Naruto returned to the village with Hinata, Neji, and Kakashi. He said to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, I need to report the results of our pursuit of Sasuke to Granny Tsunade. Shikamaru seems to have exhausted himself, and he's still in the hospital, so I'll have to go."
Kakashi said apologetically, "I'm really sorry, Naruto. I wasn't much help this time."
Naruto smiled. "You don't need to apologize, Kakashi-sensei. I was already surprised to run into you on the way. That means you came after us as soon as you got back to the village. You'd only just finished your mission, and you didn't even get a proper rest. If anyone should apologize, it's us, for making you worry so much."
Kakashi smiled. "What are you apologizing for? I'm your teacher. Of course I'd worry about you. All right, enough of that. What's done is done, so go report to the Fifth. I'll be heading off."
Naruto nodded. "Okay. See you, Kakashi-sensei."
After Kakashi left, Hinata said, "Naruto-kun, I'll head home with Neji now, too."
Naruto nodded. "Okay, I'll come see you later."
Hinata replied, "All right. See you later, then. Neji and I will be going."
After saying goodbye to Hinata and Neji, Naruto went to the Hokage's office to see Tsunade. He was just about to report on the mission's successes and failures when she waved him off. "No need for a report. I've already heard about this mission. Now I have a more important one for you."
Naruto asked curiously, "What mission?"
Tsunade replied, "You'll go to the Land of the Moon to look for something. Jiraiya will tell you what it is once you reach the Land of Hot Water. He'll be going with you this time, along with Kakashi and Hinata Hyuga. You only have three days