Naruto: The Beautiful Uchiha is Actually Me?

Chapter 146 You want to stay with me?

"Naoki, I'm home!" Takita rushed home and went straight to his room, opening the door.

Naoki sat very quietly by the window of Takita's room, as if he had never left the same spot since Takita left.

“You’re back, Takita…” Naoki turned his head, his eyes brightening slightly.

Perhaps for him, Takita is now his only chance to survive. He has already revealed everything to him, and Takita went out this morning also for his own reasons...

"Hmm... I was supposed to work in the office for a while longer, but my two older brothers were very kind and let me come back first." Takita scratched the back of his head and gave a sunny smile.

Naoki didn't answer, but just looked at Takita quietly, as if waiting for his next instruction.

Takita felt a little awkward under his gaze, then quickly tried to start a conversation, saying, "Um... I still have some time now, how about I play with you for a while? Or we can train together... By the way, are you a ninja?"

Naoki, having received the instructions, first shook his head, then nodded, and whispered, "Takita, you don't need to allocate time to me... You're very busy, aren't you? Also... I'm a ninja, though not very good."

Upon hearing this, Takita walked over and plopped down opposite Naoki, waving his hand dismissively and saying, "Don't stand on ceremony with me. Since I've decided to get involved in your affairs, I'll see it through to the end."

"..."

Naoki lowered his head. The boy sitting opposite him was almost too dazzling. Why was he so honest, so selfless in helping him...?

"Don't take it to heart. Didn't I say we're friends? There's no need for friends to be so polite. To you, I'm just Takita, not some clan leader named Hagoromo."

Takita fiddled around in the cupboard, pulling out a bunch of delicious food and placing it in front of Naoki. He continued, "Actually, you've kept me company... You probably already know that I've always been quite lonely, haha..." Takita chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Naoki did indeed know about his situation, and quite thoroughly. The family had investigated this person very thoroughly; after all, he was the person they had decided to pursue, so it wasn't a secret, and they had already figured him out long ago.

“Then I’ll stay with you! You helped me… and you’ve been so good to me. I know you don’t care about those things and don’t need them, but if you do need them… I…” Naoki said, his voice trailing off.

Takita looked at Naoki with a puzzled expression, then instantly understood what Naoki meant. Did Naoki mean that... he could do anything to him?

Takita was about to get angry, but when he saw him lower his head and the emotion emanating from him wasn't forced, he swallowed the blame that was stuck in his throat...

"Sigh..." Takita sighed softly and said quietly, "You don't need to do this, and I won't do that kind of thing. Your value to me isn't your body... We're friends. Do you know what friends are?"

Naoki looked up, somewhat bewildered...

This question really stumped him. He genuinely didn't know what friends meant. From childhood to adulthood, from birth to the present, he seemed to have never had a single friend.

From as far back as I can remember, I've always been my cousin's playmate. But to say we're friends... well, maybe not. I'm just my cousin's toy. When he's in a good mood, he'll give me a nice look, but when he's in a bad mood, he'll beat me.

As for myself, it seems I have never received any comfort, nor has anyone ever reprimanded my cousin for doing something wrong. On the contrary, whenever I cry or shed a tear, I am scolded and whipped... The reason given is that a ninja cannot shed tears.

Naoki recalled a lot in an instant, but the more he recalled, the more the things in his memory seemed to be bad, which only made Naoki more confused.

Takita felt a little sad. Seeing that Naoki probably really didn't know what "friend" meant, he suddenly felt particularly sorry for him.

Before meeting Genichi, Takita himself had never experienced what it meant to be a "friend".

"Don't be confused, I will guide you well!" Takita forced a smile and couldn't help but reach out and touch his cheek. "Actually, we are quite similar, so I will help you out of this slump. Don't be shy with me."

The failure in his relationship had left him feeling particularly down lately, but today was probably the best day he'd been in a long time.

At least I won't bother my brother to play with me anymore, and I won't have to run to Yan Yi and make things awkward for each other... Maybe this is fine, right...?

Takita told himself that at least for now, he had a companion by his side.

Takita himself might not even realize that he has a very strong possessive streak. Right now, Naoki only has him as a friend, yet he feels a strange sense of satisfaction...

"Hmm...you'll be staying here for a while from now on. Would you like me to arrange a room for you? Let me think...are there any other rooms available..."

Takita pondered. Although he wouldn't mind having someone keep him company through the night if they were more familiar with each other, as that would make him feel much more at ease, Naoki was, after all, an independent individual, and he should also have his own space.

This was Takita's idea, but after a second of hesitation, Naoki's expression turned slightly sad, and he whispered, "I want to stay with Takita..."

He simply felt safe being with Takita, and Naoki now completely trusted Takita.

But now Takita is going to drive him away... A feeling of fear and sadness spread through him.

"Huh?" Takita was stunned. Sensing the sadness, he quickly waved his hands and explained, "That's not what I meant! I didn't mean to look down on you! I was just thinking that you probably need some privacy or something..."

Seeing that this guy had inexplicably stuck to him, Takita could only laugh awkwardly and say, "If you want to stay with me, that's fine too, I don't mind!"

Naoki nodded, his expression gradually softening, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly...

Takita silently observed the guy's emotional changes, feeling a little sorry for him, and mentally gave him an assessment: he was severely lacking in love.

However, Takita himself was unaware that Genichi had once described him in the same way...

"Okay, okay, my room is big anyway, so it's fine if you want to stay here. I also need someone to keep me company. Haha..."

Takita felt he had used up all the coaxing skills he had learned in his life, and he didn't even dare to speak casually, since Naoki's current mental state was probably still on the edge of a cliff.

However, I think I can pull him back a bit later, and his personality might be better then?

"It's enough for me and Takita to be together. Nothing else matters..." Naoki said frankly, his previous pretense and insincerity gone.

"Okay, I'll stay with you." Takita smiled, looking relaxed. "Let me take you to take a shower and change your clothes first. Oh, and if you don't have any clothes to change into, you can wear mine, it's okay..."

Naoki nodded silently and obediently followed Takita into the bathroom.