The next morning everyone was startled awake by someone banging on the door.

"Naruto! I know you are in there, open this door!" It was Sakura, and she sounded mad.

"Shit! Both of you hide somewhere!" Naruto scrambled out of bed pulling his pants on as he went to answer the door. Sasuke pulled the covers up over his head and Suigetsu ran into the bathroom. Naruto opened the door a crack.

"What do you want Sakura?" He wiped sleep from his eyes.

"I went to the hospital this morning only to find out you left last night! What were you thinking?" Naruto stopped her before she could continue.

"Did you just come by to scold me or do you need something?" Sakura was taken aback by Naruto's abruptness.

"Uh, well…I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay that's all."

"I'm fine, I'm just a bit tired still. How about we get lunch later, okay?" Sakura nodded.

"Don't forget, Tsunade wants to see you."

"I won't." Just as Naruto was about to close the door something in the other room fell.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." Naruto stuttered. "Something just fell that's all, nothing to see here!" He slammed the door.

"Naruto! Is someone in there! Answer me!"

"Everything's fine, I'll see you for lunch!" Naruto yelled through the door. Sakura muttered curses to herself as she stomped away.

Naruto leaned against the door. "Phew, that was too close." Suigetsu came out of the bathroom with a "whoops my bad" look on his face and Sasuke sat up in the bed.

"So, what's our plan?" Suigetsu asked.

"Well, I have to meet with Tsunade in a little while, I think with everything that has happened, I could convince her to let Sasuke come back."

"Sounds like our best option, there is no way we will be able to lie our way out of this to Tobi, especially with Deidara dead. Sasuke?" Suigetsu and Naruto both looked at him. He was silent for a while.

"I don't know…"

"Sasuke, you saved the hero of the village, there is no way Tsunade can say no, you killed a corrupt leader, provided us with valuable intel at the risk of your life and you took out a member of the Akatsuki along the way. Trust me on this, you're golden." Sasuke looked at Naruto. He finally gave him a nod.

"Alllrrrigghht! Yeah!" Naruto tackled Sasuke onto his back and kissed him. Seeing Naruto's sheer joy made Sasuke smile. He would do anything to make him happy. Plus, Suigetsu was right, there was no way they were going to get back into the Akatsuki, this was their best option.

"I'm going to shower and go meet with Tsunade" Naruto went into the bathroom. "I think both of you should come." The shower turned on.

"If you think that would be best." Sasuke wasn't sure how he felt. He was happy that he would be able to stay with Naruto if everything worked out, but this was the first time he had been back to the village since he had first left to go with Orochimaru. That guy was such a creep, he was glad he was dead. But he was having trouble picturing what it would be like to be part of the village again. If it meant being with Naruto it couldn't be all bad. Sasuke got out of bed.

"Suigetsu, find something to do."

"But why?" Sasuke already had the bathroom door halfway open.

"Unless you'd rather listen?" Suigetsu didn't argue.

"I'll meet you guys out front of the main building."

Sasuke disappeared into the bathroom. He let his underwear drop to the floor. Once in the shower he wrapped his arms around Naruto from behind and started kissing his neck.

"Sasuke, Suigetsu…"

"Suigetsu isn't here." Sasuke pressed the length of his body up against Naruto and started caressing his body. "I think I owe you for last night, you remember what I told right? I plan on following through on everything I said." Naruto's breathing quickened and his heart was pounding. Sasuke licked his finger and slowly slid it inside of Naruto making him quiver with pleasure and let out a moan.

"Sasuke…" He moaned breathlessly.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure you can still walk when I'm finished with you."

xxx

It was midday when Naruto and Sasuke finally showed up, Suigetsu had a serious frown.

"It can't have taken that long." Naruto's face turned crimson.

"Well, we most definitely are not going to give you details." Sasuke said from underneath his hood. Until Naruto talked with Tsunade Sasuke still had to avoid being seen. They headed inside. Naruto had them wait in the hall while he went in to talk with Tsunade. The two Anbu guards were giving them the eye. Sasuke kept his back to them while they waited. He talked to Suigetsu in hushed tones.

"Suigetsu, just so you know, we decided that we aren't going to tell anybody about us yet." Suigetsu looked at him quizzically. "We figured, going to Tsunade with please let my boyfriend come back wasn't really the best approach."

"Fair enough, I won't say anything. When you want to make your relationship public knowledge is your business." Sasuke nodded his appreciation.

Meanwhile on the other side of the doors Naruto was getting the 3rd degree. As soon as he had gone in Tsunade had started asking him questions about where he had been, what had happened and why Danzo's head had been on her desk. He had told her everything he knew minus a few details, plausible deniability for her.

