Chapter 1
Naruto Uzumaki, the underworld’s No. 1 gang boss, strode toward the restaurant for a meeting. The streets buzzed with life, oblivious to the storm about to unfold.
Then—gunfire.
A rival gang ambushed him mid-route. With minimal security, he was outnumbered but not outmatched. Bullets whizzed past as he took down enemy after enemy, his movements sharp, precise—lethal. Blood splattered the pavement, but none of it was his.
Until a single shot rang out.
Pain exploded in his right shoulder. His gun slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the cold ground. Someone had shot him from behind.
Tch. Careless.
Gritting his teeth, he turned, fists clenched. Even wounded, he was a force to be reckoned with. He tore through them with raw strength, breaking bones and crushing throats. But his body was failing him. Blood loss made his vision blur, his movements sluggish.
He had to retreat.
Limping into a dark alley, his breaths came ragged. His fingers trembled, slick with his own blood. His steps grew unsteady. The world spun.
Then—his legs gave out.
As he collapsed onto the road, his heavy eyelids fluttered. Just before the darkness swallowed him, he caught sight of a pair of shoes standing before him.
And then—nothing.
When Naruto opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a couch. His shoulder wounds had been bandaged. Looking around, he noticed that the room was small—a simple living room.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Naruto quickly shut his eyes, pretending to still be unconscious. A moment later, someone emerged from the kitchen, glanced at him, and said, “If you’re awake, you should leave.”
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and looked at the person. He had soft black hair, dark eyes, long eyelashes, and a pale complexion. There was something undeniably majestic about him.
The stranger repeated, “Leave my house.”
But Naruto, still wounded, hesitated. “Can I stay a little longer? Just until I recover?”
Sasuke sighed. “Fine. But only for one day.”
Sitting up slightly, Naruto introduced himself. “I’m Naruto. What’s your name?”
“Sasuke,” he replied flatly.
Naruto glanced at his bandaged arm. “Did you do this?”
“Obviously, idiot,” Sasuke muttered.
Curious, Sasuke then asked, “How did you get hurt?”
For a moment, Naruto tensed. Then, forcing a small smile, he replied, “Just a street fight. Nothing serious.”
Sasuke studied him with skeptical eyes but chose not to press further.
Sasuke returned to the kitchen, his footsteps light but purposeful. A few moments later, he came back carrying two plates of food. Without a word, he placed one in front of Naruto before sitting down across from him with his own meal. The aroma of the freshly cooked food filled the room, making Naruto’s stomach grumble in anticipation.
“Thanks,” Naruto muttered before grabbing his chopsticks.
As he started eating, he decided to strike up a conversation. Sitting in awkward silence wasn’t exactly his style, and he figured it wouldn’t hurt to get to know the guy who had just saved his life.
“So… do you live here alone?” Naruto asked between bites, glancing at Sasuke.
“Hn,” Sasuke replied, barely looking up from his food.
Naruto frowned at the lack of response but didn’t give up. “How long have you been here?”
Silence.
Naruto chewed his food thoughtfully, then tried again. “What do you do for a living?”
Another pause. Then, Sasuke muttered, “Does it matter?”
Naruto blinked. “Well, yeah. We’re gonna be living together for a while, right? Might as well get to know each other.”
Sasuke didn’t answer. He continued eating, his expression unreadable.
Naruto sighed. “Man, you really don’t like talking, huh?”
Still no response.
Great, Naruto thought, stabbing a piece of food with his chopsticks. This is gonna be fun.
After a few more failed attempts at conversation, Naruto finally gave up. He focused on his meal, eating in silence, though his mind was far from quiet.
Once they finished eating, Naruto set his chopsticks down and stretched his arms. “I’ll wash the dishes,” he offered, standing up.
Sasuke glanced at him. “You’re injured. You should rest.”
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. “It’s just a scratch—”
“Sit down.” Sasuke’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before sighing and dropping back onto the couch. His body was still sore, and if he was being honest, the idea of resting wasn’t entirely unwelcome. He leaned his head back against the cushion, his gaze drifting to the ceiling.
His thoughts wandered back to the attack. The sound of gunfire, the chaos, the pain—it all replayed in his mind like a broken film reel. Who the hell was behind it? He had a few suspicions, but one name stood out the most.
Bloodhound Gang.
They were the second most powerful gang in the city, ruthless and dangerous. If it really was them, then things were about to get a whole lot worse.
A sudden thought hit him. My gang—I need to let them know I’m okay. He quickly patted his pockets, searching for his phone. His heart sank when he realized it wasn’t there.
Shit…
He tried checking his jacket, then the couch, but it was nowhere to be found. I must have lost it during the attack. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Without his phone, he had no way of contacting his gang.
And the only person he could rely on right now… was the guy who barely spoke to him.