The sparring session that followed seemed bland and unremarkable. After Naruto and Satsuki's fierce clash, comparable to a ninja exam, the other children's fights looked like child's play—you shoved me, I tripped you. Compared to ninja training, it was more like horseplay.
Satsuki stood at the edge of the field, watching coldly as she silently assessed them—if she were the one fighting, these guys probably would not last even a single round.
The only ones with some semblance of skill were Shino and Kiba. Shino's fighting style was calm and precise. Though still immature, every move he made landed exactly where it should. Kiba was the complete opposite, charging in noisily and throwing punches at random, like an overexcited puppy let off its leash.
When it was Shikamaru's turn, he simply yawned and lazily raised his hand in surrender. "Ah—what a pain. I give up."
Choji followed suit and said he surrendered too, on the grounds that he did not want to hurt anyone.
And so, the afternoon classes ended hastily amid laughter and roughhousing. School was over, and the children flooded out of the classroom, soon being picked up by their waiting parents.
Naruto packed up his things alone. He did not have the privilege of being picked up by a parent, after all. He had the protagonist template.
After mocking himself with a dark joke, Naruto was about to get some ramen from Uncle Ichiraku before heading home when he suddenly noticed two figures standing in his way.
Under the setting sun, Satsuki lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. A faint blush colored her fair cheeks.
The tall man beside her was especially eye-catching—his short black hair was impeccably neat, and his Jonin vest sat crisply on his body. Most striking of