"Kousei!?"
Karin looked the girl up and down in disbelief, then reached out and touched Kousei's face as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
She gave it a slight pinch...
'Hmm… not a Genjutsu.'
Kousei seed to have expected Karin's reaction and maintained a smiling expression, allowing Karin to pinch her cheek.
The group who had co to see Karin off looked confused, while only the 'old couple' and Boruto, who had heard the whole story, realized what was happening.
Clearly, the young girl before them should be one of the 'comrades' Karin had ntioned.
They just weren't entirely sure about Kousei's identity yet.
Karin circled around Kousei, observing her, still seeming sowhat incredulous.
"Karin-nee, you've changed quite a bit too," Kousei said, also looking at Karin. After all, Karin now resembled Nagato from back then, with her once red hair completely white and her glasses removed.
Fortunately, she didn't need to maintain that overdrawn state long-term, and Naruto, who mastered Yang Release, provided tily rescue, so she didn't end up as emaciated as Nagato.
"No, no, no! You're the one who's really changed!" Karin exclaid exaggeratedly, gesturing at Kousei's height.
From a tiny little bean to now even taller than Boruto.
Suddenly, as if rembering sothing, the joyful surprise on Karin's face froze.
"Wait, Kousei, you..."
She nervously gripped Kousei's shoulders with both hands, pulling her closer, her eyes fixed on the young face that could already be called beautiful.
At this mont, Karin's eyes shone with disbelief, followed quickly by heartache and sadness.
A conjecture had already ford in her mind.
Even though Karin often grumbled about Naruto being partial during Kousei's stay, she actually spent the most ti with the optimistic and sunny little Kousei.
During baths and bedti, it was usually her and the other two won in the team who took care of Kousei.
Over ti, though she never said it out loud, Karin had already accepted Kousei as a comrade in her heart.
From Karin's perspective, only the three of them had entered the Ryumyaku. So Kousei's presence here likely ant she had waited too long without their return and had taken the initiative to co looking for them.
Judging by Kousei's current appearance, that waiting period couldn't have been short.
Kousei seed to sense Karin's thoughts. Her small hand gently patted the back of Karin's hand, calming the slightly trembling fingers.
"Karin-nee, is there any food here? I've traveled a long way and I'm really hungry..."
Kousei changed the subject, looking towards the group not far away.
Surprisingly, she didn't seem surprised by the thirty-sothing Seventh Hokage standing nearby.
She didn't even show curiosity or inquiry when looking at Boruto and the other children.
"Yes! Of course!"
Karin quickly gently picked up Kousei and walked towards the seeing-off group.
Even though Kousei wasn't that small anymore, she could still be carried just like before in front of the 'abnormally developed' Karin.
With this sudden turn of events, the original send-off had to be postponed.
…
On the streets of Konoha, passersby looked curiously at the group walking in the middle.
Two girls, one tall and one short, held hands at the front, followed by none other than their Hokage.
Sasuke didn't show his face in the village often, so so younger people didn't recognize him, but Naruto frequently 'enjoyed himself among the people'.
"Ah... Hokage-sama!"
"It's Seventh Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
Watching the enthusiastic greetings from the people around, Kousei showed no surprise on her face.
"Hmm... As expected of Kousei's father, I suppose."
Hearing this, Karin looked down at her, seeming to want to explain sothing.
"Kousei, actually that's not..."
"I know."
Kousei shook Karin's hand in return, giving her a warm smile.
Originally, Karin was leading the way to the legendary [Yakiniku Q] for a feast, after all, she knew the little girl's appetite was no small matter.
But as they walked, Kousei took the lead.
And judging by her familiarity, she didn't seem unfamiliar with the terrain here at all.
"Hmm... Ichiraku Ran! Of course, you have to eat this when you co to Konoha Village."
Before everyone knew it, Kousei had led them into the ran shop.
Uncle Teuchi, now Grandpa Teuchi, greeted them warmly when he saw Naruto bringing a group to his shop.
Kousei also ordered in a very proficient manner.
By now, Karin finally sensed sothing was off. She looked at Kousei, about to ask sothing, but heard the other speak first.
"Konoha Village in the year 72 is still quite interesting, right? Karin-nee."
"Kousei... you..."
Kousei gently shook her head, signaling to talk after eating.
Seeing this, Karin couldn't press further, so she went upstairs with the others to a private room.
Yes, Ichiraku Ran now has private rooms.
Teuchi's speed hadn't slowed much with age, and perhaps he possessed so mysterious bloodline.
Soon, everyone's ran was served.
In front of Naruto was his usual Tonkotsu Miso Chashu Ran. Boruto and Sasuke chose the relatively lighter Spicy Leek Ran.
As for Karin and Kousei, they both chose the legendary Super Large Bowl Pork Miso Chashu Ran.
"Kousei-chan… can I call you that? That portion is really big, you know."
Perhaps because he felt an inexplicable fondness for her since their first eting, Naruto smiled and reminded Kousei.
"No problem. Don't underestimate Kousei's appetite, Seventh Hokage."
Facing this Naruto from another tiline, Kousei didn't call him 'Dad', which made Karin's eyebrows twitch.
Seeing this, Naruto just smiled and didn't say anything.
And so, the alti whirlwind began.
Soon, two or three empty bowls were stacked in front of Naruto.
For soone who often used shadow clones for office work, replenishing stamina was quite important, so his appetite was naturally not small.
But when he looked up, there were already seven or eight large empty bowls stacked in front of Karin and Kousei.
'What!!?'
The Seventh Hokage's face was full of disbelief.
He had learned about Karin's large appetite during their days together, but he wondered how the little Kousei managing it.
'Where did all that ran go?'
Naruto looked at Kousei's still flat stomach, completely baffled.
Looking at Sasuke and Boruto beside him, they had already finished their battle.
anwhile, Karin and Kousei seed to have just ward up.
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