Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto's Life ❯ His Return ( Prologue )

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Prologue

His Return

 

Walking up the forest path that lead to the Hidden Leaf village Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto was returning home with Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sennin and his sensei of 3 years was walking beside him. Jiraiya was busy thinking of doing some research as soon as they got back and they had reported to the Hokage. Snickering like a girl Jiraiya was to busy Day dreaming and walked right into a tree bringing him right back to reality. Naruto, having seen the whole thing broke out in a fit of laughter. Clutching his sides, Naruto continued toward the now visible gates of the village. Reaching the gates they were stopped by 2 Jounin guards. “Who are you and what is your business here?” they asked stiffly with a ring of authority in their voices. Pulling out there city passes Jiraiya and Naruto were immediately let through. As soon as they where through the gates the guards vanished as if they never were. Walking down the familiar streets Naruto noticed that nothing seemed to have changed. People still went to the market, the ramen shop was still there, and even the park looked the same. In fact everything was the same, even the hateful glares and angry noises coming from the villagers when he passed them. Naruto, who had grown immune to the stares didn't even twitch. It was Jiraiya that noticed the hateful looks on all the villagers when they saw Naruto. Marking it as something that he would have to speak to Tsunade about he continued to follow Naruto to the Hokage's Tower. Reaching the tower the proceeded to the top-floor and Tsunade's office. In the Ante-room, Shizune Tsunade's secretary was hard at work filing and filling out papers. Not noticing the entrance of the 2 people, she jumped in surprise at the sound of a deep man's voice.

“Good Morning Shizune-san”, the man said calmly to her.

Looking down at the man before her, she couldn't remember who he was although she felt that she knew him from somewhere. Shaking her head to free herself from her thoughts she looked up at the man standing behind the man and gasping again in surprise. “Jiraiya I had no idea that you were back.”, she exclaimed flustered that she didn't know something as important as the return of the Sennin and his apprentice. Laughing, Jiraiya walked forward and lead a comforting hand on her shoulder, although that hand was quickly sliding its way downward. Receiving a whack across the face that left a red mark, Jiraiya quickly removed his hand and pulled out a mirror and with a look of horror on his face saw the mark and couldn't help but think to himself: 'I'll get her yet.' Feeling a nosebleed coming on he quickly turned away and composed himself, turning back around noticed Shizune looking at him. “What?...”, he asked quizzically.

“Who is the charming young man that you brought with you?” she asked with a look of interest in her eyes.

“That my young beauty is Uzumaki Naruto.”, he said with pride in his pupil.

Walking over to Naruto, she looked him up and down couldn't help but nod in approval. Naruto, who had grown up while he was gone had turned into a striking young man. He was tall and muscular beneath his clothes. He had long ago grown his hair out and now supported a pony-tail. He wore all black except for a red swirl on the back of his coat. He was dressed in a black vest similar to the ones that Jounin wear, with a tank top under which very little was left to the imagination. He also was wearing baggy black pants with many a pouch on the legs. His forehead protector having been recast with a black ore match his outfit. His eyes are what attracted Shizune to him the most. They were like the ocean: blue at one time, green at another, but that wasn't the only thing about his eyes that she found fascinating, it was the total lack of emotion: not even boredom showed through them. Looking closer she gasped at seeing that his eyes were also slit like a cat's eyes. Just that fact made his gaze feel like it was looking under your skin and in to your soul. With a shiver and a shudder, she looked away and walked back to her desk. Sitting down, she pulled out some papers and forms for Jiraiya to sign and look over. Turning to Naruto, she smiled and told him to wait a few moments while she went and made sure that the Hokage wasn't busy. Walking to Tsunade's office, she opened the door and walked inside quickly shutting the doors behind her. Seeing Tsunade look up at her from her desk, she walk up beside her and whispered in her ear: “There is a nice surprise waiting to come in to your office.”, Shizune whispered. Tsunade looked at her with a questioning look. “Fine, let them in.”, she said testily hoping that the person would do something that she could hit them for. Thoughts of violence quickly vanished when the doors opened to reveal Jiraiya and a young man standing at the threshold. Waving them inside she motioned for them to sit and waited for Shizune to leave before addressing the other Sennin. “So your back... Who's might your friend be?” she asked with a coy smile. Jiraiya laughing said: “That my lord Hokage, is Uzumaki Naruto.”, he said laughing even harder at the sight of the expression on Tsunade's face. She, like Shizune before her, was amazed at how much the young man had changed. Motioning for the 2 people to sit, Tsunade looked Naruto over and decided that he looked much better then he had when he had left.

“There has been much happening around here, while you 2 were gone.”, she remarked after passing out drinks.

“Such as...?” Jiraiya asked not expecting what he would hear next.

