"Recently there have been a lot of new faces in the village."
Naruto had climbed to the top of a large tree, finding a thick branch to stand on as he tried to keep his balance.
"I heard this year's Chūnin Exams are going to be held in Konoha, so a lot of nobles have come by invitation."
Ino, who was picking flowers in the flowerbed, brushed aside the strands of hair by her ear, reached out, and plucked a pink blossom in front of her.
After answering Naruto's question, Ino held up the flower and gestured toward Sakura below, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she tucked the blossom onto herself.
A flower the same color as Sakura's hair, huh? Heh, I'll use this to tease that broad forehead of hers.
Ino thought mischievously to herself.
"So troublesome."
Shikamaru yawned and rolled over in the grass.
Because of this event, his father hadn't come home for two nights straight, his mother's face was visibly getting darker by the day, and even the taste of meals had…
"Hey, Chōji, can I come over to your place tonight for some supper?"
Smart people always planned a backup.
If his old man didn't come home again tonight, Shikamaru couldn't even imagine what kind of dark matter would show up on the dinner table.
"Sure, but tonight our plan is to go feast at the yakiniku place."
Chōji grabbed a handful of chips and shoved them into his mouth, chewing loudly.
"Hey, if you fall from there, mom's gonna beat your butt black and blue after they patch you up."
Karin had no interest in joining the conversation. Her eyes were locked on Naruto, who looked ready to do something reckless.
It wasn't out of any deep sibling affection — it was simply because whenever Kushina got angry, she too suffered collateral damage.
"Hmph, Karin, don't underestimate your brother!"
Naruto had been a little scared, but after hearing Karin's taunt, his stubborn pride made him let go of the branch with both hands.
Before his cocky words were even finished, his foot slipped. The world spun upside down, and under the pull of gravity, he plummeted toward the ground.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto-kun!"
Sasuke and Hinata were the first to notice Naruto's sudden fall. With alarmed cries, both were about to rush forward.
Karin, however, looked unconcerned. Ever since they were little, no matter what injuries her brother suffered, he always healed quickly. This time would be no different.
A shadow flickered. A not-so-tall figure grabbed Naruto firmly by the collar just before he hit the ground, stopping the fall in an instant.
"Has the pressure of studying made you lose the will to live, Naruto? I don't recall ever teaching you this strange form of tree-jumping suicide."
The light, teasing voice drew everyone's attention — even Shikamaru turned his head toward the sound.
"You're…"
Sakura, who hadn't been following the conversation because she was too absorbed in reading, looked up at the handsome face. Her eyes widened in realization, and she quickly covered her mouth.
"Damn it, Takeshi, it was just an accident!"
Naruto struggled like a little kitten being grabbed by the scruff of its neck.
The words "Takeshi" reached everyone's ears. Even though they were still just children, their academy lessons and their parents' teachings quickly helped them piece together this person's true identity.
"F-Fifth Hokage-sama?!" xN
"Haha, hello there, kids."
Takeshi laughed heartily, basking in their shocked stares.
Hmm… Karin, Hinata, Shikamaru, Chōji, Sakura? Ino, Kiba.
Aside from Neji and the other upperclassmen, the Twelve Little Warriors were clearly gathering around Naruto.
Still, it felt like someone was missing.
Who?
Takeshi completely overlooked the figure in the high-collared jacket within the group.
"Anyway, I'll be telling Kushina-san about your tree stunt. Get ready for your mom's loving roar when you get home, Naruto!"
Unlike the Third Hokage, who always had a few kind words for children…
Takeshi tossed Naruto aside casually after that line and walked away.
Sometimes, he seriously wondered if the Third wasn't secretly sending shadow clones all over the village. How else could that old man be present to gently advise every named character in every stage of life?
It was to the point where everyone's memoirs inevitably contained a scene with the Third.
"So cool… Is that the power of the Hokage?"
Sakura covered her mouth in awe.
That level of Body Flicker is "cool"?
Hearing this, Shino tilted his head.
He had a nagging feeling the Hokage had ignored him. But then again, Takeshi hadn't greeted anyone else either, so maybe it was just his imagination.
Unlike Shino, who was caught up wondering if he had been ignored, Ino understood Sakura perfectly.
For Sakura, the only exposure to the Body Flicker Technique was at the academy, but Iruka-sensei as the user naturally couldn't make it look anywhere near as dazzling as Takeshi.
Still, the Fifth's looks weren't exactly her type.
Ino preferred boys like Sasuke.
"If you wanted to watch, why didn't you stay back just now?"
Uchiha Hikari couldn't understand Takeshi's actions. At that moment, the Hokage was standing on a small hill away from the children, quietly gazing at them.
"I just wanted to think in peace, that's all."
Takeshi's face looked troubled.
He felt like he was overlooking something.
To uncover what he'd missed, he braced himself to sort everything out from the beginning.
No matter how he looked at it, Setsuna and another unknown Uchiha were moving according to Uchiha Madara's design.
And behind Madara stood the greatest filial son of the shinobi world — Black Zetsu.
And behind Black Zetsu, of course, was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
That was how it should be.
But—
Shukaku was gone.
That was the news Takeshi had recently gotten from Pakura.
Apparently, the beast had disappeared not long after Naruto was born.
The monks of the Temple of Fire had been slaughtered mercilessly as well.
Which meant the Tailed Beast collection plan should already be underway.
If he remembered correctly, the Tailed Beasts had to be sealed in order for the final activation to work.
That explained why Setsuna had attacked him.
Matatabi had already been taken.
Which meant… it was his turn.
Seeing Takeshi truly lost in thought, Uchiha Hikari casually pulled out a lollipop, stripped the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth.