Re: Naruto Uzumaki

Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.

You can now get early access up to Chapter 127 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.

Up to Chapter 44 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse is also available.

Lastly, I've launched a new story titled Marvel: Star Wars System, which already has 5 chapters published. Each chapter averages around 5,000 words.

patreon.com/riojiyo131

I won't bother you any further—hope you enjoy the chapter…

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Karura had been nervous throughout the entire trip to Sunagakure.

She didn't know how the people of the village would react to her return.

And, above all, she feared her own children might reject her.

That's why, when Naruto suggested making a stop in Takumi Village, she accepted without protest.

She needed time to sort through her thoughts, to prepare herself emotionally.

During the journey, she had rehearsed all kinds of scenarios in her mind.

How she would greet her old acquaintances, what words she would use when seeing her children for the first time in so long…

But when Baki looked at her with that expression, so full of surprise and confusion, all of that vanished from her mind in an instant.

"Surprise!" she said with a tense smile, opening her arms to the sides in an awkward gesture.

Baki wasn't exactly a friend. In fact, Karura knew she could never consider him one.

Still, she had known him for years, enough to consider him a close acquaintance… and for his presence to make her even more nervous.

The truth was, Karura didn't fully trust him. His closeness to Rasa, back when he was still alive, made her uncomfortable.

And, above all, she couldn't forget that Baki had been part of the decision to seal Shukaku inside her son Gaara, condemning him to a life of loneliness and suffering.

Naruto knew that too. That's why, even though he stepped aside to expose her, he didn't step too far away.

He stayed close, on guard, watching every reaction carefully.

"So?" said Naruto, crossing his arms with disdain. "Are you going to let us in, or are you going to stand there with that dumb look on your face all day?"

"Brat…" Baki growled, frowning. "Don't you have even a shred of respect for your elders?"

"Not usually," Naruto replied with indifference, shrugging. "Especially when it comes to trash like you."

Naruto had never hidden his contempt for those he didn't like. He hadn't done it as a child, and he certainly wasn't going to start now.

Many would call him childish. Some would even call him crazy.

But he saw himself as someone sincere. Brutally sincere.

If he was happy, he smiled. If he was angry, he showed it. If something hurt him, if he was sad, he wouldn't hesitate to cry.

And if he hated someone, he made sure they knew it… until there was no doubt left.

"Trash, you say?!" Baki exclaimed, stepping forward.

But Karura stepped in as well, placing herself between him and Naruto, even though she knew perfectly well Naruto didn't need her help.

She knew very well what he was capable of. She had seen him face the Four Celestial Symbols Men.

And she didn't want to witness something like that again… not in Sunagakure.

Though deep down, she couldn't deny that part of her wanted to see Naruto mutilate Baki right then and there.

"Can we stop arguing? I want to see my children…" Karura said, looking at him firmly.

Baki looked away, uncomfortable.

"Currently, Kankurō, Temari, and Gaara are busy. Each of them is guiding a group of Academy students, helping them train with weapons. I'll inform them when they finish… though they haven't started yet…"

Naruto interrupted him immediately.

"This woman has traveled from the Land of Fire, crossing the border of the Land of Rivers, just to get here, to the Land of Wind, to reunite with her children," he said, gesturing toward Karura with his head. "And you think you'll make her wait? Call them right now, idiot. Try, just once, to understand what she's feeling."

Baki's frown deepened at Naruto's tone. But then he looked at Karura.

Her lips were trembling. She was nervous, yes, but there was a visible determination in her eyes. A longing.

What kind of person would he be if he denied a mother the chance to reunite with her children?

Especially now, when Sunagakure was changing. Prospering. Slowly becoming a better village than it had ever been.

Finally, Baki nodded with resignation.

"I'll send a few of my men to locate them. We can postpone the students' training for a couple of hours…"

Karura turned to Naruto with a grateful smile, holding back the urge to hug him right there.

In the end, they were allowed to enter Sunagakure.

And Naruto… Naruto was not at all pleased with what he saw upon entering.

