For Many Years, Two Forces Of Terrible Evil Haunted The World Of The Ninja.
Both Traitors To The Village Hidden Among The Leaves.
One A Masterful Ninja Said To Know A Thousand Jutsu; One Of Three Legendary Warriors.
One A Killer So Vicious His Own Family Died By His Hand; And Hundreds More.
A New Generation Of Ninja Came Into The World, And This New Generation Put An End To Those Traitors.
Heroes Of The Leaf, The Vegetable And The Lava Did What No Other Had Ever Accomplished.

A Year Has Passed Since The Downfall Of The Sound Village And The End Of Akatsuki.
A Year Has Passed Since The Uchiha Clan's Legacy Began Anew.
A Year Has Passed Since Young Ninja Overcame Their Tests.

However . . .
Time Flows On Like A River.
Eventually, History Always Repeats.
The Time Has Come For It To Come Again.

The Newest Test . . .

The Return.

---

Konohagakure no Sato
The Village Hidden Among The Leaves

The sun rose high into the skies above Konoha, illuminating the entire city. Rays of sunshine bounced off the famed Ramen Shop visited by the Hokage, the rooftop of the Konoha Police Department, various small shops and markets and at last the grand manor belonging to the Hokage. As a new day dawned on Konoha it brought with it a promise of continued peace and well-being . . . but it also brought something else. There was a scent in the air that was unfamiliar to most.

The smell of adventure.

Today was to be a special day. A day of celebration! It was the date that marked the One Year Anniversary since the death of Uchiha Itachi and the downfall of the criminal enterprise called Akatsuki. The entire village was decked out in banners and streamers and decorations. It was a day of intense celebration for the Village of Leaves.

Everything was decorated. The storefront windows, the taverns, the markets . . . even the statues of the Six Hokages were marked with paint and decor. That was clearly a sign that the current Hokage had already started his celebration.

Uchiha Police Department

A older-teen girl was sitting behind a desk, her black eyes skimming over a mountain of paperwork. Manila folders full of loose papers were scattered over her desk and the floor. Several photographs were loose around the room. Those photos held the frozen image of memories long since lost.

The picture of a year-younger version of the girl behind the desk, wearing a splendid pink kimono with a embarrassed look on her face. Another picture showed a younger boy with grayish-black hair and mismatched eyes dancing with a girl whose hair was done in pigtails, black as night with the exception of a long pink strand. Other pictures showed a ninja with blond hair holding hands with a dark-haired ninja girl whose right eye was white and pupil-less. Another showed a ninja showing off a brilliant electrical display for a girl who looked on with glee; and yet another was a display of a blond girl in orange sitting next to a boy with messy brown hair.

Many more photos scattered the ground and the desk, several of them contained a redheaded ninja with a wild, half-crazy smile.

The girl behind the desk sighed as she glanced at one of those photos. She rolled up the sleeve of her yellow shirt and looked at a old seal burned onto her arm.

She smiled weakly and then stood up, pushing her papers away. “I can't dwell on this today. There's a party to attend . . .” She whispered to herself. She glanced once more at the photo of the redhead. “Somehow, though I know it's impossible . . . I feel like I'll see you before this day is done.”

Uchiha Nanami turned around and walked out of the Konoha Police Station, determined to join the party.

[[I hope this is okay with everyone...]]

Yougankure no Sato

It has been a year since the death of Uchiha Itachi. A year since the destruction of Otogakure. A year since Orochimaru was defeated. A full year since the pride of Yougankure, the Firebird who has inspired the entire village into it's prosperity like a figurehead of unmistakable courage.

And half a year since the Metsubou Buntai no Yougankure was labeled killed in action after a barely-recognizable body was recovered. A body that bore resemblance to Kunnai, the second-in-command of the team which has been through so much... However, his eyes were missing and the body was so torn up by chakra that even DNA match testing did nothing to match this body to the missing ninja. However, the resemblance was too uncanny...

And half a year ago, The Leaf, Sand, Vegetable and Lava were fully informed that the team that was acting as the in-between of the villages, the Demolition squad of Yougan... Has been killed in action.

However, this day was not full of mourning for the village of Hidden Lava. Instead, it was a morning full of mystery. The morning was just like any, but there was tension. Indeed, today was a special day: Today was the day that the village elder, backed by the Yougankure 7, was to visit the Hokage. And indeed, preparations were under way. However, the procession that was to travel to Konoha's gates was rather strange to say the least: 8 elite shinobi to protect the elder and the Yougankure 7... And four strange, robed figures who could not be identified.

And in an impressive display of chakra usage and fire, the procession disappeared, homed in on the path in front of Konoha...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Konohagakure no Sato

This morning was quite startling for the two guards of the front gate. The day promised to be good, of course, with the celebration coming up, and the pair at the gates were already quite bored and indifferent, resigned to their fate as guards during the first day of celebrating. However...

