Bab 19: Naruto Tries Hanging Out
The broody youth named Sasuke Uchiha had never been the social type. So what was the point?
Talking was too much of a hassle on idiots.
At least, that's how Sasuke perceived it.
If one was to look past his handsome exterior, he'd be considered quite the sociopathic individual.
One with two 'keen eyes'.
What would he have become if the Uchiha Tragedy didn't happen? One thing for certain is that, adding his appropriate mentality and talent, there's no way he wouldn't at least reach the level of Jhonin.
However, there was no 'ifs' and 'buts' in life.
The only thing this broody youth could do was hold onto the hatred he had for older brother
This was until his sadness and melancholy was rapidly turned into a seething flame of obsession.
'How can I live happily without killing my parent's killer first?' Was what was always on his mind.
He is willing to do anything as long as it could help him become strong. It is his own Will of Fire.
Sasuke knew how to compromise.
That's why, when the opportunity to learn more about his family's situation presented itself, he did his best to adapt. For the sake of his goal, he chose not be stubborn. This was for his own good.
In a not-so-popular place to eat that always had dwindling customers, Sasuke met up with the Heiress of the Hyuga Clan. He had recently been upfront with his intentions and didn't hesitate.
"I don't know about that time..." Hinata spoke out.
The youth before her stared at her intently.
"Aren't you the Heiress?" Sasuke found it unbelievable she knew nothing about him.
That tragedy wasn't a secret to the big families.
"My grandfather and cousin say I don't have the makings of a Shinobi. That's why my sister is being trained as the new head." Normally, she wouldn't be a girl of many words, but after being dragged here, Hinata could tell he would hate vague replies.
"What right does your cousin have in this?" Sasuke tilted his head.
"..." Hinata didn't answer, but fiddled with her hands nervously.
Sasuke found he had put her under too much pressure. It was better to back down for now.
He wasn't the type to bully someone just to get information.
"He's like a brother to me." Hinata finally gave him an answer. This reply made him remember back memories... So even the only brotherly figure in her life has the gall to look down on her? Nonsense!
"You should prove them wrong."
"But... they aren't wrong."
"Then why did attend the Academy?"
"..." She silently shifted her gaze. Sasuke looked through his memories and thought of an answer:
"Naruto." Her shoulders trembled a little.
"..." She started to blush.
"You are always looking at him." He might not be interested in people but his memory was good.
"Misunderstanding...!" She quickly tried to explain herself but could only squeeze out this one word.
"Sure. Anyway, you losing your Heiress status would be pretty annoying for me. That's why I'll help you out." Even though Sasuke said that, he was actually pissed her 'brother' was bullying her.
"You can help me...?" Hinata looked up at him.
This was… a first.
"I may not know the Gentle Fist, but I can give you combat experience. I also know that knucklehead and can call him over if you like." Sasuke spoke to decide her future without asking her consent.
"...I'm fine the way things are." Hinata shifted her eyes away. She didn't have enough confidence.
Neji was always better.
"From what I can tell, your family looks down on your ability. How can you be fine with that?"
"I don't have talent." Hinata lowered her head.
"Stop whining and train harder then." Sasuke wouldn't leave her be. He'd train her himself!
All for the sake of the future!
"...Why are you trying to help me?" She couldn't help but ask after seeing him already getting up.
"It wouldn't benefit me if you lost your status. So just come over to train with me." Sasuke shrugged.
Hinata could tell there was something hidden in his heart, but couldn't bring herself to refuse his will to help her.
"I will do my best." Hinata spoke up before following along.
Her heart remembered Naruto's efforts, and she reaffirmed her resolve.
Even if everything was happening too fast for her to give a proper opinion.
As the duo went off for some special training, the events surrounding the pink-haired kunoichi calmed.
At least, for the most part.
After returning to the Hidden Leaf, Sakura had a lot more time on her hands.
She decided to stay away from her friends until her wounds healed, but life wasn't catering to her.
Sakura found by someone she wanted to meet the least right now, which made her deactivate her Forbidden Jutsu— Destructive Rebirth.
She couldn't close the four gates opened by the first level completely, but was able to minimise it.
The effects became less blatant.
100% became 1% of the strength it was at, which made it so she went back to a stable bodily state.
With the Avalanche and Healer seals on her two initial gates, she could rest at ease.
