She stayed still for a second longer than necessary, afraid that moving too suddenly would make it worse—or more obvious.
Naruto didn't rush her.
He just stood there, one arm steady at her back, posture relaxed, breathing even—like holding her upright was the most natural thing in the world. No teasing. No awkward shuffling. Just quiet patience.
And somehow… that made it harder to pull away.
"I think you're doing well," Naruto said.
His voice cut gently through the silence.
Sakura startled slightly and stepped back on instinct, only to realize his arm was still around her, keeping her balanced. She cleared her throat, eyes flicking away from his chest.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Naruto lowered his arm, giving her space, but didn't step away. His expression had shifted—less playful, more thoughtful.
"I mean your strength, chakra control, speed… all of that," he said. "You're doing really well."
She blinked, surprised.
"But," he continued, scratching the side of his face, "your stamina's the weak point. You burn too hot, too fast. In a real fight—or worse, a war—you'd be dead once you hit your limit."
The words were blunt.
But there was no cruelty in them.
Sakura listened carefully, every instinct telling her this wasn't just criticism—it was advice. The kind he didn't usually bother giving.
"So…" she said slowly, "you're saying I should focus more on my regenerative skills?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Exactly."
He tilted his head, brows knitting slightly. "I mean… why haven't you mastered Lady Tsunade's technique yet? You've got the control for it. You get me?"
Before she could answer, he lifted his hand and gently tapped her forehead with two fingers—not hard. Not teasing.
Just deliberate.
"You master that," he said, "and you're already levels ahead of Sasuke. At least right now." He paused, then added honestly, "After that, you build a taijutsu style that actually fits your jutsu. Something that works with your strength instead of burning it out."
Sakura stared at him.
"For someone who says he's not smart…" she muttered.
"It'll be hard," Naruto went on, unbothered. "Really hard. But no one said it was supposed to be easy."
Her cheeks warmed again—this time for a different reason.
She nodded slowly. "…Is that why you kept flicking my forehead?"
Naruto blinked, then laughed. "Nah. I'm not that wise."
That broke the tension.
Sakura laughed too, the sound lighter now, easier. She stepped forward suddenly and wrapped her arms around him before she could overthink it.
"Thanks," she said quietly. "For helping me."
Naruto smiled, arms coming up around her without hesitation.
They stood like that for a moment longer than either expected.
Then—
"You're still paying for lunch, by the way," Naruto added casually.
Sakura groaned and pulled back. "Damn it. I thought that would work!"
Naruto laughed, and the training ground felt warmer for it.
---
Minutes later, they sat shoulder to shoulder inside Ichiraku Ramen.
The familiar warmth wrapped around them the moment they stepped in—the hiss of boiling broth, the rhythmic clatter of bowls, the rich smell of soy and pork that somehow made everything feel right again. Teuchi's daughter had already clocked out for the evening, replaced by a couple of new hires who were clearly still nervous behind the counter.
It didn't matter.
The noodles were still perfect.
Naruto leaned forward, chopsticks already in hand, steam fogging up his face as he inhaled deeply.
"Still godly," he muttered with satisfaction.
Sakura watched him with an amused look before glancing back at her own bowl. "So," she said casually, "I heard you left the village without permission yesterday. Want to explain that?"
Naruto didn't even look up. "Permission from who?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"The only bad thing I did," he continued between slurps, "was hijack a jōnin and chūnin mission."
Sakura froze mid-bite and slowly turned toward him.
"…Wow," she said. "I really thought you'd changed. Guess I was wrong."
Naruto finally looked at her. "Damn, you're still on about that?"
She burst out laughing. "I'm kidding! Relax."
He snorted. "Yeah, well, it's working."
Then he gestured dramatically at the bowls in front of them. "Also, I'm surprised you're even talking right now. There's a delicacy in front of you."
"You tell 'em, Naruto!" Teuchi called from behind the counter, giving him a thumbs-up.
Naruto nodded solemnly in return and immediately dove back into his ramen like it was a sacred ritual.
' I might actually invest in this place, ' he thought vaguely as he ate. ' Future Hokage funding future happiness.'
By the time they finished, the sky outside had begun to darken. The warm glow of lanterns lit the street as the sun dipped below the rooftops, painting the village in soft orange and gold.
Naruto walked Sakura home at an easy pace, hands behind his head, the two of them talking about nothing important—missions, training, the occasional joke that didn't need to land perfectly to be funny.
When they reached her place, Sakura stopped at the door and hesitated.
She turned back toward him.
"…Wanna come in?" she asked. "My parents aren't really home right now."
Naruto blinked. "For real?"
She nodded, a little unsure but not pulling back.
Naruto shrugged. "Sure."
She opened the door, and he stepped inside with her as the evening settled quietly around them, the day winding down into something softer—and unexpectedly personal.
Naruto stepped fully inside and paused, eyes drifting lazily around the entryway.
"…Wow," he said, genuinely impressed. "You're really balling."
Sakura shut the door behind them and turned, brow furrowing. "Balling???"
He looked at her like she'd just asked what ramen was.
"It means you're rich," he said flatly. "Do I seriously have to teach you everything?"
She scoffed and lightly smacked his chest with the back of her hand. "Shut up."
He grinned, unfazed. "So… you gonna give me the tour, or am I just standing here admiring your wealth?"
She rolled her eyes but gestured down the hallway. "Why not? Come on."
They moved through the apartment at a relaxed pace. The kitchen was spotless—almost too spotless—with neatly arranged utensils and labeled jars. The bathroom smelled faintly of soap and flowers, everything in its proper place. Naruto noticed it immediately.
"…You're way too organized," he muttered. "This feels illegal."
Sakura smirked. "Some of us don't survive on instant ramen."
"Ouch."
They continued down the hall until they stopped in front of a door painted a soft, unmistakable pink.
Naruto squinted at it.
"I think I know where we're headed," he said slowly.
Sakura smiled, hand resting on the knob. "Follow me into my sanctuary."
She opened the door.
Naruto stepped inside—and stopped.
He looked around once.
Then again.
The room was… neat. Clean. Minimal. A bed with pink sheets. A desk. A mirror. A few books. No clutter. No chaos. No overwhelming personality.
He blinked.
"…This is it?"
There was genuine disappointment in his voice.
Sakura frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Naruto glanced at her, then back at the room, then back at her again.
"…You sure this isn't Sai's place?"
For a split second, the room was silent.
Then Sakura lost it.
She doubled over laughing, clutching her stomach, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Naruto, meanwhile, stayed completely stoic—arms crossed, face dead serious—which somehow made it worse.
She laughed harder.
"Y-you're unbelievable!" she gasped.
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "I'm just saying. Needs more… emotion."
Somewhere else in the Leaf, Sai paused mid-sketch as he worked on a portrait for a civilian—apparently taking Naruto's earlier advice seriously.
He sneezed.
"…A cold?" Sai wondered, staring at the page.
THIS IS IN DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT Sai doesn't know about common superstitions.
TO BE CONTINUED