All three—Tenten, Neji, and Guy—stepped into the shop.
Naruto turned as the door creaked open, a warm grin already tugging at his lips." Lee, look. Your squad's here," he said softly, giving Lee a nudge.
Lee quickly broke the hug, hastily wiping his tears like a kid caught crying in public. He stood, trying to compose himself, though his swollen eyes and red cheeks betrayed everything.
"Yo, Tenten-senpai! I was waiting for you," Naruto greeted, giving her his signature wave. Then he spotted the others. "Oh… Neji, Guy-sensei too? Didn't see you hiding back there."
Tenten raised a brow, glancing between Naruto and Lee."You were waiting for me… or for him?" she teased, tilting her head toward Lee.
But Lee didn't even glance at her. His eyes were locked on Guy-sensei with a fiery resolve. Guy met his gaze with equal intensity, their legendary unspoken youthful telepathy in full swing.
Then, Lee gripped his cane tightly, took one determined step forward, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "GUY-SENSEI! I… I AM GOING THROUGH WITH THE SURGERY!"
Guy's face froze—just for a second—before erupting like a volcano of emotion." LEE…! MY BEAUTIFUL GREEN BEAST! I AM SO… PROUD OF YOU!" he roared, tears streaming like twin waterfalls.
They ran at each other like a slow-motion reunion scene and collided in a crushing hug. Tears everywhere. Shoulders shaking.
Then—just as abruptly—they broke apart, pivoted to the ceiling, and thrust fists skyward in perfect synch.
"YOUTH!"
Tenten and Neji both froze… then traded identical help-me looks.
Still, under the awkward smiles, both were glowing with relief.
Naruto couldn't hold it—he laughed. Loud, bright, fully delighted. "You two never disappoint."
"WE DEPART AT ONCE FOR TSUNADE-SAMA!" Guy declared.
Lee nodded, cane tucked under one arm like a banner pole. "PLEASE TENDON-REPAI— I MEAN, PLEASE PREPARE THE WAY!"
"...We'll walk," Neji sighed, already moving toward the door. "Before the two of you attempt to sprint and shatter ten joints."
And just like that, Guy, Lee, and Neji headed out—bound for the hospital and a decision that could change Lee's life.
The bell over the shop door fell quiet.
Tenten and Naruto were alone.
She crossed her arms, leaning against the counter, one brow raised. "So. You really were waiting for me?"
Naruto smirked. "Depends. You got time? I've got something to tell you."
Tenten let out a long sigh and dropped into the chair beside him, stretching her legs with a groan. "As long as it doesn't involve the word mission, I'm all ears."
Naruto shifted slightly, eyes serious now. "I'm leaving the village. Gonna travel for two years."
Tenten, mid-stretch, froze. Then stood. Then leaned over him—way over him.
"What?!"
Before Naruto could get another word out, she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him like a misbehaving vending machine. "Say that again! Say that again right now!"
"Wh… wha… I… sa-id—" Naruto's voice wobbled with the force of her grip, his words a garbled mess.
He finally caught her wrists and gently stopped her. "I said, I won't be around for the next two years. I'm traveling. I've got… things to learn, things to do."
Tenten slowly let go, shoulders falling as if the fight had drained out of her all at once.
She turned away, one hand bracing the counter, her back to him.
When Neji had asked her if she had feelings for Naruto, she didn't know. She wasn't even sure now. So she made plans—small ones, nothing dramatic. Conversations, time spent together, shared moments to figure it out.
And now—just like that—he was going to be gone.
Naruto sat up straighter, watching her closely. She looked like someone who'd just been told a sparring partner was retiring mid-match.
"Tenten…" he started, unsure.
She waved a hand without turning around. "I'm fine. I mean, it's not like you owe me anything. I just…"
A small, hollow laugh escaped her. "I had a bunch of dumb plans. Just to figure myself out. Guess I waited too long."
Naruto stood. His voice was soft, but firm. "You didn't wait too long."
She glanced over her shoulder.
"I'm coming back," he said. "Not disappearing forever. And… maybe when I do, you'll have your answer. Maybe I will too."
Tenten blinked.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head with that sheepish grin of his. "Besides, if you really wanted to know if you like me, you could've just punched me in the face."
Tenten cracked a small smile. "Tempting. You're definitely asking for it right now."
He chuckled, stepping toward the door. "I've got a few things to finish before I leave. But I wanted to tell you in person."
Tenten turned fully now, her arms folded, but her eyes softer.
"You better come back stronger," she said, voice firm.
"I will. You too," Naruto said with a nod. "And who knows? When I come back… maybe you'll be the one shaking me again."
He grinned and slipped out the door, leaving the bell to chime gently behind him.
Tenten stood there a moment longer, arms still folded—then let them fall to her sides.
"…Idiot," she muttered, a faint warmth on her cheeks. But she smiled.
Tenten returned to minding the shop, but her thoughts kept circling back to Naruto's words. Two years gone, huh? She tapped her fingers on the countertop absently. Maybe... just maybe.
—Meanwhile, Naruto was already striding toward Training Ground 7, the old familiar place that had once echoed with Team 7's shouts, dust clouds, and bell tests. Today, it belongs to new voices.
At the clearing, the clash of chakra hummed through the air.
A whirl of motion.
Hinata darted in with the sharp grace of the Hyūga clan, her palm aimed directly at Karin's side. Karin twisted just in time, blocking the strike with a forearm infused with chakra. Before either could reset, Ino leapt in, foot spinning into a wide arc meant to sweep both off balance.
Karin absorbed the blow, and Hinata deflected, but the impact sent both girls sliding several meters back.
Naruto raised a brow, arms folding. "They're really taking this seriously."
The three weren't just sparring—they were refining. Controlled bursts, minimal chakra expenditure, and deliberate movements designed to avoid unnecessary collateral. It was elegant, precise, and deadly effective.
They were training to fight hard without breaking the battlefield in half. A lesson Naruto had learned the hard way after craters, blown-up forests, and one very angry old lady yelling about collapsed market stalls.
Off to the side, a water bottle lay untouched. A towel flapped on a nearby tree branch. Haku, normally part of these sessions, was absent—off on a solo mission appointed by Tsunade. She had already completed several B-ranks on her own and was rapidly making a name for herself. With her experience and talent, a Chūnin promotion was inevitable.
Occasionally, Naruto had sent her north, to the Land of Snow, where Queen Koyuki helped her master more advanced techniques of Hyōton. She had become something of a quiet storm herself—out of sight, but never far from his thoughts.
Back on the field, the three kunoichi had reset.
Hinata was more assertive now, no longer flinching before she struck.
Karin's movements were bold, wild, but calculated—Uzumaki's resilience pulsing through every counter.
And Ino—Ino was adapting on the fly. Her style had grown beyond Yamanaka tradition, evolving into something faster, more grounded—rooted in Naruto's own taijutsu drills and strategy sessions.
They weren't just growing stronger.
They were becoming deadly shinobi.
"Hey!" Naruto called out, grinning widely. "If you're done sparring, I've got an announcement."
All three paused mid-step, eyes turning toward him with raised brows and curious tension.
"Oh boy," Karin muttered, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Here we go."
Naruto smiled, the kind of smile that said something big was coming.