As Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki gradually disappeared down the road, Shihōin Naraku and the others prepared to head back.
Just then, a shout came from inside the village.
"Naruto-Naruto-"
Everyone turned to look. Sakura Haruno came running around a street corner, holding a bundle.
"Kaka... Kakashi-sensei, where's Naruto?"
Sakura Haruno ran up to them, gasping for breath. Without time to greet them, she looked around, failed to spot Naruto Uzumaki, and immediately turned to Kakashi Hatake.
"Ah, well, Naruto's already left."
Kakashi Hatake scratched his head and looked toward the distant road outside Konoha with some regret.
"O-oh, I see."
A barely perceptible trace of disappointment flashed in Sakura Haruno's eyes. She tightened her hold on the bundle in her arms and glanced in the direction Kakashi was looking.
Unfortunately, there was still nothing there.
Tsunade watched the girl before her with keen interest, finding this quite amusing.
That Naruto could actually attract girls?
No, what appeared in this little girl's eyes wasn't affection or anything like that.
How interesting...
The Hokage Building.
In the office, Tsunade was giving Shikaku Nara instructions concerning all of Konoha's Jonin when a sudden knock came at the door.
"Come in."
"That settles it, then. I want to see the results by noon tomorrow."
Having assigned the task, Tsunade motioned for Shikaku Nara to leave for now.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. Before noon tomorrow, I'll..."
Shikaku Nara was promising to finish the task ahead of time when he suddenly froze in astonishment mid-sentence.
Tsunade was even more bewildered as she watched Naraku walk into the office with two people, looking utterly at a loss.
"All right, just put the documents here."
"Yes!"
The two subordinates carefully set down the towering stacks of documents in their arms. The slight tremor caused a sheet of paper