On the way to the riverbank, Chizhao discovered another interesting pastime.
It was goldfish scooping.
She gazed at the colorful goldfish in the water, her eyes sparkling with excitement, as if deeply drawn to these lively little creatures.
Naruto keenly noticed the look of anticipation on Chizhao's face, and he crouched down to look at her profile.
"Chizhao, do you want to scoop for goldfish?"
Chizhao nodded and looked at Shikamaru and Choji. She suggested, "Let's try it together; it looks like fun."
"I'll pass," Shikamaru waved his hand, indicating he wasn't interested.
"I'm too full to squat," Choji said with a troubled expression, patting his round belly.
Facing this situation, Chizhao was a little disappointed, but Naruto happily took a paper net from the owner and handed it to her.
"Then let's the two of us play. Let's see who can scoop a goldfish. The loser has to treat the winner to Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Okay!" Chizhao confidently agreed.
It was a good thing Naruto was there to play with her!
The two of them focused intently on finding a target. Naruto, quick-eyed and quick-handed, aimed at a plump red goldfish and swiftly dipped his paper net into the water.
"You're the one!"
As expected, due to his excessive force and the goldfish's plumpness, the paper net tore instantly, and the fish plopped back into the water.
Naruto looked at the empty paper net, a disappointed expression on his face.
"Ah? I failed..."
Chizhao regretfully patted his shoulder and said, half-jokingly, "Oh~ It seems you absolutely have to treat us to that bowl of Ichiraku Ramen..."
"Really? I don't believe it..."
"Hmph, just you watch."
Rolling up her sleeves, Chizhao carefully observed each goldfish. Finally, she spotted a slightly smaller white goldfish and carefully extended the paper net beneath it, then gently lifted.
Just as she was about to succeed, the goldfish, exceptionally agile, suddenly wriggled its body and swam away the moment it was about to be scooped up.
Fortunately, the paper net hadn't broken yet, so she still had a chance.
"I think it's better to scoop the goldfish in that corner."
A pleasant voice sounded in Chizhao's ear. She turned her head and saw short pink hair and a bow.
"Sakura?"
Sakura blinked and smiled mysteriously, "Listen to me, scoop the goldfish in that corner. You made a bet with that idiot Naruto, so you can't lose."
Glancing at Naruto's puzzled face, Chizhao secretly chuckled and exchanged a look with Sakura, then launched her attack on the goldfish in the corner.
Unexpectedly, this goldfish only wiggled its body slightly before obediently lying still in the paper net.
Thus, Chizhao successfully scooped up a goldfish, winning the bet.
The two girls happily high-fived to celebrate.
"Thank you, Sakura!"
"You're welcome, because we're friends!"
Meanwhile, Naruto was somewhat dejectedly fiddling with the broken paper net, looking at the two girls behind him with a hint of complaint.
His expression seemed to say: Why didn't you give me outside assistance?
But seeing Chizhao's happy smile, he also accepted the outcome of the game gracefully.
Anyway, win or lose, he was going to treat Chizhao to ramen.
"Sakura, you're here! I've been looking for you for a long time."
Ino, holding a bouquet of flowers, ran towards them.
Seeing everyone gathered, she was a bit surprised, "Why are you all here? Did you organize some event?"
Shikamaru, who had been looking rather lazy, explained, "Everyone is here to watch the fireworks nearby. It's not strange to run into each other, is it?"
Ino, realizing, smiled sheepishly, "It seems that's the case, haha."
At this moment, Naruto's gaze fell on the flowers in Ino's hand. He leaned forward to sniff them and let out a big sneeze.
"Such a strong floral scent!"
Ino disapprovingly moved the flowers away from Naruto and said in a slightly scolding tone, "These flowers aren't meant to be smelled like that; they're for freshening the air in a room."
Naruto rubbed his nose, "Really? But the ramen smell in my house is also very nice."
His words made everyone present frown involuntarily.
This guy must have been made of ramen in his previous life.
Ignoring Naruto's nonsensical conversation, Ino simply pulled two beautifully blooming flowers from her bouquet and handed them to Sakura and Chizhao.
"These are for you, consider them New Year's gifts!"
Sakura and Chizhao took the flowers and smiled happily:
"Wow, they're so pretty! Thank you, Ino!"
"I'll cherish them!"
Chizhao lightly sniffed the flower in her hand, and a refreshing scent filled her nostrils, making her feel invigorated.
Just then, a cry of surprise came from not far away:
"Ah! He's so handsome!"
"It looks like Sasuke-kun from school, he's amazing!"
As soon as they heard Sasuke's name, Ino and Sakura's eyes immediately lit up, and their gaze followed the crowd.
"Hey, it seems lively over there, do you want to go take a look?"
Ino tentatively asked Sakura. Sakura lightly coughed and pretended to think for a moment.
"I think we can. Let's go take a look!"
No, is Sasuke's appeal that strong to the two of you?
Before Chizhao could speak, Ino and Sakura, one on each side, took her arms and squeezed into the crowd.
"Eh? Wait, I didn't say I wanted to go!"
Watching the three girls walk away, Naruto pouted unhappily, "Tch! What's so great about that Sasuke?"
Shikamaru patted Naruto's shoulder comfortingly as he walked past him and continued forward.
"At least he's better than you in academics."
Naruto, who was still feeling indignant, was momentarily speechless by Shikamaru's words. He let out a cold snort through his nose to express his final stubbornness.
Looking at Choji and Shikamaru's backs, he asked in confusion, "Where are you going?"
"To buy soda, coming along?" Shikamaru turned back, his usually listless eyes showing a hint of vitality at this moment.
Naruto looked at Chizhao, who was surrounded by the two girls not far away, realizing there was no longer a place for him there.
He turned his gaze back, took two steps, and hooked his arms around Choji and Shikamaru's necks, laughing, "Then I want orange flavored!"
"Then I want barbecue flavored!"
"Choji~ there's no such flavor..."
........
Meanwhile, at another stall, the black-haired boy Sasuke's posture was particularly eye-catching.
He elegantly threw Shuriken, each one precisely hitting the bullseye. The red stars on the targets, large and small, were almost all hit, drawing exclamations of admiration from the surrounding audience.
"You're very impressive, Sasuke. It seems nothing can challenge you now."
Standing beside Sasuke, the slightly taller boy praised him in a gentle tone, his eyes filled with doting affection for his younger brother.
"Nii-san, these are all too simple. They're not even a tenth as challenging as practicing with you."
Itachi's gaze lingered on young Sasuke's face. He gently ruffled his hair, a hint of a helpless smile on his face.
"Congratulations to this young friend, who has won the first prize, a giant doll!"
The stall owner excitedly announced, handing a doll even larger than Sasuke to him.
"I don't need something like this," Sasuke pushed it back with a hint of disdain.
"So cool! He actually got such a cute doll!"
"Yeah, he's really amazing!"
Hearing familiar voices from the crowd, Sasuke turned his head and saw two girls from his class.
And one person who had been bothering him for a while.
Shiratori Chichao.
