As Expected of You, Naruto!

Uchiha Ruri hadn't expected Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno to have one of those legendary trash-talking moments in the middle of a fight.

It wasn't an argument over Sasuke's looks, but it still drew plenty of attention from the students watching.

"Next up, Hinata Hyuga versus Kiba Inuzuka." Ruri's voice echoed across the training ground, breaking the peaceful silence.

(Neji and Hinata are in different classes, so the content has been changed. The two cousins also graduated in the same year, according to the official Jin no Sho.)

Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell upon the two of them, cloaking them in a golden glow.

Hinata stood at one end of the training ground, dressed in a pale green ninja uniform. Her hair was neatly tied back, giving her a fresh, charming look.

Her eyes were bright and resolute, as if they held an unyielding light. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and felt the chakra flowing through her body as she prepared for battle.

Kiba stood at the other end of the training ground, dressed in a dark blue ninja uniform. His short hair made him look full of energy.

His gaze was sharp.

He patted the Ninja Dog Akamaru beside him. Akamaru immediately let out a low growl, seeming just as ready for the coming battle.

"Remember, you're all classmates, so don't go too hard on each other." Ruri's voice rang out again. As the referee, she kept a close eye on the situation, making sure the match stayed safe.

"Your teacher's right here, so don't worry." Ruri added a moment later. Her warm, caring words eased the tension on the field a little.

"Ninja match! Begin!"

Hinata and Kiba both nodded to show they understood. They knew this match would test not only their strength but also their character.

At Ruri's command, the match officially began.

Hinata took a deep breath and activated her Byakugan, allowing her to clearly see every subtle movement Kiba made. She clenched her fists, ready for the coming fight.

"Kiba, I'm going to start now!" Hinata said softly. Her voice was gentle, but her resolve was unmistakable.

Kiba smiled confidently. He patted Akamaru beside him, and the Ninja Dog immediately let out a low growl, eager for the fight.

"Come on, Hinata! Show me what you've got!" Kiba called out, his voice full of fighting spirit.

The fight began in an instant. Hinata dashed toward Kiba, moving swiftly and nimbly. Seeing her charge, Kiba immediately called forth several Ninja Dogs to attack her.

"Watch out, Hinata!" Kiba warned.

Hinata stayed calm. Using her Byakugan to read the dogs' attack paths, she applied the techniques of the Gentle Fist and knocked them back one by one. The dogs were fierce, but faced with Hinata's precise attacks, they had no choice but to retreat to Kiba's side.

"Not bad, Hinata!" Kiba nodded approvingly. "But now I'm getting serious!"

With that, he summoned an even stronger Ninja Dog—Akamaru. Akamaru grew huge and imposing, roaring as he charged at Hinata as if he meant to swallow her whole.

Faced with Akamaru's fierce attack, Hinata showed no fear. She took a deep breath and focused on responding.

Using her Byakugan to read Akamaru's attack path, she employed the techniques of the Gentle Fist and fought him fiercely.

"Akamaru, use your strongest attack!" Kiba shouted.

Akamaru obeyed, opening his jaws and lunging at Hinata with a vicious bite. Hinata quickly dodged and counterattacked.

She lightly struck Akamaru with her palm, and a soft force sent him stumbling backward.

"That Gentle Fist is amazing!" Kiba exclaimed in astonishment. His eyes widened as he watched Hinata's nimble, precise moves, and admiration welled up inside him.

"I can't believe you've trained your Gentle Fist to this level," Kiba praised. His words showed how much he respected Hinata's skill.

Hinata smiled faintly but didn't respond. She knew the fight had only just begun, and she couldn't let her guard down.

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and prepared for Kiba's next attack.

When Hinata didn't answer, Kiba didn't take it personally. He knew she was simply reserved and quiet by nature.

He stopped talking and immediately called forth Akamaru, ready to attack.

Akamaru was agile and quick. He charged at Hinata, opening his mouth to bare his sharp fangs.

Seeing him rush in, Hinata activated her Byakugan and clearly saw his attack path. She darted aside, easily avoiding his attack.

Kiba couldn't help frowning. He hadn't expected Hinata to react so quickly, let alone dodge Akamaru so easily.

He quickly adjusted his strategy, directing Akamaru to attack from several directions in hopes of catching Hinata off guard.

But Hinata seemed to see right through Kiba's strategy. She used her Byakugan to follow Akamaru's every move while nimbly dodging his attacks.

