Preparing a Surprise

Today's reunion concluded amidst starkly different atmospheres on both sides.

On Satsuki's side, the atmosphere was as tense as if a criminal was being interrogated.

"You're saying they're just friends?" Satsuki sat in the chair, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through one's heart. "Kankuro, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Kankuro sat opposite him, his back ramrod straight, his expression stiff as if he were wearing a mask. "Naruto is Gaara's first friend, everyone in Sand Village knows that! They are indeed very important to each other, but that's just... just the kind of importance between friends!"

As he spoke, he tried to make his voice sound calm and composed, but the fine beads of sweat constantly appearing on his forehead betrayed him.

Satsuki stared at him, her eyes showing no sign of relaxation.

She had already asked many questions—what is Gaara's attitude when he mentions Naruto? How does Gaara react before Naruto's visit? What happens when Gaara receives Naruto's letter? Does Gaara do anything strange? Gaara... Kankuro answered every question flawlessly.

It's so watertight.

Extremely conservative and cautious, every answer was like a pre-rehearsed script, without a single flaw or superfluous information.

Such a person is either a well-trained spy or has something to hide.

Kankuro was clearly not a well-trained spy.

Seeing him drenched in sweat and his shifty eyes, avoiding eye contact, Satsuki had already come to a conclusion—this guy was definitely hiding something from her.

And it's something very important; it might even be some secret about Gaara and Naruto.

But she couldn't get the answer out of him; this guy's mouth was much tighter than she had imagined.

"... never mind."

Satsuki stood up, giving Kankuro one last look, which sent a chill down Kankuro. "That's enough for today."

She turned and left, leaving Kankuro slumped in his chair, panting heavily.

On Gaara's side, the atmosphere was completely different.

Everything went incredibly smoothly.

"No problem, I'll give you as many as you want!"

Naruto took the small Sand Crystal, examined it in his hand, and then channeled his chakra into it.

At first, the Sand Crystal only glowed faintly, like a lit lamp wick. But soon, a wonderful change occurred—points of light appeared inside the transparent sphere.

Those lights were not ordinary chakra lights; they flickered and flowed, eventually forming a small image inside the Sand Crystal.

The starry sky.

Countless tiny bright spots are scattered on the deep blue background, like a universe sealed in glass.

Naruto paused for a moment.

The chakra of the starry sky had completely merged with his body. Sometimes he couldn't understand the principle behind this power, or how it would manifest.

But he knew that this kind of thing might be a bit... too fantastical for ordinary people.

He looked up at Gaara.

However, Gaara's face showed no confusion, no worry, only an almost overflowing joy.

His eyes were fixed on the tiny Sand Crystal, on the flowing starry sky within it, which shone with an astonishing brightness.

"Thank you, Naruto, this is enough."

The time for parting finally arrived.

"Then I'm leaving. I'll come back to see you soon."

Naruto waved at Gaara. Satsuki stood beside him, his eyes still subtly glancing at Gaara.

"Um."

Gaara nodded, without saying anything more.

He simply stood there, watching the two figures disappear from sight in an instant.

Then, he turned and went back into the room. The moment he closed the door, the calm on his face finally crumbled.

In the room, a figure sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

She was a puppet in the shape of a young girl, with long golden hair carefully styled into two pigtails. She wore a bright orange tracksuit, the style and color of which were exactly the same as Naruto's usual outfit.

"Naruko Uzumaki"

That puppet, created by Kankuro and Granny Chiyo, moved almost like a real person.

She sat there quietly with her eyes closed, without breathing, without a heartbeat, without any sign of life.

But she is so much like, so much like the person in Gaara's heart.

Gaara walked up to her and stopped.

His hand was trembling slightly as he carefully held the Sand Crystal containing Naruto's chakra in his palm. It was still warm, carrying the lingering warmth of Naruto.

He took a deep breath, and then slowly placed the Sand Crystal close to the puppet's body.

