"Impossible… right?"
Sakura froze.
She knew her own gaze too well.
That look… no!
Sasuke will only transfer into our class in about half a month—
Sakura, what are you even thinking?!
Suddenly, Sakura looked up.
Ino and little Hanabi were staring straight at her.
And then—
Hinata?
When did you wake up?
Wait… why does Hinata's gaze feel a little resentful?
"H-Hinata, that is… I didn't, it wasn't me…"
Bad!
Sakura's heart jolted.
She hurried to the railing and looked down.
Below, Naruto was grinning foolishly.
She could faintly hear him chatting with Neji.
"Hahaha~"
"Neji, it seems Sakura really falls for this kind of thing. How about I treat Sakura the same way?"
"Yeah, yeah, then she'll definitely be devoted to me."
Neji covered his forehead and gave a bitter smile.
This guy…
why does it feel like he's doing this on purpose?
Just as Neji was about to say something nice on Hinata's behalf—
Sakura's voice rang out from the stands.
"Idiot Naruto! Give up already! My heart belongs to Sasuke!"
Naruto's smile stiffened.
"That damn Sasuke!"
"I'm going to challenge you to a duel!"
Smack—
Neji couldn't stand it anymore.
He slapped Naruto across the head.
"Naruto, not again! Calm down!"
Neji's expression was serious—
but that slap was a bit too heavy.
Naruto's eyes rolled back.
"Did I really hit you that hard?"
"Wait!!"
Neji suddenly froze.
'During the comparison viewing, all aggressive actions are prohibited.'
The rule that had been announced when the comparison system first descended echoed in his mind.
"I can barely even activate my Byakugan… so why was I able to hit Naruto?"
The black-framed giant screen continued.
[Back Mountain.]
["Naruto… aren't we there yet?" Sakura was already panting heavily.]
[Little Naruto glanced back at her.]
["We're here."]
[As soon as he finished speaking, little Naruto stopped.]
["Ow~!" Sakura didn't react in time and bumped into his back.]
["S-sorry, I didn't mean to!" Sakura hurriedly apologized.]
[But little Naruto didn't respond.]
[She quickly stepped forward and followed his gaze.]
[A snow-white rabbit was crouched in the grass ahead, its foot caught in a snare.]
[Sakura covered her mouth in shock.]
[At this distance, she could clearly see the rabbit's heart pounding rapidly with fear.]
["Naruto… it's so pitiful," Sakura said softly, unable to bear it.]
[Little Naruto glanced at her without saying anything.]
[Sakura lowered her head, not daring to speak again.]
[Half an hour later.]
[Thin smoke slowly rose.]
[Gurgle—]
[Sakura's sorrowful tears overflowed from the corners of her mouth.]
[She swallowed with difficulty.]
["It smells so good~"]
["Isn't it ready yet, Naruto~?"]
Sakura: "..."
Damn it!
How could I be this spineless?!
"Sakura, you're such a pain," Ino teased.
Sakura's face instantly turned red.
Hinata puffed out her cheeks, looking at the scene with envy.
I was the first to notice how good Naruto is…
["T-this… this is for me?!" Sakura widened her eyes.]
[She stared at the half roasted rabbit in her hands.]
["Mm. That won't fill you up. We'll eat more later," little Naruto nodded, biting into the rabbit.]
[The color, aroma, and taste were all perfect.]
[Just missing some vegetables.]
[No problem—someone's treating later.]
[More importantly, there's that shop selling things for more than half off.]
[Seeing how deliciously little Naruto was eating, Sakura stopped holding back.]
["So good~!" Sakura's eyes lit up. She had never eaten rabbit like this before.]
[There was no trace left of her earlier sympathy—she was one step away from asking for extra seasoning.]
[Before long, the two of them finished the roasted rabbit.]
[Sakura licked her lips, still wanting more.]
["Do you like picnic barbecue?"]
[Little Naruto suddenly asked.]
["I like it~!" Sakura nodded quickly.]
["Then let's stop here for today," little Naruto said as he stood up and extended his hand.]
[Sakura froze for a moment, then shyly reached out and placed her small hand in his.]
[After pulling her up, and confirming the feeling of surveillance was faint—]
[little Naruto lowered his voice.]
["Shikamaru and the others would probably be interested too."]
