The wind tasted different here.
Deep within the forests of the Fire Country, the air was usually thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. But as the trees began to thin out, the breeze carried something else—something warm, dusty, and overwhelmingly nostalgic.
Two figures walked along the dirt path. The first was a towering man with a wild mane of white hair, wooden clogs clacking rhythmically against the stones. The second was younger, dressed in a black and orange tracksuit that looked fresh, though slightly travel-worn.
Naruto Uzumaki stopped. He adjusted the metal headband on his forehead, the leaf symbol glinting in the sunlight.
"We're almost there, Pervy Sage," Naruto said, his voice deeper than it had been two and a half years ago. It had a scratchy, mature edge to it now.
Jiraiya stopped and smirked, looking down at his student. "Don't get too excited, kid. We've been walking for days. Save your energy."
But Naruto wasn't listening. The excitement was bubbling in his chest like boiling water. He couldn't just walk anymore. He broke into a sprint, his sandals digging into the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust as he rushed toward a tall utility pole at the edge of the cliff.
With the ease of a jungle cat, he scrambled up the wood, ignoring the height, until he perched on the very top.
He squinted against the sun. There it was.
Konoha. The Village Hidden in the Leaves.
It looked exactly the same, yet completely different. The green roofs spread out like a fan, the busy streets buzzing with life even from this distance. And looming over it all was the great stone monument—the Hokage Mountain. Four stone faces stared stoically over the village, and right next to them, a fifth face: the legendary healer, Tsunade.
"It's been a while..." Naruto whispered to the wind.
He stood up on the narrow pole, balancing effortlessly, and threw his arms wide open as if trying to hug the entire village.
"I'M BAAAACK!" he screamed, his voice echoing off the canyon walls. "EVERYONE! NARUTO UZUMAKI HAS RETURNED!"
***
Down at the main gates of Konoha, two chunin guards looked up from their boredom. Izumo and Kotetsu had been guarding this gate for years, and nothing ever surprised them.
"Did you hear that shouting?" Kotetsu asked, tilting his head.
Izumo squinted at the horizon. "Probably just some kids playing."
Then, they saw them. Two figures walking out of the heat haze. As they got closer, the guards' jaws slowly dropped.
The older man was unmistakably Master Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. But the boy...
He was tall. Much taller than before. His shoulders were broader, and his jawline was sharper. The goofy grin was the same, but the eyes—those bright blue eyes—held a new kind of confidence.
"Is that...?" Izumo stammered.
"Yo!" Naruto grinned, stopping in front of the desk. He placed his hands on his hips. "You guys haven't changed a bit! Still slacking off at the front gate?"
"Naruto?" Kotetsu blinked, leaning over the counter. " holy crap, you've really grown."
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, laughing. "You think? I finally got rid of those old rags I used to wear. Check out the new fit." He spun around, showing off the black fabric on his jacket. "So, how's everyone? Is the Old Lady... I mean, the Hokage, around?"
Before the guards could answer, a high-pitched voice cut through the air.
"Coming through! Make way!"
Three distinct poofs of smoke exploded in the middle of the street. Out of the smoke emerged three kids wearing oversized sunglasses.
" The Konohamaru Corps has arrived!" the center boy shouted, striking a dramatic pose.
Naruto blinked. "Konohamaru?"
The boy froze. He lowered his sunglasses, squinting at the tall teenager in orange. "Boss? Is that you, Boss?"
"Yeah, it's me!"
Konohamaru's face lit up with pure adoration. "You're back! You're finally back!" He turned to his two friends, Moegi and Udon. "Look! It's really him!"
But before the reunion could get emotional, a familiar presence walked up behind the kids.
"What is all the commotion out here?"
Naruto froze. He knew that voice. He turned slowly.
Standing there, holding a stack of documents, was a young woman. She was taller now, too. Her pink hair was cut short, framing a face that had lost its baby fat. She wore a red qipao dress and black gloves.
Sakura Haruno.
For a second, nobody said anything. The wind blew a few leaves between them.
"Sakura..." Naruto said softly.
Sakura's green eyes widened. She scanned him from head to toe, processing the changes. The height. The clothes. The way he stood.
"Naruto?" she breathed. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You... you're taller than me now."
Naruto grinned, puffing out his chest. "Heh. I told you I'd come back amazing, didn't I?"
Sakura walked closer, circling him. "You look... different. More mature. You don't look like that annoying little brat anymore."
Naruto blushed slightly, scratching his cheek. "Well, you know. I trained hard."
Konohamaru tugged on Naruto's sleeve. "Hey, Boss! Since you're back, I gotta show you! I've been practicing that *jutsu* you taught me! I've perfected it!"
Naruto's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, Konohamaru, not here—"
Too late. Konohamaru performed the hand signs. *Transformation Jutsu!*
POOF.
In a cloud of smoke, Konohamaru vanished. In his place stood a curvy, nude woman (covered conveniently by smoke clouds) pressing against Naruto. It was the infamous Sexy Jutsu.
Naruto didn't react. He didn't get a nosebleed. He didn't cheer.
He just looked disappointed.
Sakura watched closely, her fist clenched. *If he reacts like an idiot...*
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "Konohamaru," he said, sounding like a stern teacher. "I'm not a kid anymore. I don't do stupid pranks like that. You need to focus on real ninja training."
Sakura relaxed her fist. She smiled, genuinely impressed. *Wow,* she thought. *He really has grown up. He's actually acting like a gentleman.*
"I'm sorry, Boss," Konohamaru said, transforming back into a kid.
"Besides," Naruto whispered, leaning down with a dark, mischievous grin. "That jutsu is weak. I've developed something way better..."
Sakura's smile vanished. Her eye twitched.
"Check this out!" Naruto giggled. "The New and Improved...!"
**WHAM.**
A fist collided with Naruto's face with the force of a wrecking ball.
Naruto went flying backward, skidding across the dirt road and crashing into a wooden fence. Birds scattered from the trees.
"YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL, YOU IDIOT!" Sakura screamed, her face red with fury, steam practically rising from her head.
Jiraiya watched from the sidelines, laughing heartily. "Well," the sage said, crossing his arms. "It feels like we're home."
Naruto groaned, peeling himself out of the debris of the fence. His cheek was already swelling up. He looked at Sakura—scary, violent, and loud.
Yeah. It was good to be back.