The Sound trio gradually disappeared down the road, their figures growing smaller with distance. Only when they'd vanished completely from sight did Naruto finally look away. His expression radiated pure happiness.
Three good friends gained first thing in the morning! Who wouldn't be happy about that?
Moreover, today was destined to be a day of abundant harvest. Not just Zaku, Dosu, and Kin. Many more friends would be arriving soon, and Naruto could barely contain his anticipation.
Just after bidding farewell to the Sound trio, Sasuke appeared at the village entrance.
"Did you escort Tsukisha-san to her hotel safely?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah." Sasuke nodded curtly.
After delivering Orochimaru (disguised as Tsukisha Hime) back to the hotel, Sasuke had tried making an excuse about wanting to come inside for a drink of water. But Orochimaru had refused his request, claiming it would be inappropriate for a man and woman alone to share a room together.
That's nonsense, Sasuke had thought at the time. It's perfectly normal for a man and woman to share a room. It only becomes abnormal when you specifically point out that it's a man and woman alone together.
But with Orochimaru, Sasuke couldn't force the issue too aggressively. He needed to take things slowly, observe what schemes the Sannin was plotting. So Sasuke had simply escorted him to the hotel entrance, then rushed directly to the village gates.
Upon arriving at the entrance, he'd spotted Naruto waving toward three figures limping away into the distance.
Actually, there are four unlucky victims this morning, Sasuke thought wryly. And I'm one of them. I just have the misfortune of being too close to see it clearly.
"Were those three the ninja from Sound Village?" Sasuke asked tentatively, recognizing the retreating figures from behind.
"That's right! Three new friends from Sound Village." Happiness colored every syllable of Naruto's response.
"Someone's returning to their village this early?" Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly. "I remember that Konoha's Foreign Relations Department always provides a hearty farewell breakfast for visiting ninja. They probably just finished eating."
"Oh, they came here last night actually." Naruto explained casually.
Of course, he wouldn't mention they'd been trying to escape. Saying that would prove from the side that they'd been unwilling to befriend him!
Truthfully, even without explanation, Sasuke understood perfectly well that someone would attempt to flee under cover of darkness. Naruto had clearly anticipated this possibility. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stationed the Nine-Tails at the village entrance overnight.
However, regarding this point, Sasuke wasn't foolish enough to expose Naruto's reasoning. He'd received a beating just this morning. The lesson remained fresh in his mind and body.
"Naruto! Sasuke! You're both here so early!" At that moment, Rock Lee's enthusiastic voice rang out.
Both Naruto and Sasuke turned to look. Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji were approaching along the main road. The morning sun illuminated them from behind, and Lee's expression radiated pure excitement.
"Ah, you came!" Naruto felt genuinely delighted seeing them arrive. They'd come to witness the birth of new friendships between himself and ninja from other Hidden Villages. Their support meant everything.
"Of course we're here! We came to witness your friendship!" Lee declared, pumping his fist with enthusiasm.
Neji remained silent but looked at Sasuke with obvious suspicion. Tenten's gaze also fixed on Sasuke's face with confusion written across her features.
Why was he fine yesterday, but today his nose is bruised and his face is swollen, just like mine?
Tenten had heard from Neji that Sasuke was Naruto's very first friend. So why did he still end up with a battered face?
Thinking this through, Tenten decided she absolutely needed to ask Neji for clarification. She waited until Lee and Naruto were engaged in animated conversation, then leaned close to Neji and whispered, "Neji, what happened to Sasuke's face? Didn't you say they've been friends for five or six years?"
Neji's smile turned distinctly unnatural before he responded in an equally quiet voice. "This... maybe it's about deepening their friendship..."
Deepening friendship?!
Hearing this explanation, Tenten suddenly felt profoundly sad. When she'd first agreed to become Naruto's friend, she'd genuinely believed the process was a one-time event. Everything would be over after that single beating. From Neji's words, it now appeared there existed an additional stage called "deepening friendship."
Once you board this pirate ship, you can never get off, Tenten thought miserably. Unless you develop strength capable of crushing Naruto completely. But how is that even possible? Naruto is too powerful! Once he activates that transformation and grows to five meters tall, I'm so frightened I go weak at the knees. How could anyone possibly resist?!
