Return to The Past : Naruto Fic

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Chapter 3 – The Future Hokage's Pupil

Early in the morning, Naruto's cerulean eyes opened to the sight that caused confusion to the blonde haired boy. Above him was a roof paneled with rich red colored wooden panels. The grains on the wooden panels were arranged so that the Uzumaki Clan Symbol was floating in a lighter red coloration on a deeper red background. After a few moments, the events of the previous day returned to the boys mind causing him to jump out of bed in excitement.

"Yatta, Sakura-chan, and I now have a private place to train!" He exclaimed when a knocking on the wooden frame of the Shōji screen leading out of the Clan Head's bedroom caught his attention. "Ah, who is it?"

"It's me Naruto. Get dressed and come with me. We need to discuss a few things!" A feminine voice called out causing a bright smile to form on the blonde Jinchūriki's face.

"Alright Sakura-chan, I will meet you at the dining room as fast as I can."

"Alright Naruto, but try and be done within half-an-hour, it is already seven in the morning. We have to finish our ninja registration today, and make sure that you don't do something weird baka!" Sakura said with a monotone causing Naruto to shiver in fright.

"Su Sure Sakura-chan!" Naruto saw the shadow of Sakura nod and walk away causing him to sigh in relief. After a moment, he rushed towards the private bathroom to get ready for the day.

Sakura was cooking a simple breakfast of rice, steamed vegetables, teriyaki chicken, and miso soup when Jiriaya appeared in the kitchen with a confused look on his face.

"Huh, when did you get here?" Jiraiya asked with a smirk, getting a sigh from the pink haired Iryōnin.

"Good morning to you too, Jiraiya-sama, I came here nearly fifteen minutes ago. I need to make sure that the baka does not do something idiotic again like painting his face like a Kabuki actor for his ninja registration picture. Would you like some breakfast?"

"No thanks, I already had breakfast. I just came by to give Naruto a scroll and tell him something before I have to leave to follow up a new lead in my spy network." Jiraiya said with a sad sight getting an understanding nod from Sakura.

"It must be hard to not be able to directly involve yourself in your godson's life because your job is more critical to the survival of Konoha, huh?"

"You don't know that half of it. Being a spymaster takes you far away from your home for long periods. I do miss Konoha and Naruto a lot when I am away, but I know that what I do keeps Konoha and Naruto safe. That allows me to keep on going even when I suffer from homesickness." Jiraiya said with a melancholic sigh.

Sakura smiled with encouragement as she said, "But as you said, what you do keeps Konoha and Naruto safe. Thanks to your efforts, we were able to grow up without a war waging around us. For that our generation is thankful to you."

"Thank you for your kind words. Most do not understand what it is like to be away from home for years just so that it remains standing. You need some help with that?" Jiraiya asked seeing Sakura attempting to carry three trays of food to the dining room. Sakura nodded with a grateful smile as Jiraiya took two of the trays from her.

As the two were laying the trays on the dining room table, Naruto walked in wearing the uniform Jiraiya gave him. On his forehead was a hitai-ate with the kanji for Bijū and Sennin engraved on the plate. His previous hitai-ate was acting like a belt.

"Where did you get the hitai-ate?" Sakura asked with confusion, as she was sure that Naruto did not have time to arrange for a Kage Bunshin to go and buy them or more like custom order them.