Chapter 370: Come, Let's Take a Photo
When the Third Hokage appeared, Hanabi and Hikari had already stopped fighting.
More and more familiar faces appeared.
It seems everyone knew this was the best place to watch the fireworks.
The festival fireworks began to ascend more densely, blooming in the night sky with brilliant colors, illuminating the faces on the cliff top—each with different expressions, yet all equally infected by the festive atmosphere.
"Everyone is here, how wonderful!"
Completely unaware of what had just happened, Hinata took her sister's hand.
Everyone knew that after tonight, the festival lights would eventually extinguish, and the brilliant fireworks would dissipate into smoke.
The war had not stopped; it had merely pressed the pause button because of Naruto's halt.
When tomorrow's sun rose, the war would continue.
Watching Naruto lean comfortably between Karin and Hikari, closing his eyes slowly, he seemed to have fallen asleep.
Shikaku could almost foresee:
In a while, when the fireworks faded and the crowd dispersed, when this Hokage-sama who was taking a short "nap" opened his eyes...
He would absolutely, immediately, and right away have to throw himself into a new round of work. Although this guy paid a high salary, he was truly exhausting to work for.
Naruto was never one to procrastinate, especially when it involved major threats and the safety of his partners.
Thinking of this, Shikaku sighed silently, his face full of resignation and helplessness.
He quietly tugged at his son, who was standing beside him, also looking up at the fireworks.
Shikamaru felt his father's tug, turned his head in confusion, and asked with his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Shikaku didn't explain much, just used his chin to subtly point at Naruto, then shook his head, revealing a "you know" wry smile.
Shikamaru followed his father's gaze, saw Naruto's relaxed sleeping face, and combined with his father's hint, clever as he was, he understood instantly.
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he wore the same depressed expression as his father.
Well, tonight's sleep-in was ruined again.
The father and son exchanged a look of "misery loves company."
As the "brains" of Hidden Leaf Village, they knew too well that once the Hokage moved, the entire intelligence and strategic System had to immediately operate at high speed to provide support.
Especially in situations where Naruto personally took action, the pressure was basically all on them.
"Overtime..."
Shikamaru muttered in a voice that was barely audible, rubbing his brow in resignation.
He had always thought that the village rumors about Naruto saying he wouldn't become Hokage until he could stand on his own were just flattery aimed at the Nara Clan, but he didn't expect the gossip might actually be right.
Shikaku nodded and said no more.
He pulled his son up, and the two, like deer blending into the shadows, quietly retreated from the lively viewing crowd.
"Don't leave yet."
Kakashi patted Shikamaru on the shoulder, shaking the camera in his other hand.
"Let's take a photo first."
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"Let's get this straight, I'm not working overtime today."
After taking the health-boosting prescription from Naruto, the adult Shikamaru said in a low, firm voice to the adult Naruto.
"Alright, alright, since the war ended, when have I ever made you work overtime on a holiday?"
Naruto waved his hand.
His partners and children were all here; he wouldn't do anything to spoil the fun.
The prescription given to Shikamaru was a gift from Tsunade before Naruto got married, although he had never used it.
With his superb physical fitness, he didn't understand why Shikamaru needed such a thing with only one wife...
Was he working too much overtime?
Maybe he should just let Shikamaru be Seventh Hokage; then he could delegate the work and wouldn't be so tired.
"I get plenty of overtime usually; I feel like I'm going bald."
Shikamaru muttered.
"Who told you to tie your hair so tight? It's normal for your hairline to recede. When I tie my daughter's hair, I never tie it that tight; you kid are pretty ruthless to yourself."
Naruto looked down at his watch; the strap had a robot avatar sticker on it, which Sōta had stuck on when he took Naruto's watch while Naruto was showering.
He never peeled it off.
"Alright, it's about time. Hurry over to your wife. Don't leave later; our families will take a group photo together."
"Got it."
Shikamaru replied briefly, and satisfied, he took the prescription and prepared to go home and try it.
It just so happened that the Nara Clan were herbal merchants, and Shikamaru's family had many of the medicinal materials on the list.
A group photo was taken every year, and the photo wall at home was almost full.
But it was also nice.
"Remember, don't slip away early later!"
Behind him, Naruto added with a smile and a reminder.
With his back to him, Shikamaru waved his hand casually, as a sign of agreement.
They all had their own families, jobs, and children.
It was quite nice to get together at a fixed time every year.
Some of Naruto's children were with their grandfather today, and some were with their mother. Except for Shinachiku and Taiichi, who had been caught by Naruto, they had all arrived one after another.
When the fireworks bloomed in the Hidden Leaf Village sky again.
A figure, like a snowflake blending into the night, appeared silently behind the gathered crowd.
It was a young boy with striking short silver-white hair, shimmering faintly in the reflection of the fireworks.
Click!
A crisp shutter sound, distinct in the intervals of the fireworks' explosions, seemed to freeze the moment.
Almost at the same time the shutter sounded, a gentle, smiling voice rang out beside him:
"Are you shooting backs this year, Hatake?"
Hearing this, Hatake was not surprised; he just slowly lowered the camera and turned his head.
Standing beside him was a tall young man, also with striking white hair.
"Yeah, Big Brother Miharu, what do you think? I think... this angle seems to have more feeling than shooting from the front."
Hatake's tone carried a hint of uncertainty and the anticipation of wanting approval.
Photography was his hobby, and his parents were very supportive, but Miharu in front of him was the true master of photography.
Miharu looked for a long while, his smile deepening, and undisguised admiration flowed from his eyes.
He raised his head, stretched out his free hand, and vigorously ruffled the young Hatake's soft silver hair, his actions intimate and full of encouragement:
"It's shot very well, Hatake!"
Miharu's tone was affirmative,
"This perspective is really unique and has a lot of ideas. Sometimes a back view can tell a story better than a front view, especially in a scene like this. The vibe is just right."
Hearing this, the young Hatake leaned over to take a look and scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed:
"Ah... it's a pity it's a back view, the kids all stood in the front to watch the fireworks..."
"It doesn't matter."
Miharu smiled and handed the camera back to him.
"This one is already fantastic and worth keeping. As for the kids..."
He looked toward the noisy crowd that had almost lined up, preparing to take a group photo from the front, his eyes filled with smiles,
"In a while, you can go take a few more from the front. Or, just use this 'back view' to leave some room for imagination; that's also quite good."
This back-view photo captured all adults, as well as a few children being held or riding on their fathers' shoulders. It felt great when placed together with the photos taken in previous years.
"Yeah!"
The young Hatake nodded vigorously, took the camera, and held it in his arms.
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