Chapter 45: Where is Sasuke's House?
"Well? Does it not look good?" Sakura asked cautiously.
Ino hesitated, wanting to say something. Ordinarily, she would have loudly mocked her friend, but with Akiyama Makoto here, she felt she had to save some face for her.
Sakura understood Ino's hesitation and tentatively turned her gaze to Makoto.
He seriously sized her up. She was wearing a canary-yellow kimono, thick fleece snow boots, and a pink bow decoration on her head. To be honest, her fashion sense wasn't bad. Her current look, apart from being a bit over-the-top, wasn't ugly. The problem was the person she was going to see: Sasuke.
Sasuke would not like her current appearance, but should he be the one to say it?
After a moment's thought, Makoto spoke slowly.
"If I were you, I would choose a simpler outfit. It would be even better to change into your training gear."
Ino looked at him in surprise. From her understanding of him, Makoto was a person with maxed-out emotional intelligence and conversational skills. As long as he wanted to, he could definitely make the person he was talking to happy. But looking at Sakura's now pale face and the anger brewing in her eyes, it was obvious he was deliberately trying to make her angry. This wasn't his style.
"It seems your friend has terrible taste in clothes, Ino."
Just as Ino expected, Sakura got angry. She began to look Makoto up and down, and only after noticing that he was wearing the plainest of clothes did she realize she had been deceived by his aura. This Akiyama Makoto was just an ordinary boy, albeit a slightly handsome one. He couldn't be compared to Sasuke at all!
"Forget it. I won't argue with you. Follow me, we're going to the Uchiha's place."
For Ino's sake, Sakura swallowed her snide remarks, turned, and started walking ahead, humming a song.
Only then did Ino stand on her tiptoes and whisper in his ear, "Why didn't you try to make her happy?"
"Why should I try to make her happy?" Makoto asked, feigning ignorance. "Do you think I'm good at charming girls?"
Ino shot him a look that was half-smile, half-scowl. "If you aren't, then why are you always making me... and Tenten so happy?" She had originally intended to just say herself, but worried it would be too obvious, she quickly dragged Tenten into it.
"Tenten and I get along well because we have similar interests, and she is also my benefactor."
"As for you..."
Makoto lowered his head slightly. Seeing him get closer, Ino grew flustered, but this time she held her head high and didn't retreat. She also wanted to hear what reason he would give.
"Because you're a good girl, Ino. I consider you my best friend."
Ino's cheeks quickly turned red. It was as if she hadn't heard the second half of the sentence, only his praise. She was now at a complete loss for what to do.
"Are you two coming or not?! And stop showing off your affection in front of my house, you idiot Ino-pig!" Sakura's roar-like voice drifted over. It was clear she was genuinely angry now.
This finally gave Ino a chance to catch up to her, leaving Makoto behind. She really didn't know how to face him right now.
As for Makoto, he followed the two of them at a leisurely pace, contemplating what might happen when he met Sasuke. The best outcome, naturally, would be that Sasuke needed money and they could complete the transaction smoothly. The worst outcome would be that his attempt to buy Uchiha land would provoke Sasuke's currently sensitive pride, causing the deal to fall through completely. At that point, his plans being delayed would be a minor issue; he might even have to move. He didn't want such a hassle right now. At least until the Chūnin Exams, he needed to seize every moment to grow stronger.
The three of them walked further and further into a more remote area, passing the street where Makoto lived, and finally arrived at the Uchiha clan's compound in the corner of the village.
Although several years had passed since the massacre, leaving a large number of houses vacant, the Uchiha district was still deserted. After all, the incident had been too sensational, and the compound was in a remote location. No one was willing to move here. Of course, it was also possible that Uchiha Sasuke had refused to sell the land here; he had the right to decide what happened to the Uchiha clan's property.
Sakura and Ino's pace slowed. Even though it was daytime, the place still felt gloomy. The two, who had been bickering just moments ago, were now holding hands, drawing warmth from each other. But it was clear that they weren't enough for each other. Sakura naturally thought of the boy behind them.
"Um, Makoto, right? Can you walk in front?" Sakura took the initiative to ask. Ino tried to stop her, but it was too late.
"I can."
Makoto answered calmly and strode to the front.
Ino said worriedly, "Makoto-kun, you don't know any ninjutsu. Let me walk in front, okay?"
"Huh? Isn't he older than us? How come he doesn't know any ninjutsu?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
Ino's expression changed slightly, unsure if she should say it. Although Makoto had learned to use chakra, he was still an ordinary person who didn't even qualify for the Academy. Would saying that make Sakura look down on him?
Makoto had no such concerns. "I'm just an ordinary person, not a ninja," he said calmly.
"Huh..." Sakura looked at Ino with a bewildered expression, as if to ask, Why did you fall for an ordinary guy?
Ino didn't want to say anything more. She rolled her eyes and twisted her friend's arm, and the two girls started bickering in low voices again. In the current gloomy environment, the sound was actually somewhat pleasant; at least it was the sound of youthful laughter.
Makoto walked ahead, and soon they arrived in front of the main Uchiha residence. But looking at the messy, unkempt entrance and the official seals pasted on the gate, he suddenly realized something.
"Miss Haruno, is it alright if I call you that?"
Sakura flinched. "You should just call me Sakura," she said quickly. "Miss Haruno... makes me sound like an adult."
"Alright, Sakura... Are you sure Sasuke lives here?"
"Of course! He's an Uchiha. Where else would he live if not in the Uchiha residence..."
Sakura's voice trailed off. She suddenly understood why he was asking. Sasuke was indeed the sole master of the Uchiha clan now, but he was also an orphan. So, was it possible that he was actually living in one of the single-person apartments Konoha provided for orphans?
Sakura's expression turned grim. Makoto let out a soft sigh and was about to turn back.
But then he heard a whizzing sound through the air, aimed directly at his back.
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