As Naruto left the Hokage Tower, his mind was already racing with ideas for how to connect with the villagers. He created several shadow clones, sending them off in different directions to help with various tasks around Konoha.
"Alright!" he declared enthusiastically. "Time to show everyone what the future Hokage can do, dattebayo!"
One clone headed to help at the Academy, where Iruka was teaching. Another went to assist shopkeepers with their heavy lifting. A third joined some construction workers repairing buildings, while others spread throughout the village looking for ways to help.
The original Naruto made his way to Ichiraku Ramen, where Teuchi greeted him warmly.
"Naruto! I heard about your success in Sasuke," the ramen chef beamed. "How about a celebratory bowl?"
"Thanks, old man!" Naruto grinned, sitting down. "But actually, I was wondering if you needed any help around the shop. I've got some time before my next mission."
Teuchi's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to help? Well, we could use an extra hand with deliveries..."
As Naruto began learning the ramen delivery routes, his clones were already making an impact across the village. The villagers' initial surprise at seeing the Fourth's son doing menial tasks gradually turned to appreciation as they witnessed his genuine desire to help.
Through these simple acts of service, Naruto began building the foundations of trust that would be crucial for their plans.
As night fell over Konoha, Naruto sat atop the Fourth Hokage's stone head, dispelling his clones one by one. The rush of memories flooded his mind - villagers smiling warmly at him, children tugging at his sleeve for autographs, elderly citizens blessing him with tearful gratitude. Each memory was so different from his childhood experiences that it made his heart ache.
"I don't get it," he whispered to himself, looking out over the village lights. "Just being the Fourth's son... how can that change everything so much?"
Inside his mindscape, Kurama stirred, sensing his host's tumultuous emotions. "Kit, humans are fickle creatures. They fear what they don't understand and idolize what they admire."
Naruto hugged his knees to his chest, his voice soft. "I know. From my future memories, I was ready for the village to change their attitude. I even got used to signing autographs and stuff. But this..." He paused, struggling to find the words. "Sensing that they truly mean it, that they're not just acting... it's different."
"It makes you happy and angry at the same time, doesn't it?" Kurama observed. "Happy to be accepted, but angry that it took them learning about your father to see you as more than just the Nine-Tails' vessel."
"Yeah," Naruto nodded, a tear rolling down his cheek. "But you know what's weird, Kurama? Even though part of me wants to be mad at them... I can't. Because I remember the future, and how they all became precious to me anyway. How they truly accepted me for who I am, not just whose son I am."
Kurama's tails swished thoughtfully. "You've grown, kit. More than you realize."
As the stars twinkled above Konoha, Naruto smiled, understanding that this was just another step on his path to becoming Hokage - not just in title, but in the hearts of his people.
Naruto wiped his eyes, looking up at the stars. "You know, Kurama, it's kind of funny. In my future memories, I had to prove myself over and over again. Pain's attack, the war, everything... but now, they're already starting to believe in me."
"And does that bother you?" Kurama asked, his voice rumbling with curiosity.
"Not really," Naruto replied, stretching his legs out. "It's just different, ya know? Like, today an old lady at the market hugged me! She said her husband was saved by my dad during the war, and now she sees the same kindness in me, dattebayo!"
Inside the mindscape, Kurama snorted. "Kindness? You've always been kind, Kit. They just couldn't see it through their fear."
"Yeah, but..." Naruto's voice grew softer. "When I helped her carry her groceries, she invited me in for tea. She showed me pictures of her family and told me stories about the village's history. It wasn't about my dad anymore - she just wanted to share those moments with me."
He stood up, walking to the edge of the monument. "And at the Academy, Iruka-sensei's students... they weren't just excited because I'm the Fourth's son. They got super interested when I helped them with their training! One kid even said he wanted to be like me because I never give up, not because of who my parents were!"
Kurama's expression softened, though he tried to hide it. "You're building your legacy now, kit. Different from both timelines."
"Yeah," Naruto grinned, looking out over his beloved village. "And this time, I'll do it right. No more hiding who I am or what I can do. I'll protect everyone, help them grow stronger, and show them what it means to be a ninja who never goes back on his word!"
As if to emphasize his point, a cool breeze ruffled his hair, carrying the sounds and scents of the village he loved so much. Despite all the changes, despite the different path he was now walking, one thing remained constant - his unwavering determination to protect his precious people.
"Though," he added with a chuckle, "I still can't believe that grumpy vegetable vendor actually gave me free tomatoes! Wait till Sasuke hears about that, dattebayo!"
