They set out at sunset. The time of day had no effect on these Ninja. Each one of them was as hard as they come. Each had a reputation built up even before the final war. Naruto led as he was instructed to and as soon as they were passed the borders Gaara stated that he was not acting as Kazekage. He was a team member.

Naruto seemed a little too proud and smug to have two Kage under his leadership. Sakura knocked him down a few numbers for good measure and reminded him it was only because he was the Konoha nin.

They traveled through the night and into the next day. Their only stop for rest came at the end of the second night when they stopped just half a day short of Konoha. It was decided that from here on out they should mask their presence more thoroughly and travel lightly even though it would take longer. There was no immediate rush.

That night they stopped and rested in an empty cave.

"Look at all this rain man. Is it gonna let up anytime soon man," B rapped.

"It's the rainy season here," Sakura explained.

"It's worse in the mist. Sometimes it won't stop raining for a month. And the crops always fail because we can't predict when it will come." Chōjūrō drew his knees up to his chest.

"At least you have a bunch of fish," Kurotsuchi pointed. "In the stone we used to live on goat and skimpy trout caught in the rivers."

"Yo yo yo relax. The clouds got yer backs. Our trades going strong if you keep giving us those fish and stones."

"And we appreciate that," Gaara nodded.

The conversation got out of control as they talked about trading statistics and such. Sakura gave it her best to remember everything they said for future use but Naruto was quickly distracted with his tool bag.

"Naruto," Tsunade snapped, commanding his attention with the same voice she used as Hokage.

"Eh?"

"What is your strategy for tomorrow?"

Naruto clearly hadn't been expected to be asked that. Nor had he wanted to answer. His eyebrows drew together and he rubbed his chin. "Uh. Unno. Well. Er there's a thing where we… uh…"

"You don't have a plan do you?" Kurotsuchi sweated.

"No! No I do! Um I was just thinking that we… walk in through the front doors and up to the Hokage's office."

"If we do that the enemy will have time to prepare," Said Gaara. "Do we want to give them the time to rally your Anbu?"

"I don't think it will be a problem. Trust me. I'm going to solve this without any blood."

"Okay," Chōjūrō was the first to agree. "I'm kinda sick of wars and all… I know that isn't very becoming of a ninja to say but if we can solve this without fighting I'm okay with it."

There was a collective nod amongst the team. "Alright," Tsunade sighed. "We'll do it that way."

"Good to me," B crossed his arms.

Sakura patted Naruto on the shoulder. "I hope it's going to work."

Like he knew something they didn't, Naruto just continued to grin. "Relax. We'll save everyone. And Sasuke. I'll save him this time."

"You dont have to promise me," Sakura bit her lip. "Really Naruto. You did enough the first time."

Naruto never dropped his grin. "Nah. Not really. But I cant wait! And when we get back you need to sit down and talk to him, like you did with me."

Sakura blushed a little, nodding with a happy little bubble in her stomach. "Of course. I'm going to explain that the one I love is-"

"Naruto, do you want this last piece of fish," Chōjūrō interrupted them.

Naruto grabbed it and returned to his conversation with Sakura. "Good. And dont worry. I understand."

Sakura's little bubble of happiness stopped growing. "Understand," she tested.

"Yeah. You love him. And I want you two to be happy. Don't worry about what happened in the village. I get it. You don't have to settle for me now," he rubbed the back of his head. There he went. Naruto and his fake smile. He was so good at it not even Sakura could see through it anymore. But he wanted her to know it wasn't going to hurt his feelings.

Sakura's bubble of happiness disappeared completely. She was speechless. She didn't know what to say.

And it hurt. Right in her chest she felt a pressing weight. "But what if I want you, not Sasuke."

Naruto gave her a firm look, clearly calling her out on a lie.

The pain in her chest grew so much worse.

The next morning they set out. Without a single interruption they snuck past the first, second, and third tier of guards around the village in the forest. They didn't make themselves known until they were standing in front of the village. naruto knew instantly how much things had changed.

The gates were closed.

Since the first Hokage the gates had never been closed. To keep them open was a sign of goodwill each nation partook in. It was to show that they were open to people. Trusting. To close them was… well it was wrong. It was breaking a tradition as old as the leaf village itself.

"I…" Sakura was out of words.

Naruto clenched his fists and looked up to the gate guards firmly. Two men he did not recognize stood rooted to the spot, seemingly aghast. Tsunade and Naruto and Sakura stepped forward, forming two rows. Gaara, B, Kurotsuchi, and Chōjūrō stood behind. Chōjūrō gave his large sword a pat.

