Naruto Returns to a Steampunk World

“Congratulations, First-Class Sergeant Major Naruto Uzumaki, you are officially retired. From now on, you can enjoy a time of peace.”

The voice of a female officer echoed in Naruto’s ears.

Naruto’s eyes flew open and he sat up with a start.

There was no female officer before him, nor anyone else.

The air no longer carried the choking scent of coal ash, nor the sharp, unpleasant odor of chemical reagents.

The towering buildings and smoking chimneys had vanished long ago, and the sky above him was a flawless blue, unblemished by clouds or plumes of smoke.

“This is the Leaf Village. Yes, I’ve come back.”

Naruto gazed into the distance and spoke to himself.

Wherever his eyes fell, there were quaint villages surrounded by endless hills and forests.

Here stood the most iconic landmark of the village—the Hokage Rock.

On the sheer stone cliff, four enormous faces looked down upon everything.

Naruto was sitting atop the outermost, youngest face—the one most recently carved.

Scattered around him were various small metal objects.

He turned his gaze to these items and reached out his hand.

With a crackle of electricity, a force field radiated from his palm, enveloping the tiny metal pieces.

Soon, under the force field’s influence, the pieces assembled into a small puppet.

With a flick of his finger, the puppet sprang to life.

Brandishing a miniature table knife as a weapon, it performed a textbook routine of bayonet drills.

“If not for the lingering presence of mechanical ener