Naruto :I will survive

Is it really that hard to kill? When this question takes root and grows in the mind, confusion comes with it. When a precious life slips through your fingers, doesn't guilt come in response?

No. It doesn't matter whether the blood spurting from the body is hot or cold. So what if the dying cry is full of despair? What difference does it make to me what hatred is expressed in the fading gaze? Is life so precious? Only my own is precious…

With such thoughts, like a robot devoid of emotions, Kano followed Orochimaru, tirelessly completing tasks, allowing the blood on his hands to become brighter and himself to become stronger.

Blood and fire have always contributed to the rapid growth of a person, both physical and spiritual. Kushina and Haru noticed this immediately. Although long battles together had strengthened their bond, which began in the Ninja Academy, they felt that their comrade, who always rushed into battle first, was moving away from them.

A year later, just as the cherry blossoms were blooming, three Academy graduates became genin. After a year of blood and battles, they had shed their childish naivety and could now rightfully be called ninja.

However, Kano himself, even in his free time from missions, did not stop training. Thanks to such self-discipline and innate talent, the speed of his development amazed Orochimaru, and also attracted increased attention from the top leadership of Konoha. Although, rather, it was not even attention, but observation...

Several months ago, as his power grew, Kano began to notice that he was being followed. Although the Anbu did not underestimate him and tried their best to hide, he could still sense their presence. He considered this a proof of his strength, not even realizing that with his current abilities, it would be impossible to notice the Anbu hiding.

Having discovered the surveillance, Kano did not show it and did not question Orochimaru. He continued to live as if nothing had happened, as if he did not notice the Anbu. However, in his soul, gradually getting used to life in Konoha, a seed of mistrust was born.

One such day, after training from dawn until midday, he finally felt hungry. He washed up quickly and left the house to get something to eat. Orochimaru had gone out on business, and Kano, since he had started getting paid for missions, rarely cooked for himself, preferring to dine in restaurants.

It was about midday, there were few people on the street. And Kano walked, thinking about what to eat.

"Kano!" a familiar voice suddenly came from behind. Kano stopped, turned to the man who had called him and nodded in greeting.

Haru, accustomed to his character, didn't pay attention to it. Approaching his comrade, he scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly and quietly said: "Listen... Kano, I wanted to invite you and... Kushina to lunch."

"Are you sure?" Kano raised an eyebrow and looked at his interlocutor carefully. The corner of his mouth twitched nervously. It was obvious that he remembered Kano's appetite and doubted whether he would have enough money for it. However, remembering Kushina, he clenched his teeth and nodded decisively.

At this moment, Kano, who was being handed a free treat, did not even think of refusing, and he nodded: "I'm just getting hungry. How about some barbecue?"

His eyes were already set on the most famous barbecue restaurant. And of course, its fame matched its high prices.

Haru's heart skipped a beat at the word barbecue. He followed Kano's gaze to the most expensive restaurant, and his face twitched nervously, muttering, "Um… I mean… I don't think I have enough money for that."

Kano looked away from the restaurant, turned around and calmly said, "Then let's go to another one. But first, let's call Kushina."

Haru almost blossomed with joy. He wasn't greedy, he just really didn't have enough money. Luckily, Kano himself suggested another option, otherwise he wouldn't have known what to do. Besides, his main goal was to call Kushina.

"If you don't have the courage to even ask her out, how can you expect her to pay attention? You've been talking for a year now, and you still don't understand it," Kano thought, shaking his head. He knew that Haru was not indifferent to Kushina. When he wasn't on a mission, he always tried to use him as an excuse to invite the girl to dinner. Or rather, he took him along for good measure.

With a personality like Haru's, Kushina would never pay attention to him.

Knowing this, Kano felt only pity for him. He had no intention of playing matchmaker and bringing them together, and he did not tell Haru this directly. In his opinion, if Haru himself realized this and changed for Kushina's sake, then he would be worthy of pursuing her favor.

Arriving at Kushina's house, Haru, as usual, stood to the side, pushing Kano forward and instructing him to knock on the door.

"Well then..." Kano looked at the cowering Haru and shook his head, preparing to call out to the girl. However, he suddenly frowned, noticing several unusual people nearby.

"These aren't people from Konoha, which means..." His thoughts began to spin. However, when he noticed several people hidden even deeper, who were clearly Konoha ninja, he relaxed and called out to Kushina.

Hearing his voice, Kushina, who was just about to have lunch, was surprised. After warning her uncle and aunt, with whom she was staying, she went to the door, opening which, she saw only Kano on the threshold.

"What do you want?" she asked without any politeness.

"We're having barbecue lunch today," Kano replied.

Kushina's eyes lit up and the corners of her lips lifted into a smile.

"Are you treating me?" she immediately asked the most important question.

Kano raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "What do you think?"

"That's what I thought. You're a greedy person!" Kushina slapped her forehead. "Where's Haru?"

"I... I'm here," Haru appeared from around the corner, smiling shyly at Kushina.

Kushina rolled her eyes, went back into the house to warn her uncle and aunt, and went out to the boys.

"Which restaurant shall we go to?" she asked as she walked outside.

Kano looked towards the most expensive restaurant and asked Haru, "Where do you want to go?"

Haru winced and quickly pointed to a restaurant nearby where the prices and quality were average, but it was still good: "Let's go to this one. It's really good."

"Okay," Kano agreed with some annoyance.

Kushina shook her head: "Listen, Kano, when are you finally going to treat us?"

In response to such a request from the girl, Kano simply turned his back to her and briefly said: "I don't have money."

Kushina rolled her eyes and watched her comrade leave. In fact, Kano was really short of money. He had to eat a lot, and the money he got for missions was barely enough for food. It could be said that he spent all his earnings on food, and he didn't even buy new clothes for himself, still wearing Orochimaru's old clothes. And if Kushina and Haru had been a little more attentive, they would have noticed this long ago.

Upon entering the restaurant, Kano, guided by the principle of "you can't leave food on your plate," immediately ordered twenty servings of meat!

Haru and Kushina, already accustomed to this, were not even surprised. However, neither was the waiter who took the order - Kano's gluttony was known throughout the area. And yet... would twenty portions be enough for him?