Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Early morning.

Outside the main gates of Konoha, sunlight bathed the road. Kitahara Kaede, Might Guy, and Shiranui Genma walked back into the village.

The patrol had ended smoothly. They had only encountered a few scattered remnants of enemy forces along the way, and it hadn't taken much effort to deal with them.

Guy was in high spirits the entire time, waving energetically to the guards at the gate as they entered.

"This patrol was a breeze! Is this the serenity of youth?!"

Genma, walking beside him, let out a long yawn.

"It was alright, I guess. Just a bit tiring."

He shifted the senbon in his mouth to a different angle, looking even more lethargic than he had before they left the village.

Kitahara Kaede gave a noncommittal response. His mind was elsewhere.

Since last night, he couldn't stop thinking about Pakura. He wasn't entirely sure about Sunagakure's tracking capabilities, but they were certainly not weak. How long could that abandoned cave keep her hidden? Every moment they delayed increased the risk.

Kaede glanced toward the Hokage Building and quickened his pace. First, he would hand in the mission, then he would leave the village immediately. There was no time to waste.

Inside the Hokage Building, the mission hand-off was brief. It had been a routine patrol, so the report contained nothing complex.

Genma stretched his arms. "I'm going back to sleep."

Guy immediately pumped his fist. "I'm heading to the training grounds! Today's ease is simply to prepare for tomorrow's more intense youth!"

Genma glanced at him. "Are you seriously not tired?"

Guy flashed a bright, white smile. "Youth never tires!"

Kaede wasn't in the mood to join the conversation and simply nodded. "I have some things to attend to. I'll head out first."

With that, he turned and walked downstairs. He barely paused as he descended, and upon exiting the Hokage Building, he immediately turned down a side street. By taking that route, he could bypass the main thoroughfare and exit through a small gate on the eastern side of Konoha.

He had only taken a few steps when a voice called out from a street corner.

"Kitahara Kaede!"

Kaede stopped in his tracks. He turned around slowly.

Tsunade was standing at the corner not far away. Today, she looked very different from usual. She wore light-colored casual clothes that accentuated her waist, with a thin jacket draped over her shoulders. Her blonde hair had been carefully styled, falling softly over her shoulders, giving her an unexpectedly gentle aura.

She didn't usually spend much effort on such things—at least, not as far as Kaede had seen.

When Tsunade saw him turn, a smile immediately graced her lips.

Kaede's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected her to be waiting for him so early in the morning.

Tsunade walked briskly toward him. "Did the mission go smoothly?"

"Very smoothly." Kaede looked at her, and before he could think better of it, the words slipped out. "You look very beautiful today."

The corners of Tsunade's mouth curled upward slightly. She had tried to hold it back, but she couldn't. "You have good taste."

Seeing her in such a rare, lighthearted mood only intensified the urgency in Kaede's heart. If this were any ordinary matter, he would gladly accompany her. He wouldn't mind spending the entire day shopping if that's what she wanted.

But Pakura was still out there waiting for him.

Kaede hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Lady Tsunade... the 'important thing' you mentioned, is that for today?"

The smile on Tsunade's face froze. She looked at him.

In that instant, she realized something was wrong. If he had remembered, he wouldn't have asked. The flicker of happiness that had risen in her heart was instantly suppressed.

She arched an eyebrow and asked back in her usual tone, "What? Are you trying to welsh on your promise?"

"No," Kaede shook his head immediately. "It's just that something urgent has come up, and I have to deal with it right away."

The smile on Tsunade's face faded. "Does it have to be right now?"

"Yes," Kaede answered quickly.

As soon as he spoke, he saw Tsunade's expression change. He knew that breaking a promise was wrong, but the situation was critical.

Tsunade remained silent for a moment. She had wanted Kaede to accompany her shopping; she had wanted him to discover "that thing" on his own. If he didn't realize it, she planned to give him a hint while they were in the shop to see how he would react.

She had thought through all of this. And yet, the first thing he asked was what the "important thing" even was.

Tsunade suppressed the ache in her chest, trying her best to sound normal. "Is it that urgent?"

Kaede looked at her. "Very urgent." He added a soft, "I'm truly sorry."

Tsunade gazed at him for a while. She could tell he was genuinely rushed. But recognizing that and feeling hurt were two different things.

Tsunade slid her hand into her jacket pocket, touching the carefully prepared list inside. She had intended to take him to every place on that list. Now, there was no point.

She slowly let go of the paper and looked up, a smile returning to her face. "Then go on."

Kaede blinked, stunned. Tsunade didn't give him a chance to explain further.

"Isn't it a dire emergency? What are you still standing here for?"

Kaede's lips parted. He wanted to tell her that he would make it up to her as soon as he returned. He wanted to ask if she was angry. But saying those things now would only sound like empty excuses. The more he spoke, the more it would seem like he was just trying to save face.

In the end, he only whispered, "I'll come find you as soon as I've handled this."

Tsunade gave a small hum of acknowledgment. "Stay safe."

Kaede didn't linger. He turned and walked away quickly. After a few steps, he couldn't help but look back.

Tsunade remained where she was, motionless. The morning light fell upon her, and the light-colored clothes suited her perfectly. Kaede withdrew his gaze and soon disappeared into the crowd.

Tsunade watched his retreating figure until he turned the corner and was gone from sight. Only then did she slowly lower her gaze.

Before leaving home, she had specifically changed into a pair of shoes she thought would be more comfortable for walking the streets. Now, it seemed like a wasted effort.

She stood there for a while, suddenly finding the sounds of the street gratingly loud. A breakfast stall owner was shouting about fresh buns; a few children ran out from an alley, laughing as they raced away.

Tsunade raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, but she stopped halfway through the motion.

No one was watching. Who was she dressing up for?

She dropped her hand and turned to walk back. After a few steps, she stopped in front of a general store. Tsunade stood outside the window, staring through the glass for a moment.

The shopkeeper recognized her and called out with a smile, "Lady Tsunade! Would you like to come in and take a look?"

Tsunade didn't enter. She forced a small smile. "I'm not looking today."

The shopkeeper looked puzzled. Tsunade turned and walked away.

The sunlight that had felt warm just moments ago now felt nothing more than blinding.

He really hadn't given it a second thought.

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