"Hm? That hair…"
Just as he arrived at the Hokage Building, Sousuke saw a figure with yellow hair disappear around the corner.
"Naruto?"
Walking beside Sousuke, Ino heard his words and froze for a moment. Then she glanced toward the corner.
"Sousuke, did you see Naruto?"
Sousuke casually nodded.
"If I didn't see wrong, it should be him!"
As he spoke, Sousuke raised his hand and pinched Ino's soft cheek.
"You go find Uncle Inoichi first. I'll go take a look at the Hokage's office!"
Ino nodded.
She did not say anything more and separated from Sousuke there, heading alone toward the Intelligence Division located behind the Hokage Building.
Sousuke, meanwhile, went alone to the door of Tsunade's office.
Click.
After receiving Tsunade's permission, he pushed the door open and walked in. With one glance, Sousuke saw Naruto, who had grown taller and now had short yellow hair, standing with his back to the door.
And Jiraiya, who was still the same as ever, without much change.
Of course, Also in the office were Shizune, who was almost always by Tsunade's side, and Sakura, who had likewise grown into an adult.
However, compared to the familiar faces of Sakura and Shizune, Naruto, whom he had not seen for three years, naturally drew more of Sousuke's attention.
"Oh! Sousuke, you came too?"
Seeing Sousuke appear, Tsunade's face showed a trace of surprise. Then she said,
"Take a look at who's back!"
As Tsunade spoke, Naruto, who had grown quite a bit, turned around with a smile on his face.
He greeted Sousuke,
"Yo! Sousuke, long time no see!"
Sousuke glanced at Naruto.
A smile also appeared on his face, and he nodded.
"Welcome back, Naruto! Judging by the way you look, your training with Senior Brother Jiraiya over these three years should have gone pretty well!"
Naruto honestly reached up and scratched his head.
With a confident smile, he said,
"It was okay! The current me should be a hundred times stronger than before!"
It was a somewhat exaggerated statement.
But from another angle, it also proved that during the three years Naruto had left with Jiraiya, his strength had definitely increased by quite a lot.
Sousuke sized Naruto up.
At that moment, a bit of interest suddenly rose in his heart.
"Looks like you're very confident! In that case… do you want to accept my test?"
Swish, swish, swish.
The moment Sousuke's words fell, everyone in the office turned their eyes toward him.
At the same time, the atmosphere became strangely quiet.
But very soon, Naruto took the initiative to break that silence.
Clap.
He knocked his two fists together, his eyes burning as he looked at Sousuke with surging fighting spirit.
"A test from Sousuke? Looks like your strength has already become terrifying! I accept. Let's have a long-awaited duel, Sousuke!"
Hearing Naruto's words, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others beside him did not stop them. Instead, they all wore expectant smiles.
Whether it was Naruto's current strength or Sousuke's strength.
They were all very curious.
After all, every mission Sousuke carried out, whether A-rank or S-rank, always had reports written in such an understated way that they could not reflect his true strength at all.
Because of that, Tsunade and the others had always had one question in their hearts.
Just how powerful was the current Sousuke?
At that moment.
Swish, swish.
Two figures appeared on the windowsill of Tsunade's office.
Immediately afterward, a voice rang out.
"A test from Sousuke? Interesting. How about adding me in?"
Hearing those words, and that voice the others were still fine.
But Naruto's surprised gaze immediately turned toward the place where the voice came from.
Wearing Anbu equipment and carrying a ninja sword on his back, Sasuke removed his mask, his face filled with anticipation and fighting spirit.
"Sasuke!"
With a joyful smile, Naruto looked at Sasuke, who had walked into the office, with shining eyes.
"You bastard, have you become an elite in the Anbu now?"
Seeing Naruto, Sasuke's face revealed a faintly proud smile.
"I haven't been idle these past three years either… Naruto, you're not the only one who got stronger!"
Hearing this, Naruto grinned and said,
"Of course I know that! With such harsh training, there's no way you wouldn't have improved at all!"
The two met again after a long time, then smiled at each other.
It was as if everything was understood without needing to be said.
In the eyes of the others, it was completely a scene of friendship. But in Sousuke's eyes, it felt somewhat full of passion.
"As expected, Naruto and Sasuke are true love!"
Looking at the two protagonists, who were overflowing with that passionate bond, Sousuke felt rather speechless in his heart.
"Naruto completely ignored Kakashi beside him!"
Kakashi had clearly come together with Sasuke!
Yet the first person Naruto called out to was only Sasuke…
His position in Naruto's heart was obvious without needing to be said.
Naruto's enthusiasm was something he only showed when seeing Sasuke.
After watching Team Seven's reunion for a while two more people arrived in the office.
They were Shikamaru and Temari, who had recently been preparing for the new round of the joint Chunin Exams.
After learning that Sousuke was preparing to test Team Seven's strength.
Temari's eyes lit up.
"Sousuke, can you count me in too?"
Her eyes flickered with fighting spirit.
Temari looked at Sousuke expectantly.
There was no helping it!
Three years ago, Temari had said that she would challenge him.
But in reality, even after three years had passed even though Temari's current strength was no longer what it had once been, when facing Sousuke, she still did not have much courage.
If she cooperated with Team Seven, however, Temari felt she still had the courage to challenge Sousuke.
After all, Team Seven had Sasuke, who had received Sousuke's true teachings.
As for the other two one was the direct disciple of the Fifth Hokage, and the other was the direct disciple of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya.
If she, Sunagakure's Wind Release expert, was added as well this lineup could be called luxurious.
After glancing at Temari, Sousuke nodded.
"Sure! Then… half an hour later, we'll meet at Training Ground Seven. I'll go make a few preparations."
Whoosh.
In a gust of clear wind, Sousuke's figure had already disappeared from Tsunade's office.
After Sousuke left a faint smile appeared on Tsunade's face, and her gaze turned toward Team Seven before her.
"Then… Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura! How much the three of you have achieved after three years of training will be properly shown in Sousuke's test later!"
At this point Tsunade paused for a moment before continuing,
"Originally, the opponent arranged for the three of you was supposed to be me. But since Sousuke wants to personally test you, then give it everything you have and see whether you can pass!"
Hearing this the three members of Team Seven all nodded with serious expressions.
"Yes! We understand."
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