" Kiba, even though it feels nice when Teacher Ruri pats me on the head, why do I feel like the things we're talking about are a little different?" Little Naruto rubbed his head, looking confused.
Kiba Inuzuka casually waved a hand, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. Then he pulled a bag of potato chips from his pocket and waved it in front of Naruto. "Haha, see? This is what got our conversation going in a new direction! Potato chips—such a tempting snack. How could we not talk about them?"
Naruto looked at the chips in Kiba's hand, curiosity flashing in his eyes. He reached out and took one, then bit into it. It crunched crisply, and its flavor was rich and savory.
He laughed as he ate. "Kiba, you actually had such a great snack hidden away! These chips really are delicious. But, Kiba, haven't we gotten way off topic? Why do I feel like the things we're talking about are a little different now?"
Kiba laughed. "So what if we're off topic? We're just chatting to have fun. Besides, don't you think changing the subject like this is perfectly natural? Just like life, our conversations are always full of surprises."
Naruto thought about it and decided Kiba had a point, so he nodded. "All right, then let's keep talking about chips. Which flavor do you think is the best?"
Kiba blinked. "Personally, I like barbecue chips. That spicy, savory taste is seriously addictive. What about you, Naruto?"
Naruto rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "I like plain chips. They're simple and pure, and you can taste the potato in every bite."
Kiba nodded. "Plain chips are good, too. You get to taste the ingredient itself. But sometimes I try new flavors, like tomato, cheese, or even wasabi. They each give my taste buds a different experience."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Whoa, you've tried wasabi chips? That must've been intense!"
The moment snacks came up, Kiba Inuzuka was hooked. He chattered on and on without stopping.
Once the two little ones got hooked on talking about chips, it was as if they'd entered a little world of their own.
Kiba munched on chips as he animatedly described all the different flavors he'd tried. Naruto listened with great interest, nodding along now and then as he grabbed a chip or two, his eyes shining with curiosity and excitement.
Afterward, Uchiha Ruri walked over to the students. Her gaze passed over them one by one before finally settling on Rock Lee and his opponent.
She smiled slightly, then announced loudly, "Next up: Rock Lee versus Shikamaru Nara!"
The other students began discussing the match among themselves, eagerly anticipating the exciting showdown.
Hinata Hyuga was still standing where the previous match had taken place. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she seemed a little embarrassed about Kiba Inuzuka's earlier punch to her stomach.
She lowered her head to look at her toes and clasped her hands together, as if thinking over the match.
Teacher Ruri noticed that something was bothering Hinata. She walked over gently and asked, "Hinata, are you all right? Kiba's attack just now really was impressive, but you did well, too. Don't dwell on it."
Hinata looked up at Teacher Ruri, gratitude flickering in her eyes.
She shook her head slightly. "I'm fine, Teacher Ruri. I just feel like I'm not strong enough yet. I still need to work harder."
Teacher Ruri smiled and patted Hinata's shoulder encouragingly. "Hinata, you did very well. Everyone grows at their own pace. As long as you keep working hard, you'll become stronger. And winning isn't the most important thing. What matters is what you learn from the match."
Ruri noticed Hinata staring in the direction of Naruto and understood. She went over to her and asked gently, "Hinata, are you worried about Naruto?"
The unexpected question caught Hinata off guard. Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she answered in a quiet voice, "Y-yes, Teacher Ruri. Naruto-kun is always so impulsive. I'm worried he might get hurt."
Seeing Hinata's shy, worried expression, Teacher Ruri felt a warmth rise in her heart.
She smiled and patted Hinata's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Hinata. Naruto is a clever boy. He knows how to protect himself. Besides, matches are part of how they grow. They'll learn a lot from them."
Teacher Ruri's words eased Hinata's worries a little.
Still, that deep concern didn't go away completely. She couldn't help looking toward Naruto again and again.
She knew Naruto was strong and always stepped up when it mattered, but that only made her more afraid he might get hurt. Her worry was like an invisible thread, tightly tying her to Naruto.
Watching Hinata's focused, worried expression, Teacher Ruri couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She understood that Hinata's feelings for Naruto went beyond ordinary friendship. She truly liked him and cared about him.
But she also knew that Hinata wasn't good at expressing her feelings and was used to keeping them bottled up.
"Hinata, do you really like Naruto?" Ruri asked softly.
Teacher Ruri's question startled Hinata. She quickly looked away and answered in a fluster, "N-no, it's not like that, Teacher Ruri. I just... just care about him as a friend."
Seeing how flustered Hinata was only confirmed Ruri's suspicions.
Looking at Hinata's panicked expression, Ruri couldn't help laughing. She gently patted her on the head. "All right, all right, I understand. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But, Hinata, feelings can be hard to control sometimes, so you'll have to figure out what you want for yourself."
Teacher Ruri's words only made Hinata more flustered. She felt as if Ruri had seen right through her, and the feeling of having nowhere to hide made her deeply uncomfortable.
She didn't know how to respond. She could only lower her head and stand silently to the side, hands clasped tightly together as if trying to draw courage from them.
Seeing how shy and nervous Hinata was, Teacher Ruri realized she might have gone too far.
She knew Hinata was an introverted, sensitive girl who was especially cautious when it came to feelings.
So she decided to change the subject and put Hinata at ease.
"All right, let's stop talking about this." Teacher Ruri smiled. "Hinata, who do you think will win the next match?"
Hehehe, teasing a shy little girl like this makes me feel like such a demon!
Hinata lifted her head and looked at Ruri's warm smile. Some of her nervousness eased.
Teacher Ruri's question put Hinata a little more at ease. She looked up at the training ground, her eyes shining with focus. After thinking it over, she answered, "I think... Shikamaru Nara will win."
