The friendly pair strolled through beautifully decorated gardens, where special stands offering various foods, games, and souvenirs were spread throughout. A subtle new fashion element permeated the event—meant to inspire change and bring prosperity to specific individuals, Shorai noticed as he and Ino soaked in the festival's mystery and awe.
As they walked, a rich aroma of food drifted through the air, catching Shorai's attention. His gaze landed on a stand where charred meat lay waiting to be served. The enchanting smell, rising from the smoke of wooden logs on an open grill, took him back to the Christmas celebrations of his previous world—a memory of warmth, family, and joy he had cherished deeply.
Ino's excitement was infectious as she moved from place to place, her laughter mingling with the soft murmur of the crowd. Shorai couldn't help but notice the stares and gasps from the festival-goers. People were captivated not only by his otherworldly attire but also by the enchantingly ethereal lady by his side. Under the cool, barely windy night and the glow of festive lights, the two looked as if they had stepped out of a painting.
A pause to breathe and enjoy the carefree moment dominated Shorai's mind. Yet, somewhere deep within, lingering thoughts kept surfacing—thoughts of strength, progress, and the unsettling possibility that other stones like the Reality Stone could be wielded by someone else, perhaps with less noble intent.
After a while, Shorai spotted two girls walking side by side in attire similar to Ino's. He immediately recognized them by their hair color and style—and especially by the sound of their voices. Sakura and Hinata wore kimono-styled dresses adorned with clouds and lotuses. Sakura's dress was a soft pink, complemented by a delicate petal-edged mask patterned with cherry blossoms. Hinata's was a deep night blue, paired with an elegant moon-white mask featuring subtle feather and wing patterns resembling a crane.
They stood in conversation, while a shorter blonde boy buzzed by their side, clad in a black-and-orange coat with a stylized fox mask marked by sharp, dynamic lines of bright orange and red—an echo of the Nine-Tails fox spirit sealed within him.
"Good evening, charming young ladies... and Naruto," Shorai greeted with a smile beneath his mask.
"Huh?" Sakura broke off her heated conversation with the blonde boy.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan! I..." Naruto stopped mid-sentence and, together with Hinata, turned toward the approaching couple.
"W-w-who... W-wow!" Naruto and Sakura's voices faltered.
"It's us, of course! Who else? Hi-hi-hi!" Ino said mischievously.
"Ino? Is that you?" Sakura's voice carried a tinge of shock before she glanced at her companion.
"You?" Hinata echoed softly.
"Shorai, yes," he replied, pointing at himself with a light chuckle.
"Eeeeehhh?" Sakura and Naruto's voices shifted—hers a squeal, his full of surprise.
"He-he!" Ino twirled a couple of times, showing off her dress as the mask's patterns shimmered under the light.
"I'd never guess that was you, Shorai! You look so cool!" Naruto dashed closer, eager to get a better view of Shorai's clothes from all sides.
"You came together?" Sakura's voice carried a note of demand.
"Of course, Sakura..." Ino began.
"I did agree to come with her, after all. That's only natural," Shorai interjected, eyeing Sakura's pointed finger. "What about you three?"
"I met Hinata not long ago, Naruto just now..." Sakura explained, adding that Sasuke was absent and nowhere to be found.
Shorai shook his head. "It's obvious—he's training. Getting stronger is the only thing on his mind."
Ino raised a puzzled concern for Sasuke, and Sakura joined in, confused by such dedication. Still, they were pleasantly surprised by Shorai's presence, recognizing his own dedication rivaled Sasuke's.
For the rest of the event, the five of them wandered, talked, laughed, and played. It was a memorable moment Shorai wished he could freeze in time. But, alas, all things must end, and his goal called him back to training.
As the crowd began to scatter, Shorai noticed the company conducting business near the exit. Guests who had arrived in their own clothes were offered the new attire at a discount, while masks were given for free. He smiled knowingly as he met Aya.
"Our Heavenly Prince's date is over?" she teased eagerly.
Ino shot Aya a sharp stare as she removed her mask.
Sakura looked puzzled by Aya's question, turning toward Shorai.
Shorai didn't remove his mask but glanced around, noticing more and more gazes and murmurs speculating, "Heavenly... Prince?"
Just then, two adults entered from the garden, removing their masks.
"Oh! Ino, you're here! We kept looking but didn't notice you..." Her mother, wearing a similar mask in a light yellow velvet, stopped mid-sentence upon spotting the mysterious young man beside her daughter.
"Good evening..." Shorai greeted politely, slightly pulling his mask aside so they could see his face.
"S-Shorai-kun?" Ino's mother's eyes widened, breath caught.
"When did you get that outfit?" Inoichi asked, surprised and intrigued.
"Yesterday, sir. Aya-san's work is unparalleled!" Shorai grinned, casting a quick glance at the now-renowned tailor.
Meanwhile, murmurs and speculations deepened around them.
Without blinking, Shorai bowed to Ino's parents. "Ino, it was a great evening. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did."
"Yes! It was wonderful!" Ino smiled widely, joined by Sakura's happy expression and Hinata's shy but warm smile.
"It was amazing! I've never seen anything like this before!" Naruto's voice rang out, ecstatic from the experience.
Ino's parents chuckled in agreement.
"Please excuse me, but I must go now..." Shorai said, eager to escape. Time called for training.
"Erm... can't you stay a bit longer?" Ino asked, concern in her voice.
"My goal calls... Ino, Sakura, Hinata, Naruto. See you later. Goodnight, everyone!"
Without waiting for a reply, he adjusted his mask, hiding his face, and stepped outside alone.
On the street, he looked around, quickly activated the Reality Stone for sensory enhancement, and without any other additions, dashed swiftly toward his room. After changing clothes, he vanished to train in his private spot.
From the corner of his eye, Shorai kept track of a shadowy figure standing watch near the entrance—the ANBU operative he had noticed earlier. Under the eagle-shaped mask, the sharp, observant eyes reflected a calm but intense focus, and it was clear they were keeping tabs on him.
The watchful eyes never blink, Shorai thought, and neither can I.