***this is the MC I have in mind. picture her how you want to, though. i will mention hair & eye color***

"T-the hokage is dead?" I asked in a low voice.

I looked up at Jiraiyah and Tsunade frantically, "B-but my father is ok? He was always by the Hokage's side..."

"Yes, your family is fine."

"Shikamaru is a chunin now!" Naruto yelled excitedly.

I smiled proudly and shook my head, "Of course he is."

"He's a lot like you, Y/n. Brilliant. Strong. A little lazy," Jiraiyah added, and I laughed loudly.

"I miss him so much," I mumbled.

"Y/n, you're coming back with us... Remember that fate I was telling you about? Well, I'm now the 5th hokage. And I'm dragging you back to the village if I have to," Tsunade demanded.

"I've been gone for just over 2 years now..."

When Itachi left, I stayed in the village for a few years. I tried to move on, tried to continue.

The Hokage gave me missions where I only had to work alone. Otherwise, I stayed with my family.

I didn't plan on being gone for so long... But like I said, I couldn't make myself go back.

"We heard about your disappearance... Your family was heartbroken. And since they're so close to the late Hokage, he asked a lot of us to search for you," Tsunade explained.

"Y/n, where have you been all this time?" Jiraiyah asked.

I sighed and closed my eyes, knowing that no one would understand, "I've been looking for Itachi."

"Itachi!? Why would you be looking for that guy?!" Naruto yelled.

I shook my head, "You didn't know him like I do..."

"He just tried to kill us a couple days ago!!"

"Here?!" I snapped my head up in confusion.

Jiraiyah laughed, "Don't look too excited."

"No, I'm sorry. I'm not. I just had no idea he was nearby."

"Why do you even want to see him?" Naruto huffed while crossing his arms.

Jiraiyah quickly interjected, "It's complicated, Naruto... I'm sure you'll understand someday."

"I— he was my best friend," I started off softly. "I know we were just kids, but I loved him. I'm still in love with him."

"I thought I'd be with him forever," I croaked out the words I never thought I'd say out loud, and the sobs quickly returned.

"I wanted to bring him back. I thought if he saw me he'd come home. P-please, I don't know what to do."

Jiraiyah and Tsunade looked at each other with sadness.

"It's ok, Y/n," Tsunade came over and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "Let's get you to bed. We'll head back to the village in the morning."

Jiraiyah quickly brought me into a hug, "I'm really sorry kid.. I know what it's like to lose your best friend to the darkness of this world."

I looked at him with my tear-stained face and gave him a soft smile.

"But you don't have to be alone anymore. We're here for you."

I nodded silently, and with that, he patted my shoulder and took Naruto out of the room.

"Need some water," Tsunade offered while handing me a glass.

"Thanks," I smiled and quickly drank it, welcoming its soothing sensation.

I got up and went out to the balcony, "I'm gonna smoke. You want one?" I offered.

"Hell, why not... not like I'll be smoking much once I'm hokage," she said as she followed me outside.

I looked out onto the village as I lit mine, "Who knows? Maybe you'll be smoking more."

She laughed, "I think the elders would shit their pants if I smoked in public as Hokage."

I joined in on her laughter, "Can't believe I got to smoke and drink in a bar with the legendary Tsunade Senju."

"Mm, I was thinking the same. The infamous Y/n Nara. First one to have your clan's kekkei genkai in over a century... That's somethin."

I shrugged, feeling quite unimpressive after my break down just a few minutes before.

"So, how'd you get that battle scar?" she asked, gesturing to my face.

I let out a puff of smoke, "Not a battle scar, unfortunately. That'd be much cooler. It was Itachi's parting gift to me when I first tried to stop him from leaving the village."

I felt the horizontal scar directly under my right eye, remembering when Itachi left.

"You've been through a lot with this kid."

I nodded, having nothing left to say tonight about Itachi.

"What do you want to do when you get home?" she asked.

"I haven't really gotten that far... I'm still just hoping my family doesn't officially disown me."

"I wouldn't worry about that, Y/n. I'm sure they'll be so happy to have you back."

I was worried most about Shikamaru. I don't know what I'd do if he hated me. But I wouldn't blame him, I hate me too.

"Well, I'd like to make you a jonin again. If that's something you'd be interested in?"

My head snapped in her direction, "You would do that for me?"

"I've heard the stories, Y/n. It's no secret you're a skilled ninja. The Leaf Village could use someone like you, especially now."

"Thank you, Tsunade," I bowed my head slightly. "I would be honored."

"Good. I'll try to make it happen quickly. You did go rogue after all, but you didn't commit any crimes, so it shouldn't be too big an issue."

I sighed loudly. A rogue ninja... I guess I never really thought of that, but that's exactly what I was.

••••

"Wait in here," Tsunade gestured to her new office.

