Author note: story is sequel to Living with the Memory, so to those that haven't read that story I highly recommend that you do before you read this, or if you still want to read this, do so then read LwtM, otherwise you might be confused.

Remember, this story takes place 2½ years later, which makes the rookie ten either 15, 16, and so on.

Disclaimer: this is fan-fiction, and as much as I would like to say I own something, I don't. So yeah, I own nothing. Nothing!

Reflections of the Past
Chapter 1: Return

"Speaking/thinking inside flashback"
Thinking/small flashback/dreams
"Jutsu"/abilities
'Actions/actions'
: notes/letters:

"The jewel! Give it to me!"

"Kikyo, Kikyo whoever she is it's not me! My name's Kagome! Ka-go-me!"

A lone figure, obviously male by stature and size but unidentifiable beyond that due to the dark and moonless night, walked calmly through the forest, hands in pockets and humming a small tune to himself, almost carelessly as he weaved through the trees and bushes, becoming silent once he saw a small clearing come up a few feet ahead.

With a sigh, seemingly finding his destination, the male stopped walking and straightened his pose, before shaking his head with a grin, and continuing, back in his relaxed stance. Whatever, not really important right now

Making it to the clearing, but not walking passed the covering of the trees, the man leaned against the tree behind him then turned his attention to his left, where another, taller figure was already settled, apparently waiting for his presence.

A sharp glare was aimed at him, "you're late."

The man grinned and held up his hands in defense. "Sorry, had some training...they can really kick some ass…"

The glare did not falter, making him sigh and shake his head. "Sorry. But I'm not that late! And I'm serious I was training, don't blame me! Blame them! They teamed up against me! I think I have a few bruises and scratches now..."

He got an annoyed glance and replied with another grin. That seemed to annoy his friend further for he once again was glared at. "Okay, okay, sorry…sheesh…seems your sense of humor hasn't improved in the last months has it?"

His companion reached for something at his side and knowing what it meant the man quickly waved his hands in the air, panicked. "h-hey! I didn't mean it! Just trying to lighten up the mood." Pouting slightly, he looked away. "Everything's been so serious lately. With their movement those couple years ago then vanishing again, and now with them…" a gentle almost endearing look came to his face and he smiled softly.

"I'm glad we found them, but still," continued the man after a few seconds of silence, his hands fisting at his side. "It was a bad time I think. Now we all have to be careful, because they can come back at any time..." he sighed again and shook his head.

More silence passed between the two before his companion removed his hand from the weapon. Instead, a serious look overcame his shadowed face, if the thin frown of his mouth was any indication. "Anything?"

With another sigh, the man pushed up from the tree, his own features becoming serious at new topic. "Nothing really. It's about the same."

"What about the trip."

The man ran a hand through his hair. "We're leaving tomorrow. And we'll probably be there in a few days, three, maybe four tops…"

He got a nod as a reply and the man before him turned around heading back the way he came getting the information he came to retrieve. "Fine, report back when you arrive there and anything you might have to do or go to as well…"

"Sure." Replying with his own nod, he uncrossed his arms and placed his hands back into his pockets and turned to start heading back before it got too late.

"Oh…and…"

Stopping, he turned his head to the side, and saw that the man too stopped and was looking at him a deadly serious look in his eyes.

Understanding what he meant and was asking, he gave a reassuring grin. "Don't worry. Things have been fine; I've kept them alive for so long already haven't I? What's keeping me from doing the same as time goes on?"

A twinkle appeared in his eyes and the grin on his face only widened, but a serious undertone took over his voice. "besides, you're not the only one who cares you know." his answer seemed to have been accepted for he got a small nod from the taller man before he turned back around and continued walking, soon leaving him by himself.

With one last look up at the moonless night, he too started heading back the way he came. Not the only one at all….

. . .

Honey colored eyes narrowed in frustration and anger, glaring down at what had to be her hardest most horrible part of being Hokage. Biting down softly on her bottom lip, face drawn into complete concentration, and a small amount of perspiration forming on her brow, Tsunade slowly, slowly reached for her weapon.

Wrapping her hand around the handle in a vice grip, Tsunade carefully removed it from its place before moving it to the required spot above one section of the horrible white piece of paper. Then with one quick, speedy move, ran the weapon over the spot, leaving black ink in its place and leaving a nice, little signature of her name.

After placing back her 'weapon' Tsunade grinned brightly, then with as much pride as a woman could have over signing a piece of paper, lifted it up, and placed it with the other delicately placed and also signed pages of paper.

One she was absolutely sure that the mountain of pages was perfect, so perfect to the point she won't have to see them, ever, ever again, Tsunade's grin increased and she quickly sat up from her chair, arms raised over her head in victory. "I did it! I finished all the paper work-."

