Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

POV: Iruna

"Kakashi, just in time, too." Minato-san said when we entered and the edge of his lips went up when I met his gaze. "Welcome back, Iruna." Somehow he would have added, you're late, if it was only me present.

"Thanks, Minato-san." I replied smiling sweetly. "I know this is surprising and all, but I'm not a spectacle here for you guys to just stare at."

"How the hell are you Iruna?!" Shisui shouted. "She would never grow out her hair like you and she…she's plain!"

"I think the word you're looking for is simple." I said smiling. He does realize that saying that to a girl is a big NO?

"Itachi, you agree with me don't you?" Shisui said turning to my dear brother.

"Neesama has her charms." Itachi answered before turning to me. "Are you really her?" He asked.

"Ask me a question only she would know."

"What was the item we took from Kakashi-san when he and Minato-san were our babysitters?"

I grinned at him. "That's easy, his weapon pouch."

"What?" Kakashi snapped his head with narrowed eyes. "You took my weapon pouch?"

"Technically, Itachi did, but you really underestimated us then just because we were toddlers."

"All of my money was in that pouch."

"Touch luck" That's for underestimating us Kakashi.

"Kakashi, report." Minato-san interrupted.

Kakashi told Minato-san on how he was able to find me. I was sure he wouldn't be able to, but figures that Jiraiya-san would point him to where I was. I had sent a letter to Minato-san that I would return to Konoha if the shinobi he sends would be able to find me in the village I was staying within a week. I am going to get back at Jiraiya-san for this.

"Iruna-chan?"

"Is everyone qualified for my report?" I asked.

"Details aren't needed for now."

I nodded. "Nothing so far. I've already checked, but a year to scale the wooded areas is too short. I've only covered 1/8 of the area." I folded my arms then. "I was hoping the shinobi you sent was going to fail this time around like the previous months, so I could continue looking."

"Iruna-chan, we can't play a game of cat and mouse that long." Minato-san answered.

I huffed. "Kakashi just got lucky." I blame it on the sannin too. Then again if Koushi was present he would have said it was time for me to go back.

"Itachi, please escort Iruna-chan to the hospital and have her medical records updated."

"Hokage-sama, the exams would take half of a day to be done and for the results to be compiled." Itachi answered.

"That's fine." Minato-san was smiling. He knew I didn't like hospitals and staying still! Also, there was one detail that the medic would be confused about.

"Wait! I can't—"

I stopped when someone held my wrist. I snapped my head to see Itachi there. "Let's go, Neesama, we should make sure you don't have any lingering injuries."

"I'm fine with the physical exam, but for my chakra, that's a definite no." I said after substituting myself with Kakashi before turning to Minato-san.

"Why?"

"I won't divulge that information with anyone else except you, Minato-san." I replied.

"Let's leave the chakra examination for another time then." Minato-san said. "You can go have your physical exam now." He nodded to my twin.

Itachi had a steel grip on my wrist as he dragged me out of there.

ooo

"Itachi, I know where the Hospital is. I'm not suddenly going to disappear." I said with him still pulling me.

"But you did." He said.

He's right about that. "But not right now."

"You're not saying that you won't."

"I can't always be there, but I can promise to tell you if I'll leave the village for a mission."

Itachi didn't answer, but he did release my wrist.

We entered the Hospital, and I walked with Itachi towards the mid-aged female medic at the reception area.

"Oh, hello, Itachi-kun. I thought you have shinobi duties for the next months." She asked confused.

"I do." Itachi answered. "The Hokage asked me to escort Ne—her here to take a physical exam. She was on a long term mission outside of the village and just returned today."

"Hello" She smiled at me. "I'm Tsura Mizu. Fill up this form return it once you're done."

I took the clipboard and the pen she offered before heading to the empty seats.

"So, you also have shifts here?" I asked him, while I answered some of the questions on the form.

"I'm part of the staff, but only when I'm not on shinobi duty."

"When?"

"I became a staff when I became a genin. I shadowed some of the medics watching them work, when Sen-san was busy with a case." Itachi answered. "I had patients young and old. I'm happy when they get better, but I can't save every patient I have."

