Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Recap:

"Well, if your done with all of that mushy lovey-dovey stuff, can I say something?" Naruto asked with a lopsided smirk. "TEAM SEVEN IS FINALLY BACK TOGETHER! WHOO!" Naruto yelled happily, running over to his teammates with his fists punching the air. He gave them a big bear hug, trying to keep his excitement level down.

"Finally...," Sakura said under her breath, reading her teammates' minds.

End Recap.

The reunited team seven wasted no time in getting back to Konoha. Along the way, Sakura was either holding hands with Sasuke or in his arms, much to Naruto's disgust. As they neared the village, Sakura could feel Sasuke getting tenser and tenser.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Asked Sakura.

He locked eyes with her, his eyes were now filled with some of the happiness that had left him years ago. Naruto looked back, wanting to hear the answer. "Nothing."

"Bull shit, Sasuke," Naruto said, "Just spit it out already."

"Hn," Sasuke said, looking away to his left.

"Are you scared about going back to the village?" Sakura asked, trying to get him to look at her.

'Why is it that she can always read my mind?' Sasuke thought as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Uchiha's don't get... scared," Sasuke said, saying the last word with much disgust, "I'm just... not sure of what to expect."

"Oh, come on, scaredy cat! There's nothing to be afraid of," Naruto teased.

Sasuke glared at him.

"But seriously," Sakura said, sending a warning glance at Naruto,"Nothing bad's going to happen. Lady Tsunade said that you will only be watched by ANBU and be doing D-rank missions."

"Ah, fun," Sasuke said sarcastically.

"Don't worry, It'll all work out, I mean, we're finally together, right?" Sakura asked with a smile, pulling his hands out of hiding. That got Sasuke's attention.

"Right," Sasuke said while leaning down to kiss her.

"Bleh...," Naruto said as he kept on walking, pretending to throwing up along the way.

"Well, here we are guys. Home sweet home, just a couple of yards away... ," Naruto smiled, excited to be home again. He took a big whiff of the air and said, "Ah... smells just like Konoha."

"And what exactly does Konoha smell like?" Asked Sasuke, arching an eyebrow.

"... Um... leaves... and... gosh Sasuke! It just does, OK!" Naruto said quickly.

"Sasuke, stop torturing Naruto. Naruto, again, be more mature," Sakura intervened.

The newly-united team seven stopped about ten or so yards away from the front gates. Sasuke let out a deep breath.

"Ready?" Sakura asked, also excited to be home again.

Sasuke nodded his head. "Yeah."

"Come on then," Sakura said, her grip on his hand getting tighter, "Remember, don't kill anyone and everything will be great. I promise."

"You say that like it's the easiest thing in the world," Sasuke said, which earned him a slap on the shoulder, "Hn. Let's go then."

They all let out a deep breath and started walking forward, Naruto taking the lead.

'Finally back... after five years. I wonder how much everyone has changed? I wonder how many people will be afraid of me? I wonder if they are all still weak? Hn,' Sasuke thought.

Naruto, who was eager to be home, had already reached the gates. He was greeted by Shikamaru and another chunin that he didn't recognize, who were supervising the gates.

"Hey, Naruto! Back so soon?" Shikamaru said while standing up and walking over to his friend.

"Yeah, weren't you suppose to bring Sasuke back again? And wasn't Sakura with you too?" The other chunin asked, who walked up beside Shikamaru and stopped.

The unnamed chunin was about five feet, ten inches tall, and looked like he weighed about 100 pounds. In other words, lanky. Or maybe even toothpick described him better. He had oily, blondish-silver hair, about the length of Sakura's. He had very squinty black eyes and a face that looked like a sweet potato. He was wearing the traditional chunin clothing.

'How much more good looking can a guy get?,' Naruto thought to himself sarcastically.

"Yeah, she's back there," Naruto said, pointing out of the gates, "She'll be here soon."

"Ah, but where's Sasuke?" The chunin asked while pretending to search for him, "Did you not bring him back again? It's OK Naruto, you'll still have a couple of hundreds of tries!" The still unnamed chunin said while chuckling, his crooked and yellow teeth showing.

Shikamaru's face twitched in irritation as Naruto's face darkened. Naruto hated it when people teased him about Sasuke. Yeah, that's right. Over the years, he not only got stronger, he got smarter too.

'Sweet Potato Head going down!' Naruto thought angrily.

"Nezumi, shut the hell up," Shikamaru said, "Naruto, don't listen to a single thing this nuisance has to say, he's too troublesome to bother with."

'Ah, so that's Sweet Potato Head's name...,' Naruto thought.

