Chapter 10: Work to Pay Off Your Debt, Young Man! [Part 2]

"So, you ran away because your older brother stood you up and eloped with Uchiha Shisui, right? And then you forgot to bring money with you?" After being questioned repeatedly by Sakura, Sasuke hesitantly revealed the truth.

"My older brother didn't elope with Shisui!" Sasuke's brother complex flared up at the mention of elopement.

"Then why did he leave you behind and go with someone else?" Sakura changed the subject with a smile, trying to redirect Sasuke's thoughts and implement her plan. "If he wasn't lured away by someone else, do you think he would have left his cute little brother behind?"

"He just...had a mission..." Sasuke stuttered in defense, but the increasing frequency of his older brother standing him up recently made him wonder if his brother was really lured away by Shisui.

"But as far as I know, ninja missions need to be accepted in advance. Your older brother doesn't seem to be an ANBU or a Jounin, so how could he always receive emergency missions?" Sakura tried to twist Sasuke's thoughts. "So, your older brother was actually lured away by a fox spirit from outside the village. If this continues, one day he will completely abandon you and stop caring about you!"

"That's impossible. My older brother won't ignore me..." Sasuke was so anxious that tears were about to fall, and he was caught in a loop of thinking about his brother being lured away and not liking him.

"Don't worry. Do you want to win back your older brother's heart?" Sakura picked up her teacup and took a sip, but she was actually laughing inside because her plan was about to be put into action.

"Can I really do that?" Sasuke's eyes sparkled, as if he had grabbed a lifeline after falling into a river.

"It's simple. Just follow my method, and I guarantee your older brother will change his mind!" Sakura smiled happily, but for some reason, Sasuke felt a chill down his spine.

"Put this on and work as a greeter in the store. Pay off your debt first..." Sakura handed him a pink cat ear accessory and her eyes were full of anticipation.

"Do I have to wear this?" Sasuke looked conflicted. Although he was young, he felt that cat ears were something that girls should wear.

"Yes, you ate a special tomato and egg noodle dish earlier, which is unique and expensive. So, if you want to pay off your debt, you can't work like everyone else!" Sakura lied without batting an eye. "Your job is to wear this cat ear accessory and stand at the store entrance. When a customer comes, just smile and say 'welcome'. When you finish work in the evening, I will tell you how to win back your older brother!"

"Okay!" Sasuke's spirits lifted when he thought of his older brother. He took the cat ear accessory and put it on his head, then ran to the store entrance and started working.

"He's so cute..." Ino's eyes were filled with hearts as she looked at Sasuke, blushing and wearing cat ears at the store entrance. She murmured to herself.

"Click..."

The sound of a camera shutter came, and Sakura put down her camera with a smile. This photo was very meaningful. Young Sasuke was not as cold and lonely as he was after the Uchiha clan was annihilated. Instead, he was shy and easily embarrassed. With this photo, she could remind him of his past and help him open up.

"Naruto, come with me for a moment..." Sakura grabbed Naruto and ran off. She was going to make a dress for her plan.

In the clothing store in Konoha Village, Sakura drew the dress she wanted to make with a pen and paper, and the shop owner was curious.

"Little girl, this dress is not cheap!" The shop owner reminded her that the materials she described were relatively expensive, and two four-year-old children probably didn't have that much money.

"Don't worry, we're not short of money!" Sakura took out a stack of money and put it on the table. Ichiraku Ramen shop was doing very well, so this amount of money was nothing to her. "As long as you can finish everything I want before the sun sets this afternoon, I will pay double the price!"

"Okay, no problem!" The shop owner readily agreed. It was completely possible to finish the dress before sunset, but it would require a bit more effort. However, compared to double the pay, it was nothing.

The shop owner and employees started working, and as a wealthy customer, Sakura and Naruto were invited to sit and wait on the side.

"Naruto, is something bothering you? Why do you look so unhappy?" Sakura asked, concerned, when she saw Naruto with his head down and a sad expression.

"It's nothing!" Naruto scratched his head and laughed foolishly, as if his previous expression was fake.

"You're smiling too fake!" Sakura saw through Naruto's fake smile. "Come on, tell me the truth. Don't think you can fool me!"

"It's just that I feel like you care a lot about that person named Uchiha Sasuke!" Naruto's pupils contained a hint of worry. He had finally made friends with Sakura and the others, but Sasuke's appearance seemed to have diverted their attention.

"Don't worry!" Sakura suddenly realized what was going on. She was jealous and worried about losing the hard-won friendship. "No matter how many new friends we make in the future, you will always be you, Naruto. That will never change. So, don't be sad anymore. Your position in my heart can never be replaced by anyone else!"

"Really?" Naruto asked in surprise.

"Of course, be confident. You are Naruto Uzumaki!" Sakura smiled helplessly and pointed at Naruto's forehead. The grudge between Indra and Asura was really deep. When Shikamaru and the others appeared earlier, Naruto didn't feel any worry or jealousy, but Sasuke's appearance immediately made Naruto want to explode. It was no wonder that it was a legendary love that lasted for three lives.

"Hehe..." Naruto started laughing foolishly again. Since he met Sakura, he felt that the world had become brighter. He had same-age friends who didn't dislike him, Uncle Teuchi, Haruno-san, and others who didn't hate him. He didn't have to worry about not having enough to eat every day, and when he helped out in the kitchen, the apprentice chefs didn't show any signs of hating him. All of this made him feel like he was living in a dream.

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