A Shinobi of Paradis Chapter 22 (Melting the Frozen Heart) (Patreon)

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After spending one month in the hospital bed, Naruto felt like he was being reborn when he was finally allowed to leave the stupid room. Upon entering the common room, almost everyone greeted him as he stepped inside; they all rushed towards him.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Does it still hurt?"

"Did they find who did it?"

"How bad was it?"

"Can I see it?"

Naruto tried and failed to answer all the questions, but thankfully, Mikasa and Reiner were there to save him. They pushed the cadets away from the blonde, and his sister glared at anyone who tried to get close again.

"Enough now. Give him some space," Reiner said strictly as Mikasa tried to help him walk towards their table, but Naruto dismissed her, showing that he had no problem walking.

"Naruto, does it still hurt?" Eren asked concernedly as he walked up to their table. This time, Ymir and Krista decided to sit with them, so he scooted out of the chair and sat down. He sighed heavily, feeling like a weight was suddenly off his shoulder.

"Much better. I can run and jump everything." Naruto answered, stumping the floor several times to demonstrate that he felt no pain anymore. Mikasa smiled in relief, happy to see her little brother fully healed.

"Naruto, did they find out who did it?" Naruto noticed the entire room fell silent when Krista asked, but sadly, he shook his head.

"I'm afraid they don't know who did it, whoever they were. They were very good at hiding their tracks." Naruto answered; his words made many cadets shudder; they didn't like to think that someone amongst them had tried to kill Naruto. After a month had passed, everyone eventually found out just how close Naruto was to dying, some even saying that it was a miracle that he survived in the first place; the blonde turned his head to his left, facing two cadets in particular, sitting on the wooden table next to them.

"Sasha, Connie. Thank you for finding me when you two did, and sorry for all the trouble Keith put you through," Naruto felt the need to apologize. Armin had told him that Shadis had questioned the two for hours, thinking they were the ones who cut the wire, but the blonde knew that was bullshit. Sasha was too innocent to do that, and Connie was too stupid to even come up with such a good idea.

"Don't worry, but you own me bread for saving your life." Connie said immediately with a cheeky smile, while Sasha's face was between hunger and reluctance.

"Don't worry, I will prepare a dish that will make you lick the plate clean." Naruto promised. Sasha quickly cheered loudly, jumping from her chair and giving Naruto a big hug, much to his embarrassment.

One Week Later

As soon as Naruto stepped into the kitchen, the overwhelming aroma of spices, sizzling oil, and savory ingredients filled his senses. After a brief introduction, the chef wasted no time putting Naruto to work.

He rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He started by washing and preparing the vegetables, not leaving any dirt or blemishes.

Then, with a sharp chef's knife in hand, Naruto began slicing the vegetables into thin, uniform pieces, each one precisely cut to the same size. Naruto moved quickly, but not so fast that he risked injuring himself with the razor-sharp blade.

Naruto watched the chef skillfully slice through a chunk of meat with a blade. With a glimmer in his eye, "Chef, can I cook something myself?"

"Naruto, my boy, feel free to cook whatever you want, but be careful with your hands." Naruto breathed a sigh of relief.

He set to work, chopping the onions one by one, despite the pungent aroma that made his eyes water and sting.

With a sizzling sound, the garlic and spicy powder with boiled eggs were cooking in separate bowls, each aroma filling the air. Naruto stirred each pot, ensuring the spices were thoroughly mixed and infused into the ingredients. He remembered what his mother had taught him, how to cook.

Once the flavors had intensified to perfection, he combined the two mixtures into a single bowl. As the aromatic spices were cooking, Naruto began to slice a freshly baked loaf of bread in half. He then added the baked garlic to one side, spreading it evenly across the surface.

Next, he added a colorful array of vegetables before topping it off with several cooked eggs. With a final flourish, Naruto sprinkled a pinch of spicy powder on top. The result was a delicious and visually appealing meal.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the silence, jolting him back to reality. "So you are here?" Naruto's head swiveled around, and his eyes locked onto the figure of Annie, who stood behind him, her eyes fixed on him with a hint of curiosity.