When the ground exploded into flame and a large, multi-man palanquin (more like a small hovering outhouse) appeared, hovering in the air due to an incredible amount of chakra supporting it with 8 shinobi dressed in reds and blacks around it, As the front of the palanquin opened and the old elder of Yougankure appeared, walking on the boards of the floating structure, stopping on the edge to face the two guards.

"I apologize for our sudden appearance. We have an invitation by the Hokage himself to join the village in their celebrations. Will you open the gates for an old man and delegates of peace from an allied hidden village?"

The two guards exchanged glances. This was going to be an eventful day indeed.

((aah~ Sama! That was awesome! And cool~))

Uchiha Police Department

Just as Nanami was heading OUT of the building, someone was heading INTO the same building... and this other person's vision was blocked by a large stack of papers they were carrying.

And THAT means that the clumsy Uchiha Sayuri bumped right into her cousin, and the papers went everywhere.

"Eek!" Sayuri yelped, looking around at the papers. "I'm so sorry, Nanami-chan! I didn't see you! I was carrying these papers to give to father, and this is where I thought he would be..."

She started picking the papers back up when she noticed Nanami didn't seem as happy as the day they were celebrating today.

"Nanami! What's wrong?" She asked. "Smile, please! I'm gonna go get 'Sashi after this, would you like to come with me?"

Obviously, Sayuri hadn't become any less oblivious over the past year.

((Whoops, mistake on the dates: I'll edit in a minute))
((Thanks Kimi! ^_^ This RP will be great!))

Uchiha Police Department

Nanami should have been paying more attention, but her mind was elsewhere and she allowed herself to be walked right into by her cousin. That was already, though. A small smile crossed her face at the appearance of Sayuri; who she treated more like a sister than a cousin.

"Ah, no, it's my fault." She quickly said as she began to help with the papers. After Sayuri realized something was amiss, Nanami quickly put on a large, although rather see-through attempt at a smile.

"I'm okay... really..." When Sayuri suggested her coming along, she nodded. "Alright, let's go."

---

Konoha Main Gate

"Ah! Welcome!"

A woman with dark hair and pupil-less eyes approached the gates. She was in a splendid kimono of blue with white trim, the crest of the Hokage on her back. She could display it, as she was his wife.

"The Hokage had . . . things to attend to, this morning." Hinata said, a sideways glance at the monument as she did. "Please, follow me, I'll take you to the Manor."

Konoha Main Gate

The old man gave a rather sweeping bow to the young woman who has now appeared from beyond the double doors that closed halfway as to stop the palanquin from moving onwards due to security measures. Now that Hinata was here, the guards looked a bit unsure about what they needed to do, since EVERYONE respected and loved the Hokage's wife and had no intention of upsetting her. Because when upset, Hinata would go to Naruto, and the hokage then will use some rather underhanded tactics.

The old man in front of Hinata was almost a splitting image of the Sandaime hokage, an old, wrinkled man with a white beard-goatee. However, there were a few rather telling differences: His hair had a reddish tint as though it was once a rather bright red, his eyes were a bright blue and the hair on his head fell well past his shoulders in long, white locks. He was smiling rather roguishly as well, a definite testament that he was enjoying himself right now, and his wrinkled face was radiating happiness and importance at the same time. He wore a cloak that almost looked like a Kage's robe, but had minor differences, and his hat, instead of being pointed, was completely round with the symbol for "Swamp Shadow" on the front.

"Ah, Hinata-dono. I apologize for our rather sudden arrival, I did not expect such a reception. Please receive my sincerest apologies for making you go out of your way to meet an old, wrinkled bag of bones."

One of the ninjas behind him coughed a little bit. Apparently, the old man had a sense of humor.

Uchiha Police Department

Hearing that Nanami would join her to get Musashi, Sayuri smiled, and quickly put all the papers on the Police Department's front desk. She ran back out of the building and pointed in the direction of Musashi's house.

"Let's go!" She cheered. "I hope he's still at home! He might've left looking for me! That happens a lot, you know! Then we go everywhere looking for each other, and when we ask someone where the other is, they always say 'You just miss 'um!' "

Sayuri skipped along, not even needing to open her eyes to walk the path she'd walked so many times-- the path from where she and her cousin worked with Sayuri's father to the Hokage's old house that Musashi now lived in.

Konoha Main Gate

"It's no problem at all." Hinata replied, bowing to the leader of Konoha's ally. She was used to meeting with and welcoming foreign leaders and dignitaries. It came with the territory as the Hokage's bride.

"Please, follow me." With Hinata leading them, there was not a guard or ninja alive who would question whether or not the Yougan Group should be here. She quickly made her way towards the large home of the Hokage.

