AN: Well, I hope this didn't turn out as stiff as the last one. I didn't have as hard a time getting this one out. Hope you enjoy! I got it out as soon as possible as a sorry for the last one being so late.
"Sakura-chan, where are they? We were supposed to start an hour ago!" Naruto wined to his pink-haired teammate.
The two of them had been waiting, as usual, for their senseis to arrive. It was a bit frustrating that they were always late for the few times they actually got to train together these days.
SMACK! Sakura's hand made contact with Naruto's skull. "Naruto, would you stop complaining. I don't know where they are any more than you do!" The irritated pinkette yelled.
Naruto fell silent at her outburst and sat down, placing his hands in his lap in his best attempt at sitting still. The girl sighed and threw herself down next to him. "I'm sorry, complaining won't change anything though. Why are you in such a hurry anyway?"
"It's nothing really; the guys and I were supposed to meet up later." The blonde said with smile.
"Well, don't miss out on that on my account." They heard Suki's voice say from above.
"We'll make this a time efficient training session then." Kakashi said, appearing out of nowhere.
Both of the younger ninja hid their surprise well but each had a racing heart from the startling appearance of said senseis.
"You're late!" the two yelled at the same time. A deep chuckle and a tinkling giggle were the older ninja's response.
"And they still haven't learned." Suki's light voice came from the branches above Naruto and Sakura.
The two of them turned to yell at the woman for her offence but were too shocked to speak. Instead of the Suki they knew there was a woman with long blonde hair and curious cerulean eyes. Her lips were upturned in a laugh as she jumped down to join them. "What, don't tell me you've never seen a transformation jutsu?" Suki joked while ruffling their hair.
Sakura, finding her voice, spoke "And you used Naruto and your inspiration why?" Kakashi's chuckle could be heard but none in the group looked his way.
"No silly, this is my natural appearance." Suki let out another girlish giggle. She was enjoying this a little too much. "Surely you much have realized I was a little too blonde to be brunette." She said with a wink.
"Nani!" was the reply of her students.
"Kakashi, I think I know how to make Naruto be quite. We just need to shock him." Suki remarked breezily as she walked away from the two who stood, looking open mouthed at her.
Together she and Kakashi headed toward the open part of the training field. Suki had to admit that after she was finished dealing with a pissed off Hokage that she had been looking forward to the looks on their faces. Sakura and Naruto hadn't disappointed.
Poor Tsunade had been torn between hugging her and strangling her. It wasn't everyday that one of your student's children, who you had thought to be dead for 18 years, was alive. Of course, Suki had not reacted kindly to being told she was the spitting image of her mother at that age. "Tsunade, please, I hated it when I was 5, why would I want to hear it now." had been her response. It didn't matter that her mother had studied under the woman, it still bothered her to have anyone remind her of her almost scary resemblance to her mother. Was there not some part of her father in her?
"You can't just show up one day and tell us you've been disguising your true appearance like that!" Naruto called from somewhere behind them.
"I suppose I could have done that differently but…the looks on your faces were too priceless." Suki replied.
Suki gestured to Sakura and the two of them went off to train, while Kakashi and Naruto worked together. The younger ninja were not quite sure what to say so they simply went alone with the routine they knew well. She and Kakashi exchanged quick looks, things were going as planned.
Later, the four of them sat under a tree, drinking water. "Suki, may I ask you a question?" Sakura asked.
"You just did, but, yes." Suki replied
"Why were you using a transformation jutsu?" the girl inquired.
"I'm sorry I deceived you. If it makes you feel better, I have been deceiving everyone. It's just, I couldn't risk everyone knowing who I am. Don't worry, I haven't been lying to you about myself." She smiled gently at both Sakura and Naruto. "I'm still the Suki you know. I just look different."
This seemed to make the two feel better, she saw their muscles relax just the tiniest. "Naruto, I think you said something about getting together with the guys." Kakashi mentioned causally.
Naruto looked up at the sky, seeing how high the sun had reached. Suddenly he was on his feet and grabbing the bag he had brought with him. "I have to run now." He called waving goodbye to the group.
As he ran away he paused and turned back to face Suki. "Don't think you're off the hook yet. You've got a lot of explaining to do!"
Sakura also noted the time and headed out for her shift at the hospital. She too warned Suki that the discussion was not over.
When the two of them were gone, Kakashi and Suki looked at each other and both fell into fits of laughter. "I wonder how long the shock will last? They didn't really ask much did they?" Suki pondered.
"Sakura pointed out the obvious in the beginning but never thought to question it after she realized this was the real you." Kakashi remarked, shaking his head. He was a bit disappointed in his student.
"It's probably for the best. I don't need the entire town knowing just yet." Suki said. She moved so she was laying in the grass, her long hair spreading out around her. She stared up at her sliver haired companion with her head upside down. "Think we should have told them not to spread this around? I mean, they don't even understand what they just found out. I can't believe Tsunade is making me tell them."
"Naw, I don't think they're going to say anything, the whole situation's a bit weird for them I think." Kakashi replied, staring down at her. "As for Tsunade making you tell them, I'd say it's fair if you are asking her to consider being honest with Naruto."
"Hardly, this is different." Suki said.
The two of them fell silent and simply enjoyed the warm breeze that stirred up. Her hair flew up in the wind, a few locks landing within his reach. His fingers slowly made their way to intertwine with the blond hair. "It's always been soft, I remember playing with it when we were younger."
Suki smiled up at him, "Yeah, I remember too. It's funny, everything has changed but…nothing has changed."
It was Kakashi's turn to laugh. "I don't understand why things are different but, they are."
"I know, it's strange but I like it. We're odd friends but, friends." Suki said.
