Hiding

Front view of the Great Green Tree.

The light under the streetlights was dim and yellowish.

An elderly couple returning from visiting friends stopped in front of the Great Green Tree. Inoichi Yamanaka turned his head to look in the direction of the Great Green Tree, pointed behind the tree, and asked in confusion.

"Rino, I hear someone crying?"

Yamanaka Rino turned her head and looked at Aoki for a few seconds, then spoke with a slight shift in her eyes.

"Really? Then Inoichi, why don't you go and take a look?"

"Okay." Inoichi Yamanaka responded and walked over there.

Behind the Great Green Tree, the moment Ino heard her father's voice, her mind went blank.

She abruptly released Naruto, causing her sobbing to stop abruptly, but the sudden silence made her body tremble slightly, and tears continued to flow.

Hearing her father's footsteps growing clearer, Ino's heart pounded, and she gripped Naruto's neck tightly with both hands. She whispered anxiously in his ear, "..."

"What to do?"

Naruto didn't answer, but simply pulled Ino aside. He could hear Ino rapid heartbeat. Ino's reaction was strong; her breathing was rapid, so he took Ino hand.

The warmth from her palm slightly calmed Ino, and at that moment, Inoichi Yamanaka's footsteps were very close. The two could sense that if Inoichi Yamanaka steps forward, he would find them with nowhere to retreat.

Just then, Yamanaka Rino not far away.

"Inoichi, it seems like Ino is at the shop."

"Hmm?" Inoichi Yamanaka turned to look at his wife upon hearing this. "Ino was still taking a nap this afternoon. Is she awake now?"

Behind the Great Green Tree, Ino tightly covered her mouth, her father's voice only two meters away, blocked by the Great Green Tree.

"Let's go back and check on him first. That child has been working too hard on the mission," Yamanaka Rino said with a light laugh.

"Good."

After Inoichi Yamanaka finished speaking, he turned around and walked back, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

"I need to go back right now!" Ino pushed his hand away as if she'd been electrocuted, stammering as she slowly moved out of the shade of the Great Green Tree, "You... you..."

Naruto was speechless at Ino's sudden change of attitude. After watching her ramble on and on without making any sense, Ino simply turned around and ran away with a red face.

Half a minute later, Naruto also came out from under the Great Green Tree, stood under the Kishita a while looking at the brightly lit Yamanaka Flower Shop, and then turned and left.

Under the cover of night, he strolled along Konohagakure Street, intending to buy some food to take home. The street, lined with shops like ribbons of lights, stretched out before him. Naruto blended into the crowd, casually scanning the food stalls along the street.

The sizzling sound of hot oil rising into the air filled the air, and the crowds in front of the brightly lit stalls were noisy and bustling.

"Yes, I want that Takoyaki and that..." He pointed to the golden-yellow food, but for a moment he couldn't remember the name, and he stood there speechless.

"Tempura," someone behind me reminded me.

"Yes, that one." Naruto agreed, but froze the moment he turned his head.

"What's with that expression? Are you surprised to see me?" Sakura asked with a smile.

Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, her short pink hair and dark blue pupils reflected the bright lights and Naruto's surprised face.

Her skin was snow-white, and her bare arms, like lotus roots, hung naturally at her sides.

"No, Sakura. Aren't you training with Lord Tsunade at Konoha Hospital?" Naruto felt a little embarrassed, recalling the scene in the duty room last month.

Her question, "Who is Sasuke?" truly stunned him.

Later, with the workload becoming heavier, he simply disappeared. Team Seven was practically defunct Sasuke, and Kakashi was chosen by Tsunade as her successor. He was busy with further training and completing missions to accumulate experience, and had no time to discipline them.

Sakura went to Tsunade's Medical Unit for further training, while Naruto, as a temporary worker in Konohagakure, flexibly switched between various Genin classes on missions.

In summary, the situation of Team Seven is as follows: the rebellious Sasuke out of school to seek revenge, Sakura took the initiative to take the postgraduate entrance examination and became a graduate student, the original mentor Kakashi was forced to pursue a doctoral degree, and only Naruto, the street urchin, was half dead and unresponsive, so much so that Genin could not graduate as a genin.

"I happened to be off today, so I came out for a stroll by myself," Sakura said with a natural smile, as if she had no recollection of what had happened recently.

"Naruto, you've been quite busy lately. It's been a long time since I've seen you and Kakashi-sensei."

"During the Chunin Ninja Exams, the village had a backlog of missions, so being busy was unavoidable," Naruto said casually, scratching his face.

"Sir, your Takoyaki and tempura are ready!"

"Oh, thank you."

Naruto reached out to pay and took the food from the vendor. He turned to look at Sakura, intending to find an excuse to leave, but she grabbed his clothes and gave him some instructions.

"My portion will be ready soon, just wait a moment."

"Forehead"

Naruto, unable to escape after Sakura interrupted his spellcasting, had no choice but to stand aside and wait. A few minutes later, Sakura emerged from the crowd, blowing hot air on Takoyaki.

"Walk with me for a bit," she said with a smile.

"Okay." Naruto thought for a moment and then agreed.

The night view of Konohagakure Street wasn't particularly attractive; in fact, it was rather monotonous, with all the dim, yellowish lights looking like they were running out of credit. The sky was a hazy gray, devoid of stars or moon.

Naruto walked ahead carrying the food, one hand in his pocket. Sakura followed a step behind him, at a leisurely pace. She blew on the steaming Takoyaki and put it into her mouth.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Sakura's voice came from behind.

"I have a dog at home. I'll go back and tear things apart with it," Naruto replied lazily.

"Isn't it cute?"

"I don't think so. It's a bit scary," he said after a moment's thought.

Sakura chuckled, "Terrible? What strange thing have you been raising this time?"

"I picked it up by the roadside, and it's a little shy."

"Naruto." Sakura suddenly stopped and called his name formally.

"Huh?" Naruto stopped in his tracks, now standing four or five meters away from Sakura, looking at her from a distance. "What's wrong?"

Are you avoiding me?

"No," Naruto denied, but the considerable distance between them said it all. "I just don't want to cause trouble. Do you remember Sasuke?"

"Hmm," Sakura frowned, "Are you going to ask me or her?"

"What do you mean?" Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly.

"The Sakura you know, she's hidden away." Sakura's eyes crinkled into a smile as she pointed to her head and said, "I still remember Sasuke-kun."

"Oh, that's a pity." Naruto turned and left.

He heard hurried footsteps behind him, and Sakura ran up to him and stopped him. "Why are you reacting like that?"

"I don't know you well, so there's nothing to talk about." Naruto seemed completely indifferent.