The trip back to Konoha was both extremely fast and incredibly long. We moved at the fastest pace I could manage, which was near my top speed, but each and every step seemed to individually impress itself upon my psyche. I could feel tension building in my chest, the anticipation and dread mingling and churning in a confusing jumble of emotions.

We traveled in a modified diamond formation, Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke flanking me on either side, one squad of ANBU on a close square protective detail with the other squad further out, one in front, one behind, and one on either side. It felt like the result should have been a convoluted mess, but the ANBU were apparently well-coordinated enough that the escort was seamless and unobtrusive.

It left me mostly with my own thoughts for company. Sasuke had his Sharingan active the entire trip, cataloging every potential danger as we approached and passed, occasionally glancing my way as though to reassure himself that I was still there.

We stopped for the night a little more than halfway between the outpost and Konoha. I had enough nervous energy that I could have gone on, but Kakashi-sensei ignored me with an eye-smile and a pat on the head. Then he turned to the ANBU and gave a few rapid-fire hand signs. All eight of them nodded and disappeared into the foliage, hidden so well I wouldn't have been able to even sense them had I not known they were there.

Sasuke left and returned minutes later with several rabbits for dinner. We gutted and skinned them, then roasted them over an open fire. We ate in comfortable silence, a familiarity grown from many nights spent together just the same way on missions with Team 7.

I think I missed Naruto at that moment more than I ever had; without him, there was a hole in all of our lives. Even knowing that he'd be back didn't do much to temper the feeling.

Once we were done eating, Kakashi left the camp, little orange book in hand, to run a patrol or confer with the ANBU on guard. It left Sasuke and me alone as the campfire crackled and burned. I stared into the flames, remembering the shattered hulk of the warehouse, the charred debris, choking smoke. Matsuo stumbling his way outside, the fwoosh as my sword severed his head from his neck….

I'd become so engrossed in my memories that Sasuke's voice made me almost jump out of my skin. "When you disappeared, it was chaotic. No one knew what was going on. We were at the cabins, waiting for everyone to return, and Kakashi…" Sasuke shrugged. He stared into the fire, his face thrown into stark relief against the night. "He knew something was wrong. He was gone. And when he came back…and you weren't there."

Sasuke's eyes met mine, and I saw the raw pain he suffered through even now. On an impulse, I reached over and grabbed his hand, and to my surprise he didn't shy away. He held mine tightly, desperately, belying the even tone of his voice. He looked away, but didn't let go.

I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say. How do you reassure someone by saying that you were as terrified as anyone? That you weren't sure if you were going wake up in a cell, to be tortured for information? Or strapped to a table to be experimented on? Or bound to a bed, and having the door open, and a man stepping inside….

So I didn't. I didn't want to ruin the moment by talking about what could have happened. I held Sasuke's hand, and we stared into the fire, lost in our thoughts until it was time to tuck in for the night.

XXXXX

I shouldn't have been surprised by the appearance of Konoha's gates; anyone who's traveled as much as we have knows how to judge the distance to the village based on numerous little details, but most obviously the domination of the Hashirama Trees. The further out you travel from the village, the more sporadic they are; but when they're all you see, you know you can't be all that far from home. It's almost comforting, in a way.

I don't know what I expected to find at the gates. People waiting? Ino, Sakura, Tsunade, my family? But there was no one there—the gate guards, a few merchants, but no one at all who I recognized.

Well, I recognized the gate guards—the same two who always seemed to draw the duty. I wondered if they did something that pissed Tsunade off?

Kakashi made a hand sign to (I imagine) the ANBU captains, and the two of them nodded. One of the ANBU units dispersed, but the other stayed with us as we moved into the village proper. He leapt to the rooftops, and Sasuke and I followed, still under escort by one unit of ANBU. We headed directly towards the Hokage's tower.

It occurred to me that I should probably be a little weirded out. Here I was, newly escaped from Lightning Country, and instead of any sort of warm welcome, I was under quick escort to the Hokage's tower with no one, apparently, being informed of my return. Was I under suspicion? Did they think I'd been replaced by an imposter?

Logically, I could see their point—if I were an imposter, it would be a perfect method to infiltrate the village. The cover wouldn't last, but getting into a Hidden Village can be the hardest part of any infiltration mission, and from there you can improvise. It's not the best of plans, but you can make it work.

So I didn't say anything, and let myself be escorted into the tower. The assignments desk was closed down (another obvious clue), and the only ninja I saw were the higher-ranked administrative types who doubtlessly had top-secret clearance and knew how to keep a secret. I could also catch faint traces of people, well-hidden, almost certainly more ANBU.

