"How much do you think things have changed since we were last here ero-sennin?" a blonde haired man asked as he and said person were walking on the road leading to Konoha.

"I don't know a lot of thing could have happened in the five years we were gone." Jiraiya said as he thought about the question. 'If I go by how much you changed then… things might have changed a lot'

looking at the man next to him Jiraiya still could not believe that this tall, lean, and strong man was once a short, chubby, and 'dead last' all those years ago. "You really have grown… Naruto, from a boy that was looked down upon to a man that, just by the way you held yourself, demands the respect owed to him'

Five years have changed Naruto not only physically from all the training but mentally as well. He stood tall at a height of 6'4", no longer a runt of 5'3" from before. No more did he have his baby fat his body was lean and toned to perfection from all the years of training non-stop. Naruto grew his hair out a little, still wild like he himself is, his deep blue eyes held a the look of a man that has been though hell and came out victorious. There was strength and wisdom in his eyes as well as in his aura that he presented to those around him.

"I'm glad to be home, I wonder how everyone is?" Naruto said with a smile as he spotted the gates of Konoha less then a mile away.

Shaking his head Jiraiya answered "I'm glad too kid, but remember just like you everyone might not be the same as you remember them."

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"I still can't believe it" said a blonde haired woman "you and Lee, how is that possible?"

The blondes companion gave a shy smile "I don't know myself but it's true I finally gave in and said yes when he asked me out"

"So its for real, you're really over Sasuke then, Sakura?" the blonde ask while sipping her drink.

Sighing Sakura stirred her drink "ya Ino, I've given up on him… no point in wanting something that was never really there to begin wit."

Over the years Sakura and Ino started to rebuild their friendship, now that they no longer fought over Sasuke, and now where one of them was the other would be as well.

Ino was about to ask Sakura more about Lee when someone else caught her eye "I must be dreaming…"

Sakura looked confused at her friend's action and turned to look at what Ino meant and when she did her jaw dropped open.

Walking down the street was a man that looked like a god for lack of a better word. Sun kissed blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes. Wearing tight muscle shit that left nothing to the imagination with loose black jeans, a large grey pack slung over his shoulder.

"I'm not dreaming am I? Please tell me that's not a dream" Ino said as she watched the man smile at them as he walked pasted them into the restaurant they were sitting in front of.

Finally able to find her voice, Sakura looked over at Ino wide eyed "if you are then we are having the same dream" leaning back in her chair to look at the man inside "have you seen him before? Because he looked at us like he knew us"

Shaking her head Ino was about to answer when said man came out and walked over to then.

"Hey Ino-san, Sakura-san, long time no see how have you two been?" smiling at the as he pulled a chair over to sit with them.

"Um…" Ino looked to Sakura in surprise "I'm sorry have we met before?"

The man blushed much to their surprise "wow I guess he was right I have changed… it's um… me… Naruto" he smiled again at their shocked expressions.

This time both of their jaws dropped, both thinking the same thing 'WHAT?!?!? How is this Naruto?!?!'

Looking at his watch Naruto moves to stand "well I got to get going I still need to see the old hag, it was great seeing you two again um… I guess I'll see you girls around… I'll be at training ground 18 if either of you wanna talk and catch up or… ya" giving them a shy smile before leaving "bye Ino-san, Sakura-san"

After he was gone Sakura finally spoke "did I hear him right??... That's Naruto?? That's my old teammate from all those years ago?" she asked while looking at Ino in disbelief.

"That's what who he said he was" shaking her head "my god… who knew that Naruto the runt of the class would grow up to be…"

Sakura finished for her "grow up to be that good looking"

Ino smiled "well I don't know about you but stopping by area 18 later sounds like a good idea"

"I can't go I have to train with Tsunade" Sakura said with small pout

"Too bad for you" Ino said as the two got up to leave and go their separate ways for the day "see you at home then"

Sakura nodded "yep and don't forget it's your turn to cook."

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Few hours' later Ino heads to training ground 18 to see what Naruto's up to. When she found him she couldn't help but blush. "My, oh my…" she whispered out.

"156…. 157…. 158…. 159…. 160…." Naruto was in doing pull ups on a tree branch shirtless and was very sweaty from all his training. "161…. 162…. 163…. 164…. 165…. 16-."