Musashi's Pad

Another ninja with pupil-less eyes was out and about that morning. Though his left eye was red and not white like the one on the right. He was Uzumaki Musashi, son of the current Hokage.

His hair was a grayish-black, his eyes mismatched and he was rarely seen without his red jacket and twin katana. Musashi spent most of his days either with the friends he loved so much or training with the man who would likely be his father-in-law someday soon.

Right now, though, Musashi was alone and unburdened by work of any kind. Instead he was running out of his front door and bounding down the road; his destination was the nearby Police Station ran by the Uchiha Clan.

His reason for going . . . well, at this point, you should know.

Konoha Main Gate

"Much appreciated, Hinata-dono. Would you mind if I walked with you instead of standing on these rather rickety wooden boards? I do not trust this palanquin, even though I was the one who built it with my own hands..."

He smiled rather sheepishly, jumping off the palanquin in a rather spry leap, betraying dexterity that should not belong to such an old man. "Which is why I probably do not trust it... It already has 11 people in there, one more would crack it. Maybe."

And he fell into step beside Hinata.

"How has your village prospered? Have there been any news?"

Konoha Main Gate

"Hey! Hinata!" A loud voice shouted from a distance where such a loud voice isn't needed. I know you're probably thinking it was the Hokage, but it wasn't. He's awful busy, ya know. ;D

It was Uchiha Sakura, waving wildly to her friend, Hinata. "Hey! I came to get you for a walk and a chat, but I see you're busy." Sakura titled her head until she could see who had arrived at the village.

"Old man!" She laughed. Sakura held her fist out triumpantly. "I know you're reayd for an arm-wrestling rematch! Bring it on!"

Konoha Streets, Between Musashi's Pad and the Uchiha Police Department

Tendo Lum and her father, Tendo Alex, were walking down the streets, (in the opposite direction of the Uchiha Police Department) on their way to the main festivities. Lum seemed to have a look of anger on her face, as she said, "Thanks for helping me look, daddy, but you don't have to trouble yourself. And when I find Darling I'll give him a piece of my mind... and then some!"

Alex bent down to Lum, and said, "Now, now, my dear. I'm sure there's a perfect explanation. We mustn't always jump to conclusions about my son-in-law. Even he deserves the benefit of the doubt every now and then! To be young is to make a mistake or two, but you always learn from it and become a better person."

Suddenly, Alex ripped off his top, exposing his bulging muscles as he flexed while pink sparkles appeared all over. "Oh, but what it is to be young again! The spirit of youth and the coming of the next generation of Leaf Village ninjas fills me with such pride! We err, we learn, we evolve! Ultimately, even someone like him can someday become Hokage!"

Lum sweatdropped and said, "Please, daddy, do you have to do that out in public? People are staring!"

Just outside the Uchiha Police Department

Ataru had arrived to escort Nanami to the celebration, but then noticed that Sayuri was there as well. As he ran up to them, who were apparently leaving the Uchiha Police Department, he thought to himself, "Ye Gods! Fortune smiles upon me. I go looking for one Uchiha babe and instead I get two!"

"Hey, Sayuri! Hey, Nanami! Don't tell me you were planning on going without me keeping you company!"

He squeezed himself in-between the two of them so as to be walking in the middle, and said, with his usual idiotic smile, "Either of you have any plans after any of this? Maybe we can catch a movie or go to the park? Oh-ho, Nanami, your headband looks really nice today. Or maybe it's just that you're so beautiful that anything you wear instantly becomes a sight to behold. Sayuri, you sure have been keeping in shape. Been doin' a lot of training, I guess?"

Konoha Main Gate

Hinata smiled to the leader of Yougan.

"My village has been well. I hope your's has been prosperous." Hinata nodded to the old man with a warm smile.

Then Sakura announced herself with a wave and a yell. She smiled to her friend and returned the wave, though Hinata kept her voice quiet. She had no idea if Yougan's leader would take Sakura up on the offer of a arm wrestling match or not.

Konoha Streets

Another young ninja was out in the streets. He was spending the day that celebrated victory over Akatsuki going through various shops, a handful of coins jingling as he walked. He intended to buy something; though what he did not know.

"Hmm... chocolate is good, but a little cliche... a gift would be nice, but what?" The messy-haired boy in the red vest scratched his head and pondered his options. Sama never was good at shopping for gifts.

EDIT
Just outside the Uchiha Police Department

Nanami sighed when Ataru showed up and flashed him a rather blank stare. He was a relatively good ninja, but with some annoying habits that were hard to break.

She pushed him back so that he was no longer between the two of them. "Sorry Ataru... but as a Jonin, I can't have a under-ranked ninja stand at my side. It could be dangerous for you."

