Two days after the battle.

Rain was pouring down while a grand funeral was held for the Third Hokage.

Almost all shinobis of the village attended it, except the ones who were out on a mission or who were injured.

One of them was Eiji since he still suffered from the aftereffects of exhausting his chakra to a dangerous limit.

When he woke up in the hospital a day ago, he was told about Hiruzen's death.

Thinking about it, he couldn't help but sigh: 'Old man, you just had to take the opportunity and let us save you...why did you have to be so stubborn?'

Other than Hiruzen's death, things seemed to play out the same.

Naruto defeated Gaara and "converted" him to the "good side" and Sunagakure later discovered how they were used by Orochimaru.

The only difference was Ukon: since he lost his mind and only wanted to kill Orochimaru, he didn't put up a fight, so he was easily captured.

Unfortunately getting information out of him wasn't possible, since...well, he went crazy.

Eiji's conclusion was, that the only thing he achieved was showing off and making an enemy out of Orochimaru.

Again his hopes of saving someone were crushed.

'It's almost like the universe is telling me to just live my life in the background like a mob is supposed to be, and not involve myself in important stuff anymore...honestly maybe it's just better like that...wasn't my goal in the first place to get strong enough to leave the village and live peacefully? Shouldn't I be able to leave now?'

But he instantly remembered the face of his mother when he woke up.

He could see in it, the stress she must have felt the whole time.

She looked really haggard and older than she was supposed to be, but nonetheless, after he woke up, instead of shouting or berating him, she was full of relief and joy that he was alive and well.

'Sigh...I don't know anymore...'

Eiji was unsure what he should do from now on.

"Eh-heh heh..." - Jiraiya was peeping on women with a telescope for his "research" when two figures approached him from behind.

"You still engage in such foolish activities?"

"Technically it's research...if it isn't old man Homura and mistress Koharu... and just what business do the chief counselors have with me?"

They told him about the current dangerous and peculiar state of Konoha and that it was concluded that Jiraiya would be the next Hokage.

But he actually declined and said, that Tsunade would be more suited for that role and that he would find her.

With that, he got ready to leave with Naruto and find her.

Also at the same time, Itachi and Kisame appeared in the village.

After being found out, they fought a bit with Asuma, Kurenai, Kakashi, and Guy before disappearing.

Kakashi was still under the effect of Tsukuyomi, so he was brought to the hospital.

Because of some dumbass shinobi who barged into Kakashi's room asking about Itachi while Sasuke was here, Sasuke rushed off trying to find Naruto, who Itachi and Kisame were after.

Sasuke then got trashed by Itachi and needed to be brought to the hospital as well.

After driving them off, Naruto and Jiraiya started their Rasengan training while searching for Tsunade.

So a lot has happened, but on the surface, for the ordinary shinobi, it was a peaceful time recuperating from Orochimaru's attack.

The same was for Eiji.

After one more day, he was allowed to leave.

But instead of a day of doing nothing, he had a promise to fulfill.

"Again Dango? I invited you already so many times to Dango, why not something else for a change?"

"But I didn't eat any Dango for some time now..."

"What? With how much you love them, I don't believe you."

"But...I never eat them without you...and it's already some time now since the last time we were together like that..." - Tenten pouted in a low voice.

"Yeah, sorry..."

"..."

"..." - an awkward silence, before Eiji broke it: "By the way, don't you think I look a bit creepy now? Are you okay with somebody like that walking next to you?"

"Actually you look way better now...you look smarter and your eyes give you a kind of dangerous and mysterious vibe..."

Hearing that, Eiji smiled: "You think so too? At first, I was unhappy, but now I actually like how I'm looking...it really looks cool!"

"Don't exaggerate! No matter how your body looks, with your bad clothing taste, it won't matter!"

"Ouch, I actually thought I would look cool with that, like a Rounin...well, we're are here. I said I would treat you, but I'm a bit short on money currently, so please don't -"

"YOU!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH TROUBLE I GOT INTO BECAUSE OF YOU!!" - Anko, who was eating Dangos in the shop, shouted when she saw the two enter.