"The changes… are bigger than I expected."
After circling the Land of Fire, Naruto slowed his pace, his gaze drifting across the cities below. For a brief moment, even he felt something close to surprise.
The world had moved forward.
Faster than he anticipated.
In the heart of the cities, massive electronic screens illuminated the skyline, their glow visible even in daylight. News broadcasts played endlessly, voices echoing across crowded streets.
One screen caught his attention.
The Hidden Cloud.
On it stood the Fourth Raikage—
Once a man known for his explosive temper and overwhelming aggression.
Now?
He looked… composed.
Measured.
Even polite.
Naruto raised an eyebrow slightly.
The difference wasn't just in his demeanor.
Even his appearance had changed.
Gone was the wild, untamed hairstyle.
In its place—a neat, conservative cut.
Behind him, the Cloud ninjas stood stiffly, their smiles forced, their posture restrained.
Naruto let out a quiet breath.
"Even him…"
In just two years—
Television had spread across the entire ninja world.
What began as Red Sun TV had evolved into a global system. Every major nation now operated its own network. News channels, entertainment programs, dramas—
Information flowed constantly.
Relentlessly.
And with it—
Cameras.
Reporters.
Eyes.
Everywhere.
They moved like predators, capturing everything.
Every conflict.
Every argument.
Every moment of violence.
And because of that—
The world had changed.
Where once a disagreement might end in bloodshed—
Now it ended in shouting.
Or, at worst—
A brief fight.
But killing?
That had become rare.
Because once violence was seen—
It became public.
And once it became public—
Judgment followed.
Not from one village.
Not from one nation.
But from the entire world.
Naruto's gaze sharpened slightly.
Even the coldest shinobi couldn't endure that kind of pressure.
To be watched.
To be judged.
To be discussed endlessly by strangers.
It stripped away something fundamental.
Not morality—
But freedom.
He shook his head faintly.
"Public opinion suppresses violence…"
"But it doesn't eliminate it."
Darkness hadn't disappeared.
It had only learned to hide.
Better.
Deeper.
"…This world still isn't clean."
For a moment—
A faint, suffocating pressure spread outward from him.
Unseen.
Yet undeniable.
People below paused instinctively, their hearts tightening for reasons they couldn't understand.
Then—
Space distorted.
Naruto stepped forward.
And vanished.
He reappeared at the gates of Konoha.
The guards froze.
Then instantly straightened.
"Lord Hokage!"
Naruto didn't respond.
He simply walked forward.
As he entered the village—
The atmosphere shifted.
Villagers stepped aside.
Ninjas lowered their heads.
Eyes followed him wherever he passed.
Filled with reverence.
Excitement spread quickly, whispering through the streets like wildfire.
"He's back…"
"I've only ever seen him during festivals…"
"He feels… different now…"
"Stronger…"
"This village exists because of him…"
Naruto remained silent.
But inside—
There was a faint warmth.
As he moved deeper into the village, figures began appearing above the rooftops.
One after another.
Jōnin.
Elites.
Commanders.
All converging toward the Hokage Building.
Unlike the civilians—
They understood.
For two years—
Konoha had operated without its Hokage.
Even though everything prospered—
There had always been something missing.
A center.
A presence.
Now—
That absence was gone.
Naruto slowed slightly, his gaze sweeping across the assembled shinobi.
They stood in perfect formation.
Eyes sharp.
Chakra steady.
"…Is this really necessary?" he muttered quietly.
Then—
A voice rang out.
"Welcome back, Lord Hokage!"
Another followed.
Then another.
Until—
The entire street echoed with it.
Naruto's expression shifted.
Serious.
Measured.
He walked forward slowly—
Like a general inspecting his army.
Each step deliberate.
Each glance sharp.
He observed everything.
Strength.
Discipline.
Control.
And in the end—
He was satisfied.
This Konoha—
Was different.
Stronger than any version he had ever seen.
Even the weakest among them—
Had reached a level that once belonged only to elites.
This was no longer just a village.
It was an army.
A peak.
And this—
Was exactly what he had built it to become.
Within the crowd—
A pair of gentle eyes followed him closely.
Hyuga Hinata stood quietly.
Her gaze never left him.
For two years—
She had trained relentlessly.
Ignoring everything else.
Waiting.
Now—
He had returned.
And for the first time—
Her heart felt at ease.
Nearby—
The rest of Konoha's rising generation stood as well.
Sharper.
Stronger.
Changed.
At the front—
Uchiha Sasuke.
Calm.
Composed.
Unshaken.
As Naruto approached—
Sasuke lowered his head.
Not out of submission—
But respect.
Naruto paused briefly.
Then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You've gotten stronger."
There was no exaggeration in his tone.
Only truth.
Sasuke had reached the peak of what this world could offer.
Just one step remained—
Before he crossed into something greater.
Together—
They entered the Hokage Building.
Inside—
The core of the Red Sun Society was already gathered.
Jiraiya.
Tsunade.
Uchiha Shisui.
Uchiha Itachi.
Yakushi Kabuto.
They stood waiting.
Watching.
Silent.
Naruto stepped into the center of the room.
And instantly—
Everything shifted.
The atmosphere.
The weight of the space itself.
It felt as though the entire room now revolved around him.
For hours—
Shisui reported.
Konoha's condition.
The expansion of the Red Sun Society.
The state of the entire ninja world.
Naruto listened without interruption.
Focused.
Still.
Then—
After a long silence—
He stood.
Both hands pressed lightly against the table.
His gaze swept across everyone present.
And in that moment—
They felt it.
The shift.
The turning point.
The beginning of something inevitable.
Naruto spoke.
Calm.
Absolute.
"Then…"
"Let's begin."
"With the Land of Fire."
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