Metamorphosis

Naruto was fully recovered, evident from the countless times he jumped and ran around the house. 

Sakura was tempted to tie him down to keep him from moving. A week after the blonde's awakening, they had tested his strength and chakra. Naruto had tightly hugged Hinata upon seeing her again, looking stunning with her long hair and soft eyes - Sakura's infatuation now made perfect sense to him.

Two days after returning to the world of the living, he had gone with Kakashi, still remembering how he entered through the window at nearly midnight.

The blonde was grinning excitedly, Sakura was shaking her head, as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Naruto was determined to reach Kakashi's house. When they arrived, the blonde peeked through Hatake's window and carefully tapped twice on the glass. The Sixth Hokage was engrossed in reading on his bed.

After a few seconds without a response, Naruto tapped again, and this time, there was action. Hatake leaned out the window, and the blonde followed suit.

Boo!" Naruto startled his sensei, who took a few steps back, surprised and holding a kunai.

But upon realizing it was his blonde student, he grabbed and pulled him inside. Sakura watched amused as Naruto was dragged in, and after a few seconds, she followed, climbing through the window to see her sensei rubbing his face against Naruto's cheek, holding him captive so he wouldn't escape.

She smiled affectionately, seeing two of the most important men in her life; two more were still missing, Sai and Sasuke.

Sakura knew Sai was happy with Ino, but Sasuke's whereabouts remained a mystery. She could pretend indifference, but Sasuke was her teammate and had been important to her for a long time. Now, her eyes only focused on the blonde's smile. 

That carefree boy was one of the most important people to her, and if she saw him in danger, she wouldn't hesitate to kill, regardless of her medical rank.

Currently, Naruto lay happily in the courtyard, bathed in sunlight and smiling. Chakra tests showed it was still difficult for him to perform large-scale jutsu. He could manage a Rasengan, but not his other techniques. His clones were also affected; he could only create about twenty.

His grandmother had spoken with Kurama, concluding that within months, he'd regain full chakra control and return to normal. Frustrated, he now relied solely on taijutsu, but he was fine. He wasn't among the best in that area, but he defended himself well. 

Hinata and Lee's taijutsu surpassed his, but that didn't stop him from training and sparring with them. 

Training was always enjoyable, especially with Hinata; she seemed gentle and kind, but in battle, she was ruthless. Naruto admired her strength and taijutsu during the war.

He smiled emotionally at the sky, thinking of his incredible friends, especially Shikamaru. When he saw him awake again, he hugged him tightly. Naruto was happy, adoring his pineapple head friend, his best friend.

Someone still lingered in his thoughts - the boy with black hair and pale skin. He loved Sasuke, and that would never change. But he had to learn to live with it, understanding well after everything that had happened. 

He wasn't ready for a relationship, or perhaps he was, but Naruto couldn't expect that now. There was also the rejection he'd likely face.

"Better keep this to myself, no more suffering," he thought.

"Hiding it won't help, kid," Kurama's voice echoed in his mind, and Naruto knew it.

"It hurts less this way, Kurama," he whispered, looking away.

His life was complicated, always had been, and a little more pain wouldn't make a difference.

He had cut his hair, now shoulder-length, just a trim. Some strands framed his face, similar to his father's style. Sakura had cut and styled it well.

After finishing dinner, they sat down for a haircut.

She also styled her hair, and Naruto complimented her beauty, making her laugh delightedly. He cared deeply for her, maybe too much. But it was time to focus on his missions again; he was excited to run, jump, fight, and feel adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Rosa! Are we practicing yet?" he shouted from his position on the floor, knowing his best friend had heard him perfectly. She had arrived that morning, saying they would practice taijutsu.

"Yes, Naruto, yes," she said, approaching him, her tone exasperated, making him smile.

"Let's go!" he exclaimed, jumping up, eyeing her red shirt with white trim and black pants with white accents. She wore black gloves.

The blonde was ready, but she adjusted her gloves.

"Before we start, I have something for you, blonde," she said, pulling something from her left pocket and handing it to him with a smile.

Naruto took the gift, and his eyes widened as he saw the black gloves with orange trim and a fox silhouette on the palm.

"Thanks, Rosa! I love them!" he exclaimed, admiring the gloves from every angle, fitting perfectly on his hands.

“Since you can’t use massive jutsu and need to focus on taijutsu and destructive strikes, I thought I’d gift you these gloves,” she explained with a smile. “They’ll prevent you from injuring your hands if your chakra runs out, and they match your outfit perfectly.”

Naruto returned her smile. His outfit consisted of a black long-sleeved shirt with his clan’s logo on the back and a red stripe with the logo on his left arm. His loose orange pants had pockets, and the gloves complemented his look, especially with the fox silhouette.

He considered customizing his shirt to add the same silhouette on the other arm, honoring his friend. He beamed with excitement at the idea.

“Thanks, Rosa,” he said again, assuming a battle stance. “It’s time to fight.”

After finishing speaking, he raised his hand and beckoned her with his fingers. He smiled sideways, ready to fight with all his might, knowing his best friend was anything but weak. She returned his smile and attacked a second later.

Naruto blocked a punch, then another and another, returning them equally. She dodged or blocked with a smile. He crouched and stretched out his leg to trip her. She did a backflip.

