Coming Home

[naruto]

The air is so cold and so calm
I say your name in silence
You don't wanna hear it right now

Walking through the forest a figure walked admiring his home. He walked as if to remember the times he had when he had been here before he left for training. He watched the wind and shadows playing with the trees and remembered training with his team in the field trying to take the bell. He felt his hands clentch as he thought about his teammate Sauske. He could not save him but he promissed himself that he would bring Sauske back as soon as he found him.As the figure continued to walk his mind on other things.

As he walked he made his way to the same gate that Sakura, Midnight and Rajani entered. He smiled as he found himself home. He sighed as he started to carefully walk around the village. He looked for anyone he knew. Naruto was home and he could not be happier. He was still upset for loosing his friend and teammate. He was worried what Sauske could be doing and was worried about what he could do to save Sauske now.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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She hadn't expected it, not one bit. The sounds of voices around her as she mingled around the grocery store for a few new herbs that Tsunade had asked her to grab were becoming interesting... Because of the one name she recognized. Naruto. Referring to Uzumaki Naruto, her teammate and friend whom she hadn't seen for the past two years. She wasn't really worried about him - as she knew he wasn't devilish enough to run away from his home - but was interested to see whether it was really him or not. Of course, she had seen enough in the last few days; with that girl, Rajani, coming back, and now staying at Sakura's house until she fully recovered, and now with this? Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Naruto really back?

Her thoughts that were more or less like prayers were answered as, after paying for the items that had been requested, she walked out of the store and looked down the street. She couldn't believe it! That bright smile, the blonde hair, the orange jumpsuit; everything that he wore was obvious to her. Of course, he did look a little different; considerably older, like herself, which was to be expected, not to mention his clothing and headband. His headband was of a black fabric now, with a much longer tie in the back. Instead of white and orange on his jumpsuit, it was now a dashing black and orange, which seemed to look a lot better in contrast to what he looked like. His face was much older, his hair slightly longer, but he was still the Uzumaki Naruto that Sakura knew a little too well.

"Naruto!" She cried, running down the street and waving her hand high in the air towards the boy. Within seconds she had approached him, stopping in front of him with one of the brightest smiles ever plastered across her face. "I haven't seen you in forever! Oh, it's so good to see you!" She was completely ecstatic, and almost wanted to hug the boy... However, she thought it might be awkward, in a sense, with either of them not having seen the other in the past two years, but she did it anyways. Tightly she wrapped her arms around the blonde's torso in a friendly hug, releasing him with both hands on his shoulders.

"Wow. I can't even explain how glad I am to see you, Naruto!"

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[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
There's nothing left here anymore.
My room is cold,
It's making me insane.

Naruto was shocked at the fact that Sakura had hugged him then smiled. "Sakura-chan," He said not so sure this was all real. He smiled glad she still remembered him. He was so glad to be home and was feeling better about having come back. He was still upset at himself for letting sauske get away back before his training. He wondered how everything had gone while he had been gone. "Anything happen while i was off training?" he asked curiously. He didn't want any surprises but he hoped that while he had been gone that Sauske had come to his senses and come home.

Naruto was curious what she was doing here in the market place too but he was not going to ask that just yet. She seemed to have been up to something but what he was not sure of at the moment. He was just glad she was not sad or violent at his return.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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"No, not much has changed," Sakura said, looking down. "He... Hasn't come back yet," she added, her tone quite saddened. She was sure Naruto would understand who she was referring to. It was none other than Uchiha Sasuke, their teammate, whom had run from the village about two and a half years previous. Nonetheless, her face was bright again as she pushed back the painful memories that tried to surface themselves, hiding her sadness with her bright smile.

"Nothing else has changed, really, though. Everyone still misses you. They'll all be glad you're back, though! Tsunade-sama has shown me a few new things as well. But anyways, what brings you back to the village? Weren't you training with Jiraiya-sama?" Sakura tilted her head to the side just slightly, curiosity evident in her voice. She still couldn't hide the glee she was feeling now that at least part of their team was back. She would have to bring Naruto to see Kakashi-sensei sometime soon, as she was sure the Hatake jounin would simply love to see his other student again.

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[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
There's nothing left here anymore.
My room is cold,
It's making me insane.

"i was but he thinks Ive learned all i can for now, He also wanted to return to the village to talk with granny Tsunade," he said as he smiled at Sakura. He tried to not let the fact that Sauske was not back bring him down. He was stronger now and he would do everything he could to make sure that he brought him back this time when he found him.

Naruto was glad she was so happy. "Thats nice to hear that everyone missed me, any cool missions happen while i was gone or anything big?" He asked as he watched Sakura curious to know anything big that happened up until he had returned. He wanted the update on everyone if she knew.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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"I wonder what he'd want to talk to Tsunade-sama about?" Sakura said, a little curious to find out now. She attempted to think of something, but she came up with nothing. "And there really wasn't much of anything big... Well, except one thing." Sakura stopped for a second. "But you should probably say hi to Tsunade-sama first. I was heading back there anyways, so I can tell you on the way." Again she smiled, still quite glad to see her teammate again. She was surprised at his behaviour slightly; normally she would have expected to have beaten him at least once by now. It seemed to her that he learned a little too much from Jiraiya, and she wasn't talking about jutsu and other shinobi-like things, either.

