The two teams stood outside the gates, watching the two anbu remove the woman's shackles. Naruto stared at her, still in a daze from her forgiveness. She was mysterious to him. She had a tongue of viper but she could allow her voice to be soft and kind; it warmed his veins and automatically made him feel guilty for yelling at her. The ginger had already apologized the boy once more before they left the building.

She walked up the group, an old, leather bag at her hip and a sheath for two weapons on her back. In the natural light, her scars seemed more prominent. She had only three scars on her face; the one across her eyes, one down the right side of her face, and another at the base of her chin. Her arms and hands were decorated with white lines and circles.

Asuma scratched his arm, "Well, we already told you our names, so you might as well and spit out yours."

Her eyes scanned the group as she thought up a snide remark, but it fell from her lips when she opened her lips. She started to walk past them, "Let 'Yamato' tell you who I am. He's the only one here who knew I existed."

Yamato didn't know whether to glare at the old shinobi or shrink back into a hole as everyone stared at him. Kakashi questioned cautiously, "You knew her before?"

He nodded slowly, trying to find a way to say this. "Her name is Naara. I use to guard her when I was younger."

Ino huffed, "By her attitude I guess she was bitch to work with." Yamato just shrugged and caught up with Naara before she got too far ahead. He stepped closer to her, almost stepping on her heels, and whispered harshly, "Quite acting like such a brat."

She retorted, "You're just mad I put you on the spot." A ghost of a smile graced her lips but it stayed in a thin line. "To be honest, I forgot my name for a moment there." He starred at her with disbelief but she simply shrugged, "Since you and that kid left, I was only known as 'The Demon'."

He looked away guiltily but said, "Perhaps it's just your age getting to you?" A soft chuckled caused him to smile.

The group soon surrounded them and Yamato slowed his pace to be a normal distance away from her. Naruto stretched his arms up and rested them behind his head, "So, Naara. Where are we going to find the other two uh, people?"

Her gaze moved across the trees and the sky, soaking up the color. She spoke, "I don't know."

Ino and Naruto screamed, "What do you mean, 'You don't know'?!"

Naara stopped in her tracks and turned on a dime. She puffed out her chest and stretched out her height to seem bigger. She looked between the two blondes and hissed, "It is best to keep your tone semi pleasant. I am not use to such loud, annoying noises. So yelling would only get you thrown into a tree. Two," She held up two fingers, "I have been in hole in the ground, literally, for..." She paused and looked over to Yamato.

He sighed, "twenty-three"

Her head swiveled back over to them, "Twenty-three years. Those two may be in the same spot, but I highly doubt that. They may have moved or died. So shut your mouths before I sew them together."

Yamato added, "She will too."

"So, allow me a day for the little chakra I have to build up and become stronger to use a summon." She huffed, striding back over to the front.

Naruto and Ino stood stock white. Shikamaru remarked, "She does have valid points."

Kakashi, who seemed unfazed, "I wouldn't mind if she sewed up Naruto's mouth. Might make him more enjoyable to be around."

Naruto snapped back to his old self, glaring at his sensei, "Oh, ha-ha Kaka-Sensei! So funny I forgot to laugh!"

Sai nodded in agreement, "It would be an improvement." Naruto yelled in outrage and jumped at his enemy.

Shikamaru groaned, "We aren't even a mile away from the village. At this rate, it will take months. How troublesome." Both of the shinobi were rewarded with a punch to the skull and a lecture that made their ears sting.

The team stopped at a hot spring Inn for the night. The teens seemed very enthusiastic about the special treat and ran straight into the springs after dumping their items in one of the two rooms. Naara, lagged behind the other team, still outside of the Inn. Kakashi stopped next to her, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He stood in silence with her, watching the afternoon sky set.

Her voice was small, quite even for his trained ears, "I have missed the sky. I have forgotten the many colors that it could hold."

With that, she walked into the building, her long, flowing hair following behind. Kakashi bowed his head as he watched her enter. She was mysterious and extremely sarcastic, yet she saw the world in a light that no one else did. It reminded him of somebody, but he couldn't remember who. With a shrug, he entered the Inn and left to change for the spring.

Meanwhile, Ino and Sakura slipped into the springs, sighing in relief as the hot water began to relax their muscles. With smiles on their faces, they simply began to soak. Yet, their quiet bath was interrupted when they heard the sloshing of the water. They looked up from their relaxed state and saw Naara descending into the water with utter care.

It seemed like hours before she sank into the steaming spring, but the temperature of the water was new to the old, scarred body. The memory of this such luxury match with the feeling she had now; her strife and depression seemed to melt into the water. Although she knew her skin would be a bright red when she would exit, she didn't feel a bit regretful because of it.

Naara analyzed the two young women in front of her, her eyes set in a lazy frown. Naara's eyes cast downward onto the water, watching as it swirled in lazy circles. The girls glanced at each other, whispering who should talk to her first. The convict looked up briefly, but didn't have the energy to deal with them.

Sakura finally managed to get Ino to speak first. With a disgruntled sigh, Ino asked, "So...where did you get that necklace?"

Naara glanced down to her necklace. It was a gold chain with a green crystal, about the size of a fingernail, resting nicely on her chest. Her fingers caressed it gently, "Given to me since birth."

Ino gazed at it intently, "May I wear it?"

Sakura pressed her palm to her face and Naara's face fell. "I am afraid, young one, that once my necklace finds the holder of the beast, it never detaches until I have died." The blonde sagged her shoulders, turning her face away in embarrassment. Naara rose from the water, gracefully exiting the spring and into the building.

Sakura slapped Ino upside her head, "The hell were you doing!?"

"Hey! I just wanted the air to be less awkward!"

The group sat at the table as food was being placed onto the table. Naruto drooled as the food steamed. He licked his lips, "Where's Naara!? I want to eat!"

Sakura shrugged, "I dunno. We haven't seen her since she left the hot spring."

Asuma spoke, "Well, I'm not waiting for her, so we might as well..." His jaw dropped a few inches as the said shinobi strode into the room. The others turned around.

Naara no longer had floor length hair. The locks were cut perfectly up to her shoulders and were pulled back into an interact braid. Sunglasses donned her pale face, siting gently on the bridge of her nose. A thick, black headband wrapped around her forehead, only a stray hair over it. She bowed, "Forgive me for my lateness."

She sat between Shikamaru and Naruto, her limbs shakily trying to find the right position. Ino asked in wonder, "Why the hair style and the dorkish sunglasses?"

The criminal glanced over her lenses, lacing her fingers together. "My air was too unruly. Not only was I tripping over it, but it would be in the way of any battles I might be put in the position in. As for the glasses, the sun has been bothering me too much. My eyes are not use to this bright of setting all the time. This is the best option available."

There wasn't any questions for the answers were explained perfectly. So, food began to be shoved on their plates and they were finally able to dine. Mid-way though the meal, and Naruto noticed how Naara wasn't even half way done with her meal. She took small bites while chewing her food slowly and efficiently.

The day drew to a close and the shinobi fled to their rooms. Sakura took out a pill, handing it to Naara. "I will give you one more in the morning. So don't think about leaving during the night." She swallowed it without a second thought and turned right to her bed roll. The two kounichi shrugged and laid down as well, keeping their eye to their escort. Unbeknownst to them, Naara had fallen asleep as soon as her head touched the floor.