Naruko and Gaara... She Is the Light (fanservice)

"What do you want?"

Sasuke's cold voice echoed briefly in the bustling street before it was drowned out by the noise of the crowd.

Gaara didn't respond to him. His pale green eyes were fixed solely on Naruko. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then closed it again. Behind him, Temari and Kankurō exchanged nervous glances.

"Say something! Just say it already!" They silently urged Gaara, their expressions filled with both frustration and anticipation.

After a long silence, Gaara finally spoke.

"Uzumaki Naruko... What does love mean to you?"

Naruko blinked, clearly startled. For a moment, she didn't respond. Then, with a bright, signature grin, she looked up at Gaara and answered:

"I don't really know what love is... But I know this—there were people who pulled me out of my loneliness. They accepted me, and because of them, I stopped feeling so alone."

Her voice grew more serious, her blue eyes filled with determination. "They changed me. Because of them, I'm not scared of being alone anymore. That's what matters to me."

Sasuke and the others froze at her words. Sasuke's lips twitched into the barest hint of a smile, though it quickly disappeared.

"You're such a huge idiot," Sasuke muttered, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness.

Gaara stared at her, his expression complicated. He spoke softly, almost to himself:

"Is that… love?"

He remembered the scenes from the heavenly screen—the boy who had once cried for him, questioned the unfairness of the world, and demanded to know why people like them were forced to suffer.

Naruko had fought for someone like him, a former enemy, someone consumed by hate. Gaara's thoughts wandered back to those moments.

"That kind of loneliness… It must have been unbearable, right?" Gaara's voice wavered. "For some reason, I feel like I understand your pain..."

Naruko tilted her head slightly, confused by the intensity in his voice.

Gaara took a shaky breath and asked hesitantly: "Do you think... someone like me could ever have that? Could I ever have... love?"

Naruko's expression softened. She smiled warmly, the kind of smile that seemed to radiate light.

"Of course, you can! I know you can!"

Gaara's hands trembled at her answer. "Really...? Someone like me?" His voice was quiet, almost broken. "Could I really have that warmth... that happiness...?"

Naruko frowned slightly, then took a step forward. Her small hand reached out, pausing just in front of Gaara's.

His eyes widened, and he looked at her in shock.

Naruko gave him the same big, goofy smile she always did. "Why wouldn't you be able to? I'm Uzumaki Naruko, the guy who's gonna surpass all the Hokage, dattebayo!"

Gaara stared at her, stunned. Somewhere deep inside, a tiny seed of hope began to sprout. But fear gripped him—fear of reaching out and finding nothing there.

Naruko's smile didn't falter. She stepped closer. "If you want, I'll be your first friend!" She raised a finger. "But don't go after my other friends, or I'll have to teach you a lesson, dattebayo!"

The street fell silent. Gaara froze, unable to move.

Sasuke's face darkened. "Naruko, what are you doing?"

Gaara's hand twitched, wanting to reach out but paralyzed by fear. "Am I allowed to…? Can I really…?" His thoughts raced, his breathing quickened.

Suddenly, Naruko grabbed his trembling hand with both of hers.

"Now we're officially friends, dattebayo!"

Gaara's entire body stilled. Her hand was so small yet so warm. The word echoed in his mind: Friend.

For the first time, a gentle smile crept across his lips. His heart, long buried in darkness, began to thaw.

"Friend..." Gaara whispered softly.

Naruko grinned even wider. "That's right! Friends!"

The moment was heartwarming, yet Sasuke's face grew darker by the second. He glared at their joined hands as if they had personally insulted him.

Temari and Kankurō, on the other hand, exchanged delighted looks.

"This is perfect!" they thought. "We approve of this marriage!"

"Hey! We were about to get ramen. Wanna come with us?" Naruko asked Gaara cheerfully.

Gaara hesitated, then nodded, his smile never fading. "If you're inviting me, then yes."

As the group started walking toward Ichiraku Ramen, Gaara couldn't help but watch Naruko. Her cheerful laugh, her carefree attitude—it was all so… captivating.

"So, this is what having a friend feels like..." Gaara thought.

For the first time in his life, he felt like the happiest person in the world.

Sasuke, however, was fuming silently. His sharp eyes darted between Gaara and Naruko. He couldn't take it anymore.

Without warning, Sasuke strode forward, grabbed Naruko's hand, and yanked her away from Gaara.

Everyone froze.

"Sasuke, what are you doing, dattebayo?!" Naruko demanded, her face scrunched in annoyance.

Sasuke didn't answer, his grip firm as he marched toward Ichiraku.

"We're getting ramen," he said coldly