Chapter 1: Homecoming
Sasuke Uchiha, one of Konoha's strongest jonin, being able to fight at levels above even the Hokage Tsunade Senju. He had mysteriously disappeared three years before and had returned a week ago, just in time for the jonin exams. He was smarter, faster, stronger, and overall better than every other candidate by leagues.
He was now sitting in the jonin lounge with his old sensei, Kakashi Hatake, another of the strongest jonin that Konoha had.
Sasuke's hair hadn't changed much since three years ago, though his outfit had. He now wore a light purple sleeved shirt with black pants and a black cloak above it all, with two katana on the right side of his waist. Kakashi, well he looked the exact same.
"SASUKE UCHIHA!" A female voice resounded through the room where the two were sitting.
"Shit…" Sasuke muttered, he had been avoiding her, he hadn't told her when he left and was a little scared to see her, he hadn't parted on amazing terms per say. Sasuke got up and went to the window, opening it just as his teammate barged into the room.
"Sit." She said sternly. Sakura had grown, three years had done her well in Sasuke's eyes, she was more curved and had toned her body much more. Her pink hair cascaded down to her mid-back and she was wearing a red top with a white circular design on the back, and a pair of black shorts. She also had her forehead protector holding up her bacngs and a pair of black gloves with a barely visible sealing matrix on the wrist.
Sasuke complied with her order, he could tell that she hadn't slacked with her training, from what he could sense she probably trained harder than he had.
"What were you thinking?" She asked.
Sasuke tilted his head questioningly, he figured playing dumb would be a better option. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kakashi slip out the open window with a wave. Sakura either didn't notice or didn't care. Probably the latter.
"Don't play stupid Uchiha." She cracked her knuckles, "You left for three years, THREE DAMNED YEARS, without saying anything." He could see tears forming in her eyes and felt a pang of guilt.
"I…" He started, but Sakura wasn't done.
"You put me under a Genjutsu, nearly killed Hiro, then just left!"
"You were mad." He said as if it explained everything.
"And now I'm pissed." She said, the little droplets that were forming in her eyes were now running down her cheeks.
"I… I'm sorry." Sasuke said, "I'll apologise to Hiro too."
"Don't bother, he's gone." Sakura said, storming off.
'Not something to talk about.' He noted, getting up and walking after her.
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Naruto Uzumaki was excited, he was finally going home after three years. He too had grown. No longer fitting into any of the clothes that he had brought with him Naruto now wore an orange and black jacket with orange pants. His black forehead protector taking it's place upon his forehead.
Jiraiya walked behind him, writing notes with grinning and giggling perversely.
"Hey Ero-sennin, I'll meet you there." Naruto said. Jiraiya waved him away and Naruto disappeared in a burst of speed, reappearing next to the Konoha village gates.
"Naruto?" Kotetsu asked.
"Yup, it's me." Naruto said with a large grin. "Been awhile huh?"
"You're telling me." Kotetsu laughed, "Hey Izumo, Naruto's back."
Izumo, who was watching the entire time called back, "Yea, I can see that. How ya doing kid?"
Naruto smirked, "I've been good."
The two guards then let him through the gate and Naruto walked into the village, his grin nearly splitting his face.
He immediately jumped onto a nearby roof, noticing Kakashi climbing through a window before using Shunshin to disappear. Naruto shook his head and followed after his adopted brother with his own shunshin, finding him walking through the village streets.
"Yo! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out.
Kakashi spun around and saw Naruto.
"Yo." He waved, "Been a while."
"Tell me about it." Naruto grinned.
"Get any stronger?"
Naruto just stood there, a white aura radiating off of him.
"I guess so." Kakashi was shocked, even though he himself had trained with the Saiyans and Piccolo for the past three years Naruto was near his level, if not above it. "There'll be a team meeting tomorrow at training ground 7." The jonin said, "I expect you there."
"No worries Kakashi-sensei, I'll be there." Naruto smiled, "So where's everyone else?"
Kakashi shrugged, "Sasuke and Sakura were in the jonin lounge, Gohan is due back tonight with Shikamaru, Videl, and Goten. Other than that it's anyone's guess where the rest of your friends are."
Naruto nodded, "Thanks Kakashi-sensei, I'll go find Sasuke and Sakura first I guess." He then took off in a blur.
Kakashi shook his head, "To think, seven years ago he was just a kid that everyone looked down upon." The jonin continued his walk, thinking back to when Naruto was young.
