The next day, Uchiha Tonan arrived at the Academy early.
He didn't run into Uchiha Mina on the way.
Considering what had happened the day before, she was probably still nursing a bruised ego.
But that had nothing to do with Uchiha Tonan.
If possible, Tonan hoped Mina would take the loss to heart, learn from it, and grow stronger through training.
It would be even better if it lit a fire under her and led her to awaken the Sharingan.
As he stepped into the classroom, he immediately noticed Hyuga Chiryo propping her chin up with both hands, her pale eyes locked shyly on him the moment he entered.
Tonan responded with a gentle nod and a composed, refined smile.
From her seat nearby, Uchiha Mina witnessed this scene. Her teeth clenched, her fists shook—her pride as a kunoichi and a Uchiha cracking under the pressure.
During every class break that day, Chiryo took the opportunity to approach Tonan, asking for help with her homework.
Naturally, Uchiha Tonan didn't refuse. After all, helping a "reserve ration" was part of his long-term strategy.
To the other students, this so-called "love triangle" looked innocent, even sweet.
But to Tonan, it was a silent battlefield.
And who was the prey and who was the predator?
No one would know until the end.
After school, Hyuga Chiryo had no valid reason to stick to Tonan like usual.
Everyone at the Academy already knew: after class, Uchiha Tonan belonged to Hatake Kakashi.
Sure enough, as Tonan walked toward the Hatake compound, Uchiha Mina caught up to him.
"Tonan-kun!"
Both he and Kakashi turned around at the same time.
"Mina, did you need something?" Tonan adjusted his glasses, voice calm and pleasant.
Mina inhaled deeply, met his eyes with determined seriousness, and said,
"I want to get stronger. Will you train me?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, then shrugged lazily. "What a drag," he muttered, then turned to Tonan and added, "I'll go on ahead. Meet me at the usual spot."
With that, Kakashi walked off, hands stuffed in his pockets.
Once he was gone, Tonan looked back at Mina, his voice gentle but firm.
"We're classmates—it's natural to help each other out. I'd be glad to guide your training."
Mina bowed. "Thank you, Tonan-kun."
Tonan tapped his chin thoughtfully. "But I already spar with Kakashi every day after school. Hmm… How about this—after dinner, I'll meet you at the Uchiha Clan's northern training field. We'll train for an hour."
Mina's eyes lit up. "Okay."
"Alright then, I'll see you tonight." Tonan turned to leave.
But before he could take more than two steps, Mina called out again, "Tonan-kun!"
He paused. "Hmm? Something else?"
Mina hesitated, then locked eyes with him. "Do you… like Hyuga Chiryo?"
Tonan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of 'like' are you talking about?"
"The kind between… boyfriend and girlfriend."
Tonan let out a light chuckle, shaking his head.
"Why would you think that? I've always seen Chiryo as a little sister. And besides…" He looked at her sincerely. "We're way too young to be thinking about romantic relationships. That'd be puppy love."
"Puppy… love?" Mina blinked, confused.
That was the first time she'd heard that phrase. In the shinobi world, with life expectancy so short, getting married and having kids in your teens was basically standard.
By six, everyone was already a budding genin. At seven, they were fighting in life-or-death missions. What was wrong with dating?
Still, as long as Tonan made it clear that he had no romantic interest in Chiryo, Mina's heart found some relief.
She smiled sweetly. "In that case, see you tonight at the training field!"
That night, after finishing dinner, Uchiha Tonan made his way to the northern training ground.
The sky had turned deep blue, scattered with faint starlight, the wind soft and cool.
Ding—
A kunai struck the wooden target.
Uchiha Mina was already there, practicing her throws with serious focus.
When she noticed Tonan's arrival, her face lit up with joy.
"Tonan-kun, you're here!"
Tonan's eyes flicked to the kunai embedded in the target. With a nod of approval, he said,
"You've been working hard. But I noticed your kunai throw isn't quite textbook. Come, I'll show you how to fix your form."
Without hesitation, he stepped up behind her and began adjusting her posture—his hands pressing lightly against her arms, waist, shoulders.
"You're using your whole arm to throw—don't. The key is in the flick of the wrist."
"Now bend here, just a little more."
"When you throw, engage your core—your waist controls the flow of force through your whole body."
"Try bending your waist a bit more… lie into the throw."
Feeling his hands correct her posture again and again, Mina's cheeks flushed red. She bit her lower lip.
"T-Tonan-kun~"
Tonan paused and looked at her, eyes sincere. "What is it? Am I making it too difficult to follow?"
The calm timbre of his voice sent a ripple through her.
She swallowed hard, shook her head, and said softly, "No, thank you."
"You're welcome," he replied with a smile, continuing the adjustments.
"Tighten your core."
"Shift your thigh—just a bit…"
The field was deserted. Just the two of them. The stars watched silently above.
Mina couldn't concentrate at all. No matter how Tonan corrected her, she couldn't hit the target even once after that.
An hour later, they sat together on the grass, side by side.
Tonan looked at her with gentle regret.
"I'm sorry, Mina. Maybe I didn't explain it well. I think I ended up wasting your time."
Mina waved her hands, flustered. "No! You taught me really well—I was just too distracted. Maybe I've been too tired lately. A couple days of rest should fix it."
Tonan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Then don't push yourself too hard."
His soft, concerned words made her heart skip. She subtly scooted closer—just a few centimeters.
To avoid being obvious, she changed the subject quickly.
"Tonan-kun… I heard from some clan elders that you awakened your Sharingan after someone close to you died. Is that true?"
Tonan looked up at the stars. His tone turned deep and reflective.
"Yes. My first tomoe awakened when my brother, Tenyu-san, was killed… by one of our own clansmen."
"As for the three tomoe… that came later. After my father and mother died in the war."
Mina gazed at his profile, eyes dreamy.
"Such a heavy price… My parents died in the last Shinobi World War too. But I was still too young to feel anything. I guess… my lack of talent means I'll never awaken the Sharingan."
Tonan turned to her and looked into her eyes, voice firm.
"No, I believe you can awaken it."
Her heart thudded. She dropped her gaze, suddenly shy.
"But doesn't awakening the Sharingan require strong hatred? I don't think… I can hate like that."
"You're wrong."
"Huh?" She looked at him, confused.
He adjusted his glasses, his voice low but resolute.
"The Uchiha don't awaken their eyes through hate. That's a misunderstanding passed down for generations."
"But… that's what everyone says…"
He interrupted, expression solemn.
"The Uchiha are a clan driven by love. Not hatred. It's love that births power. And when we can't protect the ones we love, the bloodline answers. The Sharingan awakens—not from rage, but from desperation to protect."
"Love…?" Mina murmured, stunned.
Tonan nodded.
"Yes. I loved Tenyu-san. I loved my mother and father. When I couldn't protect them… the Sharingan gave me the power to try."
Mina was still uncertain, but something about his words felt… right.
"I don't know much about love…" she admitted softly.
Tonan reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Then let me help you learn. I'll do everything I can to help you feel it."
Was… was Tonan-kun confessing?
No, no—he was just being supportive. He wanted to help her awaken her Sharingan.
Right?
But then she felt his hand tighten gently around her shoulder, fingers pressing down ever so slightly.
Her heart stuttered.
She dropped her head and whispered in a voice barely audible,
"…Mmm."
I think… I'm starting to feel it.
Night had fully fallen.
In the dim glow of the moonlight, Tonan gazed down at the girl in his arms.
His eyes, like twin obsidian flames, were unreadable.
A heart filled with hatred may open the eyes… but hatred like that is always born from love.
Don't disappoint me.
My precious grain reserve.