After hugging and fussing over her son for a good long while, Nai reluctantly let Gua go, though she still held tightly to his little hand.
"Home. Let's go home."
"I made lots and lots of delicious food for you, Gua."
"I picked out the beef for this beef hot pot especially carefully, too."
"I can hardly wait."
Nai chattered away, a smile never leaving her face.
Gua was happy, too.
His mother was always like an eighteen-year-old girl, and he hoped she would stay that way forever.
Just as Gua and his mother reached the gate, Naruto unfurled the banner he had been clutching to his chest with a swish. His arms were too short, so half the banner fell to the ground. Holding on to the other half, Naruto dashed forward a little to spread the whole thing out.
"Welcome back in triumph, Uchiha Gua!!"
Naruto shouted.
It startled Gua.
Taking a closer look, he finally made out the little blond standing there and the banner he had spread out.
The banner bore the same words Naruto had shouted: Welcome back in triumph, Uchiha Gua.
Naruto grinned goofily, showing his teeth.
The corner of Gua's mouth twitched.
"All right, all right, put it away."
"You might not mind embarrassing yourself, but I do."
Gua hurriedly waved at Naruto.
Undeterred, Naruto quickly rolled up the banner and tucked it under his arm. His eyes darted back and forth.
"I'll be going, then!"
Naruto suddenly said.
"Hey-"
Gua had just reached out to call him back when Naruto raced off with the banner under his arm.
Gua: ...
Inside the guardhouse, Genma Shiranui held a licorice twig between his lips, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"You know, that blond kid's pretty funny."
Izumo Kamizuki slapped Genma Shiranui's left