Road Towards the Mansion

The old man smiled a bit sheepishly as Sakura made herself known with a rather loud proclamation of her arrival while he was taking a rather peaceful walk with the Hokage's wife. No one would forget the time when he has been utterly embarrassed by Sakura into an arm wrestle, which he hopelessly lost without even a fighting chance. That was the one and last time he visited, and now that he was back, this memory was one of the first to surface.

Well, thanks to the arrival of the pink-haired medic herself.

"As, Sakura-san. No, no, of course not, I wish to keep my bones where they are, at the very least, before they rot away in my grave. I'm sorry, but I would have to decline your invitation for fear of my poor, abused joints. Though I am quite surprised at your behavior, picking on old, helpless men in a rather violent, strong-armed manner... It is not very ladylike to do such a deed, is it?"

He was grinning. He was poking fun... At the head medic of Konoha... Yep. He was definitely a harmless, friendly old man.

Konoha Main Gate

"Haha!" Sakura laughed. "I'm kidding, old man! You outta know I'm just pullin' your leg! Besides, I'm such an amazing medic, I could just re-asemble your bones from scratch!"

She linked arms with Hinata as they all continued toward the Hokage's Mansion. "Anyway. I wanted to talk to you about Musashi! Yep, I've figured out the secret, Hinata, you don't have to hide it anymore! It's pretty obvious! So just spill the details!"

Hinata probably had no idea what Sakura was talking about, which is normal, because what Sakura was talking about was created from her figments of her imagination. You'll see why soon.

Konoha Streets (between Musashi's Pad and Uchiha Police Department)

"Y-yes," Sayuri laughed nervously, agreeing with her cousin's comment. "And I do have plans. You see Musashi-- my boyfriend, maybe you've met him-- is waiting for me, and I shouldn't keep him waiting..."

Sayuri began walking a little faster, smiling and laughing akwardly, trying not to make Ataru feel bad.

Konoha Streets

Ataru answered Nanami, "Wow, it's so awesome that you care enough about me to be so concerned for my safety, but I assure you that I'll be perfectly fine."

Then he turned to Sayuri, "Yes, good ol' Musashi! How's he been these days? Well, I'm sure he wouldn't mind me and Nanami tagging along, right?" As he started that second sentence, he coyly put his arm around Nanami's shoulder.

Alex had decided to go on ahead (or rather, Lum convinced him to since her half-naked father was embarrassing her). So, as Alex had already gone on ahead, Lum lagged behind and was now walking just around a nearby corner...

Road to the Mansion

"Sakura, while I'm sure you could fix his bones easily it's probably best not to arm wrestle . . . what secret?"

Hinata's diplomatic approach was forgotten when Sakura started talking about a secret with Musashi. She had no idea what it could be, though she had an inkling it wouldn't be good if he was keeping a secret.

Road to the Police Department

Nanami took Ataru's arm by her hand and forcibly removed it from her shoulder.

"Don't do that." She said in her matter-of-fact tone she always took when annoyed.

Then...

"You won't keep me waiting, because I'm here!"

Sayuri's boyfriend and fellow Nakama, Musashi, suddenly ran down the road. A grin was on his face and he obviously did not realize Ataru was trying to hit on both Sayuri and her cousin simultaneously.

"Nanami, you look well! Great party weather, don't you think?" Musashi grinned, exchanging hellos. "Ataru, nice seeing you again! Plans for the party?"

When he came to Sayuri he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and then proceeded to say: "Isn't it a great day for a party?" Musashi grinned.

He paused, wondering where Hikaru could be. No matter, he realized; as he knew Hikaru was never far.

Konoha Main Gate

Unbeknowngst as of yet to the ninja below, a set of eyes were watching them, one of them white and pupiless, the other was a blue with 8 white rings intercircling each other, and one grey one. She watched on with curiosity, though her thoughts were not all focused on them.

Uzumaki Misaski, sat on top of her father's stone head carved into the mountainside. With her Byakugan, she was able to keep an eye on most of the village, but for now she was only watching the small band of ninja. She leaned back, holding herself up with her arms, her legs dangling over the side of the head.

What a year. So much had happened, that it felt as if it had gone by in a matter of days. ( ;) ) She reminisced on times in the past. Back when she and brother had been little school children mocked because of their eyes. But now they were two of the top ninja in the village, and Misaski was on her way to Hokage.

This thought secretly terrified her, but in a way she was comforted. Afterall she had a big brother, by several minutes, to look out for her, and she did have...him. Speaking of which, she wondered just where he had gotten off too. He had promised to go on a walk later and sit and watch the clouds.

Things between the two had been quite something. Though it had started slow, since Hikaru had needed to adjust his feelings from Sayuri. But Misaski felt no jealousy, no nothing. Sayuri was her best friend! The two spent a lot of time together, well mostly when she was over at the Mansion to be with Musashi, but otherwise the girl time was fun too.

