"W-Wait—Sakura-chan… are you actually worried about me?!"
Uzumaki Naruto's face instantly twisted into something resembling a monkey's backside as he stared at Haruno Sakura in disbelief.
"Idiot, Naruto! You still haven't apologized!"
Seeing that Naruto wasn't responding—just blankly staring at her—Sakura didn't hesitate. She grabbed the back of his head and forcibly pushed him downward, clearly intending to make him bow and apologize to Kimimaro.
But at that exact moment...
Kimimaro lightly caught Naruto's arms, stopping him mid-motion.
"No… it's fine. You don't need to do that."
His voice was calm, but the stiffness in his expression made the words sound painfully awkward.
On the side, Karin and Suigetsu were barely holding it together.
Normally, Kimimaro was cold to everyone—unless it involved the leader, Namikaze Kirito. And now that the leader's younger brother was involved, he was clearly forcing himself to act friendly.
It was obvious how unnatural this was for him.
"R-Really? That's… that's really great!"
Sakura froze for a moment before letting out a visible sigh of relief. At least now, she didn't have to clash with someone this terrifying.
"Then… we'll be going. Goodbye."
Kimimaro glanced at Naruto once more before turning to leave with Karin.
But suddenly—
A voice rang out.
"Sasuke! It's Sasuke!"
Sakura felt her head start to ache.
She had just managed to calm Naruto down—now Sasuke was acting up again.
What Sakura didn't realize was that Sasuke's mental state was already on the verge of collapse.
He had always taken pride in the name of the Uchiha. Yet now, right in front of him, were people his own age—each one more overwhelming than the last. He wasn't confident he could defeat any of them.
But if he backed down now…
Then how could he ever surpass Uchiha Itachi?
"Making a move inside another village without permission, both of you should consider yourselves lucky... you're getting away without being punished." Sasuke said with his hands in his pockets eyeing Kimimaro.
Kimimaro studied Sasuke quietly.
"You resemble someone I know," he said at last.
Then his eyes hardened slightly.
"But you're nowhere close to him."
There was something unsettling in his gaze as it lingered on Sasuke—an emotion too complex to name, as if he were measuring a shadow against the original.
"…You mean Uchiha Itachi?!"
Sasuke's breath hitched.
The moment Kimimaro said that name, Sasuke immediately thought of the traitor of Konoha—the man he had chased for years, the shadow he could never escape.
The man who had disgraced the Uchiha clan.
"Where is he?!" Sasuke demanded. "How did you meet him? Tell me now—or I'll kill you!"
Boom!
The punch landed.
It was the same clean, brutal strike Kimimaro had used on Gaara earlier.
The difference was that Sasuke's eyes rolled back instantly as his body crumpled to the ground.
"Don't throw around empty threats," Kimimaro said calmly. "It only exposes your fear."
With that, he turned and left—Karin and Suigetsu following behind him.
Gaara took a step forward as if to stop them, but hesitated.
After a brief pause, he remained where he was, eyes locked on Kimimaro's retreating back.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto and Sakura rushed to his side, immediately forgetting about Kimimaro. After confirming that Sasuke had merely passed out, they quickly carried him toward the medical department.
Ichiraku Ramen
The aroma of broth filled the air.
Because of its legendary taste, Ichiraku Ramen was always packed—Konoha shinobi, visitors from other villages, even Sand ninja could often be found lining the counter.
Kurenai Yūhi sat quietly in a corner, eating in small, measured bites.
After missions, she always came here.
It had become a habit—one she didn't quite understand herself.
With her mature beauty and calm presence, it wasn't surprising that more than a few people stole glances her way.
Before long, another figure entered the shop.
Dark-skinned, bearded, wearing a Konoha jōnin uniform—Sarutobi Asuma walked straight toward Kurenai.
"Asuma again…?"
"How many times has this been now?"
"Well, the Hokage's son is a jōnin. He's not exactly unworthy of her."
"I don't know why, but I just can't picture them together."
Ignoring the whispers, Asuma sat across from Kurenai, setting down a bouquet of flowers.
"Kurenai," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I just got back from a mission. These… they're rare flowers. A trophy, I guess. I thought you might like them."
A trace of helplessness passed through Kurenai's eyes.
She had rejected Asuma countless times already—but for some reason, he never gave up.
And this was Ichiraku. With so many people watching, outright rejection would only embarrass him.
"I…"
"Boss! One large bowl of your signature ramen!"
The loud voice cut through the moment.
Everyone in the shop turned.
A white open-collared shirt. Black trousers. A black coat draped casually over his shoulders. (PS: Shanks with Blackbeard's powers… yeah, I see the drip.)
His relaxed smile instantly caught the attention of several female ninja.
But what truly stood out was the reaction from the shinobi of Gensokyo Ninja Village—their gazes filled with unmistakable respect.
Namikaze Kirito had just returned to Konoha from his base. Before meeting up with Kimimaro and the others, he decided to eat first.
After all, meals mattered.
"Kirito…"
Kurenai's eyes lit up the moment she saw him—a reaction Asuma had never once received.
"Oh? Kurenai, you're here too."
Kirito walked over naturally and sat down beside her, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Asuma's brows twitched.
No matter how easygoing he was, this still irritated him.
Then he looked closer.
His eyes widened.
"You're… the Fourth Hokage's son?!"
The ramen shop instantly exploded with murmurs.
The Yellow Flash was a legend—and Namikaze Kirito, his only son, once carried the title of Ninja Enma.
And now he was back in Konoha.
For reasons no one fully understood, Kirito was never labeled a traitor—allowing him to walk openly through the village.
At that moment, the ramen shop split into three distinct reactions.
The shinobi of Gensokyo showed reverence.
Konoha ninja were excited, curious, even awestruck.
And the Sand ninja—
Their eyes burned with hatred.
Their Fourth Kazekage had been humiliated. Their gates destroyed. Their village forced to compromise.
It was a humiliation remembered across the shinobi world.
The enemy was right in front of them...
But this was Konoha.
And more importantly…
They didn't dare.
After all, if even their Kazekage wasn't a match, charging forward would only be suicide.
"Why… are you here?" Asuma asked, barely hiding his shock.
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