Sakura: "I'm almost done!"
As they got closer, Naruto said sharply, "Hurry, Sakura."
Sakura, nervously: "Okay… I'm trying."
Suddenly, two night guards entered the room. One of them said, "Which idiot left the computer on?"
The other replied, "Just turn it off and let's get back to patrolling the rest of the rooms."
As soon as they opened the door, Naruto grabbed Sakura and hid with her inside a narrow closet that barely fit them. Naruto watched the guards through a small hole.
When Sakura heard one of the guards call her an "idiot," she exploded with anger, but before she could speak, Naruto covered her mouth with his hand.
She was startled by his quick reaction and looked at him for a moment. Then she placed her hand on his to move it, saying, "What the—"
Before she could finish, he pulled her close, holding the back of her head against his chest, and whispered, "Be quiet, Sakura."
She was surprised, then began to hear his heartbeat. His heartbeats are calm… but a little tired, she thought.
She looked up at him with a soft smile: You don't get nervous during missions anymore… Naruto.
She stared at him for a while until he said, "Let's go… they're gone."
She snapped out of it and nodded. He held her hand and said, "Hold on to me."
Suddenly, she found herself at a rear window very high above the snow-covered ground. Naruto jumped down, but when he looked back at Sakura, he saw her hesitating. He sighed, "What now?!"
She looked down nervously, thinking, My feet are freezing… I'm not sure I can jump from this height.
She hesitated until she heard Naruto call, raising his arms, "Jump!"
She still hesitated, and he encouraged her, "Come on, don't be afraid… I'll catch you."
She squeezed her eyes shut and jumped. The cold wind nearly froze her, but suddenly she felt warmth. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in his arms, holding onto him tightly.
She pulled her face away from his shoulder to look at him, and he smiled teasingly, "You've gained a lot of weight since before."
She was about to thank him but scowled when she heard his comment. She pulled away and said bitterly, gritting her teeth, "Of course I'm not as light as your fiancée."
She walked ahead, and Naruto watched her go, trying to stifle his laughter before following her.
They walked in silence until Sakura said shyly, "Naruto…"
He looked at her from the corner of his eye.
Sakura, blushing: "Have I really gained weight?!"
He stared at her for a moment, then smirked and looked forward again, faking coldness: "Yeah… a lot."
But in truth, he didn't think so at all.
Upon hearing his response, Sakura exploded in anger and turned her face away.
Naruto glanced at her and then said casually, "Seems like you haven't been taking care of yourself lately… not like you."
Sakura listened with her eyes closed, clenching her fists, until she couldn't take it anymore. She swung at him—probably hard enough to knock him all the way back to Konoha—but he caught her punch mid-air with a calm, blank expression.
She stared at him in shock: Did he… block my punch? Am I dreaming?! It's the first time he's ever blocked me!
He pushed her hand away, and she nearly lost her balance, stumbling and falling to the ground. He walked off casually while she sat on the ground, stunned.
Sakura, to herself: It's like I'm getting to know you for the first time… Naruto.
She got up and followed him, barely able to walk from the cold, until they finally reached the tent.
Naruto, to Kakashi: "Alright, your turn. We've completed our part."
Kakashi: "Let's go, Tena—Yamato."
Yamato, sadly, looking at the ground: Why does he always say my name wrong, senpai…?
As soon as they arrived, Sakura hurried into the tent and buried herself under the blanket, her teeth chattering from the cold: "She didn't tell us… Lady Tsunade… that it would be this cold… Seriously… I can't take it…"
Naruto sat at the tent entrance, looking outside.
Sakura tried to sleep but failed—she was freezing. Naruto could hear her blowing into her hands to warm them. Eventually, he took off his coat and tossed it to her: "Here… maybe this'll help a little."
She caught it, hands trembling, and looked at him, her voice shaking: "B-But… what about you…?"
Wearing only his sleeveless black outfit, he cut her off: "Don't worry about me… I'll be fine."
She looked at him, then closed her eyes to try and sleep. But soon, a fierce cold wind—just like Tsunade had warned—blew through, tripling the already harsh chill.
Sakura woke up again, shivering uncontrollably, and couldn't sleep. She was back to freezing as she had been before Naruto gave her his coat.
As she struggled with the cold, she suddenly heard a small sneeze—soft like a child's—from Naruto's direction.
She looked at him quickly, then smiled to herself: Even in this state… your cute little sneeze made me smile…
She kept watching him until she noticed his arm trembling—the one he was resting on his bent knee. He was clearly trying to stop it by tensing his muscles.
His exhaustion showed all over him. His eyes were barely open, but he fought to keep them that way.
She thought to herself, It's true… He hasn't slept since morning, and on top of that, he worked all day without a single break… And sleeping in that position must be really uncomfortable…
Then came Sakura's voice:
"Naruto…"
He looked at her, and she continued,
"Aren't you going to sleep? You look really tired. You've been working non-stop all day… You must be exhausted."
He gave her a gentle smile and said,
"Don't worry… You go to sleep."
She looked at him for a moment, then called him again. He turned to see what she wanted. She looked at him shyly, then moved a little, making space beside her.
He stared at her in surprise, and she blushed as she said,
"You can sleep here."
His surprise grew.
"Won't that bother you?"
Trying to hide her embarrassment, she said sharply,
"Just… keep your distance."
He smirked teasingly,
"Don't worry… I won't even think of getting close."
He got up and lay beside her. They both faced away from each other, trying to sleep. Suddenly, the temperature dropped again. Naruto endured it, but Sakura's teeth began chattering louder. She blew on her hands, but it didn't help.
The longer it went, the worse the cold became—until suddenly, she felt Naruto's arm wrap around her as he said,
"Just to keep you warm…"
Then he added, lifting his arm slightly,
"But if it bothers y—"
She interrupted, holding his hand and gently bringing it back around her,
"No… it doesn't bother me."
He looked at her in surprise, then closed his eyes, finally surrendering to sleep.
Sakura stayed awake, feeling his presence behind her—his breath rustling her hair.
What is this madness? she thought. The freezing cold has suddenly turned into fire… I feel so warm being this close to him.
There's no cold at all… Where the heck is he hiding all this heat? I'm honestly scared I might catch fire just being near him…