Chapter 61: Revelations and Responsibility
"Naruto..." Sasuke called out softly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you dislike me as I am?"
"Huh?"
"Compared to Sakura, am I not lively at all? And not cute at all?" Sasuke said, her voice flat.
Hearing this, Naruto couldn't help but laugh softly. "Why, Sasuke? You might not be as talkative as Sakura, but I think you're fine just the way you are. Especially if you could stop fixating on revenge."
"Really?" A strange light flickered in Sasuke's eyes at his words.
"Of course! Why would I lie to you?" Naruto said. Sasuke is just a girl who hasn't fully grown up yet, lacking confidence in herself.
"Naruto, from now on, can you walk me home every day?" Sasuke, secretly pleased, asked with a hint of expectation.
Naruto was momentarily taken aback. Seeing her hopeful look, of course he wouldn't refuse—only a fool would. Judging by her series of actions today, she seemed to have developed some inexplicable affection for him. Even if he couldn't persuade her to let go of her hatred now, the future was long. He believed she would understand one day.
He smiled and nodded readily. "Of course, that's fine!"
Hearing this, Sasuke lowered her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips. Her voice finally lost some of its chill. "Alright. Your escort duty for today is complete. You can go back now. I'll find you to train tomorrow! I'm going to sleep now."
The eviction order was issued immediately. Naruto was stunned for a moment, and upon recovering, could only leave her room.
After Naruto left, Sasuke lay quietly on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, muttering to herself, "An avenger… can I really pursue happiness?"
...
After leaving Sasuke's place, Naruto walked the streets alone. It was already dark, and gusts of evening wind blew past. Looking at the shattered streets and houses ahead, he pondered his future path. Strength was necessary. Although his current power was considerable, it still wasn't enough. He stood no chance against a Kage-level figure like Orochimaru, let alone the masked man or the Akatsuki leader who would appear in the future.
Therefore, in the next three years, he had to become stronger!
As he was lost in thought, a lively noise came from a well-established tavern up ahead, where many villagers and shinobi had gathered to drink. Some had no homes to return to because their houses were destroyed; others were celebrating surviving the battle.
However, two of them caught Naruto's attention: Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma.
The two happened to be sitting near the entrance. Naruto, passing by, saw Asuma's drunken state and Kurenai's flushed face.
Are these two on a date?
The thought flashed through his mind, but he dismissed it immediately. Asuma's father had just died; how could he be in the mood to woo anyone?
Shaking his head, Naruto couldn't help a wry smile. What does this have to do with me?
He decided to ignore it and keep walking.
At that moment, Kurenai inside the tavern happened to see Naruto passing by and suddenly called out, "Naruto!"
Naruto paused, surprised that Kurenai would stop him.
He had no choice but to turn and enter the tavern, approaching the two. "What is it, Kurenai-sensei?"
Kurenai was clearly a bit drunk, looking at Naruto with unfocused eyes, a trace of relief crossing her face. "Naruto, you came just in time. Asuma is drunk. Help me get him home!"
Naruto saw Asuma slumped over the table, dead drunk and unconscious, muttering incessantly, "Father… father…"
Seems I was wrong. Asuma must have come here to drown his sorrows, Naruto thought, hearing his muttering.
"Well, the problem is I don't know where he lives," Naruto said helplessly. He formed a shadow clone and let it handle the task.
Kurenai gave a slight smile, told him the address of Asuma's apartment, and Naruto's clone immediately hauled him away.
"Alright, my clone is taking him back. But what about you? Do you want me to send a clone to take you home too?" Naruto asked, frowning as he looked at Kurenai, who reeked of alcohol.
"I… I still want… a few more drinks." Kurenai smiled softly, taking a sip from her glass as she spoke, her words slurred. "Naruto, it's lucky you're here… Otherwise, Asuma… this guy's such a nuisance. He kept pestering me to go drinking with him today… Hah… If the Sandaime-sama hadn't sacrificed himself, I really wouldn't have bothered with him… Hehe…"
Listening to Kurenai's fragmented speech, Naruto pieced together the situation. It seemed that in his grief over losing his father, Asuma had wanted someone to drink with for comfort, and Kurenai, whom he had been pursuing, was naturally his first choice. Kurenai, finding it hard to refuse, had ended up drinking with him.
Still, haven't the two gotten together yet? In the original story, their relationship should have progressed rapidly around this time.
Naruto's thoughts shifted slightly, but he stopped dwelling on it. Looking at the unsteady Kurenai before him, he shook his head helplessly. "Kurenai-sensei, if you drink any more, you'll be in trouble. You should go home. Tell me your address; I'll take you back."
"Hmm… you… take me back?" Kurenai looked up at Naruto. "I… don't want to…"
Thud.
Kurenai slumped onto the table, completely passed out.
Naruto couldn't help but rub his temples, thinking that drunk people were a hassle! Not only were they incoherent, but you also had to figure out where they'd sleep.
He had no choice but to ask the tavern for a private room, intending to let her stay there overnight, but they were all booked. He had to help Kurenai out of the tavern. Not knowing her address, he considered a hotel, but it was likely the only intact hotels in Konoha were overflowing.
Forget it. I'll just take her back to my place.
Carrying her on his back, he headed straight for his small room.
After bringing her to his room, Kurenai still didn't settle down, vomiting several times and staining both their clothes.
Smelling the stench of alcohol on himself, Naruto sighed at his own bad luck…
...
The next morning, when Kurenai woke up, she found herself lying on a soft bed under an unfamiliar blanket. The moment she opened her eyes, she was shocked!