They were continuously healing and cooling her body to a normal state. And more than that…
…the Yin Seal on her Death Gate expanded her physical potential. Much more than a normal ninja.
But it needed time to be fully implemented.
In which she could safely raise the percentage of how much the first four Inner Gates were open.
"Sakura, what happened to you?!" A wild Naruto appeared out of nowhere after sensing her.
Seeing how bruised and bandaged up she was, the kid's heart leaped out of his chest in fright!
"Who dare hit you?! Give me a name and rip him to shred! No, I'm carpet-bombing the life out of em'!"
Naruto's face turned red. He was slapping his knuckles and looking around for the culprit.
"I tripped over and fell." Sakura coughed. She hid what had happened and her body's current state.
But Naruto wasn't THAT dense…
"And bruised your entire body...?!" He narrowed his eyes.
"It was off a tree." They were quite big, after all.
"Just tell me where to throw a Beast Bomb." Naruto growled.
No mercy would be given to the damn tree!
"Anyway, how have you been doing lately?" Sakura changed the subject as she didn't want to explain.
"...Fine. I-" Just as he was about to continue, he remembered some tips his Teacher gave him.
'The first impression is always important. Then there is disposition. All girls like guys who can take care of them.' To translate these archaic words, he whipped up a brain story until he got a solution:
"Let me treat your injuries." Naruto decided to do something to help her out. Yes, this should be it.
"It's fine. It will only take some t-"
"Let me treat your injuries." He repeated himself with eyes that would never take 'no' for an answer.
"Alright." Sakura gave in with curious eyes. From what she knew, Naruto didn't have healing abilities.
After sitting her down, his hands covered above her back.
Naruto released an Orange Chakra.
It was moulded in a way similar to the Healing Power Alternation Technique she knew of.
Next thing she knew, her body became rejuvenated and free of injuries.
This astounded Sakura greatly,
She was practically a 'Medical Goddess' in the future… who was clear about her condition.
If she couldn't heal herself, then no one else should be able to dream of doing the same.
It was to the point that the injuries Naruto saw…
…was only a fraction of the ones she sustained from her fight with Orochimaru.
Sakura had been hurt internally as well.
But now, her condition was back to normal…
'So he is a better medic than me now...' Sakura had very complicated feelings about this.
It was almost like being beaten in the subject you were most proud of by a guy who guessed all the answers.
A bitter pill to swallow…
"What's wrong?" Naruto sensed her moodiness.
'Do not be too clingy. Sometimes, giving a cold shoulder can also work out.' After remembering another advice from his Teacher, he didn't continue pestering her and was about to leave right away.
"Why are you leaving so suddenly? Didn't you ask what's wrong?" Not knowing why, Sakura felt even more dejected when Naruto suddenly brushed her off out of nowhere. She wasn't used to this...
"Sure. I have to back as well, ya know. Let's walk and talk." Naruto smiled inwardly. He lead the way back. Seeing how flustered she was confused him a little, but he wasn't about to just leave her.
"Who taught you how to do that?"
"I found a new Teacher!"
"Does he have spiky white hair, red paint on his face, and acts like a perv most the time?"
"You met him already...?" Naruto found it odd.
The girl felt it was fate.
These pervs practically magnetised to one another.
"...My mentor told me about him. You found yourself a good Teacher." Sakura forced a smile.
"..." Once again, Naruto gave her the cold shoulder.
He decided to follow through with Jiraiya's advice.
Him not enthusiastically continuing the conversation made Sakura nervous.
She wanted to know why he was giving her the cold shoulder, but didn't know how to ask.
This was too foreign...!
Even in the future after she married, Naruto had never outright ignored her.
Even when they had their own kids and their own family, this knucklehead still kept in contact with her.
Not getting a reply made her overthink things.
She wondered if her avoidance of him had made him hate her.
This wasn't a illogical assumption.
Especially with how she hadn't been nice to him lately...
"Do you want to get something to eat?" Sakura offered for the first time towards Naruto.
"Sure~" As someone who was now better at reading the mood, the knucklehead could vaguely guess what she was thinking, and the thought of her trying to 'appease his bad mood' actually made a mischievous smile appear in his expression.
He had become more sly...
Although he spoke in an upbeat tone, Naruto made sure to keep up the act of being annoyed with her.
