It's been three years since Naruto been back in the village. About two years since I seen him. For the few days, Tsunade has been keeping me off from missions again. She said Naruto was going to be back soon and she wanted me to test them after Kakashi does, just like back when they just became genin.

She closed me in her office for the whole day. She was very convinced that Jiraiya and Naruto were going to return today. She wanted me to be there when they arrive.

I glared at Jiraiya, sitting down on the floor, crossing my leg. "What took you so long? I had to be closed here the whole day!"

"You could've just teleported away. Admit it, you want to see him again." Jiraiya laughed, jumping in from the outside window, sitting on the window.

I laughed sarcastically before continued glaring at him as Tsunade talked to him. Naruto and Sakura entered the office not so long after.

Naruto bursted in, excited as usual. He was the same. But he was taller and his face looked more mature. His clothes were, new. I won't say I like it, but it does fit him.

"Itsuko sensei!" Naruto and Sakura chorused upon seeing me. I don't know why it took them so long.

It's also been awhile since I seen Sakura. I've been on missions and haven't really been in the village until recently.

Tsunade started explaining to them about their opponent before Kakashi made his entrance, standing on the roof outside.

Opening the window, Naruto jumped outside. "Kakashi sensei!"

He handed a book over to Kakashi, he said it was a present. I recognised it by it's cover. Another series of the Icha Icha Paradise. The worst series of book published by worst writer alive.

"Does that mean you're my opponent Kakashi sensei?" Naruto asked, his face showing sudden realization.

"Not quite." Kakashi said, not looking up. He already started on reading his book.

"I'm your first opponent." I spoke, after a long time of silence, my existence probably being forgotten. The test they were going to go through wouldn't be just any test. It was also different from the one we did when they were newly genin. With their current ability, it probably wouldn't be hard if it were to be just landing one attack on me. If I still had my hands tied like last time that is. But this time, I've got something else planned for them and it's going to be competitive.

"Right. I'm after her. You're facing two opponents. Well, see you later!" Kakashi teleported off, his tone showing much excitement. In reading his book I suppose. It is Kakashi we're talking about here.

"Let's head over to the forest. I'll explain more when we arrive. Oh but first one there gets a head start for the test." I smirked, opening the window before jumping off. From the edge of my eye, I saw Naruto and Sakura follow after me. I leaped from buildings to buildings. They were far behind but they eventually arrived at the forest, taking the route I took. They were panting and tired. I would admit, they wouldn't have made it here taking that route if they were still as weak as they were. I specifically took the more challenging route.

"The test is like a competition. We take turns showing each other what we have on our sleeves. Every surviving turn, you'll get to ask a question about anything while I get to ask you one too. Shizune will keep count, questions will be asked after we have a loser. Now, I arrived first, so I'll start." I said. Naruto and Sakura nodded, standing in front of me. They grew so much.

"Fire Style: Fireball jutsu." I said, making the hand signs before sending a giant fireball in the air in front of me.

Naruto raised an eye brow, a smirked emerging on his face. "I can do much better than that!"

"Shadow clone jutsu! Rasengan!" Naruto yelled, making a shadow clone to assist him with the rotating of chakra. Making the rasengan, he threw it at a tree nearby, creating a spiral hole in the tree.

Sakura smirked as well. She pulled on her gloves, clenching her fist tight before punching the ground, causing the ground to crack. Tsunade definitely taught her how to do that. To be completely honest, their extreme strength has always been amazing.

"Oi Naruto, watch closely." I held out my hand as chakra started rotating, forming a small baby blue rotating chakra ball. It was no larger than my palm, it was only slightly bigger than a pea. Around it had small flames constantly appearing before disappearing, then appearing at another spot again.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, his hands at his hip, looking at it. Clearly he was underestimating it. That was the fun part. I sent it at a particularly thick and strong tree. The tree barely came out in one piece, it was nearly sawed off. It also left burns on the leftovers of the tree. Smiling proudly, I glanced over at Naruto who was so shocked, his jaw was wide open and he could barely say anything. Sakura as well. In fact, Tsunade and Shizune were shocked too.

That was what we did all morning. It was only until afternoon that we had a winner. Which was obviously, me. I'd got to say, they were really strong. Their trainings were definitely something. Sakura could heal, summon slugs, had extreme strength and also mastered the speed I taught her about. She definitely worked hard. Naruto on the other hand improved in his jutsus. They were the same old ones as when he left, rasengan, summoning frogs and of course, his shadow clones. It wouldn't be appropriate to call them useless brats anymore. Maybe just brats.

We went to had lunch together at the dango shop nearby while we answered our promised questions. Shizune lost count so we decided I'd answer 5 of theirs while they answer 5 of mine. I got mad at Shizune for losing count so I didn't allow Tsunade and Shizune to come along. To be honest I just didn't want them to listen. Now that I think of it, I didn't have much questions prepared though. I suppose I'll just have to come up with something on the spot while I enjoy the tasty dangos.

"So questions?" I asked, glancing at them as I stuffed a dango into my mouth, chewing on it.

"You were in a bad mood back at the chunin exams when Ibiki was talking to you, it was because of me wasn't it?" Sakura mumbled softly, looking down, she probably didn't dare looking into my eyes.

"His existence is enough of a reason for me to be in a bad mood." I rolled my eyes, finishing off a stick of dango before placing a stick down onto the plate.

Itachi would've loved this. He always liked dangos. It was the one thing he would never stop eating.

"Why can't you teach me how to tame the nine tails?" Naruto, who was previously in deep thought, starring at the dangos on the table, suddenly looked up and asked.

That was one of the last question I expected him to ask. But since he asked, I might as well just tell him. I just hope that he's not stupid enough to just burst in and try to beat the nine-tails up.

"My way of doing it doesn't seem to work for you. It seems the Kurama I know and the one inside you have different level of maturity." I giggled.

"Are you trying to say I'm immature?!" Kurama growled, narrowing his eyes.

"Exactly." I laughed, causing him to growl at me louder. He rolled his eyes and went back to sleep, not bothering about me anymore.

"Itsuko sensei, I heard from Lady Tsunade that you wouldn't tell them your past and there were no record about it. But why wouldn't you tell them?" Sakura asked, picking up a stick of dango, stuffing it into her mouth.

"...I just don't want to remember. I don't want to tell the story of how people I loved died." I said, turning my head, looking at the outside, the streets.

This street has always been this busy. Shops would always be full of people and streets would have loads of people walking along. It was also the streets were I never wanted to be at. That was before I met Minato and Shisui. Before I had anyone I loved beside Itachi. Because walking on this street would only mean being glared at, cursed or even beaten up.

"Who were they? The people you loved." Naruto suddenly said again. He was surprisingly quiet in this shop. Normally he would be the one that's noisy but not today. It was this street. This busy street may seem as normal as it could be. But it's one of the worst place that existed for people like Naruto or myself.

"Minato, Shisui, Itachi, Obito, Rin..." I trailed off, stuffing another stick of dango into my mouth.

"Hey, Naruto. What's this street to you?" I turned my head again, looking into his eyes.

His thought trailed off, most probably flash backing of what happened. It wasn't like I didn't know what happened or how he felt. I just wanted to ask, maybe just maybe, after all these years, maybe he grown and had a different thinking.

"I'm just glad Ichiraku ramen isn't anywhere near this street." He said, with a big grin hanging on his face. I laughed, hearing that statement. He hasn't changed at all...

"Well if we don't have anymore questions, you should get going. Kakashi must be waiting." I smiled, standing up before teleporting off. I haven't had the courage to actually walk along that street. Not even after so long...