"What happened?" I asked softly.

"They were on their way to a nearby village, but they were attacked by bandits. They were brought here. I was able to save the leader of the caravan, but his son died. He was just about our ages, too." He said.

I stopped writing and turned my head to him. He had his head lowered, probably thinking of that moment. I couldn't be there for him, but I'm here now. I placed my hand over his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"You did what you could. It's better than nothing." I told him.

He nodded. "I did realize that time." He whispered.

"Realized what?" I was confused.

"That I already activated my sharingan."

"How?" The words escaping my lips, the time you activate the sharingan is when you witness something traumatic or a death. I guess that was a death, but…

"I don't know, but I clearly remember that jonin almost taking your eyes. Sometimes, I dream of it."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you."

I grabbed his head making him turn his face towards me before I flicked him on the forehead.

"Ow!" He held his head before his questioning eyes fell on me.

"That's for not telling me. I can't do anything if you see it, but I don't like it when you keep things from me." I said glaring at him. "Does Shisui know?"

"I let it slip." He said there was a tinge of red on his cheeks.

"Ah, so he managed to force it out of you." I said. "Did someone from T&I try to draft him in?" I asked. "If he managed to do that then he could do wonders there."

"The clan wouldn't allow him." He shook his head.

"Why not?"

Itachi didn't answer and I decided to leave it as that for now. I got to my feet and walked towards the receptionist before she directed me where to head to.

ooo

After my physical exam, I went back to the waiting area. Itachi was missing and I went to Mizu-san to ask of his whereabouts.

"Itachi-kun? He was asked by one of the staff to help for a bit. He won't be long." She said smiling.

"Does he do well here?" I asked curious.

"Yes." Mizu-san answered. "He's really dedicated in the healing arts. Some of the patients ask for him, but ever since his rank went up in the shinobi line he has less time to be here. He didn't want to leave and he asked for a compromise with the Hokage about it."

"That's amazing." I said. I felt proud of him. He even went out of his way to have time to help here.

"He is." She nodded.

"He didn't overwork himself did he?"

"He did once. Mikoto-san was really upset then. I remember her pulling him by the ear out of here to go home at the end of the case he was working together with a medic."

Mother, out of everyone, she's the one I've upset the most. I haven't even apologized to her yet.

Itachi came back after I sat there for thirty minutes.

"Sorry. I took a bit more time than I thought." He said to me.

"That's fine." I said getting to my feet and giving him a tight hug. I released him and took a step back smiling at his confusion. "Let's go get some dango."

"Where are you going to stay, Iruna?" Shisui asked on the way out of the Hokages' office.

"Hm? Over at Minato-sans' house, I have been living with them after I was deemed unworthy." I didn't have to elaborate what I meant. "Minato-san told me he kept my room as it is when I left."

"Why don't you stay over at your house this time? No one knows who you are yet." Shisui suggested. "You're a shinobi. You would be able to slip the guards."

Itachi didn't think I could then.

"We could just say that you're a guest staying with Itachis' family."

"What would you tell our mother?"

"The truth"

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him.

"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet?"

"No."

Now, that we were standing outside the house I grew up in. I was actually getting cold feet. When was the last time I spoke to Mother? Mother would have helped me in her own way when I was exiled from the clan, but she had Sasuke and Itachi to worry about. I didn't want to bother her.

"Aren't you coming in?" Shisui said from the front door with Itachi there looking at me.

I hesitantly entered the house and while I was removing my shinobi sandals.

"Mother, I'm back." Itachi called.

"Niisan, welcome back!" Sasuke shouted his greeting coming out from the kitchen, but when he saw me his eyes widened in surprise. "Neesan, you're our guest?!"

I blinked staring at him. Realization then dawned on our otoutos' face when he shouted 'Neesan' to me, and his joyful expression fell.

"I'm sorry!" He said then bowing his head down.

"It's okay, Sasuke." I went towards him and kneeled before him.

Sasuke raised his eyes to me with his cheeks having a pink tint on them. Well, while I could sum that as him as being a kid and all, but I could feel the weight of Itachis' eyes on me.

