Chapter 3: Cold Outside, Warm Inside
"Are these methods a bit too simple? Are you sure this will actually work?"
The Uchiha girl who called herself "Tsuki" frowned as she positioned herself according to Naruto's instructions, her small face filled with doubt.
The training method Naruto had taught her was surprisingly basic—just adjustments to stance, controlling wrist strength through subtle changes, plus some calculations for throwing angles. This was far from the "secret technique to instantly become a throwing master" she'd imagined, not even matching the occasional tips her sister would halfheartedly share.
Her sister...
Thinking of that black-haired girl who always wore the high-collared clan uniform, Tsuki's eyes unconsciously dimmed for a moment. Her sister had promised to teach her shurikenjutsu, but every time it was just a gentle poke to her forehead and that tender yet distant voice saying, "Next time."
Then she'd leave with that annoying Shisui-nii, abandoning Tsuki to practice alone against wooden targets.
"What's wrong?" Naruto deliberately drew out his tone. "I heard the Uchiha clan are all geniuses. Don't tell me—you lack the courage to back up that talent?"
"What?!"
Tsuki's head snapped up, her dark eyes instantly blazing with fighting spirit. "Of course not! Bring it on—I'll show you what the Uchiha are capable of!"
She huffily assumed her stance with the intensity of facing a mortal enemy.
So easy to provoke...
Naruto suppressed his amusement watching this ruffled little Uchiha. Her lips pressed together in complete concentration reminded him oddly of a proud black cat from a café in his previous life—always wanting treats but too dignified to approach until the food was placed on the ground first.
After silently chuckling to himself, he casually picked up several smooth pebbles from the ground, weighing them in his palm to gauge their mass and shape.
"Ready?" After confirming she was prepared with a glance, Naruto flicked his wrist.
Whoosh!
The stone traced a sharp arc directly toward Uchiha Tsuki.
Tsuki's eyes narrowed like a kitten targeting prey. Slender fingers gripped a shuriken, releasing it almost simultaneously with the incoming projectile.
Clang!
Metal struck stone with precise timing, producing a crisp collision. The split pebble fragments scattered to the ground.
"Hmph!"
Tsuki proudly puffed out her small chest, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifting in a smugly satisfied expression.
"That's not all—here comes more!"
Naruto continued without pause, this time launching three stones in a triangular formation. Tsuki quickly drew fresh shuriken from her tool pouch, her arm moving in rapid succession.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three sharp rings sounded almost simultaneously as tiny sparks erupted in the air.
As their practice intensified, both children's rhythm accelerated. The percussion of stones meeting shuriken echoed through the forest, occasional sparks glittering brilliantly against the twilight backdrop.
Naruto began varying his strategy. Instead of straight throws, he sent pebbles at tricky angles—some arcing high in parabolic curves, others skimming low across the ground, and some even colliding mid-flight to change direction.
Initially flustered, Tsuki missed several consecutive intercepts. But she quickly regulated her breathing and began predicting Naruto's trajectories, her small frame nimbly shifting positions while her shuriken releases became increasingly sophisticated.
As expected...
Naruto marveled silently. Though young, this girl possessed the keen perception and rapid learning ability truly worthy of the Uchiha genius reputation.
This method was actually quite crude—essentially rote memorization through repetition. However, such brute-force approaches suited genius-level training perfectly.
If an ordinary person were throwing the stones, this girl would probably grow bored immediately since there'd be no challenge. But with Naruto—equally talented—as her partner, both maintained excellent rhythm and developed natural synchronization.
---
As time passed, the sunset's afterglow gradually painted the sky crimson while forest lighting grew soft and hazy. Their intertwined shadows stretched across the ground.
Naruto wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling the pleasant ache in his arms. Today's practice had proven far more engaging than expected. What began as casual shuriken training had somehow extended for hours through his back-and-forth with Tsuki. The gains were substantial too—her challenges had pushed him to experiment with new throwing angles and release techniques, sharpening his instincts beyond solo practice.
Having a sparring partner really makes all the difference...
He bent down to retrieve two leather water pouches from beside his pack, casually tossing one toward Tsuki.
She reflexively caught it. A few hours ago, she would have stubbornly refused or at least made some defiant comment. Now she simply uncapped it quietly and tilted her head back to drink.
Cool water soothed her parched throat, and only then did Tsuki realize how much she'd perspired. Several strands of black hair clung to her neck while her clothes had grown damp with sweat.
You had to admire hot-blooded shonen manga logic—despite such extended high-intensity training, her body didn't feel particularly exhausted, but rather pleasantly invigorated.
"Well then," Naruto set down his water pouch and exhaled deeply. "Thanks for practicing with me today. The sun's almost set—are you heading home now?"
Tsuki nodded lightly, screwing the cap back on. "...Mm, Mother should have dinner ready soon. What about you?"
"...I don't have parents, so I made a bento box." Naruto scratched his cheek. "I'm getting pretty hungry, so I'll probably eat by the river."
Hearing this, Tsuki froze. She hadn't expected this blond boy her own age to be an orphan. Though they'd only just met, those words still stirred a subtle ache in her chest.
Eating alone... must be really lonely.
As dusk deepened and evening breezes rustled through the treetops with gentle whispers, Tsuki suddenly spoke up, her voice noticeably softer.
"I see..." She paused briefly. "If I go back now, dinner probably won't be ready yet. I... I'll keep you company a little longer."
Feeling this sounded too direct, she quickly turned away and added, "Of course! It's only because I'm free right now!"
Naruto blinked in surprise, then his expression melted into a warm smile. "I'd appreciate that." He pointed toward the distance. "The riverside has a beautiful view in the evening."
***
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