*THUD!*
Tsunade's iron fist collides familiarly with Naruto's head, instantly sending him sprawling to the ground. Clutching his swollen head, he yells:
"Ow! That hurts! Granny Tsunade, why'd you hit me?"
He looks up at Tsunade with teary eyes.
The onlookers shudder.
"You little brat! Still laughing? Where have you been for two months? Why didn't you contact Konoha at all?" Tsunade demands, her face grim.
Her fists still crackle.
"Ow… it's a long story, Granny Tsunade. We went to this super, super amazing place. If I tell you, I guarantee you'll be shocked!" Naruto lifts his head, brimming with enthusiasm, gesturing animatedly.
His eyes sparkle as he says "super amazing."
"Oh? Super amazing? Enough to shock me? Alright, let's hear it. Just how incredible was this place you visited?" Tsunade sneers, pausing before adding, "If it doesn't shock me, you know the consequences, right?"
Her left and right hands clasp together.
With a slight flex, her knuckles pop loudly.
The four ninja world members gulp in unison.
The Fifth Hokage is terrifying.
"Well… Granny Tsunade, I'll explain everything we experienced these past two months in detail, but… before that, I think we need a truly secure place." Yamato says, his face serious.
"Oh? Is that so…" Tsunade's expression slowly turns serious.
She realizes that something keeping Naruto and the others from contacting Konoha for two months must be extraordinary.
She quickly leads the four, along with Shikaku and Shizune, back to the Hokage's office, sets up a barrier, and begins questioning them.
"Hokage-sama, what I'm about to say may be hard to believe for you and Shikaku-senpai, but it's all true. Please trust us." Yamato says earnestly.
"Of course, as Hokage, I always trust you all. Whatever shocking information it is, just say it." Tsunade nods seriously.
"Yamato, we all trust you." Shikaku adds, nodding.
"So, here's what happened… while chasing Mukade, he opened the Ryumyaku seal, and we crossed space and time to another world… that world was so strange…" Yamato slowly recounts their experience in the other world, honestly and thoroughly.
When he mentions that the Shinobi Empire has a population of over a hundred million, with millions of soldiers equivalent to Kakashi, Tsunade suddenly can't hold back, clutching her stomach and bursting into laughter:
"Hahahaha… hahahaha… ahahahaha…"
"Hokage-sama, what's so funny?" Yamato frowns.
"Yeah, Granny Tsunade, why're you laughing all of a sudden? Captain Yamato hasn't finished!" Naruto looks confused.
"Hahahaha… hahahaha… I… I didn't mean to laugh, but what you said is just too funny. Shinobi Empire? A hundred million people, a million Kakashi? Yamato… do you even hear yourself?" Tsunade roars with laughter.
Shikaku, beside her, covers his face, unable to hold back:
"Yamato, I think you might've been hit by a genjutsu that altered your memories. We'll have a genjutsu-specialist Jonin check you later."
"Granny Tsunade, Uncle Shikaku, what are you talking about? We weren't hit by any genjutsu! Everything Captain Yamato said is true. Why don't you believe us?" Naruto shouts, a bit angry.
"Alright, alright, Naruto, stop yelling. Shikaku, call Kakashi, who just finished a mission and is resting at home. With his Sharingan, he should spot genjutsu traces more clearly." Tsunade says, shaking her head at Naruto.
"Damn it! We're not lying! We really crossed to another world, where there was another group of 'us.' The Sasuke there, and me, were even stronger than I imagined. That Sasuke could summon a giant god 250 meters tall!"
"That giant god had six arms, each holding a weapon. One swing could flatten a forest for dozens of kilometers, even slicing through mountain peaks. And the other me—one punch could split the sky. It's all true, Granny Tsunade!" Naruto yells.
"Granny Tsunade, please believe us!"
"What Naruto and Yamato-sensei said is true." Sakura adds.
"So… you've all been hit by a genjutsu. And this genjutsu seems terrifying, subtly altering your perceptions. Shikaku, hurry and get someone." Tsunade urges Nara Shikaku.
This infuriates Naruto.
He takes a deep breath and shouts: "Wait, Granny Tsunade! I can prove everything we said is true!"
"Oh? Prove it? Prove a genjutsu's lie? Interesting. Alright, how will you prove it?" Tsunade eyes Naruto and the others with interest.
"The people from the Shinobi Empire taught us martial arts." Naruto says, his face serious.
"Martial arts? You mean those powerful techniques used by the warriors you first met, who defeated you? What were they—Shigan? Rankyaku? Kami-e?" Tsunade recalls Yamato's words.
"Exactly! It's called Rokushiki, one of the Shinobi Empire's core martial arts. Shigan, Rankyaku, Soru, Geppo, Kami-e, and Tekkai." Naruto nods.
"Oh? Then show me. If it's real, I might start believing you a little." Tsunade says, her expression growing serious.
"Then let's go to the open field on the village outskirts. Don't be shocked, Granny Tsunade, because I'm super strong now!" Naruto says, his expression brimming with confidence by the end.
This confidence is far greater than when he returned with Jiraiya two months ago.
"Such unexpected confidence…" Tsunade looks surprised.
"Because I'm a genius in the eyes of Iruka-sensei in that other world. And the martial arts there are really, really amazing!" Naruto says earnestly.
"Then I'll enjoy this properly." Tsunade finally nods, heading for the door. As she walks, she says:
"Shikaku, call Kakashi. Tell him to thoroughly assess Naruto's strength."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama." Shikaku nods.
The group then leaves the Hokage's office.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Konoha outskirts, near the forest area.
Kakashi lazily following Shikaku, appears before Naruto and the others.
"Kakashi-sensei, over here!" Naruto waves enthusiastically from afar.