Hello everybody! Here is the new chapter finally. It took time and it isn't very big (I had a choice – either to write a big chapter and wait another week to finish it or to publish it now. I chose the last variant).

I wanna say my biggest thanks to my beta-reader Phillipa Engles, who helps me a lot (btw, KyuubiMan, I told her your thanks :) )

Thank you, all the reviewers, for your reviews and thoughts about the story, I hope, I won't disappoint you, write more reviews:)

I don't think there will be much pairing except for Arashi's and Umi's in flashbacks. So much is going to happen; I don't think they will have time to for it.

Zafiro Okami, Iruka is ok, really! Just on some meeting with other teachers, it's really that way!

About thoughts who divides the missions – well, hokage or not, this scene – Arashi teaching Naruto about hokage's job - just came into my mind, I couldn't resist…

This chapter will give some answers about Umi's identity. Oh, I'm stopping spoilering, just read it and review!

Till the next time!

Chapter 3. Present and Past.

Arashi didn't even hear Naruto going out of the room. A wave of memories caught him with full force. Why…till this moment he hadn't felt that much pain, but what was going on with him now? Just seeing Naruto with this photo awoke something that was sleeping inside his heart.

"Umi," he whispered. "I remember…every moment…our first meeting…like it was yesterday."

A weak smile appeared on his tired face. It looked like only these memories kept him alive.

FLASHBACK

"That Sarutobi," Arashi sighed running at full speed. "His goal is to kill me, I'm pretty sure!"

He had just returned from a hard mission and the Hokage had just told him.

"There are talks being held between hidden mist and hidden leaf. Arashi, that's very important. If the Hokage goes to it, it will be a nice move. I won't be in time but your body flicker is a very nice trick. We need this peace agreement. Hidden mist can be a powerful ally in these difficult times."

"But…"Arashi tried to interrupt him. "These talks are serious. As for me… I don't think I'm ready. I have only been the Hokage for several months, Sarutobi-san."

"Arashi," the elder man smiled. "Calm down. I have trust in you. You would never be given the Hokage title if you weren't prepared for this."

"So that's ended like this," Arashi sighed again. "I swear I'll take a vacation after my return for a month and no one could make me do this again."

He looked at his watch.

"Anyway, I'm almost in time. I'll just take a boat now and everything will be ok."

He moved to the shore not looking anywhere except the boat and suddenly bumped into something alive.

"Ouch!" a masked shinobi shouted and jumped in surprise.

Arashi stopped examining him. The Hidden mist's forehead protector was on his head. Dark cloth covered almost all his face except for the eyes – blue like Arashi's own. As for the clothes – heavy armor was all over his body. "Looks like this boy is afraid of being hurt," Arashi thought.

"Sorry," Yondaime apologized quickly and moved to the boat master.

"I wanna hire a boat," he began.

"No, it's my boat," the masked shinobi stepped ahead. "I came earlier."

"Sorry," Arashi smiled. "But I have no time for all these disputes. The boat is mine."

"Maybe you wanna say you are stronger, boy?" the hidden mist shinobi laughed. "So strong that you are able to take this boat from me?"

"Just try me," Arashi smiled wider.

"Stop it, please!" boat master shouted and ran away.

The masked shinobi hummed.

"What a brave person. But he made the right choice, you know!" he said.

Arashi shrugged and moved closer to the boat. His opponent did the same.

"Look," Yondaime sighed. "There is no need to start a fight for this boat. You are going to the hidden mist village, aren't you? Me too, I have talks there. So let's go together and it's the end of the problem."

"What if I say 'no'?" the masked shinobi turned to him.

Arashi could swear he felt a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Then I'll take it a more painful way," Arashi answered.

"What rank are you?" his opponent asked suddenly. "Are you chuunin?"

Arashi growled internally. This…little…boy he offended the Hokage!

"Calm down," he thought. "Your enemy shouldn't know his opponent's real strength. It's his weakness. He underestimated you. Just wait till their village and he'll be very surprised."

He smiled.

"Chuunin, jounin, why should you care? Are you afraid of me?"

"In your dreams," the masked shinobi took a seat in the front part of the boat. Arashi took the back seat.

The hidden mist shinobi made some quick moves, gathered chakra, and the boat began to move itself.

"He makes the water push it," Arashi understood. "Nice trick. He is powerful. I wonder what his rank is. Jounin is the most likely choice."

"What are you staring at?" his companion said in an annoyed tone. "Do you have problems, boy?"

"What's wrong with him?" Arashi wondered and then realization struck him.

"He's afraid of me. He doesn't know what to expect from me so he just acts cheeky."

"Funny," he smiled to himself. "This shinobi is a funny boy."

"No," he finally answered aloud. "Just thinking about the talks, that's all."

"Your first talks, yeah?" hidden mist shinobi's voice was full of understanding.

Arashi was surprised. Why all of a sudden? But it felt better than arguing so he answered simply.

"Actually no, but it will be difficult…I'm sure. Hidden mist…and hidden leaf…our villages have been enemies for a long time after all…"

"But it can change now," masked shinobi whispered. "Are you glad?"

"Yes, why not," Arashi shrugged. "We don't need enemies. We are a peaceful village."

The Hidden mist shinobi laughed.

"It's unexpected to hear such words form hidden leaf shinobi. You are so overconfident…"

"You know," Arashi looked at him attentively. "We are not as different as you think. We are struggling to be the best ones in our villages, to accomplish missions no matter what rank they are. We both want our villages to prosper. Am I right?"

