Road to Redemption - CH - 36 (Patreon)

As Naruto and Izuna entered the gates of Konoha, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. The streets were packed with villagers, all wearing smiles and cheering as Naruto approached. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as people called out his name, waving enthusiastically. Children held up signs with scribbled messages of thanks, and shopkeepers stood with gifts in hand, eager to give him sweets and fresh fruits from their stalls.

“Naruto! You saved the Fire Daimyo!”

“Our village hero!”

“Thank you, Naruto! You’re amazing!”

Naruto felt his heart swell, almost unable to believe what was happening. The same villagers who used to avoid him or look at him with suspicion now reached out to shake his hand with warmth and gratitude. A young girl handed him a beautifully wrapped bundle of sweets, her eyes bright with admiration. An elderly man gave him a bag of fruits, nodding respectfully as he placed it in Naruto’s hands.

Naruto accepted each gift and handshake with a mixture of disbelief and joy, his smile growing with each gesture. He had waited his whole life for this—the acceptance, the warmth, the feeling of being seen as someone good, someone worth celebrating. His uncle Izuna stood beside him, a proud smile on his face as he watched Naruto bask in the affection he so deeply deserved.

“Thank you! Thank you, everyone!” Naruto said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll keep working hard to protect the village!”

As the crowd applauded, Naruto felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. For the first time, he was truly at home in Konoha. The village he had always dreamed of loving him back was finally doing just that. And in that moment, Naruto knew he would do everything in his power to keep this feeling alive—not just for himself but for the village he now called his family.

After the excitement of his return, Izuna gently pulled Naruto aside and offered him a word of wisdom. "Enjoy the attention, Naruto, and cherish these moments. But remember, people’s opinions can shift as quickly as the wind. Don’t let it get to your head, alright?"

Naruto nodded, taking Izuna's words to heart, realizing his uncle had seen the highs and lows of people’s loyalty. He knew it was important to stay grounded.

Back in his apartment, Naruto carefully unpacked the souvenirs and gifts he’d brought from the Fire Capital. He had selected something special for each of his friends, making sure each gift would mean something to them. With a big grin, he gathered up his carefully chosen presents and set off, his first stop being the Uchiha compound. Sasuke was his closest friend, and he was eager to see him.

As he entered the Uchiha compound, Naruto greeted the guards and familiar faces with his usual warmth. He spotted Sasuke practicing his kunai throws and rushed over, holding out a neatly wrapped bundle. "Oi, Sasuke! Look what I got you!" Naruto called, his excitement contagious.

Sasuke turned, raising an eyebrow with a small smirk. "You actually brought me something? Alright, let’s see it." Naruto handed him a finely crafted kunai he’d found at the festival—a perfect mix of utility and style, with intricate engravings on the handle. Sasuke’s eyes widened slightly as he inspected it, clearly impressed.

"Thanks, Naruto. This is...really cool," Sasuke said, trying to play it off, but Naruto could see the genuine appreciation in his expression.

Naruto grinned, pleased with Sasuke’s reaction, and continued his rounds. Next, he went to Itachi’s room, where he found Itachi reading quietly. Naruto held out a small scroll he had bought, filled with advanced techniques and a few unique strategies he thought would catch Itachi’s interest.

"Naruto," Itachi said, a slight smile on his face as he took the scroll, "you really thought of me? Thank you. I’ll look forward to reading it."

Naruto then sought out Shisui, handing him a beautifully crafted headband with a unique pattern he’d found in one of the stalls. Shisui chuckled, ruffling Naruto's hair. "Wow, Naruto, you’re really outdoing yourself! This is awesome, thanks!"

Finally, he approached Mikoto, Sasuke’s mother, who had always treated Naruto with kindness. He gave her a small charm he’d picked up, designed to bring good fortune and protection. Mikoto’s face softened as she accepted it, placing a gentle hand on Naruto’s shoulder. "Thank you, Naruto. You really are thoughtful," she said warmly.

After a fulfilling afternoon with the Uchiha clan, Naruto returned to his apartment feeling like he was on top of the world. Everyone had been so curious about his recent adventure, hanging onto his every word as he explained what had happened in the Fire Capital. He described the vibrant atmosphere, the endless rows of stalls, the new foods he’d tried, and how he’d made so many new friends in just a short time. But what captivated everyone the most was his tale of courage, of stepping in to save the Daimyo from the assassin. The Uchiha members listened with wide eyes, nods of approval, and the occasional gasp, clearly impressed with his bravery.

Sasuke had seemed especially taken by the story, his usually stoic face showing a mixture of admiration and curiosity. "So you were the one who stopped the assassin? Right in the middle of the festival?"

Naruto gave a sheepish grin. "Well, yeah. I mean, I couldn’t just stand by and let something bad happen. It’s what any ninja would do, right?"

Itachi and Shisui exchanged knowing glances, and even the clan elders murmured among themselves, clearly proud of the boy who had, until recently, been something of an outcast. Mikoto, with her gentle warmth, patted Naruto’s shoulder. "Naruto, you were very brave. You should be proud of yourself. Not everyone has that kind of courage."

Afterward, the Uchiha family insisted he stay for lunch. Naruto gladly accepted, enjoying a hearty meal with Sasuke, Itachi, and Shisui. They asked him questions about the capital, the food, and even the different types of people he met there. Naruto felt like he belonged, like he was truly part of their family. It felt like a dream to be accepted so fully and openly. He laughed and chatted comfortably, feeling no need to hold back or hide his excitement.

When he finally made his way back to his apartment, his heart was full, and he felt more confident than ever. The gifts he’d picked out for his friends were carefully stored in his bag, but his mind was filled with a sense of something much deeper. He felt respected, acknowledged, and, most of all, valued. His friends and the people he cared about now saw him in a new light—as someone strong, dependable, and capable.