Her figure flickered around the training ground, leaving the onlookers dazzled.

The longer Kiba fought, the more anxious he became. He felt that Hinata was countering every attack. Panic began to creep in, but he knew he couldn't give up now.

He took a deep breath and decided to join the fight himself, facing Hinata in an even fiercer contest.

Kiba sprang forward and charged at Hinata. He was so fast he seemed to fly like the wind.

He swung his fists and launched a furious attack.

Hinata immediately used her Byakugan to read Kiba's attack path. She darted aside, evading his blows.

At the same time, she reached out with both hands and used the Gentle Fist to counterattack.

Their figures crossed and clashed across the training ground. They moved faster and faster, until they seemed to dissolve into streaks of afterimages.

Their fight drew gasps and cheers from the students watching.

"Hinata, your Gentle Fist is incredible!" one student exclaimed.

"Yeah, and her Byakugan is amazing. It lets her see everything," another student agreed.

The praise only made Kiba more determined to beat Hinata.

He knew that if he lost, all the effort he'd put in would come to nothing. He couldn't let his hard work go to waste. He had to give it everything he had.

But Hinata seemed not to hear the praise around her. She focused entirely on dealing with Kiba's attacks, all the while searching for a chance to counter.

Her Byakugan gleamed as if it could see everything.

Suddenly, Hinata spotted an opening. She used her Byakugan to find a flaw in Kiba's defense, seized her chance, and struck him in the stomach with a light, powerful punch.

Kiba grunted and staggered, nearly falling to the ground. He clutched his aching stomach, pain written across his face.

He hadn't expected Hinata to spot his opening and hurt him so badly.

"Kiba, are you okay?" one student asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." Kiba gritted his teeth and forced the words out through the pain. He didn't want his classmates to see him show weakness.

Seeing Kiba's pained expression, Hinata couldn't help feeling concerned. She knew this fight hadn't been easy for him. She walked over and held out a hand to help him up.

"You've actually done really well, Kiba," Hinata said softly. "Akamaru is really strong, and you're fast, too. You just need to pay more attention to your opponent's movements and openings during a fight."

Hinata's words warmed Kiba's heart. He hadn't expected her to comfort him and offer him advice right then.

He looked at Hinata gratefully and nodded. "Thank you, Hinata. I'll remember that."

Their conversation drew a round of applause and cheers from the students around them.

They knew this match had been more than a contest of strength. It had brought their friendship to a new level.

"Why is it always a punch to the stomach? I told you to go easy on him." Ruri looked at Kiba on the field, her brows knitted with concern and her voice tinged with helplessness.

She had only just become a ninja instructor in Konoha, and already two students had been hurt in her class. Ruri felt a little ashamed.

She knew how cruel real combat could be, but seeing her students get hurt still made her heart ache.

Kiba lay on the ground, clutching his stomach with a pained expression. He looked up at Ruri, a flash of stubbornness and frustration in his eyes. "Sensei, I'm fine. This is a real fight. An opponent won't go easy on me."

Ruri shook her head gently, walked over, and crouched down to examine Kiba's injuries.

"I know this is a real fight," she said softly, "but you also have to learn to protect yourself. The stomach is a vulnerable part of the body. If you take a hit there, the consequences could be serious."

Hinata stood nearby, watching Ruri check Kiba's injuries, concern flashing in her eyes. She stepped closer and asked softly, "Kiba, are you okay?"

Kiba managed a faint smile and shook his head. "I'm fine, Hinata. This little injury is nothing to me."

Ruri looked up at Hinata and Kiba, her gaze firm, though her voice carried a hint of helplessness.

She stood and addressed them both. "Listen carefully. A real fight isn't just about strength and technique. Your mindset and your wits matter even more. During a fight, you need to watch your opponent's movements and expression so you can figure out their intentions and weaknesses. You also need to learn to protect yourselves and avoid unnecessary injuries."

Kiba and Hinata both nodded seriously, showing they understood Ruri's words.

Ruri watched them nod and said nothing more.

Judging by how the story was going, the Konoha Twelve were all working hard to grow. They were only six or seven years old now.

"Okay, get up." Ruri reached out to help Kiba to his feet and gently patted his shoulder. "Let's go rest. Class will be over soon."

Kiba nodded and slowly got to his feet. He clenched his fists, felt the throbbing pain in his stomach, and gritted his teeth, trying not to let his face show how much it hurt.

