The next day.
It was hard to distinguish day from night in the space of the underground river, but her biological instincts and a vague sense of the passage of time made Uchiha Hikari realize at a certain moment that the 'night' had passed.
Her body had regained some strength after adequate rest and food.
Although the sluggishness of her Chakra and the Seal bandage over her eyes still reminded her of the situation she was in.
However, her hands had been freed at some point she didn't know. Why had this guy suddenly become so trusting of her?
When she woke up, Naruto was already busy by the fire.
The air was filled with a fragrance, different from last night's yet equally enticing.
It was the savory aroma of oil and eggs stir-fried together, mixed with a faint scent of meat.
A simple stir-fried rice with eggs and tomatoes, with finely chopped meat added.
Each grain of rice was distinct, coated in golden egg and vibrant red tomato sauce, dotted with meat pieces. The colors were bright and it was steaming hot.
Uchiha Hikari sat up, her jacket slipping down a little.
She hesitated for a moment, not speaking immediately.
After last night's unexpectedly sumptuous dinner, the tense hostility between the two seemed to have been diluted by something subtle, even though wariness remained.
She quietly 'watched' Naruto serve the rice.
When Naruto placed a bowl of fried rice near her usual spot, she pursed her lips, seemingly steeling herself.
Then, in a tone slightly more natural than last night's, yet still carrying a trace of barely perceptible awkwardness, she asked softly:
"For breakfast... is there also that... the sauce?"
After asking, she herself seemed a bit embarrassed, her bandaged face turning slightly away.
She was referring to the jar of 'Lao Gan Ma' that had left a deep impression on her last night.
Naruto paused briefly in serving the rice, seeming a bit surprised, but quickly returned to normal.
He grunted an "Mm," first removing the bandage from Uchiha Hikari's eyes, then taking the glass jar from his ninja tool pouch and placing it beside her fried rice.
"Here."
When the unique, complex aroma of Lao Gan Ma once again wafted to her nose, Uchiha Hikari treated it like a treasure, and the corners of her mouth seemed to curve up in an extremely tiny arc.
She began to eat.
Although her Chakra was still sealed, the feeling of having her hands free and seeing the light again made her feel much more at ease.
She picked up the wooden spoon, scooped a spoonful of Lao Gan Ma into the fried rice and mixed it, then brought the rice to her mouth.
The fragrance of the eggs, the sweet-sour tang of the tomatoes, the soft chewiness of the rice, the bite of the meat pieces, all enhanced by the Lao Gan Ma's finishing touch of savory, spicy, umami flavor and crispy texture... it was richly layered and doubly delicious.
She ate very quietly and with great focus.
One spoonful, then another.
When the bowl was empty, she hesitated for a moment, then gropingly pushed the empty bowl slightly in Naruto's direction.
Naruto glanced at her, didn't speak, took the bowl, and served her another full bowl.
The second bowl, the third bowl... Uchiha Hikari's appetite was astonishingly good.
Perhaps it was because her body was too depleted, perhaps because this simple food unexpectedly suited her taste, or perhaps because that jar of Lao Gan Ma had completely opened up her taste buds and some long-suppressed craving for 'good things.'
She refilled her bowl six times in a row before finally putting down her bowl and spoon contentedly, letting out a soft sigh.
Delicious!
It had been a long time since she had eaten something so tasty.
Throughout the process, Naruto just quietly ate his own portion, occasionally glancing at her, his eyes showing no particular emotion.
After finishing the meal, Uchiha Hikari groped to tidy up the empty bowl and spoon in front of her, then carefully pushed them towards Naruto's direction.
It was a silent signal: I'm finished eating.
Naruto had just finished his own portion.
He glanced at the pushed-over bowl, looked at the empty bowl by his own hand, didn't take the one she offered, but instead placed his own empty bowl directly on top of Uchiha Hikari's.
"Go," he said, his voice flat, carrying a tone of matter-of-fact command, "You can't eat for free. Go wash the bowls."
Uchiha Hikari was clearly taken aback.
Wash the bowls? He wanted her to wash the bowls?
After a brief silence, she responded softly, "Oh."
Her voice didn't betray much emotion; she seemed to accept this 'task.'
She picked up the two stacked bowls, took her own spoon, stood up, and walked towards the river.
Naruto watched her cautious back, his brow suddenly furrowing.
"Wait."
Uchiha Hikari stopped, turned her body slightly, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"I tell you to wash the bowls, and you only wash the bowls?"
Naruto's voice carried a hint of helplessness, as if correcting a clueless child.
"Go wash the pot and spatula too."
He pointed at the iron pot and spatula by the fire, still stained with oil and rice grains.
Uchiha Hikari fell silent again for two seconds.
"...Oh."
She turned back, picked up the iron pot and spatula, somewhat clumsily holding them together with the bowls and spoon, then turned again and walked even more carefully towards the river.
Naruto sat by the fire, watching her squat by the riverbank and begin washing the dishes and utensils with the cold river water.
The sound of flowing water, the gentle clinking of dishes, and her occasional slight intake of breath from the cold water formed a peculiar morning soundtrack by the underground river.
He withdrew his gaze.
He didn't know if it was intentional or not on her part, but that hug of hers had gotten oil on her own jacket.
Well, it got stained, but that still didn't mean she could be idle.
Getting her involved in basic labor was the first step in breaking the purely 'captor and captive' relationship.
As for Uchiha Hikari, she squatted by the river, rinsing the dishes with the icy water.
The feeling of the water flowing over her fingertips was very real, the touch of metal and wood was clear.
It seemed like a long time since she had felt so tangibly alive.
This simple task, for some inexplicable reason, calmed her chaotic thoughts a little.
At least she knew what she had to do.
She washed very diligently, although her movements were a bit clumsy due to unfamiliarity.
After washing, she let the clean dishes and utensils drain, then carefully carried them back and placed them beside Naruto.
Naruto nodded and inquired, "Is there anywhere you want to go? If there is, I'll take you. If not, then come back to the Village with me."
Uchiha Hikari didn't immediately answer 'yes' or 'no.' Instead, she remained silent for a moment, choosing a safer, more information-gathering question:
"Can you tell me about your Village?"
What she really wanted to know was how the Uchiha clan had been wiped out, and she wanted to thank the person who had eliminated them.
But she was also worried that in her current state, going there might get her killed by that person.
Moreover, the most crucial question remained unresolved: Uzumaki Naruto, why exactly had he come for her? Just because of ancient records? That reason was too flimsy, too much like an excuse. He must have a deeper purpose, one she just couldn't see through yet.
Naruto didn't seem surprised by her question.
He adjusted his sitting posture and began to tell the story.