I tried not to take it personally.

Then, I was in the Hokage's outer office. Shizune was seated at one of the desks in the room; she looked up and when she saw me her face split into a smile. "Shikako! It's good to have you back. We were all so worried!"

Her genuine emotions, the first I'd seen since I'd entered the village, threw me completely off. I managed a smile back, the tension I hadn't notice building up in my gut easing at the friendly reaction. "Thank you, Shizune-san. I'm glad to be home," I replied, the last words almost catching in my throat.

We all waited as she slipped into the Hokage's office for a moment. Sasuke was staring at the doors, but I could tell that he was watching me in his peripheral vision. Kakashi perched himself on a secretary's desk, reading his little orange book, which didn't look weird at all in contrast with the ever-present ANBU escort.

Shizune emerged from the Hokage's office, and motioned me forward. I looked at Sasuke, who nodded to me, and Kakashi-sensei, who gave an encouraging eye-smile. Shizune held the door open for me, and I walked through into the Hokage's office.

Every time I'd been in the Hokage's office, it had been well-lit, windows uncovered and open to show the entire village spread out before us. In the Third's tenure, the atmosphere had been one of visiting a kind grandfather-figure, and since Tsunade came to power, it was much more business-like and cluttered but still with a charm of its own. Now, for the first time, it felt like the true office of the leader of an army of Shinobi—serious, without pretention, the place where someone could order the death of an individual or the massacre of a village and move on to the next mission as business as usual.

Tsunade stood behind her desk, her arms crossed, her gaze inscrutable. She'd abandoned her usual air of irritability and grumpiness, and all that stood was the implacable warrior, the one who fought alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru and earned the title of Sannin. I gulped, almost felt the heavy weight of her stare as the seriousness of the situation pressed down on my shoulders like never before.

"Sit," she ordered, and I took the chair nearest to me. I barely heard the door shut as Shizune left; as far as I could tell, it was just the two of us, though I wouldn't have been surprised if there were a few ANBU around just in case.

Tsunade came around her desk and walked up to me. She towered over me, her face intent and focused, her cerulean eyes seeming to drill into the recesses of my mind in search of answers. "I'm going to use a technique on you that I've developed," she started, and I couldn't help but jump at her voice. "I've kept it completely to myself, and no one, not even Jiraiya or Shizune, knows that I have it."

She raised one glowing hand, giving off a soft golden light unlike any I'd seen before. It was almost soothing, even from so far away; the chakra easing tension out of my shoulders I hadn't even known I'd had. I felt almost sedated just by looking at it.

And then she put her hand on my forehead.

It was bliss; euphoria like I've never felt before. Warm and soothing, something almost deific in its presence. If I could compare it to anything, it would be that time in the Wastes in the desert when my dying body was engulfed by the energy of the chakra spirit—only this didn't absorb me until I wasn't me anymore. It felt like a blessing, like the hand of God himself reached out and wrapped my soul in warmth.

"Tell me your name," Tsunade's voice echoed as if from far away.

"Shikako Nara," I answered without hesitation.

"When did we first meet?"

"You woke me from a coma…."

Questions went on like that for some time; under the effects of this technique, I had no sense of time passing. It could have been five minutes or two weeks, and I don't think I would be able to tell the difference.

Eventually, Tsunade pulled her hand away; and if being under the jutsu was like embracing the sun, being pulled out was a nuclear winter. I felt cold; cold and empty, my body screaming to return to the safety and serenity it had been ripped away from. I shivered and shook like I was going through withdrawal.

Tsunade sat back against her desk and let out a weary sigh. "I don't like that technique very much. It stimulates the neurons to produce endorphins in massive quantities, leaving even the most torture-resistant veteran a quivering mess. It's easy to extract information using it, because the brain is overwhelmed with pleasure, and your cognitive senses are set on standby. Of course, using it can cause an addictive effect, so I usually wouldn't use it on someone I cared about surviving."

I watched as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Her words let me center myself, and focusing on what she was saying seemed to bring me out of the fugue-like state I'd been in. I controlled my shaking, for the most part, and nodded to her.

A tightness in her face eased at my acceptance of what she had to do. I didn't like it, but if the alternative was an actual interrogation, then I could deal.

