"Yes! Finally!"
Kakashi's usually bored expression was replaced by one of pure, unrestrained delight. He eagerly, almost reverently, took the book from Jiraiya's hands, his eye tracing the familiar, suggestive title on the cover. A fiery passion, an emotion usually reserved for high-stakes battles, welled up within him.
Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh. "Aha! I knew you were a man of discerning taste, Kakashi!"
"Lord Jiraiya, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave," Kakashi said, his voice urgent as he clutched the book to his chest like a sacred text.
"Well, there's noth—" Jiraiya began, but Kakashi was already gone, vanishing in a swirl of leaves without even using the Flying Thunder God Technique, his desperation to read palpable.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched in amusement. He turned his gaze to the courtyard of the Hatake compound below and saw a familiar figure looking up at him. "Hey, Sakumo! Long time no see!" With a nimble leap, Jiraiya landed gracefully in front of the White Fang of the Leaf, his old comrade.
In the highest meeting room of the Hokage Tower, the atmosphere was far more serious.
"I believe the time has come to pass the responsibility of Hokage to the next generation," Minato said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the assembled Konoha elders: Fugaku Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
A wave of surprise rippled through the room.
"Minato, isn't it a bit early to be speaking of such things?" Fugaku asked, his brow furrowed. Minato, despite having served as Hokage for over twenty years, looked hardly a day older than when he first took the hat. For him to be discussing succession now seemed premature.
The other elders nodded in agreement. They knew Minato's dedication was absolute; this wasn't about him wanting to quit. Everything he had done for the village was legendary.
"Indeed," Minato conceded with a slight shrug. "Which is why I don't intend to name a successor immediately. In fact, if I were to choose right now, I would find it an incredibly difficult decision." He smiled faintly. "There are many shinobi in the village today who possess the ability and qualifications to take on this position."
The senior council members exchanged looks, small smiles appearing on their faces. It was true. For the first time in a long time, Konoha was rich with Kage-level talent.
"Therefore," Minato continued, "my proposal is this: over the next few years, we will change the system of succession. Instead of appointment, the next Hokage will be chosen through a competitive election." He held up a hand to forestall their objections. "Of course, the candidates for this election would first be nominated and approved by this council."
Historically, the Hokage was chosen by their predecessor and approved by the Feudal Lord. But that was a product of an era where candidates were few and far between. The times had changed; the system needed to change with them.
"Heh heh," Hiruzen chuckled, smoke curling from his pipe. "If we have so many outstanding young ninja, it is only natural to let them compete fairly. I have no objection."
Minato then turned his gaze to Fugaku, who still looked hesitant. "Sasuke is, of course, among the candidates I have in mind," Minato said smoothly. "With his strength and his contributions to the world, I doubt anyone on this council would object to his nomination."
He knew Fugaku's hesitation was not for himself, but for his son. He was also keenly aware that Homura and Koharu, despite the new era, still harbored old prejudices against the Uchiha.
"I have called you all here today not for an immediate decision," Minato clarified, his expression turning serious. "Whether my plan is feasible or not, only time will tell. But we must have the courage to reform. That is the only way a village can truly progress."
At Ichiraku Ramen, the evening rush was in full swing.
"Teuchi-san! Two large bowls of your original miso ramen, please!" Naruto called out, taking a seat at the counter with Hinata beside him.
"Hey, it's Naruto and Hinata! Welcome, welcome!" Teuchi beamed, his face crinkling into a warm smile. Though the full details of the moon incident were not public knowledge, the word had spread that it was Konoha's heroes who had once again saved the world.
"Order whatever you want, Hinata, it's my treat today!" Naruto declared, patting his chest proudly.
"Um, okay," Hinata nodded, a shy smile on her face.
When their ramen arrived, the waitress couldn't help but give Hinata a look of subtle awe, clearly remembering her legendary performance at the eating competition. Neither Naruto nor Hinata noticed. Though they weren't looking directly at each other, all of their attention was focused on the person sitting next to them. Since their return from the moon, something profound had shifted between them.
Leaning around the corner outside, Chiharu peeked in on them, a satisfied smile on her face. "You know," she whispered to herself, "in a weird way, that Toneri guy actually did something good."
