A/N- Yosh.. another chapter done! Finally!

Chapter 9 - Fiancée of mine

Sasuke trudged along the brick path that led from the Uchiha compound to the village. He had dropped Satoshi off at the academy and came back for his ninja supplies.

'Satoshi is too young for ninja work. He's still four. He's only there because I'm not home most of the time and there's no one to watch him. At least he has that Inuzuka kid for company with the Akimichi kids. They don't even accept children aged four at the academy. I have to thank Iruka for this.'

His thoughts turned to the kazekage. 'That dreaded man will be leaving today at least. The Hokage is after my blood. At least I got stuck with Neji for the duty. Anyone else like Riku would be dead by now.'

He looked at the opening shops. It was about 7 now and the kazekage's temporary residence was at the other end of the village. His ebony eyes hardened when he remembered what took place the previous night. 'I don't care if your engaged dobe. You will be mine. I will make sure of that.'

Flashback

"I'm engaged", the statement uttered by those lips echoed through Sasuke's head. It's not possible. 'The dobe's not engaged. He's lying. His mind was desperately denying the thought.'

The others weren't faring better. Hinata seemed to be stuck in time. The expression on her beautiful pale face was a mixture of horror and grief.

She was clutching her small son, Hoshi, with tight hands and she didn't seem to hear her son's cries of pain, begging her to let him go.

The others were simply stunned. Their faces showed nothing but shock and surprise, only Riku seemed to be confused and he was the first to voice his confusion.

"What's wrong? He's twenty two. Shouldn't he be engaged? All of us are either married or engaged ne." Riku asked the stunned group.

His voice snapped Sasuke and Hinata out of their reveries. Sasuke hid behind his Uchiha mask while Hinata hid her face trying to comfort her pained son.

It was Kiba, though, who answered. "Well considering Naruto's past, it is a B-I-G surprise."

"What do you mean?" Riku was till confused. He looked at the subject of their topic. He looked calm and was watching Kiba intently, watching to see what he would say.

"Naruto is what you call a 100% idiot. He is loud, obnoxious and stupid with only muscles to back him up." Kiba looked at Naruto. "Well at least he was." He ended with a shrug. 'Why am I being like this to Naruto? Damn it kiba get a hold of yourself!'

Naruto sighed and looked at Riku who was gaping at him. "You don't even mind that he just insulted you?" he wasn't the only surprised one. The others were all staring at Naruto too.

"Why should I mind? Its not like my world ends with what he said or that I care about what he says." His azure eyes locked on Riku's silver ones. They were void of any emotion, and that made Riku shiver.

"I live on my own rules and my own ideals. Not someone else's. If you are to survive as a ninja you can only on yourself and not anyone else. I'm sure you've been a ninja long enough to understand that Shiba-san."

"What the hell are you talking about Naruto-baka?!" an enraged Sakura asked. 'How dare he? He was the one who made us trust him and now he's saying he doesn't care at all?!'

Chouji looked at the two and decided to brace himself for the argument, besides he didn't want the children to witness it.

"Chouko, go and play with the others please." The small blond girl looked at her father before nodding and dragging her brother and the other two boys towards the open grounds next to the restaurant where the children always played.

Sasuke was stunned o hear Naruto's reply, he didn't even notice his son leaving. 'Naruto's not talking about me is he? I didn't even get a chance to talk to him and… apologize.' He looked at the blond man sitting next to him. The normally shining azure eyes were a chilly light blue.

Sakura, enraged further when Naruto refused to respond to her question raised her hand to give him a punch, a normal thing that happened when they were children.

Her fist was inches away from Naruto's messy blond locks when a hand grabbed her fist in an iron grip, bruising it. Sakura cried out in the sudden pain in her fist, the grip never ceasing pressure. Her honed skills kicked in, making her free arm swing to the hand holding onto her hurting fist.

But that hand was also grabbed and crushed. She raised her glaring eyes to see who held her both arms in such grips. Shock made her still when her angry and shocked eyes connected to icy blue eyes.