The two lapsed back into silence.
Suki walked down the halls of the Hokage tower nervously. When she had received summons from Tsunade her mind went a bit overboard. Had she changed her mind about how to handle the situation? Was there more news on the Akatsuki ?
The pretty blonde took a deep breath and allowed her muscles to relax. Her lifted her fist and rapped on the wooden door that lead to the office of the Village's leader. Once given permission she entered to find that it was only herself and the Hokage in the room. The smile on Tsunade's face both relived and confused her.
"Suki, it's good to see you. Please, sit down." The older woman said. Suki did as she was asked, offering the woman before her a smile.
Tsunade reached across the desk and placed her hand lightly upon Suki's. "I'm still can't believe what's in front of my very eyes. I've been thinking about a lot of things since I found out about this the other night."
Suddenly her hands were gone and she was standing at the window. "Please, you don't need to use your disguise around me." Suki made a few hand signs and with a puff of smoke she was herself.
"Have you told Naruto and Sakura?" she asked, head still turned away from Suki.
"Of course, I think you're right about me not keeping secretes from them, except, they aren't really aware of what they know." Suki said, melancholy in her voice.
"It really bothers you that you have to keep things from them huh?" Tsunade said, suddenly facing her.
"In some ways, yes." Suki replied "I understand why I can't just walk back into the village and place myself in the open after so long but it feels wrong. Kind of like knowing that Naruto doesn't even know who his parents are. I hate that this world has to be so complicated."
"Spoken like a true member of your family. Your Uncle felt the same way about keeping Naruto's existence a secret. This world simply is that complicated." Tsunade said.
"He deserves to know. Even if the rest of the world can't know yet, he should. Naruto is strong enough to handle the repercussions if it were to get out. He isn't a Namikaze for nothing you know." Suki said with conviction.
"So, you think he's strong enough? I agree, he could protect himself, but could he handle that knowledge? It's a lot to handle and now, not only does he gain a family history but a cousin. Could you handle it if he took the knowledge of your deception poorly?" The Hokage inquired.
Suki's head bowed as she took in the words. What would she do if Naruto did not take things well? What if he hated her? She had abandoned him then upon returning lied to him. It wasn't that she couldn't explain but it didn't mean he had to see it that way. He had suffered greatly.
"What was I supposed to do? I couldn't watch the villagers treat him that way and I couldn't protect him without everyone knowing who he was and putting him in danger. It was a hard choice to make, walking away from what was left of those who I loved most." Suki took a shaky breath.
A hand was on her shoulder, squeezing in a comforting manor. Her eyes found Tsunade's and she tried to smile.
"You forget you're a Namikaze too. Not only is your family strong but also self-sacrificing in a way most never could be. I can't say you were smart to stay away for so long or to allow people to think you were dead but leaving was probably the best thing you could have done for him. It not bad that you want his acceptance and it's not as selfish as you seem to think it is." Tsunade told her.
"But it is, it's selfish and….I don't care. I'm allowed to want something for myself. I'm sick of being a victim, of losing what I want the most." Suki said, her eyes burning with emotion.
"Then don't let it go, don't let it escape you!" Tsunade replied
"Huh?" was Suki's intelligent response.
Tsunade laughed a ruffled Suki's hair realizing that Suki may not be a child anymore but might still need some advice from her godmother. It remained a mystery to her why in the world Suki's mother had asked her to be her godmother. However, this was the sister of the man who asked Jiraiya to be his sons godfather. This made the older woman want to laugh.
"Tell him, no one is stopping you. It's your prerogative. You are the eldest child of the eldest sibling in your parent's generation. You are the matriarch of your family. Your Uncle said that he didn't want Naruto to know until he was a chunin, and he is." Tsunade said.
Suki wasn't sure how to react, her head remained bowed. Tsunade's hands were suddenly on her cheeks, lifting her face so they could see eye to eye. "Where is that strong woman I know is in there? It's a part of you and you can't let that crumble, not even for those you love the most . Pull that courage out and use it where you need it the most."
A smirk crossed Suki's face. "Are you implying that I'm weak when it comes to Naruto?"she asked with a teasing voice. Perhaps, things would be ok with the right attitude. Tsunade was right; if she wanted it she should at least try. Besides, she would never know if Naruto would accept her if, she did not tell him the truth.
The older woman laughed at the return of the younger woman's natural attitude. "I forget how stubborn you can be. Your mother was the same way. Difficult student, that woman." She took her seat back behind her desk and folded her hands lightly in front of her. "I've been thinking about what you said, about telling Naruto about the Akatsuki. I think he does have a right to know but, perhaps we keep some the more sketchy details to ourselves for now. We don't have many details as it is so let's not over react."
"Hai, sketchy details left out. I think that's fair."Suki replied.
"You have my permission to inform him then. Thank you for coming." Tsunade said, effectively dismissing the young woman before her. She loved her but that didn't mean she didn't have important business to attend to. The paperwork was beginning to pile up.
Suki stood to leave but quickly turned back and ran over to Tsunade, hugging her tightly. "Thank you Tsunade-bachan!" She called as she dashed from the room.
"Not you too! You're 27 years old, must you call me that?" Tsunade said, rolling her eyes. Suki's face reappeared long enough at the door to wink at the older woman and then she was gone.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to clarify a few things. I try to drop in details as I go but they sometimes get missed. I simply know more about my character than I could possibly share. To clarify, Suki's mother studied under Tsunade and Tsunade was named Suki's godmother. When she was still living with her mother Tsunade would visit them(that part I haven't written in). It's been years but hey, wouldn't you still love your godchild? As always, let me know what you thought.