CHAPTER 13: WELCOME BACK, NARUTO UZUMAKI!
"It's been nearly two and a half years."
"That it has"
—-
"Hey, Konahamaru!"
"Oh, Hey Sakura sister"
Sakura ran into Konahamaru while traveling to the gate to pick up the morning check-in sheet. Konahamaru was with Moegi and Udon after they had just completed their mission. Konahamaru followed Sakura, with his team following him. All talking about about generic things until the conversation landed on Naruto. "Yeah," said Sakura, "He should be coming back soon. Sooner rather than later I hope". "I bet he comes back a incredible Ninja," said Konahamaru.
—-
At the gate, Sakura met with the guards, Izumo and Kotetsu. "Here you go." said Kotetsu, "Oh, someone is back who I think you'll remember."
"Naruto!"
Sakura's gaze is drawn to the center of the village where she notices Jiraiya. "Always rambunctious" she hears him say. Quickly she follows his line of sight to the top of a pole, where she sees a boy in orange shout: "Now this takes me back! The village hasn't changed a bit! I'm home everyone! Naruto Uzumaki is back in the hidden leaf village!"
"Hey, Naruto!"
Naruto jumps down to greet his teammate spouting out, "Oh, Hey Sakura!".
"Wow, you've really grown. You're taller than me now," said Sakura measuring herself against Naruto with her hand.
"Oh yeah, I guess I have."
"Do you think I've grown more womanish?" she asked while lightly blushing.
"Nope! You're the same Sakura you've always been!" said Naruto, causing Sakura to pout.
'This boy knows nothing about women' thought Jiraiya in the background.
"Hey check out my improved sexy jutsu," said Konahamaru, Using a Jutsu far more provocative than he's anything previously shown. "Don't use jutsu like that, it's beneath you," said Naruto. Besides, my new Sexy Ninjutsu is far better! Check it Out!" he said making the hand signs.
"IDIOT!" sakura yelled hitting him in the head. "Don't pull that crap anymore!".
"Hey Naruto," yelled Jiraiya sensei, "I'm gonna report in with Tsunade. Hang around the village for a bit then meet me at the Hokage's office in three hours. Bring Sakura with you."
—-
Naruto began to walk with Sakura through the village, passing locations that had emblazoned themselves in memory. The swing was the last stop before they headed for the Hokage's office. "I remember sitting on this thing every day, waiting for a friend," Naruto said gesturing sadly toward the academy swing. "You don't need it now though," Sakura said, "You have me, and Ino, Iruka, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and so many more!".
"I know, I just remembered is all."
"You have lots of people here for you Naruto!"
—-
After one final moment of reminiscing, the pair headed for the Hokage's mansion. On the way they ran into two members of team ten, Ino and Choji. "Hey Ino, check out who finally came back from training!" shouted Sakura.
"Oh, Hey Sakura. Naruto," Ino yelled, "Welcome back! We should hang out sometime! Ya know, get reacquainted!"
"Hey, Ino! Are you buying the ramen?"
"I guess."
"It's a date."
This caused Ino to lightly blush, not expecting Naruto to say that word.
"Alright," she teased back, "But only if it's just the two of us."
"Hey, Choji." Naruto said, nervously shifting the focus away from his "date". "How you been man?"
Choji responded: "I've been busy. Ever since making Chunin, I've been working so much I've lost weight. I don't even have time to train anymore!".
"Oh crap!" Naruto practically screamed. "Who else is a chunin?". "Everyone else in our class is a chunin!" responded the Akamichi.
"What, you Sakura?"
"Yep"
"And you Ino?"
"Of course!"
"What about Gaara? Is he a Chunin?"
"Gaara… he's a special case…" said Temari, cutting herself in "My brother is Kazekage!". She said with Shikamaru dragging behind her.
"Woah… Kazekage huh?", Naruto said, "That's awesome! Now I just have to catch up to him! Wow Kazekage." After mulling over what he just learned Naruto spoke up, "So why are you two together?" he asked referring to Shikamaru and Temari, "are you two on a date?" he teased.
"No," responded Shikamaru, "she's just here for the chunin exams."
"So Temari, you're not a chunin?"
"I'm just here to plan. I made chunin."
"Naruto," said Shikamaru, "When are you going to take the exams again?".
After that was said, a team of gennin appeared demanding to speak with Naruto. The tallest one said, "Naruto Uzumaki, the Hokage is ordering you to her office immediately!"
—-
"That was an abuse of power you know," Jiraiya told Tsunade at the office.
"Yeah, but if I didn't do it they never would have made it."
"You're probably right."
"Right about what pervy sage?" Naruto asked, jumping through the office window with Sakura in tow.
"Naruto why are you late?" demanded the Hokage.
"Sorry granny, I was just excited to be back in the village after so long," said Naruto, nervously laughing. "So, how did your training go?" Tsunade asked. "Do you really think I would bring him back without results?" said Jiraiya. "Mission accomplished granny!" said Naruto. "We'll see," said Tsunade, "I have an opponent for you two". "Me too?" asked Sakura. "Yes, I need to see how well you two work together still and how powerful you've gotten."
"You've got it, granny! So, who are we fighting?"
"He's right outside the door" Tsunade answered. Three knocks are heard at the door. "Come in."
Asuma walks through the door. A lit cigarette between his lips, a smile plastered on his face. "Hey Naruto, long time no see!". "So we're fighting you Asuma sensei?" "Yep, I'll be at training ground three in one hour. Don't be late this time," Asuma said, disappearing into a puff of smoke. "How did he know we were late?" asked Sakura. "I don't know," said Naruto. "Well, either way, we have to hurry. I don't want to be late again!" said Sakura.
Naruto and Sakura hopped through the village as fast as they could. After already leaving a poor impression by showing up late, they didn't want to repeat their mistake. They moved silently for several minutes until, "Training ground three, that takes me back."
"Yeah, that's where team seven first trained," said Sakura sadly.
"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi. I miss those days."
"Yeah, maybe we can bring back Sasuke though."
"We'll bring him back for sure. Believe it!"
They continued on to the training ground, where they would meet several familiar faces.