Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Sakura
Chapter 6: Sakura
Watching Sakura Haruno, his goddess, stand before him with an angry expression, Uzumaki Naruto felt like dying on the spot.
Suddenly, Naruto seemed to think of something. He scrambled to his feet and pointed a trembling finger at Uchiha Sasuke.
"No, no!"
"Sakura, this isn't right."
"Sakura, wake up! Sasuke was never into women before—he didn't even like you!"
Yes, Naruto might be clueless at times, but he wasn't stupid.
He liked Sakura. Sakura didn't like him.
Sakura liked Sasuke, but Sasuke didn't like anyone!
Now, this Sasuke... something was clearly wrong.
'
Sasuke wasn't interested in exploring the Nine-Tails chakra or obsessing over invincibility from his initial power-up. Strength was no longer something he found intriguing.
Right now, teasing Naruto and winning the love of this beautiful girl, Sakura, seemed like the far more entertaining story.
Without hesitation, Sasuke pulled the soft-bodied Sakura Haruno into his arms. He leaned close, his nose brushing against her smooth, delicate cheek in a way that could only be described as inappropriate.
"..."
Naruto's blood boiled at the sight. His anger flared, his eyes practically turning red as if blood would burst from them.
Yet he was overwhelmed with jealousy and powerless to do anything about it.
"Naruto, you're wrong."
Sasuke smirked, his tone carrying an unusual calmness.
"Now that I've awakened, I've realized something. Life is too short to spend every day brooding. Truly enjoying and savoring life is the way forward."
With that, Sasuke once again leaned in close to Sakura, doing... indescribable things.
Indeed!
The original Sasuke was a brooding character, living for revenge.
But this Sasuke wasn't truly the original Sasuke.
Revenge wasn't that important to him! It didn't even compare to the satisfaction of enjoying a delicious bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.
'
Naruto stood there heartbroken, watching the scene before him.
"Sasuke..."
At first, Sakura was shy and embarrassed. After all, this was her first time experiencing romance, and she was inexperienced.
But with such a bold and commanding Sasuke beside her, she quickly adapted.
"Sakura!"
"Sasuke!"
"You two... you've gone too far!"
Naruto was so furious that he nearly coughed up blood. He had never imagined that one day he'd feel so utterly humiliated.
He couldn't bear to stay there any longer.
Naruto knew he couldn't beat Sasuke!
Moreover, no matter how much Sasuke touched Sakura's beautiful legs or kissed her flawless cheeks, it was clear Sakura was willing.
Naruto was just an outsider. What right did he have to stop them?
His earlier outburst had only earned him Sakura's scolding!
'
Naruto turned to leave, unable to stand it any longer.
But Sasuke called out to him.
"Wait."
Sakura was puzzled. "Naruto was being so rude, Sasuke. Why stop him?"
"But Naruto looks so pitiful," Sasuke replied. "I can forgive his earlier impulsiveness. Here, let him have this bowl of ramen."
Earlier, Sasuke had been starving and bought three bowls of ramen, but after one bowl, he was already full.
Rather than wasting it, he figured it would be better to give it to Naruto.
After all, no matter how annoying Naruto could be, he was still the protagonist of this anime. His tragic backstory was pitiable enough.
Sasuke didn't see the need to bully him excessively.
If Naruto could accept the fact that Sakura was now his girlfriend and let go of his feelings for her, Sasuke was still willing to consider him a friend.
Naruto wasn't inherently a bad person, and Sasuke had no intention of pushing him into darkness.
"Sasuke, you're so kind," Sakura said, moved by Sasuke's generosity.
Naruto, on the other hand, was devastated.
There sat Sakura, dressed in a sexy red qipao, her snow-white, smooth legs exposed. Sasuke's hand was caressing those legs, moving up and down shamelessly.
Naruto's heart was bleeding!
Deep down, Naruto had always known that Sakura liked Sasuke. He had even viewed Sasuke as his rival because of this.
In the original story, when Naruto grew stronger, the first person he wanted to defeat was Sasuke.
This had been his obsession since childhood!
He never gave up on pursuing Sakura, even when it was Sakura who begged him to bring the rogue Sasuke back to Konoha...
Naruto had promised her.
But now!
It felt like a dream. The usually cold-hearted Sasuke had suddenly changed. Not only did he accept Sakura, but he was also openly taking advantage of her in public...
"Is this really Sasuke?"
For a moment, Naruto, like Sakura earlier, doubted whether this Sasuke was real.
But upon closer observation, Sasuke's haughty demeanor and superior attitude left no doubt.
"I don't want it!" Naruto yelled. "You two can eat it yourselves—"
Even though Naruto's stomach growled in hunger, he still had his pride.
"I bought too much, and it would be a waste to throw it away," Sasuke said casually. "But let me be clear: Sakura and I are serious. I'll protect her and make her happy."
"Sakura has never liked you, Naruto. You should know that by now. You might never win her over in this lifetime, but your love shouldn't just be about possession."
Sasuke began lecturing Naruto on higher principles.
In the original story, Naruto often lectured his enemies about ideals.
Sasuke wasn't trying to imitate that, but in this situation, he had to say something.
Otherwise, Naruto's misery would be too much.
Sasuke was genuinely worried that Naruto might turn to darkness!
If his presence caused Naruto to defect from Konoha, that would ruin the fun.
'
Naruto was stunned. He looked at Sasuke in disbelief.
In all these years, this was the most Sasuke had ever said to him.
"Sometimes, silently blessing someone is also a way of showing love."
"Naruto, you can wish us happiness. That would show your strength of character."
Sasuke's words finally reached Naruto's heart.
Naruto felt a bit touched.
After all, he wasn't a bad person at his core; he just craved acknowledgment.
Sakura, seeing Naruto on the verge of tears, added gently, "Hurry and eat. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
Naruto finally accepted.
He sat next to Sasuke, picking up the bowl of ramen and eating it with gusto. It was hard to tell whether it was the spiciness, the heat, or his emotions, but tears streamed down his face, falling into the bowl.
His pride as a man made him wipe them away quickly, ensuring Sasuke and Sakura didn't notice.