Naruto sized up the little girl in front of him.
She wore a simple, practical short training outfit. The fabric wasn't luxurious, but it fit well, clearly tailored for ease of movement. A small ninja tool pouch was tied at her waist—definitely not something an ordinary child would carry around.
She didn't look like the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, but she also didn't seem like a common villager's child…
After a brief silence, Naruto decided to speak first.
"Um… may I ask who you are?"
His tone was polite. After all, she was so cute that he instinctively wanted to get closer. But if she gave him the same look of disgust the other villagers did… he would turn around and leave immediately.
Of course, before leaving, he'd definitely pinch her cheeks hard so she'd learn not to look down on people so casually!
The black-haired little girl stood where she was, unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes. After a moment of hesitation, she slightly lifted her chin and tried to put on a proud expression.
"…Hmph. That move just now was… passable."
Her voice was deliberately cold, but the tail end still carried a trace of childishness she couldn't quite hide.
"But before asking someone who they are, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
After saying that, she added, "Besides, this is where my sister and I usually train. As for you… why are you practicing here?"
…Tsundere?
Naruto almost wanted to laugh. She hadn't sounded like that at all when she'd shouted "So amazing!" from behind the tree earlier.
Her comment about this being her and her sister's training ground explained why she was here.
This forest on the outskirts of Konoha really wasn't a public training ground—just an empty clearing he'd stumbled upon by chance. The few simple targets nailed into the tree trunks looked like they'd been there for quite some time.
Uh-oh. He'd accidentally taken over someone else's turf…
Although there were proper training grounds in the village, Naruto would rather run a bit farther out. After all, he didn't want to practice shuriken under everyone's gaze while enduring the villagers' disgusted looks.
The little girl's attitude was… complicated. It wasn't distance or hatred, but a deliberate sort of arrogance and pride. Her small chin was tilted high, yet those obsidian-like eyes sparkled as they occasionally snuck glances at the kunai embedded in the bullseyes.
That awkward, proud demeanor—combined with her striking looks and the location…
Uchiha clan.
Naruto had a faint guess in his heart.
"Ah? Oh… thanks for the compliment." Naruto gave a friendly smile. "My name's Naruto. Is this really your and your sister's training ground? I'm sorry for using it without asking."
He deliberately slowed his speech, watching 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'd expected the blond boy to explain his throwing technique, but instead he'd steered the conversation toward the training ground.
After a few seconds of silence, she finally couldn't hold it in. Her small face flushed slightly as she blurted out stiffly,
"If you really want to use it… I don't mind!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them—didn't that make her sound too easygoing? She quickly straightened her face and added,
"However! Your throwing technique… how exactly did you train it?"
As if that sounded too direct, she flailed her little hands in a hurry.
"Don't misunderstand! I'm just asking casually! You should know! The Uchiha clan's throwing techniques are the best! Your level… is nothing special!"
By the end, her voice had grown quieter, and the tips of her ears had turned red.
Watching the little girl who clearly cared so much yet stubbornly pretended not to, Naruto couldn't help but smile slightly.
Definitely a classic Uchiha tsundere…
He deliberately and leisurely pulled a kunai from his pouch, spinning it deftly between his fingers.
"I have my own training method—something I figured out myself."
Before he even finished speaking, he flicked his wrist lightly. The kunai suddenly vanished from between his fingers like a magic trick. The little girl's eyes widened instantly, her dark pupils filled with shock. Before she could react, Naruto flipped his hand again.
Swish!
Three kunai had somehow appeared between his fingers, gleaming coldly in the sunset.
So amazing! How did he do that?!
The little girl's lips parted slightly, almost letting out a gasp. Her large, obsidian eyes stared unblinkingly at Naruto's fingers, filled with longing and curiosity. But the next moment, as if realizing her slip, she quickly turned her face away.
Seeing her like this, Naruto had a rough idea how to deal with a tsundere like her.
"Hmm… using your and your sister's training ground without permission was my fault," he said, deliberately softening his tone. "But I also know that the Uchiha clan's throwing techniques are definitely top-tier in Konoha."
Noticing her ears perk up slightly, Naruto continued coaxing.
"How about this—want to train together with me? Two people practicing together always improve faster than one alone."
He waved the kunai in his hand and gave a sly grin.
"I can teach you that move from earlier. Let's call it the fee for borrowing your training ground. What do you say?"