"Wow, Pervy Sage, Konoha's changed so much! Look, there are Pokémon patrolling the streets now!"
On the main street of Konoha, Naruto looked around, eyes filled with wonder.
He turned his head from side to side with a wide grin, as if everything around him was fresh and new.
Especially when he saw squads in uniform, each with a Pokémon by their side and serious expressions on their faces.
Jiraiya nodded at Naruto's words, his own eyes full of astonishment.
Though he'd known Tsunade had plans for this when they left, he hadn't expected things to develop this far—and this smoothly.
Unlike Naruto, who was simply impressed by how cool the patrol squads looked, Jiraiya noticed something more: while the people in the teams were ordinary civilians, the Pokémon beside them had already reached Chūnin-level strength.
And the one leading the group? The aura of the Pokémon next to them felt like a Jōnin's.
"Pervy Sage, look! Konoha even has so many Pokémon shops now!"
Naruto pointed excitedly at the various storefronts: training gear for Pokémon, clothing stores for Pokémon, and all kinds of other shops. He couldn't help but share his excitement.
Jiraiya nodded again. "Yeah, I didn't expect Pokémon culture to spread so fast."
Back when they left, Konoha had a few shops like these, but they were rare—and what few there were only offered basic items like accessories or clothes.
Now? The number of stores was comparable to those serving humans. And the variety had multiplied beyond comparison.
"Pervy Sage, look at how crowded these stores are! And everyone seems to have a Pokémon now!"
Naruto's amazement deepened as he watched people inside Pokémon shops, almost all of them with their own partner Pokémon by their side.
Even in shops that didn't specialize in Pokémon, it was rare to see someone without one.
Jiraiya couldn't help but smile. It was clear—Pokémon had become fully integrated into Konoha life.
They weren't just tools or partners anymore. They were part of the people's lives.
"Hey, isn't that Choji's family's barbecue shop? Why is it called Snorlax BBQ now?"
Naruto pointed at a familiar location, now bearing a completely unfamiliar name. Confused at first, he suddenly lit up. "I get it now! Choji's family must've gone bankrupt from Snorlax eating too much. Snorlax is amazing!"
Jiraiya twitched at the corners of his mouth. Only Naruto could jump to that conclusion. Just changing a shop name meant bankruptcy?
And what was with that admiring tone? If someone from the Akimichi clan overheard this, they'd probably chase Naruto down in a rage.
Shaking his head, Jiraiya calmed himself and said, "Alright, Naruto, enough sightseeing for now. We should go see Tsunade. You can explore more later."
Naruto nodded, reluctantly glancing back at the bustling street. "Okay, let's go find Granny Tsunade first."
"Naruto?"
Just as the two were about to leave, a familiar voice called out from behind.
Naruto and Jiraiya turned to see Sakura walking up with her short hair.
Naruto's face lit up with joy. "Sakura! Long time no see!"
He rushed over, the happiness in his eyes impossible to hide.
But then, suddenly, Naruto burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Sakura! I'm taller than you now! You're the shorty!"
The people nearby twitched at his words.
That warm, nostalgic reunion vibe vanished instantly.
"Naruto-nii, welcome back! Take this!"
A young figure rushed toward Naruto and began forming hand seals. "Sexy Jutsu!"
Poof! In the next second, Jiraiya was blasted backward by a nosebleed, sent flying.
Naruto, meanwhile, looked delighted again. "Konohamaru? Hahaha, not bad, not bad! But your jutsu still needs work. Bigger in the front, more curve in the back!"
Konohamaru nodded seriously, reverted to normal, and pulled out a notebook to jot down Naruto's feedback.
But just then, both boys shivered.
The temperature seemed to drop.
They turned around slowly, eyes full of fear. "Sakura… Moegi…"
BAM—
"Ahhh—!"
Two fists came crashing down on their heads, followed by searing pain and loud yelps.
Moegi gave Konohamaru a single smack, then dragged him away without another word.
But Naruto? He wasn't so lucky.
Sakura didn't stop at one punch. She grabbed him and slammed him repeatedly into the ground.
Even Jiraiya winced. "Why does this feel… so much like Tsunade?"
A while later, Naruto finally calmed down, his head covered in lumps. The excitement from returning home had been thoroughly beaten out of him.
He rubbed his swollen head, eyes full of pain, and gave Sakura a pitiful look.
"Ahem—"
Jiraiya cleared his throat and stepped in. "Alright, we should get going to Tsunade."
Sakura nodded, finally remembering. "Right, Lady Tsunade asked me to bring you to rest. She said she'd meet you after the Chūnin Exams."
"Chūnin Exams?"
Naruto looked puzzled.
Sakura nodded and tilted her head curiously. "Naruto, you're still a Genin, right?"
"Yeah," Naruto replied without thinking, then shot back, "Wait, aren't you a Genin too?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'm already a Chūnin."
"What?!"
Naruto shot to his feet, eyes wide. "You became a Chūnin too?!"
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, almost everyone from our exam group is a Chūnin now. Shikamaru is even a Jōnin."
Naruto stood there, stunned and speechless. He couldn't even process it.
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