In Konoha
The Konoha Eleven. A group of eleven up and coming shinobi deemed the brightest light of the future. A group that showed Konoha's future strength.
The group was gathered together in a very special spot, Yakiniku Q. The best restaurant, most considered to be, located in the middle of the village. It was the group's usual spot of hanging out. Around the table now sat 10 shinobi.
Shikamaru Nara, one of two jounin in the group. An intellect of no equal, deemed the leader of the group.
Choji Akimichi, a chuunin, a big boy with a big heart.
Ino Yamanaka, chuunin, a blonde beauty that was proficient in the works of the mind.
These three formed team 10, led by the son of the Sandaime, Asuma Sarutobi. They formed the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Kiba Inuzuka, a feral chuunin with a tight bond to his dog, Akamaru.
Hinata Hyuuga, a shy chuunin princess who loved lavender.
Shino Aburame, a quiet chuunin who...we do not know anything really about.
These three formed a tracking squad dubbed team 8. Kurenai Yuhi, Konoha's Ice Queen led these three.
Tenten, no last name, chuunin, specializes in weapons.
Rock Lee, chuunin, exuberant personality, mini me of his sensei.
Neji Hyuuga, jounin, most talent Hyuuga in recent memory.
Team 9 was not rookies at the time the Rookie 9 got their name, but they were adopted into the group, the Konoha 11.
Team 9 was led by Elite Jounin, Might Guy. A man who was unparalleled in taijutsu.
Sakura Haruno, apprentice of Tsunade, chuunin. Only member of Team 7 that sat at the table.
Jounin sensei of Team 7 was the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake. An Elite Jounin who was infamous for his Sharrigan.
The other two members of Team 7 were not in the village at the time. One of the members was the topic of discussion at the moment.
"Say Sakura, isn't Naruto due to come back any time now." Rock Lee the self-proclaimed eternal rival of Naruto was wondering about the possible time of return of his rival.
Sakura gained a grin as her teammate coming back was a happy discussion for her.
"Yes, if I am not wrong, he should be back in a few days."
"YOSH! I am ready to see how Naruto's flames of youth have flourished over his trip!" Rock Lee then started spouting how he what he was going to do if he did not beat Naruto which all of the other people blocked out.
"All I know is, expect the unexpected." The Nara said while picking at his food. 'That troublesome blonde always surprises.'
"Konoha's Number One Most Unpredictable Ninja." Ino stated. "Can never say never with that guy."
Sakura nodded as all the times her teammate has surprised her comes to mind.
"He will be strong; I know he will." Sakura looked down at her hands, the hands she promised to help Naruto. 'I have gotten stronger Naruto; you better have gotten much stronger too.'
Kiba looked up at the group as he started a more serious conversation. "He better be, we all know what is waiting for him." Akatsuki. The group had been briefed on the terrorist's intentions. Shikamaru had figured out that Naruto was a Jinchuuriki, and with the entire group of the Konoha 11, approached Tsunade about it. She told them everything about his Jinchuuriki status. To them he was a valuable teammate and member of Konoha. They would fight Akatsuki together.
Shino, the quiet one, spoke up. "He will not have to face them alone, why, because he has us." Everyone nodded at this. The resolve of the group was strong. The bond was tight.
'You saved me Naruto, from my darkness. You let me see the light. You will always have my support, Naruto.' The one who deemed everything was fate, was now determined to save the fate of his own friend.
While all this was going on, a different conversation was going on in the Jounin lounge.
"Well, Kakashi." A bearded man drinking black tea started addressing the one eye silver hair man in the room in the corner reading his Icha Icha. "You are the first out of all us sensei to have your student become an A-rank ninja. How does that make you feel?"
Naruto's identity in the Bingo book was not secretive in Konoha, everyone knew he was the student of Jiraiya.
"YOSH Kakashi! Your student burns bright with the flames of youth! We must celebrate this achievement!" Gai stood there, his grin radiating 'youth'.
"Of course, Gai, but how about we wait until Naruto gets back so we can celebrate with him." The signature eye smile came from the scarecrow.
"YOSH KAKASHI! GREAT IDEA!"
Kurenai spoke up from the corner. "Do you think he is as strong as us Kakashi?" Everyone turned to look at the man who closed his eye.
"We will see."
"Jiraiya-sensei. This is Tanzaku-gai, right?"
I looked around at the town we were in, it was quite nice with small bars and gambling dens. Hotels littered the sides.
