As time continued to pass, at the moment the fireworks were released and the bell rang...
Everyone knew...
The year Konoha 43 had ended, and a new year had arrived!!
"Happy New Year!"
Everyone repeatedly said to their companions around them with a smile, "Work hard in the new year too!"
"Haha, you too. This year, I must save money for a down payment to buy a house."
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
Blessings rang out across the square, and at this time...
On the central big screen...
"If I spread my wings and fly..."
The song "Blue Bird" began to play again...
Marking the end of tonight's performance...
"Where is the target..."
...
Accompanied by the singing...
"Please exit in an orderly manner. Do not crowd."
The management personnel came out again to manage the order...
"Group A exits first. Don't panic, everyone. It will be quick."
Everyone waited quietly for the administrator's arrangements...
"Really good!" Tsunade sighed regretfully and said, "I didn't expect it to end so quickly."
She stretched...
"Where should we go next?"
"I need to go back." Kakashi casually put his paper cup into the trash can and said plainly, "Our free activity time has ended!"
He did not dare to act recklessly, especially with that Uzu police officer next to him who kept staring at him...
He seemed to be eagerly waiting for him to make a mistake. It was really a headache!!
"That's right!" Nohara Rin also nodded and said, "We still have to work tomorrow, so we must go back early!"
"That damn Uzushiogakure Daimyo!" Tsunade cursed angrily, then sighed and said helplessly, "Who knows how the old man will handle things?"
In her heart, she knew that this outcome was already quite good, but she still felt somewhat displeased and habitually cursed a couple of times!
"Forget it, children shouldn't stay up late."
Looking at Hiruko and Orochimaru beside her, she narrowed her eyes and threatened, "What about you two?"
"I'm a bit hungry. Let's go get something to eat!" Hiruko shivered, touched his face, and said, "Anyway, I'm still off tomorrow!"
Jiraiya!!
When will you come back??
Once you're back, Tsunade will only...
Beat you up alone.
As for Orochimaru...
He still narrowed his eyes, smiled, and nodded, saying, "I don't mind."
Did he have a choice?
"Since that's the case..." Tsunade nodded with satisfaction, raised her right fist, and said, "Let's go for skewers and beer!"
"Let's go!!"
...
Jiraiya sneezed and patted Gamabunta, saying, "It's so cold!"
"No need to be so urgent. Since we've already missed it, this cold wind is making me uncomfortable!"
Gamabunta raised an eyelid and said plainly, "If you knew it would be like this, couldn't you have waited for the snow to melt before leaving?"
Simply asking for suffering!
"I thought we could make it!" Jiraiya sighed helplessly and said, "But the Great Toad Sage miscalculated!"
So...
Now I don't want to suffer anymore!
Please jump slower...
...
After the program ended, most people, holding their already asleep children, intended to go home and rest. They were quite tired after the whole day.
Of course, there were still some with abundant energy who continued with the next activity, planning to have more fun on the first day of the new year.
"Clan Head, I will head back first." A Byakugan man said to the Ōtsutsuki Chengyou beside him, "I have to work tomorrow!"
"Eh?" Another Byakugan man next to him said, "You have work? But I don't have work tomorrow. Since that's the case..."
"Those without work tomorrow, let's continue?"
"Good idea. Those who have work tomorrow should go back and rest now. Don't get your pay docked. As for those without work..."
"Shall we prepare for the next round?"
"What comes next is time for us men, hehe!!"
As soon as he finished speaking...
It was immediately met with a chorus of lewd laughter...
"I won't be going." Ōtsutsuki Chengyou smiled and nodded, saying, "You make your own arrangements. Don't mind me."
"Remember to have fun."
Then, he looked at a roughly thirty-year-old Byakugan youth in front of him and asked, "Ruto, what is it?"
"Clan Head, it's just..." Ruto scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Okiko told me last night that Uzushiogakure's education is quite good. She hopes to bring the child down. So, you..." He looked expectantly at Ōtsutsuki Chengyou. "Could you ask Lord Jun..."
