DISCLAIMER: No matter how much I want it, I do not own Naruto. I am still only borrowing the characters and only killing off a few…I promise to return them in good condition – well, maybe slightly battered or slightly dead!

As always - big thanks to my beta COOKIEMONSTER77 who rocks!

Chapter Fifteen:

Return to Konoha

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

~Metallica~

The campsite that Jiraiya led them to sat at the edge of a crystalline lake. Something about it teased the edge of Naruto's consciousness. He kept thinking maybe he had been here before, but the lake he and his father had went to was different; still it bothered him. He pushed the feeling aside as camp was set up and dinner eaten. Naruto was unnaturally quiet the whole time.

"What's the matter with you anyways gaki? You haven't spoken more than three words tonight," asked Jiraiya.

"Nothing."

"Are you sure? Your furry little friend isn't bothering you, is it?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little excited I guess. It's been a long time since I've been home."

"Eh, you're just thinking of Sakura again aren't you?" asked Sasuke snidely. "When you get back, she's so going to own you."

"No, she isn't," said Naruto, coloring a bit. "We're just friends."

Sai cracked and imaginary whip and added, "Wh-pssh!"

"What exactly does that mean anyways?" asked Sasuke.

"I don't know. Whenever I went with my father to work, the other men there would do that to him when my mother told him to do something. I assumed it is something you are supposed to do when a female takes charge."

Jiraiya had to choke back a laugh. Naruto and Sasuke looked as though they believed him, so he quickly stepped in. "Sai, did you ever see those men do that in front of Anko?"

"Not that I can recall."

"That's because a kunoichi will kill you if you do. You don't ever want to do that where they can see."

"Well what does it mean then?"

"I'll tell you when you're older. Or better yet, ask you mother when your father is around." They all groaned at the standard response, so tired of hearing the whole 'I'll tell you when you're older' bit. "It's time to meditate now. Naruto, come with me."

"Are we going to try again?"

"Yes. Just remember what I said. The Kyuubi is sealed. He cannot hurt you."

Sai and Sasuke gave Naruto commiserating looks as he passed in front of them and sat in front of Jiraiya. Communicating with the demon was difficult for the boy and usually left him upset and angry afterwards.

~~O~~

When Naruto opened his eyes, he found himself in his mindscape ankle deep in water in front of the massive sealed cage. Evil, luminous red eyes glowed from within. Kyuubi's deep malicious voice rumbled, "So you've come again, huh human. What do you want now?"

Naruto refused to let the beast intimidate him this time. He boldly walked up to the gates and stared down the demon. He was determined to get the advantage this time. The only sound he heard was dripping water and the creature's harsh breathing. He noticed saliva dripping from gleaming sharp white teeth and suddenly realized where the water came from…

"That means I'm standing in…Gross!" he thought as he lifted his feet and shook them out one at a time.

"You recognize our surroundings because you are very close to the village. We will be arriving back to Konoha soon. You know those people will never accept you. They hate you. Release me and we have our revenge upon them. We can show them how strong and powerful you are. We can destroy them all. You know you want them to respect you, fear you…"

"Stupid, slobbering, mangy fox…"

Naruto girded himself for the mental battle. He clenched his fists and tried to respond as calmly as his volatile temper would allow, "You don't know what I want. I've told you before that I will not harm my village or the people in it. Killing everyone solves nothing. Fū was able to get along with Chōmei and work with him. Don't you see? We should find a way to do the same. If you truly are the most powerful of all the tailed beasts; like you claim, then shouldn't I be the most powerful Jinchuriki?"

"Oh you think you're so clever human. You are nothing. I will destroy you! I will rip your soul to shreds! When I am released I will destroy everyone and everything precious to you! I will…"

Naruto interrupted, "Fine, if you don't want to be serious then I am leaving. Remember this though; you are living inside of me. If I die, then you die. Someday you are gonna have to realize that I didn't put you here and we should find a way to live together in peace."

"PEACE…THERE IS NO PEACE! ONLY ANARCHY, DESTRUCTION, CHAOS, MADNESS AND DEATH…!"

"Whatever," he said wearily. "Don't think we're through yet Kyuubi."

~~O~~

Naruto opened his eyes and grimaced. His head was pounding from the pure hatred the Kyuubi exuded. He wearily exhaled and tried to calm his roiling belly. It was no use…he leaned over and vomited until nothing was left but stomach acid.

