Konoha's Maki Team

The Hidden Konoha Village.

As the most prosperous place in the Fire Land and even in the entire ninja world, although the flames of war didn't reach here or even the Fire Land itself, the series of changes triggered by the war still affected this place.

Not to mention anything else, just the departure of tens of thousands of Konoha Ninjas who originally lived in the village significantly quieted the entire village. Even the once lively and bustling commercial district became much more desolate compared to its peak.

Of course, regardless, more people are still living their lives as usual.

At this moment, a small team composed of Maki Senju, Ino Yamanaka, and Sasuke, wanders on the streets.

"Ohhh, why do I, a grown man like Sasuke, have to accompany you two for a stroll!" In the middle of walking, a mournful cry erupted from Naruto, extremely bored.

"No! I want to train! I want to sign up for frontline battles!" At the end, he even raised his fist, a self-encouragement gesture.

However, soon his idealism was shattered by reality.

"It's no use. Even if you shout, Naruto, who's still two years away from graduating from the Ninja Academy, you can only stay in the village," Maki, giggling and sipping her milk tea, directly said upon hearing Naruto's familiar nonsense.

Before calling Naruto out to stroll together, she already anticipated his impulsive complaints, so this didn't come as a surprise.

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately turned to Sasuke for confirmation.

Without a trace of expression, Sasuke, with his hands in his pockets, casually nodded in agreement.

"You see, Sasuke has confirmed the truth about Itachi's early graduation. So, I and Sasuke can also follow suit!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly. "Sasuke, what do you think? With our abilities, we can pass the assessment and get the rank of Genin early, and then..."

"Then go to the frontline as cannon fodder. Show up for less than a second and get a lunchbox?" Instantly!

As if doused with cold water, Naruto's enthusiasm was abruptly halted by Maki's sarcastic remark.

However, quickly understanding the implication, he retorted, "Don't interrupt people's talk casually! And! How could I, Lord Naruto, be cannon fodder? You should know I'm very strong!"

"Strong enough to not even beat a four-year-old child?" Maki chuckled, needling Naruto's ego like a needle piercing into his heart.

"Well... um... Miss Maki, you're different from others..." Naruto, feeling rare embarrassment, scratched his hair, looking around.

Yes, he still couldn't beat Maki, who mastered Wood Release early.

On the side, Sasuke, with a subtle twitch of his lips, refrained from commenting further.

Not wanting to cause more trouble, he quickly grabbed Naruto and clarified, "It's true that there used to be a rule in the Ninja Academy allowing students to graduate early by passing the assessment. But not anymore. Now, all Ninja Academy students, no matter how talented, must complete six years. Naruto, your idea won't work."

"What???!!!" In an instant, Naruto's face was filled with disappointment. "Why is this? Whose idiotic policy is this?"

"I heard it's for the mental well-being of ninja students. Besides, the 'idiot' you mentioned is the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, also my esteemed father," Maki explained with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"Cough cough... What idiot? I was talking about myself." Naruto quickly pretended to be clueless.

He wasn't afraid of the Hokage, who had always treated him well, but he feared the wrath of the current authority figure in front of him.

'You have such an adorable face.'

As if encountering a flood, Naruto swiftly averted his gaze from Maki's inherited pretty face, then looked towards the gentle and quiet Yamanaka clan member, who was looking at him with a warm smile. After comparing the two, he couldn't help but sigh.

For the rest of the time, Naruto, whose fantasies had been shattered, could only dejectedly stroll along with Sasuke, guarding the two ladies like their loyal guardians.

However, 'patience' was something he rarely possessed.

Soon, after wandering seven or eight hundred times, Naruto, who even knew the names of the shop owners on the street out of boredom, couldn't help but express his feelings, "Miss Maki, you and I can go shopping together. Why drag me and Sasuke along?"

Ton~ ton~ ton~

After a while, thirsty Maki didn't immediately respond. Instead, she opened her cup of wolfberry-infused water she always carried and drank it.

Different from her best friend Ino's love for milk tea.

Ever since noticing that her father always drank wolfberry-infused water, Maki, looking up at him, also unhesitatingly chose this slightly peculiar beverage.

She had even noticed the strange look from her elder sister when she asked for wolfberry stuff from her.

Regardless, Maki, accustomed to the unique taste, even found it beneficial for her health.

Um...

Maybe a bit too much.

After drinking half of it, Maki felt her lips moist.

Touching it, she realized her nose was bleeding.

Having undergone ninja training early, Maki nonchalantly wiped it away.

Suddenly, her bright eyes glinted mischievously. Smiling, she grabbed the shoulder of the slightly clueless Ino and, without hiding her blood-stained fingers, pretended to be "pitiful" towards Naruto:

"Naruto-kun, can you bear to see two four or five-year-old kids alone outside? What if an adult kidnaps us? Also, I'm bleeding now, feeling very weak."

"You... you..." Naruto pointed at Maki, utterly shocked.

Though he might act foolish at times, it didn't mean he was stupid!

Setting aside Maki's strength, her status was known throughout Konoha. How could any danger come their way?

Just as Naruto was about to passionately argue back, Maki quickly exchanged a glance with Ino.

So, she immediately put on a pitiful and saddened expression, "Naruto big brother, do you hate being with us?"

"I... I..." Naruto stumbled over his words.

Then, unable to stand it, Sasuke, who also wanted to leave earlier, intervened.

"Take it."

Already aware of everything, he took out Naruto's wallet and added his own money, handing it to Maki with a calm expression.

"How can we accept this?" Though saying so, Maki gladly accepted it and then waved her hand, "Naruto and Sasuke, do whatever you want!"

Naruto looked at all this in bewilderment.

So, calling them out was just to use his pocket money?

Realizing that all the expenses during the outing were covered by him and Sasuke, the not-so-foolish Naruto finally understood.

Finally, as his anger rose and before he could say anything, the

pitiful look from Ino made him freeze.

Eventually, with a deep sigh, Naruto, lamenting the loss of his hard-earned pocket money, had to leave the place of sorrow with his Sasuke.

However, at that moment, a sudden loud explosion erupted from not too far away, breaking the peace in the Konoha Village.

Instantly, Naruto and Sasuke halted.

While Maki, who usually cared more about money, also became serious, grabbing the slightly puzzled Ino's shoulder, and looking towards the distance with a grave expression.