"Anyways" Sakura continued as they began to walk towards the Hokage's tower, "I was out yesterday and I found a girl while I was there... Her name is Rajani, and she says she knows Kakashi-sensei. She was pretty beat, and there was another thing that was odd... You know how Kiba has Akamaru as an inu-nin and Kakashi-sensei has Pakkun, right?" Sakura flinched slightly as she mentioned Pakkun... She still couldn't get over the fact that they used the same shampoo. It scared her, in a sense. "She was accompanied by a blood wolf." Sakura's tone was absolutely serious as she spoke, without a hint of joke in it at all. "Do you know what a blood wolf is?" She asked, looking at him as she continued to walk.

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[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
There's nothing left here anymore.
My room is cold,
It's making me insane.

Naruto thought about it for a moment then said A wolf covered in blood?" He seriously didn't know he was unsure of what else a blood wolf could be. He really didn't know anything about blood wolves. He watched Sakura and wondered what was so special about this girl besides the fact that she knew kakashi sensei.

"But how does she know Kakashi-sensei?" he asked as he walked with Sakura. He didn't know how she would know kakashi and be able to be beaten up how sakura said she had been. "Sakura can you tell me besides her knowing Kakashi-sensei what we know about her?" Naruto was curious why Sakura was letting this stranger to him stay at her home. Why is sakura chan letting this girl stay with her ? Why does she think she is safe to stay with her? he thought as he walked with Sakura. He hated not knowing enough about people or why Sakura did things.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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"A wolf... Covered in blood?!" Sakura's face turned to a dark frown, and she knocked Naruto on the head once with a slight growl. "Can't you be a little more creative?! A blood wolf is a wolf that needs blood in it's diet, Naruto-baka." Sakura made a small 'hmph' noise, but continued to speak about his other questions." Anyways, well, other than that she knows Kakashi-sensei, nothing much, to be honest. All she told me was that she was from Konoha a while back and that she'd been taken by bandits. That's all she told me, really."

A quick look at Naruto's face told her that there seemed to be a little bit of worry behind his eyes, along with a bit of confusion. "Naruto, if you're worried about the fact that people know little about her and she's staying with me, you don't need to. I've been training with Tsunade-sama, remember?" Sakura's face was suddenly bright again, and she thought it to be the perfect time as they went past the area that led to the training grounds. Thinking for a moment, she decided against it. She would have shown Naruto her 'super strength', but that could wait. She would rather show it with Kakashi-sensei being there as well.

"You could come see her if you wanted, Naruto. Of course, after we say a nice hello to Tsunade-sama!"

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[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

Naruto rubbed his head from the hit from Sakura. He still didn't know about this girl that Sakura had visiting with her or the fact that she had a wolf. Naruto kept walking still thinking about what was going on. He was not sure what Tsunade would think of him now.
"Sakura-chan, besides training what have you been doing all this time?" Naruto asked curious to know anything she had done in his time away. He didn't want to think that she and he had grown apart to terribly while he had been gone.

Sakura still looked as beautiful as he had remembered her when they finished the chuninn exam. He wondered what she thought of him but would not ask at least not yet especially due to his dumb answer to her question. She probably still sees me as a child and that will never change Naruto thought as he walked behind Sakura.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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What had she been doing while he had been gone, besides training? Sakura couldn't really think of much else. She had passed the Chuunin exam, that was for sure. "Not much else that I can really remember that was, well, significant, really. Ino and I are still rivalrous, but we're friends to a greater degree, and I passed the Chuunin exam." She tried to think of more things, but couldn't think of any. As they entered the Hokage's tower, Sakura could hear Tsunade speaking to someone, most likely Shizune, upstairs in her office.

"Konohamaru, just because they say they've seen him doesn't mean he's back!"Sakura knew immediately what they were talking about, and without warning she grabbed Naruto's wrist and quickly dragged him up the stairs at a quicker pace than what they had been taking. She stopped before the door and opened it as if she lived there, in a sense; she knew she was always welcome in Tsunade's office. Being her student gave her that priviledge, in a sense.

Sakura was surprised to see none other than the young Konohamaru, a Genin now, standing in front of Tsunade's desk with a look of truth on his face. "He really is back, Tsunade-sama," Sakura said as she gestured towards her blonde teammate. "I haven't seen Jiraiya-sama, though. Naruto, where is Jiraiya-sama, anyways?" She asked, after releasing the grip she'd had on Naruto's wrist.

