Naruto:S/R
Chapter 42: A Brother's First Fit of Jealousy
Screech.
The door opened.
Naruto entered first.
Sako lingered for a moment on the doorstep, tapped her feet to shake off the snow, then stepped inside.
"Hmph... That little Uchiha has some manners after all."
Kyūbi's implication: "Unlike someone else who has Z-E-R-O manners."
And even if he did, it was all just an act!
Ignoring Kyūbi, Naruto crossed the living room and headed to the kitchen to make tea.
"..."
Sako took the opportunity to close the door behind her, took off her shoes, and inspected Naruto's house.
TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioning... All the appliances were there.
Through the large window, the snowy landscape was visible.
In other words... The modern décor of the house fit perfectly with its location in the heart of Konoha, a prosperous district.
"Nothing extraordinary, really."
As the electric kettle began to whistle,
Sako had already finished comparing the Uchiha compound with the central Konoha residences.
"Looks fancy, but it feels like a pigeon cage. Living in such a place would make anyone claustrophobic!"
Thinking about the Uchiha's individual homes, each with its own garden, Sako immediately felt relieved.
Click.
The kettle turned off.
Naruto returned with a teapot and served Sako a cup.
"Hmm... Jasmine tea, fresh and fragrant... You do know how to surround yourself with nice things."
Sako observed the golden liquid and the white petals blooming on the surface, impressed.
In truth, this tea was a gift from Hinata's mother, given just that morning.
Sako took the cup and sipped.
The exquisite aroma of high-quality tea spread in her mouth, instantly improving her mood.
"An excellent tea..."
She complimented it inwardly.
Even at home, she'd never tasted tea of such quality. Where had Naruto gotten it?
"Here..."
Sako pushed the gift she brought toward Naruto.
"H-a-p-p-y N-e-w Y-e-a-r!"
Just as she was about to say the greeting, Naruto beat her to it with a sentence in a foreign language.
"New year speed haha!"
Kyūbi: "..."
Sako: "..."
The declaration stunned both Kyūbi and Sako into silence. No one knew what it meant.
Actually, the Naruto world did know about "English."
For example, Killer Bee's raps.
When he spoke about his brother, the Fourth Raikage, he used the word "Brother."
English was also widely used in the manuals for electronic devices.
— Even though Naruto saw no real point in all that.
Maybe it was just to fill a gap.
The Naruto anime team even added an original segment during the Chunin Exam, which included one question in English among the main nine.
Anyway, don't get hung up on the details. Just know that English was a required subject.
"Wh-what does that mean?"
Sako thought for a moment, but couldn't figure it out. After all, she hadn't studied English yet...
English.
No, that morning, while dreaming, English words had come to her.
New year meant "nouvelle année."
Speed meant "vitesse."
And haha?
"W-wait... Don't tell me you understand English?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes, slightly frowning.
"Don't look at me like that!"
Sako slammed the table and stood up.
She was the daughter of the infamous "Blood-Eyed Fugaku"!
A few English words were...
Okay, fine, she had assumed the kid was illiterate, and now he'd cornered her. Tsk.
After Naruto explained, Sako understood that the phrase meant "Happy New Year."
"No need for so much explanation!"
Sako waved her hand to change the subject.
"Did you have a good holiday?"
If she couldn't beat him in English, she'd at least win when it came to New Year celebrations!
"Pretty good. Lots of people, lively atmosphere. I had soba... a feast..."
Naruto tilted his head, looking at the ceiling thoughtfully.
His focused expression made Sako sigh.
Her mother had told her that Naruto didn't have any parents...
"This guy, Naruto, lies like that just to protect his pride..."
Her gaze grew more compassionate.
How could someone really enjoy New Year's Eve alone?
It was truly sad for him.
"Having pride is good, but don't take it too far."
Sako pushed the gift toward him.
"This is for you. Happy New Year."
With that, she got up to leave.
"You're leaving already?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, I'm going home for dinner." Sako waved her hand without looking back.
Naruto stood in the doorway, watching Sako go down the stairs.
Outside, snow was still falling.
Sako, who had a family, was so normal—just like any other girl her age.
But if she lost her parents, her clan—if everything around her collapsed—she would become a vengeance-driven machine.
And even after she fulfilled that revenge, she'd be nothing but a wandering soul, a living corpse.
That's why...
Naruto: "I have to save Sako. Save the Uchiha."
Once Sako was out of sight, Naruto immediately turned his gaze toward a dark alley across the street.
"..."
Itachi Uchiha stepped out, locking eyes with Naruto, expressionless.
Then he walked away.