TBTTUT - Naruaki part 1

It had been two and a half years since I had laid eyes on my beloved village Konoha. I had promised Naruto that as soon as he would come home, that I would too.  I had really missed them all, my dear friends. But this time away was good for me. In ways now I have become much stronger and I have also matured in ways that now I am ready… I am ready to fight with my life to help Naruto and Sakura bring our beloved Sasuke back to the village. It's hard to believe that it has been three years since I have seen him… Sasuke… Where are you now? I wonder if you're okay…. Well all I know is that now I am looking at the gate in which my home lays behind.

"Is that you?" The guard spoke. "It's been a while Kotetsu" I smiled. "Akiko Suzuki" the other guard smiled. "It's great to have you back." "It's great to be back Izumo" I grinned. "Well it's nice to know you haven't forgotten us." Kotetsu replied. "Yeah, well I'm sorry but I have to get going." I bowed as I then ran off into the village. It sure makes me feel nostalgic. "Akiko?" I recognized that voice. I turned around to see Sakura with Konohomaru, Udon, and Moegi. "Sa…Sakura" I cried out as I dove into her open arms. "Akiko it's been such a long time, you look beautiful." Sakura smiled. "It sure has, wow Sakura you sure have become a beautiful young lady" I grinned. We both laughed. "Akiko you look really pretty." Konohomaru smiled. "And look at you, you sure have grown up, why you remind me so much of a certain knucklehead we all know and love." I replied. "Yeah and isn't he suppose to be back soon?" Konohomaru stated. "I hope so… It has been a while…" I smiled… I really would give anything to see Naruto again. "Hey Akiko we have to go to the front gate to pick up a package for Lady Tsunade, do you want to come with us?" Sakura asked. "I would but I have to go see Tsunade to inform her of my return, but we should have dinner tonight." I stated. "Sounds good" Sakura smiled as she and the kids left for the entranced gate.

"So you have returned." Tsunade smiled. "Yes Lady Hokage." I replied. "It's great to have you back, and my goodness have you grown, you look so beautiful." Tsunade stated. "Thank you but I still have a long way to go to be as strong and beautiful as you." I grinned. "Konoha sure could use you at a time like this." Tsunade laughed. Just then the door opened. "Lady Tsunade, Akiko, there is someone here who is looking forward to seeing you." Sakura grinned as a familiar face walked in. "Grandma Tsunade… Akiko… It's great to be back." I looked up to see that usual grin smiling at me. "Naruto" I cried out as I ran to hug him. A blush crossed his face. "Wow Akiko you sure look different." Naruto smiled. "Thanks." I blushed. "Hmph and you said I look the same." Sakura glared. "It's nice to see you again, Tsunade, Akiko." Another familiar voice spoke. "Master Jiraiya" I grinned. "Wow you sure have become a stunning young lady, quite a looker" Jiraiya grinned. "Jiraiya, that is quite enough" Tsunade stated. "So now that you're all here, Naruto it's nice to have you back." Tsunade smiled. "Naruto grinned. It's true though, Naruto looked so much older, and not only that but he has become quite handsome, who would ever thought that the same old Naruto would ever become such a hottie. "Now that your back I would like to see your skill level and how far you have developed." Tsunade stated. "What right now?" Naruto asked. "No I will have you fighting against a certain opponent" Tsunade smiled. Just then there was a knock on the door. "Come in" Tsunade shouted. As the door opened two people walked in… They sure looked familiar. "Shikamaru guess who it is?" Sakura stated as she pointed to Naruto and myself. "Ah Naruto, Akiko is that you?" Shikamaru grinned. "Hey Shikamaru." Naruto smiled. "Shikamaru." I cried out once again as I ran to hug him. "Quite the friendly one isn't she?" Jiraiya grinned. "Wow Akiko you sure have grown up, you look great." Shikamaru blushed. "You too, very handsome." I smiled. "Who are you?" Naruto pointed to the girl behind Shikamaru. "Temari, how are you?" I smiled. "Good, Akiko, it has been a while, it's good to see you." Temari smiled. "Same here how are your brothers?" I asked. "They're doing well." She smiled. "I'm glad" I smiled back.

