Through the Darkness To You (Sasuke x Reader)

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Tazuna's house, casting a warm glow across the small living room. The smell of miso soup and freshly cooked rice drifted from the kitchen and the sound of clinking bowls filled the air.

I stretched, letting out a quiet yawn as I joined everyone at the table. Tazuna sat with his daughter Tsunami, who was busy serving breakfast, while his grandson Inari glared at us from his seat. Naruto had already piled his plate high, grinning ear to ear.

"Man, this is the best meal I've had all week!" Naruto exclaimed, shoving rice into his mouth at an alarming speed.

Tsunami smiled warmly. "I'm glad you like it. Please, eat as much as you want."

"Don't say that" Sasuke muttered from his seat across the table. "He'll actually eat everything."

Naruto glared at him, his mouth still full of food. "Shut up Sasuke!" he said, spraying bits of rice across the table.

"Gross," Sakura muttered, moving her plate away.

I stifled a laugh, grabbing a pair of chopsticks. "Naruto, chew before you talk. You're going to choke one of these days."

Naruto stuck his tongue out at me but kept eating, while Sasuke gave a faint, almost imperceptible smirk.

As we ate, I noticed Inari's cold glare lingering on Naruto, who seemed oblivious. I decided to break the tension.

"So, Inari," I said, smiling at him. "Do you have any hobbies? Fishing? Drawing?"

He scoffed, crossing his arms. "What's the point? Nothing we do matters. Gato will ruin everything anyway."

Naruto froze mid-bite, his grin fading. "Hey, what's your problem, kid? You don't know anything about us!"

"Inari," Tsunami said gently, her expression pained. "That's enough. These people are trying to help us."

"Whatever," Inari muttered, standing abruptly and leaving the table.

The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment but I forced a small smile, looking at Naruto. "Don't let him get to you. He's just scared."

Naruto frowned but nodded, shoving another bite of rice into his mouth.

After breakfast, Kakashi gathered us outside in the forest near Tazuna's house. The air was crisp and cool, the mist still clinging to the trees.

"Today's focus is chakra control," Kakashi announced, leaning casually on his crutch. "You'll learn to climb trees without using your hands."

Naruto blinked, looking confused. "Why would we need to climb trees, dattebayo?"

"It's a great way to practice chakra control," Kakashi explained. "And you're going to need it if you want to stand a chance against someone like Zabuza."

Kakashi handed each of us a kunai. "Mark how high you get each time. It's not about speed, Naruto. It's about precision."

As Kakashi explained the technique, I studied the tree in front of me. Focus chakra into your feet, then step carefully. Easy, right?

Wrong.

The first time I tried, I barely made it two steps before losing my balance and sliding down the trunk.

"Whoa!" I yelped, landing on the ground with a thud.

Naruto burst out laughing. "Y/N! You're supposed to climb the tree, not hug it!"

I glared at him, brushing dirt off my clothes. "Let's see you do better, Mr. Hokage."

Naruto charged at his tree, only to bounce off the trunk and land flat on his back. "Ow!"