"Good to know you have missed me, Annie," as he skillfully stirred the pot of bubbling tomato sauce on the stove.

Annie, rolled her eyes at his comment, yet a small smirk of amusement tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched him cook, she didn't know Naruto could cook.

"I heard you took Reiner's blame. Why?" With her arms crossed and a determined stride, she walked over to the table where Naruto was cooking and leaned against it, waiting for his response. Her eyes were fixed on him, and Naruto knew that he had to explain himself.

"Well," Naruto said, his grin growing wider, "Squirrel Boy owes me food for two months. It was definitely worth it." He winked at Annie, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"You're a peasant," Annie said, but not really meaning any of it; she still remembered their talk when Shadis had punished them.

"Well, the peasant here has prepared food. Do you want some, my Queen?" Naruto questioned, speaking sarcastically, before bowing his head a little; Annie could not resist the temptation and giggled playfully before accepting the bread.

As she held the piece of bread in her mouth, savoring the taste, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relish the moment. After a few seconds of pure bliss, she swallowed the bread, her tongue instinctively licking her lips as if to capture the last remnants of flavor. Naruto, who had been waiting patiently for her to finish, was eager to know if she liked the taste. Finally, with a smile on her face, she answered him.

"Not bad," Annie said casually before taking another bite and enjoying the many different flavors on it.

"I'm honored, your majesty," Naruto said sarcastically; Annie rolled her eyes before slapping his shoulder.

While Annie enjoyed his company, deep down, she wondered what was wrong with her; she was supposed not to be friends with anyone, yet, now here she was, becoming friends with Naruto.

Annie thought playfully, "Damn you, Naruto. You're so annoying,"

Naruto chatted with her for a couple of minutes, talking about Eren's training, he wanted to make sure Annie wasn't being too harsh on his little bro, but the look Annie had in her face made it clear that Eren needed to change his way of talking a little.

"He has no talent, he's more like a street thug who uses a knife to rob people." Annie answered casually, without holding anything back, she was bold and didn't care if people didn't appreciate her comments.

"Well, don't underestimate Eren. Once he learns something, it will be grilled deep into his head and never leave." Naruto said defensively, as he kept cooking.

"Maybe, but if that's the case, then trying to teach him something is like trying to break a brick wall with your head, it will take time." Naruto knew she had a point, his brother could be quite reckless despite how many times he told him to not be, but he would never say something bad about Eren behind his back.

"Everyone is good at something, and bad at something else, Annie. You are good at kicking ass, but I doubt you can fish even if your life depended on it." Naruto said with a teasing smile. Annie groaned loudly as she crossed her arms.

"Why would I need to know that?"

"My father used to say that every ability is good to know, even the most trivial ones. You never know when you might need them." Naruto answered.

Annie hummed thoughtfully, looking at the distance before looking at the pair of glasses hanging by the hem of his shirt. She knew they were his father's glasses, and from the way Naruto spoke of him. She knew he and his father must have been close.

"Too bad we don't have any meat."

With a tilt of her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. Annie couldn't help but remark, "Why, it's already much better than the piss we eat every day!" The mere mention of the word "food" made her shudder. Even back in the Marley, the meals managed to surpass the abomination before her.

With a mischievous grin, Naruto exclaimed, "Wow, Annie, I always knew beneath that cold heart is a soft, warm heart!" Annie responded with a playful roll of her eyes, a hint of amusement dancing in her gaze.

A mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he placed his hand beneath his chin, deep in thought. Slowly, a devilish smirk spread across his face.

Naruto turned on his heels once more, his gaze locking with Annie's eyes. She caught a glimpse of the wicked grin that adorned Naruto's face.

With a perplexed expression etched on her face and a furrowed brow, "Why are you looking at me like that? Did you finally lose it?"

Naruto leaned in closer, his voice laced with curiosity and excitement. "You know the storage room near the kitchen?" he inquired, his thumb confidently gesturing towards the door.

