A/N: I just want to say thanks for checking out the story I would just like to say that I will consider any ideas that you might have for this story, but I would also like to stress this, this is my story and it will go the way I want it to
Disclaimer: I still do not own Naruto in anyway despite my best puppy dog face
Chapter 2
Ever since Naruto had been transferred into his class almost 10 years ago (A/N this is really just a guess that's when I have the Rookie 9 starting the ninja academy at tender age of 9. P.S. they are about 18 or 19 in this story) Umino Iruka had the task of hunting down the hyperactive blonde knucklehead. As such today was no different he had been summoned by the Hokage about a half a hour ago, he was heading for what he knew to be one Naruto's favorite spots in the whole village, the Hokage monument. It came as no surprise to Iruka that Naruto was sitting atop the Yondaime's head; no what did surprise him was what he said upon his arrival.
"Finally it took you long enough Iruka-sensei didn't you always tell me 'It's impolite to keep someone who's expecting you waiting'" stated Naruto all the while grinning very fox-like.
"Naruto don't you start chastising me I also told you to treat the Hokage with respect and to follow orders both of which you are constantly not doing." Yelled an irked Iruka
"Yeah but that's only because it's so much fun to see the old lady pissed off." Replied Naruto still with a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Well I think you've had enough fun for one day why don't we go back and see the Hokage so she doesn't kill you" chided Iruka
"Sorry Iruka-sensei no can do. I have something that requires my attention for the rest of the day, however I was expecting Baa-chan to send you after me and would like to catch up with you at Ichiraku's tonight say around 7?" asked Naruto in a tone that left little room for argument.
"Well I guess if you're gonna be stubborn about it 7 is fine, but I expect to here all about your trip and you need to tell me just what was so important that you had to blow off all of your duties today." Iruka stated firmly before allowing a smile to cross his face.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say Iruka-sensei. So I'll see you at 7, ja ne" replied Naruto before an audile pop was heard and the Naruto clone disappeared leaving a speechless Iruka, who couldn't believe that it wasn't the real Naruto that he was speaking to.
"Well there's never a dull moment with you around, is there Naruto?" asked Iruka to no one but himself.
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It was about 5 in the afternoon and the sun would be setting soon in Konohagakure. Sitting in front of the memorial stone
Naruto began speaking in a solemn tone of voice. "You know I am sorry that this is the first time that I'm visiting been gone and all." As he began his signature scratching the back of his head
"You should know that I've missed you so much that it becomes a challenge some days just to continue living." He said before sighing deeply then continuing "I know that's not what you would want but it's just so hard you know?"
"Hehe what am I thinking of course you know the kind of pain I'm going through your dead after all" He said sheepishly
"I really wish I could see you just one last time if only just so I could apologize for not being strong enough to protect you." He said in an uncharacteristically grim tone
"I know… I know you don't blame me for what happened to you, but that doesn't mean that I can't blame myself for it. DAMMIT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!" he said screaming as he finished
He stood up and looked to the sky before screaming "WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO IT? I WOULD HAVE DIED, BUT… BUT AT LEAST YOU… YOU WOULD HAVE LIVED… YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE KIND OF LIFE THAT I COULD NEVER GIVE YOU" crying harder than the boy who knew nothing but pain until his thirteenth birthday. "I'm sure… I'm sure that you would be able to continue living your life…" trailing off just allowing the tears to flow down his face.
Steeling himself Naruto looked at the sky and judging by how dark it was realized that it was about 8 making sure that his emotions were under control before leaving to meet Iruka.
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Iruka was livid at this point he had been waiting for the better part of an hour for his former student he was just thinking of leaving when a familiar voice shook him out of his head.
"So are you going to order or just continue taking up two seats?" Ayame said with a smile
"Huh oh sorry 'bout that I don't think I'll be here much longer though." He replied
"Got stood up on a date or something?" teased Ayame "Thou a word of advice next time you go out on a date you might want to change out of your ninja uniform. Who knows if you do that someone might think that you're actually cute?" this comment forcing a blush to tint the chuunin's scarred cheeks
"Stop teasing the customers Ayame; especially those who bring a certain blonde with a black hole for a stomach." Yelled Teuchi without any real seriousness in his voice
"Don't worry about it. I've been coming here long enough to realize that Ayame-chan's antics are part of the charm of this place." Replied Iruka calmly after forcing down his blush "besides it appears that time has changed our blonde friend to much… I mean he's over an hour late for free ramen."
When they heard this, both of the ramen chefs' mouths hung open widely in disbelief. They knew Naruto to be a number of different things unpredictable yes, a mischievous prankster of course, but LATE for FREE ramen NEVER.
"You're joking right?" Ayame asked as the first of the two to shake off the bombshell that Iruka just laid on them
"I'm afraid not I ran into him today on top of the Hokage monument, and he said he would meet me here at seven." Iruka said before letting out a deep sigh "I guess three years away with Jiraiya changed him more than I thought it would."
