"Goodbye, Naruto-niisan! Come visit me as soon as you finish your mission!" Hanabi clutched baby Hiyori to her chest, her voice carrying obvious longing.
"Take care, Naruto-kun." Hinata waved gently.
Her own team would be leaving on a mission soon too. Perhaps by the time she returned, Naruto would be back as well.
After their farewells, both sisters turned to look at their cousin. Neji stood there with his face bruised and swollen, expression radiating pure resentment. He made no move to say goodbye.
"Neji-nii?" Hanabi tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Naruto-niisan is your friend now. Why aren't you saying goodbye?"
"That's right, Neji-nii. Naruto values his friends' farewells very much." Hinata added softly.
The phrase "values his friends" snapped Neji back to awareness. He raised his trembling hands and waved stiffly. His swollen face made the words come out garbled. "Naruto... goodbye."
Preferably forever, he thought bitterly.
Naruto looked at the three Hyūga siblings silhouetted against the sunset, all waving farewell. Warmth spread through his chest. Having friends really did feel different.
He waved back enthusiastically. "Goodbye, Hinata! Goodbye, Hanabi! And Neji, my new friend, goodbye to you too! When I get back, I'll visit you first thing! I really enjoyed our sparring session! Let's train together again when I return!"
Neji collapsed to the ground, wanting to cry.
Who wants to spar with you, you monster?! I can't find a single weakness with my Byakugan! Fighting you is just volunteering for a beating!
The bright day mocked him. His personal night had already arrived.
After the goodbyes, Naruto returned to the farm in a flicker of movement.
He opened the door to find Sasuke lounging on the sofa, picking his teeth with a toothpick. Beside him, Nine-Tails lay sprawled in his white lace dress, bare calves sticking out from beneath the hem. The fox held a pen in one forepaw, the other supporting his chin as he studied the cookbook open before him.
Nine-Tails frowned, tapped the pen against his head, bit down on it thoughtfully, then brightened and began scribbling notes.
"Sasuke! Kurama! I'm home!" Naruto announced cheerfully.
"Mm." Sasuke's face remained characteristically blank.
Nine-Tails glanced up from his cookbook, chin still propped in his paw. "Dinner's getting cold. Go eat."
"Thanks!" Naruto headed straight for the dining room.
After he left, Nine-Tails closed his cookbook and sat up cross-legged. "Uchiha boy, I heard you and Naruto are leaving for the Land of Waves tomorrow?"
Sasuke extracted a fine piece of mutton from between his front teeth with the toothpick. He examined it, popped it back in his mouth, then answered. "Yeah. Leaving after breakfast tomorrow. Probably gone over a week."
"Over a week? That long?" Nine-Tails considered this. "Then I'm coming too."
Sasuke turned to look at the small fox. Don't let that cute appearance fool you. Your real form is massive. If you come along, you'll definitely cause problems.
"Naruto won't let you go," Sasuke said flatly.
"Why not?" Confusion showed in Nine-Tails' fox eyes.
Sasuke just shook his head and said nothing more.
Nine-Tails studied the Uchiha for a moment, then decided not to push. In this household, Naruto was the real decision-maker. As long as Naruto agreed, everything would work out.
"I'll go ask Naruto myself." Nine-Tails grabbed his cookbook and bounced toward the dining room.
Naruto was already eating, holding a lamb leg in one hand. He took a bite that would've done a shark proud, stripping all the meat off in a single pass. Only bone remained when he pulled it from his mouth. His powerful digestive system immediately began converting the meat to energy.
Nine-Tails hopped onto a chair, then onto the table, then launched himself onto Naruto's shoulder. He settled in, swinging his legs as he opened the cookbook with exaggerated casualness.
Naruto glanced at the fox. "Kurama, weren't you reading on the sofa?"
"The old man can read here too." Kurama held up the cookbook innocently.
"Your legs swinging back and forth are making me dizzy," Naruto pointed out before resuming his meal.
Nine-Tails obediently stopped swinging and pressed his legs together primly, pretending to focus on his reading. But after a moment, he couldn't help sneaking glances at Naruto.
"Just ask what you want to ask, Kurama." Naruto caught the peripheral attention.
"Well..." Kurama stood up on Naruto's shoulder, placing one paw on Naruto's ear. "You're leaving on a mission tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. Team Seven is escorting a Bridge Builder Tazuna back to the Land of Waves under Kakashi-sensei's leadership." Naruto nodded.
"And..." Nine-Tails started scratching behind Naruto's ear.
"Don't scratch my ears," Naruto said immediately.
"Haha, sorry." Nine-Tails pulled his paw back sheepishly. "So I heard this mission takes over a week?"
