AN: I know. I KNOW! It hsa been a freashily long time. Well i have a really good reason. I was out of the country for a few weeks on a family emergency. Then i came back and had to catch up with my classes as i had missed a lot of time. Through in 9.5 hours of jetlag, a massive stomach virus, and the fact professors dont care why you are not in class when you are at a university and i have been having some crazy hectic times. Anyways, its been fun...ish.

Here is my latest update. It is not what i orginally wanted it to be, but it should suffice.

Want me to update sooner and faster again? WEll you know me, im a review hog. I love getting them. Enjoy teh story!

Two of the most powerful Konoha Ninjas were found doing little more than strolling openly down the streets of their hidden village while seemingly locked in engaging conversation. It was strange to find two warriors so open and vulnerable to attack, but anyone experienced enough to attempt such an act of folly would already know otherwise.

They didn't have that teacher student relationship yet both understood the other's techniques well. The common link between them both was now twenty years gone yet the two ninjas maintained the bond between them. This much they had to do, for Naruto's sake.

"How strong has my former pupil become?" Kakashi's mask never moved while he was talking. It never stretched or showed any signs of changing along with his facial expression. Nevertheless one could always tell what the copycat ninja was feeling.

"Strong as you if what I hear about your sharingan is true now." It was not the time to discuss 'literature' and other related hobbies. Jiraiya's tone had to be serious with his disciple's student.

"And with the Kyuubi's power?" Kakashi new that what remained of Team 7 was going to be reformed. Since the abandonment of the prestigious Uchiha Clan, the number had been considered taboo and skipped over for years. Now it seemed fitting to restore that group now that most of its members have finally united.

"He can maintain control up to four tails. On the fifth his control begins to slip and by the eight he is nearly feral. I have not seen all nine. I hope to never be put into that situation." Jiraiya preferred his writing hobby for a reason. His profession and role of training Naruto put a man in his elder years in life and death situations more times than he cared to remember. It was difficult to face his mortality at such an age. Harder still was accepting the fact that just ten years ago he would have had the youth necessary to handle such a situation. This is must be what Sarotobi-sensei warned him about.

As badly as Kakashi wanted to ask about his other student, he knew he didn't need to. He had read the report. Sasuske would never allow Naruto to pull ahead of him in turns of strength. As much as the Uchiha claimed the only thing that mattered to him was vengeance on his brother, the fact that the dead-last of the class may surpass him also provided some kind of motivation.

That boy's existence alone proved to be one of the greatest threats to Konoha even when taking into consideration all the internal problems that were arising. The sharingan was one of the town's greatest assets and should its enemies learn of that particular loss, there would be increasing attempts upon them. Unlike many of the other hidden villages, Konoha treasured the bloodline limits it found in its ninjas. It often gave them an advantage which proved invaluable in the midst of battle. That's why villages who had long ago killed away their own bloodlines so eagerly sought the Hyuuga.

In a twisted way, Sasuke may have even loved the village of Konoha more than anyone suspected. He was listed as a ninja on an extended mission to hunt down the one who turned traitor to the village by killing off his own family and thinning the blood that carried that specific trait. However no one suspected that when Kakashi emphasized thinking outside the norm, that Sasuke would take that to mean surrender his physical body to the enemy in order to accomplish his goals.

"Does the boy know he may not be able to stay?" Kakashi also new that the boy who actually did love this village was also its greatest threat. While the sharingan kept enemies away, the chance to capture the power of the Kyuubi attracted many. Despite all his best intentions, danger followed Naruto like a sad sick and demented lost puppy. It didn't matter how hard he tried as Naruto's life would always be a cursed one.

"No. He doesn't need to know. Not yet." Not when he just started smiling once again.

Naruto and Sakura were walking along on their own little stroll through Konoha, though with far more romantic intentions in mind. His hand had securely clasped around hers as if afraid that she may still try to leave him on a moments notice, but that would never happen while he was there to watch over her. He was finally home and life was just beginning to look good again.

Little was said between the two as their confessions of love were mixed in with revealing just what Naruto's heritage was.

All but Jiraiya didn't suspect that Naruto wasn't as dimwitted as he sometimes made himself out to be. The blond haired boy had suspected such a relationship a few years back and began doing a bit of his own painstaking research during their travels. Information was few and far in between as the Fourth's life and past were heavily guarded so finding information on the subject in other countries was unlikely.

There was one thing for certain. Naruto had gained an uncanny likeness to that particular Hokage. Not only in appearance, but in fighting style as well. He was picking up too many techniques from a ninja he had never met. Everything from the rasengan too….

One of the things Naruto liked best about holding Sakura's hand while strolling through his home village was that he could suddenly tug on her hand and whip her into his arms to hold for a quick and close embrace sealed with a soft kiss. Already he had taken advantage of that little tidbit several times but his feelings and his hunger for her could not be subdued so easily. It was time to be greedy. It was time to want more.

Normally the one that would be pounding some sense into Naruto for taking advantage of a girl like that was suddenly very shy and very quite. Behind her face she held an enamored expression glad that it was her and her alone that was brining out such unbound and random loving playfulness in Naruto. It seemed like something he needed right about now.

The subject of his father and his still unknown mother was a touchy one that she understood he didn't want to discuss at the moment. His eyes still held the innocence of a little boy but it now shared space with the wisdom of a man in them as well. At times he could even look contemplative. Damn him for maturing so much without her!

