Three years later.
Naruto turned to see his Master Shin approach him from their old training dojo. He smirked at his master and stood to greet him. Naruto has grown in size in the past three years. His long blonde hair was now held back by a dark blue bandana causing it to spike out the back. He wore a simple blue vest over a burnt orange and black tiger striped muscle long sleeve shirt. He wore simple black cargo pants with black combat boots. His body changed to aswell. He was now more muscular and had better definition. He wasn't much taller for he grew only a couple inches since his leaving. Master Shin reached him and smirked at his young apprentice.
"You know if you asked me when you first got here if you would have made it through your three years I would have said no," Master Shin said with a smirk.
"Well you know that I don't give up Master," Naruto said sharing the smirk. "Besides I made a promise and I never go back on my word."
"You have grown," Master shin. "Not only in skills but you matured as well. Better than that little shit stain you were when you showed up here three years ago."
"I wasn't that bad," Naruto pouted.
"Now isn't the time to discuss what you were," Master Shin said as he reached into his robe and pulled out a small scroll. "I have a parting gift for you since you mastered everything I taught you."
"I wouldn't really say Master, but if you are willing to look past that and give out gifts I'm all ears!" Naruto exclaimed. Master Shin sighed and snapped his fingers. Naruto was put under emince pressure and almost was slammed into the ground.
"Ha," Naruto struggled as he griminced against the force that was trying to slam his body into the ground. "I like you said, I mastered the Gravity Jutsu's."
"Good to see," Master Shin said snapping his fingers releasing the effects on Naruto. Naruto stood up straight and smirked. "What about the other?"
"Oh," Naruto said with a smirk as he suddenly dissapered in a puff and appeared behind Master Shin with a smirk. "I think I got the Demon Teleport down!"
"You have done well Naruto," Master Shin said with a smirk. "I have never taken on an apprentice and I'm happy that you were my first and last. Please keep this as a token of your accomplishments and pass it down your family."
Naruto was handed two scrolls one was a sealing scroll and the other was a scroll on his newly acquired Gravity Jutsu's. He smirked and pocketed the Jutsu's scrolls, and unsealed the other. In his hand was a curved dagger. The pommel was slightly curved and fit into the perfectly. It was dark black in color and had three small diamonds running down the side. The sheath was dark black as well and curved slightly with the blade. Naruto removed the blade from the sheath and stared in aw. The blade's curved almost reaching fourteen inches and in length and was sharp on both sides. Naruto smirked and sheathed the blade and placed it on lower back in a horizontal position to make for a quick grab with his right hand.
"It's beautiful Master," Naruto said bowing to his Master who smirked. "Thank you."
"That is the blade of the future Hokage am I correct?" Master Shin asked with a cocky smirk.
"As always sir," Naruto answered with the same cocky smirk.
"That blade has now history or story of legend, " Master Shin said. "You must forge its own path to glory with your actions. With that you will become the Hokage that the land of Fire needs."
"Right," Naruto said with a smirk.
"Now lets go find those lazy teammates of yours," Master Shin said with a laugh.
They approached the small dojo where Master Cho and Reaper where enjoying a causal drink with there apprentices. Shikamaru was sitting with his back to Naruto. He was a dark green sleeveless robe that reviled his arms. His arms and all the way up to his neck was covered with striped tattoos that seemed to move every now and then. He said it was too troublesome to explain and they left it at that. On his back was an empty quiver that held a string-less bow. His hair was longer and instead of tied at the top of his head it was pulled into a neat pony-tail that reached the middle of his back. He had an green eye patch that covered his right eye and a small scar that down the same eye. Under his Green robes he wore similar clothes to his old chunnin uniform.
Lee changed as well. He was taller than both Naruto and Shikamaru, and built much like Master Cho who was a brick house. He a leather vest that was left unbuttoned showing off his sculpted chest and abs. He had dark green pants and still had his dark orange leg warmers that covered an ungodly amount of weights. He wore a white headband around his head that was pulled tightly around his head. His hair was no longer cut into a bowl but stood in random spikes that defied gravity. Lee reached for another glass with a red faced smirk as Naruto and Master Shin sat down at the small table.
"Well today's the day huh?" Master Cho said with a drunken grin. "You guys ready to go back?"
"Yeah I can't wait to see how everyone changed," Naruto said. "Plus we all died. It will be cool to see everyone's shock to see us alive."
"Troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled as he took another sip of his Sake. "You guys know we are just going to be murdered for not telling anyone that we were ok."
"You're really a glass half full kinda guy Shikamaru," Lee laughed out as he gulped down another drink. "Well I must be off. If I beat you guys there you will have train with me tomorrow right?"
"Why did we agree with that?" Shikamaru asked as he rubbed his temples. "Naruto I'm hitching a ride with you."
"Yeah we will leave in a bit," Naruto said as he poured him a drink. Lee stood and stretched his back out and scratched his neck.
