I suppose... it all began on the night of Naruto's birth.
And your foolish, aspirational mother...
┊ ˚➶ ｡˚˚ · • . ° .
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"Naruto?! Is that you, Naruto?!"
Sakura craned her head up completely to see the knucklehead ninja standing proudly on the light pole. She used her hand to shield her delicate eyes from the sun, and sure enough, Naruto grinned down at her. He jumped down, seeing Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi with her. The Legendary Jiraiya accompanied his return to Konohagakura. As they reunited, Sakura stared with wide eyes at Naruto's physical change. He was stronger and was now taller than her with broad, muscular shoulders. She couldn't believe she was staring at the same 13-year-old who left.
"Do I look any different, too...?" Sakura asked, hiding a blush with her hand.
"Nope! You look totally the same, Sakura!" Naruto smiled, flashing her a thumbs-up. She twitched an eye and swallowed down bitter regret to have even brought it up.
『Return of Uzumaki Naruto!!! Celebrate his ninja training, and welcome our Leaf Village Brother at Ichiraku!!』
Shikamaru blinked blankly at the invitation written by Sakura. She was going around to personally invite shinobi and showed up with a pile of cards to the Nara clan.
"Tonight, huh?" Shikamaru asked as a lit cigarette pinched between his teeth. "Isn't it kind of short notice?"
"Just be there, okay?" Sakura beamed with the invitations in her hands. "Ah! And tell Choji and Ino!"
"Choji, sure, but Ino... Something tells me she won't give a damn."
Sakura made her to all the clans in the village, including the Hyuuga Clan. Hearing of Naruto's return, Hinata blushed a deep red and offered to help Sakura with arranging decorations and cooking food. The two of them slaved over a hot stove making extra side dishes and rice buns shaped like Naruto's face. Tonight was to celebrate the knuckleheaded ninja's return!
In the high-rise apartments by the Hokage Monument, Anri and Adohira Sato lived in a small, more modest residence than the one they'd shared before. Since Kei's death three years ago, Anri faced financial struggles on her own and had to sell the family market to stay afloat. The two women who had initially lived as mother and daughter were now roommates and both had responsibility for the finances. Adohira grew up quickly.
Newly 16, she worked at the village hospital, specifically in the veterinary section. She helped wounded animals as an assistant to Hana Inuzaka, and the job was not only rewarding and tiring but quite messy. That morning, a frightened, injured deer urinated all over her uniform while they tried to sedate it. She went home shortly after and threw all her clothes in the wash.
