The grand victory feast in Stone Village had not yet dispersed.
Unwashed aluminum lunchboxes were scattered everywhere, along with jar after jar of leftover cheap rice wine. The sour stench had soaked into the plaza's paving stones.
Yoru was leaning against the rooftop of Stone Village's tallest council hall, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.
A bit of barbecue grease had smeared onto the collar of his black trench coat earlier. He had not wiped it off, and it had hardened into something that felt like dried glue.
"Uncle Yoru, what are you standing up here daydreaming about?"
Naruto had changed into dry clothes. His signature orange jumpsuit looked much cleaner now.
He stomped up the stairs and reached Yoru's side in just a few strides, carrying the pleasant scent of sunlight and the faint lingering fragrance of cheap shampoo.
His usually carefree, grinning face now held a rare look of awkward bashfulness.
Yoru glanced sideways at him and casually flicked ash from his cigarette.
"What, now that the war's over, you've finally reined in that demolition-crew energy of yours?"
Seeing Naruto acting so girlish, he could not help reaching out and smacking the back of his head.
"If you've got something to say, spit it out. Stop twisting around like that—you look like a hyperactive crab."
Naruto rubbed his head. There was still black mud under his fingernails from where he had just dug it out.
He chuckled and scratched his golden spiky hair, sending flakes of dandruff drifting onto Yoru's trench coat.
"Uncle Yoru, Dad Minato... no, my dad just told me."
"He said... he wants to arrange my marriage with Hinata."
"After all, we've spent these past years fighting and killing out there every day. This counts as leaving someone behind for the family."
Yoru froze