Chapter 55

Konoha.

The sky was blue, the white clouds drifted lazily, the sunlight fell on the earth a lazy atmosphere.

In the wide streets of Konoha, the flow of people was immense, smiles hung on everyone's face.

"Hey Shikamaru, what's the matter? Why have you called us all here?"

A group of people walked through the streets of Konoha, around 6 people, leading them was a man with lazy eyes and a troubled look over his face.

Following him was a figure with high collar attire and glasses covering his eyes, a girl with white eyes, a girl with blonder hair, a black hair guy with a white dog walking by his side and handsome guy in a white kimono, with white eyes as well.

Kiba who walked behind Shikamaru asked in a high voice, a curious look in his eyes.

All of them were suddenly called by Shikamaru today, so here they are now gathered but Shikamaru still hasn't explained the reason for the sudden call.

Ino, Hinata, Neji and Shino were equally curious as well, looking at Shikamaru who walked in front, the annoyed aura looming around him.

"Sigh~ I don't know much as well, Lady Tsunade suddenly ordered me to take you lot and welcome someone who is coming back to the village today"

"I really want to retire, so troublesome~" Thought Shikamaru, rubbing his head as his life was truly turning into a drag, all that effort to become a ninja, only to end up getting caught in endless troubles every day.

"Who is it? Do you have any idea Shikamaru?" Asked Ino curiously, not being able to understand who was the guest that required them to welcome.

"No~" Shikamaru just shook his head in denial, too lazy to even talk.

"Maybe it is someone we know, otherwise Hokage-Sama would not call us" Said Hinata, looking at Ino, answering her question instead of Shikamaru.

"Someone we know? Neji and everyone else who heard her words, couldn't help but whisper and giving each other a look, they speeded up, moving towards the Entrance Gate.

"…"

But the leading figure was left behind, few black lines on his forehead.

-----------------------

Swoosh…

Through the dense forest, four figures whizzed out and before them appeared a huge entrance gate, two shinobi wearing Chunin jacket standing near the door.

"Finally, Home!" Said the girl with pink hair stretching her arms, her tone excited, but her eyes were glued to the figure beside her.

"Hehe~ Feeling nostalgic…" Naruto asked in a teasing tone, after spotting the handsome figure with black hair looking towards the village door with complex eyes

"I never thought I would one day return here again…" Said Sasuke in a low voice, the memories of past, leaving the village all coming to his mind.

"Haha, of course you would have returned, this is your home, someone once said these words to me Sasuke, "wherever someone thinks of you, that's where home is" you may have lost your clan, but you still have us"

"Believe it"

Saying that, Naruto gave a thumbs up to Sasuke, flashing a smile to Sasuke, a sincere look in his blue flashy eyes.

"Ha…" Seeing Naruto like this, Sasuke was silent for a moment, before a small laughter final left his lips, the complex look over his face going away.

"He's finally back!"

Seeing him like this, both Naruto and Sakura gave each other a smile, a single thought in their head, Sasuke was finally back.

"Let's go, we are already ahead of the schedule…"

Seeing them like this, he couldn't help but interject, as if not stopped, they might stay here for whole day.

Saying that, Azuma strode towards the entrance gate, leaving his back to other three.

"Ha…"

Sasuke behind taking a deep breath, took the first step towards the village, Naruto and Sakura walking shoulder by shoulder his side, moving towards the entrance gate.

He arrived at the entrance gate, and greeted the gate duo politely, but suddenly halted as he sensed some familiar aura's ahead.

"Azuma-Kun!" The familiar voice entered his ears, and like always the girl with blonde hair was the first to spot him, bringing a smile on his face unconsciously.

Tap…

*Pyo! Pyo!*

"Did you just came back from a mission, Azuma-Kun?"

Ino ran up to Azuma and held his arm, a soft feeling enveloping him, as he couldn't help but tug the corners of his lips.

"Yes, it went well!" But seeing her without any intent of letting his arm go and looking at him for an answer to her question, he could only reply honestly.

"Azuma-Kun, now that you are back, can you fulfil the promise you made to me, about teaching me how to cook?" Asked Ino eagerly, her gleaming eyes stuck at Azuma's cold and handsome face.

"Here goes my rest time" thought Azuma seeing the eager Ino, as he did remember the promise he made to Ino and would never go back on his words.

"How about tom____?"

"Yo, Azuma, are you the guest we needed to welcome?"

But just when he was about to give her an answer, Shikamaru along with the gang walked up to him, the former stretching his fist out towards him.

"Azuma-San"

"Azuma!"

"Um."

Neji, Hinata, Kiba and Shino also greeted him politely, as he calmly nodded back at them.

Tap…

"No, he is behind me" I bumped my fists with Shikamaru's and pointed behind me with my thumb without looking back.

Hearing his words, all of them frowned and looked behind him with eager eyes, soon spotting three figures.

"Its Naruto and Sakura-San!"

Hinata immediately recognized the blonde hair guy and pink haired girl, a red blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Hey! Who is that guy in the middle?"

Suddenly, Kiba pointed towards the guy in the middle who was dressed in white, his chest and abdominal muscles clearly visible, a sword hanging on his waist.

"He is…."

Everyone focused on the guy in the middle, his handsome face bringing out a familiar feeling, finally an image of a guy from past flashed in Shikamaru's mind, as his eyes widened, words too hard to come out.

{Three chapters today}