Chapter 297: Unfamiliar Experience
"Naruto, are you finished with everything?"
Having just exited the Hokage Building, Naruto was somewhat surprised to discover Satsuki waiting quietly at the building entrance. It seemed after he'd left, she'd inquired about his whereabouts and waited here... Regarding this obviously "clingy" behavior of hers, Naruto had long grown accustomed.
"Yeah, pretty much handled everything. Sorry, I didn't tell you where I was going when I left."
"It's fine," Satsuki shook her head gently. "I just asked someone passing by... Naruto, has something happened?"
She perceived that though Naruto's face still wore his customary smile, his complexion appeared somewhat pale, brows shadowed by gloom. The dilemma regarding his mother Kushina weighed like a massive stone on Naruto's heart, making decisions difficult—his inner turmoil inevitably reflected in his complexion.
Realizing his state had been seen through, Naruto hurriedly explained. "Nothing major, just learned some news earlier... Need to make a decision, it's a bit difficult..."
"Awooo..."
Just then, a soft whimper came from the backpack behind Naruto. Little Zacian's fluffy head emerged from the opening. It seemed to also perceive Naruto's low spirits, using its cool, moist little nose to gently nuzzle Naruto's nape and hair.
Satsuki watched this scene, brows furrowing slightly. But thinking this little one had after all hatched under her and Naruto's joint "care," she ultimately swallowed the words that had reached her lips, saying nothing.
"Alright," her tone softened somewhat. "But if there's anything I can help with, you must tell me, okay?"
This comfort carrying trust and support lightened Naruto's heavy mood slightly. He nodded, saying sincerely: "Yeah, thank you, Satsuki... And thank you too." He turned his head, gently touching Zacian's head.
"Now, once the Sand captives are repatriated to the Land of Wind, war aftermath should be completely finished, right?" Naruto pulled his thoughts back to the present, gaze turning toward little Zacian in the backpack behind him. "Oh right, have the shelter villagers all returned? I need to go purchase some food now, plus prepare a comfortable bed for this little one."
"A bed..." Satsuki repeated the word, her gaze toward little Zacian becoming somewhat subtly complex, seemingly weighing something in her mind.
Naruto didn't notice Satsuki's subtle eye change. Satsuki continued: "The villagers should have gradually returned. On the way here just now, I saw some shops had already reopened. I'll accompany you."
---
Unlike when sending Gaara back to Konoha earlier, most villagers had now returned to Konoha Village. The streets had regained some bustle and vitality, people walking Konoha's main streets as usual... but the atmosphere clearly carried an indescribable strangeness.
"Um..."
A somewhat unfamiliar voice came from the side, calling out to Naruto. Naruto turned his head puzzledly, discovering the person who'd called him was an ordinary-faced, plainly-dressed Konoha villager with whom he'd seemingly never had any interaction before.
"Is there something?" Naruto asked while maintaining basic courtesy.
"Um... at this time, you really worked hard just now," the villager's tone carried careful respect, even using honorifics. "Would you... like to come to my house for a simple meal?"
"...Huh?" This sudden invitation left Naruto momentarily unable to react, releasing a confused sound.
"Ah, sorry! It was indeed too sudden, wasn't it?" Seeing Naruto's reaction, the villager hurriedly waved his hands, face showing embarrassment. "If you're unwilling, just pretend I didn't say anything!" After speaking, as though fearing angering Naruto, he hastily nodded before quickly departing.
Standing to the side, Satsuki from beginning to end stared at that villager with cold, hostile eyes. Just because Naruto could not care didn't mean Satsuki could easily forget.
Naruto might have habitually blocked out those malicious voices long ago, but Satsuki clearly remembered every pointed finger, every vicious insult the villagers had directed at Naruto over those years.
At this moment, Naruto finally understood why the street atmosphere felt so strange. For years, he'd grown accustomed to completely ignoring gazes cast by Konoha villagers.
After all, by not caring, one wouldn't feel hurt. This was instinctive self-protection.
But this time, when his gaze swept across those familiar or unfamiliar faces around him, what he saw was something making him feel unfamiliar... Those eyes mixed with evasion, guilt, and careful... apology?
...Right, this time... I truly did save Konoha...
That scene of the completely transformed golden Nine-Tails standing mountain-like at the village edge, that golden barrier blocking Shukaku's Air Bullet, that god-like power... All this commotion was simply too large to ignore.
This feeling... so unfamiliar, so unreal.
However, this sudden attitude change not only brought him no comfort whatsoever, but rather made his heart even more depressed, already irritated by his mother's matter.
Naruto didn't care about them... but Naruto saving them absolutely didn't mean easily forgiving their past actions...
