Chapter 4: The Beauty
Love is something people seem to instinctively understand without needing a teacher.
Sasuke still felt a bit dazed, finding it hard to believe.
...
"Darling, you're amazing."
Sasuke chuckled. "Don't worry, Sakura. Your husband will protect you well."
The world of the Shinobi was far from peaceful; in fact, it was extremely dangerous.
In the original story, Sakura's long, beautiful pink hair was something that stood out. But after facing hardships, she cut it short and kept it that way.
Sasuke silently vowed that his wife's beautiful hair was something he would protect, no matter what.
Perhaps sensing Sasuke's protective aura, Sakura was deeply moved.
Then, blushing, she said, "I really should be going now."
"Wait a moment."
Sasuke stood up again, rummaging through the room. Before the massacre of his clan, Sasuke had lived the life of a pampered heir, a true second-generation wealthy kid.
Now, though he was an orphan like Uzumaki Naruto, his circumstances were still far better than Naruto's. At least he had access to money when he needed it.
After finding some cash, Sasuke grabbed Sakura's hand. "Let's go; I'll walk you home."
They stepped out of the house.
The night sky was crisp and clear, and Sasuke couldn't help but marvel. 'This really is the world of an anime.'
'From now on, my life will be extraordinary, filled with happiness and endless possibilities.'
Sakura's face turned a deep red because Sasuke's hands were being rather... inappropriate in a way that couldn't be described.
Luckily, it was nighttime, and there weren't many people around, sparing them from being seen.
'Sasuke has changed so much,' Sakura thought.
The feeling was both sweet and slightly overwhelming.
For Sakura, this was her first relationship. If not for Sasuke's tenderness during their daytime intimacy, leaving her with sweet memories, it might have been hard for her to accept the transition from girl to woman so quickly.
...
"Come on, Sakura. There's an Ichiraku Ramen over there."
Sasuke noticed the familiar ramen shop in the village and felt a wave of nostalgia. Back when he was a shut-in in his original world, he had often seen Naruto coming here to eat, treating it as the best food in existence.
But now, Sasuke wasn't alone. With his arm around Sakura, he asked gently, "We've been busy all day and haven't eaten. You must be starving."
"Ichiraku Ramen—do you like it?"
Sasuke's warmth was undeniable.
Not only did he personally escort Sakura home and offer to treat her to dinner, but he also genuinely cared about her preferences.
For most couples, this might seem normal, but for Sakura, it was enough to bring her to tears.
'I'm so lucky!'
In the original storyline, even though Sakura ended up with Sasuke, her life wasn't exactly happy. The Sasuke in that world was neither a caring husband nor a family-oriented man.
But this Sasuke, after taking her first time and confirming their relationship, didn't turn cold or distant. Instead, he was attentive and gentle.
Even if Sasuke had a habit of being a little handsy, Sakura found herself more than willing to accept it.
"Yes, I love ramen," she replied softly.
And so, Sasuke took Sakura's hand and led her into Ichiraku Ramen.
The shop looked exactly as it did in the anime, with its simple design and the enticing aroma of freshly prepared food filling the air.
Sasuke, who had spent much of his energy with Sakura earlier, was starving.
"Boss, three bowls of ramen, please."
Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, was a serious yet kind man. In the original story, he treated Naruto exceptionally well, never ostracizing him for being the host of the Nine-Tails.
Though most of the original series revolved around Naruto, Teuchi was also familiar with Sasuke.
After all, Uchiha Sasuke was a renowned name in Konoha, even though Sasuke rarely visited the ramen shop.
"Three bowls? Can the two of you finish all that?" Teuchi asked, concerned about food waste.
Rubbing his stomach, Sasuke laughed. "I'm starving; I'll easily finish two bowls. As for my girlfriend, Sakura, she hasn't eaten all day either, so she'll definitely finish one, right?"
Sakura blushed and nodded, her heart racing.
Sasuke had openly referred to her as his girlfriend. The gesture was so heartfelt it nearly brought Sakura to tears.
Her gaze at Sasuke was now filled with affection.
If she weren't worried about her parents scolding her for not returning home tonight, she would have gladly stayed at Sasuke's house. She wanted to be by his side at all times.
Teuchi seemed pleasantly surprised.
"So, you're a couple?"
Sasuke nodded. "I like her, and she likes me."
"How wonderful. You two must cherish each other."
Teuchi smiled. "Wait a moment; I'll start on your three bowls of ramen right away."
Ichiraku Ramen had another employee besides the boss—his daughter, Ayame.
Ayame was a sweet and beautiful young woman who often helped out at the shop.
That evening, she happened to be working as well.
As Teuchi began preparing the ramen, Ayame came out and noticed Sasuke and Sakura sitting together. The chemistry between them was so evident that even an outsider could feel it.
"Uchiha Sasuke..." Ayame said, recognizing him immediately.
"You must be the owner's daughter," Sasuke remarked, recalling her appearance from the anime, though her name had slipped his mind.
"I'm Ayame. I never expected Uchiha Sasuke to visit our little ramen shop. And this young lady here—she's Haruno Sakura, right?"
Ayame's voice was warm and friendly. "What a cute and beautiful girl."
In daily life, Sakura could be loud and brash. In the original series, her temper often resembled that of a tigress, especially when she was beating up Naruto.
But beside Sasuke, Sakura was the picture of demure gentleness.
"Hello, Ayame-san. I'm sorry to disturb you so late," Sakura said politely.
Ayame waved her hand with a laugh. "Our shop is open for business no matter how late it gets. As long as there are hungry customers, we're happy to serve delicious food."
Her cheerful demeanor was quintessentially anime-esque, radiating passion for her work.
Suddenly, Ayame leaned in conspiratorially, her expression turning curious.
"I overheard earlier... Are you two really a couple? And... how far have you gone? Holding hands? Kissing? Or..."
Her curiosity was palpable.
Sasuke, being one of the most handsome young men in the village, paired with Sakura, the class beauty, naturally sparked Ayame's interest.
Sasuke smirked. "We've done everything we should have."
Ayame's eyes widened in shock. "That fast?!"
Ayame wasn't exactly young anymore but had never experienced a romantic relationship herself.