Naruto: Forbidden Pleasures

Naruto opened his eyes, his eyelids heavy as if burdened by the weight of an invisible world. The cracked ceiling of the old house above him remained still, but his mind was restless. The woman's words from the night before still echoed in his head:

"What do you know about your origins?"

Those simple, seemingly meaningless words had torn a gaping hole in his thoughts. His past came rushing back in painful shards, like fragments of a broken mirror. He knew so little about his parents, aside from their names and sacrifice. Memories were scarce, almost ghostly. Yet this woman seemed to know much more. But why did she care now? And more importantly, to what end?

Lying on his back, hands crossed behind his head, he stared at the ceiling as though it might offer him answers. None came—only the silence of the dilapidated house.

"Weak..." he sighed. The recent events had been an eye-opener. After two years of intense training, the praise from his comrades had made him arrogant.

Not only had he been captured like a helpless chicken, but he had also endured two one-sided beatings. In the end, he was nothing more than a pitiful frog stuck at the bottom of a well.

Suddenly, a rhythmic, steady sound broke the quiet. It resembled the swish of a blade slicing through the air or rapid footsteps on a hard surface. Intrigued, Naruto sat up with a grimace; the pain from his bandages served as a constant reminder of his recent humiliations.

The golden light of dawn was already filtering through the cracks in the walls. A gentle breeze brushed against his face as he followed the sound. Opening the old wooden door, a loud creak echoed, like the sigh of an ancient giant.

Outside, a completely different world unfolded before his eyes.

A vast green expanse, bathed in the rising sun, swayed gently under the caress of the wind. In the distance, a river wound its way peacefully, its soft murmur blending with the melodic songs of early birds. Not far from the house, a small, well-tended garden added a vibrant touch to the natural scenery.

But what captured his attention most was the figure in the center of the garden.

She stood there, a young woman whose presence felt almost unreal. Her violet hair, tied in a high ponytail, swayed with her movements. Her golden eyes glimmered with an intensity that seemed almost otherworldly, catching the sunlight like two fiery jewels.

Her movements were both fluid and precise. She alternated between defensive stances and remarkably refined attacks. Her feet traced perfect circles on the ground, while her arms sliced through the air with the precision of a blade. Each breath she took was perfectly synchronized with her movements, a testament to years of discipline.

Naruto stood frozen, unable to look away. A thought crossed his mind:

"If I had to face her... would I even stand a chance?"

Yet amidst his admiration, he felt something else—a strange, almost unsettling intensity emanating from her. As if behind her perfect mastery lay suppressed anger or deep sorrow.

His observation was interrupted by a mocking voice.

"So, spying on women now, are we?"

Naruto jumped and spun around abruptly. The red-haired woman who had brought him here approached with a sly smile.

"What? What are you talking about?" he stammered, caught off guard.

She burst into laughter, crossing her arms. "Look at you, denying it like a child caught red-handed. And that blush on your cheeks? Adorable."

Naruto instinctively raised a hand to his face. "I... I was just watching her training! Nothing more!"

"Sure, sure. Anyway, with your current level, don't even think about falling for my disciple—you wouldn't stand a chance."

Her words hit where it hurt, laying bare his shortcomings.

Naruto opened his mouth to retort, but the woman had already turned her back on him, heading toward the house. "Breakfast is ready. Go call her, since you seem so fascinated by her."

"But I don't even know her name!" he protested.

"Then ask her while you're at it," she shrugged.

Naruto muttered under his breath as he turned toward the young woman. He hesitated for a moment before approaching her.

"Uh… breakfast is rea—"

Before he could finish, he felt the air shift. Instinctively, he ducked just in time to avoid a spinning kick that sliced through the air.

"What's your problem?!" he shouted indignantly, standing back up.

The young woman froze, her gaze icy. Her golden eyes fixed on Naruto with a coldness that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Pathetic," she muttered, wiping her forehead with a towel.

"What?! You attack me for no reason and call me pathetic? I was just trying to tell you that—"

She didn't reply. With calm but assured steps, she walked toward the house without another word, leaving Naruto alone.

He stood there for a moment, fists clenched. Then he let out a loud sigh. "This is unreal... even Sakura was nicer than this."

As he watched her walk away, a thought crossed his mind.

"I'll admit she's strong… but with that arrogance, there's no way we'll get along."

Naruto turned and headed back to the house, ready to face a day filled with mysteries.