New update! Yay! And it's LONGER too! So, I didn't really get much reviews on the last chapter as I did on the first one - then again, it was just barely updated a couple days ago (or was it just a day ago?). Anyways, I don't necessarily care much for reviews unless I have an important question that ya'll would have needed to answer. Besides that, I'll be updating as much as possible - I'm enjoying the story too much to wait on a schedule for it lol.

I hop you guys enjoy this little filler chapter! And if you get confused, well it will all be answered in due time. (Though you can always PM me or leave a question in the review section - I always reply/answer!)

Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to ANIMEMANGALUV3R! She's the reason another chapter was even uploaded so quickly (;

"Did you hear?"

"What?"

"About the girl? The one who was found by the Jounin team on their way back!"

"No, I haven't heard a thing. What happened?"

It was the same thing over and over again and quite honestly, it was refreshing. For once, the civilians were occupied about something that didn't concern him. He had grown so accustomed to hearing so many whispered conversations about him - conversations he didn't even understand - that to be able to walk down the crowded streets and not hear barely veiled insults about him was like a dream.

Sure, he felt bad for the girl that they were talking about but at least they aren't saying anything horrible about her. Of course, he ignored the part of his mind that whispered, yet.

So caught in his musings, the golden haired child didn't know what was barreling at him in such a fast pace until it, quite literally, slammed into him. Crashing to the ground, Naruto could do nothing but let out a groan as a weight settled onto his chest. Glancing down, he saw that it was a girl around his age.

He was about to say something, more than likely something to get her off, until she looked up. Stormy, grey-blue eyes looked straight into his own bright blue. Something in those depths caused something in him to lose his breath as his palms started to sweat, his heart started beating, and everything around them - the people, the crowded street, the market stands, everything - to disappear.

'What- what is this? Is this some sort of genjutsu?' Naruto thought to himself until the girl pushed off him roughly before taking off with a light hearted laugh, effectively snapping him back to reality.

Turning to watch after her still sprawled on the ground, Naruto wondered just what the girl was running towards but then the people took notice of just who was in their midst and all at once his once happy mood was torn to shreds as the whisperings turned back to him.

Sighing, Naruto stood up and dusted his clothes off as best he could before slumping his shoulders and trudging towards the Ichiraku stand in hopes of getting away.

Okay, so maybe she shouldn't have run off. She couldn't help it, he was back! Laughing delightedly as she sped past the rest of the market, Kagome grinned at the sight of the Konohagakure gates. Slowing down, Kagome marveled once more at the large structure in front of her, a smile still on her lips.

Naturally, Kagome took in her surroundings in a way that came almost too naturally to her. She never truly questioned it as it felt like second nature but she knew, the adults - the other shinobis - wondered about it. Or, at least she thought they wondered. At times, it seemed as though they knew exactly why she was a natural but refused to say anything.

But, forget about that! He was finally back from his month long mission and Kagome couldn't have been anymore happier.

"Oi!" A voice interrupted her thoughts from above and Kagome turned her attention to who was at the guard tower on top of the gates. "You know he isn't going to be here for another hour or so, Kagome-san."

Kagome pouted at the shinobi at the top. "But Genma-chan! I don't want to miss him if he comes earlier than what you say."

Grunting, Genma rolled his eyes before looking at her again. "Let me guess," He said with a resonant sigh, "You were hoping to come up here in hopes of catching a better view of him."

While it was stated as more of a statement rather than a question, Kagome stilled answered. "Hai!"

"Well," He drawled out before turning back into his relaxed, prone position, "Hurry on up."

Kagome nodded, more to herself than for her companion, before pushing off with her feet and jumping to the top of the gate. Looking down at the spot she once occupied, Kagome grinned excitedly. "I did it!" She exclaimed as she threw her fist in the air in victory.

"Yeah, yeah. Sit down before you fall, Kagome."

"Oh!" Kagome blinked at what was said. "Right!" She sat down immediately and focused her eyes on the path in front of her never knowing that she was being watched.

As soon as Kagome had sat down, Genma allowed an eye to open to watch the young girl next to him. She was so dead set on meeting the returning team that she never realized that she was so tensed and on guard. Sighing to himself, Genma closed his eye once more as he allowed his thoughts to return him back to that fateful meeting just a year and a half ago.

"Genma," The Hokage spoke quietly.

"Hai, Hokage-sama?" Genma answered just as quietly as he contemplated just what the Hokage wanted from him.

"I'm sure you've heard of one Miss Kagome Higurashi, correct?" Hiruzen asked bluntly.

While Genma wanted to deny the question up front as no one is really supposed to know, he knew that there was no use. The Hokage already knows so no use in lying. "Hai, Hokage-sama," He answered, shame flooding his tone.

"It is alright to know, Genma. No need to feel ashamed for knowing information. She is not a secret to be kept."

Genma's head snapped up in confusion. 'Then why keep her hidden?' He thought to himself.

"I must admit that in the beginning, she was to be kept in the dark as well as others for her own sake; however," The Hokage had paused to clear his throat, reminding the young shinobi of his old age, "she is going to be reintroduced into Konoha. Kagome Higurashi has no recollection of her past and while we had hoped something would have sparked, I fear that whatever has wiped her memory clean has done so in an attempt that her memory will never return."