"So, what you are telling me is that Danzo tried to kill you because he thought you had joined the enemy?"

"Right."

"Why would he think that, the intel you gave us wasn't enough to prove that. And then there is the matter of your informant…"

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Let him stay in the village. All he has done is help; he gave us valuable intel on the Akatsuki's movements, killed Danzo who was clearly corrupt, among other things. He saved my life. He should be treated as a hero. He can't go back to the Akatsuki now, not after he has betrayed them, his place is here, with us." Tsunade considered Naruto's words. "He is waiting outside, how about you meet him and then make up your mind. Hear him out."

"Very well. Bring him in."

Naruto poked his head out and signaled for Suigetsu and Sasuke to come in. Tsunade took in Suigetsu first as they came through the door, and then her gaze fell on the cloaked figure.

"So, there are two of you."

"I'm just along for the ride." Suigetsu said. He put his hands up submissively.

"Show me your face." Tsunade's gaze was locked on Sasuke. When he pulled back his hood she gasped.

"Sasuke…you're Naruto's informant?!" He didn't respond.

"So, it was you that night in the hospital." It was all starting to make sense. The reason Naruto hadn't wanted to share his identity, and how he had been able to get the intel. It had been rumored that Sasuke had joined the Akatsuki, he would have been in the perfect position to infiltrate their ranks. Sasuke was the person Naruto had run into on his last mission. She chuckled inwardly. A truly masterful plan. Danzo had clearly been an unexpected obstacle. Sasuke had risked everything to save Naruto's life. She stood up and walked over to Sasuke, they stared at each other, both unwavering. Naruto's heart raced.

"So, you want to come back to the village huh? Why?" Sasuke crossed his arms. He was trying to think of a reason other than that he loved Naruto.

"Naruto helped me to realize that this is where I belong. He showed me that it wasn't too late to choose a different path." It was a few minutes before Tsunade spoke again.

"I guess I just have one thing left to say, welcome back Sasuke." She slapped him on the back and smiled. He cringed; Tsunade had a tendency to underestimate her strength. "Now, I would like your full report on the top-secret mission you have just returned from." Sasuke gave her a confused look which she returned with a mischievous grin. "I know everyone will be pleased to know that one of our best ninjas has finally returned alive and well from his very dangerous mission that we were forced to keep a secret for his safety. In order for him to have a successful infiltration he had to be seen as an enemy of the Leaf. I am sure everyone will be ecstatic to welcome you home Sasuke. They will be filled with pride and gratitude for all of the things you have accomplished for the village. You will be held among the most honorable of shinobi." Naruto punched the air.

"Alright! You're the best Granny!" Tsunade poker her head out of her office door, she ordered one of the Anbu to bring Kakashi, Sakura, and Sai to her at once. The other she sent to call a village meeting right away.

"The rest of team seven should be the first to know. As far as anyone is concerned the story, I tell today is the story that happened. It will be on the record books forever. Nothing else leaves this room, are we in agreement?" Everyone nodded. "I need to start writing my speech."

Naruto threw an arm around Suigetsu and Sasuke. "I told you guys!"

xxx

It took a little while for Kakashi, Sai, and Sakura to arrive, they stood in a line in front of Tsunade's desk. Naruto was standing next to her, arms crossed; Sasuke was leaning on the side of her desk, Suigetsu had set himself up on a windowsill in the background. Sasuke had his hood up.

"What is it my lady? We heard that a village assembly was being called, is something wrong?" Sakura's voice was laced with concern. All three of them had had their eyes locked on Suigetsu and the hooded figure leaning against Tsunade's desk from the moment they walked into the room. Something about the hooded figure seemed oddly familiar.

"No, no, nothing's wrong. We are going to be welcoming someone back to the village and I thought that you all should be the first too know." Sasuke let his hood fall back.

"Sasuke…" Kakashi mumbled his name in surprise. Sai's eyes went wide.

"Sasuke!" Sakura's eyes filled with tears. She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She shook with emotion. Sasuke looked at Naruto who just shrugged. After a few moments she calmed down. "I'm sorry, I'm just so happy." She took Naruto's hand. "Thank you, Naruto, for keeping your promise. You brought him home. We are finally all back together again." She smiled and wiped her eyes.

"Why don't you all take some time to catch up, I'll come get you when it's time for the assembly." Tsunade smiled.

"Come on all of you." Kakashi led the way out. They all went into a room down the hall. Sakura was glued to Sasuke's side. The room Kakashi led them too was one of many meeting rooms. They all sat down around the table that was in the middle of the room. Sakura sat down next to Sasuke of course, and Naruto sat to his other side. Suigetsu, Kakashi, and Sai all sat across from them.

