31 Wating for End 3 (1/2)

The rest of their walk home had been pleasant, with Naruto taking in the sights of a more matured Konoha. As they rounded a corner and began to walk up to the front of a house, Naruto realized this most have been their home. It was larger than Naruto would've ever expected to have when he was younger, standing at two stories tall with a wide circular shape that branched off to the side. As they entered, Boruto was quick to run off to his room. Letting Hima down, the little girl followed after her brother. Naruto watched her until she disappeared around the corner, his face content.

”How are you feeling?” Hinata asked softly as she took off her sandals, ”Has anything come back to you?”

Naruto shrugged, ”No.”

”I see.”

Leaning against the couch as Hinata crept into the kitchen, pulling out dishes from the cupboards above her, Naruto said, ”I don't think…well, I mean…I don't want to worry about it. Or for you to. Let's just enjoy today-”

”How can I enjoy anything when you're like this, Naruto?” Hinata questioned from the kitchen, pulling out a bag of white rice from the pantry, ”Maybe this party isn't such a good idea?”

”Since when has anything I've wanted been a good idea?” Naruto asked, flashes of his life on Earth flying through his head.

Hinata froze at that. Looking up from the rice, her face was cold, ”What is that supposed to mean?”

”That isn't what I meant-”

”Elaborate then, Naruto. Because, what it sounds like is that you don't want this, that you don't want us.” Hinata stated while gesturing to the house around them.

”This is everything I've ever wanted-”

”Then why are you acting like you don't want to be here?”

”Because I shouldn't be here!” Naruto insisted, flinching at his tone. Taking in a calming breath, he said, ”Even if I'm wrong, I feel like I'm missing something. I feel like I'm an intruder on someone else's life.”

”But you're not-”

”That doesn't change how I feel, Hinata.” He insisted, desperate for her to understand. Running his hands through his hair, he said, ”It feels like everything's fleeting. Like I'm on a timer and I only have a limited amount of time before all of this is gone.”

Walking over to her, he rested his hands on her shoulders, ”So please, for me, just let me have this one day. Let me have this one good day. And if we wake up in the morning, and everything's still shit…well I'm sure we'll think of something. But just give me until then to enjoy what I can. Please.”

Hinata bit her lip. Finally, she relented, ”Tomorrow morning we go straight back to the hospital, okay?”

”Deal.”

-x-

”Naruto Uzumaki, you son of a bitch!”

A boisterous voice broke out from across the front lawn. Naruto, who was setting up the grill, straightened to see Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame walking up the lawn towards him. To Kiba's right was a pretty brunette that Naruto briefly recognized. A trotting behind the three, Akamaru panted happily, the massive canine having gotten even bigger in the passed seven years.

”Kiba, Akamaru!” Naruto called. Meeting them halfway, he wrapped the Inuzuka in a bearhug. The man was quick to reciprocate, giving the blonde a rough pat on the back.

As Naruto released Kiba from the hug, the Inuzuka said, ”You remember Tamaki.”

Tamaki gave a light bow, ”It's been a while, Naruto.”

”Right, Tamaki, of course. It's good to see you too.” Naruto said happily as got down to Akamaru's level, giving the dog's ears a thorough scratching, much to his pleasure, ”How're you doin' boy?”

Akamaru gave a mighty woof, his tail wagging at a blur.

”I hope you have not forgotten about me again, Naruto.” Shino stated coolly.

”Like I could forget you.” Naruto exclaimed, about to go in for a hug. He was stopped by Shino jutting his hand out in between them.

”A handshake is what is appropriate, I believe. You are the next Hokage, after all.” Shina stated stoically, ”If the word around the Administration Building is to be believed.”

Kiba clapped Naruto on the back, ”I couldn't believe it when Lord Sixth told me! Congratulations, man!”

”To say it was unbelievable is a bit of an exaggeration.” Shina observed, straightening his shades, ”It is a fact that Naruto is currently the most powerful shinobi within the village. Those shinobi within the greater confines of the Elemental Nations who are considered within Naruto's caliber can be counted on one hand.”

”In Shino speak, Naruto's the strongest around.” Tamaki translated, though for who Naruto couldn't say.

Shino shifted to look at Kiba, ”Question. Why is it that the Lord Hokage debriefed you of this, but neglected to do so with me?”

