Konoha Village.
A few years had passed, and Konoha had become increasingly prosperous. Especially in the Uchiha clan district, the amusement park attracted countless people from nearby every day.
Combined with Konoha Plaza and the commercial street, it contributed a massive amount of tax revenue to Konoha every year.
Naturally, Aoki Yoru's shops were also earning a fortune.
At this moment, a yellow-haired Ninja was looking around the streets curiously, his eyes full of surprise:
"Wow... I've only been away from the Village for two or three years, how did Konoha change so much?"
The white-haired Ninja beside him smiled and patted his shoulder: "This shows that Tsunade has governed well. At least the current Konoha looks full of vitality, unlike before when it was so lifeless and didn't change for over a decade."
Suddenly, Naruto jumped directly onto a utility pole and shouted loudly: "Everyone, Uzumaki Naruto is back!"
He then gazed out over Konoha and sighed: "I feel so nostalgic for everything!"
The pedestrians on the road looked at him as if he were an idiot and moved away; he was clearly mentally ill.
Just then, Sakura and Konohamaru, who had heard Naruto's voice, ran over. Upon seeing Naruto, both sides greeted each other excitedly.
Just as Naruto and Konohamaru were preparing for a 'Sexy Jutsu' contest, a voice called out.
"Ah! Isn't this Big Brother Naruto and Uncle Jiraiya? Long time no see, you're back!"
Naruto turned his head toward the voice in confusion and saw Nao and Chino walking over hand-in-hand.
Seeing familiar faces, Naruto smiled: "It's Nao and Chino! Long time no see, you've both grown up."
For some reason, he always felt a sense of closeness whenever he saw Nao's red hair.
"Cough, cough—"
Nao looked at Moegi and Ise Udon and gave a meaningful cough.
Moegi and Ise Udon shrank back like quails and immediately forced awkward smiles: "Hello, Boss Nao."
Nao nodded in satisfaction. With her hands on her hips, she waved her hand spiritedly: "If you run into any trouble in the future, you can come find me, your boss, anytime."
She then turned to look at Naruto: "Big Brother Naruto, Konohamaru says you're his boss, so he can't acknowledge me as his boss. I want to duel you! Whoever wins will be Konohamaru's boss."
Over the past two years, she had followed the path of her Uzumaki Clan predecessors, first becoming the boss of her grade, and then spending a year and a half to become the boss of the entire Ninja Academy.
But there was one person stuck in her way: Konohamaru.
Although Nao had barely managed to defeat Konohamaru through Aoki Yoru's teachings and her massive Chakra—a case of 'brute force creating miracles'—
Konohamaru stubbornly insisted that he already had a Big Brother, and Nao would have to defeat his Big Brother first.
Nao thought that made sense; forcing Konohamaru wouldn't be meaningful anyway.
She, Uzumaki Nao, had always 'convinced people with virtue.'
Unfortunately, Naruto had been away training with Jiraiya and hadn't returned, so she hadn't found the opportunity.
Naruto was stunned for a long moment before snapping back to his senses. He gesticulated wildly as he spoke: "What? Little Nao, you're actually trying to steal my subordinate? Are you looking down on me, Uzumaki Naruto?"
"Uzumaki?"
Nao looked at him with confusion, "Your surname is also Uzumaki? But why isn't your hair red? Brother Yoru said the Uzumaki Clan all have red hair."
Nao hadn't realized Naruto's surname was also Uzumaki; she hadn't paid attention despite seeing him several times before.
Naruto was momentarily dazed, then said excitedly: "Little Nao, is your surname also Uzumaki? Then we might be from the same clan!"
"Of course, I'm Uzumaki Nao. But even though your surname is Uzumaki, you don't have red hair, so you're probably not pure-blooded."
"Whatever, never mind that. Duel me! Whoever wins is Konohamaru's boss."
At this moment, Nao was full of confidence. Everyone at the Ninja Academy called her a genius; if Brother Yoru hadn't been holding her back, she would have applied for graduation long ago.
Although Naruto was several years older than her, he was the Ninja Academy's famous 'dead last.' His reputation still circulated at the academy even now.
Furthermore, Naruto was still just a Genin, while his peers were at least Chunin by now.
Nao was confident that after two years of training, she could definitely defeat him.
Naruto's expression immediately became serious. He clenched his fists in front of his chest, and a fire ignited in his eyes.
"Of course! I'm not going to hand over my subordinate."
As he spoke, Naruto assumed a combat stance, fists guarding his front as the Chakra around him began to surge slightly.
Seeing Naruto getting serious, Nao didn't dare be careless. She immediately dropped her playful look, took an opening stance, and firmly gathered Chakra under her feet, her eyes locked onto Naruto.
The area fell silent; the battle was about to erupt.
Thwack—
A fist slammed heavily onto Naruto's head.
"Stop it! Don't you see how old Little Nao is? Have you no shame?"
Naruto was smashed into the ground, a lump forming on his head.
Sakura grabbed the dizzy Naruto by the collar and said with a smile: "Save the match for later. Hokage-sama has business with Naruto; I'm taking him there."
Hokage Building.
Tsunade looked at the noticeably taller Naruto and said with a smile: "It's been a long time, you two."
"Your training should have yielded some results by now, right?"
Jiraiya said with a face full of confidence: "Did you think we would return without any growth?"
"The results are remarkable, of course!"
Naruto was now full of confidence in his own strength; his power had increased rapidly over these two-plus years.
Tsunade nodded: "Then, let me see your results."
She then revealed a mysterious smile: "I've prepared an opponent for you. For this, I haven't sent him on any missions lately; he's been preparing the whole time."
At the Northwest Training Ground, which was considered the most remote training ground in Konoha since it was so far from the center.
Tsunade and Jiraiya stood on a distant tree, looking with interest at the three people in the training ground below.
Whoosh—
Three figures appeared beside them.
"Looks like we made it just in time. This kind of excitement isn't seen often."
The newcomers were Aoki Yoru's trio. They had heard from Kakashi that he was going to test Naruto and the others, so they came over out of curiosity.
They then bowed to Tsunade and the others: "Master Jiraiya, long time no see!"
Jiraiya laughed: "Yes, you've all matured a lot in these few years. Especially Yui—it's been a few years, and you've become quite the beauty."
Aoki Yoru's trio rolled their eyes at him, thinking, 'This old lecher.'
"Hahaha! Just a joke. I heard from Tsunade that you've done well these years. Especially you, Yoru-kid; your strength should have surpassed us old-timers by now."
Seeing Tsunade about to lose her temper beside him, Jiraiya quickly changed the subject.
Aoki Yoru waved it off: "Not at all, not at all. Jiraiya-sama has become famous throughout the world these years! Who under heaven doesn't know of you?"
"Hahaha!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly and patted Aoki Yoru's shoulder. The two exchanged a look, everything understood without words.