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Konoha, Hokage Residence.
Tsunade, Kakashi, Might Guy, Temari, and several others were gathered in the Hokage's office. The air was heavy with unease.
Tsunade stood by the window, arms crossed, brows furrowed deeply. Kakashi leaned against the wall silently, Sharingan hidden behind his forehead protector, while Temari stood close to her brothers Gaara and Kankuro, tense and quiet.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
"Yo!"
A familiar voice called out with that casual, mischievous tone.
A grinning face peeked inside, looking completely out of place amidst the serious atmosphere.
Everyone froze for a moment before Temari darted forward.
"Naruto-kun!"
Naruto raised his hands in mock surrender, looking sheepish, especially under Tsunade's intense glare. Temari rushed into his arms, and Naruto caught her with a warm chuckle.
Tsunade turned away from the window, stunned at first—but the vein on her forehead twitched shortly after.
"You little... It's good to see you back."
Naruto gently patted Temari's back. She awkwardly stepped away, realizing the stares she was getting. Blushing furiously, she retreated behind Gaara. Kankuro raised a brow at her with a knowing smirk.
Naruto turned toward Tsunade and walked up to her, his eyes scanning her face carefully.
"What is it?" Tsunade frowned, noting the battered state of Naruto's clothing—his cloak torn at the abdomen, dried blood along the edges, and numerous scorch marks. Her frown deepened as she stepped closer, hand reaching out to inspect his injuries.
"Are you okay? Let me take a look—if you're hurt, don't hide it!"
Naruto gave her a soft smile, then suddenly leaned in, tilted her chin, and planted a kiss on her lips.
(Yeah, don't ask why—just accept that this happened.)
Everyone in the room went completely silent.
Might Guy's jaw dropped so hard it nearly shattered the floor. Kakashi blinked twice, one eye visible, betraying an expression of utter disbelief.
Temari's face was crimson. Gaara remained stoic as ever, but even he blinked in mild surprise.
Tsunade stood frozen, then her face exploded in fury.
"BASTARD!!"
Her fist came down like the wrath of the heavens, slamming Naruto through the second floor with an ear-splitting crash.
A perfectly Naruto-shaped crater formed in the floor. He popped out on the first floor, face half-buried in paperwork.
"Yo~," he greeted the stunned staff of the Civil Affairs Department. Seconds later, Tsunade yanked him back up by the collar.
"What the hell was that?! Are you insane, brat?!" she roared.
But then, she froze.
Naruto had reached into his cloak and pulled out a familiar necklace—a jade crystal pendant. He held it up to her with a stupid grin.
"Your necklace... I found it."
Tsunade's grip loosened immediately. She stumbled back, dropping to her knees as her hands flew up to her face. Tears welled in her eyes, and despite trying to wipe them away, they rolled down freely.
Naruto stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm back, Granny."
Tsunade clutched him back tightly, sobbing. "Welcome back, brat..."
Everyone in the Hokage's office watched in stunned silence, mentally questioning everything they thought they knew.
Who am I? Where am I? What even is reality anymore?
Suddenly, Tsunade snapped out of her emotional state and stood up abruptly.
Naruto took a step back, slightly startled.
She glanced at him, noting his youthful appearance, then smirked.
"You're so damn short now!"
With one hand, she pulled him into a headlock and messed up his hair.
"Didn't think you'd be cute as a kid again! Hahaha!"
Naruto groaned in pain. "Hey! I've literally shed blood for this village—can I at least go home and change my clothes before being bullied?"
Everyone finally took proper notice of the state of his outfit—the heavily damaged Royal God Robe that once represented his might. They'd seen glimpses of his power before, but even now, it was hard to reconcile this battered figure with the god-like force he once displayed.
Tsunade released him and asked with a serious tone, "Akatsuki?"
Naruto's face turned solemn. "Yahiko is dead."
Tsunade frowned, recognizing the name instantly. She had heard of Jiraiya's former students—the trio he trained in Amegakure.
"Why is Akatsuki targeting you?"
Naruto hesitated, then furrowed his brows. "Probably because of the Nine-Tails. Or maybe something bigger... I don't know yet."
He paused and looked around.
"What happened after I... died? Why is Konoha like this now?"
What he meant was—why did the village return to the path of the original anime timeline? Why did things seem to be falling back into the tragedy he tried to avoid?
Tsunade took a deep breath, then glanced at the others before waving them out of the room.
Later that evening, Naruto and Tsunade sat together in a small izakaya, the kind of place hidden away behind alleys with warm lights and quiet murmurs.
Naruto reached for the sake bottle on the table, but Tsunade slapped his hand.
"No alcohol until you're officially an adult, brat," she said with a smug grin while pouring herself a drink.
Naruto sighed and pulled out a Coke from his inventory system. "Your personality hasn't changed one bit."
Tsunade chuckled, but then turned serious.
"After you were seriously injured and fell into a coma... the Third Hokage regained power. Orochimaru began working with Danzō, researching Grandfather Hashirama's cells. They believed your body collapsed from overusing Wood Release, similar to how Hashirama died."
Naruto remained quiet, eyes narrowing.
Tsunade continued. "The Third started erasing your name from records—both in Konoha and beyond. Then he accepted Iwagakure's surrender... with no conditions."
Naruto's eyes twitched. "He let Iwa off the hook just like that?"
"Yes. But shortly after, Iwa and Amegakure had a falling out again. War nearly broke out—until Amegakure pushed Iwa back using some strange weapon."
Naruto looked up. "Weapon?"
Tsunade rubbed her temples. "Something called... the AK-47?"
Naruto choked on his Coke. "WHAT?!"
"What's wrong?" she asked, blinking in confusion.
"Nothing. Just... keep going."
Tsunade raised a brow but continued.
"After the Third Great Ninja War ended, the village was furious with Hiruzen's decisions. Under pressure, the Fourth Hokage selection began."
Naruto's heart sank.
"The candidates were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Danzō. But then... rumors surfaced that Orochimaru was experimenting on villagers."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"Sarutobi tried to arrest him, but Orochimaru fled. The election was postponed. Eventually, the Third appointed someone directly."
"Minato," Naruto muttered.
Tsunade nodded, then narrowed her eyes. "By the way, is Minato your father or your brother?"
"Just shut up and tell the rest!"
Tsunade smirked and sipped her drink.
"After Orochimaru left, Jiraiya also left the village, claiming he wanted to bring his old teammate back. I went off to find you with Shizune, since you turned into light right before my eyes."
She sighed deeply.
"I don't know much after that. But I came back later... and became Hokage. I read the files."
"One year into Minato's tenure... the Nine-Tails attacked. Minato and Kushina died protecting the village. Minato sealed Kurama into... you."
Naruto said nothing.
"Sarutobi became Hokage again. He pushed for 'peace,' but that peace was just an excuse to silence opposition. The Hyuga were forced to sacrifice Hizashi to appease the Hidden Cloud. And everyone who supported you back then—gone."
She stared at the bottom of her glass.
"After that, it was like you never existed."
Naruto closed his eyes.
"Don't blame Minato," Tsunade added. "He really just wanted peace."
Naruto was silent for a long time.
Then he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Well... I'm still alive, and he's dead. So from now on—I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
He looked up with a cheeky grin.
"Miss me? I've grown more mature, you know."
"Huh?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, suspicious of his tone.
Then she noticed where his eyes were.
He was staring directly at her chest.
Black lines appeared all over her face.
BOOM!
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