Chapter 32: Back Home
It's been two years since the alleged Alliance attack has been averted. The Grave ninjas are living in Konoha, though, the Grave still thinks them dead. Two years have passed and many a thing has changed. But to one spiky haired blond, no matter what changes, it'll always be home.
Minutes after returning home Naruto found himself in front of Tsunade's desk with Jiraiya giving their report. Naruto's control was back to normal and they had managed to confirm most of the information, but found nothing new.
"Well, confirmation of news is just as important as getting new information," Tsunade said.
"Can I go see my friends now?" Naruto asked.
"No you can't go see Sakura yet," Tsunade said with a smile.
Naruto instantly went into his pouting pose and grumbled something under his breath.
"What else do you need Tsunade?" Jiraiya said trying to cover up exactly what Naruto was saying.
"Just letting you know that I'm stepping down soon. The elders know and are considering who to choose for the next Hokage," Tsunade said.
"Really? Are they gunna pick me?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Tsunade nodded at Jiraiya, who got the message and left. Once he was gone Tsunade turned to Naruto, "I have no word in the matter of who they chose. All I can do is suggest names, the elders won't let me have a hand in choosing," Tsunade said.
"What? But the other Hokages got to chose their successors," Naruto said.
"They think my decision could be weighed more by personal feeling over what's best for the village," Tsunade said.
"So what does this really mean?" Naruto asked.
"Well, you've been mentioned as a possibility. But I can't say how good you're chances are," Tsunade said.
"When are you stepping down?" Naruto asked.
"I want to see this thing with the Alliance to an end, but if it draws out too far then I won't be able to," Tsunade said.
Naruto nodded.
x-X-x
Jiraiya was walking through the streets heading home. He was going to dump off his stuff then head to the hot springs. But a yell behind him halted all those plans.
"Jiraiya-sama! You're back!" a woman yelled.
Jiraiya turned slowly smiling, 'he he, I am irresistible' he thought. But then he was put face to face with Sakura and all his thoughts were instantly distinguished. She wasn't happy to see him, she was happy because if he was back that meant Naruto was back too.
"Where's Naruto?" Sakura asked looking around, proving Jiraiya's thoughts correct.
"Tsunade's office. We just got back form giving our reports and she wanted a private word with him," Jiraiya said.
"Tsunade-sensei's office. Okay thanks," Sakura said running off towards Hokage tower.
Sakura turned a corner to see Naruto leaving the tower. Upon seeing him she sped up and glomped him with enough force he fell to the floor. "Naruto!" she yelled as she grabbed him.
"Ahh! Sakura!" was all Naruto managed to get out before he hit the ground.
"I missed you! How was the training? Did the errands go well?" Sakura asked.
Naruto got to his feet with Sakura's help, "Uh… the training was good and…" he said, 'damn, I forgot to ask if I could talk about the real mission with Sakura.'
"And what? Are you hiding something?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about it," Naruto said.
"Why what kind of errands were they?" Sakura asked.
"Uh…I don't know if I'm allowed to tell anyone," Naruto said.
"Naruto come on, Tsunade-sensei wouldn't want you to be that tight lipped about it," Sakura said.
"I don't know…" Naruto said and Sakura sighed and shook her head.
"Jiraiya-sama said she wanted to talk to you privately, what was that about?" Sakura asked as they began walking to Naruto's apartment.
"Oh, she said she's going to retire soon," Naruto said.
"Yeah, she told me about that too, she hopes to resolve the Alliance first though, she doesn't want to put that on anyone else," Sakura said.
"Yeah, she told me that too," Naruto said nodding.
"But why talk about it privately?" Sakura asked.
"It wasn't privately, Jiraiya just didn't need to say for it. She told me I was mentioned for one of the possibilities," Naruto said.
"Oh, you too?" Sakura asked with a slight grin.
"Huh? Who else is in the running?" Naruto asked.
"Sasuke, Neji, and Lee are the ones I know about," Sakura said.
Naruto grinned, "I wonder who'll get it," he said looking at the sky.
"It's not just you four, you're just the youngest. There's a few others, Tsunade just never told me who," Sakura said.
"So, did Sasuke ever make jounin?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, Sasuke, Lee, Shikamaru, Shino and me are jounin now too," Sakura said.
"Really? You made jounin? Great job," Naruto said grabbing Sakura in one arm and kissing her cheek.
"I'm just a tokubetsu jounin. In medics, obviously," Sakura said.
"Hey, jounin is still a jounin. I'm still stuck as a chuunin," Naruto said.
"Yeah, but you shouldn't let that get you down. Gaara went straight from genin to Kazekage, so when you're Hokage it won't matter what you're coming from," Sakura said.
"Hey Naruto, long time no see," a female voice said from behind Naruto.
He and Sakura spun around to see Temari standing there. She looked almost identical to two years ago, there was only one difference. It took Naruto a second to notice it.
"Hey Temari. Hey, why do you have a Leaf forehead protector?" he asked finding the one difference.
"Huh?" Temari said looking down at her forehead protector, "Don't you know?" Temari asked.
"He had no communication, I haven't told him everything yet," Sakura said shrugging.
"It's part of a peacement plan between the five Kages. Four ninja from each village are removed and sent one to each of the others. They stay for four years, three left, and return home of they choose," Temari said.
