Absolved.

Village Life.

[Song: I Am Not Nothing - Beth Crowley]

It was easy enough to find the couple, I had only checked a couple places before finding out that they had booked out Training Fields 18 and 19 with their teams. I also noticed that Gai had 16 booked, and I hadn't got to really meet any of his team yet.

"Hey Mr. Eyebrows." I nodded to him as I walked up, smiling. "Looks like Lee is getting better."

He turned towards me with a bright smile as he gave me a thumbs up. "He's worked hard!"

I watched the bushy brow clone take on Neji Hyuga in a spar, amazed at their quick movements. "I can't believe he's doing so well up against a byakugan without ninjutsu."

"Hey, if it isn't the Sand Princess back in the Leaf village!" Ino called to me once she recognized me. "Wow, you have changed a lot!"

Me? Ino looked incredible. "You too!"

"Kairi is here?" A small voice barely carried over to us and I looked to find who it was coming from..

Hinata.. If she didn't have her Byakugan I probably would never have recognized her.. She was so pretty.

The others decided to take a break too, seeming to gather around me, those I knew were happy to see me. I didn't get this kind of reception back home in the Sand... I didn't have friends there.

"Wow, you look great, it's good to see yah again!"

I didn't know this boy at all, he was tall and lean with short brown hair. He must have seen the confusion on my face because he started laughing.

"Ya, I guess you're used to me in my coat... Maybe you will remember this guy.." He gave a loud whistle and a huge white dog came running out of the forest.

My eyes widened as I got a flash of a memory, back in my apartment when Naruto had his friends over.. "No way, is that Akamaru!?"

The dog bounded to a halt at the boys side. "I figured you would." Kiba laughed, patting Akamaru's head. "I'd never seen him sit in anyone else's lap before.."

"Guys don't crowd her, that's such a drag."

"Hey Shikamaru, it's okay... I'm happy to see them too!"

On their break I caught up with my old friends, and met their teammates. On Asuma's team was Shikamaru, a sweet guy named Choji and Ino.. With Kurenai, there was Hinata, Kiba and that bug boy Kakashi had mentioned years ago.. Shino... And Gai had Lee, Neji and a girl named Tenten.

After visiting for a while, the team captains and I headed back to Kakashi's room as I'd promised him. Kiba had asked to tag along, but Asuma had shut him down and Kurenai asked him to keep working on his new technique with Akamaru.

"Hey old man how ya feeling?" Asuma asked, entering the room without knocking.

"Heh, Hey guys." Kakashi nodded to us, struggling to sit up.

Kurenai and I ran to his side to help him, he looked weaker than when I had left earlier.. I guess making him walk, and then the strain of his bath had really done a number.

He waved us off once we had gotten him upright, no doubt trying to look stronger in front of Gai. I shook my head, noting that Kurenai did the same and then we both laughed.

It sure felt good to be home.

Home? Wait, what?

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Another few days passed with Kakashi, each morning I would get him up and moving a little, rewarding him with his favorite foods. Sometimes I'd venture out into the village to visit with my other friends.. I had friends now.. Sometimes I would spend the day with him, the nurses let us have a wheelchair once they saw his strength returning and that thing was heaven sent.