Uzumaki Misaski fully relaxed getting a head start on the clouds. Her Byakugan was still active, watching her mother bring in the ninja. And as the clouds swirled in the sky, her thoughts began to swirl too.

Road to the Mansion

"What do you mean 'what secret'?" Sakura asked. "My woman's intuition picked it up right away! Do I have to spell it out?"

She raised her head up, smiling as if the theory she was about to share with Hinata couldn't be incorrent, no matter what.

"Why, I figured out that Musashi will definitly ask Sayuri to marry him sometime this week! Haha!" Sakura finally revealed. "I can smell it! After all, I was there the week Naruto propsed to YOU! He was in my office every day for stomachaches! Musashi hasn't done anything like that, but who cares? I know it's coming, and I know you must know, Hinata!"

Sakura, being a few inches taller than Hinata, looked down at the Hokage's wife with a sinister smile. "So spill it! How big's the ring? How is he gonna ask her? Where? Come on!"

Konoha Streets

"'Sashi!" Sayuri smiled, holding onto Musashi's arm. "Yes, it's so sunny outside! There are clouds, too! I bet Hikaru was on his way here and starting staring at them, in fact!"

Konoha Streets

Ataru greeted Musashi, but not quite as cheerfully as he did Sayuri and Nanami, "Hey, Musashi. How's it goin'? I heard you and Sayuri were planning a little something after the party! Of course, you wouldn't leave out any of your good friends, right? I'm sure Nanami would be heartbroken if you inconsiderately excluded her, and by extension me, from anything fun! So I guess it'll be a nice, big get-together because of a great and loving friend extending his invitation to others!"

Lum had finally spotted Ataru and walked up behind him, undetected as befitting a ninja. She wasn't sure what was going on for certain, but she suspected that he was trying to hit on Sayuri and Nanami for the umpteenth time.

Konoha Main Gate

Misaski suddenly sat up quickly, she had saw something that made her heart leap. With a quick hand sign she poofed away in a cloud of smoke.

Konoha Main Street

Misaski poofed in suddenly, unfortunately for her, next to Ataru. "Hey guys, whats new?" she asked with a grin. "Have any of you seen Hikaru?" she asked innocently.

Although Sayuri was sometimes oblivious she was in this case right. Hikaru was gazing up at the clouds, though he couldn't enjoy them for he was moving fast. "Hey guys," he said quickly from seemingly no where.

Hikaru suddenly came flying through the air at such speeds, that he zipped right past the group of ninja and impacted in the side of a building right next to them. He fell to the ground in a heap, before standing up and popping his back while rubbing his neck. "Ouch," he muttered.

He took a few steps forward, "Whats this about a party guys?" Zenyoshi Hikaru asked his Nakama. "Oh wait hold on," he said quickly, getting into a taijutsu stance.

A giant wolf, leapt through the air, and Hikaru grabbed him by the mouth, holding his snarling mouth away from his face.

Misaski you think would have been worried, but she like the rest of the ninja there were used to this. "Haven't you had enough training today? Do you even know what today is?"

"Can't..Have..Enough..Training.." He grunted. The wolf attemtped to snap his jaws shut, but Hikaru held fast.

"Ok enough," Misaski said walking over to the wolf, "Down boy." she said.

The wolf reluctantly let go, and lay down, his black tail wagging fiercely and his blue eyes looking expectantly at Hikaru. "Where's my treat?" He asked.

The wolf's name was Roiyaru, and he was Hikaru's summoned wolf. Though as the Snake Sannin, Hikaru was able to summon vast amounts of snakes, none of them were too friendly. Hikaru threw his friend a snack, and petted his head, before the wolf disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Anyways, whats this about a party?" Hikaru, always one for subtle entrances, asked his best friend, Musashi.

Road to the Mansion

"Ah!" Hinata was understandably surprised by Sakura's 'intuitive speculation'. She had no knowledge of any ring or of Musashi having any such plans. Still, trying to convince Sakura she was wrong was like trying to convince Naruto that there was better food than ramen.

"I . . . I don't know." Hinata answered. "B-but I think... I think Musashi would first ask Sasuke for permission to ask Sayuri. That was how Naruto did it... then again, my father pretty much forced him to ask him for his permission... and he turned him down... but..."

Now Hinata was strolling down memory lane and thinking more of her husband than her son.

Konoha Streets

Musashi looked up at the clouds (although his face was still pointed towards Sayuri; Byakugan's a wonderful thing for looking in two directions at once). "Hmm... I don't know... getting lost in the clouds sounds more like my sister than Hikaru. Then again, maybe they got lost in them together..."

Musashi mused on that for a minute and then he turned to Ataru. "Ah... you can come to the party, sure... but..." In truth, Musashi did want to steal some alone time with his sweetheart, but that was going to be tricky to do.

Musashi blinked again as suddenly first his sister and then his best friend descended upon them. He blinked twice and then laughed.

