20 Wanting to Pursue Her

It was early spring, yet when the door opened, a sudden gust of cold wind swept in, making one instinctively want to shrink their neck. Kakashi lazily stepped outside, intending to open all the windows on the first floor for ventilation.

It was still early; Kotono and Naruto hadn’t woken up yet. By the time they came down for breakfast, he could close the windows. He drifted into aimless thoughts—truly, in this kind of weather, the happiest thing was to snuggle in a warm bed and sleep.

However, having stepped back from frontline duty, his daily routine still wasn’t fully adjusted. He still woke up fairly early each day, completely unaccustomed to sleeping in.

Kakashi, oh Kakashi, you mustn’t let yourself sink into such laziness. If this goes on, sooner or later you won’t be able to support the two little gluttons at home.

That little Kotono was so picky—she’d refuse this and that, always choosing expensive fresh vegetables and fruits. Were it not for his elite Jonin missions paying generously, he’d be financially eaten to the bone by Kotono.

But then, thinking of the sparkling eyes the girl had while eating strawberries… Kakashi chuckled silently. Buy away, buy away. It’s not like he couldn’t afford it.

Uncle Fujimoto’s butcher shop had already opened. After closing the windows, he planned to buy some meat. Their beef ribs were the freshest, and both kids loved them.

Just as he yawned and stepped out, he suddenly heard—

A boy’s clear voice: “Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!”

A fist-sized water bullet shot from the rooftop, splashing all over his face, causing him to shiver from the cold and instantly wake up.

From the rooftop came the boy’s unabashed laughter: “Surprise attack successful! Big Brother Kakashi is so lame!”

This was the D-rank water technique Kakashi had taught him last time; Naruto had learned it after a week of practice.

Yet once he mastered it, he immediately used it to ambush his big brother.

Kakashi’s hair was soaked and stuck to his face. He brushed his bangs aside with one hand, his gaze suddenly turning dangerous.

Naruto crouched on the rooftop, looking triumphant.

Then Kakashi’s low voice sounded behind him: “Naruto, if you climb up here again, I’ll kick your butt and knock you down.”

Naruto turned sharply, surprised to see Kakashi had somehow appeared on the roof, glaring at him coldly with an intimidating presence.

Under Naruto’s mischievous antics, Kakashi’s once cold exterior was hard to maintain; he was growing increasingly irritable.

The little guy squinted and grinned slyly, trying to brush it off cutely: “Good morning, Big Brother Kakashi.”

Kakashi’s expression remained blank as he delivered a flying kick toward Naruto.

“I didn’t fall!” Naruto, chakra on the soles of his feet, stood firmly and proudly said, “I’ve been practicing hard lately. How about my control now?”

The silver-haired ninja sighed wearily.

At this moment, he felt that his thoughts from a month ago had been too naive.

All those notions of a beautiful life, the future of Konoha, stepping out of shadows—it was all a lie.

Raising a hyperactive brat would only result in one thing—

Being splashed with water bullets on a peaceful spring morning.

“Aren’t you tired?” Kakashi jumped down from the roof, speechless. “Can’t you be like Kotono and go to bed and get up on time?”

“Shh.”

Naruto even raised a finger to signal for quietness, a complete reversal of roles.

“Kotono trained late last night. It’s the weekend, and she’s catching up on sleep. Don’t wake her.”

Kakashi was speechless: “You’re the loudest one here, aren’t you?”

The little guy ignored his reasoning and happily went to play outside the yard, not bothering to wash his hands before breakfast.

He really should have brought back the wife sooner to discipline this brat properly…

Kakashi looked helplessly at the boy’s figure; the little blond stood out brightly.

The once skinny kid had grown sturdier, his temperament lively enough to dare to prank him.

But, well.

Such days weren’t so bad after all.

Kakashi’s gaze softened gradually.

In this new year, everyone’s lives would surely be wonderful.

*

After a whole winter of recuperation, students in spring were restless.

At the Ninja Academy, what changed was Iruka-sensei’s receding hairline; what remained unchanged was the cheering squad’s enthusiasm for Sasuke-kun.

“Konoha without Sasuke-kun’s good looks would even make the snow pale in comparison,” a girl said, borrowing a pick-up line she learned from adults.