"I do not care about whatever you did to me when we children Sakura. But please do not even try to hit me again. I won't hold back next time." The monotone voice of Naruto said before releasing her hurt fists from his hard grip.

The whole table was silent. You could even hear crickets chirping outside the restaurant. Everyone was busy being shocked or lost in their own thoughts.

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at the blond male. 'This is such a drag. Naruto has changed too much. We need time to adjust' he looked at the man as he settled back on the mat next to a seemingly indifferent Sasuke. 'I still need to find out about the name Namikaze. I don't exactly remember, but there was something else.'

"Naruto, What happened to you?' Sasuke looked at the blond silently eating the sushi as if nothing happened.

"Naruto-kun? Was that necessary? She is still your friend and you don't treat your friends like that. It is not youthful. Sakura-san was only joking." Lee's voice was laced with worry as he watched Sakura heal her hands.

"I don't need your rescuing Lee. Please don't butt your nose into thing that doesn't need you or your youthfulness." Sakura replied with a scornful look at lee, who immediately looked down to his lap to hide his hurt.

Neji and Tenten glared at Sakura while even Ino looked disdainful. Sasuke glared at Sakura who cowered immediately. Naruto inwardly sighed.

"Lee," the bowl cut haired man looked at him. "I am not used to touching, whether a punch or a hug. I was not hugged outside the village and when I was punched it was to kill me. I did what was necessary. I am not the Naruto you knew. So stop acting like you know me anymore. I don't know any of you anymore so I won't act like I never left the village."

Everyone cringed at the cold monotone voice. They all knew he was right. But they were still friends, weren't they?

"Demo (but), we are still friends Naruto-kun", lee looked at him with a good guy pose. Naruto only looked at him bored look and didn't reply.

Ino was sick of the tension and Sakura's seemingly callousness. 'When will she learn?' She looked back at Naruto. He was silent as were their other companions. They didn't seem to want to break the silent. Ino inwardly rolled her eyes.

"So Naruto. Since your engaged who's the lucky girl?" she smiled flirtatiously at the handsome blond.

"You will see her tomorrow or so. She said she was coming to the village. I will introduce you to her." He gave a polite smile to Ino.

But before anyone could say anything else to make Naruto elaborate a chuunin appeared next to him.

"Namikaze Naruto?" Naruto looked up at the chuunin before giving a silent nod. The chuunin continued.

"Your presence is required at the Hokage's office immediately. The Hokage got a letter from the daimyo and need confirmation of the information it gives. Please hurry." And then the chuunin was gone in a poof.

Naruto sighed before standing up and dusting his yukata. He looked at the inquiring faces, minus one or two, before speaking.

"I am sorry to cut this meeting short but I need to go now. Oyasumi (goodnight)." Then he turned and walked out of the restaurant without another word or a backward glance.

Silence ruled over the table before Sasuke also stood up. "I need to go too. I have a mission early tomorrow and it's late. Oyasumi." Then he went off to find his son and escape to their home.

xxx

'I wonder what happened for the daimyo to send a letter to Konoha. We are considered nothing but a weapon village, human or not. Daimyo doesn't even know who is in here except the Hokage.'

Sasuke sighed as he saw Kakashi lazily leaning against a post near the missions' office. He gave him a nod when Kakashi noticed him.

Kakashi held up a scroll before jumping to the trees and speeding off. Sasuke rolled his eyes before following him off to their missions.

Naruto panted and sat down on the hard dusty floor of the private training grounds of the compound. He was angry, and he was not supposed to feel anything. It was prohibited.

He took several deep breaths to clear hi head before standing up to practice his kenjutsu again. He had perfected several arts of kenjutsu, but today he was practicing his clan method.

His mind flashed back to yesterday's events. 'Sakura and even Kiba! They don't even know me anymore.' His eyes narrowed. 'I didn't expect it from kiba. Jiraiya is asking too many questions. It won't be long before he finds out. I need to tell him also. Otou-sama had asked me to. Maybe I should talk to him today.'

Flashback

Naruto entered the Hokage's office when he heard a loud, male voice shout 'come in'. 'Sensei is here too?'

He saw Jiraiya leaning against the window sill while Tsunade was sitting behind her desk, both sipping sake.

