103It seems to be a time of separationAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 103 It seems like a time of separation
"You're really my uncle?"
"What, you don't think so?"
"It's alright."
Konohamaru shook his head, then timidly asked, "Are you leaving again this time after coming back?"
"Hokage-sama said you went out on a mission, a really cool and difficult one."
Konohamaru looked at Asuma Sarutobi excitedly and said with great interest, "Is that true?"
"Then why did you call me a coward? A scaredy-cat?"
Asuma Sarutobi was defeated by this little brat.
He nodded helplessly.
Although he was surprised, since the Fourth Hokage said so, he couldn't really object, so he just nodded along.
"Today I'll cook for you, and from now on, unless I'm on a mission, I probably won't be leaving."
"Getting married and having children."
"Having babies?"
Konohamaru blinked, and Asuma Sarutobi smiled nonchalantly, "That's right."
"You'll have a companion then."
"Great! When he grows up, I'll teach him the Sexy Jutsu!"
Asuma, who had just stood up, stumbled, a bitter smile on his face.
This Sexy Jutsu really isn't going away, is it?
"It's not good!"
Not long after, Konohamaru silently commented, looking at the dishes that were served.
Asuma smiled faintly, "Then I'm truly sorry."
"Let's go eat out. It's a good chance for me to catch up with old friends."
And gather some unimportant information by the way.
Since he could step into Konoha Village with one foot, it was obvious that this 'Fourth Hokage' tacitly approved of his presence.
Given that, he needed to integrate as much as possible.
The dark night was brightly lit.
It was a festive scene, lively and bustling.
Inside the barbecue restaurant, business was booming.
Asuma led Konohamaru into this bustling barbecue restaurant.
"Over here!"
Kakashi and the others, sitting in the corner, waved.
"Coming."
Kurenai Yuhi handed Asuma a drink, smiling charmingly.
"Yuhi, you're getting more and more beautiful. Five years no see."
"Yes, five years no see."
Might Guy sat silently beside Kakashi, feeling as if he had eaten something, his heart swelling.
Kakashi ran a hand through his hair and smiled helplessly, "I say, you two shouldn't be so oblivious to your surroundings."
'Everyone hasn't seen each other in five years, there's no need to treat us differently, right?'
"How have you all been these past five years?"
Asuma put some grilled meat for Konohamaru, took a sip of his drink, and a smile appeared on his face as he felt the cool, soothing sensation.
"Pretty good."
Kakashi clinked glasses with Asuma, "The five years you missed, we lived very fulfilling lives."
"Don't you think Hokage-sama is too ambitious?"
"Is he?"
Might Guy scratched his head, "I think he's alright. Hokage-sama is truly a very good person."
"Indeed."
Kakashi agreed wholeheartedly.
Asuma was startled, it seemed there was still a lot he didn't know.
"But since you're back, then stay in Konoha Village."
"Hokage-sama isn't that petty. At that time, the Third Hokage also died with a smile, preserving his reputation."
"I know."
Asuma shook his head.
He had never hated this person wearing Minato Namikaze's skin.
Just as Kakashi and the others said, the old man wasn't really killed by this person.
If the old man hadn't resisted, he believed he could have died of old age.
Unfortunately, the pride of a Ninja Hero didn't allow him to do so.
He had understood it clearly back then, so naturally, he wouldn't come looking for trouble four or five years later.
"Let's not talk about these things. The changes in Konoha Village can't be explained in a few words."
"Come, drink, a toast to your return."
"Okay!"
Konohamaru, who had been eating grilled meat with his head down, looked up at the others, then at Asuma, as if he understood something.
…
"Ox-horse, +1!"
Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura were walking on the road. When they passed by the barbecue restaurant, they saw Asuma and the others, and Naruto chuckled.
Hinata looked over in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just feel like the adult world is all about drinking and smoking and stuff."
"Not really, the Perverted Sage often frequents entertainment districts."
Sakura rolled her eyes, then timidly looked at Sasuke and whispered, "Sasuke, you agree, right?"
"Mm!"
Sasuke was a man of few words.
He hadn't experienced the pain of clan extermination yet.
But his disinclination to speak was innate.
Except when facing Uchiha Itachi and a few other select individuals, he was always a man of few words with everyone else.
Sakura stood meekly beside Sasuke, her small hands restlessly rubbing her clothes.
Ino Yamanaka watched this scene speechlessly.
Everyone is competing fairly, why are you acting so weak?
As if no one has seen your violent side, right?
Can't learn it, just can't learn it.
It looks easy, but it's impossible to do.
"I heard Hokage-sama is going to make a big move. I wonder what kind of move it will be."
Shikamaru ignored the others and kept thinking.
Although he knew a lot of information, because he was still young, some important information required him to comprehend it himself.
Nara Shikaku wouldn't tell him this.
Shikamaru only vaguely felt that a storm was brewing.
"What big move could there be? The biggest move recently should be our team assignments, right?"
Inuzuka Kiba, holding Akamaru, said faintly, "I'm really curious how we'll be assigned to teams."
"We don't need to talk about it!"
Shikamaru looked at Choji, who was eating, and said with a smile, "I don't know how you guys will be assigned."
"I hope we can be on the same team."
Sasuke looked at Naruto, his eyes darkening.
Both he and Naruto had excellent grades, so they naturally wouldn't be assigned to the same team.
He just didn't know who he would be teamed up with.
But it didn't matter.
Sasuke put his hands in his pockets and smiled calmly. He had already awakened the Two Tomoe Sharingan and was a Ninja who had touched the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
A small team assignment, easy to handle.
The others were also discussing, strolling along the way.
Naruto calmly watched the scene before him.
He knew,
The time for separation was approaching.
Once his identity was exposed, it would no longer be possible to casually hang out with these people as they were now.
The chasm of identity was everywhere, omnipresent.
How many people would feel no pressure at all then, just like now?
The group walked on the road, their shadows stretching long, gradually fading into the distance.
…
"Fourth Hokage, long time no see."
"It hasn't been that long, Daimyo."
"Oh, no, I'm not the Daimyo anymore."
The Daimyo chuckled, sitting across from Naruto, and stretched comfortably, "Don't tell me, life in Konoha Village isn't bad."
"Mm, I've already prepared a house for you. You can move in with just your bags."
"That's great then."
The Daimyo's eyes lit up, then he asked seriously, "When do you plan to take over?"
"I'm preparing, in a few days."
"Alright!"
Upon hearing this, the Daimyo nodded thoughtfully.
Having been in the Daimyo position for so many years, he naturally understood some of Konoha Village's operating rules.
A new batch of Ninja was about to graduate.
Coupled with the fact that he was about to take on the Daimyo position at this critical juncture.
The significance was extraordinary.
"The position of Daimyo!"
Naruto stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the space.
He wondered how much this space would expand once he became the Daimyo and his prestige increased.
Anticipation…