Desert Flower

Two Years Later

  "Is he doing what I think he's doing?" I questioned while tilting my head towards Jiraiya.

  "He's having a ball." The old man chuckled.

  "This takes me back! The village hasn't changed a bit! Everyone! Naruto Uzumaki's back!" The blond cried out while throwing his fists into the air as he was standing on top of an electrical pole. "Sayuri, they added Grandma Tsunade's mountainside image!"

  "Naruto? Is that you, Naruto? When did you get back, Naruto?" Sakura ran up and cupped her hands around her mouth so Naruto could hear her.

  "Just now!" He jumped down from the height, landing with his knees slightly bent to cushion the landing. "Long time no see, Sakura!"

 "You've gotten taller than me, haven't you?"

  "Huh? Oh! You're right."

  "So? You think I've become a bit womanly?" Sakura got a shy look on her face, and I just crossed my arms.

  "You're fine! You haven't changed a bit."

  "Oh, no...." I mumbled while watching Naruto grin with a raised thumb.

  "Big bro Naruto! Sexy Jutsu!" A child called out to get his attention, and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull.

  "Naruto, what did you teach those kids?!"

  "How about that?! Pretty nice waist, hips, and bust, huh?!"

  "Konohamaru....I'm not a kid anymore. And you, too, shouldn't be using Jutsu like that."

  "I can't look." I covered my face with my hand when I saw Naruto raise a fist.

  "That's such a boring Jutsu! Check out my freshly developed New Pervy Ninjutsu! Here we go!"

  "You idiot!" Sakura punched Naruto before he could perform the Jutsu, sending the blond flying as his nose bled. "You haven't changed at all, have you, you jerk?!" Sakura growled, pulling Naruto out of the dirt by his ankle before picking him up by the front of his shirt. "After seeing each other for the first time in like two years! You make me do this in barely two minutes!"

  "Sayuri, you shouldn't be laughing."

  "I-I'm not." I had my mouth covered as Jiraiya looked at me.

  "What am I supposed to do with the feelings of admiration I had for you earlier, huh?!" She was shaking him around like a ragdoll.

~

  "It's been a long time, you three. I'm sure your training produced good results, right?" Tsunade smiled at us while sitting at her desk.

  "Do you think we came back without making progress?" Jiraiya put his hands on his hips, and Naruto gave a thumbs up.

  "It went perfectly!"

  "Then show me those results immediately."

  "Show you....?"

  "You will take on a particular man. I didn't send him on any missions the past several days and had him standby for this very purpose. Your opponent will be...." There was a knock at the door. "Come in!"

  "Oh!"

  "Hello." Shikamaru droned.

  "Shikamaru! Temari! Look who's here!" Sakura pointed, and I saw Temari's eyes light up when she saw me.

  "Naruto? Hey! That is you isn't it, Naruto!"

  "Sayuri!" Temari threw her arms out at me, grabbing me in a big hug. "Oh, I've missed your adorable little face. You cut your hair! It's so cute." She gushed while pinching my cheeks. "Gaara's gonna be so happy to hear you're back." I froze at hearing the redhead's name.