The night sky was illuminated with dazzling patterns of light.
Booming sounds echoed across the Hidden Leaf Village as fireworks bloomed high above. The sky came alive with bursts of red, gold, blue, and green that reflected in the eyes of the children watching below.
Gojo stood silently, his silver hair faintly catching the glow of the rising fireworks. Beside him, on either side, stood Ino and Karin. Their faces were turned upward, eyes wide, lips parted slightly in awe.
Just beside Ino stood Sakura, her hands clasped in front of her as she stared up, her sakura-blossom kimono fluttering lightly in the wind.
The moment was quiet, warm, and strangely comforting.
Each girl, though from different backgrounds and temperaments, shared the same look of admiration. The lights of the sky reflected not only in their eyes but also in their hearts.
For that fleeting moment, everything else faded—the worries of tomorrow, the rivalries, the whispers of ambition.
They were simply children, gazing at a magical sky.
Karin leaned slightly toward Gojo. She didn't speak. She didn't need to.
Ino stood close, her gaze lingering for a moment not on the sky—but on Gojo's profile.
Sakura smiled softly, feeling happiness bloom quietly in her chest.
This moment... I'll remember it, she thought.
On another side of the festival, Shikamaru had just reunited with Naruto. Choji was, as usual, munching on more snacks, not at all bothered by the noise or the crowds.
He sat with relaxed shoulders, his attention divided between the food and the fireworks exploding above.
"This is so relaxing," Choji murmured as he chewed.
Naruto was bouncing with energy. The bright kimono he wore made him stand out in the dimly lit crowd.
The bold mix of yellow and white cloth shimmered under the lanterns, and Naruto was positively glowing with pride.
Across the way, Shizuka Uchiha stood still in the distance.
Her eyes locked onto Gojo from afar. Her fingers clutched the edge of her kimono.
She had spotted him.
She saw the way he stood with the girls beside him. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she took a calming breath.
Now's the time. If I want to make it seem coincidental...
Her mind raced, calculating how to close the distance naturally.
She began to move slowly through the crowd, pretending to be distracted, weaving between families and festival-goers.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was sprinting through the area.
He wasn't sure why his sister had suddenly run off earlier, but something told him it had to do with a certain silver-haired boy.
As he ran, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Hey Sasuke! I'm here!"
He stopped, turning around.
Naruto was waving at him, grinning from ear to ear.
He stood tall, his new kimono catching the light of the fireworks as they exploded in a rainbow of color behind him.
Sasuke blinked.
Naruto looked... different.
Handsome.
He quickly shook his head, snapping out of the thought.
Don't think stupid things, he scolded himself.
"What do you think, huh?" Naruto said, standing proudly. "Look at my new kimono! How's it look? Are you jealous? Someone gifted it to me, you know!"
Naruto's tone was brimming with confidence. He stood with one hand on his hip, puffing out his chest.
Sasuke stared for a second.
"Tch. Why would I be jealous of you, idiot?" he snapped back. "This kimono I'm wearing was custom-made by my mother. It's one of a kind."
Naruto squinted.
"So you are jealous!" he accused. "Trying to act cool now, huh?!"
"Shut up! You're imagining things again!"
The two began their usual back-and-forth. Words turned into jabs. Jabs turned into louder shouting. And within seconds, the fireworks were accompanied by the sharp, chaotic voices of two boys arguing under the starry sky.
From the sidelines, Shizuka held her forehead.
"What a hassle..."
She sighed deeply, mentally preparing to punish Sasuke for ruining her mood yet again.
Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba walked up to the scene.
They weren't surprised.
Not even a little.
Sasuke and Naruto arguing in public? That was a daily routine.
"And there they go again," Kiba said casually.
"Why do they always have to be like this..." Shikamaru muttered.
Choji said nothing, still chewing. He offered a dumpling to Akamaru instead.
But before anyone could intervene, a new voice joined them.
"What's with the noise? You're disturbing the fireworks."
Gojo had arrived.
He'd heard the shouting and came to check what was going on. He now stood in front of them with a calm expression, his kimono subtly elegant, fitting his figure perfectly. The firework light reflected across his silver hair and calm eyes.
The entire group paused.
Even Naruto and Sasuke stopped yelling for a moment.
Shizuka quickly composed herself. She walked toward him with an innocent smile.
