"Wow, this fish smells amazing..."
Naruto sat by the pond, tearing into a grilled fish. He was soaked to the skin, but he didn't seem to care.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal it."
The sight made Hyuga Makoto reach over and press a hand to Naruto's head.
"And we're not fishing with Kakashi and the others. Why did you jump in and hook the fish yourself?"
"I was hungry..."
Naruto paid him no mind and kept eating with gusto.
Still, Makoto's words made him pause and give him an odd look.
If I hadn't gone in and hooked a fish, I'd really be in for it later.
Naruto huffed inwardly. Makoto treated him well, but sometimes the man could be downright awful!
To avoid trouble, Naruto figured jumping in to hook a fish was a small price to pay.
Of course, he knew it might not save him from trouble later.
But like Neji, he had gradually gotten used to it. Besides, Makoto was like a big brother to them.
"What's that look for, kid?"
Makoto could read the boy's thoughts, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
So that's how this kid sees me?
Next time, I won't stop you from putting makeup on your dad. I'll even take pictures when you do!
Makoto was muttering to himself when Uchiha Izumi spoke softly.
"Makoto, could I talk to you alone...?"
"Huh? Of course."
Makoto blinked, but he didn't refuse.
Izumi had been distracted ever since that battle. Clearly, Uchiha Itachi had gotten to her again.
She'd come so close to hitting him. But the gap between a Mangekyo and an ordinary Sharingan really is enormous...
For some reason, Makoto thought of that famous battle where the two brothers had held back against each other.
Itachi