Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me, if it did Naruto would be respected by the villagers, wear cool ninja gear and have a loving girlfriend or two...or even more
Legend:
Location
"blablabla" … speaking
What a stupid thing to do … thinking
-Baka kit- Kyuubi/Summon talking
-Baka kit- Kyuubi/Summon thinking
-What do you want- Naruto talking/thinking to Kyuubi
Life's a game – Prologue
It had been two years since the attack on Konoha by the Sound and Wind, and life was difficult, but now Konoha once again shone in its former glory. Sure, not everything was alright and even now every shinobi was on high alert, but slowly but surely normality returned to the Hidden Village of Leaf.
Just too bad that this wouldn't last long, since the next typhoon that would rattle the village was already on its way.
On the road to Konoha three persons were walking peacefully...well rather peacefully, as two were walking, while the third was being carried. The first person looked rather silly, with spiky white hair, wearing a green gi with a red jacket, carrying a big scroll on his back and wearing a metal hitai-ate with the symbol for 'oil' on it. The second was a young boy, looking rather intimidating. Standing at 5 foot 4, wearing a black shinobi outfit, with a black katana strapped to his back and a Konoha hitai-ate on his forehead, it wasn't hard to do so. Another bonus point for the intimidation factor was the beaten up third person he carried.
As you all may have guessed those two are none other that one of the three Sennin, Jiraiya and his student Naruto. But the third...well that's a unknown at the moment.
"Neee Ero-sennin, are we there yet?" asked one traveler the other. "Shut up brat, we'll be there soon enough answered the other back, while making a threatening gesture with his right hand. "Neee Ero-sennin, why are we in such a hurry to get back?" asked Naruto. It seems that even two years of training under the (in)famous Sennin Jiraiya haven't taught him to shut up. "Well, your passenger seems to be one reason, but Tsunade's message was also urgent" answered Jiraiya truthfully. He had some suspicions about the reason they were called back, but he wouldn't steal Tsunade's fun...no he wasn't suicidal after all.
After a few hours of walk they finally came into sight of the large wall that protected the Hidden Village of the Leaf.
"Man, it feels good to be back, I wonder how much has changed" mumbled Naruto. Jiraiya heard him and decided not to answer, where was the fun in that.
Soon they arrived at the great Gate of Konoha, where they were immediately stopped by the guarding Chuunin.
"Open the gates!" Jiraiya yelled up at the Chuunin guards on duty.
"State your names." The guard jumped down to the ground in front of them, then realized who the two were. "Jiraiya-sama! Gomen, I didn't realize it was you."
"No problem. We are here to see the Hokage, can we enter?"
"You may enter, the Hokage is surely waiting for you" answered the guard and gave the order to open the doors. After the three passed the gates, the Chuunin took a last look at the trio and grinned. He had recognized them, even their seemingly unwilling company.
Things were going to be interesting, thats for sure.
---
"Hey, look it's him" "He's back" "Who's that he's carrying?" "Mine..." "No, Mine" "Forget it, there's enough to share"
This were just a few comments that greeted Naruto as he entered the livelier streets of Konoha on his way to the Hokage's office, but where he expected hateful looks and scornful words, all he got were these strange comments and those creepy glassy-eyed looks he couldn't make a rhyme of.
-Bwahahaahahahahahahahaha-
-Shut up, baka kitsune-
That problem resolved Naruto decided to worry about the strange looks he got later and hurry up.
---
"Hiya O-BA-CHAAAANNN!" greeted Naruto cheerfully as he entered the Hokage's office. Tsunade, immediately recognizing the owner of the voice prepared to launch him out of her office as she noticed the beaten-up bundle he carried, which she recognized too.
Trust Naruto to uphold his promises and make the impossible look easy thought Tsunade grinning.
"Welcome back Naruto-kun...I see that you brought your friend with you" answered Tsunade. At this Naruto dropped of his burden and scratched his neck. "Well, you see...he and Orochimaru just sort of crossed our way" Naruto lied and everyone who saw him could tell. "True, he crossed our way...after we made a two week detour when you learned about his whereabouts" Jiraiya dropped in.
