-----
And his name will be the hope of all the world.
Matthew 12:21
-----
"Hayato!" Alerted a charming voice, snapping Hayato from his reverie. His eyes fluttered open, before redirecting them to his sensei, who wore a concerned expression. Aiko inquired, "Are you okay?"
Hayato reassured with a nod, "Y-Yeah, I was just... spacing out."
Aiko didn't press the matter further, knowing Ryo was a cherished comrade of theirs. They had yet to unravel what transpired, and what caused his transition to being rogue, and Hayato tended to space out whenever he ruminated over this ghastly topic.
It would always shroud the premises in a perpetual gloom.
Kaede chimed in, "I'm sorry sensei, but we don't have a lead on Ryo."
Aiko, as though anticipating this, let out a calm sigh, and muttered while leaning her back to the sofa, "Yeah, I figured. I don't even know why I asked." Her tone carried a tint of worry and misery for the pitiful fate that had befallen Ryo. For her former student to have gone rogue after shamelessly committing treason! Perhaps Ryo has his own reasons, yet he abstained from divulging on the details with his own allies.
With a resigned sigh, Aiko clapped her hands, and spoke in an attempt to alleviate the sombre mood; "Alright both of you, it's been a while so let's catch up." With a content grin, she initiated, "Tell me all about your adventures."
...
Several hours had elapsed, and both families encircled a table, with the adults occupying one flank, while the children occupied the other. During the interaction, it appeared Naruto and Karin had grown fond of Fu, who was like an older brother to them. Animated chatter, accompanied by the clattering of chopsticks against dishes reverberated around the premises.
The boisterous Naruto was unable to hold back his admiration for the food, and yelled, "DELICIOUS!"
Aiko teased, "Whose cooking is better? Mine's, or Oba-chan's?"
At the sudden question, Naruto felt his heart drop as he was rendered incapable of answering. He didn't want to hurt either person, but also, for some reason, he could sense an ominous vibe emanating from Kaede! Kaede had a calm smile on her face, and to the naked eye, she may seem perfectly fine, but only those close to her could notice the invisible influx that churned within her.
Gesturing with 2 fingers, he politely addressed while a bead of sweat traced down his cheek, "B-Both."
Aiko chuckled at the boy, and poised with a cheek on her palm. Alternating her gaze between Naruto and Karin, she questioned, "So Naru-chan, Karin-chan, do you have any dreams you wish to accomplish for the new year?"
At this, Naruto and Karin stopped eating, seemingly in deep rumination over the simple question as they faced the ceiling with a contemplative finger on chin. Noticing she had unintentionally stalled their eating time and that the food would get cold, Aiko insisted, "Okay, how about we eat-"
"I wanna beat Sasuke."
Naruto intercepted before she could complete her sentence. His tone was firm, as he declared dominion over his passion. No-one could alter the path his mind was set toward, and as Hayato noticed the fiery determination, he wickedly grinned and concurred, "That's ma boi."
Aiko too, grinned at the youth's fiery passion and supported with a thumbs up, "I see. I wish you the best of luck."
Naruto saluted, "Hai."
Aiko alternated her focus to the timid girl beside the rambunctious Naruto, and asked, "What about you dear?"
Karin, with a crestfallen visage, stammered, "I- I don't know."
Noticing the sorrow seeping in, Kaede rubbed her back and comforted, "It's okay dear, some usually take time on this matter."
Karin acknowledged, "Hai."
Turning to Hayato, Aiko's brows knit together, before she vocalised, "Hayato, can I tell you something?"
Hayato, taken aback, welcomed her query; "Go ahead sensei."
Aiko sheepishly scratched her head, and asked, "It appears there's no point in you masking your identity with the village."
Hayato's and Kaede's eyes widened, before Hayato pressed, "Sensei, what do you mean? You told me it was probably for the better, and that I could reveal myself later on."
A bead of sweat trickled by her temple, and she chortled as she spoke; "Well, true, I did tell you that for safety precautions, but..." Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the lean man, whose innocent persona seemed to mask the monstrous power that lay dormant within him. There was no doubt that Hayato concealed his capabilities, to the point even Aiko shouldn't be able to familiarise with the power he wields. However, Aiko was his sensei.
