The cool night breeze drifted through the streets of Konoha, carrying the scent of trees and fresh earth.
Leaves rustled gently overhead, dancing beneath the pale moonlight.
The lively commercial district that had bustled with customers only a few hours earlier had fallen completely silent. Every storefront was shuttered, and only the occasional streetlamp remained lit, casting warm circles of yellow light across the stone-paved road.
Naruto walked quietly beside me.
One hand clutched the bento box Yoshino had lovingly packed before we left.
The other was wrapped tightly around mine.
Unlike his usual energetic stride, his steps had slowed considerably. His full stomach and the long, enjoyable evening had finally caught up with him.
Every few moments his head dipped forward.
Then he would jerk himself awake again.
A small yawn escaped him.
"Hehe..."
He rubbed one eye.
"Big Sister..."
"I'm really happy today."
I smiled without looking away from the road.
"Me too."
His blue eyes sparkled.
"Can we visit again next time?"
"Of course."
"Really?"
"Really."
He grinned so widely that his whisker marks stretched across his cheeks.
Then, after thinking seriously for several seconds, he announced with complete honesty,
"Shikamaru's mom cooks much better than your hamburger steak."
"..."
There wasn't even the slightest hesitation.
He had spoken from the heart.
I couldn't argue.
That disastrous hamburger steak remained one of the darkest moments of my cooking career.
I'd followed the recipe carefully.
Or at least...
I thought I had.
Unfortunately...
I'd somehow added nearly twice as much salt as required.
The outside had been burned black enough to resemble charcoal.
Meanwhile, the inside remained embarrassingly raw.
Even I couldn't force myself to swallow a second bite.
Yet Naruto...
That stubborn little idiot...
Had quietly eaten the entire thing without a single complaint.
Thinking back on it now made me feel slightly guilty.
"...You're surprisingly honest."
Naruto scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Hehe..."
"But your fried eggs are still the best in the whole world."
"..."
That compliment somehow made me feel even guiltier.
We continued walking through the quiet streets.
Before long...
Naruto's pace slowed even further.
His eyelids drooped.
His grip on my hand loosened for just a moment before tightening again instinctively.
He looked like he might fall asleep while walking.
I glanced toward the road leading to his tiny apartment.
Then toward my own house.
If I escorted him all the way home...
I'd still have to walk back alone afterward.
Besides...
The image of that lonely apartment naturally surfaced in my mind.
Cold.
Silent.
Empty.
I looked down at the sleepy blond boy beside me.
"...Naruto."
"Hmm?"
"Stay at my house tonight."
His eyes opened slightly.
"If I walk you all the way home first, then come back by myself..."
I exaggerated dramatically.
"I'll be exhausted."
For a brief moment...
Naruto simply stared at me.
Then—
His sleepiness completely vanished.
His bright blue eyes widened into perfect circles.
"...Really?"
"I can stay at your house?"
"This isn't exactly the first time you've stayed late."
"But..."
He nearly jumped in excitement.
"This is the first time staying overnight!"
His voice echoed down the empty street.
Then he suddenly stopped.
He looked down at the lunchbox in his hands.
Then back at me.
As though making absolutely certain...
That I wasn't joking.
I raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"Are you coming?"
"YES!"
His answer exploded out almost instantly.
It was several times louder than before.
After celebrating for a few seconds...
He suddenly remembered something.
His excitement faded into embarrassment.
"...But..."
"I kick my blanket off when I sleep."
"Then I'll prepare another blanket."
"I..."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I talk in my sleep too."
"You've already demonstrated that."
Naruto froze.
"...When?"
"The last time you fell asleep on my sofa."
His face slowly turned bright red.
"...What did I say?"
I pretended to think seriously.
"If I remember correctly..."
"You were arguing with someone over who got to eat more ramen."
Naruto immediately hid his burning face behind the lunchbox.
"..."
"So embarrassing..."
I couldn't help laughing.
By the time we arrived home...
The moon had climbed much higher into the sky.
After unlocking the door, I went straight to the storage cupboard.
It had been a long time since anyone had stayed overnight.
Fortunately...
The spare futons were still clean.
I spread fresh bedding across the tatami floor beside my own sleeping space.
Then I searched through my wardrobe.
