pain the ass back then. I miss those times," He said to himself as he jumped from roof to roof. "Hmmm, now where should I go next…the old hag…hmmm it wouldn't be much of a bother to stop by. Anyway, I went to the village without her notice…so I should tell her hello,"

Tsunade at that time was just sleeping in her office. Taking a break as she would say but not even half of the documents in front of her was touched. She became the fifth with the help of Jiraiya and Naruto who came after her. It was Naruto who persuaded her to become the Hokage. The boy, not even classified as a leaf shinobi showed Tsunade how much the title Hokage was and that even if he wasn't a leaf genin, he still has that dream. Even though he banished himself from the village, he still aspires to become the Hokage.

"Don' t you dare insult the Old Man or the fourth! Even if I'm neither a genin nor a Konoha shinobi, I shall not permit you to mock them,"

"To become Hokage is my dream!"

If it wasn't for Naruto, Tsunade wouldn't have awoken from her depression. Now, she's taken the highest position and highest responsibility any ninja could take in the entire village.

The fifth was just coming to her senses when she noticed the presence of Naruto outside the window.

"Hmm? You don't have to be on stealth you know or is that the peaking techniques your master has taught you?" She said as she tapped the wall which was strong enough to make the hiding kid fall. Naruto immediately gathered enough charka to stick on the walls and jump into the room. "Grrrrr you Old Hag! Why'd you do that for!"

"It's your fault…you insist on hiding when you know I could sense you. Anyway, I thought you told me you weren't going to show your face back here? Changed your mind?" The fifth asked as she leaned on the table with a hand on her cheek.

"Nah, I won't stick around for too long, I am just visiting. Besides, it was my childhood friend who invited me here again," Naruto leaned back on the wall.

"Hmmm Hinata-sama…guess I'll have to thank you for taking care of her, we're in a state of emergency you know and the surrounding forests are getting dangerous than ever. You should be careful too. And also the matter between you and the Hyuga clan has been settled, I already told them the truth but I guess that wasn't needed anyway. Most of the clan members already know your identity,"

"Oh yeah, but why did they sent Neji to kill the Konoha Forest Demon?" Naruto replied angrily clenching a fist before his face.

"Well, you know that Neji doesn't know you are the Kyuubi child including all of your generation. Besides, the clan maybe tested Neji's skills and that's why they gave the order to come after you. I didn't worry though; Jiraiya surely didn't just teach all kinds of perverted things didn't he?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow while Naruto instantly denied it.

"Don't compare me to that perverted Old man!"

"Whatever you say, well, Naruto-kun I think it's time you go meet your childhood friend, she must be waiting for you already. And try to think about staying here again, that's what the third Hokage wanted," Naruto saw seriousness in Tsunade's eyes and he knows she's not kidding this time. He turned back and before he exited the room said "I know…,"

Naruto didn't know where to find Hinata. Rushing in towards their House didn't sounded much of an idea and so he thought of some place else. "I forget to ask where we could meet…,geez…," While thinking the kyuubi child decided to cool down first on top of the Hokage monuments where he stayed at the top of the Third.

"Hiya Old man…it's been a while since I've been on top of your head," Naruto grinned as he remembered when he painted the entire faces of the Hokages. The Third was frustrated at that time not to mention Iruka-sensei. "memories…," Naruto became silent as he remembered the Third's voice.

"Naruto you are always welcome here, you are part of Konoha. Even though some people may hate you, don't worry, I'm on your side. Always remember that, so come back soon okay,"

"I still need time Old man…and right I need to find Hinata first, could you help me find her?" Naruto noticed the sculpture's eyes and followed where they were looking at. Then from there he saw the playground. It was not exactly the place where the eyes pointed at but it was in its direction. "Hmmm yeah, why didn't I think of that, Aregatou Old man, I owe you a lot…," Naruto paid his respects to the Hokages then went to the playground.

There was not a single soul playing when he arrived. The sun was now too hot and maybe that's why the kids' parents didn't allow them to play. Everything was still the same when Naruto left; the swing, the slides, the see-saws and the others. Everything was the same except they were repainted. The boy saw his younger self sitting alone on one of the swings. "It's also the same when I play around here…no one's around…or if there was they'll eventually leave…, now I am all alone still…," Naruto came closer to the swing and sat then looked at the sky.

"…all alone…," He sighed.

"No you're not!" A soft voice but loud enough to be heard came from Naruto's back. He recognized the voice immediately and slowly turned to see her. She was wearing her usual jacket with her forehead guard tied around her neck. She was smiling bashfully with both of her hands together. Her eyes focused on the person in front of her.

"Hi-Hinata-chan!"

"Welcome back…Naruto-kun,"