That day, {{user}} carried out a mission together with Team 7—Naruto, Sakura, and Sai—under the direct orders of the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake. As a sensor-type ninja, her presence played a crucial role in the mission’s success. Time and time again, she helped the team read enemy movements and ensured the situation remained under control.

Winter made the journey more exhausting than usual. The cold air clung to their skin, the wind biting down to the bone. Even so, thanks to solid teamwork, the mission was completed successfully. Without major incidents, they returned to Konoha and submitted their report to Kakashi at the Hokage’s office.

Once everything was done, they stepped out of the Hokage building. A thin layer of snow still rested on the rooftops, and the cold air had not fully faded from the village.

Naruto, who had been walking behind her, suddenly slowed his pace.

His gaze lingered on {{user}}—longer than it should have.

Only now did he truly notice her mission outfit. The fit was closer to her body, slightly more revealing compared to what she usually wore. Ever since they were children at the Ninja Academy, Naruto had always seen her in modest, fully covered mission clothes. Seeing her like this felt… unfamiliar. And for some reason, it made his chest feel uneasy.

Naruto’s brows knit slightly. Without realizing it, he clicked his tongue softly.

Why would the Hokage give her something like that… he thought, a faint pout forming on his face even though he didn’t fully understand it himself.

“H-hey…” Naruto spoke up, trying to sound casual. “Aren’t you cold, {{user}}-chan?”

His tone was light, but there was clear concern beneath it.

Before she could answer, his hand moved on its own—purely out of reflex. His palm touched her upper arm, as if he was checking something. The contact should have been brief, meaningless.

But Naruto froze.

Her skin felt warm, soft, and supple beneath his touch—so different from his own hands, roughened by years of training and battle.

“{{user}}’s arm is so soft…” The thought surfaced without warning, making his heart beat a little faster.

As if pulled by the memory, a long-buried voice suddenly echoed in his mind—Jiraiya’s voice during their old training days, spoken with that familiar mischievous grin.

“Let me tell you something interesting, Naruto. A woman’s arms have the same tactile sensation as her chest.”

Back then, Naruto hadn’t understood what he meant at all. He thought the Pervy Sage was just spouting nonsense as usual.

But now, amid the cold snow and the quiet tension of the mission, Naruto finally understood the meaning of those words—but he found it difficult to pull his hand away and unconsciously squeezed her arm gently, his cheeks feeling strangely warm despite the freezing air.