Author's Notes:

Well everyone, the time has come. After three years, the first sequel for Had It Not Been for You: Dreamers is here. I'm excited to finally get around to beginning this story and I hope that it was worth the wait that I put you guys through. So, no more waiting around. Here's the first chapter of the rest of the Had It Not Been for You Collection.

Chapter 1: Heroes' Return

Normal P.O.V.

(Flashback)

"Well Naruto, your wounds have healed up nicely. Looks like that demon fox is was working in overtime," Tsunade chuckled as she read his chart.

"Thanks Grandma Tsunade," Naruto smiled.

"When will he be allowed to leave?" Jiraiya asked.

"I'm finished with all the tests we could run and with his wound fully healed, I'll start the paperwork and you guys can be on your way within the next few hours,"

"Few hours? But I'm ready to go now," the fox whined with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I know you are, but you're not my only patient, brat. So you'll just have to wait a little while longer," she teased.

Tsunade gave a light chuckle but stopped when she realized Naruto lowered his head.

"What's wrong Naruto?" Jiraiya questioned as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed.

"… Nothing… Just thinking…"

Even though he didn't say anything, both Tsunade and Jiraiya understood that the battles his friends and he faced to save Sasuke from Orochimaru's grasp haunted the sad fox during his stay in the hospital. Despite his friends visits to each other and their attempts to cheer themselves up, Naruto took all the pain, angst, and despair the hardest; hence the reason he jumped at the chance to train with Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya, are you sure that you want to take on the responsibility of training Naruto?" Tsunade asked to break the silence.

"Of course, like I said before: no offense to the Leaf Village's training techniques, but Naruto is not an ordinary shinobi. He needs more training than what the Leaf can offer; especially if we want to get Sasuke back before he goes down the path Orochimaru wants to take him," Jiraiya explained.

"Yeah Grandma Tsunade. I need to do this. I need to do this for Sasuke, for me. I promised him, Sasuke and everyone in the village that I was going to bring Sasuke back no matter what. I promised myself. I will bring him back and that's final," Naruto said with passion burning in his eyes.

"Alright. If you say so," she sighed before she bent down and kissed Naruto's forehead. "Just be careful. You're not gonna have me to heal your wounds,"

"Don't worry dear," Jiraiya started before he leaned in close to Tsunade and kissed her lips. "I'll make sure our grandson is safe from harm's way,"

(Present: 3 Years Later)

The words from Jiraiya rung within her head for the past three years. Sure, they have checked in with her often whenever they moved to another town or when Naruto made process in his training, but she couldn't help but miss her "grandson" and lover.

As she stands by the window, she can feel a slight irritation rising in her chest. The slug queen is pissed that she had not heard from the boys in two weeks and if they don't send a response soon, then she is half tempted to go out and search for them herself.

"Lady Tsunade?" Sakura calls, making Tsunade jump in fright. "Are you alright?"

After taking deep breaths, Tsunade regains her composer before turning to face her student.

"Yes, sorry but I was lost in thought,"

"Was it about Naruto and Master Jiraiya again?" the bunny asks while holding a box of file papers in her arms.

"Yeah. In their last letter, they said they were coming back soon. But that was two weeks ago, where could they be and what could be going on?" Tsunade sighs before taking a shot of her sake and putting the bottle down.

"Don't worry Lady Tsunade. I'm sure they'll be back soon," Hinata says while she organizes some files.

"Yeah, we all know Naruto and Master Jiraiya are probably planning a big surprise as we speak,"

"Ino is right. I would bet all the money I have that they're probably coming home sometime within the next week," Sakura smiles.

"You're right," Tsunade sighs. "Thanks again for helping me organize my office,"

"Well, when Shizune said that you had fallen behind in your paper work, I figured you'd like the help," Ino giggles with Hinata.

The group of women continue to work in silence for a few moments until Shizune busts into the door with Tonton in her arms with a bright smile on her face.

"Shizune? What's the matter?" Tsunade asks.

"They're back!" she snorted in excitement.

"What?!" everyone gasps as they drop everything in their hands.

"They're back! Naruto and Master Jiraiya are back! They're heading this way as we speak!"

Without a second thought, all of the women ran out of the room, almost trampling a dizzy Shizune, in search for the men they had been waiting for.

"We're here!" Jiraiya cheers in excitement.

"Finally, I was starting to think that we'd never get here," Naruto sighs with his hands on his knees.

"Huh? Don't tell me that you're tired after a few days of running here. You endured a lot of training plus you have the Uzumaki stamina,"

"Yeah? That doesn't mean that I won't be tired after a long run. Besides, most of my energy started to drain after we were chased out of the last village we were in,"

Jiraiya puts his hands up in his defense, "Come on, I was more careful that time. Besides, they only caught me when you opened your big mouth while we were in the bathhouse. You'd better be luck that we had enough time to get our clothes before they chased us out,"

"He has a point, kid," Kyuubi chuckles.

