Everybody in Iwa loved young Kaoru. A kind traveling merchant who went around the Nations selling all different kinds of spices, Kaoru was a favorite of housewives all over. His charming smile and good looks certainly helped him with that aspect.

He had a small spice cart set up at the end of Merchant Valley, the large stretch of road which housed tents and carts of all shapes and sizes, selling almost anything one could think of. Kaoru didn't have a large selection of spices, but he certainly had the most unique. Cumin from Kumo, black pepper from Kemu, salt from Suna. The selection was one of a kind.

This wasn't the first time young Kaoru came to the village. He often travelled across the hidden villages, scouring the world for the best selection of product, and more importantly, the best market to sell them to. Each time he would come, girls would flock towards Merchant Valley, all with the hopes of catching the attention of the successful merchant and his boyish smile. His popularity was unyielding.

"Thank you! Please come again!" Kaoru called after the kind housewife who had just purchased a years supply of spices… for the third time this month. Glancing at the position of the sun, he realized it was time to close up shop. So he went through the tedious and monotonous actions of putting away all of his spices and folding up his cart, wheeling it to the small inn that he was currently staying at.

The next morning was Sunday, a day that the entirety of Iwa decided was unfit for shopping, thereby rendering Merchant Valley uninhabited. So Kaoru whistled jovially as he made his way to a small shop in Main Street, where he met up with the same Real Estate Agent he had been in contact with for the last few weeks.

"Here are the keys to your new shop, congratulations!" The woman spoke cheerfully, always happy to sell a new property. Kaoru grinned kindly, thanking her sincerely for all her help. He was excited to finally settle down for once. Iwa was to finally be his home.

Naruto grimaced in confusion as Sasuke wordlessly sat beside her at the academy. Not in his usual seat next to the window, not as far as humanly possible from any and all fangirls… but next to her instead. The class was empty, there was no end to where he could choose to sit. Why next to her?

Naruto blinked.

"Umm… Teme?" Naruto questioned, her tone full of disbelief.

Sasuke sneered as he responded, his eyes never leaving the front of the classroom, "I'm just using you as a buffer against the fangirls, don't think anything of it."

The blond rolled her eyes, "Listen here Teme. I am not some type of wall you can use to block out your fangirls. Go back to your regular spot and let Ino and Sakura fight over you before they come to some wild conclusion about-"

"NARUTO! HOW DARE YOU SIT NEXT TO SASUKE-KUN?! MOVE BAKA!" Sakura screeched as she approached the pair.

With a death glare directed towards the smirking boy besides her, she spoke softly, "I'm going to kill you, Teme."

Kaoru smiled charmingly at the pretty blond who sat in the barstool beside him, "So tell me, Akiko, is it hard being a ninja?"

The Iwa-nin blushed cutely as she responded, "Being a ninja is a lot of work, we are constantly training and taking missions. But in the end it's all worth it."

Kaoru placed his head in the palm of his hand as he gazed at the girl longingly, "Wow, that's amazing. I could never have that type of dedication."

"You were never interested in the shinobi arts?" She questioned.

Kaoru shook his head, "No no, nothing like that. My parents were merchants, their parents were merchants, their parents before were also merchants. Being a ninja never even crossed my mind."

"My parents were civilians as well," Akiko revealed, "But as a child I looked up to my older brother. He was the coolest guy I knew. He became jonin at a young age, and was a veteran of the Third Shinobi War, even surviving an interaction with the Fourth Hokage himself! I've wanted to be a shinobi ever since."

Kaoru grinned widely, his dimples flashing, as he raised a glass, "To accomplishing your dreams."

"Cheers."

Naruto had officially given up. Withholding the urge to slam her head against the wall repeatedly, she instead chose to let out a growl, "Who, the fuck, let you in?" She had long ago placed a lock on her window when she realized just how easy it was for shinobi to break in, so he couldn't have come in through there.

Sasuke looked up calmly from his homework, which was sprawled haphazardly across her dining room table, as he answered, "Shisui gave me a spare key before he left."

Naruto breathed out through her nose, slowly counting to ten, "And why did he give you a key?"

Sasuke shrugged as he returned to his assignment, "I'm not a mind reader Dobe."

"Then what are you doing here?"

The Uchiha clicked his tongue as he flipped through his textbook, "The Uchiha compound is too loud, my little cousins were distracting me from my homework."

