Chapter 234: Excessive Enthusiasm
So when exactly did that "tsun" character completely disappear from the Uchiha clan's hereditary "tsundere" attribute?
Naruto looked at Satsuki before him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Her eyes were slightly reddened at the corners, her fair cheeks puffed up indignantly as she insisted in a tone clearly filled with dissatisfaction and dependence: "I don't want to leave Naruto's side."
Where was even half a shadow of that cold second tomoe from the original work? This was clearly blatant acting spoiled! ...Though, thinking carefully, this appearance was somewhat like little Sasuke as a child.
But the problem was, Naruto himself didn't know Lightning Blade either. He didn't believe he could master "Lightning Blade"—an S-rank jutsu with extremely high requirements for chakra shape transformation—in a short time.
Moreover, compared to "Chidori," "Rasegan" obviously suited his path better.
No choice but to take the soft approach. Naruto could only bring out the patience for coaxing children, saying some encouraging words that even he found a bit sappy.
"Satsuki, listen to me."
"You know what? Every time I see you fight, I find it incredibly dazzling. Kakashi-sensei's 'Chidori' is precisely the key that can make your brilliance burn even brighter."
"Don't forget, you're not a shadow that needs me constantly blocking in front of you. Your potential is far more than this. Don't let it be buried, okay?"
He gently patted Satsuki's shoulder. "Go learn that technique. Then, with your newly gained power, surprise me greatly. I believe you can definitely do it."
Then... surprisingly, this "sappy" encouragement actually worked?
Listening to Naruto's words, Satsuki's originally indignant expression gradually eased. Her jet-black eyes flickered with complex light. She lowered her head slightly, silent for a moment, finally seeming to make a great resolution as she responded softly:
"...I understand. I'll go learn it."
But she immediately raised her head, staring intently at Naruto as she laid out her conditions. "But we have to agree! Naruto, you must come check on my training progress at least every day! Also... every evening when training ends, you must personally take me home!"
For ordinary ninja, this might be somewhat troublesome, requiring running back and forth. But before Naruto who had completely mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, this was merely a small matter of leaving a few more coordinate marks.
Though, Naruto had long since left Flying Thunder God marks in places Satsuki frequented and on her person...
"Okay, I'll listen to everything you say." Naruto agreed with a smile, secretly relieved inside. Finally... she's been coaxed.
Afterward, Naruto led Satsuki to Kakashi's doorstep. Seeing that Satsuki was actually willing to temporarily leave Naruto's side and go with him, Kakashi's exposed eye clearly showed surprise.
He examined Satsuki with interest—though following behind him, her gaze still occasionally glanced toward the direction Naruto had left—teasing in his signature lazy drawl:
"...This really is surprising. As expected, the only one who can make you willingly leave Naruto's side is ultimately Naruto himself?"
Kakashi couldn't help but recall that previous incomplete probing question. I see, as long as it's what she recognizes as "Naruto's request," she'll comply? This child, though that possessiveness is indeed a bit... well, excessively heavy, in certain aspects she's actually... quite obedient?
"... Whatever"
Facing Kakashi's teasing laced with amusement, Satsuki merely turned her face away slightly, responding coolly with a detached tone.
Kakashi had long grown accustomed to his subordinate's cold attitude toward outsiders. If Naruto were present now, he'd probably be able to glimpse from this awkward response where that bit of the Uchiha's hereditary "tsun" was actually hidden.
After a brief journey, Kakashi brought Satsuki to his commonly used training ground in the back mountain. However, the moment they entered this area, Satsuki's steps involuntarily halted.
Meeting her eyes were two incredibly conspicuous green figures that instantly made her scalp tingle somewhat.
"Ohhh! Kakashi! You bastard! My eternal rival!"
That signature giant watermelon head—Might Guy—charged forward excitedly with explosive speed, vigorously raising his thumb. His pearly white teeth seemed to go "ding!" in the sunlight, reflecting dazzling light.
"Finally! Have you finally been drawn by the endlessly burning flames of my youth? See, this is the power of youthful bonds! Even geniuses shrouded in mist cannot resist the passionate summons to shed sweat and forge ahead with their lifelong rival!"
What is this guy even saying?
Watching this overly energetic scene with incomprehensible words before her, Satsuki's mind held only this one thought. Her delicate face showed a slightly stiff expression.
Standing beside her, Kakashi merely raised his hand helplessly to scratch his silver hair, clearly long accustomed to this.
"Ohhh! Excellently said! Truly worthy of Guy-sensei!"
The smaller watermelon head behind—Rock Lee—immediately echoed with tears streaming down, eyes shining with adoration.
"Lee!"
"Guy-sensei!"
The next moment, under Satsuki's somewhat shocked gaze, this master-student pair actually charged toward each other excitedly, embracing tightly and sobbing loudly.
Though Lee's formidable taijutsu displayed in the preliminaries had indeed left quite a deep impression on Satsuki, at this moment she couldn't help but wonder critically: 'Did this guy trade his brain for that strength?'
At this time, Might Guy noticed the black-haired girl with a cold expression behind Kakashi. "Oh! This is... the genius girl from the Uchiha family, right! Then—" Guy excitedly cast his gaze behind Kakashi, looking around even harder, seemingly searching for another figure.
"Sorry about that, Guy." Kakashi timely poured cold water. "That Naruto kid... he has his own unique training methods, so he didn't come this time."
Hearing this, Guy's shoulders drooped somewhat disappointedly, but the next second he immediately perked up, vigorously patting Lee's back beside him. "Since graduating, the time Naruto and I spend shedding youthful sweat together has greatly decreased! Lee, looks like your wish to challenge Naruto needs to wait a bit longer!"
"It's fine! Guy-sensei!" Lee immediately straightened his back, declaring in a resounding voice. "I'll defeat Neji in the official exam one month from now! Then formally issue a challenge to Uzumaki Naruto! This is my youthful oath!"
"...Satsuki, don't look at Guy like this," Kakashi tried to ease the overly "passionate" atmosphere at the scene, explaining in a low voice to the girl beside him radiating rejection.
"He's actually very strong, especially in taijutsu. He can definitely provide you excellent guidance..."
However, his comfort clearly had no effect whatsoever. Watching the green duo embracing tightly once more with tears streaming like rain before her, Satsuki's heart held only waves of helplessness and regret.
'How exactly did Naruto manage to train alongside these kinds of people and stay normal?'
"Oh right! Uchiha Satsuki!" Guy suddenly seemed to remember something supremely important, abruptly stopping his tears, eyes shining as he looked at Satsuki. "Since you're Kakashi's cherished student, then as his eternal rival, I'll give you a special gift representing youth and passion!"
Before his words finished, he magically produced from behind him... a garment shining with vivid luster, form-fitting fabric, lines exposed... a green bodysuit!
"Accept it! This is proof of youth!" Guy loudly proclaimed.
"Put it on and let's burn our youth together!" Lee immediately stepped forward in sync, standing shoulder to shoulder with Guy. Both simultaneously struck their signature pose, raising their thumbs, faces overflowing with cloudless brilliant smiles.
After a brief dead silence, a cold, decisive statement squeezed out through her clenched teeth:
"...Absolutely not."
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