Sasuke didn’t know what her deal was.
It wasn’t like her to get distracted, especially not by something so ridiculous. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about Naruko’s hair. It was just hair—long, bright, and wild. Sure, it wasn't that common to see someone with hair that golden, and even rarer for it to be so long it nearly touched her calves. But still. It didn’t make sense for her to be this...fixated.
She leaned against the fence of the training field, arms crossed, trying to glare the thought out of her head. But there Naruko was, rummaging through a bag of snacks with her hair swaying behind her, looking as carefree as ever.
“What is wrong with me?” Sasuke muttered under her breath.
Sasuke paused, her eyes narrowing.
It had been like this since the lake.
----
Flashback
The lake trip had been Sakura’s idea. “We need to relax,” he’d said. “Just for one day. No training, no missions, no fighting.”
Naruko was all for it, of course. “Yeah, Sasuke-chan, don’t be a killjoy!”
Sasuke wasn’t a fan of the idea, but she went anyway. If nothing else, it was a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Except peace and quiet were impossible with Naruko around.
“C’mon, Sasuke!” Naruko called, standing knee-deep in the water and waving her arms. “Stop sulking and get in already!”
“I’m not sulking,” Sasuke muttered, but she waded into the water anyway.
Naruko grinned and dove under the surface, her laughter trailing behind her. A moment later, she popped back up, her hair streaming down her back in wet, golden waves.
Sasuke froze.
The way the sunlight hit Naruko’s hair made it look like it was glowing. Drops of water clung to each strand, catching the light and sparkling like stars. It was...beautiful. She looked beautiful.
“What was that?” Sakura asked, floating nearby.
Sasuke blinked, realizing she’d spoken out loud. “Nothing,” she said quickly, turning away.
But she couldn’t turn away from the image burned into her mind.
----
Sasuke didn’t even know why she was in this part of the market. She was supposed to be looking for gear—kunai, bandages but instead, she found herself standing in front of a small shop window.
She hadn’t planned on stopping, but something caught her eye: a hairpin shaped like a little green frog.
It wasn’t flashy or elegant. The frog was small, almost cartoonish, with a goofy smile painted on its face. It looked like something a kid would buy.
But as much as she wanted to keep walking, her feet stayed rooted to the spot.
“Why would she even like something this stupid?” Sasuke muttered under her breath, frowning at the display.
Her mind flicked back to a conversation from weeks ago, when Naruko had been rambling about frogs. They’d been sitting by the river after training, cooling off after a particularly grueling session.
“Frogs are awesome, y’know?” Naruko had said, sprawled out on the grass with her usual energy. “They’re so underrated! I mean, they’re cute and tough at the same time!”
Sasuke had barely looked at her then, pretending to focus on adjusting her kunai pouch, but she’d heard every word. At the time, she’d rolled her eyes and muttered something sarcastic, but now...
Now she was standing here, staring at a ridiculous frog-shaped hairpin, wondering if Naruko would smile if she gave it to her.
“Ugh,” Sasuke groaned softly, running a hand through her hair. “What’s wrong with me?”
Before she could overthink it, she walked into the shop.
Later, Sasuke handed the hairpin to Naruko as casually as she could manage.
“This is for me?” Naruko asked, her eyes wide as she held it up.
“It’s just a stupid hairpin,” Sasuke said, shoving her hands into her pockets. “Your hair’s always getting in the way during missions, so...it’s practical.”
Naruko didn’t seem to hear the explanation. Her face lit up, and her grin was so wide it practically split her face in two.
“Oh my gosh, it’s a frog! Look at his little face! This is so cute, Sasuke-chan! I love it!”
Sasuke shrugged, trying to play it off. “Whatever. It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?!” Naruko exclaimed, pinning the frog into her hair. “This is awesome. I’m gonna wear it during the Chūnin Exams. It’ll be my good luck charm!”
Sasuke glanced at her, pretending she didn’t care, but the sight of Naruko grinning and fiddling with the clip made something in her chest feel lighter.
“Thanks, Sasuke-chan,” Naruko said suddenly, softer this time. Her blue eyes met Sasuke’s, and there was something warm and genuine in her smile.
Sasuke cleared her throat, looking away quickly. “It’s nothing.”
But as Naruko laughed and started rambling about how much she loved frogs, Sasuke couldn’t stop the small, barely-there smile that tugged at her lips.
----
It was a lazy afternoon for Team 7. They had just finished a mission and were now relaxing in the training field. Kakashi was lounging in the grass, her nose buried in a book, while Sakura was lying on his back with her hands behind his head. Naruko was absentmindedly running her fingers through hair, clearly annoyed by the way it kept getting in her face.
