Nawaki held snacks like tri-color dango, grilled meat, and lemon juice in his hands, knocking on Yugito's door.
"Who is it?" A clear female voice came from inside. It was Yugito.
"It's me, Nawaki!" Nawaki grinned, scratching his head. Perhaps it was because he had survived the explosion tag incident, or maybe because he had grown quickly recently.
Now, Nawaki had grown to about 1.7 meters tall, though his hair was still short, making him look very sunny.
"Yugito, this guy has come seven or eight times already. He's really persistent!" Matatabi remarked in the mental space.
Yugito did not respond but opened the door, signaling for Nawaki to come in.
Seeing this, Nawaki's eyes lit up. He walked in, carefully approached the dining table, and placed the food and drinks he bought on it.
Yugito sighed, thinking she would have to clean up again later. However, she didn't dislike Nawaki's behavior. For a long time, she had been alone—eating alone, fighting alone, carrying out missions alone.
She had almost forgotten that this world was meant for social beings. She was like a lone wolf, living by herself.
Nawaki caught the momentary sadness on Yugito's face. He swallowed and said seriously, "Sister Yugito, everything is in the past now. You're in Konoha now. You have my sister, Brother Ryun, the villagers, and me."
"We are companions, we are family! Let the past be the past! One day in the future, I will avenge you, Sister Yugito, against the Raikage!" The boy's gaze was firm, bright like the stars.
Yugito was first touched. Regardless of whether Nawaki had the ability or not, his willingness to stand up for her and even seek revenge against the Raikage moved her deeply.
Then she smiled wryly. "The Raikage isn't so easy to defeat. Even if I fully transform into a tailed beast and borrow Matatabi's power, facing the Third Raikage would still mean certain death."
"Never mind, let's eat first, little brother. Thank you for your kindness, sister!" After saying this, Yugito opened the bag and found that most of the items inside were her favorites. She couldn't help but smile.
This little guy is so interesting. He's just a bit too young~
Meanwhile, Nawaki ate while pondering how to gain immense power. Just then, he thought of someone—Ryun!
It seemed like every time he returned from the battlefield, his combat power improved dramatically! Maybe he could ask him how he managed it!
As Yugito ate grilled fish, she observed Nawaki's serious expression. She blinked, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth, thinking, 'This little boy is kinda handsome.'
Then she quietly continued eating her grilled fish and drinking lemon juice. After eating and drinking their fill, the two cleaned the table together. Yugito originally wanted to make tea for Nawaki, but he waved his hand. "It's too late. I should head back."
Yugito nodded and stood up to see him out. When they reached the door, Nawaki waved. "You can go back now. I'm at the door already."
"Who said you could tell me what to do? Hurry up and leave. I'll watch you go!" Yugito chided playfully.
Nawaki nodded with a smile. "Okay! See you~"
"See you~" Yugito replied with a laugh.
And so, Yugito watched Nawaki's retreating figure with soft eyes, her thoughts drifting.
"Hey, Yugito, you're not really falling for him, are you? This kid has neither intelligence nor emotional intelligence, and he's not even that good-looking…" Matatabi complained relentlessly.
Yugito's face turned cold as she manipulated the Adamantine Sealing Chains that Mito had arranged for her.
Matatabi paled. "Hey, hey, are you crazy? Abandoning friendship for romance?"
"Hmph, this is just a warning. Stop badmouthing Nawaki. He's just a bit naive and simple. He's not at all like you said. And how is he not good-looking? He's grown over ten centimeters taller, and his face has become more defined!" Yugito glared fiercely at Matatabi.
Seeing the eager Adamantine Sealing Chains before her, Matatabi couldn't help but shed tears of compliance. "Yes, you're right about everything! I was wrong!"
Only then did Yugito retract the chains. Matatabi breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew Yugito was joking, the oppressive feeling of the Adamantine Sealing Chains still made her scalp tingle.
Those chains could easily suppress even the Nine-Tails. As a mere Two-Tails, well, better not provoke her!
Yugito snorted coldly and looked up at the sky, raising an eyebrow. It seemed like Konoha was really nice~ No schemes or cruelty like in Kumogakure, only the care of companions.
The next day
Ryun had just woken up in the clan compound when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi standing at his doorstep with a smiling Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Behind Hiruzen, Sarutobi shinobi carried gifts in their hands.
"Lord Hokage, what is this?" Ryun was puzzled.
"Hey, Ryun, have you forgotten? We talked about it before. Shinnosuke wants to become your disciple, and you agreed! Now that we have some free time, I brought him here to formally acknowledge you as his master!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a laugh.
Ryun was taken aback but then remembered. He smiled. "Alright, alright. Let me outline the process. All my disciples must meow meow meow meow…"
After listening to the process, Hiruzen nodded. Respecting teachers and valuing their teachings was proper. Kowtowing to the master was proper! To learn skills, what did this amount to?
So after Ryun finished explaining the process, Sarutobi Shinnosuke also nodded. He then step by step approached the seated Ryun.
"Master above, disciple Shinnosuke comes today to acknowledge you as my teacher. From now on, I will strictly discipline myself, respect my teacher, uphold the way, and take the teachings of the master as my standard of conduct…" Sarutobi Shinnosuke spoke at length, and Ryun listened with a satisfied nod.
"Present the tea!" Only when the master is satisfied can the disciple present tea.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was delighted. He picked up the tea cup and walked steadily step by step toward Ryun.
Ryun smiled slightly, took the tea cup, and took a small sip. "From today onward, you are my first disciple. Enter my school, follow my orders, think thrice before acting. Once you make a mistake, I will personally take action to cleanse our ranks!"
"Your disciple respectfully obeys the master's orders!" After Sarutobi Shinnosuke bowed three times, the ceremony was completed. The gifts brought by the Sarutobi clan were naturally sent into Ryun's home.
It must be said, that old guy Hiruzen was quite wealthy. A purple clay tea set! How did he even get his hands on something like that here! Ryun smiled as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "From now on, you can rest assured leaving your child with me."
"Ryun, what kind of talk is that? Of course, I trust you with Shinnosuke!" Hiruzen Sarutobi flattered.
"Then, Lord Hokage, would you like to join me for a meal?" It would be impolite not to invite them for a meal after they just presented gifts and completed the ceremony.
"With pleasure!" Then Ryun and Hiruzen Sarutobi walked ahead, followed by the others, heading to the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant.
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