"Yeah," the hidden mist shinobi lowered his head. All his cheekiness disappeared somewhere. "I see you have prepared for the talks well." He added and looked at Arashi attentively like he wanted to ask something. But he never had a chance for it. A wave rose in front of them revealing a huge head of a water monster.

Arashi didn't have time to think. He just acted the way Sarutobi taught him.

"Katon, Karyuu Endan!" he shouted performing the flaming dragon jutsu.

"Fool!" the hidden mist shinobi shouted eyeing the monster roaring in pain. "You could burn the boat!"

"It's better than being dead, don't you think so?" Arashi shouted back.

"You can do this an easier way," the mist shinobi answered pulling out two kunais.

Arashi laughed.

"Two small knives to kill a monster! You are braver than I thought!"

His companion just ignored him.

"Raizou ikazuchi wo utte! (lightning strike)" he shouted and two huge lightning bolts struck the monster and he fell dead.

"An easier way?" Arashi hummed. "That's nice."

"Impressed, blondy?" the masked shinobi turned to him putting his kunais in place.

"Interesting technique," Arashi nodded. "He is talented," he added to himself.

"Yours too," the hidden mist shinobi admitted. "So you are jounin level. I was mistaken."

Arashi didn't answer him. He just sat down in the boat and they continued they trip.

A few minutes later a shore appeared in front of then and Arashi saw a gray-haired man running towards the boat.

"I'm so glad, Umi-sama!" he shouted. "You are just in time, midzukage-sama! We are awaiting a special guest from Konoha and your presence is really…" he trailed off, finally noticing Arashi's forehead protector.

The latter looked like he hadn't noticed him. Arashi felt his attention moving away from him in shock of those words.

"Midzukage?" he turned back to his companion to see him taking off his mask and revealing the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life. Raven hair perfectly cascaded down her spine and her lips were…he couldn't find words to describe them. At this moment he felt his heart was beating like it was going to explode.

"A..ah," was the only words he could manage before blushing completely.

The hidden mist shinobi in front of him enjoyed the scene a lot. Seconds passed and Arashi coping with his feelings scratched his head and laughed like an idiot.

"Midzukage, eh? That's unexpected…"

"Surprised?" she smiled and he felt he was blushing even more.

"Ye..yeah," he breathed out. "Well…speaking about kages…I'm a kage myself," and continued laughing and scratching his head.

"Nani!" now her facial expression was priceless.

Arashi made an internal shout of victory while eyeing her and finally became his old self.

"I'm Arashi, Yondaime Hokage from Konoha," he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you."

Her blush was her only answer to him.

Naruto ran down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. All he wanted now was to see and be assured that Yondaime was alright after yesterday's talk. Delicious smells struck his nostrils once again and Naruto smiled and entered the kitchen exclaiming.

"Ohayou!"

"Ohayou, Naruto!" Arashi turned around in familiar home suit – trousers and sweatshirt – and put the plate on the table.

"Here is your breakfast."

Naruto sat down and examined the content of the plate.

"Vegetables!" he pinched his nose.

"Yes, vegetables," Yondaime sat down next to him with his own plate. "Is there a problem?"

"Well, I'm not hungry," Naruto answered but his stomach growled betraying him.

Arashi's brows went higher in surprise. This was apparently something new.

"I'd better be going," Naruto jumped and headed for the door.

A flash flew past him and Yondaime blocked the exit.

"Going somewhere, Uzumaki Naruto?" he asked with a voice full of menace.

"I've…just…remembered about something…really important," Naruto began to bubble.

Arashi rolled his eyes.

"Not before you eat your breakfast," he told him in a stern tone.

Naruto sighed. It looked like an impossible task to get out of here.

"I hate vegetables," he finally revealed the truth.

Arashi snorted.

"You had to say it first and not think up thousands of excuses," he said.

"So…you won't make me eat it!" Naruto felt relieved.

"Actually, I'll make you anyway," Arashi's smile became wider.

"Nani!" Naruto shouted. "It's not fair, Blondaime!"

"You won't go anywhere before you eat your breakfast," Yondaime warned becoming serious. "Naruto, vegetables are health-giving for shinobi. You won't grow up if you eat just ramen every day."

"Umi would kill me if she saw I treat you to ramen every day," he added to himself.

Naruto made really sad eyes.

"Please," he asked. "Not vegetables."

"Just eat a bit," Arashi assured him "You'll like it!"

Naruto sighed. He really didn't want to disappoint the host of the house especially after what happened yesterday, but vegetables…

"I can survive it. One time and he will never make me do it again," he promised to himself and sat at the table, took his plate, and finally desperately tookcould one bite.

"Um?" he didn't understand at first moment. How in the world could vegetables taste so wonderful? He took another bite to check for sure. Yes, it was delicious.

"What have you done to them?" he asked. "They aren't as awful as I thought!"

"I just cooked them, baka," Arashi smiled.

First Naruto's reaction was to shout.

"I'm not a baka!" but then he looked at Yondaime and realized something. 'Baka' wasn't a curse on his lips. In his tone…it was something filled with concern…and joy.

"I'm starting to like him calling me 'baka'," Naruto though shocked. "I'm going crazy."

To make himself forget these thoughts he just took another mouthful of vegetables.

"I have to go," Yondaime stood up and washed the plates. "I have some meetings appointed and I'd better not to be late. See you!" and in a moment he flashed out of the kitchen.

"I wish I could move with such speed," Naruto sighed looking at the closed door. "I would never be late then."