"I'm sorry, but where will I sleep?"

"I don't care. Why don't you come up and just sleep with me?"

"Alright."

"Don't you understand sarcasm, kid?" Niisa complained when the hammock shifted as the boy climbed in and settled opposite her. At least she was relieved he didn't have stinky feet.

"Yes, but I want to sleep." He smiled and got comfortable next to her. He'd slept in tight spots before, like on missions in tents with Sakura and Sasuke. He always tried to ensure Sakura was in the middle; just the thought of sleeping next to Sasuke gave him chills.

"I hope you don't snore, or I'm kicking you out." She pulled the blanket over both of them, getting ready for bed.

"Alright."

"..."

"Hey, Niisa?"

"Ah, what?" She groaned, covering her face with a pillow, feeling quite annoyed by the boy.

"Why are you nicer than before? In the fight, you said that you wanted to... have me as a trophy." He asked cautiously, the memories of their fight still fresh. Indeed, Niisa had a peculiar way of being kind for someone who had a moment ago been trying to pummel him.

"I like to mess with my victims."

"Oh... What is messing?" He asked curiously, raising his head to look at the waterbender, who snorted and smiled.

"I hate talking to virgin children"

"Hey," pouting, he sank into the hammock and stared at the ceiling. Did he need to get a girlfriend to understand all these strange adult words?

Decided, he thought that when he got home, he would ask Sakura out on a date. He wouldn't give up until he won her heart. Or maybe he could consider Ino. Then again, she seemed too superficial and loud.

TenTen? Well, he couldn't quite remember talking to her, but she was pretty, and he liked her hairstyle. She seemed like a cheerful person.

Ayame? No, that would be strange, considering he always saw her as a kind of motherly figure, the first to show him affection along with the ramen old man.

Hinata? She was kind of mysterious, and he didn't have much to think about her. She always looked away from him and even fainted when he tried to talk to her, which was pretty annoying.

Azula…

"..." Naruto blinked as the image of the fiery Fire Princess came to his mind, making him shift uncomfortably in the hammock. He recalled seeing her along with Ty Lee and Mai, completely undressed.

Would it be strange to think that this was a memory he would treasure?

Well, don't judge. It was the first time he'd ever seen real women in that kind of situation and lived to tell about it.

Now he could understand a little better why Ero-sennin did it.

As Naruto had his internal debate, Niisa was calmly gazing at the roof of her boat, swaying gently with the ocean's motion. But she noticed the boy and sighed, capturing his attention.

"Before you met me at that tournament, I was pretty wild for a while. For better or worse, the beating you gave me helped me get my act together a bit. I think I had my share of bad relationships, with someone new in my bed almost every night."

"Oh... you mean, doing 'that'?" Well, 'it' was something she understood to a certain extent, lacking parents or any form of sexual education in the academy.

"Haha, yes, 'that.'" She smiled and nodded, nearly laughing at the boy's shy expression as he scratched his cheek.

"So, whatever you want to do with me...?"

"Oh, yes."

"Man," Naruto shifted uncomfortably on the bed. He didn't know how to respond. Were all girls here like this, or was it just those from this world? "Well, if you want to give it a shot, I'm not complaining."

What would anyone have done? Nobody could judge. It would be a great story to tell when he returned to his world. He could rub it in Kiba and the others' faces that a stunning woman wanted to do 'that' with him.

"Nah, good luck next time."

"Ah, darn."

This time, Niisa couldn't help but laugh at the boy's reaction. He looked as if he'd just seen a ghost.

"Don't worry, some other girl will pounce on you."

"I don't think I want that." Strangely and disturbingly, an image of Azula crossed his mind, sending chills down his spine.

"Everyone says that at first."

"Niisa."

"Hmm?"

"You're awesome."

"Oh, really?"

"Well, I think you are. You remind me of a crazy woman back home."

"Crazy woman isn't the best compliment... but thank you."

"You're welcome."

Niisa gazed at the boy for a few moments, seeing something more through him. "He looks like her."

"Good night, Niisa."

"Good night, kid."

The waterbender and the shinobi finally surrendered to the soothing calm of the night and drifted off to sleep. They were gently carried by the sea current, which would guide them to their destination, the Northern Water Tribe.

A journey that might become something more than just that.

….

It had been a long two-day journey during which Naruto embarked on his quest to find his friends alongside the waterbender. These two days felt extended for both of them, yet they learned to understand each other.

"So, you used your urine to escape?"

"It was a desperate measure, but I'm not complaining. It helped me escape from that earth kingdom prison." Niisa was smiling as she recounted this anecdote, and Naruto listened attentively.

"You're brilliant, Niisa!"

"Tell me something I don't know, kid," she said, sipping another glass of her drink, relishing the warmth as it trickled down into her stomach.

"You've had so many adventures." Naruto couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy for the waterbender, who seemed to have an endless supply of stories about her adventures in various places across the continents. She was somewhat like Ero-sennin, having the freedom to go wherever she pleased and experience countless adventures.

It sounded like fun.

"Yes, though not everyone thinks so."

"Hmm? Why not? You're amazing."

"My father doesn't share your sentiment... Do you know why I left the North Pole?" She wanted to take back her words, but the alcohol had loosened her tongue, and the confession slipped out.

"Did you leave your family?"

"…"

"I'm sorry," the waterbender's approach was simple. If you wanted information, you had to share information. "I just can't imagine running away from my family."

"Families can be overrated."

"I can't say... I'm an orphan."

"Shoot," it seemed that their conversation had hit a dead end. The waterbender noticed the sadness in the boy's eyes and sighed. She reached for the bottle and poured herself a drink, as if it were just water. "Drink, kid. It's boring to drink alone." She raised the bottle to her lips and took a sip.

"But… I've never drunk before."

"Tsk... scaredy-cat."

"I'm not afraid!"

"Well, here's to your health, kid."

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Good."

"Good."

"Well…" Naruto took the glass and took a moment to savor the potent aroma that nearly made him cough. With the teacher's watchful eyes on him, he shrugged. "Bottoms up."

"Cheers."

[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go visit My PAT -REON and support me there.

PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]