It was to the point that even when she came over to his house and made food for him personally, he was still giving her the silent treatment. It was only now did he realise something really funny:
'I am acting like Sasuke.' Naruto couldn't believe that turning into a brooding person got her attention.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I have training to do." He ate the delicious food she made and was about to get up after remembering how he promised to train the Rasengan everyday. However, what he didn't see coming was Sakura forcing him to stay there.
"Is there something the matter?" She asked cautiously.
"I didn't say anything was, ya know." Naruto pretended not to notice.
"You've been ignoring me."
"Don't you always do the same?" Naruto scoffed.
The girl's shoulders trembled.
She shifted her gaze elsewhere.
"Sorry... I had important things to do." Sakura tried to persuade him.
"Are you done with them today?"
"Mostly."
"Then let's hang out."
"...What do you want to do? Training?" Sakura was ready to give him a punch to start their 'spar'.
"Let's leave training out today. Why always bring up serious stuff, ya know? Be casual with me."
"I-"
"Do you think I haven't realised you've been avoiding me recently? Do I make you sick?" The kid once again pretended to be dejected.
"That's not it. I want to stay friends with you." The girl spoke up after hearing him say such a thing.
Inwardly, Naruto was actually quite relaxed as he observed her 'Aura'. Every little change couldn't escape his eyes. He was figuring out what she was hiding from him. Why was she always sad?
'I understand your feelings. I think the best way to get to her heart is to just be more attentive.' And that was exactly what Naruto was doing, observing her intently while controlling the conversation.
The more he talked to her, the more the kid felt like she was a lot simpler to 'handle' than she let on.
As Naruto was a selfish knucklehead (who just wanted Sasuke to become less relevant to her), a foxy slyness appeared in his heart. He wasn't about to be a moody kid just to get her attention.
Since he wanted her to notice him, he'll just be himself. Or maybe the version of her she'll like.
"I guess it's time again."
"For what?" Sakura asked in confusion.
Naruto used his superhuman speed to Body Flicker outside and return with flower in his hand.
"For me to confess my feelings again." This time he didn't just act like himself, but also became a more natural smooth talker as went up to her. Rather than just giving her the flower, he hesitated a bit.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" He said whole cutting the stem of the flower with his finger and gracefully putting it in her hair. This sudden change in tactics was a little mesmerising… considering Naruto had become a lot taller and muscular through training.
This was ignoring the fact that he allowed his sincerity to be understood by expressing his desire through his Aura. She could literally 'feel' the fiery feelings of warmth radiating out of him like a sun.
He was still cheesy though…
Although Sakura had a tough heart, this was a little too romantic for her young self's immature mind.
One that had never experienced being 'pursued' in such a way.
After all, Naruto's normal confessions were forthright in nature.
They was a lot less moving than this one...!
"Err... I..." She didn't know what to say.
Her hand touched the perfectly sized flower on her hair.
This was a little too sweet, even for her.
"Of course. You don't have to answer now." Even more surprising, Naruto didn't press her to answer.
He continued:
"But you have to answer me first before you go out with someone else. Promise?" Naruto lifted his pinky and spoke while remembering Sasuke. Even though they were both rivals and friends, he wasn't willing to lose when it came to Sakura's affections.
"Promise." Her mind was too empty to realise what she was agreeing to. Even her face was a little hot.
From a good distance away, her two subordinates secretly watched this scene with wide eyes.
Even Zabuza had to give the kid credit for being such a smooth guy when it came to the girl he liked.
But he wondered if this pairing was alright.
Sakura had these moments where she'd lose her rationality, and it was their job to keep her stable.
Would Naruto make that better, or worse?
As for Haku, he seemed a little indignant to see this person he considered a 'big sister' be taken away by this kind of individual... It took Zabuza holding him back from diligently splitting them apart.
"You have to give him a chance." The man with bandages wrapping his mouth spoke up.
"He seems like a playboy." Haku rolled his eyes.
"Wrong. This kid is changing tactics, that's all..."
"And what if our Boss gets hurt?"
"Then we skin him alive, obviously." Both of them glared at Naruto from afar after agreeing on that point.
As for the person in question, due to having most of his focus taken by Sakura, he only felt a cold chill down his back from their hostility.
When he finally looked around to check, they had already left. This caused him no small amount of confusion.
Why did he feel something bad would happen in the future? He only shook it off for later on.
Naruto wanted this moment to last.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone