Chapter 1

After returning from his long journey of atonement, Sasuke was still emotionally stunted and struggling with basic social interactions. Naruto, worried about his best friend's lack of warmth, decided to assign him a mission with the kindest person he knew: Hinata Hyuga.

Hinata, ever polite, tried her best to engage in small talk with Sasuke, but he responded with nothing but grunts or short, blunt sentences. One night, after setting up camp during their mission, Hinata gently told him, "Good night, Sasuke-san."

Still unfamiliar with expressing basic affection, Sasuke—completely serious—replied, "Rest in peace."

The silence was too loud. Hinata blinked. "U-Uh… what?"

Sasuke frowns, realizing his mistake, but instead of correcting himself, he just shrugged. "I meant… sleep well."

Hinata stared for a moment before breaking into quiet giggles. Sasuke looked away, pretending he didn't hear her.

Meanwhile, in another part of Konoha, Naruto suddenly sneezed and somehow felt a second-hand embarrassment.