"A Void Filled"

by Coded

Chapter 5: Back in Konoha

' ' Thoughts, " " Speech

Shizune gaped openly as the three shinobi strode through the door, entering the ante-chamber for the Hokage's office.

Jiraiya swaggered up to her desk, pressing his fists down on the hard wood as he leaned over with a charming smile.

"Shizune! Working so late? Don't you know lack of sleep is bad for the skin? Yours is so lovely, such a shame to waste it."

"J-Jiraiya-sama! You're back! We..we haven't heard word from you in over a year, Hokage-sama has been terribly worried. She claims its affecting her work, so of course I have to work late." Shizune's eyes drifted from the face of the sannin to the two forms standing several steps behind him. Puzzlement crossed her face as she looked back at Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama..who are these two? ..Where are Naruto and Tayuya-chan? Don't tell me they.." The Hokage's companion gulped audibly as she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

Jiraiya's grin widened as he stepped to the side, flourishing an arm up at his two students. "Shizune! You should know I would never let harm come to the children. These are them. Naruto." Naruto, standing on the right grinned and bowed low, "And the lovely Tayuya." Tayuya grinned mischeviously and feigned a small curtsy.

Shizune was stunned. She examined the boy Jiraiya claimed was Naruto. The young Leaf-nin had let his hair grow out in imitation of Jiraiya's, and the color! Shizune marvled at how they had gotten Naruto's hair from the bright yellow it was when the three had left the village to the pale blue it currently was. The ex-blonde's signature orange jumpsuit was gone, replaced by a dull, navy blue full body jumpsuit, including a mask covering the boy's face from just below the nose and down, however the boys foxy grin could still be seen beneath the thin fabric. The eyes stuck out the most, however. Gone were the beautiful deep blue eyes Naruto had once had. She had never heard of any jutsu or substance that could change eye color, and yet Naruto stood there staring her in the face with two large, orange-red eyes. Shizune judged he must have grown around two feet in the time they were gone, as he now stood even with his sensei.

Still dumbfounded by the changes to Naruto, the medical-nin turned to examine Tayuya. The changes to the girl were much less drastic. She had reached her womanhood and filled out..her hair remained the same color as when she had left, however the headgear she had worn had disappeared, and her hair was much shorter, with a slight wave to it. Shizune observed that she was about the same height.

The Hokage's assistant was flabbergasted as she turned back to Jiraiya. "I...I can't believe it..I would never have guessed.."

"Hai..that's kinda the idea, Shizune-san, we DID have people after us, yknow." Naruto piped up, speaking for the first time since entering the room.

'Even his voice is completely different..more mellow...relaxed..more..confident? It somewhat reminds me of Kakashi's.'

"Yes, well," Jiraiya paused to glare at Naruto. "We know whose fault that is, too, don't we, my wonderful little student."

Naruto puffed up and grinned at his sensei, only returning to a more relaxed position by a gentle squeeze on his upper arm by Tayuya.

Shizune took note of the gesture. 'Well, didn't have to be an Uchiha or Hyuuga to figure that one out. So much for geniuses!' The woman giggled silently at her own joke. When she opened her eyes she was startled to find the room spanning out on the other side of her desk empty. "Now where could they have gone so fast?" Shizune mused to herself as she scratched her ear, realization only striking her as she heard the sound of a door closing to her left. Gasping suddenly, Shizune shot to her feet, knowing it was too late. "...Oh boy.."

Naruto was excited to see Tsunade again. Ever since Jiraiya and himself had made the trip to bring her back to Konoha, he had always felt a special bond with the older woman. When he left the village with Jiraiya and Tayuya, leaving her had hurt the most.

As they entered the room, Naruto was surprised to see that for once the Hokage wasn't fast asleep face first on her desk. On the contrary, she seemed quite awake, taking the time of night it was into account. She sat in a chair at her desk, turned to the side, conversing with another female ninja. As the three entered, Naruto quickly surveyed the room, taking note of the exits, open spaces, possible false walls. Naruto had always suspected that the building containing the Hokage's office was riddled with hidden doors and secret passageways. His eyes flicked over the two women briefly. Tsunade hadn't changed much, however he had to stop for a moment to examine the shinobi she was talking to. Naruto judged her to be around his age, perhaps 8 inches shorter than him, short, platinum blonde hair. Nothing particularly stood out about her as far as the boy could see. No presence of power, no chakra flow. Shrugging his shoulders he turned and smiled at Tayuya as they followed Jiraiya into the room and closed the door behind them.

