It's been awhile.

Recap: Last chapter provides closure to Sumaru; as for the rest…FLUFF. No real surprises as of yet.

The sky warped high, as the near seamless clouds drifted endlessly just as angles of light pierced the cover, lighting the earth beneath, rehashing the world below with wonderful warmth. It was almost midday as our favorite group of travelers leapt from branch to branch; a detour from the main road perhaps, however it was probably the safest for the time being. They went silently, only pausing to observe the map on hand. Once assured, they continued to their destination unhindered. Naruto watched everyone with slight unrest. How could they be so quiet after all this time? Sure ninja they may be but still, even the so called elite Black Ops whispered amongst themselves every now and again. A few more hours passed by uneventfully until the blond sighed finally breaking the silence.

"Gaaahhh! Yo Neji how much further?"

Hokuto glanced over slightly elated that someone had decided to finally speak up. Granted, there was a good reason for the group's overall silence; with Neji spotting that bandit caravan a few miles back there wasn't any need to risk a fight, especially when transporting a still injured Mizura and a less than par Sumaru. But even so that was hours ago so there was no need for that extra caution now, chiefly since they were already in Fire Country; a country known for their strict antibandit-ing policies.

Neji sighed as he turned to face the blond. "I knew it, we're less than five kilometers from the gates and you can't keep quiet for anything." Naruto scowled at his friend's small insult but waited for him to continue. "Now, any more useless outbursts you'd like to say?"

The orange clad ninja pouted as he placed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. "Nothing just…"

"What?" Neji insisted.

"Go make me a sandwich."

The rookie of last year's eyes bugged out as he sputtered a response. "I-I will certainly not!"

Naruto cracked an eye open clearly amused. For just a moment the normally stoic Hyuuga stuttered almost as bad as his meek cousin. Just then, the cogitative cogs creaked slowly in the blonds' mind before they accelerated so fast that their teeth began to gnash violently against one another in protest. The torque produced was staggering, evident in the totally tumultuous turbine turning Thinking better of it the blond ignore it. "Fine, wanna play I-Spy then?"

"Ooh, I do!"

"Sure!"

"THE FLAMES IN MY EYES MEAN YES!"

"Sounds fun."

"Uh, why not?"

Everyone huddled around the blond much to the Hyuuga's displeasure. "We're not done here Uzumaki, and you guys don't encourage him!"

Naruto squinted back. "Oh come off it! I know you're bored-ttebayo!"

"I have to agree with Naruto on this one Neji, also you've been on edge ever since the mission." Tenten stated; hands at her hips. "Want to talk about it?"

Neji sighed "Look we're in enough trouble as it is when we get back, we don't have time for games."

The blond's posture slackened considerably as soon as those words flew from the Hyuuga's mouth. How the heck was he going to explain this one to Tsunade? Not only did he destroy a priceless artifact but he also whooped up on a foreign dignitary; not good, Naruto frowned as more thoughts came to mind. Unknown to many, save for Shizune, Naruto, and possibly Sakura the last remnant of the Senju clan has a rather large sweet-tooth, so large in fact that it rivals her... Well anyway, once Naruto discovered this weakness, he exploited it whenever he got the chance. 'Damn it! I can't bribe her either; I already used up that favor to go on the mission in the first place!' A look of horror crossed Naruto's face as his imagination went into overdrive.

It was such a nice day too as Naruto walked into the Hokage's office.

"Yo Tsunade-baachan, I'm back! Uh…"

"Good you're here, please have a seat Naruto."

"Uh baachan, about the mission, I…"

"YOU WHAT!-?"

"Let me expla-Gurgck!-!"

"TSUNADE SMASH!" The blond never saw it coming, as a spring-loaded boxing glove slammed into him; launching him out the window, before retracting slowly back into the safety of Tsunade's chest valley.

The Star shinobi took notice as tears began welling up in Naruto's eyes.

"Now do you see? We're all to blame for happened and have consequences awaiting our arrival." Naruto tensed as he stood with a somber expression across his features.

"You're right…"

"Thank you, now we can-"

"You're right, we would be in trouble but have you forgotten already?" Naruto said as he began jabbing himself in the chest with his thumb. "I'm the one that tagged along; I'm the one that undermined your authority; I'm the one that didn't listen to orders; I'm the one that blew up the death star!" Suddenly Naruto jumped to where Neji stood, his hand gripped tightly on the Hyuuga's vest. "If anyone's in trouble it's me! So I don't want to hear this we crap, you got that!-?"

Neji couldn't help but gape at blond's semi-threatening choice of words or that he somehow converted a seemingly selfish response into a selfless one. 'Hmph, typical Naruto.' The Hyuuga observed his fellow shinobi, fear replaced completely with the machismo he had come to expect from the orange dynamo. What could be so wrong than to grant his friend one last request before meeting his own end at the hands of their temperamental village leader?

"So this game, how do you play?"

…

"Something green, something green… I've got it it's the grass below us!"

The blond shook his head. "No, nice try though Tenten."

"Is it my hair…?" Sumaru replied lamely, deadpanning at his own response as Neji sweat-dropped.

"Nope, that ain't it either." Naruto grinned cheekily, since apparently no one saw what he could see. Despite his intentions on elevating the mood, Neji forcibly sighed. It wasn't that he was a killjoy or anything, but knowing Naruto this little game could take hours to finish up. AND LIKE HELL THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. Sure he was kind enough to allow him a reprieve, but the madness had to end.

"Fine, we give up."

Naruto's eyes narrowed as a good-humored smirk played across his features. "Oh, so the great Neji-sama gives up as well? The Hyuuga twitched and suddenly turned to face the blond.

"Yes, now what is it!"

