(Welcome to my next chapter. Naruto returns to Konoha and joins the ranks.)
As Naruto and Jinora were flying on Soreth and Pepper, they were right above Konoha, as Jinora spoke, "Follow me." she had Pepper fly downward, as Naruto had Soreth follow the Sky Bison.
They touched down in the forest of Konoha. After Jinora and Naruto dismounted off their familiars, they saw Hiruzen approach, "Jinora, it's good to see you again."
"And wonderful to see you too, Hiruzen." the old ones greeted each other.
"Hey, Jiji, how's it going?" Naruto asked.
Hiruzen looked and felt lost for words at seeing Naruto, "Naruto, it really is you."
"Who did you expect?" he asked rhetorically.
"Sorry, I'm just amazed at how much you've grown these last few years." The old man said, as the two hugged.
"I know. I used to only be up to your knees." Naruto chuckled.
Hiruzen looked past Naruto seeing Jinora's sky bison and next to it was a dragon, "Oh, my goodness. Is that a dragon?" he gasped.
"Why yes it is." Jinora confirmed.
"And he's mine." Naruto added.
"Yours?" The Hokage asked.
"Yeah. Come on, I'll introduce you," Naruto brought him over, "Jiji, this is Soreth. Soreth, this is old man Hokage." Soreth looked up at the Hokage and let out a playful growl. The Hokage was still concerned, having never met an actual dragon before, until Naruto took his hand, "Don't worry, he's very docile."
Naruto made the old man lay his hand on Soreth's head, and the Hokage started petting the dragon who enjoyed it. Hiruzen smiled seeing the dragon really was docile, "Naruto, however did you come across a dragon?"
"Well, when I was traveling to the Fire Nation a few years back I found this dragon lost in the woods abandoned and injured," Naruto explained, "I brought him back and tended to his injuries with the help from Master Jinora. At first Soreth was a fussy baby dragon, but I showed him I was his friend and wanted to help him. Eventually he grew attached to me, and we grew up together." he rubbed Soreth's head.
"And how have things in the village been since we left?" Jinora inquired.
"Well, we've had some setbacks, but things have been as normal as they can get," Hiruzen explained, "Although my teammates and Danzo have constantly questioned the whereabouts of Naruto, but I told them nothing."
"Then they're sure to be in for a surprise." Jinora chuckled.
"There's going to be one problem, though," Naruto spoke up, "I don't think my old apartment will welcome a dragon in it."
"Don't worry, Naruto. You won't be returning to that place." Hiruzen said.
"So then where will I live?" Naruto asked.
"Not to worry. I have better living arrangements for both you and Soreth, uh unless he gets any bigger."
"Don't worry, this is about as big as Soreth gets, not too big and not too small. Just the right size to fit into most homes." Naruto explained.
"Well, then follow me and I'll show you to your new home." Hiruzen instructed.
"Better cover Soreth just in case." he put some camou tarp over his dragon. So the four headed off into the village, while Pepper stayed behind and under some tree branches.
As they walked, the three surrounded Soreth to make sure nobody truly noticed him. Soon enough Hiruzen led them to a normal looking home, "Well, this is it." Hiruzen said.
Naruto looked up at the place in wonder, "This is where I'm living now?"
"That's right. This was actually meant to be your home since your parents owned it." Hiruzen explained.
"Cool." Naruto said, as he went up the stairs and to the front door. Hiruzen gave him the key to the place. He unlocked it and went inside seeing the living room was wide and spacious, "Oh, yes. This is more like it!" he cheered, as Soreth, Hiruzen, and Jinora entered.
The dragon sniffed around the places before curling up and getting comfy on the floor, "Looks like Soreth's already made himself at home." Jinora chuckled.
The Hokage looked to Naruto, "Jinora's told me you've come quite a long way from starting out with your bending elements."
"You have no idea." Naruto replied.
"She's also told me how much you've learned from the jutsus scroll I gave you."
"Yeah. I'm especially good with using the shadow clone jutsu. I can make well over a hundred." Naruto explained.
