One Year

Spring passed and autumn came. Yamanaka Tohru spent another year at Mount Myōboku.

During that year, Yamanaka Tohru focused mainly on consolidating the ninjutsu he had already learned.

Chidori and its derivative techniques, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Rasengan, various Water Release techniques, Ice Release, and Sage Mode. After a year of consolidation, Yamanaka Tohru was confident that he could fight Kushina in her Four-Tails Tailed Beast Cloak state while using Ice Release or Sage Mode.

Having spent nearly two years at Mount Myōboku, Yamanaka Tohru had gained a great deal. He had solved the problem that had plagued him for years—Ice Release consuming vast amounts of Chakra. He could also briefly enter Sage Mode and had learned many of Jiraiya's Water Release techniques.

"It's been two years since I left Konoha. It's time to go back." That day, after finishing a sparring session with Sage Fukasaku, Yamanaka Tohru lay on the grass and spoke.

"Tohru-chan, are you leaving?"

"Yes. Thank you for taking care of me these past two years, Sage Fukasaku."

Sage Fukasaku had indeed helped Yamanaka Tohru a great deal over those two years. From clarifying the Nature Energy and training him in Sage Mode to teaching him Frog Kumite, Yamanaka Tohru was deeply grateful to Sage Fukasaku.

As for the other person he was grateful to, that was Jiraiya. Not to mention anything else, merely modifying the Sealing Jutsu formula of the Yin Seal had benefited Yamanaka Tohru immensely. And Jiraiya had also taught him many Water Release techniques.

Jiraiya's Sage Mode had also made great progress over the past year.

Jiraiya had never been able to enter Sage Mode on his own. Yamanaka Tohru remembered that, in the original story, Jiraiya had used Sage Mode by fusing with the two sages, Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.

Thus, Yamanaka Tohru suggested that the two sages try fusing directly with Jiraiya. The result was just as it had been in the original story: with the power of the two sages, Jiraiya successfully entered Sage Mode.

Yamanaka Tohru was delighted that he could help Jiraiya perfect Sage Mode. After successfully mastering it, Jiraiya returned to Konoha. Seeing Jiraiya's lecherous grin, Yamanaka Tohru had a pretty good idea why he was going back.

Afterward, Yamanaka Tohru said goodbye to the toads of Mount Myōboku one by one. Then Sage Shima, who happened to be in Konoha looking for food, used Summoning Technique to bring Yamanaka Tohru back from Mount Myōboku.

"Boss, one large seafood ramen, with two extra servings of chashu." Yamanaka Tohru had been summoned back to Konoha right near Ichiraku Ramen.

"Sure thing. Please wait a moment, sir." The Ichiraku owner was as quick as ever. Before long, a steaming bowl of seafood ramen was set before Yamanaka Tohru.

"Huh? Isn't that Tohru? Long time no see! It's been almost two years, hasn't it?" The Ichiraku owner recognized Yamanaka Tohru and greeted him warmly.

"Yeah. I left the village to train these past two years."

"I see. Then this bowl is on the house. Consider it a welcome-back gift."

"Then thank you, old man."

Yamanaka Tohru chatted with the Ichiraku owner about the interesting things at Mount Myōboku while eating his ramen, until an Anbu member appeared beside him.

"Yamanaka Tohru, Lord Hokage requests your presence."

"Old man, looks like I won't be able to finish my ramen. I'll be going, then."

"Yeah, Lord Hokage's business comes first. You can eat the ramen another time."

At the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage watched Yamanaka Tohru with a beaming smile, while Yamanaka Tohru looked him over as well.

After two years apart, Sarutobi Hiruzen had many more wrinkles on his face, and his hair had begun to turn gray. After all, he was already fifty. The Third Hokage's physical condition had clearly declined.

"Hehe, Tohru, you little rascal. You ran off to train at Mount Myōboku without saying a word and even abandoned your work at Konoha Hospital."

