❝ you glow up.❞

into the large green gate of the village he had been leaving for years. A gentle breeze blew, making him automatically close his beautiful sapphire blue eyes. His long, bold lashes fluttering against the wind. The morning sunlight was reflecting his blonde hair, creating a glowing effect on him. As if welcoming his arrival.

He opened his eyes, revealing his sapphire blue eyes whose sparkling like a hundred diamonds. Watching the village from atop a roof. It's been three years since he left this village, and nothing has changed much. Only a few small buildings looked like they were newly built, but the most prominent one is the face of Tsunade Senju, which has been sculpted into the Hokage monuments.

"Naruto?"

The said teen slowly turned around and jumped down to the ground gracefully. As he slowly looked up, he observed the teen in front of him. Smooth pink hair that dropped on her shoulder and a pair of emerald green eyes. She stood wearing her red and black ninja outfit with additional gloves, and elbow protectors.

"Sakura," he called gently, smiling warmly at one of his teammates.

"Na-Naruto! You're Naruto?!" widening her eyes as she let out a gasp seeing the teen's appearance. He has a tall slim body, approximately 178 cm with several muscles in his body, as a result of his training over several years. His blond hair, which is like sunshine, looks softer and not that spiky like before. His facial structure is more pronounced. With defined eyebrows and long bold lashes. His sapphire eyes look brighter, like a diamond shining in the dark of night, with a slightly sharp and narrow eye structure. The pupils are slightly narrowed almost like a fox. Giving a sly and mischievous impression. And when he was grinning, Sakura was sure she saw his sharp fangs.

His skin color is also a little lighter. In between of fair and sun-kissed tone. Contrasting with his whiskers. All in all, this Naruto Uzumaki is like the epitome of attractiveness. The warm divine being, like a sun shining in this cruel world. Sakura Haruno couldn't believe what she saw. Is this a dream? How could Naruto be this handsome?

"You-You glow up!!"

"What do you mean, Sakura?" His husky voice sent chills on her spine. Making her gasped as Naruto raised a perfect eyebrow in confusion.

"N-No, no," a flush creeps across her cheeks as she waving her hand in attempt to change the topic. "So, um... How's your training?"

"It's awesome. I learned a lot with Pervy Sage. I've also mastered some jutsu!!" his eyes sparkling in excitement as he babbled on about his journey for these 3 years. While Sakura nodded as a sign that she was listening.

The two —plus Jiraiya who she just realized that were with them— reached to the Hokage office. And as usual, Naruto immediately opened the door while exclaiming. "Granny Tsunade!!"

His personality hasn't changed at all ...

Unlike what he expected, Tsunade and Shizune stared at the teenager in shock. Jaw dropping. Tsunade, who was first snapped from her shock, shouted. "Naruto?! Is that you?"

"What's wrong with all of you? I'm tired of hearing you guys ask me that," he complained, eyebrow furrowed in confusion. During the trip here, he was asked many questions like that. "Of course it's me. I haven't changed much though."

No, you've obviously changed a lot. Puberty really hit him hard.

Tsunade coughed and changes the topic. "Long time no see. I'm sure the training was successful, right?"

"Of course, I've been training really hard, dattebayou!" he bragged. Giving the Hokage a thumbs up. "By the way, where is Shi-chan? I'm gonna show her that I already mastered the scroll!" he looked at the people in the room with an eager expression but then frowned when they gave no reply.

"Um, Shizuka is also left the village to train" Sakura explained, giving him a small smile. "a few months after you left."

"Really? Alone?" he widened his eyes after receiving that information.

"Maybe?" Sakura titled her head, unsure. "Shizuka didn't tell me."

"Let's move on from that. About your training, we'll see the results later," she nodded, changing the topic." I want you to fight someone. He hasn't been on a mission in these days. So I'm sure he's rested enough. Your opponent is—"

Tsunade's words were interrupted by a knock from outside. And after being invited in, two figures come in. One is Shikamaru, with his lazy bored face, and Temari, the kunoichi from Sunagakure. "Woah, Naruto ... Is that you?" he widened his eyes. Pointing at him as he looked up and down the teen's appearance.

Beside him, Temari blinked in surprise. Couldn't believe that the teenager in front of her was the same person as three years ago. How he became such an attractive teen, she wonder. Puberty really are dangerous. A good dangerous.

"Come on!!" Naruto groaned, his body slouching. Feeling so tired hearing the same thing over and over. "It's me! The great Uzumaki Naruto!"

Shikamaru chuckled. "At least your personality stay the same," he then noticed the people in there. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Oh, yeah," Naruto flicked his fingers. "Is our opponent Shikamaru?"