Naruto groaned, "For the billionth time Teme, my home is not some type of Uchiha safe house!"

"It's not?" A voice questioned from the doorway to her apartment. Naruto and Sasuke turned their heads to see the figure of one Itachi Uchiha strolling in with an arm full of files.

"Hey brother! I saved you a seat," Sasuke called, gesturing to the chair beside him.

"Thanks Sasuke," Itachi said kindly, poking him in the forehead as he took a seat and started on his paperwork.

Naruto seethed, "What the fuck am I?! Invisible?!"

"Hey Naru-chan," Itachi greeted with a small smile, "I apologize for the disturbance, but the compound really is too loud to get any work done."

"Let me guess, Shisui gave you a spare key as well?"

Itachi blinked, "Well… yeah."

Naruto threw up her hands, "That's it! I give up!"

"Hey Dobe, did you do today's assignment?" Sasuke questioned the blond once he realized that she was reading an orange-covered book and not starting her homework.

"Nope," She spoke, "And I don't plan on it."

Sasuke frowned, "It's worth a lot of credit."

Naruto shrugged, "I'm already dead last. Even if I magically get a perfect score on every assignment from now until graduation, I'm so far behind even Shikamaru that I'll still be considered dead last."

"But you would narrow the gap between you and the rest of your classmates," Itachi spoke, "I'm sure Sasuke would be happy to help you with your homework if you're having trouble."

"I would?" Sasuke questioned incredulously.

"You would," Itachi smiled threateningly, "After all, it's the least you could do after Naruto graciously let us stay at her apartment."

Naruto snorted as she mumbled, "Let you? You guys practically broke in."

Sasuke sighed, "I suppose you're right. Come on Naruto, bring your homework and we can go over it together."

Naruto scrunched up her nose in disgust, "Why would I ever agree to that?"

"Because Dobe, you need to know this information if you're ever going to be a shinobi."

"Right, like I'll need to know the trading laws of Iwa in a real life scenario," Naruto mocked, rolling her eyes.

"You never know, Naruto," Itachi said, "A lot of this so-called 'useless' information has really saved me over the years. You need to know this stuff."

Sasuke groaned, "Look Dobe, you're going to graduate and be a shinobi. It's obvious. But chances are, we're going to end up working together on some missions in the future, and I'd rather not have you slow me down with your lack of knowledge."

"Of course your only concern is about your future sanity," Naruto teased.

"Sasuke's questionable motivations aside," Itachi lectured, "He's still not wrong. You need to learn all this information. Just do your homework."

Naruto loudly groaned as she got off her couch to approach the table, "Fine, I'll do the damn homework. Fucking Uchiha's and their fucking 'concerns'."

Sasuke smirked victoriously as the blond sat beside him to read from his textbook, "Ok so this first question is about the trading policy regarding food items such as spices…"

"Spices! Get your international and unique spices here!" Kaoru called out from the front of his recently furnished shop, "Grand opening today get everything 10 percent off!"

Soon enough, his shop was filled with people of all kinds, civilians and ninja alike. Hiro, his new employee, came up to him in panic, "How much are we selling the oregano again?"

Kaoru apologized to the beautiful blond he had been chatting up with a smile, as he followed the scatterbrained Hiro to the cash register. "Don't forget Hiro, all prices for the spices are outlined in this book. It's all written in alphabetical order, so just go off that, ok?"

Hiro looked up at his boss with tears in his eyes, "Thanks boss!"

Kaoru ruffled the younger boys hair, "Anytime kid. Now go and sell these spices."

Naruto resisted the urge to close her eyes and fall asleep; Iruka was really trying to bore her to death with this lecture. On one side of her, Shikamaru had long since passed out, practically drooling on his textbook.

On the other side of her, Sasuke's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as he poked Naruto in the shoulder. Looking at the raven haired Teme beside her, she signed under the table, "What the hell Teme!"

Sasuke quickly signed back, his hand hidden by the table, "Pay attention Dobe. Iruka sensei is going into detail about the First Hokage. I thought you loved stories about the Hokage's?"

Naruto rolled her eyes as she responded, her fingers contorting perfectly from her many hours of practice, "Well he's explaining it in the most boring way possible. How am I supposed to pay attention when his very voice wants to put me to sleep?"

