Tenten looked curiously at Shino's sudden departure. "What's up with Shino? He seed kind of in a rush."
Natsuki chuckled. "He's just greedy for my cooking and rushed ho to pick his favorite veggies. Oh, right—since the Abura clan raises insects, they're also good at growing vegetables. Shino's the clan head's son, and their veggies are top quality."
Shino is the clan head's son?
Tenten was stunned. She hadn't expected that Natsuki was friends with the heir of the Abura clan.
This social circle doesn't feel like sothing a regular kid has...
Natsuki noticed her dazed look and tugged her along. "Alright, enough daydreaming. Let's hit the market. We especially need to buy so winter lon—Shino loves it."
Tenten looked at their interlocked hands and felt the warmth in his palm. Her fingers instinctively curled around his.
A gentle smile blood on her lips—one she didn't even realize she wore.
The two strolled through the bustling street hand-in-hand, but as their shopping list grew, they had to let go. And the mont their hands separated, both felt a hint of reluctance. When their eyes t, both blushed uncontrollably.
Nearby, so aunties and uncles at the vegetable stalls looked on with knowing smiles.
Ah... young love!
Natsuki seed totally imrsed in the mont and didn't notice at all that a certain blonde girl delivering flowers—Yamanaka Ino—was standing right behind them, eyes gleaming with gossip.
"That's Natsuki, right? He actually has a girlfriend now?"
Natsuki wasn't especially handso, nor was he the top of the class. But ever since his fight with Sasuke, he'd beco soone unforgettable to his classmates.
And Ino, being a shaless looks-obsessed fangirl, liked Sasuke—but she'd also been secretly curious about the guy who once beat him.
Now seeing him holding hands with such a cute girl? There was no way she wasn't going to gossip.
"This is huge! I need to share this with everyone!"
So, while Natsuki remained blissfully unaware, the rumor that he had a girlfriend started spreading rapidly through the girls' circle in class.
anwhile, Natsuki and Tenten returned ho with bags full of groceries, only to find Shino already waiting at the gate with two baskets of freshly picked vegetables. Even with his sunglasses on, the eager look on his face was obvious.
Natsuki sighed. "Shino, are you setting up a stall at my house again?"
Shino replied matter-of-factly, "Too many veggies at ho. My dad told to bring so over."
"Yeah, yeah. Thank your dad for ."
Natsuki opened the gate and brought the two inside. Then he started giving orders like a pro. "Tenten, wash the veggies. Shino, start peeling the winter lon. I'm making winter lon pork rib soup today. When you're done, co help prep the chicken. I'll start cooking the rice."
The mont Shino heard winter lon pork rib soup, his eyes lit up—even if he hadn't tasted it before, he knew it was gonna be good. He jumped into action right away.
Tenten, anwhile, filled a basin and started rinsing vegetables, all the while looking around curiously.
"So this is Natsuki's house... It's a little quiet around here, but the yard's really nice. Full of life and warmth... I wonder if Natsuki gets lonely living alone?"
She didn't even notice that she was actively trying to learn more about Natsuki's life.
She even caught herself picturing what it'd be like if she lived here too—her lips curling into an unconscious smile.
Cooking didn't take long. Before they knew it, a table full of steaming-hot dishes was ready, and Shino was already diving into the winter lon soup with bliss on his face.
Tenten took her first bite of Natsuki's cooking—and was instantly surprised and delighted.
"Natsuki, your cooking is amazing!" she praised.
"As long as you like it. That ans you're in for a lifeti of good food."
"A lifeti of—"
Tenten blushed furiously.
She had the distinct feeling he said that on purpose. It wasn't a confession... but it was a little too smooth. Still, even though there was no sugar in the dishes, everything tasted sweet to her.
By the ti the al was over, night had already fallen.
Shino, ever the tactful one, said goodbye and vanished into the darkness like a true wingman.
Natsuki seized the chance and gently grabbed Tenten's hand. "It's getting late. Let walk you ho."
Tenten's face turned red again, but she didn't resist. They walked hand-in-hand under the evening sky—half walking off their al, half going on a little date.
It was that magical in-between stage—more than friends, not quite lovers—and it felt new and exciting.
After safely walking Tenten ho, Natsuki headed back. The sky was now completely dark. As he made his way down the quiet road, he occasionally caught the sound of faint footsteps behind him. Nothing unusual—probably just a few passing Anbu.
Natsuki didn't think too much of it. Based on his usual behavior, Danzo shouldn't have any reason to target him.
Unless... it was an intruder from another village. And if that was the case, well... tough luck.
Still, Natsuki wasn't soone to be underestimated. Even if he hadn't learned many jutsu or fought in real combat, his physical strength and chakra reserves were substantial. As long as he didn't run into a jōnin, his life wouldn't be in danger.
Thankfully, he made it ho without incident.
But along the way, he kept sensing soone watching him. The gaze wasn't friendly, and it wasn't subtle either—as if suspecting that a kid wandering around at night was secretly a spy.
Konoha seed peaceful, but the truth was it was a ss beneath the surface.
Before the Uchiha Massacre, Danzo's Root operated with impunity in the village. Afterward, even though Root was technically disbanded, the absence of the Uchiha clan ant the village was wide open—like a sieve. Spies walked in like they owned the place. Especially after the Third Hokage died and Tsunade took over, things only got worse. Even nobodies could stir up chaos.
Man, what a ss...
Still, Natsuki could complain all he wanted—it didn't change the need to be careful.
Especially for Tenten and Shino. He'd have to remind them to be cautious. He couldn't afford to let his future girlfriend or his best friend get hurt.
"As expected, without strength, all you get is anxiety. I need to train harder and grow stronger as soon as possible."
Without delay, Natsuki entered his gravity training room and used his mind to crank the gravity up to three tis the normal level. Instantly, he felt the weight press on his entire body—even his blood seed to sink.
He hadn't spent much ti in this room yet, but he'd already adapted to double gravity.
Now with triple gravity, it was still bearable—but he had to worry if it would affect his height in the future. After all, he was still a kid.
Then, he pulled out two scrolls.
One was a C-rank water release ninjutsu: Suiton: Mizurappa (Water Release: Wild Water Wave), which he had traded for with Shino using his transformation-based Paper Drawing Technique.
The Abura clan specialized in insects, but weren't good at close-range combat. The Paper Drawing Technique was perfect for Shino—if enemies got too close, he could use it to dodge and buy ti for his insects to counterattack or for backup to arrive.
The other scroll was for the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique). He had borrowed it from Shino, all because he had a special idea he wanted to try. He'd return the favor later by sharing the results with Shino.
Even though Natsuki treated Shino as a close friend, he wouldn't take advantage of him.
Give and take. That way, he'd never feel guilty borrowing again.
(End of Chapter)
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