Chapter 170: Pet Names
On Konoha's streets, Naruto and Satsuki walked side by side, separated by an invisible barrier called "awkwardness." The root of this stifling atmosphere was naturally Satsuki's "love bento" that tasted like concentrated seawater.
Despite Naruto's repeated assurances along the way—"It's really okay!" "Everyone has a first time!" "It was just a tiny mistake!"—and even proactively suggesting "If you really want to learn cooking, Satsuki, I can teach you!" to change the subject, barely managing to console Satsuki from the brink of social death-level embarrassment, that subtle awkward feeling still lingered.
Kakashi's first "conquer the stomach" strategy had gotten off to a terrible start, suffering a complete Waterloo...
But Satsuki understood this was entirely due to her own disastrously poor cooking skills. Now, to ease her embarrassment, Naruto had proactively suggested they stroll around town.
Though the two of them had taken countless walks through Konoha together, having such a stiff and awkward atmosphere was truly a first.
"Um... Naruto, about earlier..."
After hesitating for a long time, Satsuki finally spoke up softly again, trying to offer some pale explanation or apology for that taste disaster.
Seeing this, Naruto immediately interjected, "I already told you, there's really no need to take this to heart! Just try harder next time! I believe you can definitely do well, Satsuki!"
Watching Naruto still trying so hard to comfort her without any hint of blame, Satsuki felt both moved and more determined. She decided to execute Kakashi's second strategy!
Kakashi's serious voice echoed in her mind again as he held up that "Make-Out Strategy" book.
"Listen well, Satsuki! If you want to quickly close the distance with your beloved, try giving them an 'exclusive' nickname! Preferably something with a bit of coquettishness and intimacy—a name only you can call them!"
"For example... 'Naruto-kun~' or... 'Naruto-nii~' and such? Well, what specifically to call them can depend on their personality and your feelings, but the core is to be unique! To be intimate!"
I see... an exclusive nickname? Satsuki suddenly remembered the nickname Naruto had given her—"Sasuke."
Though it sounded somewhat silly, every time she heard Naruto call her that, a secret happiness would surge in her heart... so that was her unique, one-of-a-kind nickname.
Though just thinking about it made her embarrassment level explode, for the future! To prevent all those terrible possibilities! Satsuki was going all out!
She took another deep breath and, with a voice as soft as a mosquito's but carrying the courage of burning one's boats, tentatively called out:
"Little Sun..."
"...Huh?"
Naruto was walking when he suddenly heard these two completely random, extremely unfamiliar words. Not reacting at all, he instinctively made a confused sound, looking at Satsuki with bewilderment.
Seeing Naruto's puzzled reaction, Satsuki's cheeks instantly turned completely red, but the arrow was already on the string! Her heart hardened as she combined Kakashi's teachings of "acting cute" and "explanation," using an even softer voice that still let Naruto hear clearly as she added:
"Because... because you are... my warm little sun..."
Naruto's face still smiled, but his inner thoughts instantly became active.
Little sun? Me?
He felt completely confused. Though Satsuki's tone when speaking to him had already become so soft it was like acting cute, this kind of direct, almost explicit verbal coquettishness with such obvious possessive and intimate implications...
The last time this appeared seemed to be when Satsuki was at her most vulnerable and insecure—when she mistakenly thought her entire clan had been massacred and her parents might sleep for life...
But now? Everything was clearly getting better! Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto were both fine... why would Satsuki suddenly use this way of speaking that she only used when extremely needy of comfort and dependent?
Could it be... some butterfly effect I don't know about occurred? Causing Satsuki to lose her sense of security again?!
Naruto's thoughts instantly became grave, his smile unconsciously restraining as worry appeared on his face. Did something happen at home? Did they encounter some unsolvable trouble?
On the other side, Satsuki's head was practically smoking! Having said something so embarrassing, she felt all the blood in her body rushing to her face. She didn't dare look up at Naruto's reaction.
Just then, Naruto's palm gently rested on her shoulder.
"Satsuki."
"...Ah, yes!" Satsuki jumped, responding loudly as her heart beat even faster. He... he was going to respond? What would he say?
Naruto's voice became unusually serious and gentle: "Listen well—no matter what happens, I'll always stay by your side! Absolutely!"
Hearing these words, Satsuki's heart instantly felt like it was filled with honey, beating wildly at double speed! Success?! Kakashi's strategy worked?! She looked up with joy and shyness, expecting to see Naruto equally shy or happy...
However, what met her eyes wasn't the imagined bashfulness or dependence. Naruto's blue eyes were filled with... deep pity and concern?
"So," Naruto bent down slightly, leaning closer to her with a worried tone as he pressed, "what exactly happened? Did Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto encounter some danger or trouble? Don't worry, I'll definitely help with everything I can! Tell me, okay?"
"...Huh?"
Satsuki was completely bewildered by Naruto's sudden question, even the blush on her face fading somewhat from confusion. "No, no! Nothing happened at home at all!"
She completely couldn't follow Naruto's train of thought.
"Eh?" Now it was Naruto's turn to be stunned, looking completely puzzled. "Nothing happened? Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes..." Satsuki was even more confused. "Why... would you think that?"
Seeing Satsuki's completely genuine confused expression, Naruto belatedly realized he might have... misunderstood?
He immediately felt a bit embarrassed, scratching his cheek with shifty eyes as he explained: "I see, well... because... because you suddenly said those things... I thought... something particularly dangerous or scary had happened..."
His voice grew smaller, seeming to think this association was a bit of a leap.
Satsuki was even more confused: "Why would my saying that... mean something dangerous happened?"
"Uh..." Naruto was stumped by the question, struggling to organize his words. "Maybe because... except in those situations, Satsuki, you... normally wouldn't... um... wouldn't talk like that..."
He really felt too embarrassed to directly point out Satsuki's usual personality.
Satsuki seemed to understand somewhat, but not completely, instinctively asking: "Is there... something wrong with talking like that?"
Naruto felt even more embarrassed under her clear eyes filled with persistent curiosity, finally steeling himself to answer in an extremely small, mumbled voice: "How to put it... it feels... a bit... that... mushy..."
That word exploded like thunder in Satsuki's mind, then began echoing infinitely—
Mushy... mushy... mushy...
So... the intimate nickname she'd mustered all her courage to say despite exploding embarrassment, thinking it would bring them closer... sounded "mushy" to Naruto?! And he even deduced from this that something major had happened at home requiring comfort?!
Enormous failure and overwhelming shame instantly engulfed Satsuki like a tsunami.
The second strategy... Satsuki felt it had once again ended in complete failure.
*****
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