"Oh, why don't both of you shut up," Naruto grumbles as he scratches behind his right ear.

The dual continues their walk through the village, taking in all the familiar sights and smells of the Leaf Village.

"It feels good to be back home," Naruto says, unzipping his orange and black to allow more air to refresh his body. "I wonder if the girls know we're back yet? Shizune should have told them by now,"

"Oh, I'm sure she did. They're probably tearing up the streets as we speak," the Toad Sage chuckles.

The last three years have changed almost everyone, especially Naruto. He stands at least six inches tall and traded his orange and blue jumpsuit in for an orange and black one. He also now sports a black head band, sandals, and a short-sleeve black fishnet shirt and a black tank top under it. Around his neck, the necklace that Tsunade gave him still hangs with the bright blue crystal.

"I can't wait to see what everyone looks like after being gone so long,"

"I'm sure they'll be surprised at you the most. I mean, you look like the spitting image of your father now,"

"I do?" Naruto gasps.

Looking straight ahead, Jiraiya chuckles, "If you don't believe me, just ask them,"

Not truly getting what Jiraiya means, Naruto turns his head to see Sakura, Tsunade, Hinata, and Ino running towards them. The girls finally stop with their hands on their knees. After calming their breathing, the girls take in the guys' appearance.
The girls were astounded by how handsome and mature Naruto looks now. Naruto, in turn looking at the girls in amazement at their own transformation, gives a bright, fang smile.

"Hey girls. What's up?"

The smile Naruto gave showed off his slightly longer fangs and straight, white teeth. Because of how handsome he became, it was enough to make Hinata faint, which she did. While Ino and Shizune helps her off the ground and tried to wake her up, Sakura and Tsunade approaches them.

"Naruto, is that you?" they both ask.

"Yeah it's me. How have you guys been? You're both looking good,"

"You really think so, Naruto?" Sakura blushes while she looks up and down Naruto's tall, muscular frame. "Well, you're not bad looking yourself,"

"I told him he looks just like his father. Doesn't he, Tsunade?" Jiraiya smirks with his hand on Naruto's shoulder.

Tsunade nods in agreement, "I would have to agree. And might I add that you've done well with him over the past year,"

"Thank you. But I did have to rush some of it. I was missing you too much," he whispers into the Slug Queen's ear, making her shiver.

While the two couples are talking, Shizune and Ino finally manage to wake Hinata up and help her off the ground.

"Lady Tsunade. I hate to interrupt the reunion, but your office is still a mess and needs to be organize," Shizune warns.

"That's alright. She needs a break after all. Tell you what, why don't you start working on organizing the office while I take her out for lunch," Jiraiya offers with his right hand on Tsunade's lower back. "And don't worry, I'll have her back before the sun sets,"

"But~"

"Go one Shizune. I promise I'll be back before you know it," Tsunade orders.

"Yes, milady." She bows before disappearing.

"Naruto, would you like to come with us? We're meeting everyone up for lunch as well?" Hinata asks timidly.

"Hell yeah! That sounds awesome!"

"And the best part is that it's at Ichiraku's," Ino giggles.

"What?! That's my favorite place! Let's go!"

"Oh, but what about Shizune?" Hinata asks.

"That's ok, we'll just go to lunch and head over to help," Sakura offers before grabbing Naruto's arm. "Come on,"

While out to lunch, everyone was surprised to see Naruto and how much he's changed. The best part for Naruto was that it was like he had never even left. Sure, everyone has gotten older and their physical appearances changed, but their personalities didn't. Kiba, Lee and Choji even challenged Naruto to a ramen eating contest. The only main difference in the group was that Shikamaru and Temari we dating now which Naruto and Kiba kept teasing them for. Yes, Naruto might have grown mature over the three years, but he still had his playful side. After an hour and a half, people started to leave.

"We better head to the Hokage Tower too. We did say we are supposed to finish cleaning her office," Ino sighs as she stands up.

"Yeah that's true. Would you like to come, Naruto?" Sakura asks.

"No thank you. I would like to go home for a little while first. I probably have a lot to do there anyway,"

Everyone was about to leave when a pigeon flew in front of them with a message in its claws. Sakura took the message from the pigeon before sending it on its way.

"What does it say?" Naruto asks.

Sakura carefully reads it over before gasping. "Lady Tsunade needs us at the tower now Naruto."

"What could be the emergency be?"

"I don't know, but we better go find out,"

To Be Continue…