---
Fourth Raikage: "That Naruto is too outrageous! Is he even capable of plucking stars from the sky now?"
Jiraiya: "I didn't expect there could be such a... creative way to win over girls. No, I need to write this down. This is gold for my next book!"
Terumi Mei: "I have to admit... Naruto's a lot more romantic than I expected."
Haruno Sakura: "This is..."
Yamanaka Ino: "Sakura, I know exactly how you feel. Why doesn't this feel romantic at all? If anything... it's a bit terrifying."
Hatake Kakashi: "Unchecked power can easily lead to unintended consequences. Judging from what I've seen, after a year of progress, the Naruto from that other world has completely mastered both the Sage Eyes and Nine Tails' chakra."
Senju Hashirama: "Indeed. With Naruto's talent, it's not surprising. What we just witnessed was only a glimpse of his strength. His real power... is likely much greater."
Ohnoki: "Now I'm really curious. Just how strong has that version of Naruto become? Could he be more powerful than the First Hokage and even Uchiha Madara?"
Uchiha Madara: "Hmph. Nonsense. No one in this world can surpass me—Uchiha Madara!"
Terumi Mei: "But you have to admit, that Naruto doesn't exist in our world. Maybe... just maybe, he actually is stronger than you."
Uchiha Madara: "Hmph!"
Uzumaki Naruto: "Hey, hey, hey! Doesn't anyone care about my progress? I've trained super hard for two years too! I'm strong now!"
Uchiha Sasuke: "...Idiot."
As expected, no one replied to Naruto's protest.
After all, the truth hurts.
The Naruto from that alternate timeline had become terrifyingly powerful. He possessed the Rinnegan, Senjutsu, Wood Style, and full control over the Nine Tails. Any one of those powers is enough to elevate a ninja to legend status. But that version of Naruto... had them all.
He had mastered what most ninja couldn't even dream of touching in their entire lifetimes.
Just then, the black-bordered screen began to fade, gradually replaced by a white border.
As the white screen became clearer, glowing words appeared:
"Two and a half years later..."
---
Uzumaki Naruto: "Hahaha! This is it! I've finally arrived! Let's see how strong I've become after two and a half years of training! I'm definitely not weaker than my alternate self!"
Hatake Kakashi: "Hmm... I have a bad feeling about this."
Jiraiya: "Ahem... Even though I didn't take Naruto for training in this world, he is Minato's son. I've made sure to train him properly!"
Namikaze Minato: "Of course. I believe in you, Jiraiya-sensei. You're the best mentor for Naruto."
Hearing Minato's words, Jiraiya let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He had been under a lot of pressure.
After all, in that other world, Naruto didn't have a master. If anything, the Nine Tails counted as a half-mentor.
But in this world, Jiraiya had trained Naruto personally for over two years.
There was no way he could let Naruto embarrass him—he was one of the Legendary Sannin, after all!
---
Orochimaru: "It looks like Sasuke finally came to me after all. Two years later, huh? This should be interesting..."
---
The screen displays the following text:
[After two and a half years of training, Uzumaki Naruto returned to Konoha with Jiraiya. He hadn't seen the village in a long time.]
["I... Uzumaki Naruto... am back!"]
[Standing atop an electric pole overlooking the familiar sight of Konoha, Naruto beamed with joy.]
[He had grown taller, physically stronger, and more mature in appearance.]
---
Uzumaki Naruto: "Not bad! I look pretty handsome now, huh?"
Haruno Sakura: "Is that really Naruto? He does look... a bit more handsome."
Hyūga Hinata: "Naruto-kun... you're so charming now..."
Inuzuka Kiba: "Tch, just wait. I'm going to become Hokage in two years!"
Tenten: "Kiba... you're really just a boiled shrimp head."
---
[The moment Naruto returned, Lady Tsunade arranged for him to take part in Kakashi's bell test.]
[During this familiar challenge, both Naruto and Sakura showed impressive growth.]
[Over the past two and a half years, Sakura had mastered medical ninjutsu under Tsunade's guidance and developed monstrous strength, leaving Kakashi stunned.]
[Naruto, no longer the reckless fool he once was, had started using strategy.]
[Using tactics from Make-Out Paradise, he successfully outwitted Kakashi and snatched the bell!]
---
Uzumaki Naruto: "Boom! Did you see that? That's the strength I gained through training!"
Hatake Kakashi: "..."
Haruno Sakura: "..."
Uchiha Sasuke: "Still a complete idiot, as expected..."
Uzumaki Naruto: "Eh? Why isn't anyone surprised by how amazing I've become? Snatching the bell from Kakashi-sensei is no small feat!"
---
Namikaze Minato: "...Naruto, I believe you've trained hard over the past two years. But you're still far behind the Naruto in that other world. Kakashi wasn't going all out in that test. Look closely at the screen—he's mastered a more advanced Sharingan ability."
Hatake Kakashi: "As expected of you, Minato-sensei. You're right. I've developed a new technique for the Sharingan... Kamui."
Uchiha Itachi: "Impressive, Kakashi. I didn't expect you to push the Uchiha's Sharingan this far."
---
Naruto's excitement quickly faded.
Thanks to his father's explanation, he realized the truth.
The bell test was just that—a test. Kakashi had gone easy on him.
Even so, Naruto believed his true power had yet to be revealed.
He was eager to show it off.
---
[Suddenly, news arrived that Sunagakure's Kazekage, Gaara, had been captured. As allies, the Sand Village requested immediate support from Konoha.]
[Naruto immediately volunteered. As a fellow Jinchūriki, he understood the pain of being targeted by the Akatsuki better than anyone.]
[Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto were sent on the rescue mission.]
---
Uzumaki Naruto: "What? Gaara became the Fifth Kazekage?!"
Temari: "Even I was surprised... but yes. And he was captured while defending the village."
Gaara: "..."
---
[Their pursuit led them to confront Deidara and Sasori of Akatsuki.]
[A fierce battle ensued.]
[Naruto unleashed a new jutsu—the Big Ball Rasengan—while Kakashi displayed the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan: Kamui.]
[Meanwhile, Sakura teamed up with Granny Chiyo and defeated Sasori.]
[Deidara was forced to sever his own arms to escape.]
---
[Unfortunately, Gaara had already had the Tailed Beast extracted from him.]
[In a final act of redemption, Granny Chiyo used a forbidden technique she created, sacrificing her own life to bring Gaara back.]
[When Gaara awoke and saw Naruto, no words were needed. Their bond as Jinchūriki said it all.]
[This battle made one thing clear—Akatsuki was no joke. Each of their members possessed strength on par with the Kage.]
[And it was only a matter of time before they came for the Nine Tails inside Naruto.]
---
Fourth Raikage: "So the Akatsuki finally reveal themselves... If they try to mess with the Cloud Village, I'll crush every last one of them!"
Deidara: "Hmph. Sasori died? Boo-hoo. I'm crying... just pretending though. Art is an explosion, after all!"
Sasori of the Red Sand: "You think you're better than me, Deidara? Tch. Don't get too cocky."
Haruno Sakura: "Looks like I've still got a long way to go. But thanks to Master Tsunade's training, I've finally caught up. Maybe this time, I'll be strong enough to bring Sasuke back with my own hands!"
---
To be continued...