Love Begins with Looks

Love Begins with Looks

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Hearing that lazy voice behind him, Asuka stiffened. He slowly turned toward the doorway and met a pair of clear, nearly amber-brown eyes.

"Pakura. You're back so soon? Weren't you taking her to the hospital?"

After spacing out for a second, Asuka naturally set the things in his hands on the floor. Looking at Pakura's delicate, smiling face, he shrugged. "Something so big happened last night. I was only trying to keep you from suffering too much property damage."

"So?"

Pakura walked past Asuka to her desk. After glancing at it, she said calmly, "That's why you ran off carrying my antique table?"

At that, Asuka immediately raised both hands and protested. "Hey, I wasn't trying to run away. Once you've dealt with the village's problems, I'll come back."

"Really?"

Pakura eyed Asuka suspiciously. On the way to the hospital, Yashamaru had mentioned that this guy had been sitting on a rooftop with a huge bundle, looking ready to flee. "Pakura!"

Asuka did not want to keep dwelling on the issue of running away, so he changed the subject. "The person I saved yesterday was Rasa's wife, right?"

"Mm."

Pakura nodded. Before she could say anything, Asuka continued, "Is Chiyo dead? Why didn't she act yesterday? Ordinary Medical Ninja couldn't treat that illness, but Chiyo definitely could. If she's dead, I'll hang some paper offerings for her."

"Heh. You really know how to talk."

Seeing the sorrowful look on Asuka's face, Pakura let out a cold laugh.

This guy was so fake.

Then, she dumped all the Ninja Tools on her body onto the desk and lay flat across the bed. Staring at the dim yellow ceiling, she murmured, "Thank you."

"What did you say?"

Asuka, who had just been about to quietly slip out of the room, froze. He dug at his ear and turned to look at Pakura lying on the bed, her graceful figure fully displayed. "I didn't hear you."

Leaving out the words "thank you," Pakura closed her eyes, gathered her thoughts, and explained again. "Elder Chiyo exhausted her Chakra and went to recuperate. If it weren't for you, Karura definitely wouldn't have survived last night."

The moment she finished speaking, Pakura felt the bed tremble. She slowly opened her eyes, only to see that the ceiling above her had suddenly turned into Asuka's face.

At that moment, Asuka had his knees pressed against the edge of the bed. Lowering his head, he looked down into Pakura's eyes.

After staring into his eyes for a while, Pakura could no longer stand the eye contact. She turned her head slightly to the left and said irritably, "What do you want now?"

"Look."

Asuka extended his left hand before Pakura's eyes, raised one finger, and said very seriously, "I saved your village chief's wife. What rank of mission is that? I think it should at least be an S-Rank Mission. And S-Rank Missions are usually accompanied by enormous risks and enormous rewards. I took the risk, so where's my reward? We may be allies, but even allies have to settle accounts clearly, right?"

Pakura's cheek twitched. Not wanting to look at him, she covered herself with a pillow and said in a muffled voice, "I'll treat you to lunch."

"You're brushing me off with one meal?"

"What else do you expect?"

"I'm a little unwilling. I wasted an entire night's worth of Chakra and got nothing out of it. And it looks like you and that woman are pretty close, so why don't you just give me some compensation?"

Hearing the disappointment in his voice, Pakura removed the pillow from her face and looked at Asuka speechlessly.

Seeing Pakura's lovely, beautiful face from so close, Asuka suddenly felt his heart skip faster, his throat going dry.

Gulp!

After swallowing with difficulty, a thought inexplicably surfaced in his mind.

Just one kiss. She probably won't beat me to death, right?

At that moment, Pakura pointed at her desk and spoke quickly. "There's a Fire Release Ninjutsu in there, A—"

Before she could finish, she caught Asuka suddenly lunging at her from the corner of her eye.

Feeling the sudden wetness on her cheek and seeing his handsome face gradually pull away, Pakura blinked. Only then did her mind slowly process what had just happened.

"..."

After a long silence, she sat up expressionlessly, and her aura began to rise.

"Um, I'm heading out. Someone might have taken the D-Rank Mission."

