The Soul Of Artemis

Three Years Later

Naruto took a deep breath as the wind blew strongly.  He had his hair down for once. He closed his eyes and exhaled, feeling at peace and calm for once in his life. He heard the footsteps travel next to him and he looked up. They stood right at the entrance to the land of fire boarder. Naruto turned back and sighed.

"Three long years." Naruto said though the training was worth it. He felt better and he finally felt like he can access everything in his body. He looked to Rahn who grew when Naruto grew. He was definitely taller than most foxes, though he was was still the gentle fox he was when Naruto met him.

"You've change a lot. You seem a lot more refined now." Jiraiya added, Naruto smiled a little. He was ready to go home and see everybody.

"Who did you miss the most?" another strong wind blew and Naruto's hair that was only stained blonde three years ago was now blonde and red. Though the red came only after he mastered Kurama's chakra as well.

Though that question was silly, of course there one person that he missed more than anybody else.

"Mania." Naruto said quickly, though Kurama chuckled a little

"Did you forget that you have a husband that was constantly asking about your well being in the letters?" Naruto's mouth made an O and still he replied with.

"I missed Mania the most. Though I do miss Neji."

Kurama roared inside of Naruto, though he was certain that the minute he stepped foot in the leaf village, Naruto would know who exactly he missed the most.

"I am a goddess Jiraiya. Of course I'm refined." Naruto answered a while after the questions was even spoke of, as he stepped foot into the land of fire, and the minute he did he could feel something dragging his very being back to Konoha. He was off put at first. Though He calmly exhaled and looked towards Jiraiya.

"Do you think they will recognize me?" Naruto asked as they walked at a pace that didn't sit right all all with Naruto. Though Naruto endured and continued walking.

"I believe they will." Jiraiya said cause he could tell how nervous Naruto sounded.

"You've changed a lot, though your Aura is the same." Jiraiya said, and Naruto sighed.

"If anything I'm sure Neji will remember." Jiraiya said and Naruto smiled a little. They walked for another day before they were standing right in front of the gates of the leaf village. Naruto was nervous all of a sudden though he  still walked through.

He could hear the chatter slow and sometimes stopped as he looked around the village. There was one person he wanted to see, though he managed to see all of his friends heading to the Hyuga clan and he lit up light a Christmas tree and he called out to the person he missed the most.

"Neji!"

Kurama laughed within Naruto, because Kurama knew that Naruto would call out to his mate first, even though Naruto claimed that he missed Gaara the most. Jiraiya was walking slowly behind Naruto to see how this would play out.

The Jounin stopped in his tracks when he heard his name, the voice was familiar but then it wasn't. Their group of friends stopped and turned to look at Neji as Neji turned around and heard footsteps jogging.

"Neji!" The voice said again and Neji looked and he got a glimpse of blue before he was being hugged. Neji looked down and saw blue eyes looking at him with their chin on Neji's chest.

"Neji! I'm home." Neji closed his eyes and hugged the goddess in his arms tightly, the seventeen year old smiled to himself as he spoke. They both hugged one another for a long time, I suppose the saying is true.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

"Naruto welcome home." Neji said softly, and they were silent before Gaara spoke.

"Welcome home Artemis!" Gaara said a little happy, he dropped Shikamaru's hand and walked over in time for Neji to pull away from Naruto. Naruto looked to Gaara and smiled.

"I'm home Mania! How has Shikamaru been treating you?" Naruto said giving a quick hug before going back to Neji. Leaning into him as Neji tossed an arm around him.

"I treat Gaara well. We have only been dating for a couple months." Shikamaru admitted, he and Gaara were the last to get together. Kiba and Shino got together the minute Kiba turned sixteen.

"Shikamaru is really sweet, plus when I had my first episode, he took me to our spot." Gaara said calmly, Naruto nodded his head in approval, they all stood there and caught up. Jiraiya doesn't think he's watched teenagers interact like this for a long time.

"Fish cakes, we have to report to Tsunade." Naruto wanted to ignore Jiraiya, Tsunade can wait. He was catching up with his friends.

"We can go with you! We can continue talking about what happened in the three years." Kiba said, everybody nodded in agreement, and Neji dropped his arm to latch onto Naruto's hand.

Naruto was happily listening to the gossip over the years, as they made their way to Tsunade. The stopped talking for a little and walked into the room. The minute they did they all froze. They all looked to the figure in the room who was mid sentence, he stopped and looked at the others and held a small smile.

"I'm home." Everybody blinked before Sasuke activated his Sharigan and quickly moved as the wall shattered behind him. He looked at the person responsible for the carnage and he smiled at him.

"You and your flairs of anger." Naruto pulled his hand from the wall, he looked at Sasuke and hugged him. Sasuke released his Sharigan as all of his other friends hugged him.

"You could've at least wrote to us, do you know how many times we thought Orochimaru was going to take you?" Shino said, and Sasuke knew he was wrong.

"I know, but I really wanted to one up my clan. I'm sorry I didn't keep you all in the loop." Everybody pulled away, and Shikamaru folded his arms.

"So before you enact your revenge. Spend some time with your friends. We are all Chunin here, besides Neji." Neji tilted his head.

"It's not my fault, I am a year older than you all. It's only right that I'm a Jounin." Neji said and Sasuke frowned.

"How is Naruto a Chunin? He was training with Jiraiya?" Naruto chuckled.

"I took the exam in Kirigakure. When I went to repair the lands there. I even met a God instead of a Goddess! His name is Poseidon." Naruto said and Sasuke tilted his head.

"God?" Gaara snorted.

"Ah yes, you have so much to listen too. Make sure you pay attention Sasuke" Gaara said and Tsunade just ushered the teens out, deciding that Jiraiya will just tell her about Naruto.

"Sasuke, You have to see our spot! It's amazing!" Kiba said and Akamaru barked loudly, Naruto chuckled as he looked at Neji.

"You look really good." Naruto said out loud as he admired Neji's face, Neji who was listening to Shikamaru tuned him out as he looked down at Naruto. He placed a hand on Naruto's cheek and spoke.

"You look more like a goddess today than you did three years ago. I'm so blessed." Neji said truthfully and Naruto blushed and closed his eyes as he heard Sasuke speak.

"No way! Sakura and Rock Lee got together?" Sasuke said and there was a choirs of yeah and I know right.

Though Naruto was on cloud nine.

*