She would defiantly teach him a lesson for doing that.

Later.

For now there is something else she wanted to know. Hopefully it wouldn't be as touchy a subject as Naruto's parents. Frankly it was a question she had since the day she ran into the prankster back in the academy. It wasn't uncommon for many people in Konoha to have unusual characteristics. The Inuzuka clan had their affinity to dogs, the Hyuuga had their unusual eyes, but Naruto's cheeks were rather confusing.

It kind of looked like whiskers, but that couldn't be right. Didn't people draw whiskers to make something that looked like a dog now look like a cat? True foxes had whiskers but when you thought whiskers you still thought kitty.

Perhaps Sakura should make his pet name Kitty.

Still, she had to know.

Once again Sakura felt a tug upon her arm as her body was pulled and pressed against Naruto's for yet another random yet welcome quick kiss. Though this time she used her leverage and her strength to remain there. "Hey Naruto…." Both Sakura and Naruto agreed that honorifics weren't necessary between them anymore. They had grown too close to need them.

"Yeah Sakura" His voice was soothing and low as he leaned in to gift her with yet another kiss thinking that was why she held herself there. As if. A certain amount of public affection was ok but she till wasn't the type to openly make out with a guy in the middle of the village. Honestly…where did he pick up such habi---It must have been Aya. Damn that wench!

Casting aside such array thoughts, she continued her investigation into the markings on his cheek. "Hey Naruto. What are those lines on your cheeks?"

The blond shinobi immediately let go of his grip upon her and allowed his hands to swing lifelessly at his sides. His eyes were downcast and slightly covered by his hair but Sakura was still able to identify the beads of sorrow forming around the edges of his eyes that quickly began to form trails down the very cheeks she wanted to know so much about.

She had done something horrible. In a matter of seconds he had gone from a state of absolute bliss to one that could cause a massive 180 in emotions. She was a horrible girlfriend…Aya probably never did anything like this.

"Naruto..I'm sorry…I..didn't mean to…" Sakura found her mouth sealed by Naruto's hand as he stifled her ability to speak.

There would be no more secrets. Time was yet another enemy of Naruto's and he would not waste it hiding the truth from someone who openly loved him. More importantly from someone he also openly loved.

His voice constantly shifted between cracking and maintaining a form of false dignity as images from his past were recalled. One would be amazed just how much the fox child could recall. "A little boy named Naruto with blond hair and blue eyes was the carrier of the nine-tailed demon. All he had to do was change his name and no one would be the wiser. He would have been just another ordinary orphan boy." There was a small gasp as he continued to recall. He had to be strong, strong for his Sakura.

Having already felt the unease and tragedy behind the story, Sakura's eyes too began to well up with tears as she awaited him to finish, though now she found her hands stroking his hair gently. She needed to comfort him. Nothing else mattered right now.

"That wasn't acceptable for some people in the village. They couldn't suspect everyone with blond hair or blue eyes. So they had to do something else. Something to make the demon-child distinguishable."

Demon-child? Naruto never considered himself a demon-child. He was always the demon-container or the demon-vessel. While not many people understood the Kyuubi and him were two different entities, Naruto certainly did.

"So some villagers found the orphanage the demon-child was left at." His voice sounded different than it always did. It was almost like he was remembering the word and conversations of others and mixing it with his own memories. But that was impossible...

"And they grabbed the baby who was wearing the symbol of the fourth, and with a knife…"

No…It couldn't be true. The people in her village wouldn't do something like that. Not to an infant. Not to a helpless child who hadn't caused anyone such harm. This was Konoha! It was supposed to be a modern village that respected the rights and dignity of people!

Naruto wasn't considered a person by all.

"And carved in three markings on either side of his face. The boy was now trapped in his identity." It didn't hurt less revealing all this. There was no great weight lifted off of his shoulders as he unburdened himself with the life he had lived. All those movies claiming otherwise had apparently lied.

Sakura found herself fiercely embracing her Naruto as she shifted his head to rest in the nook of her neck. She could feel the continuous stream of tears trickled down to her skin as the boy now felt more vulnerable than ever having opened up more about his past than he normally would have cared to.

She….she hated the people of this village. She hated the people that did this to Naruto when he had never hurt a soul. She hated the people who did nothing more than simply watch other people go on with these atrocious acts.

She hated the fourth for giving him a damned life without a father.

No one would hurt her Naruto like this again.

Their tender moment was however, rudely interrupted.

"Well well Naruto. Looks like you got over me pretty quickly. How do you like Pinky over there?"

Both green and blue eyes shot up and turned to their side to see the source of such a voice with wet drops still flowing freely from them. Sitting idly on the top of a tall branch was a slender yet very leggy girl with jet black hair that had subtle orange streaks in them. Her eyes were orange and catlike making her look like she was stalking her prey as she stood on the branch and leaned against the tree with a calculating look. She wore what looked like an orange coat that melded into a shirt skirt that Sakura felt stopped just a little too short. Finally to add to the look, she wore the same black boots that Sakura herself had become so fond of over the years.

It was Aya.

"Miss me Naruto?"

"Uhh……"

Have i lost my touch? My ability to write and be inspired doesnt seem to be what it used to be. I could use some feedback in every area if possible. If there are any inconcistencies, lemme know. Its been a while since i read my own story. Thanks and please leave a review. (remember, longgood.) Until next time, take care :-)