The said teen looked at him in confusion. "What? No way—"

Again, their conversation stopped when there was a knock from outside. And after being invited in from the Hokage, all eyes darted over the door who creaked open. Revealing a teen, Midorima Shizuka who waltzed in with an effortless saunter. Clad in a white long-sleeved tailcoat with golden embroidery, a pair of white gloves, black high waisted trousers, and a pair of low heel knee high boots.

Her prominent and rare pastel green hair cascaded down her back, softly curling along the ends. Her bangs, which is now as long as her face, split in the middle, showing her forehead and softly curled beautifully to frame her face. Creating a perfect side long bangs. Her green forest eyes, glossing over and sparkling like a forest after summer rain, were behind her now round glasses.

"I have returned, thank you for giving me the time to train myself," her voice giving everyone chills, and for the second time today for Sakura. Even though her voice sounds sweet, her tone was monotone. Like her expression.

"It's fine."

"Shi-chan!" the said teen glancing at her shoulder, watching Naruto, who she last meet three years ago, grinning widely at her. "Long time no see. Now you looks more like a girl!"

"My name is Shizuka," she corrected, narrowing her eyes at him. "And I am indeed a girl, nanodayo,"The others looked at the girl who didn't seem to react to Naruto's changes, or she was just the one who was good at controlling her expression.

"What's with this team?" Temari murmured slowly, watching Naruto who teased and arguing with Shizuka while Sakura looking so done in her life. Then she remembered the jounin leader of their team, Hatake Kakashi, and their last member, Uchiha Sasuke. "all of them have good looks."

"So we're going to fight Shi-chan?!" Naruto turned to the Hokage for confirmation. Ignoring the confused look Shizuka gave for him.

Tsunade raised her hand and pointed to her office window. Naruto and Sakura walked in the direction she pointed quickly. Sliding up the window to show Kakashi who casually sits on the roof reading his cursed novel.

"Yo~" he saluted with his usual bored tone. Blinked for a few times after seeing Naruto's devine appearance.

Naruto's eyes lit up. "So we're going to fight Kakashi-sensei?!" he beamed. Climbing the window to get closer to his teacher. "Look look, Kakashi-sensei...I'm going to give you something..." he pulls out a book with green cover, giving it to Kakashi who stared wide eyed.

"No-no way!!" he shouted. His hands shaking as he accepted the book from Naruto.

"It's a bit boring actually," Naruto deadpanned. Clearly not interested in the book that probably most adults men have. "I don't know why you like it."

"Rude!!"

Kakashi snapped himself, putting the book inside his ninja pouch. He stood up before giving them his infamous closed eye smile. "Well then, meet me at the 3rd training ground in 12 pm," and he body flickered away.

"What? Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted, dumbfounded that his teacher just run away.

"Tch, Naruto! Why are you giving the book now?" Shizuka scolded, pushes up her glasses. "It will make Kakashi even more late, nanodayo." Naruto and Sakura gasped, just realized. It had been three years since they had been with Kakashi, which made them forget the silver hair's late nature.

○○○

The former team 7 stood at the third training ground, patiently waiting for the silver haired jounin. Sakura was sitting on the ground, with her legs against her chest, playing around with the grass with her delicate fingers. Naruto was leaning on the tree, shutting his eyes, completely unaware of the sun rays who slipped through the leaves and shining on him, giving him a holy look. While Shizuka, still standing, as if the sun rays would never bothered her, with today's lucky item on her hand.

A puff of smoke come out from the gate. Revealing Kakashi who smiled unapologetic to them. "Oh, sorry about that. As it happens, I ran into an old woman in trouble on my way here and—"

"That's a lie!!"

Kakashi leads them inside the training ground, stopping by the three logs at the center. Shizuka stared at the logs for a few seconds, recalling her first meeting with team 7 three years ago.

"Oh, come to think of it, this was your first Training Ground, wasn't it?" Kakashi murmured. A longing look was visible from his eye. While the others, except Shizuka, looking down at the memory. "We had Sasuke with us.. back then, didn't we?"

Completely silence.

He gazed up from his book and deadpanned at the sight before him. Sakura was sitting on the ground, with her legs against her chest. Naruto kneeled down, facing the ground. And depression aura come out from them. "Sasuke's name is off limits for these guys..." he turned to Shizuka, who just stood there, her face still expressionless. She was completely unaffected. "Except for Shizuka, of course."

A bells sound make them focused everything back on Kakashi. Who brought out two bells to them. "Well, let's see how much you've grown," he putted it back on his trousers. "The rule is the same. I don't care how you do it. Just take a bell away from me. If you don't come at me with the intent to kill, you won't be able to get the bells."

Kakashi snapped his book shut. Then he lifted the headband that covering his left eye. "Well, I kind of get the feeling I may have to get a bit serious this time around."

"Now then, shall we begin?"