Return to Konoha

After months of grueling sparring with Gaara, Jimo finally set out on his journey away from the Land of Wind. Carrying with him eager anticipation and the fruits of his growth, he was ready to return to Konoha, the village that had once given him warmth and hope.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before he knew it, a whole year had slipped by. When Jimo stepped through Konoha's gates again, a surge of indescribable excitement welled up inside him.

"Hey! You actually came back!" The two gate guards spotted Jimo at once. Though his face was weathered by the elements, he still looked full of life. Their expressions turned to disbelief, and they cried out in unison.

"Haha, that's right! I'm back!" Jimo replied with a hearty laugh. He carefully pulled two exquisite little gifts he'd brought back from the Land of Wind from his heavy backpack, then smiled and handed one to each of the diligent guards.

The two were quite taken aback as they accepted the gifts. They hadn't expected Jimo to be so thoughtful, remembering to bring them something special.

By then, the whole village had already heard about the boy Naruto had accidentally found and brought back to Konoha. Jimo had now become the direct disciple of the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade!

"Master! I'm back!" With a clear, ringing shout, Jimo burst through the heavy door of the Hokage's office like a gust of wind.

The scene that greeted him after the door flew open was so ridiculous it was hard not to laugh. Tsunade was sprawled over her desk, fast asleep without a shred of dignity. She was sleeping soundly, with a glistening thread of drool even trickling from the corner of her mouth and down the desk.

At the sight, Jimo shook his head helplessly and thought, Granny Tsunade really hasn't changed at all... He tiptoed over to her and carefully pulled out the stacks of paperwork and scrolls trapped beneath her. He was afraid even the slightest movement might wake the Fifth Hokage, who was off visiting the Sandman.

Once he had freed the scrolls, Jimo quietly sat down on a nearby sofa and began working through the tedious paperwork. The minutes ticked by. Aside from the faint sounds of him reading scrolls and writing, the room was utterly silent.

Before long, the sun had begun to sink in the west. The bright afternoon light streamed through the window, casting golden beams across the floor. Just then, Tsunade finally stirred from her sweet dreams.

She blinked groggily, then looked around in confusion. When her gaze fell on Jimo, she suddenly jumped up in fright and muttered, "Huh? I must be so tired lately that I'm seeing things..."

Hearing Tsunade's muttering, Jimo rolled his eyes and said in exasperation, "Master, you're one of Konoha's most famous beauties, so could you at least mind your image? Wipe off that drool, will you?" As he spoke, he picked up a clean towel from beside him and tossed it toward her.

The towel flew straight at Tsunade and brushed her cheek. The touch felt so real that she came fully awake. Only then did she realize that what she was seeing wasn't an illusion—it was really happening.

"Oh, come on! Why didn't you wake me sooner, you little brat?" Tsunade complained, then hurriedly straightened her rumpled clothes, trying to cover the glimpse of skin her undignified sleeping position had nearly exposed.

After helping Tsunade finish the paperwork, Jimo went to visit his classmates: Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, Hinata, Kiba... He even brought gifts from the Land of Wind to Shino, who had the least presence of them all.

He didn't get to see Sakura, since Tsunade had assigned her an internship.

Back at the house the village had assigned him, Jimo took out his key and turned it gently.

Click. He opened the door.

A kunai flew straight at him.

"Who's there, you little thief?!"

Then someone kicked him right in the face.

"Aw, hell!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were back?" Mitaraishi Anko lightly furrowed her brows, her tone tinged with reproach, though her hands never stopped as she expertly wrapped a bandage around Jimo.

"You call that an apology...?" Jimo rolled his eyes helplessly, his face caught between laughter and tears. He really couldn't figure out what was going through this woman's head. She'd come to bandage his wound, yet somehow she always managed to say things that sounded strange.

But when Jimo looked around, a warmth welled up inside him. To his surprise, the house, which had been a little messy before, was now spotless. A fresh scent seemed to linger in every corner. Several pots of blooming flowers stood on the windowsill, and sunlight streamed through the window, dappling the floor.

"I noticed you weren't around, so I thought I'd come by and tidy up... so the place wouldn't get moldy while you were gone..." Mitaraishi Anko lifted her head and flashed Jimo a playful smile. It was as dazzling as flowers in spring, warming his heart.

Jimo checked the food in the refrigerator, then decided to go out for dinner.

The two went to Akimichi Barbecue. Since Jimo had saved Choji in an earlier battle, the owner gave them a discount.

"Oh, my! Anko-sensei, are you on a date with Jimo?"

Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai walked into the restaurant and immediately spotted Jimo and Anko grilling meat.

"You two are no different!"

Anko blushed, but didn't deny it.

"You're already here, so why not join us?"

Jimo invited them to eat together.

The four sat down, and Jimo told them about everything he'd seen and heard during that time. They were astonished.

"So that child was the One-Tail's Jinchuriki?"

Yuhi Kurenai said, "No wonder he was so strong."

"Yeah! You fought a monster like that! Your strength must be at least on par with an ordinary Jonin by now, Jimo."

Asuma praised him.

"The last time I saw you trade a couple of blows with someone from the Akatsuki, I was pretty shocked."

"Just lucky, just lucky!"

Jimo replied modestly.

After dinner, Jimo walked Anko back to her dormitory, then wandered aimlessly through the village streets by himself.

"Nice!"

At a crossroads, Jimo suddenly roared, his face twisted into a grimace.

"You've been following me the whole way... Why don't you come out?"

Ki gathered in Jimo's hand and formed an energy bullet. He blasted it toward the treetops behind him, sending two figures crashing heavily to the ground.

"Root Organization?"

Looking at their masks, which were different from those worn by ordinary Anbu, Jimo thought to himself.

So that old dog Danzo has his eye on me after all.

"Not bad."

An old man wrapped in bandages emerged from the shadows.

"Jimo. Identity unknown. Combat strength sufficient to briefly suppress One-Tail Shukaku..." the bandaged man said flatly.

Moonlight fell across his face, revealing a grim expression—especially the X-shaped scar on his chin.

"Join my Root. Become a root that nourishes Konoha and works in silence. Only here can your talents be fully realized!"

Danzo extended the invitation with complete confidence.

"Looks like you've investigated me pretty thoroughly..." Jimo suddenly said with a laugh.

"But what if I say... no?"

"Before investigating me, did you really not know that the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, is my master? Anbu Commander Danzo?"

As he said "Hokage" and "Anbu Commander," Jimo placed particular emphasis on the titles.