"Hokage-sama, you called me." He fell on one knew in front of her, making Tsunade frown.

"What are you doing gaki? You never used to do that before." Tsunade's voice wasn't slurred even though she had a multiple number of empty sake bottles next to her.

"Naruto changed a lot Tsunade-hime. Get used to it. It's better than screaming 'obaa-chan' isn't it?" Jiraiya questioned, still sitting in the sill.

Tsunade huffed but didn't reply, instead scowling at the still kneeling form of Naruto. She caught movement from the end of her eyes and turned to see her teammate signaling at her using the ANBU code. 'Don't say anything'. She nodded, still scowling.

"I got a letter today from the daimyo. It was certainly.. surprising." She said and Naruto stood in a relaxed position in front of her.

"The letter was about the daimyo's daughter and her visit to the village. As the letter said she'll be arriving in early evening tomorrow." She sounded tired to Naruto.

"We can't have this now Naruto. The chuunin exams are in two months and daimyo's daughter visiting is not good. We are still preparing. At least the two kage's will be gone tomorrow."

Tsunade massaged her temples before looking at the silent blond. "What is this about Naruto?"

Jiraiya cleared his throat. "Tsunade-hime. Now is not the time. It's late and the gaki should sleep. We'll talk tomorrow." He didn't cower from the deadly glare aimed at him by the Hokage.

"Come to my office in the morning Naruto. We need to talk about this." She gestured to the letter on her table. "You are dismissed."

Naruto bowed to her before disappearing in a poof.

'I think its time I left for the office, Gaara said he'll be leaving in the morning so that means he left already as did the Tsuchikage.' Naruto thought as he did some relaxing exercises. He sheathed his bokken and turned to his new home.

When he stepped inside the house he was greeted by the sight of a sleepy Jiraiya moodily staring at a coffee cup. When the older man sensed him he was subjected to a glare immediately.

"Where's my breakfast gaki?" Jiraiya asked, annoyed. Naruto raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Walking past the small personal kitchen towards where his room was located. He heard Jiraiya sigh behind him.

After showering and dressing in a white yukata and black pants he started to make breakfast to the fuming white haired pervert and himself.

After devouring soba the two ran off to the Hokage's office. Both intent on finishing the dreaded meeting of an enraged Hokage (she was Not a morning person).

They entered the tower to hear sudden crashing and yelling. Jiraiya winced while Naruto just prayed silently for the unfortunate soul who woke the sleeping Hokage.

After waiting several minutes they deemed the Hokage tower safe and entered the homage's office. Two pairs of eyes immediately zeroed on the gaping hole next to the Hokage.

They were interrupted when judging the damage when a discreet cough sounded in the office. They looked to see a nervous Shizune behind the Hokage, clutching Tonton.

Naruto bowed to the blond woman before greeting her. "Ohayo Hokage-sama."

Tsunade nodded to him before fishing out a scroll and sighing. "Since we were interrupted last night," a glare was aimed at the gama sannin who was discreetly trying to find sake bottles, "we will finish the meeting now."

"I got a letter from the daimyo saying that his daughter will be visiting Konoha to see her fiancée. We have to give her our top security and we can't mess this up. The fate of the village rests in this. Also," bright amber eyes locked onto blank azure ones, "I got to know who the fiancée is."

Naruto stiffened lightly. He never thought that Tsunade would know that. Jiraiya also had abandoned his sake search for the current conversation. He turned to the silent still figure of the Namikaze heir.

"I believe congratulations are in order Naruto." The white haired man grinned at him. Tsunade glared at him, her glare saying 'I-was-going-to-be-the-one-to-say-that'. The Gama sannin raised his arms in a surrendering gesture.

"Congratulations Naruto. The council needs to be alerted of the news which I will do today." Tsunade smiled at the unresponsive blond.

"Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much)" Naruto bowed at the two people he respected most in the living.

"Well since it's done I will put Hinata and Sakura as the daimyo's daughter's bodyguards. It will be fine right Naruto? I will station two ANBU also."

