Little Sasuke like you is naturally meant to be eaten by Brother Kuro, *kya!*

"If I could have understood these things when I was younger, perhaps I would actually feel some emotion returning to Konoha now that I've traveled all over the Ninja World. Who knows..."

He silently murmured to himself, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the direction of the Ninja Academy and the former territory of the Uchiha Clan before the Nine-Tails Incident.

For him, those two places, which respectively symbolize "school" and "home," are the true coordinates that hold the weight of the first ten years of his life.

But now, that place that symbolized "home" no longer exists.

And that place that symbolized "school," that place where I truly made many genuine friends...

Koko subconsciously glanced at Kakashi beside him, and the image of another boy involuntarily flashed into his mind.

That silly guy who used to always follow me around, wearing goggles and grinning like an idiot.

They once walked this path together.

From Obito, himself, and Rin at the very beginning, to Guy, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Anko later on...

From the Ninja Academy to graduating as Genin, and then to the outbreak and end of the Third Ninja World War.

As time goes by, some of the people around me have unknowingly disappeared.

And now, I've become one of those missing people...

I long to buy osmanthus blossoms and share wine, but it will never be like the carefree days of my youth.

"Things have changed, people have changed...?"

Gazing at the street before me, gradually sinking into tranquility in the twilight, I murmured a sigh to myself.

Whether it's time, oneself, someone who shouldn't have died, or some utterly idiotic fool who has degenerated into a beast...

The thought of that spiky figure with the orange Spiral Mask made Kou feel dizzy, and he shook his head violently, trying to completely banish this ominous image from his mind.

Just as Kou was immersed in complex thoughts, Kakashi beside him noticed his unusual behavior.

This Mizukage Aide from Mist Village had been gazing intently at the scenery of Konoha with a completely different look in his eyes ever since he stepped out of the Hokage Building.

Kakashi silently overturned his previous judgment in his heart:

The Mizukage Aide's earlier statement about "longing for Konoha" might not have been merely a diplomatic formality.

He looked at Kou Na's profile, which appeared somewhat dazed in the twilight, and his gaze softened unconsciously.

"It's getting late. Before heading to the hotel, how about I take you all for a meal first?"

Kakashi stopped and pointed to a small alleyway in the distance that was still lit up, his tone unusually lighthearted:

"There happens to be a very famous ramen Konoha nearby. Although it's a bit small, the taste will definitely not disappoint."

Kōzō looked in the direction Kakashi was pointing and instantly guessed the name of the ramen shop Kakashi had mentioned in a mere fraction of a second.

The strongest safe zone in the Hokage world, the true strongest person in the Ninja World, the strongest investor in the Ninja World, Ichiraku Ramen Shop run by Otsutsuki Ichiraku!

Watching the steam rising into the air not far away, a faint sense of nostalgia welled up in Kou's heart.

"Ichiraku Ramen, huh? It's been so many years since I've been there. I wonder if Teuchi has forgotten about his old customer..."

"Well, even if I sat down in front of him now, he wouldn't recognize me."

Suppressing the barely perceptible regret in his heart, he smiled and nodded at Kakashi.

Kisame and Utakata, who were beside him, nodded and followed silently without saying anything more.

"Who knows, you might even unexpectedly run into a golden-haired fox who loves ramen there..."

Thinking of Naruto, whom he hadn't seen for many years, Koko murmured to himself as he walked:

"I wonder how that child is doing now after all these years. I hope the Third Hokage and Kakashi have been more cooperative these past few years and stopped letting those unruly people of Konoha run rampant."

Thinking of those unpleasant memories from the past, a cold glint flashed in Kou's eyes:

"If those scoundrels of Konoha are still practicing that domineering will, then I don't recommend letting them experience what true 'dominance' really means!"

Want to live? Go tell your brother's invincible Great Susanoo's Overlord Chasing Wind Fist!!

Just as Kou and his group were about to cross the alley, a small figure emerged from the twilight at the alley's entrance.

The petite figure carried a large bag of vegetables, her body covered in dust and bruises from training.

The ends of the boy's short black hair were slightly lifted by the evening breeze, and his youthful yet already handsome face was covered with a deep gloom that was very incongruous with his age.

"Kakashi?"

Sasuke stopped in his tracks the moment he saw the silver-haired figure in front of him.

"Didn't you say you had a very important task to do these next few days and couldn't come home for the time being? How come...?"

Sasuke suddenly stopped at this point.

He then looked past Kakashi and onto the three unfamiliar figures behind him wearing Mist Village Forehead Protector.

Sasuke instantly understood, looked at Kakashi quietly, and shut his mouth, saying nothing more.

Kakashi looked at the unexpectedly small figure in front of him and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

Just as he was pondering how to explain Sasuke's identity to the Mist Village delegation beside him, Koko, who was standing to the side, appeared the instant Sasuke appeared.

He then recognized Sasuke's identity.

Those melancholy eyes, Sasuke -like features, and the early signs of Jiahao's talent even at such a young age...

The child's identity is beyond doubt!

Kou suppressed the urge to immediately activate his Mangekyou Mangekyo and absorb all of Indra's Chakra from Sasuke's body. He naturally bent down and looked directly into Sasuke's eyes, which were filled with wariness and exhaustion.

"Little friend, are you a member of Mr. Kakashi's family?"

He smiled at the silent Sasuke before him and continued in a gentle tone:

"Looks like you haven't eaten yet. We're on our way to Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha. Would you like to come with us?"

Sensing Sasuke's increasingly strange gaze, Koko seemed to suddenly remember something and added in an almost familiar, friendly tone:

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself.

Nice to meet you, little friend. My name is Sora, Shiina Sora.

"I am a traveler from Mist Village, and Mr. Kakashi is currently my guide."

Looking at the dirty, tender, smelly, and soft Sasuke in front of him, he licked his dry lips, raising the corners of his mouth even higher:

"Don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person."

"Your brother Kong... I absolutely adore children!"