Several months slipped quietly by beneath the persistent gloom over the Shinobi World and the shadow of Las Noches.
On the outskirts of Konoha, the waterfall at the Valley of the End roared as always, its mist refracting tiny rainbows in the sunlight.
Naruto Uzumaki withdrew his fist, panting. Before him stood a rock half as tall as a person.
A shallow fist imprint stood out clearly on its surface-the fruit of months spent training his taijutsu and localized chakra reinforcement.
This was what Lilynette called "the dumbest of dumb methods."
Though he still could not compare with the true geniuses, he was worlds apart from the dead-last student who had struggled to perform even the Clone Technique a few months earlier.
He wiped away his sweat and instinctively turned toward that familiar boulder.
No one was there.
The light in Naruto's eyes dimmed.
Big Sis Lilynette and that perpetually sleeping Uncle Starrk had not appeared for several days.
The last time they met, Lilynette had merely pointed out several mistakes in how he applied his strength, her tongue as sharp as ever.
Then she waved a hand, said, "Something might come up soon. Don't slack off on your own," and vanished. She had not appeared since.
He did feel disappointed.
Over the past few months, Naruto had long since come to regard that green-haired, masked big sister, whose words were merciless but whose guidance always hit the mark,
as the most special and closest person to him apart from his parents and Iruka-sensei.
She never asked about his identity or put pressure on him. She simply "taught."
Sometimes she shared the expired cup noodles he sneaked over and listened to his childish worries, then fired back with even sharper barbs. Strangely, though, it made him feel relaxed.
"Naruto-kun, it's