"Forget it. I'll talk about Shisui-senpai's matter later. Besides, I promised Shisui-senpai that I wouldn't tell anyone else about him."
After reporting the events at Takigakure to the Third Hokage, Naruto walked home alone.
As for Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, they had surely gone home as well.
After all, the moon was already high in the sky. Who would still be wandering around outside at this hour?
Of course, Naruto had considered probing the Third Hokage for information about Shisui, but after thinking it over, he ultimately gave up on the idea.
"Growl~"
Just as Naruto's thoughts began to wander, his stomach suddenly growled.
"Ugh~, I'm so hungry. Should I get something to eat before going home? Karin doesn't know I came back today, so she probably didn't prepare dinner for me, right?"
Naruto muttered as he held his stomach.
Now that everything had been dealt with and he had finally relaxed, Naruto immediately felt the hunger gnawing at him.
When the four of them returned to Konoha, it had already been around six or seven in the evening.
Because so much had happened in Takigakure, and the group had split across several battlefields, the report took until nearly ten at night.
Although quite a few shops remained open late at night in Konoha's current prosperity, and there were still plenty of people on the streets,
a considerable number of people had certainly already gone to bed.
This was especially true for ninja who had missions the next day. Getting enough sleep was extremely important.
Just as Naruto was considering whether to go home and eat instant noodles, he caught sight of a black silhouette atop a utility pole in the distance.
"Who's there?"
With a sharp shout, Naruto no longer had the mind to worry about his hunger.
Ever