Before Kiba could answer, a thunderous voice broke out from the other side of the lawn. Trotting up to them merrily, Choji Akamichi bellowed, ”I brought the meat!” In his arms was a large container of various meats.

Following behind him was a troupe consisting of Karui, and a little girl who was the literal amalgamation the massive man and the constantly agitated woman. The little girl, who Hinata told him was named Chocho, was holding a smaller version of the container her father was carrying.

Walking a few paces behind them, Shikamaru and Temari Nara followed at a leisurely pace. Holding Shikamaru's hand, young Shikadai seemed to be getting over a recent nap. Rubbing away the sleep from his eye, the boy seemed to be on the verge of a yawn that just wouldn't come. In Temari's hands was a bag that appeared to be full of liquor.

”Meat!” The little girl called out joyfully, lifting the container up over her head as she reached Naruto.

Taking the meat, Naruto said, ”Thank you, Chocho.”

”Need help getting the grill runnin'?” Choji asked, his eyes having immediately landed on the still static grill.

Karui sighed, taking her daughter's hand as she began to head into the house, ”Please remember that we're guests here, dear. We wouldn't want another Atsui incident, would we?”

Choji gave a sheepish smile, ”Of course, dear.”

”Atsui incident?” Kiba questioned.

”Trust me, don't ask.” Shikamaru muttered as he finally made it up to the ever-growing group. Taking Naruto's hand in a surprisingly firm shake, the man said, ”Congratulations, Lord Hokage.”

Naruto chuckled nervously, ”I'm not Hokage yet, but thanks.”

The Nara tilted his head to his wife, ”We brought a gift.”

All attention now on her, Temari tilted the bag to show its contents, ”Special Suna sake, the good stuff.”

”Isn't that the stuff Suna kids call Raccoon Piss?” Tamaki asked with a concerned sarcasm.

”That's the stuff we give to foreigners.” Temari returned before addressing Naruto, ”Gaara gives his best, by the way.”

”How's he doing?” Naruto asked, genuinely curious.

”He's doing well. He's occupying most of his time with that new apprentice of his. He hopes he might be coming out to Konoha for a quick session with Lord Sixth at the end of the month. I think he's looking for some tips in how to handle the boy's more…abrasive tendencies.” Temari informed. Nodding to the house, she asked, ”Hinata inside?”

”Yeah, she's in with Ino and Sai.” Naruto answered.

As Temari and Shikadai walked towards the house, the woman said, ”Come on Shikamaru, let's go say hello to the rest of our hosts.”

Sighing, Shikamaru scratched at his chin, ”I wonder if it's too early to open up that sake.”

Kiba and Tamaki smiled, ”It's five o'clock somewhere.” The Inuzuka said.

The Nara sighed as he headed towards the house, ”It's five o'clock here, you damn mutt.”

While Tamaki laughed at Kiba's indignant reaction, Naruto said, ”So Choji, think you can help me…” He stopped when he realized Choji wasn't standing next to him anymore. Looking around, the man seemed to have teleported to the grill.

As he reached the grill, Boruto and the son of Sai and Ino burst out from the front door, both laughing as their chase carried out into the front lawn. The young boy, who Hinata said was named Inojin, managed to tackle Boruto to the ground. Still laughing, the boys got up, though now it was Boruto's turn to do the chasing.

”This a gas or charcoal grill?” Choji wondered as he tied the laces of an apron around his back that read, 'Don't Kiss Me, I'm Cooking.'

”Um, I don't know?” The blonde said hopelessly, scratching the back of his head.

Naruto never thought he'd ever see Choji again, much less for the man to give him such an incredulous look at such a level.

-x-

Inside the house, Hinata and Sai finished preparing the onigiri in the kitchen. Her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, the Uzumaki wiped off her hands as she said, ”I still can't believe you're such a good cook, Sai.”

”A necessary skill.” Sai said with his ever-present smile, ”Cooking was never one of Ino's strong suits.”

”I heard that!” Ino called out from the living room, her eyes on little Himawari. The little girl was lying on her stomach, crayon in hand as she scribbled onto a piece of paper. Running behind her, her son chased after Boruto with a toy kunai, ”Inojin, no rough housing inside.” She chastised passed her glass of tea.

