Hearing Haku and Sasuke laughing, Naruto felt his scalp prickle.
Surely this wasn't how things were supposed to go?
Yet when the two pushed the door open and walked in, the smiles on Haku's and Sasuke's faces couldn't possibly have been faked.
Naruto felt even more bewildered.
Shouldn't Haku have come back with reddened eyes?
Why did she look as though she still hadn't had enough of their conversation?
"Ahem... are you two all right?"
At Naruto's question, the two exchanged a glance, smiled, and shook their heads.
"Haku, come on, let me have a drink with you. It's been years since I talked so openly with anyone other than him."
"Absolutely! I happen to have a jar of Nü'erhong aged eighteen years. Let's drink to our hearts' content today."
"Oh, eighteen-year-old Nü'erhong? Haku, you had an ulterior motive, didn't you?"
Haku's pretty face flushed at that. Without trying to hide it, she said, "That's right. I saved this wine for him. Who would have thought-who would have thought we'd end up drinking it together instead?"
Watching Haku smile as she went to fetch the wine, Naruto found himself completely ignored by both of them.
Honestly, if Haku weren't a boy, Naruto would have wondered whether someone had stolen his partner right out from under him. This scene was just too bizarre.
"Uh, Sasuke, are you two really all right? Why do I have this strange, uneasy feeling?"
Sasuke gave Naruto a teasing look. "We're fine. If you're busy, go take care of your own business. Don't wait for me tonight. I'm sleeping with Haku."
Naruto's mouth fell open. "Uh... you're sure nothing unpleasant happened between you two?"
"Not at all. We had a wonderful chat. From now on, Haku is my closest confidante. I really like her, and I