The next month went by pretty uneventful. Team Guy did a couple of escort missions for feudal lords helped find a herb to help cure an illness of some wealthy guys mother. Neji and Asuka continued to grow closer as well as Lee and Tenten. Overall the team operated well.

The team had just finished their report to Lady Tsunade on their last escort mission and Neji and Asuka decided that they were going to get something to eat when they saw Amaya coming their direction.

Asuka suddenly froze.

Neji grabbed her hand gently but firmly and led her forward to meet up with Amaya.

When they met up Asuka stayed silent.

"Asuka this is Masato Nakamura, your father." Amaya introduced.

The man stood about a head taller than Asuka, had light brown hair that was short but spiked and his attire is what you would have expected from a traveler. Asuka looked into his eyes and saw that they were almost identical to hers.

"Nice to finally see you after all these years." Masato said giving Asuka a kind smile.

Asuka, almost instinctively, ended up following Naruto's suggestion, but instead of a punch to the gut she slapped him across the face. Masato didn't even try to block or retaliate. Asuka's eyes filled with tears as she then proceeded to hug him tightly. Masato hugged her back. Asuka finally let go but tears were still leaking down her cheeks.

Masato smiled at her. "You look just like your mother."

Asuka didn't know what to say.

"You must have a lot of questions, why don't we go somewhere and talk."

Asuka looked at Neji who gave her a single nod.

"I know just the place." Asuka said finally. She led them to on top of the stone faces. Ever since Neji showed this place to her it had become one of her favorite spots.

"This is a beautiful spot." Masato said trying to make small talk.

"Why did you leave?" Asuka asked.

"I had to leave to protect you and your mother. You were only about a year old when an old enemy of mine had discovered where I was. Until then we had been living happily in a village here in the Land of Fire. We had just gotten word about the Nine Tails attack on the Leaf Village and since Minato, the Fourth Hokage, had been my best friend in school I wanted to attend his funeral. On our way there Takashi had cornered me."

"Did you just say Takashi?" Asuka asked surprised.

"Yes, why? Have you fought with him?"

"Yes. He killed mom and he almost killed me."

Masato was silent for a while.

"Mom took a job for Mr. Makoto investigating a mole. That mole turned out to be Takashi. He killed mom and then disappeared. Then I went on a mission to Mr. Makoto's company to find out that Takashi had escaped and only resurfaced recently. My team and I fought hard but in the end if hadn't been for Sasuke Uchiha he would have killed me too." Asuka ranted.

"What became of Takashi?"

"He's dead resting at the bottom of the cliff that killed mom."

Masato gave a sigh of relief.

"Your so called protection just got mom killed. And if you fought with him why didn't you kill him? And since you didn't kill him how are you still alive?" Asuka interrogated.

"My only concern was giving you and your mother a chance to get to safety. As Takashi and I fought, however, I quickly realized that his taijutsu skills were superior to my own and if I ever wanted to see you and your mother again I was going to have to retreat and figure out a strategy to beat him. Unfortunately, running was exactly what he wanted me to do. No matter where I went there was always someone after me." Masato explained calmly.

"How did you escape Takashi in the first place?"

"I used the teleportation jutsu."

"But I thought only the Fourth Hokage knew that jutsu." Asuka said a little confused.

"Well, you see being best friends with Minato I asked him to teach it to me. Turns out I had a knack for it. I make a point to use it only when I need to and that was a time it was needed."

Asuka was quiet for a long time taking in all the information she had just received. Then without much warning she started crying again.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect Katsumi and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

Asuka continued to cry.

"If you'll let me I would like to be with you now, I know it can't make up for lost time but..."

Masato was interrupted by Asuka giving him a tight hug.

"Just stop talking. I'm just glad you're here." Asuka ordered while she was crying in her father's arms.

The two stayed like that till Asuka finally calmed down and then they headed down the hill.

Asuka's stomach growled because she still hadn't eaten.

"I guess we had better get some food." Masato said with a smile.

"Lets go home and I'll make us some miso ramen."

"Sounds good to me."

Once they were home and food had been made there was a knock at the door. Asuka opened it do find Naruto.

"Naruto! Come on in I want you to meet my dad."

"You mean Amaya found him?!" Naruto asked excitedly as he entered.

"Yupp."

The two entered the dinning room and Masato nearly spit out his soup.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Naruto asked.

"Your face is fine," Asuka turned to her dad, "What was that all about?"

"I'm sorry you just look so much like your father." Masato confessed.

"You knew my father?!" Naruto's eyes got big.