Tsunade's celebration was cut short by a few knocks on the door, before it opened, revealing her black haired assistant beaming like no tomorrow. That quickly faded into confusion once seeing her current state of celebration over the finally completed paperwork, and blinked looking slightly concerned. "Um...Tsunade-sama?"

Realizing she still was in celebration mood, Tsunade quickly sat back down in her chair and after a nervous cough, motioned for Shizune to continue. "Yeah? What is it Shizune?"

Shizune seemingly reminded why she was smiling just seconds ago, completely forgot about Tsunade's small lapse of sanity and went back to smiling. "Jiraiya and Naruto have come back!"

Tsunade's eyes widened and she once again quickly stood from her chair, before smiling just as much as Shizune. Glad to have Naruto back after so long. We're just missing one now.

. . .

Tsunade blinked once, then twice, at the boy-Tsunade inwardly shook her head, no teenager now. Naruto really looks older, more his age anyway, instead of the more childish appearance he had two and a half years ago. He's even taller now.

But while he does look older and more mature, he still seems to be himself, still wearing mostly orange, but now he has black with it. Smiling at the blond teen, Tsunade nodded her head. "Welcome back Naruto."

Naruto's previous grin widened and he nodded. "Yeah, I'm glad to be back-!"

Naruto's exclamation was interrupted by the door opening again, all three currently in the room turned to the new comer, and Tsunade had to smirk. Just the person she was hoping to walk in.

Sakura.

Sakura, not noticing the newcomers yet, still remained looking down at the notebook in her hand, reading its contents while walking up to the desk, unaware of the shocked or amused glances she was getting.

Stopping at the desk, Sakura furrowed her eyebrows, probably finding something in the notebook that displeased her and with a frown finally looked up. "Sensei I-."

Sakura cut herself off, noticing that two others were currently in the room with her and Tsunade, and Sakura stared at them in shock, amazement and even slight embarrassment. Once she seemed to process who was in the room. The notebook once in her hand fell and landed with a thump on the ground, providing the only noise now currently in the room.

Naruto not really noticing her shock just grinned brighter and waved, the same joyous attitude he held in the past showing through. "Sakura! It's good to see you!""

Sakura, still dumbstruck, let her jaw open slightly, she stared at him a great while, as if trying to prove that he's actually back, and she's not going crazy. "N-Naruto…?"

The blond nodded, and Sakura quickly smiled, knowing now that Naruto is actually back. "It's good to have you back but," she looked from him to Jiraiya confusion on her face. "I thought you weren't going to be coming back for a few more months…"

Naruto nodded the grin resurfacing. "Yeah, but we decided to come back early!"

"Oh okay..." said, Sakura trailing off but before pausing, noticing something new. "You got taller than me…"

"really?" standing up straight and using his hand to measure his height, Naruto then moved it towards Sakura and looked shocked to notice that he did indeed grow taller than her, by a few inches even. Then he grinned again. "Ha! No one can call me short or a midget now!"

With a sigh, Sakura shook her head at Naruto's antics but inwardly was smiling, genuinely glad to have Naruto back in the village. Now we only have to wait for Kagome…

"Oh! That's right!" Naruto quickly turned from Sakura back to Tsunade, a mischievous grin on his face and twinkle in his eyes. "Since I'm back can you call Kagome up here?

Both Tsunade and Sakura froze at Kagome's name, but Naruto being as oblivious as oblivious could be, didn't notice their changes and only continued speaking, an evil grin appearing on his face. "I want to surprise her! We came back earlier than expected, and she promised we'd go out for ramen when I got back! So can you call her up?"

Naruto turned to Tsunade with a hopeful almost puppy dog look but Tsunade could only give a half-hearted smile back, which was decreasing by the second. "I can't."

At the sad tone, Naruto froze and confusion took over his features. "What do you mean you can't?" he finally said after a few silent seconds, turning to the sad Sakura and then back to her. "Why can't you? Is something wrong? What?"

Concern quickly appeared on his face, and his eyes widened. "Did something happen to Kagome?"

Tsunade shook her head again, and sighed, looking out the window. "Kagome's fine...well from what I know right now she is, but she's not here for me to call."

Confusion was back on his face in an instant, not understanding what she meant by her words. "Huh? What do you mean? Then where is she?"

Sakura sighed, and spoke, deciding to take over part of the conversation to help calm Naruto's nerves. "Kagome left to travel on her own not to long after you left Naruto."

"Kagome left? To travel like I did?"

Tsunade nodded at the confused blond, and explained the situation. "yeah, she wanted to travel around again, having really nothing to do here, well that's what she said, so she came to me, asking if she could leave the village, and after some thinking I allowed it."

Naruto nodded and a sad look appeared on his face. "Do you know when she'll be back?"