Not a word was said but seconds later the gate was rolled open. The squad stepped forward.

The streets of the village were bare. Some houses seemed boarded up. As they walked through the streets Naruto caught sight of a few Ninja on the village roofs, watching them but not moving to intervene.

"Why aren't they moving," Kurotsuchi whispered.

"Because," Tsunade glanced towards the Hokage's faces. "We are not their enemy."

Naruto's hands clenched tighter as he walked through the empty streets. Ino's flower shop was empty. Only a few wilted lily's hung in a bouquet outside. It was clearly out of business. Sakura let out a small audible gasp at the sight.

They continued walking until Naruto held up his hand. Ichiraku's shops banner was down. A "for sale" sign hung in its place. Whether they had moved as a lot of merchants had, or it they chose to shut down for personal reasons was beyond the group. Naruto was disturbed by the sight. He couldn't tell exactly why. Perhaps it was the memories. As strong as those his appartment held. At the thought of his old home he turned his eyes towards where his apartment was supposed to be.

Supposed to be, but wasn't.

An empty field of dirt and gravel lay in its place. As if it never existed. Naruto curled his nails into his palms and turned with a new fire towards the tower. "This ends. Today."

Not a single ninja got in their way. They watched from the sides. From the roofs. At the base of the Hokage tower a few people had gathered quietly. Hinata. Shikamaru. Kakashi. Sai. Choji. Ino. Some Ninja who Naruto had never met before. Some he had but forgotten their names.

A few nods were given his way. The team was surprised that his plan worked. He was surprised himself. The village was never initially fond of him. A small part of Naruto had been afraid that over the course of time they would learn to hate him once more. Those eyes.

He was scared of those eyes returning. Naruto couldn't live like that again. He'd of walked right back out if that was his greeting. Luckily a year was not enough time for humanity to forget all he had done for them.

His footsteps landed heavy as he made his way up to the Hokages office. Nothing much had changed but every other light was out. Naruto didn't find this to be something noteworthy, though the other team members stored it in their memory. Seemed Electricity was becoming sparse in Konoha. Another symptom of declining resources.

The team stopped at the large doors. Then Naruto took a deep breathe and nodded.

Sakura and Tsunade opened the doors for him. He walked inside and his team afterwards.

Kato was sitting at his desk. A small stack of papers was in front of him. He was a very regular man. He had black hair and brown eyes. He was not tall nor was he short. He wasn't fat or thin. He was just average, but skilled.

"HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE!" He demanded, standing up so fast the chair knocked backwards. "YAMATO!"

"Nobody is coming," Naruto growled.

Gaara stepped up besides Naruto. "In accordance with rule 82 of the Shinobi Alliance Proclamation part S, we're judging you unfit for duty and removing you of your position. What do you have to say?"

Kato looked bewildered. He raised his hands. "This is terorism. You will meet your death!"

Naruto put on a blank face. "You cannot defeat me Kato. You cannot defeat my team. Do what's best. Resign."

Kato hesitated. "And let you execute me? I think not."

"There will be no execution," Naruto corrected.

Kato looked properly shocked. Everyone in the room did.

"I wont be starting the new reign with a murder. Gaara, restrain him. Kato please cooperate. I understand what you did. Why you did what you did."

Kato narrowed his eyes at Naruto but didn't move even as his wrists were captured in sand. "How can you understand? A monster like you?"

"It's because I'm a monster I understand," Naruto bowed his head. "But, understanding does not mean forgiving. You have destroyed my village. You have imprisoned my friends. You have starved my people. And you will pay. Gaara, Chōjūrō, B, take him down to Inoichi. Kurotsuchi gather the people in the square below."

They bowed and departed. Sakura stared with disbelief at Naruto. "You just… you didn't even fight!"

Naruto laughed. "I'm tired of fighting. And Kato's smart. He knows he can't defeat us. Surrender was the only option."

Naruto took Sakuras hand out of habit and they moved onto the roof. Below people were gathering quickly. On the roof behind him the Konoha 9 and team Gai, with the exception of those who had been imprisoned, stood. Iruka Sensei approached with a smile. "You're back. I missed you."

"I missed you too Iruka-sensei."

"It's good to have you back," Ino added.

Kiba threw caution to the wind and ran up, wrapping his arms around Naruto in a big hug. "You idiot! What took you so long?"

Naruto had no answer.

"It's time to address them," Gaara approached from the side. He walked with Naruto to the edge and then let Naruto take a step further.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Citizens of the leaf village!"