"Yes, remember the last time we were here?" I thought about the time he was referring to. 'Finding Tsunade, fighting Akatsuki, fighting Kabuto and Orochi. That feels like forever ago.'
"Of course I do, how could I not." That mission was something to say the least.
Jiraiya nodded his head in agreement as we found a hotel to stay at for the night.
"How is the next Icha Icha coming along?" Jiraiya looked at his student in surprise. "Oh, so now you care about my hobbies." I looked at him sheepishly as I avoided reading Icha Icha myself for most of the trip; unbeknownst to him, I had read all the books. Surprisingly, they were quite good.
"Well sensei, I want to see if it is better than the last ones or not."
Jiraiya slowly turned to look at me. I looked at his face to see tears streaming down his face as he looked to Kami.
"One of my s-students, appreciate my amazing literature. Thank you, Kami."
I shook my head at his antics as I set my stuff down and went out to town. "Come on Pervy-Sage, I need to get new clothes."
"Got it!"
We left the hotel to go out and get some new threads for me since my now are getting tighter. We walked to a nearby clothing store, on the way, we received lots of looks. Mainly awe from the male populace, and strange looks from females I have never seen, Jiraiya was loving the looks though.
I decided to get a few black turtlenecks and a few navy as well. I got some sleeveless shirts as well to match an Anbu look. I bought new black and navy pants. I got some casual clothes for civilian activities and boots and shoes for my feet. Some tape as well for my leg and ankles made me look like a great shinobi.
"Pretty basic if you ask me Naruto, kind of like your father." I look at my godfather with a deadpan. "Just because I do not dress like you, does not mean you can make fun of my outfit." Jiraiya just held his hands up like he was innocent. Orange was my favorite color, which was why I had it put on my armor; however, training made me have my civilian attitude and business attitude, and orange did not belong in this business.
I kept my treasures and shinobi equipment in my special storage seal as I walked around town with just my new clothes. Jiraiya followed me as I went to go look for a place to eat. I found the place Tsunade and I had met years ago, so I decided to eat there. Our server was nervous to talk to me, but I did not mind, she was cute.
"Jiraiya, let me see the manuscript." Jiraiya swallowed what was in his mouth as he handed me a... book.
"You already have it printed?" Jiraiya just nodded. "I have a few books as gifts for my most loyal fans." I nodded as it was typically of authors to do so. You do not spend time with an author for three years without picking up things.
"I will give this one to Kakashi then." Jiraiya nodded as Kakashi was his biggest fan in Konoha.
We just ordered and finished the night in Tanzaku-gai, as the next day was the day, we would return.
"Ah, the eternal gate guards, Izumo and Kotetsu." The two chuunin looked up from the papers to see Jiraiya standing there and...
"NARUTO!" The two chuunin quickly fixed their gaze on the...man in front of them. "No longer a little genin anymore Naruto. That means no more pranks on us." Izumo's wide grin threatened to split his face. "Let the runt still do them, gives us something fun for once." Kotetsu argued against Izumo. This led to the two of them to bicker between one another like usual.
"Arguing like usual, come on Jiraiya-sensei."
I just shunshined to the village as Jiraiya followed me. We landed on a rooftop in the middle of the village. "Sensei, I suppose we should visit Tsunade first right?" Jiraiya nodded as we decided to head off in the direction of the Hokage tower.
"Tsunade, you have visitors." Tsunade, the Princess of the Senju, looked away from the paperwork she was doing to look up.
"Hello Grandma Tsunade." The sight made her rush to the doorway.
"NARUTO!" Tsunade rushed to hug Naruto. "Since when did you get so tall?" 'I have to stand on my toes just to reach my arms around his neck!'
I just scratched at the back of my head as I thought of an answer. "Well, I think the bad diet from before limited my growth." Tsunade nodded, finding the reasoning solid.
"Ahem." A cough brought us to the presence of the other man in the room. "Hello Tsunade, been awhile."
"Great to see you again Jiraiya; however-" her face turned angry which made both of us pale. "-I thought you were supposed to lay low, why is Naruto an A-rank ninja!"
Tsunade looked furiously at Jiraiya who looked away, finding an interesting spot in the ceiling. "Um Grandma Tsunade." Her attention turned to me. "It was my fault not sensei's. I gave away my strength during bounty collecting." Jiraiya looked at me like I was his hero while Tsunade just went to her desk as she facepalmed.
