79: Chapter 79 LonelinessOn the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, the headquarters of the Tianqi Chamber of Commerce was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the huge banquet hall was decorated in a festive atmosphere.
All the members in the Land of Waves gathered together, and the atmosphere at the annual meeting was so enthusiastic it almost lifted the roof off.
Naruto, dressed in a custom-made dark suit, strolled around with a wine glass in hand, clinking glasses with this person and chatting with that person, creating a lively atmosphere.
Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura, Ino, and other female members were all dressed in beautiful gowns, sitting around a table, a lively and friendly gathering, temporarily setting aside their usual slight grudges.
Tiezhou, Yunque, Shuiyue, and others gathered in another place to discuss their respective harvests this year.
Even Deidara changed into a more normal-looking casual outfit.Although he still occasionally pursed his lips, his eyes were less aggressive and more.curious about the new environment.
As the annual meeting reached its climax, Naruto stepped onto the stage and began the annual tradition—the annual awards ceremony.
".In the past year, many outstanding employees have emerged in our chamber of commerce.They have worked diligently and conscientiously, making indelible contributions to the development of the chamber of commerce!"
Naruto's voice was loud and infectious.
He read out several names and presented awards to Sakura for "Best Medical Contribution," Tessho for "Security Model of the Year," Hibari for "Intelligence Vanguard," and so on.
Then, he changed the subject, his gaze sweeping across the audience before finally settling on the logistics department area.
"Next up is the 'Best Newcomer Award'!"
"This employee has not been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for long, but with his amazing diligence and outstanding efficiency, he quickly integrated into the team and made outstanding contributions in the logistical support position!"
"He worked hard without complaint, disregarding personal gain or loss, and even during the mission in the Land of Fields, he demonstrated great courage and a strong sense of responsibility!"
Naruto's face showed approval, and his voice rose:
"Let's give a warm round of applause to our Logistics Department's rising star—Afei!"
The spotlight instantly shone on Afei, who was sitting in the corner, trying to minimize his presence!
Obito: "?"
He was completely stunned, and almost dropped the juice glass in his hand.
What.what's going on?
Newcomer of the Year?
I?
A wave of enthusiastic applause erupted as everyone turned to look at him, their eyes filled with curiosity, goodwill, and encouragement.
"Senior Afei!Congratulations!"
"Hurry up and collect your prize, Manager Fei!"
Several of his employees were more excited than he was, and they pushed him forcefully.
Obito was almost dazed as he was pushed to his feet, his mind completely blank.
He had been lying low for so long, imagining countless scenarios of exposure, battle, and conspiracy, but he never imagined.he would be standing on the podium?
He walked stiffly onto the stage, feeling as if he were stepping on cotton.
The spotlights blinded him, and the dense crowd and enthusiastic gazes below the stage made him feel.overwhelmed.
Naruto shoved an exquisite gift and a thick, heavy-looking red envelope into his hand, patted him hard on the shoulder, and shouted loudly to the audience.
"This is the role model for our chamber of commerce!No matter what you did before, as long as you are willing to work hard and have the ability, the chamber of commerce will not treat you unfairly!"
Holding the heavy gift and red envelope, and listening to the deafening applause and Naruto's encouraging words, Obito's expression behind the mask was extremely complicated.
Absurd, ridiculous, ironic.
There was also a hint of something that confused him, a sense of being recognized.a warm feeling?
He lurked here to cause destruction.
Everything he did was for the purpose of better gathering intelligence and understanding the enemy.
But now, he is being commended for "duty-bound"?
This feeling.is so eerie!
He staggered off the stage, his body contorted, stuffing the gifts and red envelopes haphazardly into his pocket, feeling like a clown being roasted over a fire.
The annual meeting ended in a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Naruto waved his hand and announced that everyone except those on duty would be on vacation for almost a month!
Year-end bonuses and New Year's gifts have already been distributed, and the entire Chamber of Commerce headquarters is filled with a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
The employees left in twos and threes, discussing their holiday plans, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.
Deidara also received a rather generous red envelope.
He forced himself to remain calm as he stuffed the item into his pocket, muttering, "Hmph, at least.there's some sincerity involved."
As she turned around, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
On the system interface, his pitiful loyalty level secretly jumped up, becoming 8.
