Chapter 46
"You... you don't... don't understand English, do you...?"
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Don't make that face~!"
Sako immediately slammed the table and stood up.
She was the daughter of the esteemed 'Fugaku of the Fierce Eyes'.
Mere English words... Sigh, she thought this kid was illiterate, but he actually stumped her. Darn it~.
Afterward, with Naruto's explanation, Sakounderstood that the English phrase meant "Happy New Year."
"You don't need to explain so much!"
Sako waved her hand and quickly changed the subject.
"How was your New Year?"
I can't beat you in English, but I can't beat you in New Year's celebrations either?
"It was good, lots of people, very lively, ate soba noodles... a feast..."
Naruto tilted his head, looking up at the ceiling.
His effort to recall made Sako sigh involuntarily.
Her mother had mentioned before that Uzumaki Naruto had no parents... 'Uzumaki Naruto is lying to this extent just for his pride...' she thought.
Sako's gaze at Naruto became increasingly pitiful.
How could someone celebrate New Year well alone?
It must have been really hard for him.
"Having strong pride is a good thing, but don't be too stubborn~."
Sako pushed a gift forward and said,
"This is for you. Happy New Year~."
With that, Sako stood up and left.
"Are you leaving?" Naruto asked from behind.
"Yes, I'm going home for dinner." Sako waved her hand without looking back.
Naruto stood at the doorway, watching Sako go down the stairs.
Outside, snowflakes continued to dance.
Sako, with her family, was so normal, just like any other girl should be.
Once she loses her parents and clan members, the shattering of everything will twist her, turning her into an avenger.
Even if she eventually succeeds in her revenge, her body and mind will be shattered, transforming her into a walking ghost.
Therefore... Naruto: "I must save Sako, save the Uchiha."
Once Sako's figure disappeared, Narutoimmediately turned his head to look at the dark alley across the street.
"..."
Uchiha Itachi walked out, his face expressionless, and met Naruto's gaze.
Then, he left the Uchiha Clan Compound.
The clock struck twelve.
"Dinner time~!"
Sako joyfully distributed the chopsticks, cheering.
Although her father was not present, she tried her best to maintain a happy family atmosphere.
The abundant New Year's lunch dispelled the chill from outside.
After lunch concluded and the dishes were cleared, Sako sat beside her older brother.
"Brother..."
Her big eyes blinked, fluttering.
"Do you know what 'New year spped haha' means?"
His sister's proud expression, however, made Itachi frown slightly.
After a moment of thought, Itachi shook his head.
"It means 'Happy New Year'!" Sako responded proudly.
"No, 'Happy New Year' is 'Happy new year', not some..."
Itachi's brows furrowed even tighter. Where did his sister learn such clumsy, incorrect English phrasing?
Soon, he understood everything.
Was it Uzumaki Naruto?
"Eh?"
Sako was a little surprised.
Because she probably hadn't realized that the phrase was incorrect.
The next moment, Itachi extended his right hand, stroked his sister's head, and earnestly admonished her: "Sako, if you have questions you don't understand in the future, you can ask me. Don't learn things haphazardly from outside..."
"Oh..."
Sako, feeling somewhat uncertain, was still pondering who was right, Naruto or her brother.
Meanwhile, Itachi was already quite displeased with Naruto.
After activating his Sharingan, his senses had become much sharper. His perception had also increased to an unimaginable degree.
Even though he had only awakened it for half a day, the leap in his physical abilities was undeniable.
After all, he was Konoha's greatest prodigy since the village's founding, so such a performance after awakening his Sharingan was only natural.
He had clearly seen the darkness in the Jonin Instructor's heart.
Then there was the childish innocence of another teammate.
And then Uzumaki Naruto... That Uzumaki Naruto, despite being the same age as his sister and a child, was not as simple as he appeared.
At this point, Itachi recalled Shisui's assessment of Uzumaki Naruto.
"Perhaps I should find an opportunity to ask Shisuiin detail."
But that would have to wait until Shisui returned from the battlefield... in the afternoon.
The weather began to turn colder.
The sun was obscured by dark clouds, and the melting snow outside absorbed more heat.
This caused the snowmelt, which should have completely evaporated, to freeze into ice.
The north wind whistled.
Yūgao Uzuki hid in the sheltered area on the top floor.
She involuntarily rubbed her shoulders, trying to warm herself.
At one point, she suddenly thought of something.
Half a month ago, the day she came into contact with Naruto, her head was fuzzy, her body was very hot. She staggered home, ate dinner with Hayate. Finally, lying in the bathtub, her body was unbearably hot. Even soaking in water couldn't dispel it... It wasn't until she used Lightning Release for self-training that... Under her mask, Yūgao's cheeks slowly began to redden.
Her body also seemed to warm up accordingly.
Her thighs rubbed slightly, and her breathing became a little hurried.
She warned herself not to overthink.
However, that incident half a month ago, crossing the forbidden threshold of Lightning Releasetraining, made her mind wander uncontrollably.
Until she noticed a figure slowly approaching Naruto's residence.
It was the figure of a woman dressed in coarse cloth clothes.
The woman looked very disheveled.
"A refugee fleeing disaster?"
Yūgao Uzuki's first reaction was that more people from the Land of Fire had come to seek refuge.
In fact, before the New Year.
When Konoha dispatched a large number of Ninjato gather at the northeastern border of the Land of Fire, many, many people came to flee.
Because of the influx of many people into Konoha, prices began to skyrocket, and along with that, even Konoha's real estate began to soar.
Under Yūgao's gaze, the woman walked past the end of the Shopping Street where Naruto's residence was located.
Also, due to the New Year, most of the shops on both sides of the road were closed.
She walked alone in the icy snow, her expression bewildered, seemingly seeking help.
Yūgao Uzuki looked around, and after confirming that no one could help her, she hesitated whether she should reveal herself.
Theoretically, this was not within her scope of duties.
Moreover, what if she was an enemy in disguise?
Protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... that child Naruto was the most important.
But, with Naruto's strength, he didn't need her protection... Yūgao, caught in indecision, wavered, unsure whether she should step forward.
Click.
At this moment, a door opened.
It was Naruto.
Naruto looked at Yakushi Nonou, dressed in coarse cloth, and couldn't help but ask: "Auntie~, you've been standing outside for a long time, do you need help?"
"Au~, Au~, Au~ntie..."
Yakushi Nonou, in her refugee disguise, almost couldn't maintain her composure.
Yes, she was old too... A 25-year-old Root 007 female spy, broken by Naruto in a second.
Fortunately, her psychological fortitude was excellent.
Relying on her reputation as the 'Ninja World's Strongest Spy,' she quickly adjusted her mindset and nodded vigorously.
"Yes... I'm a refugee from the Land of Fire... I haven't eaten for several meals..."
As she spoke, Yakushi Nonou began to sway precariously.
Seeing this, Naruto shook his head from side to side: "Well, it's getting late, I was just about to make dinner. If you don't mind, Auntie, please come in and have a meal with me..."