Naruto stood there, mouth open, limbs awkwardly stiff, the damp air of the cell clinging to him like guilt.
His voice came out brittle, too quick.
“Sasuke… you don’t have to force this on yourself. I—I can figure something else out. I swear, I’ll keep you alive. I’ll take you to Ame—no one’s gonna look for you there. I can give you a new look—cut your hair, dye it, maybe even an eyepatch or something cool. No one’ll recognize you, y’know? You can live a quiet life… safe, far away from all this.”
Sasuke turned her head slightly, the visors still covering her eyes.
But her voice was razor-clear.
“…Am I a burden to you, Naruto?”
“What? No! Of course not! You’re my best friend, y’know?!”
Her voice was low.
“Do you… hate me? For trying to kill you. For the war. For—”
“No!” he cut in before she could spiral further.
“Never! I—I understand why you did what you did. Doesn’t mean I agreed, but hate? No way. I forgave you a long time ago.”
“Then,” she said softly, “I accept the marriage alternative.”
Naruto nearly tripped over his own thoughts.
“Wait—hold on—you don’t have to be that hasty, okay? I—I mean, I’ll make sure you live without marrying me too, we don’t have to jump to that, I can fake your death with a shadow clone, I’ve done it before, we can—”
“I calmly made this decision,” she said, her voice composed but carrying a faint, tired weight.
“But if you don’t want to marry me, that’s fine. I’ll go along with your escape plan, then.”
He froze.
Why did her voice sound so… bitter saying that?
His throat bobbed.
He scratched the back of his head, heart pounding against his ribs like a prisoner begging to be let out.
“A-Are you sure, Sasuke? I mean… we’re just seventeen, and—”
“I’m eighteen,” she said bluntly.
Naruto blinked.
“Wait, what?”
“You’re two months younger than me,” she continued calmly.
“And yes. I’m sure.”
He rubbed his temples.
Kyuubi chuckled dryly inside him.
Congratulations, Naruto.
You just proposed to the Uchiha.
I didn’t propose—!
You paced, fumbled, and panicked.
And still managed to get a yes.
But at least she’s into hopeless.
Naruto groaned.
“This is really happening, huh?”
Sasuke, her voice cool as ever, just said, “Apparently.”
—T~T—
Steam rose in lazy swirls from the ramen bowl as Naruto slurped half-heartedly, noodles slipping from his chopsticks and falling back with a wet plop.
He stared into the broth like it might tell him what the hell to do with his life.
Ayame finally leaned over the counter, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Naruto, are you okay? You’re eating ramen like it’s sake. That’s not how you eat ramen.”
Teuchi grunted behind the stove.
“You’ve been muttering to yourself for twenty minutes. What happened? Some mission trouble?”
Naruto let out a long, suffering sigh, chin nearly sinking into his bowl.
“…I’m getting married.”
Both Ayame and Teuchi froze.
The sound of the ladle slipping from Teuchi’s hand echoed like a shuriken striking wood.
Ayame blinked.
“…Come again?”
“I said I’m getting married.” Naruto repeated, his tone halfway between disbelief and despair.
“Now?!” Ayame slammed her hands on the counter.
“You’re seventeen!”
Teuchi narrowed his eyes.
“Did you… knock a girl up, Naruto?”
Naruto choked on his broth.
“What?!”
Ayame was suddenly in his face, grabbing him by the collar.
“Who is it?! Who’s the poor girl? Who’s the mother?!”
“What are you talking about?!” Naruto yelped, squirming.
“What does ‘knocking up’ even mean?!”
“It means you impregnated someone!” Ayame said, cheeks red with fury.
Naruto froze.
Even the noodles stopped steaming for a moment.
“WHAT?!” he shouted, wrenching himself back.
“I’m a virgin! And it’s not like that at all!”
Teuchi raised an eyebrow.
“Then what the hell kind of marriage is this?”
Naruto groaned and buried his face in his hands.
“It’s just that… Sasuke was gonna get executed. And to save her… I have to marry her.”
Ayame blinked.
“…Sasuke? As in Uchiha Sasuke?”
Naruto nodded solemnly.
Teuchi whistled.
“You always did have strange taste in friends.”
“It’s not like that!” Naruto yelped.
“We’re not even together! This is just political ninja bullcrap! They think if I marry her, she’ll be ‘tied’ to the Leaf and won’t be a threat. It’s all strategy.”
Ayame crossed her arms.
“And you just agreed?”
“I had no choice! It was either that or let her die. I couldn’t just… let them kill her.”
Teuchi gave a thoughtful grunt.
“Hmph. You’re doing it for her sake, then. To protect her.”
Naruto nodded, face serious now.
Ayame narrowed her eyes.
“But are you ready for that kind of responsibility? Marriage ain’t just a legal jutsu. It’s a lifelong mission.”
Naruto’s eyes widened.
“I—I don’t know. I just didn’t want her to die, y’know?”
A pause.
Teuchi ladled another bowl and slid it in front of Naruto.
“Then eat. Eat until you find your answer. Because you can’t protect anyone if you’re running on empty.”
Naruto stared at the ramen.
Then, slowly, he picked up his chopsticks.
“I just hope… she doesn’t regret saying yes.”
Ayame leaned forward again, this time gentler.
“Then make sure she never does.”