Time Skip

Seven Years Later

The young girl threw her head back and inhaled deeply, the smell of the Leaf Village had been missed greatly. So much different than the brisk cold of where she had spent so many months training. It was drier, warmer, inviting, pulling her in and embracing her. She bounced on her toes, trying to suppress the part of her that wanted to launch herself through the gates and run through the town. Instead she looked up at the older man that stood to her left. "Are you glad to be home, young one?"

"Yep," The pinkhaired girl popped her P loudly. With the rigid ruling of the Land of Iron no longer held above her she let her childish habits overcome her. They were so serious there, nonstop. It made everything so bland. Even speech seemed to be monotone. The older man frowned disapprovingly,

"Falling into old habits so soon, Saki?" But the young Uchiha could see the amused glint in her papa's eyes. For as uptight as the older man could be when it came to her training time, she could tell that after he spent so much time in the Leaf Village he could see how ridiculous some of the traditions his old land were. Even he seemed tense after spending so much time there. The strictness of the places was finally, slowly melting away with the sight of their beloved Village. "Ah, I don't suppose he's here for me." A jabbing of his thumb to the side of the gate had Saki turning to a very welcome sight. Before she could control her impulse her feet were propelling her forward. She pushed up on her toes throwing her arms around broad shoulders. A chuckle sounded as she was lifted off the ground, hugged tightly before being gently set back on her feet. She held on for a moment longer, and then pushed his chest forcing him back.

"Jeez, have you grown again?" Ryu Uchiha had indeed grown a few inches in the absence of his sister. At thirteen he was still growing into his manhood. Getting more handsome as the years passed. Many girls in the village had noticed, and with his older brother Takuya's lack of interest dating, had started flocking to the younger Uchiha. In turn Ryu had gone through quite a number of girls since he left the Academy, unabashedly. He wore a white high collared shirt with the Uchiha fan over a standard black fishnet shirt, black pants and sandals. His blue hair had darkened a few shades and grown out to his shoulders. His Hitai-ate was tied securely to his forehead.

"Nah, I think you've just shrunk Saki!" Ryu teased his green eyes glinting playfully. She pouted, drawing away from him. He noticed she was still in her Samurai training attire. She was from head to toe in crisp white. The only added color being her pink hair which was pulled neatly into a bun on the top of her head with plain hairpins. A sword sheathed on her side. It hid the more childish part of her and smoothed it over with a stricter and wise cover of a training warrior. It was a strange though for his baby sister who, he knew, personality wise was quite the contrary. She is excitable, cheerful, a talker, and could be so very loud. Not to say she wasn't a great fighter, and yes, swordswoman when the time called for it.

Because of their likeness in behavior they had developed quite the bond. Ryu had been closer with his brother when they were younger. They were close in age and it had always seemed to be the two of them, until Saki had come along. At first maybe he resent her; not liking her just on principle. But they thought too much alike. Having the same humor and often looking at things from the same perspective, something that seemed undoable with his brother Takuya, he found it impossible not to like her. Takuya was too serious too often. He was uptight and seemed predisposed to be good at everything he tired. Making everything look effortless, while Ryu felt like he always had to work three times as hard to be where his brother could so easily be. It was exhausting, leading him to the presence of his easygoing sister. Their mother often told them they spoke a different language around each other. Only ever saying half sentences and laughing before the punch lines making them seem unnecessary. "Is papa coming over for dinner?"

"No, he said that he was going to head home because he was tired. But I think that Ms. Sora is coming by and he just wants some alone time with her." In mutual silent agreement they began walking back to the Uchiha compound talking about what had been happing in the village and how training was going. They were feet away from their house and practically in tears from laughing so hard when the door swung open and Takuya exited. His handsome face was pinched in anger cutting off the laughter abruptly.

Takuya looked the same as when she had left. His hair was buzzed short, haitai-ate secured to his forehead, wearing the traditional Flask jacket. His posture stiff and impenetrable, holding an air of superiority that often was mistaken for arrogance. Saki learned while she was away that he had passed the Jonin exams. With the work ethic-all work, no play- she wasn't surprised that he had ascended the ranks so quickly. Takuya strode pasted them barely acknowledging his younger sisters return home. Onyx eyes briefly meeting was all that was received as he left the compound.