After the blush died down, she hoped, she walked into the clearing to where he was. "Hey Naruto-kun!!" smiling as he dropped from the tree and grabbed his towel to wipe the sweat away "hey Ino-san!"

Not bothering with his shirt Naruto sits down and pats the space next to him "have a seat…" grinning at Ino "don't worry I don't bite… much." He had to bite back a laugh at the look of shock on her face as she sat down though he noticed the blush as well.

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny Naruto-kun" she says back and sticks her tongue out at him. "So… what brought you back after so long? Not that I don't want you here"

Lying back on the grass, using his arms as a pillow, he answered "I could only stay away for so long. I…" sighing while closing his eyes, Ino lays back as well but on her side facing him "you what?" opening his eyes to look at her "there was someone here that I missed and I didn't want to be away any longer."

Ino looks away knowing who he missed, whispers "you missed Sakura…" not knowing she said it out loud she jumped a little when Naruto answered.

"actually, though most people don't believe me; I've been over her long before I left for training. No there was someone else I missed here in Konoha" he blushed this time.

"What?? But… who is it you missed then?" she looked back at him with a look of confusion on her face.

"Just someone who is special to me" getting up with a wink, he dusts himself off and holds a hand out to Ino. "Come it's getting late, I'll walk you home"

Pouting that he won't tell her she reaches out and takes his offered hand and gets up "thank you, but this doesn't mean I'll give up… I will find out who this person is"

rolling his eyes with a smile "fine that's up to you but you wont find out" pulling his shirt on, to Ino's disappointment, he grabs his pack in one hand and holds the other out to Ino again "shall we get you home m'lady?"

Shaking her head she takes his hand and they head towards her and Sakura's apartment.

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"This is my stop" she said pointing to the complex where she lived. Reluctantly she let go of his hand "I guess I'll see you around?" it came out more of a question then a statement.

Smiling Naruto answered "ya, you sure will… oh I almost for got, I'm having a house warming party this Saturday, everyone is invited" looking hopeful ay Ino "I was hoping you'll be able to make it"

Looking confused Ino asked "house warming? Don't you mean a welcome back party?" brushing loose strands of hair out of her face.

Scratching the back of his head "well… I bought a new place; the place I used to live at has new tenants since I was gone so long"

"Really? Where do you live now?" folding her arms around herself cause its getting cold outside and she left her jacket inside.

Noticing her shiver a little naruto shrugged off his jacket he put on earlier and put is around her shoulders. "Not too far from here actually, maybe a block or two away, it's at the end of this street"

With a shy smile "well then, guess I'll have to drop by more often since you live so close now and yes I will go to the party. Is there anything you would like me to bring?"

Shaking his head at her "nope just bring yourself, but if there anything you like to drink or eat at the party just let me know so I can make sure its there" looking at his watch again "I better get going I still got unpacking to do before this weekend"

"ok I'll let you go then and thank you for walking me home" before she could stop herself she stood on her tippy toes and kisses his cheek "night naruto-kun" and left into the complex before he had time to react "night Ino… -chan" putting his hands into his pockets he headed home.

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"What took you so long? It's your turn to cook and I'm hungry!!" was the first thing Ino heard as she walked into their apartment. Rolling her eyes "I was with naruto-kun and we lost track of time, so quite you whining I'll start dinner right now" heading to the kitchen still wearing Naruto's jacket.

Walking into the kitchen and sitting down on the kitchen counter, Sakura raised an eyebrow at her roommate "what were you two doing that you lost tract of time?"

Getting a pot of water boiling Ino shakes her head "getting your mind out of the gutter, we were just talking about what's being going on these past years. Also he invited us to his home for a party this weekend; it's a welcome home/house warming party."

"House warming?" tilting her head to the side a little Sakura handed Ino a packet of noodles to add to the water.

"ya, he bought a new house and its not that far from here either, he said its at the end of the street" she said while breaking the noodles Sakura gave her in half before adding them to the boiling water.

"Wow that's close" Sakura hopped off the counter and went to set the table. "So what kind of house warming/welcome back gift do you wanna get him?"

Shrugging while stirring the noodles "I don't know he said he didn't want anything" looking at flavor packets she tossed two to Sakura "pick, pork or shrimp flavor ramen"

Opening the pork packet Sakura pours it into the pot "pock sounds better then shrimp right now… Tsunade had me working with fish while practicing my medic-jutsu"

So the night went on, talking about there day as they ate then turned in for the night.