บท 372: 350. Return
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Swoosh…
A figure in a red cloak with black flames suddenly appears outside Konoha. The figure looks around to confirm the location.
"Hmm… from the looks of it, I am in the right place."
Achoo…
A shiver runs down his spine. He hurriedly looks around to sense the danger.
"Why do I feel like I am in trouble all of a sudden?"
The figure scratches his head in confusion.
"Looks like I am worrying for nothing. It has been a while since I last saw everyone. I wonder how all of them are doing. I can't wait to surprise them."
The figure turns in the direction of Konoha.
Hmm…
'Looks like he is also here. I can't wait to meet him and show my progress.'
A grin appears on the figure's face.
'The village is still a decent distance from here.'
The figure slightly bends forward.
Whoosh…
With a burst of extreme speed, he disappears from his place. The afterimage slowly disperses into nothing.
On the other side of the village,
Swoosh…
A figure in a black robe appears outside Konoha. The figure clenches his fist.
'These past two years, I never slacked, even for a day. I wonder how much I have progressed.'
Hmm…
He turns his attention to Konoha.
'Looks like I will find it out soon. For now, it's time to meet everyone.'
Whoosh…
A gentle breeze blows away as the cloaked figure vanishes into the air.
-------------------
Outside Konoha's gates,
Yawn…
Kotetsu yawns and stares at the entrance.
"Man! Our workload sure has increased these past few days. I am working overtime now."
"I don't mind it if the pay is good. There is not much stressful work to do anyway, since no one is foolish enough to simply barge into Konoha without proper permissions. The shinobis from other nations are well-behaved and the civilians don't create much ruckus, anyway. Besides, we are also receiving a bonus from the Hokage Office. So, it's not that big of a deal. Our shift is about to end. Let's visit the stadium to witness the last event of the day. Later, I also want to enjoy the carnival." Izumo shrugs his shoulder.
"Yeah…"
Beep… beep…
Before Kotetsu could answer, the proximity sensor seal raised an alert. Soon, a burst of wind flashes past their eyes. Their eyes only manage a flash of orange.
"What?! What was that?"
Kotetsu and Izumo stare at each other with wide eyes.
"The alert is blaring on. Someone must have barged into the village without permission." Kotetsu stares at the still blaring alarm.
"But… what was that speed? I… I couldn't even see an afterimage."
Izumo gulps his saliva.
Suddenly,
Whoosh…
Another figure appears at the entrance of the village.
Swish… swish…
Kotetsu and Izumo enter a combat stance. They warily stare at the black-robed figure.
"Who are you?" Kotetsu inquires.
"It's me!" The figure removes his cloak.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" Izumo instantly recognizes the latter as the son of the Uchiha clan head.
Sasuke enters the village. The sensing barrier recognizes his chakra and allows him entry into the village. The gatekeeper duo lowers their guard.
"The person before me must be Naruto. For some reason, the sensing barrier didn't sense his chakra." Sasuke reminds them.
Swoosh…
Shisui and Itachi quickly appear at the entrance.
"Sasuke!" Both stare at Sasuke with wide eyes.
"You have grown a lot!" Itachi remarks after a moment of silence.
"Let's go home. Everyone is waiting for you." Shisui signals him.
Mm…
Sasuke nods his head and stares around the village.
"Did the village recently change the sensing barrier?"
"Oh! You can see it." Shisui raises an eyebrow.
"Mm… the Fuinjutsu seals are different from the past. I can faintly sense that someone is monitoring me."
Woah…
Itachi and Shisui are shocked to hear this.
'He can sense the detection ability of the CPS system. Just how much has he progressed in these two years?" Itachi and Shisui are curious to see his progress.
"We will test your progress tomorrow. For now, let's celebrate your return." Itachi pokes his forehead and flickers toward the Uchiha clan.
-------------------
Near the Uzumaki clan,
"Mom! I am back." Naruto stops outside his house.
"Oh! My Naruto is back."
Kushina walks out of the house with a smile. She bears hugs Naruto in her embrace. Minato, who also waiting for Naruto to hug him, stops in his tracks.
Crack… crack…
Sound of bones snapping rings in his ears.
Gulp…
Minato gulps his saliva and crosses his outstretched arms. He gives up the idea of a family hug.
