Early the next morning, at the entrance to Konoha.
Sakura sat slumped on the ground, her eyes swollen and red like two large walnuts.
Last night, she had tried to persuade Sasuke to stay, only to be knocked unconscious on a bench.
Now that she had woken up, her heart was ashes, and her tears would not stop falling.
"Sakura, don't cry!"
Naruto rushed over as soon as he received the news.
Seeing Sakura like this, he immediately grew fired up.
He thumped his chest and shouted.
"I'll go beat that idiot Sasuke and drag him back right now!"
"That's my promise of a lifetime!"
Just then, an utterly discordant voice interrupted the sorrowful scene.
"What's all this noise so early in the morning? You're stunting my growth."
Goten wandered over with a yawn, holding a Seafood Rice Ball bigger than his face.
His mouth was full of delicious grains of rice, and he complained as he chewed.
"My wives are still waiting for me to go back for another nap."
When Sakura saw Goten, she seemed to have found her only lifeline.
She scrambled over and threw herself at him, hugging his leg tightly.
"Goten!"
"You're so strong, you could even trample Orochimaru underfoot!"
"You can definitely bring Sasuke back, can't you?"
"Please, help me!"
Goten looked down at the tear-streaked Sakura, his brows drawing together slightly.
With disgust all over his face, he reached out a little hand dotted with rice and pinched her still not fully developed but soft cheek.
"Forehead, you're really ugly when you cry."
"You're going to get tears all over my new clothes."
"My wife Shizune just bought these for me yesterday. They still smell milky like her!"
He tugged hard at Sakura's cheek. It did not feel as astonishing as Tsunade's, but