Who Are You?

The streets of Konoha was comprised of pleasant faced people, busy with their business, and talking with each other as they went. As Naruto walked the leafy path, they hurried on without a word. He was more than used of it, he expected it. Stretching an arm high, he groaned inwardly over his sore muscles. He discharged himself from hospital earlier and he was making his way to his favourite shop for a much needed bowl of ramen.

'Naruto,' a happy voice sang his name.

By their usual meeting place, the short circle wall with the benches, Sakura stood to meet him.

His greeting smile was subdued. 'Oh, hi, Sakura.'

Sakura's eyes filled with concern. 'You can't be mended already.'

'Huh? I'm fine.' Naruto shrugged. '...are you worried?'

'Hey, Naruto!' Kiba, the boy from the Inuzuka clan, walked slowly to the pair, his four footed friend was palpably missing.

Naruto grinned happily at the sight of him. 'Kiba! You're out of hospital.'

Kiba gave a slow smirk. 'Yeah, it was only a few scratches.'

They all knew what an understatement that was. Coming along behind him was Shino, the Aburame, and behind his dark glasses and covered mouth it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Lagging behind the two was Hinata, and under her impressive Hyuuga clan jacket, she still appeared fragile and cautious.

Naruto greeted the two, and after receiving an unemotional reply from Shino and a timid nod from Hinata, he asked loudly, 'so Kiba, where's Akamaru?

'He's still in hospital…'

Naruto nodded, and went on, 'hey, that was some mission, wasn't it?'

Kiba's lip turned up and he growled, 'too bad it was a failure.'

Naruto shuffled uncomfortably, and beside him Sakura's down turned face stared at a nearby green bush.

'… yeah, well…'

Hinata's soft voice piped up, 'but you all made it back… without being seriously hurt.'

Kiba nodded stiffly, and Shino had not ceased his silent staring.

Sakura lifted her head and she grinned absurdly. 'That's right, Hinata-chan.'

Naruto postured with conceit. 'We really kicked their ass… eh, Kiba,' he stated noisily, '… it will be along time before those Sound ninjas mess with us again…'

Sly, Kiba smirked. 'Yeah, you bet.' He recalled his own fight with the ninja, just the fact he was able to walk away from it alive had increased his confidence tenfold. 'We pounded them hard.'

Shino's brow creased unexpectedly.

'You should have been there, Shino,' Naruto said.

Kiba shook his head. 'Idiot, shut-up.' He cast a sideways look at Shino, aware he was going to hear about his displeasure later, over being left out of the mission.

'Huh? Oh right, sure.' Naruto moved his feet restlessly.

Sarkura turned on him and snarled, 'Naruto, stop bragging!'

He frowned at her, before turning back to Kiba and Shino, and beside the two Hinata was almost forgotten. 'Anyways…what about that lightening fast technique I did, did you see that,' Naruto shifted his feet, and his fist swung up, 'and then POW - right in the head…' Kicking his foot straight out, he swivelled slightly and spun haphazardly. '... and Wham!'

Whummpf!!… skrch..Thud!

'Naruto, idiot!' growled Sakura.

A few feet away a man had been thrown to the cobbled stones, and he remained motionless in a dishevelled state. His wide brimmed hat remained lowered, concealing his face.

Naruto watched blankly, he didn't think the hit was that hard. 'Huh?!'

Sakura rushed to catch hold of the man's arm. 'I'm sorry, he can be stupid sometimes.'

The man rudely shook off her helping hand. 'Who… is the idiot imbecile who hit me?' One hand clutched a tall thick staff, and his other smoothed out the folds of his deep blue robe. 'How dare you, you little nuisance.' He straightened his back and adjusted his leather sack. He raised his head, and beneath his wide brimmed hat was a supple, flawless face.

In an instant Naruto's eyes flared with rage. 'What did you say?'

The man's hand rubbed his backside in an undignified manner, and he muttered loudly, 'stupid brat, you should watch what you are doing.'

Sakura's eyes widened, and not due to Naruto's abruptness. Waving her hand in front of her face, she pursed her lips together and breathed out slowly.

They could all smell it now.

Toppling at a precarious angle, the man unhurriedly righted himself.

Naruto shouted, 'you're just an old drunk!' He rushed closer to view the man, who was at least double his height, and the movement bounced his necklace over his collar. 'You watch where you're going. You're out of your mind with sake.'

The man took a slow, yet firm step forward, and his hat, so wide, covered the both of them. 'What did you say?' he shrieked.

Naruto nearly stepped back from the smell of spirits on the man's breath, yet being so close he noticed an odd marking under his right eye, an indigo tear drop.

'Who are you calling an old drunk?'

Naruto scowled fiercely. 'Drunk on sake, you better watch how you speak to me, I'm a ninja, you know.'