"We were best friends."

Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto's dad? Asuka thought putting it together. There must be a reason Naruto hasn't been told. I guess I'll just have to keep it to myself for now and ask dad about it later.

"Why don't you come in and eat some miso ramen, I've got lots of left overs."

"Really Asuka? You're the best." Naruto said gratefully.

Asuka got a bowl and served some of the miso ramen to Naruto who gave the biggest smile.

"You know Naruto if you have any questions as to what your dad was like I would be happy to answer them." Masato offered.

"Well its nice to know I got my dad's looks. I guess I'm curious as to what else I got from him."

"I think I'll have to get to know you better before I can say for sure but I definitely see your mother in you for most of your personality."

"So you knew my mom too?" Naruto asked with eager eyes.

"Not as well as your father but your mother was a pretty unforgettable woman." Masato said then smiling an awkward smile.

"Hey! Since you knew my parents you could train me and tell me what they were like and pass on their training methods to me!" Naruto said suddenly and full of excitement.

"I think that would be a great idea." Masato agreed.

"Great! Then we start tomorrow morning!" Naruto decided as he headed for the door. "Meet me at the training grounds!"

"I'll be there." Masato smiled.

"Thanks for the food Asuka! See you tomorrow Asuka's dad!" Naruto said as he bolted out the door.

"So that's Minato and Kushina's son hmm?" Masato smiled to himself.

"About that... why didn't you tell him that his father was the Fourth Hokage?" Asuka asked.

"Well after I escaped from Takashi I still desperately wanted to say goodbye to my friends so I managed to work my way to the Leaf Village. When I arrived the Third Hokage told me how everything happened and that he thought it best that Naruto not know who his father was until the right time."

"So when will the right time be?"

"I don't know, but I think it's best we honor him by respecting his wishes even though he's no longer here." Masato said.

"Yeah I guess your right. I wont say anything to him." Asuka agreed.

"Thank you for inviting into your home and feeding me but I think I'm going to be heading out now too."

Asuka's heart sank. "But I thought you were going to stay here and we could be a family."

"I would love to but as it stands right now this little place isn't big enough for the two of us. I promise you I'm not planning on leaving the village anytime soon."

"Alright. I guess I'll see you sometime tomorrow if Naruto doesn't keep you too busy."

"Sounds good." Masato rose, put his shoes on, and headed out the door.

About five minutes later there was another knock at the door. This time it was Neji.

"I just saw your dad leave and I thought I would come see how you were doing." Neji said.

"Neji were you spying on me?" Asuka prodded.

"What? No."

Asuka just raised an eyebrow and stared at him.

"Okay you caught me, but it was only because I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Asuka giggled. "I'm fine, I'm actually really connecting with my dad. Why don't you come in and I'll tell you all about it."

Neji came in and they sat in the living room as Asuka told him about everything that Masato said.

"I think tomorrow I'm going to look for a bit bigger of a place so that we can be a family."

"I think that sounds like a great idea."

Asuka let out a big yawn.

"I guess I'm tired from our mission I think I'm going to go to bed early." Asuka confessed letting out another yawn.

"Then I guess I'll go. I had a few more things to do anyway."

Asuka saw Neji to the door, he gave her a goodbye kiss and Asuka passed out in bed.

The next day as Asuka was walking around trying to find a home for her and her father she heard Hinata call out.

"Asuka! I found the perfect place!" She shouted as she caught up.

"How did you know I was looking for a new place?"

"Neji told me about it and so we got a head start looking yesterday."

"Oh you didn't have to do that Hinata."

"I wanted to plus I think you will really like the location."

"Alright then lead the way."

Asuka followed Hinata to a cute little two story home with a for sale sign in the yard.

"I used my byakugan to get an idea of the layout. Once you enter the house just to the right is the dinning room and kitchen, to the right is a nice size living room for how small it is and there are two bedrooms upstairs. The only thing that's a little odd is that the bathroom appears to be tucked under the stairs." Hinata described.

"You are right Hinata this is the perfect place."

"The part I think you will really like is that its not far from where Neji lives."

"That's right he's not far from here. Thank you for your help Hinata."

"You're welcome."

Asuka then contacted the people who owned it and bought it. She had enough in her savings to buy the place outright. Then she went to work over the next week with Hinata cleaning the place and getting it ready to move in. Finally, their work was complete and Asuka asked for everyone's help to move her stuff in. Asuka didn't have much so only took a short amount of time before she was settled in.

"I say we celebrate by going to BBQ's!" Choji suggested.

