Naruto's water escape is the strongest

The layout of Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha is different from other places: there are a row of small ruler-shaped counters on the street...

Ahem, I got the wrong manuscript from Uzumaki Otoki.

However, the layout of Ichiraku Ramen has indeed changed recently: Uncle Shouda bought the house next door, expanded the store, and renovated it again. The entire layout is different from before.

It's interesting to say that while the entire ninja world is on tenterhooks and is alert to the dynamics of the "Akatsuki" organization, which has collected many powerful S-class felons and tailed beasts, and is always preparing for war, the world of ordinary people is completely different. Unable to feel the pressure before the war, the economy not only did not slump, but became increasingly prosperous.

In fact, because every village unanimously blocked the news of "Akatsuki" and adopted a defense strategy of loosening outside and tightening inside, ordinary people did not know that there was such an evil organization with ulterior motives and powerful power in the ninja world.

The world they can see is a peaceful ninja world that has not had a war in more than ten years, and they can vaguely see the dawn of peace:

Although there was some friction between Konoha and Sunagakure in the early two years, it soon subsided. After that, they had close economic and political exchanges, and their relationship was as close as a honeymoon. Recently, Konoha has cooperated with Sunagakure Village and Kirigakure Village. After the alliance was formed, Iwagakure and Kumogakure not only did not jump in and warned the three countries to form an offensive and defensive alliance against them, but they also stepped forward and continuously sent messengers to communicate. There was a strong tendency to establish a five-nation alliance and unify the world.

Oh open!

The world is about to be unified!

Doesn’t that mean we never have to fight again?

Since the death of the first Hokage, the ninja world has been in turmoil. In just over 50 years, three world wars have been fought. The war stopped after a generation was exhausted, and the war continued when the next generation grew up... People have long been tired of wars!

Therefore, just after seeing some glimmers of world peace, the suppressed economy prospered and developed instantly, and even Uncle Yi, who had always been conservative, happily expanded his operations.

The unfamiliar decoration and the crowded environment made it almost unrecognizable to Naruto, who had been eating Ichiraku Ramen for ten years.

"This is..." The orange-haired boy stopped outside the shop, eyes widened, staring blankly at this unfamiliar environment, "Ichiraku Ramen?"

"Hey! Naruto, and Sasuke!" Uncle Handai's sharp eyes found them in the crowd, and greeted them warmly, "Why are you standing there? Come in and sit down, there's still room here!"

Calamus (the daughter of Uncle Hand Beater) smiled and led the two of them to sit down. While cleaning the table, she explained: "Dad decided to renovate and expand the store at the last minute. There is no way, there have been too many people in the past two years, and the old store is too crowded. If we don't expand, Business, this year’s New Year celebration will definitely be packed.”

Sasuke nodded his thanks reservedly, and said thoughtfully: "I went out to perform a mission, and when I came back I found that everything was completely different. Not to mention Naruto, I almost didn't recognize him... But you really should expand your store."

"Yeah, speaking of it, tomorrow is the last day of this year." Naruto was thinking about something else, "I also want to continue eating ramen in the New Year...but it doesn't seem to be possible! I want to--"

Sasuke kicked Naruto.

"Oh!" Naruto paused, realizing that he had said something he shouldn't have said, and quickly changed his words, "Order, order! I'm still the same! Large pork chop ramen with egg!"

"Where's Sasuke?" Iris seemed to have not heard what Naruto just said, with an unchanging smile on his face.

"Same."

The ramen was served quickly, and the familiar taste remained unchanged. Drinking the warm and delicious soup, Sasuke finally felt like he was home.

Naruto ate this meal of ramen in silence, unlike his usual noisy personality.

After finishing dinner and paying the bill, the two walked out of the bustling ramen shop and walked into the silent night.

The air in the street is very cold.

“Before I know it, it’s been another year.”

Naruto stopped suddenly, took a breath, and watched the white mist disappear into the sky.

"Well..." Sasuke followed him, putting his hands in his pockets, and looked quietly at Naruto, who was rarely so sentimental, "Aren't you going to celebrate the New Year in Konoha?"

"If we celebrate the New Year, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future." Naruto smiled slightly, "I have more important things than the New Year celebration."

He wants to practice.

"Uncle Jiraiya said it's time for me to practice in sage mode. At Mt. Miaomu."

Sasuke pursed his lips.

He actually wanted to invite Naruto to attend tomorrow's celebration.Two days ago, Sasuke specially asked Uchiha Sakura to contact her real body and asked Haruno Sakura to come back with him, and the latter readily agreed.

It's rare that the seventh team is all together.

It might be difficult for Naruto to understand what these holidays meant to Sasuke.

After all, for Naruto, the New Year is just an ordinary day.

Even conversely, when everyone was reunited, he was the only one walking alone on the deserted street, and the pain of loneliness would be revealed even more uncontrollably than usual.

But Sasuke is different.

During the Chinese New Year in the past, my father and brother would try their best to postpone unimportant tasks and arrange a time to come back. The family would eat, go shopping and stay vigil together.

The Chinese New Year means the reunion of relatives and the smiles of parents and brothers.

Every year.

Until Itachi destroyed everything with his own hands.

It wasn't until Sasuke began to regard Team [-] as his new home that the word "reunion" was given meaning again.

Sasuke had been looking forward to this for a long time.

But when he opened his mouth to persuade Naruto, nothing came out.

"It's better to postpone training for a day." This reason sounded very concise and convincing, but looking at Naruto's determined eyes, Sasuke couldn't speak, and finally just nodded calmly.

Nothing was said.

Sasuke knew that the reason why Naruto was eager to practice training was because he deeply hated his weakness and powerlessness in the battle in the Kingdom of Water.

Although Sasuke understood that Naruto attacked his teammates because the Kyuubi took over his body and mind, and he would not hate Naruto for this, the problem was...Naruto himself could not forgive himself.

He worked hard to practice, hoping to gain the power to protect his companions, but in the end, he almost killed his close friend who was a flesh and blood compatriot...

Naruto can't accept himself like this!

So as soon as he returned to Konoha, he couldn't wait to find his master Jiraiya and ask him to arrange the next step of training.He needs to undergo more arduous training to become a stronger self, and he can no longer let Kyuubi dictate the fate of his teammates!

For this reason, he did not mind sacrificing his rest time during the New Year.

"Ah, Sasuke," Naruto noticed his hesitation, "What do you want to say?"

"It's nothing." The black-haired boy smiled, shook his head and said, "I wish you good luck in your practice!"

He also let out a long breath at the sky, and the white mist suddenly rose like a pillar and did not disperse for a long time.

We walked along the road for a while.

After saying this, the two suddenly fell silent again. The teenagers walked quietly, not knowing what they were thinking about.

The journey together has finally come to an end.

On the left side of the three-way intersection, a burly man with white hair stood in the distance; on the right side, there was Sasuke's way home.

"Then -" Naruto looked over with understanding at the moment he spoke, and Sasuke smiled faintly, "Have a good trip and come back from training soon!"

Naruto nodded vigorously.In the end, he still didn't tell Sasuke that there were considerable risks in practicing sage training at Mt. Miaomu.

"Good luck in practicing, see you next year!"

Sasuke gave him a thumbs up.

He watched Naruto walk towards the white-haired man, and the two of them turned and left without knowing what they said.

He saw Naruto wave to him distantly when he turned around, and then the figure walked away and disappeared into the night.

"Then, I should also..."

He murmured to himself, turned around and turned into the street on the right, his figure gradually blending into the night.

【Wish you all a happy New Year】