The man's soft blue eyes glowered and his cheeks paled with anger. 'You reckless little delinquent, you are the one in my way, useless and annoying bug.' His knuckles, clenching his staff, whitened, and the other hand pointed into Naruto's chest. 'So, you are a ninja, are you?'

'Yeah, I'm going to be the greatest ninja ever. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, remember it! One day I'm going to be Hokage, so you better watch how you speak to me.'

All of a sudden, as if the drink really had affected his actions, the man chuckled, and clutching the staff with both hands, he threw his head back and laughed without restraint.

Naruto reddened, and his finger now pointed into the man's chest. 'Hey! What's so funny, you drunk geezer?'

The man recovered, and his attractive face went rigid. Using two fingers, and in a delicate manner, he removed Naruto's finger from his chest, and pushed them aside. 'Little ninja brat, do not ever touch me again.' His laughter gone, and his voice had turned sinister.

Naruto's hands went to his hips and he was unwilling to back away. 'And don't you ever laugh at me again.'

The man teetered forward, nearly falling onto Naruto, and once more he balanced his torso. Roughly, he jostled Naruto aside and demanded pompously, 'little ninja brat, where did you steal that necklace from?'

Naruto frowned, and he waved his fist in the air. 'I didn't steal it, you moron. I won it in a bet!'

The man's lip curved up, and shaking his head, he muttered, 'what a surprise...' His arm shot out quickly and Naruto was needlessly shoved away. 'Get out of my way,' and he grumbled as he left them, '...annoying kid...'

Amidst open gazes of shock, they watched him walk away from them and down the street. Even as they watched, the man wobbled, and he clumsily bumped into an elderly lady, who was not moving at any great speed.

'Look at that.' Naruto glared after him. 'He's blind drunk on sake.'

Kiba shook his head. 'The people they let into Konoha these days, it's a real nuisance…'

'He sure was drunk,' said Sakura, 'no matter how you look at it, but truly Naruto, he wasn't old.' Indeed, she thought him to be quite handsome, if not incredibly impolite.

Hinata nodded and worry was in her eyes. 'I hope he'll be alright, walking around the streets.'

Naruto, still scowling, said, 'your right, Hinata, he's tanked up on booze, who knows what damage he will do.'

Shino's even-tone voice cut through his collar. 'Perhaps, the question we should ask, what is his business here in Konoha.'

- - - - - - - -

'Tsunade-sama.' Shizune lay a roll of bills on the fifth's desk.

The Hokage's eyes flew open momentarily. She stared at the small wad of money, and her heart raced erratically. Calming her body, she tapped the bundle. 'Well, well.' Her eyes shifted to Shizune who studied her closely. 'To think, he's actually found out where I am.'

Shizune creased her brow in puzzlement. 'It would not have been difficult, you are very well known.'

A smile emerged on Tsunade's face, and a faint chuckle moved her chest. 'I'll thank him for this later.' Taking the money, she threw it into her draw. 'You can go Shizune.'

'It's been along time, Tsunade-sama…'

She nodded firmly. 'mmm, it has.'

Despite the order, Shizune was reluctant to leave. 'Will you be happy to see him?'

Tsunade sighed deeply, and looked past her to the door. 'I can't say…' She remained silent.

Shizune's shoulders stiffened.

'And you?'

Shizune turned toward the door. 'You know how I feel about it.'

Under her breath, Tsunade said, 'although, I have missed him…'

Shizune left the room, and the fifth to her quiet reflections.

- - - - -

'Shizune.'

Outside the door, she spun awkwardly to face the smooth voice. 'Hayato-sama.' Her voice was steady, yet she blinked repeatedly at the sight of the tall man. He was still as handsome as ever, some things never changed, and once she took a breath, she realized that was doubly true.

'Glad to see you are still around.' His blue eyes flicked over her face and scanned the length of her body.

'It has been a long time,' she said shortly. Nothing had really changed, his light blonde hair, tied at his neck, trailed down his back, and his tear drop marking was presently dull.

'Don't scowl so, it is really not becoming.' He leaned heavily on his staff for support, whilst his hat was loosely held in his other hand. 'It has been a long time, hasn't it.' His smile was still charming. 'Surely you have gotten over that?'

Shizune's face reddened, and her eyes pierced his with wrath.

'You don't have to answer that.' His persuasive smile was wasted on her, indeed it only caused her more irritation. 'Is she in?'

She pressed her lips together, and snapped, 'yes, she's expecting you.'

'Is she?' He gave her a small smile and his eyes widened with genuine surprise.

She opened Tsunade's door, and he walked through unannounced. As she closed the door behind him, she heard his voice sing out with merry cheer.

'Mother.'