"Such a technique is rather difficult to learn since it halves one chakra," Hiruzen explained, "But thanks to the fox spirit inside you, the chakra from it makes you more than capable of using the shadow clone jutsu better than most shinobi older than you."
"Thanks, but for the record don't refer to the fox as 'it'. Because the fox is a he, and his name's Kurama." Naruto explained.
"Have you met with the fox spirit?" Hiruzen asked curiously.
"I have. And he's not so bad once you get to know him. Trust me I had these last few years to get to know him."
"So since you had Naruto learn those jutsu will he be enrolled in the ninja academy despite missing the first few years?" Jinora inquired.
"Of course," Hiruzen answered, "With all he's learned, he should be more than up to date to be skipped ahead to the final year even with academy graduation underway. Plus once Naruto is recognized as a ninja, he will be able to leave the village more freely especially when on a team."
"I understand." Jinora nodded.
"Why don't you get settled in, Naruto? I need to go and make the forms to enroll you into the ninja academy." the Hokage suggested.
"Sure thing." Naruto replied, as the old man left.
Jinora made herself comfy on the sofa as Naruto looked around the house. Jinora knew it wasn't going to be easy to tell him, but she knew it had to be done, "Naruto, come sit by me."
Naruto hearing her answered, "Ok." he sat beside her, "What is it?"
"Naruto, you know I am needed at the Air Temple to help my husband train the airbenders, you know?"
"Of course I do."
"Then you understand I can't be with you this often anymore." she answered.
Naruto looked up at her, "You mean I won't be seeing you again?" he asked in worry.
"Not as much as before," she admitted in regret, "But don't worry. If you even need my wisdom, meditate into the Spirit world and find me. I'll know if you're there."
"Master Jinora, I've been with you for so long you've been like a mother to me." Naruto said feeling sad.
"I know. And you've been a wonderful airbending student. I'd like to also think of you as a son." she hugged him.
"I'll miss you, master." he sniffled.
"There-there, Naruto. It's not really goodbye, after all." she comforted him.
When dusk hit the village, Jinora was mounting Pepper, as Naruto watched. The old woman spoke, "Well, Naruto, time for me to go."
"You'll still write to me won't you?" Naruto asked.
"You know I will. And I'll be sure to have the rest of your masters write you letters as well."
"Thank you, Master Jinora." Naruto bowed his head in respect to her.
"And good luck to you, Avatar Naruto," she smiled, "Pepper, yip-yip!" And with that, Pepper took off into the sky, as Naruto watched from below. When they were out of sight, Naruto headed back to his new home.
Later on as he laid in bed, inside his new room, he glanced out his window thinking, 'Tomorrow I'm enrolled into the ninja academy. Master Jinora told me not to use my bending just yet, and I won't disobey her.' eventually he fell asleep.
The very next morning, Naruto had woken up to shower and eat. After he changed into his clothes he went to Soreth who was lying in his spot in the corner of the living room. He ruffled the dragons head and spoke, "I'll be back soon, Soreth. Just stay inside and out of trouble, ok?" the dragon yawned, "Good boy." he said, before heading out the door.
He stopped into the Hokage's office first to pick up his enrollment form, "Morning, Jiji."
"Good morning, Naruto. I have your enrollment form right here." he handed Naruto a scroll.
"Thanks. I'll see you later, sir." he said his goodbye, as Hiruzen watched him leave.
As Naruto walked through the village, he noticed many of them gave him the stink eye having recognized him even after his time away from the village. He heard some gossip to themselves.
"I thought he was dead."
"I guess it's true that a demon doesn't die so easily."
"He should've stayed gone. This village was much better without him."
Naruto frowned to himself and thought, 'How the hell could it have been any better when I fucking did nothing to any of them?!' he started to calm down, and thought calmly, 'Easy, Naruto. Remember what you've learned, just let let it go.'
He made it to the ninja academy, where he went inside and into the office, "Excuse me."
The chunin at the desk noticed Naruto and asked, "Can I help you?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm here about my enrollment into the ninja academy."
"Enrollment?" the shinobi asked, "I'm afraid you're late for that. You should've started years ago."
