Chapter 3
Naruto sighed and looked at Sasuke. "So, what are we supposed to do now?" he asked.
Sasuke glanced at his watch and replied in his usual calm tone, "It's past lunchtime. Let's eat something."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, surprised by the suggestion. "Wow, you're such a generous guy," he teased with a grin.
Sasuke ignored the comment and instead stated, "There's a nice restaurant nearby."
Naruto sweatdropped. "You said the same thing about that clothing store earlier," he muttered, remembering how Sasuke had dragged him there without warning.
Sasuke only smirked in response, clearly unbothered.
After a ten-minute walk, they finally reached the restaurant. Naruto glanced around as they stepped inside. It was a decent place—not too fancy, but not run-down either. The atmosphere was quiet, with a few customers scattered across the tables. They took a seat near the window, and Naruto leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms.
Soon, a waiter approached and asked for their order. Naruto was about to eagerly request a bowl of ramen when Sasuke cut him off.
"Two plates of omurice," Sasuke ordered without hesitation.
The waiter nodded, scribbling down the order before walking away.
Naruto turned to Sasuke, frowning. "Oi, why’d you do that? I wanted ramen!"
Sasuke crossed his arms and leaned back slightly. "You're injured. You need to eat something nutritious."
Naruto pouted like a child denied a treat. "Tch, you're acting like my mom or something."
Sasuke didn't respond, just giving him a knowing look. Soon, their food arrived. They ate in silence, with Naruto occasionally glancing at Sasuke, still annoyed but too hungry to argue further.
After finishing their meal and paying the bill, they stepped outside. Just as they were about to continue walking, Naruto's eyes landed on a small phone booth nearby. He paused for a moment before making a decision.
"Sasuke, wait here for five minutes. I need to go to the restroom," Naruto said suddenly.
Sasuke frowned, clearly suspicious. "You can wait until we get home."
"I won’t take long! Just two minutes, I promise!" Naruto called out, already walking away.
"Naruto—!" Sasuke started, but the blond had already dashed off.
Naruto quickly slipped into the phone booth and picked up the receiver, dialing a familiar number. After a few rings, the call was answered.
"Hello?"
"Shikamaru, it's me," Naruto said quietly.
There was a brief silence before Shikamaru’s voice turned sharp. "Naruto?! Where the hell have you been?! Where are you? Are you okay? Tell me your location—we’ll come get you!"
Naruto took a deep breath. "I'm fine. You don’t need to come for me."
"Fine?! Do you know how much everyone was worried?!" Shikamaru sounded frustrated. "We arrived at the scene too late. All we found was your phone and wallet. You just disappeared! What the hell happened?"
Naruto sighed. "I know… I’m sorry. But listen, right now, the important thing is finding out who was behind the attack. Any leads?"
Shikamaru exhaled through the receiver. "I’m working on it. It’s not easy, but I have a few suspects. I’ll let you know once I confirm anything."
"Good. I need you to keep things under control for a few days."
"Tch, like I have a choice," Shikamaru muttered, though Naruto could tell he was relieved to hear his voice. "Fine, but at least take care of yourself."
"I will," Naruto promised. "I have to go now. I’ll call you again when I can."
Shikamaru sighed. "Alright. Stay safe, dumbass."
Naruto chuckled. "You too."
With that, he hung up the call, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the booth.
Now, he just had to deal with Sasuke.
When Naruto returned, he saw Sasuke standing there, arms crossed and an impatient expression on his face. His dark eyes were filled with annoyance as he tapped his foot against the ground.
"You’re finally back," Sasuke muttered, narrowing his eyes. "You said you’d be gone for two minutes. It’s been fifteen. Where the hell were you?"
Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Relax, I just went to the restroom."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious. "Fifteen minutes in the restroom?"
"What, now I can’t even spend time in the restroom in peace?" Naruto shot back, crossing his arms in mock offense.
Sasuke sighed, rolling his eyes. "Whatever. Let’s just go."
As they walked down the street, Naruto suddenly spotted an arcade. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he immediately grabbed Sasuke’s wrist, stopping him.
"Hey, let’s go in there!" he said eagerly, pointing at the flashing neon lights of the arcade.
Sasuke frowned, pulling his hand away. "No way. I’m not wasting my money on some stupid games."
Naruto pouted. "Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!"
"I said no," Sasuke repeated firmly.
A mischievous glint appeared in Naruto’s eyes. "Ohh, I see," he said, smirking. "You’re just afraid you’ll lose to me."
Sasuke scoffed, turning to face him fully. "Tch, you really think you can beat me?"
"Of course! And to make it more interesting, let’s make a bet," Naruto suggested, grinning.
Sasuke crossed his arms. "What kind of bet?"
"If I win, I get the bed for the whole week," Naruto declared confidently.
Sasuke smirked. "And if I win?"
"Then I’ll do all your housework," Naruto said without hesitation.
Sasuke’s smirk widened. "Fine. Don’t cry when you lose."
With that, they stepped into the arcade, the bright lights reflecting in their eyes. The place was filled with the sounds of game machines, cheering players, and the occasional sound of coins dropping into slots. Naruto’s excitement grew as he looked around, already searching for the perfect game to compete in.
They decided on a fighting game, and as soon as they started, both of them got completely absorbed. The competition was fierce, neither willing to give the other an inch. Naruto was fast and aggressive, while Sasuke played strategically, waiting for the right moments to strike.
