Homecoming

## 帰郷­ (Kikyō)

"**Homecoming**" (帰郷, *Kikyō)* is the first episode of the *Naruto* anime: *Naruto Shippuden.*

## Synopsis

The series begins with *Naruto Uzumaki*, *Sakura Haruno* and an *unidentified man* sprinting through a darkened hallway, opening every passing door in search for *Sasuke Uchiha*. Suddenly, a deafening explosion presents a narrow rectangle of light, in which stands a pale, *unknown man*. Naruto, Sakura and the man sprint towards the opening in hopes of retreiving Sasuke. Upon reaching the bright source of light, Sakura and Naruto find Sasuke waiting patiently above. After sharing some words of salutation and memories of their encounter at *Final Valley* Naruto loudly questions Sasuke why he didn't kill him when they were younger. Sasuke reflects his brothers words regarding the *Mongekyo Sharingan* and responds with him not wanting to obtain it by killing him alikes *Itachi*. Sasuke then jumps down swiftly, keeping on arm around Naruto's shoulders pulls out his blade in attempst to kill Naruto while mocking his dream to become *Hokage*. The *Nine Tailed Demon Fox*, *Kurama*, then offers Naruto his powers. Naruto decides to stay silent, to which the fox asks why he is hesitant and to break the seal completely. Before making contact with the fox, Sasuke straightes his arm out, amazed to what Naruto has inside of him. Kurama is suprised that Sasuke has the ability to both get "inside" Naruto and obtain the *Sharingan*, saying that he resembles *Madara Uchiha*.

*Konohamaru Sarutobi* and his team chases after a *cat*, hoping to retreive and hand it back to it's owner, out of a forest. In the village the team barbaricly bumps and pushes items on the ground in attempts of catching it. While chasing the cat, Konohamaru charges into *Tieuch*, the owner of *Ramen Ichiraku*. Konohamaru quickly gets up, apoligizes and continues to run, but slows down after hearing the old man calling him Naruto, but continues to scamper after the cat after hearing Tieuchi correct himself. The cat gets cornered into a dimly lit alley by *Udon* and *Moegi* who then contact Konohamaru to share this information. Konohamaru jumps from up above the alley and lands on the cat, in hopes of catching it. The two get into a fight, creating a bubble of smoke to form around them. The smoke clears and Konohamaru is seen holding the agitated cat. After completing the mission, Konohamaru demands for a mission more difficult to which their team leader, *Ebisu*, responds by reminding them that their only *genin,* then *Tsunade* tells them that they will only be doing *D-rank missions* until further notice. Konohamaru sits down in anger, and tells them that he'll be the *Seventh Hokage.* Which creates an emotion of confusion in the room, making Tsunade question why not the *Sixth Hokage*, Konohamaru answer with Naruto being the sixth. While *team Ebisu* leaves the building, *Shizune,* Tsunade and *Iruka* share words regarding Naruto, saying that Konohamaru resembles a second-Naruto then the seventh Hokage. Shizune then recalls that him and *Jiraiya* should be returning soon.

During the same moment, Naruto and Jiraiya emerge out of a forest and threw the Konoha front gates, suprising the two men stationed at the boarder after they realised who they were instantly. Team Ebisu meets Sakura while traveling to the front gate for an errand and she asksthem to join in, to which they accept. Naruto and Jiraiya are seen walking through a crowded road, on the one besides it is being walked on by Sakura and Konohamaru's team. Konohamaru wonders if Sakura has heard any thing from Naruto, Sakura unfortunatly hasn't. Upon reaching *Izumo* and *Kotetsu*, the children learn that there is a suprise waiting for them in town. Naruto sprintes up a pole and notices the village hasn't changed one bit, before seeing Lady Tsunade's face carved in next to the other Hokage. While standing on the pole, Sakura and Konohamaru's team notices him and welcome's him back. Naruto jumps down, making Sakura realise that he's grown taller than her. Sakura then thinks that Naruto has grown mature and questions if she's gotten more womenly herself. Naruto then stupidly responds with no, angering the girl. Konohamaru calls on Naruto to notice him, then performs his newly practiced *sexy jutsu*. Naruto chuckles, telling Konohamaru he's not a child anymore then addressing Konohamaru the immaturity of that justu. Prompting Sakura's believement of Naruto's newly grown maturity. Sakura's theory soonly gets destroyed after Naruto lashes out on Konohamaru, calling his justu boring. Before Naruto can present his new pervy ninjustu, Sakura smacks Naruto across his face with her fist.

Jiraiya brings Naruto and Sakura to the Hokage building, in which is both Tsunade and Shizune. With all the time the two students had in training, Tsunade demands for them to show their growth by fighting a particular man. Tsunade then calls the man in, causing Naruto to gasp once the door swung open.

## Trivia

• Team Ebisu's mission in retreiving Tora the cat, is similiar to Team 7's mission rescuing the same cat.

• The moment Konohamaru sits down onto the floor is similiar to the way Naruto did when wanting tougher missions.

• The time skip with Sasuke at the beginning of the episode, does not occur until episode 51 of Naruto Shippuden.