Winter in Konoha was bitterly cold.
The wind blew bleak and chill.
It left every passerby on the roadside huddling deeper into their collars.
But that day, several masked ninja suddenly entered a gift shop that rarely saw visitors.
"No, that won't work. I can't afford to give that. My missions are mostly B-rank, and the rewards are pitiful."
"Then what should I give? The lord's wedding has really put quite a few of us in a bind."
"Don't you know Wood Release? How could this stump you?"
Looking at the innocent-faced boy opposite him, he slowly took off his mask.
"Tenzo, don't take this the wrong way, but you usually keep far too low a profile."
The boy called Tenzo glanced around the gift shop, a trace of disappointment appearing on his face.
"It's not that I keep a low profile," Tenzo replied quietly. "When Lord Liumu first asked Kakashi to find me, I was still researching what I could do with Wood Release."
Picking up an intricately carved wooden figurine beside him, Tenzo held out his right hand. With a faint surge of chakra, an identical piece of wood grew out of his palm.
"See? Your ability is so convenient. How about carving one for me too?"
At Minato's home.
Kushina knelt on the floor in a floor-length dress, carefully watching over little Naruto as he toddled beside her.
Minato himself held a book, carefully searching its pages for something.
"Liumu and the others are back, right?"
Kushina suddenly looked up and asked.
"They should be back soon. Their last letter said they were going to stop by the Land of Rain before returning to the village. They should be back in about half a month."
"As his senior fellow student, you'd better make proper