I don't own Naruto

Chapter 3

The duo of master and student returned home, finally after three years of intense training. Jiraiya looked exactly the same, while Naruto on the other hand looked completely different. The training was actually more than Naruto expected. Jiraiya had finished the manuscript for his upcoming book before picking up Naruto. The next book though, wasn't due for another three years, so Naruto had his undivided attention.

After entering the village gates they were greeted by Izumo and Kotetsu, who were both in awe of Naruto's new look. They honestly wouldn't have known it was him had it not been for the fact that three years had passed and that he was with Jiraiya.

"It's good to be home sensei." Naruto said

"That it is kid." Jiraiya said

"Do you want to get a bowl of ramen before or after meeting lady hokage." Naruto asked

"My treat after we meet her. You know she'll kill you if the first thing we do isn't coming to see her." Jiraiya said

"Alright sensei." Naruto said as they continued their walk in silence. As they walked people had looks of recognition and surprise on their face at the new look of the blond shinobi. Naruto enjoyed the looks. During the three year some people had looks of recognition and awe when they saw Jiraiya, but never him. It never bothered him, but today it felt good to get similar looks.

Their walk didn't take long, since they were now standing in front of the hokage tower.

They quickly entered the tower and knocked on Tsunade's door. She allowed them in.

"Hello Tsunade/ lady hokage." Jiraiya and Naruto said in unison

"You're back!" Tsunade exclaimed as she rushed around the desk and bear hugged them both.

"I've never got this reaction before." Jiraiya said

"I really missed you both. You're not calling me granny anymore Naruto?" Tsunade teased

"If you want me to I can do when I'm off duty or when we're not around anyone important." Naruto said

"I would like that." Tsunade replied

"How were you for these three years?" Jiraiya asked

"Good actually. I've completely stopped drinking and gambling. I've taken on a second apprentice as well as trained Shizune harder. They are really amazing. Shizune is now head of the hospital and my second apprentice is my assistant. You should see your friends as well Naruto. They have all matured greatly, obviously not as much as you though." Tsunade teased some more. Naruto was really enjoying her comments.

"How much has changed?" Naruto asked

"Akamaru is now big enough so kiba can ride on him. Kiba is still a little cocky, but has the skills to more than back it up. Hinata has really blossomed into a woman and her determination has really grown ever since she started dating Kiba. She has also proven herself to be a more than capable heir, but has declined that title. In her own words she would prefer to be Hinata Inuzuka, matriarch of the Inuzuka than Hinata Hyuga clan head. Shino has opened up a lot more to his friends and has become a very skilled Aburame. Never in the history of their clan has anyone been a close ranged fighter until Shino. He is still very skilled in long ranged combat, but has created a taijutsu style that incorporates his insects. Shino is currently in a relationship/ arranged marriage with Suzumebachi of the Kamizuri clan. She survived, but now is the last of her clan. Shikamaru, Ino and Choji have proved themselves to be just as good as their fathers and have teamwork that could beat their fathers'. Ino has opened her eyes a lot and has started dating Choji. Shikamaru has looked outside the village for his girlfriend. He is dating the kazekage's sister Temari. The Kazekage is Gaara while Kankuro is his assistant. Neji is set to be clan head, ever since the disbanding of the side branch of the Hyuga and the caged bird seal. He is dating Hana Inuzuka, which is how Kiba is on his way to be Inuzuka clan head. Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister has a crush on Konohamaru, but he doesn't see it. Lucky for him he doesn't like any other girl, Hanabi unlike her sister wouldn't stand for that. Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanka have all had children again. That means Shikamaru and Choji both have younger sisters, while Ino has a younger brother. Lee doesn't dress like Gai anymore and actually looks normal. He took his training to the next level by incorporating non bladed weapons to his fighting style." Tsunade said as she purposely stopped and didn't mention the one that Naruto really wanted to hear about.

"What's your opinion on Tenten chan?" Naruto asked

"I thought you would now, since you guys kept in contact." Tsunade said

"We decided to only talk about each other personally and keep the training out of it." Naruto explained

"Well she has really improved. She is still a marksman with ninja tools, but she has expanded her arsenal. She trained with an anbu of mine. She has even got into fire ninjutsu. Out of the entirety of the Konoha 12, she's the only one to work on elemental manipulation." Tsunade said

"Naruto's mastered wind nature manipulation and Tenten's fire manipulation can make for some fearsome combinations." Jiraiya said

"You've mastered wind manipulation in only three years?" Tsunade asked

"Wind and Water." Jiraiya added

"I used shadow clones to speed up the process. That was actually how I did all my training. Kenjutsu and taijutsu was worked on by me, but everything else I used clones for." Naruto replied

"Everything else?" Tsunade asked hopefully

"You'll just have to wait and see that." Jiraiya said

"Fine. How about this. Naruto and my apprentice Sakura against Kakashi." Tsunade said

"You apprenticed Sakura?" Naruto asked

"She did exactly as you hoped. She moved on from the situation and trained to get stronger. I think she has made splendid progress with her training. I also think she might be dating Lee, but I don't have proof." Tsunade said

"That's good." Naruto said

"I also forgot to mention that other than Gaara, Konohamaru, Hanabi, Moegi and Udon all of your friends have made Jounin rank." Tsunade said

"That would have irritated me before" Naruto said

"Before what?" Tsunade asked

"Before I told him that he was as strong as us, maybe even better. As of now he could give me a run for my money and that's without using Kyuubi's chakra. Not that he could though. Kyuubi has effectively shut Naruto out and only uses his chakra for the purpose of healing Naruto. It's to the point where all his injuries heal instantaneously." Jiraiya said

"That is amazing." Tsunade said

"So that would mean that a field promotion is in order. With all the missions you did during your trip and the skill level that Jiraiya boasts, you more than earned it" Tsunade smirked

"That's the Tsunade I remember.?" Jiraiya asked

"Good. Naruto you are hereby promoted to jounin. Naruto you are dismissed until tomorrow to go see your friends. I'll be sending word to everyone so you don't have to tell them anything, but you can if you want." Tsunade said as she threw him a konoha flak jacket.