Kurama rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide his amusement. Some things about his host would never change, and maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
Kurama shifted in the mindscape, his tails swaying lazily. "Speaking of which, you need sleep, kit. Tomorrow's another busy day with those clones of yours."
"Ah, come on, Kurama!" Naruto protested though a yawn escaped him. "I'm not even tired, dattebayo!"
"Your body says otherwise," Kurama growled, though there was affection in his tone. "Remember, even with your stamina and my chakra, you need proper rest to maintain this pace. Tomorrow you want to help with the construction in the eastern district, don't you?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, you're right. And I promised those Academy students I'd show them some basic chakra control exercises too."
"Then get some sleep," Kurama insisted. "The village isn't going anywhere, and you'll need your strength to keep up with all these self-imposed missions of yours."
"Fine, fine," Naruto chuckled, standing up from his perch on the monument. "You know, Kurama, you sound like such a mother hen sometimes."
The fox demon bristled. "I AM THE MIGHTY NINE-TAILED FOX! Now get to bed before I make you regret that comment!!"
Laughing at his partner's indignant response, Naruto leaped down from the monument, heading toward his apartment.
The streets were quiet now, but even in the darkness, he could feel the village's warmth embracing him. Tomorrow would bring new opportunities to help, to teach, to protect - and he needed to be ready for all of it.
The morning sun peeked through Naruto's window as he stretched and yawned. "Another day to help the village, dattebayo!" he declared cheerfully, jumping out of bed.
After dressing in his orange and black outfit, he created several shadow clones. "Alright, you guys know what to do! Some of you head to the eastern district for construction, others to the Academy, and the rest spread out to help wherever needed!"
"Got it, Boss!" the clones chorused before dispersing throughout the village.
The original Naruto headed straight for Ichiraku Ramen. "Morning, old man Teuchi! One miso ramen with extra pork!"
As he slurped his breakfast, a familiar voice called out. "Boss! Boss!"
Naruto turned to see Konohamaru running toward him, scarf trailing behind him. "Hey, Konohamaru! What's up?"
"Boss, you gotta teach me some more cool jutsu!" Konohamaru pleaded, eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I've been practicing really hard!"
Naruto finished his ramen and grinned at his young protégé. "Oh yeah? Show me how far you've gotten with the shadow clones and Rasengan first. Master those, and then we'll talk about new techniques, dattebayo!"
"But Boss..." Konohamaru started to protest.
"No buts!" Naruto crossed his arms. "Those are the basics you need to master. Remember, even I had to learn them step by step! Show me you can handle these, and I promise to teach you something even cooler!"
Konohamaru's eyes lit up with determination. "Really? Then watch this!" He formed the hand seal for Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating two perfect copies.
"Not bad!" Naruto praised. "But where's the rest? I could do at least a hundred on my first successful try, dattebayo!"
Inside his mindscape, Kurama burst out laughing. "Kit, you're forgetting something important. Not everyone has our ridiculous chakra reserves!"
Meanwhile, Konohamaru was already panting, his face showing signs of chakra exhaustion just from maintaining the two clones. "Boss... how do you make so many? I feel drained just from these two!"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly, remembering his unique circumstances. "Ah, well... I guess I forgot not everyone has as much chakra as me. But hey, two perfect clones are really good for your age! Even Kakashi-sensei doesn't usually make more than a few!"
"Really?" Konohamaru perked up despite his exhaustion.
"Yeah! Quality over quantity, ya know?" Naruto grinned encouragingly. "Now, show me your progress with the Rasengan!"
Konohamaru dispelled his clones and held out his hand, concentrating hard. A small swirl of chakra began forming, though it wasn't quite stable yet.
"See? You're getting there!" Naruto patted his protégé's head. "Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to make a perfect Rasengan without even thinking about it!"
"Just like you, Boss?" Konohamaru asked eagerly.
"Even better!" Naruto declared confidently. "Because you're learning it the right way, not rushing like I did, dattebayo!"
Inside his mind, Kurama snorted. "Look who's giving sensible training advice now. You've grown, kit."
Naruto ignored Kurama's teasing and fixed Konohamaru with a serious expression. "Now, what about your progress with that jutsu? You know... the ultimate technique?" His eyes gleamed mischievously. "Show me the results of your training!"
Konohamaru's face lit up with pride. "Oh, you mean the Sexy Jutsu? Check this out, Boss!" He formed the hand seal, chakra swirling around him. "Sexy Jutsu!"
