"Sarutobi… Sarutobi-sensei, I didn't expect you to come back so quickly…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was somewhat awkward, and he couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied in his heart.
'What's wrong with these people? Why didn't they inform me that Tsunade had returned?'
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't entirely sure if Tsunade, in a fit of rage, would suddenly punch him.
Given his current physical condition, if Tsunade suddenly threw a punch at him without warning, he might not even make it to the next day, leaving the Hokage position for her to take over.
"Hmph! Old man, you're really regressing as you grow older. You've even started playing these little tricks," Tsunade gritted her teeth as she spoke. If it weren't for the slight sense of teacher-student sentiment she still had, looking at the old man's frail appearance, she would have punched him already.
Thinking back to her experiences over the past few days, she had originally been using Transformation Jutsu to appear as her younger self, dominating the gambling tables. But suddenly, a few men in black showed up, demanding repayment of debts.
She had no choice but to flee in embarrassment.
In the days that followed, no matter how she disguised herself or changed gambling houses, there were always people who recognized her and came to collect debts.
Tsunade, using her two big… brains, could easily tell that someone was working against her from behind the scenes.
And considering the recent visit from the Anbu, she was certain it was that old man, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hearing Tsunade's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed slightly. After composing himself, he put on a sorrowful, regretful look.
"Tsunade, you also know that Konoha's current situation isn't optimistic. The newer generations are weaker than the last, and I, this old man, am also getting on in years. I won't be able to hold on for much longer. Konoha still needs young people like you, and you should—"
Bang!
"Enough, old man!"
She had heard these words so many times before that they practically gave her calluses in her ears. Tsunade slammed both hands heavily onto the table, cutting off his endless chatter.
"I came back this time just to see this 'Shirakumo Aoba' you mentioned. I hope this person really exists. Otherwise, I'm leaving right now, and you'd better not bother me again."
"Haha, of course, it's true."
Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile and then activated the crystal ball again, showing an image of three children.
"See for yourself how this little guy is."
"This is…?"
Tsunade was momentarily stunned, not because of Aoba, but because of the little blond-haired boy beside him.
Although his hair and eyes took after Namikaze Minato, Naruto's face was an exact replica of Uzumaki Kushina.
This made Tsunade sink into old memories.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face also carried a trace of reminiscence, "Aoba's personality is quite similar to Minato's, and now, the two of them have already become good friends."
———
[Uchiha Residence]
"Sorry, Sasuke, next time!"
Uchiha Itachi tapped Sasuke's forehead with his index finger before turning around and leaving with Uchiha Shisui.
Sasuke watched their departing figures, wanting to call out to them, but he knew Itachi had more important matters to attend to.
In the end, he could only pout and abandon the idea of training with them.
"Sasuke, do you want Mama to train with you?", From the kitchen doorway, Uchiha Mikoto wiped her delicate hands and walked out with a gentle smile.
Sasuke puffed his cheeks and said, "Mama, you'll probably be busy later anyway, so we won't have much time to train."
Saying that, he grabbed his ninja tool pouch and ran outside, shouting as he went, "I'm going to train by myself!"
"This child…", Uchiha Mikoto leaned against the doorframe, resting her right hand on her delicate chin, looking a bit disappointed.
.
.
.
Sasuke arrived at the riverbank in the forest alone. It was a perfect place for training, whether it was practicing shuriken or the Great Fireball Jutsu—both safe and convenient.
But as soon as he arrived, he noticed the same guy who often secretly watched his training. This time, there was even another person with him.
"Huh? Why are they walking towards me?"
———
Aoba also found it quite interesting to see Sasuke. These two really had some kind of fated connection.
However, after just a glance, he withdrew his gaze. After all, it didn't look like Sasuke had come for them.
Even though he looked away, Naruto was still staring at Sasuke, his eyes even carrying a hint of expectation.
He didn't even notice that another fish had bitten the fishing line.
For some reason, that fish just wouldn't let go of the line.
"Naruto, do you want to be friends with him?", Aoba directly pointed out his thoughts.
Naruto's face turned red, and he became a little shy, "I… I just thought he looked a little lonely, so I wanted to keep him company."
"But he seems kind of cold. I don't want to bother him, so I'm a bit afraid to go over."
Aoba felt speechless. Without hesitation, he pulled Naruto along and walked over.
He figured it wouldn't hurt for Naruto to make more friends. That way, he wouldn't always come looking for him to play.
After all, besides training, he would also need to spend time with Tenten, Ino, and Sakura in the future.
As for Naruto…
He wasn't a soft, fragrant little girl, nor could he drop gold coins. So, keeping him company occasionally was enough.
"A-Aoba?", Naruto immediately realized Aoba's intention and became nervous.
"If you don't try, you'll never know the result!"
Soon, the two of them stood before Sasuke, just as he had taken out his shuriken for practice.
Looking at the two who suddenly approached, Sasuke coldly asked, "What do you want?"
Aoba smiled faintly and said, "I'm Aoba, and he's Uzumaki Naruto. We want to be your friends."
"I don't need friends," Sasuke showed no courtesy to Aoba at all. He didn't want to be friends with such a weak-looking guy.
To make them give up, he swung his arm and threw a shuriken at a distant tree.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Before the shuriken could hit the tree trunk, a small stone flew even faster, knocking it away.
Sasuke's eyes widened instantly, staring blankly at his deflected shuriken.
"Amazing!"
Naruto's excited voice brought Sasuke back to reality.
He turned his head, coldly eyeing Aoba and the beaming Naruto beside him.
He admitted that he had underestimated this guy.
The person before him was stronger than he had imagined.
Aoba casually tossed a pebble in his hand, still smiling faintly.
"How about we have a rock-skipping competition? If you lose, you have to tell us your name and be our friend!"
For a moment, Sasuke's brain froze, 'Isn't the challenge supposed to be a shuriken-throwing contest?'
But then, he thought that skipping stones was also quite reasonable at their age.
Naruto's eyes lit up. When it came to skipping stones, he was an expert. He practiced every day and had no problem at all.
"What's wrong? Are you scared?", Seeing Sasuke hesitate, Aoba provoked him a little.
Sasuke immediately fell into the trap, his eyes burning with determination, "Hmph! It's just skipping stones! The Uchiha clan fears no challenge!"
Even in skipping stones, the Uchiha clan had to be number one.
The air crackled with invisible sparks.
"Heh, then I hope you won't go back on your word. Naruto, you go first," Noticing Naruto's confident expression, Aoba decisively let him start.
"Alright!", Naruto cheerfully picked a suitable stone from the riverbank. Flat, smooth, no more than six millimeters thick, and about four centimeters in diameter.
This was the perfect skipping stone.
"I'm starting!", Naruto shouted excitedly.
Aoba watched quietly, while Sasuke observed coldly.
Naruto swung his arm, and the stone flew out.
After bouncing six times on the water, it unexpectedly landed on the other side of the river, "Haha! I threw it to the other side!"
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