"Always training, Hikaru? Not today! Today's a special day!" He grinned.

"Today is the day Itachi died." Nanami said, a bit of cheerful pride in her voice as she spoke up.

Konoha Streets

Somehow forgetting about trying to get all the girls presently in his company to go out with him, Ataru was serious for a moment, "That sounds pretty harsh when said that way, Nanami. Even though he was a pretty horrible guy, I dunno if I feel right about celebrating someone's death..."

Road to the Mansion

"Really? He hasn't mentioned anything to you at all?" Sakura asked. "Hm. He hasn't spoken to Sasuke-kun for quite some time... maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe..."

She gasped. "They're going to elope! That must be it! Oh, how romantic!"

Without giving Hinata a chance to speculate on what Sakura was babbling about, they arrived at the mansion.

"We're here! Let's go get Naruto-- I think he's working in his office... or, he's got papers on his desk while he's sitting down in front of it, which wouldn't be defined as 'work'..."

Konoha Streets

"Yes, Hikaru-kun," Sayuri nodded. "There'll be plently of time to train tomarrow! I'll even train with you! Besides, today IS very special! It's the day Nanami and Lava-- oh!"

Sayuri covered her mouth. "I mean-- oh..."

Konoha Streets

Nanami looked to Ataru, and her face became serious.

"Itachi murdered his mother and father... his aunts and uncles and cousins... he murdered his son -- my brother. He tried to destroy this village and kill Naruto-sama. Not to mention the countless Gen, Chu and Jonin he's killed. He was a monster who sacrificed the lives of everyone -- even his allies -- to further his means. His death means that hundreds who would have died at his hands get to live."

The daughter of Itachi shook her head. "Itachi's death was the best thing that could have happened."

Just as Nanami finished lamenting about her father who she helped kill, she heard the name of her missing and presumed dead beloved. Lavan's name was like a icy stab in the chest and for a minute she wanted to cry, curse and scream.

However, she did not. She only flinched for a second and then smiled.

"Not a problem Sayuri. Let's go and find the Hokage."

Musashi frowned. He didn't need Byakugan to see through THAT.

Konoha Streets

Ataru replied, "I won't argue that fact. In fact, I agree that things are better off with him gone. But don't you think that celebrating the death of someone, whether or not he deserves to die, just seems a bit macabre?"

Konoha Streets

Nanami shook her head.

"We aren't celebrating his death... we're celebrating the fall of Akatsuki, the greatest criminal organization in the world. We're celebrating the life that was born from his fall."

She supposed Ataru had a point... but she could not agree.

Konoha Streets

Ataru smiled and said, "Well, that's a much better way of putting it, now isn't it? I feel one should always carefully pick the words they choose to come from their mouths lest they want to pay for it later."

Lum appeared by Ataru's side and said, "I guess if anybody knows anything about putting their foot in their mouth, it would naturally be Darling!"

She wrapped herself around Ataru's arm and smiled, as Ataru sweatdropped and silently groaned to himself, "Damn... I thought I lost her... though it's a lucky thing she didn't appear several minutes earlier, I guess..."

Konoha Streets

Sayuri quivered her lip, knowing her slip-up had upset her cousin, even if she wouldn't let it out.

"You do have a point, Ataru." A voice suddenly said, the owner putting his hand on Ataru's shoulder. Who was it? Why, it was the Hokage! OMG

"No matter how twisted or crazy for just totally bad Itachi was," Naruto started. "He WAS, to some extent, human, or something. So while it IS a little depressing, and maybe mean, to celebrate a death, the people of this village felt joy on this day last year, and far be it from anyone to keep a large group of people from wanting to be happy together."

Naruto waved at both of children. "Hey, kids! I see you're ready to party! I hope you'll invite Ataru and his wife to join you!"

Naruto seemed to like Ataru. Why? Maybe seeing Ataru hit on girl constantly made Naruto think of his old teacher, Jiraiya...

Konoha Streets

Nanami smiled to the others, but then turned her attention to Sayuri.

"I'll see you in a little while. I have something I have to take care of." She said with a happy smile, but her errand was not a happy one. She had just noticed in the distance a large group of ninja in foreign garb . . . garb she recognized as the clothing from the Lava Village.

Musashi watched her leave for a minute before giving Sayuri a reassuring hug with his free arm. His sights then were set on his father.

"Err... I suppose they can come along." Musashi nodded.

Konoha Streets

As much as Ataru hated anyone calling Lum his wife, Ataru didn't correct Naruto. He really looked up to him.

"Hokage-sama! Sir! You're right, and I didn't try to imply that there's anything twisted about this celebration so much that I think people should try to concentrate more on the cheery things and not on death and stuff. By the way, Sir, are you coming to the party, too? How's Mrs. Uzumaki doing?"