Tsunade glanced up from her conversation as the door closed, expecting only to find Shizune standing by the door with another stack of documents for her to go over. When her eyes met Jiraiya, recognition flashed sharply. Tsunade stood quickly and leaned close to the female shinobi she was with and whispered something. Nodding, the girl stood and walked around the desk, making for the door. Taking little note of the newcomers, she strode past and out the door, closing it behind her.

"Jiraiya! You're alive! We were worried..we haven't recieved word in quite some time.." Suddenly the Hokage scowled. "You should have sent word you were coming!"

As Jiraiya and Tsunade talked, Naruto glanced back at the door, itching the side of his neck.

Tayuya moved close and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Everything ok, Naruto?"

Naruto nodded and hugged her briefly. "Aye..just..I don't know..something about that girl..must be someone I knew from before, just can't seem to place her."

Tayuya laughed softly and poked the boy in the side. "Well, as we saw with Neji, we weren't the ONLY ones to change, dummy."

Naruto rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the two older ninjas.

"So, all that trouble in the Wave Country was you? I should have figured..and now that you're in over your head, you came back here and you brought Naruto and Tayuya with you. Amazing, Jiraiya, absolutly amazing."

Naruto's eyebrows rose slightly. "Nee, Baa-chan, you recognized us?"

Tsunade snorted and flopped back into her chair. "Of course, brat! Anyone with two eyes could recognize you, Jiraiya didn't work hard enough on the disguises."

Tayuya laughed, "Mmm..try telling that to your assistant. She didn't recognize either of us. Practically had to spell it out."

Tsunade's face darkened slightly as she listened to this slip of a girl badmouth her closest friend and companion over the past who-knows-how-many years.

Jiraiya stepped up to the desk, motioning soothingly at Tsunade. "Sorry, Tsunade, the kids are uhh...alittle..cocky. Especially the boy." Jiraiya turned and glared at Naruto. "Ahem," turning back to the Hokage, the old ninja continued, "And as a matter of fact, no. We didn't come here for protection because we're in over our heads. The upcoming chuunin exam is being held here in Konoha, is it not? I couldn't get the damn brat to shut up about how it's unfair that he's still a genin."

Tsunade turned back to her old teammate with a huff. "Huh, that doesn't surprise me. Is he ready for it?"

Naruto growled slightly and clenched a fist. "Care to spar, Hokage-sama? See how ready I am?"

Jiraiya eyed the boy, then leaned in close to Tsunade and whispered. "Don't tell the boy this, but he's more then ready. I haven't seen his like since the Fourth. He has full control over the kyuubi, knows and has mastered almost every jutsu I know, and..well..you know about his determination, thats one thing that hasn't changed. Honestly, I don't think it would be fair to put him in a chuunin exam with genins. If anything he should be taking the jounin exam."

Tsunade laughed and waved her hand at Naruto in an apathetic motion. "That sounds like the Naruto I know. Doesn't surprise me one bit. Half the children he took his first chuunin exam with from Konoha are jounin now, and the other half are chuunin. Naruto never was one to be left behind..very well, however you mustn't reveal their identities. There is still alot of anger hiding just underneath the surface of the village, should certain people learn that Naruto, and especially Tayuya, are in the village, they could be at risk."

Naruto snorted and crossed his arms, ignoring the stiffness from the burn scars. "As if anyone in the village could hurt us. You underestimate the training we've recieved from Jiraya-sensei, and the battles we've had to go through these past three years."

Tsunade eyed Naruto. "And you underestimate the power of Konoha ninjas. Something you never did before. A pity, my student walked right by you, my student who I would wager is as strong if not stronger than you, and you didn't bat an eyelash. She hides her power well, doesn't she? Even the great Uzumaki Naruto didn't notice it."

Naruto laughed and turned to Tayuya. "She's bluffing, Baa-chan loves to put me down, she forgets that I saved her life one time."

Tsunade sat forward with a sadistic grin on her face. "Bluffing? Oh I assure you not. She's been training under me almost as long as you've been out of the village with Jiraiya..I always was a harder sensei than Jiraiya, too. Yes, I assure you..Sakura is a much different girl than when you left."

Naruto was still dumbfounded as he walked into the hotel next to Jiraiya and Tayuya. He flopped down on a couch in the lobby as Jiraiya walked up to the desk to get the keys to the rooms the Hokage had had reserved for the three ninjas. Tayuya sat down next to the boy and took ahold of one of his hands, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Naruto looked over and took in the worried look on Tayuya's face. With a smile he wrapped the older girl in a hug. "Don't worry, Tayuya-chan, I don't still have feelings for her..I just can't see Sakura training with the Old Lady. She was always the weakest of our group, always lagged behind. The thought of her being strong now is just..alien. That and I didn't even recognize her..I guess its true that the mind blocks out bad memories."