“This hair is so annoying,” Naruko grumbled, tugging at a stubborn strand that wouldn’t stay in place. “its beautiful but at the same time It’s way too long. I’m seriously thinking about cutting it.”
Sasuke, who had been quietly observing the clouds, snapped her head up at the words. Her heart skipped a beat. “What? No!” Sasuke blurted, her voice louder than she intended.
Naruko blinked, looking confused. “Huh? What do you mean, ‘no’?”
Sasuke’s face immediately heated up. “I... I just think it’s better long. It’s fine the way it is.” She quickly crossed her arms and turned her head away, feeling a flush rise on her cheeks.
Sakura, who had been half-dozing, sat up suddenly, eyes wide. “Whoa, Sasuke, you’re really against Naruko cutting her hair, huh?”
Kakashi glanced up from her book, her mouth curling into an amused smile. “I think Sasuke’s just worried it might ruin Naruko’s perfect hair. Isn’t that right, Sasuke?”
Sasuke growled under her breath, now fully aware of how everyone was looking at her. “Shut up, Kakashi.”
Naruko, meanwhile, had a smirk playing on her lips. “It’s just hair, Sasuke,” she teased, leaning in closer. “You really think it’s that important?”
Sasuke struggled to maintain her composure. She was sure her ears were turning red, but she refused to show it. “I just think it suits you better this way,” she mumbled, glancing down at her feet.
Naruko’s teasing grin softened. “You think so?”
Sasuke nodded stiffly, trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah, it looks good on you.”
There was a long pause, and for a second, Naruko’s expression turned unusually serious. “Thanks, Sasuke-chan. I didn’t know you cared that much.”
Sasuke felt her heart thud in her chest, but she didn’t know how to respond. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably, pretending to focus on the grass beneath her feet.
----
Later that evening, after finishing their mission, Team 7 set up camp in a quiet forest. Kakashi and Sakura were asleep in their tents, leaving Naruko and Sasuke in the same one.
Inside the tent, Naruko sat cross-legged on the ground, trying to untangle her long hair. She was frustrated, her hair a mess from the day’s travel.
Sasuke was sitting across from her, watching as Naruko worked on her hair. She couldn’t help but stare, feeling a strange pull in her chest.
“Need help?” Sasuke asked before she could stop herself.
Naruko looked up, surprised. “Yeah, this is so tangled. You mind?”
Sasuke nodded and moved closer, sitting behind Naruko. She started gently untangling the strands, trying to keep her mind from wandering.
After a few minutes, Sasuke spoke again. “Can I braid it?”
Naruko smiled, turning her head slightly. “You want to braid my hair? Sure!”
Sasuke carefully braided Naruko’s long hair, her fingers working quickly and steadily. When she finished, Naruko touched the braid, smiling brightly. “This is awesome! You’re really good at this, Sasuke.”
Sasuke stood up quickly, trying to hide her blush. “It’s nothing.” But inside, her heart was racing.
The tent was quiet, just the sound of the crackling fire outside. Sasuke sat across from Naruko, her heart racing as she watched her. She had tried to ignore these feelings for so long, but now, with Naruko so close, she couldn’t hold them back.
“Naruko,” Sasuke said softly, breaking the silence. Naruko looked up, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah?” Naruko replied, giving her a curious look.
Sasuke swallowed hard. She had to say it. She couldn’t keep pretending.
“I… I don’t know when it happened, but I started caring about you more than I should. You’ve always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. And I kept trying to push it away, but I can’t anymore.”
Naruko’s gaze softened, her eyes looking at Sasuke with concern. “Sasuke, you’re always there for me too...”
Sasuke’s chest tightened. “It’s more than that, Naruko. I—I like you. More than a friend. I think I always have, but I was too scared to admit it.”
For a moment, Naruko just stared at her, silent. Sasuke’s heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest, the weight of her words sinking in.
Without thinking, Sasuke moved closer, her hands gently cupping Naruko’s face. She wasn’t sure what she was doing, but she couldn’t hold back anymore.
Before Naruko could react, Sasuke leaned in and kissed her. It was soft at first, hesitant, but when Naruko didn’t pull away, Sasuke deepened the kiss, her heart racing.
When they finally pulled apart, Sasuke couldn’t look at her, her face burning. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, barely able to meet Naruko’s eyes.
Naruko smiled, her fingers gently brushing Sasuke’s cheek. “You don’t have to apologize, Sasuke. I… I feel the same.”
Sasuke looked at Naruko, her heart suddenly lighter. Then, without another word, Naruko kissed her again, and this time, Sasuke didn’t hesitate