"I—I'm living with Sasuke, so…"
Naruto looked up with a bit of grievance, even avoiding Sakura's gaze slightly.
He really felt disliked again. Why did Sakura hate him so much?
Yesterday, Kakashi-senpai even said he was cute, and Sasuke liked him too.
Could it be that because Sasuke liked him, Sakura hated him even more?
Naruto's thoughts spun in a strange loop. He turned his head away, holding the lunchbox but not eating, pitifully staring at Sasuke, signaling him with his eyes for help.
"Yeah, we live together."
Sasuke felt uncomfortable being stared at by Naruto like that. He looked up at those curious onlookers who wanted to gossip and confirmed Naruto's words about living together.
Although his tone was cold, Sasuke's protection of Naruto—even the usually slow-witted Naruto was instantly moved by it, and others could clearly see it too.
"Sasuke."
Naruto looked over with teary eyes.
Right now, he wasn't as foolish as he was going to be when he grew up. Except for a few special whisker marks, he looked completely soft and cute.
And Sasuke, in his previous life as a shut-in, had little resistance to cute things.
"Eat!"
Not wanting to do anything that would ruin his image, Sasuke snorted coldly and lowered his head to eat seriously.
But halfway through, he noticed that Naruto, the idiot, still hadn't touched his food.
"I—I'm eating."
Naruto's earlier feeling of being moved instantly shattered when Sasuke shot him a cold glare. He lowered his head and started eating hungrily.
Their interaction at this moment completely blocked out everyone else around them, especially the girls, who didn't even get a single glance.
When they finished eating, Naruto conscientiously took the lunchboxes to clean and put them away. The atmosphere around them was still a bit strange.
Meanwhile, the two ANBU members watching nearby were a bit conflicted about how to report this situation to the Hokage.
"Kakashi-senpai, are you here to take us home?"
After school, Naruto saw Kakashi waiting at the school gate and ran over happily.
He had been enduring the glares of the girls in his class all afternoon, and Sasuke hadn't helped him at all.
Now seeing Kakashi at the gate, he wanted to complain.
Before, he could only watch other kids enjoy after-school activities and talk with their parents about school and friends. Now he finally had that chance.
"Where's Sasuke?"
Kakashi had spent half a day in the Hokage's office today, finally managing to prepare some extra living expenses for these two kids.
But in return, he had to listen to a whole morning of lectures about the importance of the village, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and how the Uchiha clan must not be allowed to falter.
He had heard all these brainwashing speeches before, but today, Kakashi realized just how hypocritical the Third Hokage had become.
After finally finishing the lectures, still feeling somewhat moved, Kakashi returned home, prepared some daily necessities, and only then remembered to come pick them up from school.
Now, seeing Naruto running toward him, Kakashi's eyes scanned around and realized Sasuke wasn't with him.
This situation—could it be that Sasuke had gotten into a fight at school again?
After all, he had been beaten by members of the Hyuga clan before, and judging by the Uchiha family's nature, he definitely wouldn't tolerate that.