My first attempt on a story! The language may be a little simple because I am Swedish and do not speak/write English so much. But if I had written in Swedish no one would have understood, anyway please read! : D

You may also recognize some of the scenes in the beginning that occurred in the real Manga, don't let it bother you it won't happen in the next chapters.

It was a beautiful day in Konoha. The sun shined bright through the windows in to the Hokage tower where a tall white haired man stood next to his apprentice whom had a proud smile on his lips.

"it's nice to see you again, Jiraya, Naruto." said the big cheested Hokage

"Likewise, baa-Chan!"

"so Naruto have you gotten any stronger over the years?" a pink haired kunochi asked

"of course, dattebayo!!" the loudmouthed ninja declared

"well..."

Naruto turned his attention to Tsunade quizzical

"as you know the chuunin exams is coming up, why don't you prove it? your strength that is."

"you mean..?"

She nodded. "I nominate you to the chuunin exam." she said and smirked.

The blondes face lit up whit blissfulness.

"I'm awesome. only an hour in Konhoa after years and i am already going for chuunin. well Sakura-Chan, this time we will certainly win! But who will be the third teammate be...?"

The two sannin saw the young ninjas spirit drop in thought of their lost teammate. Sauske.

"Naruto I hate to break it to you but Sakura already is a chuunin." Tsunade stated

Naruto broke out of his trance and looked at Sakura who was standing whit her hands at her waist nodding much in hauteur.

"the same goes for shikanmaru, ino, chouji, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, lee and tenten. Neji has already been promoted to Jounin." sakura said

Naruto felt his jaw hit the ground.(along whit his high, proud spirit from before) "ehhhhhh!"

"well who am i going to take it whit then?!" naruto asked

"Sarutobi Konohamaru and his teammate moeig"

"Ok, we'll beat the crap out of the other teams!, dattebayo!"

"Yeah, yeah...." Kakashi said as he entered the window "will you tone down a bit, it has been so peaceful for 2 ½ years, and here you come and make such a ruckus." he said whit an amused tone.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"you have certainly grown Naruto..." he said as he looked at his former student whit a nostalgic face. Which didn't say much to others than himself science most of his face was hidden behind a mask.

"hey, hey.. sensei i have a present for you!" he said as he took out the last issue of icha-icha tactics and handed it over to his Sensei.

"ohhhhh!" he said and giggled slightly as he read the first page.

- Unknown hidden Cave -

"The nine-tales jinchurriki has arrived back in Konoha after his training whit Jiraya, whit him no longer safely under the sannin's wing we can easily capture him."

Kisame looked whit a skeptical look at his comrade. "He will be under constant protection in Konoha. If anything the odds has just grown smaller, Itachi-san"

"you would think so." the crimson eyed man said whit a smirk on his lips. "...but as luck would have it, he his participating in the chuunin exams in a couple of weeks, that's when we strike".

the smirk spread at Kisames lips as well now. "Well, well. That's convenient"

- HOKAGE TOWER -

In the Hokage´s office remained only Naruto and the two sannin now.

Sakura had some urgent business at the Hospital and Kakashi mumbled something whit his newly gained book pressed against his face. Naruto knew exactly what he had in mind.

"Well, i guess I better be of as well". He smirked; "i haven't had the chance to go to ichirakus yet" as he turned to walk away Jiraya placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Wait" he demanded

Naruto looked quizzical but the seriousness in the sannins faces made him sit down in a chair across from Tsunades desk.

"what's up, baa-Chan, ero-sennin?"

a vein popped and Tsunades serious face withered away and she grabbed Naruto's jacket.

"talk whit more respect to your superiors!" she said whit an annoyed yet amused (though she tried her best to hide it) tone.

Naruto smiled a bright smile and Tsunade let go of the blond.

She went back to her serious face yet again.

"I suppose you know what we wish to talk to you about?"

Naruto shook his face sheepishly in a futile attempt to make her drop the subject since he knew this topic wasn't a pleasant one. Akautsuki.

It didn't work out though

"It is a big risk letting you participate in the chuunin exams whit the Akutsuki on your tail, you know…"

Jiraya carried on Tsunades information as she hesitated and drew back her next words when she saw the blond sitting across from her dropping his head looking slightly depressed.

"My sources confirm that they know of your return and of you taking part in the chuunin exams, the odds of they not showing up before you during the exams are much smaller than they actually showing up."

Naruto looked up at his sensei and saw worry in his eyes. He glanced over at Tsunade and saw the same thing.

He hated it. He wasn't some helpless little kid anymore. Though he was glad over their concern.

"It's okay, baa-Chan, ero-sennin..." he started but was cut off by Tsunade

"It's NOT okay Naruto!"

He was stunned at her voice, all those emotions filled within on voice. But most worry. Worry for his safety.

"I… we can't stand to loose you!"

Naruto was yet again stunned over how emotional the Hokage was.

Jiraya spoke hesitantly. "...just promise us to be careful, and don't be reckless and above all you must promise us that you inform us at once if you notice any suspicious." His emotion was pure, not mixed like his former teammate's was. His voice was pure whit concern for his student.

"Of course" he mumbled.

Jiraya and Tsunade was relived and then Tsunade spoke once more

"Then there is the matter of your friends…"

Naruto looked up this time it was his face that showed the most worry.

"Konohamaru, Moegi and Sakura are to be informed about your situation, obviously since you will take the chuunin exams whit two of them and go on mission's whit Sakura in the future."

"Naruto looked dreaded. He was scared. How would they react to him carrying a monster inside him. And not any monster. The kyuubi… the monster fox who killed so many in Konoha 16 years ago…

Would they turn their back on him like all the other villagers had done, would they gaze upon him whit cold eyes that screamed of hatred. Would he be forced to go back to the hell called 'loneliness'? He was horrified.

At last he replied; "I don't have a choice in the matter, do I?"

Much to Naruto's dislike, the Hokage shook her head.

"We must place your safety first" Jiraya stated.

"I see…" he claimed. But he didn't see. Well he did see actually, but he didn't want to see.

He dragged himself up on shaky legs and walked swiftly towards the door. He didn't want to stay and hear as this conversation turned worse. But then he felt to hand on his shoulder again. Jiraya told him once more to wait.

He was glad he stood whit his head against the door as he didn't want to show this face to anyone. He wanted to burst to tears and scream to them that they couldn't just break down what he had worked for to get so many years. Friends. He was so scared; he didn't want to go back to how it was before…

"You do have a choice in this matter though…" Tsunade started, "the former rookie nine as well as team Gai… I wish to inform them as well…"

"WHAT!? WHY!?!" he screamed before he could contain himself as he turned swiftly around to face the blonde sannin.

Then both Jiraya and Tsunade saw the young ninjas horrified face.

Jiraya turned his simple touch on Naruto's shoulder to a warm embrace. He didn't hug his sensei back he was far too stiff to move at the moment.

"Because they care. Because we care" he whispered softly.

"but what if…" the blond ninja mumbled. Jiraya who understood what this was about released the embrace and stared straight into Narutos eyes.

"Don't even think about it. They would never abandon you, they are your friends" he said whit reassuring tone in his voice.

"Wouldn't you want to be informed if your friend's life were in grave danger?"

Naruto glanced over at Tsunade 'of course I would' he thought

"your answer?" Tsunade asked

Naruto hesitantly replied; "do whatever you want"

"I will. Be ready for a meeting about this at the end of this week."

Whit that, Naruto left the room no longer in mood for his Ramen. He walked straight home.