"What's wrong, Naruto? You've looked troubled ever since we met?" Sakura's voice was filled with worry.
She had run into Naruto on the street, his face anxious as if searching for something, and, unable to shake her concern, she had followed him.
Naruto had initially intended to ask Sakura for help in finding Satsuki, but then he reconsidered.
Satsuki's current state was so "abnormal," her emotions extremely unstable.
What if something uncontrollable happened if they met, or if Sakura saw Satsuki's strange side?
Naruto decided it was better not to explain the situation for now.
He had originally thought that, given Satsuki's habits, the most likely place she would go when upset was this training ground, where the two of them spent the most time.
But his gaze swept across the empty field, and he didn't see that familiar black-haired figure… Naruto mused to himself.
Perhaps… I should use Gold Experience's life-sensing ability to check the vicinity?
If she's not here, then I'll have to go look in the Uchiha Clan Compound… Just as Naruto focused his mind, preparing to subtly activate his ability, a more fundamental question suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Even if I find Satsuki… what exactly should I say?
Actually, when Satsuki finally got so angry that she activated her Sharingan, cursed him as an idiot, and then fled with a Body Flicker, Naruto, after his initial shock, inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
It's good that she's not sick.
It's good that she's not under a genjutsu.
It's good that Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto are also fine.
After ruling out all the worst possibilities, the conclusion seemed to point to an area that might be more complex for Naruto, but also relatively "safe" — Satsuki was just feeling a bit off?
But… a girl's thoughts… Just thinking about trying to understand that made Naruto's head ache.
What exactly was Satsuki trying to express with her strange behavior today?
And how should he respond to neither provoke her nor make her return to normal?
Wait a minute… maybe I can get some advice!
Naruto suddenly turned his gaze to Sakura, who was looking at him with concern, and asked urgently, "Sakura! Um… can I ask you a few questions? About… girls!"
"Eh? Oh, of course you can." Sakura was momentarily stunned by Naruto's sudden, out-of-the-blue question, but she readily agreed.
However, seeing Naruto's anxious and uneasy expression, a look he hadn't even shown when facing Zabuza Momochi, she felt increasingly puzzled.
It truly was the first time she had seen Naruto display such obvious panic and unsteadiness.
She softened her tone and suggested, "But don't rush, take your time.
How about we sit down and rest first? You look like you need to calm down."
Naruto paused, then slowly nodded.
The two walked over to a rough wooden bench at the edge of the training ground and sat down.
And their chosen spot… was just a few meters in front of the tree that Satsuki had transformed into using the Transformation Technique.
Thus, for Satsuki, who was hiding inside the tree, the subsequent conversation clearly reached her "ears."
Seeing Naruto so anxious and uneasy because of her, Satsuki felt filled with guilt.
But when she heard Naruto suddenly turn to Sakura with questions, a hint of confusion and… an inexplicable wariness arose in her heart.
What questions could Naruto have for Sakura… especially about girls?
Also, were the two of them sitting a little too close?
Although Naruto and Sakura were merely sitting side-by-side on the same bench, with a perfectly safe distance between them that would absolutely prevent any accidental physical contact, in Satsuki's perspective, filtered by her strong possessiveness, this distance was already enough to make her heart start bubbling with jealousy.
"Um… this is about a friend of mine, you see."
Naruto's gaze was a little shifty as he tried to invoke the "friend of a friend" ploy to hide the truth.
He could tell that Sakura admired Satsuki somewhat, and he didn't want Satsuki's "abnormality" today to lead to any strange misunderstandings from Sakura.
A friend?
Sakura's mind immediately flashed through Naruto's usual playmates: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba… and who else?
It seemed like it was just those three.
"How to put it," Naruto struggled to organize his words, biting the bullet and continuing to fabricate, "it's just that my friend, he's encountered some very perplexing things recently.
It's just that he… was subjected to some… um… very strange actions by a girl."
"Very strange?!" Hearing this phrase, full of ambiguity and room for imagination, Sakura gasped in surprise, covering her mouth, her cheeks involuntarily flushing.
"It's not what you're thinking!" Naruto knew from Sakura's expression that she was getting the wrong idea, and quickly waved his hands.
"It's literally very strange! Extremely strange!"
And so, Naruto stammered, describing in as much detail as possible, but consistently using "my friend" as the subject, all the things "his friend" had encountered today—including the surprisingly flavored bento, the exaggerated praises that made one's scalp tingle, and the nickname "Little Sun," among other things.
However, as she listened to Naruto's description, Sakura's brow furrowed slightly, and her mind began to analyze rapidly.
Naruto's friends… Shikamaru? A slacker, not interested in women.
Choji? Only cares about food.
Kiba? Only cares about Akamaru… Sakura instantly understood—this was absolutely not about any of Naruto's friends; this was entirely about Naruto himself!
In other words… had Naruto been harassed by a girl?
Sakura felt she had guessed correctly, but… only half-correct!
Because in her deeply ingrained perception, Satsuki was absolutely, unequivocally incapable of doing such a thing!
Satsuki was so cool, so excellent, so perfect!
So that's it… a brand new inference formed, making her instantly alert: in other words, some bold and strange girl, who appeared out of nowhere, had started pursuing Naruto?!
In Sakura's eyes, Naruto's looks were actually quite handsome—blond hair, blue eyes, sunny disposition, and strong and reliable, plus he cooked exceptionally well… In the past, rumors kept people away, but now it seemed that as the influence of those rumors waned, Naruto's charm could no longer be hidden?
Moreover… Naruto isn't like Satsuki, who can coldly reject suitors directly.
He probably wouldn't know how to handle such a thing.
Alright!
Sakura's face broke into an "I've got this" smile, tinged with a hint of protectiveness.
In that case, I'll help him drive away Satsuki's potential love rivals!
Just then, Naruto finally asked the core question, "So, Sakura… if something like this happens, how should one respond to that girl so as not to hurt her, but also to make her stop doing that?"
Completely unaware that she was adding fuel to the fire, Sakura, with a "kind" smile, confidently spoke, giving what she believed to be the most direct, most effective answer to help "Satsuki" clear any obstacles.
"Isn't it simple?
Just tell her—'Don't bother me with this disgusting stuff, you annoying pest!
Stay away from me!'—Wouldn't that do it?
I guarantee she'll never dare to bother you again!"
"…Huh?!" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief, as if seeing Sakura for the first time.
He looked at his teammate, who was smiling as she uttered such cruel words, and his brain completely crashed.
And behind them, the eyes hidden within the tree's texture, which had originally been watching nervously, had now completely transformed into a cold gaze, like that fixed on a dead person, locked onto Sakura Haruno's back of the head.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"