Their journey home was uneventful, over all it took them three days to get back but once they did Kakashi and Naruto both had to visit the hospital.
Naruto calmly sat on her hospital bed, waiting for Tsunade to come. Sasuke and Sakura had come in a few minutes ago after visiting Kakashi.
Sakura was chattering away while Sasuke or Naruto would just nod to her statements. A huge bang at Naruto's door signaled the arrival of Tsunade. She walked up to Naruto and pulled her into a hug.
Tsunade glanced at Sasuke and pointed towards the door. Pushing off the wall he complied with her unspoken demand.
Sakura remained in the room, curious as to what would happen next.
"I need to scan your body," Naruto nodded and slowly pulled off her shirt and gave it to Tsunade. The fish net shirt she wore underneath was thin enough that Sakura could see some of her skin.
Sakura couldn't hold back a gasp when she saw Naruto's back; long ridged scars stretched from one shoulder to her hip, looking closer Sakura could also see other scars, only smaller, all along her torso.
Tsunade's hand glowed green as she quickly checked to make sure Naruto was okay.
Breathing a sigh of relief Tsunade pulled her hand away from Naruto's body and handed the younger girl back her shirt.
Naruto smiled reassuringly at Tsunade.
"I'm glad to say everything is back to normal; Kurama did a good job healing you," Tsunade smiled at her as well.
"Then would you be upset if went home, I'd like to at least spend some time reading."
Tsunade shook her head. "I'd like you to wait a bit longer, Jiraiya is coming to check up on you and I still have to assign a new captain to your team until Kakashi gets better."
Naruto scoffed at the idea that she would have to wait for Jiraiya but nodded anyway. Tsunade ruffled Naruto's hair causing her neat ponytail to become frizzy and psychotic.
"Baa-Chan~" Naruto pouted doing her best to smooth down her pale, blond hair.
"I'll see you later Gaki," Tsunade said taking her leave.
A few moments after Tsunade left Sasuke walked back in with Jiraiya at his side. The older man smiled at her warmly.
"Over did it again, huh?"
A blush crept upon Naruto's cheeks and she attempted to hide her face in her shirt but to no avail.
"Come on let's go and get some ramen, I'm sure you miss the rotten stuff," Jiraiya joked.
Naruto tackled Jiraiya with a hug. With that she practically dragged the old pervert out of the room and down the hall.
"Naruto!" a manly but soft voice reached her ears. Recognizing the voice Naruto whirled around, her clear blue eyes sparked with excitement at what she saw.
"Sai-nii-chan!" Naruto let go of Jiraiya and allowed herself to be pulled into a brotherly like hug from the black hair man.
Sai was a good head taller than Naruto even with her high healed ninja shoes. He also had a pleasant smile (not a fake one) on his face as he propped his chin on Naruto's head.
"Who's that Naruto?" Sakura asked coming up behind the two, Sasuke at her side.
Before Naruto could respond though, Sai took it upon himself to answer for her. "I'm just a good friend of hers," his voice was dry but he still wore a smile on his face.
"Ah! Sai, would you like to go get some ramen with us?" Naruto said to her 'brother.'
"Why not, we haven't had a chance to 'catch up' for some time now."
Naruto snagged his arm and snatched Jiraiya and started off again to her much-loved ramen stand.
(::)(::)(::)
Naruto was walking ahead of her sensei and team having very joyful chat with Sai. They were just about at Ichiraku when Sai mentioned something that Sakura and Sasuke just couldn't ignore.
"So, Naruto-chan, have you found the ass that kidnapped you yet?"
A visible chill went down Naruto's back as she shook her head 'no.'
"Jiraiya and I looked everywhere but we couldn't find them... Hakaru -sensei was becoming very worried they would come back for me if they knew I was alive..." Naruto trailed off at the thought.
Sakura and Sasuke's jaws had dropped a good foot at what they heard her say. Jiraiya who was next to them saw this and stopped them before they could continue walking. They gave him pulsed looks as he did this.
"Don't ask Naruto what happened during that time," he warned.
"Whys that, clearly something had happened and she needs help!" Sakura said angrily.
Jiraiya shook his head. "That's not the case Sakura, Naruto has only told three people what happened, and every time she has to relive the experience over and over again. I suggest you don't do that to her. She may look strong but the smallest of things can cause her to re-laps, and if that thing turns out to be either of you, both Tsunade and I will take care of yourself," he said growling out the last part.
Sasuke and Sakura gave him hesitant nods before he allowed them to move on.
"Naruto?!" a loud yell came from the ramen stand as Sai and Naruto had walked in. Sakura, Sasuke, and Jiraiya rushed over to see what happened, but as they want in they saw Naruto sprawled out on the floor with a rather giddy Ayame hugging her tightly.
Naruto's face was slowly turning blue, form lack of oxygen.
"Ayame if you don't get off Naruto soon, she might die," Jiraiya said.
Ayame glanced over to Naruto's face and immediately bolted up to let the poor girl breath.
"I sorry Naruto-Chan," she said scratching the back of her head nervously.
