The Training Ground's wooden stakes were covered with Kiba Inuzuka's claw marks and Shino Aburame's wormholes. Akamaru lay on Kiba's head, both of them craning their necks, staring intently at the blood-red figure in the Heavenly Screen.
"That's so cool!" Kiba suddenly jumped up, almost sending Akamaru flying. "Akamaru! Did you see that? Guy-sensei's punch!" He imitated Evening Elephant's movement, but tripped over his own Chakra. "When I become Hokage, I'll be just as impressive!"
Akamaru barked and spun around, his tail wagging like a propeller. Kiba's mind was already filled with the image of himself becoming Hokage —wearing a white Hokage robe, standing atop the Hokage Rock, receiving the cheers of the entire village, with the equally imposing Akamaru beside him...
"Haha! I'm going to turn the Hokage's office into the shape of a dog bone!" Kiba laughed heartily, hands on his hips, completely oblivious to the pitying look Shino gave him.
Shino Aburame adjusted his sunglasses, the lenses reflecting the image of Six Paths Madara being blasted away in the Heavenly Screen. His expression remained calm as always, but his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously caressed a beetle.
(How is my Torune doing now?)
At the family meeting a few days ago, Father unusually removed his sunglasses, revealing wrinkles at the corners of his eyes much deeper than Shino remembered. "Danzo's 'roots' have been completely eradicated by the Lord Hokage, but some Danzo members... are too deeply poisoned."
Shino remembered the sighs that echoed throughout the conference room. The Aburame Clan had always been peaceful and unassuming, but Danzo had taken a liking to their talent for controlling insects. Especially their Torune Torune's special Nano-Sized Venomous Insects —terrifying weapons capable of instantly destroying cellular structures.
"Torune..." the father's voice lowered. "When he volunteered to join the Root in your place, I knew..."
Shino's beetle suddenly flew away. He remembered the days when he and Torune would observe insects in the backyard when they were children. Torune always wore special gloves, afraid of hurting him. That gentle older brother was now locked in a special cell in the Anbu because the poisonous insect inside him was too dangerous.
(I must go see him.)
"Shino? Shino!" Kiba's loud voice interrupted his thoughts. "What are you daydreaming about? Are you stunned by Guy-sensei's handsomeness?"
Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "I'm thinking about the possibility of using Nano-Sized Venomous Insects in Taijutsu combat."
Tooth's expression instantly fell. "... Never mind, I didn't ask."
Hinata Hyuga stood quietly to the side, her snow-white eyes reflecting the fierce battle in the Heavenly Screen. When Guy's leg bone broke in the Heavenly Screen, she unconsciously covered her mouth, her slender fingers trembling slightly.
(Teacher Kai... you have to win...)
But soon, her thoughts drifted far away. That blond boy who always smiled so brightly—was he training diligently somewhere right now? In the scene that played on the Heavenly Screen last time, the future Naruto-kun so powerful, so reliable...
Hinata's cheeks suddenly flushed. She remembered the first scene played on the Heavenly Screen, where she had mustered the courage to confess her feelings. But in reality, Naruto-kun seemed... completely oblivious to her emotions?
"Hey Hinata!" Kiba suddenly leaned in, nudging her with his elbow with a mischievous grin. "Thinking about Naruto again?"
"I... I didn't!" Hinata's ears instantly turned bright red, her two index fingers unconsciously tapping together. "I was just thinking... about Guy's Taijutsu... that..."
Akamaru tilted his head and let out a soft "Huh?", clearly not believing her explanation either.
Shino suddenly spoke up, "According to the information relayed by the Kikaichū, Naruto is currently training in the Land of Land of Hot Water." He paused, "... with Lord Jiraiya and Naruto's clansman."
Hinata's eyes lit up instantly. "R-Really? Naruto-kun... it's good that he's alright..."
Kiba exaggeratedly clutched his chest. "Ugh! This stench of love! Akamaru, let's go find some normal air to breathe!" He turned and ran, Akamaru bouncing on his head.
Shino, watching the battle still playing on the Heavenly Screen, suddenly made up his mind:
"Hinata, please ask Kurenai-sensei for leave for me." He turned and walked towards the village. "I need to see the Lord Hokage."
"Huh? Now??" Hinata looked at her companion's retreating figure in surprise. "But training..."
"Some things are more important than training." Shino's voice drifted on the wind, "Tell Kiba for me that his Taijutsu... still has a lot of room for improvement."
Hinata blinked, suddenly understanding something. She looked at the crimson steam emanating from Guy-sensei in the Heavenly Screen, then at Shino's resolute back, and nodded gently.
From afar came Kiba's shout, "Hinata! Shino! Come quick! Guy-sensei is..."
The sound was carried away by the wind. Hinata ran after Kiba, her long hair fluttering behind her. She didn't know what the future held, but at this moment, she only wanted to cheer for Guy, the teacher burning with life in the Heavenly Screen, and pray for the boy chasing his dream in the distance.
(Naruto-kun... please come back safely...)
Deep within Konoha's underground prison, a black-haired youth wearing a special mask suddenly raised his head, as if sensing something. Countless nano-sized venomous insects were quietly sleeping on his skin beneath his prison uniform.