A grating voice cut through the lively street, making Natsume Yō's brows twitch instantly.
Wada Chiba whipped around, her tone biting."Hmph, Hyūga Akiku, shut that rotten mouth of yours. Don't think you're hot stuff just because you cozy up to Hyūga Setsuna. Watch yourself, or I'll pound you flat!"
Her words were so sharp that even Yō blinked, surprised, before the corner of his mouth curled into a small smile. Well damn, she's got fangs too, huh?
"Haha! And you, boy—are you seriously fine with a brute like Wada Chiba? Wouldn't a gentle, ladylike girl suit you better? Why chain yourself to a crooked tree? Or maybe your taste is just that bad, so you settled for her?"
Hyūga Akiku's words dripped venom as she turned her scorn on Yō.
Yō didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed with lazy mockery."Whether my taste's good or bad isn't your business. I like her, end of story. Why are you sticking your nose in? Don't remember any of your clan elders being gossipy old hags with black hearts. Guess something got scrambled in your brain while growing up… otherwise, why bite at people like a mad dog every chance you get?"
When it came to verbal sparring, Natsume Yō was never the type to pull punches.
"You… you dare insult me?! Fine. If I don't make you kneel and beg today, I'm not Hyūga Akiku!"
Rage snapped through her, shoving aside any restraint. Right there in the middle of the street, she dropped into a fighting stance and lunged. In her mind, anyone hanging around Wada Chiba—who was average at best—couldn't possibly be exceptional. She was top ten in the class; putting him down should've been child's play.
"Yō, watch out!" Chiba's warning came on instinct.
"This strike will show you real strength!" Akiku hissed, her palm slicing forward with Hyūga clan's gentle fist technique. The power behind it wasn't bad, at least by Academy standards. Against an ordinary student, it would've been devastating.
Against Natsume Yō, it was laughable.
He casually raised a hand, caught her palm mid-strike, and dissolved the chakra force cleanly before shoving her back a few steps."Cute, but pointless. That kind of flowery kata? Go back and practice—it won't work on me."
Akiku froze. "Impossible!"
She knew firsthand how strong her family's jūken was. Wada Chiba couldn't last more than four or five moves before being crushed. But Yō? He caught her strike like it was nothing, as if she'd slapped the air.
Her eyes widened, disbelief dripping from every word."Who… who the hell are you? To take my strike so easily—only Uchiha Yūsuke from Class 1 could manage that much!"
Yō brushed off his hands, as if dusting away her makeup, and smirked."Uchiha Yūsuke? Oh, that guy? Sorry, he's already one of my defeated opponents. Why—are you two close?"
Akiku's jaw dropped. "Nonsense! Uchiha Yūsuke is one of the top three in the class! Someone like you couldn't possibly—"
Yō tilted his head, eyes gleaming with scorn."Top three, huh? So what? He's no Shisui, no Kakashi. Beating him was child's play. Or don't tell me you actually think he's impressive?"
His mocking laugh cut deeper than any blade.