The more Tenten dwelled on this realization, the more miserable she felt.
Suddenly, Naruto glanced in her direction. Tenten immediately plastered a bright smile across her face. Only after Naruto looked away and resumed chatting with Lee did she release a breath of relief.
Fortunately, I have quick reflexes.
After a short while, more of Naruto's friends began arriving at the village entrance. Everyone came except Shikamaru, who had farm management duties. The gathered crowd came primarily to witness who would repeat their mistakes, who would fall victim to Naruto's friendship process next.
This was their shared experience as Naruto's friends. A source of communal understanding, if not quite joy.
Naruto felt extremely happy seeing everyone arrive to support him. Most importantly, Shino had come as well. As long as Shino was present, the friend circle would have abundant laughter and good spirits.
With Shino maintaining group morale, Naruto could concentrate completely on making friends with candidates from other Hidden Villages.
"Hey everyone, let me tell you all about this joke I heard recently!" Shino announced, positioning himself at the center of the group. His voice carried clearly despite the early morning air. "So apparently, teachers brought candy to the Ninja Academy to meet with new students. The candy came in two shapes: one was shaped like a little boy, and one was shaped like a little girl. When distributing the treats, the sensei asked each child what kind of candy they wanted. A little girl stood up and announced she wanted the candy shaped like a little boy. The sensei asked why that particular shape. The little girl answered very seriously: 'Because this way, I can eat boys!'"
Laughter rippled through the gathered friends. Even normally stoic individuals cracked smiles at the unexpected punchline.
Hinata listened to Shino's joke but didn't pay close attention to everyone's laughter. Instead, she kept peeking at Naruto from behind lowered lashes. Remembering how Naruto had walked her home last night, how he'd kissed her at the gate, Hinata's face flushed bright crimson.
She'd returned home in a complete daze last night, her mind a jumbled mess of emotions and sensations. Even after taking a bath and lying in bed, she still hadn't fully processed what had happened.
Thinking about Naruto's tall figure, the warmth of his lips, the gentleness in his eyes, Hinata hadn't slept at all through the night.
Of course, she didn't know that Naruto had also stayed awake all night. Though his reasons differed. He'd promised to lose sleep for Sasuke's sake, to prove how much he valued their friendship. The timing with Hinata had been pure coincidence.
"They're coming!" Naruto suddenly whispered, his voice dropping low.
Despite speaking quietly, everyone in their friend group heard him clearly. Shino stopped mid-joke. The others ceased their conversations immediately and turned to look down the road in the distance.
Four figures approached along the main path toward the village entrance.
Judging by their attire and the ninja headbands they wore, these were clearly shinobi from Sunagakure, the Hidden Sand Village.
The person in front was the team's supervising jonin, Maki. His weathered face showed the hard experience of desert warfare. Behind Maki walked his three students: Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro.
Worth noting was that all three students were children of Sunagakure's current Kazekage.
Temari's eyes widened with surprise when she spotted the entire row of Konoha ninja assembled at the village entrance. Her gaze was particularly drawn to the figure in the center position. Tall stature, long golden hair, brilliant blue eyes, handsome facial features.
That must be him, Temari thought, her pulse quickening slightly. Uzumaki Naruto.
Kankuro, meanwhile, didn't appear nervous at all. He was already Naruto's friend, after all. What was there to fear?
As for Gaara, who seemed perpetually prepared for combat just like Sasuke, he naturally felt no nervousness either. For someone like Gaara, even if the sky fell, he wouldn't panic. But looking at Naruto now, a faint excitement stirred in his chest.
Gaara's pale green eyes fixed on Naruto with unsettling intensity.
Naruto's blue eyes locked on Gaara with equal focus.
Something strange passed through the air between them. A recognition. An understanding. Two containers acknowledging each other's existence.
"Is this how Konoha shows hospitality to visiting delegations?" Maki and his three students came to a halt directly in front of Naruto's assembled group. His voice carried coldness, and his sharp gaze fixed on Naruto with barely concealed hostility. "Blocking the village entrance like common thugs?"
The morning air suddenly felt much colder.