With a sigh, Tsunade leaned back into her chair. "Well, since you originally were going to be gone for three years, Kagome planned to do the same…" she trailed of but Naruto nodded again already knowing where the sentence was heading.

"But since I came back early, Kagome still won't be back till a few more months…" Naruto furrowed eyebrows, then after a few moments looked back up, another hopeful look on his face. "Is...Is there any way we can contact Kagome and see if she can come back?"

An annoyed look appeared on Tsunade's face, and she shook her head. "No, Kagome sends a scroll every month on her status and how she is, but never her location. She never speaks of it." it's almost as if she doesn't want us to know, like she's afraid I'm going to send a team after her to bring her back. "And she has one of her summoning birds bring it, but after they drop it off, they immediately vanish, and I don't see them for another month…"

"Do you know when the next scroll will be coming?"

Tsunade frowned. "no, Kagome sends one every month, but the dates never are the same, sometimes it could be the end of the month, sometimes the beginning or middle, there's never a specific date.."

Naruto's sadden look deepened. "Oh...it's okay…"

Not wanting Naruto to sulk, Tsunade gave him a small reassuring smile. "Kagome's scroll for this month hasn't come yet-." Naruto's head shot up to look at her. "If you want, when it gets here I'll call you up and you can see how she's doing..." she gave Naruto a grin. "It's better than not knowing right?"

Naruto's face brightened and he nodded quickly, looking like a four year old who was promised candy if he did something good and Tsunade had to inwardly shake her head. Bit more mature…but still always Naruto…

Tsunade then turned to look at the unusually quiet Sakura. "You too Sakura, I know it's been awhile since you've read one of Kagome's scrolls here…" Tsunade didn't have to continue speaking for Sakura too quickly nodded, glad at the prospect of at least reading how Kagome was, even if it wasn't seeing her directly and maybe not for a few months longer. Well, unless something happened…

Shaking her head free from the negative thought she smiled and a comfortable silence fell over the four-

Before a cough interrupted it.

Everyone turned to the source, and saw Jiraiya with a fisted hand to his mouth. Tsunade raised an eyebrow at him, but when he sent her a serious look, her eyes widened and she sat up, giving a small nod in response. "Sakura, if you want you can leave early for today."

Sakura quickly turned her head back to her teacher, surprise clear on her face. Tsunade has rarely ever given her the okay to leave early, so why so suddenly? "Sensei-?"

Jiraiya interrupted her before the word could fully leave her lips. "Naruto, you too, you wanted to go to Ichiraku right? How about you both go and then you can say hello to everyone?"

Both Naruto and Sakura blinked then turned to one another confused then back to their individual teachers. After seeing the serious looks on their faces, and that neither was going to explain, both shrugged and started walking back to the door.

Once she heard the door fully close, and the two teen's footsteps fade into the distance, Tsunade turned her attention back to Jiraiya a serious look in her eyes. "So what is it? There has to be a reason why you have returned about six months early…"

Jiraiya nodded and leaned back against the wall he was standing in front of. "Yeah, actually it's about the Akatsuki."

Tsunade paled, the worst kind of situations already planting themselves into her mind. What are they doing now? They have been relatively quiet for the past two years and she hasn't heard anything really about them, so why are they making a sudden reappearance. "Are they on the move again?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "No, actually it's quite the opposite really..."

"Wait…what do you mean?" replied Tsunade, confusion coming over her. Quite the opposite? They're not moving again? Then why has Jiraiya brought Naruto back? "Jiraiya...what's happening with the Akatsuki?"

"I wish I knew." He sighed, and placed a hand on the back of his neck, eyebrows drawing together in confusion and frustration. "As we know, the Akatsuki are collecting the bijuu-."

Tsunade quickly interrupted. "Are they after Naruto again?"

A small amount of relief appeared on Jiraiya's face, but he still looked somewhat troubled. "No, not yet at least. It seems that they are going after the others first, sending out teams to collect them, but here is where it gets confusing…" he paused and Tsunade nodded, wanting him to continue. "Yeah, and?"

It can't be something too big, it's not as if they have collected all of them yet, Gaara still is fine and Naruto's fine here too, so even though they should be concerned, she doesn't think it's anything that could really surprise her.

How wrong she was.

When Jiraiya turned his head to look at her, his next sentence made her freeze. "They've failed."

Failed.

The Akatsuki have failed to collect any bijuu? How?

After Tsunade regain some of her composure, she stiffly turned to look up at her old teammate. "w-what…failed? How?" it doesn't make any sense. From the information they have and no matter how much she wishes it wasn't true, the Akatsuki are strong and even if the bijuu are dangerous, she thinks that it might be easy for them to collect them.

They almost got the nine-tails in Naruto two years ago.