Mmf… Hmf…
Naruto, while struggling in Kushina's embrace, makes some muffled noises.
"Oh, my son is excited to meet his mother after two years. I must give him all the love I missed in these two years." A smile appears on Kushina's face as she tightens her embrace.
Mmmf… Hmmf…
Naruto's struggles intensify. His face turns red and tears flow from his eyes.
"My son is so happy to meet his mother after two years that his eyes are tearing up."
"Mom! You are choking him up." Karin walks out of the house. She adjusts her spectacles and rebukes Kushina.
"Ah… really?"
Kushina releases Naruto from her embrace. The smile on her face still lingers.
'Mom is still the same sadist as I remember.'
"Ara… Karin dear… did you think something rude about me?"
Ah…
Karin's face freezes.
"No! No! Since Naruto is back, let's celebrate his return." Karin hurriedly changes the subject.
Huff… Huff…
Naruto breathes heavily to inhale every bit of air present around him.
"…"
Minato and Yang Kurama, who are silently watching the spectacle sweat drops at their antiques.
'She is still the same scary girl I could remember.' Yang Kurama telepathically mutters to Minato.
"But that's the part I like about her." Minato shakes his head with a smile.
Eh…
Yang Kurama's expression freezes as he stares at Minato with an expression of.
'Are you being serious?'
Later in the evening, the Uchiha clan and the Uzumaki clan reserve an entire floor of Yakiniku Q restaurant to throw a welcoming party.
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Later next morning in the Uchiha clan's training ground.
Swish… swish…
Itachi and Sasuke are sparring with each other as the former tests the latter's abilities.
Clang… clang…
Both precisely deflects each other's Shurikenjutsu.
"We are pretty much on the same level in terms of Shurikenjutsu. Next up is Kenjutsu."
Swoosh…
Itachi and Sasuke wield katanas and clash into a sword fight.
"Uchiha Style: Dance of the Sun Halo"
"Uchiha Style: Dance of the Moon Halo"
Both utilize different techniques and clash against each other.
Clang… clang…
They parry each other's attacks and continue to exchange techniques.
"Uchiha Style: Crescent Gale Slash"
"Sage Blade Art: Moonlight Slash"
Ding…
Itachi's katana is sliced in half and falls to the ground.
Sigh…
"It's my loss." Sasuke sighs and raises his hand in defeat.
Ding… ding… ding…
Sasuke's katana breaks down into multiple cleanly sliced pieces of metal.
"My Kenjutsu and Genjutsu are still lacking compared to you, brother."
He turns to Shisui.
"And I am still not as fast as you, Shisui Nii-san. And in terms of Genjutsu, not even Itachi Nii-san is a match for you."
Haha…
Shisui chuckles and pats Sasuke's back.
'We all have a particular talent where we excel the most. Your chakra control and Ninjutsu skills are better than both of us. Not to mention, you are a perfect Sage now.' Shisui sighs as he recalls the past.
"In the past, both Itachi and me trained in Senjutsu under Izuna Nii-san's guidance. We achieved a perfect Sage Mode. But our chakra quantity is severely lacking compared to you and Izuna Nii-san. So, we can't maintain Senjutsu for much longer. Also, our rate of gathering Senjutsu is nowhere near close to you both. Thus, it makes it impractical for us to use Senjutsu in battles."
Shisui takes out a seal from his pocket.
"This sage seal made by Izuna Nii-san can help us absorb nature energy up to an extent. But in the end, it's still not our ability. Unless necessary, we don't want to depend on it to bolster our combat strength."
"Naruto Nii-san… you are here!"
Ayaka, who was silent the entire time, turns towards the entrance of the training ground.
"YO!"
Naruto has a grin on his face as he greets everyone.
"Except for your body, you haven't changed a bit, Naruto!" Sasuke shakes his head in disappointment.
"Huh?! What do you mean by that?" A tick appears on Naruto's forehead.
"Come, let me show you how much I have changed?" Naruto slams his fight.
"That's what I am waiting for?" Sasuke also grins at Naruto's provocation.
Sigh…
"These two are still as childish as ever!" Ayaka shakes her head.
"…"
Shisui and Itachi silently stare at Ayaka, lost for a word.
'Well, she isn't completely wrong tho!'
"Alright, let's begin!"
Naruto and Sasuke confront each other.
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