Life in Konoha returned to normal. No killing. No blood. No desperate fights for survival. Just the everyday rhythm of village life—missions, training, and the occasional civilian request that barely counted as work.
Naruto liked this pace.
The absence of battle meant he could do what he enjoyed most—lazing around under the sun, soaking in the warmth like a cat stretched across a rooftop. He had claimed a particularly nice spot in one of Konoha's quieter areas, a place where the sun hit just right and the breeze wasn't too strong. There, he sprawled out, arms crossed behind his head, eyes half-lidded as he listened to the distant hum of the village.
Of course, Sasuke had other plans.
"Fight me."
Naruto yawned, shifting onto his side to find a more comfortable position.
Sasuke's brow twitched. "Naruto."
Naruto closed his eyes.
"Fight me."
Silence.
Sasuke's eye twitched again.
"I'll treat you to ramen."
Naruto's eyes snapped open.
"...Fine."
Sasuke smirked in victory.
And that was how Naruto found himself sparring nearly every other day. Sasuke never won, but he kept challenging him, determined to close the gap. Naruto, on the other hand, didn't really mind. One spar equaled one bowl of ramen, and honestly? That was a good deal. He never held back enough for Sasuke to feel insulted, but he also never tried too hard. It was just an easy exchange—effort for food.
It drove Sasuke insane.
Sakura often watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, switching between cheering for Sasuke and groaning when Naruto dodged effortlessly.
"How are you so good at fighting like that?" she asked one day, after Sasuke had once again ended up flat on his back, breathless and glaring.
"Yeah," Sasuke grumbled, pushing himself up. "It's like fighting some wild animal."
Naruto tilted his head at that, blinking slowly.
"...I manage," he said, shrugging.
Neither of them were satisfied with that answer.
Even Kakashi, who had always been quietly observant, had his suspicions. Naruto's fighting style wasn't like anything taught in the Academy. It was unpredictable, fluid, instinct-driven. It wasn't something learned from human combat training—it was something else entirely.
And there was... another thing.
People started to notice.
Animals liked Naruto.
No, scratch that—animals loved Naruto.
It had started small, with stray cats curling up next to him whenever he dozed off in the sun, or crows swooping down to drop shiny trinkets near him. But then it escalated. Dogs would break free from their owners just to follow him down the street. Squirrels and birds would perch on his shoulders, utterly at ease. Even Inuzuka hounds—trained war animals that barely tolerated strangers—would approach him with wagging tails.
At first, Sasuke and Sakura thought it was funny.
Then, during lunch one day, it got ridiculous.
Sakura had just unwrapped her bento when she froze, her entire body going stiff.
A large, black snake had slithered its way onto the table, flicking its tongue lazily as it coiled near Naruto.
Sasuke went tense, immediately reaching for a kunai.
"Naruto," Sakura hissed, barely moving. "There's a snake—"
Naruto picked up a rice ball and, without even looking, held it out.
The snake opened its mouth and took a bite.
Sasuke and Sakura just stared.
Naruto chewed his food idly, patting the snake's head before nudging the rest of the rice ball toward it.
Sakura made a strangled noise. "Wh—why are you—what—"
"It was hungry," Naruto said simply.
Sasuke watched as the snake, a venomous one, casually wrapped itself around Naruto's arm, content and relaxed.
"...Are you serious?"
Naruto blinked at him. "What?"
Sasuke inhaled sharply.
"Are you some kind of animal whisperer?" Sakura demanded, still keeping a wary distance from the snake.
Naruto shrugged. "I dunno."
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose.
Kakashi, who had been watching from nearby, wasn't even surprised.
He had known Naruto forever. He had seen him get along with creatures that would sooner bite a shinobi's hand off than accept their presence. He had seen the way wild things responded to him, drawn to him like he was one of their own. This? This was nothing new.
But for Sasuke and Sakura, this was an entirely new level of what the hell?
The snake finished eating and slithered off, disappearing into the tall grass. Naruto went back to eating like nothing had happened.
Sakura exhaled. "That was not normal."
Sasuke, begrudgingly, had to agree.
But Naruto just kept eating. Because to him, it was normal.
And that was the end of it.