"So much money!" Iruka and Ayame exclaimed in surprise.
The bulging frog-shaped wallet was packed with stacks of large-denomination silver coins—no small change cluttering things up. A quick glance showed at least tens of thousands of ryo.
"Could this all be from that... novel?" Ayame asked, her cheeks faintly pink. She trailed off without mentioning the full title. She had read the whole thing and knew exactly why it made her blush. Too bad the protagonist was male, so she couldn't really relate. If it had been a female lead...
Ayame quickly shook herself out of that daydream.
"Probably," Iruka said, his own face showing some embarrassment but mostly pride. "I saw it flying off the shelves at the village bookstore. Sold out on release day."
He had bought a copy to support Naruto, even if the plot was... well, exactly what you'd expect from the guy who created the Sexy Jutsu. He knew exactly what men wanted to read. With skills like that, Naruto could quit being a ninja and still make a fortune as an author.
"Hehehe, you guessed right!" Naruto laughed triumphantly, hands on his hips. "But this is just a small part. I'm filthy rich now, believe it!"
If he activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode right now, his tail would definitely be wagging.
"He really is loaded," a familiar voice cut in. "Those publishing fees are more than half what I've earned from years of S-rank missions."
Kakashi suddenly occupied the seat next to Naruto, helping himself to a pair of chopsticks.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto spun around, eyes wide. "When did you get here?"
"Just passing by." Kakashi's visible eye curved into a smile. "Thought I'd join the celebration. You're buying, right?"
"Of course! I can treat everyone!" Naruto thumped his chest. "Uncle Teuchi! Load up every bowl with the most expensive toppings! We're not eating good—we're eating expensive, dattebayo!"
Teuchi chuckled from behind the counter. "You got it, Naruto. Coming right up—thousand-ryo bowls!"
"Don't worry about the cost!" Naruto grinned. "I know my next book's about to drop!"
"Oh?" Kakashi's eye gleamed with mischief. "Fresh perspective this time. Female protagonist. Way more emotional depth than the last one."
Naruto nearly choked. "Kakashi-sensei, don't—!"
"Fine, fine." Kakashi dropped it, but Naruto could tell he was dying to spill more details.
Ayame wanted to ask, but her modesty held her back. Iruka, meanwhile, made a mental note to visit the bookstore later.
The conversation was cut short by voices drifting in from the street.
"Lady Tsunade, it's been so long! Konoha hasn't changed a bit."
"Tch. Good. If I hadn't won that lottery after hearing about Grandpa, I wouldn't have come back at all..."
"Lady Tsunade?!" Kakashi dropped his chopsticks.
In a blur, he grabbed his bowl, slurped down the noodles in one go, and bolted out the door.
Naruto, who'd been staring right at him, finally caught a glimpse of Kakashi's face beneath the mask. His jaw dropped.
"So handsome! He looks just like Dad!"
Naruto grinned. "Sasuke and Sakura are gonna die when I tell them!"
He gulped down his own noodles, threw some cash on the counter, and sprinted after Kakashi.
"Uncle Teuchi, money's under the bowl!"
Teuchi shook his head, smiling. "That kid's still so impulsive."
Iruka kept eating, watching them go. "Tsunade's back too? Looks like Konoha's doing just fine."
Across the village—
"Lady Tsunade. It's been a while."
Kakashi's voice made the woman turn. Tsunade visited her family's graves every few years, and she'd always had a soft spot for Kakashi—he practically lived at the cemetery. Still, she frowned when she saw Naruto trailing behind him.
"Who's the brat?"
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, believe it!" he announced proudly.
"The Nine-Tails jinchuriki..." Tsunade glanced at him once, then dismissed him entirely. "Kakashi. Lead the way. I heard Orochimaru brought my grandfather back."
The news had sent shockwaves through the shinobi world. Kumogakure and Iwagakure would be sending investigators any day now.
"This way." Kakashi led them through the ruined Shimura Clan territory, where massive craters exposed yellow earth.
Shizune, clutching her pig, gasped. "What happened here? Was it Orochimaru?"
"Long story," Kakashi said, pointing to three figures in the distance. "Your grandfather's over there. And... Jiraiya is the Fifth Hokage now."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "The Fifth what?"
"Appointed by the First and Second Hokage themselves."
"Unbelievable." Tsunade clicked her tongue, following his gesture.
There stood Hashirama Senju, watching Yamato's Wood Release Ninjutsu with surprise, while Jiraiya stood proudly in the Hokage's robes.
"Grandfather... and Jiraiya actually wearing formal robes?" Tsunade muttered. "I must be seeing things."
---