"Sasuke, what's wrong?"
Seeing Sasuke's gloomy expression, Naruko blinked and asked.
"Nothing."
Sasuke replied irritably.
"How could it be nothing? You look so weird."
Naruko's heartless remark made Sasuke explode.
"...!!"
Sasuke abruptly turned his head and glared at Naruko.
His expression... was terrifying.
"W-What are you doing?"
Naruko frowned.
"Why are you glaring at me like that?"
"Hey... Naruko. Fight me right now!"
Sasuke lowered his head.
"What?" Naruko didn't understand. "Stop saying stupid things. I have no reason to fight you."
"Don't worry about that! Just fight me!"
Sasuke suddenly raised his head.
At that moment.
Naruko saw a flash of red in Sasuke's eyes.
The red light vanished in an instant.
Naruko thought she had imagined it.
"Sasuke..."
"Do you think you're so impressive?!"
Sasuke snarled.
"I don't care what new power you've learned... but that guy..."
Naruko: "..."
Anger flashed across Sasuke's face. "That White Devil... He's really getting on my nerves!"
"What did you say?!"
Sasuke's words made Naruko bristle as well.
"Ah... this is perfect! I was just about to fight you too!"
Naruko glared at Sasuke, speaking each word clearly.
The two stood opposed to each other.
Because Sasuke had bad-mouthed Hyuga Sho, anger had also welled up in Naruko's heart.
The two turned away.
Then they walked toward a certain place.
That place.
It was where they had fought the previous time.
The river that ran through Konoha—the bank near the park.
When the two arrived and stopped,
they stood about five meters apart.
"Heh heh..."
Naruko snickered a few times, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
"What's so funny?"
Sasuke asked instinctively.
"I don't think it's funny!"
Naruko said.
"I'm happy!"
Sasuke: "Happy?"
"Because I can finally..."
Naruko raised both hands and cracked her knuckles.
"...have a proper reason to