Jiraiya seeing that her shock has calmed down to a relatively okay level shook his head again, in disbelief himself. "That's what I don't know. From my sources, it looks like that whenever a team goes after a bijuu, it, well, it vanishes or they just can't get to them, none of the bijuu from what I know has been collected."

Tsunade blinked. "But how? I mean when they went after Naruto, nothing like this happened, so why now?"

It was Jiraiya's turn to frown and he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not sure; it's possible that whatever is protecting the bijuu now just formed. That could be why Naruto was still found that time."

The Hokage shook her head again, disbelief still clinging to her form and she leaned back into her chair, chin resting on her propped up arm resting on the chair's arms. After a moment of thought, Tsunade turned her eyes back to Jiraiya. "Do you think it could be a new type of jutsu formed or another organization?"

A shrug was her answer. "Not sure, it could be both really. If it's a jutsu that means someone is protecting them, or must know of the Akatsuki's plan and trying to stop them. But why? And how? I don't know, not the slightest clue and that's what's bugging me." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "For all we know, if it is another organization, they could be collecting the bijuu for their own plan."

Another sigh escaped Tsunade's lips and she leaned back further into her chair, feeling suddenly exhausted and wishing to just sink into her chair. They do not need this right now, there's already the fact of the Orochimaru business and the Akatsuki threat looming over all over their heads, despite that it looks like the Akatsuki's has decreased. But now this new one? They do not know whether or not this new development is friend or foe. Or why it's even happening. "Just what we need…"

Sarcasm was heavy in her voice but Tsunade felt to mentally exhausted right now to care and turned weary eyes back to Jiraiya. "The good thing is that Naruto's relatively safe for now right?"

Jiraiya uncrossed his arms. "For now anyway, from the Akatsuki at least. But this new involvement I don't know. That's another reason why I brought him back here-."

"He's safer here in case the Akatsuki or this new threat comes looking for him right?"

Jiraiya nodded again. "Exactly. I plan on leaving him here while I try to dig up any information on both Akatsuki and our mysteriously disappearing or unattainable bijuu." Jiraiya's face turned also hopeful and turned his eyes back to Tsunade's. "If it turns out that it is a jutsu behind this, and I can find it, we may be able to permanently protect Naruto, and somehow defeat the Akatsuki."

. . .

With a sigh, Tsunade wearily placed back the brush she held in her hand, and placed her elbows atop her desk, rubbing her eyes. These past few days have simply been hell for her. Since Jiraiya and her spoke, all she's been able to think about is this new organization, or jutsu that's in the air and hidden from them.

At least with the Akatsuki, they knew what they were dealing with.

But with this new…development. They know absolutely nothing, except for the fact that they are possibly protecting the bijuu from the Akatsuki, but is that what they really are doing? Is that all it is, or behind what they are seeing is a same plan as the Akatsuki?

If it is, they have no clue; they are practically walking blind with this new information.

And it's bugging the hell out of her.

Because at any moment, something could happen, and they wouldn't be able to do anything. Naruto could be taken, killed, if this threat decides to go after him before they have any clues on who's running this, or what they look like.

Is it really a 'they' though? Is only one person doing this or is a group formed together.

They simply don't know. And it's so frustrating! Tsunade narrowed her eyes, then there's the Naruto factor. Since she and Jiraiya have spoken, she's really the only one that know about this at the moment, as soon as Kakashi returns from his mission though she needs to inform him of this, seeing that Naruto is his student and when they go on missions.

Because Naruto now needs to be protected more than ever. It'd be easier to just keep him in the village, but Naruto would just go anyway causing more problems.

Then there's the fact that she won't lock him up just because of the nine-tails. So as long as Naruto will be protected on a mission, unless things are too risky, she's going to let him continue on missions.

But it still doesn't mean that her worries are gone, if anything, they just have been growing the more she thinks about this new information, and all the possibilities that could and might happen.

Letting out a frustrated breath, Tsunade let her head bang on the top of her desk. A loud thump sounded throughout the room, followed by a quick squeak and Tsunade slowly lifted her head to place her chin on the desk to see who squeaked, but only saw a trail of long brown hair vanish between the doors before they closed shut.

Tsunade had to roll her eyes, and it seems that everyone that works for her has noticed her bad mood as well, for the past three days, after Jiraiya left and she's been in this mood, her assistants and even some ninja that give their reports, have kept a good distance or even have completely avoided her all together.

The only ones that haven't really done so though would be Shizune and Sakura, but that's probably because they are her students, and well, because it looks like mostly everyone has been giving their reports or paperwork to them, to give to her, too frightened by her mood to do it themselves.

But should they really blame her? They'd be like this too if they found out that there's a possibly of not only the threat of Akatsuki, but also another completely and unknown threat that really can hit at any time, unlike the Akatsuki now, that seem to be having their own problems with this threat themselves.

