A New Beginning

Chap 3

Naruto lazed in his bed, watching the sun setting down slowly out of his window. After Sakura left, he spent the rest of his day pacing around his house. A lot has changed since he left. His bed was replaced with a double bed, and his old posters were removed and replaced by paintings of dragons. His closet was replaced with new clothes. Now it was full of blue, black and white.

No orange, huh?

His kitchen was empty, and his old chairs were replaced. Everything was cleaned, and repaired. Someone took care of things around here.

Knock Knock

"Naruto? Open the door please!" A girly voice called out to him, it was Sakura. The blond dragged himself out of the bed to open the door. "What, what is it?" He asked. "Let me in!" She demanded, and Naruto didn't argue. He opened the door to let Sakura in.

"What?" He stared at her. "Get ready, wear something nice!" Sakura ordered, and pushed Naruto towards his closet. "W-Wait! Why?" He protested, but let Sakura push him. "Lady Hokage was nice enough to arrange you a welcome party. I took care of the decorations, but it seems more than a small party." She explained.

"A welcome party?" He stared dumbly at the girl. "Nani? W-Well who's going to be there?" He asked, but Sakura shook her head. "I don't know. Lady Tsunade told me she will take care of the guests." Clapping her hands, Sakura suddenly announced. "Right! Come on, get dressed! I was told that everything's ready, all that is needed is your arrival!" She smiled warmly.

The blond shook his head, but excitement was slowly building up. That's exactly what he needed to get back on track! A tiny smile formed on his tanned face, and Sakura was happy to see that. "I'll leave you to it!" Sakura exited his bedroom and found herself in his kitchen. She examined it closely.

There's no food.

She opened and closed cupboards one by one, just to find them empty.

Well, it's not like I expected them to be full…

"I'm ready." Suddenly Naruto called out. "That fast?" Sakura asked to herself, and walked back into his room.

Naruto was wearing a white short sleeved top and a fishnet underneath. He also had black trousers with rolled up ends and Jiraya's wooden geta. His neck was accessorized with a blue crystal necklace that complimented his bright eyes. "That necklace…" Sakura pointed at it. "I've seen it before. That's the Senju-"    "Baachan (granny) gave this to me." Naruto cut her off.

"While I was training, I got a mission to bring a new Hokage to the village. I didn't get enough information, but something about chuunin exams." He explained. "After some events, baachan gambled this necklace, and I won."

He eyed Sakura and changed the subject. "Is that what you're wearing?" Sakura lowered her head to look at her clothes, she was still wearing her work clothes. "Kuso! I forgot to change completely!"

"Do you want to go home and change? I'll go with you." Naruto suggested and Sakura agreed. "Hai. That would be wonderful!" Without another delay both teens exited the apartment and headed down the road to Sakura's house. While Sakura led the way, Naruto tagged at the back. On the way there he viewed the village and tried to memorize the roads they took. Everything seemed so new to him.

"Well." Sakura's voice pulled the teen out of his mind. "We're nearly there. My house is just up these stairs and behind this park." She ascended the stairs and Naruto followed her. "I'm assuming my parents are out. Lately they've been on a lot of missions." Naruto was relieved to hear this, he didn't want to go through the trouble of introducing himself to strangers.