Return to the Village, Return Home, A Reunion [1]

"Ah!"

"I'm back! Uzumaki Naruto, the great me, has finally returned to Konoha!"

At midday, a spirited blond-haired boy stood before the familiar gates of Konoha and couldn't help but shout at the top of his lungs.

"Idiot!"

"So embarrassing!"

A girl with a beige-colored ponytail glanced at Naruto beside her, took two steps away, and covered her face in dismay.

"Oh!"

"I, Akimichi Choji, have returned as well!"

Right after Ino finished speaking, the plump boy beside her, seemingly having a loose screw, raised his arms and flexed his "muscles," loudly proclaiming his arrival in the same spirited manner as Naruto.

"Ah!"

"Another fool!"

Ino was in utter despair. How had she managed to survive this time?

Her teacher was a chain-smoking uncle, and her three teammates were a hot-blooded fool, a lazy pineapple-headed guy, and a glutton!

Was there anyone normal left in this world?

Boohoo!

Sakura, where are you?

Your Ino misses you!

"You all seem full of energy!"

"Once we wrap up the mission debrief, no one leave—I'm treating everyone to barbecue!"

Asuma handed the travel permit to Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki at the gate and spoke to his team with a smile.

"Awesome!"

"Sensei Asuma is the best!"

Naruto and Choji's eyes lit up as they cheered enthusiastically.

Ah…

This was probably Asuma's most commendable trait—his generosity.

Even Ino had to admit defeat when faced with Asuma's barbecue temptation.

The lazy pineapple-headed boy casually cleaned his ear with his pinky finger as he glanced at the energetic group, then flicked the debris away, looking detached.

Man, such a hassle…

When can I go home…

With a cigarette in his mouth, Asuma led his four little followers through Konoha's gates.

"Speaking of which, when will Kakashi-sensei and the others return?"

"Not just Kakashi-sensei—even Ero-sennin went on a mission with them."

Naruto hurried to catch up with Asuma, his eyes filled with anticipation as he looked at the bearded man.

Though getting along with Ino-Shika-Cho had been great, Naruto still missed his old Team 7.

"Well, who knows? Maybe if you're patient, they'll be back in a few days," Asuma replied nonchalantly while puffing on his cigarette.

"Eh, that's so dismissive…"

Naruto pouted, clearly dissatisfied.

Unbothered, Asuma ruffled Naruto's blond hair vigorously, messing it up so much that even his forehead protector became askew.

"Why think so much?"

"Ninjas go on missions—it's just a matter of time before they return."

The pineapple-headed boy trailed at the back, his dull, fish-like eyes glancing at the two ahead before looking away.

Naruto was so gullible.

Konoha Hospital

In the Ward

"The treatment is going well. It won't be long before you can move normally again," Tsunade said, clad in a white coat as she observed the black-haired boy lying on the hospital bed, blinking at her.

"After all, I did it myself," Sakura remarked matter-of-factly as she peeled an apple nearby.

"You sure don't know what humility is."

Tsunade cast a glance at the pink-haired girl beside her, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.

Such a promising talent.

If the old man hadn't acted first, she would have taken her as a disciple.

"Humility?"

"Can you eat that?"

Sakura nonchalantly set the fruit knife aside and admired the perfectly peeled apple skin in her hand with satisfaction.

As Sasuke reached out to take the apple, Sakura unexpectedly bit into it with a crisp "crunch."

Sasuke silently withdrew his hand.

"I'll come by for rehab with this kid the next few days, so your issue with 'Inner Sakura' will have to wait a bit."

Tsunade stuffed her hands into her pockets, glancing at Sasuke's retracted hand.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Lady Tsunade~~"

After Tsunade left, Sasuke hesitated before looking at Sakura, who was munching on the apple by his bedside.

"Sakura, is there something I need to do?"

From their brief conversation earlier, he had pieced together that there seemed to be something he needed to assist with once he recovered.

"Inner Sakura… what is that?"

Seeing Sasuke's puzzled expression, Sakura finished the apple in a few bites and nodded solemnly.

"I need to tell you something."

Sakura's unusually serious expression made Sasuke's face involuntarily turn grave.

He had never seen Sakura this serious before.

The pink-haired girl took a deep breath, her green eyes filled with sincerity.

"Actually, I have a mental disorder."

???

Sasuke stared at her blankly, wondering if he was hearing things.

Did she hear herself?

"Sakura… what do you mean by mental disorder?"

"It's literal."

"I have a second personality—my dark side."

Sakura pointed to her cheek, her expression dead serious.

Sasuke was utterly bewildered. Was she saying she was mentally unstable?

"I need your Sharingan to bring me into my inner world and suppress my second personality."

"Pretty cool, right? Kinda like a novel protagonist?"

"At crucial moments, I can suddenly go berserk and annihilate the enemy!"

Sakura's eyes curved into crescents with amusement.

Though she didn't expect Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan to truly suppress Inner Sakura, telling him this was simply to ease his mental burden.

Despite her disdain for Uchiha Itachi, she understood Sasuke well.

He was a simple guy.

He believed whatever he was told.

Itachi said the massacre was a test of will—he believed it.

Tobi claimed Itachi did it for Konoha—he believed it and immediately sought revenge on Danzo.

Hashirama explained the meaning of Hokage—he believed it and joined the Allied Shinobi Forces.

Later, he stopped believing anyone and decided to revolutionize the ninja world on his own, only to be beaten into submission by Naruto.

Sasuke looked at Sakura silently and finally spoke:

"I may not fully understand, but if Sakura needs me, I'll do it."

"Mm-hmm, nothing major. Just stare at me with your Sharingan. Rest up for now—I'll check in tomorrow."

"Alright, take care."

As Sakura got up to leave, Sasuke suddenly spoke:

"Sakura, there's something I've wanted to ask for a while."

Sakura looked at him, puzzled.

"What is it?"

Sasuke seemed awkward, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"Why did you suddenly cut your hair short?"

???

Why don't you ask your troublesome brother why I went from long-haired to short-haired!

Sakura's inner alarms blared, but she maintained her composure.

"So... Sasuke likes long hair?"

The black-haired boy scratched his cheek awkwardly and muttered, "Uh, yeah."

Well, buddy, with that reaction, I'm sticking to short hair for life.

Push me, and I might shave it all off.

"Long hair's a hassle—cutting it was easier."

Brushing off Sasuke's question, Sakura made a swift exit.

"Eh..."

Sasuke watched her leave, feeling bewildered.

It was just a question about her sudden haircut, wasn't it?

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