”Yes ma'am!” The little boy said, the two boys taking their fun to the front lawn outside. Coming inside right after them, Shikamaru and his family stepped in. Shikadai, who'd watched the two boys run off passed him, looked up to his mother with pleading eyes.

Shooing him away with a slight smile, she watched as the usually sloth-like boy ran after his friends.

Karui, who was sitting across from Ino on the love seat, looked down at her daughter who was sitting next to her, ”Chocho, why don't you go play with the boys outside?”

Chocho shrunk into herself, ”I'm gonna wait 'till Sarada gets here, Mama.”

With a sigh, Karui took a sip of her own glass, ”Well she's gonna be here any minute now, so go on ahead and go outside.”

Dejected, Chocho mewled, ”But Mama-”

”Go on Chocho.” Karui insisted, ”If you don't, I'll just have to tell Sakura not to let you have any of her delicious treats that she's bringing over.”

”What kinda treats?” Chocho asked, delightfully curious.

”Mitarashi dango.” Karui cooed, knowing she had her daughter in the palm of her hand.

Jumping from her seat, Chocho ran off outside with an excited smile over the prospect of glazed dango.

Ino's brow was raised, sporting an amused grin, ”I thought Sakura was bringing a potato salad?”

”Oh, she is? How foolish of me.” Karui muttered passed her glass with a coy smile.

Shikamaru, leaning on the kitchen counter, opened up a bottle of beer as he said, ”So, First Lady Hinata has a nice ring to it. A little bit of a mouthful, but I think I can get used to it.”

Hinata laughed, ”Hinata's just fine, Shikamaru. I left all of that title business after I forfeited the titles that went with being an heiress. The less drama, the better I think.”

The man grunted, ”Lucky you. Clan meetings haven't gotten any livelier in the time you left it behind.”

”Don't act like you've been to a single meeting in the past couple years.” Temari muttered, swiping the beer from her husband's hand and taking a sip for herself. Seeing his glowering look, she gave a challenging smirk of her own, ”If you can tell me what we talked about three meetings ago, I'll give it back.”

Shikamaru attempted a stare off for barely a second before rubbing his brow, ”Troublesome woman.”

Satisfied, Temari took another swig of her husband's beer.

Taking another bottle from the fridge, Shikamaru opened it with a pop while saying, ”To be honest, I don't think it's quite hit Naruto yet that he's got the job.”

Hinata paused, forcing a curious face, ”What makes you say that?”

”The guy's been talking about this for decades now. Kinda figured he'd be running around screaming it from the rooftops or something.” The Nara stated, taking a sip.

”He's matured, Shikamaru.” When the room grew quiet, she saw that the others were giving her slightly bewildered looks, ”He has.” She insisted.

Sai, washing his hands, said, ”Naruto has indeed matured greatly.”

Shikamaru nodded along, ”Greatly.”

”But I too was surprised to see how reserved he was at the news.” Sai admitted, wiping his hands dry.

”Surprised.” Shikamaru added not so helpfully with a raise of his bottle.

Hinata, balancing a plate of onigiri, left the kitchen as she said, ”Well, we all know that Naruto's just full of surprises.”

The other three couldn't help but agree to that.

-x-

Naruto manned the grill with Choji, flipping some beef as he laughed at Kiba, the boisterous man having been tackled by Inojin, Chocho, and Shikadai. All while Boruto road Akamaru like a horse across the lawn. Steering Akamaru towards Kiba, the two happily joined in on the dogpile.

Choji, his full attention on the beef sizzling on the grill, said with a calm seriousness, ”The one on the left needs to be flipped, the one next to it a little after.”

”Sure thing.” The Uzumaki followed the Akamichi's order, ”Thanks for bringing the meat by the way.”

”You know it's Akamichi tradition to bring the meat to any kind of barbeque event.” Choji said sagely, ”It is my duty to feed my fellow shinobi.”

”Well I'm gonna miss your cooking, buddy.” Naruto thought aloud, causing Choji to give him a confused glance. He quickly shrugged it off as he pointed out another slab of beef that needed to be flipped.

Kiba, popping out of from the dogpile, whined, ”Get off me, dammit!”

This caused a chain reaction, all four children giving a simultaneous, ”Ooooo.” At Kiba's use of bad language.

Inojin, his arms wrapped loosely around Kiba's neck, laughed as he said, ”Kiba said a curse word, Kiba said a curse word!”

