Sky Curtain: Short Video Commentary on Konoha Villagers

Konoha Year 48, Hokage's office.

Minato Namikaze stood by the window, gazing at the description of Kakashi on the sky, his eyes growing deep.

He turned his head to look at Nara Shikaku, who was sitting across from him at the desk, his tone serious.

"Shikaku, if Pain invades, can we really win?"

Nara Shikaku placed his hands on the table and remained silent for a few seconds.

Although Tianmu previously listed that Minato could easily deal with Pain's invasion, there are still many variables in actual combat.

"According to the information previously revealed by the Heavenly Curtain, Pain's invasion of Konoha should have occurred after Jiraiya's death. Now that we know the information in advance, the situation has changed."

Minato nodded, deep in thought.

The Akatsuki organization already existed at this time, and they had to be constantly on guard.

He absolutely would not allow Naruto to be alone again.

[Then, Hinata risked her life to stand in front of Naruto, and Pain immediately inflicted serious injuries, leaving her life hanging in the balance.]

[This is basically just jumping around in Naruto's lightning field.]

This directly forced Naruto to unleash the Six-Tails. If Minato hadn't appeared in time to reinforce the seal, the Nine-Tails would have successfully escaped.

If it really comes to that, even if the entire ninja world were tied together, they couldn't control the rampaging Naruto.

Konoha, Year 60, Hyuga clan territory.

Hinata clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands, her head down, lost in thought.

The image depicted by the sky kept replaying in her mind.

She stood in front of Naruto and was severely injured by Pain, after which Naruto went berserk for her sake.

And gifts from others when I get married in the future.

Her heart was pounding, she couldn't tell if it was from shyness or something else.

Hiashi Hyuga stood beside her, his expression complex.

"...Hinata."

Hinata looked up and replied softly.

"Father?"

Hiashi Hyuga opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only sighed.

"...You did a great job."

Hinata was stunned; this was the first time she had heard her father's approval.

Her eyes were slightly red as she spoke softly.

"Because...because of Naruto-kun..."

"I know."

Hiashi Hyuga interrupted her.

"You don't need to explain."

Hinata Hanabi stood beside her, looking up at her older sister with eyes full of admiration.

"My sister is amazing!"

Konoha Year 48, Hokage's office.

Kushina Uzumaki turned to look at Minato, her voice slightly choked.

"Minato... Naruto really met some really good people."

Minato gently put his arm around her shoulder. "Yes. Our son is happier than we imagined."

Kushina whispered, "That girl named Hinata... I really want to meet her."

Minato smiled. "I'll go with you to find her after the sky curtain falls."

"She hasn't been born yet, has she?"

"...Then we'll look for her when she's older."

[Naruto's fourth lifeline must be Sakura, who will summon him back to Konoha.]

Although Sakura's will to dominate was exceptionally pure when she was young, she was the core glue that held Team 7 together.

[She was Naruto's first crush during his youth, and a companion who accompanied him as he grew from being a loser.]

From a little girl who only knew how to cry to a capable female ninja, they went through the most difficult days together and stood together at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

This feeling is like the bond between Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Konoha Year 60, Training Ground.

Sakura Haruno was completely stunned.

Is Tianmu the red thread that binds Naruto? Is she the core glue that holds Team 7 together? Is she Naruto's first stirrings of love during his youth?

".....ha?"

She finally uttered a syllable, and then her face turned red at a visible speed.

The Hokage's office. You and me.

Tsunade looked at the description of Sakura on the screen and commented.

"What kind of metaphor is this, a bond like yours and mine?"

Jiraiya sat opposite him, laughing heartily.

"This means Sakura's relationship with Naruto is similar to ours!"

Tsunade glanced at him. "You mean Sakura will beat up Naruto for no reason, just like I do to you?"

Jiraiya's smile froze as he remembered how Tsunade always punched him when she caught him spying.

"...It's not that you can't understand it that way."

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently took a puff of his pipe without saying a word.

He thought of Jiraiya and Tsunade when they were young, and how they used to bicker and argue just like Naruto and Sakura do now.

Time is a strange thing; the same story seems to repeat itself in different ways.

Konoha Year 48, Hokage's office.

Kushina Uzumaki stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the description on the sky.

"Naruto's first crush during his youth? What about that girl named Hinata?"

Minato Namikaze smiled, quite moved.

"When you're young, you sometimes can't even tell whether you're attracted to someone or not."

Kushina looked at him, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Is this based on your experience?"

Minato quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I meant..."

"You mean you can't tell the difference yourself?"

"...Kushina, let me explain."

[Shikamaru was the same. Back then, everyone avoided Naruto like the plague, but he had no prejudice against him and was willing to stay with Naruto. He was one of the few sources of warmth in Naruto's dark childhood.]

From a lazy, unambitious boy who just wanted a peaceful life to a master strategist of Konoha, he transformed into a brilliant and resourceful chief strategist.

He accompanied Naruto from the scorned fox spirit boy to the revered ninja hero of the entire village.

[Naruto just charges forward, while he steadily covers the rear, making him the most reliable right-hand man.]

This friendship has long surpassed that of ordinary friends. If anyone dares to harm Shikamaru, Naruto will definitely fight them to the death.

In Konoha, Sarutobi Asuma leaned against a tree by the training ground, looking at Shikamaru's exasperated expression, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Shikamaru, you'll be much more amazing than me in the future."

Shikamaru glanced at him and said helplessly.

"It's too early to talk about that now."

"What do you mean 'early'? It's bound to happen sooner or later anyway."

"...Can I not be that strategist?"

"No, Konoha's future is also fraught with hardship, and the village needs you."

"...This is so troublesome."

However, the first person to show goodwill towards Naruto was not any of the people mentioned above, but rather Uncle Ichiraku.

It's no exaggeration to say that Ichiraku Ramen was Naruto's second home.

Even after Naruto became the Seventh Hokage and started his own family, he would still occasionally visit a ramen shop.

Konoha Ichiraku Ramen.

The middle-aged man was kneading dough for a new customer when he paused slightly when Tianmu mentioned him again.

The diners in the restaurant started shouting again.

"Uncle Ichiraku! Tenbu says your Ichiraku Ramen is Naruto's second home!"

"Uncle, you're amazing!"

"Do you guys think Naruto always comes here to eat ramen because of the free ramen pass?"

"Are you kidding me? He's going to be Hokage someday, why would he care about a little money?"

The days Naruto spent training with Jiraiya were arguably the most relaxed and happiest time of his life.

During this time, Jiraiya made up for the lack of companionship Naruto had during his childhood.

Jiraiya's sacrifice was the most painful lesson in Naruto's growth, making him truly understand the weight of the word "protection."

Konoha Year 60, Hokage's office.

When Jiraiya saw Tenmoku mention him, his smile gradually faded.

His face was expressionless, and he remained silent for a long time.

Tsunade noticed that Jiraiya was acting strangely and asked him casually.

"What are you thinking about?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "It's nothing, I just feel that the kid has grown up a lot."

Tsunade glanced at him, her expression saying, "You'd be better off not saying anything."

"Isn't that obvious?"

Jiraiya smiled.

"I know it's obvious."

"But I always feel a little uncomfortable if I don't say something."