Naruto observed the little girl before him.
She wore a simple and neat outfit suitable for training. The fabric wasn't luxurious, but it was well-tailored, clearly designed for ease of movement. A small ninja tool pouch was tied at her waist—not something an ordinary child would carry.
She didn't seem like a young lady from a wealthy family, but she didn't look like a common villager's child either...
After a brief silence, Naruto decided to speak first.
"Um... may I ask who you are?"
His tone was polite. After all, she was adorable, and Naruto instinctively wanted to be friendly. But if she gave him that familiar look of disgust like the other villagers... Naruto would turn and leave immediately.
Though, before I leave, I'll definitely give her cheeks a good pinch, just to teach her not to look down on people!
The black-haired loli stood her ground, unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes. After a moment's hesitation, she finally lifted her chin slightly, trying her best to put on an arrogant air.
"...Hmph, that move just now was passable."
Her voice was deliberately cold, but the end of her sentence carried a hint of childishness she couldn't quite hide.
"However, before asking for someone's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
After saying that, she added, "Besides, this is where my sister and I usually train. So what are you doing here practicing?"
...A tsundere?
Naruto felt a smile coming on. Wasn't she just hiding behind a tree shouting "That was amazing!" a moment ago?
Her statement, "this is where my sister and I train," made Naruto understand why she was here.
This patch of forest on the outskirts of Konoha wasn't a public training ground; it was just an open space he had stumbled upon. The simple targets nailed to the tree trunks looked quite old.
Oops, I've been using someone else's spot...
Although Konoha had dedicated training grounds, Naruto preferred to come out here. He really didn't want to practice his shuriken skills under the scornful gazes of the villagers.
The little girl's attitude was strange. It wasn't distance or disgust, but a kind of deliberate contempt and pride. Her small chin was held high, but her obsidian-like eyes were sparkling, occasionally stealing glances at the kunai embedded in the bullseyes.
This awkward, prideful attitude, combined with her striking appearance and the location...
The Uchiha Clan.
Naruto had a growing suspicion.
"Ah? Oh... thanks for the compliment." Naruto flashed a friendly smile. "My name is Naruto. Is this your and your sister's training ground? I'm sorry for using it without asking."
He spoke slowly, observing her reaction.
"If you don't want me to use it, I can leave right now."
The little girl's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She had expected the blond boy to explain his throwing technique, not change the subject to the training ground's usage rights.
After a few seconds of silence, she couldn't hold it in any longer. Her face flushed slightly as she blurted out stiffly, "If you insist on using it... I don't really have a problem with it!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it—didn't that make her sound too easygoing? She quickly put on a stern face and added, "But! Your throwing technique... how exactly do you practice it?"
Feeling that was too direct, she waved her small hands in a fluster. "Don't get the wrong idea! I was just asking casually! You should know, the Uchiha clan's throwing arts are the strongest! Your level... is nothing special!"
Towards the end, her voice grew quieter, and the tips of her ears began to turn red.
Seeing the little girl act so aloof despite clearly being very interested, Naruto couldn't help but smile.
A classic Uchiha tsundere, indeed...
He deliberately and slowly pulled a kunai from his tool pouch, twirling it deftly between his fingers.
"I have my own training method—one I developed myself."
Before he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist, and the kunai vanished from his fingertips like magic. The little girl's eyes widened in an instant, her dark pupils filled with astonishment. Before she could react, Naruto's hand flipped over skillfully.
Shing!
Three kunai had appeared between his knuckles, glinting coldly in the sunset.
Amazing! How did he do that?!
The little girl's lips parted slightly, almost letting out a gasp. Her large, obsidian eyes were fixed on Naruto's fingers, brimming with desire and curiosity. But the next second, as if realizing her loss of composure, she quickly turned her face away.
Seeing her like this, Naruto knew exactly how to handle this kind of tsundere.
"Well... it was wrong of me to use your and your sister's training ground without permission." He intentionally softened his tone. "But I also know that the Uchiha clan's throwing arts are definitely top-class in Konoha."
Noticing the little loli's ears perk up, Naruto continued his coaxing.
"How about this? Want to practice together? Two people always improve faster than one."
He wiggled the kunai in his hand, a sly smile on his face. "I can teach you how I did that trick just now, as payment for borrowing your training ground. How does that sound?"
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (320 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (250 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (120 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (130 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (320 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (130 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (150 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(75 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (196 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (160 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (110 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (80 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (120 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (130 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (87 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (130 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (130 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (30 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (30 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (134 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (100 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (140 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (110 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.