Annie's weary sigh escaped her lips as she questioned Naruto's remark. "Yeh, what about it?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"I know there's meat there. Believe it or not, the job of the instructor is actually very well paid. I know there's some meat in there," Naruto said convincingly. Already imagining how much better his dish would taste if it had meat on it.

"And you want to take some simply because you want your dish to be perfect so everyone can eat a good meal?" Her brows furrowed, torn between considering his audacious plan as either foolish or beyond foolish. She couldn't fathom why he would propose such a risky endeavor, which could potentially result in severe retribution from Keith. Annie didn't understand why he wanted to go out of his way to get in trouble.

"Yes. I want everyone to have a good meal." Naruto answered with a tone as if the answer was obvious.

Despite fighting each other for so many months now, Annie knew the bare minimum about Naruto; she didn't ask anything personal, and she didn't care to know him better. Why should I? It's much better if I just ignore all of them, Annie thought.

"I won't lend a hand." If he wanted to accomplish his task, then he was on his own.

With a nonchalant shrug, Naruto brushed off the rejection, "No problem, Annie. I used to steal cookies from my mother all the time. I can do this," Annie looked at him incredulously, she didn't know if Naruto realised there was a big difference between stealing cookies and stealing from the storage room.

"If you get caught. I will make sure Keith knows I had nothing to do with this." Annie quickly added.

"Ohh, wow, Annie. You are the best friend ever. What happened to no one is left behind?"

"Well, that quote works only with people I mind having around me." Annie added with a slight smirk of satisfaction.

"Thank you, Annie. I knew I could count on you." Naruto said sarcastically, before he remembered what he needed to do.

With measured steps, Naruto departed from the kitchen, walking into a dimly lit corridor. The floor beneath his feet was a mosaic crafted from an intricate arrangement of shimmering plates and meticulously laid tiles. Naruto followed the labyrinthine path, a gentle turn leading him to a door. To his astonishment, the entrance to the storage room stood unguarded.

Naruto pushed open the heavy double doors. As he ventured further into the dimly lit storage room, a labyrinth of towering cardboard fortresses greeted him, some boxes flung open like treasure chests. The air within the room seemed to possess an icy chill, his breath into ethereal tendrils dancing in the frigid atmosphere.

"This better be worth it," he murmured under his breath, as he grabbed one of the boxes.

Naruto placed the box on the floor; looking around; he quickly found the box he was looking for; Naruto retrieved the pocket knife from his pocket. As he cautiously began to pry open the box, he made sure to maintain utmost silence.

Naruto carefully pried open the lid of the box. Nestled within were six delectable rolls of savory meat, each one meticulously wrapped in delicate parchment that bore handwritten letters.

He quickly grabbed three of them, he knew he didn't need more.

Suddenly he heard an orchestration of footsteps resonated through the air. He instinctively pivoted on his heels, his inquisitive gaze fixating upon the figure now stationed adjacent to the entrance, he could see glimpse of their feet peeking through the minuscule crevice at the base of the door.

Naruto quickly thought of hiding when a voice was heard outside the storage room. "Can you help me? My ODM Gear is not working!" A voice reached the inside of the storage room that Naruto recognized right away.

Annie!! Naruto thought, a little bewildered, very confused; he hadn't thought she would actively help him in any way. His eyes darted toward the door, where he observed the retreating figure of a man, with each step growing fainter until his feet disappeared from view through the minuscule gap at the bottom. Sensing an opportunity, Naruto wasted no time, abandoning the room. With every step he took, his footsteps became feather-light, scarcely audible as he navigated the surroundings.

Later

Naruto sighed, looking at what he had cooked, the pieces of meat would make this dish unforgivable.

His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of approaching footsteps. His attention pirouetted towards the source of the sound. Annie stepped inside the room, wearing her usual blank face.

"Thank you, Annie. I really appreciate it," his voice filled with sincerity.