"What? I was just saying that I thought that Naruto was the best ninja in Konoha? If he was, wouldn't he have brought Sasuke back by now? Hm?" Nezumi said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"I wouldn't be saying that if I were you," said a feminine voice from behind, "Because team seven's going to squish you like the rat you are."

Naruto looked to his right and found Sakura, who was obviously pissed, and Sasuke, as cool as ever. Shikamaru looked surprised while Nezumi cowered in fear, as three of the top ninja stood before them.

"S-Sasuke Uchiha...!" Nezumi said, his eyes getting wide, his mouth agape.

"Hi Shikamaru," Sakura said, acknowledging her friend, "Who's this?" Sakura said, pointing to the trembling man beside him.

"This," Shikamaru said, pointing his thumb in the other chunin's direction, "Is Nezumi. He's a new chunin who was assigned to watch the gates with me. As you already know, he is a nuisance.

"Ah. Well, Nezumi," Sakura spat his name, "What makes you think that you can talk to Naruto like that?"

"I-I d... uh... I'm... I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Said Nezumi, bowing toward Naruto in respect, his long hair flying in every direction.

"Yeah, that's what I thought! Now, bring us to Lady Tsunade," Sakura commanded.

"Y-yes ma'am!" Nezumi said. He then preformed some hand signs and poofed them all in front of Tsunade's office door.

"Shikamaru, don't tell anyone that we're back yet," Sakura said.

"Got it, Sakura," Shikamaru said.

"Do you get it?" Sakura said to Nezumi while crossing her hands over her chest.

"Y-y-yes... of c-course!"

"Good, you may leave now. Bye Shikamaru," Sakura said. Shikamaru acknowledged her good bye with a nod.

The two chunin poofed away, smoke swirling along the walls.

'Damn... I knew Sakura was controlling but... damn,' Sasuke thought, surprised and speechless.

"Naruto, like I said before, don't let that rat get to you. He's just jealous," Sakura said reassuringly.

Naruto let out a sigh and said, "Thanks Sakura. Should we knock now?"

Before Sakura could answer, Naruto was already opening the door and walking in.

"HEY GRANNY, GUESS WHA-" was all Naruto said before the sound of shattering glass against the wall was heard.

"DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW TO KNOCK? GET OUT!" Tsunade yelled before throwing another glass item.

Sakura was horrified about what had just happened, unlike Sasuke, who was very entertained. They both saw Naruto running out of the office, running down the hall like a loose pig.

"Naruto, get back here!" Tsunade yelled, running out of her office door. She was holding an empty bottle of sake in her right hand. "Wait 'till I get my hands on-" Tsunade stopped, noticing someone standing behind her, "Oh, hello Sakura. How are y... Sasuke?"

"Yes Lady Tsunade, that's what Naruto was trying to tell you...," Sakura said with a sigh, "Before you almost smashed him with your sake bottle."

"Oh. Sakura, go get Naruto. Uchiha, you get in the office," Tsunade said, "And don't try any funny business."

'Like she could do anything to him,' Inner Sakura said, 'Sasuke's too awesome!'

"Hn," Sasuke said, obviously not intimidated, and walked into the office. He avoided the broken shards of glass on the floor.

"We'll wait for you, Sakura," Tsunade said.

Sakura walked down the hallway, following the direction that Naruto ran in. "Naruto!" Sakura yelled every minute, hoping to find her teammate.

After five minutes of yelling his name, Sakura heard Shizune yell from a room, "Over here Sakura!"

Sakura walked over to the room and glanced inside. She found Naruto sitting on a hospital bed, his left hand bandaged.

"Did Lady Tsunade do that to you?" Sakura asked sounding semi-surprised.

"Hehe... yeah," Naruto said sheepishly while scratching his head.

"Naruto, you have to learn to be more careful... and to knock," Sakura said, "Come on, Lady Tsunade wants to see us in her office."

"OK, thanks again Shizune!" Naruto said, smiling, while standing up and walking out the door.

Shizune anime teardropped while smiling at the two ninja.

"Come on Naruto, you know better than most people that Lady Tsunade hates when people keep her waiting," Sakura said, quickening her pace.

Once the two reached the door, Naruto, who learned from his past mistake, knocked.

"Come in," Tsunade responded.

Naruto opened the door, and being the gentleman that he is, let Sakura in first.

"What the fuck...," Sakura muttered to herself angrily.

Nezumi was a character that I made up. The reason why Sakura was calling him a rat is because Nezumi is Japanese for rat. Or at least according to Google...

E person :)

4-26-11

edited on 6-18-11