The forest was quiet, its silence painted in hues of golden light as the sun began to lower in the sky, bleeding amber and honey through the dense canopy.
Shafts of sunlight slipped through the foliage like divine fingers tracing the earth's breath, illuminating the ground with fleeting patches of warmth, and among the trees, the wind whispered like an old friend sharing a secret.
From above, settled gracefully on a thick tree branch cloaked in shadows and dappled gold, sat Gojo.
His white hair danced with the wind like drifting snow beneath a winter moon, soft yet unyielding, glistening like starlight in the fading sun.
In his arms lay Hinata, her delicate figure nestled close against his chest, providing warmth that resonated with comfort.
Her pale cheeks bloomed into a vivid shade of crimson, as though cherry blossoms had flourished under the gentle warmth of spring, each bloom reaching for the light.
She looked down, her lips parted in silent astonishment, her breath caught between a delightful mix of awe and embarrassment.
Her hands trembled like shy butterflies resting upon his chest, hesitant yet eager to embrace this moment of intimacy.
She could feel the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her palms, a quiet drum of strength and comfort, echoing the depths of connection they shared.
Gojo-kun… he's holding me so close... like I'm someone precious…
Hinata's thoughts flowed like a gentle stream winding through a field of flowers, pure and untouched, each thought painting the landscape of her heart with vibrant colors.
Her face deepened in color, practically glowing red like the petals of a rose, but inside her heart, there was a warmth that no words could measure—a sweetness like honey stirred into tea, wrapping around her soul in the gentlest embrace.
Gojo glanced down at her, and the sight nearly made him chuckle aloud.
Hinata's eyes, wide as the moon on a clear night, shimmered with soft vulnerability and innocent affection.
Her shy expression was like freshly fallen snow—untouched, pure, and breathtakingly fragile, inviting admiration.
A playful urge surged within him, a desire to pinch her cheek just to see how much redder it could get.
But he held himself back, knowing well that any further teasing might cause her to faint in his arms like a startled deer caught in the fragile light of dawn.
Man, she's too cute, he thought, his lips twitching in an involuntary smile.
If I tease her even a little more, I might need to catch her before she tumbles out of the tree, drifting softly like a leaf caught in a gentle breeze.
Settling back against the trunk, Gojo relaxed, still holding Hinata close as the breeze stirred the leaves into soft applause around them, a natural symphony praising their unspoken connection.
But just as serenity wrapped itself around the moment, a loud and unmistakable sound broke through the peace, shattering the tranquility like a glass ornament falling to the floor.
"I told you I'm stronger, loser!" bellowed Naruto, his voice erupting like a thunderstorm rolling across the horizon.
"You wish, Sasuke-teme! You barely kept up last time!" came the retort, sharp and piercing, echoing through the trees like a reckless wind seeking mischief.
Gojo's eye twitched as he leaned forward slightly, glancing down into the fray unfolding below.
Hinata tilted her head in curiosity, her shyness momentarily pushed aside by confusion.
"Gojo-kun… why are Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun yelling at each other again?" she asked, her voice soft yet curious, like the gentle rustle of leaves in a glade.
Gojo sighed, the sound long and weary, like the wind giving up on moving the stubborn mountain.
"Those two idiots are at it again. If their mouths were weapons, they'd have destroyed each other ten times over."
Hinata blinked, not entirely understanding but feeling the humor beneath his words.
She giggled softly, the sound like wind chimes in a spring breeze dancing under the sunlight, and Gojo couldn't help but smirk at the sound, feeling warmth radiate from their shared moment.
Moments later, more footsteps approached.
The bushes rustled like whispers in the dark, and out stepped Ino, Sakura, and Uchiha Shizuka, their vibrant presences adding an electric energy to the air.
Behind them, dragging their limbs like defeated warriors returning from battle, were Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba.
The boys' faces were battered and bruised, clothes torn like fallen leaves scattered after a tempest, hair ruffled, and egos shattered.
Shikamaru looked like he'd aged a decade in one overcast day, while Choji clutched his stomach as though he'd been denied a lifetime of snacks—his usual cheer overshadowed by discomfort.
Kiba was limping, a leaf still stuck to his head like a comedic crown, and his canine partner Akamaru sat beside him, equally disheveled, mirroring his owner's state of distress.
Gojo's eyes widened slightly as he took in their miserable expressions, stifling laughter at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
These girls really are ruthless.
I mean damn, they wrecked them so badly I might need to organize a funeral for their pride.
He folded his arms, unable to suppress a smirk as he watched the fallout of their battle unfold before him.
But honestly… they're so soft and gentle around me.
Even Shizuka, known for her sharp tongue and piercing words, turns into a quiet kitten when I'm near.
Guess my charm's too strong.
