DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...
(A/N): END OF TRAINING ARK! ON TO SHIPPUDEN!
TO THE STORY!
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Chapter 93: Return
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Fukasaku and Shima looked at him with a smile before nodding. "Your welcome Naruto, and congratulations on becoming a Sage."
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"Okay okay just hear me out." Jiraiya said to Naruto as they prepared to leave the Toads Summoning Realm. "We use Kuchiyose and appear on top of Bunta, Hiro, and Ken while Pa and Ma'am stand on our shoulders. How's that sound?" he tried eagerly to talk Naruto into some elaborate return to the village to show off he had become a sage and to signify his official return to Konoha.
The blond just gave his master a deadpanned look before narrowing his eyes. While it sounded cool at first, he quickly thought of what Jiraiya would try to have him do once they appeared in the village. The old man would probably try to get him to do his strange Kabuki dance and make a long introductory monologue while matching what Jiraiya himself was saying. Not only that, but once he thought about it, there was a large possibility of crushing something or someone with the GIANT TOADS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VILLAGE.
So, after a long and thoughtful pause, Naruto looked up to Jiraiya's expecting face. "Yeah...no." he said before he Hiraishin'd back home. Jiraiya instantly deflated and hung his head in a depressed state. "...didn't have to show off...not everyone can Hiraishin ya' know..." he grumbled under his breath as he headed over to Shima and Fukasaku so they could reverse summon him back into Konoha.
"Ya know that was a stupid idea anyway, right..." Fukasaku and Shima deadpanned at the same time to the Sannin. Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched before he scowled at the two elder toad sages. "Shut up! It would have been awesome!"
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. . . .Konoha. . . .
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"Alight Akari, Akira, just one more stop and we'll be home." Cole said to his two hyper toddlers. It was August 22, Akari and Akira's third birthday, and the two were eagerly wanting to go home and not have to shop anymore. Akari sat on Cole's shoulders in a yellow sleeveless shirt and a red skirt. She now had shoulder length light magenta hair that culled in the back, with bright hazel eyes. And much like Naruto, was a endless ball of excitement and energy. Her brother, Akira, was her polar opposite. He wore a blue shirt and black shorts and had short and spiky dark purple hair and black eyes. He was more reserved than his sister and didn't talk as much, but he followed her everywhere and they still did nearly everything together.
And that was why he was tugging on Cole's sleeve so he could be carried to. "Up." he said quietly with a finger pointed at himself. Cole sighed with a smile and quickly sealed away all the groceries into a sealing scroll he had on hand. He then picked up Akira in his arms and let the toddler latch onto his torso. Akari tapped on Cole's head and he looked up to his daughter.
"Ne, ne, Daddy. Where to next?" she asked. Cole looked around and found the store he was looking for. "Right in there. We gotta get you two some new clothes for next week. You know what's next week right Akari-chan?" he asked the toddler sitting on his shoulders. She put her finger on her chin in thought before shaking her head no. Cole looked down at Akira and raised an eyebrow. The boy scrunched his face in deep thought before his eyes shot open. "Unca Naruto and Aunty Hina!" he said excitedly with a face splitting smile. Cole smirked at his little boy and ruffled his hair. "That's my little champ. All smart and stuff. That's right Akira, Naruto and Hinata are getting married next week. So we gotta get you two some special clothes before then." he said as he walked into the store.
He had to duck so that Akari wouldn't hit her head on the door frame, and when he looked up he was greeted by a head of pink hair. "Welcome to Haruno's! How can I-OH! Uzumaki-sama! What a surprise!" Sakura said as she noticed just who it was walking into he family store. Cole smiled at the pinkette before setting the twins down. "Are you here to pick up an order?" she asked, slightly nervous. She had only met Naruto's father a few times, and all those times he was either fighting some crazy strong opponent, or her and her team.
Cole shook his head and put his hands on top of Akari and Akira's heads. "Nah, these little tikes need some formal clothes for Naruto and Hinata's weeding next week, so I was wondering if I could put in a order for them." he said to the pink hair Chunin. Yup, she finally made it to Chunin, along with the rest of the Konoha 11. She like the rest of the rookies had trained long and hard to be able to catch up to Naruto, and she was no exception. With a little push from Cole, Tsunade took Sakura in as an apprentice and she quickly took to Medical Ninjutsu like a fish to water. She put her long hair up into a bun and changed her clothes to more match Shizune. She wore a dark red battle dress and black heeled ninja sandals.