Sasuke sighed. When Shisui told him to take care of the idiotic blond, he didn't realize it would be this difficult. Quickly, he signed back, "Then don't pay attention to him. Pay attention to me."

Naruto quirked a brow, but before she could ask, Sasuke quickly began signing. With wide unblinking eyes, she payed attention to the story Sasuke's hands were unraveling, detailing the majestic story of the founder of Konoha and his best friend Madara Uchiha. She gasped as Sasuke signed the harrowing battles he underwent, she giggled as she learned about his awkward proposal to Mito Uzumaki (who she was surprised to learn was probably her great aunt), she teared up as his fingers narrated the story of a final battle between two best friends.

"NARUTO! Are you paying attention!?" Iruka cried, realizing the blond hasn't looked up from her lap for the last hour or so.

Naruto jerked suddenly, "Y-yes I am!"

Iruka narrowed his eyes, "What was the name of Hashirama Senju's father?"

Naruto quickly thought back to the funny little anecdote Sasuke gave about living with three brothers, and she was able to answer, "His name is Butsuma Senju."

"That's… That's actually correct," Iruka stammered in surprise, "Make sure you continue to pay attention."

Naruto grinned widely as she nodded, "Don't worry sensei! I'll pay attention!"

Sasuke smirked, maybe the Dobe wasn't completely idiotic.

The Hokage sighed deeply as he read the latest mission update from his future successor.

Ran into unexpected complications. Discovered a hidden operation of missing ninja from all over hiding in Iwa. They seem to operate under the guise of current Iwa ninja. Will attempt to collect further information. Requesting additional time for the mission.

-Shisui Uchiha

The young Jonin had already been gone for several months, and already he was requesting additional time to complete his mission. The Uchiha must have stumbled onto something major in Iwa, so with a reluctant sigh, he sent a scroll.

Additional time granted.

For Naruto's twelfth birthday, Itachi and Sasuke took the blond to her favorite place in the world: Ichiraku Ramen.

Naruto blinked adorably, her eyes filled with unshed tears, "Are you sure Itachi-kun?"

Itachi laughed as he poked the girl on her forehead, "Yes I'm sure. Eat as much as you want, it's on me."

He was surprised when the blond leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly, "Thank you so much."

He smiled, "You're welcome."

Sasuke sneered as he looked at them, "Honestly Naruto, you're the only girl in the world who gets this excited over ramen. It's actually-"

He was cut off as Naruto leaned over to hug him as well, "Thanks Teme."

Sasuke sighed, a soft smile creeping onto his face as he wrapped his arms around the blond, "Yeah yeah yeah, happy birthday Dobe."

Kaoru laughed kindly as he waved away his final customer of the day. The moment she left Kaoru alone in his new shop, the characteristic grin fell from his face as he reached for a scroll and pen.

Dear Hokage-sama,

I have settled quite well into my role here in Iwa, no one suspects me. I have made contact with the suspect…

… It looks like I will soon be able to come home. I'll update you when I collect new information.

-Shisui Uchiha

Where the hell is she? Naruto asked herself as she scoured Konoha. She wasn't on a mission she knew, Naruto had already gone to the front gates of the village to ask the eternal chunins Izumo and Kotetsu. Naruto had checked the dango stand multiple times, stalked the entrance of the Torture and Interrogation Unit, and even went near the Forest of Death, but the purple haired woman was no where to be found.

With a sigh, Naruto tried her luck at the barbecue restaurant. Anko was no where to be found, but Naruto did spot someone else.

"Hey Mini-jiji!" Naruto called out, approaching the booth of the elder jonin, where he sat with a few of his friends.

Asuma chuckled as he put out his cigarette, "Hey Naruto, how can I help you kid?"

"You know this child?" Kakashi questioned incredulously.

"YOSH! How youthful!" Guy cried.

Naruto snapped her fingers, "Hey! It's White-Haired-Cyclops and Creepy-Green-Freak!"

Asuma burst out in laughter as his two friends just sweat-dropped, "I swear this girl is a riot."

"What did you just call me?" Kakashi questioned, his eyebrow twitching.

"HAHA! What humor! How youthful!" Guy cried, laughing at the nicknames.

Naruto scooted away from the green-loving Taijutsu master, "Oh Kami, you're even creepier up close."

