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Early in the next morning, Horyu arrived at the gates of the village and greeted the eternal door guards, Izumo and Kotetsu. The air was crisp, and the usually bustling entrance was quiet, giving him a moment to prepare for what was to come. Not long after, four figures and a pig appeared on the horizon, quickly closing the distance to the village entrance. As they approached, Ino and Hinata dashed forward with wide smiles, throwing themselves into Horyu's embrace.

"Horyu! I missed you so much," Ino exclaimed, her voice filled with relief and joy. She had grown noticeably in the three years since Horyu had last seen her. Now 16, she was taller, her blonde hair longer and styled in a more mature, sophisticated manner. Her eyes, bright and expressive, reflected her happiness and a newfound confidence.

Horyu nodded at her, giving a brief, firm hug back. "Good to see you, Ino," he responded, his voice even and calm.

Beside them, Hinata waited with a patient smile, her presence more assured than ever. "Horyu, it has been so long! I missed you," she said, stepping forward for her turn. Hinata's growth was not just in height but in demeanor. She had blossomed into a calm confidence, visible in the way she stood and looked directly at him without hesitation.

"Welcome back, Hinata," Horyu said, patting her back lightly. He noticed the subtle changes in her appearance as well—her hair was cut shorter, giving her a more practical and sharp look that suited her confident new attitude.

Soon, Tsunade arrived with Shizune and Tonton in tow, and she fixed Horyu with a stern look. "Brat," she greeted, "You dumped your girlfriends on my back for three years, not bothering to visit even once."

At the mention of "girlfriends," both Ino and Hinata blushed. Ino, already engaged to Horyu by village arrangement, smiled brightly, while Hinata turned her gaze away, her cheeks tinged with red.

Horyu chuckled lightly, turning to Shizune. "Good to see you, Shizune-san. Thanks for looking after these two for me," he said, deliberately overlooking Tsunade's comment.

Shizune laughed, a bit awkwardly, and replied, "It's alright."

Seeing this, Tsunade clenched her fists, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "Are you ignoring me?" she demanded.

Horyu smirked at Tsunade as she clenched her fist. "How can I ignore the great Tsunade-sama?" he replied, his tone light yet edged with a mock respect that only those who knew him well could detect as playful.

Tsunade's expression turned playful yet threatening as she punched her palm, a clear sign of her impatience and feisty nature. "Oh, you've found a pair during your travels, have you? Antagonizing me now, aren't we? With war at our doorstep, being complacent could get you killed. Why don't I knock some sense into that stubborn head of yours?"

Horyu chuckled, unfazed by her challenge. "If Tsunade-sama wants to spar, I'm ready. I may not be your match, but I won't back down."

The banter was interrupted as Shikaku Nara, accompanied by a couple of other advisors, approached them. "Horyu, Tsunade, this isn't the time for sparring. We've got serious matters to discuss," Shikaku interjected, his tone serious, carrying the weight of his responsibilities.

Shikaku then bowed slightly to Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama, Hokage-sama requests your presence."

Tsunade snorted but nodded, her demeanor all business despite the playful banter moments before. "Fine. Let's not keep Shisui waiting." As she started toward the Hokage's office, she threw over her shoulder to Horyu, "Come along, brat."

Horyu grinned, the teasing familiar and somewhat comforting in the face of the ongoing war tensions. He followed her, with Ino and Hinata in tow. Shizune, who had been quiet for most of the reunion, gave him a small, reassuring smile as they passed.

Ino, vibrant as ever, linked her arm with Horyu's, steering him slightly ahead. "Horyu, you wouldn't believe how much we've learned! Tsunade-sama is incredible," she exclaimed, her words bubbling with enthusiasm. "I've improved my medical ninjutsu by leaps!"

Hinata, walking on his other side, smiled gently. "It's been a valuable experience. Tsunade-sama taught us a lot about her Taijutsu too, not just medical skills."

Horyu nodded, listening intently but with a casual air. "That sounds great. Tsunade-sama's one of the best, after all."

As they walked, the conversation veered away from their training experiences. Ino, always curious, glanced at Horyu. "And what about you? Three years is a long time."

Horyu shrugged lightly. "I've been around, picking up a thing or two. You know, the usual stuff." His tone was nonchalant, giving nothing away about the intensity of his own experiences.

Ino rolled her eyes but smiled. "You always play it cool, but I bet it was more than just 'usual stuff.'"

Hinata's gaze lingered on Horyu, noting the subtle changes in him. There was an ease and assurance about him that wasn't there before. "It's good to have you back, Horyu."

Horyu met her gaze briefly, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "It's good to be back."

Their walk to the Hokage's office was filled with light banter, with Ino and Hinata sharing tales of their time with Tsunade. Horyu listened, his responses brief but engaged, his demeanor relaxed but always with an undercurrent of alertness, ready for the challenges that awaited him in the village.

As they approached the office, Tsunade led the way inside, her stride purposeful. Shikaku held the door for them, his expression serious.

Inside, Shisui looked up from a spread of maps and reports covering his desk. "Ah, Tsunade-sama, thank you for coming so quickly," he said, then noticed the others. "Ino-san, Hinata-san, good to see you back safe."

Tsunade grunted, "Let's cut to the chase. What's the situation?"

Shisui gestured to the maps. "The war fronts are holding, but just barely. We're spread thin, and with the new movements from Stone, things are getting tense."

Horyu glanced at the maps, his eyes quickly scanning the marked areas. His attention, however, remained partly on Tsunade, watching her reactions. The legendary Sannin's presence in Konoha could change the dynamics of their military strategies significantly.

Shisui continued, "We need your medical expertise, Tsunade-sama, and any strategic insights you have."

Tsunade nodded, her eyes sharp. "I'll set up a medical corps, but I want Ino and Hinata involved. They've trained under me, and they'll be crucial."

Then Shisui said something that put Horyu on edge, "We have received a formal letter from the Fourth Raikage. The Jonin Commander of Cloud will visit Konoha with an entourage; there is a possibility of a truce." He said, a hint of relief in his voice. Horyu remembered something from the anime about such a meeting but pushed it aside for now, focusing on the current discussion.

Shikaku frowned, skeptical. "Why would they sign a truce now? The war has just begun."

Shisui's expression hardened as he explained, "It's true that the war is in its early stages and neither side has really clashed head-on yet, but for a year, Konoha has held strong on four fronts. And with Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama returning, no other village can ignore Konoha's position."

Shikaku nodded slowly, but his eyes betrayed his thoughts; something seemed off. True, Jiraiya, a master of Senjutsu, and Tsunade, a master healer, could significantly shift the balance of the war. However, the Cloud also had two perfect Jinchuriki, which was a formidable advantage.

"Ino, Hinata," Tsunade said, turning to the two young kunoichi, "you'll be directly involved in setting up and running the medical corps. This is a critical role, especially now."

Ino nodded enthusiastically, clearly eager to put her skills to use, "I'm ready, Tsunade-sama. We won't let you down."

Hinata also affirmed her commitment with a calm nod, her demeanor composed yet determined.

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