["If you like it, we can come here often for picnics."]
["Mm!" Sakura blinked. "Ino will definitely like it—the environment here is great."]
["She even took us on picnics before… but not like this."]
[The corner of little Naruto's mouth lifted slightly.]
["Then it's settled. In a couple of days, we'll all come together. I'll leave informing Ino and Shikamaru to you."]
["Okay!" Sakura agreed without hesitation.]
Senju Tobirama: Good kid! Planning to turn those little ones into long-term meal tickets?
Terumī Mei: "Second Hokage of Konoha, that's not quite fair. Little Naruto provides skills, emotions, and fun—fishing, catching crabs, playing together."
Terumī Mei: "If I'd had a friend like that as a child, I'd never mind spending my allowance on ingredients for picnics."
Yamanaka Ino: "Exactly. I'm sure even the Black-Frame version of me would never refuse."
Nara Shikamaru: "It's troublesome… but if there's fishing, I probably wouldn't say no either."
Akimichi Chōji: "As long as there's barbecue, there's no problem!"
Haruno Sakura: "So… I'm just the messenger?"
Ino hooked an arm around Sakura's shoulders.
"You were the first to taste Black-Frame Naruto's cooking. What are you complaining about?"
"Look how jealous Hinata is."
As she spoke, Ino pulled Hinata closer.
Hinata blushed furiously and stammered that she wasn't.
But… who would believe that?
Thanks to Ino's little disturbance, the slightly awkward atmosphere from earlier disappeared.
"Wait, Ino-neechan, I think you got one thing wrong. The first one to taste Black-Frame Naruto's cooking shouldn't be—"
Before Hanabi could finish, Ino cut her off.
"That doesn't count as a person," Ino said matter-of-factly.
Tanzaku Town.
"Boss, I remember you sell roasted rabbit here too. Bring me one—extra cumin!"
"Make it just like Black-Frame Naruto's."
"Oh, and bring a bottle of sake."
"Shizune, you drink some too. It's not dangerous anyway."
[After leaving the back mountain, little Naruto went straight to Ichiraku Ramen.]
[He had already spent all his money.]
[Recently, he'd been living on wild vegetables, grilled fish, and river snails.]
[No matter how good they tasted, anyone would get tired of them.]
[He had just gotten some money today, but he still needed it and didn't plan to spend much.]
[This was the first time someone had treated him to a meal.]
[So little Naruto happily chose Ichiraku Ramen without hesitation.]
["Yo~ It's you, Naruto!"]
[It wasn't a busy time—the lunch rush had already passed.]
[Uncle Teuchi greeted him with a warm smile.]
["Hm? Naruto, did you make a friend?" Ayame poked her head out from the kitchen.]
["Yeah. Uncle Teuchi, one bowl of pork-bone ramen~!" Naruto said, sitting down with a slightly reserved Sakura.]
[Although her house was nearby, Sakura had never eaten here before.]
[In the end, she ordered the same ramen as Naruto.]
[Uncle Teuchi even added an extra egg for them.]
[After the meal, Sakura rubbed her slightly rounded belly and led Naruto through alley after alley.]
[They finally stopped in front of a rather shabby shop.]
[Little Naruto looked up—it was a near-expiration food store.]
['No wonder it's so cheap.']
["Thank you, Sakura," little Naruto said seriously.]
[Sakura was flustered by his earnest tone and waved her hands quickly.]
[Little Naruto smiled.]
["It's fine. In the future, just don't walk with me," he said gently.]
[Seeing Sakura's reddened eyes, little Naruto felt a bit of pain in his heart.]
[After all, it was because she'd walked with him that she'd been cursed as well.]
[If not to gain the trust of that bastard leader, he'd have picked up stones and thrown them at those people long ago.]
[Of course, for now and for the foreseeable future, he would endure.]
[But he would never forget—these hatreds and angers would keep piling up.]
[One day, when his wings were fully grown, they would all repay him.]
["N-no… I'm fine… Naruto, have you always lived like this?"]
[Trying to comfort him only made Sakura remember the curses she'd just heard.]
[Her tears poured down like pearls.]
Orochimaru: "Hearing about it is one thing. Truly understanding it requires experience."
Orochimaru: "Only those who've lived through it can truly feel what Naruto-kun endures."
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