Naruto stood on the Hokage Tower, searching for Sakura or Sasuke's ki signatures, but was coming up blank. He decided to pop in and see Tsunade for a bit, it had been a while since he had seen her after all. He swung down to the window and noticed it was already open.
"He's grown a lot." Jiraiya told the blonde woman, "But I don't think it's enough to stop a member of The Order yet. Not unless he can use the Super Saiyan transformation at will, which may take a while from what I learned from Trunks and Minato."
Tsunade nodded, "Kakashi told me that you two were nearby about an hour ago, I set up a spar between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura against Gohan for tomorrow in training ground 7. I'll be able to see how far they've all come then."
"Hey Ero-sennin, Granny-Tsunade." Naruto flipped into the room through the window.
"Brat." Jiraiya grumbled.
Tsunade stood up and hugged him, "It's been too long Naruto." She said with a smile.
Naruto returned the hug without hesitation, "I agree."
Tsunade then held him at arm's length, taking in his appearance, "You do resemble your father." She said longingly, "But I can see Kushina in you too."
"It's almost uncanny how looking at him can remind you of both of them at the same time." Jiraiya agreed.
"So I've gotta fight Gohan tomorrow?"
Tsunade bonked Naruto on the head, "Don't eavesdrop." She said sternly, "But yes, you will be fighting Gohan tomorrow."
Naruto was both worried and excited. Gohan was immensely more powerful than he had been three years ago, and Naruto was sure that his Saiyan friend had trained just as hard, if not harder, than he had.
"This should be good." Jiraiya laughed.
"Gohan is going to murder you guys." The voice of Goten came from the now open door. Behind him stood Gohan, Videl, and Shikamaru.
Goten looked the same for the most part, just taller. He was wearing a long sleeved blue shirt and an orange gi.
Videl had let her hair grow out and was wearing them in pigtails. She was taller than when Naruto had last seen her and was beginning to develop as well. She was wearing a pink undershirt along with a white sleeveless shirt and black bicycle shorts.
Shikamaru was taller than before, being the tallest of the four standing in the doorway. He looked the same as before other than his height, but his eyes showed strength that didn't match that of a lazy Nara anymore. He also had a new outfit, wearing the standard jonin uniform, with his headband tied around his right bicep.
Gohan had changed a lot. He was tall, no longer the runt that had been slightly shorter than Naruto before. The blond was half a head shorter than Gohan now. The Saiyan had also cut his hair a bit, the spikes making it reminiscent of Naruto's own hair style. Gohan was wearing a black kimono top closed by an orange belt. He had black pants that had dark orange designs of the four star dragon ball. He had heavy black boots on with a glove on each hand, though the right glove covered the entirety of his arm. His headband was on the belt holding the kimono top closed.
"Goten, be nice." Gohan said. Walking in front of the group, "Mission went well. The Akatsuki members that were going after Gaara's group have been eliminated." He then pulled a large sealing scroll from his left glove, "One of them is in here. He didn't die. Even after I blasted him with a Kamehameha he regenerated." Gohan said, giving the large scroll to Tsunade.
"Good work. Dismissed." Tsunade said, "You too brat, get going." She told Naruto.
"Alright, by Granny, Ero-sennin!" Naruto called out as he dropped out the window.
Naruto went to the exit of the Hokage Tower and waited for Gohan's group to come down so he could say hi to his friends.
"NARUTO!" He heard Hanabi's voice and spun around to see his friend. She had changed quite a bit. Her indigo coloured hair was in a tall ponytail and still reached the bottom of her back. She was wearing a tight grey top that showed her assets off and a pair of tight black pants. Her forehead protector was on her left arm.
"Hanabi!" Naruto smiled widely, hugging his friend as she barreled into him.
"So, did you get any stronger?" She asked, stepping back to look him over.
Naruto smirked, "I got way stronger. What about you?"
Hanabi brushed the hair from her face, "I've been training pretty hard. Made Jonin last year with Sakura."
"Congrats." Naruto said, "I'll be sure to make Jonin whenever the next exams are."
"You just missed them." Hanabi said, "Sasuke was the only one to get promoted."
Gohan and his group exited the building at that moment.
"Hey guys!" Naruto smiled and waved.
"Hey Naruto." Videl said.
"Naruto." Shikamaru nodded.
"Naruto, you stronger yet?" Goten asked.