He felt a cool hand on the back of his neck. "Maybe you should just stop trying," said Jiraiya kindly, "It's just too hard on you."

"No way Pervy Sage, I never quit. It's my ninja way."

It was very easy to figure out which buttons to push with that boy. Jiraiya smiled proudly as he saw the sheer will and determination glint in Naruto's eyes. "I know gaki, I know."

~~Konohagakure~~

As soon as the team walked through the village gates, they each took a big breath. They had smelled the humid, salty air by oceans, dry, dusty air of the desert, and the moist, pungent air of the swamps, but nothing beat the fresh, clean pine scent of home.

They waved as Jiraiya left to report to the Hokage. They looked at each other somberly for a moment before Naruto grinned. "I'm home Konoha!" he yelled excitedly. "Naruto Uzumaki Hatake has returned!" People stopped dead in their tracks once they recognized who had shouted. Many shot him dark looks and muttered under their breath before hurrying away.

A trace of disappointment crossed his face. "Oh, yeah…I forgot," he muttered.

"I didn't," said Sai quietly. He stood and rooted through his knapsack until he located the slingshot he had found during their travels. "What do you think Sasuke?"

Sasuke smirked, "The BPB."

"Size?"

"Flock."

"Strength?"

"The pelican special."

Naruto hadn't caught their exchange, but was able to sense their hostility. He held up his hands and protested, "Guys, really, you don't have to worry about it. I'm used to it. It's no big deal."

"Anyone who insults my brother also insults me," said Sasuke calmly.

"We don't have time for this. We have to get to the arena before the tournament starts. The gate guards said that our parents will most likely be there. I want to see my family."

Sai added, "It will only take a moment and besides, while a brother is usually a man or boy who shares the same father and or mother it can also be described as a deep bond shared between men. Therefore, as our brother, we must defend that bond."

"Eh?"

Sasuke tsked, "Just go on, we'll catch up with you."

Sai dug through his knapsack again and pulled out a small round object with strange markings all over it. "Time?" he asked.

Sasuke squinted at the crowd of people staring and pointing rudely at their friend. "Four seconds," he murmured while tapping the ball. He took the slingshot from Sai and said, "Make some cover."

Sai nodded, took his scroll, and quickly began to draw. "Super Beast Scroll," he murmured. Birds jumped off the paper and flew into the air above the crowd while Sasuke put the ball in the slingshot. He aimed high in the air, stretched the band back and let it fly. Four seconds later, the crowd began yelling and cursing as wet bird droppings rained down upon them."

"BPB successful," said Sasuke, bumping fists with Sai. They caught up with Naruto a minute later with smug looks on their faces.

"I saw what happened…Bird Poo Bomb?"

"Yeah."

Naruto said with a smile, "I've got to admit; that one really is my favorite."

"It should be baka; you created it."

~~Home at Last~~

The arena was packed with most of the Konoha population and many visitors to witness the third test of the chunin exams. The trio looked around in disappointment – how on earth would they find their families in a crowd this size?

Across the stadium, six people were attempting to locate their seats. Itachi wrinkled his nose as he handed Mikoto Tamagogani (dried hermit crabs!) and commented, "I cannot begin to comprehend how you can stomach that mother."

"I had a craving for it," she said, "And besides, it's very good." she was about to give Ayame her serving, but had to laugh when she noticed Kakashi fussing over her like a mother hen. "Really Hatake, I know how you dislike large crowds, but you did promise your wife you would bring her here."

"Yeah Kashi, stop trying to use her as an excuse to leave," added Anko.

"I don't know what you're talking about. She said she wasn't feeling well today and I didn't want to her to overexert herself."

Ayame joined in the women's laughter. "I said my feet were sore, Kakashi. I worked late last night so show us where our seats are so I can sit down."

He led the way to the benches where Ūhei and Bull were waiting while whispering promises of feet being rubbed and other parts, which of course Anko and Mikoto overheard. Their amusement turned quickly in embarrassment as he got more and more outrageous.

"Get a room perv…!" shouted Anko.

"I'm trying," pouted Kakashi, "But she won't let me leave."

"Well until you do, please refrain from any mention of where you want to stick your tongue. Some of us want to watch this without feeling the need to be sick," commented Ibiki dryly.