She smiled at the two fidgeting twins and crouched down to them with a measuring tape in hand. "Sure, if you two cuties would just stand still for me for a second I'll get a quick measurement and hand in the order to Mom." she said why still smiling. Cole looked at the two and went into his 'Sensei Mode'. "Alright you two, arms out and stand still for Haruno-san." he instructed the two.
The twins instantly locked into a arms out stance and were stock still. Sakura blinked a few times before shrugging and taking there measurements.
After a few moments Akari's curiosity got the better of her. "Do you know Unca Naruto miss?" she asked politely. Sakura giggled a bit before answering. "Know him, I was his teammate when we were Genin. We went on missions together and trained a lot together." she told the little girl. Akari got stars in her eyes and Akira got a intrigued expression.
"Really!?" Akari asked again. Sakura smiled and nodded. "Really really." she replied. Akari took a breath in and smiled. "That's so cool! Unca Naruto's so funny and super strong!" she gushed. Sakura laughed a bit at the little girls eagerness and stood up. "I guess he is, isn't he. Alright you two, I'm done taking your measurements you can put your arms down." she said to the two.
Akari sighed in relief as she plopped her arms down, and Akira just lowered his arms with a sheepish smile. Sakura giggled before turning to Cole. "Any specific colors you want for the two of them?" she asked the father. Cole thought for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, how about something light purple for Akari and something magenta for Akira." he said to Sakura. She nodded a couple of times, getting a feel for what they would look like. "That's good. I'll give this to Mom and we'll see you guys in a couple of days. Have fun you two! Happy birthday!" she waved to the two twins as they walked out.
Akira and Akari looked up at Cole. He smiled at the two. "What, she was your Unca Naruto's teammate, did you think she wouldn't know what today was?" he said to the two. They both nodded going 'Oh' before Akira tugged on his sleeve. "Up, up." he said as he hopped a bit. Cole a quick movement he snatched the boy up and put him on his shoulders. Akari pouted at the two. "I wanted on your shoulders..." she grumbled as she stuck out her lower lip. Akira shook his head and looked at his sister. "First come first serve Aka-chan." he said as he crossed his shoulders and nodded to himself.
Cole sweatdropped at the two. "What am I, a carrying service?" he said to the two. The both smiled at him and nodded. "Uh huh!"
Cole shook his head and picked up Akari. "No respect I tell ya." he grumbled to himself. "Alright you two, lets head home."
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When the trio made it home Cole noticed someone set off his barrier seals. So, the question was, who did he get to mangle today!?
They walked into the estate Cole walked to the twins into the living room and saw a batch of spiky blonde hair sitting on the couch facing them. "Yo!" Naruto called with a smile and a raised hand in greeting. Akari and Akira gasped and ran over to him. "Unca Naruto!" "Unca!" they called as they jumped onto him in a hug. Naruto laughed and hugged the both of them. "Heh heh, hey there squirts! Happy Birthday!" he said to the tow of them and ruffled their hair.
Akira took it in stride but Akari pouted. "Mou! Unca! You're messing up my hair!" she complained cutely, which made Naruto laugh a bit. "Sorry sorry," he apologized and took his hands off there heads. Akira pouted a bit but didn't complain that he stopped. Akari noticed his sage cloak and hitai-ate. "What's up with the cloak Unca?" she asked him curiously, Akira was nodding in agreement, 'what's up with that?' he seemed to say.
Naruto smirked and set the two aside before standing. "This ya little squirts, is my Sages cloak and Hitai-ate! It signifies that I have officially finished my training and am a full on Sage." he said cockily. The two gushed and Fanboyed/girled over him. "Really! Wow!" they said at the same time.
Cole walked over and clapped his hand onto Naruto's shoulder. "Congrats son. Does that mean you're here to stay?" he asked with a smile. Naruto nodded, which made Akira and Akari jump him again. "You're staying this time!?" "Staying!?" they both questioned him at the same time. Naruto laughed as he tried to keep from being barreled over by the three year old's. He grinned at the two and nodded.
"Yup, I'm here ta' stay! Happy Birthday you two!"
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(A/N): To be continued...
Next chapter is the wedding!
Remember to REVIEW! And as always, I'll see ya next time!