Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; Kishimoto does.
**********Chapter 2: Reunion*************
"Troublesome."
Shikamaru was planning on enjoying a nice, quiet, relaxing day off. Cloud-gazing. Doing nothing. 'But no, of course not. Ino has to drag me down to meet that blond knucklehead at the gate, because that pink-haired, scary woman had told another blond knucklehead about it. What I'd give to turn into a shadow.'
"You know you're looking forward to it just as much as she is, baka," said a voice behind him.
'Ah, the THIRD blonde knucklehead. Well, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.'
"You're just looking for a break too, Temari."
Shuriken deflected shuriken. Wrist deflected wrist. Face deflected foot. Dog deflected face.
The fourth training ground in Konoha was littered with weapons, insects, and piss. Two teams from the "Konoha 11" turned every spar into an all out brawl. Maito Gai smiled as the "flames of youth" seemed to be burning brighter than ever in his students. But he couldn't help but notice that things had become a little…too hot in the past minute. 'I guess when you get pissed on, anything goes,' thought the self-proclaimed Green Beast.
Looking at the time, he whistled to call for an end to the spar.
"I see the springtime of youth is more alive in you all than ever! I am terribly sorry for interrupting this youthful sparring match, but I was told to inform you that Jiraiya-sama and a certain comrade will return from his long training journey of youth very soon!"
Kiba couldn't help but cringe at every mention of the word "youthful," but smirked when he saw Hinata's reaction to the message. 'Maybe now she'll finally have the guts to say it. Or at least talk to the guy without fainting. Still, I have got to be there to see this. It's too good to pass up.'
Naruto wasn't the type to cry. He'd gotten over the cold, hateful glares from the villagers, the constant comments about his status as the Kyuubi container, and the utter loneliness and confusion from his childhood days long ago. 'But hell,' he figured, 'what's wrong with shedding a few tears when you're happy?'
Looking back, he would remember this moment for the rest of his life. Shortly after entering the gates, he had none other than all of the Konoha 11, along with Kakashi-sensei, Gai-sensei, Iruka-sensei, and Temari waiting to greet him upon his return.
It was so much to take in all at once. Everyone looked so different. Well, not everyone. Kakashi-sensei still only had about a few square inches of skin showing, and despite the unusual grin from behind his mask, he looked like he hadn't changed one bit. And Gai-sensei was…well, Gai-sensei.
Overwhelmed wasn't a word used to describe Konoha's number-one-most-unpredictable-knucklehead-ninja often. The same kid who used to paint the Hokage Monument and yell at the villagers at the top of his lungs about his future as the Hokage was now actually at the center of attention of his friends. Friends that he hadn't seen in years. Friends that had somewhat written him off as a loud, annoying, idiot kid.
Underneath the genuine grins of the welcoming crowd was the surprise.
Sakura couldn't help but gawk as her expectations were blown away. 'He's...he's taller than me now! And he hasn't shouted or jumped or anything! And he's crying! And…wait, he's crying?'
"Naruto?" she asked with more worry in her voice than she realized.
He looked at her right in the eyes, and she could see the swirl of emotions spilling out of his own. She ran right at him and locked him in a tight embrace.
Naruto could barely manage coherent thought at this point. Sakura was hugging him? When he tried that before, he ended up with more than a few bruises on his face, and never dared to try it again. Nope, coherent thought be damned. 'W-what?' was the only thought going through his head.
Seeing that the kid was beyond overwhelmed at this point, Jiraiya decided to give him a little space to think.
"Sorry to interrupt guys, but Naruto and I have to go report back to Tsunade-sama immediately. I'm sure you all will catch up later!" he said as he all but dragged Naruto up to a rooftop and towards the Hokage Tower.
'Damn,' thought Kiba, 'I was hoping for a bit more entertainment. Still, in this case, patience will be rewarded in spades.'
Only when the two neared the tower did Naruto seem to be out of his daze. He suddenly realized that Jiraiya was carrying him on his back, and promptly proceeded to try and get off, only to send the pair veering out of control and straight through the window of the Hokage's office, instead of the nearby terrace that Jiraiya had been aiming for.
Within seconds, a squad of ANBU had them pinned to the ground with kunai to their throats. Normally, Tsunade would have been utterly furious for such a blatant disruption and destruction of her office, but the scene was far too hilarious for her legendary temper to show. So instead, she gave a wide grin and a few chuckles as she ordered the ANBU to stand down.
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"And while you're at it, get me a replacement window."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
As the ANBU left the office, the Slug Princess reached into her drawer to retrieve a bottle of sake from her "hidden" stash.
"So," she remarked as she opened the bottle, "I see that the Leaf's number-one-most-unpredictable-knucklehead-ninja doesn't fail to disappoint. How was the trip?"
"Was he…crying?" Ino almost couldn't recall a time when Naruto had anything but a wide grin on his face.
"It seems that us all being here to greet him means more to him than many of us realize." Kakashi remarked.
Sakura was still staring off into the distance where Naruto had vanished with Jiraiya. She, too, was a bit overwhelmed by Naruto's sudden change.
Kakashi had orders, though. "Sakura, Tsunade-sama wanted you and me to report to her with Naruto when he arrived. We should get going."
She waited a few moments before regaining her composure. "H-hai."
By the time that the rest of Team 7 had entered the Hokage's Office, Naruto was much more composed and lucid. He turned back to smile at Sakura and his teacher, who returned the gesture just as heartily.
"As much as I hate to break up reunions," the Hokage interrupted, "I need to get a grasp of how you've grown in the past few years, Naruto. Kakashi, you decide the method. Shizune and I will observe."
The silver-haired jounin turned to his students, without preamble. "Meet me at the old training ground in two minutes. You know where."
Kakashi couldn't help but notice the signature grin that Konoha's Most Unpredictable Knucklehead Ninja was so famous for. 'This ought to be interesting…'
As the newly-reunited Team 7 sped towards the training ground, Jiraiya let out a laugh. "You didn't bother telling him that the rest of his classmates are going to watch as well?"
"I've learned over the years that surprises make life more interesting."
"Heh, indeed…when they don't get you killed."
The Legenday Sucker could only try to stifle the bitter memories that followed that retort.
Today was just not his day. Gaara had entertained ambassadors from the Moon Country, completed an unusually large stack of paperwork, reprimanded a shinobi who had made a serious mistake on a mission that had nearly cost the life of one of his comrades, and reprimanded a shinobi whose serious mistake had cost the life of a comrade—on top of delivering his condolences to the family of said shinobi.
His brother had actually set him up on a date that night with Matsuri, the same girl he had rescued from missing-nin from a minor shinobi village nearly three years prior, and whom he had grown close to over the years. He'd actually been looking forward to that, as he gazed out of the windows in his office. He was so deep in his musings that he almost didn't notice a distinct white bird circling over the village.
'There are no birds like that here.'
Strapping his sand gourd to his back, he set out to the roof.
Today was really not his day.
A/N: So here's chapter two. I honestly didn't think there'd be any interest in this, or that I would continue it, but hell, why not. If you guys want more, please let me know. I'll take any constructive criticism and comments I can get. Let me know what you think. A lot of things about this story are subject to change, so any ideas and whatnot you have could end of having a significant impact on this story.
Please, please review. As much as I like writing, seeing that people care better motivation than anything.