Chapitre 257: CH - 252 Naruto: Huh? Who are you?

Today, the weather was cold, and outside the Grass Village, snow fell heavily. Despite the chill, the village buzzed with activity as the end-of-year festivities approached.

Early in the morning, Naruto, bundled up in thick clothes and looking like a chubby little snowman, excitedly knocked on Sasuke's door, shouting, "Sasuke, come on! Let's go play outside!"

For Naruto, this marked his first year-end celebration in the Grass Village, and he couldn't contain his excitement, unlike his lonely past in Konoha, where he spent holidays by himself, even during the festive season.

In Konoha, even though the Third Hokage would visit briefly, Naruto was left to fend for himself for the rest of the day. While others celebrated with their families, he would either stay home alone or venture out to play in the snow by himself. And when hunger struck, he'd seek solace at Ichiraku Ramen, warming up with a steaming bowl of ramen all by himself.

But now, things were different. In the Grass Village, he had a family to celebrate with, and this simple change filled him with joy.

In the early hours of the morning, Naruto was filled with joy as he persistently knocked on Sasuke's door, his voice bubbling with excitement, "Sasuke, It's time to wake up! Let's head over to Uncle Akihiko's place and then take Karin out for some fun. I heard there's an amazing show happening tonight, Sasuke. Come on, open up!"

But despite Naruto's persistent knocking, there was no response from inside. Unperturbed, Naruto continued to knock.

Eventually, a frustrated voice responded. "You're so noisy!" Sasuke, clad in pajamas, opened the door with an annoyed expression. "I've told you not to bother me with these trivial matters. Right now, all I care about is getting stronger."

"Sasuke, you're finally up!" Naruto exclaimed, undeterred by Sasuke's grumpy demeanor.

"Listen, just leave me alone," Sasuke snapped, frustration evident in his tone. "I have no interest in your childish games, Naruto."

At that moment, Sasuke couldn't help but question his decision to stay. All he wanted was to get stronger, but both the Grass Village leader and the Clan Leader kept encouraging him to enjoy his youth and cherish these moments. Did they really think he was as naive as Naruto? He didn't want to play; he wanted to train and become more powerful. Yet, every request for more rigorous training was turned down, leaving him to practice on his own.

As he thought of this, He couldn't help but glare at Naruto once more and asserted firmly, "I'm not interested in playing with you."

"Aw, come on~ It's a special day today," Naruto persisted, undeterred by Sasuke's irritation, a cheerful grin plastered on his face. His mother had explained that Sasuke's family had endured a lot, and Naruto should do his best to support him. With that in mind, Naruto was determined not to get angry, no matter how much Sasuke rebuffed him. Moreover, As the older brother now, he couldn't afford to lose his temper easily. Plus, having someone to play with was just too great to pass up.

"Let's go to Uncle Akihiko's house first, and then we'll head out to enjoy the festivities. It's really lively outside today," Naruto said excitedly, attempting to drag Sasuke along.

"I'm not interested," Sasuke retorted, his tone firm.

"Come on~" Naruto persisted, his determination unwavering.

"I said I'm not going!" Sasuke reiterated, frustration evident in his voice. However, Naruto's persistence knew no bounds, and soon Sasuke found himself being dragged out against his will.

Feeling thoroughly annoyed as Naruto dragged him along, Sasuke couldn't help but protest, "Hold on, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet. Stop pulling me, you idiot!"

Eventually, Sasuke relented and finished washing up. Though he was focused on getting stronger and had no interest in going out, he realized that if he didn't accompany Naruto, the persistent knucklehead would never stop bothering him. After some contemplation, he decided to go along, purely to have some peace for his training later—not because he was curious about the festivities. "Let me make this clear: I'm only going out with you today. If you bother me again, I'll beat you up," Sasuke warned, his face set in a scowl.

"Got it, Stupid Sasuke," Naruto pouted, but his mood brightened immediately after seeing Sasuke's willingness to join him. He happily shouted back into the house, "Mom, Aunt Fuso, Aunt Mikoto! Sasuke and I are going out!"

"Take care, Naruto," Fuso called out with a smile, reminding him to be careful.

"Be safe," Mikoto added, her tone reserved yet caring.

"And don't forget to invite your Uncle Akihiko, Aunt Kana, and Karin over for dinner when you get there," Kushina reminded him cheerfully.

The three women watched the two little figures, bundled up in thick clothes, walking away with smiles on their faces.

Uchiha Mikoto, in particular, felt a wave of relief and gratitude wash over her. Seeing Sasuke no longer as angry and withdrawn as when they first arrived gave her hope. She believed that with Naruto's help, Sasuke would come around. After all, Naruto, like Kushina, had a knack for positively influencing those around him. From the looks of it, her decision to accept Kushina's invitation had been the right one.