The finals began with Hinata against another Konoha genin. It was over before it could really even start. As the young man was carried out on a stretcher, Ūhei's ears perked up. He stood on his hind legs to get a good long sniff as the wind shifted. He caught the tantalizing aroma of musty socks, smoke bombs, and fox – a combination he knew as well as Kakashi's own unique scent. He growled at Bull, who dissipated in a small cloud. The six adults leaned forward expectantly.

"Naruto!" howled Ūhei, gathering surprised stares from the citizens surrounding them. "He's here! My puppy has returned!"

The ninken jumped off the bench and plowed through the row of people sending them flying in different directions. A nearby vender; not seeing the animal, lost his footing and was sent tumbling through the stands. He landed on another person, who bumped into a lady, who screamed in surprise before falling over another civilian, who was sent flying through the air.

Kakashi caught a woman in his arms and sat her on her feet. "Sorry about that," he gave her an eye smile and apologetically added, "He's just a little excitable."

A huge poof of smoke clouded everyone's vision. As it dispersed, seven ninken appeared. They all howled in unison and took off after Ūhei, much to the spectator's dismay. More people were sent flying from the pack's charge through their midst.

The disgruntled shinobi and civilians that were knocked out of their seats as the hounds came through barely heard their apologies. More screams were heard as the ninken continued on; weaving their way in and out between people's legs and under the women's dresses.

"Excuse, pardon me, the pup's here! Excuse, pardon me, coming through… nice shoes! Excuse, pardon me, sorry about that!" chanted Guruko and Bisuke, "Excuse, pardon me, coming through…"

Ūhei didn't even bother to apologize. He howled and snapped at everyone that got in his way. "Move it or lose it sister," he growled out viciously to men and women alike.

"Naruto's home, Naruto's home, Naruto's home, Naruto's home," sang Urushi and Shiba in unison.

"My puppy, my puppy, my puppy, my puppy, my puppy," snarled Bull. Everyone scrambled to move out of the dog's way. Those who wouldn't or were just too slow found themselves trampled by the massive hound.

Pakkun just jumped from atop people's heads with a doggy grin. He looked back at Kakashi and grumbled, "Well, aren't you coming?"

Ayame gave him a laugh and a push. "Go ahead; I'll calm everyone down here."

He took off after the pack, grabbing Pakkun as he was complementing a lady on her shampoo. "Where is he?" he asked.

"To the east," pointed the pug.

"Oh crap," muttered Kakashi as the pack jumped into the arena and straight through Kiba and Ino's battle. He went the long way around.

~~O~~

Naruto was still trying to figure out where his family could be when Hinata's very short fight began. He barely had time to point it out to Sasuke when it was over. He tried to search through the sea of faces for a familiar one, but it was still no use. There were just too many people.

Suddenly, everyone began laughing and pointing down. The trio jerked in surprise as a pack of howling ninken plowed straight over Ino and scaled the wall of the stadium. Seconds later, they ran full tilt at Naruto.

The blonde genin threw his hands up in a vain attempt to slow them. "No wait! Stop!" he screamed.

Too late; they knocked the boy down. Rough, wet tongues were licking him from head to toe. Ninja surrounded them, thinking he was under attack. One shinobi tried to pull Akino off, but changed his mind fairly quickly as a deep-throated snarl and snap of sharp teeth narrowly missed his hands and the growled comment of, "Do you like having opposable thumbs?" made him drop the dog.

Once Naruto was able to calm them enough to get them off and sit up, his hair was sticking out in crazy directions from all the slobber. Kakashi was suddenly and unexpectedly kneeling beside him and then pulling him into his arms.

"Dad! I'm home!"

"And it's about damn time too…" he replied gruffly.

Sai and Sasuke were getting the same treatment from their families when Ayame finally arrived. She just didn't have the same speed as the shinobi. She was huffing and wheezing, but her face was aglow with happiness.

"What are you doing?!" asked Kakashi sternly. "You know you shouldn't be running around in your condition. I would have brought him to you."

"Oh stop your fussing," she admonished, "I wasn't about to wait another minute to see my son." She held out her arms to the blond boy. "Come here and let me look at you."

"Holy crap! You're really fat!" Naruto blurted out. He instinctively ducked Sasuke's hand as it almost smacked his head. "Uh…sorry, I mean, well you know… You look like you're… about to explode."

Ayame laughed good-naturedly and enveloped him in a warm hug. "I've missed you honey bear." She swatted Kakashi's hand away as he tried to make her sit down. "Please stop fussing, Kakashi. I'll sit down when I'm good and ready."