"Well, it really does not matter. Jiraiya, how strong is he?" Tsunade grabbed a bottle of sake as she poured a glass and started drinking.
"Elite Jounin. He can likely go par on par with Anbu captains as well. Kakashi might have a really tough time with him." There goes the sake from Tsunade's mouth.
"Are you joking Jiraiya?" The Sage just nodded. Tsunade looked at me which I met with a grin.
"Kakashi did want to know how strong you are when you returned, guess we will see. SHIZUNE!" Shizune came running in the room.
"Lady Tsunade what do you-" Shizune looked around the room seeing Jiraiya and a blonde hair boy in a chair in front of Tsunade. "N-n-naruto?!"
"Hey there Shizune." I stood up, showing my pseudo-sis how much I have grown. Her eyes went wide. "WOAH Naruto, you sprouted like a weed!" I grinned at her as I opened my arms and let her give me a hug. She was also surprised she had to get on her toes to hug me.
"Now Shizune, you need to bring Kakashi for me, him and Naruto need to have a little spar."
"You got in Lady Tsunade."
"Now now, you do not need to get me Shizune. I am already here." Everyone looked outside the window to see Kakashi standing there, his usual eye smile donning my face. "It has been a while, right Naruto?"
"You are right Kakashi-sensei, have you been good?"
Kakashi just shrugged. "The black cat has been avoiding me, how have you been, I already know you have gotten loads stronger."
I chuckled as I figured he would have seen the Bingo book. "I have and according to Lady Tsunade, we need to have a spar so I can show you what I am made of." Kakashi nodded at this. "However, I have something to spice things up."
Kakashi raised his eyebrows while the two ladies looked confused, Jiraiya looked down knowing what was going to happen.
"If you win, you can have this." I opened my pouch and pulled out the unreleased Icha Icha book. Kakashi's eyes threatened to pop out his skull. "If I win, you are responsible for-" "DEAL!"
Kakashi did not even let me finish. "Kakashi quit acting a fool, Naruto what is Kakashi's end of the deal." Kakashi scratched the back of his head while I cleared my throat.
"As I was saying, I win, you have to train me in lightning manipulation." Kakashi was a little intrigued at this but settled on him just having an affinity for it. "That is very reasonable. Let us spar tomorrow, I am sure you need rest. And I need to get ready." Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves as I just laughed at his urgency.
"Well someone is excited!" Jiraiya laughed along with me while Tsunade got another cup of sake and drank it this time. Shizune just started doing assistant stuff around the room until Tsunade asked about how my trip went. At that, Shizune and Tsunade both listened intently to what I had to say. I regaled them stories of where I went until it started getting dark. By that point, Shizune said she needed to go while Tsunade said she needed to get back to paperwork. I excused myself after promising to tell them both more some other time. I left the two Sannin alone as Shizune left right before me. I knew what was about to happen.
'I am proud of you Pervy-Sage.'
I shunshined back to my apartment where I knew it to always be. There was a note on the wall which read, 'Welcome Back Naruto!'. I grabbed the key from the spot I always hid it and opened the door.
"How nice of someone to clean this place for me." The apartment had been repainted, refurbished, and my plants had been kept alive. I checked the shelves to see they were stocked with ramen and other foods. The bedroom had been redone with a new bed, a TV, and other small things to make it more homey. I went to the bathroom to see new tile in the place and new amenities.
"I could get use to this." After my long-anticipated shower, back in my home, I laid down to let the sleep take over me.
Meanwhile
"Gai."
Gai was in his apartment doing push-ups when his eternal rival showed up.
"KAKASHI! What are you doing here at this hour of the day?" Kakashi hardly ever showed up at Gai's apartment unless for something really important.
"Will you train with me to fight Naruto? I have to win at all costs. I have 16 hours until it is time."
You might as well have told Gai that Rock Lee can unlock the Gate of Death without dying. The joy that his eternal rival finally wanted to train with him was immense.
With tears in his eyes, "Kakashi...OF COURSE I WILL TRAIN WITH YOU!
Kakashi could only wonder what he got himself into.
Next morning
"SAKURA!" It was eight in the morning, when the pink haired girl heard a scream of her name from outside her house. She looked outside the window to see her best friend waving at her.
"INO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE SO EARLY!" 'Seriously.'
"NARUTO IS BACK IN TOWN! HE GOT BACK YESTERDAY!"
