Still at the Haruno residence.
"If it's not about me, then why do you care?" Sakura said.
"Because you are my child! What other reason do I need to care about you?" Mebuki replied.
"See? You don't love me! You only care because I'm your child!"
"..."
Hearing what Sakura said, Mebuki was confused. What was wrong with her? What did she do wrong while she was pregnant with Sakura?
No, Mebuki didn't know. How could her child, Sakura, have such a ridiculous thought? Was it because she wasn't a good mother? Was she a failure at raising her child?
"..."
Was she a failure at everything?
"..."
She wanted to scream and cry as loudly as she could and tell Sakura that she loved her.
"..."
Mebuki massaged her temples. "I love you, Sakura." She tried to speak softly. "What do I have to do to prove it?"
"Don't bother me." Sakura said. She was also starting to calm down. "Don't interfere with my life anymore. Don't interfere with my choices anymore."
"..."
'HUH?' Mebuki thought.
"..."
Mebuki sat down weakly and covered her face with both hands.
"..."
Then she uncovered her face again. "All right, as you said."
"I won't interfere with your life or your choices anymore. You can live your own life without me." Mebuki said. She was truly tired and stressed. Sakura smiled happily. Finally, she could have her own life without any more interference from her mother.
"That's good, then." she said.
"I'll go back to my room. I'm not hungry." Sakura said, leaving the kitchen to go back to her room.
"..."
"Can we eat now?" Kizashi asked, his stomach already bloated from drinking too much coffee.
"..."
"You can Eat." Mebuki said, massaging her temples.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
"Dear, do you want to do that?" Mebuki asked Kizashi, who was lying down.
"How about tomorrow? I'm sleepy now." Kizashi said, turning his body.
"Kizashi! You drank so much coffee earlier! How could you possibly be sleepy?" Mebuki asked, not believing her husband. She didn't even call him "Dear" anymore.
Kizashi turned to Mebuki. "Coffee doesn't guarantee that someone won't sleep." He said to her, then turned his body again.
"..."
"Am I not attractive to you anymore?" Mebuki asked flatly.
"You're still attractive." Kizashi said, waving his hand.
"..."
'Ah, I give up... I'm tired... Souji-kun...' Mebuki thought. She then lay down. Tears came out on their own, but she remained silent.
"..."
'One week...' Mebuki thought. She then fell asleep.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
In the morning, Souji and Naruto went through their usual routine. Naruto was in a good mood because Souji promised him a new story with a happy ending that he wrote.
Before going to school, however, Souji made some Shadow clones and sent them to the Konoha hospital.
Then, they walked together, carrying bags and extra lunch for their training later.
On the way, they met Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. They then went to school together.
For some, this might be normal. But for Naruto, it was extraordinary. Every morning when he woke up, he pinched himself to make sure that what he had been feeling all this time was real.
"Naruto, you look happy." Choji said, seeing Naruto smiling to himself.
"Of course, ttebayo!"
"Huh? What makes you happy, Naruto?" Ino asked curiously.
"Oh, it's because Dad is going to give me a new book." Naruto answered.
"A book?" they said in confusion. For Shikamaru especially, trying to connect Naruto with a book was like, making green tea with salt or playing shogi with a donkey.
Yes, Shikamaru really thought that poorly of Naruto, but only in terms of his academic performance. Apart from that, Naruto was better than that.
"Um... Etto..." Naruto looked at Souji. He had just remembered that Souji had told him not to say anything about the book.
Seeing this, Souji laughed and shook his head. "I want to buy Naruto a storybook. I heard there's a new one at the bookstore near Yakiniku Q." Of course, Souji didn't know if the book had been printed yet.
'Well, I'm also indirectly promoting it.' Souji thought.
"Really?" Ino asked.
"Souji-kun, do you know what the book is about?"
"I heard it's about love story." Souji replied.
"Love? Boring..." Shikamaru said. He didn't like such readings.
"I rarely read, so I don't know anything about it." Choji said.
"Really, Choji? That means we're the same." Naruto said with a laugh.
"Hmph... If you're like that, Shika, you won't be able to get a wife." Ino said to Shikamaru.
Cough Cough
Shikamaru choked on his own saliva after hearing her words.
"Are you serious, Ino? I'm still very young." Shikamaru asked.
"Hmph. Don't regret it if that happens." Ino said.
"Haa.... Troublesome..." How could Ino already be thinking so far ahead? He wanted to enjoy his youth in a relaxed and lazy way.
"Hey, Souji-kun. Do you know the title of the book?" Ino asked.
"Hm... If I'm not mistaken, it's called Tragedy of Love." Souji replied.
"Ugh, just from the name, I don't want to read it." Shikamaru said.
"Shika, I told you. You won't understand things like that." Ino said.
"I mean, why would you read something that would make you sad and hurt you?" Shikamaru asked.
Ino shook her head. "Shika, you'll know if you try reading stories like that."
"Sorry, I'm not interested, and I don't want to. Never." Shikamaru said.
Choji whispered to Naruto and Souji, "Do you understand what they're talking about?" Naruto shook his head. Actually, he knew. As Ino said, 'You'll never know if you don't try it directly.'
Although Naruto felt sad when he read the story that Souji wrote, he then saw the world differently, which he found interesting.
Souji just chuckled softly when he heard what Choji asked.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
In the class.
"All right, everyone. In today's class, we will practice hand seal movements."
"Today, you will demonstrate five hand seals." Iruka said again.
"Akimichi Choji."
"Yes, Sensei."
Choji stepped forward.
"All right, Choji. Use the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, and Dragon seals." Iruka said.
"..."