She could tell from a glance, and her lips parted as she intoned, "I knew you were strong, but it appears you're definitely much stronger than I thought... Perhaps even more than old man Hokage!"
A deafening silence reigned supreme shortly after, and not a word was uttered as everyone turned to Hayato. Naruto, Karin, Fu, and even Kenjiro portrayed dismayed expressions.
Aiko continued, "I merely gave you advice on how you should proceed with Naruto, but I had no idea your strength grew to this degree..." She followed with a sigh, "You're not the same Hayato I used to tutor..."
Aiko turned to Kaede, and added, "You're no different Kaede."
Pointing her 2 fingers at the power couple, she concluded, "You could've proceeded normally. It seems to me there's really no point in going through the hassle of hiding your identity. The both of you are extremely powerful, I doubt anyone would even think of intercepting you."
Fu had no idea where the conversation was headed because his mind only stopped at one statement, and he mused, 'Stronger than old man Hokage?!'
Meanwhile, Naruto and Karin were immersed in their meals, negligent to the unfolding conversation.
Aiko leaned back on her chair, and whined, "I'm happy to see how much you've grown, but it's also frustrating at how old I've gotten now... sigh."
Lamenting on the arduous journey, and the growth of her 2 exceptional students, it brought a tear to her eye.
"Haha, sensei, are you crying?" Hayato teased.
Aiko raised a finger to her eye, and rebutted, "No doofus, just dust in my eye."
"Awww, sensei," Kaede looked at Aiko with puppy-like eyes, and her lips parted to speak words of comfort; "You look as stunning as always. You're not old sensei."
Aiko, moved by her dear student's words, clasped Kaede's hands, and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you Kaede dear."
However, Hayato nitwittedly remarked, "Uhhh, I mean... Sure I guess you look... young... Ahem." The pause in his sentence oozed with sarcasm, prompting veins to bulge by Aiko's temple.
Naruto, Karin, and Fu could only chuckle at the ongoing conversation.
A thought suddenly struck Aiko, and she verified, "Ahh, Kaede, have you met with your clan? Your parents?"
Kaede's demeanour shifted to a gloomy dullness, and she responded, "I- I... plan to... Tomorrow perhaps."
Kaede despised the idea, since she had departed on bad terms with them, but she was bound to get into contact again.
Aiko smiled, and supported, "That's good to hear. It's better than no."
...
Before long, everyone had completed their meals.
Finally, the Uzumaki family satisfactorily exited the residence, with Aiko and family in tow to guide them out. Aiko spoke, "That was a lot of fun. It's been great catching up."
Hayato acknowledged, "I agree." Turning to Naruto and Karin, who boasted with bright grins, he ruffled their heads, and added, "It seems everyone's had fun."
Naruto nodded in support, and beckoned, "Oji-chan, Fu-nii-chan taught us this creepy jutsu where he took possession of someone's brain." A shudder ran down the youth's spine as he recalled Karin being possessed, and laughing hysterically. Karin is usually the laidback type, but her sudden transition in demeanour isn't what frightened Naruto. Rather, it was the technique that Fu deployed, which demonstrated terrifying prowess. Doesn't that basically make him invincible? The epiphany not only irked Naruto but also Karin.
Hayato raised a brow in superstition, and probed, "Ohhhh, I see. So Fu already knows how to perform the technique, huh?"
Fu rubbed the region between his upper lip and nose, and smirked, "Hehe."
Aiko rubbed his head, and ranted, "Of course, he's my son after all."
"Oji-chan, can I learn that?" Naruto questioned, his eyes sparkling with untamed fascination. However, Hayato quickly poured cold water on his aspirations with a succinct deliberation; "It's a powerful technique, but it's accessible to only the Yamanaka clan."
"O-Ohh," Naruto was crestfallen by the harsh truth of reality. Hayato ruffled his head, and added, "Likewise, the Uzumaki clan have their unique set of skills, maybe even more powerful than the Yamanaka."