Konoha Streets

Naruto nodded. "She's great! In fact, she and Sakura are about to visit me, I believe. I guess I outta get going then! See you, Musashi! Have fn with Sayuri-chan! Watch out for Sasuke, though! It seems like he's just around every corner, these days!"

He turned to Hikaru and Misaki and smiled. "Put a hand on my daughter and I'll pluck your eyes out with chop sticks, Hikaru!" Naruto was obviously more protective of his daughter than his son. XD

"And you be careful, Ataru!" Naruto laughed. "Good to see you too, Lum! And Mr. Tendo, as well!"

With that, Naruto poofed away. That was shadow clone! HAHA!

Sayuri pointed to the direction of the Market Street where most of the party was going on later. "Come on! Let's go start enjoying the day! I just hope nothing evil comes and makes us fight before we get to have fun! But there's no chance something like that will happen!"

-Konoha Streets-

Suddenly, their was a flash of lightning kicking up dust, but not enough to obscure anyone’s vision, but giving a slightly smoky effect by their feet. And oddly enough, the flash of lightning didn’t seem to have blinded them, but something glowing was now standing in the middle of the group.

Holding his finger upwards, his other hand on his hips, looking downwards.

The glow died down, and Galv stood their, bringing his finger down, eyes half closed, moving around the circle, pointing towards everyone.

Then, suddenly, he grinned, holding both arms up.

“And The Galv has finally appeared in a flash of light!” Galv shouted, smiling brightly, completely unaware of the somber mood everyone was in.

“Sorry about that…” a female voice sighed, Maize walking up from the gate, “Galv wanted to try and make an entrance.”

Galv merely grinned then shrugged, then paused, observing everyone’s face, “So…how are you guys?”

Konoha Streets

Lum was a little impressed by Galv's entrance. "Wow, Galv, you've really gotten good with your electricity jutsus! You must have been training very hard!"

Konoha Streets

Unfortunately, the old man was left behind with the palanquin as Sakura and Hinata ran off and started to chat amongst their own group, and the old man decided not to interfere with such an occasion. However, as the group gathered and gathered right there in front of the mansion, he could not help but notice that one, after noticing the nearing palanquin, has decided to walk off.

Uchiha Nanami, chief of the Konoha Police Force.

The man smiled a bit sadly to himself. Yes, indeed, things turned out to be much different than they should have. However, he had hoped that he would also be able to bring some happiness to the hearts of Konoha and the friends the firestarter has gained in the village. throwing a quick look over his shoulder at the palanquin, the old man moved forward, coughing slightly.

"Umm... Excuse me, I hate to interrupt your lovely banter, young men and women, but I would like to ask a question of you. Was that the Hokage's Kage Bunshin I just saw poofing away? I would much like an audience with him, if possible. There have been unexpected circumstances combined with our arrival, and I would like to get them out of the way as fast as we can before we can perform the correct entrance to the people of Konoha."

He smiled widely.

"Ize Galv, Sylvan Maize, Uchiha Sayuri-chan, Uzumaki Musashi, Zenyoshi Hikaru, Uzumaki Misaki-chan... And indeed, there are some new faces since I have last seen any of you. Who might you two young shinobi be?"

He turned with a rather thoughtful look towards Lum and Ataru. He has never met these two before, and was rather curious about them, just like any old man would be in his situation. He felt like a grandfather to Lavan, and it was as if he knew the friends Lavan has gained by the way the fire ninja described them. And it was his curiosity that led him to asking about a new addition to the group.

Konoha Streets

Ataru nor Lum had ever seen this old man before, but it seems that he was familiar with everyone else in the group. Ataru wasn't sure how easy it could be to get him an audience with the legendary Hokage, Naruto, but he figured he'd let Musashi or someone else worry about that.

Ataru answered, "My name is Saotome Ataru. I'm a Chuunin of the Konohagakure."

Lum followed, "And my name is Tendo Lum. I'm also a Chuunin of the Konohagakure. I'm afraid that despite your familiarity with most everyone here, I haven't had the chance of ever meeting you, Sir."

Ataru scratched the back of his head as he pondered, "If ya don't mind me asking, just who are ya, anywho?"

Konoha Streets

The old man gave a rumbling chuckle, definitely amused by these two as much as he was amused by the antics of the others that he has seen last time during his visit.

"The people of Konoha may not know me directly, but many would call me the Numakage."

There was suddenly heavy coughing behind him as three of the ninjas tried to cover something up with their cough. A tick grew in the old man's forehead as his expression became playfully annoyed.

"However, many would disagree. I am the Elder of Yougankure, the village hidden in the Lava. I am pleased to finally meet the ones Lavan has talked so much of and will be absolutely overjoyed if you can please point me in the right direction to possibly find the Hokage. However, whenever time permits, I would like to talk with each of you and see how much of Lavan's tall tales are really true."

