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Naruto and Sakura strolled through the bustling streets of Konoha, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the village as night settled in.
The air carried the comforting aroma of grilled skewers, freshly baked dumplings, and ramen broth simmering in nearby stalls—a medley of scents that spoke of home.
Laughter echoed from a few late-night vendors as families and shinobi alike moved between shops, chatting under the warm, orange haze of evening.
'God, I can't wait to eat all the cuisine in this world as suggested by a reader,' he thought, a small grin forming on his lips as his stomach grumbled faintly.
His mind briefly wandered to the hundreds of flavors he had yet to try—especially now that he was back in a body that could truly enjoy them.
"So, Sakura, are you a chunin now?" Naruto asked casually, his hands resting lazily behind his head as they made their way down the familiar street that led toward Ichiraku Ramen. The streetlights cast faint reflections in his blue eyes as he glanced her way.
"Yes. Everyone who was in our class—except you and Sasuke—is still a genin," Sakura replied with a small sigh, her arms folded neatly across her chest.
She walked with her usual composed confidence, though a hint of pride crept into her voice.
"Well, I'm sure I'll catch up soon enough," he said, flashing that old, confident grin of his.
"Yeah, but technically speaking," she teased, nudging him with her elbow, "I am above you in rank. What should you start calling me now, huh?"
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Over my dead body," he said, pretending to look offended.
That earned him a light laugh from Sakura—one of those rare, genuine ones that reminded him how far they'd both come. The sound carried softly in the night air, mingling with the faint hum of the village.
'Funny how some of the strongest people in the world were genin for the longest time,' Naruto mused, his expression briefly thoughtful as his eyes wandered across the familiar shops and lanterns. 'Rank never meant much in the end… strength, will, and purpose did.'
As they neared Ichiraku, the warm, comforting glow spilling from the small ramen stand welcomed them like an old friend.
"Come on," Sakura said, smiling faintly. "Your treat this time, since I'm technically your superior."
Naruto groaned dramatically. "I thought you said you'd treat me."
"Well i changed my mind," she said with a smirk, making him laugh again as they stepped inside.
Suddenly, Sakura's eyes lit up as she spotted a familiar duo walking down the other side of the street. The crowd of villagers parted just enough for her to see them clearly. "Hey, Shikamaru! Temari!" she called out, waving enthusiastically. "Look who it is!"
Shikamaru turned his head lazily, hands tucked deep into his pockets as always. The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Well, if it isn't Naruto Uzumaki," he said, his tone casual and half-lazy. "Just got back to the village?"
"Yeah, technically," Naruto replied, flashing his usual carefree grin.
The warmth in his voice hinted at genuine happiness to see familiar faces again after so long.
Shikamaru gave him a sidelong glance, one brow raising ever so slightly. "Heh. So… has your idiocy left you? Or are you still the same loudmouth I remember?"
Before Naruto could shoot back a witty reply, Sakura stepped in with an exaggerated sigh, resting her hands on her hips. "You know, I think he's genuinely changed… or maybe it's just an act," she said teasingly, glancing at Naruto out of the corner of her eye.
Naruto groaned dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "Come on, Sakura! Cut me some slack here!" he said, his voice filled with mock despair.
'Guess my debts from the past are finally getting repaid,' he thought dryly, though his grin didn't fade.
As the laughter between friends mellowed into a comfortable silence, Naruto's gaze subtly shifted to Temari. She stood beside Shikamaru, arms crossed over her chest, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as if always alert to potential danger.
There was a quiet authority about her— like woman who had fought her way to respect, not demanded it. The wind tugged at the ends of her ponytails, carrying with it a faint trace of desert dust.
'The laziest bastard in the village… and he somehow bagged Temari?' Naruto thought, amused. His lips twitched slightly. 'I might have to change that.'
Temari must have felt his gaze because she turned toward him almost immediately.
Their eyes met—hers calm but probing, his relaxed yet unreadable. For a heartbeat, neither said a word. There was something new in Naruto's expression—maturity, confidence… something that hadn't been there years ago.
A faint, involuntary blush crept across Temari's cheeks before she quickly looked away, clearing her throat. 'Huh… he's kinda—different,' she thought, brushing a strand of hair from her face. 'Last I saw him, he was a bratty kid who didn't know when to shut up.'
Naruto took a step forward, a friendly smile playing on his lips. "Hey," he greeted simply, extending his hand toward her.
Temari looked at it for a second before shaking it firmly, her grip strong and sure.
"Hi. How have you been, Naruto?" she asked, her tone neutral but with a trace of curiosity she couldn't quite hide.
"I've been alright," Naruto said, his eyes meeting hers again.
"Same here," she replied softly, her expression unreadable.
Shikamaru side-eyed the casual interaction between the two, a small frown twitching at the edge of his mouth.
The way Naruto carried himself—it was familiar, yet different. More composed. More grounded. He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying him.
"Man, you've really changed, huh, Naruto?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity more than judgment.
Naruto let out a carefree laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not really—well, I can't say," he said with that same easy grin, though there was something in his eyes, a quiet weight that hadn't been there before.
Shikamaru raised a brow, watching him closely.
'Is this really Naruto?' he thought.
The idiot he once knew wouldn't have dodged the question like that—he'd have gone off on a loud tangent about training and ramen by now.
But before the silence could stretch too long, Naruto's grin turned mischievous. "Ohhh, by the way," he said, leaning closer and nudging Shikamaru with his elbow. "Are you two on a date?"
The question made Sakura snort in amusement, while Shikamaru groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"No. That's not it," he muttered, his voice dripping with exasperation.
Temari, overhearing him, immediately stepped forward with her arms crossed.
Her sharp gaze flicked between the two of them. "I'm here for the upcoming Chunin Exams," she said curtly. "Just had some meetings to attend. That's all."
Her tone was professional, but there was the faintest hint of color on her cheeks.
Naruto's grin only widened. "Oh man… that brings back memories," he said softly, his tone carrying a rare mix of nostalgia and warmth. His gaze drifted off as scenes from the past flashed in his mind—the Forest of Death, Orochimaru's chilling aura, Sasuke's descent into darkness, and the desperate fights that had shaped them all.
'Lowkey second best arc in OG Naruto,' he thought with a smirk. 'Though the Sasuke recovery arc is the best. Don't tell me about Zabuza'
He looked back at Temari, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Hey, what happened to Gaara?"
Temari's expression softened immediately. The sharp confidence in her eyes gave way to something proud, even tender. "Gaara is now the Kazekage of the Sand Village," she said simply.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, his lips parting slightly. "No way. You're serious?"
Temari nodded. "Completely."
A moment of silence passed between them as Naruto processed it.
Then, slowly, his expression shifted—from disbelief to admiration, and finally to a quiet, genuine smile. "Heh… that's amazing," he said under his breath.
'Nepotism at its finest…' Naruto thought sarcastically before his smile deepened. 'Just kidding. To go from being feared to being trusted enough to lead… that takes real strength. I respected that about him'
He let his gaze wander back to Temari, observing the subtle pride in her stance, the warmth hidden behind her tough demeanor. 'And this one… she still seems interesting,' he mused.
The lanternlight flickered between them, casting shifting shadows across their faces.
Shikamaru caught the look in Naruto's eyes and sighed quietly, already sensing trouble brewing. "Troublesome," he muttered under his breath.
TO BE CONTINUED