Tsunade took a deep breath, then turned and walked around to sit at her desk. "Of course, I believed it was you from the get-go, but I had to be certain. I've healed that body of yours enough that an imposter isn't getting past me," she smirked as I blushed; excessive hospitalization, indeed, "but we all have our duties, and I couldn't let even the slightest possibility of an outside agent infiltrating the home of the Jounin Commander. Isn't that right, Shikaku?"

I jumped and turned as a familiar chakra signature revealed itself. There stood my dad, daddy, looking down at me in his trademark lazy slouch, his clenched fists and tight smile the only signs of the emotional turmoil he was feeling. And then I was up and in his arms, clinging with all my strength, and he was hugging me back.

It felt great.

After a few minutes, I pulled away. He returned my smile with one of his own and said, "You're taking after that sensei of yours. All your fellow genin returned days ago."

I laughed and hugged him again. It was a weak joke that I was undoubtedly going to hear over and over again, but I didn't care at that moment. For the first time since stepping inside the gates of Konoha, I felt like I was home.

XXXXX

"…and then I crossed the border from Tea, and met the patrol. You know the rest," I summed up my report in full some time later. I was sitting in the same chair I was interrogated in, my dad in a matching one right next to me, leaning back as if he were about to fall asleep. He'd grabbed my hand when I started talking about what Matsuo had said, and didn't let go throughout my entire tale.

Tsunade nodded her head, her eyes staring into the distance as she digested the information. She fingered the scroll full of storage seals I'd taken from the base before I'd blown it up, and something about the twist of her lips made me think of a cat that had cornered a mouse and was contemplating the most satisfying way to eat it.

"Well, I have to compliment you on your quick thinking," She said, after a few more moments of contemplation. "You created a diversion that threw their pursuit into disarray and found an indirect route back to Fire Country. And, of course, that's not taking into account the information you've brought back on the inner workings of Hidden Cloud." She sent a predatory grin towards my dad, and I could practically feel his lazy smirk.

"This is going to have to be kept under wraps," dad muttered, his hand tightening around mine. "If Hidden Cloud is able to claim some sort of conspiracy on the part of Konoha, it might mean war."

I could see his point. A Konoha shinobi renowned for explosives disappears, dozens of Cloud nin are killed in explosions in Lightning Country, and then that shinobi reappears in Konoha? Sand would stand with us, but they weren't very strong right now, and Lightning might take the opportunity to start a war, claiming to be the wronged party. And to outside observers, their version of events could ring with enough truth to take hold, in spite of whatever counter claims Konoha made.

Our best hope would be if Cloud felt the inevitable airing of their own dirty laundry would hurt their reputation more than would make it worthwhile. But the Raikage didn't seem to me to be the sort to let this go without some sort of retaliation.

"That might be inevitable, at this point, but I agree. I'm classifying this as an S-Class secret," Tsunade interrupted my musings, her brow furrowed, her nails tapping against her desk in a staccato rhythm. "Your disappearance is already common knowledge, but the rest of the details must remain top secret. Particularly regarding your escape."

I nodded. It wasn't a surprise, really, although I was a little perturbed that everyone would pretty much know I was kidnapped. Then again, between my many instances of chakra exhaustion and almost dying in the Hokage's office that one time, my reputation was pretty much in tatters already.

At some unseen signal, dad stood up, and I stood up with him. He still held my hand, and I couldn't bring myself to let go.

"Oh, and one last thing," Tsunade opened up a drawer in her desk and pulled out a vest—a chuunin vest. She was smirking, but I could see a hint of relief in her eyes. "This was going to be yours, so it's only right that you receive it now. The other eight received yours before we departed Grass. If I hadn't thought you'd earned it during the exams, I can't argue that you don't, now. Congratulations."

I reached across her desk and grabbed it. The vest was forest green, soft to the touch yet strong and durable, lined with pockets and compartments to store what any chuunin might need for any occasion. I put it on. It was snug but unrestricting, comfortable and surprisingly light. I smiled. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

XXXXX

After a quick trip across the rooftops, dad and I landed in the Nara clan holdings, right outside our house. I could feel mom's chakra in the kitchen, but Shikamaru's wasn't present—on a mission or training, or something else, I don't know—but I hesitated at the door. I was nervous, for some reason, but I couldn't put into words why.

Dad stepped up and opened the door for me, then nudged me inside with an encouraging smile. I took my vest off and hung it on the hook, then stood, uncertain, for a moment before I shook off my feelings of awkwardness. "Mom?" I called out, a little unsure.

There was a beat of silence, and then faster than I'd ever seen any Nara move, she was there, standing in the entryway, her face pale and eyes round in shock. "Shikako?" She gasped, and then suddenly I was in her arms, and she was hugging me so tightly I couldn't breathe, but I just hugged her back because I was happy to be home.

