"That's why I called you an idiot." Lilynette withdrew her hand and tucked it behind her back. Her tone was still scornful, but there seemed to be a little more... interest in it?
"Chakra control isn't about brute force. It's about this." She tapped her temple.
"And feeling. You have an enormous power inside you, but you don't know how to use it. You're like a beggar sitting on a mountain of gold.
"Those teachers of yours are either afraid of you, just going through the motions, or have no idea how to teach you. Right?"
Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out.
Because everything Lilynette had said... seemed to hit the mark.
Iruka-sensei genuinely cared about him, but his lessons were basic, and he was always very cautious.
And ever since people had learned about his talent.
The other teachers were either polite but distant, or looked at him as though he were some sort of problem.
No one had ever pinpointed his problems like this strange older girl, much less done it in such a...
Casual, even slightly scornful way, helping him improve with a simple touch.
The feeling was... strange.
It wasn't like being respected, nor was it like being pitied. It felt more like... being treated as an equal?
Or rather, she didn't care at all about his identity as the "Fourth Hokage's son." She was simply judging him as "Naruto Uzumaki," judging his training.
"Who... who are you, really? Why are you helping me?"
Naruto was still wary, but his curiosity had already overcome some of his fear.
"Helping you? I never said I'd help you." Lilynette tilted her head.
"I'm just bored. Watching you struggle so much without getting anywhere made me want to say a few things. As for