"Perhaps this will change your mind." Naruto gave the shinobi the scroll.
The Chunin looked at the contents seeing the Hokage's approval to allow Naruto into the academy. Seeing the Hokage's approval in it had no objection, "Very well. The class you will be stationed in will be taught under Iruka Umino. This is his classroom. You better hurry, thought. Classes will be starting soon."
"Thank you. You've been most helpful." Naruto said, before taking his leave.
He walked down the hall before coming to the room. He knocked on the door, and heard a voice from inside, "Come in."
Naruto opened the door and walked in seeing class was in session. The students looked at Naruto oddly for various reasons, some being curious because they've never seen him before, and why he was even there.
Standing before the class of students was a man with a scar across the bridge of his nose, "Can I help you?" the chunin asked.
"Iruka Umino?" Naruto inquired.
"That's me."
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and the Sandaime request that I start the academy at the final year like with your current class."
There was a pause for moment, until a majority of the students started laughing. A boy spoke, "Oh, that's a good one."
"Like the Hokage would let someone just join the academy now when we had to be here for three years?" a girl asked, laughing.
Naruto scowled at their ridicule, before looking at Iruka, "I assure you the Hokage's seal is legit." he showed the chunin his papers.
Iruka looked at Naruto's papers carefully, before speaking, "Well, it seems according to the Hokage you have been training by yourself for years now and know all of the basic ninja skills."
"Then I can enroll?" Naruto asked.
"Not quite yet. I'd like to see your skills up close. We have a training exercise round today so we'll see what you go there."
"Very well." Naruto answered.
"In the meantime, take a seat and we'll see how well you do on written assignments." Iruka instructed.
"Ok." Naruto said, as he walked to the desks looking for an empty seat. He noticed a majority of them were taken before sitting in the back by himself.
Iruka handed out a pop quiz for the students, and they began writing. Naruto despite spending a majority of his Avatar training doing physical work, had learned how to solve equations and other stuff from professors and such hired by Akiza. When they handed in their tests, they waited as Iruka started grading them. When he returned them, Naruto saw he got a perfect score. He looked at the sensei who smiled up at him.
"Now then class, let's go outside and we'll test your physical skills." Iruka instructed as they all went outside.
They stood before the training field where a dummy with a target imprint on its torso was set up. Iruka spoke, "For those joining us, you are to see how many times you can hit the target."
Naruto nodded, as he watched many students go before him. Some managed to hit the center target a few times with kunai or shuriken, and some not so well.
"Next up, Sasuke Uchiha." Iruka announced.
Approaching the standing point was a boy with black hair, and was wearing white shorts, and a blue shirt with the symbol of the Uchiha clan on back. Naruto watched having hear about the Uchiha clan known for their ocular power the Sharingan, and heard of the genocide upon the clan by one of their own.
He watched as Sasuke nailed the target with all of his kunai. This got a majority of the girls to cheer him on. Naruto could tell this boy was the best in the class, and wondered how well he would be in terms of hand to hand.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka called.
Naruto approached the point and pulled out his kunai. He threw his kunai with all of them hitting certain points on the dummy being in the arms or the legs. Some of the students laughed, as one boy with a puppy on his head mocked, "What a joke! You didn't hit the target at all!"
Naruto looked back, "Open your eyes pal, and you'll see I actually scored better."
"That can't be right, you didn't hit the target." a pink haired girl said.
"Who said that the target on the torso is the only target?" Naruto challenged, "If you look closely the spots where I hit would actually be more of an affective hit. If hit in the arm in a certain spot you'd be disabled and unable to move it, same with the legs, lose both legs you can't stand, and if you lose both arms you can't attack."
Iruka smiled, "Very impressive, Naruto. You're about the first one here to ever look for another means."
"Thank you."
Next up were basic hand to hand spars. Naruto watched as various of the students were selected amongst each other to spar against one another, and when they finished they'd show respect to their opponents. Iruka looked on the list, "The only ones left are Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki."
The students were already concerned, as a blonde haired girl spoke, "Iruka-sensei, it wouldn't be fair to put Sasuke against the new boy."