"Heh." Naruto pointed up, directing everyone's collective gaze skyward, towards what would be best described as a UFO. In other words, an Unidentified Falling Object.

"Haaaaaaaa…"

"Hey! What is that?" Hokuto squinted to get a better look at whatever was coming their way. With only minor concentration, the girl focused her abilities and began to pick up the on subtle vibrations coursing through in the air. Her eyes widened with recognition, as the pulsations quickened, forming a unique pattern and signature. 'Whatever that thing is, a lot of chakra is definitely leaking off of it… No doubts about that.'

By this time Neji's Byakugan, had already zoomed in and began tracking its movements, his face paled considerably upon examination.

. "Oh no…" Tenten blanched as she too began connect the dots as the object came into view. "It can't be…"

The figure came closer and closer. "Haaaaaa..!-!"

"It is…" Sweat trickled down the side of Neji's face as he watched on helplessly, unable to stop what was about to occur.

"Haaa!-!"

Lee whom of which had been quiet the entire time, suddenly burst into emotional man tears of manliness, startling the hell out of the surrounding Star shinobi.

"Sensei!"

"Supreme Dynamic Entry!-!" Everyone had little time to get the fuck out of there as Gai's foot collided with not the branch, but with the trunk of the tree they were standing on. Splinters showered helter skelter as tree was hewn down into two, four, six chunks. Luckily everyone made it out with only minor scrapes and bruises, and quickly took their positions in front of the man responsible for every tree-hugger's worst nightmare. He merely stood before them laughing his ass off, in the most horrible get up imaginable. "Ah, so there you are my blossoming students, Naruto, and…." A crow flew overhead. "Children I don't know! I might Maito Gai welcome you! HAHAHAHHAHAH-aha!"

Tenten sweat-dropped at the glorious entrance of her oh so eccentric sensei, "That was a little long winded don't you think?"

Gai waved her question off with a flip of the hand. "Of course not, as shinobi you can't afford to go lax even within familiar territory, you must be vigilant and aware of your surroundings."

"He's so hip!" Lee began bawling at the awesome words of Gai-sensei.

"Excuse me Mr. Bushy-Brow's-sensei? Naruto said catching the jounin's attention. "Why are you here anyway?"

"Ah of course!" Reaching into his pocket, he pulled a piece of parchment out and presented it to the blond. "I'm here to give you this."

"Eh, a schedule?"

"That's right; you are to take our ailing allies to the hospital for treatment. Also as you can see the debriefing will be in three hours time."

Naruto squinted as he looked up at the jolly, green man before him. "Wait, they aren't coming with me?" He motioned towards the remainder of Team Gai.

"I need to reacquaint myself with my students, they'll be along shortly." He said gathering his students into his arms, and pressing their faces into his bosom before they could protest. Or in Lee's case cry more.

"…Alright whatever floats your boat I guess…"

"Ha-ha! Wonderful!"

Jiraiya for the first time in a long time was sweating. After he had left the pants in the seamstress's care, things had gone south real quick. Now he sat there alone, scared and slightly damp in a dark alley. Pondering his situation the sage sighed to himself, concluding this as kami's punishment for whatever misdeed he had committed in his youth before sighing once more. Jiraiya glanced down as he hugged the satchel close to his body. "At least I got these back." He said as he pulled a pair of pants from its confines.

Bad choice, the mere ruffling of the fabric was enough to alert his pursuers to his location; their eyes gleamed in the shade of the alleyway startling the sannin. Soon the pair of eyes multiplied becoming more and more numerous. Jiraiya whimpered at the very sight as they approached, his exhausted gaze reached the heavens as he sought for a vindicator. A beam of light shot down and illuminated the alleyway, driving the she-beasts back for the time being. Shimmers of light encased the very object in his hands, the pants.

The majestic, orange pants were like a beacon of hope to all those who laid eyes on them. A symbol of justice that that enlightened not only the mind but the heart as well. The embodiment of all the innate good that pervaded every seam spoke to the sage and it said many things.

The light lessened as the horde began to encroach once more. Only then did Jiraiya know what he had to do. He looked on as the horde grew massive before him; seventy bodies in all. He faltered as he clutched the pants in fear and looked for guidance. The pants spoke once again, reaffirming Jiraiya's own resolve. Then they descended upon him. With renewed strength, he threw the pants into the air; their eyes followed. When it landed at the horde's heart and silence instilled the horde then turned on itself, and the battle for the pantaloons began. Jiraiya watched, awestruck as the chaos soon stilled. The pants then lay forgotten amidst one of the many battled bodies, untouched and pristine as ever. Jiraiya approached quickly gathering it into his arms and ran far, with tears of redemption trailing down his face.

…

Sumaru bopped the clone that was carrying him, deciding it would be better to continue the rest of the way on foot.

Sentiments also carried by Mizura who requested to be put down as well the clone obliged before poofing in to non-existence once more. Naruto sat down his backpack as he pulled a storage scroll out, once he found the right symbol he summoned forth a hand-carved cane and offered it to Mizura. "Here ya go! Not much longer now."

Mizura grinned, accepting the cane he had already grown accustomed to using. "Thanks Naruto."

"No sweat, like I said use and your sure to get better." Hokuto smiled as she watched as the blond began to dust his pants off. He really had done so much for them already.

"Alright, if you guys are ready."

Sumaru stretched his limbs before he clasped a hand on Naruto's shoulder, giving him a slight shake. "Sure, let's see this village of yours."

He really has.

"Com'on Hokuto!"

Startled out of her reverie, the girl looked up to find her friends were already waiting for her by the great gates. She ran to catch up; slightly flustered as she finally laid eyes on the famed Village Hidden in the Leaves.

"Welcome to Konoha!"

Hard to believe this thing is really coming to an end. It's a bit saddening.

Well,

Later…