"Then why did you call upon me, Hokage-sama?" Genma could not help but ask. While he was honored that the Hokage trusted him enough to know something that is considered 'classified information', he was still confused.

"I have called upon you because Kagome has taken a liking to an important shinobi. I'm sure you know of my son, Asuma?" The Hokage asked.

Genma only nodded in confirmation as he still wondered just what the Hokage was getting at. 'What on earth does this have to do with Higurashi?'

"Well you see, he was one of the shinobis that founded Kagome. He was the one to carry the young child all the way here and it seems that while she made a recovery, as well as while she was being questioned by Ibiki, the two have created a bond. Kagome is very fond of Asuma," Hiruzen explained slowly as he thought of all the times he caught the two joking about in the hospital room, Kagome looking up at Asuma with something akin to brotherly affection as well as hero worship.

"You want me to watch over her when he is away, correct?" Genma guessed. It was slightly obvious. If anything, he was the closest to how Asuma is and so, in a sense, he is capable of taking care of her. It also helped that he was usually on gate duty when not guarding the Hokage. He's pretty sure the child would want to spend time up there in hopes of catching her hero returning.

Genma was drawn out of his musings as Kagome sucked in a breath. Opening his eyes, he watched as she started to fidget in her spot next to him. Slowly, he allowed his eyes to follow her line of sight and had to hold back a smile. "Go ahead, Kagome. I'm sure he already knows that you'll be heading his way soon."

Kagome paused for a slight moment to smile at him before jumping from the gates causing Genma's eyes to widen and for him to lose his usually calm composure. "Kagome! I didn't mean for you to jump off the damn gate!"

All he heard from her was a musical laughter as he watched her land perfectly before speeding away. He sighed as he shook his head. 'This girl is going to be the death of me.'

While Asuma may have been tired, he was just happy to be home. Already, he knew that he was going to be attacked as soon as he gets to the gate by a bubbly little eleven year old. He chuckled to himself at the thought before picking up his pace.

Allowing his eyes to take in the sight of the Konoha gates towering over the forest, Asuma smirked as he felt a wild chakra signature coming his way quickly. Slightly tensing his body for the impact, Asuma brought his arms forward just as a small bundle rammed her way into him.

Laughing as he moved from the tree tops to the clearing just outside the gates, Asuma looked down at the girl. "Kagome, I should have known you were going to be here. Hopefully you didn't cause Genma too much of a fright."

Kagome looked up at him, her stormy eyes brightening in the sunlight as she giggled. "Nope, not even close to that!"

"She's lying!" A yell came from above and Asuma laughed as he recognized Genma's voice.

Kagome narrowed her eyes and pouted. "Am not," she muttered to herself.

Chuckling to himself, he brought Kagome to the ground just as his teammates made it to the clearing and watched as they greeted the young girl brightly. 'It's so good to be home.'

"I'm going to be joining the academy, Asuma-nii!"

That one sentence caused both Genma and Asuma to sputter on their food. "W-what?" Genma coughed out while Asuma tried drinking his water in hopes of stopping the choking.

Kagome frowned at their reaction. It's not that hard to believe!

"Has the Hokage agreed upon this?" Asuma had to ask. Sure, Kagome was more than capable to join but is she even ready for what's to come within a year?

"Your father was the one who mentioned it to me," Kagome answered back smartly as she was still sore over their reactions.

Okay, he kind of deserved that retort but come on, can you blame him? "Are you sure you want this Kagome?"

"If you're asking if I'm ready for this, then yes. I am. I'm eleven years old. The academy students take the Genin graduation exam in one year and the academy starts up again within a week. I want to be able to graduate with them. I don't want to be left out anymore," Kagome answered darkly.

Genma sighed at the thoughts that were more than likely running through her mind. Since coming here, Kagome has been ostracized by a lot of the children - or shinobi in training, as they call themselves - simply because she wasn't part of the Shinobi Academy. He knows full well that she is more than qualified for the academy - Hell, she was part of Root! (not that she knows, mind you) - but it is also justified for them to be slightly wary.

Her joining the academy means that she will graduate - it is definitely not an 'if' - and then she will be taking on missions with her new Genin team. That all equals up to her being exposed to the outside world and eventually, with her skills, word will get out. They still don't know who it was that she was with during her time missing from Root and it is also only a matter of time before Danzo realizes one of his ex-students was running around. 'That is, if he doesn't already know.' Genma thought darkly.

"Okay."

That one word snapped Genma out of his thoughts. He looked at Asuma, shock evident on his face as he thought for sure that Asuma would put up more of a fight.

Clearly Kagome thought the same as she stared at her pseudo older brother in shock as well.

"Really?"

"Are you serious?"

Kagome and Genma questioned respectively.

Asuma just nodded his head before blowing out the smoke from inhaling his cigarette. "Kagome is more than capable of the academy, we know this. And if my father," he looked pointedly at Kagome and watched as she ducked her head in slight embarrassment, "says that she is ready. Then so be it. She has to be able to protect herself some day. We can't always be here for her."

Kagome's eyes lit up at what Asuma has said and before he could do anything else, Kagome immediately glomped him and as they fell over laughing, Genma just watched them with a slightly sullen look to his face. 'I just hope you Sarutobi men are correct.'