Regaining her breath Naruto smiled at her.
"It's good to see you to Ayame."
"How does Ayame know you're a girl?" Sakura asked.
A thin blush crept over Naruto's cheeks.
"Ayame-Chan had to get those things for me."
Sasuke looked puzzled at what she said.
"And what are 'those things'?"
Sakura who was now blushing too quickly look over for Naruto.
"Don't worry about it Sasuke, it's nothing."
He quirked an eye brow up ever so slightly but didn't ask again.
"So~ what can I get you guys?"
"Miso!" Naruto suddenly called out and took a seat at the counter.
Ayame nodded and looked over to the others awaiting their order.
"Same," Jiraiya said taking a seat next to his student.
"Pork," Sakura said at last.
"Miso, I guess..." Sasuke said not really caring.
"Miso and Chicken," Sai said smiling.
Ayame nodded and went to the back to not only tell her father their order but also to let him know Naruto was back, that is if he didn't already know...
It wasn't Ayame who brought out the ramen Ticho came out and placed an overly large bowl of ramen in front of Naruto.
She glanced up at him before a strange glint took place in her eyes.
She slurped down her ramen in astonishing speed and finished with banging her bowl on the counter. Ticho who had been frowning till now grinned at Naruto who was smirking coolly.
"Welcome back Gaki."
"I'm glad to be back, if for nothing for at least your ramen." Naruto placed her chin on the palm of her hand. "Man, it's hard to think I haven't had even a single cup of ramen since I left."
Sasuke's and Sakura's jaws fell as they stared at her in confusion.
"And why is that?" Ticho asked in his usual gruff voice.
"My Sensei refused to let me eat such things because they are not very good for my health," she said with a sigh.
"That's right; I didn't protect you from near death only for you to kill yourself with greasy noodles, Ato-Chan."
Team Seven could have sworn Naruto's head almost spun off her shoulders from how fast she turned around. At first her face remained blank until a huge smile broke out across her face.
"Hakaru-sensei!" Naruto bolted off her stool and face planted the woman's chest in a hug.
"Ato-Chan, if I told you once I've told you a thousand times you aren't my student anymore. It's not like I can teach you anything else, you know everything I know."
Naruto smiled sadly up at the women, also taking it as a chance to take in how different she was. Her red hair was still long and braided with eyes still green as before. She wore her usual blue kimono top, typical konchi shorts and blue shoes. She definitely didn't change from what Naruto could tell, well of course they had just been together not even two weeks ago so what did she expect.
"You know she's right Ato-Chan." Naruto glanced around Hakaru and her smile grew bigger... if that was even possible.
"Hoshi, Kasumi, Sora!"
Hoshi a strong looking girl with silver hair and dark blue eyes. She wore a short sleeveless green dress and long black pants. Next to her stood Sora, he was a brown hair boy taller than Sasuke and had pupil-less, purple eyes. He wore a simple long sleeved dark blue shirt and long dark gray pants. Kasumi unlike the teens next to her looked very much like Naruto, except with red hair and gray green eyes. The smile on her face threatened to split her skull in half.
"Itoko, it's nice to see you. I hope you've been good," Kasumi's voice was similar to the sounds of chimes. They were as delicate as she looked.
"Kasumi-Chan it's good to see you too," Naruto chimed in as well.
"Now Ato-Chan would you like to tell me why your shoulders are so stiff and I can feel a bandage around your waist?" Hakaru asked with her voice could but a hint of concern could not be missed.
Naruto let go and backed away from Hakaru, but never answered.
"Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, why do you have a bandage around your waist?" Hakaru asked again.
"She got stabbed on a mission," Sasuke answered for her, gaining a glare in the process."
"What mission? You're not a Konoha Nin any more Naruto you can't' be taking missions form them anymore!"
Naruto's icy glare flickered to Hakaru, "It doesn't matter if I can't fight in large battles or if I'm going to leave this village I will always be a Konoha Nin until I die," Naruto's gaze flickered red for a moment.
"Naruto," Hakaru groaned out.
Kasumi stepped between Naruto and Hakaru. "Mother, Itoko doesn't look so good."
Naruto growled under her breath, if anyone could figure her out it would be Kasumi.
Kasumi stepped up to Naruto and gently felt her forehead with a hand.
"She's burning up."
Naruto pulled away, "Kasumi-Chan I'm fine," Naruto growled softly.
"Did it act up again?" Kasumi pressed.
Naruto looked away, not answer again, still in truth she was starting to get dizzy. Placing a hand on her forehead in hope of stopping the spinning sensation.
"Itoko?" Kasumi barley had enough time to wrap her arms around Naruto and stop her from falling.
Hakaru, Hoshi and Sora ran up to the two girls.
Hakaru quickly released Kasumi form having to hold Naruto up. Running her hand over Naruto's body she couldn't help but swear colorfully.
"Where's your hospital at?" Hakaru yelled loudly at the Konoha Nin.
Sakura steeped forward and gestured with her hand for them to follow her.