sasunaru oneshots

The Secret Ingredient 🍜

The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the Hidden Leaf Village in a warm, golden glow. It was a perfect day for everyone to be outside, bustling through the market, chatting with friends, or training in the fields. But Sasuke Uchiha, the ever-serious ninja, was currently occupied with a more unusual task—figuring out why Naruto Uzumaki had been sneaking off to Ichiraku Ramen every afternoon for the past week.

Sasuke, not one to let curiosity go unanswered, decided to investigate. He positioned himself discreetly behind a tree near the ramen shop, his eyes narrowing as he watched Naruto approach. The blonde, with his usual wide grin, pushed through the curtains and entered the shop.

Sasuke slipped out from his hiding spot and crept up to the window, peeking inside. There, he saw Naruto animatedly talking with Teuchi, the ramen chef. But what caught Sasuke's attention was the large notebook Naruto had propped open on the counter, filled with handwritten notes and doodles.

"What are you up to, dobe?" Sasuke muttered to himself, his curiosity growing.

Inside the ramen shop, Naruto was oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. He scribbled furiously in his notebook, occasionally pausing to taste the ramen that Teuchi set in front of him.

"This broth is almost perfect, Teuchi-ossan!" Naruto exclaimed after slurping a mouthful. "But I think it needs a bit more... I don't know, maybe some spice?"

Teuchi chuckled, wiping his hands on his apron. "You've really taken an interest in ramen-making, Naruto. Who knew?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Well, yeah, I figured I eat enough of it, so why not try to make the best ramen ever, right?"

Teuchi nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit. A little passion goes a long way in cooking."

Naruto beamed, jotting down more notes. "Yeah, but I want it to be perfect. It's for someone special."

Outside, Sasuke's ears perked up. Someone special? He felt a strange twinge in his chest—a mix of curiosity and something he couldn't quite place. He continued to watch as Naruto and Teuchi worked together, tasting, discussing, and laughing. It was a side of Naruto he didn't often see—focused, determined, and... happy.

After a while, Naruto thanked Teuchi, gathered his things, and left the shop, still deep in thought about his ramen recipe. Sasuke slipped back into the shadows, following him at a distance. He wanted to know who this special person was that Naruto was going to such lengths for.

Naruto wandered through the village, humming to himself, completely unaware of Sasuke's presence. He stopped by the market, picking up a few fresh ingredients, then headed towards the training grounds. Sasuke kept his distance, puzzled by Naruto's seemingly aimless path.

Finally, Naruto reached a quiet spot by the river, where he set down his bag and pulled out his notebook again. He sat on a rock, the notebook in his lap, staring out at the water. Sasuke, now thoroughly intrigued, decided to confront him.

"What are you doing, dobe?" Sasuke called out, stepping out from behind a tree.

Naruto jumped, nearly dropping his notebook into the river. "Sasuke! What the hell, man? You scared me!"

Sasuke smirked. "You're too easy to scare, Naruto. What's with the notebook and all the ramen-making? And who's this 'someone special' you're talking about?"

Naruto's cheeks flushed a light pink, and he quickly closed his notebook. "I-It's nothing. Just a hobby, you know?"

"A hobby?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you have hobbies other than eating and training?"

Naruto huffed, stuffing his notebook back into his bag. "Since now, okay? And it's none of your business who it's for."

Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest, a teasing smirk on his face. "I think it is my business if you're sneaking around and acting all secretive. Come on, just tell me. Who is it?"

Naruto turned away, his face bright red. "Fine! It's for you, okay? I wanted to make you something nice. Something you'd like. Happy now?"

Sasuke blinked, taken aback. "For... me?"

Naruto nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, for you. I know you're always training hard and you don't always take care of yourself, so I thought... maybe I could make you something nice. Something you'd like."

Sasuke stared at Naruto, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. He had never expected this. "You... wanted to make ramen for me?"

Naruto shrugged, still looking away. "Yeah, well, don't make it weird, okay? It's just... I care about you, you know? And I wanted to do something for you."

Sasuke felt a smile tugging at his lips, something rare and genuine. "Idiot," he said softly, but there was no heat in his words. "You didn't have to do all that."

"I wanted to," Naruto insisted, finally meeting Sasuke's gaze. "Because... you're important to me."

Sasuke felt his cheeks warm at Naruto's earnest words. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them. "You're important to me too, dobe."

Naruto blinked in surprise, his heart skipping a beat. "R-Really?"

Sasuke nodded, his eyes softening. "Yeah. And I think I'd like to try that ramen you've been working so hard on."

Naruto's face lit up with a wide grin. "You mean it? You'll try it?"

Sasuke chuckled. "Of course. How could I say no when you went to all this trouble?"

Naruto's smile widened, and he quickly grabbed his bag, pulling out the ingredients he had bought. "Alright, just you wait, Sasuke. This is going to be the best ramen you've ever tasted!"

As Naruto set to work, preparing the ramen with a concentration Sasuke rarely saw outside of a fight, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment settle over him. Maybe it was the way Naruto's face lit up when he was focused on something he loved, or the way his blue eyes sparkled with determination. Whatever it was, Sasuke knew one thing for sure: he was grateful for Naruto, and for the unexpected surprises he always seemed to bring into his life.

A short while later, Naruto finished his ramen, presenting it to Sasuke with a proud grin. "Here it is, the ultimate Naruto Uzumaki special ramen, just for you!"

Sasuke took the bowl, eyeing the steaming noodles and the rich, aromatic broth. He lifted the bowl to his lips and took a sip of the broth, then a bite of the noodles. Naruto watched him anxiously, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Well?" Naruto asked, fidgeting nervously. "What do you think?"

Sasuke took another bite, savoring the flavors. He looked up at Naruto, a small smile on his lips. "It's good," he said simply, but Naruto could see the sincerity in his eyes.

Naruto's face broke into a wide smile, his eyes shining with pride. "Really? You really like it?"

Sasuke nodded, taking another bite. "Yeah, dobe. I really do. Thank you."

Naruto's grin widened, and he sat down beside Sasuke, grabbing a bowl of his own. "I'm glad," he said, his voice soft. "I'm really glad."

They sat there by the river, enjoying their ramen and each other's company, the sun beginning to set in the distance. And for a moment, everything was perfect—just the two of them, sharing a meal and a quiet moment of peace in the midst of their busy lives.