"So Shikamaru are you the one I'm supposed to fight against?" Naruto asked. "What do you mean fight against?" Shikamaru replied. "That's not your opponent. Your opponent is outside." Tsunade grinned. "Outside?" Naruto questioned as he looked outside the window. A smile crossed his face. "Hey" A familiar voice spoke. "Kakashi Sensei" Naruto and I both shouted as we jumped out the window. "Wow Naruto Akiko, you both sure have grown." Kakashi smiled. "And you haven't changed a bit." Naruto grinned. "It's been a long time Sensei, how are you?" I asked. "Doing well, but busy as usual." Kakashi smirked under his mask. "Yeah busy reading your perverted books, oh and that reminds me." Naruto said as he reached into his pouch. "Reminds you? Do I want to know?" I asked as Naruto then pulled out a book. "Is that… What I think it is?" Kakashi stared in disbelief. "Yeah it's the next sequel to those Make-out Paradise books you love so much, the first in 3 years." Naruto grinned. Kakashi held the book in his hands and looked at it with the kind of love you look at your child for the first time. It was like as he opened it light was shining out of it. "I don't know why you like them I find them quite boring myself." Naruto brushed off Kakashi's reaction. So… He had been reading them… I thought to myself as Naruto looked at me and smiled. I quickly turned away blushing… But why? I don't know what had just come over me. "Kakashi" Tsunade snapped. "Right" Kakashi replied as he shut his book. "So does this mean…" Naruto started, "yes Kakashi will be the one you fight against, but there is one catch, Akiko and Sakura, I want you both to join as well. From this day forth you are back as squad seven and Akiko will be taking the place of Sasuke." Tsunade stated. We all sunk our heads. "Tsunade… that word is Taboo" Kakashi stated to the dense Hokage. "Right, well you will meet at the training grounds right away so let's get moving." Tsunade replied. "Right, you just wait to see how strong I have gotten." Naruto boasted, it sure looked like he was still the same Naruto, but that's a good thing. Naruto has always been there for me and protected me. I guess after all that time apart I didn't realize until now just how much I missed him. "You ready Aki?" Naruto smiled. I blushed again… It had been a while since he had called me that. I turned away and nodded. Kakashi and Tsunade gave me that look, like they figured something was up. But how could they have when I didn't even know what was going on in my head… or in this case heart.

We all headed out towards the training grounds, it sure brought back memories. Well more for the others then for me, after all I only was a mission assigned to squad seven at first. But then because of them protecting me I two had become stronger. Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were all dear people to me; they changed my life in so many ways. Even when I decided to go traveling by myself, Naruto of course didn't like the idea but after all one day I will have to face the Akatsuki again and this time I wont let them take Naruto or myself.

I am … I guess you can call me a princess but I prefer priestess myself. I have special powers that take a lot of energy and chakra to unlock. I have been told that even now I am not fully aware of my power but someday I will have to face everything. The Akatsuki want Naruto and the other tailed beasts for god knows what reason, but it must be the same reason they want mine. I have been told from my family that my power is the only thing capable of controlling the tailed demons, besides the mangyakyu sharingan. I still don't know what is going to happen, but I will protect Naruto and I will help in all my power to bring Sasuke back. I don't know much about my family history, after all my mother and father wanted to keep it a secret for some reason...  I was all alone when they died… Three years ago, it's hard to believe it has been that long…Still I will honor the name Suzuki and follow the lines of being a priestess, like Naruto taught me, don't give up on your dreams. And because of him… I

"Aki… Earth to Aki" Naruto spoke, I looked up. "Snap out of it were about to fight Kakashi." Naruto lectured. "Oh so he's here… Sorry I took a nap being I got tired of waiting." I glared at Kakashi. "Alright you three… your mission is to get these bells." Kakashi smirked. We all smiled. It was time.