"Heheheheeh, well..." answered Naruto, grinning sheepishly.
"Well main thing is that you got him back, doesn't matter how, but that isn't why I sent for you...ANBU, take Uchiha Sasuke to the hospital and post guards around his room"
Immediately an ANBU squad poofed out of thin air and took Sasuke with them
"We'll talk about THAT later, but for now there are even more important things to discuss. Naruto, take a seat, Jiraiya, you can go" ordered Tsunade.
"So, what's so important ba-chan?" asked Naruto with his usual grin, as he sat down opposite of Tsunade.
"You..." Tsunade answered cryptically.
"...me?"
"Yes...let me explain. While you were away...some of the villagers broke the thirds law concerning you and your furry friend" explained Tsunade. It got the expected reaction from the boy.
"N...NAAAANNIIIII?" cried Naruto, various emotions running over his face, before settling on apprehension.
The ANBU stationed outside both grinned behind their masks...there was no doubt about it, the number one most surprising (and loudmouth) ninja was back.
"Wh...What happened?" asked Naruto fearfully, his former cheerful demeanor gone.
"Well, it was at the last 'Kyuubi-festival', you haven't been seen for nearly six months, some villagers and shinobi got drunk, I'm sure you can imagine the rest for yourself" explained Tsunade carefully.
"So everyone knows? Sakura-chan? Neji? Kiba? Hinata-chan? everyone?..." Naruto asked, dread filling his voice, one of his worst fears came true.
"Yes, the Rookie eight, Gai's team, basically everyone of the young generation in this village knows...but they don't hate you for it."
That was the second shock for Naruto this day and threw his entire world view in the blender. Before he could inquire further Tsunade continued.
"It was like this, after the news came out, the elders and most parents tried to get their children, ninja or non-ninja to join in their 'march' to destroy your house, but where stopped by those who see you as yourself, not as the demon sealed inside you." explained Tsunade. "You should have been there that day, I believe it was one of the largest accumulations of villagers ever. Those who overcame their prejudices against those who still held grudges against the Kyuubi and are too blind to see the truth.
And strike three...Naruto's out.
"Well, he took that better than expected" said Tsunade to herself, smiling at the unconscious form of Uzumaki Naruto, holder of the Kyuubi, loudest and most surprising Ninja of Konoha...
Just wait until you've woken up, the day is still long thought the fifth Hokage as she laid her poor victim on the couch in her office and waited for his awakening.
---
Hyuga Hiashi was grinning. While rare, this wasn't something unheard of and even the stoic Hyuga clan head could allow himself a few moments, where he could let his feeling of success show on his face.
But this wasn't a normal grin Hyuga Hiashi wore on his face today. No, it was a full-fledged, shit-eating grin, that one normally associated with a person having won the lottery five times in a row after seeing his eternal rival being hit by lightning...thrice.
The reason? Simple, the return of his old friends legacy. A Legacy that just an hour ago, unknowingly bit the elder council of the Hyuga clan in their collective asses.
Whistling a tune (and thereby causing several cases of acute cardiac arrest from the people in his vicinity) the Hyuga clan head proceeded on his way to the Hokage's office.
---
At the same time in the village of hidden Sand
"Kankuro, Temari, pack your things, we are going to Konoha" ordered the fifth Kazekage his siblings. In his hand holding a worn scroll and looking like he was going to go on a rampage any moment.
Both siblings knew better than to ask Gaara about the 'why when he was like this. Though he had mellowed out a little in the last two years, he was still as homicidal years before in this mood.
---
And at the same time in the capital of the Snow Country
Kazahana Koyuki, formerly known as Fujikaze Yukie or Princess Fuun, now known as the princess of Snow Country stared forlornly at the scroll a servant handed her from the archives. It had to be coincidence, right?
Today should have been the first day for the production of the first Icha Icha Paradise movie, a movie, she was only prepared to partake in to forget him.
She sighed. "Well, it had to happen" she murmured before ordering one of her servants to prepare for an 'unofficial' journey to Konoha.