Yep… I'm practically a human magnet, absorbing all their pain au chocolat-like sweetness.
Even the proudest girls lower their guard when I'm around.
As Gojo basked in his mental praise, down below, the situation took another sharp turn, as tension thickened—like a storm brewing on the horizon.
"I'm telling you, I didn't lose!" Naruto yelled, pointing a finger at Sasuke, his face twisted in righteous fury, transforming each word into a bolt of lightning that crackled with indignation.
"You tripped over your own foot, dobe," Sasuke sneered back, his eyes narrowed like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury, calm on the surface but brewing with an impending tempest.
"You—take that back, bastard!" Naruto shouted, undeterred, stepping forward, his whole body radiating defiance like a flame flickering against the night.
Hinata leaned forward curiously, her heart racing as the tension escalated, but then calamity struck—something strange happened—no, something cursed.
As Naruto stomped forward, his foot landed on a moss-covered rock, treacherous and deceptive.
The world slowed down, time seeming to crawl as everyone watched, breath caught in their throats—a moment etched into eternity.
Naruto's leg slipped.
His arms flailed like a fledgling bird trying desperately to find its balance.
His body tilted forward at a steep angle, and unfortunately—tragically—Sasuke was too close, almost like an unsuspecting ship caught in a sudden storm.
Gojo's eyes widened, a sense of dread overtaking his face as if he could foresee the calamity unfurling before him.
"Wait… no way—" his voice trailed off, uncertain whether to intervene or merely observe.
And then it happened.
Naruto's face collided directly with Sasuke's.
Lips met lips.
Soft.
Fleshy.
Direct.
It wasn't a gentle touch.
It was a full-on, lip-to-lip kiss.
The kind that usually came with romantic tension, music swelling in the background, and fireworks exploding in the distance—a moment of perfectly orchestrated chaos.
But there were no fireworks here.
Only the sound of collective, horrified silence enveloping the glade like a dense fog rolling across the shores at dawn.
Everyone froze, the atmosphere cracking with disbelief.
Hinata gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in utter shock, her eyes wide as saucers, reflecting the brightness of surprise and confusion.
Sakura, Ino, and Shizuka stood rooted in place, their expressions akin to paintings captured in astonishment, mouths hanging open like someone had slapped them all with a fish, their minds racing to comprehend the absurdity.
Shikamaru muttered, "What a drag…" before collapsing backward onto the ground, staring up at the sky in existential despair, as if asking the heavens, "Why?"
Choji dropped his chips, their fall echoing like the final notes of a symphony coming to an abrupt end.
Kiba fainted dramatically, his body slackening as Akamaru barked once, then slumped over beside him, both of them captured by the overwhelming absurdity of the moment.
Naruto's eyes were comically wide, his expression a blend of confusion and astonishment, as he stood there, face still inches away from Sasuke's, lips still awkwardly pressing against each other.
Sasuke looked equally stunned, frozen like a statue carved in disbelief, his usual calm demeanor shattered by the ludicrousness of the situation before them.
A long moment passed as they pulled back in horror, both simultaneously yelling, "WHAAATTTTTTT?!"
Gojo stared down from the branch above, utterly deadpan.
His soul silently evacuated his body for a brief moment, as if the absurdity were too great even for him to bear.
He blinked once.
Then again.
Finally, he muttered with a twitching smile, "Well… that happened quicker than in the original timeline…"
Hinata looked up at him, puzzled, the pink hue in her cheeks deepening as surprise mingled with something new—an intrigue she couldn't quite articulate.
Gojo sighed again, this time a long-suffering breath as if the weight of witnessing destiny's misfire had aged him ten years in the span of a heartbeats.
"I swear… those two are more suited to be a couple than half the pairs I've seen around here. What a gay love story," he remarked, shaking his head in disbelief, the corners of his mouth still curled upward in amusement.
He shuddered violently, rubbing his arms as though trying to cleanse the memory from his soul, a grimace flashing across his face.
"Thank the heavens I'm straight… and blessed with beautiful girlfriends," he continued, the warmth of admiration flooding him as he thought of the girls in his life, each unique and charming in their own right.
As the chaos below erupted with shouts, accusations, and eternal embarrassment—a cacophony that filled the air like a raucous orchestra out of tune—Gojo leaned back again, relaxing into the sturdy trunk of the tree, Hinata still warm in his arms, their connection a lifeline amid the tumult.
He let the insanity unfold like a play he had no intention of joining, each dramatic flair of emotion below vibrant in its absurdity and chaos.
After all… it had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the hilarious whims of fate that seemed to delight in orchestrating such wild moments.
As the golden sunlight continued to cascade down through the leaves, transforming the world around them into a canvas of wonder and chaos, he found comfort in simply being part of it all, even from a distance.
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To be continued... (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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