In the hospital room, Tsunade placed her hand on Sasuke's head, treating his Tsukuyomi injuries. She had come to treat Kakashi; Sasuke was a bonus.
"Kakashi, this brat's injuries are lighter than yours, you know," Tsunade teased.
Kakashi stared blankly at the ceiling. "Ah, is that so."
"I'm telling you, being outdone by a kid and still acting like this, don't you know how to work harder!" Tsunade complained. She was about to become the Fifth Hokage. Kakashi, as an elite of the village, was someone who could be entrusted with important tasks, but his current state was quite a headache.
Kakashi's eyes shifted to Naruto, who was currently feeding a pig, then glanced at Sasuke, who was being treated. When he himself was twelve, he was assigned to the same team as Obito. Although Obito was known as the dead-last, Kakashi knew Obito wasn't weak. However, if he and Obito had encountered a formidable opponent like Zabuza on their first mission, then it would probably be Rin who would be silently standing before the Memorial Stone every day now.
After that was Orochimaru. He knew clearly how he had performed when he last encountered Orochimaru, while these two had directly snatched Orochimaru's sword. Not to mention the Sand's Shukaku later. To this day, Kakashi still couldn't figure out what kind of courage allowed two kids who had just graduated from the academy less than two months prior to pull out knives and stab a Tailed Beast.
Being surpassed by these two was only a matter of time.
"You're next," Kakashi said with a smile. Perhaps he should also try harder. At the very least, he couldn't let Naruto call him a salted fish again.
"Oh? Are you sure?" Tsunade withdrew her hand.
"Sure."
Sasuke slowly regained consciousness. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Naruto by his bedside, looking down at him.
"You're awake."
His confused brain hadn't yet processed where he had heard those words before when Sakura already had him in her embrace.
Tsunade snatched away the pig that was being fed, held it in her arms, and said, "The initial treatment is complete, but you still need to recuperate in the hospital for two days. That's all, I'm leaving."
"Wait," Sasuke called out to Tsunade.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"Tch, brat. If you want to thank me, just cause me less trouble in the future." Tsunade pushed open the door and left. If she didn't leave now, this pig would run off with that blondie again. Besides, there was a pile of things to deal with regarding the Hokage handover.
"Who is she?" Sasuke, held in Sakura's arms, turned his head to ask Naruto.
"She's Tsunade, the soon-to-be Fifth Hokage," Sakura explained.
[You're being held in my arms, why do you still have to ask Naruto? Shouldn't you be asking me?] Inner Sakura furiously smashed a wall.
"Oh, Sakura, let go, you're squeezing too tight."
Naruto pursed his lips. It's not that she's squeezing tight, it's that your chest is hurting him.
"Well then, you guys recuperate. I'm off." Naruto casually opened a portal.
"Mm."
Naruto left, but Sakura didn't. She was interning at the hospital. For the first time, she felt how wise her decision back then was. Sasuke would be lying in the hospital for two days, and she was the caregiver. Wouldn't Sasuke be at her mercy for these two days? By then...
Sakura, thinking of who knows what, leaned against the door, her face slightly flushed, her eyes full of romantic longing.
[What are you thinking? This is about researching how the physiology of aliens differs from humans.] Sakura found an excuse for herself.
After this incident, Sakura's determination to study medicine became even stronger. Naruto's abilities had limitations; like this time, they were completely useless. But she could make up for these limitations.
————
At the back gate of the Hyuga compound, Naruto waited under a large question mark for the loli to pick up a mission. He knew Hinata was in the village but didn't know where. The Fifth Hokage was about to take office, and most ninjas were in the village awaiting news; Hinata was no exception.
Sure enough, after a short while, Hinata came running from the distance.
"Let's go, Hinata." Under the murderous glares of the two gate guards, Naruto eloped with the Hyuga family's eldest daughter.
Tanzaku Quarters. Naruto leisurely strolled with Hinata. Even though he didn't have a single penny in his pocket, he carried an air of inexplicable composure because his wife was rich – the eldest daughter of Konoha's wealthiest family.
The process of accompanying Hinata on the street was simple: stroll, eat. Finally, after Naruto expressed he absolutely couldn't eat anymore, the two returned to Konoha.
Naruto brought Hinata to the shop where he had bought the piano textbook back then.
"Boss, can I try playing the piano?"
"You can." The boss's smile was very sweet.
"Naruto-kun, have you learned it?" Hinata asked, holding the snacks she had just bought.
"Mm."
Naruto sat down at the piano and began to play the piece he had practiced for so long. Big Brother-in-law, I'll play for you again later. I'll use this to woo your sister first.
A sorrowful melody filled the room, but only Naruto knew its underlying meaning; the background music for the Third's funeral was also this song. Naruto played very seriously. He wanted to use this song to send off the Third before the new Hokage took office.
After playing the last note, Naruto turned to look at Hinata. "Did it sound good?"
"It sounded good."
The shop owner rolled his eyes. What on earth are you playing? Is this Hyuga family's eldest daughter foolish? How can she say this sounds good?
"Let's go, Hinata."
"Mm."
Naruto left with Hinata. He also knew he didn't play very well; the learning time was too short. Even with shadow clones, it wasn't something that could be mastered in a month and a half. But this girl still thought it sounded good. She didn't care at all whether it sounded good or not; she only cared who was playing. This kind of silly girl, I can trick her into having at least two kids.
Looking up at the rising crescent moon in the sky, he couldn't help but clench his fist tightly. No matter how silly, she's still my wife. If anyone dares to try and snatch her, I'll beat them until they go see their ancestors.
"Do you want some, Naruto-kun?" The silly girl thought Naruto was trying to cover up his embarrassing performance just now. Although she hadn't studied it, she could also tell Naruto didn't play very well just now; several parts were out of tune.
"Not eating."
————
"I, Tsunade,"
"From today onwards, am the Fifth Hokage!"
On the Hokage tower, Tsunade declared these two sentences with immense imposing manner. Naruto watched from below, dumbfounded. Big Sis, what kind of Hokage declaration is this? Those who don't know would think you're a gang leader. On second thought, it made sense. As the head of a group of ninjas who fought and cracked skulls all day, wasn't the Hokage essentially a gang leader?
That afternoon, Kakashi, having recovered from his injuries, took out three movie tickets and handed them to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. "This is related to the upcoming mission. You guys go watch it first."
"Okay."
"Mm."
"Aren't there any extra ones?" Naruto gave Kakashi a disdainful look. You're a single dog, but I'm not.
"Nope. That's it. Dismissed." Kakashi ran off again.
Naruto could only let Hinata buy her own ticket to enter.
"So pretty! Seven-colored chakra!" Sakura looked with admiration at the sword held high by Fujikaze Yukie in the movie. Seven-colored chakra swirled around the sword, full of impact.
"Yeah, so beautiful," Hinata chimed in.
"Never seen it?" Naruto smiled mysteriously.
"Mm." Hinata nodded.
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