Naruto nodded. "Do as you wish Hokage-sama. I will also be with her when I'm not on missions and so."

Tsunade nodded. But before she could say anything else a knock sounded through the room. Tsunade shouted a 'come in' before the door opened and the kazekage entered the room with his two guards.

"Tsunade. I will be leaving now." Gaara said in his ever present monotone voice. He two sannin's jaws dropped at the sudden statement.

"B-But you said you will be leaving in the evening! This is so sudden Gaara." Tsunade stood up.

"I received a letter from my sister. My village needs me." Tsunade's anger disappeared at his admission.

"Very well then, I will come with you as will these two." She gestured to the Gama sannin and the blond. Gaara nodded before walking out with his guards following behind in silence.

They arrived at the village gates. There were several other ninja gathered to see the kazekage leave, probably learning the news from eavesdroppers.

Gaara looked back at Naruto who nodded back. Then with a formal bow from the Hokage which he returned he walked from the gates with the guards from Sunagakure.

The gathered group slowly dissipated leaving only Tsunade, Naruto, Sasuke and Neji. Jiraiya had wandered off to do more 'research' and he got away before Tsunade could raise her fists.

"I'm going back to my office. Naruto, when she's arriving tell me." She left with a poof at Naruto's nod.

He turned to the remaining two before uttering a soft 'ja' and teleporting away.

Tsunade looked at the broad set man standing in her office. His aged face was set in a frown and the serious expression on the normally carefree face made her feel nervous. Only Jiraiya had that effect now, to make her feel different somehow.

"What is it, pervert?" she snapped, but anger wasn't in her voice, instead it had a soft tone.

"It's about Naruto. There are some things you should know about him. I have been looking for anything and everything I could find out about his disappearance and his name." the Gama sannin sighed. Tsunade looked curiously at him which he took as a 'go on' signal.

"You know the origin of Namikaze and Uzumaki clans Tsunade. You are a Senju, you know everything to know about them from when Hashirama-sama found them."

Tsunade nodded. She knew what her grandfather told about the Uzumaki clan. She remembered seeing the red haired people around in Konoha before.

"I never knew anything about their clan until I learned some things from sensei. I only knew what was taught in academy, and even that were very obvious facts." Jiraiya looked from the window he was gazing at to the frowning Tsunade.

"What are you getting at Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked the other sannin.

"I heard something recently. There was a man who crossed the great borders." Tsunade's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

"Wh-what are you saying?" Tsunade was afraid of the answer the man would give her.

"It happened seven years ago Tsunade. And the man," Jiraiya's eyes darkened "He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was found two years later, half dead, on the borders of Lightning country."

Tsunade's eyes dropped to her table, still wide. 'That's not possible. No one can cross the borders, to get out of shinobi countries and to the outside world. That's impossible.'

"Maybe you got the informa-." Tsunade' reply was cut short.

"I didn't get the information wrong Tsunade. I went there to talk to the family who found him, who found Naruto and nursed him back to health." Jiraiya was tired. He was so tired of all this. He hated feeling confused.

"How is that possible?" Tsunade whispered her question and Jiraiya didn't have an answer.

"I don't know, hime. I don't know. But you need to make sure the council never gets this information. I'm not sure if Danzo knows yet." Jiraiya sighed. "I also found some other things also, about Naruto. They are mostly about his kekkei genkai." Tsunade looked up from her desk and eyes her teammate.

"Nagato was an uzumaki. He had the Rinnegan. Naruto is also capable of that ability. I'm not even sure if he has it or realizes the potential he has for activating it. Only a small amount of people know this fact since Uzu ni kuni was destroyed a long time ago. But that information can get fatal for Naruto and also to the village."

Jiraiya straightened from where he was standing and looked at the still stunned Tsunade. He smiled softly; it was not even visible until you looked closely.

"I will be going now hime. I will be back later today, I have to meet Naruto's fiancée Ne. probably a saucy wench." He winked at the suddenly enraged Hokage and dodged an empty sake bottle all the while laughing, both of them wondering when they had become each other's anchor.

A/N- well it's finally finished. Please review everyone!

Thx for reading