NARUTO: In the Shadow of the Clans

The grand gates of Konoha slowly opened, revealing a Naruto no one would recognize at first glance. His upright and confident posture, piercing gaze, and long ponytail swaying lightly in the wind gave the impression of an entirely different man. The guards at the entrance stared at him for a moment before realizing who he was.

"N-Naruto?" one of them stammered.

Naruto gave them a brief nod and continued walking, his bag slung over his shoulder. His heart beat slightly faster than he would have liked. Two years was a long time, and he had traveled a long road to get here. Now, he was back.

Naruto made his way to the main building and climbed the stairs leading to the Hokage's office. Nostalgia washed over him as he passed the carved faces of the previous Hokage. He paused briefly in front of Tsunade's, then resumed his walk.

Standing before the office door, he knocked twice before entering.

Tsunade, buried in a pile of reports, looked up when she heard the door open.

"If this is another request for a raise, I—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening.

Naruto stood there, imposing, calm, wearing an expression she had never seen on him before.

"Naruto?" she exclaimed, surprised as she rose from her chair.

He smiled faintly.

"I'm back."

She stared at him for a moment, searching for words.

"By all the gods… You've changed!"

Naruto entered the room and placed his bag in a corner.

"Two years is a long time," he said simply.

Tsunade walked around her desk and stopped in front of him, examining him from head to toe.

"More muscular... taller... and what's with the ponytail? Have you become a samurai or something?" she joked, though genuine surprise lingered in her voice.

Naruto smirked.

"Let's just say I've learned a few things."

She raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"A few things, huh? You've been silent for two years, and you reappear like this, all mysterious? You'd better tell me everything."

Naruto nodded and sat on the couch opposite her desk.

"I'll tell you everything. But first, I just wanted to let you know that I'm fine and ready to take my place here again."

Tsunade crossed her arms, still incredulous.

"Ready, huh? You don't seem like the loudmouth kid I knew anymore."

Naruto chuckled softly.

"We all have to grow up someday, don't we?"

They talked at length, Naruto sharing some details of his training, though he deliberately remained vague about certain aspects. Tsunade, though impressed, didn't press him further.

While Naruto and Tsunade were still deep in conversation, the office door burst open, interrupting their exchange.

Sakura walked in briskly, her expression a mix of disbelief and irritation.

"Naruto!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the room.

Naruto, calmly seated on the couch, turned his head toward her. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her dramatic entrance.

"Sakura," he replied simply, without getting up.

She stopped in the middle of the room, staring at him as if struggling to believe what she was seeing.

"So it's true, you're finally back after all this time!" she said, crossing her arms with a hint of annoyance. "Do you realize how worried everyone was? And not a single message from you? You haven't changed at all—still as irresponsible as ever!"

Naruto remained unphased by her reproach. He stood up slowly, his calm but piercing gaze fixed on her.

"And I see you're still as quick to judge, Sakura," he said in a steady, firm voice.

She raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by his tone.

"What? I'm not judging you; I'm stating facts! Two years without a word, no sign of whether you were dead or alive, and you come back as if nothing happened? Do you think that's normal?"

Naruto sighed softly, like an adult weary of a child's tantrum.

"Are you done?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with irony.

Sakura opened her mouth, but he cut her off before she could reply.

"I understand you're angry, but you're speaking without thinking. Do you really think it's appropriate to interrupt two people in the middle of a discussion?"

She blinked, visibly surprised by his response, and realized the Hokage was watching her.

"I didn't mean—" she began, but she, too, was interrupted.

"Naruto!" exclaimed Kiba, entering the room, followed by the others.

The incredulous looks and exclamations of surprise multiplied. Everyone wanted to know where he had been, what he had done, and why he hadn't sent any word.

Naruto sighed at the unfolding scene. He glanced at Tsunade, who simply gave him a smile and a nod. It likely meant she understood and that they could continue their conversation later.

Raising his hands to calm everyone down, Naruto spoke in a firm but composed voice.

"I'm tired," he said. "I promise we'll talk later."

Though frustrated, his friends respected his wish. Kiba, however, placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you're back," he said, much calmer this time.

Naruto nodded, a sincere smile on his face.

"Me too."

Naruto eventually left the Hokage's building and headed to his apartment. The streets of Konoha felt familiar yet strangely different. The smiling faces of villagers, the smells of food from street stalls—it all reminded him how much he had missed this place.

When he arrived home, he opened the door to his apartment. Everything was just as he had left it, though covered in a thin layer of dust.

He placed his bag in a corner, opened the windows to let in some light, and headed to the bathroom.

Hot water ran over his tired skin, washing away the dirt and tension of recent days. Naruto closed his eyes, savoring the moment of calm.

After cleaning up, he put on fresh clothes and collapsed onto his bed. The white ceiling of his room stared back at him in silence.

"It's good to be home," he murmured.

Despite his exhaustion, his mind was restless. He thought about all he had learned and all he had yet to accomplish. But for now, he allowed himself to close his eyes, breathe deeply, and enjoy this moment of peace.

He had a lot to do, but he was finally ready to face the future.