Something washed over Sakura as the statement of her teammate being back in town brought an emotion she had not had in a while. Joy.
"WHERE IS HE!?"
"I DO NOT KNOW! THAT IS WHY I CAME TO ASK YOU BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EITHER SO WHO DOES!"
"HOLD ON!"
Sakura got dressed as she went down to talk to Ino closer. She emerged from her house in her day to day shinobi garb.
"Let's ask Lady Tsunade. She will know." Ino nodded in agreement as they both set off for the Hokage Tower.
"I do not know where Naruto is." That statement made the two girl's heads drop as the person who would definitely know, did not. "However, him and Kakashi will be having a fight later today. You can see him then."
Ino and Sakura looked at each other before thanking Lady Tsunade and leaving the room. 'Everyone wants to see Naruto. Hmmm, that would be fun.' A grin that seemed like a wolf seeing a carcass appeared on her face as she summoned Shizune for the plan. Shizune loved it as well. All that needed to happen was the steps to.
"GUYS HAVE YOU ALL HEARD! YOSH KAKASHI-SENSEI AND NARUTO ARE GOING TO HAVE A FIGHT IN THE ARENA! IT WILL BE MOST YOUTHFUL TO SEE!" It was rare the entirety of the Konoha 11 gathered together two days in a row, but the rumors and flyers around town proved they needed to again.
"I know right! I am excited." Sakura had been waiting forever for Naruto to return, his reveal in the fight would prove to be a great way to reintroduce him.
"Are we sure he can go against Kakashi-sensei though? Kakashi is one of the strongest in the village." Choji like always was voicing the concerns.
"I do not thinn Lady Tsunade would match the two up if Naruto could at least not put on a show." Shikamaru made eye contact with Neji as they both knew it was very likely, as Jounin, they had access to the Bingo book of Konoha. The Shiro sen Kenshi was Naruto and he was listed as A-rank. He was likely the strongest in the group by far. His battle will prove it or not.
"I guess Lady Tsunade wants to make money off this thing. She wants everyone to attend at the arena." Tenten pointed out an obvious that everyone agreed with.
"I-i-i believe N-naruto will win." The shy Hyuuga with the massive crush voiced her opinion which some agreed, some were conflicted, some doubted.
"Well, no point in looking for Naruto. Let's go train while we wait until it is about time to head over." The group agreed as they headed to the Team 7 training ground to waste time away until the afternoon.
"Who are you guys betting on?" The Jounin lounge was buzzing as the flyer stood in the center of the room, the most anticipated event to date. The Copy Ninja Hatake, an elite Jounin and shinobi approaching Kage level. The other side was the unconfirmed White Flash, a supposedly A-rank shinobi nobody has seen in 3 years. Genma surprisingly aswered Asuma's question.
"If he is like the last Flash I knew, my money is on the kid."
"But we don't know his skills, I am going Kakashi. The man is next in line for Hokage."
"Naruto is young, Kakashi is getting up there."
"All I know is I am betting on both. I make more if Naruto wins, either way I will make money."
The chatter continued on as the buzz for the match continued to rage.
"You know Grandma Tsunade, turning me into entertainment is not exactly what I imagined I would return here for."
Jiraiya and I had been hiding to make my arrival a secret until after me and Kakashi fight. Now I was being forced to be a surprise gift for the village.
"Now now kid, this is a way for you to get a promotion. You will have judges who score you, depending on your score is what your new rank will be."
"So I have to show off..." I just gave the shameless woman a deadpan as he sipped her tea.
"You can if you want."
'Basically I have to.' I really did not want to show people my tricks, Kakashi would be strong enough to force me to. I just sighed in exasperation.
"What is in it for me?"
Tsunade looked contemplative for a minute before giving me something. I looked it over, before sliding it in my pocket. "That is acceptable Grandma."
She just nodded as she continued sipping her tea. "Say Naruto, why have you not seen your friends yet?"
"I miss them, but I figured this battle will reintroduce me to them in a more Uzumaki style." My signature grin adopted my face as I started walking out the room.
"Anything else you need Lady Tsunade?"
"No Naruto, see you at the arena."
The door closed as I shunshined out to a spot where I would get ready for the fight later.
Answering two things I saw in the reviews.
1. Pairings, there will be one, just stay tuned.
2. Dark Naruto, do not worry, like he said he will come back. Just trust the process.
Next chapter will be the fight.