Chapter 263: Part 8
At dusk, the training ground was sliced into a checkered pattern of light and shadow by elongated shadows.
Inside, three figures were moving swiftly, the sounds of whistling punches and fluttering clothes echoing through the air.
Uzumaki Naruto stood alone in the center, facing off against Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Hanabi.
Compared to her older sister Hinata, who showed a hint of hesitation and always left some room in her offense and defense...
Five-year-old Hanabi displayed a completely different style.
Small in stature, her movements were startlingly fierce.
Her small palms were enveloped in Chakra; every thrust was fast and precise, aimed directly at Naruto's joints and Tenketsu. Her footwork was as agile as a young leopard, carrying the raw intensity and purity of a newborn calf that fears no tiger.
Her eyes sparkled and her lips were tightly pursed, as if she viewed this spar as some solemn trial, her attacks coming in relentless waves.
Naruto, however, did not use Ninjutsu.
At this moment, he relied solely on basic Taijutsu to dodge and weave, using direct strikes and blocks to parry, dismantle, and redirect the Gentle Fist pincer attack coming from two directions.
His movements didn't seem as swift as Hanabi's, nor as disciplined as Hinata's techniques, but every shift perfectly avoided vital points, and every block precisely neutralized the sharpest force.
His gaze closely followed the sisters' movements, especially the flow of invisible Chakra as their palms swung, the subtle angle changes of their fingertips, and the well-honed connection between their footwork and palm strikes.
He was observing.
Hinata's Gentle Fist was balanced and peaceful, like a trickling stream following a set path; every strike contained the deep heritage of the Hyuga Main House, yet its aggressiveness was restrained by her gentle personality, making it feel more like a controlled demonstration.
Hanabi's Gentle Fist, on the other hand, was like a bolt of lightning—swift, direct, and full of aggression.
Though her strength was lacking due to her age and her stamina was limited, her precision and ruthlessness perfectly showcased the combat essence of the Gentle Fist's "Tenketsu" and "Chakra Sealing" without reservation.
The sisters' differing attack styles allowed Naruto to see more clearly how the Gentle Fist was applied in high-speed combat.
After the practice session ended, Naruto carried Hanabi, who was too exhausted to Move, on his back.
"Should we go for ramen, BBQ, or should I cook?"
Hearing the option of Naruto cooking, Hanabi's eyes lit up.
"I want to eat Big Brother Naruto's cooking!"
"I want that sweet meat with the red sauce from last time!"
"That's called Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin. It just so happens that Uncle Teuchi helped me get over ten pounds of Pork Tenderloin, so we'll make that tonight."
"Yay!" Hanabi's short legs kicked happily.
Beside them, Hinata pursed her lips slightly.
Although she had told her father she might return late before leaving, she felt a soft sense of guilt creeping up again for always being treated by Naruto-kun.
She watched Naruto's back as he easily carried her sister and remembered the observant look in his eyes during the spar; an idea quietly began to form.
Perhaps... perhaps she could take this opportunity to ask Naruto-kun how to cook?
This thought caused a faint, barely noticeable blush to rise on her fair cheeks.
If she could learn a few dishes he liked, then in the future, she wouldn't just be receiving his kindness; she would have the chance to let him taste food she made herself.
How wonderful that would be.
"Um... Naruto-kun," she spoke softly, her voice as gentle as a night breeze, "if it's convenient... while you're cooking tonight, can I... learn from you by your side?"
Hearing this, Naruto turned back and gave her a brilliant smile, one even warmer than the last rays of light in the darkening sky: "Of course! If you want to learn, Hinata, I'll teach you."
"If Naruto is going to teach cooking, I think you should take Ino along too."
Shikamaru's voice came from the side of the street. The Ino–Shika–Chō trio, along with Kiba, Shino, Sasuke, and Sakura, were all standing there.
"She already has a bad temper. If she doesn't know how to cook either, I really don't know who would want Ino in the future."
Ino had initially felt a bit shy and wanted to give Shikamaru a thumbs-up after the first half of his sentence, but her face instantly darkened upon hearing the rest.
Ino Yamanaka's eyes had lit up slightly at first, a faint blush fluttering on her cheeks.
She was thinking about how to naturally join the group learning to cook from Naruto.
However, the second half of Shikamaru's sentence drifted out slowly, instantly shattering that tiny bit of goodwill: "She already has a bad temper. If she doesn't know how to cook either, I really don't know who would want Ino in the future."
The air froze for a moment.
"Who are you calling unwanted!"
The shy blush on Ino's face instantly transformed into a raging fire. She practically lunged in front of Shikamaru, grabbed his ear, and gave it a hard twist.
"Ow, ow, ow! My ear! My ear is going to fall off!"
Shikamaru's habitually lazy and calm face immediately crumpled in pain as he tried to dodge, but it was too late.
"Pfft, hahahaha!"
Inuzuka Kiba was the first who couldn't hold it back, clutching his stomach and laughing loudly. Akamaru, on top of his head, followed with two "woofs" and stuck out his tongue, laughing along.
Akimichi Choji chuckled heartily while stuffing potato chips into his mouth.
Shino Aburame adjusted his sunglasses, and the corners of his mouth seemed to curl up ever so slightly.
Even the usually cold Sasuke turned his face away, a nearly imperceptible snort escaping his throat, as if amused by this comical scene.
Sakura covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter as she watched her friend "commit the assault."
Naruto, Hinata, and Hanabi, who were walking toward them, were also caught up in the lively atmosphere.
Naruto laughed the heartiest, his blonde hair bouncing in the sunset: "I'll teach everyone, everyone! I'll teach whoever wants to learn."
He agreed cheerfully. Beside him, Hinata watched her friends joking around and smiled; her previous small worry seemed to quietly melt away in the noise.
"If you want to learn too, Shikamaru, I can teach you," Naruto added with a grin, sounding a bit mischievous.
No changes needed.
Shikamaru finally rescued his reddened ear from Ino's "clutches" and rubbed it, waving his hands repeatedly: "No thanks, spare me from such a troublesome thing.
If I really can't get by in the future, I'll just bring the ingredients I want to eat to your place and mooch a meal. That plan is much easier."
"How cunning, Shikamaru!"
Kiba grabbed Shikamaru's shoulder and shook him hard.
"If we're going to Naruto's house to mooch food, I'm coming too! Akamaru's coming too!"
"Woof!"
The golden glow of the sunset fell upon these children who were not yet Ninjas, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them.
The fatigue after training and the seriousness of practice seemed to be diluted by this moment of lively, everyday banter.
Uzumaki Naruto, this visitor from another world.
It had taken eight years to go from having nothing and being wary and fearful of this world, to accepting it and having a group of friends.
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