At this moment, Kushina's voice broke Mikoto's thoughts. "Don't worry, just leave it to Naruto!"

Hearing her friend's reassurance, Mikoto snapped out of her thoughts, offering a slight smile and a nod. "Thank you, Kushina."

"Don't mention it," Kushina replied, giving Mikoto a comforting pat on the back. "By the way, how are things going with the Uchiha clan?"

"Everyone is doing well," Mikoto responded warmly as she continued with her tasks. "Obito is proving to be an excellent clan leader."

Yesterday, Izumi had paid a visit, and Mikoto had spent quite some time chatting with her. The Uchiha clan was gradually letting go of their sorrow and embracing a fresh start. They were grateful for the acceptance from the Grass Village and the support they received, which brought a renewed sense of hope and began to restore smiles to their faces.

The village had even arranged for psychological medical ninjas to assist them in their emotional recovery. Akihiko truly is an exceptional village leader.

However, despite the positive changes, Izumi still occasionally displayed a hint of melancholy, a sentiment Mikoto could empathize with all too well. She wanted to encourage Izumi to leave the past behind and move forward, but she struggled with finding the right words. But Itachi's actions… he's really not suitable for this gentle soul.

Contrary to Mikoto's concerns, before departing, Izumi had smiled and nodded, indicating her resolve to start anew. She even playfully winked and encouraged Mikoto to do the same. She truly possessed a kind-hearted nature. However, it seemed that this girl… had misunderstood something.

"Mikoto, what's on your mind? You seem lost in thought," Kushina remarked, noticing the distant expression on Mikoto's face. "Is it about Sasuke? Don't worry, everything will work out."

"Oh, sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts," Mikoto replied, shaking her head and offering a faint smile.

"Is there something bothering you? You can talk to me about it. Maybe I can help," Kushina offered, her tone gentle and supportive.

"Well..." Mikoto hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I've been thinking about finding a job. I don't want to keep relying on everyone else."

"Is that all? I'll talk to Akihiko about it later," Kushina assured her, dismissing it as a minor inconvenience.

"I... thank you," Mikoto responded, surprised by Kushina's immediate offer to help. She hesitated before asking, "But won't that be bothering Akihiko?"

"Not at all. You know Akihiko is always willing to lend a hand," Kushina reassured her, her confidence in Akihiko evident in her tone.

"Really? Thank you," Mikoto replied, feeling grateful. Yet, as she observed Kushina's bright smile, she couldn't help but be reminded once again of her unwavering trust in Akihiko.

…

On the Other side, As they ventured out after visiting Akihiko's house, Naruto and Sasuke found themselves alone since Karin was still asleep. However, armed with a generous amount of money from Akihiko, they were ready for some fun.

"We should get something special for Karin later. It's a shame she's always after those mythical fire-breathing cats. Where do you even find those?" Naruto pondered aloud, scanning the lively street. "Sasuke, any ideas?"

"A fire-breathing cat? That's ridiculous," Sasuke scoffed, his tone tinged with irritation. "If that's all, I'm heading back to train."

"Oh, come on. We hardly ever get to go out. You're such a buzzkill, Sasuke. Just look at how much fun everyone's having," Naruto protested, his disappointment evident. "How about I treat you to a ride on the bumper cars? It's loads of fun!"

"Bumper cars? That's so childish!" Sasuke retorted dismissively.

"We can only ride twice, though. I need to set aside some money for Karin's gift," Naruto muttered, disregarding Sasuke's objections.

"I already said no! And remember, some of that money is mine too," Sasuke insisted, unwilling to be ignored.

They continued their banter as they strolled along the bustling streets. Sasuke couldn't help but be taken aback by the vibrant atmosphere of the Grass Village, where enthusiastic vendors touted discounts at every turn. "It's surprisingly lively," he muttered to himself, somewhat impressed.

Naruto overheard him and beamed, "Of course, That's the Grass Village for you!" His excitement mirrored the energy of the surroundings.

Observing families enjoying the day together, Naruto no longer felt the pangs of envy or loneliness. He now had his own family, and as for his father… having Uncle Akihiko was more than enough. After all, even little Karin addresses him as 'big brother.'

With newfound confidence, Naruto declared, "If you didn't spend all your time holed up at home, you'd know this place is even better than Konoha!"

But just as he finished speaking, Naruto collided with someone. Startled, he looked up to see an elderly man with wild white hair and a mischievous grin.

Before Naruto could apologize, the man struck a peculiar pose and exclaimed, "Yo yo yo~! You pesky little rascals! Don't think you can simply brush off bumping into the Toad Sage—Jiraiya—with a mere apology!"