Chapter 92: I’m Strong as F*ck Now!

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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After two more days on the road, Guts finally returned to Konoha, alone.

As for Jiraiya and Minato, still stationed at the southern battlefield base camp, Guts couldn't care less. Let them deal with the mess there.

It had been a year and a half since he last walked these streets, and honestly, he missed everything.

The village, the air, the familiarity, it all tugged at him in a strange, nostalgic way.

The only stain on the whole picture?

The four senile fossils sitting at the top. Elders with more years than wisdom, clinging to power, more interested in politics than progress.

It didn't matter much to him, not anymore. But Guts, knowing the plot like the back of his hand, understood one thing:

If you're a genius in Konoha, those geezers will either try to control you... or find a way to clip your wings.

"Hey! You there, register before entering!"

A voice called from the left just as Guts stepped past the village gate.

The tone was familiar.

He turned his head, eyes narrowing slightly. Sure enough, so were the faces.

"You!?"

"You!?"

They said it at the same time.

A pause. Then...

They Fucked.

Kidding.

Guts grinned, walked forward, and clapped one of them on the back with a loud laugh.

"Hahaha! If it isn't the legendary gatekeeper duo! I knew you two would end up here eventually. How's it going? Comfortable seats?"

Standing at the desk were none other than Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.

Not Chūnin yet, still Genin...but with most of the village's higher-ranking shinobi deployed to the frontlines, the remaining Jōnin and Chūnin were tied up with critical operations.

That left gate duty, patrols, and guard shifts to Genin like them.

"Stop calling us that!" Kotetsu snapped.

"We're Kotetsu and Izumo! Individuals! Got it memorized?"

But there was no real bite behind their words. They knew better than to bark too loud.

Word of Guts's exploits on the frontlines had made its way back to the village.

More than that, they had known him since their academy days. Back when he was already bold enough to punch a teacher if they disrespected him.

He hadn't changed much.

"Hahaha, relax,"

Guts said, still grinning as he clapped them again.

"It's not a bad gig. I mean, hey...this job's gonna stick with you for life, right? You're practically part of the furniture!"

The two looked like they'd been slapped.

For life!?

They both twitched.

Sure, gate duty wasn't exactly disgraceful… but it wasn't glamorous either.

"What're you doing back, anyway?"

Izumo asked, trying to ignore the insult.

"Weren't you on the frontlines?"

Guts was just about to answer when a new voice, feminine, sharp with surprise, called out behind him:

"Guts!?"

He turned.

She had slightly wavy black hair that reached her waist, a slim figure in a black kunoichi outfit, standard mesh underlayer, like Anko's style.

She couldn't have been older than thirteen or fourteen, but her beauty was already beginning to bloom.

It was Kurenai Yuhi.

Before Guts could respond, Kurenai ran straight into his chest and threw her arms around him, burying her tear-streaked face against him.

"I—I missed you so much…"

Her voice was muffled in his chest, trembling with emotion.

Seeing them, Kotetsu and Izumo fell silent and looked away awkwardly. Third-wheeling like true professionals.

As a newly promoted Chūnin, Kurenai had been tasked with patrolling the roads outside Konoha, making sure no enemy scouts or spies slipped through.

It wasn't high-risk work, but it kept her out of the village most days.

A few minutes passed before Kurenai finally pulled away slightly, her eyes red, face still flustered.

"Why… why'd you come back so suddenly? Isn't the war still going?"

Guts smiled lazily.

"In this Ninja World I can go where I want to. Who's gonna stop me?"

"Tch. So arrogant…"

Kotetsu, Izumo, and a few nearby shinobi all had the same complaint internally.

But none of them dared to say it out loud.

After all...this was the guy who took down the Third Raikage and left the Third Tsuchikage half-dead.

Who the hell could stop him?

Only someone on the level of Pain or above could hope to try.

And right now, Nagato was still hiding in the shadows, and Madara had already dumped his plans into Obito's hands.

There was no one in the world strong enough to match Guts, not yet.

"Shouldn't you check in with Lord Hokage?"

Kurenai asked gently, a bit worried despite everything.

"That's protocol, isn't it?"

Guts laughed.

"That old man? If it weren't for me, we'd have lost the war in the first battle. He should be thanking me."

The nearby ninja flinched at the casual arrogance, but… again, what could they say?

He wasn't wrong.

Then Guts leaned in, brushing his forehead against hers.

"You've grown a lot since I left. This calls for a thorough examination."

"H-huh!? Y-you perv! Don't say that in public!"

Her cheeks turned crimson at his teasing breath on her skin, but before she could react further, Guts wrapped his arms around her and vanished from sight in a blur of motion.

Gone, just like that.

"…He's insane. Saying stuff like that out loud,"

Muttered one of Kurenai's patrol partners, a kunoichi in her mid-twenties, clearly flustered.

"Yeah. But if age didn't matter, that guy'd be the strongest candidate for Fourth Hokage"

Another Chūnin said, shaking his head.

One Genin glanced at the object strapped across Guts's back.

"Hey… what was that huge thing he was carrying?"

The middle-aged Chūnin stiffened.

His memory clicked, and his eyes went wide.

"That… that was Samehada. The big sword from Mist… the one used by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

A stunned silence fell over the group.

Everyone there understood what that meant.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen guarded their weapons with their lives. For Samehada to be in Guts's hands…

It could only mean one thing.

Meanwhile, at Tsunade's house

No. Their house.

The home he shared with Tsunade.

Guts walked in and casually tossed Samehada aside like a grocery bag.

The massive blade clattered across the floor and skidded into the yard.

Kurenai didn't even get a chance to comment before she felt herself pulled into a crushing embrace.

Then...lips on hers. Fierce. Dominating.

Her thoughts blanked out, and she gave in with a muffled gasp, arms clutching at his shirt as their kiss deepened without restraint.

She missed him so much.

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