So her mood is completely justified.

Tsunade lifted her head up to look down at the hellish piles of paper on her desk, and then this isn't helping any. Because of her shock after Jiraiya left, she wasn't able to start the paperwork that Shizune gave her, and it's just been growing from just a few pages to 5 large stacks within just a couple days.

Tsunade frowned. And she had just finished all the paper she had and finally caught up, then Jiraiya had to give her that news, and now she's behind again.

With another sigh, Tsunade quickly sat up straight and shook her head quickly. She needs to try to concentrate-

A loud bang though interrupted her thoughts and Tsunade jumped up in shock, accidentally tossing the paperwork on her desk into the air as she fell backwards.

But before she could hit the ground in an ungraceful heap, Tsunade used her hands to grip onto the edge of her desk and steady herself and her chair upright. After putting both the front legs back on solid ground, Tsunade released a sigh of relief. What was-?

'Tap' 'tap'

Stopping at the tapping, Tsunade blinked then turned to the source of the noise. The window.

To see a beautiful brown sparrow, using its peak to tap against the glass, and strapped to its back was a black scroll. Is…it…? wanting to know if it was her, Tsunade quickly stood from her chair and walked over to the window, opened it, and un-strapped the black scroll from the bird, it blinked at her, gave a quick salute with its wing then quickly flew off, disappearing into black smoke when it was about 30 feet into the air.

Tsunade looked from the empty air and down to the scroll and saw that a small note was written on it.

: Sorry about Rei if he hit your window…he's a bit more determined and not really a good flyer…hope he didn't cause you any trouble…:

Raising an eyebrow at the note, Tsunade turned the scroll around to open it, and once she saw the familiar symbol smiled immediately. I knew it…

Quickly unsealing the scroll and opening it, Tsunade started reading its contents. A few minutes later Tsunade grinned. She's coming back! Naruto and Sakura will be… Tsunade suddenly trailed off reading more of the scroll.

Not even a minute later, the scroll fell from her hands and Tsunade's eyes widened in shock, disbelief edged onto her face. I can't believe it….

The scroll landed with a loud thump and rolled itself closed, but Tsunade didn't pay it or the mess of paperwork on her floor any mind, only the last sentence written on the scroll was currently replying constantly in her mind.

: I've found a trace…I'll explain more when I return, but till then please keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone I'm coming back. I'll be there soon.

-Kagome:

. . .

A sudden caw of a bird as it flew through the sky and over the Hokage Mountain was heard and just as sudden as the noise from the flying animal, two black blurs appeared out of thin air and on top of one of the heads overlooking the village.

both figures were cloaked, with hoods over their heads that covered all except for the bottom of their faces from the nose down in view, and would have made them look identical if for the fact that one figure wasn't about a foot taller than the second, and that the second was female judging from the form of their figure.

Said second and much smaller figure, looked around the village before down to the head they were currently standing on. Once seeing whose face it was, she grinned brightly and started laughing joylessly, wrapping her arms around her sides in obvious happiness. "S-so they...they... finally placed Tsunade's head on here already…I was wondering when they would..."

The taller and obviously male figure, turned towards his female companion. "Tsunade?"

The girl now calmed down from her laughing, but still chuckling time to time, nodded, the bright grin not faltering from her face. "Yes, Tsunade, she's the Hokage of our village." her head tilted to the side as she considered a thought. "Just became our Hokage too, little over two and a half years to be exact."

Her companion nodded in understanding and the girl gave him a smile, before facing forward again looking over the village. She placed her arms behind her and clasped them together while leaning slightly forward against the edge of the mountain, almost as she was going to look down, while a small trace of blue chakra covered the bottoms of her feet, keeping her on the mountain and from falling forward.

With another fond smile but towards the village the female sighed. "It's good to be home…"

At the sentence, the male's right hand suddenly shook and he fisted it lightly before turning to look at his companion again. "You…missed this place."

The girl, unaware of her friend's discomfort, only nodded the fond smile on her face growing, "very much." The smile changed and it formed into an excited grin. Her head tilted again, and under the shield of her hood, bright silver eyes twinkled with happiness. "I wonder how everyone is doing..."

With a shake of her head, the girl leaned back from the edge of the mountain and turned to face her companion with a small grin. "Well, let's go!"

She got a nod of agreement from the man and after one last look at the village, both figures quickly disappeared in two blurs, just as fast as they came, and leaving only two small things of smoke in their wake.

. . .

Walking down the hallway holding a few folders and files for Tsunade to fill out, Shizune lightly furrowed her eyebrows at the mention of her mentor. Lately she's been down, but just two days ago, her entire attitude has taken a turn for the worst and hasn't improved…

Well she guesses it's better than how she found her those two days ago. Tsunade looked like she just found or was told something so shocking, that it turned her into a statue. Then there was the state of the room too. Paperwork a mess and a scroll lying on the ground.