"Are Takuya and dad still not getting along?" Saki asked as her eyes followed her brothers retreating form. A hand rested on her back and pushed her forward to the house. She trudged forward, enthusiasm lost.

"Don't worry about it. You know how stubborn Takuya and dad can be. Nether wants to give an inch."

"Do you even know what their arguing about?" His silence said everything. They walked into the house taking off their shoes. Saki had just taken the first barefooted step into the living room when something hit into her chest. An automatic smile came to her lips as she leaned down and wrapped her arms around the little body of her three year old brother Daisuke and the last of the Uchiha siblings. His hair was a vivid blue, more vibrant then anyone one else in there family. "Did you miss me?"

"We all did." A gentle voice had her turning around. Saki rushed over to her mother and hugged her tightly. Sasuke, who had silently come back downstairs after hearing the entering of his children, was trying to relax after his trying time with his eldest child watched the two women in his life.

Sakura was beautiful and aging with integrity. She had grown her hair out over the last few years and now came down to the middle of her back and was currently tied in a loose braid. Still in clothes from her day working at the hospital, she was wearing black pants and high heeled boots with a white unzipped sleeveless shirt over a dark red top.

Sakura held her daughter closely, telling her how much she missed her. Nimble fingers started pulling the pins out of her daughter's hair, letting her hair down to just above her shoulder. Saki's hands went up to her head massage her scalp as the tightness of the bun was released. Sakura pointed to him and Saki whipped around and gave him her best smile. He let the tension slip from him at the genuine of the gesture as she pranced over to him.

Training Ground 10

Tenten was walking with Kenji to find Neji at the training grounds. He had planned a sparring match with Lee and they had planned on going out for a family dinner afterwards. As they approached Tenten saw a figure standing to the side and upon further inspection saw that it was Kagura. She figured Naruto must have come out here to spar with Neji as well and Kagura had come to drag him back to his office to get him to do his paperwork. But she didn't sense his chakra signature, just the two of her former teammates. Kenji didn't seem to be put off in the least as he walked over and greeted her.

Kenji Hyuga's genes still strongly presented themselves. With dark hair that he chopped short, and his lighter skin color and pale eyes. He looked like Neji as a child, and was just as strong willed. At eight he was a master of getting out of trouble which was a good thing considering his best friends were his cousin Kyo who never ceased to get in trouble, and Kiba Inzuka's wild child Koga. The three were known for getting in detention from disrupting class and than for skipping detention. Tenten couldn't count the number of time she had to go talk to the Academy and would be sat down in a room with Naruto, Hinata, and usually Kanna Inuzuka more often than Kiba. It miffed the teachers that none of the parents really seemed concerned, since they usually ended up catching up in the principal's office. It didn't surprise her that none of them really saw much concern with it, all having their own discipline methods. Hinata was the only one that surprised her by being so okay with it and even asked her about it when the mystery became too much. Hinata had laughed and reminded her how much trouble Naruto, the current Hokage, had gotten into as a child and they were his children. Besides her house had never been cleaner.

"Kagura,"Tenten greeted, "Is Naruto around?"

"Ah, no," The woman smiled back at her shifting nervously, "I'm, um, actually I'm waiting for Lee." Tenten blinked not quite believing what she had just heard.

"I didn't realize." A blush came to Kagura's cheeks, her eyes downcasting. "Oh! I didn't mean it like that! The age difference really doesn't bother me! Ah, not that there is much of an age difference! I mean there is a slight age difference but-"

"Tenten," A stern male voice called. Her teeth clicked as she closed her mouth stopping herself from putting her foot any farther in her mouth. Kenji smiled at sweat soaked father. He ran until he was only a couple feet away from him and got into his fighting stance. Neji nodded at his unspoken request and started a very light sparring with his son and cool down for himself.

"Yosh, the power of youth is incredible!" Lee ambled over to the two women coming to rest at Kagura's side. "I'm sorry! I didn't make you wait too long did I?"

"Ah, no. Besides it a beautiful day, I'm glad I got to spend some of it outside." With the job she had acquired, Tenten believed that Kagura was genuinely happy to be outside. Kagura's skin was very pale and was only enhanced by her dark hair and eyes. Her skin seemed to already be getting pink, whether that was from the sun or her blushing was anybody's guess.

