Even a bowl of ramen could bring them to tears.
All Gua could say was that children in the Shinobi World had it far too hard. Very few were probably as happy as he was.
It seemed he really was lucky.
After they finished their ramen, Gua took little Karin back the way they had come.
Little Karin looked puzzled. "Wasn't I supposed to walk you home, Gua?"
Gua shook his head. "No need. I'm a big boy. I won't get lost."
Little Naruto followed beside them, nodding repeatedly. "Yeah, exactly! I won't get lost either. I run all over the place every day."
Gua's mouth twitched.
For fuck's sake.
You actually have the nerve to say that?
Of course you won't get lost. You run straight from the second ring all the way to Konoha's outskirts to paint little figures every day!
It'd be a miracle if you could get lost.
When the three of them reached the area near little Karin's house,
Gua stopped, and little Karin stopped too.
"Aren't you coming inside, Gua?"
Gua smiled. "No. If I go in again, you'll have to walk me back out."
Little Karin blinked, while little Naruto burst out laughing.
"We walk you home, then you walk us out. We walk you home, then you walk us out. We could keep doing that all day!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Little Naruto laughed his heart out.
Gua smacked him on the back of the head.
Little Naruto instantly crashed.
He froze stiff on the spot.
Gua drew little Karin to his side, turned his back to Naruto, and whispered,
"I've got something for you. Hold on to it, and don't look until you get home."
Little Karin nodded blankly.
"Okay."
Gua took out a cloth pouch and placed it in little Karin's hands.
Little