"Yeah, he could clobber him like that." another girl said.
Naruto spoke, "Hey, I'm right here you know? Don't assume I go down that easily."
Iruka spoke, "Correct, but just for a fair warning, Naruto, Sasuke is the top student here."
"That makes it all the more better." Naruto admitted, as he looked at Sasuke with determination, as the Uchiha boy returned the look.
The two took their spots in the sparing ring, as the students watched in anticipation. Iruka announced, "Begin!"
With that, Sasuke went to attack Naruto by throwing a punch. Naruto did a 180 degree turn avoiding that attack. The students saw this were surprised, while Sasuke was shocked. As Sasuke continued to attack, Naruto remembered his airbending training, 'Be the leaf.' he thought, as he let his body move as if it was a leaf in the wind.
"Look at him move." the pink haired girl gasped.
"It's like he's dancing." a pale eyed girl added.
"Whoa." the boy with the dog said.
"I'm glad I'm not fighting him." said a boy with a pineapple styled ponytail.
Sasuke thought to himself, while watching Naruto evade his attacks, 'What's with this guy. How can he move like this? Actually, this is challenging.' he admitted, but didn't want to give up. Sasuke tried a spin kick, only for Naruto to lean back and avoid the swing. Naruto's hands touched the ground as he flipped back and delivered a sweep kick to Sasuke's leg knocking him onto his back.
The students gasped, as Iruka spoke, "That's game!"
Naruto looked down and offered a hand to Sasuke, "Good moves."
The boy students half expected Sasuke to brush him off like he would to them, but to their surprise Sasuke took Naruto's hand and got back to his feet. Sasuke spoke, "Not so bad yourself. You're more of a challenge than the rest of these guys."
"Thanks." Naruto smiled.
"But next time, I won't lose." Sasuke replied. Naruto smirked, as the two shook hands, as Iruka smiled.
"Well, Naruto, I say you've proven your worth. We'll let you join class even if we're just a few weeks away from the finals." Iruka said.
"Thank you... Sensei." Naruto smiled.
When the day was out, Naruto walked out of the building, but was stopped when he heard two voices, "Hey, there! Hold on!"
Naruto turned around and saw the pink haired girl and blonde haired girl from class, "Oh, it's you two... Uh, what're you names again?"
"I'm Sakura Haruno." the pink haired girl introduced herself.
"And I'm Ino Yamanaka." the blonde girl added.
"A pleasure." Naruto greeted them.
Sakura spoke, "First off, I wanna say I'm surprised you were able to beat Sasuke like that."
"Well, truthfully he was challenging. Wouldn't hold back that's for sure." Naruto admitted.
"And the way you fought. How're you able to move like that?" Sakura wondered.
Naruto smiled, "Well, I pretended I was a leaf in the wind."
"Leaf in the wind?" they asked.
Naruto nodded, "I let the wind guide me as I fought."
"I've never heard of that style before." Sakura admitted.
Ino spoke up, "By the way, I like your clothes. Especially those boots. Where'd you get them?"
"Well I had them imported from a place far South." Naruto explained, "Well, it was nice talking to you girls."
"Bye!" they waved by.
Naruto started walking home and said to himself, "Better pick up some fish for Soreth, otherwise he'll be mad." he stopped as he heard the sound of fighting going on. He followed the sound and saw the pale eyed girl from class practicing against some training posts.
He thought to himself, 'She's Hinata Hyuga from the Hyuga clan. This should be interesting." he watched with interest.
Hinata finished her strikes against the post before stopping for a breather. Suddenly she heard clapping from behind. She spun around and saw Naruto, "Impressive. Very impressive. I heard the Hyuga clan was good with their fists. But their reputation doesn't do you justice."
Hinata was taken aback by the unexpected audience, "Oh, you're the new student at the academy, Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto nodded, "That's my name. And you're Hinata Hyuga, correct?"
"Uh-huh." Hinata nodded.
"Well, nice to meet you." he approached.
"Nice to meet you too." she replied respectively.
