On the streets of Konoha, Naruto and Satsuki walked side by side, yet an invisible barrier named 'awkwardness' separated them. The source of this stifling atmosphere was, naturally, Satsuki's 'love bento,' whose taste was comparable to concentrated seawater.
Despite Naruto repeatedly saying, "It's really okay!" "Everyone has a first time!" "It's just a tiny mistake!" throughout their walk.
He even proactively changed the subject, suggesting, "If you really want to learn how to cook, Satsuki, I can teach you!" This barely managed to calm Satsuki, who felt so embarrassed she was on the verge of social death, bringing her back from the brink of self-isolation. Still, that subtle sense of awkwardness lingered.
Kakashi's first strategy, 'Capturing the Stomach,' had started poorly and suffered a Waterloo... But Satsuki knew in her heart that it was entirely due to her own disastrous cooking skills. Now, to alleviate her embarrassment, Naruto had suggested they take a stroll.
They had walked together in Konoha countless times, but an atmosphere this stiff and awkward was truly a first.
"Um... Naruto, about that just now..."
Satsuki hesitated for a long time, then quietly spoke again, attempting to offer some pale explanation or apology for the culinary disaster.
Seeing this, Naruto immediately interjected, "I told you, there's really no need to take it to heart! Just try harder next time! I'm sure you can do it, Satsuki!"
Watching Naruto still tirelessly comforting her, without any hint of blame, Satsuki felt both touched and even more determined. She decided to implement Kakashi's second strategy!
Kakashi's serious voice, holding his book 'Icha Icha Tactics,' echoed in her mind again.
"Listen carefully, Satsuki! If you want to quickly get closer to your crush, try giving him an 'exclusive' nickname! It should preferably carry a hint of coquetry and intimacy, a name only you can call him!"
"For example... 'Naruto-kun~' or... 'Naruto Nii-san~' or something like that? Well, what you call him specifically can depend on his personality and your feelings, but the core is: it must be unique! It must be intimate!"
So that's it... an exclusive nickname? Satsuki suddenly remembered the nickname Naruto had given her—'Nizhu Zi.'
It was a nickname that sounded a bit silly, but every time she heard Naruto call her that, a secret happiness would well up inside her... So that was her own unique name.
Even just thinking about it made her cringe, but for the future! To prevent all terrible possibilities! Satsuki went all out!
She took another deep breath and, with a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz yet carrying the courage of one who has burned her bridges, tentatively called out.
"My Little Sun..."
"...Huh?"
Naruto was walking when he suddenly heard these three nonsensical, extremely unfamiliar words. He was completely taken aback and instinctively let out a questioning sound, looking at Satsuki in confusion.
Seeing Naruto's puzzled reaction, Satsuki's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, but the arrow was on the string and had to be loosed! She steeled herself, combining Kakashi's 'coquetry' and 'explanation,' and added in an even softer voice, but one Naruto could clearly hear.
"Be... because... you are... my warm Little Sun..."
Naruto still smiled on the outside, but his thoughts instantly became active on the inside.
My Little Sun? Me?
He felt utterly bewildered. Although Satsuki's tone when speaking to him had softened as if she were flirting, this kind of direct, almost blunt, verbal coquetry, carrying such possessive and obvious intimate meaning... The last time it appeared was seemingly when Satsuki was at her most vulnerable and insecure—when she mistakenly thought her entire clan had been wiped out, and her parents might even be in a lifelong slumber... But now? Everything had gotten better! Fugaku and Mikoto were both fine... Why would Satsuki suddenly speak in a way she only used when in extreme need of comfort and reliance?
Could it be... that some butterfly effect I don't know about has happened? Causing Satsuki to lose her sense of security again?!
Naruto's thoughts instantly grew serious, and the smile on his face unconsciously receded a bit, replaced by a worried expression. Had something happened at home? Had she encountered some difficult problem?
On the other side, Satsuki's head was practically steaming! Uttering such an embarrassing phrase, she felt all the blood in her body rush to her face. She dared not look up to see Naruto's reaction.
Just then, Naruto's palm gently rested on her shoulder.
"Satsuki."
"...Ah, yes!" Satsuki was startled and responded sharply, her heart beating even faster. Was he... was he going to respond? What would he say?
Naruto's voice became unusually serious and gentle, "Listen, no matter what happens, I will always be by your side! Absolutely!"
Hearing this, Satsuki's heart instantly felt filled with honey, beating wildly faster! It worked?! Kakashi's strategy was effective?! She looked up, delighted and shy, expecting to see Naruto's equally shy or happy expression... However, what met her eyes was not the shyness or dependence she imagined. In Naruto's blue eyes, there was... a deep sense of pity and concern?
"So," Naruto leaned in slightly, closer to her, and asked with a worried tone, "What exactly happened? Did Fugaku and Mikoto encounter any danger or trouble? Don't worry, I'll help with all my might! Please tell me, okay?"
"...Huh?"
Satsuki was completely bewildered by Naruto's sudden question, the blush on her face even fading a bit due to her astonishment. "No, nothing happened? Nothing at all happened at home?"
She couldn't keep up with Naruto's train of thought at all.
"Eh?" Now it was Naruto's turn to be stunned. He looked confused. "Nothing? Really? Are you sure?"
"Um..." Satsuki was even more puzzled. "Why... would you think that?"
Naruto looked at Satsuki's genuinely puzzled expression, and only then did he belatedly realize that he might have... misunderstood?
He immediately scratched his cheek a bit awkwardly, his gaze wandering as he explained. "Oh, well, that... because... because you suddenly said something like that... I thought... something particularly dangerous or scary had happened..." His voice grew softer and softer, as if he also felt his association was a bit of a leap.
Satsuki was even more confused. "Why does me saying that... mean something dangerous has happened?"
"Uh..." Naruto choked a bit at the question, struggling to organize his words. "Maybe it's because... except for that kind of situation, Satsuki... you don't usually... um... you don't usually talk like that..."
He was too embarrassed to directly point out Satsuki's usual demeanor.
Satsuki seemed to understand a little, but not completely, and subconsciously pressed on. "Is there... something wrong with talking like that?"
Naruto felt even more awkward under her clear, persistently curious gaze. Finally, he bit the bullet and, in a very small, mumbled voice, replied, "How should I put it, it feels... a bit... that... cheesy..."
These two words, like two thunderclaps, exploded in Satsuki's mind, then began to echo in an infinite loop—
Cheesy... cheesy... cheesy... So... the intimate nickname she had bravely, embarrassingly, and with full confidence that it would bring them closer... sounded 'cheesy' to Naruto?! And he even deduced from it that something major had happened at her home and she needed comfort?!
A colossal sense of failure and an overwhelming wave of shame instantly engulfed Satsuki completely.
The second strategy... Satsuki considered it a complete failure once again.