Naruto: Starting By Saving Mikoto

As Mikoto walked out of the room, she closed the door softly behind her and found Hiro waiting in the hallway. His eyes met hers, a light teasing glimmer in them as he leaned against the wall.

"You two are getting along quite well, it seems," Hiro remarked with a playful smirk. "Didn't know I could just randomly find you a friend like that."

Mikoto rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "She's hardly what I'd call a 'friend' at this point," she replied, her tone half-serious. "But she's starting to warm up, at least with me. You, on the other hand..."

Hiro sighed, pushing off the wall to stand upright. "Yeah, I noticed. She's not exactly thrilled with me right now."

Mikoto reached out and placed a hand on his arm, her expression softening. "Give her time. She's been through a lot, and trust doesn't come easily after something like that. She'll come around eventually."

"I hope so," Hiro said, his tone more contemplative. "I'm just not used to someone being so... cold after I've helped them."

"Well, not everyone is as easily charmed as I am," Mikoto teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Hiro chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing a bit. "Lucky for me, I suppose."

Mikoto's smile grew as she stepped closer to him, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "Why don't we give her some space for now? We can figure out what to do next over breakfast."

Hiro nodded, appreciating the suggestion. "That sounds good. Let's go."

As they made their way to the kitchen, the atmosphere between them was lighter

As Mikoto Was making food Hiro Arrived behind her locking his hands around her waist 

He smelled her fragrance "What are you making wifey"

Mikoto laughed softly, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink at Hiro's playful affection. "Just something simple," she replied, her voice light as she continued preparing the meal. 

Hiro nuzzled closer, his breath warm against her neck. "With you making it, I don't doubt that for a second."

Mikoto leaned back slightly, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. "You know, you're going to have to let go if you want to eat."

Hiro sighed dramatically, loosening his hold but not fully letting go. "Fine, but only because I'm curious about what you're cooking up."

She smirked, playfully nudging him with her elbow. "You'll just have to wait a little longer. Go set the table or something."

Hiro chuckled, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping back. "Alright, alright."

the sound of a door creaking open interrupted their playful exchange. Pakura, having recovered enough to move around, entered the kitchen. 

As Pakura entered the kitchen, her gaze quickly took in the scene before her. 

Mikoto and Hiro were in the middle of their playful exchange, clearly comfortable and affectionate with each other. Pakura hesitated at the doorway, her eyes darting between them.

"Good morning," Pakura said, her voice carefully neutral, though a hint of her earlier confusion lingered.

Mikoto turned, her smile faltering slightly as she noticed Pakura's presence. "Morning, Pakura. You're up early."

Hiro, still in a relaxed mood, greeted her with a friendly nod. "Good to see you're feeling better. We were just about to have breakfast. Care to join us?"

Pakura hesitated, her pride and wariness evident. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to intrude."

Mikoto quickly shook her head. "It's no intrusion. We're happy to have you. And besides, you need to eat and regain your strength."

Pakura looked down at her clothes, still feeling the remnants of the previous day's battle. "I'm not exactly in the best shape to be a guest."

"It doesn't matter," Hiro said, stepping closer with a reassuring smile. "You're welcome here, Pakura. We insist."

Pakura's eyes met his, her expression softening slightly but still filled with reluctance. "I don't want to be a burden. Besides, I'm being hunted by the Sand Village. I need to keep moving."

Mikoto stepped forward, her tone more insistent but kind. "If you stay here, we can offer you protection and a place to recover. It's safer than running around alone, and we have the resources to help you."

Pakura's shoulders sagged slightly as she weighed their offer. She knew she couldn't keep running forever, and the prospect of having a temporary refuge was tempting. "And what happens after I recover? What then?"

Hiro's smile turned more serious. "You'll have the chance to decide what you want to do next. For now, just focus on getting better. We can discuss your options later."

Pakura sighed, clearly torn. "Alright, I'll stay for now. But I don't want to impose or cause any trouble."

"You won't be," Mikoto assured her, her tone warm. "We're happy to help, and we're glad you're staying."

Pakura nodded, albeit reluctantly, and moved to join them at the kitchen table. Hiro and Mikoto resumed their preparations, the atmosphere in the room shifting from playful to supportive.

As they began their breakfast, Hiro glanced at Pakura, who was quietly eating but clearly still on edge. "I know this is a lot to take in, Pakura. We'll do our best to make you feel at home."

Pakura offered a faint smile, a sign of her appreciation. "Thank you. I'll try to make myself useful while I'm here."

Mikoto smiled, glad to see Pakura easing into the situation. 

"We're happy to have you here. Let's just focus on getting through today, and we'll figure out the rest as we go."

The morning passed with a mix of conversations and tentative camaraderie. Pakura, despite her reservations, started to feel a sense of belonging.