"So you practice by yourself?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. I mean I used to practice with my little sister and my cousin, but..." she looked down.
"But?" Naruto asked where she was going.
"I was labeled a failure by my father and my cousin." she answered in sorrow.
Naruto was in outrage, "What? Who the hell tells someone they're a failure?!"
"My family." she sighed, "I've tried so hard to push myself past my limits, but it's never enough."
"Well, we can't have that now can we?" Naruto asked, much to Hinata's confusion, "Everyone is capable of getting stronger. You just need to be more confident in your abilities, and not let anyone tell you otherwise."
"You think I can get stronger?" Hinata asked hopefully.
"Not think. I know. And I'd like to help you." he offered.
"Help me?"
"That's right. I'd like to be your sparing partner after classes. We could learn plenty from sparing with each other."
"Really?" Naruto nodded, "Well, that would be nice of you." Hinata smiled.
"Great. Shall we meet here after class tomorrow?" Naruto suggested.
"Of course." she confirmed.
"Well, see you then." Naruto walked off.
Hinata smiled, and thought, 'There really are good people out there.'
Naruto walked through the village before spotting an old favorite place of his, "Ichiraku Ramen. It's been such a long time. May as well get it reacquainted with my taste buds." he stepped in.
"Welcome." the chef Teuchi greeted him.
"Hey, sir. You might not remember me, but I used to come here all the time when I was just a little boy." Naruto explained.
"Hmm?" Teuchi wondered, as he studied the teen's appearance, until the face finally came back to him, "Wait a minute. I remember you. Naruto!"
Naruto smiled, "so you do remember me."
"How could I forget a face like that?" Teuchi laughed, until his daughter Ayame came from the back.
"What's going on, dad?"
"Ayame, look whose come back to us." Teuchi said, as the girl got a look at the young man.
She gasped, "Naruto, is that really you?"
"In the flesh." he answered.
"Look at you. You've grown." Ayame noticed.
"Physically and mentally might I add." he put in.
"Well, it's good to see you. Our shop just hasn't been the same without you here." Teuchi said.
"Well, I'm back now, and am I hungry for ramen."
"Say no more, we're already on it." Teuchi said, as he and his daughter got to work.
Naruto smiled as he awaited for his meal to be made, while enjoying the alluring smell of the food being cooked. Soon enough, Ayame sat a bowl of ramen down for him, "Here you go. Enjoy."
"Oh, this looks so delicious," Naruto smiled, as he took a whiff, "Hello, old friend," he said before grabbing some chopsticks and chowed down, "Tastes better than I remember it." he continued to enjoy his meal, as Teuchi and Ayame smiled at having their fave customer back after so many years.
That night at the Administration building. Hiruzen was at meeting with his teammates and Danzo. Danzo spoke up, "Hiruzen, is it true Naruto Uzumaki has returned to the village?"
"Yes he has, Danzo." Hiruzen confirmed.
"And you just allowed him to enter the ninja academy at the same year as the final class without having to go through the bottom?" Homura inquired.
"Iruka sent me the results, and Naruto has proven he's too advanced for those of first year academy students," Hiruzen began, "Why he even managed to hold his own against Sasuke Uchiha the top student."
"What?" Koharu gasped.
"You don't expect us to believe the runner up for rookie of the year to be taken down by an amateur who's had no ninja training whatsoever?" Danzo asked in skepticism.
"Naruto has had plenty of training these last six years. When the time comes you best be prepared for what is in store." the Hokage warned them.
"Is that a threat, Hiruzen?" Danzo squinted his eyeball.
"I'm not the one who makes threats, Danzo," Hiruzen squinted back, "I'm the one who makes promises."
Danzo with nothing more to say got up and took his leave, followed by Homura and Koharu who gave their old teammate a respectful bow before leaving. Hiruzen looked at his crystal ball and saw Naruto at his home feeding Soreth some fish, 'Naruto, I wish you the best of luck for whatever you face from this point on.' he thought.
(And there's the chapter. Naruto's been accepted is back and admitted into the Ninja Academy. Already he's made an impression on the academy students. Don't miss next time, guys.)