Elsewhere, on a quiet path away from the bustling streets.
Why did the atmosphere feel like it was getting worse and worse...?
Trailing slowly behind them, Haruno Sakura watched the two figures ahead of her. A faintly sorrowful look gradually appeared on her face as that thought crossed her mind.
Ever since their sparring match had ended, they had walked all the way until night had fallen. Yet the two of them had not exchanged a single word. They had gone from walking side by side to leaving enough room between them for two Sakuras. The atmosphere had only grown worse.
Though she did not know why they were acting this way, she could not help but begin to worry deep down.
"Um... it feels like it's been a long time. How about we go have Ichiraku Ramen together, like old times?"
Finally unable to bear the silence any longer, Sakura spoke, her voice trembling slightly.
Yet her cautious, quivering words did not break the silence. The two figures ahead continued walking forward without a word.
This...
What happened? Why did it feel like...
Had they gotten into a fight? Receiving no response, Sakura looked at Uzumaki Naruto ahead to her left, then at Second Pillar ahead to her right. Unease welled up inside her.
A hint of fear appeared on her face as well.
But all she could see were their backs. She could not see their expressions, nor did she know whether they had really argued or what had happened.
Their silent behavior made her increasingly uneasy and afraid. For a while, she did not know what else to say.
"No time."
However, just as Sakura became so anxious that she was nearly about to rush over and force them to talk things out, one of the two