Chapter 226: Camping
Naruto stood atop the carriage, arms spread wide as the wind hit his face.
He took a deep breath, pure joy lighting up every inch of him.
"Ah—hello, world outside Konoha! Uzumaki Naruto is here!"
Inside the carriage, Sasuke peeked out the window to observe Naruto's over-the-top theatrics. His lips twitched before he withdrew.
"Ni-san… Naruto has completely turned into an idiot. Please call him back. If someone sees him, we'll be embarrassed."
Uchiha Itachi let out a soft chuckle.
"What's wrong with that? It's harmless. Actually, Sasuke, you should go up there too. The view is nice."
Sasuke stared at him, stunned.
Ni-san was encouraging Naruto's stupidity?
Unbelievable.
Sasuke sighed deeply.
All Naruto's fault—his idiocy was rubbing off on Ni-san.
Itachi blinked, slightly puzzled at Sasuke's sudden deflation. He had been perfectly fine a moment earlier.
Meanwhile, Mikoto leaned out slightly, her gentle voice drifting upward.
"Naruto, be careful. Stand firmly and don't fall."
"Got it, Aunt Mikoto!" Naruto shouted back enthusiastically.
With Naruto above, no one else was using the window. Sasuke settled comfortably by it alone, watching the trees and wildlife pass by—occasionally spotting small animals darting through the forest.
Suddenly—
Naruto's head dropped down from above.
Sasuke didn't even flinch. He was too used to Naruto's sudden appearances.
Naruto grinned. "Heh, Sasuke! Did I scare you?"
"Scare me? In your dreams! Which eye saw me get scared?" Sasuke retorted.
Naruto shrugged, eyes glinting.
"You say that, but you're enjoying the view too, aren't you?"
"Urusai. You talk too much."
Sasuke yanked the curtain closed.
It was embarrassing enough that this was his first time leaving the village too.
He was just as excited as Naruto—but he absolutely refused to admit it.
Seeing the curtain shut, Naruto yelled dramatically from outside:
"Hey! Who told you to close the curtain? I can't see you anymore!"
Sasuke ignored him completely.
---
Inside the carriage's inner cabin, Fugaku lay comfortably on a sofa, head resting on Mikoto's lap. Mikoto's pale, elegant hands gently massaged his temples while he played Snake on his phone.
Orochimaru had already developed several simple mobile games: Tetris, Snake, and Sokoban.
More complicated games needed time, he insisted.
Fugaku wasn't worried.
Under the influence of Kotoamatsukami, Orochimaru wouldn't slack off or cut corners.
Ever.
So Fugaku simply let him work at his own pace.
Itachi squatted beside Fugaku's seat, fascinated as he watched the game on his father's phone.
Only Fugaku's phone had games installed so far.
Mobile games…
Another term Fugaku had invented.
This one—Snake—looked simple but strangely addictive. You controlled a snake, ate the dots, grew longer, and avoided crashing.
"Want to try?" Fugaku asked casually, noticing Itachi's interest.
"Yes."
Itachi accepted the phone and began copying Fugaku's movements.
The moment Sasuke saw Ni-san playing something new, he zipped over instantly, leaning on Itachi's lap to watch more closely.
Itachi smiled faintly.
"Sasuke, do you want to play?"
Sasuke shook his head rapidly. "No, I'll just watch you play, Ni-san."
Then from the other window—
"What are you guys doing?"
Naruto poked his entire upper body into the carriage.
He spotted the phone in Itachi's hands and lit up.
"Hey! You're playing on the phone? I wanna play too!"
He jumped down from the roof and squeezed in on the other side of Itachi, mirroring Sasuke's posture.
"Whoa! Itachi-aniki, you're amazing! It's already so long! Uncle couldn't get even half that!"
Fugaku kicked Naruto lightly in the backside.
Naruto stumbled forward.
"Hey! Uncle, what was that for? I was just telling the truth."
He patted his backside out of habit. Thankfully, Fugaku was barefoot, so no dust.
"This kid is really not cute," Fugaku muttered.
Mikoto smiled softly.
"Don't pick fights with Naruto."
The moment Itachi's snake crashed, Naruto leaned forward.
"Itachi-aniki! Let me try!"
"Alright, here," Itachi said, handing the phone over.
Naruto reached out—
Only for Sasuke to snatch it mid-air.
"Hey! Sasuke! What are you doing!?" Naruto protested.
Sasuke started a new game without looking up.
"I was first. If someone plays next, it's me."
"Oi! Didn't you say you didn't want to play!?" Naruto shouted.
"That was earlier. Now I want to."
Naruto huffed but didn't argue.
Once Sasuke was done, he could play next anyway.
So he crowded closer to watch Sasuke's gameplay.
Sasuke stiffened.
"Don't come so close!"
"Why not?"
"It's too crowded!"
"…Fine."
---
Two hours later.
"Wife, I'm hungry," Fugaku said lazily.
Mikoto smiled warmly.
"Then let's stop somewhere and have a picnic. I brought ingredients and cooking tools."
Fugaku shot a subtle wink at Itachi.
Itachi understood instantly.
He stepped outside and spoke to Ryoichi, who was driving.
"Ryoichi-san, please find a good place to rest."
"Yes, Young Master."
Ryoichi had already heard their conversation and had been scouting the surroundings.
A place with water would be ideal—perfect for cooking, washing, and gathering fresh ingredients if needed.
Where there was water, there was also wildlife.
And thus, prey.
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