Naruto; Emperor

Back to Konoha

Naruto left Nami with a bridge named after him. He told Tazuna that he didn't even do anything. But maybe it was because he had helped build the bridge while Kakashi and his team rest? Well, he did start paying for better quality materials for Tazuna. And he did decide to hunker down and learn how to build a bridge, much to Soujiro's amusement. And the Oniwaban that had come to Nami with him had decided to come out of the woodwork and join the work force. They had also quickly adopt Haku into their ranks. So, basically Naruto helped build the rest of the bridge and even improved on the structure where the material quality started dropping, making the sturdiness so far a show of Tazuna's skill as a builder.

Soujiro had also taken the man aside and probably told Tazuna Naruto's real identity which probably solidified the man's decision to name the bridge after him. Naruto gave the older boy the stink eye for that but Soujiro was smug. Not to mention, Tsunami and Inari had insisted to honor him for the financial aid he had given them because of Kaiza.

So now he's walking with Team 7 back to Konoha since he was on the way anyway. He had grinned at Kakashi when he made the request, "Something fun was going to happen in Konoha this year and I would hate to miss it!"

Haruno Sakura looked at her teacher, "Something fun?"

Kakashi just shrugged, "Fun for him, not you,"

Uchiha Sasuke frowned, "Why would it be fun for him and not us?"

Suibokuga Sai asked, "I think the most important question is; who is this?"

Kakashi waved his hand, "Nothing you should worry about, Sai,"

The conversation ended there as Kakashi had leveled a look on his Genin before accommodating Naruto. Rather than leaping all the way back to Konoha, Naruto had settled into a sedate pace. Kakashi settled with the same pace, walking behind him. The Genin was confused but none complained. The battle on the bridge had left them with sore muscles.

By evening, Naruto stopped and settled against a tree root, forcing the rest to follow suite. Soujiro started taking out camping gears and Kakashi started ordering Team 7 to do the same. Sakura noticed that the strange blond named Naruto does nothing. His name stuck in her head because she remembered a boy, also blond, with the same name that had disappeared from her life since she was 9. The strange Naruto then stood up to excuse himself to use the bushes. His Samurai retainer obediently followed him into the forest.

She looked at Sasuke as she set up the fire pit, "Do you remember Naruto?"

Sasuke frowned, "Who?"

Sakura huffed as she settled on her heels, "Uzumaki Naruto. You know? That orphan loser that kept screaming about becoming Hokage? He stopped coming to the Academy when we were 9?" She chuckled, "I wonder where that idiot disappear to,"

Sai hummed, "Why did he stop coming to the Academy?"

Sakura threw her hands up, "No idea! Probably dropped out and joined some gang or something after he realize that he would never cut it as Shinobi. He always mess around and disrupt the class with his stupidity," She scoffed, "He kept asking me out. As if I'll ever go out with that idiot. He's dumb and not even cute!" She then fluttered her lashes at Sasuke with a flirty smile, "Unlike you Sasuke-kun!"

Kakashi shifted and cleared his throat, "Alright. Hurry up or we'll have no dinner tonight,"

Soujiro looked at Naruto who was standing behind a tree a few steps away from the camp. He knew that she didn't know that the boy she was talking down on was the same boy that had saved her team from certain death. But Naruto made no indication to confront her for her cruel words. Naruto instead took a deep breath and let out a small smile. It was bitter and disappointed but also resigned. He then arranged his face as though he didn't hear her words and stepped into the camp, "What's for dinner?"