96: Chapter 96: Only the Hand of Stone and the Scissors That Must Be UsedThe broth in the pot was bubbling, and white steam rose up, blurring the already limited view.
The beef bobbed up and down as the chopsticks fought over it.
"Hey, Naruto."
Ino didn't rush to eat.She rested her chin on one hand, and with the other hand, she held chopsticks and drew a circle in the air.Her eyes were glazed over, as if she had been drinking.
"You probably don't know how reassuring your back looked back then in the forest."
She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over Sakura, who was about to stuff a dumpling into her mouth, a provocative smile playing on her lips.
"That feeling of despair, that life-or-death situation, is something that people who haven't experienced it firsthand can't possibly imagine, right?In that instant, I felt that as long as Naruto was there, it wouldn't matter if the sky fell down."
Ino leaned forward, her voice becoming sticky, "That kind of bond—'having gone through hell together'—is deeper than anything else."
[Ding!You have received 800 points of "superiority complex" from Yamanaka Ino!]
Sakura froze as she bit the dumpling.
"To live and die together?" Sakura slammed her chopsticks down on the rim of her bowl, making a sharp sound."Ino-boo, have you forgotten that Naruto and I are in the same class?"
She took a deep breath, crossed her arms, and struck a pose befitting an empress.
"Did you know that Naruto must drink milk before going to bed?Did you know that he gets upset if he doesn't have Naruto rolls in his ramen?Did you know which part of his feet is most prone to blisters after every mission?"
Sakura sneered, her eyes sharp as knives."While I was taking care of him, you were still trimming your roses at the florist.When it comes to understanding him, you're far from it."
"What's the use of understanding?That's a nanny's job."
"Who are you calling the nanny?"
"Whoever gets angry first, that's it."
The smell of gunpowder instantly overpowered the aroma of the hot pot.
The two glared at each other across the table, as if they were about to turn this hot pot meal into a ninja duel.
Hinata was caught in the middle, clutching a piece of freshly blanched cabbage in her hand, looking down helplessly, her fingers twisting white.
Naruto held his teacup and watched this scene.
It's like watching a free game of Animal Chess.
[Ding!High concentration of Shura field reaction detected.]
[Emotional value is steadily increasing.]
That's enough.If we keep arguing, it won't be pleasant.
"hiss--"
A very soft gasp suddenly cut through the gap in the argument.
It's like the pause button has been pressed.
Sakura and Ino, who had been exchanging barbs, immediately shut up, and all three pairs of eyes turned to Naruto.
Naruto frowned slightly, his right hand, wrapped in bandages, was trembling uncontrollably.
He bit his lower lip, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead, yet he still forced a smile.
"No.it's nothing.My nerves just twitched a little, but it's really nothing.You guys continue talking."
That suppressed pain, that feigned bravado to avoid worrying their companions, was like a precise scalpel, piercing the hearts of the three girls.
A wave of guilt washed over her, instantly drowning out her earlier ridiculous competitive spirit.
"It's all my fault.I disturbed you." The allure in Ino's eyes turned into panic; she wanted to touch him but dared not.
Sakura's face turned deathly pale.Her professional instincts as a medical ninja made her want to check on her immediately, but she was stopped by a trembling hand.
"Quiet."
A soft yet authoritative voice rang out.
Hinata put down her chopsticks.
The veins at the corners of her eyes bulged slightly, and her Byakugan activated instantly.Those pure white eyes didn't look at anyone, but instead locked precisely onto Naruto's arm.
Chakra flowed smoothly, but there were some muscle spasms.
After confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong, Hinata closed her Byakugan, turned her head, and looked directly at Sakura and Ino, her gaze that was usually lowered.
"Naruto needs to rest."
Hinata's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "If you're here to argue, please leave."
Dead silence.
Sakura opened her mouth, but didn't dare to refute.
Ino shrank her neck even further.
At this moment, the shy girl who always hid behind the pillar suddenly unleashed a suffocating aura of a queen, completely dominating the entire scene.
[Ding!You have received 3000 units of Hinata Hyuga's "protective" emotion!]
