Sakura frowned slightly at first, then shook her head. "No, I wouldn't buy it."
Then, with a playful smile, she added, "But if it were your photo, Naruto, I'd buy it in a heartbeat."
'Perfect answer!' she thought smugly.
Naruto stared blankly.
'Who taught her to say things like that?'
His lips twitched. "I'm talking about two years ago, back when you were obsessed with Sasuke."
"Obsessed? Me?" Haruno Sakura feigned offense, placing a hand on her chest dramatically. "Naruto, that's slander! I could sue you for that, you know....ow!"
Thwack!
Naruto flicked her forehead, snapping her out of her theatrics.
Haruno Sakura rubbed the sore spot, pouting. "Fine, fine. If that's the case… I might have spent some pocket money on it."
She peeked at Naruto's expression and hastily added, "But there aren't any Sasuke photos in my house now! You have to believe me!"
Damage control mode: activated.
"Yeah, yeah. I believe you," Naruto said, nodding slowly.
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
Despite his words, she could hear the sarcasm dripping from his tone.
'Ugh. Another hurdle in winning him over, my embarrassing past.'
For a moment, she felt a pang of despair. But then, a sudden realization struck her.
'Wait… If Naruto still brings this up, doesn't that mean he still thinks about me?'
Her mood instantly brightened.
'This is progress!'
But her excitement was short-lived as confusion set in. "Naruto, what does this have to do with making money?"
A sly grin spread across Naruto's face. "Simple. We turn Sasuke into a star, an idol."
Haruno Sakura's eyes widened as the idea clicked. "Ohhh! Like that actress, Fujikaze Yukie?"
She had seen one of Yukie's movies once, when she'd stubbornly tagged along on Naruto and Hinata's date, refusing to be left out.
Naruto shook his head. "A little less prestigious than her."
Haruno Sakura blinked. "…What do you mean?"
Naruto smirked. "Exactly what you're thinking."
A flush crept up her cheeks. "But… would Sasuke even agree?"
Six years as classmates had taught her one thing, Sasuke wasn't the type to pose for money.
Naruto shrugged. "He's done it before."
Haruno Sakura hesitated.
That one time, Sasuke had agreed, but only because he'd wanted Naruto's training methods.
She bit her lip. "Isn't it… kind of shady to exploit his desperation for strength?"
"Shady?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.
In a world where power meant survival, Orochimaru had demanded Sasuke's body. Naruto was just asking for a few photos.
'Fair trade.'
But Sakura, raised in Konoha's peaceful bubble, didn't see it that way.
Naruto didn't argue. Perspective mattered.
"Fine! I'll do whatever you say!" Sakura declared, fists clenched in determination.
Naruto grinned. "Good. Here's the plan, you handle the customers. I'll handle the supply."
"Once we get rolling, we'll expand. Get an office, a professional camera…"
"Together, we'll build an empire."
Haruno Sakura's heart raced.
Naruto was a genius. If he wanted money, he could get it easily. Yet here he was, offering her a piece of his success.
Touched, she pumped her fists. "I'll make a list of Sasuke's fans! There's gotta be… a thousand? Maybe two?"
Her voice trailed off as she recalled how many had defected to Naruto's fan club.
"Hm?" Naruto tilted his head.
"Nothing! Just calculating our market!" she chirped, puffing out her chest.
Naruto patted her head. "Work hard. In six years, when we're rich, we'll throw me a grand wedding."
The last two words slipped out too fast for her to catch.
Sakura froze, heart pounding.
'A wedding?!'
Her mind spun with fantasies, white dresses, flower petals, Naruto in a sharp suit.
By the time she snapped back to reality, Naruto was already gone, likely off to find Sasuke.
Then it hit her.
'Wait… He said his wedding. Not ours.'
Her face fell.
'Naruto… Why can't you see how much I love you? ┭┮﹏┭┮'
Uchiha District
"Sasuke!"
"Uchiha Prodigy!"
"Where are you hiding?!"
Naruto's voice echoed through the empty streets.
Inside a dimly lit house, Sasuke stirred, groggy from exhaustion.
He'd stayed up all night watching Naruto's apartment, only for the guy to wake up at dawn.
And now, this?
Bleary-eyed, he stumbled outside, irritation written all over his face.
Then he froze.
"Naruto? You're… looking for me?"
Naruto smirked.
'Good. Sasuke's still alive.'
.....