After they walked for a few more minutes, Konoha's main gates came clearly into view. As they reached the entrance, Naruto immediately spotted two Chunin-Izumo and Izumo Kamizuki, the very ones who had used the Transformation Technique during the Chunin Ninja Exams to test candidates who couldn't see through genjutsu.
Izumo and Izumo Kamizuki were guarding the gates, silently cursing the wretched superior who had assigned them gate duty a thousand times over. Both were on the verge of dozing off when they suddenly spotted that familiar, spiky blond hair.
"Yo, Naruto! You're finally back! With you gone, gate duty's been boring us to death! At least before, we could watch the other Chunin chase you around and catch you pulling pranks. That was the only fun we got out here." Izumo laughed. His words drew a soft chuckle from Yugito beside Naruto, and only then did the two gate guards notice her.
"Um, and this young lady is...?" Izumo Kamizuki asked, drawing her attention.
"Hello. I'm Yugito Nii," she replied formally.
"Sorry, Miss Yugito. The village doesn't have a Hokage right now, and according to regulations, we can't let anyone from another village inside. Letting you in now could cause unnecessary trouble," Izumo said, discreetly noting that she and Naruto were holding hands, their fingers intertwined. This kid's way too lucky. That girl's gorgeous.
"Hey, that's no problem. The Pervy Sage and I brought Granny Tsunade back to the village. She's going to be the next Hokage. And Yugito-chan here is a guest under the Sannin's protection." As Naruto spoke, he pointed at the two Sannin strolling toward them.
Izumo and Izumo Kamizuki froze on the spot. All they could do was nod blankly and let everyone through. Both had the same thought: I'm never complaining about this lousy job again. I actually got to see something like this... My god, what kind of alloy are that kid Naruto's guts made of? He actually dared to call the Sannin "Granny" and "Pervy Sage." I wouldn't even dream of doing that in my entire life.
Meanwhile, with Naruto and Yugito
Naruto and Yugito walked hand in hand down Konoha's streets. Some civilians still glared at Naruto with hostility, but many had changed their opinion of him considerably after hearing how he had stood his ground against Orochimaru in the Forest of Death to save his teammates, then defeated Shukaku during the invasion and saved hundreds of lives.
Anger instantly flared in Yugito's heart when she saw those hostile looks. Even though she had long since grown used to such treatment in Kumogakure, she knew Naruto, and she knew he didn't deserve any of that malice.
"Come on, Yugito-chan. At this time every week, everyone from my graduating class who isn't out on a mission gets together at this awesome barbecue place. They don't serve ramen or sushi, but the food's still really good. Want to come along? I'd like to introduce you to all my friends," the spiky-haired blond boy asked with a smile.
"Sure. Lead the way," Yugito replied, a little nervous. She didn't know what these Konoha ninja would think of someone from Kumogakure. But when Naruto gave her a warm smile and gently led her toward Choji Akimichi's favorite barbecue restaurant, most of her nervousness instantly melted away.
Inside the barbecue restaurant
The Genin from Naruto's graduating class in Konoha were all seated at the tables, ready to order. A few key people were missing, though-Naruto and the rest of Team 7 had yet to arrive.
"Hey, does anyone know where Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Sai went? I thought all missions that took Genin out of the village had been canceled until the new Hokage took office," Kiba asked.
"Sasuke-kun's still in the hospital. I went to ask what happened, but they just said they weren't sure. Apparently, he suffered some kind of mental attack. Naturally, Sakura hasn't left his side. She says he'll definitely want her there when he wakes up. As for Sai, I heard he left Team 7 and joined another team, but I haven't seen him since. And Naruto? Who knows where he went gallivanting off to with Lord Jiraiya? I haven't seen him since the funeral, and it's been three weeks." Ino spilled all the gossip she had gathered. With her back to the entrance, she didn't see the two people who had just walked in, but almost everyone else at the tables did.
Naruto led Yugito into the restaurant by the hand and headed toward the tables where they usually gathered. As he approached, he got a clear look at everyone's reactions to seeing them. Some were exactly what he had expected, others left him baffled, and still others were just their usual selves.
Shikamaru merely muttered, "Great, another troublesome blond." Then he lowered his head back onto the table.
Choji didn't care at all. He was wholly focused on waiting for the barbecue to arrive, with eyes for nothing but food.
Before you continue