Chapter 19
There was no way she could admit it. Never in this lifetime.
While Sakura was mentally figuring out how to explain things to her mom, Naruto had no intention of going straight home.
"You should leave."
Sakyo stopped walking. Her gaze fixed on the Uchiha compound gate as she spoke to Naruto.
Naruto gave her side profile a teasing look, sighing inwardly: Wow… this kid is really gorgeous! slurp~
Sakyo: "?"
Sensing something bad, she turned and glared at him warily.
Naruto spread his hands innocently. "Little Sakyo, you didn't think I came all this way just to walk you home, did you?"
Sakyo froze. "Huh?"
After what happened yesterday, she had already made up her mind: Naruto was never stepping foot in her place again.
And this morning he'd promised so nicely—said "yes yes yes" and everything. So why the sudden change of heart tonight?
Truly worthy of a scumbag who lies without batting an eye.
Naruto nodded matter-of-factly. "Exactly, Little Sakyo."
"I don't want to face that empty house again. I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of a dripping faucet. That kind of loneliness… you understand it better than anyone, right?"
Listen to him—calling her "Little Sakyo" over and over like they're super close!
First he drops the family name, now he's adding "Little" like it's nothing. What the hell is this?
Sakyo's cheeks flushed at the overly intimate nickname. She said bluntly, "Uzumaki Naruto, you call me Uchiha Sakyo—not Little Sakyo. Got it?"
Here, close friends can use first names only. Normal acquaintances use full name plus family name.
But…
Naruto ignored her entirely and kept looking at her with pitiful eyes. "Little Sakyo~"
"Are you really that heartless? Are you really okay with leaving me alone in that huge empty house?"
"Just let me stay, Little Sakyo, waaah~"
Sakyo's fists slowly clenched. Through gritted teeth she reminded him, "Damn it!! I'm talking about how to address me! What are you even saying?!"
Truthfully, the loneliness Naruto described was something Sakyo experienced often. It really hurt…
Especially in such a massive house with only her inside. The silence was suffocating—like hell.
Seeing that she clearly understood, Naruto pressed his advantage. "Little Sakyo, if you let me stay, I'll agree to one thing for you."
Sakyo's eyes lit up. Forgetting the nickname issue, she quickly asked, "Really?"
Naruto nodded seriously. "Really! Extremely really!"
"Fine then!" Sakyo looked a little excited. She asked directly, "Why is it that we train together, but you improve so much faster than me?"
"Do you have some secret? Can you tell me?"
She knew most people wouldn't share something like that.
It's like asking the Hyūga clan how they train—it's basically asking for trouble.
So during the day she'd only been tempted, but later decided not to push it.
But now that Naruto had brought it up, she took the chance.
Seeing she asked exactly what he expected, Naruto scratched his head and explained, "Well… probably because of my physique?"
Sakyo, who had been looking forward to the answer, immediately went blank. She gave a flat "Oh."
"I see."
What do you mean "probably physique"?
Even if it's physique, could the gap really be that big?
If you don't want to tell me, don't promise. But you promised, then refused to say. That really hurts!
Sakyo turned and headed home without looking back. Naruto hurried after her. "Little Sakyo, you have to believe me—I'm not secretly training. It really is my physique. Haven't you heard everyone call me a monster?"
Sakyo stopped. Thinking about it… yeah, that made sense. Why else would people call him a monster?
But the gap was still too huge!
She put in the same effort as Naruto, yet she was completely helpless against him. The psychological imbalance from such unequal results—no one could accept that easily.
It's like working the same job, same hours, same tasks—but he gets paid dozens of times more. How could anyone not overthink that?
Naruto thought for a moment and said, "How about this—I'll teach you chakra control."
With his Wind-Style mastery, he was more than qualified to guide her.
Even though her chakra was Lightning-natured, he could still describe his own experience and let her figure it out herself.
That would be way better than her fumbling alone.
Sakyo didn't reply. She just pushed open the door and walked into the Uchiha compound.
But… she didn't close the door behind her.
So~
Naruto cheerfully adjusted his little backpack and stepped inside. Once in, he closed and locked the door carefully—to keep out any bad guys.
As for him, Uzumaki Naruto? Of course he wasn't a bad guy. He was Sakyo's good friend!
Following Sakyo home, Naruto naturally went straight to the kitchen and started cooking.
Sakyo didn't object—she silently allowed it.
Soon, delicious-smelling food was ready. The two sat down to eat as usual.
After the quiet meal, Sakyo helped clean up, then immediately dragged Naruto to start training.
Naruto glanced at the darkening sky outside and hesitated. "Little Sakyo, isn't this a bit…?"
"It's already so late. Just the two of us, alone at night—we should be careful."
Sakyo frowned. "What did you say?"
For some reason, she felt like something about his words was off.
Naruto explained, "I mean, unless something unexpected happens, we can train inside the house."
"It's just chakra control… not kunai throwing or anything, right, Little Sakyo?"
Hearing that, Sakyo thought for a moment and agreed.
"Fine then." She spoke to Naruto very seriously, her expression slightly stern.
It was late at night. Once basic needs were met, certain perverts started getting ideas. She needed to keep the atmosphere serious and suppress any strange desires—otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable~
Her seriousness actually worked. Naruto swallowed hard, then obediently said, "Okay, we'll do it in the living room."
"I'll tell you everything I know. The rest—you'll have to figure out yourself."
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