Sai's eyes carried a flicker of confusion, a rare emotion breaking through the mask of indifference he had worn for so long.
To be honest, deep within, Sai's heart had always longed for love. That was why, in his previous life, when he saw Naruto chasing after Sasuke with such unwavering devotion, something inside him stirred. The fierce loyalty, the raw sincerity—those emotions Naruto displayed toward his companion had shocked Sai, who had been trained his whole life to suppress every trace of feeling.
For a boy raised in Root, where emotions were forbidden and attachments were cut away like weeds, such warmth was foreign. Yet in the end, Sai had been moved by Naruto's sincerity. That sincerity had allowed him to finally break free from his emotional restraints and be accepted into the group later known as the Twelve Little Strong.
And in this life, Sai's journey was no different.
However, fate had shifted slightly this time. Root had been dismantled earlier. Danzō's secret organization no longer bound him as tightly as before, and freedom had come to Sai sooner than expected. For once, he could breathe as himself.
Naruto looked at Sai, grinning mischievously. "Sai, don't you want to experience a sweet love?"
Sai, usually composed, allowed a small smile to form. He nodded honestly. "Yeah."
Jiraiya, who had been lounging nearby, burst out into boisterous laughter. "Spring really has come, huh? Even Sai is ready to fall in love! Naruto, in that case, you should teach him. Let Sai experience the sweetness—and the pain—of love. Only then will he truly understand it. And who knows? That kind of real experience might help him improve his artwork. It might even inspire me for the hero and heroine of my next novel!"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Heh, no problem, Ero-Sennin."
Jiraiya looked at both of them, his expression softening just a bit before his mischievous grin returned. "Alright then, you two talk it over. Sai, learn from Naruto well. I'll leave you boys to it—I have to continue my writing. And remember, Sai, if you're going to illustrate for my masterpiece, your drawings had better keep up with my story! Otherwise, the publishers won't accept it!"
With a wave of his hand and a wide grin, Jiraiya strolled out of Sai's house, humming to himself, likely already daydreaming about his next escapade involving a voluptuous heroine.
Naruto chuckled as he watched him leave. He then sat cross-legged next to Sai, flipping through some of the sketches lying scattered across the floor. "Sai, I've gotta say, your drawings are really good. Honestly, they're better than half the stuff in those manga books people buy. But…" He tapped one of the pages with a finger. "Ero-Sennin's standards are way too high. Don't beat yourself up if you can't meet them right away."
Sai exhaled softly, his usual emotionless mask shifting into mild frustration. "Yes, I've studied Jiraiya-sama's 'Make-Out Paradise' series many times, but no matter how much I analyze the characters, I can't capture the kind of charm he wants in their expressions."
Naruto set down the sketchbook and smirked. "Maybe he's right, though. If you fall in love for real, you'll get it. You'll know what those emotions feel like—and then you'll be able to draw them."
Sai tilted his head, genuinely intrigued. "Naruto… tell me, then. Who is my future wife?"
Naruto blinked at him, then grinned mischievously, seeing an opportunity to tease. "Guess. It's definitely someone you wouldn't expect."
Sai frowned, tapping his chin thoughtfully. After a few moments, his eyes widened as if a horrifying thought had struck him. He turned to Naruto in disbelief. "Naruto, don't tell me… my future wife is that flat-chested Sakura. If that's the case, I'd rather die."
"Oi!" Naruto bonked him on the head, his face red with both anger and embarrassment. "Sai, you still haven't fixed that venomous tongue of yours! Didn't I tell you to be nicer? Praise people instead of insulting them!"
Rubbing his head, Sai frowned in mock innocence. "But didn't you say it should be unexpected? I never would've thought of Sakura otherwise."
Naruto let out an exasperated sigh. "Don't worry. It's not Sakura. She likes Sasuke, not you, Sai."
Sai's expression softened. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and looked at him with a strangely serious face. "Naruto, I understand. We're both men—we should let her go. What's so good about Sakura anyway? She's always punching you, and besides…" His eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with blunt honesty. "…her chest is small. I know you liked her a lot before, but a man has to learn to pick up and put down."
Naruto's face twitched. "You're impossible…"
But Sai wasn't done. "Since Sakura likes Sasuke, let her chase him. There are plenty of other good girls in Konoha. Don't waste your time. Look at Ino, Hinata, Tenten—they're all good choices. You could develop something with any of them."
Naruto raised a brow, his lips curling into a knowing grin. "Even Ino, huh? You're recommending her to me?"
Sai nodded earnestly. "Why not?"
Naruto leaned closer, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. "Don't you know, Sai? I'm already engaged."
Sai's eyes widened like saucers. He grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and shook him. "Engaged? Are you serious? Naruto, are you actually engaged?!"
Naruto stared back flatly. "How long has it been since you left the house, Sai?"
Sai tilted his head, thinking. "Hmm… ever since Jiraiya-sama gave me the manuscript to illustrate. I've been inside studying his work, watching 'Love Heaven' for inspiration, and drawing. I… haven't really gone outside."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?! Don't tell me you've been locked in here for one or two weeks straight?!"
Sai thought for another moment and then nodded with a straight face. "Yes."
Naruto could only give him a thumbs-up in disbelief. "You're hardcore. But seriously, Sai—what have you been eating this whole time?"
Sai smiled faintly. "I prepared. I had a whole bag of soldier pills. Whenever I got hungry, I just ate those."
Naruto stared at him, horrified. "You survived on soldier pills?! Sai, that's insane. Those things are for emergencies, not daily meals!"
Sai shrugged lightly. "Think of it as training."
Naruto rubbed his forehead, utterly baffled by Sai's logic. Then Sai suddenly asked, "By the way, Naruto… earlier you said something about Ino and me. What did you mean by that?"
Naruto finally dropped the act and sighed. "To tell you the truth, Sai… your future wife is Ino."
Sai froze. His usually unreadable expression faltered, replaced by shock. "Ah…!" He blinked rapidly, and for the first time in his life, the image of Ino Yamanaka flashed through his mind. Her golden hair, her confident smile…
He had never interacted with her much, so why… why would she become his wife?
"Are you serious, Naruto? You're not lying to me?" Sai asked, doubt creeping into his voice.
Naruto smirked and nodded firmly. "Of course I'm serious. Why would I lie about something like this?"
Sai frowned slightly, still unsure. "But… how could someone like me, dull and socially awkward, end up with someone like Ino? She's always admired handsome guys."
Naruto clapped him on the shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement. "Sai, don't sell yourself short. In Konoha, aside from me and Sasuke, you're one of the most handsome guys around. You just need confidence. Sure, your mouth can be sharp, but as long as your heart is sincere, Ino will see it. Remember, she's from the Yamanaka Clan. She can sense emotions better than anyone. If you're honest and truly care for her, she'll feel it."
Sai's voice lowered to almost a whisper. "…Really?"
Naruto grinned. "Really. That's why you don't need to worry about being clumsy with words. Ino will see your true heart. That's what matters most."
Sai's mind spun. He wanted to deny it, to brush it off as impossible. But now that Naruto had said it, something inside him shifted. A warmth he had never felt before began to stir, confusing him even further.
"I… I don't know. My feelings are… a mess right now," Sai admitted, rubbing his chest lightly as though the strange tightness there bothered him.
Naruto laughed softly, placing a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't be afraid of that feeling. It's proof you're alive, Sai. Don't worry—I'll help you figure it out."
For the first time, Sai didn't brush it off. Instead, he allowed himself to wonder what love could truly mean.
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