The Lost Cat

It was late at night, and I was walking home.

Konohagakure Street remained brightly lit, like glowing light strips. Soon after nightfall, the streets gradually filled with pedestrians, bustling with activity and lively chatter.

Naruto, oblivious to everything, carried the unagi-yaki (grilled eel) and ate it as he walked.

Tsunade's words echoed in his heart, roughly meaning that he now had a powerful backer and no longer needed to suffer injustices. The road ahead would be smooth, and he would always be surrounded by people and walk at the forefront.

However, this was also the case, ever since Tsunade dragged him to the inauguration ceremony, he stood beside Tsunade in an intimate manner in front of everyone.

After that, no one in the village gave him a hard time anymore.

However, who can predict what will happen in the future? Naruto didn't take it too seriously. Tsunade wasn't omnipotent, and he still had to do what he had to do.

He walked along the main street for a while, then stopped briefly at an intersection and bought a serving of Takoyaki.

While waiting to pay, a familiar figure in the crowd not far away caught his attention. He glanced at it and Naruto froze instantly.

How could it be her?

Naruto felt a sense of unease and instinctively wanted to leave as soon as possible. He looked at the Takoyaki.

"Boss, can you hurry Takoyaki?"

"What? It's burnt? No, you must be mistaken, sir."

The thin, gray-haired boss was a little hard of hearing, but his hands moved very skillfully, sizzling with oil, and the brightly lit stall exuded a mouthwatering aroma.

"Never mind, I don't want it anymore." Naruto couldn't wait any longer and turned to leave.

"Guest." The old man looked puzzled, but he could no longer find the guest.

Without turning his head, he quickened his pace, inwardly cursing his bad luck. He felt slightly relieved after merging into the bustling crowd.

Naruto turned his head slightly to the side, confirming that the figure hadn't followed, before letting out a long sigh of relief. He thought to himself, "What a coincidence! It would be awkward if I ran into her now."

I'd better go home and stay there; it's too dangerous outside.

"Ah, it's me."

A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears, Naruto turned around sharply, immediately gasping for breath.

Temari, carrying a thin, giant fan, suddenly appeared. She stood beside him with a flushed face, her eyes unfocused and lifeless, biting her moist lower lip as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

The dim light shone on her face, making her look as if she had been bullied.

"What a coincidence." Naruto smiled awkwardly, but his eyes were scanning his surroundings, ready to run away at any moment.

The incident with the fan was completely unexpected. He had only intended to vent his anger for his female boss and Temari a light scare.

As a result, he got carried away with murderous intent during the conversation, accidentally scaring her to tears, and the matter ended abruptly.

Recently, Konohagakure and Sunagakure have been getting closer. After the Land of Earth was blocked out on this inland land, the only remaining superpowers are the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.

Just then, both sides had lost their Kage, having been outmaneuvered by Orochimaru, leaving their national strength depleted. Fortunately, the two sides reached a truce, and in order to restrain the increasingly close relationship between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, the two great powers quickly formed an alliance.

There's no such thing as becoming friends after a fight; it was all premeditated.

He had originally hoped they would never meet again, but he hadn't expected the awkward encounter to happen so quickly. It hadn't even lasted two days; the awkwardness...

"Hmm, what a coincidence." The moment Temari lowered her head, she unexpectedly lost the assertiveness she had shown when they first met, and her face instantly turned crimson.

"What a coincidence, let's reward ourselves by never seeing each other again." Naruto chuckled and turned to walk away in one direction.

"Please wait a moment!"

Naruto felt as if his clothes were being grabbed, and he instinctively turned around, frowning as he stared at Temari.

"Release."

Temari out and quickly let go, her face showing a look of fear that made her about to cry.

There are too many people on the street. If someone sees me making the Sand eldest princess cry, I might get Tsunade's office and beaten up again.

Damn it.

Naruto gritted his teeth and, just before Temari was about to drop the little pearl in her panic, lowered his voice and said fiercely.

"Don't cry!"

"Waaah." Temari welled up with tears, her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, her teeth clenched her lower lip, and her face flushed red as she tried her best to suppress her shame.

For some reason, Naruto seemed to catch a strange emotion in Temari's eyes at that moment.

It doesn't seem like anger.

There are so many weirdos these days.

"Hey, don't cry here!" Naruto's gaze instantly turned cold, and he covered Temari's mouth with one hand.

"Don't make a sound."

Seeing that no one was paying attention to their little actions, he forcefully dragged Temari away from the crowd, gripping her wrist tightly with no gentleness whatsoever.

"Hmm." Temari's face suddenly turned hot, and she silently followed Naruto.

In the pitch-black alley.

With a bang, Temari was pinned against the wall by Naruto, who asked her fiercely.

Why are you following me?

"I'm sorry." Temari looked away, and tears streamed down her face.

"What's wrong with you?" Naruto rubbed his temples. The alley was dimly lit. "What are you apologizing to all of a sudden? Didn't I tell you not to cry?"

"I," Temari, was crying so hard she couldn't speak.

"I give up."

Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the alley entrance, and someone was shouting something. Did you hear crying? This startled Naruto, who quickly covered Temari's mouth.

He suddenly pressed Temari against the wall with his body, holding his breath.

The two were only about two meters from the glowing alleyway entrance, pressed tightly together, their figures hidden in the shadows. Naruto's head was close to Temari's, like a couple embracing.

The hot breath hit Temari's ear, and he could even feel Temari heart pounding, tears streaming down her face.

"I clearly heard someone crying just now, how come they suddenly disappeared?"

Several footsteps sounded, and a group of young men walked past the dark alley entrance.

You must have misheard me.

"Could it be in the alley?"

After a moment of silence, one of them suddenly spoke.

"Then go in and take a look."

"Go to hell! It's so dark there, you'll definitely play tricks on me behind my back, I'm not going!"

Amidst boos, the group walked away.

Naruto released Temari, pulled her out of the alley, and walked into the light. He glanced at Temari were drooling, then looked down at the drool on his own palm.

Without hesitation, he wiped his saliva on Temari's clothes, his face full of impatience, and said coldly.

"I'm leaving. If you follow me any longer, I'll get rough with you."

Naruto had expected Temari to be angry or verbally abusive, but to his surprise Temari froze. The moment she reached out to grab his clothes, she recoiled as if she had been electrocuted.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her face was pale, and tears welled up again the moment her lips parted slightly.

"Don't send me away, I'll be good."

[Bite!]

[.]

You can add this new book to your collection.