Sensing trouble, Asuka jumped onto the windowsill. With a Body Flicker, he appeared on the rooftop outside and vanished from Pakura's sight in just a few leaps.

She didn't want to offer even a little compensation, yet she still wanted to freeload off my Chakra.

Shameless! Sunagakure Hospital.

Asuka jumped down from the rooftop, adjusted his clothes, and prepared to enter the hospital.

"Hello!"

At that moment, a child with painted markings on his face spotted Asuka beneath the steps and ran straight out of the hospital.

He jogged up to Asuka, panting heavily. "Th-thank you..."

Seeing the child struggling just to breathe, Asuka pulled a lollipop from his pocket and handed it over. Then he took out another one, put it in his own mouth, and asked, "Kid, who are you?"

"Huh?"

The child hesitantly accepted the lollipop and tucked it into his pocket. Then he looked up at Asuka and said gratefully, "My name is Kankuro. Thank you for saving my mother."

Asuka nodded. "No need to thank me. Your mom was just tough."

After saying that, he saw the child freeze in place as though he did not know how to respond. Asuka shoved his hands into his pockets and added, "You just need to know that your mother's willpower was what mattered most. I played a part too, but not much."

Smacking his lips, Kankuro lowered his head, completely unsure how to continue the conversation.

He felt like the conversation had just died.

Seeing that the boy was still hanging his head, Asuka took two steps forward and bent down. "I accept your thanks. But next time, pick somewhere without people around. I'm a Konoha Ninja, after all. And only a few people in all of Sunagakure know that I saved your mother, so don't bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself."

Hearing this, a bit of life finally returned to Kankuro's eyes. He looked up at Asuka expectantly. "Mother woke up. She wants to thank you in person too."

Seeing Kankuro's hopeful eyes, Asuka scratched his head, looking a little troubled. "Next time. My schedule is packed today."

"Um..."

Kankuro followed behind Asuka, jogging to keep up. "Can I learn Medical Ninjutsu from you?"

"You don't have any Chakra, kid. What are you learning that for?"

"I want to save people."

"If you want to become a Medical Ninja, then buy two chickens from the market when you go home. Cut their necks with a knife, then use bandages and medicine to stop the bleeding. If the chickens live, keep cutting them. If they die, stew some chicken for your mother that night."

"Is this a test to become a Medical Ninja?"

"That's right. When the pile of dead chickens at your house gets too big, remember to give some to the village's ninjas and earn some goodwill. Like at Pakura's house, for example."

Meanwhile.

In a mysterious cave somewhere in Grass Country.

"Lord Madara!"

"Lord Madara!"

Hearing the calls by his ear, Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes and looked at the Spiral White Zetsu calling him.

"Lord Madara, this... this..."

Looking at the things Spiral White Zetsu offered him, Uchiha Madara half-closed his eyes and leaned against the stone behind him, seemingly uninterested. "You woke This Old One just to eat?"

"Yes!"

Spiral White Zetsu scratched its head, then placed the two items before Madara. Imitating Asuka's tone, it vividly recounted the glorious history of the two things.

Uchiha Luosifen? This Old One created it? Smelling the strange odor of the Luosifen, Uchiha Madara's brow furrowed again.

When had he ever made such bizarre food?

And this White Zetsu made from Hashirama Cells seemed to have something wrong with its head, just like Hashirama. It kept adding things to the story without permission.

"Love-filled noodles"? Anyone with half a brain would know that Uchiha Madara would never give food such a name.

"Lord Madara, want to try it? They say this bowl of noodles can let the Uchiha Clan experience the word 'love' again."

"Hmph. Useless food. Don't put all your attention on Uchiha Asuka like some idiot."

Uchiha Madara snorted, but his wrinkled hand still picked up the freshly heated bowl of Luosifen. Trembling, he opened his mouth and took a small bite.

"Cough—cough—"

A violent fit of coughing broke out. Uchiha Madara, who had not eaten for a long time, choked immediately.

"Lord Madara, are you all right?"

"I'm fine!"

With that, Uchiha Madara readjusted his posture and continued slurping.