POOF!
A cloud of smoke appeared, and when it cleared, there stood a beautiful young woman... wearing a bikini.
Naruto crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "Hmm... the proportions are better than before, but you're still not getting the presentation right! This is an S-rank technique that even worked on a goddess, dattebayo! You can't just rely on the transformation - you need the whole package!"
Inside his mind, Kurama groaned. "Kit, are you seriously treating this ridiculous technique like it's some kind of advanced jutsu?"
"Hey!" Naruto thought back defensively. "It worked on Kaguya, didn't it?"
Konohamaru transformed back, looking disappointed. "What am I doing wrong, Boss?"
"Well..." Naruto stroked his chin thoughtfully. "First, the pose needs work. And second, you need to add more... DRAMA!" He struck an exaggerated pose. "It's all about the presentation, the surprise factor! Even Pervy Sage admitted this technique is genius!"
"Really?" Konohamaru's eyes sparkled with renewed determination. "Then I'll keep practicing until I perfect it!"
"That's the spirit!" Naruto grinned. "But remember - this technique is only for emergencies or pranks. Don't go using it randomly like I used to, okay?"
"Got it, Boss!" Konohamaru saluted. "I'll make you proud!"
Kurama just sighed heavily in the mindscape, wondering how his mighty power had ended up partnered with someone who treated the Sexy Jutsu like a sacred technique.
Udon doing with those chakra control and sensor exercises I suggested? And Moegi - is she still practicing medical jutsu?"
"Oh man, you should see them!" Konohamaru's face lit up as he talked about his teammates. "Udon's getting good! He can now sense chakra signatures further than before. The other day, he detected a jonin from 100 meters away!"
"And Moegi?" Naruto prompted.
"She's amazing, Boss! Sakura-san has been teaching her personally. Yesterday, she managed to heal a small cut without leaving any scars. She says she wants to be as good as Sakura-san and Tsunade-sama someday!"
Naruto grinned proudly. "That's great! Looks like you three are finding your paths. You know, having a sensor and a medical ninja on your team is super valuable. Much better balanced than my old Team 7."
"Really?" Konohamaru asked, genuinely curious.
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, back then Team 7 was pretty unbalanced. Me and Sasuke were just focused on who could hit harder or learn the flashiest jutsu, dattebayo! And while Sakura was smart, she was trained as a fighter too. We didn't have anyone specialized in sensing or medical ninjutsu until much later when Sakura started training under Granny Tsunade."
He crossed his arms, looking up at the sky. "You know, during a lot of our early missions, that came back to bite us. If we'd had someone who could sense enemies coming, or a dedicated medical ninja, things might've gone differently."
"Like when?" Konohamaru leaned forward, eager to hear more.
"Well, there was this mission in the Land of Waves..." Naruto started, but then shook his head. "But that's a story for another time. The point is, your team is developing well! You're the close-range powerhouse, Udon's got the sensing covered, and Moegi can keep you both patched up. That's a solid team structure!"
Kurama stirred in his mindscape. "Heh, look who's talking strategy now. Remember when your idea of teamwork was just making a hundred shadow clones?"
"Hey, my shadow clones are great for teamwork!" Naruto mentally protested, before turning his attention back to Konohamaru. "Just keep supporting each other and growing together. That's what makes a team strong!"
Teuchi watched the interaction between Naruto and Konohamaru with a warm smile, wiping his hands on his apron. The scene before him filled his heart with joy - how far Naruto had come from that lonely little boy who used to sit at his counter, seeking comfort in ramen and whatever kindness Teuchi could offer.
"Would you look at that," he murmured while preparing noodles. "Our Naruto's grown up, hasn't he?"
Teuchi nodded, remembering all those times Naruto would come in, sometimes with tears hidden behind his bright smile. Now, here he was, respected by the village, mentoring Konohamaru like a true big brother, and achieving his dreams one by one.
"Hey, you two!" Teuchi called out cheerfully. "How about another bowl? It's on the house - to celebrate our future Hokage and his apprentice!"
"Really?" Both Naruto's and Konohamaru's eyes lit up simultaneously.
"Of course!" Teuchi laughed heartily. "Can't have you training on an empty stomach, can we?"
As he prepared their ramen, Teuchi couldn't help but feel proud. The village might be seeing Naruto in a new light because of his heritage, but to Teuchi, he would always be that determined little boy who never gave up on his dreams - and who was now helping others achieve theirs.