Yet, as Naruto's words echoed through the room, he couldn't help but notice a flicker of unease in Annie's eyes, a fleeting glimpse of something hidden beneath the surface. Her gaze averted, a hint of shame dancing across her features like a wistful shadow.

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about..." Her voice trailed off, but a mischievous glimmer danced in her eyes as a secret smile began to etch itself upon her lips.

With a playful grin, Naruto conceded, "You're absolutely right, my dear Annie. It must have been the wind." Annie playfully rolled her eyes, her bewilderment evident as she pondered why she continued to lend her assistance to Naruto, despite his knack for whimsical excuses.

Every fiber of her being urged her to disregard him, to turn a blind eye and move on, yet a lingering question lingered, echoing in her thoughts: "Why am I being so foolish?" She pondered, her inner voice chastising her for her own hesitation. Suddenly, she remembered the feeling she felt when she helped the moron, and she realised something. She had helped him within needing to do so, but she remembered Naruto's wound, his pain. She owned it to him.

"You know they will eventually notice that you stole meat. What will you do?" Annie questioned, changing the subject, and Annie's nimble fingers gracefully pointed toward the bubbling pot.

With an air of nonchalance and a subtle shrug, Naruto uttered the words, "I will take the blame," as if it were a mere trifle.

Annie's elegant eyebrow gracefully arched, a subtle sign of her perplexity. "You will be punished," she calmly asserted, her voice betraying a touch of severity as her sharp eyes intently scrutinized Naruto's every nuance and expression. "Severely." Annie quickly added.

Many people would much rather take the easy way out; they would much rather never admit they did something wrong and avoid the consequences. Just like me, Annie thought bitterly.

"I know, Annie," Naruto said, his voice filled with a mixture of reassurance and understanding as he took a deliberate and calming breath. He reached out to extinguish the dancing flame beneath the pot, its crackling warmth fading as he turned his full attention towards Annie.

"Father always told me that only a cowards runs away from their problems. I would never want to disappoint him by avoiding the consequences of my actions." Ever, Naruto thought the last part with a look of determination in his eyes, his blue eyes almost glittering.

"Your father sounds like a wise man." She blurted out before she could stop herself and Naruto looked at her with tenderness, the kind that made her heart skip a beat.

"He taught me everything I know, especially how to heal people. I wanted to become a doctor just like him." Naruto said with a melancholy look, while Annie averted his eyes, feeling a pang of guilt growing in her belly.

"Why do you want to become a doctor?" Annie asked, trying but failing to hide her curiosity.

"To help people." Naruto said with a dreamy look. "What other reason would I have?" Annie looked away, the guilt growing even more. Right now, she needed to run away from him, find a tree somewhere and punch it until she got exhausted.

"What is your father like?" he suddenly inquired.

Caught off guard, Annie hesitated for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly, before finally finding her voice to respond, "Why are you asking?" Her words carried a hint of caution, tinged with a touch of curiosity.

Naruto, undeterred by her guarded response, maintained his friendly smile, his eyes gleaming with genuine warmth, as he replied, "You have mentioned him quite a few times. He trained you, and he trained you well."

"I see," she began, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "My father was relentless. His approach... he was a little...harsh. If he wanted me to get something done, he would tell me to try until I...he wasn't the most pleasant one," Annie blurted out, her lips betraying her true feelings before her mind could catch up. The moment those words escaped her, a surge of shock coursed through her, leaving her wide-eyed and questioning her own audacity. Why had she exposed this vulnerable part of her past?

Naruto's eyes narrowed, showing concern. With a confident stride, he moved closer to Annie, who wore an expression of utter shock.

Sensing her distress, Naruto's voice took on a gentle tone as he inquired, "What do you mean? Did he hurt-" "I need to go!" However, before he could finish his sentence, Annie's interruption cut through the air like a sharp blade, leaving Naruto's words hanging in the kitchen's ambiance.

Without a moment's hesitation, she whisked herself away, leaving Naruto behind. As the door slammed shut behind her.

Annie briskly ventured into the lush depths of the enchanting forest, her heart pounding with a mixture of trepidation and determination.