Shizune sighed. and when she tried to pick the scroll up, Tsunade quickly snapped out of her trance and grabbed it before she could, saying she just dropped the scroll and was about to pick it up.

She lightly bit down on her lip in thought, if only Tsunade would tell her...Sakura too, poor girl's been concerned about Tsunade's weird change. And because Tsunade's been letting her go earlier than she usually does. Wish I knew what was wrong with her-

"I was right, it was you!"

Surprised at the sudden voice behind her, Shizune jumped then turned around to face the speaker and saw two figures behind her, both wearing black cloaks with the hoods up and covering their faces. Blinking once, Shizune furrowed her eyebrows, and inwardly tensed in case it was an enemy. She's never seen them before…but the voice does sound slightly familiar... "Excuse me? Do I...know you?"

The second and smaller figure, female from their body shape, pouted with a small frown. "You don't remember me? I'm hurt Shizune…"

Shizune blinked again, and turned around to face the two, with a tilt of her head and small apologetic smile. "I'm sorry…who are you again?"

The girl suddenly grinned and tilted her head forward so she could grab the tip of her hood before removing it so Shizune could see her face, and when the girl looked back up the folders and files in Shizune's arms fell to the floor and she gasped. "y-you...k-k…"

The girl grinned and her silver eyes flashed with mirth. "Been awhile hasn't it? So how have you been?"

. . .

A knock on her door, made Tsunade pause in writing her signature on the scroll placed on her desk and look up. "Come in!"

The door opened and a highly cheerful Shizune quickly walked in, holding the door open for some reason. "You have visitors!" she almost yelled, the grin on her face never faltering.

Confused at Shizune's happy attitude Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Who…?"

Tsunade trailed off seeing two cloaked people walk in behind her assistant, the one in front about a foot shorter than the second. The first sent her a smile under their cloak. "Hello Tsunade-sama. I see they finally placed your head on the mountain..."

The confusion completely disappeared and Tsunade smiled.

. . .

Both Naruto and Sakura were walking down the hallway to Tsunade's office, slightly confused. Tsunade wanted them to come up to her office, but didn't say why, the Nin she sent just told them to go to the office.

Naruto frowned and placed his hands behind his head, looking bored. "What's so important granny had to suddenly call us up-?"

Before he could finish the sentence, Sakura had hit him in the back of the head, making the blond double over in pain, holding the now forming bump on his head. "Shut up Naruto! She's not a 'granny' she's the Hokage and you should respect her more!"

Naruto rolled his eyes and turned his head to the right, away from Sakura on his left mumbling. "She's still a granny though..."

"What was that?"

"n-nothing!" was Naruto's fearful reply, as Sakura aimed her fist dangerously close to him and his head.

Sakura stared at him for a bit, to see if he really meant it, and when she seemed convinced she turned back forward back to normal. "And I want to know why too, but for whatever reason we still have to go..."

Naruto pouted. "But still…my ramen…."

At Naruto's remorseful sentence, Sakura only sighed before they both stopped at the doors entering Tsunade's office.

After opening and walking in, both paused seeing two cloaked figures in front of them. The taller one male and the second female. Is it a mission…?

Naruto, seeing the two, only pointed a finger at them, and then looked at Tsunade who was grinning with a smiling Shizune next to her. "Eh? Granny who are the-."

Sakura's fist once again quickly met the back of his head, making Naruto once again fall forward holding his head, and the now second bump forming on the first. Sakura glared at the now whining and complaining blond. "Naruto! Be quiet and stop being so rude!"

With a nervous laugh and smile, Sakura turned back to the unknown people and Tsunade replying, "u-umm…hehe…just ignore him… he's an idiot."

The girl's shoulders started to shake, and Sakura thinking she might have insulted her quickly looked horrified. "Ah! U-um...I'm sorry!" she turned back to the still whining blond. "Naruto! Look what you made me do stupid-."

The girl quickly burst of out laughing, making both Sakura and Naruto blink, becoming confused at the action. Why is she laughing?

"y-you guys…d-don't seem to have…changed...m-much." Spoke the girl, still slightly laughing as they turned to face them with a bright grin. The two teens paused. The voice sounded familiar…

Silence and more silence, and more.

Finally, the girl seeing that they weren't going to do anything gave them a pout and crossed her arms over her chest. "You guys too? Am I that forgetful?" she uncrossed her arms and placed them on her hips, looking like she was about to scold a small child, still pouting. "You don't remember me? Not at all? I'm hurt."

More silence.

After a few seconds and it clicked, both their jaws dropped open and their eyes widened. "K-Kagome?"