After they finished, Naruto waved to the owner. "Check, please!"
Teuchi and Hinata both looked at him in confusion. He had won a one-year free pass. But Naruto was insistent, brushing off their protests and proudly paying for the meal from his frog wallet. It was a date, and he was going to pay for it.
Afterwards, they walked through the bustling streets of Konoha for a long time, talking about nothing and everything. It wasn't until the sky was dark and the moon was high that they began the slow walk back to the Hyuga compound.
"How is Hanabi doing?" Naruto asked, breaking a comfortable silence.
"She's doing well," Hinata replied softly. "Her eyes are fully recovered now."
"That's good," Naruto said, lacing his hands behind his head. All too soon, they arrived at the grand main gate of the Hyuga estate. They both stopped, a silent, mutual wish hanging in the air between them: that the journey could have been just a little bit longer.
Inside the compound, Hanabi was testing her newly restored vision. "Byakugan!" Her sight expanded, and she quickly spotted the two figures standing just outside the gate. With a mischievous grin, she started for the door.
Swish!
A hand suddenly clamped over her mouth. Hanabi startled, but then saw the face of her co-conspirator. "Chiharu?"
"Shh! This is the most important part!" Chiharu whispered, putting a finger to her lips. The two girls huddled behind the gate, peeking through the crack.
"Well… thank you for walking me home, Naruto-kun," Hinata said, her eyes fixed on the ground.
"Yeah…" Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his neck, his face contorting as he struggled with words that wouldn't come out. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Behind the door, Chiharu was practically vibrating with secondhand anxiety. Come on, you idiot brother! Just say it!
"Naruto-kun, is something wrong?" Hinata asked, looking up at him with concern.
"Nope! Nothing!" Naruto stammered.
"Oh," Hinata said, her shoulders slumping slightly in disappointment. "Well… I should go in then."
He's such a blockhead! Chiharu groaned silently. Even Hanabi, who was usually oblivious to such things, was getting frustrated. Sister! Why are you being so slow right now, too?!
Hinata gave a final, quiet goodbye and began to turn away.
"Wait!"
Naruto's voice cut through the night. He reached out and grabbed her hand, his heart hammering in his chest. Hinata stopped, startled, and turned back to face him.
Naruto took a deep breath, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "Look, there's something I have to say, and I don't really know how to say it," he began, his words a clumsy, honest jumble. "My mom and Chiharu gave me a whole speech to memorize this morning, but my mind's totally blank now."
His rambling was illogical, but the raw sincerity in his tone made Hinata's heart pound.
"How do I put this…?" Naruto bit his lower lip, forcing the words out. "Before all this… I never really realized it. I just thought we were good friends. But when Dad told me you'd been kidnapped… I felt this awful, hollow feeling in my chest, like the most important thing in the world had been stolen from me."
He looked down, his voice thick with emotion. "I was so scared. While we were looking for you, my mind was just… empty. It was a feeling I've never had before. I honestly think I would have gone crazy if we hadn't found you."
The bright moonlight illuminated the street. The boy spoke, and the girl listened, tears gathering in her ethereal, clear eyes.
"I didn't even know what that feeling was called until my parents explained it to me," he admitted, shaking his head with an embarrassed laugh. "Pretty stupid, huh?" He looked up again, his gaze intense and unwavering despite his blush.
"Hinata… I love you!"
The confession hung in the air for a moment before Hinata finally broke, tears of pure joy streaming down her face as she threw herself into his arms. Naruto's body was stiff with shock for a second, but as he felt the warmth and softness of her embrace, he slowly, firmly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
"Hinata," he whispered into her hair, his voice filled with a conviction as strong as any jutsu, "from now on, I will never let anyone take you away from me. I will never let you go."
"Me too," she sobbed happily into his chest. "I love you most of all, Naruto-kun."
Behind the gate, Chiharu and Hanabi looked at each other and let out a simultaneous, silent sigh of relief, slumping against the wall.
"My sister's wish finally came true," Hanabi whispered, a wide, happy smile on her face.
Chiharu nodded, her own face beaming with pride. "See?" she said to the night air. "Who says my brother doesn't know what to say? That was just about perfect."