Looking at Senju Hashirama in front of him, Kyūsei couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.
Hashirama's teaching ability was truly terrible—on par with Naruto teaching Konohamaru the Rasengan.
"First do this, then do that, then this again, and boom, Rasengan complete."
Kyūsei shoved his hands into his pockets and walked down Konoha's streets with a troubled expression.
Uchiha Hikari's appearance had completely and utterly exceeded his expectations.
And her presence was absolutely connected to that old bastard Uchiha Madara.
In his previous life, netizens loved to call him "Madara-sama," but if they ever met him in real life, they'd probably run as far as possible.
No matter how charming a villain was, he was still a villain.
Thinking of that girl named Hikari, Kyūsei felt his head start to ache.
She possessed a dōjutsu called Yatsukahoko.
It allowed her to place a mark on others. Anyone marked by her would be completely controlled.
Not only their chakra, but even their memories became her toys.
It was practically Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Even adult Naruto couldn't resist it. If Sasuke hadn't desperately stopped him and awakened him with their bond, the consequences would've been unimaginable.
While Kyūsei was walking alone down the street, someone approached him head-on.
He subconsciously looked up, but the other person spoke first.
"Kyūsei. Long time no see."
After seven years, Sarutobi Shinnosuke was no longer the spoiled Konoha prince who acted on impulse.
He had grown into a qualified shinobi.
Though he was still the "Konoha prince," he now understood his father, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Especially three months ago, when it was revealed that Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was none other than Uzumaki Kyūsei—the one he had always targeted—everything finally made sense to him.
That battle had been far too big to hide.
"Huh?"
"Oh, it's Little Shin."
Kyūsei froze for a moment before recognizing him.
It had been years since they'd last met after graduating and being assigned to different teams.
"You really haven't changed at all."
Shinnosuke looked at him helplessly.
"How've you been lately?"
Shinnosuke had neat black short hair and tanned skin. His sharp features resembled Hiruzen's, making him look capable and steady.
"Pretty good. What about you? You haven't shown up much."
Kyūsei asked.
"Heh. Not long after graduating, the old man threw me into ANBU for training."
"I see…"
The two walked side by side under the dim golden sunset, as if their childhood grudges were slowly fading with their footsteps.
"Kyūsei…"
Shinnosuke suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Naoki is dead."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Shinnosuke stared at the shimmering river ahead.
"When I found him, his body was already rotting. You couldn't even recognize him."
He spoke calmly, and at some point, a cigarette appeared in his hand.
With a click, a flame from his lighter ignited.
Kyūsei glanced at it.
That lighter looked familiar.
It seemed like one he had bought before.
Shinnosuke took a deep drag and exhaled pale blue smoke. His eyes were blurred.
"His eyes were gone."
"Someone dug them out."
"But he was still gripping his blade."
Kyūsei lowered his gaze, staring at the golden reflection of the sunset on the water.
He thought of the boy he had fought with since childhood.
"Just wait. Next time, I'll definitely beat you…"
Suddenly, Kyūsei spoke.
"What?"
Shinnosuke looked at him in surprise.
"That was the last thing Naoki ever said to me."
Kyūsei gave a self-mocking smile, then casually took the cigarette from Shinnosuke's mouth and inhaled.
It had been over ten years since he last smoked.
"Cough—cough—!"
"Cough…!"
He was instantly choked, coughing violently until tears welled up.
"You idiot. If you can't smoke, don't force it."
Shinnosuke sighed.
"Not doing it again. Never again."
Kyūsei wiped the corners of his watery eyes, waved at him, and walked away alone into the sunset.
Shinnosuke watched his back helplessly.
"This guy… clearly hurting inside, yet still acting like this…"
He turned back to the river, lit another cigarette, and exhaled slowly.
The pale smoke drifted up, blurring the shining water.
—
When Kaoru returned home, she immediately felt something was different.
Everything looked the same, yet her sharp intuition sensed something unusual.
"Kyūsei, are you home?"
She called out while taking off her shoes and neatly placing them in the entryway.
"In the kitchen."
His voice came from inside.
Kaoru followed the sound and found the red-haired boy in an apron, covered in white flour, carefully wrapping dumplings.
It looked like he had been doing it for a while.
"What's going on? Why are you suddenly making dumplings?"
The blonde girl hugged him from behind, her soft breath brushing against his neck.
Playfully, she blew gently on his skin.
Feeling her mischief, Kyūsei immediately reached back with his flour-covered hand and pinched her cheek.
White powder smeared across her face.
Instead of getting upset, Kaoru laughed.
"What filling is it?"
"Corn and shrimp."
He continued wrapping the dumplings.
He still remembered that day during the academy festival.
When everyone brought food…
That guy had brought corn and shrimp dumplings.
"Oh, I love that filling."
The girl hugged him tighter.
Her clear, bell-like laughter flowed into Kyūsei's heart.
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