Konoha Streets

"Ah Crap!" Hikaru yelled, as Naruto poofed away. His hand had been slowly reaching for Misaski's, and he now hung his head in cartoonish fashion. Well that was until the new arrivals...arrived.

"Hey Galv!" Hikaru waved to his friend who seemed to also enjoy subtle entrances.

And then the old man showed up. Hikaru narrowed his eyes, and cast a "who does this guy think he is" glance to Musashi.

But Misaski, who muttered over how stupid her father was, approached the old man. "I'd be happy to show you where my father lives, but if you value your sanity, and hope he doesn't OVERPROTECT you with honor GUARDS or something," she yelled angrily, "then I'd be happy to take you to him." she said all of a sudden sweetly.

Konoha Streets

"Ah... Misaki." Nanami had briefly frozen up upon the entrance of Yougan's elder to the conversation, but after a moment of personal weakness she regained her usual steadfast composure and quickly approached.

"You shouldn't have to do work today. They'll be plenty of time for politics when you're Hokage. For now, just enjoy the day with Hikaru." Nanami smiled, patting the younger girl on her shoulder.

She turned to Yougan's Leader. "I will take you to the Hokage, sir."

Of course, the reason for Nanami's sudden jump-in to this was as obvious as things could be.


Musashi shook his head, a smile on his face. This was a wonderful day, despite his father's borderline insanity.

"Galv! Maize! Welcome back!" Musashi yelled, waving to them.

Konoha Streets

The elder of Yougankure sweatdropped quite massively at Misaki's outburst, and looked almost sheepish, before shaking his head quite vigorously for an old man, relaying his own personal feelings about her comment.

"I do not need guards... Misaki-san? I have my own."

He turned then to Nanami who has slinked back into conversation, and was honestly surprised by hear re-appearance. He knew the chief of police held a lingering grudge towards the village of Hidden Lava, a grudge he was surprised anyone would hold and still had no idea of why Nanami was behaving so uncomfortably. Her dicsomfort was apparent, but the reason...

He knew it had to do with Lavan, but to have SUCH a reaction could actually be mistaken for deep-seeded feelings... Could it be? Naaaaah, Lavan was too blundering and this girl looked like she just came out of the antisocial circle.

"I would be most happy for you to escort me and the rest of the Yougankure 7, as well as our esteemed guests that we bring with us today. I hope I am not taking too much of your time with this request... Nanami-san, am I correct?"

However, the air was suddenly interrupted by a rather loud crash from inside the palanquin and a woman's indignant yell, followed by a rather unmanly yell of pain, after which everything settled and the palanquin looked just as mysterious as ever. The guards around it had the sense to look embarrassed, two of them hanging their heads and even the stoic Hyuuga guard shaking his head.

Konoha Streets

Nanami's reactions could easily be mistake for resentment. Then again, perhaps it was. She didn't know anymore. As much as she had changed since her abandonment of Akatsuki, she was still a hard person to understand; even for herself. Seeing the Yougan Elder was bringing back memories that should have been happy ones, but instead were only full of pain.

"Not at all, sir." Nanami answered with a slight bow of the head to the Village Leader. "It is my duty to insure that your meeting with the Hokage happens in a timely, safe and pleasant manner."

She attempted her best to hide her discomfort. She did have a duty to Konoha, and above all else, she always gave her best for the Village of Leaves. She owed this village so much that nothing would daunt her from fulfilling her responsibility.

Konoha Streets

"Much appreciated, Nanami-san. The collection of things for our visit was rather hectic, and we bring gifts and trade goods made from volcanic stone for trade as well as some final touches to our alliance... And hopefully a piece of news that will be received well by those who have been subject to a rather far and wide believed rumor. However, this piece of news I cannot allow to become public without the permission of the Hokage himself."

He made a slight bow to Nanami.

"I bring good news and goods both this day, and expressed my wishes to join the celebrations. Like the previous celebration a year ago, will there be a formal dance later tonight or will it be moved to the next day? I am old and wish to rest my bones, but the youth in my charge that have arrived today, as well as some of the elders, would not mind mingling and dancing."

The palanquin hovered up behind the old man, as if commanded by his very thoughts, the guards staying diligently around it, the Hyuuga guard giving cold eyes to everything around him (translation: he is curious) and the guard on the other side, a platinum-blonde young man around two or three years Nanami's junior was absentmindedly looking around, eyes vacant, his hands busy with something that looked mechanical.

In fact, he looked to be too vacant to be a useful shinobi in this situation. the Hyuuga on his left was covering the entire radius with his Byakugan, but this guy... This guy just didn't look like he was all there, at least right now. He was absentmindedly blinking, as if daydreaming... While his hands moved quite rapidly, making some sort of contraption. And the scary thing was... He didn;t look like he was aware of what his hands were doing.