As Naruto and Konohamaru finished their meal, they waved goodbye to Teuchi, who beamed at them with fatherly pride.
"Thanks for the ramen, old man!" Naruto called out. "It was delicious as always, dattebayo!"
Turning to Konohamaru, Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alright, remember what we talked about. Keep practicing the Rasengan, but don't get frustrated if it takes time. It's a tough technique, even for Jonin."
"Got it, Boss!" Konohamaru nodded enthusiastically.
"Oh, and one more thing," Naruto added, his eyes twinkling. "Try to find some simpler jutsu you can master quickly. It's good to have a few reliable techniques in your arsenal while you're working on the tougher ones."
"Like what?" Konohamaru asked curiously.
"Hmm... maybe some earth-style jutsu? Or ask Ebisu-sensei about genjutsu basics. Just find something that clicks with you, ya know?"
"Yes, Boss! I'll do my best!" Konohamaru saluted before running off, his scarf fluttering behind him.
Naruto watched him go with a fond smile before stretching his arms above his head. "Alright, time to check on Sasuke and his team."
As he made his way toward the Uchiha compound, where Sasuke and his former Taka teammates were staying, Naruto couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. He knew integrating Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo into the village wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to make it work.
"I wonder how they're adjusting," he mused aloud. "Hopefully, Sasuke hasn't scared them off with his brooding, dattebayo!"
Inside his mindscape, Kurama snorted. "As if you're one to talk about scaring people off. Your endless enthusiasm can be just as overwhelming, kit."
Naruto just grinned, picking up his pace as he neared his destination, eager to see how his friend and his unusual team were faring in their new Konoha life.
Naruto just grinned, picking up his pace as he neared his destination, eager to see how his friend and his unusual team were faring in their new Konoha life.
"AHHHHH! I'M SO BORED!" Suigetsu's loud voice echoed through the Uchiha compound. "When are we gonna do something exciting? This peaceful village life is killing me, ya know!"
"SHUT UP, SUIGETSU!" Karin's sharp voice cut through his complaints. "If you're going to be such a nuisance, just leave already! Some of us are trying to concentrate here!"
"But Kariiiiin..." Suigetsu whined, melting into a puddle dramatically before reforming on the table.
Naruto couldn't help but grin as he approached the compound, hearing the familiar bickering. As he rounded the corner, the scene that greeted him was exactly what he'd expected, dattebayo!
Suigetsu was sprawled across a wooden table, looking like he might melt again at any moment. Karin stood nearby, adjusting her glasses with an irritated expression while sorting through what looked like medical scrolls. In the garden, Jugo sat peacefully surrounded by birds, seemingly unbothered by his teammates' antics. And there was Sasuke, training with his sword, his face as stoic as ever despite the chaos around him.
"Yo!" Naruto called out cheerfully, waving his hand. "How's everyone settling in, dattebayo?"
"Naruto!" Karin's expression brightened immediately. "Thank goodness you're here! Maybe you can do something about this idiot!" She pointed accusingly at Suigetsu.
Sasuke paused his training, giving Naruto a measured look. His eyes held that familiar darkness, the kind that came from years of plotting revenge. "Dobe."
"Teme," Naruto replied, maintaining their usual banter while carefully watching his friend.
After the greetings settled down, Sasuke's dark eyes fixed on Naruto with intensity. "Why are you here, Naruto?"
The question caught everyone's attention. Suigetsu stopped his dramatic melting, Karin looked up from her scrolls, and even Jugo turned away from his birds.
Naruto laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Nothing serious! I've got some time before my next mission, so I thought I'd drop by. Plus, I wanted to clear up some stuff about what I said before bringing you guys here."
"Oh?" Suigetsu sat up straighter, his sharp teeth showing in a curious grin. "Like what?"
"Well," Naruto crossed his arms and grinned, "about those swords, Suigetsu... Ya see, if you really wanna reform the Seven Swordsmen, you're gonna have to do it properly, dattebayo!"
"What do you mean 'properly'?" Suigetsu's face scrunched up in confusion.
"Think about it!" Naruto gestured enthusiastically. "The Seven Swordsmen were from the Hidden Mist, right? And some of those swords are still there! We can't just go around stealing them - that'd cause all kinds of trouble, ya know!"
Suigetsu's face fell. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Naruto's grin widened, "if you wanna be a real Swordsman of the Mist, you gotta BE from the Mist! You need to go back and become a proper Mist shinobi first!"