[Ding!You have received 2000 [Guilt] from Sakura Haruno!]
[Ding!You have received 2000 "Self-Reproach" from Yamanaka Ino!]
Naruto lowered his head, and with his bangs covering his face, a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
This is the art of balancing.
If you show even the slightest vulnerability, your prey will stretch out its neck and even fight over who will lick your wounds.
"Okay, okay, the atmosphere is too heavy."
Naruto raised his head, his signature silly grin returning to his face, as if the pain he had just felt was merely an illusion.
"Now that everyone's full, how about.we play a game?"
"A game?" The three looked at each other in bewilderment.
"That's right!The loser has to do the dishes!" Naruto raised his right hand, which was wrapped up like Doraemon's, and grinned broadly."Let's play rock-paper-scissors!"
The air froze for a second.
Sakura looked at that hand with a complicated expression.
Ino bit her lip.
Hinata silently clenched her fist.
His hand was severely injured, wrapped in thick bandages and shaped like a ball.No matter what he did, he could only play "stone".
This is a game we're destined to lose.
Or rather, this was a scheme by him to demand "privileges" from them.
"Ready?" Naruto shouted excitedly, seemingly oblivious to the fact that, "Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
He forcefully swung down his heavy right hand.
Stone.
The stone was a foregone conclusion.
And opposite him.
Three slender hands reached out almost at the same time.
Separate your two fingers.
Scissors.
Scissors.
Scissors again.
There was no discussion, no eye contact whatsoever.
Three girls with very different personalities, who had just been arguing and jealous of each other, suddenly reached an amazing understanding.
They chose to lose.
"Yes!I won!"
Naruto cheered, as happy as if he had won the lottery, "Haha, looks like my luck is on my side today!The task of washing the dishes is yours!"
He laughed so innocently, so carefree.
But deep within those narrowed eyes, there was only cold mockery.
That is power.
Even if I can only choose rock, you must choose scissors.Because you can't bear to see me lose, and you can't bear to see me in pain.
This shackle called "love" is so effective that it's addictive.
The water was running loudly in the kitchen.
Three girls were crammed into the narrow space, making it feel somewhat crowded.
Naruto sat alone on the sofa in the living room.He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and looked as if he were drowsy after a good meal.
But his ears twitched slightly.
The enhanced hearing from the chakra easily penetrated the thin sliding door.
"Hinata.you were so fierce just now." Ino's voice was low, with a hint of probing."I don't usually see it, but you're quite something when it matters."
"I.I just." Hinata's voice returned to its previous faint, thread-like quality, ".I was just worried about Naruto-kun."
"Hmph, don't think you can do anything about it." Sakura muttered while wiping the plates."We're teammates, it's only right that we protect him at a time like this.You guys.don't overthink it."
"You're the one overthinking things, broad forehead."
"What did you say?"
The sounds of bowls and chopsticks clattering, the hushed arguing, and the subtle whispers that belonged to a young girl's heart.
As Naruto listened to these sounds, he tapped his fingers lightly on his knees to create a rhythm.
Jealousy, testing, and defensiveness.
It's all top-quality nutrients.
The feeling of being fought over as a trophy, though vulgar, undeniably provides an extremely high level of satisfaction for one's vanity.
"That's about it."
Naruto glanced at the wall clock.
If we don't leave now, tonight will really turn into a nightmare for those who have to stay overnight.
Let's leave those troublesome things for later.
The sliding door was opened.
Three girls came out carrying cut fruit.
"Um." Naruto yawned widely, his eyes becoming somewhat unfocused, "I don't know if it's the medicine taking effect, but I feel so dizzy."
He tried to stand up by supporting himself on the sofa armrest, but his body swayed suddenly, as if he might fall at any moment.
"careful!"
Three figures rushed over almost instantly.
Sakura reacted quickly and grabbed Naruto's waist.
Ino grabbed his intact left arm and held it tightly in her arms.
Hinata was a step too slow and could only stand behind him, her hands lightly supporting his back.
In an instant.
The space was compressed to its limit.
Naruto was surrounded.Three distinct scents lingered around his nose.