“But snow doesn’t have any color, does it?” a nearby boy retorted jealously.

Bang!

The little girl didn’t hesitate to slap him.

Sakura did not join the usual fan club discussions. She gently rubbed her lunchbox, adorned with a pink butterfly ribbon, looking very cute.

Inside were not only dishes made by her mother but also tamagoyaki she had cooked herself.

Sakura wanted to share it with Sasuke-kun.

Would he like it? She had added a bit of milk for a richer flavor.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calmly say to the boy beside her, “Sasuke-kun, would you like to…”

At that moment, the black-haired boy stood up, the chair scraping loudly enough to drown out her faint invitation.

He carried his lunchbox with one hand and walked to sit beside Kotono across the corridor.

“Hey, move over.”

He sat confidently on the inner side next to Kotono.

Naruto, a step behind, exploded: “Sasuke! Who told you to cut in line! You’re not allowed to sit inside Kotono’s spot!”

Sakura sheepishly shut up, following Sasuke’s gaze toward Uzumaki Kotono.

Only Sakura vaguely sensed that Sasuke’s gaze at school was always fixed on one person—the genius classmate Kotono.

Perhaps Sasuke didn’t even realize that his focus at that time was more intense and passionate than toward anyone else.

Kotono was never like others who aspired to be someone’s someone. She was like a flickering flame, radiating confidence and warmth that constantly drew everyone’s attention.

So even sitting at the edge of the classroom, those who admired her would unconsciously gravitate closer.

Naruto was like this, Sasuke was like this, and Sakura… was like this too.

…

The Ninja Academy had individual desks. Though the chairs were bench-style, when Naruto squeezed in, Kotono’s chair creaked ominously.

Sasuke whispered sharply, “Idiot, don’t squeeze in any further!”

“How else can I fit?” Naruto argued, “It’s your fault for cutting in line, trying to hog Kotono’s spot.”

“Who wants to hog her, idiot!” Sasuke retorted, stealing a glance at the red-haired girl.

“Stop squeezing!” Kotono weakly stretched her hand, trying to free herself from being sandwiched.

Boys these days were so childish—there was plenty of room, yet they fought over territory, crowding her.

She didn’t want to deal with them and said simply, “If you squeeze me again, I’ll sit with someone else.”

With that, the two boys’ childish rivalry eased considerably.

*

Kotono half-heartedly ate her grilled mackerel.

Kakashi worried about her eating habits and insisted she consume nutritious foods like fish and mushrooms.

Training was exhausting enough without forcing her to eat disliked mushrooms.

Was Kakashi a demon?

Kotono poked the grilled fish repeatedly with her chopsticks, as if tormenting it to death.

Naruto, however, ate heartily.

As long as the lunch was made with care, even the vegetables he disliked most, he would grit his teeth and eat.

But Naruto had also picked up some bad habits.

He picked out the shiitake mushrooms for Kotono, solemnly saying, “Big Brother Kakashi said Kotono needs nutrition, or she won’t grow tall.”

Kotono put down the chopsticks tormenting the fish and calmly said, “Fine, then I won’t like you anymore, Naruto.”

Naruto’s scheme was exposed; he quickly scooped the mushrooms back, making a pitiful face. “Okay, okay. I won’t give them to you. I can eat the grilled fish for you. Please don’t be mad.”

Naruto then attacked the mushrooms, pretending to be very distressed.

Kotono couldn’t help but smile helplessly. “Alright, I reluctantly forgive you.”

Naruto stared at her dimples, blushing slightly, lost in thought.

Nearby, Sasuke restrained an eye roll.

The young master cleared his throat, imitating his older brother’s manner and said seriously, “Kotono.”

“Hm?” the girl hummed softly, her voice indescribably cute.

Sasuke: …

His mind went blank, forgetting every line he had rehearsed.

“Tch, Sasuke is so lame, his face is completely red,” Naruto taunted.

Before Kotono noticed, Sasuke decisively spoke.

“My mom wants to invite you to our house tomorrow. Will you come?”

Naruto’s eyes immediately became alert.

Sasuke said coolly, “Even the underdog can come, so don’t give me that look.”