To go up again?
"Is that so?" Ōtsutsuki Chengyou frowned in thought. Seeing the expectant looks in the eyes of several other families nearby, he nodded and said, "I will ask tomorrow."
"Thank you, Clan Head!" Hearing the clan head agree, Ruto and the others immediately bowed happily and said, "We apologize for the trouble."
Ōtsutsuki Chengyou nodded, said nothing, turned around with his hands behind his back, and walked towards his own home...
Everyone has changed, haven't they!!
He sighed inwardly...
"Even I..."
Have changed...
Walking onto the road, looking at the ordinary people around still discussing the New Year's Eve gala...
Perhaps they were really wrong back then?
They only thought that ninjas brought war and chaos to this world, wanted to destroy ninjas, destroy the ninja world, and rebuild order, but they never considered the thoughts of these ordinary people...
No matter how difficult or painful the world was, these ordinary people still wanted to live on tenaciously.
Perhaps the daily wars made them very fearful, afraid, and sad, but...
To live!
To strive to survive is what they most desire!
They never thought about death...
Yet they...
Selfishly chose for them...
"This is probably what the books call being detached from the masses for too long." Ōtsutsuki Chengyou shook his head self-deprecatingly. Just like the Ōtsutsuki clansmen earlier...
They are just ordinary people after all~
They also want to live a good life, want to watch their children grow up, want to go out for a drink with friends when they have time...
But before...
They thought they were gods, a group of gods managing the ninja world...
Ōtsutsuki Chengyou took out his keys and opened his door.
Because they had always lived on the moon, the Ōtsutsuki clan didn't have much money, so...
This house was bought with a loan!
"Every time I think about the mortgage, I really feel an impulse to destroy the ninja world!"
He smiled wryly...
Walked into the house, turned on the light, and sat on the living room sofa...
Ōtsutsuki Chengyou stared blankly at the light on the ceiling, lost in thought...
Finally...
He sighed, took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed a number...
"Ring ring ring!!"
"Hello?"
Not long after, a familiar voice came from the other side...
"Chengyou?" Ōtsutsuki Hoshin's voice came through, "Calling me so late, what's the matter?"
Then, he laughed heartily...
"Haha, I just took all the clansmen to watch the footage transmitted from the ninja world. It seems Uzushiogakure is quite good, isn't it!"
"You can receive it on the moon too?" Ōtsutsuki Chengyou was stunned for a moment, then understood. He remembered the small crystal cube Lord Jun left on the moon when he went up...
It must be that.
He said plainly, "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year." Ōtsutsuki Hoshin said, "It's a new year now, right? I never knew the ninja world had such an interesting festival."
"Yes." Ōtsutsuki Chengyou's lips curled slightly upwards, still maintaining an expressionless face as he said, "Quite interesting."
"By the way, you still haven't said why you called me?" Ōtsutsuki Hoshin asked curiously, "Did you encounter some trouble in Uzushiogakure?"
"No." Chengyou shook his head and said plainly, "It's just..."
"I have something I need your help with..."
"What is it?" Hoshin said, "Just say it. We are all clan members!"
"Some clansmen hope to bring their children to Uzushiogakure." Chengyou paused for a moment, still speaking indifferently, "I'm asking if it's possible for Lord Jun to come up and pick them up?"
Yes...
They are all clan members, but since when did it start...
They became like enemies.
It seems...
It started when the split in the ancestor's true intentions emerged!
"Oh, is that it?" Ōtsutsuki Hoshin said cheerfully, "I already contacted Lord Jun a few days ago. Hearing that you are doing well, some people from the Main Family also want to go to Uzushiogakure. In a few days, I'll bring the children down myself."
"Then I'll have to trouble you to look after the Main Family members."
"Hmm~"
Chengyou was momentarily stunned by Hoshin's words. The corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smile as he said plainly, "It's no trouble, because..."
"We..."
"Are all clan members..."
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