Back at the cabin, Naruto set Nine-Tails down on the couch and turned to Sasuke. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll grab some ingredients and start cooking."
"Want me to come with you?" Sasuke asked.
Friends should stick together, he reasoned.
"Nah, just rest." Naruto waved him off, tone gentle. "Your physical conditioning isn't great—you were gasping for air after just a short sparring session. Take it easy."
Sasuke's jaw tightened. That's because you don't know how to pull your punches.
He glanced at Naruto's still-bare torso and cleared his throat. "Naruto... you should probably put on a shirt before going out."
The sight was too much. If Sasuke stared at those muscles any longer, he'd be having nightmares about Naruto's grotesquely swollen body.
"Oh, right! Almost forgot." Naruto laughed, then raised both arms in a double bicep pose, his pectorals flexing. "What do you think? Pretty impressive, right?"
Sasuke's eye twitched violently.
After changing into a fresh shirt, Naruto headed outside to find suitable ingredients. This was his first real friend—he couldn't serve anything subpar.
He crouched low, moving silently through the tall grass. Ahead, a flock of sheep grazed peacefully, unaware of his presence.
Naruto studied them carefully, selecting his target. Then he exploded forward.
The flock immediately panicked, scattering in all directions with frightened bleats.
Naruto locked onto one particular sheep and gave chase. Moments later, he had it in his arms, its legs kicking futilely.
"You were the fastest runner just now!" Naruto scolded. "And you're still afraid of me? Am I really that scary?"
"Baaaaaa!" The goat bleated desperately.
"Afraid now, huh?" Naruto tucked it firmly under his arm and strode back toward the cabin.
"Baa-baa-baa-baa!" The goat's cries grew increasingly frantic. Why did I have to run so fast?!
Inside the cabin, Sasuke knelt on the floor mat, boredom creeping in. His gaze drifted to the small orange fox lounging on the couch.
So cute, he thought, fingers twitching. I really want to pet it.
Internal conflict waged within him. He was still just a child, after all, and had little resistance to adorable animals.
Decision made, Sasuke stood and approached cautiously. He extended his hand slowly, reaching toward Nine-Tails' head.
Just centimeters away from contact, Nine-Tails suddenly shot upright. His fur bristled, and one paw lashed out at Sasuke's hand.
"Don't touch me!"
Both of them froze.
Nine-Tails: ...
It can talk? Sasuke's hand hung suspended in mid-air. Is it a summoning beast?
Nine-Tails' mind raced. Damn it, I spoke! What do I do? He glared internally at nothing. Who told this brat to touch me? Naruto can pet me because he's—wait, why should this kid get the same privilege?!
But damage control was needed.
Nine-Tails forced his bristling fur to flatten. He looked up at Sasuke with large, innocent eyes and let out a weak, pathetic sound: "Yip..."
At that moment, loud bleating came from outside. Sasuke went to investigate and found Naruto returning with a goat tucked under his arm. A freshly sharpened knife glinted in his other hand.
He even has to slaughter his own meat? Something twisted painfully in Sasuke's chest. He wanted to offer comfort, but quickly realized that would be wrong. Naruto had always been strong, self-reliant. Trying to console him would only imply that Sasuke thought he was weak.
But even the strongest people have vulnerable sides, Sasuke thought sadly.
Hearing footsteps, Naruto turned while tying on an apron. "Sasuke, just relax inside. I'll handle everything."
He patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry about a thing!"
"Um, Naruto?" Sasuke ventured. "I can't eat very much. We don't need to butcher a whole sheep. Maybe just... fried eggs? My brother makes them for me all the time. They're really good."
"No way." Naruto shook his head firmly. I need enough food for myself too.
He began the butchering process. The goat's bleating cut off abruptly. Next came boiling water to remove the hair, revealing pale, clean meat beneath.
At least it looks peaceful, Sasuke observed with dark humor.
He moved closer, watching Naruto work with practiced efficiency. "Naruto... that fox. Is it a summoning beast?"
"Summoning beast? Nah, just a regular fox." Naruto didn't look up from his cutting. "I found him on the side of the road one day, looking pitiful. So I took him in."
"Really?" Sasuke's skepticism was obvious. "But I heard it talk."
"Talk? You must be hallucinating." Naruto's tone turned serious, concerned even. "Your face is injured, and you used a lot of chakra during our match. It probably affected your mental state a bit."
"I'm... hallucinating?" Doubt crept into Sasuke's voice. Am I?
"By the way, does your face hurt?" Naruto skillfully changed the subject.
"It doesn't—" Sasuke raised his hand to his face. The moment he touched it: "Ow! Hiss—"
"Go rest inside. Food will be ready soon." Naruto ushered the stubborn Sasuke back to the sitting area, brought him tea, then returned to the kitchen.
Once alone, Naruto muttered to himself. "Where are the eggs? I should boil some for Sasuke's face."
He found eggs, boiled them thoroughly, then peeled one and wrapped it in clean gauze. Returning to the main room, he held it out.
"Here, Sasuke. This should help with the swelling."
He moved to press it against Sasuke's bruised face—
"I can do it myself!" Sasuke quickly intercepted the egg, pressing it gently against his skin. Immediate relief. "Thanks."
"All right, back to cooking!" Naruto disappeared into the kitchen again.
Twenty minutes later, Naruto emerged wearing his apron, carrying a massive bowl of steaming mutton soup. He set it on the dining table and gestured for Sasuke to sit.
Then came the other dishes, one after another.
The table groaned under the weight of food. Sasuke breathed in the rich, savory aromas filling the air. Looking down, he counted the dishes in growing amazement.
It was a complete mutton feast: braised lamb, lamb hot pot, mutton soup, spicy lamb trotters, shredded mutton with peppers... The variety was staggering. Every dish looked perfectly prepared, colors vibrant and appealing.
"Please, eat up, my friend." Naruto removed his apron and knelt across from Sasuke at the table, gesturing welcomingly.
Sasuke picked up his chopsticks, deeply moved by the gesture. "Thank you for the meal."
He took his first bite—and his eyes widened.
This is... actually incredible.
The flavors were expertly balanced, the meat tender and flavorful. For someone who'd learned to cook out of necessity at such a young age, Naruto had developed remarkable skill.
As they ate together in the warm glow of the cabin, Sasuke felt something shift inside him. This strange, powerful boy who'd forced his way into becoming his friend...
Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all.