Konoha: Starting with a sign-in for Hashirama cells

If she were a carefree person, it wouldn't be so bad, but Sakura is the kind of person who is very sensitive, and no matter what, she can't be the same as before.

"What's wrong with you? You seem distracted. Are you feeling unwell?" Naruto, who was shoveling food into his mouth, asked curiously from across the table.

"No, no," Sakura said, quickly picking up her bowl and chopsticks and eating in small bites.

"There's something I need to tell you," Naruto said, without suspecting anything.

"We've been carrying out D-level missions for about a month now, it's time to take on a higher-level mission, such as a C-level or B-level one."

"It should be within the next two or three days. We'll be leaving the village then, but we're not sure how long we'll be away. Do you think it would be better to go home and visit your uncle and aunt?"

"After all, accidents are unpredictable. What if... don't you think?"

"A high-level mission! Us?" Sakura was stunned. "Isn't it too early? I... I'm not mentally prepared yet."

There was nothing wrong with it at first, but Naruto's words made her instinctively feel scared. After all, it was her first time and she had no experience.

"With Kakashi-sensei here, everything will be fine. As long as you don't wander off or act alone, the chances of something going wrong are very low," Naruto said with a smile.

"Even if something happens, Sasuke and I will protect you, so don't worry."

"Really? Sasuke, he'll protect me?" Sakura whispered.

"He definitely will. Don't let his cold exterior fool you; he's actually quite shrewd," Naruto said with a smile.

"If a girl as cute as you likes him, even a block of steel will eventually be melted."

"Besides, I'm here, aren't I? Don't let my appearance fool you, if I really go all out, even Kakashi-sensei can't do anything to me."

Sakura chuckled and said, "You're bragging. Kakashi-sensei is a Jonin, and you just graduated and became a Genin. How can you compare to him?"

“Really, although I’m not confident I can take him down, he won’t be able to take me down easily either,” Naruto said.

When the Nine-Tails' power explodes, he is clad in the tailed beast's chakra, combining offense and defense. With the added advantage of his multiple shadow clones, ordinary Jonin are no match for him.

Only Jonin with very high combat power ceilings, such as Kakashi and Might Guy, can contend with him, or even defeat him.

But since we're all from Konoha, surely we wouldn't use our ultimate trump card on him?

His win rate is higher without using his trump cards, even if he lacks combat experience.

Sakura didn't take it seriously and skipped the topic, looking down at the miso soup reflecting Naruto's image with her emerald green eyes: "You think I'm cute?"

"Okay." Naruto nodded.

What is this feeling? Is it happiness?

Feeling an inexplicable surge of joy within her, Sakura's lips curled into a slight smile.

Sitting in a duck-like position, her feet, spread apart on either side, began to tremble involuntarily, her toes clenched tightly: "So, am I cuter? Or is Hinata cuter?"

"Hinata," Naruto said.

"..." Sakura.

The more joy I felt just now, the more pain I feel now.

Snapped!

Sakura slammed down her chopsticks and bowl, making the entire low table tremble, and said coldly, "I'm full."

Naruto was startled and stared blankly at Sakura, who suddenly got angry, left the living room with a cold face, and went into the bedroom.

"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong or say something wrong?" Naruto blinked.

Recalling what just happened.

No, it was just a normal conversation. I can't understand why Sakura would be angry.

"He wouldn't be angry because he heard me say Hinata is cute, would he?" Naruto thought to himself and shook his head.

Sakura's behavior, which is so intensely similar to jealousy, could never happen to him.

It's important to know that Sakura in the story was completely devoted to Sasuke.

Yes, there are some scenes where it seems Sakura has fallen for Naruto, but that process doesn't prove anything; you have to look at the outcome.

As a result, Sakura married Sasuke.

Moreover, even though Naruto liked Sakura so much in the story, he couldn't win her over or make her change her mind.

He never had any designs on Sakura, treating her only as a friend and future in-law. With such a normal attitude towards Sakura, how could he possibly change her?

"Something must have happened that I don't know about," Naruto thought to himself.

bedroom.

Sakura, lying on the bed, was very annoyed.

"Naruto was just stating his true thoughts. I have no reason, and no right, to be angry, let alone give him the cold shoulder..."

But I just couldn't help it.

Especially when she heard Naruto choose Hinata without hesitation over who was cuter, her or Hinata.

That sour, vinegary feeling was like boiling hot oil, bursting forth unexpectedly and impossible to suppress.