"And Gaara sent you?" Naruto asked.
"It was kinda a favor," Temari said with a grin.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "I'll tell you later," Sakura told him.
"So what was the mission you were on?" Temari asked.
"I uh, don't know if I'm allowed to say anything," Naruto said.
"Sakura, what mission was he on?" Temari asked wit ha grin.
"No idea. He said he can't say," Sakura said slightly annoyed.
"Wow, work before love, that'll keep you two together," Temari said sarcastically.
"I can't afford the wrong ears hearing it," Naruto said looking around.
"Ah, safety, that's a good cover. Claiming safety to keep safety," Temari said rolling her eyes.
Naruto looked at the ground, he had no idea what to say to that. 'is Temari right?' he thought.
"Hey Naruto relax, I'm only kidding," Temari said before waving and walking away.
After a moment Naruto and Sakura continued walking. Then a thought hit Naruto, "What kind of favor was Gaara doing?" Naruto asked.
"Oh, did you know about Temari and Shikamaru?" Sakura asked.
"No, but I get what you're saying. Who else came here?" Naruto asked.
"No idea. Not anyone that we knew," Sakura said.
"Anyone we know leave?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, Hinata," Sakura said smiling.
"What? Why Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"Gaara, he uh…" Sakura said.
"Same as Temari?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Sakura said wit ha laugh.
"That's good, I hope they're happy and doing good," Naruto said.
"No idea, I haven't heard anything about it since the switch, but Tsunade-sensei knows," Sakura said.
They were just outside Naruto's apartment door when a voice called to them from the other side of the street, "Hey Naruto! Sakura!"
They turned to see Kiba and Akamaru running towards them. "Hey Kiba, what's up?" Naruto asked.
"Tsunade-sama wants to see you. She said it's real important," Kiba said.
"What? I was just there!" Naruto wined.
"It's okay, I'll see you when you get done," Sakura said.
"She wants to see both of you," Kiba said.
"What did I do?" Sakura asked.
Kiba just shrugged and left. Naruto opened his door and dropped his stuff off then proceeded to accompany Sakura back to Hokage Tower, where they had just been. As they walked they ran into the others and Sakura filled Naruto in more of what happened over the two years. The Grave ninja had made their way into main stream society in a sense. They were getting missions, though not really major ones, and had made several friends already.
When the two entered Tsunade's office they saw three people already there. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and some man in animal skin and a bare chest. Naruto's eyes were stuck on the man, while Sakura was looking at Tsunade, apparently she had seen this man before.
"Is something wrong with Nomad-sama?" Sakura asked.
"Please, just call me Nomad," the man in animal skin said.
Naruto's eyes shot open, "Nomad! Like from the Twelve Terrors! One of the first shinobi!" Naruto yelled pointing at Nomad.
"Yeah, we've already been through this," Tsunade said.
"But," Naruto turned to Jiraiya, "I thought the Alliance were bringing them back, does this mean they did?" Naruto asked.
"Yes it does," Jiraiya said.
"Then he's our enemy!" Naruto yelled pointing at Nomad again.
"No, he's not. The Alliance thought they were villains, but they're not. They were only feared because no one else could do jutsus. He's on our side. All twelve are," Tsunade said.
Naruto lowered his hand but kept his eyes on Nomad. Something was going on, Nomad may not be the cause, but he was as good as any to watch.
"You're here because Nomad is leaving tomorrow to meet up with the other twelve. They were told that if they find a suitable village to bring a representative of that village to meet the other eleven. So we need someone to send," Tsunade said.
"Why is Jiraiya-sama here then, or me even?" Sakura asked.
Naruto looked at her confused but Tsunade seemed to understand, "I was talking to Jiraiya when Nomad arrived. And Nomad seems to know you rather well, who he takes is his decision," Tsunade said.
"By chance is this the boy you told me of? The one who had Kyuubi?" Nomad asked looking Naruto over.
"You can't see it with your eyes. None of the Hyuuga's can," Jiraiya said.
"What about the Hyuuga's? See what?" Naruto asked.
"Nomad is the first with byakugan," Tsunade said.
"WHAT? But you're eyes aren't white!" Naruto said.
"I conceal them. I had to back when I was first alive," Nomad said.
"But what are you looking for?" Naruto asked.
"I'll take him. I wonder if Sage can see it," Nomad said turning to Tsunade.
"STOP IGNORING ME!" Naruto yelled.
Nomad's head snapped to look at Naruto, he leaned over slightly to be eye to eye with him, "something's there," Nomad poked Naruto's stomach, "and we need to know what it is," Nomad said.
"It's where Kyuubi was, but he's dead now," Naruto said.
"If we're lucky," Nomad said walking to the door, "I'll meet you at the gates at sunrise. If you're not there, I'll come get you, and take you as you will be at that time, sleeping or awake," he said and left.
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Naruto asked looking at the other three in the room.
x-X-x
AN: it's been two years, and just to make it easier on your minds, I'll give you the ages of everyone. Gaara is 18. Kankurou and the rookie nine are 19. Gai's team, Temari, and the Grave ninjas are 20. Konohamaru and his team are 14, the Cloud ninjas are 15. and the Twelve Terrors are in their late twenties. That is, their bodies are, their minds are from when they died, so they can still do all they could at death.