Chapter 24: A Hero's Return

The sun dipped low over the horizon as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the gates of Konoha, their mission finally complete. The village seemed peaceful, the hum of daily life a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the Land of Spring.

Naruto walked at the head of the trio, his chest puffed out with pride. This had been his first mission as team leader, and though it had started with Sasuke's usual bristling skepticism, Naruto knew they had come out stronger for it.

"I still don't get why they put you in charge," Sasuke muttered, though the venom in his words was less biting than usual.

"Because I'm awesome, that's why!" Naruto grinned, flashing a cheeky thumbs-up. "Face it, teme. You're just mad I'm moving up in the world faster than you."

Sasuke shot him a glare, his Sharingan faintly glowing in the fading light. "Keep talking, and I'll show you who's really moving faster."

Sakura sighed, stepping between them before they could escalate. "Can you two not? We just got back from a mission where we didn't try to kill each other. Let's not ruin the streak."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, but his grin didn't fade. "Fine, fine. Anyway, you've got to admit we crushed it out there."

Naruto's thoughts drifted back to the mission. Princess Koyuki Kazahana—no, the Daimyō of the Land of Spring—had been in danger, targeted by the rogue ninja Doto and his men. Protecting her had been more than just another mission for Naruto; it had been a personal dream come true.

"She's my favorite actress," Naruto said out loud, startling his teammates. "I mean, did you see how cool it was when she gave me that scarf? I'm basically a celebrity now!"

Sakura rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling at his enthusiasm. "You're not a celebrity, Naruto. You're just lucky she didn't see you trip over your own feet during the fight."

Naruto scowled. "That was tactical! I was distracting him!"

Sasuke snorted, clearly unimpressed. "If you're done fantasizing, maybe we can talk about the part where I saved you from getting your head blown off."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto grumbled. "But who was it that wrapped that guy up with my Wood Release, huh? He didn't see that coming!"

Sasuke didn't respond, but his silence wasn't dismissive. He had to admit—though he'd never say it aloud—that Naruto's use of Wood Release had been impressive. The growing tree had ensnared Doto at just the right moment, turning the tide in their favor. Then they had converged with a trifecta of Sakura's White Light Chakra Sabre, Naruto's Rasengan, and Sasuke's Chidori.

The trio fell into their usual banter as they strolled through the village streets, waving at familiar faces and savoring the comfort of being home. Naruto took a deep breath, letting the scents of the village fill his lungs.

"I could really go for some Ichiraku right now," he said, stretching his arms behind his head.

Sakura shook her head. "Not until you file the mission report. You know Tsunade-sama will throw a fit if you don't."

Naruto groaned dramatically. "Why can't you write it? You're way better at that stuff!"

"Because you're the team leader," she replied with a smirk. "This was your mission, remember?"

Sasuke smirked faintly. "Get used to it, dope. Leadership has its responsibilities."

Naruto shot him a glare. "You're loving this, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

As they reached the fork in the road, Naruto sighed and waved them off. "Fine, fine. I'll go write the stupid report. But don't think this means I'm not hitting up Ichiraku after!"

"Good luck with that," Sakura called after him. "I'm going home to sleep."

Sasuke gave a curt nod, turning down the road toward the Uchiha district. His Sharingan, still always active, faintly caught the shifting glow of the village's lanterns as the night settled in.

Naruto watched his two teammates leave, a satisfied grin on his face. They'd come a long way since their first mission together. Sure, Sasuke was still a jerk, and Sakura still bossed him around, but they'd all grown—stronger, closer, more like a real team.

"Guess being a leader isn't so bad," he muttered to himself as he headed toward the Hokage Tower.

The village felt alive, and for the first time in a long time, Naruto felt like he truly belonged.