Teacher Ruri was slightly surprised, then smiled in approval. She hadn't expected Hinata to pick Shikamaru Nara. Although he was incredibly intelligent, he wasn't physically strong.
But that only showed that Hinata had watched the match closely and understood it well enough to consider the situation from a broader perspective.
"You always manage to surprise me, Hinata," Teacher Ruri said softly. "Can you tell me why you think Shikamaru Nara will win?"
Hinata nodded and began to explain her reasoning. "Shikamaru Nara might not have the strength or speed Naruto-kun does, but he can always analyze the situation calmly and find his opponent's weaknesses. His intelligence gives him a big advantage in a match. I also noticed that he stays very calm. Even when facing a strong opponent, he doesn't panic. That's really important in a match."
Listening to Hinata's analysis, Ruri couldn't help admiring her inwardly.
Kids in the Naruto World were so mature for their age. They really did seem different.
Six- or seven-year-old Hinata was not only observant but also very thorough in her thinking.
"You're right, Hinata," Teacher Ruri said with a smile. "Shikamaru Nara's intelligence and composure are definitely major advantages. But a match's outcome can depend on many factors, like a fighter's condition and state of mind. So we'll just have to wait and see."
Hinata nodded. She knew that match results were often unpredictable, but she still trusted her judgment.
"Shikamaru, let's settle this!" Rock Lee's words had barely left his mouth when the atmosphere across the training ground instantly grew tense.
The two of them were only six or seven years old, but they had already shown impressive talent as ninja.
Rock Lee excelled at Taijutsu, while Shikamaru Nara was famous for his extraordinary intelligence and strategy.
Sunlight spilled across the training ground, their figures facing each other. Rock Lee took a fighting stance and fixed his eyes on Shikamaru, as if determined to catch his every move.
Shikamaru, meanwhile, looked relaxed. A sly glint in his eyes suggested that he'd already worked out a battle plan.
Suddenly, Rock Lee moved.
He shot toward Shikamaru like an arrow loosed from a bow, his fist hurtling at him with a rush of wind.
Shikamaru was ready. He nimbly dodged Rock Lee's attack, then quickly reached out and grabbed his arm.
Rock Lee tried to break free, but Shikamaru was surprisingly strong. He held Rock Lee's arm fast, leaving him no chance to move.
They struggled against each other for a moment. Then Shikamaru yanked hard, pulling Rock Lee toward him.
Rock Lee stumbled and nearly fell. He quickly regained his footing, then charged at Shikamaru again. But this time, Shikamaru was ready.
He quickly stuck out a foot and tripped Rock Lee as he charged in. Rock Lee hit the ground and yelped in pain.
Looking down at Rock Lee, Shikamaru smiled slightly. "Rock Lee, your Taijutsu really is impressive, but you're still too impulsive. Fighting isn't just about strength. It takes strategy and intelligence, too."
Rock Lee got up and rubbed his sore backside, looking unconvinced. "Hmph, I just wasn't at my best. I'll definitely beat you next time!"
Shikamaru smiled. "Sure. I look forward to facing you again. But before then, I suggest you study battle strategy and techniques. That's the only way you'll become truly strong."
Rock Lee listened. He was still a little unconvinced, but he knew he had a lot to learn. He nodded. "Thanks for the advice, Shikamaru. I'll work hard to improve."
The two exchanged smiles and returned to the other students. Shikamaru had won the match, but both of them had learned a lot from it.
Shikamaru won, Hinata. You guessed right. That was good judgment." Ruri gently stroked Hinata's head, her face beaming with approval.
A warm feeling suddenly welled up in Hinata, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
She lowered her head shyly and clasped her hands tightly together, as if trying to hide how excited she felt. Her heart raced as if a little deer were bouncing around inside her. The feeling made her both excited and nervous.
"T-Teacher, I was just guessing..." Hinata stammered, her voice barely audible.
She didn't dare look up at Ruri, afraid she would see right through her.
Seeing how shy Hinata looked, Ruri couldn't help laughing. "Haha, Hinata, your 'guess' was really accurate! Maybe we should open a fortune-telling shop together."
Ruri's teasing made Hinata even shyer. She bit her lip gently and said in a small voice, "Teacher, please don't tease me..."
Ruri laughed and shook her head, but didn't tease her any further. She knew Hinata was an introverted, sensitive girl who needed plenty of encouragement and support.
So she gently took Hinata's hand and said, "Hinata, your judgment was spot-on. That's one of your strengths. Don't be afraid to show what you can do. Believe in yourself, and you'll do even better."
Feeling Ruri's warmth and encouragement, Hinata found her courage rising.
She lifted her head and looked bravely at Ruri, her eyes shining with determination. "Thank you, Teacher. I'll do my best!"
Ruri was very pleased to see Hinata gradually growing more confident.
Ah! Now that I've finished teasing that shy little girl, I don't feel guilty anymore!
Ruri turned to Shikamaru, admiration showing in her eyes. "Shikamaru, you did really well this time. Your strategy was sound, and you stayed calm under pressure. You're a ninja with a lot of potential."
Shikamaru scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "You're too kind, Teacher. I just did my best."
"Haha, doing your best is an attitude in itself!" Ruri laughed and patted Shikamaru on the shoulder. "You're all wonderful kids."
Shikamaru grinned at her words. "Don't worry, Teacher. I definitely won't forget!"
Just then, Rock Lee came over, looking at Shikamaru with admiration. "Shikamaru, you're amazing! I'll learn from you next time. I'll do my best to win a match, too!"
Seeing how fired up Rock Lee was, Ruri couldn't help laughing. "Sure, Rock Lee. As long as you keep working hard, I'm sure you'll do well, too."
Rock Lee nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "Yeah! I'll work hard!"
Before you continue