Chapter 1

It was another sunny day in the Land of Fire. Everyone was enjoying the day within the land. Weather it was tending to the fields or just children playing, it was a good day in the Land of Fire. In the Hidden Village of the Leaves, it wasn't as fun for a particular team of genin. Team Ebisu, which consisted of its' jonin leader, Ebisu, and his charges, Moegi, Udon and Konohamaru. The jonin looked very nervous as his main student was give his leader the stink eye. He was pretty scared for his student due to the fact that his leader was not known for her patience.

His leader was the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. The older woman didn't look like an old woman, keeping her age hidden by a genjutsu that she constantly used. She was giving Konohamaru the same stink eye that he was giving her. Ebisu decided to be the peacekeeper.

"Lady Hokage, I know that the mission did not go as smooth," Ebisu began but was quickly cut off by a glare by his leader.

"That is an understatement. Not only did it take you half the day to catch a cat, the damage they caused is no joke. Not only that but this idiot's report," Tsunade was pointing at Konohamaru. "looked like a five-year-old wrote it."

"Say that to my face!" Konohamaru exclaimed.

"I just did brat. There is no excuse for what happened or a crappy report." Tsunade said.

"Maybe if you gave us a high mission like grandpa gave big brother Naruto, I would be more reasonable." Konohamaru argued.

"That isn't going to work with me. You'll do the missions that I assign and if you improve, I'll think about giving you a higher mission." Tsunade said. Konohamaru just pouted at that, making Moegi giggle at him. Tsunade just sighed at him before looking at her calendar. She noticed that today was circled and she remembered what it meant. She looked back at team Ebisu. "Okay brats, I have a mission for you."

"Ma'am, what can our team do for you today?" Ebisu asked seriously.

"You can escort me. I'm going to gate to welcome back a promising shinobi."

XXX

A young man stood on a pole, looking over his home village. He was wearing an orange, short kimono shirt and black pants. He had on a black hoari, which was tied with a red belt. He also had one a black forearm bands with red trim. His ankles were tied and he wore black sandals. He was smiling from ear to ear at being home.

"I like the new outfit Naruto." a voice said. The blond looked to his left to see his old sensei. Happy to see him, he jumped off the pole to converse with him.

"Hey Kakashi-sensei, I see that you haven't changed much." Naruto said. He wasn't lying about that. Kakashi had not changed since he saw him two and half years ago.

"You would be surprised at how much I have changed." Kakashi said. That's when they were interrupted by someone coughing. They both looked down to see Tsunade with Konohmaru, Moegi, Udon and Ebisu. Naruto smiled at seeing them and jumped down to greet them. Before he got a word out, Konohamaru ran up to him.

"Hey boss, let me show you how much I've improved on your personal jutsu." Konohamaru said excitedly. That's when he felt a very oppressive force. He slowly turned to look at the very stern eyes of Tsunade.

"I swear, you even do that 'jutsu' and I will have your team cleaning out the sewers for months." Tsunade threatened. Konohamaru just nodded and fell back in line, getting a slap behind the head from Moegi. The blond then looked at Naruto and gave him a look over. "Look at you brat. It looks like Jiraiya actually did something right in your training."

"Well, not like we had a choice. You probably know what happened during the trip." Naruto said.

"Yeah, I know. That reminds me. Where's your sensei?" Tsunade asked. That's when there was a large puff of smoke that appeared in the middle of the road. When it cleared, Jiraiya appeared on one of his toads with banners and streamers.

"Ladies, the Gallant Jiraiya has returned to dazzle you all!" the man exclaimed. Those that knew that man either ignored him or laughed at him. Tsunade just sighed at her teammates antics while Naruto looked on in shame. Jiraiya hopped off the toad and allowed him to go back home. He walked up to Tsunade with a big grin. "Hey princess, did you miss me?"

"Like a bad rash." Tsunade said with a stern tone. "You better have a damn good reason for not reporting in for a year. Because of you, I don't know weather to promote Naruto."

"Easy granny, this isn't on Pervy Sage. Your other teammate wasn't particularly happy with me. We had to go into hiding." Naruto said. Jiraiya pointed at Naruto while silently thanking Naruto for the save. Tsunade's stern glare lessened at that explanation. She knew that Orochimaru would not be happy due to Naruto's involvement.

"I guess I can let it slide. Still, I have no idea on your progress." Tsunade said.

"The kid has gotten plenty strong under yours truly. Did you really think I wouldn't make him a proper shinobi? I did teach the Yondaime, you know." Jiraiya said.

"Please, Minato was a prodigy shinobi and you didn't have to do much to train him. Naruto was already skilled thanks to Kakashi and his own doing. He only lacked experience, which you provided." Tsunade said. Jiraiya felt bummed about her harsh words while Naruto chuckled at him. Tsunade just sighed and looked at Naruto. "You can go home Naruto. I'll have something planned for you soon. Me and your sensei got to talk." Naruto just nodded and vanished using the Body Flicker.

Tsunade made a motion to everyone around her and they began to walk back to the Hokage tower.

XXX

The door opened to Naruto's apartment. The blond stepped in and let out a happy sigh. He was glad to be home and couldn't wait to sleep in his bed. The travel woes finally caught up to him and he just needed to lie down. So tired, he did not realize the change to his apartment.

