In the spacious, bright living room of Naruto Uzumaki's home, the mood was relaxed and cheerful.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Hanabi, Kiba, Shino, Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, and their other friends had gathered for one of their rare get-togethers lately.
Otohime was still playing video games, seemingly still sulking over what had happened yesterday.
During this time, Naruto and the others had all been through a great deal and had rarely been in the village.
The table was laden with food and drinks Naruto and Karin had prepared. Everyone sat wherever they pleased, catching up and joking around.
Just then, a masked, purple-haired ANBU member silently appeared at the door, knelt on one knee, and quietly reported to Naruto what had just happened in the street.
"Someone threw rotten eggs at Uchiha Itachi in the middle of the street?"
After hearing the report, Naruto's expression turned exceedingly strange.
He instinctively looked toward Sasuke, who was sitting nearby.
Sasuke looked over at almost the same moment. Their eyes met, and each saw the same confusion and hint of disbelief in the other's gaze.
Naruto: Was that you?
Sasuke: Did you arrange that?
Clearly, Naruto was not that bored, and Sasuke would never do something like that.
Both shook their heads slightly, dismissing the other's guess.
Well, that was strange.
Naruto rubbed his chin, utterly puzzled.
Who was bored enough to throw rotten eggs at a terminally ill S-rank Rogue Ninja under strict surveillance?
Were the people of Konoha really that worked up?
He remembered that Itachi had gone out to be paraded through the streets. Throwing rotten eggs right there in the street would only foul up the surroundings, wouldn't it?
And that behavior...
Wasn't that a bit too much like some street punk?
It did not fit