A lush forest path stretched ahead, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves. As the breeze stirred, the shadows on the ground shifted with it.
Obito carried a suitcase in each hand and wore a backpack, turning himself into a human pack mule. Tsunade, of course, had her hands free and only needed to look beautiful.
They had been walking at an unhurried pace for nearly a whole day. They had set out after breakfast, and now the sun was nearly setting, yet they still hadn't crossed the border of the Land of Fire.
Man, this world is so frustrating. They have computers, so why don't they have cars? Couldn't they modify the puppets from the Land of Wind into some kind of vehicle? A chakra-powered sports car—environmentally friendly and plenty powerful... Obito grumbled to himself.
"Keep going a little farther, and we'll reach the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water. There's a small town there. We'll spend the night," Tsunade said with a smile.
What a child. He's already getting impatient after just one day of walking. Tsunade could tell that most of Obito's excitement had worn off, and thought to herself.
"Are we almost there? Let's pick up the pace. We'll still have to find somewhere to stay once we reach town." Thinking about how he would finally get to use the things in his suitcase, Obito sounded excited.
"No, we won't! We're on vacation, not a mission. We should act like we're on vacation!" Tsunade objected.
"Besides, you'd lose to me anyway, kid!" Tsunade added, immediately putting him down.
"Hey, hey! Just because I've let you win a few times doesn't mean you can beat me! I was just letting you win on purpose, okay?" Obito protested loudly.
"That's hilarious! Why would I need you to let me win? I'm one of the legendary Sannin," Tsunade said disdainfully.
"Then how about a race right now? I absolutely won't go easy on you!" Obito goaded her.
"No!"
"You woman!"
"What was that, brat?"
"Hey, hey! Obito, put me down! You're going too far!" Tsunade shouted.
A colossal, azure-blue Susanoo, nearly a hundred meters tall and shaped like a warrior, soared through the sky with its wings spread...
Obito and Tsunade stood inside, atop the Susanoo's head, watching the soft, white clouds drift across the sky like clusters of cotton candy.
"What do you think? It's a great view, isn't it? You dream of traveling all over the world, but you've never seen the scenery from up here, have you?" Obito said.
"Mm... It's beautiful, but you're still being too reckless. This puts a heavy strain on your eyes! I've seen enough. Let's go down!" Tsunade protested.
"Don't worry. I know my limits, Tsunade. I'll travel to the ends of the earth with you. That's my promise." Obito gave her a radiant smile.
Tsunade couldn't help but stare for a moment. Obito's promise warmed her heart, and she leaned in to give him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
It suddenly reminded Obito of a joke he'd heard back on Earth in his previous life: Tsunade's two deadly gifts—the kiss on the forehead and the heirloom necklace. Only Naruto, the chosen one of that world, had survived them...
"Obito, my grandfather gave this to me. I hope you'll accept it."
Tsunade took off the crystal necklace she wore close to her skin and offered it to Obito.
"..." It was as if a hundred thousand mud horses were galloping over his head. Just think of something, and there it was—the necklace was already being offered. If he didn't accept it, he'd be as good as dead. They could forget the vacation; the two of them would be breaking up right then and there.
"I want you to put it on me yourself," Obito said.
Tsunade was conflicted, too. If Obito hadn't made that promise, she wouldn't have given him the necklace.
The two men who had worn it before had both died. That was a pain Tsunade would carry forever.
But with Obito's promise, the last closed-off part of her heart had opened as well.
The necklace was her most precious possession. Giving it to Obito meant entrusting herself completely to this young man from then on.
Tsunade gently put the necklace around his neck, making the moment feel almost ceremonial. Obito, too, cast that awful joke from his mind. It would be pretty miserable to die just because of a necklace.
"Hold on tight! Let's do something thrilling and make this moment an even sweeter memory." Obito put an arm around Tsunade's waist and guided the Susanoo straight up into the sky!
They passed through the thick clouds. Beneath the azure sky, it seemed that only the two of them and the setting sun remained.
The evening sun had lost its dazzling glare. Its fiery red light fell across the clouds, as if dressing the white clouds in scarlet wedding gowns.
"It's beautiful..." Tsunade had spent years traversing the Shinobi World, but this was her first time watching the setting sun and evening clouds from the sky—and her first time doing so with the person she loved.
"I'll hold you in the Susanoo's palm. You can take a picture of us."
"Huh? We have to take pictures, too?" Tsunade asked, looking adorably bewildered.
"Of course. A scene this beautiful deserves a picture. But I have to control the Susanoo, so you'll have to take it. Here, I bought the latest model."
Obito handed Tsunade a camera. Cameras existed in the Naruto World—imagine that.
He had the Susanoo stretch out its hand, palm flat, then raised its five fingers like a railing around Tsunade. He moved her in front of himself. Though they were one in front of the other, the angle made them look as if they were standing side by side.
Tsunade took dozens of pictures in one go before finally stopping.
When they returned to the ground, Tsunade was still marveling at the sunset and evening clouds. The outline of a small town had appeared in the distance: Hot Spring Town.
Before you continue