The time for the Summer Matsuri was drawing near.
The entire atmosphere of Konoha visibly brightened, with residents in every street and alley busy preparing for the festival.
Even the Ninja, who constantly faced danger, looked forward to spending that day happily with family and friends.
Mikoto, fully recovered, went out shopping with Sasuke in her arms, while Itachi followed closely as her "temporary bodyguard," also having to double as a "human shopping cart."
Fortunately, he had learned to extract Chakra a few months ago, and his physical strength had explosively increased, so carrying seven or eight shopping bags on his arm wasn't tiring.
"Hmm, new kimonos for the whole family, sashes, geta, tabi… all bought…"
Mikoto led Itachi to a shaded spot, muttering as she calculated her purchases, trying to remember if anything had been left out.
Earlier, she had been so happy shopping that, besides the necessities, she even bought Kakashi, Naraku, and Itachi each a new small coin purse to use for money during the festival.
"Of course, a fan! It's super hot lately!"
A familiar and clear voice sounded from behind, and Mikoto turned around in surprise, her eyes immediately landing on Kushina, with her red hair flowing and a bright smile.
The two best friends, who hadn't seen each other in over a month, reunited unexpectedly and were overjoyed.
"Kushina! You're out shopping too, what a coincidence!"
After her initial joy, Mikoto looked at Kushina's bulging belly, her expression slightly worried: "But there are so many people on the street today, are you alright by yourself? Your due date is coming soon, isn't it?"
"Oh, it's still early, almost two months away. Besides, I'm in great health."
Kushina patted her own shoulder, demonstrating the robust physique of the Uzumaki Clan, then leaned in, peeking into the baby carrier.
"Let me see your little baby… Wow, he's super cute! What's his name?"
Mikoto smiled gently and replied, "Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke."
"That's great!" Kushina didn't quite understand but vaguely felt the name sounded familiar: "I feel like I've heard it somewhere before…"
She rubbed her chin, pretending to seriously rack her brain, then suddenly remembered who had used this name before. She put a hand over her mouth and whispered to her best friend to confirm.
"Eh, isn't that the Third Hokage's father's name? Could it be that Fugaku really admires Sarutobi Sasuke…?"
At the mention of this, Mikoto's loving face showed a hint of embarrassment. She gently pushed Kushina to walk a little further away and, in the same secretive posture, explained to her best friend.
"No, that's not it… How could it be?"
"Fugaku absolutely hates anyone from the Sarutobi family."
"He said at the time, if this child was named Sasuke, wouldn't he… wouldn't he be the Third Hokage's…?"
Kushina was dumbfounded, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahahahahahahahaha… Can it be interpreted like that?… How, how did he even think of that!… I never realized Fugaku was so mischievous… Hahahahaha…"
"Shh, quiet down, Kushina."
Mikoto wasn't sure if her husband's tactic of veiled criticism counted as a moral victory, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment: "Please, don't tell anyone about this."
"Don't worry, don't worry… Hahahahahahaha…"
After a long while, Kushina finally stopped laughing, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, fanned herself with her right hand, and then asked in a lowered voice.
"But if this child finds out about this when he grows up, he'll definitely be very angry, right?"
"Oh, we'll never tell him the truth…"
"Hahahahaha… You're too much… I can't handle it…"
Itachi, standing behind his mother, barely heard what the two best friends were saying. He tilted his head, utterly confused.
—What are Mom and Aunt Kushina talking about?
—Why are they laughing so happily?
This question remained unanswered even after Itachi followed his mother home. It soon settled in a corner of his memory, waiting to be revisited.
Barring any accidents, he would never get the answer… On the day of the Summer Matsuri.
The sky was painted a soft orange by the sun gradually approaching the horizon, and lanterns lit up every corner of Konoha's streets, illuminating the entire Village like a sea of stars.
The six members of the Fugaku family, dressed in new, comfortable kimonos with fans tucked into their sashes, walked together down the temporarily erected food stalls.
The two adults walked at the front, occasionally buying sweets and snacks for the children.
Naraku and Kakashi were at the back. After a while, they greeted Mikoto and Fugaku, then separated from the main family group to check out the interesting stalls.
Their two outfits, very similar in style and color, were almost touching, looking incredibly harmonious.
Kakashi, who usually didn't have a sweet tooth, held a plate of yakisoba that Mikoto had just bought, and Fugaku had added a serving of takoyaki, the ingredients piled so high they exceeded the rim of the paper bowl.
Faced with the heavy love of his elders, he couldn't refuse and often quickly lifted his mask to take a large bite.
Compared to Kakashi's rich and filling meal, Naraku seemed much lighter, holding a bright red candied apple in his left hand and taking small bites, the crisp, juicy sounds coming one after another.
"Wait, don't move."
Kakashi swallowed the mouthful of food and reached out to wipe a small piece of candy coating from Naraku's lips.
Looking at the half-eaten candied apple in Naraku's hand, he unceremoniously opened his mouth and took a big bite from an untouched spot.
The next second, with lightning speed, he lifted his paper bowl and offered a chopstick full of yakisoba to his friend's mouth.
"Want to try?"
"…Mm."
Naraku also wanted to try something else. Just as he was about to speak and ask Kakashi to hand him the chopsticks, his mouth was stuffed with savory, chewy noodles.
—Well, I guess this works.
He slurped all the noodles into his mouth and chewed for a long time, finally swallowing them all. Before he could even say "delicious," he was given two takoyaki balls.
"Mmm…?"
Helpless, he could only continue to chew, chew, chew.
"Stop! You old pervert, how dare you resist arrest!?"
A commotion suddenly echoed from afar. Naraku glanced casually and saw a slightly disheveled head of white hair moving quickly through the chaotic crowd, followed by several young Police Force members scaling walls and desperately giving chase.
The white hair drew closer, emerging from the crowd, and Naraku clearly saw the person's attire and face: "…Lord Jiraiya?"
Kakashi, still with a takoyaki in his mouth, speculated with a familiar air.
"Eh, he probably got caught again while doing his 'research'."
"I really don't know what's so interesting about women's bathhouses."
"If he gets caught by The Police Force, the Konoha Sannin will lose all face."
Naraku nodded in agreement: "Indeed."
The situation was too urgent. Jiraiya only waved a quick greeting when he saw Kakashi and Naraku, then continued on his "escape route."
The young Police Force members relentlessly pursuing him probably didn't realize that this was the highlight of their professional careers.
Whoosh—Bang!
In the dark night sky, dozens of fireworks, trailing long tails, shot towards the heavens, bursting open with dazzling colors just before falling.
The sky was filled with fiery sparks, like burning dandelion seeds, scattering in all directions, then gradually descending as luminous rain, rustling across more than half the sky.
The light of the fireworks equally illuminated everyone on the ground, shining on the young, yet resolute faces of two boys.
It was enough for them to see each other's trembling eyelashes when they looked at each other, and the sparkling glint in their eyes, hotter than any flame….