"So, I think some introductions are in order. Sai, this is Sasuke." Kakashi gestured towards Sai. He smiled.

"Hello. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Sai was your replacement. He is especially talented when it comes to art based jutsu."

"That's Suigetsu, we've been traveling together." Sasuke said as emotionally disconnected as ever.

"That's all I get? You're a real asshole you know that?" Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"I can't be all that bad if you're still here." Sasuke retorted causing everyone to laugh.

"So, was it you who led us to Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes."

"I always knew you cared about us Sasuke!" Sakura chimed in. "Your home has always been here." She wrapped her arm around Sasuke's. Naruto was starting to get annoyed. He was having trouble remembering why he had liked Sakura; right now, he just wanted to peel her off of Sasuke. They had been talking for an hour or two when Tsunade finally came to get them for the assembly.

"It's time." They had all nodded. Everyone but Sasuke and Naruto had headed to join the group that had gathered outside. The three of them made their way to the roof. Tsunade had stopped them in the stair well.

"Wait here out of sight; I will call you when it's time." With that she had gone onto the roof. Shizune and the two remaining elders were waiting.

"What is this about Tsunade?" Koharu had her usual attitude and was wearing a skeptical frown on her face.

"Just listen." Tsunade snipped at her. "You're about to find out." Koharu huffed.

"Welcome everyone; you are probably wondering why I called all of you here." Tsunade's voice boomed out over the crowd. "I have been keeping something from all of you, and it's time that it was brought to light." Whispers spread through the crowd. She raised a hand calling for silence. "Quite some time ago I asked something of one of our shinobi. The thing I asked of him was very difficult, I asked him to take a top-secret mission, a mission that would be arduous for even the most experienced ninja, but due to the circumstances he was the only person who could pull it off. I asked him to give up his place of birth, become hated by his own village and be seen as an enemy. His mission was to infiltrate the enemy ranks, provide intel on their movements, and to kill who he could. He was to use whatever means necessary to fulfill this mission. One of the hardest parts of this mission was that I couldn't tell him when he would be coming home, perhaps never. Yet he accepted, despite the danger to himself." Tsunade paused, giving everything she had said a chance to sink in. The entire crowd was zoned in on her, no one made a sound.

"Today we will be welcoming him home." The crowd erupted in conversation. It took as few moments to calm everyone back down. "We will be welcoming back a member of our family. He was willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, for the sake of the village. He is responsible for some of our most ground-breaking intel, killing a number of top priority criminals of the Leaf, including Akatsuki members, and Orochimaru himself. He saved the life of our very own Naruto Uzumaki all the while foiling the evil plans of one of our very own leaders who had become corrupt!" The crowd gasped collectively. Tsunade had flawlessly built the suspense and excitement within the gathered crowd leading up to announcing Sasuke. The village was going to welcome Sasuke back with open arms, and by doing it the way she had the two remaining elders wouldn't be able to object. "Raise your voices with me! Let's celebrate the return of our brave soldier and loyal protector, Sasuke Uchiha!"

Naruto followed Sasuke up onto the roof to make sure he didn't back out. When he appeared on the roof the crowd went wild. Naruto could tell Sasuke was completely overwhelmed; he was so out of his element. Naruto stayed close at his side for moral support. It was incredible; Tsunade had played everything off perfectly. She had taken Sasuke from enemy number one to village hero in one speech. There was a reason she had been named Hokage, if anyone had any doubts, she had proven herself just now. After letting the crowd carry on for a while Tsunade spoke again.

"That concludes all orders of business. The assembly is dismissed!" They all headed down off the roof. Sasuke looked like he was about to throw up. Tsunade was talking but Naruto could tell Sasuke wasn't hearing any of it.

"Of course, we will house you but until we find a place you will have to find somewhere to stay."

"He can stay with me." Naruto volunteered.

"Good, it's settled then. I have things that require my attention I'll see you boys later." Tsunade smiled at them as she continued down the hall, Shizune and the two elders in toe leaving them alone. Naruto moved into Sasuke's space. He stroked his arm gently. Sasuke was clearly still in shock.

"Hey, it's over now." Naruto took Sasuke's hand. "And we get to be roommates."

"I don't like people, and that was so many people. What if they all want to talk to me?"

"It would appear we've found your weakness. Sasuke, you have stage fright." Sasuke frowned.

"No, I don't, I just don't like people." Naruto chuckled.

"Come on, let's go home." He put his arm around Sasuke's shoulders as they started walking. "Roomie." Sasuke playfully elbowed him in the ribs.

"But seriously, what if all those people want to talk to me?" This time Naruto laughed.

"How about this, if that happens, we will talk to them together, okay? I'm not going anywhere."