"It's just... he just has missions," Sasuke stammered defensively. Yet the thought of how often his older brother had recently stood him up made alarm bells ring in his mind—could it be that his own brother had actually been seduced away by Shisui?
"But as far as I know, ninja have to take missions in advance," Sakura said, trying to twist Sasuke's thinking. "Your brother doesn't seem to be part of Anbu or even a Jonin, right? Then how come he keeps getting last-minute missions all the time? So clearly, your brother has fallen for some sly vixen outside the house! If this continues, sooner or later, he'll completely abandon you and stop caring altogether!"
"That's impossible! Brother would never ignore me!" Sasuke panicked, nearly bursting into tears. His mind slipped into a panic spiral: what if his brother really had been taken away and didn't love him anymore?
"Don't panic. Do you want to win your brother's heart back?" Sakura took a sip from her teacup, inwardly grinning—her plan was about to unfold.
"Really?! Can you do that?!" Excitement lit up Sasuke's eyes like a drowning man clutching a lifeline.
"It's easy. Just do exactly what I say, and I promise you'll win him back!"
Sakura smiled brightly, yet somehow, an uneasy chill crept down Sasuke's spine.
"Here, wear this first. You can start working as a hostess—a host—until you pay off your debt." She handed him a pink cat-ear accessory, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Wear...this?!" Sasuke hesitated; although still young, he couldn't help but feel that cat ears were probably meant for girls.
"That's right. What you just ate was a special tomato egg noodles dish—the only one in the world—and it was super expensive. So obviously, your repayment can't be the same as everyone else's! Your job is to wear these cat ears and stand at the entrance of the shop. When customers come, just smile and say 'Welcome, everyone!' Then when the day ends, I'll tell you how to get your brother back!"
"Okay!" Thinking of his beloved big brother, Sasuke immediately perked up. He grabbed the cat ears, put them on, and dashed to the store entrance, excited to get started.
"So cuuuute~" Ino murmured dreamily, her eyes sparkling hearts as she gazed at Sasuke blushing faintly behind his cat ears at the door.
"Click!"
As the camera shutter snapped, Sakura lowered her camera happily. This photo held great sentimental value; the young Sasuke in it bore none of the coldness and loneliness that would plague him after the Uchiha massacre. Instead, he was shy and vulnerable. With this picture, even if he tried to play tough in the future, she'd always remember this side of him.
"Naruto, come with me."
Sakura grabbed the summoned Naruto and dashed off—they now needed to make some clothes to further carry out her plan.
Inside a clothing shop in Konoha Village, Sakura began sketching the outfit she envisioned while the store owner watched curiously, pen and paper in hand.
"That little girl, what you want to make is not going to be cheap!" The shop owner warned. Based on Sakura's description, the materials required for the creation were quite expensive. A couple of four-year-olds probably didn't carry that kind of money, right?!
"Don't worry about it, boss. We're not short on cash!" Sakura took out a wad of money and slapped it onto the table. With business booming at Ichiraku Ramen Shop, this kind of money was nothing to her. "Just finish everything I need before the sun sets this afternoon, and I'll pay double the fee!"
"Alright, no problem!" The shop owner agreed without hesitation. There was plenty of time before sunset to complete the task, just requiring a bit more effort to speed things up slightly. Compared to receiving double the usual payment, this was nothing at all.
The shop owner and employees began bustling around busily. As valuable customers who weren't concerned about costs, both Sakura and Naruto were invited to sit aside and wait comfortably.
"Naruto, did something happen? Why do you look so unhappy?"
Seeing Naruto with his head lowered and looking visibly downcast, Sakura asked with great concern.
"I'm fine!" Naruto grinned foolishly while scratching his head, as if his previous expression had been completely fake.
"Your smile looks way too forced!" Without hesitation, Sakura ruthlessly pierced through Naruto's false grin. "Now spill the beans — don't even think you can hide it from me!"
"It's nothing really... It's just that I feel like Sakura seems to care about someone named Sasuke Uchiha!" Naruto's eyes held a hint of worry. Having spent so long alone without real friends, he truly valued his bond with Sakura and the others. However, today the appearance of Sasuke made him feel like his friends' attention was being drawn away.
"Don't worry!" Sakura immediately understood what was happening. So this was jealousy mixed with anxiety over possibly losing hard-earned friendships, huh.
"No matter how many new friends we make in the future, you'll always be yourself. There'll never be anyone else like you — you're irreplaceable, Naruto. So stop frowning like that — your place in my heart can never be replaced by anyone else!"
"Really?" Naruto asked joyfully.
"Of course! Be more confident — you're Naruto Uzumaki after all!" Sakura gave a helpless smile and gently tapped her finger against Naruto's forehead. Honestly, how deep did the rivalry between Indra and Asura really go? Previously when Shikamaru and others showed up, Naruto didn't display any sense of worry or unease, but now with just Sasuke appearing, Naruto was already showing signs of getting worked up. Truly a fate-bound rivalry that's spanned three lifetimes!
"Hehehe~" Naruto started grinning foolishly again. Ever since meeting Sakura, he felt like the entire world had become brighter and more cheerful. Having peers who accepted him without prejudice, an uncle figure like Mr. Ichiraku and Mr. Haruno who didn't dislike him, never worrying about having enough food to eat, and while helping out in the kitchen, none of the other apprentices seemed to hate him either. All these wonderful things made him feel like he was living inside a dream come true.
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Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!