It was an interesting trip back. To begin with Naruto had shown up dressed as she had been for the fight on the beach, Jiraiya had refused to let her leave dressed as that. They yelled an argued and fought. Naruto finally gave in, after Jiraiya said he would buy her as much ramen from Ichiraku as she could eat when they got to Konoha. She had returned dressed with her hair down, but held back by an Uzu headband. She wore an orange crop top with dark blue long sleeves, underneath it she wore black ninja mesh armor that tucked into her shorts, that was clearly seen because of the crop top. She wore orange athletic styled shorts that were held up by a black belt. The belt had seals all around it and the black clasp at the front had the kanji for oil in bright orange. Underneath her almost skin tight shorts were actual skin tight black leggings that went down to her ankles. Around her right thigh she also had wrapped white tape and strapped on a pouch for kunai. She still wore no shoes.

Jiraiya had growled about this outfit as well, but didn't say too much. He knew he couldn't afford to bribe her to change again.

The trip back was very interesting. After making it to Wave by boat, they had initially set off at an easy, for ninja, steady pace. Naruto had struggled to keep up. Breathing very heavy and seemingly struggling with every move. Jiraiya had merely laughed at her, and gave a look for the others to not ask any questions. But, by the halfway point she had changed once again. She was in constant motion, easily outpacing them all. First darting to rush ahead and then falling to the back, constantly checking out things that interested her, and to their shock, using Jiraiya as a springboard to do tricks off of. Literally running circles around them, even when they set a much harder pace. All the while she was chatting with Jiraiya about seal theory, the seals she was working on, and seals in general. It was so far above the grasp of the others, they merely gaped and kept their mouths shut, for not wanting to sound like an idiot.

The first time she actually spoke to Squad Seven was when they were about two hours out from Konoha, and that was to grill them about the people that she still knew there. Sakura was only too happy to fill in the details of the last three years, the other three of the other four never did anything much social with her age group, and Sai was so out of his depth with how Naruto asked questions and chattered on that he just kept quiet. He planned on asking Ino later on what a social situation like this required.

Naruto was shocked to learn that Hinata had made Jonin. Apparently the girl, with Neji's help, had redeveloped an old Hyuga style of taijutsu, mastered it and was considered a prodigy in it. The Flowing Fist was very similar to the Gentle Fist, but as its name suggested much more graceful, dance like and flowing. It was perfect for those that had an elemental affinity of water, especially considering that all but a few Hyuga were Earth affinities. She also was a part time apprentice of Tsunade, and was actually quite good at medical ninjutsu. The combination of her Flowing Fist, Med Nin training made her a very dangerous opponent. She had finally shown her skill after seeing her little sister callously using the Caged Bird Seal repeatedly on Neji for daring to be a prodigy and showing up the Main House, and then she had talked down about Naruto and the ideals he had spewed. Needless to say Hinata forgot to hold back in the spar that followed almost immediately. Thrashing the girl and badly. And when two elders that had planned on using Hanabi as a puppet Clan Head stepped into stop Hinata, she cut them to pieces. She was still a sweet and kind girl to most, but according to rumor it wouldn't be long before she ousted her father as Clan Head and forced the Hyuga to make some much needed changes.

Hinata led to a discussion about Kiba and Shino. Both Tokubetsu Jonin because of their skills with their Clan Jutsu. Apparently they were both fast becoming the best of the best with them. While Sakura told of how Kiba was less of a hot head listening to the much larger Akamaru to help keep him balanced. Shino, while much stronger, still had not changed that much. Both were backing their former Genin teammate Hinata politically with their own Clans.

Talking about Hinata also led to discussing Neji. The boy was much kinder now, while still being ruthless on the battlefield. Never again underestimating an opponent like he had done with Naruto. Even going as far as almost preaching that you make your own destiny. The lesson Naruto had beat into him. He had, and still did, help train Hinata in first the Gentle Fist and then helped her with the Flowing Fist. Using his own rank in the Branch Household to help back Hinata, with almost every one of them listening to him. His own skills had improved to the point he was quickly becoming considered the most dangerous person to ever use the Gentle Fist, only ever being beaten in straight Taijutsu fights by his old Sensei Guy, and even his former teammate Lee.

Lee and Tenten had both become Tokubetsu Jonin. Both extremely strong in their specialties.

Shikamaru, had mysteriously joined ANBU for about two years, and when he left had come out as a Jonin. The laziest of the class, had been forced to step up by a combination of his mother's nagging, Tsunade forcing him to, his equally lazy father pressuring him so that he could retire, and guilt at failing to see Naruto's situation. The genius partially blaming himself for his friend leaving.

Ino and Choji were only Chunin, but that was supposedly changing soon if rumors were anything to go on. Ino had a talent for TI, and was only being held at Chunin so that Ibiki and her father could continue to easily train her, anything higher and the Hokage would be looking to send her out on more and more missions. Even as she also was being partially trained as a Medic Nin, being another part time apprentice to Tsunade. Choji, had himself been in ANBU, and recently just rejoined the normal forces, people were looking for him to be promoted as soon as he showed off his skill set.

Sakura had started talking about herself and Sasuke, but Naruto gave a snort and then proceeded to ask about Iruka and the Hokage. Sakura gave Naruto a bit of a hurt look, before telling her how Iruka was still a Chunin instructor at the academy, but had been seen quite frequently with Anko, that crazy instructor from the Forest of Death. Tsunade on the other hand, had been ruthless with doing her best to resecure the power he own sensei had lost to the council, and in implementing her own Med Nin program.

As Sakura finished up, Naruto drifted to Jiraiya's side, calmig down. The group slowing, the giant gates of Konohagakure no Sato coming into view.