NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: A Kiss
It felt like having a dream—one of those rare, comforting dreams I hadn't had in a long time. In the dream, I was warm, basking in the kind of warmth only the winter sun can bring. "Sunshine? Have I been reborn at home?" Naruto's consciousness began to stir, but as he woke, he realized his body was moving on its own—running, to be precise.
"Wait, if I'm not at home, where am I?" he thought, confused. Suddenly, he heard himself speak, the words leaving his mouth without his volition.
"Kiba, how's it going?" his tone sounded anxious.
"I'm focused on tracking Sasuke's faint scent. Don't interrupt me, or I'll lose it!" came Kiba's voice, sharp and impatient.
Naruto's mind raced. "Tracking Sasuke's scent? What's going on?" Like flipping through a book, his soul's memories began to turn pages, seeking answers. Then, with a sudden jolt, a scene locked into place.
"I've been reborn… to find Sasuke!" Naruto's soul fully awakened. In an instant, his body, mid-leap, froze. He plummeted from the air without warning.
"Naruto!" Kakashi shouted, alarmed. Moving quickly, he caught Naruto before he hit the ground.
Everyone stopped in their tracks and gathered around: Sakura, Akamaru, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and Yamato all closed in with concern.
"What happened?" Sakura asked, kneeling next to him. Her tone was a mix of confusion and worry.
"I don't know," Kakashi replied, his voice tense. "He was fine just a moment ago."
"Let me take a look," Sakura said, her medical training kicking in. She instructed Kakashi to lay Naruto down gently and began examining him. Hinata lingered nearby, her eyes full of worry, unable to look away.
Inside Naruto's body, his reborn soul was rapidly merging with its host. Finally, just as Sakura was about to request someone else perform artificial respiration, Naruto's eyes fluttered open.
As his vision cleared, the first thing he saw was Kiba's face looming over him, his lips moving nervously.
"Naruto! You're awake! Let me explain… I was about to give you artificial respiration, but only because Sakura told me to. Kakashi and Yamato wouldn't do it, so I had no choice!" Kiba stammered, his face flushing red.
Naruto blinked and sat up. His eyes roamed over his body. Yes, this was his younger self—not yet 16 years old. He was back.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. "Glad you're okay, Naruto. You scared us for a second there. But what happened?"
Tears welled up in Naruto's eyes as he threw his arms around Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei… I'm so glad to see you!"
Kakashi stiffened, confused by the outburst. "Alright, alright. I know I'm amazing, but we need to keep moving if we want to catch Sasuke."
Naruto pulled away quickly, his face set with determination. "You're right. We can't lose him again."
Sakura scowled and crossed her arms. "You idiot! You scared us half to death. Don't just collapse like that again!"
Naruto smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Sakura."
As the group prepared to move again, Naruto's eyes scanned the familiar faces of his teammates. He greeted each one with excitement, as if seeing them for the first time in years. "Shino! Captain Yamato! Kiba, Akamaru! It's so good to see all of you!"
Sakura exchanged a glance with Kakashi. "Are you sure he didn't hit his head?" she whispered.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm… pretty sure I caught him."
Before anyone could comment further, Naruto turned to Hinata. Her soft eyes were filled with concern. "Naruto-kun, I'm so glad you're alright…"
Without warning, Naruto pulled Hinata into his arms and kissed her. His embrace was firm, his kiss deep and heartfelt.
Hinata froze in shock, her mind reeling. Was this real? She caught a glimpse of tears trailing down Naruto's face, and her heart seemed to burst. Slowly, she closed her eyes and let herself sink into the moment.
The rest of the team stood frozen in place. Kiba's jaw dropped, Shino's glasses reflected the sunlight, and even Kakashi's ninja dogs seemed stunned.
Kakashi's eye twitched. "I… I'm starting to wonder if I really did catch him properly. Maybe he hit his head harder than I thought."
Sakura, however, was livid. Her face turned crimson as she stormed forward, fists clenched. "Naruto, you idiot! What do you think you're doing? Let go of Hinata right now!"
She swung her fist, but to everyone's shock, Naruto caught it effortlessly. Holding Hinata protectively in one arm, he looked at Sakura with calm determination.
"Sorry, Sakura," he said gently. "But I can't let go of her anymore."
Hinata, still nestled in Naruto's arms, blushed furiously. She clasped her hands together and lowered her head, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions.
The team exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. But one thing was clear: Naruto had returned—not just to their team, but with a resolve and heart stronger than ever before.