Although he wanted to spend time alone with Kotono, it was better not to exclude anyone on the first visit.

He thought Naruto was the kind of idiot who would secretly cry if left out.

Kotono was Sasuke’s only recognized friend and rival. As for Naruto… well, Sasuke thought he was more like a tail following them.

Yet for some reason, Kotono always held Naruto’s hand tightly and said she trained hard to protect him.

Everyone at school couldn’t understand why she liked Naruto so much.

There were many boys at school who were more handsome and talented than Naruto.

Sasuke guessed it was because during lonely times, Kotono and Naruto had warmed each other’s hearts, so she couldn’t let go of this underdog.

But if Sasuke had met Kotono earlier, he believed he could do the same.

And he would definitely do it better than anyone.

Since Kotono liked Naruto, Sasuke didn’t oppose it.

Born a genius of the Uchiha clan, he had pride that wouldn’t lose to anyone.

He believed that one day, those brown eyes would look only at him.

Kotono readily agreed, “Okay. I’ll think about what gift to bring when I come to your house.”

Without Sasuke saying so, she had already been considering investigating the Uchiha clan’s territory.

Over the past six months, Uchiha Itachi had been quiet and polite, occasionally encountered but seeming perfectly normal.

The three of them bickered quietly, shared lunch, unaware they had become a popular spectacle among many classmates.

“Why does Kotono always play with Naruto?” Sasuke didn’t say this aloud, but Ya didn’t think he was inferior to Naruto, “I can share my lunch with her too.”

“Then go talk to Kotono,” Choji munched on chips, “Kotono is friendly to proactive classmates.”

Ya’s face reddened; he muttered something inaudible.

Choji sought Shikamaru’s judgment: “Shikamaru, you think Kotono’s cute, right?”

Shikamaru lazily seemed unwilling to answer such a trivial question.

“She was practicing high jump for a long time after school that day,” Choji remembered well, because Shikamaru was the most trouble-averse, always the first to rush out after school.

Shikamaru replied calmly, “Waiting for you guys.”

That crimson sunset—many watched her, but in the end, the only one who could freely leap bars and chase by her side, the only one she truly noticed, was that one person.

—The genius of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Sasuke.

Their father even said Uzumaki Kotono was outstanding both in bloodline and talent, advising him to get along well with her…

Shikamaru rubbed his forehead in headache.

With Uchiha Sasuke guarding like a fierce dragon, except for hot-blooded idiots like Uzumaki Naruto, no one could break through his defense, right?

At that moment, his gaze met Kotono’s.

The girl seemed exasperated by the two beside her, her eyes screaming “Help, these two idiots are such a hassle.”

After locking eyes with Shikamaru, she noticed his deadpan gaze was just like hers and smiled knowingly.

Shikamaru must also be tormented by Choji and the others.

He stared blankly at those bright, clear brown eyes, swallowing hard as if tasting the warm sweetness of caramel melting on his tongue.

Trouble loomed…

He had never thought caramel tasted so good before.

“Hey, what are you looking at?” Sasuke suddenly noticed something. Not harshly but firmly, he cupped Kotono’s face, turning her head to look at him.

“Hurry and tell me what you like to eat so I can prepare it when you come to my house.”

His brows and eyes were bold and confident, indifferent to the others’ gazes—even those of fellow heirs.

Naruto frowned.

Sasuke surely hadn’t hurt Kotono, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy about that gesture.

“Let go of Kotono!” Without hesitation, Naruto slapped Sasuke’s hand away. “Kotono, get the expensive stuff and bankrupt Sasuke’s family!”

“Idiot, the Uchiha won’t go broke from feeding you.”

And so the next round of bickering and shouting began.

Shikamaru watched their little world.

Only those three could fit in it, naturally exuding an aura of “We were here first; you’re not really her friends.”

Tch, the Uchiha really aren’t likable.

And he was underestimated too.

A true genius seeking friendship with someone never clumsily punches their way in.

Thinking this, Shikamaru sighed again.

Exceptional talent, cute appearance, immense popularity, unmatched strength, numerous admirers…

All these qualities gathered in one girl, chasing after her might really mean bidding farewell to a peaceful life.