The sun hung high in the sky, its warm rays cutting through the crisp morning air of Konoha. It was one of those rare days when the village seemed at peace, the usual hustle and bustle softened by the gentle breeze. Naruto found himself at the training grounds again, though today, things were different.It wasn't a training day. Sasuka had told him as much when she suggested they meet here this morning. At first, Naruto had been confused. They had trained nearly every day for the past few weeks, pushing each other to their limits. But when Sasuka told him to bring something to eat and not his kunai, he realized today would be different.Naruto sat on the grass, a small bag of snacks beside him, waiting for Sasuka to arrive. He felt an unfamiliar nervousness stir in his stomach. It was strange—he had spent countless hours with Sasuka, but today, the idea of just hanging out felt more intimidating than all their training combined.He didn't have long to think about it, though, because Sasuka appeared soon after, walking toward him with her usual calm and composed expression. She wasn't in her usual training gear today, wearing a more casual outfit, a simple dark tunic and shorts. It was a side of her Naruto had never really seen before."Hey," she greeted, sitting down beside him without ceremony. Her voice was as even as ever, but there was a small, almost imperceptible shift in her demeanor—she seemed a little more relaxed, as if the weight of her constant training had lifted, if only for a moment."Hey, Sasuka," Naruto replied, smiling awkwardly. He rummaged through the bag he'd brought, pulling out the snacks. "Uh, I brought food. I wasn't sure what you'd want, so I just grabbed some random stuff."Sasuka glanced at the assortment of snacks—rice balls, dango, and a few sweet buns—and nodded in approval. "This works." (sasuka love rice balls.)They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, munching on the food. Naruto couldn't help but steal glances at Sasuka every now and then. It was still a little surreal, spending time with her like this, outside of the intense training sessions they'd been sharing. For so long, he had felt like an outsider, someone who didn't belong anywhere. But with Sasuka, even in the quiet moments like this, he felt... accepted. Like he had a place, even if it was just for today."So," Sasuka said after a while, her voice cutting through the silence, "do you always train alone? Before... we started training together, I mean."Naruto swallowed a bite of his rice ball and shrugged. "Pretty much. I didn't really have anyone else to train with. No one wanted to be around me, you know? And my parents... well, they were always busy with Naruko and Menma."Sasuka's expression remained neutral, but Naruto noticed the slight narrowing of her eyes. She didn't push for more details, though, and he was grateful for that."What about you?" Naruto asked, hoping to shift the focus off himself. "You always seem to be training alone, too."Sasuka stared out at the horizon, her dark eyes thoughtful. "I prefer it that way. Most people aren't serious about training. They don't have the same drive." She paused for a moment, then added quietly, "And it's easier to focus when you're not distracted by others."Naruto nodded, understanding that more than she knew. He had spent most of his life alone, not by choice, but out of necessity. For Sasuka, it seemed different—like she chose her solitude, as if it gave her control over something in a world where so much was out of her hands.They fell into another comfortable silence, the breeze rustling the trees around them. Naruto had never been good at making small talk, and he wasn't sure how to navigate a "normal" day like this. But there was something about just being there, sitting with Sasuka in the sun, that felt right.After a while, Sasuka stood up, dusting off her clothes. "Come on," she said, glancing down at Naruto. "Let's walk."Naruto blinked, surprised, but quickly scrambled to his feet. "Walk? Where to?""Doesn't matter," Sasuka replied, already moving toward the path that led away from the training grounds. "It's a nice day. We don't need a destination."Naruto followed her, his curiosity piqued. He couldn't remember the last time he had just... walked around the village. Usually, he avoided the busy streets, where the stares and whispers of the villagers weighed on him. But with Sasuka, it felt different—like he could move through the village without carrying that burden on his shoulders.As they walked, they didn't talk much, but the silence was easy, not awkward. They passed by several places Naruto rarely visited... the bustling market, where vendors shouted their wares, the small park where children played, and the quieter, more secluded paths that wound through the village outskirts. Sasuka seemed to know her way around without needing a map, her steps sure and confident.Eventually, they came to a hill that overlooked the village. The view was breathtaking, the rooftops of Konoha stretching out beneath them, the wind was rustling hard, with the Hokage Monument standing tall in the distance. Naruto stopped, staring out at the sight, his breath catching for a moment."It's... really nice up here," he said softly, almost to himself.Sasuka stood beside him, her arms crossed as she looked out at the view. "I come here sometimes. It's quiet. No one bothers you."Naruto glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah... I can see why you'd like it."They stood there for a long time, just watching the village below. Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had felt so at ease, so... content. For once, he wasn't worried about what people thought of him, or about trying to prove himself. He wasn't thinking about his parents, or about Naruko and Menma, or even about the Nine-Tails' spirit sealed inside him. For the first time in a long time, he just felt... normal."You've gotten stronger, you know," Sasuka said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was quiet, but there was a sincerity in her tone that Naruto hadn't heard before.Naruto blinked, surprised. "You think so?"Sasuka nodded, still looking out at the village. "You've improved a lot since we started training together. You don't give up, even when things get tough. That's strength."Naruto felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. Coming from Sasuka, it meant a lot. She wasn't one to give out praise easily, and hearing her acknowledge his progress made him feel like he was finally on the right path."Thanks," he said, his voice soft but full of gratitude.Sasuka shrugged, but there was a faint smile on her lips, barely visible but enough for Naruto to notice. "Don't get used to it," she teased, her tone light. "You still have a long way to go."Naruto chuckled, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But one day, I'm gonna catch up to you. Just watch."Sasuka didn't respond immediately, but her smile lingered for a moment longer before she turned to start walking back down the hill. "We'll see," she said over her shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.Naruto grinned, following her down the path. As they made their way back toward the village, the weight of the world seemed a little less heavy, the shadows a little less dark. For the first time in a long time, Naruto felt like he had a real friend—someone who didn't see him as a monster or an outcast, but as an equal.And for now, that was more than enough.