Anna Karenina

He was hurt a little, but he seemed fine!

MEDICAL LEAF HOSPITAL Seems he lost a lot of chakra.

MEDICAL LEAF HOSPITAL That's why he was admitted, just in case.

MEDICAL LEAF HOSPITAL He always causes such a fuss!

We rushed over after hearing they were fighting someone dangerous.

But when we got there,

it was just those two and him up against Master Jiraiya.

I'm sure they witnessed their training.

Master Jiraiya probably had a scary look on his face

and they mistook him for a white-haired ghost.

It can't be helped

if Konohamaru and team couldn't discern the difference.

It's because—

Seriously, I got worried for nothing.

Well, I'm just glad everyone's okay.

This is a hospital!

Wait, don't get the wrong idea!

This is just part of my research!

Quit flirting, Pervy Sage!

Retreat for now!

Hey! Don't get me involved, ya know!

Hey, wait!

At this rate, he'll be discharged in no time.

I agree.

Good grief!

Where did you go, Pervy Sage?!

Crossing Time!

There you are!

Are you okay to move around now?

Yeah…

How about you?

That was nothing!

Sorry for all the trouble.

Don't give it a second thought.

Besides, I was able to protect Naruto, thanks to you.

Still, that guy used a strange jutsu.

Actually, we don't understand it either.

But he wasn't unbeatable.

So, if another one like him appears, we just have to confront him directly.

Anyway, it seems useless to think about this any further.

So, what are you two going to do now?

We're going home, back to where we belong, tomorrow.

Yeah.

We have to go home.

Already?

Why don't you wait until you're completely recovered?

We don't belong here.

Hold it!

I finally found you!

Why do you have a piece of paper with Sasuke's name on it?!

Why did you say my name?!

What's your connection to Sasuke?!

Come on, answer me!

That's right!

Sakura picked up Sasuke's letter.

Come on!

Hold on a minute!

Calm down.

I can't be calm!

These guys…

These guys…

are fans of mine!

Huh?

Allow me to clear up all of your suspicions.

Huh?

These two are avid readers of my Make-Out Paradise!

Taking a keen interest in an author

after reading a book that touched you?

Haven't you ever felt the same way?

I'll admit that I have, but…

Right?

These two read my book and became so enamored,

that they came to Hidden Leaf Village as traveling performers…

and were trying to learn everything about me

and the people connected to me.

That letter you picked up was simply one of their memos.

Since Sasuke is connected to me, after all.

Then why did they participate in the actual combat training

to the point of getting hurt, when they're not even ninja,

and why did they know about me?

Oh, the same reason.

These two believe that their mission in life is to follow my tracks completely.

With that sense of purpose, they checked your name and weight,

this and that, and everything that leads to me.

Furthermore, they pursued me and

declared they wanted to train in actual, hard combat with me…

And the result of that was, things got intense, and they got hurt.

It's all out of adoration for me.

Only real fans would go this far.

They are what you call true fans!

Is that true?

It's true…

Master Jiraiya's…

Make-Out Paradise made such a deep impression on me…

that I researched everyone… connected to him.

So creepy!

I want nothing to do with you anymore.

Please cross me off your list.

I guess you were just a weirdo, after all.

I wasted my time.

I have to start searching for Sasuke all over again.

Looks like it went well.

Thanks, but…couldn't you find a slightly better excuse?

It has to be extreme for it to work.

I finally found you, Pervy Sage!

Hey, Naruto!

Perfect timing.

These two are gonna be leaving.

Let's go see them off tomorrow.

Huh?

Did you bring our clothes and headbands we wore

when we first got here?

I got them all. We can't forget those.

I slept so well.

Good morning!

Getting ready to leave, are we?

Did you enjoy yourselves in this time period?

Well, I guess I did enjoy myself…

It must've been nice for you! You got to take it easy!

We'd like to borrow your power again to get home.

Understood.

Hey, Boruto!

No good!

Hide for a little while, okay?

Sorry, to keep you waiting.

Here's a little parting gift.

Thank you!

Whoa there, don't open it yet.

Save the surprise for later!

What's up with that?

I got it.

I wish I could've gotten everyone and

given you a proper send-off after having some food together!

But it would've been at Ichiraku anyway, right?

There's no need to make a big fuss.

Don't say that.

Besides, their ramen was great, right?

Yeah, I can't complain about that…

Be careful on your way home.

Don't worry your mom and dad.

You sound so smug.

Come visit again sometime.

If you take too long, I might already be the Hokage.

I know you can make that happen.

The next time we meet, you really could be the Hokage.

Just you wait!

I'd like one word with you before you go.

The past few days have been a very strange experience for us.

I'd wager, we learned even things we shouldn't know.

Like yesterday, when Sakura confronted you so accusingly.

Yeah.

Let's just call it a little give-and-take.

I want something back for all the help we gave you.

You have the means to erase the things we shouldn't know, correct?

Yeah.

With my jutsu…

I see! I'll take you up on that.

I want you to erase Naruto's and my memories.

All right.

As they say, a novel is much more interesting

if you don't know how it ends.

Naruto, come here!

What is it?

Hm?

All right, please go ahead.

What did you do?!

Naruto!

Oh, Hinata?

Are you all right, Naruto?

Huh? Yeah…

What were you doing out here?

What were we—?

Huh?

What were we doing?

Maybe it's because of your injuries from the day before yesterday?

But I'm totally fine. See?

Anyway, what were you two doing?

I was training with Big Brother Neji.

Naruto, where's that guy?

That guy?

You know, the one you were with?

Huh? Who's that?

Huh? The one who was with you!

But, who was it?

I can't remember too well, but there was someone, right?

Hmm?

I think there was someone, but…

I can't remember.

Did you have to go that far?

It couldn't be helped.