Wait... Could You Not Defeat Me?

Why... was she blushing?

Shuji blinked in confusion and instinctively put a little distance between himself and Uchiha Mikoto.

Nawaki and Hiashi unconsciously held their breath when they saw this.

That expression... Could it be...? No way, right?

"During this afternoon's taijutsu class... I... I wanted to ask, Shuji-kun, could you lose to me?"

Honestly, Mikoto did not even know how she had managed to say those words.

But once the last word left her mouth, she did not feel quite so embarrassed anymore.

Raising her head, Mikoto looked at Shuji before her and asked.

"Huh? Of course. Just go ahead and attack. Even if I lose, it'll be a way for me to recognize my own shortcomings."

For some reason, Shuji felt relieved when he heard that and replied to Mikoto.

It seemed Mikoto had recently mastered some new technique.

That made Shuji genuinely look forward to that afternoon's taijutsu class.

"No, I mean... can you just not defeat me?"

Mikoto froze when she heard that. Realizing Shuji had misunderstood her, she hurriedly explained again.

"Huh? Why?"

Shuji froze, looking at Mikoto in puzzlement.

That didn't seem right. Mikoto didn't seem like the kind of person who couldn't stand losing...

"A year ago, when I first fought Shuji-kun at the Ninja Academy and lost, my father told me to defeat you within a year."

Mikoto lowered her head and spoke softly.

How could that be possible?!

It was simply impossible!

Even after she had just awakened her Two-Tomoe Sharingan, she had not been Shuji's match.

A year had passed, yet she still had the same Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Her strength had barely improved at all.

As for training hard...

She had trained hard, but Shuji had not slacked off either...

If anything, he worked even harder than she did...

"I really have no choice. If I don't complete this task, my training load will definitely increase again. If it increases any further, I'll definitely die."

Mikoto's whole body sagged as she completely gave up.

After Shuji defeated her back then, she had been made to train two extra hours every day, and she slept less than five hours a night.

If she failed to complete the task of defeating Shuji now, forget another two hours of training.

Even an extra half hour felt like it would kill her.

"Is there a possibility that... if I lose to you, my training load will increase too?"

Shuji pursed his lips and quietly said to Uchiha Mikoto.

Come on, you have a strict old father. It's not like I'm an orphan either...

"Please~ I'm begging you~"

Mikoto pursed her lips, reached out to grab Shuji's arm, and began shaking it vigorously.

"Even though I have nothing right now, once I graduate from the Ninja Academy, I'll definitely thank you properly!"

As she shook Shuji's arm, Mikoto made her promise to him.

Mikoto really had no other choice. Compared to going home at night and facing Uchiha Chisaku's stern face—

Along with scoldings she could not predict and punishments she had no idea about—

She would rather ask Hyuga Shuji for help.

"Uh..."

Shuji pursed his lips helplessly.

I think... I'm being manipulated?

"Fine..."

With no other option, Shuji could only reluctantly agree to Uchiha Mikoto's request.

After all, they had known each other for so long, and this was not a big deal.

"Arigato! Thank you so much!"

Mikoto immediately said excitedly to Shuji.

It was not only because Shuji had agreed and she would not be scolded that night.

More importantly, Mikoto was already beginning to look forward to the reward she would receive after achieving the goal she had worked toward for an entire year.

It could not possibly be another "Keep working hard, and don't become complacent because of this," could it?

"But I can only help you this once."

Shuji pursed his lips and held up one finger toward Mikoto.

"I'll help you complete this task, but don't challenge me again in the future. Challenge Nawaki instead. I think your father would be very happy if he saw you defeat Nawaki, the young heir of the Senju clan."

After saying that, Shuji continued speaking to Uchiha Mikoto.

"Huh?! What's that supposed to mean?! Why do you have to challenge me?! Does the reputation of our Senju clan not matter?!"

Nawaki immediately jumped to his feet and shouted at Shuji.

"Because you really can't beat me."

Mikoto blinked at Nawaki and said softly.

At present, the top three in strength within this little group were Shuji, Mikoto, and Nawaki.

As for fourth place and below, they were not worth counting.

"You..."

Nawaki stood there, the finger pointing at Mikoto trembling slightly. His originally fair little face had turned livid beneath Mikoto's faintly amused gaze.

"Come on! Challenge me! I'll definitely defeat you!"

Nawaki said this to Mikoto.

"Pfft~"

Shuji could not hold it in and lowered his head with a laugh.

"Mm, you will. Next time, for sure."

Mikoto suppressed her smile and nodded very seriously.

Nawaki immediately tossed Mikoto's words aside and instead looked at Shuji, who had lowered his head and whose body was shaking constantly.

"Why are you laughing?"

Nawaki asked Shuji in near despair.

"Ah... I was born loving to laugh."

Shuji raised his head and replied to Nawaki while still laughing.

Fine, you love laughing, huh? I'll make sure you laugh enough today.

His features slightly twisted as he stared at Shuji, Nawaki sat back down, suddenly toppled over, and grabbed Hiashi's arm.

"Hiashi-kun~ Later~ could you not defeat me~?"

Using a sugary voice, Nawaki spoke coquettishly to the bewildered Hiashi.

Hiashi's face stiffened at once. The word "scram" was swallowed back just as it was about to leave his mouth.

"Then I can only help you this once~ Next time~ you can challenge Hinagiku instead~"

Hiashi looked extremely helpless as he spoke to Nawaki.

At that moment, Shuji stopped laughing, Mikoto stopped laughing too, and even Hinagiku, who had nothing whatsoever to do with this matter, instantly became expressionless.

I really want to kill him... but he's from the Main Family...

Damn this Caged Bird!

"Oh my~ Why isn't Shuji-kun laughing anymore? Don't you love to laugh?"

As Hiashi's words fell, Nawaki immediately looked toward Shuji. His saccharine voice dumped a whole bucket of oil onto the fire burning in Shuji's heart.

"Get lost!"

The stick Shuji had been using to roast fish flew straight at Nawaki and Hiashi.

"Hahaha!"

Nawaki and Hiashi immediately dodged the stick and burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.