"Oh, what a coincidence, Gojo. We meet again."
Her tone was cheerful, as if nothing had been planned.
Gojo nodded politely.
But Ino, Karin, and Sakura—who had followed Gojo closely—were not so easily fooled.
Their eyes narrowed slightly.
Each of them, deep within, had the same instinctive thought.
This isn't a coincidence.
Girls' intuition was sharp. And Shizuka's overly relaxed smile didn't help her case.
Still smiling, Shizuka suddenly grabbed Gojo's arm.
She leaned against him slightly, her expression radiating pure joy.
"You look really good in this kimono," she said sincerely. "From afar it looked nice, but seeing it up close... it suits you so well."
Gojo raised an eyebrow. He didn't understand her sudden praise, but he didn't pull away either.
Ino's fingers twitched.
Karin narrowed her eyes.
Sakura bit her lip.
They were seconds away from pulling Shizuka off Gojo by force.
But before any confrontation could escalate—
Another round of fireworks launched into the sky.
The world lit up in a thousand colors.
All eyes turned upward.
The tension dissolved.
They stared together.
The girls' eyes sparkled.
Gojo silently watched the sky, thoughtful.
Shizuka, however, stared at him.
The firework light painted across his profile, making his face even more mesmerizing.
Why didn't I bring a camera? she regretted.
This was a perfect shot. A perfect moment. Her system task was going smoothly, but now she wished she had more than just memory.
Gojo noticed her gaze.
"Do you have something to say?"
Shizuka shook her head slowly.
"No... the fireworks are just beautiful."
He nodded and returned his focus to the sky.
Just a short distance away, Sasuke and Naruto had also quieted.
They both stared up now, the light flashing in their eyes.
Naruto, without realizing it, placed his arm across Sasuke's shoulder.
A small gesture.
Unnoticed by most.
Sasuke frowned slightly—but didn't push it off.
Nearby, Shikamaru looked at them and sighed.
"It's just fireworks. Why do they have to react like that..."
He turned his head and saw Choji still eating.
"You're still at it?"
Choji nodded happily. "These are the best snacks I've ever had."
Kiba stood nearby, Akamaru perched calmly on his head, tail wagging.
Kiba's eyes wandered toward Gojo, who now stood in a quiet circle of girls.
"Man, he's surrounded again..." Kiba muttered.
Shikamaru's gaze followed.
He watched the way the girls gathered around Gojo.
The calm, composed way Gojo handled everything.
The admiration in Shizuka's eyes.
The silent competition between Sakura, Karin, and Ino.
Should I ask him for advice about girls...? Shikamaru considered.
Then he shook his head.
"Forget it. Girls and women... they're too troublesome."
He looked up at the fireworks again.
But a moment later, his brow furrowed.
"Wait... is everyone here?"
He turned to Kiba.
"Hey, Kiba. Are all our friends here?"
Kiba tilted his head. "Hmm... I think... yeah. Everyone's here, right?"
Shikamaru didn't argue. He just nodded.
But someone was watching them.
From the edge of the crowd, standing partially hidden in the shadows, was Shino Aburame.
He had heard everything.
His glasses glinted under the firework light.
He crossed his arms slowly and muttered.
"Why did everyone forget about me..."
There was no anger. Just a soft grievance.
With a resigned sigh, he looked up at the fireworks.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Tsunade sat comfortably, sipping on wine.
She was joined by Shizune, who looked slightly concerned.
Karin's mother sat beside them, chatting politely with Ino's parents.
Sakura's parents were there too, quietly enjoying the atmosphere.
Plates of snacks were laid out before them. Cups of wine clinked softly.
They all watched the fireworks together.
The sky continued to bloom in vibrant colors.
The firework display reached its peak.
Bright explosions painted the sky with intricate shapes—dragons made of fire, cascading flowers of golden light, and shimmering ribbons of blue and white that danced above the Hidden Leaf Village.
Gojo stood at the center of the small gathering. Ino, Karin, and Sakura flanked him, their eyes fixed on the sky, their expressions soft and filled with wonder.
Shizuka still clung to Gojo's arm.
She had fulfilled her system task: to meet Gojo by coincidence, to watch the fireworks with him, and to hug him tightly.
Her mission was complete, but what lingered now wasn't the task—it was the warmth. The unspoken feeling she couldn't quite explain.
