Chapter 25: Looking for Souvenirs and Sloppy Girl
The changing room door creaked open, followed by a loud thud as Sasuke stepped out, sporting a stylish hoodie, pants, and black shoes. He glanced at his expensive watch and noted that it was still 10 am, leaving him with approximately four hours until the raid on Queens.
"Looks like there's plenty of free time," Sasuke mused to himself.
He pulled out his smartphone, hoping to find something interesting to do around the Guild's location. After swiping through the screen for a while, he couldn't find anything that caught his attention, except for a nearby bookstore.
"Well, maybe that's not a bad idea," he thought, realizing he needed a break from all the intense work he had been doing. Sasuke had been pushing himself hard, practicing mana comprehension, researching gates, and searching for clues about the invisible enemies that posed a significant threat.
In Sasuke's opinion, having invisible enemies was the most dangerous situation one could face.
He let out a deep sigh and made his way towards the elevator.
"Master Sasuke..." a familiar voice called out.
Sasuke glanced over and saw Laura, the guild secretary.
"Laura," he acknowledged her, his voice filled with professionalism.
The elevator bell chimed, and both of them stepped inside as the doors opened.
"Which floor?" Sasuke asked without even looking at her.
"Uhmm... the seventh floor, thank you, sir," Laura awkwardly replied, expressing her gratitude.
Sasuke nodded, pressed the buttons for the first and seventh floors, and the elevator started moving upwards.
Silence enveloped them as they stood side by side, facing the elevator door.
"Master Sasuke... do you have other business?" Laura finally broke the silence.
Laura noticed that Sasuke had pressed the button for the first floor, indicating that he didn't intend to go to his office on the fifteenth floor.
"Um," Sasuke replied simply.
"I see... Should I arrange vehicle and bodyguard accommodations?" Laura quickly offered her assistance, showcasing her skills as a secretary.
"No need, the place is not far," Sasuke answered while putting on a mask.
"Understood," Laura acknowledged his choice without attempting to persuade him otherwise.
The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival on the first floor. Sasuke walked out without glancing at Laura or saying a word, leaving her behind as the elevator doors closed once again.
"What a cold man. But handsome..." Laura muttered to herself with a stoic expression, observing Sasuke's retreating figure until he disappeared from her sight.
...
August 28, 2016
Sasuke took in a deep breath, feeling the cold Manhattan air against his skin as he strolled casually along the crowded sidewalk. It was Monday, and he found himself in a densely populated area filled with offices and shopping centers.
"Maybe I can find a book as a souvenir for when I return to Konoha," Sasuke contemplated.
He believed books were a great choice, considering that his friends in Konoha were avid readers, except for someone with blonde hair.
"ACHOO!"
"Naruto... are you sick?" Sakura asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Hmm... I don't know, maybe someone else is talking bad about me," Naruto replied with a goofy face, oblivious to the snot still hanging from his nose.
...
Sasuke reached a bookstore and immediately scanned the available bookshelves. His eyes widened as he came across a novel that piqued his interest.
"What in the world is this..." Sasuke muttered, captivated by the title.
He read the cover of a novel published in 2011, titled "Sixty Shades of Chad."
"Well... this is certainly intriguing. But..." Sasuke trailed off, not having read more than half of it. However, his intention in searching for books of this genre was to find a suitable souvenir. So, he decided to purchase it, thinking, "...I have a feeling he might appreciate it."
Sasuke couldn't help but recall the silver-haired man whose peculiar hobby involved reading unusual things in public.
"ACHOO!"
"You should rest, Hokage-sama," Shikamaru suggested to his boss.
"Perhaps you're right..." Kakashi responded, putting down his pen and retrieving the book from the drawer.
"Well, maybe this is enough," Sasuke muttered, surveying the books available in the store. After browsing through several options, he decided to buy a novel for Kakashi and some medical books for Sakura.
As he made his way towards the cashier, Sasuke found himself caught up in a little drama. A young girl, looking flustered and exhausted, was searching for her wallet at the counter.
"Wait a minute, I was looking for my wallet..." the girl stammered, desperately digging through her bag.
Sasuke, observing the situation, couldn't help but think, 'How careless.'
The cashier, growing impatient as the line grew longer, insisted, "Come on, miss, it's been more than fifteen minutes. Maybe you forgot to bring your wallet."
Just as the girl was about to give up, Sasuke approached them and offered his assistance. "I'll help pay for her books. And please include these books as well," he said, placing a thick pile of books on the counter.
"I like your style, kid," the cashier praised Sasuke, giving him a thumbs-up for his act of kindness.
The girl tried to reject Sasuke's offer, expressing her gratitude, but he reassured her, "It's fine. I see it's a book for the university entrance exam, right? You definitely need it."
With a flat voice and stoic expression, Sasuke insisted, 'Sigh... I want to go home quickly.'
The girl, with a cheerful and innocent face, thanked him and promised to return the money later when her father arrived.
As Sasuke opened his wallet to pay, the cashier waved with a cheerful face, saying, "Please come again."
"Hello, thanks for helping earlier. Don't worry, I'll repay the book immediately when my dad comes," the girl said, bowing in front of the shop.
"No need to. Let's just say I support your exam," Sasuke replied casually, not really concerned about repayment.