”Someone grab some soap.” Shikadai added happily from the pile.

”And some water, we'll give him a bath too.” Chocho giggled out.

A vein was throbbing along Kiba's temple, ”Keep talking tough and Uncle Kiba's gonna give you all a spanking.”

”Since when did you start letting them call you Uncle Kiba?”

Chocho, who'd been at the bottom of the dogpile, shot up at attention. Coming up onto the lawn were Sakura and Sarada Uchiha, the pinkette holding a enclosed pot in her hands.

”Sarada!” The little Akamichi girl said excitedly, wrapping her best friend into a tight hug.

The little Uchiha struggled to speak while in the Akamichi's grip, ”Chocho…can't…breath.”

Letting go of her, Chocho's attention quickly fell onto Sakura, ”Did you bring the dango?” She asked hopefully.

”Dango?” Sakura questioned.

”The dango!” Chocho insisted.

Walking passed the little girl, the pickette laughed, ”I'm sorry Chocho, I didn't bring any dango. I made some potato salad though.”

”No dango?” The girl said, clearly devastated. Her emotional turmoil was interrupted by the toy kunai pelting her in the arm. With a twitch to her eye, Chocho turned to see Shikadai, the boy giving her a surprised yet lazy wave.

Seeing her agitated reaction, the boy smartly dashed off, the other two boys laughing as Chocho chased after him with a gusto.

Sarada, now left alone at the beginning of the front lawn, looked over all the people loitering about. Kiba had meandered back to where the adults were hovering. Her mother had walked inside to drop off the potato salad. Tamaki was sitting on a lawn chair, laughing at Kiba as she handed him a beer. Shino stood off to the side, petting a tired Akamaru. Chocho's dad was guarding the grill, his full attention on the almost ready meat. Shikadai's dad had walked outside, lazily leaning against one of the verandah's support beams watching the children run after each other.

Finally, her eyes landed on Mr. Uzumaki, their eyes locking. His face seemed lost. His eyes, though looking directly at her, seemed to be a million miles away. But it was his smile that hit her. It was a smile she'd seen him have when talked to Sakura about their childhood, about her father.

”Hey, Sarada!”

The girl jumped when the man called out to her, waving for her to come over with a welcoming smile.

Nervously shifting on her feet, she eventually did as the man asked. Now standing in front of him, she fixed her glasses while mumbling a, ”Yes?”

”How would you like to help me out?” Naruto asked breezily, taking in the girl as she nervously fidgeted, ”I mean, you're as strong as your mama, aren't ya?”

”We-well I…”

”Of course you are!” Naruto insisted happily.

”Um, okay.” Sarada conceded/

”Do you think you could hold this plate for me?” Naruto asked, handing her the plate, ”I need someone to hold it so I can take 'em off the grill. Think you can do that?”

”Ah-huh.” Sarada answered, holding the plate up in her hands.

Grabbing the grill's fork, Naruto, with Choji's expert guidance, picked up the pieces of beef one by one. Sarada watched keenly, looking up at the man as he went about his work. Finally, the last piece was placed onto the plate. Taking it off her hands, Naruto rested his free hand onto the top of her head.

”Thanks a million, kid.” He said as he ruffled her hair, accidently tilting her glasses askew.

She didn't bother fixing her them, too busy watching the man take the plate inside in a wonderous confusion.

-x-

Naruto accidently found himself standing on the outskirts of the party, lost in thought as he watched his old friends interact as they ate.

Shikamaru and his son were lackadaisically leaning against each other, eating their food at a sloth's pace. Temari was sitting next to Karui, the two stern women talking about something that was going on in Kirigakure. Choji and Chocho were enjoying themselves, the two Akamichi in perfect sync as they practically worshipped the deliciousness of their meal. Sai and Ino sat shoulder to shoulder, the blonde-haired beauty feeding her husband one of her onigiri, much to Inojin's embarrassment. Said boy was sitting across from Boruto at the kitchen table, the two of them laughing at a joke Kiba made. Sakura and Takami were chatting with Hinata, the three intently gossiping over something Naruto assumed was trivial.

As he sat and watched all of them, people who he'd thought he'd never see again, he realized what that weight in his chest was. It wasn't sadness, or nostalgia, or even happiness. It was contentment. For the first time in his life, he truly felt content.