"I think that's a great idea." Shikamaru agreed.

Everyone else thought it was a good idea too so off they went. They talked as they ate.

"So how come you haven't told your dad about your new place yet?" Ino asked.

"I wanted it to be a surprise, so now that all my stuff is in there I can have him over and see what he thinks."

"What if he doesn't like it? What will you do then?" Shino asked very matter of factly.

"Don't go raining on her parade Shino. She worked hard for that place." Kiba defended.

"It's fine Kiba. I think I'm happy with the place whether my dad moves in or not. I had always wanted to by a place instead of renting so my dad showing up just helped that along." Asuka answered.

"What about when you get married?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah! Will Neji move in with you? Or will you move in with him?" Ino asked suggestively.

Asuka went red almost instantly. She looked over at Neji and was surprised he didn't become outraged at the idea.

"I guess that would depend on what he wanted. I would be more than willing to be integrated into the Hyuga home."

"You girls and talking about marriage, I don't see what the big deal is." Kiba said.

"It's a big deal because its romantic! You're marrying the man of your dreams! No wonder you haven't had a girlfriend you don't have an ounce of romance in you." Ino huffed.

Asuka smiled and ate as the conversation swirled around her. She got lost in her thoughts as she ate.

"Well why don't you guys just ask them what they think instead of being rude by talking about them in the third person." Sakura said just as Asuka joined reality again.

"Ask us what?" Asuka asked figuring that they meant her and Neji.

"Are you and Neji going to get married? I mean you guys are the perfect couple." Ino said.

"The way you guys are talking about makes it seem like you're expecting it to happen tomorrow." Neji stated.

"So does that mean you are getting married?" Ino assumed.

"That's not what I said." Neji replied irritated.

"I think it's possible maybe a year from now we'll consider it but before that I'm just happy learning about who he is as a person." Asuka stepped in.

"I agree." Neji said.

"Now will you please let it go for now?" Asuka asked.

"Fine, but I better get an invite." Ino slouched.

All the girls giggled at Ino's reaction. The conversation had drifted away from marriage and onto other things. Naruto bragged about his training with Master Jiraiya. Everyone reminisced about old times. Finally, everyone had eaten their fill and went their separate ways. Asuka let out a big sigh as she began her walk to her new home. She placed her hands behind her head as she walked and looked up at the starry sky. What a beautiful night. I bet mom would have loved living in the Leaf Village. Why didn't she tell me the reason dad left? Her thoughts continued along wondering what it would have been like if things had been different. Asuka was so lost in thought that she wasn't looking where she was going and ended slamming right into Master Jiraiya landing her on her ass.

"Are you okay?" Jiraiya asked extending a hand to help her up.

"I'm fine, sorry for bumping into you I guess I was just lost in thought." Asuka apologized accepting the hand up.

"I heard you met up with your old man, is that what has you so preoccupied?"

"I thinking more about my mom actually."

"I see, you know I knew your mom pretty well and I would say she would be proud of the young lady you've become." Jiraiya comforted.

"Thanks, that means a lot."

"Where were you headed?"

"Just home, it's my first night in my new place and I'm going to ask my dad if he'll move in now that I have enough room for him."

"Would you mind if I walk with you?"

"Sure, I would like the company." Asuka accepted.

They walked for a little while in silence before Asuka realized that Master Jiraiya had something on his mind.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Asuka asked.

"Am I that easy to read?"

"Probably not for most but I've gotten good at it."

"Well since you asked. You well know that the life of a shinobi is dangerous, especially with the Akatsuki trying hunt the tailed beasts. I've made it my mission to try and find the leader of the Akatsuki."

Asuka just listened.

Jiraiya continued. "If anything were to happen to me I know that Naruto would have many friends around him but for some reason he seems to connect with you like a sister. I would like to ask that no matter what happens to me that you would continue to be that for him and not allow him to push you away."

"I know what it's like to live without someone you care deeply for. I also know what its like to not have anyone to lean on. I promise you Master Jiraiya, if anything ever did happen to you I would be the sister Naruto would need." Asuka vowed.

"That's good to hear. Thank you."

Just as their conversation ended they arrived at Asuka's new home.

"I guess this is bye for now, I'll see you around Master Jiraiya." Asuka waved.

"Good night Asuka." Jiraiya responded.

Asuka closed the door behind her and took a deep breath in. This place felt lonelier than her other place. Probably because this is bigger than my other place. I really hope dad will move in now. I'm going to show him the place tomorrow, hopefully he's as much in love with it as I am.