"Who told you that?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"Uchiha boy."
"Well, yeah. It's a long journey from Konoha to the Land of Waves." Naruto confirmed.
"So that means I'll be waiting at home alone for a whole week?" Kurama leaned against Naruto's ear, speaking directly into it.
"That's right. Which is why I need you to take care of the farm while we're gone. Keep an eye on the pigs' moods, make sure they grow without worry."
"Also watch the sheep—those lambs are too mischievous. And check on the bulls to make sure they're not slacking off on their duties."
Naruto listed responsibilities carefully. Kurama had been handling these tasks for years and knew the routine perfectly, but this was Naruto's first time leaving home. He couldn't help being a bit anxious about it.
"A whole week stuck at home will be boring though."
Nine-Tails jumped down to stand on the table, facing Naruto seriously. "So Naruto, let me come with you!"
"If you come, who'll manage the farm?" Naruto shook his head.
"You could ask Pineapple boy! That kid has management skills." Nine-Tails pressed his case.
"No. I trust you more." Naruto's refusal was firm.
Seeing the determination on Naruto's face, Nine-Tails deflated. He snorted, leaped off the table, and stalked back to the sofa in defeat.
"Told you Naruto wouldn't agree," Sasuke commented coolly from his spot.
An orange tail lashed out instantly. It swept the Uchiha boy clean off the sofa, through the window, and onto the grass outside.
"Damn it!" Sasuke sat up, glass shards in his hair. "Naruto's the one who said no, not me! Why take it out on me?!"
Having vented his frustration, Nine-Tails felt marginally better.
Just because Naruto said no doesn't mean I can't find my own solution, he thought, already brewing a plan.
In the dining room, Naruto heard the window shatter and shook his head. "Sasuke, why do you keep making Kurama angry?"
The next morning arrived with warm sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Naruto! Uchiha boy! Breakfast is ready!" Nine-Tails called from the kitchen.
"Thanks, Kurama." Naruto headed to wash up.
Sasuke followed suit.
When they emerged and sat at the table, Nine-Tails had prepared an elaborate spread. "Eat up! I already finished my breakfast. I'll pack your things while you eat, Naruto. Take your time."
He glanced at Sasuke. "You pack your own stuff."
Then Nine-Tails disappeared into Naruto's bedroom.
"Why did you make him angry yesterday?" Naruto asked Sasuke with amusement. "Look, he's still mad."
"It was you who wouldn't let him go, not me. Who knows why he takes it out on me." Sasuke bit into his toast irritably.
"Well, try to understand Kurama. He does housework and cooks for us every day." Naruto said reasonably.
"I'm not arguing with a fox," Sasuke muttered.
After Sasuke finished eating, he headed to his room to pack. Naruto continued working through the massive breakfast spread.
When Naruto finally finished, Kurama emerged. "All done! Your backpack's on the bed. Don't forget it."
He headed for the door. "I'm going to feed the pigs. They're probably starving by now."
At the doorway, Kurama turned back. "Naruto, come home quickly. Stay safe out there."
"I will! And please take care of the farm while we're gone. We'll complete the mission as fast as possible." Naruto waved.
Kurama waved back and left.
After walking a short distance, Nine-Tails glanced around carefully. Seeing no one watching, he doubled back, circled behind the house, and jumped through Naruto's bedroom window.
The packed backpack sat on the bed exactly where he'd left it.
"I'm a genius," Nine-Tails muttered proudly.
He opened the backpack and climbed inside, curling up in the darkness. An orange tail remained exposed. A small paw reached out and tucked it in.
Zip.
Sitting in the darkness, Kurama gave himself a mental thumbs up. The plan he'd conceived last night was working perfectly.
Step one: Offer to pack Naruto's things in the morning. Step two: Say goodbye early with the excuse of feeding the pigs. Step three: Sneak back and hide in the backpack. Since Naruto hadn't packed it himself, he'd just grab it and go without checking inside.
As for the farm, Nine-Tails had visited Shikamaru's house last night while Naruto and Sasuke slept, asking him to watch things temporarily. The kid had nearly jumped out of his skin when Nine-Tails appeared at his window.
Now Nine-Tails could travel to the Land of Waves AND have the farm covered.
Truly, my wisdom is unparalleled! He settled in to listen for movement...
"Naruto, I'm packed." Sasuke emerged from his room wearing a blue backpack. "You done eating?"
"Yeah, all finished." Naruto stood from the table. "Let's go."
He pushed open his bedroom door and spotted the backpack on the bed. "Kurama is so thoughtful."