He was not about to choke to death on food.

Besides, he mainly wanted to see how this bowl of noodles could make someone remember the love that had been sealed away.

After finishing the bowl of noodles.

He leaned against the stone and said with utter disdain, "A scam. This tastes worse than ordinary food. And This Old One is not a ninja who indulges in food. Don't bring this kind of thing again."

"Lord Madara, this Uchiha Honey Mustard Fried Chicken is also pretty good."

"No—burp—not eating."

"Lord Madara, will you eat it after you poop?"

"Idiot, don't ask disgusting questions like that after someone has finished eating."

Asuka had no idea that a White Zetsu was constantly watching him.

After all, being monitored personally was treatment reserved for people who had caught the eyes of Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito.

He was not familiar with either of them.

Mm... Opening the door and looking into the living room, Asuka saw that nothing seemed unusual. He then tiptoed inside.

He had returned after visiting that old woman Chiyo.

But after coming back, he had kept pacing around the street outside, uncertain whether he should return to his residence.

Pakura wouldn't hit him, would she?

Even if she did, he only had himself to blame for getting carried away and kissing her.

With that thought, Asuka gently pushed open the door and squeezed inside.

Bang! The instant he shut the door, the sound of a spatula smashing against a wok came from the kitchen.

Peering toward the kitchen through the two glass doors, Asuka could clearly see a figure inside stirring something as if venting her frustration.

"Um, go easy. You're going to crack the wok..."

The moment he finished speaking, the activity in the kitchen stopped. Then someone pushed open the glass door from inside. Holding a spatula in one hand, Pakura looked expressionlessly at Asuka standing in the living room. "You're back?"

"Mm."

Asuka nodded. He set the things he was carrying on the floor, then pointed at the spatula in Pakura's hand and asked hesitantly, "How about I do it?"

"No!"

Bang! The kitchen door shut again. This time, the commotion inside was much quieter, but the flames looked far bigger than before. From outside, it looked as though the kitchen had caught fire.

So irritable!!

Once the food was set on the table, Pakura sat across from Asuka. She glanced at the dishes, then at Asuka, who had yet to pick up his chopsticks, and said calmly,

"Eat. Thank you."

"Well..."

Seeing him hesitate without touching his chopsticks, Pakura thought he was worried that the food she made tasted terrible. Her cheek twitched slightly.

Then, right in front of Asuka, she picked up a bite of food, chewed it a few times, swallowed, and sneered.

"There isn't much food in the village. I'm not the kind of person who wastes grain."

Watching Pakura, who had just been venting in the kitchen, become calm again in the blink of an eye, Asuka poked at his rice with his chopsticks and asked worriedly,

"Are you okay now?"

Pakura paused with her chopsticks. Then she gently moved some rice around and said,

"I might be heading to the front lines in a couple of days. Iwagakure has been rather active lately."

Asuka blinked and asked in surprise,

"You're really okay now?"

Pakura stopped chewing. She raised her head to look at Asuka, narrowed her eyes, and said,

"If you have any intelligence about Iwagakure, you can share it as well. After all, we're allies now."

"Sigh!"

Listening to their completely mismatched exchange, Asuka sighed and said slowly,

"I have a story here.

A story about a young Kekkei Genkai ninja who died without ever dating."

A bloodline ninja? Never dated? You really know how to talk.

Before Asuka could finish, Pakura quickly put herself in the story.

Her face darkened as she looked at Asuka. A fireball suddenly appeared in her hand, and she tossed it twice in the air before pointing at the food on the table, her words filled with threat.

"Don't force me to beat you up during the happiest part of my day! And if you do something that crosses the line again, I'll really get angry."

"Okay."

Asuka was not greedy at all. He nodded with a grin and began praising the food on the table.

But after secretly glancing at Pakura, Asuka shook his head inwardly.

This woman was far too loyal to her village.

If he told her that the village might trade her away someday, Pakura would probably think he was trying to drive a wedge between her and the village.

Thinking of that, Asuka picked up a bite of food and reminded her,

"Stay safe!"

