That night felt especially long, and the three of them would remember every moment of it.
Morning came.
The Ghost of Konoha rose full of energy. The room was a mess.
Behind him lay two defeated opponents. Neither was going anywhere.
"Breakfast first."
Kazan tucked the blankets around them, then raised a hand. A pitch-black Truth-Seeking Orb transformed into a long blade, which he rested on his shoulder.
He stepped outside and leaped lightly into the air. "Let's go, Hakimi."
"Awooo~"
Hakimi sprang up to catch him, then raced toward the forest as usual.
By the time Kurenai and Hikari woke and came outside, he had breakfast ready.
His three apprentices—Itachi, Neji, and Yakumo—were there, along with Sasuke and Naruto.
None of them planned to attend the Ninja Academy in person. They would send Shadow Clones in their place.
After the wedding, little seemed to have changed between the three of them. They had already spent so much time together.
Hikari suddenly suggested, "Why don't we take on some missions?"
"Missions? I don't need the money. I got five hundred million ryo from Kakuzu." Kazan swallowed a whole chicken.
They had raised it themselves. Perhaps it was the Forest of Death that made it taste especially good.
Hikari shook her head. "I've been in Konoha for so long, but I've never properly carried out a mission."
She had always felt guilty about invading Konoha years ago, as though she were still an outsider. That feeling had finally vanished yesterday, and now she wanted to become fully part of the village.
Kazan looked at her and smiled. "Sure. After breakfast, we'll find something suitable. We can call it our honeymoon."
Such was the simple life of a Ninja.
The eyes of the youngsters who had never been on a mission lit