He knew that as a ninja, he couldn't give in easily when faced with pain and hardship.

Looking at Kiba's determined eyes, Ruri felt a warmth well up inside her. She gently patted his shoulder and reassured him, "Don't push yourself too hard. Go rest over there for now."

Kiba nodded and followed Ruri over to where Naruto was.

Little Naruto was lying across a tree branch, with sunlight filtering through the leaves onto him. He looked completely at ease.

When he saw Kiba and Ruri approaching, he immediately sat up, curiosity shining in his eyes.

"Kiba, are you okay? You look like you're pretty badly hurt," Naruto asked with concern.

Kiba smiled and waved it off. "It's nothing. I just got hit in the stomach. I'll be fine after a little rest."

"Oh, okay." Naruto nodded, still looking a little worried. "Just be careful, all right? Don't get hurt."

Watching the two of them, Ruri felt a surge of relief. These children might bicker and roughhouse all the time, but the care and friendship they shared were genuine.

She walked over to Naruto and crouched down, looking at him seriously. "Naruto, you look well. How are you feeling?"

Naruto blinked and rubbed his nose, grinning proudly. "Don't worry, Ruri-sensei. I've completely recovered. I'm ready to train whenever you are!"

Ruri smiled and nodded. She knew little Naruto's constitution and recovery were both exceptional.

As the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, he had an abundance of chakra thanks to his Uzumaki Constitution, which gave him far greater recuperative powers than an ordinary person.

So Ruri had no worries about Naruto's health.

She stood and joined the two of them, gently patting their heads. Kiba and Naruto both lowered their heads obediently, enjoying their teacher's affection.

"All right, you two little rascals, get some rest." Ruri spoke gently. "Class will be over soon. Be ready to head home, and make sure you get a good rest and regain your strength."

Kiba and Naruto nodded. They knew Ruri-sensei's words mattered, so they would be sure to listen.

Ruri gave them a few more reminders, then turned and left. She felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she looked at the two children.

They were still young, but both had extraordinary potential and talent.

As long as they worked hard at their training, they would surely become excellent ninjas someday.

Watching Ruri walk away, Kiba and Naruto exchanged smiles. They both felt incredibly lucky to have Ruri-sensei by their side.

"Kiba, what do you think of Ruri-sensei?" Naruto suddenly asked.

Kiba thought for a moment before answering, "Even though it's only our first day, I think Ruri-sensei is gentle and really strong. She's taught us all kinds of jutsu and fighting techniques, and she's always looking out for our health and how we're feeling."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "That's exactly what I think, too. Ruri-sensei is a wonderful teacher. I'm really grateful to her."

To Naruto, the impression Ruri had made was like a brilliant star, shining forever in the night sky of his heart.

Apart from Iruka-sensei, Ruri was the only other person who truly believed in his dream. She gave Naruto more than just care and encouragement—she also held a sincere hope that he would become Hokage and achieve his great dream.

Whenever Naruto thought back on the time he'd spent with Ruri in their previous lesson, a warm feeling rose in his heart.

Those tender memories were like jewels carefully carved by time, set deep in his mind and glittering brightly.

Beneath the warm sunlight, little Naruto gazed quietly at Ruri's retreating figure, gratitude welling in his heart. After all, the villagers had always treated him like...

Just as the moment filled with warmth and hope, Kiba's voice suddenly cut in, breaking the silence.

"Naruto, don't you think that every time Ruri-sensei pats you on the head, it feels like some mysterious power flows into your body?"

Kiba's words held a hint of mystery and curiosity. He leaned closer to Naruto, wearing a secretive expression.

Intrigued by Kiba's words, Naruto turned to look at him, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

He had felt that way before. Every time Ruri-sensei gently stroked his head, a warm current seemed to flow through his whole body, as if all his fatigue and troubles vanished in an instant.

"I've felt that way, too," Naruto replied honestly. His voice held a trace of fondness and gratitude. "There's something special about Ruri-sensei's hand. It makes me feel safe and warm."

A look of recognition flashed in Kiba's eyes when he heard Naruto.

As expected of Naruto! He understood exactly what I meant! Kiba's eyes shone brightly, as if he'd just caught a glimpse of the mystery and curiosity in his own heart.

Kiba nodded, his face lighting up with realization, and continued, "Yeah, I noticed that, too. Every time Ruri-sensei pats me on the head, I feel full of strength, like I can overcome anything."