Pakura paused with her chopsticks again, then returned to normal and nodded.

"Got it."

Afternoon.

The desert without clouds to block the sun was scorching. Sunlight poured onto the earth without obstruction, raising the temperature of the ground to an unbelievable height.

Kankuro supported Karura as they took a lap outside the hospital. Then he pointed at Asuka, who was lying in the shade reading a book, and asked in confusion,

"Mother, big brother seems a little melancholy."

Following the direction of Kankuro's finger, Karura looked at the medical book in Asuka's hands and shook her head.

"Medical books are difficult. Maybe he came across something he doesn't understand."

"Hey, hey."

Asuka set the medical book on his lap, rolled his eyes slightly toward the two people discussing him, and said unhappily,

"You're talking about people behind their backs awfully loudly."

Hearing that, Karura directed Kankuro to help her over to Asuka's side. Smiling, she asked,

"Asuka-kun, did you encounter a problem you don't understand?"

Hm? Seeing Gaara's mother walk over, Asuka sat up and shifted farther inside, making room in the shade before saying,

"There are indeed some things I don't understand."

Karura looked at Asuka curiously.

"This humble one is rather curious?"

"When the Fourth Hokage was fourteen, he rescued his future wife from Cloud Ninja, and the two of them started dating.

I was only seven back then. Whenever I went to the little woods to practice ninjutsu, I could always hear sickeningly sweet words of love coming from nearby.

And now, the Fourth Hokage is twenty-four, and he even has a son.

Yet I still don't have a girlfriend. It makes me feel a little melancholy."

Seeing Asuka put down the medical book with a wistful expression on his face, Karura blinked and asked in surprise,

"You don't have a girlfriend?"

Asuka scratched his head.

"Isn't that normal?"

Karura shook her head. Recalling what had happened when she was Asuka's age, she said softly,

"That depends on the person.

But when this humble one was eighteen, Temari had already been born.

After all, in times of war, a ninja's average lifespan is only around thirty.

It was said that during the Warring States Period, it was a miracle for a ninja to live past thirty.

If Asuka-kun is already eighteen, then more than half of your life as a ninja has passed."

At that, she turned to look at Asuka with a faint smile, like an older sister chatting casually, and asked,

"Do you have someone you like?"

The moment she finished speaking,

she saw Asuka's gaze fall on her, and Karura's heart skipped a beat.

Before she could say anything, Asuka's gaze shifted behind her.

Turning around and seeing her daughter skip over, Karura's heart leaped into her throat again. Somewhat awkwardly, she asked,

"The person Asuka-kun likes... isn't from Sunagakure, is she?"

Asuka glanced at the skipping Temari, then looked into the distance and said slowly,

"She wasn't before. Now, I'm not so sure."

"Then you..."

Karura held Temari tightly in her arms and asked carefully,

"Why do you like her?"

Asuka pulled two lollipops from his pocket and handed them to the two children. Then he tugged Temari's little braid and said very seriously,

"It started with her looks."

Looking at her daughter's adorable face, Karura sniffed and asked uncertainly,

"So when you saved this humble one, it was related to her too?"

"It wasn't related. I didn't even know you. I only saved you because your younger brother Yashamaru called me teacher and kowtowed dozens of times."

"Phew!"

Karura let out a soft breath. She looked at her daughter, then at Asuka, and thought to herself,

*I will never agree to this marriage.

He's too old.

This guy is only a few years younger than me.*

Asuka had no idea what Karura was thinking.

He really was feeling somewhat melancholy now.

After kissing Pakura today, he discovered that his long-dormant single heart seemed to have come back to life.

For all these years, his standards for a girlfriend had been: Tsunade's figure, Kushina's hair, Uchiha Mikoto's gentleness, Inuzuka Tsume's wildness, Yuhi Kurenai's red eyes, plus the intelligence of the Nara Clan. And so, he had been single for eighteen years.

P.S.: Combined two chapters into one.

5K. Temari was born in Konoha Year 48, and the Third Shinobi World War ended in Year 50.

I have a timeline chart here. I'll upload it in a couple of days.