"Yes it is! Maybe we should find somewhere to eat outside for lunch!" Lee then turned to his female teammate. "Would you and Neji like to join us?"

"Oh," Tenten looked at her to boys out in the field. Neji would probably want a shower before they went anywhere and they should probably talk. And she got a sneaking suspicion that the new couple before her wanted some alone time anyways and Lee was just trying to be polite. "Not this time Lee. I'm not sure how long were going to be here for anyways."

"It wouldn't be a problem to wait."

"No really Lee," Tenten knowing that Lee wouldn't back down, quickly turned the tables on him. "Kagura has already been waiting for you for some time and I bet she is hungry." Lee's eyes widen as the idea went through his head and then he was turning to face the younger woman.

"Right, then we should be going! The power of youth is nothing on an empty stomach!" Lee took Kagura's hand and started on the path back to the village. Tenten watched them go uncertain of what she thought of the couple.

"You're staring," Tenten leaned into her husband's embrace, not minding his sweat soaked shirt pressing against her back. "You don't like them together?"

"It's not that, I'm just shocked I guess. Lee's never really dated before. I guess I should be grateful. I was worried that he would never get over Sakura. Even after Sasuke came back and they got together he was sure that they wouldn't work. He didn't really give up into after Sakura had Takuya and even then he still seemed to pine after her. I was worried that he wouldn't ever get a chance at a real relationship because he was so stuck on her."

"They have only been dating for a month but they seem happy enough." Tenten tensed in his arms and Neji knew that he had said something wrong. Tenten twisted in his arms, her eyebrow twitching in anger.

"You knew they were dating and you didn't say anything!"

"I didn't know I was supposed to." Neji nonchalant voice only infuriated the brunette even more.

"Lee was dating and you didn't think that maybe you should tell me?"

"It really didn't seem important. Beside it was Lee's business and you have a tendency of meddling."

"Tendency of meddling!" Tenten echoed, "You listen here Hyuga-" Tenten went off on her rant that Neji quickly lost track of. Tenten could speed talk with the best of women and when mad it only seemed worse. If he concentrated hard enough he could usually understand and even sometime participate in the argument but most of the time he found himself unable to do so. Because his wife was undeniably hot when she was angry and that made reason seem unnecessary. Besides she would eventually get it all out and calm down enough to have a rational conversation afterwards. It was that way when they were teammates and it was still that way now that they were married and had a family. He kept expression neutral as his eyes appraised her body. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, her brown hair pulled up into two buns on either side of her head covered with red bun covers. She wore a matching traditional Kimono that pulled in the middle where stomach was enlarging. The pregnancy had been a shock. They talked about having another child after Neji had gotten over his awkwardness with Kenji but ultimately decided that having another child just wasn't in the cards for them, that is- until it was.

Tenten had stopped talking and was now starting at him expectantly. Neji was saved from having to respond when their son jogged up to them slightly out of breath from running around the perimeter of the training grounds. "Are we going to eat now?"

Inuzuka Household

"Take them off and hose down. I swear Koga Inuzuka if you get mud on these floors you will be the one scrubbing them, you hear me!"Kanna yelled from the kitchen. The young brunette sighed, how did she do that? He hadn't even made it off the mat. He opened the door, "Taimaru too!"His ninken ears sagged. The pair headed out back to the hose. Koga stripped down to his boxers and turned on the hose. Taimaru whined, tucked tail and ran the other direction.

"Are you worried?" Kanna leaned against the kitchen counter, whipping her hands on a towel.

"Not really," Kiba pulled his jacket off and threw it over the kitchen chair. He sat down, pushing back to rock the chair onto two legs.

"So this is normal then?"

"I mean, it's not common but there isn't an exact age. It's just whenever the kid is ready." Kanna crossed her arms over her chest biting her lip. "Come here." The brunette pushed off the counter and closed the distance between the two. She stopped inches in front of him. Kiba put his hands on either hip and swiftly pulled her down to straddle his lap. She couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. His arms slipped around her waist clasping under her butt and she set her on his shoulders.