And with this revelation, he felt the floor begin to bottom out on him again, the room spinning at an increasing pace.

Backing out into the open patio door and making sure he was a good distance away, Naruto took advantage of the open air. Taking deep breaths in and out, Naruto rubbed the haziness from his eyes. As the panic in his breath began to fade, he closed his eyes tight as he thought, ”Get ahold of yourself, idiot. Don't ruin this. Don't fucking ruin this, you fucking idiot.”

”I don't think you're an idiot.”

Naruto jumped at the small voice at his side. Sitting next to him, Sarada Uchiha looked up at him from her plate. Cross legged in the grass, the little girl had her plate in her lap. She appeared to be picking at the vegetables her mother had given her, specifically the tomatoes.

”What?” Naruto wondered, flinching at how raspy his voice was.

The girl shrank down into herself a bit, ”Well, um…I said I don't think you're an idiot, Mr. Uzumaki.”

Realizing he'd been talking out loud, Naruto cursed under his breath. Running his hand over his hair he said, ”You can call me Naruto, kid.”

”Well, you can call me Sarada. Not kid.” The little Uchiha returned, making Naruto smile.

Sitting down across from her in a similar cross-legged pose, Naruto picked up a piece of tomato the girl had been picking at. Popping it in his mouth, he slowly chewed in thought as he said, ”You're pretty smart, huh?”

”That's what my mama says.” Sarada answered.

”What about your dad?”

Pressing her glasses up her nose, she shrugged, ”I don't know.”

Startled, Naruto asked, ”You don't know?”

”I don't know what he thinks.” The Uchiha elaborated softly, ”He's been on a mission for a long time. I don't remember him that much.”

”A mission huh.” Naruto concluded, looking back at the house from his peripheral, ”Why aren't you in there with everybody else?”

She shrugged.

Naruto, quietly observing her, frowned in thought. Picking up another piece of tomato from her plate, he popped it into his mouth as he leaned back onto his hands.

”I get what you're feeling.”

Confused, Sarada said, ”Feeling?”

Nodding along, Naruto swallowed before saying, ”You bein' out here, I mean. I get it.”

”You do?”

”Of course. I know what it's like to grow up without a parent around, and having to watch other kids be with theirs right in front of you. It's a terrible feeling, right?” Naruto said warmly.

Sarada nodded, engrossed in that warmth.

”And then that feeling gets so bad you just got to get away from it for a bit. But then, you find yourself alone more than you were, and the feeling comes back only worse.” The blonde explained, now leaning forward as he spoke to the little girl.

”Does it go away?”

The Uzumaki nodded, ”Eventually. But you've gotta put yourself out there. You've got to make friends who make that feeling go away when you're with them. And eventually, they become your family. But if you want that, you've gotta be brave.” Smiling, Naruto said, ”And I know you're brave. Cause you're like me.”

Sarada was quiet for a moment, picking at a blade of grass in thought. Eventually she asked, ”What were your parents like?”

”I don't know, they passed away when I was a baby.” He answered gently.

”Then how do you know they loved you?”

Naruto knew what question she was really asking. Releasing a musing breath, Naruto looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, and the sky had taken on a orangish hue, ”I didn't know that, not for a long time. When I was a kid, I'd make up stories about them in my head, so I always had a reason for myself for why I was alone. But it never stopped me from asking that question. And you wanna know something that no one bothered to tell me when I was your age?”

She nodded.

”That your parents will always love you. They might not show it all the time, or ever. But they do, forever. In life and death, if they're right next to you or a country away, they will always care for you.” Nudging her teasingly, he said, ”You're just lucky you got an idiot around like me to tell ya that.”

Laughing, Sarada wiped away her eye with her sleeve, ”I told you you're not an idiot.”

Happy to see the girl laugh, he chuckled, ”If see the bastard before I wake up – oof!”

He grunted as a blur tackled him, wrapping their arms around his head with a heavy giggle, ”Papa's a froggy!” Himawari chanted happily, digging her heals into Naruto side to get him moving.

”He's a toad, Hima!” Boruto corrected merrily as he ran out onto the patio.

”Toads jump!” Himawari conceded, changing her chant.

Getting the message, Naruto grinned.