"You're not angry?" Sasuke asked using puppy dog eyes on me.

"No." I smiled at him poking his forehead with two fingers. "The cat would have ended up out of the bag."

Mother by then came out following after Sasuke moments later. She looked at me with surprise as well, but that was gone and in place was a smile.

"Welcome back." She said. "Dinners' ready, let's eat. Shisui are you staying?"

ooo

"Can I sit next to you, Neesan?" Sasuke asked me shyly when we entered the kitchen.

"Sure." I said smiling down at him.

A cute smile adorned Sasukes' face when I agreed, and now I know why he had a lot of fangirls. I'm sure he's going to be annoyed by them.

While we silently ate, I can see Sasuke separating the eggplants from his serving.

"You're not eating those eggplants?"

"I don't like eggplants." He said frowning at his serving.

"You still have to eat it even if you don't like it." I told him. "Itachi doesn't like carrots, and he eats them."

"No, he doesn't. Shisui-san eats them." Sasuke said.

"I love carrots." Shisui said blinking.

"How often do you come here to eat dinner?" I asked him.

"Almost every day, it's like he lives here." Sasuke answered for him.

"What don't like your mother's cooking, Shisui?"

"Of course, I do." Shisui said puffing out his chest. "She just doesn't like it when I eat the carrots before she adds them to what she's cooking."

"Figures" I shook my head.

"How were you during your mission, Iruna?" Mother asked, while Sasuke sullenly ate his eggplants when he was told by Mother to eat it.

"Fine."

"Were you with anyone?"

"Oh, I was with Jiraiya-san." I replied blinking.

Mother had a worried look then, ah, she must know his other reputation. While the toad sannin is strong and in the same level as a kage. He is a pervert.

"I was by myself most of the time." I added. "I only met with Jiraiya-san in a town when his toad would leave me a message on our rendezvous point."

I was lucky that Jiraiya-san agreed to help with my cover-up mission that is in truth my training outside of the village, more so outside of the realm, but not like anyone knows the truth of that matter.

"You didn't get into too much trouble, did you Neesama?" Itachi asked.

"Trouble? More like I gave those bandits trouble for underestimating me." I answered smirking.

"Wow." Sasuke said in awe. "How did you deal with them?"

I glossed over the story on how I rounded up on the bandits and even earned a bounty from capturing them. I couldn't tell them the complete story, can I? Those bandits weren't rogue shinobi, and were easier to deal with.

"You didn't have any ryo on you?" Shisui said surprised.

"Er, yeah, I used up the ryo I had on me while traveling." I answered sheepishly. "But I got by"

"How?" This was Sasuke.

"Oh, I sold the storage scrolls I made to the weapon shops in the villages I met Jiraiya-san at."

"You know how to make one, Neesan?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, it was the first thing I made when I was learning fuinjutsu."

"Don't you mean the first you tried to make, but it blew up instead?" Shisui asked mirth shining in his eyes.

"You can't blame me for mixing those seal formulas up." I replied shrugging. "I was just starting to learn then, but it was a nice idea for a seal trap. I even made it as one."

"You didn't sell those scrolls did you?" Shisui asked raising an eyebrow.

"I do have an indicator which ones are the real storage scrolls and the traps." I replied.

"Can you teach me that seal?" Sasuke asked.

"Sure!" I said.

"Iruna" Mother said my name, and even without the family name I knew that tone.

"Maybe when you're already a ge—"

"Iruna"

"—chuunin" I said glancing at Mother, and she gave a small nod.

By the time Sasuke fell asleep he was leaning onto my left side. Mother had Itachi bring him to his room and that left me with Mother.

"I'm sorry." I said to Mother.

"For what?"

"I just did what I wanted not even thinking what effect it may have on you. I made you worry and cry. I'm not a very good daughter, am I?" I said laughing cynically.

"I could say the same for myself. I wasn't able to protect you when your father died."

"It was out of your hands, Mother. I don't blame you for it."