"Hey Naruto. How's it going?" Gohana asked.
Naruto looked at Goten, "I'm probably strong enough to take you out." He said.
"Ya right, I'd beat you without Super Saiyan." Goten laughed.
Naruto ignored him and turned to Gohan, "You've gotten tall."
The Saiyan laughed, "Ya, I guess I have."
"So Naruto, you ready for tomorrow?" Shikamaru asked.
"You know about it?" Naruto asked, "I thought it was a secret."
"A secret from you Sasuke and Sakura." Shikamaru said, "The rest of us are coming to watch."
"Why'd you tell him dummy?" Videl asked.
"He already knew." Shikamaru replied.
Naruto looked Gohan dead in the eyes, activating his Byakugan, "Long as he stays in his base we'll win." He said.
Gohan smirked, "You sure?" Naruto saw his heart speed up a little, excitement or fear?
"Hell ya." Naruto smiled.
Suddenly a large dust cloud erupted from the outskirts of the village. Naruto looked at his friends and they dashed away as a unit, Gohan and Naruto taking the lead.
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Sakura was pissed. First Sasuke avoided her the entire time she was back, even going as far as telling Kakashi that he wouldn't be attending the jonin exams unless she was gone. Then he goes and brings up Hiro -that bastard- and acts like nothing happened.
And to top it all off he wouldn't stop following her!
Finally Sakura had enough. For the past fifteen minutes he followed her silently, ignoring her curses and catching the kunai she tossed.
She spun around and dashed at him. This caught him off guard. Before he could react she was in front of him and had uppercutted him in the chin, sending him flying upwards.
Sakura followed him up with a huge leap, slamming him with earthshaking punch after earthshaking punch.
"What don't you understand about LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed as she cocked back her fist -that was glowing green- and threw it forwards.
Sasuke caught the fist effortlessly, his Sharingan spinning into existence. "I understand, I just don't believe you."
Sakura growled, "Fuck off Uchiha." She grabbed his wrist and threw him towards the village wall.
Sasuke was surprised, Sakura had grown extremely strong. While lost in his thoughts he noticed the wall behind him and shifted his course, going over the wall and crashing into the forest outside the village.
Sasuke stood up, brushing himself off. He sensed Sakura flying at him and braced himself. She appeared and slammed a fist into his guard, sending him skidding back.
He ducked as she kicked where his head had been, the force causing a tree that was a few yards away to splinter.
Sasuke then rolled as her heel shattered the ground where he had been. The force of the impact sent him flying back.
"Are you done?" He asked as she rushed forwards, he pushed away her punch and twisted her wrist behind her back. "Sakura?"
She growled and tried to pull her arm away, but Sasuke held tight.
"Sakura, are you done?" He asked again, noticing that she began tearing up at this.
"LET ME GO!" She screamed, breaking the dam that held her tears, letting them fall in a torrent of anguish. He let her wrist go and she fell to her knees.
"Saku…" Sasuke started. Sakura cut him off with a hug and a flurry of tears.
Sasuke was about to hug her back but a nearby explosion distracted him, it was right on the other side of the wall.
Sasuke grabbed Sakura by the shoulders, "We've gotta go!" He said.
She wiped away her tears and nodded, "We'll talk later." She said, but Sasuke was already out of earshot.
Sasuke landed on the wall after a large jump. He surveyed the area and saw a man with long blond hair in an akatsuki robe. The man was releasing clay creatures from mouths on his hands. The creatures would fly away and then detonate.
Sasuke landed behind the man silently and immediately jumped upwards, an explosion right beneath him.
Sasuke Sharingan spun as he activated them. He avoided a few clay birds that all hit the area he was in, creating an explosion that sent Sasuke towards the ground. He pushed himself away from a large clay creature that was awaiting him on the ground.
"Summoning jutsu!" Sasuke shouted, summoning a large black hawk with a small circle of white feathers forming on his chest, "Takarou, I need you to keep the flying things off me."
"Got it Sasuke." The hawk's voice had changed over the last three years, making him sound a little older. Takarou opened his beak and released a burst of wind that sent a dozen of the clay birds back, one of them conveniently hit another and they all exploded.
Sasuke landed on the ground and threw electric senbon at the clay creatures, disturbing the earth chakra in them and making them useless. He made his way to the akatsuki member and pulled out his green katana, the blade sparked with green lightning as he neared his target.