As Annie wandered through the depths of the woods, her eyes were drawn to a towering tree. Gathering her resolve, she inhaled deeply, drawing in the crisp forest air, and with a swift and forceful kick, unleashed all the strength she could summon upon the sturdy trunk. A momentary wave of pain coursed through Annie's leg as her foot made contact with the unyielding wood, causing her to wince involuntarily. Yet, undeterred by the discomfort, she chose to cast it aside; wisps of ethereal steam began to escape from her feet, swirling and dancing in the air.

Unfazed by the pain, she relentlessly launched a barrage of kicks upon the unyielding tree trunk. Each forceful impact echoed through the surrounding forest, leaving an indelible mark on both her opponent and herself. With each successive kick, the once smooth bark surrendered to the relentless assault, revealing the raw and vulnerable flesh beneath.

Undeterred by the searing pain that radiated from her right foot, which now bled profusely, Annie pressed on. The sound of bones snapping and cracking reverberated through the air.

Her teeth sinking into her quivering lower lip. The sharp sting shooting through her body was a familiar sensation.

Dinner - Night

It didn't take long for word to spread that Naruto was the one that had made the dish; the cadets one by one took their dish from the kitchen and were ready to try and see what Naruto had cooked for them.

As Naruto took his usual seat beside his siblings, Armin, Ymir and Krista, a concoction of nerves and anticipation flooded his senses.

With each passing second, his anxiety grew, entwining itself with the hope that they would appreciate the dish. However, a tiny voice of doubt whispered in the recesses of his mind, questioning what their reaction would be if, by some cruel twist of fate, they didn't relish the food. His imagination conjured vivid images of plates being hurled with force, crashing against his face. The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"Don't worry, dear Naruto," Ymir assured with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm, as she affectionately draped her arm around Krista's shoulders, drawing an exasperated gaze from her friend. "Rest assured, if it sucks. I will be the first one to let you know, and I know just how to do that," she declared, a mischievous grin dancing on her lips.

Naruto, his face supported by his hand, couldn't help but chuckle, "Really, ugly freckles. What way would that be?"

"Oh, I'll throw it right in your face!" Her finger, like an accusatory arrow, pointed resolutely at the plate while Krista, her disapproving gaze sharp as daggers, shot Ymir a scolding look in response as if to say, "You're pushing your luck."

Naruto interjected with a hint of sarcasm dripping from his words, "Wow, Ymir. Thank you for being so supportive. You're the best," His eyebrow twitched ever so slightly

With a playful smirk dancing upon her lips, Ymir affectionately nudged his shoulder, her voice dripping with mischievous charm as she declared, "I'm just like that, pretty boy."

As Naruto stood there, his heart pounding in his chest, he knew he had to gather his composure before chaos erupted. In an attempt to steady his nerves, he inhaled deeply, feeling the cool air fill his lungs.

To his surprise, however, a minute passed, and not a single plate soared through the air toward him. The room remained eerily still as if frozen in time. As his eyes darted anxiously from person to person, he couldn't help but notice a glimmer of amusement dancing in Ymir's eyes. Just when Naruto thought he had escaped unscathed, a sudden burst of excitement shattered the silence.

The voice that rang out was not Ymir's, as he had expected, but rather Sasha's. Her high-pitched squeal of delight pierced the air, catching everyone off guard, especially Connie, who jumped back in surprise.

"Naruto!! This is Perfect!!!" Her words reverberated amidst the clinking of cutlery and the delightful aroma of the meal that filled the space. As she savored each delectable bite, Sasha's appetite seemed insatiable, devouring her plate with fervor until no morsel remained.

Naruto was happy to hear thar and he wondered if she wanted more food when she abruptly stood up and ran up to him with eyes that gleamed with a dreamy intensity as though she had just glimpsed the divine.

"Can I marry you?"

A pregnant silence enveloped the room. And then, laughter erupted from every corner, filling the air with an infectious joy.

