Elsewhere, the others had finished their mission and were on their way back to the village.
Naruto walked at the front. His orange jacket was torn in several places, his left hand was tightly bandaged, and he limped a little, but his spirits were high.
Sasuke walked beside him.
"Sasuke, are those eyes of yours the Mangekyo?"
Naruto suddenly turned, his gaze settling on Sasuke's eyes.
"They don't seem as strong as Genya's or your brother's."
Sasuke faltered for a step.
The group went quiet for a moment.
Behind them, Sakura covered her face, Shikamaru sighed, and Choji stopped chewing his potato chips. Even Akamaru's ears drooped.
Naruto was still Naruto. His talent for touching a sore spot had been perfect ten years ago, and it was still perfect ten years later.
Sasuke snorted and quickened his pace, moving ahead of Naruto and leaving him staring at the back of his head.
"Hmph. I'll catch up to Genya sooner or later."
His expression was as cold as ever.
He hadn't been able to help at all during the war.
Genya Uchiha, his older brother, and Shisui had brought the war in the shinobi world to a swift end.
He hadn't even made it to the battlefield.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
I'll get stronger. I'll catch up to them.
Sakura caught up from behind and cut into their conversation.
"Aren't you two tired?"
Her voice was weak, as though she'd just been dragged out of the water.
"All I want now is to get back, have a good soak in a hot spring, and rest."
The instant she finished speaking, the whole group came back to life.
Shikamaru was the first to respond.
"What a drag. I'm in."
Choji tucked his bag of potato chips