"That won't work Sasuke!" The man shouted, rushing towards Sasuke, only to be stopped by an earth wall courtesy of Sakura.
"I'll be the one kicking Sasuke's ass." She shouted from a top the wall. She leapt forwards, only to be stopped by a puppet appearing in front of her. She spun around it then kick off of it's back, shooting towards Sasuke's blond opponent and shattering the puppet.
The blond dodged by jumping backwards, a flurry of puppets covering his escape as they slammed into Sasuke and Sakura, who easily plowed through them.
They stopped and jumped back when a large bird flew from the sky and exploded, leaving a crater in it's wake.
"Sakura..." Sasuke started.
"Shut it." She growled, "We'll fight then we'll talk." She then rushed forwards, shattering puppets and dodging explosive creatures.
Sasuke jumped into the air, floating next to Takarou.
"Stick to the plan, make sure to cover Sakura. I'll go after the puppeteer." He told the bird.
"Gotcha." Takarou flew down, a cloak of wind around him as he sliced through the puppets that were around Sakura.
Sasuke darted around the battlefield, avoiding any enemies he could and burning those he couldn't to cinders.
"RASENGAN!" Naruto's voice cut through the air as he slammed a large blue sphere of condensed chakra into a puppet that was coming at Sasuke from behind. The construct shattered and Gohan appeared in front of a group of puppets and destroyed them all with a kiai wave.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked, "I didn't know you were back."
"Just got back about an hour ago." The blond responded, shattering a puppet with a ball of compressed wind.
A large explosion rocked the area and Sakura's body flew into the air, a trail of smoke following.
Sasuke jumped into the air, catching her and looking around for Takarou, the hawk was in a dome of wind and seemed unharmed.
"Sasuke, I wasn't fast enough. I'm sorry." The bird chirped as he flew towards his summoner.
"Don't worry, she's alive." He said, "Fly her to the hospital, it should be easy to find." He said, "I'll take care of the explosion user."
"No, I will." Sakura groaned, pushing herself out of Sasuke's arms and cracking her knuckles, "He caught me off guard but I'm fine." She then flew towards the man.
"Deidara, move!" A voice called out, the blond jumped just as Sakura slammed her fist into the dirt beneath him, creating a large crater.
"That's some power, it's almost an art." Deidara called out as he released a swarm of explosive bats towards Sakura.
"Wind Drill!" Takarou shouted, flapping his wings and expelling compressed wind in the shape of a drill towards the bats, causing them to explode harmlessly mid-air.
Sakura jumped upwards and cocker her fist, "Jade Burst!" She shouted, her hand covered in emerald green ki. She punched forwards and released a large blast that encompassed the entirety of Deidara, vaporising the man.
Sasuke ran through the puppets, leaving Naruto, Gohan, Goten, Shikamaru, Videl, and Hanabi to deal with the seemingly endless supply of them while he went for the puppeteer.
He dodged a large needle that looked to be made of metal shavings and blocked another with his green katana. He ducked under a flurry of shuriken made from those same shavings. He looked around, his Sharingan spinning and looking for the source of the projectiles.
Then he saw it, a puppet with a grey cloak and one large clawed hand. It's mouth opened and created the metal shavings, forming them into shuriken once more it fired.
Sasuke blasted a burst of ki forwards, destroying the puppet and causing a hulking figure wearing a hooded Akatsuki robe to rush forwards, a steel tail flying at Sasuke's face. The Uchiha cut the tail in half and released a burst of green electricity from his sword, which shattered the man in the robe. The man turned out to be a puppet shell that was covering a teenage boy with red hair and a blank look on his face.
"Sasuke Uchiha. Itachi has told me much about you." The boy said, "I am Sasori. I promised your brother that I'd do my best to spare you so he could kill you himself. I offer you to stand down and give me Naruto Uzumaki."
"As if you could take the dobe." Sasuke grunted, "Even if I took you up on your offer that is." Sasuke closed the distance with a burst of speed.
The next thing Sasori knew his head was no longer attached to his body, no, he had no body left.
'So this is what death is like…' Was the last thought Sasori had as his consciousness faded.
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I hope you guys liked it. It feels good to write again after having no energy or drive to do it for a while. Next chapter will have Gohan against Team 7. It'll also have the rest of the teams appear and The Order may or may not make a special appearance.
Anyways updates will be either weekly or biweekly depending on my workload. I'll still respond to all of my reviews and PMs as soon as I see them.
THANKS FOR READING :D