By the lakeside pavilion, weeping willows hung like mist.
Lush branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled green shade.
The lotuses in the pond were in full bloom.
Pink petals gleamed like jade, white stamens frosted over, and emerald leaves looked ready to drip.
Cradling lustrous dewdrops that rolled down and stirred ripples, shattering the reflections.
Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju wore comfortable yukata.
One in dark colors, the other plain, with white bottles and red cups between them as they sat facing each other by the railing.
Tea smoke curled from the table. Dragonflies skimmed the lotus tips, while cicada song faded into the deep shade.
Hashirama's hearty laughter occasionally rang out amid their casual conversation.
It was a rare moment of peace between old friends.
Until an unwelcome third party hurried over and shattered the mood.
"Big Brother!"
Tobirama Senju, clad in a blue yukata and a pure white haori, walked over the bridge.
The moment his scarlet eyes fell on Madara Uchiha, they turned cold.
"Don't you have a home of your own?"
"Hmph."
Madara Uchiha snorted disdainfully and toyed with the red cup of liquor in his hand.
"All right, all right~"
Hashirama Senju shook his head helplessly. "Tobirama, why are you back?"
As the Sea Shadow's administrative advisor and the director of the Ninjutsu Research Institute,
he had plenty to deal with every day and rarely returned home.
"For this."
Tobirama Senju immediately took three manga volumes out of his spatial ring and placed them on the stone table.
They were Naruto from Gintama Star.
As one of Sea Ninja Village's higher-ups, he naturally knew about such things.
"What are these?"
Hashirama Senju curiously picked up the top volume.
"Is he... Naruto?"
Though he looked much older, Hashirama still recognized the goofy