"So Shikamaru is also going for Ninjutsu and Chouji focuses more on Taijutsu? What about Ino?", asked Naruto with both his hands leisurely behind his head. They were currently finished with school
"She didn't tell me. I accidentally mentioned that time when we saw her get dumped by Sasuke... So I basically screwed up.", sighed Kaito and wanted to change the topic. "She is probably mad at me now."
"Huh? That you would screw up something like that does not seem like you.", smiled Naruto. That smile even became a slight grin.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kaito raised a brow at that statement.
Now Naruto became somewhat surprised. "You really don't know? The girls seem to flock around you just like they do around Sasuke. I am surprised you mostly ignore them just the same as he does. But from your reaction just now it looks like you do it without even knowing...Damn, I get jealous. Why can't I be that popular? I wonder if I try harder, would Sakura-chan take notice of me?"
Kaito was amazed at how observant Naruto could actually be. And what he did tell him right now was something he himself really did not notice that much. Or maybe he already has built a mental blockade for most of them?
Then Kaito looked more seriously at Naruto when he thought more about the content with Sakura. "Do you really like Sakura that much?"
"Yeah! Believe it! Sakura-chan is so beautiful! And she is so kind, too!"
"Kind? She is mostly ignoring you and often than not shouting at you. So how come you come to that conclusion of yours?"
"Hehe, you may be right but I saw her once in the forest. She has that secret hideout where she tends to flowers and stuff. I watched her and saw her being all sweet. I think most just don't give her enough credit."
Kaito his eyes became wider. He really couldn't understand that blind determination he had with her and always thought he was only chasing her because of his rivalry with Sasuke. But hearing his words right now opened his eyes a little bit. Maybe Naruto had an innate talent for judging people?
After a short moment of silence and looking at Naruto, he smiled a little bit. "I see..." Yes, he nearly forgot that his brother was never someone that put a label on people before he didn't meet them firsthand and got to know them.
But just at that moment Kaito also had to think about Hinata again. No matter the world. It looked like relationships between people were always a complicated thing.
"What about you. Do you like Hinata-chan?"
"Huh!?" That question interrupted his thoughts and he looked at Naruto with an expression as if he got caught doing something bad.
"Oh, it looks like I hit the bullseye, hehe." Naruto grinned at that discovery.
Kaito only frowned. "No, that´s not it, you idiot." And there goes his favorable impression about his brother.
"Is it Ino then? Those are after all the only ones you interact with."
"That´s also not the case! Stop being so nosy!" Now Kaito got a little blush on his face and even frowned.
It was really something else to talk with his brother about such things. Naruto was rather straight forward in that matte. Or maybe it was just the fact that Naruto was totally blind himself and just went ahead assuming things.
There was also the fact that Kaito never thought about those things regarding himself. For him, his future was still a long way ahead and a lot of time to be spent.
"Ah, don't tell me its also Sakura! I won't hand her over!!" Naruto now put on a fighting pose against him.
At that point, Kaito hit his head because he got annoyed. "Stop spouting nonsense! Why would I want to steal the girl you like!?"
"Ouch, you didn't have to hit me for that...Bully. Well, I just want to know who you like. I also don't want to take the girl you may have feelings for, you know."
Kaito his eyes trembled at that moment. He didn't know how to react to that. This brother of his.
"Tsk, stop worrying about that. If something like that comes up you will know first." Kaito just looked away and walked away. There was a smile on his face.
Naruto stood there and looked at him walk away. With a sheepish grin and after rubbing his nose with a finger a little, he followed suit.
------
A little bit later Kaito went ahead and started buying groceries. Naruto also took off on his own for the time being.
"I am back!" When Kaito was finished and came back home he didn't receive an answer from Naruto.
That was actually something unusual and prompted him to search the house for him.
"He isn't here? Normally he wouldn't take that long to get back.", murmured Kaito somewhat. It was already getting somewhat darker outside.
Even after waiting a while he was still not coming so Kaito went ahead and also left the house again. Walking around the village and Naruto his favorite spot he came across Shikamaru.
"Hey! Shikamaru, did you see my brother?"
"Hmm? Yeah, I saw him talking to some other classmates not too long ago. I already told Iruka-sensei and he went to get him. Don't tell me he isn't back yet?"
"What do you mean to get him?", asked Kaito again.
"The others asked Naruto to get some evidence from the hill outside the village. There was apparently a battle a short time ago or something.", said Chouji now.
"What!? Why would Naruto do that? No, scratch that. I think I know what happened. When was that?"
"Yeah, they told him they would become friends. They basically tricked him. That is why I immediately told Iruka. It was not that long ago. Maybe 10 minutes?", said Shikamaru.
"Damn! Thanks, see you!" With that Kaito ran off.
"Hey!... He is gone...Such a drag...", sighed Shikamaru.
"Maybe we shouldn't have told him?", asked Chouji while putting snacks into his mouth.
"No, it was the right thing to do. But I didn't expect him to react like that. Normally he only reacts so agitatedly when something bad happened..."