Chapter 171: Starting Low and Going Awkward
On the training ground, sunlight filtered through lush leaves, casting dappled spots of light on the ground. Naruto and Satsuki came to that familiar grove outside the Uchiha compound for training as usual.
But... the atmosphere was completely different.
Naruto could say with one hundred percent certainty that this was absolutely the most awkward time they'd spent together since he'd known Satsuki! The air seemed frozen, each breath carrying an indescribable sense of discomfort.
Ever since that embarrassing "Little Sun" nickname was awkwardly glossed over earlier, Naruto had thought today would return to normal.
However, after arriving at the training ground, Satsuki's behavior became even more... bizarre? Naruto couldn't understand what was wrong with Satsuki at all.
He began practicing ninjutsu as usual—forming seals, refining chakra, releasing—
Just then, Satsuki's clear voice immediately rang out beside him: "As expected of Naruto! Your ninjutsu proficiency and chakra control are so excellent! Truly amazing!"
Naruto froze for a moment, seeing Satsuki standing ramrod straight with her hands nervously clasped in front of her, wearing an extremely serious... even "devout" expression of praise.
"Ah... oh, thanks." Though Naruto found this direct praise a bit unusual coming from Satsuki's mouth, thinking that since the system indicated Satsuki's affection had exploded, her attitude toward him had indeed softened considerably, occasional praise wasn't impossible. He accepted it with a smile.
However, this was just the beginning.
Next, Naruto began warming up with taijutsu, running laps around the training ground.
He'd barely taken a few steps when Satsuki's "passionate" commentary and praise followed again: "Naruto's running form is so cool! Every step is full of power and rhythm! So amazing!"
Naruto stumbled, nearly losing his balance. He barely managed to steady himself—running, and already... what was cool about it?
After Naruto finished practicing tree-climbing chakra control and was resting on a tree branch, he couldn't help but open his mouth in a big yawn.
"Naruto is so amazing! Even yawning looks so energetic! Full of life's vitality!"
Naruto choked on his own saliva. Due to surprise and coughing, his body swayed violently, nearly falling from where he was sitting.
This embarrassing display somehow earned him another heartfelt exclamation from Satsuki: "Such incredible balance! Though you almost fell, you immediately steadied yourself in an instant! Truly worthy of Naruto!"
Naruto: "..."
He finally couldn't take it anymore!
What was wrong with Satsuki?! How had she become so strange in just a short while? This constant, 360-degree exaggerated praise made him uncomfortable all over.
Naruto rushed forward and suddenly grabbed Satsuki's wrist.
"!?" Satsuki was startled by his sudden action, her cheeks instantly flushing. "Na-Naruto?"
Naruto didn't answer, but frowned, mobilizing his chakra to carefully probe a gentle strand into Satsuki's meridians, sensing her internal condition—chakra flow was stable, mental energy was somewhat abnormally active, but there were no traces of interference or control by external forces.
She wasn't under genjutsu?!
Naruto withdrew his hand, even more confused. Looking at Satsuki's completely red face with flickering eyes yet trying hard to show "I'm normally praising you," he finally asked the question that had been bothering him:
"Satsuki! Are you... are you okay? What's wrong with you? Why have you been acting so strange since earlier?"
A terrible thought suddenly invaded Naruto's mind, making his expression change. Could it be... Satsuki had contacted some strange person? Or been influenced by something bad?!
Now, perhaps Naruto's blurted "strange" hit Satsuki like a bucket of cold water, or perhaps it deeply hurt her. Satsuki finally stopped that suffocating torrent of exaggerated praise and fell silent.
She began training wordlessly, throwing shuriken quickly and fiercely, her Fire Style jutsu more intense than usual, as if pouring all her confusion, grievance, and frustration into training.
Why? Why did it fail again?!
Satsuki's heart was screaming frantically. Kakashi's voice still echoed clearly in her mind:
"According to 'Make-Out Strategy' Chapter 2, Section 3, most boys have no resistance to sincere praise from girls! This greatly satisfies their vanity and need to feel needed! What you need to do is express your inner thoughts in the most direct, unguarded way!"
"Remember the key point—whenever Naruto does something you think is cool, amazing, or excellent, don't hold it in like before! Immediately, loudly praise him! Defeat him with your praise beam!"
That's right! This was another of Kakashi's ideas—straight-ball praise beam offensive! But obviously, Satsuki seemed to have... overdone it, turning it into cringe-worthy "mindless flattery."
Strange? Why? Where exactly did it go wrong?! Satsuki couldn't figure it out. In her view, almost every one of Naruto's actions was charming and made her heart race. Her previous praise was even the "essence" after she'd tried hard to restrain and filter herself! Wasn't that "sincere" enough?
That broken book... and that unreliable teacher... were they even useful?!
Satsuki's heart was about to explode with anger. A thick sense of helplessness and shame intertwined, making her want to immediately find somewhere to hide.
Just then, she heard Naruto's somewhat hesitant and careful voice beside her.
"Um... Satsuki," Naruto scratched his bright golden hair, his face showing some apology and embarrassment. "Let's take a break? Calm down a bit."
As he spoke, he handed over a water bottle with the cap already unscrewed.
Satsuki paused, silently accepting the water bottle without looking at Naruto. The two wordlessly walked to the simple wooden bench beside the training ground and sat down.
The atmosphere became awkward and oppressive again, with only the sound of wind through the trees and distant bird calls.
Naruto sat beside her, secretly glancing at Satsuki's tense profile and tightly pressed lips several times, feeling increasingly guilty. He clasped his hands together and broke the silence first.
"I'm sorry, Satsuki."
Hearing this, Satsuki moved slightly but still didn't turn her head.
Naruto continued, his tone full of sincere apology: "Earlier... I said too much. Suddenly calling you strange and all... it must have made you very unhappy."
He scratched his cheek, struggling to organize his words: "I just... was just a bit scared because you seemed different from usual... so I spoke without thinking. I'm truly very sorry!"
He turned sideways, seriously looking at Satsuki's downturned profile: "I hope... I hope you can forgive me. I actually... I actually don't dislike you praising me..."
Just that way of praising was really a bit hard to handle—Naruto wisely swallowed this thought.
"So, don't be angry anymore, okay?"
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