#The_First_Encounter (2)
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"Apologies for the delay, Haruno Kizashi–kun."
After quite a long delay, Namikaze Minato entered the meeting hall quietly, dressed in a formal suit.
"No problem, no problem, hahaha," Kizashi replied with a gentle smile, observing Minato's evident nervousness.
"Well then, if you don't mind, shall we begin our meeting?"
Minato walked toward his chair and sat down calmly, flashing a small smile toward Haruno Kizashi.
"You seem worried. I hope everything is alright, Minato–kun," Kizashi spoke slowly with a grin.
(This sly guy... Does he know about Naruto? No, I doubt it. But how did he know Naruto would be here today??)
"Hahaha, thank you for your concern, Kizashi–kun, but everything is fine," Minato replied awkwardly with a shy smile.
"Excuse me, I'll step out for a bit."
Sakura stood up from her seat and left the room. Kizashi smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
Elsewhere, with Naruto.
He had finally returned to the palace, where both Kon and Karol were anxiously waiting for him.
"Naruto–sama, where have you been??" Karol rushed toward him, inspecting his body from head to toe as if checking for injuries. Naruto was surprised by her reaction.
"Ah, don't worry. I just went for a walk around the area, that's all."
Noticing the deep concern on the guards' faces, he asked, "But why is everyone so worried? Did something happen?"
"Well... the Haruno clan made a surprise visit. Luckily, you and Kushina–sama were outside before they arrived. No one from the Haruno family has seen you yet."
"Oh, but... Sakura–chan can see us now."
Naruto pointed in surprise toward the side of the palace, near the entrance, where Sakura stood watching him, Kon, and Karol with a puzzled look on her youthful face.
"Ehhh?!"
The two were horrified. How could they have let their guard down like that?! Would they be scolded—or worse, dismissed?
That's exactly what was running through their minds as they began to weep in terror, their faces hilariously distorted.
Moments later, Kon tried to speak, "Naruto–sama, you should—"
But Naruto had already vanished from in front of them!
"Aaaah nooo! Naruto–sama!!"
The worst scenario they feared was now unfolding. Naruto was heading straight toward Sakura, wearing a warm smile as if seeing an old friend.
"Hello, Sakura–chan."
Naruto smiled calmly, locking eyes with Sakura, who stared back at him in confusion. After a few moments, she seemed to realize she'd seen him before—in that alleyway.
She smiled faintly and said innocently,
"You're that silly boy who waved at me like an idiot."
It felt like a massive rock dropped on Naruto's head. Was he just roasted over a single encounter?
"Y- Y- Yeah... That was me..."
He replied with a depressed look, his head lowered, a dark aura surrounding him.
"How do you know me? I don't remember seeing you before," Sakura asked calmly.
"Well, it's just a coincidence. I saw your hair—it was pink and beautiful, like cherry blossoms—so I thought it'd be nice to call you Sakura..."
"My hair is... beautiful?"
Sakura touched her hair, her cheeks blushing as she gently played with her strands.
(Safe!! Well done, me!)
Naruto cheered inwardly, feeling a spark of excitement.
"Yeah, yeah... I really like it," he said, scratching his head and looking away, slightly embarrassed.
"Thank you... you silly boy," Sakura replied innocently, smiling with closed eyes.
For the second time, Naruto felt like the metaphorical rock had grown bigger—and shattered his entire body.
And maybe his feelings, too.
"M- My name is Naruto... Uzumaki Naruto, Sakura–chan!!"
Naruto cried out, as if clutching his chest in pain.
"Uzumaki...?"
Sakura tilted her head, thinking.
(Damn it!!)
Naruto's face turned pale. What a fatal mistake.
At that moment, Sakura seemed to connect the dots!
"You... You're the son of the Uzumaki and Namikaze!!"
She shouted just loud enough for even the nearby servants—like Kon and Karol—to hear.
"Shhh! Sakura–chan!! It's a secret!!"
Naruto waved his hands frantically, clearly distressed.
"A secret? So this is the secret my father came to find out!!"
Sakura's eyes sparkled with triumph, as if she'd just achieved something great.
"Please, Sakura–chan, don't tell anyone about this!"
Naruto pleaded desperately, fear evident in his voice.
"Hmm... I don't wanna,"
She giggled with delight and ran off.
Naruto chased after her, shouting, "Wait, Sakura–chan! Let's talk this over!!"
"Nope! Hehehe!"
Sakura continued to run joyfully, while Naruto chased her, clearly nervous and panicked.
"SAKURA–CHAN!!!!!!"
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#The_First_Encounter (2) End.
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A young girl sat in her garden, playing alone.
That morning, her older brother had suddenly left, telling her to wait there until he returned.
So there she remained, in the lovely flower-filled garden, patiently awaiting his return.
"Ino, you little brat, aren't you coming inside?"
Her father stood at the doorway leading into the garden, shouting at her drunkenly.
From his red cheeks and constant burping, it was obvious he was completely drunk.
"But... Niisan told me to wait for him here..."
Ino stood up hesitantly, taking two steps back in fear as she responded.
"Just get inside already! That boy abandoned you. He's never coming back—just like your mother!"
Terrified, tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered,
"Niisan... Niisan would never abandon me like Mama did..."
Tired of her defiance, the man stormed toward her, grabbed her arm roughly, and shouted angrily,
"It's cold! You'll catch a fever!!"
"I've returned, my dear Ino..."
From that same doorway, a seventeen-year-old boy walked in, wearing a calm smile.
Joy lit up Ino's face as she cried out,
"Niisan!!"
She broke free from her father, running into her brother's arms, embracing him tightly—
as if he were the only family she had left,
and not that drunken man.
"Don't worry, my dear Ino. I'm here now. I'll protect you, no matter what."
The boy gently stroked his little sister's hair.
"So, Deidara, did you find a job?"
"Yes. I'll be starting tomorrow, Otou–san,"
Deidara replied calmly, taking Ino's hand and walking back into the house with her.
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#The_First_Encounter (3)
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Naruto and Sakura had left the palace, appearing to play hide-and-seek from the perspective of the onlookers—
or at least that's what Sakura believed, completely ignoring Naruto's desperate shouting behind her.
She turned a corner quickly—
and suddenly collided with someone, sending both of them crashing to the ground.
Naruto, who had been trying to catch up to her, looked around and muttered to himself,
(Isn't this road leading to the marketplace?)
As he approached, he saw Sakura lying on top of another person, clearly in pain.
The scene before him was enough to stir a storm of emotions in his small heart.
Sakura winced, her eyes closed in pain. Then she lifted her head, clearly annoyed, and said:
"How dare you bump into me?! Don't you know my father could sue you?!"
She opened her little hazel eyes and looked at the boy she'd landed on—
and her eyes sparkled in sudden realization.
The boy, still lying on the ground, coldly replied to her arrogant tone with two words that shook her:
"You're annoying."
Sakura quickly backed away in fear, stammering:
"I– I'm not annoying!!"
The boy replied calmly,
"I hate spoiled types like you—those who rely solely on their family name."
Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes.
Before she could say another word—
A body leapt toward the boy from behind her—
Naruto tackled him to the ground in a tight hug, tears brimming in his eyes.
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#The_First_Encounter (3) To be continued...
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#To_Be_Continued.