Naruto-kun. Naruto Uzumaki-kun, headliner of Shounen Jump's most popular series since Shounen Jump began. The king of ninja manga, any doujinshi scanner's wet dream, the inspiration for the fifteen and one gazillion fighting series and animes that came after it. Naruto Uzumaki-kun. Sitting across from Hijikata Toshirou. Right here. Right now.

Now.

....................the tears' flow out of his eyes was instant and unexpected. So instant, in fact, that Hijikata didn't even notice them as he reached out his hand.

"N-N-N-Naruto-k-k-kun. I-i-i can't t-t-t-ell you w-w-what a p-p-p-pleasure it is t-to m-meet you...!"