The first thing was that it was clean. The second thing was that there looked to be some renovation made to the place. It looked a lot bigger, as if two people lived in the apartment. The final thing was the new furniture and smell that was going through the place. It smelled of flowers, mostly lavender. Naruto would worry about it later as he walked up to his room and opened the door. When he entered, he realized that he was not alone.

He was looking at goddess. She had very smooth skin. It seemed to be made of ivory. Her legs were very toned as were her abs. She was wearing a pair of sexy purple panties and it was all that she was wearing. He got a very good look at her budding chest and she was going to be a knock-out as she got older. He especially liked how her hair was still damp and those blue, pupil-less eyes,

'Wait a minute, there is only one person I know who has blue pupil-less eyes.' Naruto thought. He quickly snapped back in reality to notice that he was staring at a naked Ino Yamanaka. The young woman's face was becoming very red and quickly covered her chest. Naruto was also getting red and a sense that he should quickly leave. He listened to his gut and quickly left, closing the door behind him and holding it shut.

"Holy hell, what is Ino doing naked in my apartment?" Naruto asked himself. That's when he heard the heavy feet of Ino and tightly held on to the door. That's when a blade came through the door, right next to his head. Naruto abandoned holding the door and bolted. The door was thrown open and, now wrapped in a towel, Ino stormed out. She was holding a tanto and had murder in her eyes.

"NA-RU-TO!" she roared and launched herself at him, ready to sink him alive.

XXX

Tsunade sat across from Jiraiya, a cup of sake right next to her. Jiraiya had a similar cup in front of him and took a drink from it. Jiraiya gulped down the drink and let out an 'aah'.

"That's pretty good." Jiraiya said.

"I'm not in the mood Jiraiya. Where do you think Naruto is as a shinobi?" Tsunade said seriously.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk. If I'm being truly honest, he's almost at jonin level. The kid has some work ethic that even surprised me. I didn't have to teach him much. If you want specifics, he mostly uses taijutsu and ninjutsu. He even combines the two like Ay and his brother. His affinity is wind, which shocked me. There is also his training with the fox that has bore fruit."

"How did that training go?" Tsunade asked.

"I wouldn't know. The fox keeps their training secret from myself." he said. Tsunade looked at him like he was crazy.

"Are you telling me that you allowed Naruto to be trained by the Nine-tails'? Have you lost your mind?!" she exclaimed.

"Easy princess, if there is any entity that can help Naruto control that power, it is the Nine-tails. Besides, I'm not so stupid to not keep watch over Naruto when he trained with its' chakra. So far, the fox has been on the up and up with his deal." Jiraiya said.

"I don't like this Jiraiya and I'm not the only one. What is the fox is tricking Naruto, trying to weaken the seal?"

"Then he's in for a surprise. Naruto might not be the prodigy that his father and mother were but he has some skill in sealing. Naruto knows that he can shut the fox down if he tries anything. He might be simple minded Tsunade but Naruto is no fool. Besides, their relationship is something similar to what Ay's brother has with the Eight-tails." Tsunade sighed and took a sip of her sake.

"Just keep an eye on it. Tell me of any changes that happen between them." Jiraiya just looked at her with some concerned.

"Are the old crones breathing down your neck about this?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade didn't answer that. "This isn't about Naruto. This is about something else."

"What do you know about the group that is going around? The one who is causing a stir within the Elemental Nations?" Tsunade asked. Jiraiya took a serious expression when she said that.

"I wish that I knew more than everyone else. The only thing that I can say about the group is that I know the name." Jiraiya explained.

"That's more than anything. What's their name?" she asked.

"They call themselves 'Hawk'." he answered.

"'Hawk'? That's a stupid name. Is that all you got?"

"I'm afraid so. This group is very secretive and paranoid. The spy I sent to infiltrate the group was found in the Swamp Country, dead."

"Well, whoever they are, they are making waves. They have attacked a few of our and Orochimaru's outposts. They even hit an outpost that was run by the Akatsuki. Whoever this group is, they are making some very powerful enemies."

"You think that this is just the beginning of something bigger?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade was about to answer when there was a knock on the door.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked.

"I'm sorry Lady Tsunade but there is a disturbance at Naruto's apartment. There are reports of shouts and screams coming from within. I think that a jutsu was used" Shizune said from behind the door. Jiraiya was concerned about this while Tsunade came to a realization.

"I forgot that she lives there now." Tsunade said softly. "Shizune, just let those two deals with it. As long as it doesn't spill out into the street, then don't intervene." Shizune said okay and they heard foot-steps walking away. Jiraiya gave Tsunade a look and she just smirked. "Let's just say Naruto has to get use to a roommate.

XXX

Somewhere in the Sea Country, a group of four robed figures stared down a wounded man. He had two arrows in his knees and it was bleeding. The group watched as he was changing back from the green skinned fish man. One of them looked at the other person who was female. She was cut up pretty back and she would be dead in moments. They looked back at the man who glared at them.

"Do you know who I am? I am one of Orochimaru's top scientist!" he spat.

"Exactly." a female voice said and found an arrow in his head. He fell to the ground dead. The female turned to a large robed figure. "Bury this place." She walked away the others as the large figure did hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earthquake Slam!" he said and put his hand on the ground. The ground began to spiral into itself until everything was buried.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

Been a while, hasn't it? Anyway, I have decided to rewrite this story again. I didn't like how it was written and I know that I can do better. So, I am going to rewrite each chapter to my skill level and make this story better. Keep an eye out for all the changes. Later.