After sending Jiraiya back to Konoha, Shinju and Naruto stayed in the village for a few days.
Counting the time, it had already been several months since Shinju and Naruto first left.
...
Shinju's house.
Naruto lay sprawled on the bed and casually asked,
"Shinju, the Akatsuki's been wiped out. What are you planning to do next?"
Hearing this, Shinju thought for a moment.
Truthfully, he couldn't come up with an answer right now.
Seeing Shinju remain silent, Naruto took the initiative to say,
"You know about Sasuke, right?"
"He formed that team of his to get revenge on Itachi."
"I want to go with him."
Shinju paused briefly, then nodded.
He was very curious about Itachi, and about the truth behind the Uchiha clan massacre.
That was worth investigating.
Besides, Shinju suspected there was someone behind Nagato all along.
Otherwise, how could those missing Rinnegan eyes be explained?
He nodded right away.
"Alright, in a few days I'll go with you to find him."
With their next direction decided, Naruto suddenly looked at Shinju, his eyes practically sparkling.
"Shinju, it's been forever since I've had your cooking. Can you make braised pork tonight? ❛‿˂̵✧"
Shinju opened his mouth, wanting to say: Can't you just make it yourself if you want to eat?
But after sighing, he remembered Naruto had no talent for cooking, so he couldn't be bothered to argue.
...
Marketplace.
Konohamaru's team had taken on an unloading mission and were busy moving vegetables.
"Hey, have you guys heard?" Konohamaru said mysteriously.
"Shinju cut down all of Amegakure with just a single sword! Someday I'll be just as strong! (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ"
The boy with glasses, Udon, pulled Konohamaru back to reality.
"Cut it out."
"Ninja have analyzed Shinju-senpai's strength before. They concluded that his talent is something never seen before, and most likely won't ever appear again in the future! ( ' - ' * )"
"You said most likely. Maybe I'm the one who breaks that rule. (◍˃̶ᗜ˂̶◍)" Konohamaru said hopefully.
"Besides, Shinju is my actual niichan. I've inherited his true teachings. (◔◡◔)"
"You two quit chatting already and get back to work," Moegi complained from the side.
"Moegi, don't you like Shinju?" Konohamaru asked.
Turning her head, Moegi said,
"I do. But it's not like he's here in front of me. What's the point of talking about him so much? ┐(´-｀)┌"
But before her words even finished, Shinju—out shopping for groceries—appeared in the marketplace with a Flying Thunder God teleport, right in front of Moegi.
Moegi: ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ???
Seeing them, Shinju warmly greeted the juniors,
"Yo, Konohamaru, Udon, Moegi. Been a while."
Moegi lowered her head shyly, her face bright red.
●ｖ●
After being away for a while, Shinju-senpai looks even cooler and more charming…
She stammered, "Sh–Shinju-senpai…"
Before she could finish, Konohamaru came rushing up excitedly.
"Shinju! ヾ(●´∇｀●)ﾉ"
"Shinju, ever since you came back, Hokage-sama hasn't let me bother you."
"Now that you're out and about, does that mean you're fully rested?"
"Can you teach me Wind Style: Rasenshuriken now?"
Konohamaru asked, face full of anticipation.
Shinju nodded, ruffling his little brother's head.
"After dinner, meet me in the woods outside the village."
"Yes!"
Konohamaru literally jumped for joy.
After chatting a bit more, Shinju walked off.
As he asked about vegetable prices at a stall, he faintly overheard Konohamaru and Udon talking.
Konohamaru said, "I'll learn from everyone and surpass Shinju!"
Shinju suddenly felt a chill down his back.
o_O
The last person Konohamaru said he'd surpass was his grandfather, the Third Hokage.
And then the Third Hokage got blindsided by a Rasengan from behind.
Now that he was teaching him Rasenshuriken… would Konohamaru one day sneak one in on him too…?
...
After making another round through the market, Shinju finished buying groceries and happily prepared to head home.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Shinju-kun?!"
Curious, Shinju turned around and saw Ino.
"Long time no see," Ino said with a bright smile, waving.
"I heard you'd returned, but Tsunade-sama said you needed rest, so I didn't dare bother you."
Shinju chuckled. "Yeah, I was tired a few days ago, but I'm fine now."
Ino continued on her own,
"I heard you stormed into Amegakure alone and executed their leader Pain with thunderous force."
"That's incredible. ( ´▽` )"
"You know, we graduated from the Academy the same year… but now you've grown into such an amazing figure."
Shinju didn't know how to respond, so he just nodded stiffly and said, "Mm."
Noticing his awkwardness, Ino thought he didn't want to talk to her. She waved a hand with a bit of disappointment.
"Since you're busy, I'll get going."
Before Shinju could reply, she turned and walked away sadly.
In her heart, she fumed: Shinju, you blockhead! Totally clueless!! ٩(๑`^´๑)۶
Behind her, Shinju looked at her graceful figure with a touch of admiration.
"Ino's gotten prettier."
Ino froze mid-step.
٩(๑ᵒ̴̶̷͈᷄ᗨᵒ̴̶̷͈᷅)و
Inside, she screamed:
"I didn't hear wrong, right?! I didn't hear wrong?! (ᗒᗩᗕ)"
"Shinju really thinks I'm pretty!"
"Maybe I should just confess! Then marry him, have kids, and build a happy family! What should we name our children… (´つヮ⊂︎)"
"This is it! This is my chance! I have to seize it!"
"Ino, you can do this!"
She pumped herself up inside and finally resolved to grab this chance!
If she didn't, an outstanding and handsome guy like Shinju would surely get stolen away!
So—
With her sweetest smile, she turned back shyly and said, "Shinju-kun, I lo—"
Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
Huh?! He's gone?!
Shinju had already disappeared!
Ino stomped her foot furiously on the spot.
"Blockhead! He really is just a blockhead!! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"
Nearby, Konohamaru happened to witness the scene.
As Shinju's loyal little brother, he instantly breathed a sigh of relief for him.
"Phew~~~"
"That was close!"
"Shinju almost ended up in a relationship! ò.ό"
...
Shinju's house.
Carrying his bags of groceries, he walked into the kitchen.
At that moment, Naruto said, "Shinju, you're back. Just now, Hokage-sama sent someone to call us over. Not sure if something big has happened…"