Night fell over the Nara clan head's residence.
Nara Shikaku, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi sat around a table laden with exquisite dishes.
Steam slowly rose from the food, a feast for the eyes at a glance, yet none of the three had any mind to start eating.
From time to time, they would tacitly glance toward the tightly shut door, as though awaiting an important guest.
Bang! Bang!
After a long while, a moderate knock broke the silence in the room.
Shikaku immediately rose to his feet, strode quickly to the entrance, and pulled open the door.
Standing outside was none other than the person they had been waiting for—Naruto Uzumaki.
However, to Shikaku's slight surprise, Naruto had not come alone.
Kakashi Hatake and Jiraiya stood behind Naruto, one on each side.
Kakashi's only visible eye curved into a crescent as he gave an awkward laugh. "Well, I heard Mr. Shikaku's place has a lavish dinner we can mooch off."
Jiraiya, standing beside him, let out a hearty chuckle, his voice booming. "Shikaku, you wouldn't turn us away, would you?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Nara Shikaku's face. His eyes widened slightly as his gaze swept over Naruto's calm face and the two uninvited guests behind him, before he swiftly regained his composure.
Shikaku stepped aside to make way, speaking respectfully. "Of course not, Lord Jiraiya. Kakashi, please come in. I only heard from that boy Shikamaru that Naruto would be coming. I didn't expect the two of you to come along as well."
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind at once. Had Lord Jiraiya come because of their conversation last night?
Before long, the six of them were seated around the dining table.
The seating, originally prepared for four people, was somewhat cramped, but it was just enough