Humanizing: III
Naruto was strolling back to her apartment, the morning sun casting a gentle glow over the quiet village. Her nightie fluttered slightly in the breeze, but she didn't seem to notice—or care. Her focus was on the faint tickling sensation in her chest, a sign she still wasn't entirely used to this newfound "humanizing." It was... peculiar, but also intriguing.
As she turned a corner near the village hot springs, her sharp sensors—still very much intact—picked up on an irregularity. Someone was crouched near the wooden fence surrounding the women's bathhouse, their hand cupped over their face as they peered through a suspiciously convenient hole.
"Jiraiya the Pervy Sage?" she called out, tilting her head.
The man froze mid-peep, his bushy white hair giving him away instantly. Slowly, Jiraiya turned his head, his face contorted in a guilty grimace. "Ah, Naruto!" he greeted, trying to sound casual. "Fancy meeting you here, kiddo."
Naruto blinked, her glowing sapphire eyes narrowing. "Pervy Sage appears to be engaging in perverse activity."
The Toad Sage flinched, scrambling to his feet and waving his hands frantically. "Whaaat? No, no, you're mistaken! I was just... uh... doing research! Yes, research for my next novel!"
Naruto tilted her head further, her stiff demeanor making the gesture eerily robotic. "Peeping on women is considered highly inappropriate. Naruto does not approve."
"Alright, alright, I get it!" Jiraiya hissed, glancing nervously around. "But can you keep your voice down? I don't need everyone in the village knowing about this!"
Naruto blinked again, her expression unchanging. "Why?"
"Why?!" Jiraiya's voice cracked. "Because it's... complicated, okay? Just don't—"
Before he could finish, a shrill voice rang out from the other side of the fence. "Did someone say 'peeping'?! Who's out there?!"
Jiraiya paled. "Oh no..."
Naruto, entirely unbothered, stood there as the women inside the hot springs began shouting, their voices growing louder and angrier.
"Who is it this time?!"
"That pervert Jiraiya again?!"
"Let's get him!"
Jiraiya shot Naruto a pleading look. "Please, kid, help me out here!"
Naruto cocked her head. "Naruto was not the one peeping."
"Exactly! So just—wait, no, that's not—ah, crap!"
The fence burst open, and a mob of furious women poured out, armed with buckets, towels, and even a few shampoo bottles.
"There he is!"
"Get him!"
Jiraiya let out a high-pitched yelp and bolted, his years of ninja training kicking in as he leaped over a nearby roof. The mob was hot on his heels, their shouts echoing through the village.
Naruto watched the chaos unfold with a blank expression, her head tilting slightly. "Naruto hypothesizes that Pervy Sage will not escape unscathed," she muttered to herself before turning on her heel and continuing her walk home.
As she strolled through the streets, villagers gave her odd looks—some bewildered by her disheveled nightie-clad appearance, others curious about the commotion near the hot springs. But Naruto paid them no mind.
She paused for a moment, glancing back in the direction Jiraiya had fled. "Naruto hopes Pervy Sage learns his lesson," she said to no one in particular before resuming her journey.
By the time she reached her apartment, she could still faintly hear the distant sound of buckets clanging and Jiraiya's panicked shouts.
Naruto arrived back at her apartment, her steps slightly less stiff than before, though her expression remained as unreadable as ever. She pushed the door open and blinked at the smell that greeted her. It wasn't unpleasant—it was smoky, savoury, and oddly enticing.
"Oi, Naruto, you're back," Karin's voice called from the small kitchen.
Naruto stepped inside, her glowing sapphire eyes locking onto Karin, who was standing over a modest grill. Dressed casually in an oversized T-shirt, her red hair tied up in a messy bun, Karin was poking at something on the grill with a pair of chopsticks.
"Karin is cooking?" Naruto asked, her tone flat but tinged with genuine curiosity.
Karin turned and gave her a smirk. "What, surprised? You think I can't cook?"
"Affirmative. Naruto hypothesized Karin was incapable of culinary tasks."
Karin's eyebrow twitched. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." She gestured to the small dining table, which was surprisingly clean for once. "Sit down. I'm making grilled fish. Thought you could use some real food."
Naruto tilted her head, processing the statement. "Naruto is not certain if she can taste fish," she admitted, her voice as robotic as ever.
Karin rolled her eyes. "You're humanizing, right? Maybe you'll taste it this time. Besides, even if you can't, it's better than you shoving ramen down your throat 24/7."
Naruto obediently sat down, her movements still unnervingly precise. She watched as Karin worked, her glowing eyes unblinking. "Karin appears skilled. Naruto retracts her earlier hypothesis."
"Wow, an actual compliment," Karin muttered sarcastically, though she couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.
A few minutes later, Karin placed a plate in front of Naruto. On it was a beautifully grilled fish, its skin crispy and glistening, garnished with a sprinkle of green onions and a wedge of lemon. Karin sat down across from her, her own plate in hand.
"Alright, dig in," Karin said, picking up her chopsticks.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before mimicking Karin's movements, her mechanical precision making the act almost uncanny. She picked up a piece of fish and brought it to her lips.
The moment the food touched her tongue, she froze. A faint warmth spread across her face as she chewed slowly.
"...Naruto tastes?" she whispered, her voice unusually soft.
Karin paused mid-bite, watching her cousin carefully. "Yeah? What does it taste like?"
Naruto blinked rapidly, her stiff expression softening just a fraction. "It tastes... smoky. Savory. Pleasant."
Karin's grin widened. "Told you. You're humanizing more and more."
Naruto nodded slightly, taking another bite. Her movements were still calculated, but there was a subtle shift—something more natural. She finished her plate quietly, the only sound being the occasional crunch of crispy fish skin.
As they ate, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow into the room. Karin leaned back in her chair, stretching lazily. "You know," she said, glancing at Naruto, "you're not as bad as I thought you'd be when we first met."
Naruto tilted her head, her glowing eyes flickering faintly. "Karin thought Naruto was bad?"
"Well, you're kinda weird, no offense," Karin admitted, smirking. "But... you're also not half-bad to be around. Especially now that you're not freaking me out every five minutes with your robot voice and... whatever else you used to do."
Naruto blinked, processing the words. "Naruto is... pleased."
Karin laughed softly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to me being nice, though."
Naruto tilted her head again, her lips twitching upward in what could almost be considered a smile. "Naruto will cherish this bonding moment."
Karin groaned, playfully flicking a grain of rice at her. "Alright, don't make it weird."
The two of them sat in companionable silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon. For the first time in a long time, Naruto felt... at peace.