You are my Star

Chapter 18 - Nostalgia

Hoshiko and Naruto walked, getting closer and closer to the village. "Man, I can't wait to get back. I used to take the Leaf Village for granted, but I realize now how much I missed home."

"Yeah. And I missed everyone, too. It was hard being away from them for two years."

"Very true."

Over at the front gates, Kotetsu and Izumo squinted. "Could those three be...?"

"I-I think it is them. Naruto and Hoshiko! They're finally back, after two years."

"Hi, Kotetsu! Hi, Izumo!" Hoshiko called cheerily.

"Hoshiko! Naruto! You two are finally back! And with Master Jiraiya!" They nodded reverently at the toad sage, and Jiraiya pointed at them. 

"You two idiots could take a lesson from Kotetsu and Izumo on respect, you know that?"

The two said "idiots" grumbled something about not respecting people who don't deserve it, then, as if the mood couldn't be killed, ran off, one of them having suggested Ichiraku Ramen. 

"Damn, this brings me back," said Naruto, slowing to a walk beside Hoshiko. He climbed up onto the roof of a building, and Hoshiko jumped onto one adjacent to Naruto's. 

"It really does, doesn't it?"

"Naruto? Hoshiko? Is that you?" asked a voice from below. The two looked down as one. 

"Kiba!" Hoshiko leaped down and tackled him, hugging him tightly, then turned to Akamaru, who licked her face. "You've grown so big, Akamaru! But you're still adorable," she said, embracing the dog as well. She looked up at Kiba. "You've grown taller too, haven't you? Much taller than me now." Then she grinned. "And you took my advice on not wearing a hood, I see. There you go, you look much better now."

Kiba beamed. "Thanks."

Naruto landed beside them. "Hey, Kiba. Where's everyone else?"

Kiba took them to meet Choji, Ino, Sai, Shino, Lee, Tenten, and Hinata before they decided they wanted lunch. Naruto and Hoshiko ran as fast as they could to Ichiraku, where they were given two free bowls of ramen. 

As they slurped the noodles up, they felt a presence behind them. "Well, well, if it isn't Hoshiko and Naruto, back from a two year trip." They turned to find Neji standing behind them with his arms folded over his chest, a half smile on his face.

"Neji!" Hoshiko's grin spread ever wider. "Are you dating Tenten yet?"

Neji scrunched up his face. "You come back after a couple of years gone, and the first thing you ask me is if I'm dating Tenten?"

"Well, yeah. I've been wondering for two years, Neji."

Neji flushed. "Yeah," he said quietly, then quickly added, "But it's nothing serious, just a few dinners and stuff. 

"That's putting it quite lightly," grumbled a voice behind Neji. 

"Shikamaruuuuu!" Hoshiko bowled Shikamaru over, knocking him to the ground. 

"Ow!" he protested, but hugged her back. "Hello, there. I missed you, you know. A visit back would've been nice."

Hoshiko shook her head. "I couldn't. Something about self-control and patience. Now, what's that about putting it lightly?" she smirked. 

Neji turned pink. "I'll just go now," he mumbled, walked a few meters, skidded to a halt, turned, and walked back. "However," he sighed. "I must make sure Shikamaru doesn't say anything exaggerated.

So Shikamaru explained in extreme detail how Neji and Tenten held hands when they thought no one was looking, and how Choji once saw Neji kissing Tenten on the forehead, and how he himself had caught them together. Neji denied everything with a fervor, of course. But everyone noticed the red that rose on his cheeks. 

"Alright, I think we've bullied Neji enough for today," laughed Hoshiko. "Let's go, Shikamaru, Naruto. Let's get to the hokage's tower."

"Yes, please do. Lady Tsunade will have heard you're missing by now," said Neji, and disappeared. 

Hoshiko snorted. "Who knew he would actually date?"

"Never would have known."

"Could've fooled me."

                                                                                   * * *

"Well, well," said the hokage. "You three are back."

"And better than ever," said all three at the same time, identical grins on their faces. 

Tsunade shook her head. "Like master, like apprentice. I don't know if I should be scared."

Jiraiya laughed, a rich sound that filled the room with warmth. "Don't worry, they're as far from being mini-mes as they can get, unfortunately for them."

Tsunade heaved a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank goodness," she said.  Then she looked Naruto and Hoshiko up and down. "You two look different, don't you?"

Indeed they did. In Hoshiko's case, her entire wardrobe had changed along with her looks. She was taller, had longer brown hair, and her chocolate-colored eyes almost looked amber now. As for her outfit, she was wearing a white cropped tube top with spaghetti straps, cargo pants with a camouflage pattern on it, a bandage tied to her leg, securing a pouch. She had swapped out her usual calf-high shoes for shorter combat boots, and has wearing a short-sleeved jacket made of netting, the red symbol that was on all chunin vests decorating the back. It had the same protection abilities, and in Hoshiko's eyes, infinitely more style. However, her signature messy bun was still intact. 

As for Naruto, he was much taller, more mature looking, and his orange and blue jumpsuit was now orange and black, as well as his headband cloth. It gave him a more grown-up air which everyone liked. And, they would soon find out, the maturity hadn't just ended at his clothing. He thought more maturely, although the famed knuckle-head way of thinking was still there, stronger than ever. 

"Yeah," said Naruto, rubbing the back of his neck. "Training was intense. Our clothing got all torn up, so we had to get new ones. Which we had to pay for, by the way." He glared at Jiraiya, who shrugged helplessly. 

"Anyways," the toad sage interrupted. "We're back. And we have news."

"The Akatsuki are on the move again, hunting for jinchuriki, and they're getting more and more, faster and faster," reported Hoshiko.

"And Sasuke has less than half a year until Orochimaru plans on taking over his body," added Naruto urgently. 

"I see," said Lady Tsunade, pondering. She closed her eyes and thought for a minute.

"Luckily for you, we have news on that."

Naruto and Hoshiko blinked. News? "And what news would that be?" questioned Hoshiko, frowning.

"Orochimaru is dead, killed by Sasuke Uchiha."