A/N: please note! I realize that Tsunade didn't become Hokage until after the Sound attack, but for this story she became Hokage after Minato's tearful passage to the death god's stomach :(.

Chapter 2

A New Beginning

Years had passed since the moment that Iris had seen Kakashi, so long it came to the point where she just thought of it as her past.

During this time however, Iris had settled down in the peaceful town and made many new friends as well as having met some interesting new people. One of whom was a small boy—only eight years old—named, Naruto.

This young blond haired, cobalt eyed boy, who was energetic by nature with a smile that rarely left his tan child's face, was the highlight of Iris day. From the first day that the two had met they became inseparable, and it was only a few days after sh+..00e had bought him into her house that she adopted him.

It was good for her; having child that is. Slowly but surely he helped her heal. And he continued to do so through his careless antics which often got him into trouble, as well as his seemingly carefree innocence.

The main reason why Iris chose to adopt Naruto though was the simple fact that he reminded her of her. Who she was, and what she had gone through. And he helped her overcome her hurt and doubts so she could slowly heal.

Six years later

"Naruto!" A young boy who was running across the rooftops grinned as he realized his attack had been launched. Looking back quickly he found that he was being followed by four Chunnin, and two ANBU.

"Mum is going to be so disappointed." Naruto said with a disapproving smile, "I can't even get four ANBU to try and catch me." He gained a thoughtful expression as he continued running. "Oh well, guess I have to up it up next time." With a careless shrug he picked up his pace, threw a raspberry in the hunters' direction and slipped into a small alley. He slowed down to a normal pace as he neared a large wooden structure in the middle of the village. Walking through the gate he entered inside and walked into a classroom.

Once inside he was greeted with a glare, "You're late Naruto."

Naruto just stared at him as if to ask, "So? What you goanna do 'bout it?"

The small brown haired man just shook his head and directed him to his seat. "As I was saying class, Konoha is still alive today thanks to our greatest shinobi!" Naruto—who had reached his seat—tuned out the teacher. Everything he was saying was contradicting his mother. And thus he didn't listen to what they had to say... besides, even if they did say something important the odds of him having not heard it was almost nil. So the boy just sat in his seat scribbling away at a piece of paper, seemingly ignorant to his surroundings.

At the sound of the bell a blond streak beat everyone to the door and was not seen by anyone except some Chunnin.

"I'm home!" he shouted once he arrived at a small cottage just on the outskirts of the town. The area though isolated was well kept and full of blooming flowers and trees. The house itself was brown with a dull red trim around the door, and window frames.

"In the kitchen" a feminine voice replied muffled by the walls. Following the musical voice Naruto moved through the hallway and into the small kitchen.

"Hi Mum!" the blond boy grinned and threw his arms around her waist. "Guess what!" Not waiting for acknowledgement the boy continued, "Today I pranked the old busy body on 5th street! Man was she mad! But then, then I was chased by 2 ANBU." His face contorted into a frown as he continued, "it's not what I wanted but I've decided next time I'm going to a prank SO big four ANBU will be following me!" Finishing he grinned up to the obsidian haired women and awaited her approval.

Not to disappoint the woman bent down and gave him a giant hug. "Naruto you are growing up every day!" Kissing his forehead she shooed him out of the kitchen to do homework while she cooked dinner.

Later that night after kissing her son goodnight Iris settled down on the comfy sofa which faced the window, and stared out to the garden. Sighing she continued to stare as her thoughts wondered. First she thought of Naruto and his antics, then slowly she thought back to the day when she found her little angel.

Flashback

It was just a normal day for Iris. Her basket swung on her arm as she searched through the farmers market.

After her basket was full she wondered in the town—having decided to take the long way home. It was at this time she heard a racket in an alley. Dusk was just settling among the sky and Iris wasn't very fond of searching for trouble, thus she brushed it off as rats. However, as she passed by the alley she started to hear voices.

Growing ever more nervous she hastened her step, only to be stopped by a small voice begging to be set free, "Please! I promise not to come back here! Will you please just let me go?" Iris stopped cold. Slowly she peaked along the corner of the alley and instant fury raged inside of her. There among the garbage and debris lay a small boy. His orange jumpsuit covered in blood and gashes. His small malnourished body was littered with bruises, and cuts. Surrounding him were four men with beer bellies—two of whom were holding small pocketknives.

Still in shock Iris watched with growing anger as one of the men kicked the boy and sneered, "Let you go! You're a monster! No, we won't let you go. Instead I think we will keep you and punish you like you deserve. Finish what the Yondaime started when you invaded you demon!" this was the last straw for Iris. Stepping around the corner she hurried her breath to make it seem like she was in a rush.

"There you are boy!" she exclaimed in rushed excitement. "Where have you been? The Hokage has been looking for you for thirty minutes. You know better than to keep her waiting." Grabbing his arm she picked him off of the floor and turned to the drunk men in front of her. They stood still too shocked to move giving her time to move out of the ally. Keeping up her act though she bid them a good-night as she dragged the boy off with her.

Following her in his distressed state Iris noticed the boy's shaking limbs. However, she did not stop to reassure him. Instead she continued on her way until she reached her small cottage.

It was only after she had locked the door and placed the poor boy on the sofa that she bent down to look at him. She was greeted with round cobalt eyes staring at her frightendly. Being careful not to touch the young boy—no matter how much she wished to hug the boy and tell him it was alright and nothing was ever going to hurt him again—she settled with asking him if he would like some water. Shaking his head with such force she thought he was going to dislocate his neck Iris nodded ok.

"Would you like a bath then?" she asked. She was acknowledged with a shocked gasp and even further widened eyes.

"Please." Was his soft reply.

"Ok then." Iris said softly as she stood up. "Follow me then." She walked through the hall until she reached a small guest bathroom. Stepping inside she shivered slightly as her bare feet touched the cold nutmeg colored tiles covering the floor and most of the bathroom. Iris looked back to make sure Naruto was with her before she showed him where everything was.

"Just turn the knob to the left to get warm water," she said as she pointed to the bath with the showerhead connected to the tile. "For a shower just lift the knob here," she showed him. Making sure he understood she got out some soap form beneath the white porcelain sink. Handing it to him, "here's your soap and," grabbing some shampoo she handed it to him as well, "shampoo." Then she pointed to the towel rack layered with two thick nutmeg colored towels, "and here are your towels. Think you got it?" After receiving a nod Iris moved out of the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Second later she heard the water spraying out of the showerhead.

Sighing deeply Iris moved to the kitchen to make tea. After putting the kettle on she moved to her room to get some clothes for the young lad in the shower. Collecting a large shirt which she had gotten as a night shirt she walked back to the bathroom.

Knocking softly she asked, "I've got some clothes for you. Is it ok if I put them in the bathroom?" Not receiving a reply she said, "I'm going to put it right inside of the door ok?" Still not receiving an answer Iris cracked the door open and placed the clothes right inside the door as quickly as she could. Just before she finished however she quickly told the boy that she had tea ready for him when he was finished and to meet her back in the living room.

Sighing at the thought of her memories Iris reveled in the day she first met Naruto. It wasn't long after that she decided to meet up with Tsunade to become Naruto's legal guardian. A momentous occasion for both Naruto and her… a time when they once again had a family. A time when wounds started to heal.

A/N: So, I didn't really know what I was going to do for this chapter. And I know it's kind of slow, but I just wanted to get some of the back stories out of the way. Again, please review as I love knowing what you think about my writing. And I will try to update as soon as possible. Happy late Thanksgiving by the way!