"Isn't this method a bit too simple? Are you sure this will work?"
The little Uchiha loli, who introduced herself as "Tsuki," frowned as she got into the position Naruto instructed, her small face filled with skepticism.
The training method Naruto taught her was incredibly simple—just minor adjustments to her stance, control over her wrist strength, and some calculations for throwing angles. It was far from the "secret technique to instantly become a master thrower" she had imagined. It was even less impressive than the tips her sister occasionally taught her on a whim.
Sister...
The thought of the black-haired girl who always wore the high-collared clan uniform made Tsuki's eyes dim for a moment. Her sister had promised to teach her shurikenjutsu, but every time, she would just gently poke her on the forehead and say in that gentle yet distant tone, "Next time."
Then she would leave with that annoying Shisui, leaving her alone to practice with the wooden target.
"What's wrong?" Naruto deliberately drew out his words. "I heard the Uchiha are all geniuses. Could it be—you don't have the courage to try something that could support that talent?"
"What?!"
Tsuki's head snapped up, her dark eyes instantly blazing with fighting spirit. "Of course not! Let's do it! I'll show you how amazing an Uchiha can be!"
She puffed out her cheeks and struck a pose, looking as serious as if she were facing a great enemy.
So easy to rile up...
Naruto suppressed a laugh as he looked at the little Uchiha, who was now all fired up. The way she pursed her lips in concentration somehow reminded him of a proud black cat from a cat café in his past life—it desperately wanted the fish treat but would wait until the food was placed on the ground before condescendingly walking over.
After silently making the comparison, he casually picked up a few smooth pebbles from the ground, weighing them in his palm to feel their weight and shape.
"Ready?" Naruto confirmed with a glance before flicking his wrist.
Swoosh!
A pebble cut a sharp arc through the air, heading straight for Uchiha Tsuki.
Tsuki's eyes narrowed like a kitten locking onto its prey. Her slender fingers were already holding a shuriken, and she threw it out almost at the same instant the pebble flew towards her.
Clang!
The metal and stone collided precisely in mid-air with a crisp sound. The pebble, split in two, fell to the ground.
"Hmph!"
Tsuki proudly puffed out her small chest, a tiny, smug smile appearing on her lips.
"It's not over yet. Catch!"
Naruto didn't stop, this time sending three pebbles flying in a triangular formation. Tsuki quickly drew new shuriken from her pouch and swung her arm rapidly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The three sharp sounds rang out almost simultaneously, creating tiny sparks in the air.
As the practice continued, their pace quickened. The sound of pebbles and shuriken colliding echoed through the forest, and the occasional sparks seemed exceptionally bright in the twilight.
Naruto began to change his strategy. He no longer threw in a straight line, instead launching the pebbles at various tricky angles. Some were thrown high in a parabola, some skimmed rapidly along the ground, and some even collided with each other mid-flight to change direction.
Tsuki was a bit flustered at first, missing a few times. But she quickly controlled her breathing and began to predict Naruto's trajectories. Her small body moved nimbly to change positions, and the angles of her throws became increasingly precise.
As expected...
Naruto marveled inwardly. Although the girl before him was young, her sharp perception and rapid learning ability truly befitted the name of an Uchiha genius.
In reality, this method was quite brute-force, essentially just rote memorization. However, such a method was perfectly suited for training a genius.
Furthermore, if an ordinary person were throwing the pebbles, she would have quickly grown bored due to the lack of challenge. But the one throwing was Naruto, another genius, and their rhythms matched perfectly, creating a sense of tacit understanding.
As time passed, the afterglow of the sunset gradually colored the sky, and the light in the forest became soft and hazy. Their shadows stretched and intertwined on the ground.
Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a slight ache in his arm. Today's practice had been much more intense than he had expected. He had only planned to casually practice shuriken, but the back-and-forth with Tsuki had made time fly by. The rewards were tangible, though. Spurred on by Tsuki, he had tried many new throwing angles and ways of exerting force, and his feel for it was much sharper than when he practiced alone.
Having a training partner really makes a difference...
He bent down and took out two leather water pouches from his backpack, casually tossing one to Tsuki.
Tsuki instinctively caught it. A few hours ago, she would have awkwardly refused, or at least said something defiant. But now, she just silently unscrewed the cap and started drinking.
The cool water soothed her dry throat, and only then did Tsuki realize how much she had been sweating. A few strands of her long black hair were stuck to her neck, and the back of her clothes was slightly damp.
Is this just how shonen manga works? Despite the long, high-intensity training, her body didn't feel particularly tired. Instead, there was a refreshing sense of fulfillment.
"Alright," Naruto said, putting down his water pouch and letting out a long breath. "Thanks for practicing with me today. The sun's about to set. Are you heading home now?"
Tsuki nodded lightly, screwing the cap back on her pouch. "...Yeah, Mom should be finishing up dinner soon. What about you?"
"...I don't have parents, so I made my own bento." Naruto scratched his cheek. "I'm getting hungry too. I'll probably go eat by the river."
Hearing this, Tsuki froze for a moment. She hadn't expected the blond boy, who was the same age as her, to be an orphan. Even though they had just met, his words sent a pang of sadness through her chest.
Eating alone... it must be so lonely.
As twilight deepened, a cool breeze rustled the treetops. Tsuki suddenly spoke, her voice a little softer.
"I see..." She paused. "If I go back now, dinner probably won't be ready yet. I... I'll stay with you a little longer."
As if feeling that was too direct, she quickly turned her face away and added, "Of course! It's just because I'm free right now!"
Naruto blinked, a hint of surprise in his eyes that quickly turned into a warm smile. "Then I'll be in your care." He pointed towards the distance. "The view by the river at night is really beautiful."
-------
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