Chapter 142: The return from the Training Trip
The streets of Konohagakure were bustling as the afternoon sun bathed the village in golden light. Merchants called out their wares, shinobi patrolled the village, and children ran around laughing. Life had moved on.
But as three figures walked through the village gates, the very air shifted.
There was an undeniable presence to them.
The guards at the gates froze as they recognized the tall, broad-shouldered blonde walking between two equally imposing figures.
One was the legendary Jiraiya of the Sannin, the Toad Sage, his easy-going smirk ever present.
The second was Harry Potter, still an enigma to many in Konoha, but his very being radiated something otherworldly.
And the third—
The third was Naruto Uzumaki.
A year of training had transformed Naruto.
He stood taller, his body lean but packed with corded muscle, refined for power and speed. His once short, spiky hair had grown long, reaching his waist, much like Jiraiya's, but wilder, untamed—like a lion's mane.
His blue eyes burned with wisdom, confidence, and power. They no longer held the reckless energy of a mere boy, but the calm, honed gaze of a warrior.
Naruto had mastered Sage Mode, achieving perfect balance with nature itself.
The seal binding Kurama had been undone, not by force, but by understanding.
They weren't enemies anymore.
They were partners.
Brothers.
Harry, ever the strategist, had taken some of Kurama's chakra for himself, using it to push his own abilities even further. His knowledge of seals, ninjutsu, and raw power had only grown stronger, and even Jiraiya admitted that Harry's skills were on par with the greatest shinobi in history.
Together, the three had shattered limits, growing beyond what even legends believed possible.
And now—they were back.
The trio strode through the streets, heads turning as people recognized Naruto.
Gasps. Whispers.
"Is that Naruto?!"
"He's… he's so tall!"
"His hair—he looks just like the Fourth Hokage!"
"That's Lord Jiraiya! And… that other guy! The one that's always with them!"
Naruto smirked, rubbing his nose. "Heh. Looks like they're shocked by how awesome I look!"
Jiraiya snorted. "Don't let it get to your head, brat."
Harry simply chuckled. "I think it's already too late for that."
Their next stop—the Hokage Tower.
Tsunade sat at her desk, rubbing her temples.
A stack of paperwork threatened to bury her alive, and Shizune stood by, trying to organize it all.
Then—
SLAM!
The doors burst open.
Three figures stepped in.
Jiraiya grinned. "Yo, hime."
Tsunade froze, eyes widening as she took in Naruto's appearance.
"...Holy shit."
Shizune nearly dropped her papers.
Tsunade stood up, walking around her desk, eyes scanning Naruto from head to toe.
"You're…" She shook her head. "You've changed, kid."
Naruto grinned. "Yeah? I like to think I grew up a little."
Tsunade smirked. "More than a little. You're Jonin now."
Silence.
Then—
"...Wait, what?" Naruto blinked.
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Based on your missions, battle experience, and skills, I made the decision to promote you to Jonin before your return."
Naruto's jaw dropped.
Then—
"HELL YEAH!" He pumped his fist in the air.
Jiraiya and Harry exchanged amused looks.
Tsunade smirked. "You earned it. But don't slack off, brat."
Naruto grinned wildly.
Then, Tsunade's gaze hardened.
"Now, tell me everything about your training and what you learned about Madara."
The room grew serious.
Naruto and Harry exchanged looks before nodding.
It was time to share everything.
And so—a new chapter in Konoha's history was about to begin.
The air inside the Hokage's office was tense.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, Harry, and Shizune listened intently, but before Naruto could even begin speaking—
He turned his head slightly. His eyes narrowed.
"Alright," he said, voice even but firm, "everyone who's eavesdropping should come inside."
The room froze for a moment.
Tsunade's brow twitched, and Jiraiya smirked knowingly.
Naruto sighed and took a step to the window.
In a blur of motion, his hand lashed out, grabbing Kakashi by the wrist and yanking him inside the room through the window.
Thud!
Kakashi landed on his feet, eye-smiling. "Yo."
Naruto wasn't finished.
His hand snapped out again—faster than anyone could react.
There was a crunch.
A second later, a body shimmered into existence, blood dripping from Naruto's fist.
A Sound shinobi, an elite scout, slumped lifelessly to the ground.
The room erupted into action—Tsunade's hands flexed, Jiraiya prepared a jutsu, and even Harry's magic flared to life—
But Naruto simply stepped over the body and turned to Tsunade.
"Don't worry, I got them all," he said casually, as if he hadn't just crushed a man's throat with one hand.
Kakashi's lone eye widened slightly. "Naruto…"
Tsunade exhaled slowly, waving a hand for the ANBU outside to dispose of the body.
Then, she locked eyes with Naruto.
"Start talking."
Naruto sat down, his expression deadly serious.
"I was taken by Madara," he began. "At first, I thought I was a prisoner. Then I realized I was a student."
Silence.
He continued.
"He put me in a Genjutsu and showed me everything—wars, destruction, death. He told me his plan, the Moon's Eye Plan."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Naruto leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"Madara wants to use the Tailed Beasts to recreate the Ten Tails, the original God of all Chakra. He intends to revive it, become its Jinchūriki, and cast the world into an eternal Genjutsu—a dream where there is no war, no suffering, no pain."
Harry clicked his tongue. "A false peace."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "And the Akatsuki?"
Naruto's eyes darkened.
"Madara is the one who created them. He manipulated wars, set things in motion decades ago. His former student leads them now—the one with the Rinnegan. He's the one pulling the strings in the world while Madara remained in the shadows."
Kakashi's fist clenched. "So all the tragedies that have happened—"
"—Madara set them in motion." Naruto finished.
Jiraiya let out a deep sigh. "Damn it… It all makes sense now."
Naruto took a slow breath before dropping the next bombshell.
"He infused me with both his and Hashirama Senju's cells."
Silence.
Tsunade's hands tightened against her desk.
Jiraiya's expression turned grave.
Kakashi's single visible eye widened.
"...You have both of them inside you?" Tsunade's voice was low.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. He made me his successor."
Tsunade took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.
"...This war is inevitable, isn't it?"
Naruto's gaze turned sharp.
"It is."
"But this time, We'll be ready.""
He clenched his fist, chakra flaring around him.
To Be Continued…
AN: Yeah, Naruto's a Jonin now, did you expect it? We reached a Million Views, thanks for all of them, y'all are the best!!!