Naruto grinned with excitement as he faced off against Sasuke in the training ground, his muscles buzzing with anticipation. Even though it had been a while since he’d trained, Naruto felt the familiar thrill of a good spar, especially with his best friend standing across from him with that determined glint in his eye. Sasuke looked confident, his stance solid and focused. Naruto could tell that Sasuke had been practicing hard and was eager to show off his new skills.

Meanwhile, Izuna stood nearby, already deep in his own sparring match with Itachi and Shisui, both of whom were clearly ready to test their skills as well. Itachi’s eyes held a quiet intensity, while Shisui looked downright smug, clearly itching to try out the new techniques he’d been working on. Izuna's clone took up a defensive stance, knowing he’d have his hands full with the two Uchiha prodigies coming at him with everything they had.

Naruto barely had time to glance over at their fierce exchange before Sasuke launched his first attack, darting forward with a speed Naruto hadn’t expected. Naruto blocked the first strike, but Sasuke followed up immediately with a sweeping kick that nearly took him off balance. Recovering quickly, Naruto grinned, feeling the thrill of the challenge. Sasuke had definitely improved.

“So you’ve been training hard, huh, Sasuke?” Naruto called out as he dodged another quick jab.

Sasuke smirked. “Unlike you, I didn’t just sit around eating ramen all day.” He leapt back, forming hand signs rapidly. “Let’s see how you handle this! Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!”

A series of small fireballs shot toward Naruto, who instinctively created several shadow clones, each one dodging and weaving to avoid the fiery onslaught. The clones scattered, surrounding Sasuke to counter-attack, but Sasuke was ready. He spun, sweeping his leg low to break their formation, then targeted the original Naruto with another burst of speed.

Naruto dodged, amazed at how fast Sasuke had become. “You’re pretty good, Sasuke! But I’ve got some new tricks too!” He formed a few hand seals, then exhaled sharply. “Wind Style: Gale Palm!”

A gust of powerful wind surged from his hands, pushing Sasuke back a few paces. Sasuke’s eyes widened slightly, surprised at the force, but he quickly adjusted, digging his feet in to keep his balance. Naruto used the moment to close the gap, launching into a series of quick taijutsu strikes. Sasuke blocked and countered with equal speed, the two of them locked in a fierce exchange.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the training ground, Izuna’s spar with Itachi and Shisui had escalated. Shisui grinned, activating his Sharingan, while Itachi moved with precision and deadly calm. Izuna’s clone dodged their combined attacks, deftly countering Shisui’s rapid movements and Itachi’s calculated strikes. Shisui leaped high, calling down a swift Fire Style jutsu, while Itachi moved in from the side with a kunai aimed precisely at Izuna’s blind spot.

Izuna smirked, his single-hand sign activating a defensive barrier jutsu just in time to block both attacks. With a swift counter, he sent a barrage of shuriken at his opponents, forcing Shisui and Itachi to split up and regroup. Shisui’s Sharingan glinted as he analyzed Izuna’s movements, clearly looking for an opening, while Itachi’s calm eyes were watching every detail with sharp focus.

“I have to admit,” Izuna said with a grin, “you two are giving me a good workout. But let’s see if you can handle this!”

He performed a series of rapid hand seals, conjuring a wall of flame that surged toward Shisui. Shisui leaped back, but the flames twisted and followed him. He dodged to the side, quickly weaving hand signs for a counterattack, while Itachi launched a smoke bomb to create a diversion. In the cover of the smoke, Itachi appeared at Izuna’s side, kunai in hand, ready to strike.

Back with Naruto and Sasuke, the sparring match continued with both boys pushing each other to the limit. Naruto had called up another round of clones to surround Sasuke, but Sasuke managed to dispel them with a few precise kicks and punches, showing just how sharp his taijutsu had become. They were both breathing hard now, each of them grinning with the thrill of the battle.

“Not bad, Naruto,” Sasuke said, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. “You’ve gotten a lot stronger.”

Naruto beamed. “You too, Sasuke. But don’t think you’re going to win just yet!”

He launched forward again, engaging Sasuke in another round of taijutsu exchanges. This time, Naruto went low, aiming a sweep kick that knocked Sasuke off his feet. But just as Naruto went in for the follow-up, Sasuke disappeared in a puff of smoke—it had been a substitution. The real Sasuke appeared behind Naruto, catching him off guard with a kunai pointed at his back.

“Gotcha,” Sasuke said with a smirk.

Naruto laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “All right, all right, you got me this time.”

As their sparring ended with laughter and playful banter, Naruto looked over to see Izuna, Itachi, and Shisui still locked in their intense three-way spar. The air around them seemed to buzz with chakra as they exchanged blows at a speed that was hard to follow.

After a final exchange, Izuna’s clone dissipated with a puff of smoke, signaling the end of the spar. All three combatants were breathing heavily but looked equally satisfied with the workout. Shisui’s smug grin was back as he dusted himself off. “Not bad, Izuna-sensei. But next time, I’ll get you.”

Itachi gave a rare smile. “We appreciate the training, Izuna-san.”

Izuna chuckled, clapping both of them on the shoulders. “You two have made impressive progress. If this is where you’re at now, Konoha’s got nothing to worry about with you in its future.”

As they all gathered together, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look, both boys brimming with excitement and admiration. They had each found new motivation to train even harder, knowing they were surrounded by such powerful mentors and friends.

And as the sun began to set over the training ground, the group walked back toward the village together, laughing, teasing, and already making plans for the next time they would train side by side. Naruto looked around at his friends, his heart full. He knew that with bonds like these, there was nothing he couldn’t face.