"Then... thank you. I'll put the book to good use," the girl said, determination shining in her eyes as she raised both hands, clenching them into cute fists.
Sasuke nodded in acknowledgment.
"But at least let me repay you with coffee," the girl insisted, wearing a cute face that resembled begging.
"I..." Sasuke began, intending to refuse politely, but he suddenly sensed a malevolent intent from a group of five teenage boys watching them from a distance. He realized something bad could happen to the girl if he left her now.
'Sigh... alright,' Sasuke reluctantly accepted her offer, knowing he still had some time before being picked up by Adam.
"Yeah!" the girl exclaimed happily, and the two of them headed towards the nearest coffee shop.
...
After buying their coffee, they sat down at a nearby table. As they entered, their handsome and beautiful appearances attracted attention, making them appear like a celebrity couple.
"Wow, those two are a perfect match."
"They look like celebrities."
"That guy is so handsome, even with a mask. I wonder what he looks like."
"Tsk, handsome men are just unfair..."
...
"Oh yeah, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Hari. Sorry, but my parents forbade me from sharing my family name for some reason," the girl named Hari introduced herself to Sasuke.
"It's okay, just call me Sasuke," he replied.
"Ohh? Nice to meet you, Sasuke. By the way, can we be friends? I've never had a boyfriend before... I only know guys from my family," Hari asked enthusiastically, hoping to be Sasuke's first boyfriend.
"Alright," Sasuke agreed, not minding her request.
"Hehe~ I noticed we're the same age..."
"Hmm, maybe. I'm seventeen now," Sasuke replied.
"Whoa! That's the same as me. Where do you go to school? I attend an all-girls' high school, so we can't meet there," Hari said, sounding a bit disappointed.
"I'm homeschooled," Sasuke informed her, as he was a genius capable of self-learning.
"Hmm, is that so?" Hari asked, wearing a confused expression and tilting her head. She wondered if Sasuke was a wealthy kid who chose not to attend public school.
"Oh, I just realized. You've been wearing a mask since earlier. Are you sick?" Hari asked, suddenly concerned, as she noticed Sasuke still wearing the mask.
"That's right," Sasuke lied. In truth, he just wanted to walk around without being recognized. Although he could use Henge to disguise himself, he preferred not to use chakra when he was relaxed.
"So, how about the coffee? Huh... since when?" Hari inquired, surprised to see that Sasuke had already finished his coffee.
"Oh, I drank it earlier," Sasuke replied, much like a student who finishes their drink quickly, resembling Kakashi.
"Hmmph..." Hari pouted, slightly annoyed that she couldn't see Sasuke's face. However, because he claimed to be sick, she didn't press the matter.
"Sasuke... I want to ask for advice," Hari said, changing the topic.
"I'm listening," Sasuke nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Thank you. Lately, my little sister has been growing distant from the family. She feels neglected by our parents, although they actually treat us both very well. Maybe they focus on me too much because I tend to be careless. I've been trying my best to pay attention to my little sister, but I wonder if I'm still not good enough..." Hari shared her concerns in a sad tone, and Sasuke couldn't help but recall his own childhood.
He, too, had felt neglected by his father, Fugaku, who seemed to favor his talented older brother, Itachi. But Itachi had loved him as a younger brother and ultimately chose him over their clan.
"No... I think you're a good older sister. I understand how difficult it is," Sasuke reassured her, a sincere smile hidden behind his mask.
"Hicks... thank you, Sasuke," Hari said, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.
"Don't worry, one day your sister will understand," Sasuke assured her.
"Um..." Wiping away her tears, Hari quickly nodded.
ting* ting*
Both of their phones rang almost simultaneously.
"Ahh~ my father is nearby, Sasuke. It was fun, but I have to go home," Hari lamented, feeling disappointed that the enjoyable time had come to an end.
"I also have something to take care of, so don't worry," Sasuke replied.
"So... can we meet again next time?" Hari asked eagerly, hoping to see Sasuke again.
Sasuke nodded in approval, and Hari stood up from her chair. "Ahh... it's okay. You don't need to escort me. My dad tends to misunderstand me. Once he said, 'I won't give away my daughter!' when I wanted to talk to a boy my age. So embarrassing," she grumbled, her expression both amusing and cute.
"Hmm, then I'll wait here," Sasuke said, as Hari smiled warmly and waved goodbye. A few moments later, a luxury sedan pulled up in front of the coffee shop, and Hari left in that car. Sasuke watched from behind the coffee shop window before heading out himself.
As Sasuke walked out, he was greeted by Adam and a driver waiting with a black RR Phantom.
"Wait here, I'll be right back..." Sasuke said, before disappearing in a blur.
'Sigh...' Adam contemplated how long it would take him to get used to Sasuke's incredible speed. After a few minutes, Sasuke returned in the same blur.
"Holy shit!" Adam exclaimed, shocked by Sasuke's disappearance and sudden reappearance.
"Sir... did you forget something at the café?" the driver asked, puzzled by Sasuke's sudden departure and return.
"No... just taking out the trash," Sasuke replied, leaving Adam even more confused.
They then departed for Queens. However, in a narrow alley not far from where Hari and Sasuke had met, five teenagers who had previously eyed Hari with malicious intent were now trembling in fear, their pants wet due to the Genjutsu Sharingan that Sasuke had cast upon them.
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