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Home Coming - Part 1

Naruto and Jiraiya walked along the road to their destination, grateful for the dense trees which lined the road and shaded them from the midday summer sun. Naruto was excited, he was finally going home after nearly two years on a training trip with Jiraiya. Why they couldn't go home once in a while still remained a mystery to Naruto, Jiraiya insisted on doing several days, if not weeks of 'research' for his book before moving on the next town. At least it gave him more time to practise his jutsu Naruto reasoned, he would spend hours each day practising and honing his skills with his sword and other jutsu. He had gotten quite good with a sword, or at least Jiraiya told him as much the few times he had hung around long enough to watch him practise before running off to do his 'research'.

Naruto often wondered how everyone back in the village was getting on, Sakura had been training under Tsunade to be a medical-nin, Sasuke was being taught by Kakashi-sensei. Had he gotten strong enough to impress them? He had hoped so, even during the two years away Naruto could still feel the competitive surge when he thought about Sasuke, he couldn't let Sasuke beat him! As they reached the top of an incline Naruto saw it, his home, Konoha. A smile stretched its way across his face as he stood the taking in the sight if his long lost home, two years away was far too long.

Immediately after walking through the gate Naruto was bombarded by the memories he had made with his friends. The village hadn't changed much during his absence, the same shops were here, the same faces, some of the kids he recognised had grown up a bit during his time away. The familiar smells of home that wafted out of the various restaurants and eateries that dotted the main street as the pair made their way through the village. He had to get a better look. Dropping his back pack and sword on the ground, Jiraiya gave him a funny look before he realised what was happening. Naruto ran up the wooden telegraph pole all the way to the top, where he stood at the top and took in the glorious sight that was Konoha. The heads of the past Hokage, now sporting Tsunade's likeness watched over the village as everyone went about their daily lives. Letting out a sigh of satisfaction, he was home.

"Naruto is that you?" Came a familiar voice, pulling him from his nostalgic daze, he looked down and saw Sakura, the pink haired kunoichi was standing next to Jiraiya, Konohamaru was also there with Moegi and Udon in tow.

"Hey guys!" Naruto called out before leaping gracefully to the ground. "It's great to see you all again!"

"Hey Boss!" Konohamaru greeted.

"Wow, Naruto... you've changed quite a bit, I almost didn't recognise you." Sakura commented looking him up and down. "I see you've got rid of that hideous orange jumpsuit."

"Yeah, it got a little worse for wear during my training, so Pervy Sage bought me this new outfit!" Naruto explained standing to allow Sakura to get a better look at his tracksuit, which still had his trademark orange colour, but it was far less of an eyesore since it had as much black as it did orange. Sakura even found it to be quite stylish while still being oh-so Naruto like.

"Looking good." Sakura commented, actually impressed at Naruto's appearance.

"Hey Boss, did you learn any awesome jutsu?" Konohamaru asked excitedly.

"Of course he did!" Jiraiya interrupted. "He has been training with one of the Sannin you know!"

"Yeah sure have!" Naruto agreed. "Pervy Sage taught me a lot!"

"HEY! How many times do I have to tell you stop calling me that!" Jiraiya yelled, the older mans long, spiky, white hair flailing through the air.

"Call you what Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked with a look of innocent curiosity.

"Check this out Boss!" Konohamaru quickly made a hand sign. "Sexy jutsu!" In a puff of smoke he transformed into a beautiful young woman, which made Jiraiya begin drooling, the residual smoke covering all the right areas to maintain modesty. Konohamaru returned to his normal appearance after a few moments, not realising that Sakura was standing behind him ready to pulverise the young boy for the perverted display. "So what do you think of my sexy jutsu?"

"Konohamaru, I don't do jutsu like that any more." Naruto explained, getting a look of disappointment from the young boy and a look of admiration from Sakura, who was impressed at Naruto's new level of maturity. "I've learned even more perverted jutsu now!" Naruto said in triumph, Sakura's admiration quickly turning into rage.

"NARUTO!"

"Oh Sakura! It's not what you think!" Naruto pleaded but his plea fell on deaf ears as Sakura punched him in the gut winding him, the punch forcing him to fall to his knees. Sakura stood above glaring at Naruto as he tried to get his breath back. Naruto had been about to explain that he had learned all of his pervert jutsu to try and keep Jiraiya's attention long enough to get the Sannin to train him.

"We should go and see Tsunade to let her know we're back." Jiraiya said, trying to diffuse the situation, the mention of the Hokage pulling Sakura's attention from the crumpled form of Naruto.

"I was just heading there to give her the gate report." She said. "I'll come with you." Jiraiya and Sakura began making their way to the Hokage tower, leaving behind Naruto and three terrified genin.

"I've got to remember not to act dumb around Sakura." Naruto groaned as he picked himself up off the ground.

