Chapter 10: Work Off Your Debt, Young Man! (Part 2)
"So, let me get this straight… You ran out by yourself because your brother ditched you again to run off with Shisui Uchiha—and in your frustration, you forgot to bring any money, right?!"
After Sakura's relentless questioning, Sasuke finally hesitated and confessed the truth.
"My brother didn't elope with Shisui!" Sasuke exploded at the word, his intense big-brother complex instantly triggered.
"Then why would he leave you, his dear little brother, and walk off with someone else?" Sakura asked innocently, deliberately twisting the narrative to lead Sasuke into her plan. "If no one seduced him away, would he really abandon his adorable little brother?"
"He just… just… had a mission!" Sasuke stammered, trying to defend his brother. But the more he thought about how often his brother had ditched him lately, the more suspicious he became. Could it be… could Shisui really have stolen my brother away?
"But from what I know, ninja missions are usually scheduled in advance. Your brother isn't in the Anbu or a jonin, right? How could he always be getting urgent missions?" Sakura pressed, steadily chipping away at Sasuke's reasoning. "Face it—your brother's probably been bewitched by some vixen out there. If this keeps up, one day he'll leave you behind completely and never look back."
"No way… he'd never abandon me…" Sasuke's eyes welled up, his young heart spiraling into an emotional black hole full of doubt and heartbreak.
"Don't panic. Do you want to win your brother's heart back?" Sakura lifted a teacup and took a slow sip, hiding the grin spreading across her face. Perfect. My plan is ready for action.
"Is… is that really possible?" Sasuke's eyes sparkled with hope, like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
"Of course it is. Just follow my instructions, and I promise your brother will come running back to you!"
Sakura grinned wide, clearly pleased with herself. But for some reason, Sasuke suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"Here, put this on. You'll work here for now to pay off your debt—starting as our greeter… er, host."
Sakura handed him a pink cat-ear headband, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
"I… I have to wear this?!" Sasuke looked horrified. Even as a kid, he knew enough to feel that cat-ear accessories were something girls usually wore.
"Yup! What you ate earlier wasn't just any ramen—it was our exclusive tomato-egg noodles. There's only one bowl like that in the world. It's incredibly expensive, so your job can't be something ordinary!" Sakura lied with a straight face. "Your task is to wear these cat ears, stand at the entrance, and greet every customer with a smile and a cheerful 'Welcome!' When your shift ends tonight, I'll tell you how to get your brother back."
"Alright!" Sasuke perked up immediately at the mention of his brother. He snatched the cat ears, put them on, and rushed to the entrance, determined to fulfill his mission.
"So cute…" Ino's eyes sparkled with hearts as she stared at Sasuke blushing at the door, cat ears perched on his head. She mumbled under her breath in admiration.
Click.
The sound of a camera shutter echoed. Sakura lowered her camera with a satisfied smile. This photo is going to be legendary. Young Sasuke was nothing like the cold, brooding avenger he would one day become after the Uchiha massacre. He was shy, awkward—and totally adorable. With this photo in hand, she couldn't wait to see how "cool" he'd act in the future.
"Naruto, come with me for a sec…"
Sakura grabbed a confused Naruto and dashed off. She had a new outfit to design—for the next phase of her brilliant plan.
Inside a clothing store in Konoha, Sakura held a pen and paper as she sketched out the outfit she wanted to have made. The shopkeeper watched curiously.
"Little girl, what you're asking for won't come cheap," the store owner warned. Based on Sakura's description, the materials required were all high-quality and expensive. Could two four-year-olds really afford it?
"Don't worry, sir—we're not short on cash!" Sakura pulled out a thick wad of money and slapped it on the counter. The ramen shop business was booming, after all. For her, this amount was pocket change. "As long as you can finish everything I asked for before sunset, I'll even pay double the labor cost!"
"Well, in that case, no problem at all!" the shopkeeper agreed without hesitation. Completing the request by sunset was doable—it would just take some extra effort. But compared to the promise of double pay, that was a small price to pay.
The shopkeeper and his staff got to work immediately. Meanwhile, as VIP customers with money to spend, Sakura and Naruto were invited to sit and wait comfortably on the side.
"Hey, Naruto… did something happen? You look kinda down," Sakura asked, noticing the way Naruto was staring at the floor, looking unusually glum.
"No, nothing's wrong!" Naruto said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head like everything was fine.
"That smile is so fake," Sakura said bluntly, seeing right through him. "Spill it, now. You're not fooling me."
"…It's just…" Naruto mumbled, eyes clouding with worry. "I feel like you really care about that Uchiha Sasuke guy."
In his eyes was a trace of anxiety. He'd never had many friends, so meeting Sakura and the others had meant the world to him. But ever since Sasuke showed up, he couldn't shake the feeling that everyone's attention—especially Sakura's—was shifting away from him.
"Oh, I see!" Sakura said, suddenly understanding. So that's it—he's jealous and scared of losing the friends he just made.
"Listen, Naruto—no matter how many new friends we make, you're still you. There's only one Naruto, and nothing will ever change that. So stop frowning, alright? In my heart, no one can ever take your place."
"Really?" Naruto asked, eyes lighting up.
"Of course! Be confident—you're Uzumaki Naruto!" Sakura smiled and gently tapped his forehead with her finger. What can I say… the bond between Indra and Asura really does run deep. Naruto hadn't been fazed when Shikamaru and the others came along, but the moment Sasuke appeared, he'd practically gone into panic mode. No wonder they're the stuff of legendary star-crossed destinies (…or love stories???).
"Heh…" Naruto chuckled awkwardly. Ever since meeting Sakura, it felt like his world had become a little brighter. He had peers who didn't avoid him, a friendly ramen shop owner who welcomed him, and kind adults like Mr. Haruno. He didn't even have to worry about going hungry anymore. In the kitchen, none of the other apprentices looked down on him. All of it—it was like living in a dream he didn't want to wake up from.