She watched Gojo's face under the glow of the fireworks. Her heart fluttered. He didn't say much, but she could tell he was at ease.
And for her, that was enough.
Not far from the group, Naruto and Sasuke stood side by side, their earlier bickering long forgotten.
The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was familiar.
As another set of fireworks exploded in the air, Naruto subconsciously wrapped his arm around Sasuke's shoulder.
Sasuke blinked.
He didn't shrug it off.
They just stood together, gazing at the sky.
Shino Aburame.
He stood quietly, hands in his pockets, shades hiding his expression.
His mouth moved in a small sigh.
"Why did everyone forget about me again ...?"
There was no bitterness in his voice. Only a trace of quiet grievance.
He looked up at the fireworks.
They were beautiful. That much he could agree on.
Back near the festival's seated area, the adults had gathered.
Tsunade leaned back on a low bench, a cup of wine in her hand. The warm color of the liquid matched the soft blush in her cheeks.
She laughed heartily at something Ino's father said, shaking her head.
"You guys really know how to host a festival," she chuckled.
Ino's mother smiled. "We try our best."
Karin's mother sat with a gentle smile, sipping tea instead of wine, but her eyes sparkled with mirth.
Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno, Sakura's parents, were both enjoying the food laid out before them—skewers, pickled vegetables, sweet rolls, and more. They listened to the conversation and occasionally added their own thoughts, still a bit overwhelmed by the company of someone as legendary as Tsunade.
Shizune sat close to Tsunade, as always, her posture neat and her plate barely touched.
She kept sneaking glances toward the kids.
Specifically toward Gojo.
She watched as Shizuka continued to hold onto Gojo's arm, as Ino leaned close to him while pointing at a particular firework, and as Sakura and Karin stood quietly nearby, occasionally stealing glances at the silver-haired boy.
Shizune tilted her head.
"Tsunade-sama... are you really matchmaking again?"
Tsunade grinned and said nothing.
Another firework launched.
This one exploded into the shape of a large crimson lotus.
The crowd gasped in awe.
Children clapped. Adults smiled. Couples held hands.
Gojo's group stood still, eyes wide.
Shizuka felt a gentle breeze against her cheeks. She looked up at the firework and smiled.
This moment... I want to remember it forever.
Gojo noticed her expression, but said nothing. His eyes returned to the sky.
The crowd's noise grew softer. All that remained was the occasional whistle of rockets and the low booms of distant fireworks.
Time seemed to stretch.
Even Naruto and Sasuke, standing shoulder to shoulder, didn't move or speak.
Naruto's usual chatter had quieted. Sasuke didn't shove him away.
They simply watched.
Shikamaru yawned, then muttered, "Well... I guess even something this troublesome has its charm."
Kiba smirked. "Yeah. It's kind of nice."
Choji finally looked up from his food and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Full stomach. Pretty lights. This is the best night."
Akamaru barked once in agreement.
As the final wave of fireworks launched, the sky was lit with one grand, spectacular display.
A thousand lights burst outward, forming a giant fan of color that bathed the entire village in a golden glow.
Everyone watched in silent awe.
The noise faded.
The festival music stopped.
Only the sound of crackling lights in the sky remained.
The final firework bloomed—and slowly faded.
And then... silence.
The celebration had reached its peak.
The festival wasn't over, but the fireworks—the heart of the night—had ended.
Gojo lowered his gaze.
The girls around him slowly relaxed.
Shizuka loosened her grip, though she didn't let go completely.
Sakura smiled to herself.
Ino exhaled deeply, the corners of her lips turned upward.
Karin rubbed her hands together and glanced at Gojo briefly.
Naruto finally pulled his arm back from Sasuke.
"So cool," he whispered.
Sasuke didn't answer. But he didn't look annoyed.
Shikamaru stretched his arms lazily. "Time to go soon, huh."
Kiba looked at the fading sky. "Yeah... but man, what a night."
In the shadows, Shino sighed again.
"Even now, no one noticed me."
He turned and walked off quietly.
At the adult table, Tsunade raised her cup.
"To the future."
Everyone lifted their drinks.
The firework ashes still fell from the sky like gentle snow.
And under that soft fall of light, the bonds between friends, rivals, and maybe even something more, quietly deepened.
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End of Chapter
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