Naruto frowned in concern – she really was huge. "I missed you too. You don't have to pee or anything do you?" He looked down to check and see if it was true about pregnant women wetting themselves and then ducked yet another swat from Sasuke. "Maybe you should sit down?"

"Not you too," she groaned and then whispered, "You're father has been driving me crazy with his over-protectiveness. He fusses so much and treats me like I'm right about to break at any minute." She added very loudly, "And he seems to forget that women have been having babies for thousands of years."

"Well technically, and judging by your size, I would say that your water could break at any moment," commented Sai. "Our current location would not to the ideal place for such an occurrence to take place."

Ayame laughed. "I still have a few weeks before I need to worry about that."

He didn't avoid the swat that Sasuke sent to his head. He sent a blank look at the Uchiha and then asked Anko, "Why did you not inform me that I am to become a brother as well?"

She patted the slightly smaller bump on her belly and said, "Surprise!" She gave Ibiki a little glare and a slap upside the head then muttered under her breath, "And don't think I'm not getting you back for this…"

Ibiki's expression didn't change, but smugness seemed to radiate from him.

Anko growled, "Now let's get back to our seats before Kakashi has a hissy fit and drags poor Ayame home. We can catch up there."

Sasuke sent a smirk at Naruto and then announced loudly, "I thought we all agreed that we were not going to allow the women to drink out of any man's cup, in case he spit in it."

Naruto blushed and yelled, "Aw come on, I was like seven or eight years old. And besides... you thought that it was true too Teme!"

Kakashi ruffled Naruto's hair and chuckled. "It's good to see some things never changed. It's almost as if they never left," he commented dryly.

"So who's up next?" asked Naruto with the biggest, happiest smile he had ever worn on his face. Not that it really mattered…he was home…

~~The Konoha Chunin Exams~~

Sakura walked out into the arena looking so tiny and vulnerable. She looked so nervous and unsure. Naruto heard the men beside him discussing her, "…just a rookie genin, no known bloodline…forgettable…surprised she made it this far…"

Naruto seethed, but said not a word. She would show them. He glanced over at Sai and Sasuke, who were sitting a few spaces away and grinned. It was the beginning of the most awesome day ever. The sun was softly shining and a cool breeze tickled his neck. The high energy of all the people all around him made him completely forget his own disappointment of not being down there himself. But the most wonderful thing of all was that he was surrounded by the people who loved him most. What could be better?

~~O~~

Sakura looked up at the giant Iwa ninja that was her opponent. "That's a genin?" she asked herself in amazement.

He flexed his huge meaty hands, his knuckles strained against the snug-fitting leather. He was grinning at her. He had a tense, predatory look plastered to his face. His was the smile of a wolf just before it closed hungry jaws on the cornered rabbit. Then he laughed.

It was hearty and yet oddly pleasant, but his hard eyes glinted with morbid amusement. He wanted her to fight back, for he enjoyed the chase. His little scare tactics wouldn't work on her though, she vowed to herself.

Sakura grinned back at him. She blew him a kiss as the proctor, Hayate told them to begin. Her hand slipped into her pouch and pulled out the chained weapon.

She twirled it around her body. The whistling knife sliced through the air, making him back off. She changed its trajectory, slicing him in the forehead just below his hitai-ate. Blood poured in his eyes, obscuring his vision. He swiped it away and lowered his headband to stop the flow.

Sakura smirked.

"This isn't over yet, little girl," he growled. From his pouch, he withdrew a kunai and began to retaliate. His anger made him even deadlier. Sakura swung the blade again.

In a surprisingly agile move, Akuma jumped over it, twisted mid-air and ducked low beneath Sakura's swinging chain, slashing out with his own weapon. She stumbled back on the uneven ground, blocking his attack, but Akuma caught her wrist in an iron grip. He brought his kunai around; Sakura got a loop of chain around the blade and locked it tight. Both genin spun in their sudden embrace, faces inches from each other.

She jumped up, planted her feet in his chest and twisted her hands, breaking his hold and then flipped in the air, losing her bladed chain in the process. She quickly removed the ornamental needles in her hair and threw them downward in a fast-moving barrage. His injured arm, punctured by several of the senbon, did nothing to slow him down. Akuma merely gave the girl a dark look and tried to move in closer.