"WHAT?!" Suigetsu jumped up, his body partially liquefying in agitation. "Go back to the Mist?!"
"Hey, hey, hear me out!" Naruto waved his hands. "The Mist Village isn't like it used to be. They've got a new Mizukage now, and she's actually pretty cool! Plus, think about it - wouldn't it be more awesome to reform the Seven Swordsmen officially? To bring back their legacy the right way, dattebayo!"
Karin snorted from her corner. "He's got a point, you water-brained idiot."
"But..." Suigetsu flopped back down, looking thoughtful despite his initial protest.
"But hey, don't worry about the Mist thing right now!" Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "We gotta talk to the Mizukage first and work things out, ya know! No rush, dattebayo!"
He turned to Karin with a softer expression. "And Karin, there's something important I gotta tell you. As an Uzumaki, you've got a place here. The Leaf and the Uzumaki clan were allies way back, so we've got a duty to take care of our own!"
Karin's eyes widened behind her glasses, while Sasuke's eyebrow raised slightly.
"Though..." Naruto scratched his cheek, "with the whole Orochimaru thing, it might take some time for everyone to fully trust you. But meanwhile, I can teach you proper medical jutsu!"
Sasuke's usually stoic face showed a flash of surprise. "You know medical jutsu?"
"Heh," Naruto grinned proudly, "surprised ya, didn't I? But if you're not into that idea, Karin, I can always talk to Granny Tsunade about letting you work with a sensor unit instead."
He leaned forward, his blue eyes serious but kind. "And if you've got any questions about the Uzumaki clan, I'll tell you everything I know. It's not much, but we're family, ya know! That's what matters, dattebayo!"
Karin sat there, The mention of the family seemed to strike a particular chord with her.
"Family..." Karin muttered, adjusting her glasses to hide her slightly watery eyes.
"Yeah!" Naruto beamed, pumping his fist in the air. "Our clan's got some seriously amazing abilities! Like, we're naturals with seals, and check this out, dattebayo!"
Suddenly, a golden chakra chain emerged from Naruto's shoulder, making everyone's eyes widen. "Pretty cool, right? These are chakra chains! And that's not all - we've got huge chakra reserves and this super strong life force that makes us tough!"
Suigetsu snickered. "Look at that, Karin's getting all emotional!"
"Shut up, you liquid idiot!" Karin snapped, but without her usual venom, her eyes fixed on the chakra chain with fascination.
Naruto turned to Jugo next, his grin never fading. "And Jugo! I've been thinking - how about sending you to Mount Myoboku? The toads there might be able to help you control your transformation better! 'Cause, ya know, my chakra chains can help for now, but we need a permanent solution, dattebayo!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've thought this all through, haven't you?"
"Well..." Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I had some help from Shikamaru with the planning part. But the ideas are all mine, believe it! I just want you guys to have a real chance, ya know? Not just staying in the village but belonging there!"
The room fell quiet as they processed Naruto's words. Even Suigetsu seemed to be taking it seriously for once.
Sasuke watched the exchange silently before turning to Naruto, his eyes transforming into the crimson Sharingan. "What about Itachi? When can I meet him to learn the truth about my clan massacre?"
Naruto's bright expression softened, and he met Sasuke's intense gaze directly, unflinching before the Sharingan. "Teme, we already located him, dattebayo! He agreed to meet with you in about a month."
"A month?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, the tomoe in his Sharingan spinning slowly. "Why so long?"
"It's complicated - in a month it will be the perfect opportunity to have an uninterrupted chat," Naruto explained, his voice unusually serious.
The tension in the room grew thick as the others watched silently. Karin nervously adjusted her glasses while Suigetsu's hand instinctively moved to the handle of his sword. Jugo remained still, carefully observing both Sasuke and Naruto.
"If you're lying to me, Naruto..." Sasuke's voice carried a dangerous edge.
"I never go back on my word," Naruto interrupted firmly. "You know that's my ninja way, dattebayo!"
Sasuke's Sharingan continued to spin as he studied his former teammate's face for any sign of deception. After a long moment, he closed his eyes, returning them to their normal onyx color."Where?"
"The old Uchiha shrine, just outside the Land of Fire's borders. It's isolated enough to ensure privacy, yet close enough for us to maintain security," Naruto replied. "I heard it's the perfect location. You should know it."
Sasuke's expression shifted slightly at the mention of the shrine, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. The choice of location was significant - a place tied to his clan's history, yet positioned safely away from Konoha's direct influence.