Sakura's faint scent of disinfectant mixed with the fresh fragrance of shampoo, Ino's rich iris perfume, and Hinata's warm, sun-warmed scent like a quilt after a long day.
And.the soft touch unique to young girls, clinging tightly to their arms and back.
This is hardly a matter of helping someone up.
This is clearly a gentle trap.
The three girls' cheeks were flushed red, like ripe apples.
They looked at each other, neither of them showing any intention of letting go.
This ambiguous physical contact is like an electric current, rushing wildly along the point of contact.
[Ding!Emotional threshold exceeded the critical point!]
[Gain 5000 points of overall flirtation value!]
Naruto used the momentum to steady himself.
He didn't rush to push them away, but instead lowered his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes obscuring the glint in his eyes.
He raised his head, his clear blue eyes reflecting the flustered and shy faces of the three girls.
"I'm sorry."
Naruto's voice was soft, with a gentle, dreamlike quality.
"Thank you so much for today."
"It's so good to be back alive.to see you all again."
This statement was like a heavy blow.
It struck the softest spot in their hearts.
All the jealousy and rivalry, all the desire to win, vanished in that moment.
All that remained was pity and attachment for the boy before her, and a fluttering feeling of wanting to meld him into her very bones.
Downstairs at the apartment building.
The night breeze was cool, dispelling some of the heat.
"Well.you should get some rest." Ino stood at the bottom of the steps, turning back to look at Naruto who had come out to see her off, her eyes sparkling.
Sudden.
As if she had made up her mind, she quickly tiptoed while Sakura wasn't paying attention.
*Kiss*
The soft touch was felt briefly on Naruto's intact left cheek before being released.
"This is a reward!"
Ino blushed, leaving behind a string of silvery laughter, and turned to run into the night.
"Inoboro!What are you doing?"
Sakura was so angry she almost jumped up, her face turning bright red.She glared at Naruto fiercely, as if she wanted to rub off that hickey.
"You idiot Naruto!Remember to come to the hospital for your check-up on time tomorrow!If you're even a minute late, I'll beat you up!"
After saying that, she stomped her foot angrily and turned to leave.But her retreating figure looked like she was fleeing in a disheveled state.
In the end, only Hinata remained.
She stood in the shadows at the apartment entrance, her two index fingers intertwined, head bowed, her face flushed crimson.
Naruto extended his left hand.
Gently place it on Hinata's head, feeling the smoothness of her hair.
A gentle head pat.
"The ointment worked really well today; my hand doesn't hurt as much anymore," Naruto said with a smile.
Hinata's body trembled slightly, her head.It looked as if steam was about to rise from it.
"Um.Hinata."
Naruto's hand slid down her hair, his fingertips lightly touching her earlobe.
"It's too late, maybe.we shouldn't go back tonight?"
boom!
Hinata felt like a firework had exploded in her mind.
Stay.stay?
Here?
And Naruto-kun?
"I.um.I made up with Father and the elders yesterday.I think I'll go home today!"
Hinata finished speaking haltingly, and like a startled rabbit, she bowed deeply to Naruto.
"I'll come see Naruto-kun again in the future!Goodnight!"
After saying that, she disappeared at the end of the street almost as fast as she could with a teleportation technique.
Watching that flustered figure disappear into the distance, Naruto stood still, maintaining that gentle waving gesture.
Until the footsteps completely disappeared.
Until the streets returned to silence.
Click.
Naruto turned around, went upstairs, closed the door, and hung up the security chain.
The moment I turned around.
The kind, shy, and warm expression on his face vanished instantly, like the receding tide.
Instead, there was absolute indifference.
A flash of red light appeared briefly in the depths of those deep blue eyes.
He walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked down at the three figures going their separate ways below.
There is no love.
There was no lingering attachment.
That look was as if he were looking at three moving data packets, or three prey that had already been marked.
"emotion..."
Naruto murmured to himself, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"It's truly the most useful shackle in the world."
The system panel emitted a faint blue light in the darkness, illuminating his emotionless face.
This day.
The hunters returned with a full catch.
Prev Next