“Well then, see you tomorrow, Sasuke.”
At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, Sakura waved at Sasuke with a smile.
Sasuke only glanced at Sakura and walked past her with a cold expression.
Suddenly, he felt somewhat lucky about his decision to go home alone.
Today was not only the day Sasuke enrolled but also the day his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, was taking the Anbu entrance exam.
For the long-awaited enrollment ceremony, his father’s mind was entirely on whether his brother could successfully join the Anbu.
Although his father had eventually made time to attend his morning enrollment ceremony at his brother’s request, he had left quickly.
This attention, forced from his father by his older brother, made Sasuke’s mood turn gloomy, leading him to reject his mother’s suggestion to pick him up from school in his father’s stead.
However, now, Sasuke felt that this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Sasuke had a premonition that if Sakura and his mother were to interact now, with Sakura’s unbridled personality, she might even do something “out of line” to his mother.
Recalling how even their homeroom teacher, Iruka, seemed helpless against Sakura, Sasuke felt it was necessary to keep his distance from her.
Having made this decision, his pace as he left quickened visibly.
Sasuke’s strange behavior made Sakura frown as she watched his receding back; she felt that this awkward kid, Sasuke, was probably overthinking things.
But children’s emotions are always fickle, resetting every day; as long as it didn’t affect her farming Friendship Points, it was fine.
However, Sakura still felt a bit of regret; she had rushed to the school gate as soon as school ended, but unfortunately, Uchiha Mikoto hadn’t come to pick up Sasuke…
If she had, Sakura could have started with Uchiha Mikoto and acted first, reporting later!
Her plan to introduce herself to Uchiha Mikoto as “Sasuke’s friend” and force the parent-loving Sasuke to acknowledge the friendship—had failed!
As expected, things never go as smoothly as planned!
Just as Sakura was feeling dejected over her failed unorthodox speedrun attempt to use Uchiha Mikoto to quickly establish a friendship with Sasuke, she heard Hinata calling her name.
“Sakura… Sakura-san…”
The introverted and shy Hinata, for some reason, had approached Sakura of her own accord.
“What’s wrong?”
Sakura was curious about Hinata’s sudden approach.
She had only greeted Hinata during the first class today.
Afterward, because the girl was so shy, Sakura had been considerate of her feelings and hadn’t encroached much on her personal space to avoid putting pressure on her.
Given Hinata’s personality, she wouldn’t have approached Sakura for her own sake.
Sure enough, Hinata’s next sentence went straight to the point, and the focus of the conversation wasn’t herself:
“Um… Sakura-san, are you and Nar-Naruto-kun on good terms?” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“?”
Sakura was stunned.
What was wrong with the kids in the Ninja World?
Why were they all so precocious!
But immediately, Hinata’s misunderstanding served as a warning to Sakura…
She couldn’t slack off in her daily interactions just because everyone was a child, or she would end up like in the original story, with Naruto falling for her.
“A-As I thought, you’re on good terms?”
Sakura’s silence deepened the misunderstanding that Hinata was now certain of.
Someone as outstanding as Naruto-kun would naturally attract someone equally outstanding…
Looking at herself…
The strict rules of the Hyuga Clan, and her current situation as the clan head’s legitimate eldest daughter who was rejected by her father for her lack of talent, had shaped Hinata’s current personality.
She always subconsciously overthought things and then doubted herself.
“Just call me Sakura.”
Sakura noticed Hinata’s low spirits.
She looked at Hinata with a smile, deciding to take this opportunity to get closer to her.
Looking at Sakura, who was warm and friendly to everyone, Hinata hesitated for a moment.
Her desire to know the relationship between Naruto and Sakura overcame her usual introversion, and she followed Sakura’s request to call her by her name.
“Sakura-san… Sakura.”
“Can I call you Hinata too?”
“Y-Yes.”
Hinata nodded quickly.
Come to think of it, Hinata had originally planned to greet Naruto at school today, but whenever she faced him, she was so shy that her brain would freeze before she could even speak.
In the end, her hesitation caused her to miss the chance to say hello.
Meanwhile, other students were very conscious of Hinata’s status as the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
They felt her silence was a sign of looking down on others and were unwilling to approach her, worrying that if she had a bad attitude, it would affect how others perceived them.
Surprisingly, the only person Hinata had had a proper conversation with today was Sakura.
Thinking about this, Hinata felt it was a bit wrong of her to suddenly run up to Sakura and inexplicably question her relationship with Naruto.
Sakura—no, Sakura—was willing to talk to her and Naruto-kun; how could someone so gentle be a bad person…
Just as she was thinking about whether to apologize for her brashness to avoid making Sakura dislike her…
…Hinata heard Sakura say something shocking.
“Sakura, what did you just say?”
Hinata’s eyes widened, and she looked at Sakura in disbelief, thinking she must have misheard.
Compared to Hinata’s trembling body and soul, Sakura appeared quite calm.
Thinking Hinata hadn’t heard her clearly, she slowed down and repeated each word clearly: “I just said, ‘Hinata, do you like Naruto?'”
Hinata stammered but didn’t answer.
But Sakura knew that Hinata had definitely heard her this time.
The little girl was now frozen stiff, her face frighteningly red—this was the “ripe tomato” state that Hinata only entered when talking about Naruto!
“I… I…”
Hinata felt lightheaded, unable to construct a single normal sentence in her head, let alone answer Sakura.
“Don’t worry, Hinata! I only want to be friends with Naruto; I don’t have any special feelings for him!”
Since she already knew that Hinata had a clear crush on Naruto on the very first day of school, Sakura felt it was better to be direct.
“Hinata, I support you! I think you and Naruto are a great match!”
Girl, don’t be shy; you and Naruto are the Official CP.
Once you start your offensive, there won’t be room for anyone else!
Make your move while Naruto doesn’t have anyone he likes yet!
This is finally right.
Hinata and Naruto just need to end up together; everyone would be happy, and Sakura wouldn’t have to worry about Naruto falling for her like in the original story.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura herself—as teammates who would work together in a Ninja Squad in the future, they shouldn’t get involved in some cliché love triangle where you like him, he likes me, and I like you.
How great would it be to just focus on the friendship of Team 7!
As for romance, I, Sakura, have someone else in mind!