Uchiha Chiri's cheeks flushed even deeper at those words. She lowered her head shyly, but quickly looked back up, meeting Hikaru's gaze with firm determination.
"Yes. Just thinking about being with you, Hikaru-kun, makes me so excited!"
Hearing this, Mito Uzumaki paused in surprise, setting down her utensils and staring at Chiri.
She had expected Chiri to remain quiet, not to speak her mind so frankly.
What surprised her even more was that Tsunade and Nonō Yakushi showed no unusual reaction at all upon hearing this.
They simply continued eating breakfast, as if they hadn't heard Chiri at all.
Mito's eyes darted between them in puzzlement, a sense of confusion swirling in her chest.
No… something's off. There's definitely something I don't know. Mito thought to herself.
Yesterday, when Tsunade and the other two introduced themselves, they had expressed their feelings—but only among the four of them present.
Naturally, Mito knew nothing about it.
Since they had already expressed their feelings, Chiri being able to speak openly now was nothing strange.
The urge to gossip welled up inside Mito, irresistible and overflowing.
Her eyes gleamed with the flames of curiosity, as if ready to ignite the atmosphere of the entire dining room.
Having witnessed the shifting emotions between Hikaru and the others over the years, she felt it was her duty—no, her obligation—to savor every last bit of this gossip.
However, just as she was about to switch into full gossip mode, Hikaru seemed to see right through her thoughts.
He cast her a faint glance, the corner of his lips curling into a knowing smile, before cutting off her "chant."
"By the way, Grandpa Hashirama, are you coming with us today?"
Hashirama, quietly enjoying his breakfast, instinctively replied,"Your Grandma Mito said she and I will be leaving in two days. We'll stop by the Land of Whirlpools first."
Hikaru nodded at that, understanding.
Then he turned to Tsunade, Nonō, and Chiri, flashing them a brilliant smile. "Since we're not heading the same way, we'll be going on ahead."
With that, he stood up, leading the three women out of the dining hall.
Their figures vanished at the doorway, leaving behind only the sound of cheerful laughter and the soft click of the door closing.
Mito sat frozen at the table, staring at the empty chairs, her expression tinged with resentment.
She shot Hashirama a glare, as if blaming him for ruining her gossip session.
Then she sighed, picked her utensils back up, and resumed her breakfast.
Even without the spice of juicy gossip, the meal was still delicious.
...
By now, Hikaru and his companions had arrived at Konoha's main gate.
They stopped in their tracks, turning back as if to bid farewell to the familiar land.
The two massive doors, carved from giant timber, towered high. Sunlight streamed through the gaps, bathing the entire gate in a golden glow.
They stood open, silently welcoming all who passed through.
At this time, the guards stationed there weren't the later-famous Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, but two unfamiliar shinobi.
They wore the standard Konoha flak jackets, faces set in serious expressions, eyes sharp and watchful.
One glance was enough to tell they were battle-hardened veterans.
Though Hikaru didn't know them, they clearly knew him.
As Hikaru and the others approached the gate, one of the guards' eyes flickered with surprise, followed by deep respect.
He instinctively took a step forward, as if to speak.
But his companion quickly raised a hand, gently stopping him, and gave a small shake of the head, signaling him not to disturb them.
The first guard hesitated, glancing between Hikaru's departing figure and his companion, but ultimately stayed put.
Tsunade and the others, excited for their first time leaving the village, chatted and laughed as they walked on, oblivious to the silent exchange at the gate.
Hikaru, however, noticed it all.
He turned his head, giving the two guards a slight nod and a friendly smile.
Then they left, setting out on their new journey.
The two "gate guardians" remained in place, watching their figures disappear from view, excitement lighting their faces.
For the first time leaving Konoha, Tsunade, Nonō, and Chiri were like birds freed from a cage, brimming with energy and curiosity.
Their eyes darted everywhere, finding interest in anything and everything.
But as time went on, the scenery began to grow monotonous and repetitive.
What had once been fresh and exciting soon became ordinary during the long trek, losing its initial charm.
And the long hours of walking gradually wore them down, the thrill and novelty replaced by boredom and fatigue.
Tsunade, weary of the endless road, wished they could reach their destination faster.
She trotted up beside Hikaru, tugging at his sleeve with a playful pout."All-powerful Hikaru, isn't there a way we can just go straight to the Land of Snow?"
Hikaru turned to her, a wry smile on his face."You haven't forgotten that we're not just out here for fun, right? If we skipped straight there, how would we finish the mission?"
Nonō, for her part, didn't mind the journey and could endure the tedium. She didn't back Tsunade up—instead, she sided with Hikaru."Hikaru's right. Just hang in there a little longer, Tsunade. We'll be at the next town soon."
Chiri, meanwhile, had spent the entire trip quietly watching Hikaru, her gaze never once leaving his face.
It was as if, in her eyes, no one else existed.
That unwavering, affectionate gaze made Hikaru a bit uneasy. He worried he might end up like "Brother Cheng."
With no one agreeing with her, Tsunade puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
Hikaru found her sulking expression amusing.
Smiling mysteriously, he said,"Alright, we may not be able to teleport straight there… but I do have another way."
Tsunade's eyes lit up at once."Really? What is it?"
Seeing her so eager, Hikaru stopped walking altogether.
After glancing around, he motioned for the three women to step back.
They trusted him completely; though puzzled, they quickly did as told, putting some distance between them and Hikaru.
Hikaru took a deep breath, chakra surging rapidly through his body.
With a loud shout, he slammed a palm into the ground:"Summoning Technique!"