"Neji, Hinata, don't be too sad. Tsunade-sama and all of us will definitely avenge you. The bastard who dared treat the Hyuga Clan like that won't get away with it!"
Ino stood beside Hinata, gently patting her shoulder.
Hinata looked blank, her face full of sorrow, not saying a word.
Neji remained silent.
"By the way, where are Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai? Didn't they say they were back? Why haven't any of them shown up yet?"
Kiba suddenly spoke, deliberately changing the topic.
"They really haven't shown up at all, lazy bums!" Tenten grumbled.
"Ooh! My eternal rival Kakashi, why haven't you appeared either? Where's your youth? Where's your spirit?" Guy scanned the surroundings, slightly disappointed.
But the next moment, his eyes sparkled.
"Ooooh! I see them! Kakashi! Hokage-sama! They're coming! My blood's burning again!"
"Hokage-sama is here?"
The group turned in unison toward where Guy was pointing.
Wearing her green robe, Tsunade approached with a serious expression alongside Kakashi, Shikaku, and Shizune, her gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd.
"Almost everyone who was supposed to come is here. Now, I'll announce something!"
Hearing this, everyone adopted serious expressions.
"Is this about the Hyuga Clan issue? Have they found the culprit, and we need to move together?" a ninja asked.
"No, it's not about the Hyuga Clan issue. We haven't identified the true culprit yet! But once we do, I won't let them off." Tsunade shook her head.
"Then what's the mission? Just tell us, Hokage-sama. Whatever it is, we'll give it our all!" another ninja said.
Others nodded in agreement.
Tsunade nodded slightly. "This mission is simple. I want you all to study diligently!"
"S-study?!"
The group's mouths dropped open, their expressions incredulous.
"Tsunade-sama… wants us to study? To learn some powerful new combination jutsu?" Ino asked.
"No, no, no. I bet Tsunade-sama wants us to learn some strong taijutsu! Right, Tsunade-sama?" Guy gave Tsunade a thumbs-up.
"How could it be just ordinary taijutsu? Why gather us all for something like that?" a Jonin countered.
Many around him nodded in agreement.
But Tsunade spoke with a serious face.
"What I want you to learn can be considered a form of taijutsu."
"What! Really? Studying taijutsu?" The group was shocked.
"Amazing! Tsunade-sama finally recognizes the power of taijutsu! If everyone learns great taijutsu, Konoha's flames of youth will burn even brighter!"
"Ooooh! As expected of Tsunade-sama!" Guy shouted joyfully, spinning in place.
"Guy-sensei! My spirit's boiling!" Lee shouted too.
"Let's run a hundred laps around Konoha!" Guy yelled.
"Oh!"
"Guy! Lee! Can you two let Tsunade-sama finish?" Kakashi clutched his forehead, exasperated.
Others shook their heads resignedly.
Shikamaru frowned and said, "Tsunade-sama wants us to learn taijutsu—it's not something ordinary, is it?"
"Correct. It's an extremely powerful taijutsu called Martial Arts. If trained to a high level, even I could be defeated." Tsunade said.
"What! Defeat Tsunade-sama? Ordinary taijutsu, defeating someone like Tsunade-sama?!" The ninja looked skeptical.
After all, since the ninja profession began, taijutsu had always been undervalued.
Look at the samurai of the Land of Iron?
Relying on taijutsu, they've long been outpaced by ninja, completely disregarded.
Even Might Guy, Konoha's top taijutsu expert, was only on par with Kakashi, far behind the Sannin.
In this world, ninjutsu reigned supreme.
"I figured you'd find it hard to believe. But that's fine—I'll show you how powerful Martial Arts are.
"Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Yamato. All of you, come here!" Tsunade shouted.
From behind some trees nearby, Naruto and his three teammates walked out slowly.
"Everyone! Long time no see!"
Naruto grinned and greeted the crowd.
"Naruto-kun!"
Hearing the voice she'd missed so much, Hinata lifted her head, then quickly lowered it again.
Her face was full of sorrow.
'I'm so glad Naruto-kun is back in Konoha… but… but… the me now isn't the me from before. I'm completely unworthy of liking Naruto-kun…' Hinata thought sadly.
"Naruto, Sakura! Do you know how worried we've been these past two months?!" Ino shouted at Naruto and Sakura.
"Naruto, I was gonna invite you for yakiniku today, but couldn't find you… Seeing you now, I'm relieved." Choji said, smiling.
"Ooooh! I feel a spirited aura from Naruto! Guy-sensei!" Lee exclaimed.
"Truly Naruto! Let's burn our youth together!" Guy shouted.
"Wait… is it just me? Why does Naruto, after two months, seem stronger and… taller?" Kiba approached, shocked, scrutinizing Naruto.
"Hehehe! Kiba, you're pretty perceptive. But I'm still growing, so isn't it normal to get taller? Why so surprised?" Naruto puffed out his chest, a bit proud.
Two months ago, he was about 1.66 meters tall, but after learning Martial Arts, he'd shot up to around 1.77 meters.
Though nothing compared to Imperial Lee or Neji, compared to his old friends, he was much taller.
This made him feel proud deep down.
"Tch. Two months ago, you were clearly shorter than me, and now you're this tall! So annoying!" Kiba grumbled, his face full of envy.
It was just two months—why was this guy's change bigger than the past three years? Weird!
"Naruto…" Neji whispered.
Naruto turned his gaze to Neji and Hinata, his smile fading.
"Neji, Hinata, the Hyuga Clan's issue won't be left alone! I'll definitely avenge you! Trust me."
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata lifted her head, looking at Naruto's serious expression, whispering softly, wanting to say something but lowering her head again.
"Hmph! Revenge is my business. You're just a Genin—what can you do?"
Neji's heart was conflicted, but his mouth said that.
Naruto's expression froze instantly.
"Genin… Genin… Genin…"
He crouched on the ground, drawing circles.