"What... what should I do?" Hinata muttered, hiding behind a tree with her hands tightly pressed against her chest. "Even though I heard Naruto's returned to the village, I'm not ready yet..."
She peeked out nervously, then quickly ducked back. "We haven't seen each other in so long... What do I even say when we meet?"
"T-That… that..." she whispered, struggling with her thoughts for what felt like forever behind the tree.
"Yo!" Naruto's face suddenly popped out right in front of her from behind the tree.
"Ah!" Hinata shrieked, startled out of her wits. The moment her eyes locked onto Naruto's bright, smiling face, her cheeks turned scarlet—and she fainted on the spot into his arms.
Naruto caught her, exasperated. "Damn it! All these years of training, and it's all because of Sasuke!"
After Naruto left...
"Hey~ Hinata~ Naruto's gone now~ Wake up already~ Kurenai-sensei's gonna be here soon~!" Kiba whined as he slapped Hinata's cheeks with a folded piece of paper.
He turned his head and shouted, "Hey! Shino! You got water? Water!"
"...He remembered everyone except me..." Shino muttered as he gazed up at the sky. "The sky is so blue..."
---
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Tsunade stood on the balcony, the wind tousling her hair as she exhaled slowly into the breeze.
"Tsunade!" a voice called sharply from behind her.
She turned, frowning instinctively.
"I have something to discuss with you," Utatane Koharu said, stepping forward. "This is disgraceful."
Tsunade followed her into Room 403, where Mitokado Homura was already seated.
Tsunade dropped onto the sofa carelessly. "Two elder advisors in one room? Must be serious. What do you want from me?"
"We've already heard everything from Shizune," Homura began.
"Huh?" Tsunade glanced sideways at Shizune, who stood silently with her head bowed. "Heard what?"
"It's about Uzumaki Naruto," Koharu said.
"From now on, do not assign him to any missions involving potential contact with Akatsuki," Homura added firmly. "You know the reason."
"Of course," Tsunade crossed her legs, watching them coolly. "Shizune's already briefed me."
"Then, moving forward, we intend to assign stronger ninja to accompany him," Homura continued. "We'll form a new four-man squad for him and increase surveillance and protection."
"And his missions should be limited," Koharu said. "Reduce the number of assignments. Restrict his movements."
"Anything else?" Tsunade smiled. "Go on."
"That's all," Homura said flatly. "You have no objections, Tsunade?"
"Since Shizune already spoke to you, I have no objections. None whatsoever. Not! A! Single! One!" Tsunade grinned.
"But..." she paused, "...whether he agrees or not—now that's your problem. You'll have to convince him yourselves."
Tsunade stood up with a smirk and turned to leave.
"We've already sent his new teammates to meet him," Homura said behind her. "He's just a brat—he'll follow orders."
Tsunade paused, scoffing: "Pfft~" Then she disappeared through the door. Shizune hurried after her.
Outside the office, Tsunade glanced sideways at her assistant. Her voice was low but sharp. "Don't let me catch you doing something like this again."
Shizune broke into a cold sweat and bowed her head, trembling. "Y-Yes, Lady Tsunade... But Naruto—"
"Heh~" Tsunade sneered. "If you dare bring trouble to that boy again, you won't even know how you died."
"...Eh?" Shizune stared, stunned. (Let's just pretend she doesn't know Naruto's true identity. I think I forgot what I wrote before... oops.)
---
Elsewhere...
After bidding farewell to Hinata and the others, Naruto wandered through the streets with a spring in his step.
"Yo! Isn't that my favorite lazy guy!" he shouted. "Hey, you interested in teaming up again? I miss skipping class with you."
"Huh?" Shikamaru turned, spotting Naruto. "You're back from Sunagakure? And you're looking for teammates?"
"Yeah! Some people are always piling work on me!" Naruto growled. "And I'm short a team member."
"Can't help you." Shikamaru waved dismissively. "I got assigned as a proctor for the Chūnin Exams. Fifth Hokage's orders. You think I'm suicidal enough to say no?"
Naruto nodded in understanding.
"I still don't know what she sees in me for this kind of stuff," Shikamaru muttered. "My mom's enough of a headache. And you? Chasing after girls again? I don't get why you surround yourself with so many women. Hey! What's that look for?"
Naruto was staring at him with a ridiculous, exaggerated expression.
"...Where's Ino?" Naruto asked abruptly.
"Dunno. Last I saw, she was with Chōji."
"Hey, Naruto!" Chōji's voice called from behind them.
"Speak of the devil—wait, is he the devil, or is that Ino?" Shikamaru joked, quirking an eyebrow.
Chōji held out a bento box and handed it to Shikamaru. "My mom asked me to bring this for you."
"Thanks," Shikamaru said, accepting it.
Suddenly, both Shikamaru and Chōji tensed.
"Look out!" Shikamaru shoved Naruto aside while Chōji activated his jutsu. "Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Chōji's enlarged fist crushed an approaching ink beast in a single blow.
"There!" Shikamaru pointed down the street.
A pale-skinned boy with a blank expression and a bare midriff sat on the eaves of a building, sketching with a brush.
Naruto dusted himself off. "Tch. I really hate these pretty-boy types."
And in a blink, he vanished.
"So fast!" Shikamaru and Chōji exclaimed.
Sai blinked in confusion. "He disappeared?"
"Yo~" Naruto's voice echoed from behind.
Sai flinched. Naruto stood directly behind him, peeking over his shoulder. "What're you drawing?"
"Nani?!" Sai's eyes widened. "Super Beast Imitating Drawing: Lion!"
He swiped his brush across the scroll, and several roaring ink lions burst out toward Naruto.
But Naruto just smirked and launched a single kick. The lions exploded in black ink, and Sai flew back, crashing near Shikamaru's feet.
The lions dispersed, melting back into puddles of ink.
"Sheesh..." Shikamaru muttered, watching Naruto walk casually across the battlefield. "He's gotten a lot stronger. No—too strong. I thought we were growing fast..."
Naruto stopped in front of Sai, his expression serious.
"You're attacking inside Konoha? You trying to get yourself killed?"
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