Mother reached out to me and she had her hand on my cheek. "You've become beautiful, Iruna." Mother said looking at me with a gentle smile. "I thought you were going to remain a tomboy. I guess I was wrong. If someone tells you that you have a beautiful smile…" She trailed off a sad smile on her then. "Will you promise me Iruna, that you'll be strong enough to continue living?"

I felt my heart stop at her words. It sounded like she was close to giving up or worse…

"I'm not planning on dying too soon, but you're a shinobi and you would meet others that are stronger than you. I would still want to see you get married someday." Mother said teasing me.

"Not like I would find someone being a shinobi, Mother." I said in a huff, but the heavy atmosphere was gone.

"You can't say that for sure." Mother replied. "I was a shinobi and your father as well."

"I can't even imagine Father trying to win you over with his hard façade."

"Would you like to know how he did win me over?"

"How did he do it?" I asked curious. It's not every day I get to hear this.

"It was actually Kushinas' fault." Mother replied.

"Eh? Kushina-sensei?"

Mother nodded. "It was Minato-san that knew about your Fathers' feelings for me, but being an Uchiha and as the next heir. It was difficult for him as Uchihas' tend to hide their feelings. Obito is an exception to this rule though. Kushina invited me out one evening together with Minato-san. I felt like I would be out of place if I went with her, but she told me that Minato-san was inviting someone else as well."

"And it was Father." I said.

"Yes. It was always the same set-up and I wasn't stupid not to notice what they were doing. So, I confronted Kushina when I got annoyed with her plot."

"And?" I have to admit listening to how Mother and Father got together was interesting.

"She admitted that she was trying to set me up with your Father, but she said it wasn't baseless. That time I was conflicted, you see back when we were genin I did harbor feelings for your father, but when he didn't seem to take notice of me even with how much I train or make it a habit to come across him in the clan training grounds he would just brush me off."

Huh, typical Uchiha mannerism, but knowing your Mother did that much. Hey, she was young. I can't fault her for that. Love makes you an idiot.

"I gave up on your Father and went out with someone else. I had four relationships, but there was one man that I loved so much, that my heart broke when I was told of his death. It was after the funeral and it was raining. I remained there, soaked from the rain, but while I was there by myself there was someone at the edge of my eyes holding an umbrella to cover me from the rain. Your father didn't say anything and just stood there without saying a word. It was after a year, that Kushina started setting me up with your Father to the point of annoyance on my end, but I had noticed him sometimes showing up all of a sudden."

"Kushina-sensei was playing match-maker?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Let's hope that Minato-san doesn't either."

"But didn't he invite Father when Kushina-sensei invited you?"

"Do you think he would have agreed if Kushina didn't force him to do as she asked?"

"He…" Minato-san liked Kushina-sensei since they were genin, so it doesn't seem farfetched.

ooo

It was early in the morning and there was no sunlight yet when I left the house for my morning exercises. I didn't encounter Gai-san during my run, but thought he had a mission. I was hoping to meet him and maybe have a spar. I went to one of the training grounds after and decided to do my kenjutsu exercise.

At the end of my exercise, I detected two persons heading to the training grounds I was using. When I was done, I sheathed my katana before replacing it back into its storage space.

"Time for breakfast." Shisui grinned at me as I faced them. "You could have invited us, you know. So we can have a spar."

"If it's you two against me, I'm up for it." I replied smiling at Itachi and him.

"Isn't that unfair on your part?" Shisui said.

"Do you think I'm the same old Iruna when I left?" I said almost challenging him.

"How about a spar then?"

"Shisui we came here to tell her it's time for breakfast not getting into a spar with her." Itachi said.

"But Itachi he's going to barf out what he ate if he does." I said teasing Shisui.

"We'll see who's barfing by the end of our spar."

A/N: Hmm, well, what do you guys think of the reunion of their household? And I'm up for accepting ideas for Kakashis' upcoming birthday. ^^ Feel free to pm me or add it to your review (that is if you read my notes here). As always guys, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your time that you use to read this fanfic of mine. I really appreciate it! It's a joy for me. How's your holidays so far? :3 Until the next chapter! ja ne!