Chapter 4
At midday, just as Sasuke was about to sit down for a quiet meal, a loud, rapid knocking echoed through his small apartment near the village's edge.
It was a knock he recognized instantly. With a sigh, Sasuke got up and opened the door.
Standing there with an energetic grin was Naruto Uzumaki. "Oi, Sasuke! Let's go eat!" Naruto announced before Sasuke could even react. Then, before Sasuke could decline, something was suddenly shoved into his hands.
A plushie.
Sasuke blinked, staring at the small, stuffed toy that bore Naruto's likeness—specifically, Naruto in Sage Mode. It had exaggerated features, bright orange robes, and even tiny whisker marks stitched onto its cheeks.
Naruto burst into laughter at Sasuke's unimpressed expression. "Cool, right? It's the newest version! Sage Mode Naruto! People love this one!"
Sasuke gave him a blank stare. "And why are you giving it to me?"
Naruto smirked. "Just wanted to remind you that my plushie has multiple versions. Meanwhile, yours is just a purple Susanoo!"
Sasuke exhaled slowly. He had never understood why people bought these things, let alone why his was so popular.
"Hn." He handed the plushie back to Naruto and was about to shut the door, but Naruto wasn't finished yet.
"Oh yeah! I saw Hinata the other day," Naruto said absentmindedly. "She was carrying one of your Susanoo keychains."
Sasuke paused.
Hinata. So that was her name.
He knew of her, of course. He had seen her fight in the war, had heard Naruto talk about her from time to time. But until this morning, he had never paid much attention to her personally.
Now, he unintentionally took note of her name.
Naruto, oblivious to Sasuke's brief moment of thought, grabbed his wrist and pulled him along. "C'mon, Ichiraku's waiting! My treat!"
Sasuke sighed but allowed himself to be dragged along.