["Honestly, it's like this again."]
["What a pain... we're leaving first."]
[Shikamaru waved his hand, stopping Ino from speaking further.]
[Choji didn't seem to mind much.]
[Asuma rubbed his nose awkwardly, then instinctively pulled out a cigarette.]
["The mission failed... I'm sorry. How about I treat you all to BBQ?"]
["BBQ?" Choji's ears perked up, and he ran off without another word.]
[Shikamaru couldn't stop him and could only look back helplessly, saying, "Next time, Teacher Asuma. We still have things to do, so we're leaving."]
[Asuma opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just forced a smile.]
[He had been feeling uneasy lately.]
[Although C-rank missions didn't involve enemy Ninjas, they were mostly escort tasks and were very tedious; it was normal for them to fail.]
[And so, Team Ten also returned.]
[Not just them, but other Ninja squads were also returning one after another.]
[It seemed a major event was brewing.]
[...]
["Darling~"]
[As soon as the door opened, a beautiful figure pounced into Naruto's arms.]
[Naruto was stunned for a moment, then slightly stepped aside.]
[Everyone was there.]
[Ino, of course, didn't feel embarrassed.]
["Food!"]
[Choji wasn't to be outdone and was the second to rush in.]
[Then, a round of teasing laughter came from behind.]
["What a pain... Ino, exercise some restraint, everyone is still here."]
["Hmm... I'll save it for when everyone isn't here."]
[Shikamaru shook his head with his hands in his pockets.]
[Ino wasn't listening at all.]
[She clung to Naruto like an accessory.]
[Inside the Sealing Space.]
[Kushina's complexion looked much better.]
[She had been watching Naruto's daily life for the past few days.]
[Well... of course, it was impossible to see everything.]
[The Great Fox was laughing at first.]
[Until...]
[Every time Naruto blocked its perception.]
[Kushina would get a bit frantic.]
[Naturally, the Great Fox was the one who suffered.]
[The kind where there was nowhere to run.]
[Xiao Tai... no, Xiao Heizi saw that Kushina had 'recovered' quite a bit.]
[The corners of his mouth gradually curled up.]
[However, that smile was no longer as gentle as before, carrying a hint of coldness.]
["It's about time."]
[The Great Fox glanced at Kushina and silently backed away a bit.]
[To prevent Kushina from suddenly lashing out.]
["Naruto, hurry up and send them out."]
[Saying this, the Great Fox extended a claw and gently poked Naruto's Shadow Clone with a long nail.]
["A bit later."]
["Wait until they have completely stabilized."]
[Naruto was in no hurry; the most important thing now was to let them stabilize.]
[...]
[The following days became much more mundane.]
[A major event occurred in Konoha.]
[No one knew what was going on.]
[All they knew was that many Konoha Ninjas had been recalled.]
[It seemed calm on the surface, but underneath, undercurrents were surging.]
[The Land of Waves welcomed wave after wave of Ninjas.]
[Under Uchiha Izumi's leadership, Gato's Shipping Company continued business as usual.]
[Zabuza and Haku seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.]
[However, to many people's surprise...]
[The Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water suddenly revoked a wanted poster.]
[The bounty for the S-rank Rogue Ninja, Demon: Momochi Zabuza, was gone.]
[Within the Land of Waves, the Hidden Mist Ninjas also seemed to have vanished overnight.]
[One small move affects the whole situation.]
[The events in the Land of Waves were like a small pebble thrown into the recently calmed waters of the Ninja World.]
[The center of the ripples was, naturally, Konoha.]
[Many eyes began to converge on Konoha.]
[...]
Senju Tobirama: "It seems Black-Framed Naruto can't hold back anymore."
Orochimaru: "What a coincidence. I have a feeling that my appearance will make Black-framed Naruto-kun change his plans."
Orochimaru: "But then again... I might get beaten up."
Orochimaru: "Black-framed Naruto-kun won't give Teacher Sarutobi a dignified exit."
Ino Yamanaka: "Does he even deserve one?!"
[More and more people were entering and leaving the once-quiet Hokage Office.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't closed his eyes for three days.]
[Outside the Root Organization base, Anbu Ninjas passed by from time to time.]
[He was so busy that Hiruzen Sarutobi's head was spinning.]
[He had to handle all sorts of matters, big and small.]
[There were many, both internal and external.]
[The incident in the Land of Waves almost ignited the flames of war.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi was offering all kinds of apologies.]
[The Root Organization even seemed on the verge of rioting several times; Hiruzen Sarutobi almost had a complete falling out with his close friend Danzo Shimura.]
[In the end, he endured it.]
[The changes were obvious, but everyone's lives continued as usual.]
[There was no other reason.]
[The Sarutobi Clan coughed up a lot of things, and the Root Organization likewise handed over a lot to Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[Only then was the situation barely stabilized.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were bloodshot.]
[The only thing that gave him comfort was the situation with Team 7.]
["Just hold on for a few more years... Once Naruto grows up, it won't have to be like this."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi took a brief break from his busy schedule.]
[He took a puff from his pipe and looked at Konoha Village with a serious expression.]
["Asuma... Hmph, if only Shinnosuke were still here."]
[This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly thoroughly disappointed.]
[Not a single thing could be accomplished.]
[The only thing that went his way was Naruto's situation.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi felt very helpless about this.]
[He took a few puffs of smoke and suddenly felt that rather than counting on Asuma, he might as well spend more effort on his health and pave the way for Konohamaru later on.]
["Things have come to this, let's just take it one step at a time."]
[With that, the Hokage Office fell into a long silence.]
["That child Naruto... it's almost time. Four years at most. In four years, I'll be able to relax."]
[After a long time, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked back at the photo of the Fourth Hokage.]
["Perhaps I could also consider letting Naruto take the position of the Fifth Hokage first."]
["Let Konohamaru study by his side... while I continue to control everything from behind the scenes."]
["No... it's still a bit tiring. Let's keep pushing Asuma. After preparing so much, it would be a pity to give up."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and put down his pipe.]
[After resting for a moment, he went back to work.]
[The endless pile of documents really gave him a headache.]
[Fortunately, the Hidden Mist Village withdrew recently, otherwise he would be even busier.]
[Even though the Sarutobi Clan had to cough up a lot, making Hiruzen Sarutobi feel the sting...]
[But to be able to nip the budding flames of war, it was all worth it.]
["The Ninja World... isn't just about fighting and killing."]
["This Konoha still can't do without this old man~"]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit more energized.]
[On the other side.]
[On the surging surface of the sea.]
[Zabuza stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the ruins ahead.]
[Every trace left behind was enough to show just how tragic the events of that night years ago were.]
[That patch of pitch-black wreckage... was the color that only comes after being soaked in blood.]
[Whoosh—]
[The sea breeze blew.]
[A beautiful silhouette appeared behind Zabuza.]
[Standing quietly beside Zabuza.]
[Haku had already changed into female clothing.]