"Satsuki, this is...?"
Sakura looked at the tent package in her hand, a little dazed. Judging by its size and shape, it was clearly a single-person tent.
Satsuki glanced around—in the hall, the few candidates who had already arrived were either lying directly on the ground or burrowing into their own sleeping bags, the conditions quite rudimentary. She explained in a flat tone.
"In this environment, a girl must have a space that guarantees privacy. This is an extra one I prepared; you can take it."
Although the main purpose of the tent was only to provide a relatively private space, there was theoretically no real danger in this high tower, which was closely monitored by the Konoha Anbu—if anyone truly harbored ill intentions, they would likely face immediate arrest by the Konoha Anbu.
But facing Satsuki's seemingly casual "goodwill," Sakura's heart still surged with strong emotion.
Satsuki... she actually thought of me so much! The thoughtful care from the person she admired almost brought tears to her eyes. "Is it really okay? Thank you so much! I will definitely use it with a grateful heart!"
Watching Sakura leave, holding the tent with a face full of emotion, Satsuki suppressed the corner of her mouth, which was about to curl up.
Good, the first step of the plan was successful. This way, Sakura wouldn't come to bother her.
Next was the most crucial step—inviting Naruto! As long as she spoke first, with Naruto's personality, he would never refuse this kindness!
After Sakura had walked away, Satsuki quickly took out another, noticeably larger, tent package from her storage scroll. This was a double-person tent she had bought a long time ago. Was it finally going to be put to use today?
It's settled then... I'll just tell him this is the only one left, and we'll have to squeeze in... It can't be helped!
Having made up her mind that it "must succeed," Satsuki took a deep breath and walked towards Naruto, who had been standing at the high tower's entrance, observing if any new candidates had arrived.
"Naruto..."
Hearing the call from behind her, Naruto turned his head and saw Satsuki standing not far away. Her expression was a bit strange, her cheeks flushed unnaturally, and her hands seemed nervously clasped behind her back.
Naruto looked up again at the completely darkened sky and realized how late it had become.
On the first day, among Konoha's teams, besides Team 7 and Team 3, no other teams had arrived at the Central High Tower. Although Naruto's previous Tailed Beast Ball might have scared away many candidates, the Anbu should have already informed everyone that the exam was proceeding as usual.
Except for Shikamaru, with the personalities of Naruto's other friends, they shouldn't give up easily.
Naruto guessed that Satsuki had probably come to tell him to go back and rest. Come to think of it, Konoha hadn't prepared special resting rooms for the candidates; spending the night here was only slightly better than sleeping on a mountain top or in a tree hollow in the forest.
Just as Satsuki was about to say the words she had prepared, Naruto spoke first.
"Satsuki, can I ask you to close your eyes first?"
"...?! "
This completely unexpected request made Satsuki freeze instantly, her heart uncontrollably speeding up. Close, close her eyes? Because Naruto wasn't talking about the tent she had prepared, Satsuki didn't interrupt immediately, just stared at Naruto blankly.
"I have a surprise for you," Naruto added with a smile.
Surprise?! These two words were like stones dropped into a lake, creating huge ripples in Satsuki's heart. Combined with that ambiguous request just now, she instantly thought of the classic scenes from those romance novels she secretly read to "conquer" Naruto... Could it be... Naruto finally couldn't hold back and couldn't wait any longer?!
This realization instantly overwhelmed her with immense euphoria. Satsuki immediately, obediently, and expectantly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly with excitement. Immediately after, she felt Naruto's hand gently grasp her shoulder... Was it coming?! This... she wasn't really dreaming, was she?!
She could almost hear her heart pounding like a drum in her chest, all her senses taut, waiting for the imagined contact to descend.
However, the anticipated touch did not come. A moment later, Naruto's voice sounded again in her ear.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now."
...Eh? The confusion of dashed expectations left Satsuki momentarily unresponsive. With a belly full of questions, she slowly opened her eyes—
The sight that greeted her, however, froze her completely in place.
Before her was no longer the Central High Tower, but a familiar courtyard, traditional Japanese-style buildings... This was clearly... the Uchiha Clan's patriarch's residence?!
Satsuki's thoughts were like an old computer trying to load a poorly optimized, massive game, instantly falling into a state of complete lag and unresponsiveness.
"How about it, isn't it amazing?" Naruto said with a hint of pride. "With this Ninjutsu, as long as a mark is set at the destination beforehand, you can instantly teleport even from this far. This way, we can go home and rest well every night during the exam."
...Go home?
This word was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing all the expectations and romantic fantasies Satsuki had accumulated throughout the afternoon. Wait... so it was this Ninjutsu that caused all this?!
"I'll send Sakura home too, and pick you up tomorrow morning. Goodnight, Satsuki."
However, before Satsuki could even react to the huge disappointment, Naruto had already smiled and waved goodbye. Her fingers had just lifted, but before she could grasp his sleeve, Naruto's figure vanished with a "whoosh," leaving only cold air behind.
"...Ugh—!"
Immense disappointment and annoyance instantly broke through the dam of reason. Satsuki fiercely threw the double-person tent package she had been clutching tightly to the ground!
Why?! Why did it turn out this way?!
Those heart-pounding romance novel scenes in her mind had actually, forcefully, turned into a comedy novel in reality! This intense contrast almost made her cry tears of anger.
After sulking for a good while, Satsuki finally bent down and silently picked up the tent that had carried so many of her "plans." She walked dejectedly towards her front door, reaching out to push it open—
"...Locked?"
She was surprised to find the door locked from the inside. But the lights inside the house were clearly on, and at this time, her parents should be home, right?
With a puzzled look, Satsuki raised her hand and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, a slightly flustered, rustling sound came from behind the door.
"Oh? Satsuki, you... aren't you taking the Chunin Exams?" It was her mother, Mikoto, who opened the door. Her face had an unnatural flush, her breath seemed a little short, and her kimono was somewhat disheveled, as if she had just hurriedly put it on... Seeing her mother in this state, and then thinking of her own "tragic" encounter just now.
What to do... I kind of want to die...
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