"Are you really leaving just like that?"
Watching Orochimaru turn and walk away, Anko's eyes were a bit dazed.
She felt abandoned once again.
That feeling... really wasn't pleasant at all.
"Alright, stop brooding. If you're lonely, you can crash at my place. I've got a spare room—you can clean it for me!" Hikari said teasingly, stretching lazily. After all, she was someone he had known for years, and, well... the woman who almost claimed his youthful first time.
"Get lost! I'm not going to clean for you or be your maid!" Anko shot back.
Hikari shrugged. "If you're not willing, there are plenty who are. Since I've finally returned, I should go check on my so-called disciples. I wonder how they've been doing in my absence."
"You? Checking on your disciples? You'll just lead them astray!" Anko grumbled as she shut the door behind her.
"Come on, I'll go with you!"
---
Konoha — the Forest of Death again.
Due to the current situation, Naruto and Sasuke naturally couldn't leave Konoha freely. And they definitely couldn't be allowed to run wild in the village either. So the Forest of Death became their new training ground.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Chidori!"
Naruto and Sasuke unleashed their signature moves and charged at each other.
Not far from their battle, Team Gai's three members, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, and Kurenai's students were gathered. Aside from Sakura, who needed to study medical techniques at Konoha Hospital, the twelve Konoha little powerhouses were all present.
"Sasuke is amazing... and so cool!" Comparing the two, Ino sided with Sasuke without hesitation.
It couldn't be helped—between a whisker-faced boy who didn't care about appearances and Sasuke, the latter simply matched Ino's aesthetics better.
Beside her, Hinata let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'No one's fighting me for Naruto-kun... thank goodness!'
Tenten glanced at the lovestruck Ino, then at the anxious Hinata, and quietly shook her head.
Girls in Konoha were really troublesome.
So young and already so focused on romance... Unlike her—her heart was set on...
Hikari-senpai!
With sharp perception, Tenten sensed a familiar chakra signature approaching. She turned and saw Kamizuki Hikari standing atop a tree nearby, having arrived without warning.
As for Anko—Tenten ignored her completely.
"Tenten, you... Huh? Hikari-senpai, when did he come back?" Neji stood up before he even finished asking why Tenten had suddenly risen.
"Hikari-senpai came back?" Ino immediately returned to her refined young-lady demeanor. If they hadn't just seen her fangirling, no one would believe this elegant girl and that lovestruck mess were the same person.
Shikamaru lounged lazily against Chōji's shoulder. Seeing Hikari sneaking in, he muttered, "Hikari-senpai must be here to laugh at us. Watch out—he's sneaky."
Unfortunately for him, Hikari's ears were very sharp—especially when someone was talking behind his back.
"Hey, long time no see!"
Hikari strolled over with a cheerful smile, Anko following behind him. "Tenten, Ino, Hinata!"
Shikamaru, Chōji, Neji, and Lee: 'So we have zero presence in your eyes, huh?'
Kiba: 'Shino must have transferred his invisibility powers to me!'
Shino: 'As expected... I really am easily overlooked...'
"Hikari-senpai!" Ino greeted politely. "You weren't around these last few days—I really missed you!"
Sure she did.
He might've believed her—if the crumbs of the snack she'd swiped from Chōji weren't still stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"Hikari-senpai, I feel my taijutsu has improved a lot! Please check and guide me soon!" Tenten stepped forward, both pleading and excited.
Hikari nodded. "If nothing unexpected happens, I won't be leaving Konoha anytime soon. Once I check your progress, I'll arrange your next training phase."
"H-Hikari-senpai..." Hinata whispered timidly, then immediately took a step back.
Anyone who didn't know better would think Hikari's face was frightening enough to scare people away.
"Hinata, you need to be braver. Some things and some people—you only obtain them if you fight for them yourself. If you enter society with this timid personality, you'll suffer for it."
"O-Okay..." Hinata replied softly and hid behind Ino.
After greeting the girls, Hikari's gaze turned to the boys. His eyes circled once before resting on Shikamaru.
He curled a finger.
Shikamaru reluctantly walked forward.
"Hikari-senpai... don't mess up my hair..."
He didn't even finish his sentence before he felt a hand ruffling through his pineapple-shaped hair.
Hikari shook his head. "This is how I show affection to you, Shikamaru. Others don't even have the privilege!"
Lee, Chōji, and Neji all took a synchronized step back.
As representatives of the new generation—they cared about their image.
Shikamaru watched helplessly as his spiky pineapple turned into a frizzy disaster, sighing internally.
'This senpai is way too childish...'
"Now be honest—you three weren't slacking off in training while I was gone, were you?" Hikari smiled, though his eyes were as sharp as blades stabbing into them.
Hearing this, Shikamaru stopped resisting.
He was smart enough to understand people.
Hikari might slack in everything else, but when it came to teaching them, he never overlooked their growth.
"No! We trained seriously!" Ino declared loudly, patting her not-very-prominent chest confidently.
Admiring her courage, Hikari crooked his finger at her. "Come here."
"What? Why so mysterious?" Ino pouted but leaned in anyway.
Covering his mouth, Hikari whispered into her ear: "Stop patting your chest like that. If you hit it too hard, it won't grow later."
Ino: "...???"
For a moment, her mind blanked.
The meaning was way too obvious. She looked down at her perfectly flat figure and, with her good upbringing, instantly realized the seriousness of the situation.
But...
'Pervert!'
Muttering this, she quickly scampered back to Hinata's side.
Shikamaru, Chōji, and Neji all exchanged looks, their gazes toward Hikari changing instantly.
"Alright, alright, stop overthinking. I'll never reveal what I just said to Ino. Even if you want to know—too bad. My mouth is sealed tight!"
Shikamaru, Chōji, Neji, and Kiba all rolled their eyes together.
'So all the rumors were true—this senpai really is unreliable...'
Only Lee, oblivious to the strange atmosphere, scratched his head and flashed a bright smile.
"Hehe!"
----
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