I could feel her shudder as she held back sobs and just let her cling to me. After what seemed like ages mom pulled back, her hands going to my face, smoothing my hair, running over my arms, as if she couldn't believe I was back. "Oh, Shikako," she rasped.

"Mommy," I choked, and then we were hugging again and crying. And dad was there, and I felt his arm around my back too. For the first time, I felt myself really let go—all the fear and terror I'd felt since I woke up in that cell came flooding out of me. I cried and sobbed, and the entire time, my parents were right there as we clung together for support.

After what seemed like forever, but was probably only a few minutes, I pulled away a bit. Not completely, I don't think mom would have let me go, but enough to wipe my face with my sleeve. "Where's Shika?" I asked, my voice sounding almost as rough as when I'd woken after my month-long hospital stay. I had my emotions back under control, but they felt raw and wild, barely tame.

"He should be at his team's training grounds," dad responded. "I sent a clone to let them know that you're back. I imagine the three of them should be back here soon—"

Three familiar chakra signatures were suddenly at the door, which burst open hard enough to dent the wall. Surprisingly, it was Ino who launched herself at me, tackling me to the ground as Chouji and Shikamaru stood in the doorway. Chouji had a grin splitting his face from ear to ear, but Shikamaru—Shikamaru looked at me like I was a ghost, as if I'd…well, disappear into thin air if he dared look away.

Ino was clinging to me as I lay on the floor, slightly dazed from the unexpected attack. "Oh God, Shikako, I'm sorry, but—I should have—you were there, and then—"

I let her babble away as I patted her back awkwardly. Well, ok sure, I got where she was coming from. One moment, I'd been standing next to her, and the next, I was gone.

Still, I could wish she'd held back a bit on the enthusiasm. Being tackled like that hurt.

XXXXX

A short while later, I was sitting on the couch, with Ino to one side and Shika to the other. Chouji had made himself comfortable on dad's recliner, and mom and dad had retreated to the kitchen to put together dinner—although I doubted that the majority of their attention wasn't on us here in the living room. I'd probably have them hovering-without-hovering for a while (in that way only ninja parents can), but I didn't mind.

Sasuke'd shown up at some point, I hadn't noticed when, but he leaned unobtrusively against the wall, separate but not excluded, just the way he liked it. I glanced at him knowingly, and he gave me a look. Somehow I managed to keep the smirk off my face.

After her emotional outburst, Ino had calmed down, settling for keeping a death grip on my hand. Shikamaru hadn't said anything yet, but his arm was around my shoulders as I leaned into him. I felt relaxed and safe, my friends and family all around me in the warmth of home.

We'd been sitting for a while before I spoke up. "There's not much I can really tell you guys about it," I started. "It's an S-Class secret. Tsunade-sama doesn't want the details getting out."

Shika snorted, but Ino clenched my hand even tighter. I looked her way, and she had an intense look on her face. I could tell what she wanted to ask, and shook my head no. She relaxed, looking relieved.

I rested my head on Shikamaru's shoulder. I knew what he wanted to say—I could even see his point, a little, although I wouldn't let it stop me. But he held his tongue, and I loved him for that.

"It was terrifying," I said, after a few moments had passed. "I wasn't sure if I'd even see home again. But they underestimated me, and I made them pay for it."

I thought back, to waking up in the cell, to sneaking through the corridors, ambushing all those people in their offices. To fleeing from the ninja on my tail, setting off those explosive seals as their pursuit closed in on me. The giant explosive seal that killed dozens.

"Eighty seven," I muttered. I probably shouldn't have said that much, but I couldn't stop myself. "I killed eighty seven of them."

I remembered the feeling, of each chakra signature flickering out, like candle lights against a stiff breeze. I started shaking, my breath hitching in my throat, and then Chouji was kneeling at my feet, his hand on my knee. He was uncharacteristically solemn, a serious look that I'd never seen on his jovial face. "You did what you had to, and you're home now. Don't regret that."

I got my breathing under control, and felt my head give a shaky nod. He was right. There wasn't anything to regret. "Thanks, Chouji."

He nodded back. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a bag of potato chips, opening and offering it to me. "Want one?"

I huffed a laugh, and Ino rolled her eyes and started berating him for his obsession with food, and Sasuke smirked, and Shikamaru chuckled. I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and settled back into the couch, a smile on my face as I was surrounded by friends and family.