"I'm heading out."
A clear voice rang out from the entryway. After putting on her shoes, Sakura pushed open the front door and left.
"Dear, why did Sakura head out so early this morning?"
Haruno Yashiro sat at the dining table with a newspaper in hand, looking at his wife in confusion.
Haruno Meiko was in the kitchen clearing away the dishes from breakfast, her face full of impatience as she said:
"How would I know? And stop reading that stupid newspaper. If you've got nothing better to do, hurry up and sweep the floor, then mop it, and finally take out the trash!"
"Uh, hehe, I got it..."
Looking at his wife, Haruno Yashiro obediently went to get the broom.
Sakura walked along the streets of Konoha, wondering what she should bring Naruto for her first visit to his home.
Naruto liked Ichiraku Ramen best, but it was only nine in the morning. Too late for breakfast, too early for lunch...
Sakura could not help recalling Naruto's life in the original story.
Expired milk and instant noodles...
And putting makeup on the portraits of his past life and biological father...
Hey!
Sakura's green eyes lit up, and she raised a finger in her heart.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Sakura headed straight to the village bookstore and used the money Iruka had given her to buy a copy of "Cookbook: From Beginner to Master."
Then, following the first dish in the book, she bought some ingredients.
All told, she spent around eighty ryo.
Hokage Building
Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi had nothing to do today, so he had specifically decided to watch how Sakura approached Naruto.
Watching the little girl's actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help smiling.
He had not misjudged her. Her idea was a good one. If Naruto could learn to cook so easily, that would be even better.
Following the address Iruka had given her, Sakura arrived at Naruto's home carrying several large bags.
He lived on the top floor of a small apartment building.
From there, one could see both the Hokage Building and Hokage Rock at a glance.
The location was far better than Sakura's home. At the very least, the Haruno Family could not see the Hokage Building or Hokage Rock.
"Naruto, are you home?"
"Naruto?"
"It's me, Sakura."
Sakura knocked on the door. Before long, she heard a flurry of rummaging from inside, and then a Blond Kid wearing a nightcap opened the door in a frantic rush.
"Sakura?"
Six-year-old Naruto stared at his classmate in shock.
This was the first time anyone besides Grandpa had come to his home looking for him.
"I came to see you. Aren't you going to welcome me?"
Sakura waved the things in her hands before Naruto and smiled.
"N-No!"
Naruto looked at the girl before him nervously as he spoke.
"Then why aren't you inviting me in?"
Hearing the girl's words, Naruto finally realized what he should do. He immediately stepped aside and invited Sakura into his home.
To Sakura's surprise, Naruto's home was actually fairly clean.
But thinking about it, Hiruzen Sarutobi came every month to deliver Naruto's living expenses. It would have been strange if the place were too filthy.
"S-Sakura, d-did you come to see me for something?"
Naruto looked nervously at Sakura as she casually inspected his home, unsure what she meant.
"Huh?"
"Can't I come see you if there's nothing wrong?"
"Or are you saying you don't welcome me, Naruto?"
With a clear goal in mind, Sakura walked over to Naruto's refrigerator. When she opened it, square cartons filled the entire fridge.
A refrigerator full of milk.
Sakura picked up a carton and checked the expiration date.
It would expire in three days at most...
"Naruto, this milk is about to expire. You should drink it up soon."
Sakura waved the milk carton in her hand at Naruto.
"Ah? Oh..."
Naruto stared blankly at the little girl before him, at a loss for what to do.
"Um... why did Sakura suddenly come to see me?"
Naruto looked at Sakura hesitantly.
"Iruka-sensei was worried about your mental health, so he asked me to come check on you."
Sakura sold Iruka out without the slightest burden.
Seeing Sakura reveal through the Crystal Ball the matter he had entrusted to Iruka, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly, but soon relaxed again.
There was no such thing as concern without reason. If Sakura had suddenly visited Naruto without explanation, he would surely overthink it. It was better to admit it openly. That might keep Naruto from becoming suspicious and save them unnecessary trouble.
"Huh?"
Naruto blinked and stared blankly at Sakura.
For some reason, Naruto suddenly felt a little disappointed. He had thought...
"Iruka-sensei cares a lot about you, Naruto. Don't make Iruka-sensei angry in the future, okay?"
Sakura smiled and patted Naruto's blond hair.
Sakura looked at the instant noodle cup clearly left over from last night on the table. There were several more instant noodle cups in the trash can beneath it. Although she had expected this, she still frowned slightly and asked:
"Do you usually eat this stuff?"
The Blond Kid did not seem to notice the girl's displeasure. Thinking she liked instant noodles too, his eyes immediately lit up.
"That's right!"
"Instant noodles are my favorite food!"
"I even have a super collector's edition of instant noodles!"
Naruto proudly pulled open the cabinet beside him. Sakura could not help twitching at the sight before her.
A whole cabinet of instant noodles...
No wonder he couldn't grow taller...
"How much does one cup of instant noodles cost?"
Sakura picked up a cup and checked the date.
Thankfully, it lasted longer than the milk in the refrigerator. It still had three months before it expired.
"Two hundred ryo a cup. Super cheap!"
"How much?!"
Sakura stared at Naruto in disbelief.
She had used the money Iruka gave her to buy a whole bag of things for only eighty ryo, yet one cup of Naruto's instant noodles cost two hundred ryo???
If Iruka found out Naruto spent that much on one cup of instant noodles, he would probably be furious.
"Because it's a super collector's edition, it's a little more expensive than ordinary instant noodles, but it tastes really good too!"
"Want one, Sakura?"
Naruto looked expectantly at the little girl before him.
"Where did you get so much money?"
Sakura tilted her head in confusion. Hadn't they said Naruto had lived miserably as a child?
He could only drink expired milk, and his instant noodles also...
Well, if he could not finish them, they really would expire.
"Grandpa gives it to me. He gives me five thousand ryo every month."
Naruto said it as if it were only natural.
As though it were the most normal thing in the world.
Sakura could not help looking toward the Hokage Building, visible through the window.
A home in the center of Konoha, five thousand ryo every month, expired milk in the refrigerator, a cabinet full of collector's instant noodles, and tools for his frequent pranks...
Hiruzen Sarutobi only gave Naruto money, but never taught him how to spend it...
Before you continue