Summer was already here, and each day was getting hotter and hotter.
Hinata felt a bit strange, walking through the market with Sasuke by her side, as they had never done so before. It wasn't like they got together specifically for this, they had been practicing early in the morning in their training ground, and when they were done, after resting for a bit, Sasuke had told her he was running down on food, and she had offered to accompany him to the market if he wanted, and he nodded.
And now they were here.
She glanced at the different stands displaying a variety of products. She was happy to see Sasuke often went to the ones with vegetables and fruits and other fresh products, although she was a little surprised to see him just buying one or two ingredient from one, only to go the next stand and buy another thing that they already had in one of the previous spots.
"Onions are better there, and the ginger is better in that place" he told her when she pointed this out. "I already know what to buy and from where. I have a system."
"Is that so" she nodded, a little impressed if she was being honest. Hinata wasn't the one to buy groceries in her family, that task often lied with the members of the branch family, although she would want to one day. But Sasuke didn't have that possibility, and living on his own for over three years now, he had no option but to go out and do it himself.
The sellers also seemed to know him already, gathering their products before Sasuke could even ask it of them, and saving them in his backpack or one of the many bags he had already in there and that Hinata never knew of. It was a routine which existence she had just discovered. She didn't know what to feel about it.
"Ah, Hinata!"
She startled, not expecting to hear that voice. At her side, Sasuke froze, before a scowl formed on his face, one she was not happy to see.
"Naruto-kun" she greeted, turning around and smiling. She was a bit surprised to see him with bags of product of his own, and even more so when she saw they were healthy ones, instead of the usual instant food she would have imagined him to buy.
He grinned. "I didn't expect to see you here! Buying some food as well?"
Before she could answer, Sasuke opened his mouth. "What else is one going to do at the market? And she's accompanying me, the least you can do is greet us equally, though I guess that's too much for a simpleton like you" he scoffed.
Naruto's mouth fell open in shock. "Bastard! You're here too? I didn't see you!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Simpleton indeed."
"Oi, cut it out!" the other boy fumed, hackles raised, and Hinata could see he was preparing to jump at Sasuke. She quickly scrambled to get between them.
"Sasuke-kun! Do not insult Naruto-kun, please!" she scolded, glancing at him. Sasuke only huffed and looked away in annoyance. "And Naruto-kun, don't fight! This is a public space! You know nothing good will come out of it!"
She wasn't only talking about how obviously bad fighting was. Naruto wasn't liked in the village, while Sasuke was, and adults were often even more fickle than children. She couldn't tell what would happen if Naruto chose to fight Sasuke here, in the market, surrounded by people that would obviously demonize him.
It was too much of a dangerous bet.
Sasuke pursed his lips, but he relaxed his tense pose. Hinata wondered if he understood what she was implying, and was thankful that he backed down, even if he was the one to start the fight, this time.
Naruto, however, still looked incensed, but maybe because it was her who was talking to him, he was having a hard time keeping up his anger.
In the end, however, someone else intervened. "Naruto, I told you not to get away from me" Iruka appeared, sighing in that way he always did, as if he was tired all the time.
The boy finally let out his combative pose and turned, pouting. "Iruka-sensei! Sasuke's bothering me again!"
"Who is bothering y-?" Sasuke started, but was interrupted by a groan from Iruka.
"We don't have time for this, it's not even a school day" he shook his head, before looking at them. "Hinata, Sasuke, it's nice seeing you here" he greeted, "shopping as well?"
It was at that moment that Hinata noticed the bags he was carrying. Of course, why other reason would Naruto be buying healthy food?
She smiled. "I'm accompanying Sasuke-kun" she explained.
"I see. Well, I hope you have a good time. We still need to get a few other things done, so we will leaving you for now. Have a good day" he nodded his head, grabbing Naruto's arm and pulling him away despite the boy's protests. When they were gone, Hinata erased the smile she had during the exchange and turned to Sasuke with a small frown.
He was looking away.
"Sasuke-kun…"
"I know" he gritted, clenching his fist around the handle of his bag. Hinata sighed.
"You said Naruto-kun was the one to always start, but this time…"
"I said I know, you don't have to say anything" he interrupted, turning away. "I still need to buy tomatoes. Are you coming or not?" he asked roughly, although Hinata understood it was because he was agitated, not because of her.
She bit her lip, but ended up following him when he started to walk on his own.
Hinata had never seen anyone buy so many tomatoes in her life.