All Gathered

Sasuke nudged Naruto with his elbow. "We figured quite a few people would come, so Naruto and I prepared some snacks."

Naruto froze nervously for a second before reacting. He opened the package beside him. "These are potato cookies and fried potato chips I made." Following Sasuke's suggestion, he had sorted and arranged them a little, so even the paper boxes could hold quite a lot.

Shikamaru was a little surprised. "I didn't expect someone who eats Instant Noodles every day to know how to cook this stuff."

Naruto scratched his head awkwardly as he explained, "I borrowed Sasuke's kitchen, actually. I had him teach me, but I grew all the potatoes myself!"

Sasuke took out two more boxes. "These are homemade candies. If possible, I'd like to hear everyone's opinions. They crumble a little when eaten, so please be careful. Both boxes are the same."

Yoshino swiftly slapped away Shikaku's reaching hand, then turned to Sasuke. "Can I bring them out together once the other guests arrive?"

Sasuke nodded with a smile. "Thank you for the trouble."

Yoshino left to make preparations, and Sasuke recalled the board game table beside them when he had first entered the room.

"Why don't Senior Shikaku finish this game with Shikamaru first? I don't really understand it, but I interrupted you earlier. I'm very sorry."

Shikamaru didn't care. "Give me five minutes. Come on, Dad, let's continue. Have you decided where to play?"

Seeing that his son was getting serious, Shikaku put on a solemn expression. "The guests are already here. How can we make them wait for nothing? Shikamaru, you should keep your friends company. You've improved this round. Keep working hard next time."

Why does it look like Dad couldn't beat his son and was trying to save face...

After saying that, Shikaku made a move.

Shikaku stared at the board. "I lost again."

Neither side could let the conversation die, but Shikamaru didn't like talking. Sasuke had the persona of a cool, aloof guy, while Shikaku and the two kids had only just met and were separated by a generation. After all, they had come to get to know one another and deepen their relationship.

Before an awkward silence could settle in, Sasuke spoke first. Otherwise, once the boisterous Naruto started chatting, it would turn into another gossip session about trivial Ninja Academy matters. In theory, that was how it should be, but Sasuke really wouldn't have much to add.

"This is my first visit. I noticed the paintings on your paper doors and walls, but I didn't see any signatures or seals. Who painted them?"

Shikaku looked faintly proud. "They're pretty good, aren't they? That kid Shikamaru can't appreciate them."

"They're elegant, beautiful, and vividly lifelike. But isn't it a little wasteful to use artwork of this quality so casually as home decoration?" Sasuke's praise came from the heart.

"We usually ask the Nara elders to paint them. After all, there are always some people in a ninja clan whose talent isn't quite enough. Learning another craft gives them a way to support themselves. Of course, it's also a required skill for the clan head."

Seeing his father looking pleased with himself, Shikamaru undermined him from the side. "Don't praise my dad along with them. His works are hung in inconspicuous places inside. They're really not fit to be shown."

After speaking, Shikamaru's expression tightened and he fell silent. He had probably taken a hard hit from his dad behind his back.

"You all keep talking. I'll put the game away."

Shikaku stepped away for a moment, and with three people of the same age left in the room, the atmosphere in the guest room relaxed somewhat.

The Ninja Academy didn't have much winter or summer homework now, and there was no need to worry about copying assignments or rushing to finish them. Their conversation topics were nothing more than manga and idle chatter. By the time Shikaku returned, the three had already started playing cards.

Naruto had already experienced the novelty of television at Sasuke's house. Having it on in the living room made things feel livelier, and he had heard there would be several special singing programs today.

For a time after Sasuke had first crossed over, he had been "mourning" his parents. Later, out of curiosity, he had checked what programs the ninja world had. There were fewer than five channels in total. Four were all things like the Will of Fire, "Hokage-sama Has Worked Hard," and "The Other Villages' Terrible Development." The remaining channel aired advertisements on an endless loop. Sasuke had never voluntarily turned on the television again after that one time.

When Naruto had first come to his house, he had sprawled in the bedroom and watched it a few times. After that, he stopped watching too.

Entertainment was scarce. Setting aside something as complicated as making computer games, perhaps he could copy over a few board games in the short term. He wasn't counting on making money from them. It would just be nice not to be so bored when guests came over or people gathered together.

Naruto and Sasuke had not arrived especially early either. Before long, a girl's voice suddenly rang out from outside the living room.

"Shikamaru, I heard Sasuke arrived first today, and you didn't even come get me! Honestly!"

The voice was somewhat unfamiliar, yet also somewhat familiar. With the sound of the door opening, a human-shaped weight threw itself onto Sasuke.

It was Ino.

"Ah~ Sasuke looks so handsome and mature in that outfit today!"

"This is great! No other girls are here to fight me for Sasuke. Today, Sasuke belongs to me alone!"

Then she blatantly pressed herself against Sasuke and took advantage of him.

Naruto looked disgusted, while Shikamaru was unsurprised.

All that could be said was that the Ino-Shika-Cho clans truly had a close relationship. She had come straight in without even waiting for someone to open the door.

Shikaku gossiped from the side, "Is Ino Sasuke's girlfriend now?"

To prevent Ino from randomly forcing a label onto him, Sasuke immediately clarified in all seriousness, "I've already rejected her, but it doesn't seem to have worked very well."

"Then it seems my daughter still needs to keep trying. Sasuke-kun, why don't you tell us what type of girl you like?"

"Hello, Uncle Inoichi!" Sasuke greeted him, and Naruto quickly followed suit.

Shikamaru also greeted him. "Hello, Uncle Inoichi."

Since her own father had asked about it directly, Sasuke could only praise her. "Ino is one of the most outstanding girls in our class. She's cheerful and sincere, and she has great taste in clothes. But because of my family situation, I don't plan on dating for the time being. I'm truly very sorry."

Ino was used to being rejected by Sasuke, but after being praised so enthusiastically, her face turned bright red. Taking advantage of the moment, she asked, "Hey, Sasuke-kun, do you like girls with long hair or short hair?"

"Long hair offers more hairstyle options, but I wouldn't choose a girlfriend based on her hairstyle. You look very pretty as you are now."

Watching his daughter's fierce offensive fail to sway Sasuke in the slightest, Inoichi said, "It seems my daughter isn't your type. What a pity."

"Uncle Inoichi, your daughter is so outstanding that she'll definitely have many admirers in the future. Konoha is full of talented people, so there will certainly be boys worthy of your daughter. There's absolutely no need to worry about this."

Naruto pulled a face. "Sasuke, you suck-up."

Shikamaru thought to himself that those were serious, open, straightforward compliments, but they had landed exactly where they needed to, and the adults clearly appreciated them. He could never say things like that. Too troublesome.

Not long after, the Akimichi clan arrived as well. That more or less marked the official start of afternoon tea: the adults in one room, the kids in another.

Although Shikamaru had repeatedly told them not to bring anything, neither of the other two families had arrived empty-handed. Good thing Sasuke had not listened to him, or he and Naruto would really have looked like freeloaders coming over for food.

Fruit, dango, pastries, little snacks—dinner would be served before long, so these were merely things to pass the time while waiting. There was not much of any of it.

"Five!" Choji suddenly shouted, slamming his hand onto the table as he shot to his feet.

"Aunt Nara, where did you buy these pink pastries?"