"Listen carefully, your only advantage right now is living with Naruto. You must keep this up."

"Our approach is to let feelings develop over time, so please don't try to confess your feelings. Of course, you can first try to find out who Naruto values ​​more, you or Hinata."

"If it's you, then don't hesitate, you can express your feelings, because there is a certain chance of success."

"If it's Hinata, ugh... I'd rather die than confess, understand? You'd better hold back, or you're completely finished!"

"Even to take Hinata's feelings into consideration, he has to draw a clear line between you and her. There's no room for negotiation. Ultimately, Hinata is the priority."

"Naruto won't let Hinata overthink or feel uneasy because of you."

"It would be even worse if Naruto were indecisive and unable to make a clear choice between you and Hinata."

"It will absolutely turn into a situation where they're dragging you along while also dragging Hinata along, having their cake and eat it too. Can you accept that? Not to mention you, Hinata definitely can't accept it either."

"In short, until you're certain that you hold a higher place in Naruto's heart than Hinata, you absolutely, absolutely, absolutely must not confess your feelings!"

"Not only can you not confess your feelings, but you also can't let anyone know that you like Naruto. Otherwise, if Hinata finds out and tells Naruto, you're doomed."

"No matter what others say, you insist that you don't like Naruto and only like Sasuke."

"Without this excuse, Hinata will not tolerate you continuing to live with Naruto. Remember that, and don't forget it."

In my mind, I recalled what Ino had said this afternoon.

Sakura pulled a pillow over her head and covered it.

Why is it that when the person you like is right in front of you, right beside you, and you're even living together, you can't bring yourself to say it and have to keep it a secret, afraid of being discovered?

What a nasty feeling.

"Um, would you like to take a bath now? I'll run you some hot water, or should we eat first? I'll heat it up for you." Naruto peeked out from the doorway and asked softly.

Chapter 38 Testing

bathroom.

A misty atmosphere filled the air.

Sakura, soaking in the bathtub with only her head above the water, is lost in thought.

Only when the water temperature dropped and cooled down did she pat her face, stand up, and get out of the bathtub.

Wipe the mirror and look at yourself in it.

She removed her shower cap, revealing her long, cherry blossom pink hair, which fell naturally.

Sakura murmured, "Am I... not as cute as Hinata?"

I dried myself off with a towel, put on my pajamas, and squatted in front of the laundry basket.

Looking at the clothes she had changed out of, Sakura hesitated, wondering whether she should ask Naruto to wash them again.

The outer clothes and pants are fine, but the inner ones, the kind that are close-fitting, are the main problem.

Looking back now, I find myself quite ridiculous.

Subconsciously, they were not on guard against Naruto.

She had already washed Naruto's very personal clothes, yet it wasn't until today, after Ino reminded her, that she realized her true feelings.

"I'm so stupid," Sakura laughed self-deprecatingly.

After much deliberation, I decided not to take it out and instead let Naruto wash it.

Although it might be embarrassing, it's not worth mentioning in order to maintain the lifestyle of an old married couple as described by Ino.

If this continues and it leads Naruto to develop some unhealthy thoughts, then that would be a win.

From another perspective, Hinata still washes herself or has a maid help her, while Naruto gets to wash her first. Doesn't that give you a sense of victory?

Lost in thought, Sakura blushed as she walked out of the bathroom, knelt down in front of the low table, and continued eating the dinner she hadn't finished.

Completely unaware of what Sakura was thinking, Naruto rubbed his itchy eyes, grabbed a change of clothes, and followed her into the bathroom.

I took a shower and did the laundry while I was at it.

Naruto didn't keep Sakura waiting long; he quickly came out and went to the balcony to hang up the clothes.

Naruto treated her clothes like a rag, especially the ones close to her skin, without showing any sign of discomfort.

Sakura, who was secretly observing, was very upset.

"How did your talk with Hinata go?" Sakura asked casually.

"It's alright, everything that needed to be discussed has been settled," Naruto said.

Sakura's heart tightened: "They've already confirmed their relationship!"

"Not yet," Naruto said.

"Hinata is very shy, especially in front of me. Even the slightest overreaction or overstepping of my boundaries can cause her to faint."

"I just hinted at it, and it seems she didn't understand what I meant. But that's okay, there's plenty of time. I'll explain it to her gradually."

The relationship is not yet defined.

Hinata is very shy.