"I'm sorry Naruto. Just knowing that the stupid little girl was in the same room as us bothers me. You've told me what she did to you. I don't even know her, and I can't stand her." Tayuya clenched her jaw in frustration.

Jiraiya strode up to the couch waving two sets of keys. Without a word he tossed a set into Naruto's lap. "That's the room for you two. I got my own."

The students rose and followed Jiraiya up a set of stairs and down a hall until they stood in front of idenitcal doors on opposite sides of the hall. Jiraiya moved to the right one. "Well, kids, this one is mine. That's yours, I'm right across the hall if you need anything." Mischief twinkled in Jiraiya's eyes as he unlocked his door, and he eyed Naruto meaningfully. "Now you two be good." Cackling at his own wittiness the old pervert opened the door and stepped into his room and shut the door behind him.

Naruto and Tayuya rolled their eyes at eachother as they entered their room and set down their meager belongings. "Wow!" Naruto exclaimed, examining the room. "Look, Tayuya! One bed! Our master is getting sly in his old age."

Tayuya laughed softly. "I think he's flirted with the help of every hotel we've stayed in for the past three years. I'm sure one or two of them mentioned that when we shared a room one of the beds never had to be made up." Reaching out and grabbing the boy by the mask she pulled it down and pulled him into a kiss in the same motion.

"Mmm," breaking the kiss Naruto grinned and eyed the bed. "I wonder how comfy the beds in THIS hotel are. I swear he went out of his way to find the hotels with the most uncomfortable beds around."

Tayuya pulled her fiancee into another kiss as she reached down to take off one of her boots. The two were in their own little world when they were suddenly and rudely interrupted by a knock at the door.

Naruto pulled away and groaned loudly. "That must be Jiraiya-sensei..what does he want now, he should have already fallen asleep!" The boy moped to the door as Tayuya sat on the end of the bed and pulled off her other shoe.

Naruto pulled the door open in a huff, head tilted back until he was staring at the ceiling, "Yes, Sensei, what do you want?"

The voice that answered him wasn't the one he was expecting. "Hm..I had heard you were back in the village."

Gasping, Naruto dropped his gaze until he was staring into the familiar, masked face of his former sensei. "Kakashi-sensei! Wha..?" Suddenly realization struck the young ninja and he quickly drew his mask back up over his face. Leaning out the door, Naruto looked both ways down the hall before grabbing Kakashi by the vest and pulling him into the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Kakashi-sensei! What are you doing here? You shouldn't know that I'm here! You shouldn't even know I'm still alive..we didn't tell anyone when we left except Tsunade and Shizune.."

At the slam of the door Tayuya had looked up from where she was sitting on the bed. Her eyes fell onto the strange, silver-haired ninja standing in front of Naruto and a puzzled expression crossed her face.

Kakashi looked past Naruto to Tayuya and smiled behind his mask, raising his hand in greeting, he spoke.. "..Yo."

"Uhh...who the hell are you?" Tayuya asked, still unsure of what was going on.

Naruto grumbled and ran his hand through his hair. "Tayuya-chan, this is Kakashi, he was my sensei before we left..well..before the chuunin exam anyways. Kakashi, this is Tayuya."

"Hm..yes, I gathered as much. As to your question, the village was in an uproar when you and Tayuya here disappeared from the village at the same time that the Hokage announced Sasuke's death." A haunted look crossed Kakashi's eye as he spoke Sasuke's name. 'Hn..not that I blame him..I can't imagine what it's like to lose a subordinate' Naruto thought to himself as Kakashi continued. "Anyways, lots of people were upset, and when the Hokage didn't name you a missing-nin and send ANBU after you, on the pretense that the village didn't have enough resources to spare for that kind of operation, I kind of figured it out. Jiraiya left around the same time, which less people seemed to notice, but I know Jiraiya-sensei, and I know you two trained together."

Naruto shrugged thoughtfully. "Makes sense, but that doesn't explain how you knew I was back. Nor where to find me. Or why you're even here at all."

"Ah..as to that..hmm..how should I put this..well, a year ago, Shizune and I got married. She's not very good at keeping secrets from me, it seems. And why am I here? Can't a man wish to see a former subordinate that he hasn't seen in over three years?" Kakashi shrugged nonchalantly.

