The Long Summer

Naruto was caught off guard by this turn of events and stared blankly at Sasuke's uneven face for a long time.

Hahahaha!!!

"Idiot." Sasuke glanced at him coldly.

"Hahahaha!!!" Naruto pointed at Sasuke's face with one finger, clutching his stomach and laughing until tears streamed down his face on the hospital bed.

Sasuke ignored Naruto and turned his head indifferently to look out the window.

His pale skin, jet-black hair and eyes seemed perfectly at ease with the somber, white atmosphere of the hospital. A chilling undercurrent lurked in Sasuke Uchiha's calm gaze.

"He came for you?" Sasuke's voice was devoid of emotion.

This "he" naturally refers to Itachi Uchiha.

"I guess so." Naruto collapsed onto the hospital bed with a thud, staring blankly at the ceiling. "It was probably for the Nine-Tails, to capture the Jinchuriki or something."

He thought of Ino; before he collapsed, he vaguely saw Kakashi's figure. Kakashi was as reliable as ever; with him there to save the day, Ino would probably be alright.

Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha are too powerful. Someone like me, who doesn't have much combat experience, couldn't possibly fight both of them at the same time.

The Nine-Tails' power was not fully unlocked, the Flying Thunder God was only at a beginner level, and the Lava Release was no match for the experienced Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.

People like Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, who have survived countless battles despite their constant killing, are definitely not the type to honestly compete with others in skill. Kisame Hoshigaki's first move was aimed directly at Ino.

If Naruto hadn't forcibly broken the seal and let Nine-Tails fight in his place, Ino might be a corpse right now.

The enemy is not scary; what's scary is an enemy with brains.

Fortunately, Uchiha Sasuke drew some of Itachi Uchiha's firepower, which allowed Naruto to escape the most dangerous situation in the middle of the game without serious injury.

"Sasuke, thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Sasuke glanced at him coldly.

"Thank you for taking the beating."

Sasuke really wanted to punch Naruto if his hand could still move.

"It looks like you've almost recovered."

The door creaked open, and Kakashi and Sakura walked in. Sakura placed the fruit basket she was carrying on the table in the corner of the ward, sliced apples on both sides, and walked to the middle to feed the two of them.

Naruto was lying in bed, and his injuries had fully healed.

But seeing Sakura feeding him, he simply pretended to be dead.

"Ah."

"Idiot." Sasuke glanced at Naruto, having no interest in exposing him.

"Sasuke." Sakura held a slice of apple to Sasuke's mouth.

"Need not."

"If he won't eat it, I will," Naruto said.

Sasuke took a bite of the apple slice and glanced sideways at Naruto.

Sakura smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent shapes. She sat in the middle, cutting an apple and feeding slices to Naruto and Sasuke.

Her fair legs were neatly gathered on the chair, she sat upright, and her chest was slightly protruding.

Kakashi leaned against the window, holding a copy of "Make-Out Paradise," his gaze drifting across the pages. Occasionally, he would glance at the three people in the room, a smile playing on his lips.

This Natsuhi felt longer than ever before, with cicadas chirping incessantly, Nikko shining brightly, and vegetation growing wildly.

The entire Team Seven gathered in a hospital room, relaxing and enjoying the joy of surviving the ordeal.

Sakura was gentler than ever, Sasuke didn't refuse the apple, and Naruto was still his usual unreliable self.

Kakashi opened the newly folded "Make-Out Paradise," but didn't read a single word.

The wind rustles through the treetops.

Naruto's injuries were not serious, and he was discharged from the hospital that same day.

Kakashi told everyone that Team Seven could not go on missions for the time being, as Jinchuriki and Uchiha descendants were rare, and the decision of the higher-ups was pending.

"Naruto, here you go."

In the hallway, Sakura handed the clothes back to Naruto. There was a ring of fine stitches on it, almost invisible unless you looked closely.

"Thank you." Naruto took it without hesitation, his eyes fixed on the stitches.

"I saw it was torn, so I just sewed it up a few times," Sakura said, blushing. "I've only been learning for a short time, so..."

"Fine."

"Ino also in the hospital?" Naruto asked.

"She woke up earlier than you all and was discharged yesterday," Sakura said seriously, then patted Naruto on the shoulder and asked with some suspicion.

"How did Ino get injured?"

"She was on her way to the Inuzuka Clan's camp when it started pouring rain. She stopped by my house to take shelter from the rain and got caught up in it." Naruto's shadow was stretched long by the Nikko in the corridor.

"Don't worry, she's fine. She just fainted for a moment." Sakura was holding a Medical Record clipboard in her arms, and she was wearing a Medical Unit sleeve on her arm.

"But she seemed quite worried about you after she woke up yesterday. When did you two become so close?"

"Huh?" Naruto blinked.

Yeah, when did it start? Was it during the Team Guy's training, or the Hokage Rock incident?

"Remember to visit Ino, you idiot Naruto." Sakura gently tapped Naruto's head with the splint and strode away with her long legs.

After returning home.

Naruto stared blankly at the shards of glass scattered across the living room floor, the wet curtains hanging on the balcony, and the twisted, deformed railing. He was completely dumbfounded; he'd forgotten all about it.

The living room was unusually messy, and because the balcony was wide open, the living room floor was wet.

The whole house smelled musty and was unusually cold.

"Forget it, let's find somewhere else to stay." Naruto sighed and dragged himself into the house to pack his things.

I was discharged from the hospital in the morning and moved house in the afternoon.

Naruto found a better place than the old-fashioned apartment and moved in immediately.

The higher-ups' opinion on how to handle Naruto is pending; they will basically wait until the next Hokage takes office before making a statement.

The two advisors have always disagreed with Danzo, and on such a major issue as the Jinchuriki, which concerns the safety of the village, a new voice is needed to break the balance.

After quickly tidying up, Naruto went out and bought a plush toy as dusk fell.

The Konohagakure Street is bustling with activity, surrounded by lights that flicker between light and shadow, running along the main street that has illuminated the entire village for the past seventy years.

The Yamanaka Flower Shop was some distance from Naruto's new residence. After walking for a long time, he finally stood under the Great Green Tree.

Looking around, the Yamanaka Flower Shop was brightly lit.

Ino was standing in front of the counter, chatting and laughing with a familiar female customer. The light shone on her face, which was full of smiles.

It wasn't until the female guest noticed the gaze outside that Ino paused, pointed out the Ino, and turned to see Naruto standing under the Great Green Tree, that she paused again.

Naruto saw Ino waving at him through the window with a bright smile.

He waved and gestured with the gift in his hand.

Ino explained a few words to the female customer inside the store, then blushed as the female customer covered her face and teased her, and ran out of the store as if fleeing.

What brings you here?