After a moment...
I found an old oversized T-shirt.
Along with a clean towel.
I handed them to Naruto.
"These can be your pajamas."
A few minutes later...
Naruto emerged from the bathroom.
The shirt hung nearly to his knees.
Its sleeves completely swallowed his tiny arms.
Even after rolling them up three times...
The cuffs still covered the backs of his hands.
Naruto looked down at himself.
Then lifted both arms dramatically.
The oversized sleeves flopped back and forth.
"Hehe!"
"Your clothes are huge!"
"That's because you're tiny."
I folded another blanket.
"When you grow up..."
"You can return them to me."
Naruto looked at the enormous shirt again.
"...That might take a really long time."
"Then we'll wait."
His smile returned immediately.
He happily burrowed beneath the quilt.
After several minutes...
Only half of his face remained visible.
The blanket reached almost to his nose.
Moonlight slipped quietly through the narrow gap in the curtains.
Its pale silver glow illuminated the pillow beside him.
His messy blond hair shimmered beneath it.
As I finished putting away the extra bedding...
Naruto suddenly rolled over.
He buried his face into the pillow.
Rubbed against it repeatedly.
Then sighed happily.
"...So soft..."
"My pillow isn't nearly this soft."
"If you like it..."
"You can stay over whenever you want."
He peeked out from beneath the blanket.
"...Really?"
"The guest room is always empty."
"And if you come..."
I smiled.
"You can help me finish the pudding in the refrigerator."
His eyes immediately brightened.
"I can?"
"I never finish buying only one."
He smiled so brightly it almost hurt to look at.
He buried his face into the pillow again.
Mumbling something quietly.
"...What was that?"
He turned slightly.
Only one crescent-shaped blue eye peeked out.
"I said..."
He took a deep breath.
"Today..."
"...is the happiest day of my life."
He smiled.
"It was even happier than the time we ate grilled meat together."
For a moment...
I couldn't answer.
Instead...
I simply sat beside him.
Then gently tucked the corner of his blanket beneath his shoulder.
His breathing gradually slowed.
His eyelashes trembled once.
Twice.
Within only a few minutes...
He had completely fallen asleep.
I quietly watched his peaceful sleeping face.
Outside...
Crickets continued singing beneath the summer night sky.
Without realizing it...
A faint smile appeared on my face.
Tomorrow morning...
I'd fry two extra eggs.
The next morning...
Something smelled burnt.
Very burnt.
I frowned.
Slowly opening my eyes.
The sky outside had only just begun to brighten.
Soft gray light filtered through the curtains.
The morning air still carried a pleasant chill.
Still half asleep...
I slipped on my slippers.
Then walked toward the living room.
The bedding Naruto had used...
Was completely empty.
His pillow had somehow rotated sideways.
The blanket had been kicked halfway across the room.
So...
He hadn't exaggerated after all.
Following the unmistakable smell...
I reached the kitchen.
Then stopped.
Naruto stood proudly on top of a small wooden stool.
One hand held a spatula.
The stove blazed beneath a frying pan.
Inside...
Two eggs fought desperately for survival.
One had already been sacrificed.
Its edges were black enough to rival charcoal.
The other remained almost completely raw.
He heard my footsteps.
Immediately turned around.
His face had several black smudges across it.
His expression changed instantly.
From concentration...
To guilt.
To panic.
"...Big Sister!"
"You're awake!"
"I thought you'd sleep longer!"
I looked from him...
To the pan...
Then back again.
It was honestly impressive.
The kitchen hadn't exploded.
"...What are you doing?"
"...Making breakfast."
He awkwardly hid the spatula behind his back.
"You said before..."
"You liked your eggs a little crispy..."
"So I wanted to surprise you."
He looked back at the pan.
"..."
"But your frying pan is harder to use than mine."
I walked beside him.
Looked down.
One burnt.
One raw.
Too much heat.
Not enough oil.
Classic beginner's mistake.
Naruto scratched his head.
"...It didn't work."
I reached over.
Turned the stove down.
Then smiled.
"I think it was very successful."
He blinked.
"...Really?"
"The intention was perfect."
His nervous expression instantly disappeared.
His grin returned.
Brighter than the morning sun.
In the end...