"She's scary!" Konohamaru whimpered.

************

After catching up with his master and Sakura, Naruto joined them in entering the Hokage tower. They made their way to Tsunade's office where without knocking; Jiraiya walked straight in.

"Jiraiya, haven't you heard of knocking?" Tsunade asked with a slight growl as she looked at her former team mate and long time friend.

"And miss a chance at catching you in a compromising situation with the beautiful Shizune over there? Never!" Jiraiya joked, earning a slight smirk from Tsunade and a blush of embarrassment from Shizune.

"It's good to see you two again." Tsunade continued.

"Good to see you too Baa-chan!" Naruto grinned, missing Tsunade's eye twitch at the title, the twitch of wasn't missed by Sakura however who quickly stepped in.

"Here's the gate report Sensei." Handing Tsunade the report.

"Thank you Sakura." Tsunade placed the report on her desk, immediately it seemed to vanish amongst the piles of paperwork that littered the desk. "Well then, we should see just how good a job Jiraiya has done in training you Naruto."

"What are you suggesting Tsunade? That I can't train my student? I did teach the fourth Hokage you know."

"Well you can be a good teacher when you aren't 'researching'." Tsunade scowled.

"What do I have to do?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"I have picked your opponent, you will team up with Sakura and Sasuke and take him on. In fact he's been resting the last couple of days in readiness for this. Your opponent will be..." A knock on the door stop Tsunade mid-sentence. "Enter!" Shikamaru and Temari walked in, both of them a surprised to see Naruto.

"Naruto?"

"Hey Shikamaru!" Naruto greeted, shaking Shikamaru's hand. He noted that Shikamaru hadn't changed much at all. His hair was a little longer and he still wore it the same way he did when they were in the academy together, tied up in a ball, which always reminded Naruto of a pineapple du to the spiky nature of his hair. He was also a bit taller but he was the same old Shikamaru that Naruto remembered. "Does this mean that Shikamaru is my opponent?" Naruto asked turning to Tsunade.

"Opponent?! No I'm just here to hand in a report to the Hokage, I'm helping with the chunnin exams."

"Oh..." Naruto then noticed Temari standing behind Shikamaru and got closer. His face was inches away from hers as he examined her closely, the closeness unnerved Temari somewhat. The tall blond kunichi seemed familiar to him but he couldn't put a name to the face.

"What?!" Temari demanded, fed up with Naruto's staring.

"Who are you again?"

"..." Temari was stunned at the blond ninjas ignorance. "What the... what do you mean who are you?! I'm Temari!" She paused to see if her name jogged his memory but after a few moments it obviously didn't which annoyed her. "Garra's sister?"

"Garra has a sister?"

"Why you!" Temari went to take a swing at Naruto before Tsunade spoke.

"Shikamaru is not your opponent Naruto, nor is Temari."

"Oh, who is then?

"He's right over there." she replied pointing to the window. Out of curiosity Sakura and Naruto ran to the window and slid it open. Sitting on the roof was Kakashi who, as usual, was reading a book.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto cheered leaping out of the window and onto the roof to greet his former sensei.

"Hi there Naruto!" Kakashi greeted him, putting his book away. "It's good to see you again."

"Yeah! Oh! I've got a gift for you!" Naruto rummaged in his backpack and pulled out a orange book and presented it to Kakashi.

"It couldn't be!" Kakashi muttered in amazement, his fingers hovering mere inches from the book almost hesitant to take a hold of it as if it would burn him. "The latest Icha Icha book?! This hasn't even hit the shelves yet, it's due to be released next month! You want me to have it?"

"Yeah, I know you like it and Pervy-sage gave me one. I read it a little but it was boring so I thought I'd give it to you." Jiraiya stood in the office silent cursing Naruto for calling his work boring, the book was worth a fortune since it hadn't even been released yet and he was just giving it away.

"Thank you Naruto." Kakashi said finally taking hold of the book and clutching it to his chest. "This is a wonderful gift."

"Oh yeah! Have you seen who I'm going to be fighting?" Naruto asked. "Baa-chan said they were out here."

"Yes I have."

"Who is it?" Kakashi chuckled as he had forgotten how oblivious Naruto could be at times.

"I'm your opponent."

"I have to fight you Kakashi-sensei?!" Naruto yelled, Sakura being equally as shocked.

"Yup, that's right." Kakashi grinned, his smile obvious despite the fact most of his face was behind a mask.

"I'm so stoked for this! I can't wait to show you how strong I've become!"

"I look forward to it. But since you've just got into town you'll be tired, we'll fight later once you've rested up. See ya!" Kakashi said before making a hand sign and disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"Where's he off to in such a hurry?" Sakura asked.

"I know." Jiraiya grinned, the revelation hitting Naruto and Sakura at the same time.

"THE BOOK!" They yelled in unison.