Obito walked out of the headquarters building alone, somewhat lost and dejected, aimlessly wandering the streets of the Land of Waves at night.
Along both sides of the street, red lanterns formed a warm river of light, illuminating every happy smiling face.
The children, dressed in new clothes, chased and played, holding newly bought toys and snacks in their hands.
The shops were bustling with activity, filled with the aroma of delicious food and cheerful laughter.
This was a kind of ordinary, mundane, and genuine happiness that he had never seen before.
"Manager Afei!" a familiar voice called out to him.
Obito turned around; he was one of his subordinates in the logistics department, a kind-hearted middle-aged man.
At this moment, he was holding his young son in one arm and his wife with a gentle smile on her other arm, while also carrying bags of New Year's goods in his hands.
"Manager Fei, haven't you had dinner yet?Come on, let's go to my place!My wife cooked a ton of dishes!You won a big prize at the company's annual meeting today, we have to celebrate!"
The man extended a warm invitation, and his wife nodded with a smile, while the little boy looked curiously at the mask on Obito's face.
Looking at the genuine enthusiasm on the faces of this family of three, free of any gloom, and at the contentment in their eyes about their current lives, Obito felt as if something was blocking his throat.
Invite him.to have New Year's Eve dinner?
This ordinary, simple, yet warm feeling, so full of everyday life, is something he hasn't experienced in many years.Things you've experienced, or even things you've long forgotten?
He awkwardly declined, "No.no need, I.I have something to do."
Watching the family of three chat and laugh as they blended into the crowd, Obito stood there, motionless for a long time.
late at night.
Obito sat alone on the edge of the highest water tower in the Land of Waves, the cold wind blowing the hem of his clothes.
He removed the spiral mask he had worn for so long, revealing a face that was pale from years of lack of sunlight, with one side of his face covered in scars.
Looking down at the sleeping town below.
The lights of countless homes twinkled in the cold night, like stars scattered across the earth.
You can still faintly hear the laughter of people staying up late on New Year's Eve coming from afar.
Laughter, the aroma of food, the sporadic popping of firecrackers.
All of this intertwined to form a powerful and real life force, impacting the mental defenses he had maintained for many years.
Project Eye of the Moon.
Is creating a world of dreams, devoid of real suffering.really better than the real, tangible warmth right before our eyes?
To destroy everything in front of us for a mere illusion?
For the first time, he felt a clear wavering in his belief that had sustained him for countless years.
Meanwhile, the apartment buildings allocated to single members by the Chamber of Commerce presented a different, bustling scene.
Although each of them had a spacious suite, these people clearly didn't intend to live separately.
Suigetsu kicked open Deidara's door and dragged him out from a pile of clay and design drawings: "Come on, come on!Artist!The chairman said there's a hot pot party on the rooftop tonight!"
Deidara looked reluctant: "Let go of me!I'm conceiving a new art form.Hey!Don't pull my clothes!"
The rooftop terrace had already been decorated with colorful lights.
A large copper hot pot was bubbling away, releasing a rich aroma.
Naruto, Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura, Ino, Tesshu, Hibari, Suigetsu, and Deidara, who was forcibly dragged there, sat in a circle.
"Come on, come on!Fill it all up!"
Naruto poured drinks or alcohol for everyone.
The atmosphere quickly warmed up.
Suigetsu snatched the sliced meat that Deidara had just cooked.Sakura and Ino cooked vegetables while secretly competing to see who could give Naruto more food, which drew frequent glances from Tsunade.
Shizune held Tun Tun, helplessly watching the group of people go crazy.
Deidara was initially tense, but after a few drinks and being given a few sips of soup by Suigetsu, he gradually relaxed.
Naruto looked at the noisy scene before him, at his friends who had gathered around him for various reasons, but were now able to sit together like ordinary people, eating and playing around, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.
He felt that if he could manage his current life well and have enough self-protection ability, and make his people eat with smiles, then he was pretty amazing.
As night deepened, the laughter and chatter from the rooftop blended into the hustle and bustle of the Land of Waves.
Naruto was a little tipsy from drinking, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, gazing at the blurry shadow of the tower in the distance.
Some people are immersed in the joy of the festivities, while others are examining their own hearts in solitude.
On top of that tall water tower, Obito Uchiha still sat quietly alone in the night, motionless, like a real statue.
The road ahead seems to have become somewhat blurry.
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