48: Chapter 48 Olive BranchLate at night, most of the headquarters of the Tianqi Chamber of Commerce was quiet, with only the faint sound of patrolling guards' footsteps audible.
Sakura was restless in her room.
The strange pleasure mixed with pain during daytime training, Naruto's noticeably different attention to Ino at the evening banquet, and Ino's bright confidence as she chatted and laughed with Naruto.
Various images intertwined and churned in her mind, tearing at her heart like venomous snakes, and a strong sense of crisis surged up.
Ino.what makes her so special?
She only spent a short time with Naruto, while she.she was the one who was by Naruto's side every day, receiving his special care!
Those spurs, those reprimands, those orders that made her feel ashamed.didn't they all show that she was special to Naruto-sama?
If Ino steals Naruto's attention.
Then what about everything she endured before?
A twisted possessiveness and an urge to prove himself overwhelmed the last vestiges of shame.
She suddenly stood up, walked to the wardrobe, and rummaged through it with trembling hands.
Finally, she found a black tulle nightgown that she had bought on a whim while shopping before, and that she had hardly ever worn.
The design is bold, the semi-transparent material barely covers anything, and the length is above the knee, outlining her increasingly beautiful curves.
Wearing it, the cold touch of the silk sent a chill down her spine.
The figure in the mirror had flushed cheeks, a panicked yet resolute look in her eyes, and her graceful curves were faintly visible beneath the thin veil.
She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and quietly opened the door.
In the stillness of the night, moonlight streamed through the window and fell onto the floor.
The corridor was deserted.
The study door was gently pushed open a crack, and a figure slipped in—it was Haruno Sakura.
She had clearly just taken a bath; her face was flushed, and her eyes were darting around.
Naruto looked up from his documents, glanced at her, and without surprise, calmly asked, "It's so late, is something the matter?"
Sakura walked to the desk, her heart pounding, her voice trembling: "Naruto-sama.I.I feel like there are still some parts of my training that I don't quite understand today.Could.could you please give me some more guidance?"
This statement is full of loopholes.Why would training require guidance in the study late at night?
Naruto put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and looked at her leisurely: "Oh?What's not clear?"
His gaze seemed to have a penetrating power.
Sakura's cheeks burned even hotter.She bit her lower lip, as if using all her strength, and took a step forward, placing her hands on the edge of the desk.Leaning slightly forward, her nightgown barely concealed, her voice carrying a captivating allure: "It's.it's here.and here.it doesn't feel quite right."
She was referring to the approximate location of the red marks on her body that had not yet completely faded from previous training.
Her words carried a distinct allure, and her eyes held a mixture of pleading and a resolute determination to go all out.
"When the flowers in the greenhouse begin to envy the resilience of the wild grass, they will either be destroyed by the wind and rain, or learn to find the sunlight themselves, even if the sunlight brings a harmful temperature."
Naruto looked at her without saying a word, and a suffocating silence fell over the study.
After a long silence, he spoke softly, "Sakura, do you know what you're doing?"
"I.I know!"
Sakura mustered her courage and looked Naruto straight in the eye."I.I want to become someone more useful to Naruto-sama!More.more useful than anyone else!"
Her words clearly implied a point of comparison.
Naruto smiled, a smile unlike the teasing he showed Ino."More useful?Like what?"
Sakura felt weak all over under his gaze, almost collapsing, but she forced herself to stay upright: "As long as Naruto-sama needs me.I.I can do anything."
"It seems yesterday's lesson really enlightened you." He stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Sakura.
He was very close, his masculine presence enveloping her.
Sakura's body stiffened, and she barely dared to breathe.
Naruto reached out and gently twirled a strand of her pink hair around his fingertip.
"This dress suits you very well," he whispered, his breath brushing against her ear."It looks much better than your training clothes."
Sakura's legs went weak and she almost slipped, her face burning hot.
"However," Naruto changed the subject, releasing her hair, "there are many ways to become stronger, and pleasing me is just the most insignificant one."
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his blue eyes: "What I need more are capable subordinates, not a pretty vase that only knows how to fawn over others."
Sakura's heart sank, but Naruto's next words rekindled her hope.
"Of course, I admire your awareness."
He released his grip."From today onwards, you can participate in some of the Chamber of Commerce's core meetings, and you can't neglect learning medical ninjutsu from Tsunade."
Just then, Ino's clear voice came from outside the study: "Naruto?Aren't you resting yet?I have some questions about the flower shop business that I'd like to ask you."
Sakura's face turned pale, and she looked at the doorway in a panic, then at Naruto, like a frightened fawn.
Naruto's eyes flickered slightly.He gestured for Sakura to be quiet, then called out, "Ino?Come in."
Sakura panicked completely, wanting to hide but finding nowhere to go.
The door was pushed open, and Ino walked in with a smile.Then she saw Sakura in an ambiguous position with Naruto in front of the desk—she was thinly dressed, her cheeks were flushed, and she was almost lying on Naruto.
Ino's smile froze on her face, her eyes instantly sharpening."Wide forehead?You.what are you doing here?"
Sakura wished she could disappear immediately and stammered, unable to speak.
Naruto remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the situation.He smiled at Ino and said, "Sakura is asking me some training questions.What's wrong, Ino?Did you say there was something wrong with the flower shop?"question?"
Ino glared at Sakura, separating her from Naruto, and pulled out an account list: "It's the settlement for that batch of special flowers from last time.There are a few things I don't quite understand."
She talked about business, but her eyes kept scanning between Sakura and Naruto, full of suspicion.
Sakura stood there, caught in a dilemma, trembling under Ino's scrutinizing gaze in her thin pajamas.The courage she had just mustered had vanished, leaving only embarrassment.
Naruto seemed oblivious to the sparks flying between the two girls, earnestly explaining the accounts to Ino, occasionally asking Sakura, "Sakura, what do you think?" which made Sakura feel extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, Ino finished her discussion with satisfaction, gave Sakura a defiant look, and then took her leave.
Before leaving, she said to Naruto, "Naruto, after our mission tomorrow, could you show me around the merchant guild?Just the two of us."
"Of course," Naruto replied with a smile.
After Ino left, only Naruto and Sakura, who was almost exhausted, remained in the study.
Naruto looked at her."Looks like you're not in the mood today."
Sakura lowered her head, and tears finally streamed down her face—tears of shame, grievance, and the frustration of having mustered her courage.
He stood up, walked up to her, lifted her chin with his fingers, and looked at her tearful face.
"Go back and rest.Starting tomorrow, your training will include practical applications of medical ninjutsu.Tsunade will personally guide you, so don't let me down."
Sakura nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and staggered out of the study.
Watching her departing figure, Naruto gently tapped the table.
The lark's figure appeared.
"President."
"Have you sent the little gifts you prepared for Shikamaru and Choji?"
"They've already been placed in their guest rooms.Shikamaru received several volumes of lost classical chess manuals and strategy endgames, while Choji received a secret barbecue sauce from the Land of Waves and a complete set of cooking tools."
Naruto nodded.
To win over the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, we can't rely solely on Ino's connections.
Shikamaru's wisdom and the power of the Akimichi clan behind Choji are both worth investing in.
These small favors, which cater to someone's preferences, may seem insignificant, but they are the most effective at subtly building goodwill.
True connections aren't about knocking on doors when you need them, but about quietly cultivating good relationships in ordinary times.
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