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 ti!" "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 embarrassnt, 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 embarrassnt, 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 ti, Satsuki finally spoke up softly again, trying to offer so pale explanation or apology for that taste disaster.
Seeing this, Naruto imdiately interjected, "I already told you, there's really no need to take this to heart! Just try harder next ti! I believe you can definitely do well, Satsuki!"
Watching Naruto still trying so hard to comfort her without any hint of bla, 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' nickna! Preferably sothing with a bit of coquettishness and intimacy—a na 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 nickna? Satsuki suddenly rembered the nickna Naruto had given her—"Sasuke."
Though it sounded sowhat silly, every ti she heard Naruto call her that, a secret happiness would surge in her heart... so that was her unique, one-of-a-kind nickna.
Though just thinking about it made her embarrassnt 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, extrely unfamiliar words. Not reacting at all, he instinctively made a confused sound, looking at Satsuki with bewildernt.
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 beca active.
Little sun? ?
He felt completely confused. Though Satsuki's tone when speaking to him had already beco so soft it was like acting cute, this kind of direct, almost explicit verbal coquettishness with such obvious possessive and intimate implications...
The last ti this appeared seed 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 extrely needy of comfort and dependent?
Could it be... so butterfly effect I don't know about occurred? Causing Satsuki to lose her sense of security again?!
Naruto's thoughts instantly beca grave, his smile unconsciously restraining as worry appeared on his face. Did sothing happen at ho? Did they encounter so unsolvable trouble?
On the other side, Satsuki's head was practically smoking! Having said sothing 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 beca 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 t 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 so danger or trouble? Don't worry, I'll definitely help with everything I can! Tell , okay?"
"...Huh?"
Satsuki was completely bewildered by Naruto's sudden question, even the blush on her face fading sowhat from confusion. "No, no! Nothing happened at ho 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 imdiately 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... sothing 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... an sothing 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 seed to understand sowhat, but not completely, instinctively asking: "Is there... sothing 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 extrely 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 nickna she'd mustered all her courage to say despite exploding embarrassnt, thinking it would bring them closer... sounded "mushy" to Naruto?! And he even deduced from this that sothing major had happened at ho requiring comfort?!
Enormous failure and overwhelming sha instantly engulfed Satsuki like a tsunami.
The second strategy... Satsuki felt it had once again ended in complete failure.
*****
Thinking of creating a new tier for this FIC, 5 bucks for 40 advance chapters??? Go vote on my Patreon!!!!!!!
80 advance chapters at patreon/Eatinpieces
User Comments
0 comments from readers