Meiko was carrying Taka on the way back to Konoha, the little boy having already fallen asleep. Meiko was nervous to say the least, it had been 6 whole years since the last time she stepped foot in Konoha. What had changed? What was the same? Would anyone recognize her?

She sighed as she stopped in front of the large gates, smiling to herself. This was it. This was home. This is what she had waited for since she left. To be back home where she belonged.

She walked in slowly, only to be stopped by the two guards sitting in the guard station. "Who are you and what are yo- wait, Meiko?" Izumo said, and the girl didn't even look in his direction as she shifted her son on her hip slightly so that he was on a more comfortable position. She just continued to walk past her two old best friends who jaws were hanging open slightly.

Meiko walked through the village, smiling at everything she passed. From Ichraku's Ramen, to the little shops she used to randomly go in just look around. Sometime between the gates and half way to the Hokage's building, Taka woke up.

"Momma..." He muttered slightly, and Meiko glanced over at her son slightly.

"Yeah baby?"

"Are we there yet?" He asked, his eyes still closed as he was still half asleep.

"Yes baby, we're walking through It right now." She said happily, and Taka's eyes shot open as he began to look around in village frantically.

"Oh god it's so green and pretty!" He said. "And the buildings aren't made of sand! Wow!" He said as he tried to squirm down from his mothers side, but she shook her head.

"No, I'm carrying you till we get to the Hokage's office. You're going to be meeting your grandfather, and I want you to be on your best behavior because your grandfather is the Hokage."

"H.. Hokage?" Taka asked, stammering over the word.

"Yes, he is a lot like the Kazakage. But for this village. You'll like him." She said as she placed on hand on his face, pushing his silver hair out of his eyes. "You sir, need a haircut."

"But Okasan! My hair looks like Otosans!" Taka pouted.

"But it's too long and in your face, so it's time to cut it at least a little bit. You know better than to argue with me, Taka."

"I know.." He muttered as they arrived at the Hokage's building, and Meiko walked in. She smiled at all the people on the lower level, recognizing a few from her class of graduates. She went up the stairs with a bouncing Taka on her hip the closer they got. Meiko was excited to, she couldn't remember the last time she had even talked to her father or brother.

Meiko placed three gentle knocks on the door and heard her father reply "Enter." in his hoarse tone of voice he had always had. Meiko opened the door slowly and walked in, smiling at her father.

"Meiko.." The Hokage said as he looked up to see his youngest. The girl nodded with a smile as she started towards the desk, only getting about half way there before Taka leaped out of her arms and ran over to the Hokage desk.

"Are you the Hokage?!" Taka asked excited, and Hizuren nodded with a laugh.

"I am indeed. Who are you?" He asked, and Taka smiled as he placed his thumb on his own chest.

"I am your grandson!" He said happily, and Hizuren's eyes widened slightly as he glanced over at Meiko. His daughter nodded slightly, agreeing with the little boys statement.

"What is your name, child?" He asked, and Taka giggled quietly.

"I'm Taka!" He said as he started to climb up into the Hokage's lap. Hizuren laughed quietly as he helped the boy up into his laugh, not noticing as Meiko walked to the desk and placed her hands on it.

"Hi dad." She said happily, and Hizuren smiled at her.

"Hello Meiko. So, you never told me you had a child."

"Well, I didn't find out until after you sent me away."

"I didn't send you away. I sent you to help."

"You know what I meant." She said with a roll of her eyes.

"I assume he is Kakashi due to the hair?" Hizuren said, and Meiko laughed quietly.

"Yeah, he's a Hatake for sure." Meiko said as she reached across the table and pushed the boys hair out of his face slightly. "But we're back to stay. The Kazakage said I was fine."

"As long as he doesn't need you anymore. This is your home, and it always will be."

"Thank you, father." She said, smiling at him like she used to.

"And if you would like to go see your brother, he might be at the team 10 training ground. I'm sure you know where that is."

"Of course I do!" Meiko laughed as she extended her arms to her child. "Let's go Taka. It's time to go meet your uncle now."

"But I want to stay here with grandpa!" Taka said, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting.

"I will bring you back after we go see Asuma. Sound good?" She asked, and the boy thought about it for a moment before sighing and extending his arms to his mother.

"Fine." He said, and Meiko laughed as she put the five year old on her hip. Of course, he could walk, but she felt more comfortable carrying him around because it was a village he had never been in before.

"Do you want to walk or teleport?" She asked Taka, and Taka's eyes got wide.

"Teleport!" He screamed in her ear, and Meiko just laughed slightly before they disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The Hokage laughed quietly, proud of the mother his daughter had become.

///

Meiko appeared in a cloud of smoke in the middle of the tenth training ground, earning a large scream from all the kids of her brothers team. One a high pitched scream, obviously a girl. One a semi deep one that said "Watch it!" and the third one that screamed "Grab my chips! Save them!"

When the smoke cleared, Meiko looked around to see Asuma. He was a lot taller now, his beard thicker and his skin tanner. He smiled at his sister when he realized that it was her, but gave a confused glance at the Kakashi look-a-like attached to her hip.

"No." Asuma said. "No no no. Where is he? I'm going to punch him." Asuma said as he stared at Taka.

"You can hit him later. Hug me and your nephew first." She said with a laugh, and Asuma chuckled as he walked up to the girl and hugged her tightly, engulfing Taka in the hug as well.

"And who are you, little man?"

"I'm Taka Hatake! You're Otasan's brother right? That's so cool! And you're a ninja?!" Taka said happily, and Meiko just sorta of glanced at her son.

"I'm a ninja too, Taka.." She muttered.

"I know that momma! But he's a big ninja! Look how tall he is compared to you!" He said, and Meiko stared at her son as her brother broke out laughing.

"Height has nothing to do with how good of a ninja you are, Taka. I was cursed to be 4'11 for the rest of my life since I was twelve. Asuma has always been taller than me, and that is nothing we can handle." She said, and Asuma ruffled his nephew.

"Oh come on Meiko, he's just having a bit of fun." Asuma said, and Meiko rolled her eyes at him.

"Shut it Asuma, don't fuel his flame anymore than it already is."

Asuma laughed as he hugged his sister again. "It's good to have you back, Meiko."

"It's good to be back."

////

chapter 5