Two days later.
The Konoha shopping street.
Shinju and Naruto were buying snacks.
After the Gozu Tennō case was resolved, Shinju handed the piece of skin engraved with the mark over to the Konoha Research Institute.
Naruto said, "I heard Orochimaru also wants to study that Gozu Tennō thing. Should we let him give it a try?"
Shinju replied, "Let's observe for a while longer."
Naruto nodded. "I don't trust that creepy guy anyway. I always feel like he could do something bad at any moment. (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)"
Shinju nodded in agreement.
Orochimaru's creepiness came straight from the bone—no normal person would ever like him.
"Oh right, there's one more thing," Naruto suddenly remembered. "Yakushi Kabuto, the one locked up in prison, said he's seen the light and wants to volunteer at the Konoha orphanage…"
Shinju looked back at Naruto and asked, "If it were you, would you let him out?"
Naruto immediately shook his head.
"No way. Letting him out after only half a year would be way too lenient. Who knows, maybe he's just saying that to plan an escape."
Hearing that, Shinju nodded.
"Alright then. Lock him up for a few more decades. ( --0027▿ --0027 )"
The two wandered on and eventually reached the foot of Hokage Rock.
Looking up at the massive stone faces carved into the cliff, Naruto couldn't help but exclaim,
"It's really amazing."
"When we were kids, we used to scribble all over this place. Who would've thought your face would end up carved here too. (•̀⌄•́)"
"I wonder if, in a few years, there'll be some mischievous little kids drawing all over your Hokage Rock too. (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
Shinju thought for a few seconds before answering, "Probably."
"But when it's time to be tolerant, you should be tolerant. Just like when we were kids messing things up—Third-sama got angry every time, but at most he just made us clean it all up. (＾ワ＾)"
Naruto said, "Time really flies. It's only been half a year since the Fourth Shinobi World War… I ran into Anko-sensei the other day—the proctor from our Chunin Exams, the one who later got captured by Kabuto—and she's gotten a lot rounder.
＼(゜ロ゜)／"
Shinju replied, "That's normal. After a war, people need to rest. Just look at Kakashi-sensei—he goes out less and less, and just stays under his blanket all day reading Make-Out Paradise. (〃∇〃)"
The moment Shinju finished speaking, Kakashi's voice sounded from behind them.
"Hey! If you're going to badmouth someone, at least make sure they're not around! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)"
"Shinju, I was your teacher, you know! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're Hokage now! (▼ヘ▼#)"
Shinju and Naruto turned their heads, saw Kakashi, and immediately bolted. As they ran, they didn't forget to politely call out,
"Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke's coming back today—we're going to pick him up…"
Kakashi: "..."
"He's already Hokage, and he's still this immature. (ー ー゛)"
"It's really hard to imagine that the future of the shinobi world is being created by kids like that."
Just as Kakashi finished sighing, his body suddenly stiffened!
He turned his head—and saw Might Guy, overflowing with youthful energy!
"Yo! Kakashi! ❛‿˂̵✧"
"My dear friend and rival, what should we compete in today?!"
Kakashi looked utterly exhausted. (._.ll)
"Guy… let's compete in intelligence today. Whoever finishes reading a copy of Make-Out Paradise first wins."
It wasn't Kakashi being afraid of Guy—it was just that Guy had become absurdly beyond comprehension.
Ever since his legs were healed, he'd become even more energetic than before the war.
Every time they sparred hand-to-hand, Kakashi ended up at a huge disadvantage!
...
The Yamanaka flower shop.
While watering the flowers, Ino spotted Sakura walking up to the shop entrance.
"Sakura, who are you buying flowers for today?" Ino asked teasingly.
Sakura blushed. "Ugh, you know perfectly well."
"Ino, Sasuke's coming back today. What kind of flowers do you think I should give him…"
Ino said, "Of course you should give him whatever he likes."
"You could also give him roses and just confess outright."
"But men are usually the practical type. They don't really like flowers and plants. How about getting him one of those newly released game consoles?"
Sakura hesitated. "It just feels like Sasuke's cold personality doesn't really match with a game console…"
Just as Sakura was struggling, Naruto and Shinju happened to pass by. Naruto chimed in,
"Sakura, don't you work at the hospital? Why not give Sasuke a medical fee discount coupon? He's always acting tough—it's easy for him to get beaten up…"
Sakura: "..."
"We're talking seriously here. Can't you give some constructive advice? ¯\(ツ)/¯"
Shinju said, "Then how about… taking out a loan and buying him a house?"
...
At the same time.
Within the borders of the Land of Fire.
Sasuke was rapidly moving through the forest, muttering to himself,
"Damn it. I lost that steel pseudo-painted aircraft Shinju gave me for traveling. Now I have to run all the way back."
"The Thunder Vehicle negotiations went pretty well. If construction could start earlier, I wouldn't have to exhaust myself like this…"
"Save some chakra. Once I'm near the village entrance, I'll activate Susanoo and fly back. Gotta make sure I don't lose my cool factor when I get home… (•̀⌄•́)"
Just as Sasuke was thinking about how to make a stylish return, a figure suddenly blocked his path!
Sasuke assumed it was just a passerby and prepared to go around—but the person unexpectedly kept pace with him!
"Hey, you—"
The curse words stuck in Sasuke's throat as he saw the other person's eyes.
Sharingan!!
"How do you have Uchiha eyes?! (눈益눈)"
Sasuke demanded.
At present, the only true Uchiha clansman was himself, so this person should be like Shinju—someone who had transplanted Uchiha eyes.
After the night of the Uchiha clan's massacre, some Sharingan fell into Danzo's hands, while others were collected by Obito.
After the Fourth Shinobi World War ended, all those eyes were returned to Konoha.
Still, whether it was Danzo or Obito, both treated Sharingan like disposable tools, so it wasn't strange that some might have ended up lost outside…
"Uchiha Shin."
The white-haired boy with Sharingan introduced himself, then suddenly lunged forward and attacked Sasuke!
Sasuke was a veteran of countless battles. With a few crisp movements—"crack, crack, crack!"—he easily subdued the white-haired boy.
Suspecting the other party might be one of the very few remaining members of his clan, Sasuke didn't rush to kill him. Instead, he asked,
"A name I've never heard before… Are you an Uchiha clansman who survived the night of the massacre?"
In response to Sasuke's question, the boy spoke as if he couldn't understand human language at all.
"Uchiha Sasuke is unworthy of being an Uchiha…"
"I will carry out my father's will…"
After saying that, the boy formed hand seals and vanished.
Sasuke was left standing there, completely dumbfounded. ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞
"Something's not right. I should get back as soon as possible and have Shinju help look into this. (°ヘ°)"