"That shrine..." Sasuke's voice trailed off, memories flooding back. "Father took me there once, before..." He left the sentence unfinished, his jaw tightening.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of those unspoken words. "That's why it was chosen."
"Fine," Sasuke finally said after a long pause. "One month. But if this is a trap..." He let the threat hang in the air.
Naruto grinned, though his eyes remained serious. "It's not a trap, believe it! This is about getting you the truth you deserve."
Naruto's expression softened as he looked at his friend. "Sasuke, I know how important this is to you. I wouldn't mess around with something like this, dattebayo."
"Hmph," Sasuke grunted, turning back to his sword training. But there was less tension in his shoulders than before.
"Hey, Naruto!" Suigetsu called out, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "About that Mist Village thing... you really think the new Mizukage would let me join?"
"Sure!" Naruto brightened. "Mei's pretty reasonable, ya know! Plus, she's trying to change the Mist's reputation. Having someone reform the Seven Swordsmen properly could help with that!"
Karin pushed her glasses up, trying to look disinterested despite her obvious curiosity. "And these medical techniques you mentioned... they're different from what Orochimaru taught?"
"Way different!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Granny Tsunade's methods are amazing! And with your Uzumaki chakra, you could probably master them super quick!"
Jugo, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "The toads... they could help with my condition?"
"They're sage masters!" Naruto explained. "If anyone can help you balance your natural energy, it's them. Plus, they make great friends, dattebayo!"
As the conversation continued, even Sasuke couldn't help but notice how naturally Naruto had taken charge of helping them find their paths. It was so different from their genin days, yet somehow exactly what he'd expect from the unpredictable ninja.
"And that's not all!" Naruto continued excitedly, pacing around the room. "Jugo, while you're learning at Mount Myoboku, you could also start working with the Konoha Wildlife Protection Squad! They'd love someone who can communicate with animals, dattebayo!"
Jugo's eyes widened slightly, a small bird landing on his shoulder as if to emphasize Naruto's point.
"As for you, Karin," Naruto turned to his fellow Uzumaki, "I was thinking maybe you could help develop a new sensor barrier system for the village! Your sensing abilities are way better than most of our current sensors, ya know!"
Karin tried to hide her pleased expression but failed. "W-well, I suppose someone needs to upgrade your primitive security systems..."
"And Suigetsu," Naruto grinned mischievously, "while we work on the whole Mist Village thing, how about helping train some of our younger ninjas in kenjutsu? Better than sitting around complaining about being bored, right?"
"Heh, could be fun to whip some brats into shape," Suigetsu smirked, showing his sharp teeth.
Sasuke watched silently, his dark eyes following Naruto's movements. "You've changed, dobe."
"Have I?" Naruto scratched his head. "I just want everyone to find their place here, dattebayo! Speaking of which..." He turned serious suddenly. "Sasuke, after you meet with Itachi... what then?"
The atmosphere in the room tensed again as everyone turned to look at their leader. Sasuke's expression remained unreadable as he considered the question.
"That depends on what I learn," he finally answered, his voice cold.
"Fair enough," Naruto nodded, understanding in his blue eyes. "But whatever happens, remember you're not alone anymore. You've got team 7, and you've got me too, ya know!"
Inside his mindscape, Kurama snorted. "Still trying to save everyone, kit?"
"Always!" Naruto thought back cheerfully. "That's my ninja way!"
Naruto's stomach suddenly growled loudly, breaking the serious atmosphere. He grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Man, all this talking is making me hungry! Hey, how about we all go to Ichiraku's? My treat, dattebayo!"
He looked around at the group enthusiastically. "I'm sure Granny Tsunade won't mind - she's been wanting to see how you guys are settling in any way!"
Suigetsu perked up. "Free food? Count me in!"
"Idiot," Karin muttered, but her stomach betrayed her with a small growl. "W-well, I suppose we should eat something..."
Jugo simply nodded, gently shooing away the birds that had gathered around him.
"Come on, Sasuke!" Naruto urged, grinning at his friend. "They've got tomatoes as a topping now! The old man added them just for you, ya know!"
Sasuke tried to maintain his stoic expression, but at the mention of tomatoes, there was a slight twitch in his eye. "...Fine."
"Alright!" Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "To Ichiraku's! And maybe we'll run into some of the others too! Sakura-chan mentioned she'd be taking a lunch break around now, dattebayo!"