Chapter 2: Tsundere
Naruto studied the little girl standing before him.
She wore a simple but practical outfit—clothing that wasn't particularly luxurious but was expertly tailored for ease of movement. A small ninja tool pouch hung at her waist, definitely not something ordinary children carried around.
She didn't look like a wealthy family's daughter, but she certainly wasn't a typical village child either...
After a brief silence, Naruto took the initiative to speak.
"Um... may I ask who you are?"
His tone remained polite. The girl was undeniably cute, and he felt naturally drawn to befriend her. But if she showed the same disgusted expression as other villagers... Naruto would turn around and leave immediately.
Though not before giving those adorable cheeks a good pinch to teach her not to look down on people!
The black-haired little girl stood frozen in place, small hands unconsciously gripping and fidgeting with the hem of her clothes. After hesitating for a moment, she finally lifted her chin slightly, attempting to put on an air of superiority.
"...Hmph, that technique from earlier was... acceptable."
Her voice was deliberately cold, though the ending carried a hint of unconcealed childishness.
"But before asking who someone is, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
After saying this, she quickly added: "Besides, this is where my sister and I usually train. So you... why are you practicing here?"
...A tsundere?
Naruto almost wanted to laugh. She certainly hadn't acted this way when she was hiding behind the tree shouting "So incredible!" earlier.
The little girl's comment about "my sister and I train here" made Naruto understand why she was in this location.
This forest area on Konoha's outskirts indeed wasn't a public training ground—just an empty space he'd stumbled upon by chance. The simple targets nailed to the tree trunks looked like they'd been there for years.
Oops, I've been trespassing on someone else's territory...
While Konoha had dedicated training grounds, Naruto preferred to venture further out. He really didn't want to endure the villagers' disgusted stares while practicing shuriken under everyone's watchful eyes.
This little girl's attitude was peculiar—not distant or disgusted, but deliberately dismissive and proud. Her tiny chin tilted high, though those obsidian-like eyes sparkled brightly as they occasionally stole glances at the kunai embedded in the targets.
This awkward yet prideful demeanor, combined with her striking appearance and their current location...
Uchiha clan.
Naruto had a growing suspicion.
"Ah? Oh... thanks for the compliment." Naruto flashed a friendly smile. "I'm Naruto. Is this your sisters' training ground? I'm sorry for using it without permission."
He deliberately slowed his speech, observing her reaction.
"If you don't want me using it, I can leave right now."
The little girl's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She'd originally expected this blond boy to voluntarily explain his throwing techniques, but instead he'd shifted the conversation to training ground usage rights.
After several seconds of silence, she finally couldn't hold back anymore. Her face flushed slightly as she stiffly blurted out, "If you absolutely must use it... I suppose I don't mind!"
The moment those words left her mouth, she regretted them—wouldn't that make her seem too accommodating? So she hurriedly put on a stern expression and added:
"But! Your throwing technique... exactly how did you train it?"
Seemingly realizing this was too direct, she frantically waved her small hands, "Don't misunderstand! I'm just asking casually! You should know that the Uchiha clan's shurikenjutsu is the strongest! Your level... is nothing special!"
By the end, her voice grew quieter and quieter, her ear tips beginning to redden.
Watching this little girl who obviously cared deeply yet stubbornly pretended indifference, Naruto couldn't help but smile slightly.
A textbook Uchiha tsundere indeed...
He deliberately and slowly drew a kunai from his tool pouch, spinning it deftly around his fingertip.
"I have my own training methods—something I developed myself."
Before he'd finished speaking, his wrist gave a slight flick and the kunai vanished from between his fingers like magic. The little girl's eyes widened instantly, her dark pupils filled with surprise. Before she could react, Naruto's hand moved with fluid grace.
Swish!
Three kunai had somehow appeared between his fingers, gleaming with cold metallic light in the setting sun.
So incredible! How did he do that?!
The little girl's lips parted slightly, nearly crying out in amazement. Those obsidian eyes stared unblinkingly at Naruto's fingers, brimming with longing and curiosity. But the next second, as if realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly turned her face away.
Seeing her like this, Naruto roughly understood how to handle this type of tsundere.
"Well... it was wrong of me to use your and your sister's training ground without permission." He deliberately softened his tone. "But I also know that the Uchiha clan's shurikenjutsu is absolutely first-rate in Konoha."
Noticing the little girl's ears perk up attentively, Naruto continued his gentle coaxing.
"How about this—want to practice together? Two people training together always improve faster than one alone."
He waved the kunai in his hand, flashing a mischievous smile. "I can teach you that trick from earlier—consider it payment for borrowing your training ground. How does that sound?"
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