"Naruto Uzumaki?"
Muraji muttered the name under his breath, then looked up at the boy in front of him.
"Why would you risk your life to save someone like me?" he asked. "A sinner."
"You know it's not worth it."
Naruto just smiled.
"Because this is the path I've chosen," he said firmly. "I don't believe in hatred. Ever since I was a kid, I've been on the receiving end of it. People have resented me, feared me… sometimes, it felt like I was nothing but a vessel for their hatred."
"But even so, I won't give up!"
Naruto turned and glanced at Sakiya.
"I'll keep moving forward, no matter what! That's my way of the ninja!"
Muraji stared at him, lost in thought.
"I remember… people used to call you a demon," he murmured.
Naruto didn't flinch.
"You mean the demon fox?" he asked casually.
Muraji lowered his head.
"Yeah..."
Naruto's smile didn't waver.
"There's a monster sealed inside me," he admitted. "But that doesn't make me a monster."
"Besides… I'm going to be Hokage someday!"
With a grin, Naruto raised a thumb and pointed at himself with confidence.
Muraji looked at him, and for the first time, something shifted in his heart.
He knew how Naruto had grown up—despised, isolated, shunned. He himself had once looked at Naruto with the same disgust as everyone else, believing the whispers about the Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki.
But now, standing before him was not a monster.
This boy had become strong—not just in power, but in spirit.
A true ninja.
Muraji took a deep breath, then spoke.
"Naruto… I am guilty. But I will face my sins."
Naruto watched him closely.
"I'll go to Hokage-sama myself," Muraji continued. "Whatever punishment she gives me, I'll accept it."
Naruto saw the resolve in his eyes and nodded. There was nothing more to say.
Muraji then turned to the people who had followed him for so long.
"Let's go," he said. "It's time to atone."
Without hesitation, they all answered in unison.
"Yes! Together!"
With that, Muraji led his group toward the Hokage's office.
Sakiya watched them go, a quiet melancholy settling in her heart.
As Naruto watched Muraji and his group leave, he kept a smile on his face. But when he turned to look at Sakiya, she noticed something off.
His face looked a little pale.
Sakiya tilted her head.
"Um… are you okay?"
Naruto didn't answer. His stiff smile remained for a second—then he collapsed straight to the ground.
Sakiya blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
Just then, Kakashi appeared, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded in that familiar unimpressed way.
"Yeah… saw that coming."
---
One day later – Konoha Hospital
---
Heavy…
Weak…
His chest ached.
Where am I…?
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and stared at the familiar white ceiling.
"You're awake."
That voice…
Turning his head, he saw a familiar girl sitting beside him, a gentle smile on her face. She was casually peeling an apple.
Naruto's breathing hitched.
No way…
No way…
Sakiya was taking care of him?!
She must've been watching over him for a long time.
Ah… Sakiya…
She even peeled an apple for me…
Naruto's heart swelled with joy.
By now, Sakiya had finished peeling the apple. She looked at Naruto, then at the fruit in her hand.
Naruto stared back, eyes shining with expectation.
Was she going to feed him?
His head instinctively leaned forward, anticipating the moment—
But then, with complete nonchalance, Sakiya took a bite herself.
Naruto's face froze.
His heart plummeted.
I totally misread that, didn't I…?
Of course, he did.
Sakiya chewed casually, then got up.
"You just woke up. I'll go call the others."
Still munching on her apple, she walked out of the room.
---
Outside the hospital room, Ino spotted Sakiya coming out—still eating.
"Wait… Sakiya, did you eat Naruto's fruit again? That was from everyone."
Sakiya paused mid-bite, then simply took another one.
"He can't eat all of it anyway," she said matter-of-factly. "It'd just go to waste. This is an excellent fruit, full of nutrients. It'd be a shame not to eat it."
Shikamaru and Kiba snickered.
"She's got a point. Can't let good food go to waste," Shikamaru said lazily.
"Yeah, it's just a piece of fruit. Naruto won't mind," Kiba added.
"He'd probably give her all of it if she asked," Shikamaru mused.
But Sakiya had already tuned them out.
The apple was delicious, after all.
She took another bite, savoring the sweet, crisp taste.
Ino sighed, deciding not to argue with Sakiya any further.
"Is Naruto awake?" she asked.
"Yeah, he woke up," Sakiya replied casually.
The group perked up immediately.
"Naruto's awake?! We have to see him!"
In an instant, everyone swarmed into the hospital room.
---
Naruto wasn't seriously injured. Though he had been stabbed, none of his vital organs were harmed—it was mostly a flesh wound.
His friends gathered around, relieved to see him awake.
Even Sasuke was there.
Seeing all of them together, Naruto's eyes welled up with tears.
"You guys… you're the best!"
Everyone smiled at his reaction.
But they knew he needed rest, so they didn't stay long. One by one, they left, leaving the room quiet again.
Just as Naruto was about to relax, a small head peeked through the door.
It was Sakiya.
"I acknowledge you, Orange-Red Flame Warrior."
Then, just as quickly as she appeared, she vanished down the hallway.
Naruto stared at the empty doorway, his lips trembling.
Tears finally spilled over as he whispered, "Sakiya…"
---
Sakiya walked down the hall, feeling a little conflicted.
She didn't like Naruto—at least, not in a romantic way.
But as a friend? That was fine.
The problem was that Naruto was a huge flirt.
He chased after her relentlessly, and the only way she knew to handle it was by staying indifferent. Maybe if she ignored him long enough, he'd give up.
Still, she didn't actually hate him.
Thinking back to his conversation with Muraji, she realized Naruto might have misunderstood something.
Tapping her chin thoughtfully, she muttered, "I think that acknowledgment should be fine..."
A voice suddenly chimed in from behind.
"There's a problem."
"Ahh!"
Sakiya jumped, clutching her chest. When she turned, she found Ino smirking at her.
Her face darkened instantly.
"Ino! You really are my greatest nemesis! Always catching me off guard like this!"
Ino raised an eyebrow.
"Nemesis? Wow, sounds like my intimidation isn't strong enough~"
Sakiya's head shrank back slightly.
Uh-oh…
Realizing she'd just provoked Ino, she inched her foot back, preparing to escape.
But before she could run—
Ino lunged.
Sakiya barely had time to react. She panicked for a split second—then noticed something.
There was a wide gap beneath Ino's jump.
Her expression sharpened.
There's an opening!
I can make it!
As Ino soared toward her, Sakiya suddenly dropped low, sliding across the floor with a perfectly timed dodge.
Ino flew right over her.
She landed, whirling around in disbelief.
"You—did a sliding tackle?!"
By the time she turned, Sakiya was already ten meters away, sprinting down the hallway at full speed.
Ino stared after her, completely dumbfounded.
"A sliding tackle…?" she repeated, still processing what just happened.
___________
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