Naruto's chakra flowed from the Sand Crystal, slowly pouring into the puppet's drive array.

The puppet's eyes slowly opened.

"Naruto... what's wrong with you?"

At his home in Konoha, Uchiha Satsuki sat on the sofa, watching the busy figures in the kitchen, a sense of displeasure slowly brewing within him.

Just now, she and Naruto were snuggling together affectionately.

The warmth of skin against skin, the intimacy of breath mingling—these were things she could never get enough of. Even though she had enjoyed this moment countless times, even though she had spent almost every day like this since their honeymoon, Satsuki's desires in this regard would never be satisfied.

She wanted more, she always wanted more.

But now, Naruto has left her side.

"Sorry, Satsuki, just a moment."

Naruto spoke without turning his head, his hands moving swiftly to prepare the ingredients. The dough flew in his palms, the broth simmered in the pot, and the aroma quickly filled the entire kitchen.

"Gaara didn't eat much tonight, I'll take it over and be right back."

Satsuki fell silent.

The scene from dinner tonight flashed before her eyes again—the red-haired man sitting at the table, nitpicking at the Ramen she made, every word he uttered comparing her to Naruto.

In the end, he barely ate a few bites before putting down his chopsticks, hungry as he did so.

As Naruto cooked noodles, he was lost in thought, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

As he prepared the Ramen, he pondered the events of the evening. Gaara's awkward attitude, his obsession with his cooking, and the things he'd said while stargazing...

Naruto felt he had figured things out.

Gaara truly has a deep dependence on himself.

That kind of dependence is the dependence between friends, but it's more than just ordinary friendship. After all, for someone who had been lonely for more than a decade, Naruto was the first person to enter his heart, the first person to let him know what "Bonds" are, and the first person to make him feel that his life had meaning.

So he misses Naruto's cooking, not because it tastes particularly special, but because it was Naruto made it.

So when he saw Satsuki, he felt lost, not because he disliked Satsuki, but because that position originally belonged to him—not the position of a lover, but the position of "the most important person".

Naruto recalled the first time he saw Gaara during the Chunin Ninja Exams. That boy, exuding murderous intent, was like a wild beast trapped in a cage, filled with hostility towards everyone.

Look at him now.

The Kazekage of Sand Village, a leader revered by thousands, is calm, composed, and rational.

But in front of Naruto, he still shows that childlike expression.

She might throw a tantrum over a meal, her eyes would light up at a Sand Crystal that stores chakra, and she would cautiously ask, "Come and cook for me next time."

Even though he's already the Kazekage, even though he's powerful enough to protect the entire village, in front of Naruto, he's still the Gaara who was saved back then.

Thinking of this, Naruto couldn't help but smile.

He suddenly wanted to see what kind of expression Gaara would have if he suddenly appeared in front of Gaara right now, holding a steaming bowl of Ramen.

They'll be so happy.

It's decided, Gaara a surprise.

Naruto quickened his pace, quickly packing the Ramen into a food box, preparing to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly there.

Just then, he felt a gaze fall upon him.

He turned around and saw Satsuki standing behind him, staring at him intently.

There was no anger or questioning in those dark eyes; they simply gazed at him quietly, yet it made him feel inexplicably guilty.

"Satsuki, don't worry." Naruto gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "I'll be back soon, I'm just bringing some food."

He paused, then, remembering how clingy Satsuki usually was, quickly added, "Don't worry, I absolutely won't neglect Satsuki. I'll prove it to you in one night when I get back!"

After saying that, he felt a little ashamed, and his face turned slightly red.

Seeing his expression, Satsuki couldn't help but sigh. "... Seriously, Naruto is too sensitive."

She stood up, walked over to Naruto, and reached out to straighten his collar. "I trust Naruto; you don't need to make such promises."

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face.

However, Satsuki silently added in her heart.

"But I don't believe that panda had any good intentions."

She looked at Naruto and said calmly, "Let me come with you. I'll go with Naruto."