Then I'll be counting on you, senior! After a long while, Izumi's soft, hesitant voice finally slipped from her throat. As soon as she finished speaking, a faint blush spread across her youthful cheeks, making her as lovely as peach blossoms in spring.
Though it might have seemed a little inappropriate to say so, the attentive guidance of a Jonin was undeniably tempting.
Izumi knew how rare this opportunity was and truly didn't want to pass it up.
Especially since the senior had just called her cute—a compliment she had never heard from Itachi. The thought of the training ahead filled her with eager anticipation.
Seeing the expectant look on the girl's face, Uchiha Chen immediately picked up the pace and finished eating.
When it was time to leave, Izumi hurried to her feet, eager to pay the bill, but a hand suddenly reached out to stop her. She quickly said, "Senior, let me treat you to this meal. Please don't refuse.
"You're going to help me with my training later, so this is just a little token of my gratitude." She grew more anxious as she spoke.
As he paid, Uchiha Chen teased her, "My guidance can't be bought with just one meal. Besides, I'm not short on money. Just work hard at your training later—that'll be the best reward for me."
With that, Uchiha Chen paid without hesitation, then took Izumi's hand and led her away.
As they walked toward the training ground from earlier, Uchiha Chen said thoughtfully, "Izumi, tell me how your training is going so far. That way, I can tailor a training plan just for you."
Izumi stared in surprise at the hand Uchiha Chen held tightly in his. A shy blush slowly crept across her cheeks, but she didn't try to pull away.
At that moment, she wondered to herself why she didn't feel much resentment toward Uchiha Chen's overbearing behavior. After all, girls her age were only just beginning to experience romantic feelings, and they didn't yet know how to distinguish the people they liked.
Besides, talking with the senior had made her feel wonderfully at ease, and he was going to give her careful guidance later. So she quietly lowered her head, accepting his gesture.
While Izumi was lost in her embarrassment, she didn't even hear Uchiha Chen's question.
Only after he asked several times did she come to her senses and raise her head. Stammering, she replied, "Um... I've just started learning the Three Body Technique. I've also learned some of the Great Fireball Technique, and... and other things."
Before she could finish, Uchiha Chen raised a solemn hand and gently placed it on her forehead, murmuring, "Why are you so flushed? Are you sick?"
Hearing his concerned words, Izumi's already rosy cheeks instantly turned as red as a ripe peach, so bright and tempting that it made him want to take a bite.
She spoke awkwardly. "S-senior, I'm not sick. The sun's just too strong, so I got a little hot." Looking at her delicate, flowerlike face, how could Uchiha Chen not know she was just embarrassed?
That didn't stop him from teasing the easily flustered girl a little.
Uchiha Chen merely answered her with a quiet "All right," then continued walking without another word. He still didn't let go of her hand, as if they were simply out for a stroll.
When they reached the little river from earlier and saw the mess he had made, Uchiha Chen stopped and said, "All right, we're here."
At the senior's words, Izumi slowly lifted her head and was surprised to realize this was the very place she and Itachi had passed earlier.
Her heart stirred, but she said nothing. It wasn't until Uchiha Chen suggested they spar so he could gauge her ability that she replied with a determined look, "Please go easy on me!" Then she firmly grabbed a kunai and charged at him.
Uchiha Chen clasped his left hand behind his back and used only his right to deftly fend off Izumi's attacks. As he did, he reminded her, "Your movements are too broad. It's easy to give away what you're about to do!"
Before his words had faded, he followed up with a palm strike, showing no mercy and smashing her to pieces. Yes, literally smashing her to pieces.
The moment she was attacked, Izumi had keenly sensed Uchiha Chen's intent and used the Substitution Technique to block the strike. She then seized the chance to vanish into the dense woods.
Since they were in the middle of a spar, Uchiha Chen didn't bother to chase after her. Instead, he leisurely waited by the stream for her next attack.
Sure enough, just seconds later, several gleaming shuriken shot out of the woods like gusts of wind.
Uchiha Chen studied the weapons flying toward him. They were accurate, but clearly lacked force—probably because she was still young and not very strong. He casually sidestepped, found an opening in the barrage, and dodged them one by one.
Then he pushed off hard, his figure darting forward. In just a few quick strides, he had entered the woods. He spotted Izumi retreating in disarray as he pursued her.
Seizing the advantage, he rushed forward and landed a hard punch in her stomach.
Before Uchiha Chen could say anything, a muffled "poof" sounded before him, and Izumi's figure vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Just then, a sharp whistle suddenly came from the ground!
A keen-edged kunai shot toward Uchiha Chen like lightning, aimed straight at the blind spot in his stance. Just as it was about to pierce him, a strong left hand clamped around the kunai like an iron vice, stopping it dead!
At the same time, Uchiha Chen flashed forward at astonishing speed, straight toward Izumi, who was still holding her throwing stance.
With a light flick of his right hand, he tapped her forehead, then said softly, "Good tactics. First you used the Substitution Technique to dodge my attack, then the Clone Technique to distract me, and finally the Transformation Technique to launch a lethal strike... You used that combination very skillfully. You've built a solid foundation!"
At that, Uchiha Chen's lips curved into a teasing smile. "You almost managed to hurt me."
The little girl's eyes flashed with excitement at his praise and teasing, but she quickly forced herself to suppress it.
She didn't really believe his claim that she had almost hurt him.
After all, she knew that a Jonin would probably see through her little tricks in an instant.
Even so, hearing the senior praise her performance made her incredibly happy. In truth, Uchiha Chen could have caught that attack with ease even without using his left hand. Still, he wanted to encourage the hardworking girl and give her more motivation to grow stronger.
After another stretch of grueling training, the sun gradually sank toward the horizon, and night was about to fall.
Beneath the glow of the beautiful sunset, the two of them said goodbye. Before leaving, Uchiha Chen gently patted Izumi's small, adorable head. But when he saw her glare at him, he awkwardly said, "You did a great job today! You must be exhausted, so let's call it here."
When she heard him say, "Let's call it here," a flicker of panic crossed Izumi's heart. Did that mean he wouldn't train with her tomorrow?
She agonized over the question but ultimately didn't have the courage to ask.
Uchiha Chen was in a hurry to leave and receive Mikoto's intelligence, so he didn't give it another thought and turned to go.
But just as Uchiha Chen lifted his foot and started to turn away, a conflicted voice suddenly came from behind him. "Senior, can I come find you for training again tomorrow?"
Surprise flashed in Uchiha Chen's eyes. He really didn't understand what was going on. As he stood lost in thought, Izumi seemed to take his silence as an answer and said gloomily, "I understand... Since you have to go, I won't keep you. It's just that I still have a few questions about training I haven't figured out..."
At that moment, even though Uchiha Chen didn't fully understand what was happening, the scene before him made it clear what he should do.
He first patted her on the head, then said, "I'll meet you here tomorrow at noon. Don't be late."
Then he turned and walked away, not seeing the excitement on the girl's face behind him.