…

The streets of Sunagakure were gray, dry, and narrow. Sand everywhere. On the ground, on the roofs, on the walls. On people's faces. Even in the air.

The buildings were shapeless blocks, made of poorly cut stone and cracked mud.

Naruto walked in silence, but each step made him more uncomfortable. Not because of the heat. Not because of the sand. But because of what he saw.

Children in torn clothes, barefoot, playing with trash. A rusty can served as a ball. One of them had his feet wrapped in dirty strips of cloth.

A little farther ahead, a woman sitting on the ground held a hard loaf of bread while three children fought over a piece beside her. No one said anything. No one intervened. No one seemed surprised.

It was… normal.

The adults glanced at them sideways. Tired. Thin. With dark circles under their eyes and sun-worn faces. Some had bandages on their arms, others old scars.

A group of shinobi passed by. No one greeted them. No one smiled. Some just lowered their heads, as if they didn't want to be seen.

"They've done what they can with what they have," Karura said, without looking at him, aware of his thoughts.

Naruto didn't respond.

Baki led them at the front. He stopped when they reached the Kazekage's Mansion, in the center of the village.

Just as they were about to enter, Naruto saw Kankurō, Temari, and Gaara coming out of the building.

"Don't get nervous, Gaara," Temari said with a teasing smile. "Just try to smile a little, or you're going to scare all those kids."

Gaara didn't respond or react; he walked ahead of her with his arms crossed, impassive.

Just like in the past, exactly how Naruto remembered, he couldn't read any emotion in his expression.

Although his aggressive attitude had disappeared, he still maintained that distant and unsociable air.

Gaara's gaze landed on Naruto the moment he saw him, and he stopped in place.

Kankurō and Temari noticed his presence shortly after.

"Naruto Uzumaki…?" Kankurō asked, frowning, a bit tense.

Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Why am I always the first one people notice?" he muttered to himself, casting a confused glance at Karin.

Karin shrugged.

"Because you're the most handsome…?" she answered in a low voice, blushing immediately at her own words.

Naruto let out an amused laugh.

"But that's you…"

Around them, several people glanced over and rolled their eyes, clearly annoyed.

Were they really flirting at that moment?

Even Suigetsu, walking behind them, looked at them with irritation.

Naruto and Karin had been flirting since the day he met them. And for him, it was already getting annoying.

"They should just find a room and get their sexual tension over with, damn it," Suigetsu muttered.

Kabuto, still tied up on the ground, nodded in agreement with his words.

"Did Konoha send you?" Gaara asked, approaching them as he extended his hand.

Naruto noticed a slight hint of a smile on his face, barely visible, but it was there.

"Oh. I didn't know you could smile," Naruto joked, shaking his hand.

Even Kankurō and Temari looked at him in surprise.

Gaara… smiling?

Was that possible? Since when?

"And, to answer your question, no. Konoha didn't send me. I came to escort someone. I think you know her…" Naruto said with a mischievous smile.

He pointed toward Karura, who was standing by his side.

Gaara looked at her and tilted his head, clearly confused. He had no idea who she was.

But Kankurō and Temari reacted differently.

Even though many years had passed, even though they had only been children then… they recognized her.

After all, she was their mother.

Temari was the first to move. She ran toward Karura and hugged her tightly, without hesitation.

Kankurō approached in silence, his mouth slightly open in surprise.

He stopped behind them, waiting his turn to hug her.

But Karura didn't allow that. She took him by the arm and pulled him into the hug as well.

"My children… how I've missed you…" she murmured with a trembling voice, on the verge of tears.

Temari wasn't as strong as her mother. She burst into tears right then and there, clinging to her.

"Mom…!" she exclaimed through sobs.

Upon hearing her, Gaara's body tensed.

His eyes widened, fixed on her.

He didn't move. He didn't come closer.

But Naruto, who was just behind him, pushed him forward firmly.

Karura pulled him into the hug as well, without hesitation.

Gaara didn't return it right away. He remained stiff, arms hanging at his sides, visibly uncomfortable.

Naruto watched with a smile.