Among the sea of laughter, Ymir's infectious guffaws reverberated the loudest, causing her to slam her hand against the table uncontrollably. Mikasa looked at Sasha with a calculating look, wondering if she should do something.

Meanwhile, Naruto found himself blushing furiously, his cheeks transforming into ripe tomatoes, as his gaze instinctively shifted away from Sasha's earnest eyes. His trembling hand instinctively reached for the crown of his head.

"Sasha. I-I-I-" Naruto's words trailed off, unsure what to say.

Ymir interjected with a mischievous grin on her face. "Sasha, you should kiss him to prove your love!" she playfully suggested, her voice filled with a hint of mischief. The room erupted with more laughter, filling the tense atmosphere with a newfound sense of levity.

Naruto, caught off guard by Ymir's unexpected remark, groaned audibly. His face flushed with embarrassment, his cheeks turning a shade of crimson. At that moment, he wished for the ground to swallow him whole. Fortunately, Reiner came to his rescue.

"Sasha," Reiner interjected firmly, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation, "enough with the theatrics. Can't you see that Naruto is clearly uncomfortable?" With an accusatory finger aimed directly at Naruto, whose gaze darted anxiously around the room,

Sasha's eyes widened, her face contorting with a mix of realization and regret that her proposal was a bit out of nowhere and had probably put Naruto in the center of attention.

Embarrassment flushed Sasha's cheeks as she stammered out an apology, her voice laced with genuine remorse and a hint of desperation. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, but can you please cook again? I really enjoyed your meat," she admitted, her eyes pleading with Naruto to understand.

"Sure, whenever you want." As Sasha sheepishly retreated to her seat, the room buzzed with laughter.

"She's not wrong, Naruto. The food is amazing, almost as good as mom's." Eren said, with Mikasa nodding along in agreement.

Naruto instinctively turned his gaze towards the vacant space that Annie usually occupied during mealtime, only to see the empty chair.

Without thinking, Naruto stood up and decided to find her. He grabbed a platter and walked outside.

It didn't take long for Naruto to sense movement coming from the forest, he wondered what she was doing out there. 

Annie

As Annie stood there, her breaths grew heavier. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin. Yet, Annie paid no attention to any of these discomforts. 

Her eyes shifted from the dance of her hair to the worn tree trunk that had become her outlet for the past two relentless hours, receiving the full extent of her kicks and punches. The once sturdy bark now bore the scars, its weathered surface revealing the remnants of each forceful strike. In her relentless pursuit of strength, Annie had pushed her body to its limits, breaking her hands and toes three times over.

Annie took another deep breath; what he had said came to her mind despite her trying to ignore him and his words.

"What do you mean? Did he hurt you?" Annie's heart raced as she replayed Naruto's words in her mind, the genuine concern etched on his face. It was a perplexing sight for Annie to witness such empathy. She couldn't fathom why Naruto would take the time to worry about her well-being. Yet, deep down, Annie couldn't deny the unexpected warmth that blossomed within her; she liked it that he showed concern, unlike her fellow warriors; none of them had ever asked her how she was, Bertholdt had tried starting conversations, but it was mostly him just stumbling on his words, while Reiner would do nothing but insult the Eldians in Paradis, and praising Marley like the good dog that he was.

Annie was ready to punch the tree once again. However, she heard faint footsteps, creeping closer and closer from behind. Startled, Annie's heart skipped a beat, as she swiftly pivoted on her heels, her piercing blue eyes narrowing with caution.

"Who's there?" Convinced that a stupid fellow cadet was lurking in the shadows, observing her every move.

However, to her surprise, but rather Naruto, finally revealing himself from the concealment of the bush. In his hands, he delicately balanced a steaming plate, in his right hand, while his left hand clutched a rustic loaf of bread, its golden crust glistening under the moonlight.

Annie quickly lowered her guard when she saw that it was him. "Naruto, why are you?" She questioned, her voice tinged with an icy detachment with a stoic gaze that concealed her inner turmoil. However, despite the unfriendliness that dripped from her words like drops of rain, he remained undeterred, his lips curving into an inviting smile.

