As Naruto went over the details of the Chunin Ninja Exams in his mind, he returned to the Couple's Private Room before he knew it.
"Why do you look so worried?"
Seeing Naruto's furrowed brow and complicated gaze, Sasuke naturally thought of the cold remarks they had heard while passing through the streets earlier.
"If those ants dare run their mouths to your face again, I'll cripple them myself..."
Sure enough, even when offering comfort, Sasuke did it in his own prickly way, rather than soothing Naruto as girls usually would.
"How could those people shake me? Don't overthink it." Naruto waved a hand. "It's nothing. This month's dividend was just so big that I feel bad taking it."
After spending five or six years with Naruto, Sasuke naturally knew he was making that up, but since Naruto didn't want to talk, he wouldn't press him.
"All right."
Naruto's mind was occupied by the things he needed to tell Snake Aunt tonight.
Then there was the fact that he would have to face a brief separation from Sasuke after defecting.
Although he had begun laying the groundwork after asking Sasuke about it twice, Naruto still felt miserable now that the moment was drawing near.
After all, the two of them had supported each other through five or six years.
Claiming he felt nothing would only be lying to himself.
With Naruto silent and Sasuke never much of a talker, even if he had been a girl,
the atmosphere in the private room grew somewhat heavy.
"Um, Naruto, it's still early. Once we're done eating, how about I show you the results of these ten days of special training?"
In the end, Sasuke took on the role of easing the tension and changed the subject himself.
"Sure. I wanted to see