[Konoha Training Ground]
"Seeing your Senpai and not greeting her, Sasuke you really have no manners!", Karin stood with hands on hips scolding Sasuke.
Sasuke was so angry his face turned greenish, but he just could not call out the words.
"Karin, you…"
"Call me Senpai!"
"Sasuke, a bet is a bet! How long has it been and you're already going back on it?"
Sasuke's expression was ugly. He hesitated for a long time, then steeled himself and spoke, "Senpai! When will Shishou get here!"
Karin lifted her chin proudly.
She patted Sasuke on the shoulder in a tone of exaggerated authority.
"Junior, Shishou told us to come here and wait. We must be patient and not impatient, understand?"
Sasuke flicked her hand off, sulking.
Hinata couldn't help covering her mouth to laugh softly at the sight.
Naruto laughed happily, "Karin is older than you anyway. What's the big deal calling her Senpai, Sasuke?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Naruto did not understand his feelings at all.
"Why are you holding Hinata's hand?", Sasuke pointed at Naruto and Hinata's hands. Turns out the two had been holding hands the entire time.
The moment he spoke, Hinata's face turned red. She panicked slightly and wanted to let go.
But Naruto tightened his grip.
He remembered Rengoku's words: the first time Hinata tries to let go, it does not mean she truly wants to let go.
Sure enough, after Naruto squeezed Hinata's hand gently, she stopped struggling.
She just turned her head aside, red-faced and silent, accepting her fate.
They were all teammates anyway. If someone saw, then so be it. It was Naruto who refused to let go.
"Hmph! I want to, none of your business, bleh! bleh! bleh!"
Naruto made a face triumphantly at Sasuke.
He might have been slow about feelings, but he listened closely to Rengoku.
With his recent hand-holding and companionship, Hinata's mood had visibly improved.
And when Naruto held her hand, he felt a faint but unmistakable kind of joy.
A feeling he had never experienced before.
He liked it.
He was also happy to treat Rengoku's instructions as an excuse. Hinata was willing, and so was he.
At that moment Sasuke had no idea if Naruto had actually grown up or was just pretending not to understand.
Left without an answer and with no one to understand him, Sasuke could only stew silently.
'The strong are always lonely. Yes.' [T/N: Attaboy!]
Sasuke could only comfort himself that way.
"Shishou is here!", Karin suddenly said.
While Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata were still looking around, Karin had already turned her gaze accurately toward Rengoku's direction.
Hinata opened her Byakugan and only then saw Rengoku approaching.
"Karin, your sensing range is farther than the Byakugan?"
"Hehe! I'm amazing, right?"
Karin was quite proud of such practical abilities.
After all, Shishou himself praised her.
Sasuke felt uncomfortable hearing it. Whether in combat ability, utility, or chakra, Karin crushed him in every way.
They were the same age, even classmates.
A proud person like Sasuke couldn't help feeling down.
"What's wrong? Why so gloomy," Rengoku came over and immediately noticed Sasuke's low mood.
"It's nothing. Shishou, what's our mission this time?"
Sasuke felt embarrassed to admit it was because he was weaker than Karin and because Naruto and Hinata were so close.
Rengoku's gaze moved slightly. He looked at the smug Karin, then at Naruto and Hinata holding hands.
He roughly understood Sasuke's mood.
Hinata, seeing Rengoku's gaze move toward her, also tried to pull her hand from Naruto's grip.
Instead, Naruto held it tighter and even lifted their hands a little.
It meant: 'Hokage, look, I'm properly holding Hinata's hand.'
Hinata's face was so red it looked like steam might come out.
Naruto, meanwhile, looked like he was seeking praise.
Rengoku closed his eyes for a moment and nodded at Naruto, meaning, 'Well done, son.'
Then he did not mention it at all to avoid making Hinata faint.
"This time our mission is…"
["Hokage…",] Inoichi's voice suddenly sounded in Rengoku's mind.
He paused, remembering that Konoha had already set up the telepathic transmission array.
This was Yamanaka Inoichi's voice.
["What is it?",] Rengoku asked mentally.
["Kimimaro's squad returned, but Kimimaro seems to be seriously injured."]
Rengoku's expression tightened, ["I'll go take a look right away."]
The kids were still waiting for Rengoku's answer, but he suddenly stopped moving.
A moment later, Rengoku said, "The mission is in a small border country. You all go ahead. I have something to take care of and will catch up later."
"This is the mission scroll."
He handed the scroll to Karin, clearly indicating she would lead the team.
Then Rengoku's figure vanished quickly.
Karin sensed his swift departure and felt confused, 'What is so urgent?'
But Rengoku was the Hokage now; it was normal for him to have sudden matters.
Karin shook her head. She would be leading the team this time, so she needed to do well.
She opened the scroll.
"All right! Let me see the mission!"
"This time the mission is to eliminate a criminal group in a small country."
"With our ability it's more than enough, but the round trip plus the mission itself will take about one to one and a half months."
"Everyone be prepared for long-term camping."
"Check equipment and supplies now. Meet at the East Gate in thirty minutes."
Karin read everything needed for the preparation stage in a proper leader's tone.
Once in mission mode, the three were quite reliable. They discussed what to bring and then split up to prepare.
———
[Orochimaru's Lab]
Kimimaro was unconscious when brought back.
"After using the Early Fern Dance, he coughed blood and collapsed. He wasn't injured beforehand."
"After drinking a small amount of Water of Life, the bleeding got worse."
Haku quickly explained everything to Orochimaru, then added, "This is likely what Lord Rengoku mentioned before, Kimimaro's kekkei disease."
Orochimaru listened while quickly placing Kimimaro on a bed and connecting him to various monitors.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine. Go for now. I'll call you if needed."
Orochimaru waved him off, sending him out.
Haku could only leave since he would just get in the way here.
He stepped outside just as Rengoku arrived.
"Lord Rengoku, Kimimaro's kekkei disease has flared up. Lord Orochimaru is examining him."
Despite his worry, Haku calmly reported the situation.
Rengoku knew Haku and Kimimaro were close. He patted Haku's head gently.
"Don't worry. Orochimaru and Tsunade are both here. Kimimaro will be fine."
"I told Orochimaru long ago about his kekkei disease. This is only a process."
"I understand, Lord Rengoku," Hearing this soothed Haku's heart a little.
"I'll call for you if needed. Go for now."
"Yes."
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