The girl grinned and lowered her hood, and once she placed her hands down away from her face so they could see her features, both froze in shock.

Long black hair with bangs framing her face, bright silver eyes, soft features. Yep it's Kagome all right. The only difference was that she looked bit older, more mature. But they all do.

A few more minutes passed and Kagome seeing that her teammates continued to remain in their statue like positions took the time to see how much they've changed. They're not real drastic changes, but there are some. Sakura's hair still is short, probably even shorter than it was back then, while Naruto's was a bit longer now falling over his headband slightly.

Both grew taller of course, and matured into teens, like she did. Naruto still has his love of orange with some black mixed in. the bottom edge of his jacket, sleeves, shoulders, and where the zipper was, were black and the rest along at his pants were the bright orange. The headband on his head is different too; it's a long black piece of cloth that hangs down from his head. He also wore a pair of black ninja sandals.

Sakura still wore pink, but now it was a simple sleeveless zip up shirt that had a small high collar, with a pair of tights that came to the tips of her knees and a light pink skirt that had slits all the way up over that. Black open toed boots that came up to her knees were on her feet. And light pink arm wrappings on both her elbows.

Once done with looking them over, Kagome blinked and tilted her head, becoming concerned for their well-being. They've been like that now for a few minutes more than what could be considered safe. "Um…guys...are...you okay?"

They both just stared. "y-you are really here right?"

At the question Kagome looked taken a back before nodding and replying. "Yeah, I'm not a genjutsu or anything. I'm really here-."

Kagome was unable to continue when two blurs, one orange and one pink, ran towards her and practically rammed into her, knocking all three of them on the ground, while Tsunade and Shizune smiled at the scene. "Kagome!"

Landing onto her back with a thud, Kagome made a small noise of surprise and opened her eyes, seeing the ceiling. She blinked. Um...what just happened?

Kagome tried to sit up, but found she couldn't and felt two different weights on her. Why can't I-? Looking down Kagome saw two heads of hair, pink and yellow. Sakura and Naruto. And they both were hugging her. Oh…that's why…

With a smile, Kagome only inwardly shook her head and hugged both back. "It's good to see you two again...even if it's a bit of an unexpected and slightly painful reunion…"

Both looked up at her, Naruto with a grin and Sakura with a smile, and started laughing. Kagome unable to help herself, soon joined her friends and all three teens, still on the lying on the floor, were laughing like there was no tomorrow, not caring about the amused looks they were currently getting from the older occupants in the room.

Once they all calmed down, a small but entirely comfortable silence fell over the room and Kagome looked back up at the ceiling. Content where she was, even if on her back on the floor, but with her friends. It really is good to be home…

Kagome's thoughts trailed off and she was about to speak but sniffling from the two still hugging her made her stop and look back down to them. Seeing tears, Kagome furrowed her eyebrows confused. "Naruto? Sakura? Something wrong?"

They shook their heads, still crying and Naruto sniffed. "I-it's just we both missed you! And then when I got back I heard you weren't here anymore! That you left!"

Sakura nodded agreeing with Naruto. "Yeah...and we thought that you weren't going to be coming back for a few more months…"

"Oh…" Kagome stared at her teammates for a bit longer before grinning. "Well I'm here, you guys are here…so nothing to worry about right?"

They nodded and Kagome's grin increased. "So anyway, how's your guys years been?" she got a smile and grin in response and nodded before turning to Naruto. "I hope pervy sage hasn't tried to convert you to his ways right?"

Naruto shook his head. "Nope-!"

Sakura lightly hit him over the head, before looking at Kagome with a roll of her eyes. "That's a lie. Just yesterday when we saw Konohamaru, this idiot here tried to show him something he calls the 'ultimate perverted jutsu'..."

Naruto gave Sakura a 'hey!' while Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Just lovely..." I'm going to have to teach Jiraiya a lesson or something…when I said to take care of Naruto I didn't mean nurture him to be a pervert…but Naruto was slightly one already I guess…with the sexy jutsu he created…

Kagome turned to Sakura. "How about you Sakura?" she turned and lifted her head back to stare up at Tsunade, once seeing the Hokage appear in her vision upside down, she grinned. "Has Tsunade turned you into a mini Tsunade yet?"

Tsunade glared at her and Kagome's grin only increased, before she looked back down to Sakura who looked embarrassed. "N-."

Naruto interrupted with a huge grin. "Yeah! Sakura can hit almost has hard as granny Tsunade-! Ow!" Naruto once again was babying his head and Kagome shook her head. Good to know they haven't changed too much…

"So what about you Kagome?"

"What?" was Kagome's intelligent reply as she looked back down to Sakura and Naruto who were looking up at her. Naruto nodded agreeing with Sakura's question. "Yeah, what about you? How have you been?"