"Married! To Shizune! Man did I miss alot..." Naruto was kind of getting irritated as he had continually been surprised since entering the village.

"Mm..indeed. I thought I'd stop by and see if you wanted to talk. Ichiraku is still around, and they're open 24 hours a day now."

Naruto's eyes lit up at the mention of Ichiraku. Leaving Ichiraku had been almost as bad as leaving Tsunade behind. "Sensei, you know your way right to my heart, of course I'll go! ...Uhh.." remembering Tayuya, Naruto turned and gave her his best puppy dog eyes.

With a laugh, Tayuya grabbed a pillow and threw it, hitting Naruto square in the face. "Go ahead, you glutton. Don't be out all night, we have to train tomorrow, remember."

Naruto grinned and tossed the pillow back to Tayuya as he and Kakashi walked out the door.

"So..I see you're taking pains to hide your identity, not a bad look, I must say." Kakashi chuckled as he complimented the masked-look he had worn for years, "So I assume I can't go around calling you by your real name. What shall I call you while you're here?"

Naruto thought for a moment, then turned to look at the older ninja. "Rasen. Call me Rasen."

Kakashi lifted his visible eyebrow. "Rasen? Isn't that a tad..hm..how to say this...obvious?"

Naruto laughed and shrugged. "Nah..everyone that knows about that jutsu knows who I really am anyways, no harm using it out in public."

Kakashi nodded, "Rasen it is, then. So, Rasen, I know that you're here, what I don't know is why."

"Mm..the great Kakashi couldn't piece THAT together? Heh, we're here for the chuunin exam. I'm still only a genin." Naruto muttered the last and kicked a stone, as they had exited the hotel and were walking down the center of the road.

"Ahh, of course, silly me." Kakashi steered Naruto through semi-familiar streets until they stood in front of Ichiraku. Without a word, Kakashi extended his arm in invitation and Naruto entered the shop and sat at the bar.

Several minutes of silence followed, as the two men ate. "I see you've mastered eating with the mask on..quite a feat, isn't it? How long did it take you?" Kakashi asked as he set his bowl down.

Naruto thought for a moment. "Hmm..probably about three months after I started wearing it. I tried so hard for those three months, too. Then it just came to me, easy really. I never understood how you did it until it struck me."

Kakashi nodded with a smile, and the two men once again sat in silence. After five minutes, Kakashi spoke up softly. "So..I hear you saw Sakura when you went to see the Hokage."

Naruto grunted and softly tapped the side of his bowl with his spoon. "Aye, for a moment. I still can't believe she's been training with Baa-chan."

Kakashi shrugged. "Well, with Sasuke dead, and Naruto," the masked ninja emphasized Naruto for the benefit of any listeners, "leaving the village, it left just her from Team 7. Can't very well have a team of two. So, I was reassigned back to my former Jounin duties, and the Hokage offered to take over her tutelage. She really has become powerful, Rasen."

"Heh, I still have a hard time believing that. I knew her before, and I knew how weak she was, of course I never would have said that, back then. However, I can now, and I can't see her being strong."

"Well," Kakashi replied, as he stood and pushed himself away from the bar, "You'll find out soon. She's going to be in the chuunin exam with you. She wasn't slated to, over the last three years of her training, Hokage-sama has never seemed interested in making her a higher level shinobi. Just training, training and more training. However, I hear you and Tsunade got into it about how powerful she is now. I'd wager Tsunade is putting her in the exam to make her point, and to prove you wrong...I wonder who'll be proven right.." Kakashi trailed off absently as he turned and walked out the door. "Well, good night, Rasen." and with that the silver-haired enigma disappeared out the door, leaving Naruto to sit and stew on his thoughts alone.

Hah! Updated again within the week! Surprise! I'm kinda getting back into it, I feel this chapter was better written than the last, hopefully you all like it. Still kinda another filler, although now it's opening up more of where I want the plot to be going, there should be some ACTION soon! Woohoo!

Not much to say on this other than that, some of you may notice a slight contradiction between this chapter and the end of the last, I made a mistake and used an adjective for Naruto in chapter 4 that I didn't mean to use(its been changed now) so now everything fits. I won't say what it is..so its a contest to see who can figure it out!

This chapter is longer than most of the past ones, so I hope that pleases some of you, and I wanted to just thank all you that are fans of this and have put up with having to go almost a year between updates, and are still reading! Thank you so much, you don't know how good that feels. )

So in conclusion, this chapter, and all to come(hopefully alot more!), is for you guys, the fans. I hope you enjoy it and wait patiently for the next one!