Breakfast consisted of properly fried eggs.
The leftovers Yoshino had packed.
Fresh rice.
And Naruto proudly announcing that he had "helped."
After eating...
Before I could even stand up...
Naruto grabbed the dishes.
"I'll wash them!"
He climbed back onto the same little stool.
Rolled his sleeves up dramatically.
Then squeezed...
Nearly half the bottle of dish soap into the sink.
Within seconds...
Foam covered everything.
The plates.
The counter.
The sink.
His hands.
Even his shirt.
I leaned against the doorway.
Watching quietly.
I didn't help.
Some things...
Were lessons he needed to learn himself.
Eventually...
After far more bubbles than necessary...
The dishes were finally clean.
Naruto carefully dried his hands.
Then stood silently near the kitchen entrance.
He looked unusually hesitant.
"...Big Sister?"
"Hm?"
"...Can I ask something?"
"Of course."
He lowered his head.
"You said..."
"When I grow up..."
"I'll return your clothes."
"...Right?"
"Right."
He nervously twisted the apron strings around his fingers.
"So..."
His voice became almost inaudible.
"Until I grow up..."
"...you won't leave me?"
Everything became quiet.
I looked at him.
Five-year-old Naruto stood barefoot on my kitchen floor.
Wearing an oversized shirt that looked more like a robe.
His tiny fingers had tied the apron strings into a hopeless knot.
He refused to meet my eyes.
Instead...
He stared at the wooden floor.
As though it had suddenly become fascinating.
I slowly walked over.
Knelt beside him.
Then gently untied the tangled knot.
One loop at a time.
Carefully.
Patiently.
Finally...
I looked into his blue eyes.
"No."
The single word escaped before I realized how easily it could be misunderstood.
His tiny shoulders trembled.
He sniffed once.
Almost too quietly to hear.
Before sadness could settle completely...
I smiled softly.
Then reached out and gently ruffled his messy blond hair.
"I'm not leaving your side."
"You don't have to wait until you grow up."
"You'll always be welcome here."
For a second...
Naruto froze.
Then...
Without warning...
He threw himself into my arms.
The hug lasted only a few seconds.
Three.
Maybe four.
Then he quickly jumped back.
Rubbing both eyes aggressively.
As if trying to pretend nothing had happened.
Suddenly—
He pointed dramatically out the window.
"Big Sister!"
"The weather's amazing today!"
I couldn't help laughing.
"...That was a terrible attempt to change the subject."
"But the sky really is blue!"
"...You're right."
I pulled open every curtain.
Golden sunlight flooded into the room.
Outside...
The ginkgo trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Half their leaves had already turned golden.
Above them...
The sky stretched endlessly.
Clear.
Brilliant.
Beautiful.
Naruto leaned against the windowsill for several moments.
Then turned around.
"What are we doing today?"
"What do you want to do?"
He looked thoughtfully toward the ceiling.
Then started counting on his fingers.
"First..."
"I want to go back to the park."
"The one with the frog statue."
"Then..."
"We'll eat at Ichiraku Ramen!"
His eyes sparkled.
"I saved money!"
"So today..."
"I'm treating you!"
"Old Man Teuchi said there'll be a new flavor today!"
"Then after that..."
"We'll go to the swings!"
"Choji buried treasure near the sandbox."
"He told me to find it!"
"And then..."
I picked up his orange jacket.
Pulled it gently over his head.
"We'll start with the park."
Naruto laughed happily.
He raced toward the entrance.
Changed into his sandals in record time.
Then threw the front door wide open.
Golden sunlight poured inside.
Bathing his entire figure.
Halfway outside...
He turned around.
The gap where one of his front teeth should have been made his smile even brighter.
"Big Sister!"
"Hurry!"
"I'm coming."
I picked up the house keys.
Locked the door.
Then followed after him.
Outside...
The morning breeze carried laughter through the streets.
It truly was a perfect day.
A perfect day for walking beneath the blue sky.
A perfect day for spending time with Naruto.
And...
A perfect excuse to ignore every unfinished manuscript waiting back at home.
Neither of them noticed the eyes quietly watching from a distant rooftop. For the first time in years, someone had become part of Naruto's daily life... and in a village like Konoha, even a small change rarely went unnoticed.