Sakura nodded furiously.
"Yes, exactly! They're completely different, okay!"
Hinata said nothing, but her expression was clearly skeptical too.
Genya spread his hands, looking innocent.
"I'm not joking. Trust me, you'll see once you spend more time with him."
Hashirama was utterly confused and leaned over curiously.
"Naruto? Who's Naruto? Do I look a lot like him?"
Genya looked him up and down, then nodded seriously.
"I'd say so. Your personalities, the way you think, and that goofy streak... all pretty similar."
He added,
"I'll introduce you tomorrow. You should get along great."
Hashirama's eyes lit up.
"Oh? Sounds good! I'd like to see who could be like me!"
Ino and Sakura exchanged glances, each seeing the same thought in the other's eyes!
Naruto was like the First Hokage?
Had the world gone mad?
Hinata, however, seemed to understand something and said,
"Naruto-kun... really is special..."
"Right?"
Genya nodded in satisfaction.
"Hinata gets me."
Ino rolled her eyes.
"You two..."
The mood relaxed.
The three girls laid out the gifts they had brought.
Hinata's treats, Ino's flowers, and Sakura's fruit.
Genya thanked them as he opened the treats and tried one, praising them repeatedly.
"Hinata, your cooking just keeps getting better!"
Hinata blushed again, but the corners of her mouth lifted.
After chatting for a while, the three prepared to leave.
"Get plenty of rest, Genya."
Hinata spoke softly.
"Yeah. Stay safe, you three."
Genya waved.
"Relax. These little injuries will be healed by tonight. My mom's worrying over nothing."
Ino snorted with laughter.
"Keep bragging. Healed by tonight? What do you think you are, a monster?"
Genya nodded seriously.
"In a sense, I am."
Ino was left speechless.
Sakura pulled her toward the door.
"All right, all right, stop bickering with him. We're off!"
The three left the hospital