Naruto: Forbidden Pleasures

Naruto woke up with a start, his body weighed down by pain. The last memories of the battle flashed through his mind like a cascade of blurred and troubling images. How could he have lost? He, Uzumaki Naruto, bearer of the Will of Fire. Yet the harsh reality was undeniable: the tight bandages on his injured skin and the throbbing ache in his muscles were stark reminders of what had transpired.

He looked around, squinting. The place was entirely unfamiliar. A simple, somewhat wobbly bed was his only comfort. The walls were cracked, with peeling paint revealing an aged wooden structure beneath. The room smelled faintly of mold mixed with the sweet aroma of medicinal herbs. A flickering oil lamp on a small table cast a wavering light, creating an eerie, almost spectral ambiance.

Lost in thought, he jumped at the sound of a voice behind him.

"I see my girl didn't go easy on you... did she?"

Naruto sat up with difficulty, instinctively assuming a defensive posture despite the pain. His gaze locked on a half-open wooden door. A figure moved in the shadows, their footsteps lightly echoing on the creaking floor.

"Stop moving so much, will you? You'll reopen your wounds."

A woman approached slowly. The flickering light gradually illuminated her features: brown eyes filled with silent wisdom and red hair cascading around her face. Despite the light wrinkles marking her forehead, she exuded a natural elegance, hinting at a youthful beauty that must have been stunning.

Naruto froze for a moment. This wasn't the same girl he had fought. Nor was this a place he recognized.

"Who are you? And what do you want from me?" he demanded sharply, trying to mask his unease.

The woman, unfazed, stepped toward the small table, picked an apple from a basket, and held it out to Naruto.

"Who are you?" she countered calmly, deliberately ignoring his question.

Naruto frowned, puzzled. "What... what are you talking about, old woman?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a golden chain suddenly appeared, wrapping around his neck. Before he could react, the pressure made him choke.

"Who are you calling an old woman, you insolent brat?" she growled.

Naruto, hands desperately gripping the chain, tried to apologize through strained breaths: "S-sorry..."

The woman released the chains as quickly as they had appeared, dispersing them like a light mist. Naruto coughed loudly, rubbing his neck.

The scene that had just unfolded before him was nothing short of surreal. Chains materialized out of nowhere, choking him without giving him a chance to respond. It was a strange technique, but it made him realize that fighting here and now would only lead to his defeat.

"You choke me and expect me to stay calm... Are you crazy or what?" he muttered under his breath, but he refrained from saying anything else that might anger her.

The woman smirked in satisfaction and returned to her seat at the table. Naruto, resigning himself not to provoke her further, sat up slowly and perched on the edge of the bed, watching her warily.

"What do you want from me?" he finally asked, more seriously this time.

"I see you've given up on attacking me. Wise choice," she replied, crossing her arms. She stood up, grabbed a roll of bandages, and approached him. Naruto hesitated but eventually allowed her to redo his dressings.

"What do you know about your origins?" she asked suddenly, her tone grave.

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Well… not much, I guess," he admitted honestly, wincing slightly as she tightened a bandage.

She paused for a moment, as if struck by his answer. Her gaze drifted into the distance, and she murmured almost to herself, "What have they been doing…"

Naruto frowned, unsure of what she meant. His senses were on alert, but something about her demeanor seemed genuine.

"Can you be clearer? What's that supposed to mean?" he pressed.

She sighed deeply, her eyes settling back on him. "You're truly a lost child..."

Naruto clenched his fists. He hated being seen as weak or ignorant, but he couldn't deny the truth in her words.

"I'm not lost," he replied with a hint of defiance in his voice. "But if you have answers, give them to me."

The woman smirked, her gaze softening. "All in due time, Naruto Uzumaki. But know this: your origins are more important than you realize."

Silence settled, broken only by the crackling of the oil lamp. Though frustrated, Naruto knew he wouldn't get anything more from her for now.

"Rest. You'll need it," she concluded, standing up to leave the room.

Naruto was left alone, his thoughts swirling in his mind. Who was this woman? How did she know his name? And most importantly, what did she know about him? As the lamp's light flickered, a new determination ignited within him: he had to uncover the truth.

The room gradually plunged into darkness, but the questions in Naruto's mind remained, burning like a vivid flame in the night.

---

Meanwhile, in the Desert

Around a crackling fire, Team 10 had settled for a brief rest. The twilight painted the desert sky a deep red as a cold wind swept across the surrounding dunes. Shikamaru sat cross-legged, absentmindedly staring at the flames, while Chōji savored a skewer with evident delight. Ino, however, remained silent, her gaze lost in the fire.

"Not hungry?" Shikamaru asked softly, raising an eyebrow.

Ino didn't answer immediately, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Finally, she shook her head.

"I'm not hungry," she murmured.

Chōji, always concerned about his teammates' well-being, extended a skewer toward her with an encouraging smile. "Come on, Ino, you need to keep up your strength."

She glanced at him, offering a faint smile but refusing the food.

"You're useless if you let yourself get this way," Shikamaru said, his nonchalant tone masking a genuine attempt to comfort her. "Sulking won't get us anywhere."

Ino stared at him, annoyed. "You don't understand, Shikamaru. We've been combing this stupid desert for hours, and there's nothing. No clues, no trail... It's like Naruto vanished into thin air."

A heavy silence fell, broken only by the fire's crackle. Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms. "Maybe he did. But stressing out won't change anything. Naruto's tough; he'll manage."

Ino looked away, her jaw tight. She knew Shikamaru was right, but it didn't ease her worry. Since the Sakura incident, she'd spent a lot of time with Naruto. He might not have Sasuke's brooding charm, but he had a disarming sincerity and determination. Without realizing it, he had begun to occupy a growing place in her thoughts.

A cold breeze swept through the campsite as Asuma appeared, looking weary.

"Nothing new," he announced as he approached. He sat near the fire, accepting a skewer from Chōji and a portion of food from Shikamaru.

"So, Sensei," Shikamaru began, "what's the plan now?"

Asuma thought for a moment, chewing on his skewer. "We'll keep searching the area tomorrow. If we don't find anything in two days, we'll return to Konoha and reevaluate. But for now, get some rest."

The conversation continued briefly as they shared their thoughts on the mission. But as the hour grew late, it was time to rest. While Shikamaru and Chōji settled down to sleep, Asuma kept watch, his vigilant gaze scanning the dunes.

Ino, however, remained awake. Sitting by the dying fire, she seemed lost in thought. Her mind inevitably returned to Naruto, and a silent prayer escaped her lips.

"Please, Naruto… be safe."

The desert wind blew softly, carrying her words into the unknown.