An inexplicable irritation surged up. Naruto resumed his steps, but his pace unconsciously quickened considerably. Satsuki said nothing, merely silently quickening her steps, staying close by his side.
Passing through the somewhat disheveled street, the two finally found a food store that had reopened. Naruto carefully selected goods—some daily necessities, large quantities of easily digestible vegetables and fruits, plus several different brands of milk. He planned to experiment one by one after returning, seeing which flavor little Zacian liked best.
Hopefully this little one won't be too picky... He thought, placing these items one by one on the counter, then reaching for his wallet as usual, preparing to pay.
"My, buying so many things—thank you for your patronage, but..."
The shop owner's voice came from behind the counter. For Naruto, being actively addressed by a shop owner while shopping—this was truly unprecedented.
Standing beside him, Satsuki unconsciously clenched her fists... Has it still come to this? The situation she least hoped to see seemed to be occurring.
"You absolutely don't need to pay! These years... we're truly so sorry! Moreover, if you've taken a fancy to anything else, just take it—absolutely no need to pay!"
"Eh? That seems a bit improper, doesn't it?" Naruto responded instinctively, not yet fully adapted to this attitude change.
"No need, thank you for your kindness." Satsuki interrupted coldly, voice carrying not a trace of warmth. "How much is it? We can afford it."
"Really no need to pay! Please accept it! If you don't accept..." The owner still insisted.
However, Satsuki no longer wanted to hear more. She grabbed Naruto's hand, turning toward the shop exit. "Forget it then, we'll check other stores. Let's go, Naruto."
"Eh?!"
The owner completely froze. Seeing the two about to leave, he hastily grabbed the goods from the counter and chased after them.
"Please wait! Why won't you accept my kindness?! The past was indeed my fault! But you're now the village's hero—don't hold such small matters against me!"
Using the "hero" title for moral blackmail? Satsuki's heart sank. What she'd most worried about had still happened. Not only had the owner chased after them, he was loudly shouting—these words undoubtedly putting Naruto on a pedestal.
Nearby villagers were attracted by this commotion, casting observing gazes.
"Really, no need. Naruto doesn't need your kindness either." Just as Naruto wanted to refuse, Satsuki had already preempted him, tone still cold as frost. "His protecting you is merely his nature."
Moreover, behind those seemingly grateful words, Satsuki clearly heard... that barely perceptible trembling in the owner's voice.
"Um, I just wanted to express gratitude... Please give me this opportunity! If you don't accept, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life!"
"Well... the owner's just being kind. Please accept it." A villager attracted over couldn't help stepping forward to persuade.
"Yeah... actually, we also want to understand Naruto better... Please give us a chance." Another voice chimed in.
A mother with a child, seeing this, hurriedly pushed her confused child, urging: "Quick! Hurry and apologize to Big Brother Naruto for past matters! Say we were wrong before."
When a group bestows love for self-redemption, such love is often selfish, forced, and refuses rejection. Satsuki watched this scene, nausea rising in her heart.
Naruto completely hadn't anticipated things would develop this way. He stood in place, appearing somewhat at a loss. This sudden attention and kindness instead made him feel suffocated.
Satsuki lowered her head, listening to the increasingly noisy voices around—those apologies and moral blackmail stabbing her eardrums like needles. She took a deep breath, turning toward Naruto, speaking softly.
"Sorry, I can no longer endure this."
"?"
Before Naruto could react, the next moment, something jaw-dropping happened—Satsuki suddenly stepped forward, a straight punch viciously striking the owner's face!
Bang!
As the owner fell to the ground, covering his nose while looking bewilderedly toward Satsuki, the surrounding crowd also instantly quieted from this sudden violence. Everyone stood dumbfounded.
"What kindness..." Cold, caustic words emerged from Satsuki's lips. She surveyed the surrounding crowd. "You people are truly nauseating."
"Naruto doesn't care... selectively forgot what you've done..." Her voice gradually rose, transforming from coldness to uncontainable fury, gaze fixed on the owner fallen on the ground. "But! I remember very clearly!"
Her voice echoed along the silent street, each word as though quenched in ice.
"'How unlucky, if I'd known I wouldn't have opened today. That disgusting monster—need to quickly get salt'... Last time, that's what you said!"
She recited those vicious words from memory, voice trembling slightly from anger.
"When you don't need someone, you can arbitrarily isolate them, dislike them, hate them—even though that person did nothing wrong... But when you need that person, can everything past be written off with one light apology, forcibly, refusing rejection, and erased?!"
Her gaze swept across every villager's face around—those faces once filled with disgust and fear now written full of shock and guilty conscience.
"Naruto doesn't care about these things, even protecting you without hesitation during danger..." Her voice lowered but carried even deeper pain and fury.
"But these years... I've been enduring the impulse to kill you all!"
....
W Satsuki!!
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