Clack... Clack...
A familiar, hurried set of footsteps approached from afar, shattering the relaxed mood on the bridge.
Naruto, skidded to a stop in front of Sakura and beamed. "Morning, Sakura-chan!"
His gaze then landed on the person beside Sasuke, his eyes bulged and he pointed. "Wha—!? Mamoru?!"
"Yo, Naruto." Mamoru lifted a hand in lazy greeting.
Naruto's eyes shifted to Sasuke leaning on the rail. His expression turned complicated, mingling awkwardness with something indescribable.
Almost simultaneously, Sasuke glanced sideways at Naruto with an equally odd look.
The air seemed to freeze, a bizarre atmosphere spreading between them.
"Are they... always like this?" Mamoru leaned slightly toward Sakura and whispered.
"No." Sakura whispered back, cautious. "Only after we got back from the Land of Waves mission..."
"Oh?" Mamoru lifted his brows in amusement. "So not the usual, huh. Then are they... like this?" He made a cryptic gesture in front of his chest.
"What... is that?" Sakura tilted her head, completely lost.
Mamoru lowered his voice to a breath. "You know... an improper boy-boy relationship.
WHAT!!!
Sakura's gaze whipped between the two—Sasuke's deliberately averted profile, Naruto's hesitant awkwardness—and the more she looked, the more suspicious it seemed. Could Mamoru's guess be true?
How could this be...
Sasuke-kun and Naruto... then what about me?
Sakura's vision darkened and she wailed under her breath, despairing.
"Alas, this forbidden love, doomed never to be accepted." Mamoru lamented in a theatrical tone just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"They can only repress their true feelings. Every meeting of their eyes is a silent confession that flees the instant it touches. Every accidental brush of skin jerks away like an electric shock. Every passionate kiss..."
"Urgh!" Sasuke spun around, face full of disgust and killing intent. "Shut up. One more word and I'll kill you."
"Blegh—" Naruto looked ready to puke, clutching his head. "I'd finally forgotten! Why'd you make me remember?!"
In the end, neither could withstand the mental attack. The memory of that 'unforgettable' graduation-day kiss came flooding back.
And the instigator, Mamoru, was doubled over, laughing so hard he could barely stand, his obnoxious cackles echoing across the bridge.
Time slipped away in the morning light, the water murmured beneath the bridge, and after three hours of waiting, everyone's patience had worn razor-thin.
Leaning against the cool wooden rail, Mamoru drummed his fingers on the pitted banister, disbelief written across his face. "Kakashi's always like this?"
If Kurenai were this unreliable, he'd have revolted long ago.
"Exactly. He's hopeless." Sakura planted her hands on her hips, anger crackling in her voice.
"That's nothing!" Naruto flung an arm out. "Last time he left us stewing at the training ground for half a day!"
Sasuke, propped against the opposite rail, only snorted, but his tight lips and faint scowl shouted his irritation louder than words.
While Team 7 vented, a lazy drawl cut through the grumbling.
"Morning, everyone."
They looked up to find Kakashi crouched atop the torii-like arch. His lone visible eye drooped sleepily, whatever lay behind the mask impossible to read.
"I got lost again today."
"Oh, come on!" Sakura slapped a hand to her forehead. "Don't make that excuse sound so sincere, it's unbearable."
"Try acting human for once!" Naruto shouted, shaking a fist.
Kakashi ignored the protests and turned to Mamoru. "Well, if it isn't Mamoru. Is Team 8 so short on work?"
Mamoru shrugged, "What's the difference between Team 8 and Team 7? I'm just the one with free time."
"Is that so?" Kakashi narrowed his eye. "Since you're here, I suppose you want something?"
He doubted the gifted boy would idle away the morning for nothing.
"Bingo." Mamoru chuckled. "I've got a few Ninjutsu questions for you."
"Hmm… honored, I'm sure."
That didn't surprise him. As Guy's student, Mamoru's taijutsu was already first-rate.
If it were routine Ninjutsu, Kurenai could answer it. Coming to Kakashi meant the boy was after something deeper.
