Arc Length: Chapter 245- 247 (3 chapters)
Short Summary
After two-and-a-half years of training with Jiraiya, Naruto returns to Konoha. Kakashi is the first to greet him upon his arrival, and receives Icha Icha Tactics as a present, the only book Jiraiya had time to write during the training. Naruto soon runs into Sakura and Konohamaru. Sakura demonstrates the monstrous strength she gained during her training with Tsunade when she punches Naruto in disgust after he and Konohamaru discuss his new perverted jutsu. Kakashi suggests having Naruto and Sakura retake the bell test, but this time the objective is to actually retrieve the bells. Naruto and Sakura show the fruit of their training, but eventually they rely on trickery (Naruto threatens to spoil the ending of Icha Icha Tactics, forcing Kakashi to close his eyes and shut his ears, even though Naruto hasn't read past the first few pages) to retrieve the bells. Sakura tours Naruto around the village, where he meets Shikamaru and Temari. He finds out that Neji, Kankuro, and Temari are Jounin, with everyone else being Chunin.....except Gaara who has become the 5th Kazekage. Meanwhile in Suna, an Akatsuki sleeper-agent kills the border guards, allowing Deidara and Sasori inside the village, the former of whom sets off to capture Gaara...
Full Summary
This arc contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Sakura has become one.
- Cliffhanger: The arc ends with Akatsuki's Deidara going to capture Gaara.
- No Antagonist: Except for the underlying threat of Akatsuki, there are no villains this arc.
- Ship Tease: Sakura blushes when she meets Naruto again, and he displays a pure smitten look when she displays her new strength during the bell test.
- Time Skip: Two-and-a-half years past between here and Naruto's departure.
- Tooka Levelin Badass: All the genin from before the timeskip. But special mention must go to Sakura. She went from The Load to an Action Girl who can shatter the ground in a punch.