Inside the bag, Nine-Tails felt vindicated. Finally appreciating my efforts! And you still wouldn't let me come along!
"Huh, it's heavier than expected." Naruto lifted the backpack, testing its weight.
Don't open it, don't open it... Nine-Tails tensed.
"Kurama must have packed lots of supplies. Since it's his kindness, I won't take anything out." Naruto shouldered the pack without investigating further.
Nine-Tails exhaled in relief.
The two boys locked up and headed for the village gates.
Team Seven gathered at the meeting point. Sakura carried a small backpack. Kakashi had one too, though his immobilized arms made it look awkward.
Seeing their relaxed expressions, Kakashi nodded approvingly. "Good. Everyone's ready. Let's go. Mr. Tazuna is waiting at the gates."
Naruto and Sasuke looked relaxed because they were confident in their abilities. Though there was a difference: Naruto's confidence was earned through training. Sasuke's was the blind overconfidence of youth, the same misplaced certainty that made him challenge Naruto repeatedly despite never winning.
As for Sakura, her confidence came from standing beside two monsters. She wasn't confident in herself, but in them.
At the village gates, Tazuna waited anxiously.
He had private concerns about this mission. The journey home wouldn't be peaceful, he knew. He desperately hoped Konoha had sent capable ninja.
After thirty minutes, four figures finally approached.
In the center walked a white-haired ninja wearing a mask, his left eye covered, only the right visible. To his left was a strikingly tall boy with golden hair.
Beside the blonde was a slightly shorter boy with dark hair and a perpetually blank expression, as though nothing in the world interested him.
As for the girl on the white-haired ninja's right... well, best not to dwell on that.
"You're Mr. Tazuna?" Kakashi compared the man before him to the portrait provided. "I'm leading the team that will escort you back to the Land of Waves."
"I am Tazuna." The bridge builder studied the one-eyed ninja whose bandaged hands screamed "disabled." His heart sank. The team leader is so injured he probably can't even feed himself. And these three, despite their height, have faces that scream fresh graduates. If this team is escorting me, I'm doomed.
Tazuna knew his situation. He had good reason to worry.
Seeing the concern on Tazuna's face, Kakashi said, "Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna. You requested a C-rank mission. Our team is more than qualified to deliver you safely to the Land of Waves."
His dead-fish eye sharpened. "Unless you're hiding something from us?"
Tazuna flinched. Even a disabled ninja could easily kill an ordinary person. He waved his hands quickly. "No, no! I completely trust your team's strength. Let's get moving."
As they traveled, the team exchanged names with Tazuna. Long missions required conversation to pass the time.
Leaving the village for the first time, Naruto was fascinated by everything. He peppered Tazuna with questions: Were there many people in the Land of Waves? Did they like making new friends?
Tazuna answered the curious boy's questions reluctantly, his mind elsewhere.
Sasuke walked with focused intensity. The Uchiha had no interest in anything except revenge.
Sakura's attention never left Sasuke. No roadside scenery could compare to the Uchiha boy.
Kakashi had it worst. Unable to move his hands, he couldn't even read Icha Icha. How was he supposed to pass the time?
Forget it. Seeing his three students walking with zero situational awareness, Kakashi resigned himself to playing detective.
Ahead, a puddle sat in the middle of the road.
Kakashi had already noticed it. They'd had clear, sunny weather for days. How could there be standing water on a well-traveled path?
Suspicious.
He said nothing, continuing forward quietly. He wanted to see if any of his students would notice something wrong.
Naruto chatted with Tazuna, smiling, apparently oblivious. Sasuke noticed the anomaly but seeing Naruto unconcerned, he didn't react either. Sakura's attention remained fixed on Sasuke.
Naruto was one step from the puddle when Kakashi felt disappointment settle in his chest. The irregularity was so obvious. Any qualified ninja should have caught it immediately. Why hadn't anyone in Team Seven noticed?
After this mission, we're drilling investigation techniques hard.
Resigned and disappointed, Kakashi watched Naruto's foot descend toward the puddle.
Ripples disturbed the water's surface.
Naruto's foot came down.
Hard.
"GLARGH—cough—hack—"
The puddle erupted. Two figures materialized—ninja wearing black bodysuits, masks covering their faces, Kirigakure headbands gleaming. One held the other upright as blood fountained from the injured man's mouth.
"Are you okay?!" The uninjured ninja asked desperately, supporting his partner.
"Cough... avenge... me..." The dying ninja managed those final words before his head lolled to the side.
Dead.
"You—! Stop right there!" The surviving ninja looked up at Team Seven with wild eyes, cradling his partner's body. "Don't you watch where you're walking?! You trampled him to death!"