When Naruto stepped out, he saw Kanon pressing her foot firmly onto Jiraiya's head, while the man squirmed on the ground like an earthworm.
"What's wrong with the Pervy Sage?!"
"This perverted Pervy Sage... I can't believe he's the one who wrote this novel!" Kanon's face was flushed red as she brandished the copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
"Ah! That's the book Kakashi-sensei is always reading!"
"Ahem!" Jiraiya suddenly scrambled up, snatched the book back from Kanon, and muttered under his breath, "It's getting late. I'll go wash up, then it's time for bed!"
That night, Kanon slept on the bed while Naruto and Jiraiya shared a pallet on the floor. Before long, Jiraiya had drifted into a deep sleep, but Naruto and Kanon remained wide awake.
Naruto looked toward Kanon and whispered, "Kanon, you asleep?"
"No..."
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Let's go have a cup of ramen outside. The Pervy Sage seems to be out cold."
"Yeah, okay," Kanon nodded.
Naruto carried a cup of instant ramen out the front door. The air wasn't too cold, and the moon hung in the sky, casting a pure, silvery glow over the village. Once Kanon joined him with her own noodles, Naruto turned to her with a small smile.
"Kanon, you're really worried about Sasuke, aren't you?"
"Yeah. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
"I see... I don't fully understand how you feel, since I've never had a mom or dad..."
Hearing this, Kanon finally understood why Naruto had been so insistent on inviting her over today.
"Naruto, even without parents, you have me. You have Kakashi-sensei, and everyone in Team 7." She looked at him gently. "A hole in the heart is meant to be filled by comrades, isn't it?"
Naruto gazed at her blankly for a moment, then gave a light laugh and a nod. "Exactly!"
"But..." Naruto looked back at the apartment behind them. He had lived here since he was old enough to remember. Before meeting Kanon, he had been despised by the villagers, and he had no family. He had always longed for someone to share this home with him. But looking at Kanon, he remembered that she had lost her parents when she was only six years old.
"Why do you look so down?" Kanon asked, taking a sip of the broth.
"It's nothing..." Naruto mimicked her, taking a bite of his noodles.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Kanon gave a helpless smile. She set her cup down on the ground, stood up, and looked at Naruto with a serious expression.
"Naruto!"
"Huh?! Kanon..."
"I know what you're thinking. But what's lost is lost... we have to think about what we have left!" Her expression softened. "I know you think about your parents. I do too. But the more you dwell on it, the more it hurts."
"My father and mother... they died under a full moon just like this one. I held their bodies in my arms... Naruto, do you have any idea how much that hurt?!"
Naruto was stunned into silence. He saw the shimmer of tears in Kanon's eyes and began to panic.
As a hot tear escaped her eye, she asked dejectedly, "Do you think I'm mentally invincible?!"
"Well... yeah."
"Maybe... but I want you to know that I have memories too, and I still cry. Naruto, to live in this world, you need a release. Whether it's crying into your pillow at night or breaking down in the middle of a crowd, those are ways to let it out."
She placed her hand on Naruto's yellow hair, stroking it gently despite her tears.
"This world is so unfair... We both live in it, yet we both have to carry this 'loneliness.' We see other kids crying their eyes out because of a silly fight with their parents, and we can't help but feel envious, right?"
"Is destiny really supposed to be this senseless?"
"No, Naruto. Destiny might be senseless, but we have to be optimistic. Because we are moving forward, we have to learn to be strong..."
Naruto reached into his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped the tears from her eyes. Seeing her reddened nose, he spoke with absolute conviction.
"I get it now! I'm going to cherish everything I have right now!"
"Kanon, thank you! I think I finally understand what you meant about that 'Field of Flowers'!"
Naruto began to scarf down his noodles. Seeing that he had found some peace, Kanon turned away and quietly finished hers. Neither of them noticed that inside the apartment, Jiraiya had heard every word.
Jiraiya was deeply moved by their conversation. He marveled at how Kanon, despite being a year younger than Naruto, saw the world with such profound clarity. It wasn't just that she was a genius; the environment she grew up in had forced her to change.
What a heartbreaking, regrettable thing... Jiraiya thought as he turned over and went back to sleep.
The next morning, Naruto and Kanon set out with Jiraiya.
"The Pervy Sage is actually going to mentor our training?!" Naruto asked excitedly.
"That's what he says, though I feel like I won't learn much," Kanon joked, rubbing her temples.
Jiraiya led them to a small stream and began teaching them more refined chakra control. During the process, he also released the seal on Naruto's stomach.
That evening, Kanon went to the hot springs with the boys, though she was separated from them by a thick wall. After a full day of training, Kanon felt the workout hadn't done much for her own progress, but she could see how thrilled Naruto was.
Looking at the reflection of the moon in the outdoor spring, Kanon smiled to herself. Life was good right now. Being able to train with her friends every day... perhaps this was exactly what she needed.
…
Danzo's Office.
"Orochimaru, what are you doing here?!" Danzo asked, his expression cold.
"In order to make Sasuke seek out my power sooner, I must separate him from his sister and that Nine-Tails brat," Orochimaru said, cutting straight to the point. "Danzo, let us cooperate."
"Cooperate?!"
"You've wanted to eliminate Sasuke's sister, Kanon Uchiha, for a long time, haven't you?"
"Eliminate her? Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha!" Danzo countered. "It's just that Hiruzen has grown senile and far too merciful. If he remains Hokage, Konoha will only continue to grow weak!"
"Enough of that. Danzo, during the final matches of the Chūnin Exams, I will keep Hiruzen occupied. You can handle Kanon Uchiha, can't you?"
Danzo remained calm. He knew that if Orochimaru moved against the Third, Hiruzen would be far too busy to intervene elsewhere. If Kanon Uchiha could not be used by his Root, she had to be dealt with. In his eyes, the Uchiha were no longer to be trusted.
After a moment of thought, Danzo gave Orochimaru a firm answer. "I will send men to kill her."
"But Orochimaru... if you dare act against the interests of Konoha, the blades of the Root will fall upon you as well!"
"Rest assured, Danzo. My only goal is Sasuke. As for Kanon Uchiha... heh heh..."
Orochimaru knew Kanon's strength was unfathomable. He didn't want to risk a direct confrontation if he could help it; his reincarnation could not be delayed any longer. He needed to play it safe.
"The time will be set during the match between Sasuke and Gaara."
With that, Orochimaru dissolved into a mass of snakes and vanished. Danzo sat alone in his chair.
"Someone, come," Danzo called out.
An Anbu ninja emerged from the shadows. "Fu Yamanaka. Send word. Reassemble the disbanded members and select one hundred Anbu. Once the finals are underway, eliminate the Uchiha survivor."
"Understood, Danzo-sama!" Fu vanished instantly.
"One month left..."
"Uchiha brat... if you cannot be used by me, you will simply have to die. Konoha has no need for those who do not follow orders."
"Once I become Hokage, Konoha will finally become strong."
As Danzo spoke to himself, the Sharingan in his right eye pulsed with a crimson light in the darkness. "Hiruzen... that day is not far off."