Asuma, still laughing, introduced, "Guys this is Naruto Uzumaki."

"You're Genma's old neighbor, right? He told me all about your youthful anecdotes," Guy spoke, his mouth stretched into a grin.

"Yeah, I am," Naruto spoke slowly, "Which reminds me, mind telling Unhealthy Oral Fixation that he owes me money?"

"How old is this girl?" Kakashi questioned in shock, "And why does she know what an oral fixation is?"

Asuma shrugged, "What are you, like twelve now? According to Genma, she's been like this since she was eight."

"How?" Kakashi asked.

"I blame Ero-sennin's books," Naruto responded honestly, "The prostitute who lives across from me taught me how to read from those books."

Kakashi sweat-dropped, "I have so many questions, I don't even know where to begin."

"Wait, why does Genma owe a young girl money? Did he lend some from you? That is quite unyouthful." Guy spoke with a frown.

Naruto shook her head, "Nah, your boyfriend bet me that there was no way my sexy jutsu would give the Hokage a bloody nose. I disagreed. I won. So now I want my money."

"Do we even want to know?" Asuma questioned.

"Probably not," She admitted, "Anyways I'm here for a different reason. Have any of you seen Crazy-Snake-Lady? I can't find her anywhere."

"I'm fairly certain I saw Anko around Training Ground 12," Asuma stated.

"Perfect! Thanks Mini-jiji!" Naruto grinned, "Oh and Creepy-Green-Freak, don't forget to tell your boyfriend about my money!"

"I won't forget Naru-chan," Guy promised, still chuckling.

Kakashi stared after the blond unblinkingly, "Seriously. Where the hell did this girl learn how to talk like that?"

Anko blinked, "You want me to train you?"

Naruto nodded determinedly, "I can't produce a clone. I've tried literally everything, and I need this jutsu to graduate. Hell, I've even improved my chakra control! But still: nothing. I just have too much chakra, it's literally impossible for me to produce one unless my chakra control gets infinitely better, which would be improbable with the graduation so close. I'm growing desperate here."

Anko blinked, still in shock, "And you want me to train you. Me."

"Like I said, I'm desperate."

"Why me?"

Naruto shrugged, "I would have asked one of the Uchiha's to do it, but Shisui is still on his never-ending mission, and Itachi is busy with ANBU stuff. I don't know the other jonins that well, so that leaves you."

"And what do I get out of it?"

Naruto grinned, "I just need you to teach me one cloning jutsu, just so I can graduate. It will probably take a single afternoon. Help me with this, and I'll give you a jutsu capable of taking down any pervert."

Anko grinned slowly, a terrifying look on the unstable woman, "And this is tested?"

Naruto nodded, "I took down the Hokage himself with it."

Anko laughed, "Kid, I knew you were a riot! You got yourself a deal! Tell me, have you ever heard of the Kage Bunshin?"

Silent as a fox, Shisui dragged a kunai against the sleeping targets throat. As he wiped the blood off his kunai, Shisui slipped into the blanket of the night, disappearing from the scene of the assassination.

The last year had been quite taxing. It was never easy playing the role of another man, unable to break character. He had settled down in Iwa, making friends, establishing a large network. But everything eventually came to an end…

Naruto cheered loudly as she was handed, finally, her very own headband. Tying it reverently around her neck, she blinked away her tears as she grinned proudly at Iruka-sensei, "I told you I'd do it."

Iruka smiled, "I knew you would, Naruto. I knew you would."

So Naruto Uzumaki, proud new Genin of Konoha, left the academy with a grin so wide, she was afraid it would be permanently stuck in place. Slowly, the smile grew smaller and smaller. All around her, parents and family members congratulated the new shinobi, the families all smiling joyfully. She let her eyes scan the crowd for Sasuke or Itachi, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Naruto let her eyes drop as she slowly started to make her way home. I will not cry, I will not cry, she swore to herself, using her sleeve to wipe away the stray, traitorous tears. But then she bumped into something: hard.

Reaching a hand up to rub her forehead, she looked up to see her offender. Her jaw unhinged in shock as she gazed upon the onyx eyes and boyish grin of her closest companion, "Congratulations, Naru-chan."

Shisui burst out in laughter as he was practically tackled onto the floor by the small blond. Yeah, it was good to be home.