"Naruto-sensei, you're back!"Konohamaru exclaimed in pure joy. With that, the boy dashed off with the biggest grin on his face ever. Sakura smiled; it seemed now that everyone she'd once known had grown up, and she hadn't realized it. As much as she didn't quite want to admit it, Naruto seemed a little, well, cuter, in a sense... No way, did I just honestly think that? Well, then again... He does look a little bit cuter. Still got that same bright smile as always, though. He really seems to have grown up.

[[ooc: I'll probably bring Konohamaru back in later. Sparkling admiration, remember? xD]]

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[ino]

Ino walked down the corridors, letting out a loud sigh, she almost felt lost without her teammates near, and she had no one to boss about or just to have a laugh with. As Ino walked her eyes drifted towards the ground just before she heard a familiar voice outside the Hokage’s office. Sneakily she crept towards the door, gently pressing her ear against it. She heard footsteps getting louder and quickly she rushed back pressing herself against the wall hoping that it wasn’t Tsunade.

Closing her eyes tightly she peaked to see little Konohamaru running out with a giant grin. Ino looked puzzled for a moment, before the door fully closed she caught a flash of Pink and...Orange? “Sakura...and...was that Naruto?” with that Ino practically rushed to the door hoping to hear a little of their conversation.

"I haven't seen Jiraiya-sama, though. Naruto, where is Jiraiya-sama, anyways?" Ino stood up straight, a small smile crept upon her lips. Looks like it was Naruto .

[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

Naruto smiled when he saw Konohamaru he knew he had to talk with the little guy. He wanted to catch up with Konohamaru but first things first he needed to see what Granny Tsunade wanted with him. Naruto also smiled because Sakura had voluntarily touched him. and he enjoyed her touch.

"Granny Tsunade," Naruto said in greeting. He was still wearing the necklace he had won from her before the big sennin showdown. He was still a bit upset at himself for getting knocked out for it. He took a deep breath then said "Im back and ready to join back my team as well as continue to look for Sauske, I wont give up on him." he said as he watched Tsunade.

As he watched Tsunade he wondered what Sakura was thinking he was not sure if he would gain her wrath due to how he addressed Tsunade but if he was not getting the punches from Tsunade he concidered himself lucky but Sakura was a different story. He didnt know how much she had changed but she seemed to have changed physically. She seems to have more to her punch now that i think about it. It hurt a little more then normal but also seemed that she was holding back a lot. I wonder what Pervy sage was talking to Granny Tsunade about, Ive missed a lot,[/i'] Naruto thought as he stood there.

[Haruno Sakura]

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"This time, everyone, get a good look at my back."
✿❀✿ ♡нαяυησ×ѕαкυяα♡ ✿❀✿
She's Glad For One Day Of Comfort, Only Because She Has Suffered

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"Sasuke..." Sakura whispered, looking down at the ground. Just the thought of the Uchiha boy brought back painful memories, memories she didn't want to have to confront unless absolutely necessary. She didn't notice that Tsunade was frowning at the desk a little. Within a few seconds Sakura regained control of herself, hearing the noise of footsteps stopping nearby. Now who would have the audacity to listen in on someone's conversation? Frowning, Sakura turned around, crouched a little, and leaped towards the door. As she landed in front of it, she saw none other than her friend and rival, Ino.

"Ino-pig! Why in the hell are you eavesdropping?!" Sakura snapped, glaring at Ino. Uh oh, it looked like Ino had crossed a line there. "You might as well have just walked in, you know," she continued, rolling her eyes and muttering intelligible words under her breath. She returned to walking back to where she had been standing, leaving the door open in the face of her golden-haired friend.

"Good to see you're back safe and sound, Naruto. Kakashi himself is out on a mission as of right now, so you might not see him for a short while. However, you know you are welcome here, no matter what some might say," Tsunade said genuinely. Sakura nodded in agreement, her thoughts completely void of the Yamanaka girl who had so very rudely eavesdropped [[ lol ]] on them.

"Welcome back, Naruto."

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[ino]

Ino was about walk away as she was getting bored with their conversation, just as her ear left the door it swung open to none other than Sakura. Ino clenched his fists tightly and pulled it up to her chest. “Who you calling Ino –Pig! Billboard brow!” Ino was so caught up in the moment that she had forgotten the fact Tsunade and Naruto were standing there.

“ I wasn’t eave-dropping ...i just got my hair caught in the door, that’s all.” She began to mutter a few insults under her breath before walking forward to stand amongst them. “Welcome back Naruto” Ino smiled cheerfully but she was still annoyed at Sakura’s accusation, even if it were true she had no right, Ino had made up her conclusion and wasn’t going to stick with it. [/size]

[naruto]

I'm staring at a broken door,
how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

Naruto nodded and looked at Sakura and Ino, "im glad to be back, He said as he stood there now unsure of what to do. He looked at Tsunade and then to Ino and Sakura.

"Do you need me and Sakura anymore right now Granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked as he wanted to leave with Sakura. He didn't like standing around doing nothing. He wanted to take Sakura and get some Ramen since he had not gotten any in a long time.