"Alright grandma hokage." Naruto said as he body flickered out of the office. His target was his girlfriend, who he had told that he would be returning today. Jiraiya could treat him to ramen another time. He hadn't had any in three years, he could wait another day.

When Naruto got to her home he knocked on the door and was instantly mauled by a blur. He knew exactly who it was though.

"Hello Tenten chan." Naruto said as he hugged back

"I've missed you Naruto kun." Tenten said

"You look beautiful." Naruto said as he took in her appearance. She was wearing a pair of loose fitting sweatpants and a tank top. Her hair was, for once, not in her dual bun hairstyle. She had let her hair down and Naruto liked it.

"You're one to talk. You're like a giant now." Tenten teased. It was true Naruto was easily 5 foot 6 now. It was like he grew an entire foot. Naruto also looked like his father, not that she thought that. Naruto now wore traditional ninja clothes. He had on black ninja pants, a crimson long sleeved shirt, black fingerless gloves with a metal guard on the back, crimson combat boots and a crimson forehead protector.

"I thought orange was your favorite color?" Tenten said

"It is. I'll tell you why I wear this color, inside." Naruto said

Tenten nodded and allowed him in.

"What's the secret?" Tenten asked

"Jiraiya sensei told me who my parents are. My father was The fourth hokage and my mother was his wife Kushina Uzumaki of the Uzumaki clan. They were known for their red hair and since I don't have it I thought I would honor her by wearing crimson. I honor my father by looking like him and carrying on his legacy in his two prized jutsu." Naruto said to the shocked looking Tenten

"How could your father do that to you?" Tenten asked

"He had no choice. How could he ask a parent to sacrifice their child when he himself couldn't. I talked to him though." Naruto said as he started to recount his memories.

Flashback

Naruto had been having trouble with one thing out of his entire training regiment. That one thing was controlling Kyuubi's chakra. He was running out of ideas. Every time he came to visit the sewer he would only see Kyuubi's back and a lack of movement. One day Naruto decided to see what would happen if he ripped the seal off. Jiraiya had, two weeks ago, given him the key to the seal for safekeeping and now Naruto was going to use it

Naruto first used the key and then reached to snatch the tag off the gate. He was an inch from the tag when a human hand grabbed his wrist. He looked over in shock, for two reasons, at the offender. He was shocked because no one was supposed to be able to get in here except him and two because the offender was the fourth hokage who was supposed to be dead.

"What are you doing Naruto?" Minato asked

Not taking note of the serious tone Naruto responded, "Dad? Aren't you dead?"

"I see you know the truth. I guess sensei told you huh?" Minato asked in a lighter tone

"He did. What's going on?" Naruto asked

Minato gave Naruto a detailed explanation of the night of Naruto's birth.

"I'm here today because the chakra of mine that I placed in the seal was only supposed to allow me to appear if the seal ever got weak to the point of Kyuubi getting free or the seal having a real threat of being removed. You didn't appear to be under Kyuubi's influence, so what's going on?" Minato asked

"I'm on a three year training trip with sensei to get stronger in preparation for a group of S class ninja that are targeting the tailed beasts…" Naruto said

"A group you say? I think the masked man that I fought may be a member if not the leader of the group. He spoke of different ways to get what he wanted. This may be what he meant." Minato said as he interrupted Naruto

"Anyway I was working on trying to control Kyuubi's chakra and it wasn't working. I thought if I removed the seal, I could speak to Kyuubi and see what's going on." Naruto said

"Talk to Kyuubi?" Minato asked

"I've spoken to him before, but now he just seems unreachable. Look." Naruto said as Minato turned to see the unmoving back of Kyuubi.

"His chakra still heals me, but it is impossible for me to draw on his chakra even in anger." Naruto explained

"I'm not sure how that would work, but your mother is supposed to appear when you try to control Kyuubi's chakra. I can tell her chakra is still here though." Minato said

"So I get to meet her one day?" Naruto asked

"Yes. Seeing as I have a little more time than expected, wanna learn my prized jutsu?" Minato asked

"I already know the rasengan and I've even added my wind nature to it to form this." Naruto said as he summoned a clone to help him form the jutsu. It started as the rasengan, but got a lot bigger and took the shape of a shuriken.

"Wow, what do you call it?" Minato asked

"I call it the wind style rasen shuriken. I'm currently working on forming it with one hand then I'll move onto throwing it." Naruto said

"You actually plan to throw it? That's amazing son. I'm so proud of you." Minato said

"I would like to learn the hiraishin though dad." Naruto said

"That was easy. For the most part I just based it off the second's jutsu…" Minato said as he trained Naruto in how to do the hiraishin.

Naruto was more than able to perform the jutsu when Minato had to leave. It was a sad parting, but Minato passed on his Will of Fire to Naruto and told him that he believed in him for his upcoming battles. Naruto responded by hugging his dad one last time and promising to live up to the name, the child of prophecy as well as the yellow flash's son.

Flashback end

Tenten was shocked at the story that Naruto had told her. Understanding the situation a lot better, Tenten forgave Naruto's dad and they started to talk about all the training they received for the entire three years.

They talked for so long that it was late by the time they were done. Not really wanting to leave, nor having to(Tenten is an orphan like Naruto and lives on her own), Naruto decided to spend the night with his girlfriend, who he was seeing for the first time in three long years. Tenten agreed and after a quick and simple dinner they headed to Tenten's room and went to sleep cuddled up.