Sending chakra to his legs and to the girl so she was glued to his back, Naruto sprung up high into the air. Himawar giggled and squealed into his ear as they reached the apex of their jump. Sending a quick burst of wind chakra out bellow him, his descent transcended into a cushioned landing.

”Again, again!” The little girl requested, her hair a mess from the sudden liftoff.

”No way, it's my turn.” Boruto whined, which was quickly followed by the other kids, minus Sarada who was looking on in wonder, all of them wanting to go on a trip into the air.

”One at a time, alright?” Naruto laughed, the kids surrounding him as they made a bid for a turn.

Hinata, standing alongside Sakura as they watched Naruto play with the children, said ”He's acting a little more like himself.”

”Not counting the episode he seemed to have a few minutes ago.” Sakura muttered into her glass of tea, ”It looked like he was about to have another panic attack. And I wasn't the only one who noticed. The entire Nara clan picked up on it pretty quick. Not that surprising, but still.”

Likely having hoped no one else had seen that, Hinata fiddled with the glass in her hands, ”He got a grip of it. You heard what he said to her.”

”Yeah.” Sakura admitted, ”It was very sweet.”

”Did you hear back from him?”

”No.”

”I see. That's a shame.”

After a quick set of knocks, the front door opened, Kakashi peaking his head inside, ”We open up the booze yet?”

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-x-

”Just admit that I almost beat your ass, blondie!”

Naruto laughed with a lighthearted scoff at Kiba's claim, ”When you admit you got beat by a fart, sure.” He challenged.

The kids had gone up to play some kind of game in Boruto's room, leaving the adults to open up the liquor. The only child still outside was Himawari, but she was practically passed out in Naruto's lap, her head dipping back and forth as she fought off sleep.

Arriving after Kakashi's arrival came Tsunade and Shizune, followed by Rock Lee, Ten Ten, and Might Guy. Naruto was surprised to see Guy confined to a wheelchair, though considering the damage he'd taken in his fight with Madara, he was lucky to be alive at all. His always on positivity kept him from pitying the man, his exuberance negating any of that in almost an instant.

”You didn't tell me he beat you with a fart.” Tamaki questioned, taking the cup she'd been sharing with the Inuzuka.

”It wasn't a-”

”It was a fart.” Chorused everyone who'd been present for the fight.

Kiba huffed, ”You're all acting like mine was the most embarrassing.”

”What was more embarrassing than that?” Ino asked while sipping at her sake.

Kiba raised a deliberate eyebrow, ”You're asking that? Really?”

Ino and Kiba had a momentary stare off before the blonde relented, ”Touché.” Slipping her drink back, she said, ”I think Lady Tsunade and Shizune know better than anyone how helpless we were back then.”

Tsunade chortled, ”At least you had your clan stuff to fall back on. Pinky over there was the cleanest slate I'd ever seen. No taijutsu, barely any nin or genjutu. I was embarrassed for her, really.”

”I'm glad to hear what you used to think of me, sensei.” Sakura mumbled sorely

”It's a sign of love.” Tsunade insisted halfheartedly.

Shizune sighed, ”Who's idea was it to bring the Suna born sake?”

”That really a question we need to ask?” Temari asked sarcastically.

Lee, who was standing next his sensei, began to reach for the bottle of sake, ”Is Suna's sake truly more youthful than those here in Konoha?” Just as his fingers were about to glance the bottle, Guy swiped it out from under him.

Pouring some into his glass, the man said, ”Destroying our future Hokage's home is very lacking in youthfulness, my dear student.”

Deflating, Lee muttered, ”Forgive me sensei.”

Tenten, leaning back in the grass, lifted her cup into Naruto's direction, ”So how's it feel knowing your mug's gonna be up on that mountain?”

”It's kinda weird to think about.” Naruto admitted softly, Himawari nodding off in his arms.

”Oh come on.” Tenten insisted, ”The first time we met you wouldn't stop screaming about it. And now here you are, your dream's coming true, and you don't know what to think about it? Come on.”

”That's weak sauce, man.” Choji chastised half-heartedly.

”Back when we met you'd have been yelling about it so loud the people in Kumo would've heard about it.” Karui stated, pouring some of the sake into her cup before continuing to pass it around.

”And Suna.” Temari added.

”Didn't you beat him to a pulp the first time you met?” Shino asked Karui only to be ignore as the running joke continued.

”Kiri too, probably.” Kiba included helpfully.