"Me? Well I've been-." Kagome cut herself off with a small wince, after trying to move and sweat dropped. "First maybe we should get up, I can't really breathe anymore..."

Both quickly jumped off her and held out their hands for her to take. Taking both in each hand, Kagome was lifted up and then each of them started dusting themselves off. Remembering the question, Kagome started speaking. "Me, I've been fine really. The summons and Shirou too. Missed this place though. We traveled practically everywhere."

A smile appeared on her face. "A few months ago we were visiting Gaara." She turned to Naruto and a mischievous look appeared on her face. "You'd never guess what Gaara became Naruto."

Naruto looked interested and nodded wanting an answer. "What? What?"

"He became the Kazekage of Suna."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "What? Really? No fair!" his head than dropped forward in shock and slight depression that his friend had made it to the rank he wanted much faster than he did.

Kagome started laughing at the somewhat depressed blond. "It's okay Naruto, you'll become the Hokage in no time, Gaara just became the Kazekage a bit faster than you is all…" Naruto nodded, but seeing that he still seemed depressed Kagome decided to cheer him up. "You remember Inari and his family?"

Naruto nodded again and Kagome smiled. "Did you know that they named the bridge after you?" he looked up at her confused and Kagome continued her sentence. "They did. When I went for a visit, I saw the bridge and it said, 'the great Naruto Bridge' on it."

Naruto blinked then grinned again and started celebrating, making both Kagome and Sakura sweat drop.

Kagome shook her head then gave them a playful wink. "I also learned some new tricks during my travels, but we all have. So we should have a spar soon." She got a twin nod of agreement and her grin increased. "Good. Then soon."

Sakura nodded again but then noticed the figure that walked closer to Kagome's side. "Oh right! I'm sorry, but Kagome not to be rude, but you came in with someone…who? Do we know them?"

Naruto stopped celebrating and nodded realizing that Sakura was right. "Yeah…do we?"

Kagome jumped up in shock then turned to her companion with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that…" Kagome got a small smile from her friend and they shook their head. Kagome's smiled grew and she motioned for him to take off his hood. "Anyway, guys meet Kiyoshi; he's a friend I met during the very beginning of my travels."

The man removed his hood, and both blinked seeing that he didn't seem to be much older than them, he looked to be about 18 at the most. He had long black hair that was tied loosely at the base of his neck with his bangs slightly in his eyes that were colored a light almost ghost purple with lightly tanned skin.

Kiyoshi gave a polite smile and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet friends of Kagome; she speaks of you all the time."

Everyone turned to Kagome and she blushed before turning to Kiyoshi with a glare and lightly whacked his arm. "y-you don't have to tell them!" Kiyoshi gave her a small smirk before backing away and leaving Kagome in the spotlight on her own.

Kagome, seeing that the attention was still directed at her, nervously coughed. "Y-yeah…anyway." She glared at Kiyoshi who just continued to smirk. "I met him when I first started my travels…actually…I was...In a…bind." Kagome inwardly bit her lip, before continuing. "Some…thugs came after me, but there were too many, so I had to end up running with Shirou..." she sweat drops. "But, well, while running I kind of…literally ran into Kiyoshi and got him involved on accident…he helped me get rid of the rest and since he's been traveling with me."

Kiyoshi nodded and Naruto and Sakura turned to him, Naruto giving him a grin. "Thanks for saving Kagome! I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"

Sakura sent her own smile. "Yes thanks, it's nice to meet you, I'm Sakura Haruno."

Sakura turned to Tsunade and Shizune but Tsunade shook her head. "We've already been introduced."

Understanding Sakura turned back to Kagome and decided to ask the question that's been slightly bugging her for a while. "So Kagome, why have you come back early-?"

Sakura stopped speaking noticing Kagome's sudden tense figure and quickly became concerned. "Kagome?"

Kagome suddenly shook her head and waved her off smiling. "I'm okay, but why I'm back early is because something really important came up, and well I'm back because of it." Kagome turned her head to look at Naruto. "What surprised me was that you came back early, Tsunade explained to me why though, and really it just makes things easier. This way we don't have to send for you guys to come back and interrupt your training. You too Sakura."

Both Sakura and Naruto looked at Kagome confused. What does she mean interrupt their training? Does whatever reason Kagome came back for involve all of them? "What…do you mean?"

At Sakura's question, Kagome sighed and placed a hand on her neck. She then lowered her eyes and the others froze seeing the sad look on her face. Before they could comment on it though, Kagome turned away from them to look at Tsunade, who nodded; giving permission for whatever Kagome is going to or has to say.

Kagome nodded back before looking back at them, a deadly serious look appearing on her face.

"I've found a trace of Sasuke."

Reviews are loved, flames stared at, and advice appreciated! Until next chapter!