(Welcome back again.)
One day in the forest outside the village of Konoha, two figures were walking through it. One was an old man with white hair, and dressed like a sage, while the other was a figure dressed in spiked armor. They walked past the village gates while the two Chunin guards Izumo and Kotetsu noticed and wee shocked, "Kotetsu is that?" Izumo gasped.
"Yup it sure is." Kotetsu replied with a smile.
The two walked through the village, until the old man spoke, "Well we should report in to Tsunade and…" he started but realized his travel companion was gone, "I should've guessed." he chuckled.
Meanwhile down below, in the training temple of the Foot clan, numerous Foot ninja were training, and among them were the original Konoha genin who were all at least Chunin by now, and standing before them was Ino Yamanaka wearing her Lady Shredder armor, while Zabuza, Kushina Uzumaki, and Guy watched them, "Their experience and skill grow each passing day." Zabuza noted.
"Which is a good thing," Guy added, "Their leader would be very pleased with their progress."
"I know what you mean." Ino nodded as she thought of their leader.
Kushina put a hand on her shoulder, "I know how you feel, Ino. I miss him to."
Soon the doors opened, and Hun the leader of the Purple Dragon clan, and right hand man of the Foot Clan's master entered the room, "Fellow Foot ninja, come forward!" he orders and the foot ninja stop their training and stand before Hun.
"Wonder what we'll be doing today?" Kiba asked.
"Not sure." Chouji replied.
"Today's lesson will be sparing to test your skills in hand to hand combat." Hun explained.
"Oh my favorite exercise!" Lee said with excitement while the other ninja sighed.
"I shall be your opponent for this training exercise. If any of you wish to challenge me, step forward now." Hun ordered.
Before any of the ninja could volunteer, they heard footsteps approaching and they turned to the doors that were still left wide opened from Hun entering. Suddenly standing in the doorway shrouded by the dark outside the room was a figure who looked a bit shrouded, but they could tell from the figure and appearance alone who he was, "I challenge." The figure announced.
They all froze in shock, especially Ino, Kushina, Guy, and Zabuza who jumped down and landed near Hun who was more shocked than all. Even the Foot ninja were in shock, "He's back!" Neji gasped.
"Master Shredder!" Hun gasped.
"Naruto?" Ino asked.
Yes it was indeed their master Naruto Uzumaki aka the new Shredder back from his three training trip. Because of Naruto's return the Foot ninja were dismissed until further notice, while Naruto was meeting with Ino, Hun, Kushina, Zabuza, and Guy. Naruto was out of his armor and back in his regular Foot robe. He had grown taller while his face looked similar and his hair grew a bit longer, "How go the preparations of the Foot Clan since I departed?" Naruto asked them.
"Very well Master Shredder, we have been recruiting more and more ninja to serve the Foot under your leadership." Hun explained.
Naruto smiled, "Very good. You've all done well while I was away."
Hun bowed his head as Ino approached, "Enough about business, Naruto. How has your training trip been?"
"Yes honey we're all eager to know." Kushina added.
Naruto smiled, "Well we…" he started until the doors opened, and entering was Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura, and Jiraiya.
"Naruto!" Tsunade addressed as she approached looking a little ticked.
"Well hello Tsunade-baasan, so nice to see you again." Naruto greeted while ignoring the look on her face.
"You were supposed to have reported with Jiraiya to me the moment you got in." Tsunade ordered.
"While I mean no disrespect to you, I had to check in on my army to see how they were doing," Naruto replied, "After all I'm going to be leading them one day in a land of my own."
Tsunade sighed, "I'll let it go for today, but remember while you may be the Shredder and have your own army, you are still a ninja of Konoha which means you will obey my rules."
"Fair enough." Naruto admitted.
"And seeing as according to Jiraiya you're skills and abilities have improved you by far have the potential to be a Jonin by now." Tsunade explained.
"You don't say?" Naruto asked with a smirk.
"Yes. That is why we decided to reinstate you as a Jonin. Congratulations Naruto." Tsunade added.
"Thank you honored, Hokage." Naruto said giving her a bow.
Sakura then approached, "Naruto…" she started but Naruto gave her a firm look because she addressed him so willingly, "I mean Master Shredder, after you left I decided to hone my skills and become a medical kunoichi under the guidance of Lady Tsunade. She taught me everything she knows about medical ninjutsu as well as her own combat Taijutsu."
"I see, and your reason for telling me this is?" Naruto asked raising a brow.
"I've decided I want to join the Foot Clan." Sakura requested.
Naruto looked at her questionably, "Join the Foot clan, and for what reasons do you have for wanting to join my clan?"
"Last time back when we were Genin, I was always the one trailing behind everyone else letting them fight my fights for me. But over time I saw it was wrong of me, and that's why I sought out training from Lady Tsunade. So please I want to join you that is if you'll have me?"
Naruto looked at Sakura who for once in her life looked more than serious about joining him, "Well Sakura, I shall take it into consideration and give you my answer by tonight."
"Arigato Master Shredder." Sakura bowed her head.
Meanwhile far away form the land of Fire by a cove, lightning started crackling around the area. There stood in the middle of a giant crater was a lone figure holding a Kusanagi sword. He wore black pants with a blue cloth hanging from halfway up his stomach to his knees, a sleeveless dark gray shirt, and bandages on his wrists. It was none other than Sasuke Uchiha, the second to last of the Uchiha that were still alive. After he tried to go to Orochimaru he was stopped by Naruto, only to be abducted by five figures calling themselves the heralds of the True Shredder.
Sasuke re-sheathed his sword and glanced behind him seeing the five heralds. "Your progress has reached its peak, young Uchiha." The Metal Mystic explained.
"It's amazing to see how much your skills have grown within the last three years." The Water Mystic added.
"Whatever. I completed my training now. When can I search for these artifacts?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes it is time you did help us search for the artifacts," The Fire Mystic said, "There are a total of three of them scattered around the ninja land."
"And you're certain they'll help me defeat Itachi?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.
"We're more than certain boy," The Earth Mystic replied, "What you shall acquire is power beyond the Uchiha and Senju clans themselves."
Sasuke smirked after hearing that, "Perfect."
Later that night back in Konoha, in the Foot Clan temple Naruto in his armor stood before Sakura who was wearing the Foot clan ninja outfit minus the mask, while Ino wearing her own armor, Hun, Zabuza, and Guy stood behind Naruto, while all the members of the Foot clan stood off to the side, "Rise." Naruto ordered and Sakura rose to her feet, "Haruno Sakura do you swear to follow the Foot Clan and uphold it's legacy, tradition, and honor among your fellow Foot operatives, and follow the teachings of your master, mistress, and higher training operatives?" Naruto asked.
"I swear." Sakura replied.
"Then on my word as the Shredder; leader of the Foot clan, I hereby initiate you Haruno Sakura into the Foot. Welcome aboard." Naruto said as he put the Foot ninja mask over Sakura's head.
Sakura bowed her head in respect to Naruto before joining the rest of the foot clan ninja right next to Shikamaru and Chouji, "Congratulations, Sakura." Chouji congratulated her.
"Yeah way to go." Shikamaru added.
"Arigato guys." Sakura replied.
"And now my Foot ninja carry on in your training!" Naruto declared.
"Long live the Shredder!" Hun called out.
"Long live the Shredder!" The Foot ninja called out as well.
Naruto left the room, heading for Saki's throne room looking up at a picture of Oroku Saki himself, "I have returned from my training trip Master Saki. Now I am more prepared to lead my army into any battle." Naruto said as he bowed his head to the portrait of his icon.
(Naruto's back and better than ever.)