.......
'Why does she have to run her mouth like that?!'
Naruto rubbed his temples, mentally adding Haruno Sakura to his list of people who need a lesson.
'I'll deal with her later. She's gotta learn to keep quiet.'
His future wife, Hinata, had come to see him not for a pleasant chat, but because she'd heard rumors about his… unusual habits.
Naruto sighed. "Hinata, I'm completely normal. You don't have to worry about that stuff."
Hinata, shy even on a good day, had mustered all her courage just to confront him. But hearing Naruto's reassurance, her shoulders relaxed.
"I-I'm glad," she murmured, offering a small smile.
Yet she didn't leave. Instead, she hesitated before asking, "Naruto-kun… you looked upset earlier. Is everything okay?"
Naruto had been frowning. And Hinata, ever observant, noticed. She knew he had few friends, fewer allies. If something was bothering him, she wanted to help.
Warmth flickered in Naruto's chest. That's my girl—always caring.
"How about this?" he said. "I'll give you money, and you buy some clothes for me."
Hinata blinked. "Why?"
Buying clothes seemed simple enough. Why would he need her to do it?
Naruto decided to show her.
He strode into a nearby clothing store.
Seconds later, the shopkeeper's furious voice erupted:
"Get out, you damn monster! I told you, I'd starve before selling anything to you!"
Naruto walked back out, hands in his pockets, face unreadable. But Hinata caught the flicker of resignation in his eyes.
'He's used to this.' Her heart ached.
"Naruto," she said firmly, "let me do it."
Naruto handed her a silver coin from his system space. Hinata marched inside—only for the shopkeeper's rage to redirect at her.
"You buying clothes for him? Look at those eyes, you some kind of freak too?!"
Hinata clutched the garments, head bowed under the verbal assault.
Outside, Naruto's patience snapped.
He stormed back in.
The shopkeeper paled. "W-what are you—GYAH!"
Naruto vaulted over the counter, hurling the man into the wall with a thud.
"Leave the money. Take the clothes," Naruto said coldly.
The shopkeeper whimpered. "Y-yes…"
Hinata bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. I couldn't even do this much…"
Naruto ruffled her hair. "Nah, you got the clothes. That's what matters."
Hinata's cheeks flushed at his touch—until a Hyūga clansman interrupted.
"Lady Hinata! Are you alright?!"
The branch family member glared at Naruto, who stepped back calmly.
"Don't worry," he whispered to Hinata. "No one's gonna stand in our way later."
Hinata's brain short-circuited.
'Is he… confessing?!'
Her face burned as the Hyūga escorted her away.
Naruto examined his new clothes, 'Hinata's got good taste'. when a flash of pink caught his eye.
Haruno Sakura.
His eye twitched.
He marched over. "Sakura."
She spun around, startled. "N-Naruto?!"
Before she could bolt, he grabbed her arm.
Sakura panicked. "Look, whatever I did, I'm sorry! Just—ah!"
Naruto cut straight to it. "You told Hinata about yesterday, didn't you?"
Sakura didn't deny it. "Yeah! Because she likes you! Everyone knows except you!"
Naruto groaned. "I know."
"Then why were you chasing Sasuke?!" Sakura's eyes sparkled with gossipy delight.
Naruto's eyebrow spasmed. "There's nothing between me and Sasuke."
"Uh-huh." She crossed her arms. "Sure."
WHACK!
Naruto swatted her backside.
"Eeep!" Sakura yelped, face red. "I-I just thought Hinata deserved to know!"
Naruto exhaled. "Buy me a mask, and we're even."
Sakura brightened. "Deal! I'll get two! Two big ones!"
Naruto stared. "What?"
Sakura grinned. "But… why can't you buy it yourself?"
........