“Such as Uchiha Sasuke abandoning the village in order to gain more power.”, she stated gravely while watching Naruto's face for a reaction. Getting none she turned to Naruto and gave him a searching look, but all she saw was an emotionless face with just as cold eyes. Explaining the events up to and after Sasuke's departing, she did not notice the single tear the made its solitary way down Naruto's face. Finished with her tale, Tsunade took the forms from Jiraiya making sure that they were correct before telling them they were dismissed. Walking out of the office and the tower Jiraiya said far well to Naruto for now, for he was going off to gather some research. Naruto nodding his head slowly made his way toward home. Unconsciously he took the route that led him right past Sakura's house, who by the way was just leaving. Sakura, noticing the man walk by as if he had the world on his shoulders decide to see if she could help. Walking up to the man she quietly ask him: “Are you alright?”. Turning his head to see who had spoke, Naruto looked at Sakura with dead eyes. “Hello Sakura-chan.”, he said dejectedly. Sakura realizing who it was from whom he had known her and by who he said her name, quickly walked up to him. Naruto, who had stopped walking to wait for Sakura, started off again when she caught up. “When did you get back?”, she asked with interest. “About 2 hours ago.”, he replied simply. “Then you know about S-Sasuke?”, she questioned with a quivering voice. “Yes...”, he said in the same monotone that he had been using. Sakura, who just nodded her head looked Naruto up and down taking in his new look. 'Wow he looks really good. Really good.' she thought silently to herself. Sakura who had been spacing out didn't notice Naruto had stopped until she bumped into him. Jerked out of her thoughts she saw what had made Naruto halt in his tracks. A large black pit was burned into the ground, about 10 feet by 5 feet in width. “That was when Sasuke left the village.”, Sakura said simply as if it didn't bother her, for which it did. Nodding his head dumbly he walked off again. The rest of the walk was done in silence. Reaching his house Naruto turned to Sakura and gave her a hug that to his slight surprise she returned. Taking out his keys he opened his door and stepped inside, shutting the door after seeing Sakura walk away. Looking around his apartment, he saw that someone had cleaned and fixed everything. The cracks in his walls and ceiling were gone. All the empty ramen cups were thrown away and his kitchen looked sanitary. Shaking his head to stripped off his clothes and climbed into the shower and let the hot water knead his tense muscles. Stepping out of the shower and into the steam Naruto got dressed and then flopped down on his bed and let sleep claim him.

The next morning...

The next morning, Sakura had come by Naruto's house to see if he wanted to go get breakfast with her to find that Naruto had gone and was seen walking out of the village toward the training grounds almost an hour earlier. Taking her chances she walk over to the grounds to find that Naruto was still there. He was in the process of practicing one of his harder Taijutsus when she walked up. Waiting instead of interrupting his exercise she took the chance to study him and in her way see how much he had grown and changed. Finishing his exercise, Naruto looked over to see Sakura approaching, so he waited before starting his next exercise. Reaching Naruto, Sakura waited for him to settle before starting to talk.

“Good Morning Naruto.”, she said happily. “I was wondering if you would like to come and have breakfast with me.”, she asked expecting what she thought was the obvious answer. What she didn't take in to account was the fact that not only did physically change and grow but so did he emotionally. Turning to face Sakura, Naruto simply said: “No, I wouldn't.”

Sakura was stunned at hearing that. Recovering, she asked: “Why not?”, to see if he would tell her and to give her enough time to figure out why Naruto of all people, had said no to her.

“Because I have to train.”, he replied simple before walking back to the center of the clearing, and starting the next exercise in his regimen. Sakura, who was as stunned by the answer as by the reason, walked away her head hurting from trying to figure out why Naruto had said no. Arriving in Konoha she saw one of her best friends named Ino walking past. Calling out to her, Sakura ran to catch up. “What's up Sakura?”, Ino asked wonderingly. “You know that Naruto is back right?”, she asked first. “Yea and I heard that he filled out quite nicely over the years.”, she replied coyly. “Well I asked him if he wanted to get some breakfast from me and guess what he said?”, she prodded. “Well seeing as it is Naruto, I bet he said yes so I don't see the problem.”, Ino said frustrated at Sakura. “Well, that's the thing, Naruto said no.”, she shot back. “WHHAATT??” yelled Ino with a gasp. “What do you mean he said no?”, she said digging for more info. “He said that no he would not because he wanted to train. Then he just turned around and went back to training.”, Sakura recited after getting Ino to calm down. Ino who listened intently, made her head hurt trying to figure out why Naruto would say no to the girl he had been crushing on for years now. Lost in thought, Ino didn't notice Sakura was talking to her until Sakura hit her on the arm. “Are you listening to me?” she asked angrily. Nodding her head, Ino listened to the rest of the story before asking: “Well what do you expect after you have hit him and yelled at him so many times. Do you expect him to just come to you whenever you want him to like a dog. I would say that he gave up on you.”, Ino said in matter of fact way, with a smug look on her face. Sakura hearing what Ino said thought to herself: 'Could he really have given up on me? Was I really that harsh?'. 'Yes you were and sometimes worse.' her inner self exclaimed. Thanking Ino, Sakura headed for home to see if she could figure out how to say sorry to Naruto.

Training grounds...

Naruto was still there, now practicing his ninjutsus when he sensed that another person approaching where he was practicing. Canceling the jutsu he was about to do, he straightened up to see Hinata turn beet red at the sight of her Naruto-kun looking right at her. With a blush she came closer, to Naruto expecting him to check her for a fever since she was so red, but when he didn't she sighed in relief but at the same time became curious as to why he hadn't. Noticing she was still looking at her, Hinata thought that now might be a good time to say hi, so summoning up enough courage say said: “H-Hi N-Na-Naruto-k-kun.” she stammered while poking her fingers together and turning a ever brighter shade of crimson. Naruto bowing deeply said: “Good morning to you Lady Hyuuga.”, in a soft voice. Hinata who was very curious now looked up at Naruto's eyes only to see her reflected back in them. Turning back to his training Naruto, began were he left off and finished each Jutsu he had in order, and then again with a Bunshin. Hinata, who had found a log to sit on, watched him exercise and when he was done she noticed that it was almost night-time and that the gates closed at sun down and no one got in after that. Running up to Naruto she grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the village. Naruto, having just enough time to grab his coat followed Hinata to the gates where they made it just in time before the gates were closed and sealed for the night. Naruto, thanking Hinata bowed once again and walked away toward his house and his nightmares...

A/N: This story will be done by two Authors using the same name. Please Read and Review...