"It's just Amaya got Ah-Un when she was just two and Koga got Taimaru even younger. Kaoru is six now and still nothing." Her hands rubbed up and down Kiba's shoulders and biceps. He leaned forward kissing the side of her neck.

"Don't worry so much. Trust me it will all work out." He mumbled against her skin. "Speaking of our kids, where is Amaya?"

"Bathroom," Kanna ran her fingers through Kiba's thick hair. "She's been in there for quite some time too." She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. "I love you." Kiba stood up holding her, her feet off the ground kissed her hard on her lips. He set her on her on her feet and smacked her behind.

"I love you too, baby."

Hokage Tower

"Gah! How can there still be this much left!" The blonde Hokage pulled at his locks frustrated.

"Let's get some ramen then!" Kari's voice rang loudly from the doorway throughout the office. Naruto didn't even stop to think as he jumped to his feet and agreed. It was a quick walk with not much talking both think about the delicious ramen they would soon be feasting on. Conversation didn't start to flow until they both got to their second bowls and it dawned on Naruto that Kari should still be in Academy.

"We got out early today because of the field trip to the hospital, ya know!" They were learning first aid skills and wanted to show Medical Justu. Kari figured it was probably because there was still a lack of this type of Shinobi, though it had increased in recent years.

"Ah, right, of course." Naruto ran his hand through his hair. With all the things he had to make decisions about the Academy wasn't the highest. Hinata had taken to the care of the educational aspect of it. She seemed to enjoy it, and kept everything running smoothly. She didn't really ask him things so much as tell him what was going on nowadays.

Kari slurped down her second bowl and raised it up, declaring loudly she would like another. Naruto smiled, her personality was so much like his own. It was like getting to see himself as a child through somebody else's eyes. So vibrant, like the hellish nightmare of her kidnap was just that, a nightmare to haunt them in their waking hours. He was never happier with his decision to erase the event from her past.

Kari was growing up so fast, no longer the small, chubby baby with blonde hair so fine it was barely there at all. It hair had thickened and taken a more auburn coloring, not nearly as dark as his mother's, but a deep strawberry blonde cut into a short pixie cut covered by a dark bandana with only her short fringe covering her forehead.

"Naruto is here, shocker." The blonde in question turned around questioningly.

"Ah, Ino and Nori what brings you here, or could you just not stay away for Ichiraku's either?" Ino sat down next to Naruto while Nori opted to sit next to Kari.

"We thought we would try something a little different for dinner." She dismissed, before ordering for both her and Nori. Kari looked at Ino before turning to Nori.

"She cut her hair?" Nori nodded in response, eyeing his mother's short blonde hair. She had copped her ponytail off a week ago and had recently stopped even putting it in a ponytail.

"She's been going crazy about this doing things different thing. I think she's losing it." He mumbled under his breath.

10:46PM At The Gate

"Are you happy to be back?"

Shikamaru took the sight of the Leaf Village, "Yeah, it's good to be home." Temari looked at her husband and felt guilty. It was her that had made his home a place they only visited when they had missions to do so. But they were back now, back to stay.

Temari felt a weight press against her thigh, and looked down at her son Asuma who was doing everything in his power to stay awake. His eyes half lidded and a yawn stretching at his lips. Her sharp eyes next found Arisa who was blissfully asleep on her father's back. Temari squeezed Asuma hand before letting it go and picking him up, the six year old groaned in protest but his body seemed unable to deny its need for sleep. A little arm wrapped around her neck and snuggled into her shoulder.

"Should we inform Naruto that were here?"

"How troublesome," Shikamaru released one arm that was holding his daughter on his back and wrapped his arm around is wife, "Why bother? He's probably asleep. Let's just head for the house. We'll go see him in the morning."

I'm back! ;) I just couldn't give up this story. It's my baby! I just want you guys to know that I'm going to be moving soon to my friends. They don't have internet or cable, so I can't say for sure, but I think I will be doing a lot of writing while I'm there.

Please review! This was just getting reacquainted with most of the characters. Next chapter you should see the rest of them and get to see more of the plot bunnys!

Ps. I'm not sure if all my chapters are going to be this long or if I'm going to update more frequently. I guess it just depends.