"Right, Team 7's got a mission." Kakashi hopped down, landing softly on the bridge. "You're welcome to tag along, Mamoru. Ask on the way."
He never refused a sincere request from a junior.
With that, he set off down the slope.
Mamoru flashed a grin, patted Sasuke's shoulder as he passed, and followed.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto bounded alongside, waving frantically. "Lately our missions are way too easy! Can't we get something cooler, something that lets me show off?"
"Yeah, yeah, got it." Kakashi muttered without turning, waving a lazy hand.
No sooner had he spoken than Naruto spun toward Sasuke, eyes narrowing with some new scheme. Their gazes locked mid-air, sparks flying in silence. Beside them, Sakura sighed in despair.
Watching the trio, Mamoru laughed. "Your team's lively, looks fun."
"Sigh…" Kakashi scratched his hair. "They're always like this, never a quiet moment."
He glanced sideways. "So, what's your question?"
"About nature transformation in Shadow Clones…"
—
In a narrow Konoha alley, Team 7 slumped in exhausted, irritable silence after finishing their mission.
"You asked for it." Sakura snapped, supporting Naruto's battered arm as he leaned on her. Half his weight dragged her down, scrapes blooming on his face from the latest blunder.
"Nothing but trouble." Sasuke deadpanned, holding Naruto's other arm over his shoulder.
The taunt lit Naruto's fuse. He tore free of them and lunged, teeth bared. "Sasuke—"
"Knock it off!" Sakura grabbed his collar and hoisted a threatening fist. "One more stupid move and I'll kill you myself!"
From the alley entrance, Mamoru, standing beside Kakashi, grinned. "If this circus runs daily, you've got your hands full."
He pictured Kurenai yelling that no Genin in Konoha caused more chaos than he did, then sighing in defeat.
"Pretty much." Kakashi murmured, scratching under his mask. "Team spirit's been… lacking lately."
Naruto seized the opening, shouting past Sakura, "See? You ruin teamwork, Sasuke! Always showing off on your own!"
Sasuke's eyes glinted coldly. "Look who's talking, idiot. If you hate owing me, get stronger than me."
"So cool…"
Hearing his own face spout such swagger, Mamoru stroked his chin in mock vanity.
A charged silence crackled between the two boys, neither blinked, neither yielded.
"Aren't you going to stop them?"
Amused as the silent standoff was, Mamoru glanced at Kakashi.
"Ah... better leave them be." Kakashi said, looking thoroughly bothered as he ruffled his hair.
Just then, a piercing eagle cry tore through the sky above Konoha.
Almost in unison, Mamoru and Kakashi looked up. A mighty eagle was circling overhead, wings spread wide, sharp eyes surveying the land below.
"That bird looks plump, I've never tasted eagle before." Mamoru licked his lips instinctively, eyes shining as he tracked the bird.
Back in his previous life, this thing had been a protected species, there'd been no chance to sample it.
Kakashi gave Mamoru a speechless glance, then turned to Team 7. "Alright, we're done for today. I still have to file the mission report."
"I'm heading home." Sasuke answered flatly, already walking away.
Sakura chased after him the instant he turned. "Sasuke, wait for me—"
Naruto reached out, but no words came. He drooped, shoulders sagging, looking utterly dejected.
"You okay?" Mamoru walked over, patted Naruto's shoulder, and grinned. "That's not how you chase girls, you know."
Naruto's head snapped up and he seized Mamoru's arm like a lifeline. "Then how? Tell me quick!"
He knew Mamoru had always been popular at school, there had to be a trick. Could spring finally be coming for him?
Watching Naruto plunge into daydreams, Mamoru tilted his head and realized he had no real answer.
"Hmm... Act cold and aloof, girls will throw themselves at you."
He blinked, pointing at the distant Sasuke, who wore a face of pure disdain, and silently added: of course, you also need a handsome face.
"Cold? You mean scowl like that jerk Sasuke? That actually works?" Naruto eyed Mamoru, half-convinced, half-skeptical.
Mamoru said nothing. He simply raised a brow, flashed a thumbs-up, and gave a knowing smile.
(End of Chapter)
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