"AaaahCHOOO! You know it's not nice to talk about people behind their back Iruka-sensei." Replied the ramen stands best customer while wiping his nose of any excess mucus.
Looking up both Iruka and Ayame's jaws hit the floor. There stood Naruto wearing a pair of black combat boots, a pair of black cargo pants, while he had a dark crimson colored leather coat without any sleeves that flowed down to the ground he left the coat open revealing a black muscle-tee showing off his well built chest and abs, to finish off his new look the 6'3 blonde wore a pair of orange finger less gloves (what you didn't think that I would get rid of his love of the awesome color that is orange did you?). Ayame was forced to wipe away the small trail of blood coming from her nose she received upon seeing the blonde god before finally breaking the silence
"Na… Naruto is that you?"
"Of course Ayame-nee-chan who else would it be?" asking not quite getting what Ayame saying
"Well sorry for not for not recognizing you, but the Naruto-kun I know would never be a minute late for free ramen let alone an hour." Said Ayame teasingly
At this Naruto could only chuckle and scratch the back of his head, putting up a large fake smile so as not to worry those who were precious to him, before saying "Yeah well I got lost on the road to life."
Hearing this Iruka immediately face faulted. While Ayame could only sweat-drop after hear such an obvious and lame excuse, having never had to deal with the white haired jounin whose hair defies gravity
While Iruka was not necessarily the best shinobi in Konohagakure he was still very perceptive, and not only saw through Naruto's mask, but also noticed the red eyes and puffy checks indicating that Naruto was crying earlier that he was trying to hide. Instantly knowing what was so important that he couldn't take the Hokage's test. He decided not to ask Naruto why he was late, and allow him to hide his feelings.
"So Naruto are we gonna eat and catch up or what?" asked Iruka with a caring tone in his voice
"Huh oh yeah that's what we were gonna do hear I totally forgot about that. I was just coming here to get some dinner and saw you here. I thought it was just a coincidence." Replied Naruto, fox-like grin spreading across his face. Forcing Iruka's eye to twitch
"Well what can I get started for you Naruto-kun?" asked Ayame sweetly
"Umm… Let me get… One Hokage sized serving of everything"
Sweat-dropping Ayame Asked dryly "Are you sure that's all? Because I'm sure I could have dad get you a horse… no maybe you would prefer an elephant to eat as well"
"AYAME! How many time do I have to tell you not to berate the customers especially when they make an order like that." Yelled Teuchi with dollar signs in his eyes
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Meanwhile (back at the Hall of Justice) (sorry couldn't resist)
Tsunade and her two apprentices were being led by Kakashi across the field that led to the memorial stone. Why were they there you ask?
Flashback no jutsu
Tsunade was so pissed that she actually began doing paperwork to take her mind off of the horrible things that she was gonna do to her blonde surrogate son when she got a hold of him.
Now normally Shizune would be rejoicing at the sight of her mentor doing paper work without being bribed with sake or threatened with having her sake taken away, but the sheer ferocity with which she was stamping the paper work put the fear of Kami in her. 'I don't know who caused this but I hope to Kami that they can run fast cause Tsunade-sama is going to kill them in the most unpleasant way possible.'
Sakura had only seen her mentor this angry when dealing with her blonde haired team mate. This realization forced her to ask Tsunade this question.
"Shishio your sudden urge to do paperwork doesn't have anything to do with Naruto does it?" Sakura asked timidly
"Of course it does who else could make me this angry and then just disappear before I could deliver my righteous fury." Growled Tsunade through clenched teeth before slamming her stamp down with such force that it actually snapped her desk in half.
"Oh, well if your looking for Naruto he's at the memorial stone right now." Said Kakashi who was walking into the Hokage's office without looking up from his orange book
"Where did you say Naruto was, and WHAT HAVE I SAID ABOUT READING THAT BOOK IM MY OFFICE" Tsunade growled menacingly before leveling Kakashi with the same stamp that just broke her desk forcing the other two women to sweat-drop.
"My apologies Tsunade-sama I simply forgot about the book thing, and as for Naruto as I said he is at the memorial stone." Replied Kakashi holding up one hand while his only visible eye turned up into an eye smile.
Upon hearing this the three women saddened a little all for a slightly different reason but all revolving around our blonde hero. Looking out the window to her office and realizing the time Tsunade finally spoke up breaking the silence that fell upon her office.
"Well we had better go get the Knucklehead before he freezes to death"
End of flashback
When the four shinobi finally arrived at the stone they found the area empty the only proof that anyone had been there today was the small purple vase with yellow roses sticking out of it.
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A/N: well that's the end of this chapter I'll try to update soon. I know I haven't given you much but I will finally reveal who Naruto was visiting and give you some action in the next chapter. Just letting you know this story will have some major flashbacks in the early chapters but then I will move forward in my time line. again please read and review