"I brought you the dinner," Naruto sauntered over, holding a sumptuous dinner in his hands. As he approached, he couldn't help but let a smile curl at the corners of his lips. With a casual flick of his wrist, he placed the arranged plate and warm, freshly baked bread on a rustic, chopped tree trunk that served as her makeshift dining table.

Annie didn't know why, but she was left speechless, her mouth slightly opened, she didn't understand what his game was, she couldn't understand why he would do this, she quickly remembered her father's words.

"Remember, girl. No one will ever do something good out of the goodness of their heart. There's no such thing; always remember they want to use you."

Annie repeated his words in her head, her blue eyes as cold as ice, looking at Naruto's warm and trusting blue eyes, almost trying to scare him away with her eyes alone.

"Why? What are you trying to achieve?" Annie demanded, almost shouting at him. She expected him to walk away or maybe get angry at her, but instead, he looked at her with pity.

"Everyone in this World has the right to eat, Annie. Everyone has the right to three warm meals every day. I'm not doing this because I expect something in return." Naruto answered with a warm smile. Annie's eyes widened ever so slightly, reflecting a mixture of surprise and slight something else she didn't understand.

"You can throw it away if you want, but if you eat it, I would like to know what you think about the stew. I think it is my best one yet," Naruto requested with a chuckle; Annie looked at him strangely, as if she couldn't recognize him.

"D-didn't the others already tell you that," Annie said as she walked up to the plate filled with steaming stew.

"Oh, They did," Naruto answered with a slight chuckle of amusement when he remembered their reaction. "Especially Sasha, but..." Naruto's words trailed off.

However, Naruto's voice tapered off into a gentle hush as his attention shifted towards Annie, who now sat delicately dipping her bread into the hearty stew. "but..." he began, his voice brimming with anticipation, "I want to know what 'You' think about it," As Annie took a bite of the bread.

As Annie took her first bite, a symphony of flavors exploded in her mouth, a harmonious dance of sweet, savory, and tangy sensations that transported her taste buds to new heights. 

A contented hum escaped her lips. It was a gustatory experience far superior to anything she had ever encountered, surpassing even Marley's renowned delicacies.

Despite the undeniable pleasure she derived from the exquisite food, Annie maintained a stoic expression, her face a mask of composure that hid her true delight. With deliberate restraint, she swallowed the final morsel, her eyes meeting Naruto's expectant gaze.

"Well, it is certainly better than the food from the kitchen," As her words hung in the air, she found herself unable to resist the infectious display of Naruto's exultation, his triumphant fist pumping through the atmosphere. The sight was simply too delightful to suppress her mirth, and a gentle giggle danced from her lips, harmonizing with the joviality of the moment.

"Well, receiving a compliment from the Ice Queen herself is an honor," Naruto said with a playful bow of his head.

Against her better judgment, an irrepressible giggle escaped her lips, betraying a hidden amusement she couldn't fully comprehend.

Annie felt good to be near him, but the guilt in her stomach grew every time he made her smile. As they talked for two more hours, discussing fighting and a little about their family, Annie looked down at her hand in shame; the guilt grew more. She wanted to tell him the truth but knew she couldn't.

Will this ever end? She wondered when she heard chirping; she opened her eyes and noticed small birds had gathered around them, all looking at Naruto as if he was their father or something, some landing on his shoulder, allowing him to pet them. Annie looked at him incredulously; she escaped her stutter when Naruto extended his hand towards her, and a bird jumped on her shoulder, blue and yellow, with small white eyes; it was beautiful. 

Annie remembered that this wasn't the first time animals had shown familiarity with Naruto as if they all knew him somehow. 

"His name is Tidi. He's a little shy," Naruto said teasingly, motioning towards the bird, still chirping and resting on her shoulder. Annie found herself smiling. She did not doubt anymore. Naruto was special.

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Note: We are near the end of the Training Corps Arc, and Wooden Style will soon reveal it's true Strength.

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