Still leaning, he struck the ground with his hand, opening a rift in the earth that approached Sakura. She jumped. In an instant, she was diving down onto him.

Naruto laughed and jumped back seconds before impact. The entire ground cracked.

Naruto bounced around, Sakura standing in the crater's center with a predatory smile. He returned it, eyed his new gloves, and closed in quickly. They continued fighting, their punches echoing, their strength and speed on full display.

Until Naruto caught her off guard and landed a shoulder blow, sending her back. Seizing the moment, he quickly closed in. With a burst of strength, he kicked up, but she blocked it with her arms crossed, unleashing a chakra wave.

Her green eyes narrowed, and she grabbed Naruto's leg, sending him flying. He landed inclined, feet on the ground, one hand on the floor. He grinned, showing a canine, finding the fight increasingly thrilling.

Anticipating a blow, he dodged just in time. Sakura's punch grazed his cheek. He looked at her and, with an open palm, struck her shoulder, ensuring some chakra was added. As Hinata had taught him, he dislocated Sakura's collarbone. She bit her lip and stepped back, her arm dangling.

"Shall we play this way?" she asked, amused, and with her healthy arm, she pulled the injured one with force. No pain crossed her face. Naruto heard the exact moment the bone snapped back into place.

The blonde smiled sideways, seeing how far his best friend had come, from the nervous and insecure Sakura of the academy to the great woman before him.

"In war, anything goes, rosa," he teased, launching another attack. She returned the blows with equal force, Naruto laughing excitedly. Fighting had always been his strong suit, and he was grateful for his taijutsu training with Neji and Hinata. He wasn't perfect like them, but he had his strengths.

They continued exchanging blows until they tired, now lying on the ground, gazing at the sky.

"Life has changed so much, Pink," he said, eyes on the vast sky.

"Yes, blonde, in many ways, but I'm grateful to be here and be who I am," she replied, also gazing upward.

"I wouldn't change things; everything I've been through is the path I chose, the decisions, I'm okay, Sakura, but..."

"You miss him," she finished for him. "I do too, sometimes, but I know it'll never be with the same intensity for me as it is for you."

The blonde looked at her with a sad smile.

"How do I erase these feelings? Love is beautiful, but I think it won't be this time." Naruto returned his gaze to the sky.

Sakura looked at him and took his hand.

"A long time ago, a blonde boy, assertive, cheerful, and above all kind, told me, 'Love is being free.' We're all born with the right to be free and love in our own way. Don't try to erase something that's always been important to you. Maybe he feels the same way."

Naruto let out a dry laugh, but kept gazing at the sky. She was right; love is being free.

"Rosa, I want to believe that's true, but he vanished without a word. He didn't ask about me, and I was unconscious when he left. Maybe that's just how it is."

"Where's that unstoppable blonde?" she asked with a firm tone, and the blonde smiled softly.

"You're right," he replied, eyes flashing with determination. "The last one to arrive cooks dinner."

In one leap, Naruto sprang up and sprinted toward the house.

"Naruto, cheat!" Sakura exclaimed, chasing after him with a smile.

Please, Kakashi-sensei, just one," the blonde pleaded with puppy eyes. After days of training with Sakura, he was eager to return to missions. His grandmother had cleared him, provided he took on simple tasks.

Now, before the Hokage, Naruto's persistence paid off.

"Please," he repeated, stepping closer.

"Alright! You've got a mission, Naruto." Naruto beamed as he received the mission scroll.

Upon reading, his smile faded; it was a simple delivery to the Rain Village. He hid his disappointment, knowing he had to take what he could get.

"When do I leave?" he asked, closing the scroll.

Kakashi's soft gaze met his. "Whenever you're ready." He handed Naruto the scroll to be delivered. The blonde took it, rewarding his sensei with a radiant smile.

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, pocketing the scroll. 

"Be careful," Kakashi warned. Naruto nodded and left the Hokage Tower, thrilled to have a mission and escape the village.

Arriving home, he found Sakura reading. "I'm heading out on a mission," he announced, entering the house. 

Sakura looked up from her book. "Where to?"

Naruto packed supplies in the kitchen. "Rain Village, delivering a scroll." He stuffed his bag with apples, ramen, and a bento lunch.

"When are you leaving?" Sakura asked, her voice rising as Naruto rushed around the room.

"In a few minutes," he replied, emerging with a new outfit. "What do you think?" Sakura examined his attire, identical to his usual gear except for a fox silhouette on his right arm, matching the gloves he wore.

"You look great," she said sincerely. Naruto's beauty was unique, not like Sasuke's allure. His was an innocent, doll-like charm. His feline grace shone in his fighting style, sharp canines, and piercing gaze, reminiscent of a fox ready to pounce.

"Thanks, rosa! Time to go!" he said, grabbing his orange backpack. He pecked Sakura's cheek before departing. She smiled and waved goodbye, thrilled for Naruto's excitement.

Outside the village, Naruto took a deep breath and embarked on his journey. Ensuring the scroll was secure, he grinned and began leaping from tree to tree. At this pace, he'd reach Rain Village in a day or two.

Flashing his canines, Kurama on high alert, Naruto vanished into the distance. The village disappeared from view, leaving Kakashi with an unsettling premonition.