Naruto's innocent gaze shimmered like a polished sapphire, brimming with fascination, and he said, "Really?!"
Hayato affirmed, "Yeah."
However, Aiko intercepted with both hands on her hips, "No, the Yamanaka clan is the strongest." As a prodigy of the Yamanaka herself, naturally she was inclined to support her clan. Such was her unwavering loyalty to her clan...
But only us readers are aware that such emotions are trivial in the grand scheme of things...
The Uzumaki are most definitely the strongest clan to grace the history of this planet, but that fact is obscured in the shadows.
Hayato sarcastically played along, "Sure, sure."
And so, the Uzumaki family bid farewell and parted ways from Aiko's family. It was truly a blessed day, one that brimmed with fervour, especially for the children who had made a new ally. His name was Yamanaka Fu. With a grin, Hayato rekindled the children's vivacity, and proposed, "How about we check out all the festivities..." He paused, raising his fist to the sky, and declared, "... And let's have fun!"
The children's eyes glimmered, and they jumped in resonance, shouting, "HAI!"
...
The family coursed through numerous festivities, sharing laughter while engaging in these foreign, yet joyous activities.
This may very well be the greatest fun Naruto was having with his family, and he didn't want this to end. He would give anything to prolong this fun!
Such festivities they had partaken in were:
1. Konoha's Spirit Lantern Ceremony
How this works is the villagers write their New Year's wishes on paper lanterns and release them into the sky, creating a breathtaking sea of lights floating above Konoha. The Uzumaki household secretly wrote their desires, before sending them off into the sky. It was truly a mesmerising spectacle, drawing the eyes of all toward the heavens as their jaws dropped in marvel.
2. Midnight Ceremony At The Hokage Monument
The event culminates in a grand ceremony at the Hokage Monument. Villagers gather to pay tribute to the past Hokage and make resolutions for the new year.
Just like this, there were many more meaningful, and then there were other events in which they boisterously celebrated. The highlight of the day was Kaede's standing of the new ramen event at Ichiraku Ramen, as the Queen Of Gluttony!
She may seem slender and attractive, but had a raging appetite that shocked the others around her. Hayato could only wryly chuckle as she embraced being the centre of attention.
Another event was a family portrait painted by an artist. The result showed the artist was no pushover, as the picture was truly a grandeur! Their eyes shimmered like gems as they stared at the portrait, and jubilantly went on their way, camouflaged with the bustle.
Alas, the crescendo of the day had finally arrived!
At present, the family was at a shrine, clad in different garments from the ones they had worn before. The family had purchased new attire in a store, and matching the unique style to the others that resided here.
The women had their hair tied into a bun and wore flowery, and enchanting kimonos. Likewise the men around wore equally graceful clothing accompanied by a haori. Kaede wore a navy blue kimono adorned in luxuriant designs, and Karin opted for a pink-coloured one with floral patterns. Hayato and Naruto aligned with a matching verdant colour, and the family relished in the solace of their environment, sharing equivalent awe of the cosmic tapestry above.
And finally, the long-awaited time of the special occasion had arrived...
The Fireworks!
Everyone in Konoha gazed into the distance eagerly for the imminent brilliance. Aiko and her family too, sat on the doorsteps of the front porch, waiting for something.
In the distance where the Hokage Monument loomed, showers of light shot straight into the heavens, and...
*BOOM*
The ascending shower branched into a kaleidoscope of numerous hues, colouring the sky in a sublime meteor shower of dazzling lights. The magnificent scene registered in the minds of all, rendering everyone dazed in awe, and there were also those who shouted in ecstasy, including Naruto, who leaped in joy!
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
***
And so ladies and gentlemen, we enter a rousing finale for the year. Naruto's adoption ended up being smooth-sailing, and he now resides in a loving home, and is nurtured by the best of the best.
And now, we enter a new arc, brimming with action and mystery.
A new adventure awaits.
The curtains arise on Volume 2: Operation: Echo Search.