Sakura calmly studied the way he used his kunai and by the time she backed up against the wall, she knew how to handle him. Akuma made long sweeping passes with the kunai instead of the short vicious arcs employed by skilled ninjas; therefore, on the outward half of each swing, after the blade passed Sakura but before it started coming back again, there was a second or two when the weapon was moving away from him, posing no threat whatsoever, a moment when Akuma was vulnerable.

As the huge man edged in for the kill, confidant that his prey had nowhere to run, Sakura timed one of the arcs and sprang forward at precisely the right instant. As the blade swung away from her, Sakura seized Akuma's wrist, squeezing and twisting it with as much force as she could muster, and bending it back against the joint. With an audible crack, she broke his wrist. The huge man grimaced, but made no sound. The kunai flew out of his thick fingers. He wouldn't be able to do any jutsu now.

A high-placed kick knocked him back. It was a glancing blow, less devastating than she had hoped, but he staggered back a step or two. He didn't go down. He wasn't seriously injured. But he was hurt and the pain transformed him. He was no longer in a perversely playful mood.

The crooked smile disappeared. His mouth was set in a straight, grim line, lips tightly compressed. His face was red. Wound up in fury, his neck muscles popped up, taunt, and impressive. He crouched slightly, ready to spring. She thought he would try to stalk her; instead, he rushed straight at her without any finesse. Anko's teachings came back to her about the benefit of being a kunoichi. They were lithe, flexible, and quicker than men were.

She easily ducked under his outstretched arms and spun around while snapping a sharp kick at the center of his back. This time he flew through the air; ten feet then twenty before hitting the wall with a hard crunch.

~~O~~

"YEAH!" Naruto stood up and shouted as loudly as he could; "I knew you could do it, Sakura!" He turned and gave the men next to him a smug look. "That's my friend, Sakura Haruno…don't forget the name. She is not forgettable."

Ayame laughed at the boy and hugged him to her. "I've missed you so much," she whispered. "It's good to have you home. The house has been much too quiet."

"Not for much longer," he said, eyeing her round belly. "Have you decided yet what her name is going to be?"

"We don't know if it's going to be a girl or not, but we were hoping you might have some ideas."

Surprise and pleasure showed in Naruto's eyes. Without thinking, he said, "Fū." His heart immediately hurt as though a blade pierced through him. "Maybe not," he muttered. "I'll have to think about it." He looked back down at the arena floor and tried the regain the happy feeling from earlier.

~~O~~

Finally having the space she needed, Sakura pulled out a storage scroll and released it. Flowers flew up and rained down upon the ground around them. Akuma picked one up and was about to laugh when Sakura made the ram seal and completed the jutsu, "Many Blooming Flowers!" She quickly jumped back as the petals hardened and turned explosive. They ignited and shot towards the genin like missiles. Akuma, who was still too disorientated to evade, tried to block the flaming flowers. The subsequent explosions rocked the stands and temporarily blinded eyes.

The air was filled with glowing embers like luminescent moths, swooping and fluttering upon the spiraling thermal currants. High on the roof of the arena, a cataclysmic crack was followed by a crash that jarred the stands. A hail of burning roof tiles clattered down onto the ground. An apparition appeared in the wavering blaze of heat, silhouetted against a wall of fire. Sakura calmly strolled out and stood alone.

~~O~~

She did it. All the hours of blood, sweat, and tears finally paid off. She had defeated her opponent.

When Naruto had sent her the scroll, she thought it sounded pretty useless. Seriously, how often would she happen to have a field of flowers nearby during a battle? But she had to admit to herself – it looked pretty cool.

"Winner, Sakura Haruno."

She bowed to Hayate and; elated with her victory, practically skipped out of the arena to where her sensei and teammates stood waiting. Genma had an elated grin on his face. "What did I tell you, Haruno?"

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," she quoted with a smirk. She looked at her teammate with a little trepidation, "Try to be careful Shēn when you fight that Gaara kid. Remember what we saw in the Forest of Death. He's very dangerous."

The teen gave her an annoyed look and scoffed, "Humph, he's just a little shrimp like you. I can take him."

AN:

Sorry if you didn't like the prank, but the boys just had to say hello to Konoha in a big way! And for those of you who hadn't read Broken - When Naruto was little, he was absolutely convinced that a woman could become pregnant by drinking out of a man's cup that he spit in!

Thanks to everyone who favorited/followed/commented or is still reading my latest chapter. Thanks to all the guests who commented, sorry I couldn't send you all a personal PM to say it.

AZFAERYDUST