The return to Konoha was unusually quiet.
The mission had been completed successfully, yet a strange tension lingered between the three shinobi as they walked through the village gates.
Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well, that was easier than expected."
Hinata walked beside him, glancing toward him occasionally before quickly looking away. Her cheeks still held a faint pink hue.
Ino walked slightly behind them, her eyes silently observing every small interaction between the two.
"Easy for you maybe," Ino said, crossing her arms. "You practically blasted them with that weird chakra of yours."
Naruto laughed awkwardly.
"I told you, I don't even understand it yet."
Hinata spoke softly.
"But… it felt very stable during the battle."
Naruto looked at her with surprise.
"Really?"
Hinata nodded slowly.
"Yes… especially when you were close to me."
The moment the words left her mouth, she froze. Her face instantly turned red.
Ino's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? That sounds very specific."
Hinata panicked.
"I-I meant during teamwork efficiency!"
Naruto scratched his head, completely oblivious to the tension forming.
As they reached the Hokage building, Tsunade was already waiting for them inside her office. Her sharp gaze immediately focused on Naruto.
"Report."
Naruto explained the ambush and their encounter with the masked shinobi. Tsunade listened carefully, her fingers tapping slowly against her desk.
"Three unknown attackers using high-level chakra suppression…" Tsunade muttered. "That is not random bandit behavior."
Shizune stepped forward.
"Do you think they were targeting Naruto specifically?"
Tsunade did not answer immediately. Instead, she stood up and walked toward Naruto again.
"Stand still."
Naruto sighed but obeyed.
Tsunade placed her palm over his seal once more.
The golden chakra pulsed again, stronger than before.
This time, the chakra spread slightly across Tsunade's arm, creating a faint golden glow around her hand.
Tsunade's breath caught slightly. The warmth felt almost… comforting. A strange emotion surfaced in her chest, one she had not felt in years.
She quickly withdrew her hand.
"…Your chakra output has increased."
Naruto blinked.
"That sounds bad."
"It means your power is growing faster than your control."
Hinata stepped forward slightly, concern visible in her eyes.
"Is he in danger?"
Tsunade glanced toward her, noticing how close Hinata stood to Naruto.
"…Possibly."
Ino frowned slightly.
"Then shouldn't he be isolated for safety?"
Naruto immediately protested.
"Hey! I'm still right here, you know!"
Tsunade folded her arms.
"For now, Naruto will undergo personal training supervision."
Naruto groaned.
"Why does that sound worse than punishment?"
Tsunade smirked slightly.
"Because I will be the one supervising you."
Naruto instantly stiffened.
Hinata looked slightly worried, while Ino raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
Later that evening, Naruto stood in one of Konoha's private training fields. The area was completely sealed with barrier tags placed around the perimeter.
Tsunade stood across from him.
"Release your chakra slowly," she instructed.
Naruto took a deep breath and focused.
Golden chakra slowly surrounded his body, flickering like a gentle flame.
Tsunade watched carefully. The power radiating from Naruto felt ancient… and alive.
"Increase the output," she ordered.
Naruto clenched his fists as the aura grew brighter. The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Tsunade stepped closer, analyzing the chakra flow. As she approached, the golden aura shifted subtly, becoming calmer.
Naruto noticed it immediately.
"…It reacts when people get close," he said quietly.
Tsunade frowned.
"That is unusual… chakra normally destabilizes under external interference."
Naruto hesitated before speaking again.
"It also reacts differently with Hinata."
Tsunade's expression changed slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"When she touches me… it stabilizes faster."
Silence filled the training field.
Tsunade looked away briefly, her eyes thoughtful.
"…Interesting."
Meanwhile, from a distance beyond the barrier, two figures secretly watched the training ground.
Hinata stood hidden behind a tree, her Byakugan active but carefully suppressed.
Beside her, Ino leaned casually against a branch.
"So… you came to watch too, huh?"
Hinata flinched slightly.
"I was just… worried about Naruto-kun."
Ino smirked faintly.
"Sure you were."
Both of them continued watching silently as Naruto trained under Tsunade's supervision.
Neither of them noticed that the golden chakra occasionally flickered toward their direction, as if responding to their presence.
Back in the training field, Tsunade crossed her arms.
"Naruto… if this power continues evolving…"
Her voice grew serious.
"You may attract enemies far stronger than anything you have faced before."
Naruto grinned confidently.
"Then I'll just get stronger, dattebayo."
Tsunade stared at him for a moment before sighing softly.
"…That reckless optimism of yours might actually save the world someday."
But deep inside, she could not ignore the strange warmth that lingered in her chest every time Naruto's chakra flared near her.
And high above the hidden skies of the ninja world, ancient forces continued to awaken—drawn by the rebirth of a power long thought to be extinct.