A few tender green weeds poked through the cracks between the rooftop bricks, trembling in the wind.
Naruto sprang up with a howl, flailing both hands wildly in the air.
"Big bro! I won't hold you back this time! I've gotten stronger!"
He grinned broadly, the six whisker marks on his cheeks quivering.
Sen kept both hands in his pockets and shifted half a step away in distaste.
"Sure, sure. Just stay back. You stink like rotten toads."
Sen sniffed, catching the sour smell of stale ramen on Naruto's collar.
Naruto looked down and tugged at his brand-new orange-and-black tracksuit.
"Nonsense! The Pervy Sage picked this out! I look sharp!"
As he protested, he deliberately squared his shoulders.
"Look at me! I'm barely shorter than you now!"
Sen gave the blond kid a sidelong look, sizing him up from head to toe.
He really had grown taller, and a little fuzz had sprouted on his chin. He looked more like an adult.
"You've shot up, but your head still looks empty."
Sen spat out his grass stem and rapped Naruto on the forehead.
Thunk.
The crisp knock rang especially loudly across the empty rooftop.
"Ow! Big bro, why'd you hit me again? That hurt!"
Naruto clutched his forehead and yelped through gritted teeth, looking aggrieved.
"Nice, clear sound. Nothing inside. Completely hollow."
Sen shrugged and flashed a shameless grin.
"Sen Senju! Stop fooling around with that idiot! I'm already in a foul mood!"
Tsunade rubbed her throbbing temple and slapped her desk.
The teacup bounced, spilling cold water across half the desktop.
Shizune hurriedly wiped it up with a cloth.
"Sunagakure has sent three hawks with urgent messages. Things look bad."
Tsunade's expression darkened as she pointed at a scroll bearing a yellow sand seal on the desk.
Naruto opened