"Well I'm off," Lee said with a smirk and gave them the nice guy poise. "We will meet outside the gates and walk in together."
"Yeah yeah," Naruto said as he gulped down his drink. "You better hurry cause you know you wont beat me."
"We shall see," Lee said as he walked towards the door. The sound of a sonic boom shook the dojo as they knew Lee has taken off.
"Well Naruto lets get this over with," Shikamaru said with a yawn as he stood. "Master, I can't say its been a pleasure."
"I understand," Reaper said as he flipped him a pair of three fingered gloves that had a kanji of fire on the top. "Those should keep you in check. Remember stay in the shadows, and never kill without payment."
"Thanks again master," Shikamaru said with a slight grin as Naruto joined him. "We must be going but we will keep in touch."
"Yes we must be off Master Shin," Naruto said with a bow to all the Masters. "You will see us again."
Naruto and Shikamaru walked outside. Naruto turned to the east and sighed.
"This jump is going to be the longest jump I've ever done," Naruto said with a smirk. "Lets give it a try."
"Wah," Shikamaru barely got out as he felt like he was tugged from his spine and pulled. When his vision came back he was standing about a hundred yards from the gates of Kohona. His mouth dropped as he looked over at Naruto who was letting off what looked liked steam. Naruto grinned over at Shikamaru as they heard a loud sonic boom. They turned to see Lee come speeding towards them out of the sky. Lee slowed down and hovered above them with a slight smirk.
"You guys really beat me here?" He asked as his feet touched ground next to them. They just smirked at him and turned towards Kohona.
"What do you think they are going to say when they see us?" Shikamaru said as he pulled his robe over his head hiding his face.
"I don't care as long as I can have a nice steaming bowl of Ramen!" Naruto yelled as he crossed the threshold and into Kohona.
"State your name and business?" Said a voice from their left. They turned to see a figure that was wearing a tight coat around his entire body and only his glasses where visible.
"Long time no see Shino," Naruto said with a grin. The usually stoic Ninja fell from his chair and picked himself back up. He pulled back his hood to revile short spikey black hair and adjusted his glasses to make sure it wasn't an illusion.
"Yeah we're back," Lee said giving his nice guy poise.
"Hokage will want to know about this," Shino said as he adjusted himself back the stoic ninja that he always is. "You should report to her now."
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto said with a wave of his hand. "First I have to catch up with the others. Where is everyone Shino?"
"You will find most of them at the Hokage tower," Shino answered. "The Suna dignitaries arrived today to discuss the alliance with Kirigakure."
"What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked.
"You don't know?" Shino asked as all three shook their heads. "We're at war."
"Good time to get back huh?" Naruto said with a smirk.
"Well it's about time Naruto," Said a voice from behind them. "I was beginning to think you didn't survive the training."
"You should know sensei," Naruto said with a smirk. "I never go back on my word."
"Now what's the deal with this war," SHikamaru asked as he lowered his hood. "You said that we would take the offensive when we got back."
"Well things took a bad turn when Madara took over Sound and Rice," Kakashi said as he scratched the back of his head. "Good news is that the Hidden Villages are uniting. Well slowly."
"Oh great," Shikamaru said.
"Follow me guys we have to get to the council meeting," Kakashi said as he led them through the city towards the Hokage Tower. They followed slowly and entered the tower with out anyone noticing them. As they approached the council they heard a loud yell and the crashing of glass. When the entered they saw Hokage Tsunade yelling at the civilian council. Gaara stood next to her with a stoic expression and off to his right was his sister who was huffing in irritation and his brother who was sleeping in his seat.
"Geeze Baa-chan," Naruto yelled as he made their presence known. He cleaned out his ear with his pinky and smirked at her as she and everyone in the room stared at the three of them dumbfounded. "You still have such a loud voice."
Three things happened in rapid succession after that comment. Naruto was tackled to the ground by a flash of indigo. Shikamaru was punched across the face by a blonde. Lee smiled as a pink haired women ran towards them in a mix of anger and happiness.
"Ugh," Naruto said as he looked down to see what hit him. "Did you miss me Hinata?"
"I thought you were dead!" She whispered into his chest as tears soaked his vest.
"WHAT THE HELL SHIKA?" yelled the blonde behind them. Temari was standing over the shadow assassin as he rubbed the side of his head. He stood up and just shrugged as she tried to control her anger, her fist balled at her sides.
"Calm down," Shikamaru said with a smirk as he roped his hands around her waist. "Man your just as troublesome as I remember."
"Naruto where the hell have you been?" Yelled Sakura as she raised a fist towards him in a threating way.
"It's ok Sakura-chan," Lee said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh and you…"Sakura said as she rounded on him and couldn't remember how to speak. "Um…"
"It's me Sakura-chan," Lee said with a grin. "Miss me?"
"Naruto," Tsunade said just above a whisper. "Is that really you?"
"Yup," Naruto said as he stood up and picked up Hinata as well. He brushed her long hair out of her eyes and smiled. "I'm back!"