Naruto Uzumaki awoke as if from a dream, bathed in a warmth that felt like the first rays of sunlight after a long, bitter winter. His consciousness stirred, sluggish at first, wrapped in a comforting glow that reminded him of home—of Hinata's gentle smile, of Himawari's laughter, of the Konoha he'd fought so hard to protect. But as his senses sharpened, he realized his body was not his own to command. It moved, swift and purposeful, leaping through the air with the agility of youth. His heart raced. Where am I?
"Ya, how's it going?" His own voice, younger and edged with urgency, broke through the haze. Naruto's mind jolted. Ya? Kiba's dog?
"I'm tracking Sasuke's scent," came Kiba's gruff reply, laced with irritation. "Don't distract me, or I'll lose it!"
Naruto's soul surged, memories flooding back like pages of a well-worn book flipping open to a familiar chapter. Tracking Sasuke… The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. He was no longer the Seventh Hokage, battle-scarred and burdened by loss. He was young again, barely sixteen, in the midst of the mission to retrieve Sasuke after his defection from Konoha. The Sage of the Six Paths had done it—sent him back through time, to a moment when the world still held hope, when his friends were alive, when the future could be rewritten.
His body, still mid-leap, faltered as his reborn soul fully merged with it. The world tilted, and Naruto plummeted from the air, consciousness flickering. A shout pierced the chaos—Kakashi's voice. "Naruto!"
Strong arms caught him before he hit the ground, and Naruto's eyes fluttered shut, his mind racing to anchor itself in this new reality. Familiar voices surrounded him, laced with worry. Sakura's sharp tone cut through first. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know," Kakashi replied, his voice taut. "He was fine one second, then collapsed."
"Let me check." Sakura's hands, steady and practiced from Tsunade's training, pressed against Naruto's chest, her chakra probing for injury. Hinata's soft gasp followed, her concern palpable even without words. Shino, Kiba, Yamato, and Akamaru's low whine formed a chorus of worry, grounding Naruto in this moment.
Inside, his soul churned, memories of the future—Hinata's death, Boruto's sacrifice, the Otsutsuki's reign—clashing with the vibrant present. The Sage's yin-yang power held firm, preserving every painful lesson, every loss, every hope. As Sakura's hands pressed harder, performing CPR, Naruto's eyes snapped open.
The first thing he saw was Kiba's face looming close, lips pursed as if ready to perform artificial respiration. Naruto blinked, startled. "Kiba?"
Kiba froze, eyes wide, then scrambled back, ears reddening. "Uh, Naruto! I was just—Sakura said to—Kakashi and Yamato wouldn't do it, so I—" His words tumbled out in a flustered rush, Akamaru barking as if to back him up.
Naruto pushed himself up, a grin breaking across his face as he took in his youthful body—lean, unscarred, brimming with energy. He was sixteen again, the whisker marks on his face sharp and bold, his orange jacket vibrant under the forest canopy. I'm back.
Kakashi crouched beside him, his single visible eye narrowing with concern. "You okay, Naruto? You gave us a scare."
Naruto's grin faltered, tears prickling as he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Kakashi in a fierce hug. "Kakashi-sensei…" His voice cracked. In the future, he'd watched Kakashi fall, shielding him from an Otsutsuki's attack. To feel his mentor's warmth now, alive and whole, was overwhelming. "It's so good to see you."
Kakashi stiffened, then chuckled, patting Naruto's back. "Alright, alright. I know I'm your favorite sensei, but we've got a mission. Sasuke's trail is fading."
Naruto pulled back, wiping his eyes. Sasuke. The name ignited a fire in his chest. In this time, Sasuke was still within reach, not yet lost to Orochimaru's schemes or the Akatsuki's influence. He could save him—save everyone.
He sprang to his feet, turning to the others, his heart swelling as he saw them. "Sakura!" he called, his voice bright with joy. She flinched, startled by his enthusiasm, then scowled.
"You idiot! You scared us half to death fainting like that!" Sakura's fists clenched, but her eyes betrayed her worry. Naruto's gaze softened. In the future, she'd fought until her last breath, her medical ninjutsu saving countless lives. He'd never let that happen again.
"Shino! Yamato! Kiba!" Naruto's voice rang out, each name a promise to protect them. He dropped to one knee, scratching Akamaru's head. "Good boy, Akamaru." The dog yipped, tail wagging furiously.
Sakura sidled up to Kakashi, whispering, "Are you sure you caught him before he hit the ground? He's acting like he cracked his skull."
Kakashi scratched his head, a nervous laugh escaping. "Pretty sure…"
Before Naruto could respond, his eyes locked onto Hinata. Her pale lavender eyes shimmered with concern, her hands clasped tightly. "Naruto-kun," she said softly, "I'm so glad you're okay…"
The sight of her—alive, unharmed, her gentle presence a balm to his battered soul—broke something in Naruto. Without thinking, he closed the distance between them, pulling her into a tight embrace. His lips found hers in a desperate, heartfelt kiss, tears streaming down his cheeks. Hinata froze, her breath catching, then slowly melted into the embrace, her own eyes closing as she felt the weight of his emotions.
The team stood frozen, jaws dropping. Kiba's mouth hung open, Yamato's eyes widened, and Shino's sunglasses slipped down his nose. Akamaru tilted his head, letting out a confused whine. Kakashi's visible eye twitched, his hand hovering over his headband as if considering an escape. "Okay, maybe I didn't catch him," he muttered.
Sakura's face flushed crimson, then twisted into fury. "Naruto, you idiot!" she roared, charging forward with a fist raised. "What are you doing kissing Hinata in front of everyone? You're supposed to like me!"
Her punch sailed toward Naruto, but to everyone's shock, he caught it effortlessly with one hand, still holding Hinata close with the other. His expression softened, a maturity in his eyes that hadn't been there moments ago. "Sorry, Sakura," he said gently. "I can't let you hit me anymore. Not after everything."
Sakura froze, her fist trembling in his grip. Hinata, blushing furiously, buried her face in Naruto's chest, her hands clutching his jacket. The team exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to make of this new Naruto—confident, emotional, and strangely resolute.
Naruto released Sakura's fist, stepping back but keeping a protective arm around Hinata. His gaze swept over the team, lingering on each face. These were his comrades, his family, alive and breathing. But his mind flashed to the future—to Neji's sacrifice, to the Otsutsuki's devastation, to Boruto's final act. He couldn't waste this chance.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, his voice steady despite the tears drying on his cheeks. "We're going after Sasuke, right? Let's move. I'm not letting him slip away this time."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, sensing a shift in Naruto's demeanor. "You sure you're okay? You're acting… different."
Naruto grinned, a spark of his old mischief returning. "Never been better, believe it!" But beneath the bravado, his mind churned with plans. He knew the dangers ahead—Orochimaru, the Akatsuki, the looming threat of the Otsutsuki. With the Sage's gift, his memories intact, he could change the course of history. Save Sasuke. Save Neji. Stop the wars before they began.
As the team resumed their pursuit, leaping through the forest, Naruto's heart pounded with purpose. Hinata ran beside him, her shy glance meeting his, and he squeezed her hand gently, a silent promise to protect her. This time, he vowed, I'll keep you all safe. For Boruto. For everyone.
The forest blurred past, Sasuke's trail growing stronger. Somewhere ahead, a destiny awaited—one Naruto would fight to reshape, no matter the cost.