I was to wait in her office until her and Jiraiyah had spoken with my parents and Shikamaru. She felt it would be best if they had some explanation first from the new Hokage.

I sat on a chair at the side of her office when a white haired ninja appeared crouching at the window.

"You're not the new hokage," he called out.

I looked over at him, "Mm, you're smarter than you look."

He hopped into the office, "Hey, I recognize you."

I looked at him blankly, uninterested in this conversation with him. All I wanted was to focus on what'd I say to my family.

"Feeling shy, Y/n?" he smirked as he sat in the chair next to me.

"I'm busy," I said coldly.

"Sitting here? Alone?"

I looked around Tsunade's office, "Yes."

"Ok, ok. I can take a hint," he got up and went towards the door. "Oh, and by the way, welcome home."

I glanced over at him nervously. Of course I knew Kakashi. We were in the Anbu together, but I never actually worked with him nor did I even speak with him.

I did know that Itachi was quite fond of him. Kakashi was his captain when he first joined the Anbu, and I've only heard good things about the copy ninja.

But I couldn't focus on anything else right now, so I let him quietly show himself out.

A few moments passed and Tsunade entered the room.

I immediately stood at attention.

"You ready?" she asked.

I nodded my head silently, and walk towards her.

"When you're finished, come see me," she put her hand on my shoulder. "It'll be ok."

Jiraiyah showed up directly behind her, "Y/n! Good luck!"

I offered them both a small smile as I walked out into the hallway.

I saw my parents standing only a few feet away.

"Mom. Dad," I called out as tears immediately streamed down my face.

Both of them ran towards me, embracing me simultaneously.

"Y/n," my mom cried out.

"We missed you so much," my dad added.

"I missed you both too. Where's Shikamaru?"

"This is such a drag," I heard a voice mumble from
behind them.

"Shikamaru!!" I yelled while letting go of my parents and running towards him.

He was so much bigger than he was before, so my plan to scoop him up in my arms quickly faded.

Still, I wrapped myself around him.

"Hey, sis." he called, and I looked at him to see small tears had formed in his eyes.

"Mar mar," I teased as I pinched his cheek, our parents coming to stand with us.

"Don't," he mumbled while swiping my hand away, and I laughed loudly before pulling him back into my embrace. Our parents quickly joining in.

As I pulled out of their hugs, I saw Kakashi sliding past us from the opposite side of the hall. He glanced over and offered a small smile.

I really wish no one else had seen me here, but I quickly ignored it and let myself focus back on my family.

My dad put his hand on my shoulder, "Y/n, why didn't you tell us?"

My eyes grew sad as I saw the concern that washed over him.

"So they told you everything, huh?" I asked, referring to Jiraiyah and Tsunade.

He nodded silently.

I looked at the ground, "I'm so sorry."

"We would've been there for you... We knew how close you were to Itachi. We just didn't know you were that close," my mom chimed in.

"It makes so much more sense now," she added.

I looked at Shikamaru, afraid of him hearing all this.

Somehow, my dad was reading my mind, like always, "Don't worry, Y/n. Your brothers grown a lot since you left. He knows everything about what happened. You can trust him."

I looked at Shikamaru who just huffed and looked away, "I know I can... Mars, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"Yea, yea. It's fine. Don't be a drag."

"No. It's not. And I'm so sorry. I should've been there..." I was about to start crying again, but I really didn't want to. "I heard you made chunin."

His eyes brightened with my comment, the way they did only when he was talking with me, "You heard?!"

"I couldn't be more proud," I pulled him into another hug.

"Ok, this hugging has to stop," he groaned and I laughed as I let him go.

"Sorry," I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. "I've just missed you all so much."

I turned my attention back to my father, "How can I ever make it up to? How can I regain your trust?"

It was his turn to cry as he looked into my eyes, "Y/n, you never lost my trust. All I've been wanting was for you to return home safely. Nothing else matters."

"However," mom interjected. "The new Hokage has requested you to return as a jonin. You're not allowed to turn her down!"

"Uh, don't worry mom!" I reassured her. "I wasn't going to. I've already accepted."

"Good. You're the next clan leader after all."

I looked back at my dad with confusion, "I-I am?"

He put his arm on my shoulder, "Like I said, nothing has changed. Nothing else matters. You will still take my place when the time is right."

I bowed my head, "I will never let you down again."

"You didn't let us down... You were just hurting, Y/n. But now that you're back, we have work to do. Together."

"Of course," I nodded.

"Now hurry up! The Hokage is waiting for you!!" mother yelled.

"Uh, yes ma'am," I said in return. So she's still as scary as ever.

"Shikamaru!" I called back to my family. "Let's train later, yea!?"

"Ha! Trying to get your ass beat already!?"

Mom quickly slapped the back of his head, and I laughed loudly.

"You're next if you don't hurry up!"

I smiled as I turned and ran back to the Hokage's office.

I can't believe I'm finally home.