Night.
Naraku lay in bed, annoyed.
To maintain his persona, he couldn't just punch Uchiha Shinji, but at that moment, he really wanted to hit that face.
Then, thinking of Kakashi letting him lean on his shoulder—that kind of thoughtful yet awkward comfort—he felt like he had gained something.
Though it was a bit embarrassing.
Naraku silently pulled the covers up to hide his reddened face.
Entering the website, he saw the anime had indeed updated several episodes.
After all, this B-rank mission involved both Minato and Kakashi, and even featured a villain of Kakuzu's caliber, making it full of exciting moments.
Clicking to continue watching, the video automatically skipped the last episode he had watched and started playing from the next one.
The scene began with Naraku and Kakashi sparring in the training ground. Viewers observed that Naraku's hair had grown a bit longer, indicating that several months had passed since their last appearance in the Chunin Exams.
The two exchanged several blows. Kakashi, caught off guard, was hit by Naraku's genjutsu and fell straight down. He couldn't break free on his own, and Naraku had to wake him up.
[He doesn't even need to look; he knows where Naraku will strike.]
[It's all muscle memory now.]
[Naraku: Sneak attack!]
[It's good to be young; you just fall asleep.]
[Kakashi: I'm speechless.]
[Kakashi: Can we try a different move next time?]
[At this rate, Kakashi's genjutsu resistance will eventually be maxed out by Naraku.]
[Life's three big problems: What to eat for breakfast, what to eat for lunch, what to eat for dinner.]
[The sickeningly sweet smell of love is practically overflowing.]
[If my girlfriend were like Kakashi, and just ate whatever I said, that would be great, woo woo woo woo woo woo.]
The camera shifted, and Naraku and Kakashi arrived at the Konoha gate with their bags. The Jonin leader hadn't appeared on screen yet, but his voice was already recognized by the audience.
Immediately, Minato's face appeared on screen.
[Holy crap, the two generations of protagonists are finally together!]
[I have a premonition, brothers, something big is about to happen.]
[Uncle Dai is also here. Could there really be a major event?]
[This lineup, I'm really looking forward to it.]
The group arrived at the mission location, and what appeared on screen was a cluster of buildings nestled at the foot of a mountain, grand in scale and magnificent.
The upper right corner indicated that this was the Matsukata Family's residence.
[All of this???]
[If I lived here, I'd get lost just turning a corner on a walk.]
[Is this still called a residence? It should be called a town.]
[Super rich nobles are indeed wealthy.]
All the ninja were resting in a small courtyard, except for Kakashi and Naraku, who were called out by Minato and brought before the Matsukata father and son.
The screen split in two. The left half showed a serious-faced elderly man, labeled "Matsukata Seikō." The right half showed the "Fourth Young Master," "Matsukata Seigou," who looked to be in his twenties or thirties and had a frivolous demeanor.
[Oh my, a handsome guy!]
[As everyone knows, squinty eyes are always monsters!]
[Mom, I'm in love.]
[Alright, for the sake of that face, I'll forgive you for one minute.]
[How could that old man have such a good-looking son?]
[The old man might have been a looker in his youth.]
The subsequent plot was exactly as Naraku had experienced: Matsukata Seigou wanted him and "Ishikawa" to duel, and in just two sentences, he managed to anger his own old man into leaving.
[I don't know if he can pick up a sword, but I know they can twist your head off.]
[Not only can they twist it off, they can kick it like a ball.]
[Sakumo's reputation isn't low; even a great noble looks up to him.]
[Minato: The local gangs are so rude!]
[Good heavens, he even argues with his own father.]
[So, in fact, the old man wanted to do it, but couldn't bring himself to, and his son said it for him, right?]
[Old man: I've been exposed, I'm angry, I'm leaving.]
[Repeating words, so annoying.]
After Ishikawa arrived, he complained a bit. Matsukata Seigou joked around with him, and they seemed to have a good relationship.
Naraku comforted Kakashi a little and followed Ishikawa to the center of the courtyard.
The two exchanged dozens of moves with ninjutsu and sword techniques. Finally, Ishikawa called a halt, and the exhibition match ended.
Matsukata Seigou was satisfied and, taking advantage of the situation, kept Naraku and Kakashi, instructing the maids to prepare rooms for them.
[Lazy Ninja × Noble Young Master, I'm shipping them again.]
[How can you ship anything and everything? I'm speechless.]
[Ship, you can ship anything.]
[Look at how they talk; their relationship is clearly very good.]
[It's exactly like how I talk to my good buddies.]
[If Naraku had even a hint of unwillingness, Kakashi would have stepped in with his sword for him.]
[Kakashi: You're bullying my significant other, huh (angry).]
[Seigou: You two have something going on~]
[Ishikawa: Why does every Uchiha know Lightning Release? As a Water Release user, I'm under a lot of pressure.]
[This Ishikawa is quite strong. Although he was constantly defending, he seemed to be at ease.]
[Naraku still had one or two attacks that surprised him.]
[Naraku's most skilled genjutsu hasn't even been used yet, brothers.]
[What about that genjutsu Kakashi got hit with? Use it, give Ishikawa a challenge.]
[Kakashi and Naraku's interactions are so natural; every time, they make me ship them to death.]
[It's these unintentional acts of care that are the best to ship.]
[One room, hehehe.]
Afterward, Matsukata Seigou had Naraku and Kakashi practice with Ishikawa every day, and Ishikawa's interactions of complaining again made a large number of viewers exclaim that they were shipping them.
— —
Naraku: I don't even need to guess; there must be a lot of fanfiction about them on the forums now.