"Rat – Ox – Tiger – Hare – Dragon."
"Very good, Choji." Iruka praised.
"Ten points for Choji."
Clap Clap Clap
The others applauded for Choji, too. Choji could only smile, feeling a bit embarrassed and proud.
"All right, next..."
Then, it was the others' turn.
Iruka was surprised by Choji and Naruto because they usually had difficulty using hand seals. But this time, they seemed to be used to doing it.
Of course, it was all thanks to Souji. Even before they started doing training together, Souji reminded them how important the basic lessons were. He also suggested they practice their hand seals at home. They didn't need to practice much, they only needed to get used to one hand seal at a time.
So, Souji helped Naruto get used to practicing his hand seals. Naruto was already used to using seven basic hand seals. The students who got full marks in class this time were mostly from the Rookie 9 and Souji, except for Inuzuka Kiba.
Souji actually wanted to help Kiba. However, because he doesn't like his behavior at this time, he didn't help him. That doesn't mean he hates Kiba, he actually likes his mother and older sister.
Souji smiled as he rubbed his hands together.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
Yamanaka Noriko was returning from the market when she saw a crowd of people gathering outside a shop. Most of them were women.
'Is there something?' Noriko thought. Then, she clearly saw the shop.
'Bookstore?' Noriko thought.
Curious, she approached one of the women in line and asked, "Excuse me, may I ask you something?" The woman replied, "Of course."
Noriko nodded and asked, "What's with this long queue?"
"Oh, this? There's a new book being sold." The woman said.
'Just a book?' Noriko thought, confused. "Is there anything interesting about this book?"
"That's because most of us are curious. I don't know about the others, but I am curious."
"My usually cheerful younger sister suddenly became sad for no reason, and when I asked her why, she said it was because of the book she was reading." The woman continued, "But when I tried to borrow the book, she didn't want to lend it. That's why I, and maybe the others, are standing in line."
Noriko nodded her head and said, "Thank you for being willing to answer my question."
"You're welcome." The woman said with a smile.
Noriko fell silent and thought that maybe she could join the queue. Maybe the story would be good enough to fill her free time while she took care of her shop. Then, Noriko joined the queue.
"..."
Not long after, Mebuki came out of the bookstore and saw Noriko, Yamanaka Ino's mother, in the queue.
"Ara? Noriko-san?" Mebuki called out.
"Ara? Mebuki-san?" Noriko called back.
Then, Mebuki approached Noriko and asked, "How are you, Noriko-san?"
"I'm doing well, Mebuki-san. How about you?" Noriko asked.
"I'm doing well, too." Mebuki replied.
"Are you also waiting in line to buy the book that was just sold yesterday?"
"Eh? Since yesterday? Was it this crowded yesterday, too?" Noriko asked.
Mebuki shook her head. "From what I heard, there weren't too many people buying it yesterday." Then she added, "Even the shop owner said this book was printed and published quickly."
"Is it that good?" Noriko asked.
"I don't know, because I just bought it and haven't read it yet." Mebuki said.
"Haa... I'm even more curious now." Noriko said.
"Fufufu, Noriko-san, you have to be quick. If not, the book will sold out, and you'll have to wait again." Mebuki joked. Noriko chuckled at that.
"All right then, Noriko-san. I don't want to take up too much of your time." Mebuki said.
"Oh, Mebuki-san! You're not taking up any of my time."
Then, Mebuki waved her hand. "All right, all right. If you have time, stop by my house."
"Thank you. You should stop by my house, too." Noriko replied.
After that, Mebuki left, leaving Noriko to stand in line with the others.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
Lunch break at the academy.
Sakura was annoyed with her mother this morning. Her mother didn't wake her up, make her lunch, or say anything to her.
Fortunately, she could ask her father for money, otherwise, she would starve through the lessons.
But when she thought about this morning, she felt happy because she finally didn't have to listen to her mother chatter or tell her to do things.
Yes, she was free now.
Sometimes she thought, 'Why can't I have a mother like Ino's mother?' When she saw Ino's mother supporting and granting whatever Ino asked for, she felt envious.
Sakura thought that, She wasn't much different from Ino in terms of personality or appearance. Ino was the one who helped Sakura when she was bullied, giving her more confidence. However, Sakura thought that even if Ino hadn't helped her, she could have overcome it all over time.
It's okay though, now she doesn't have to feel bothered in her own home anymore.
"Sakura." Ino called.
Sakura looked at her. "What is it, Ino?"
"Do you want to join us?" Ino asked, pointing toward Souji and the others.
Sakura shook her head. "No, thank you."
"Ah? All right." Ino said sadly.
"..."
"Is there a problem, Ino?" Souji asked.
"Eh? Um...that..." Ino looked at Sakura, who was looking at Sasuke.
"Sakura?" Souji asked Ino.
Ino nodded her head and said, "Yes, I actually invited her to join us, but she refused."
Of course, Ino was sad about it because Sakura was her friend. They later became rivals, but shouldn't they be friends again now?
"I wanted to invite her because she's alone." Ino said.
Souji smiled when he heard that. "Ino, if you want to invite someone who's alone, look over there." He pointed and made Ino and the others follow his point of direction.
They then saw a girl who was also looking at them. She lowered her head.
"Is that Hyuga Hinata?" Ino asked Souji. Souji nodded. "I always see her alone. You can invite her if you want."
The others didn't mind either. Ino thought that she often saw Hinata alone too, but she had never spoken to her.
Then, Ino thought again. Was she the same as Sakura before? Was she feeling insecure?
If so, Ino would be happy to invite Hinata to join them.
"..."
"..."