One Week Later – Konoha
Tsunade looked at the report handed in by Yamato.
"So in the end, you couldn't find anything else useful?"
Naruto shook his head slowly.
"He might have built a base, stayed for a while, and then moved out, leaving forces behind as backup."
Tsunade sighed and put down the report.
"Yamato, what do you think about Naruto's performance on this mission?"
Yamato removed his mask and smiled.
"We're all still alive, aren't we, Hokage-sama? Naruto did great. The second base in the Land of Rivers was a booby-trapped death trap, but we pulled through in the end."
But Naruto wasn't satisfied.
"If you consider wiping out a bunch of grunts as success, then sure. Five months of grueling journey and searching, yet we found no new information about Orochimaru. In fact, he might already know our movements. I need to kill him before he changes vessels again. Where's Ero-Sennin? Next time we go on such a mission, he needs to come with us—he can deal with Orochimaru personally."
Tsunade avoided his gaze.
"When he came back, you weren't here. He said when you return, you can summon him."
Naruto gave a strange look.
"Summon?"
Tsunade shrugged nonchalantly.
"He said summon a frog to come get him."
Though Naruto didn't fully understand, he followed through.
He bit his thumb, formed hand seals, and shouted, [Summoning Jutsu!]
In a puff of smoke, a frog roughly the same size as Naruto appeared.
"Hey bro! How are you doing? Long time no see!"
Naruto grinned.
"Long time indeed, Gamakichi. Listen, can you help me bring Ero-Sennin over?"
Gamakichi nodded.
"Sure thing. I'll go right away." With that, the frog vanished in another swirl of smoke.
The four stood in silence inside the office.
"So…" Naruto began, "anything exciting happened lately?"
As Tsunade was about to reply, Jiraiya suddenly appeared in a cloud of smoke right in the middle of the office.
Jiraiya turned toward Naruto, flashing a crooked grin.
"Kid, how'd the mission go? Kill some Otogakure ninja? How does it feel?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Eh, but I haven't killed the one I really needed to."
Jiraiya laughed.
"Well then, since the others are still around, can I borrow this kid for a bit?"
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Naruto and leaped out the window with him.
"Much obliged, Princess Tsunade!"
******
Jiraiya brought Naruto to the summit of the Hokage Monument.
Naruto noticed the serious expression on Jiraiya's face.
"Is there something important you need to tell me, Ero-Sennin?"
Jiraiya looked straight at Naruto as he spoke.
"You know Tsunade repealed the laws concerning the Nine-Tails, right?"
Naruto shrugged.
"I didn't even know. We got back too fast. As long as Tamako's safe and hasn't gone through any hardship because of me, I don't care."
Still looking concerned, Jiraiya continued.
"Do you think you can handle being cursed at on the streets?"
"If you want, I can discipline them for you."
Naruto smiled.
"Thanks, Ero-Sennin. But there's no need to damage your image for my sake. As long as nobody directly attacks me or my friends, I'll be fine."
Jiraiya patted Naruto's shoulder.
"Ero-Sennin, I should head back now and check on my 'roommate'."
A lecherous grin appeared on Jiraiya's face.
"How's Tamako doing? Is she adjusting well to the village?"
Naruto glared at him.
"Drop that grin, you pervert. How would I know? I've been gone almost half a year."
Naruto waved goodbye and then vanished from the mountain using [Shifting Body Technique].
******
Naruto was strolling down the street.
But to his surprise, many people didn't have angry expressions on their faces like before—they simply lowered their heads. This had never happened previously.
"Demon," muttered a middle-aged man passing by as Naruto walked past.
"Damn," Naruto replied dryly.
The man bristled and confronted Naruto:
"What did you say? You don't have the Hokage's protection anymore—she clearly saw your true self!"
As the man spoke, he pulled out a small knife and charged toward Naruto, but Naruto's sword was already pressed against his throat.
Naruto used the flat side of his blade to knock the knife from the man's hand, then struck his knee, causing him to tumble to the ground, kneeling.
"I had that rule lifted for your benefit. Secrecy has long weighed on people's minds. Now that you can openly talk about it doesn't mean I'll just sit idly by." Then he hit the man with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious.
Naruto looked down at the unconscious man, then at the stunned onlookers. He smiled awkwardly, sheathed his sword, then said,
"The weather is nice today. Sorry about this little incident—carry on with whatever you were doing."
Naruto whistled nonchalantly as he walked away.
******
"Hey, Tamako!" Naruto called out as he entered the dormitory. "I'm back!"
Tamako came out from the back room, her face carrying a gentle smile.
"Welcome home, Naruto-sama. You aren't hurt, are you?"
Naruto nodded and began removing his gear.
"I'm fine, Tamako. Just tired. Were you okay while I was away?"
"I'm alright. Tayuya and the Ichiraku family looked after me well when you left. I even met your graduating class," said Tamako.
Naruto took off his clothes, and Tamako wrinkled her nose.
"You reek of blood, Master Uzumaki."
Naruto frowned.
"There was a lot of blood during the mission—it kept soaking into my clothes. I really need a good bath." He yawned widely. "What've you been up to lately?"
Tamako blinked her eyes.
"Oh, just some sealing practice. Lord Uzumaki, the seal on your stomach seems familiar." She said, looking at the seal on Naruto's abdomen. "It resembles the sealing style originating from Uzushio Village."
Naruto thought for a second.
"You can study it after I finish bathing."
"Come on, Granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked.
"Listen up, brat. This year's Chunin Exams are being held in Sunagakure, and the finals are in about two weeks."
Naruto stared blankly.
"So... What's that got to do with me?"
Tsunade smirked:
"Anyway, I want you and Shizune to come along as my bodyguards."
Naruto groaned,
"Ugh... Another escort mission? Whatever. By the way, speaking of Sunagakure—where's my cut? I'm flat broke."
"They were uneasy about moving that much cash, so we need to pick it up ourselves. That's also why you're coming along as my guard."
"You really trust me? Shouldn't you bring Kakashi-sensei or Ero-Sennin instead?"
Tsunade said, "Don't you think you're ready for something like this? You've already taken down an elite rogue ninja. You're a Jonin in all but name, kid."
"Then promote me already!" A wide grin spread across his face.
Tsunade smirked craftily,
"Maybe someday. Anyway, the three of us are heading to Sunagakure."
******
"Kabuto… Was this the fourth or fifth base we've lost in the last six months?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses with a cold smirk,
"The one attacked last month was the fifth base, Lord Orochimaru. The one behind this mess is actually fascinating."
Kabuto cued up footage from the lab's security cameras—Naruto battling the cursed prisoner.
"If the rumors about the bounty are real, I might owe him a thanks. He helped me get rid of Sasori's control."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Looks like little Naruto's finally growing up... Seems like your rivals haven't been idle either, have they, Sasuke?"
A pair of spinning Sharingan eyes glowed in the shadows:
"Hmph. That loser still can't touch me. Next time we meet, I'll make sure he knows it."
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle,
"We'll see about that, Sasuke. Perhaps... Naruto's more special than you realize."
Sasuke gritted his teeth in the shadows, the Cursed Seal crawling across his face:
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