As they continued playing, Naruto couldn’t help but glance at Sasuke. He was so focused, his expression calm yet intense. But what caught Naruto off guard was the slight smile playing on Sasuke’s lips. It wasn’t the usual smug smirk—it was a genuine, relaxed smile.
For a moment, Naruto just stared, completely distracted. Damn… Sasuke looks so beautiful when he smiles.
That split second of distraction cost him the game. Before he even realized it, Sasuke had landed the final hit, and the screen flashed with bold letters: "YOU LOSE!"
Sasuke leaned back, arms crossed, his smirk returning in full force. "Hah. Looks like someone just lost.As they played, Sasuke glanced at his watch and sighed. "It’s 8 o’clock. We should go home."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "What? It feels like we just started playing!"
Sasuke smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You’re just like a little kid."
Naruto huffed. "Fine, let’s go. Are we eating dinner at a restaurant?"
"Home," Sasuke replied flatly. "I don’t have much money left—thanks to someone."
Naruto scoffed, crossing his arms. "Don’t be so mean. I told you I’d pay you back for everything you spent on me."
Sasuke just let out a short "Hn."
As they walked down the dimly lit street, the distant hum of traffic and flickering neon signs filled the air. The night was cool, but the city was still alive with activity. Suddenly, they heard a sharp voice—frightened, protesting.
Naruto’s eyes snapped to a nearby alley, where a girl was struggling against a group of drunk men. They were laughing, one of them gripping her wrist while another leaned in too close.
Naruto’s jaw clenched, and he stepped forward without hesitation. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?"
One of the drunk men turned, his bloodshot eyes narrowing. "Not your business, kid. She’s our friend. We’re just playing, that’s all."
Sasuke’s gaze darkened. "It doesn't seem like she even know you."
The man’s attention shifted to Sasuke, his lips curling into a grin. "You look good too. Wanna take her place?"
The words barely left his mouth before Naruto’s foot slammed into his stomach. The force sent the man flying backward, crashing into the pavement with a loud thud. The other men froze, their drunken haze not enough to mask the sudden realization—they had messed with the wrong person.
Naruto cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, I didn’t think so."
One of the remaining men tried to swing at him, but Naruto dodged effortlessly, landing a solid punch to his jaw. The others barely had time to react before Naruto took them down with swift, precise strikes. Meanwhile, Sasuke calmly stepped in, pulling the girl away from the chaos.
Within moments, the drunkards scrambled to their feet and ran, cursing under their breath. The alley fell silent again.
Naruto turned to the girl. "You okay?"
She clutched her bag tightly and nodded. "Y-Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you so much."
Sasuke pulled out his phone and booked a cab for her. They stood there, waiting in the cool night air, the faint hum of city life returning around them. When the cab arrived, they made sure she got in safely before watching it drive off.
As Sasuke glanced at Naruto, his sharp eyes immediately caught something—the bandage around Naruto’s hand had torn, and fresh blood was beginning to seep through the fabric.
"Look," Sasuke said with a sigh. "Your injury opened up again."
Naruto glanced down and winced slightly. "Tch, guess I overdid it a little."
Without a word, Sasuke grabbed Naruto’s wrist and quickly wrapped a makeshift bandage around it—clumsy but secure enough for now. His touch was firm yet careful.
"When we get home, I’ll redo it properly," Sasuke muttered.
Naruto grinned. "Sure, whatever you say, doctor."
Sasuke rolled his eyes but didn’t let go of Naruto’s wrist right away. After a brief pause, he finally released him, and they continued walking, the city lights stretching ahead of them.
As they arrived home, Sasuke headed straight to the bathroom. A moment later, he returned to the living room, carrying a first aid kit in one hand. He sat down on the couch and glanced at Naruto.
"Take off your shirt," he instructed. "I need to re-bandage your arm properly."
Naruto grumbled but did as he was told, pulling off his shirt and sitting down. Sasuke got to work, carefully unwrapping the old bandage. His touch was firm yet gentle, and Naruto found himself watching Sasuke’s face without even realizing it.
His sharp eyes were focused, his lips pressed together in concentration. He looks kinda... nice like this, Naruto thought absentmindedly. An odd urge crept into his mind—he wanted to touch Sasuke’s face.
Suddenly, Naruto let out a small wince.
Sasuke barely glanced up. "It’s gonna sting a little." He leaned in and started blowing softly on the wound, trying to ease the burn.
Naruto's breath hitched. His gaze shifted lower—to Sasuke’s lips. They looked soft, almost too soft for someone like him. Naruto swallowed hard. What do they taste like? The thought came out of nowhere, and his face grew slightly warm.
Before he could dwell on it any longer, Sasuke finished tying the bandage securely. "Done," he said, sitting back.
Naruto blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Uh—oh, uh, thanks."
Sasuke stood up, putting the first aid kit back in its place. When he returned, he crossed his arms and looked at Naruto. "You lost the game, so go cook dinner."
Naruto frowned. "I'm injured!" He held up his bandaged arm as proof.
Sasuke smirked. "A bet is a bet."
Naruto sighed dramatically. "Fine. What do you want to eat?"
"Anything but ramen," Sasuke replied.
Naruto pouted. "Why not ramen? Trust me, I make amazing ramen."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Fine. Just don’t mess it up."
Satisfied, Naruto beamed and got to work in the kitchen, while Sasuke headed off to take a shower.