"Lord Hokage, you never paid me a salary. How can you still call it my job?"

"Ahem, what does a child need money for? You're really no fun. Since you're back, go to Konoha Hospital tomorrow. This time, it'll count as a mission, and you'll be paid." The Third Hokage spoke.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. If there's nothing else, Lord Hokage, I'll be leaving first." Yamanaka Tohru wanted to go home and see his mother. After that, he also wanted to talk with Kushina.

"All right. Remember to go to Konoha Hospital tomorrow."

After leaving the Hokage Office, Yamanaka Tohru immediately dashed toward the Yamanaka Clan.

Yamanaka Seiko was resting in the inner room as usual. During the two years Yamanaka Tohru had been gone, she had thought of him constantly. After Uchiha Kagami had left her, Yamanaka Tohru had become her most important bond.

"Mother! Mother, are you there?" Yamanaka Seiko was in the inner room when she heard Yamanaka Tohru's voice. She hurriedly rose and opened the door. The moment she saw Yamanaka Tohru outside, tears burst from her eyes.

Mother and son talked until noon. Yamanaka Seiko personally cooked many of Yamanaka Tohru's favorite dishes for him. Although Yamanaka Tohru had already eaten at Ichiraku Ramen, he still ate everything she had prepared so he wouldn't disappoint her.

In the afternoon, Yamanaka Tohru went out to look for Kushina. He searched nearly half of Konoha without seeing her anywhere, so he could only enter Sage Mode and sense her presence.

Because Kushina possessed such enormous Chakra, Yamanaka Tohru sensed her easily. There was also another familiar Chakra beside her.

Yamanaka Tohru ran toward the location he had sensed and found Kushina in the Forest of Death, along with Jiraiya, whom Kushina had been pummeling.

"Kushina, what did Jiraiya do this time?"

"Tohru! You're back! That's wonderful! Come over and help me beat up this lecher!"

"Tohru, save me! I didn't do it on purpose!"

After hearing their accounts, Yamanaka Tohru learned what had happened. Kushina had been preparing to enter a hot spring, and Jiraiya had happened to be peeping on her there.

Although Jiraiya had no shame, he would never peep on his own student's girlfriend. After seeing Kushina at the entrance, Jiraiya had planned to leave. Unfortunately, he accidentally made a noise while leaving and was discovered by Kushina.

Kushina then released the Four-Tails and chased Jiraiya all the way to the Forest of Death. Knowing he was in the wrong—and knowing that he really couldn't defeat Kushina in her Four-Tails state without entering Sage Mode—Jiraiya simply stopped resisting.

"Kushina, why don't you let it go? Jiraiya didn't see anything. Please spare him."

"Yes, yes, Kushina, I was wrong."

"Hmph. I'll let you off for Tohru's sake." Kushina had grown tired after beating him for so long, and she also had plenty to say now that Yamanaka Tohru had returned.

The two of them went to the Third Training Ground, where Yamanaka Tohru told Kushina about the progress he had made during his two years at Mount Myōboku.

Kushina also told him about the changes in herself over the past two years. What Yamanaka Tohru hadn't expected was that her relationship with the Nine-Tails had improved tremendously.

Not long after Yamanaka Tohru had gone to Mount Myōboku, Namikaze Minato had also left the village to carry out missions.

Bored and alone, Kushina began chatting with the Nine-Tails after hearing Yamanaka Tohru say that humans and Tailed Beasts could coexist peacefully. After chatting back and forth for a while, the Nine-Tails actually began speaking to Kushina.

Once the Nine-Tails responded, Kushina became even more enthusiastic and came to chat with him every day. The relationship between the girl and the fox grew increasingly close.

"Tohru, you were right. Humans and Tailed Beasts really can become friends. Little Nine is my friend now!"

The Nine-Tails, Naruto's comrade in the original story, had actually developed such a good relationship with Kushina. If things continued like this, perhaps even the Nine-Tails' attack on the village could be avoided.