The Winter Festival was coming.
On the third day after Fū arrived in the village, the Winter Festival began.
The sprawling village grew especially lively, and people on the streets changed into festive clothes.
Fū was very excited about it, too.
Especially since, on her second day there, a masked ANBU had told her that the village had successfully driven off the enemy.
With nothing left to worry about, Fū completely let herself loose.
Especially with Naruto and Karin leading the way, she soon became friends with Konoha's other children her age.
Everyone was also very friendly toward this easygoing girl whose personality resembled Naruto's.
As Fū herself put it, she had enjoyed a bumper crop of friends, gaining more than a dozen at once and taking another step toward having a hundred friends.
As a guest from outside the village, she had also received everyone's invitation for the day of the Winter Festival.
"Hey, where's Kakashi-sensei? Come to think of it, I haven't seen him these past few days."
At the Fourth Training Ground during the snowy season.
Inside the wooden cabin, Sasuke formed a hand seal, pinched his lips, and spat out sparks, lighting the pile of wood.
Hearing Naruto's clamor, he shook his head and answered.
"No idea. Maybe he has something to do."
For this year's Winter Festival, Sasuke had decided to come out and spend the evening with everyone.
Staying out all night was another matter, though. As a good kid, Sasuke always went home to sleep unless there were special circumstances.
"Hmm, true."
Naruto remembered the look on Uncle Jiraiya's face lately, as well as an argument that had broken out at the Hokage Building, and nodded.
Perhaps there had been new developments in the plan. In any case, the adults had all been