Explosions rocked the village as enemy nin invaded, taking down his people, his family. He tore through them, fighting to protect a home he hoped he wouldn't lose. hour pass and he begins to tire. Finally, he meets his ultimate foe, and prepares for his demise once more.

Then Nanashi woke up, wiping the drool from his mouth. His door wa broke in, and he slowly looked up, wincing at the twitching brow of his assistant. Her red eyes flashed. "Nanashi.... WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SLEEPING?"

He winced. Again.

"Sorry Karin-chan."

Seven years. That's how long it's been, since they left Konoha. Uzushio was thriving, her streets abuzz once more, Suna their ally, and seven jinchuriki living in their borders with another who pops in randomly to visit.

"The chunin exams are coming up, and Gaara's and Kabuto's team would like to become chunin. Not to mention, now is a great time to forge an alliance with Konoha. So this is no time to be slacking!"

Nanashi nodded. "I know Karin. Trust me. This time, I will go and speak to Lady Tsunade. She already knows me, at least me when I was younger and not entirely me. She probably thinks I'm the same brat who challenged her to drinking contest before having her become Hokage. I don't think she knows that I'm Uzukage either. Or knows about the many visits Hiasu... by the way, His mission deadline is almost up, he  needs to head out. Remind him for me? Nevermind, actually, I can escort him in two days time as I go to speak with Tsunade."

Karin sighed. "Hai, calm down. You do know however, that Kimimaro is going to want to join you, correct? I swear, ever since you got him healed, and broke Orochimaru's seal, he has followed you with such a level of devotion it's scary."

Nanashi nodded. "Yeah. I'll take Kimimaro, and maybe Haku, but I'll need Orochimaru to keep an eye on the village while I'm gone. Things with Kiri seem to be getting a little..... tense. I'll have Utakata help Orochimaru, while you keep Kabuto in order."

Karin nodded and walked out. Nanashi stood, stretching, before  creating a few shadow clone to do the paperwork. He leapt out the window, shooting over rooftops, towards the Sacred Island. He landed on the golden sand and felt it hum under his feet. He approached the cliffside, not far from the dock, and leapt up onto the cliff face. He ran upwards, using chakra to stabilize himself, and flug himself towards the edge. Grinning, the hand he knew would be there reached out, and he grabbed on, allowing himself to be pulled up.

"You know one day, I might not be there to catch you." Hiasu grinned and laid back down, the sun hitting his skin, Which was Darker than any Kumo nins could ever be. Nanashi grinned. It was nice to be carefree like this again, at least, for a short while.

"Nah, why wouldn't you be there?" Hiasu just laughed sadly. Nanashi stood on the edge of the cliff, arms out, the scent of the ocean filling his senses. 

"In two days."

Hiasu smiled. it was sad. "I'll miss you."

"How can you miss me if I am right next to you?"

Hiasu rose a brow. "What do you mean?"

"It's time, I go back to Konoha. I could send our ambassador-"

"Nanashi, You are the ambassador."

"-or one of our many ninja, but we need to make a treaty with our sister country, and I miss some of my friends. Plus, I know they are okay, but I want to see with my own eyes, that Sasuke and Sakura are okay."

Hiasu nodded. "Who is accompanying you?"

"Kimimaro and Haku."

Hiasu nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Though Haku was declared MIA and then later KIA. You are KIA, after all you staged your death as Naruto right in front of Jiraiya-sama. I don't think your friend know that you are alive."

"And they don't need to. I just need to know that they are alive. I'm not Naruto anymore. I'm Nanashi. If they find out, then they will have to get to know me again, this time as Nanashi."

Hiasu sighed. His friend was going to go through an identity crisis soon.

"Whatever. Let's go get ready."

Two days later they depart for Konoha, flashing through the forests as they approached the walls of the village.

Hiasu leads them through the gates. "Kotetsu, Izumo. This is the ambassador of Uzushio, Uzumaki Takeshi. These are his guards, Jinzou Hikaru and Jinzou Yukioh."

Sharp blue eyes stared at the two chunin. His lower face was masked, hiding the whisker like scars, his hair pinned with the usual hairsticks, and he wore a battle kimono. Chishima at his waist, he looked intimidating, yet the two could sense a smile from under the mask.

"Welcome to Konoha Uzumaki-san, Jinzou-san, Jinzou-san. Please, follow us this way to Lady Hokage."