Now I really don't feel guilty anymore!

"Kiba, although it feels quite nice to have Uchiha Ruri pat my head, I can't help but feel like the topic we're discussing is a bit different from yours." Little Naruto scratched his head, looking bewildered.

Kiba Inuzuka waved his hand dismissively, a mischievous smile curling his lips. He pulled a bag of potato chips from his pocket, shook it in front of Naruto, and said, "Haha, look, this is the catalyst for our change in topic! Potato chips—such a tempting snack, how could we not talk about them?"

Naruto stared at the chips in Kiba's hand, a flicker of curiosity crossing his eyes. He reached out, took a chip, and took a light bite. Crunch. The texture was crispy, and the flavor was rich and savory.

He laughed while eating, "Kiba, you guy actually had this good stuff hidden away; these chips really are delicious. But Kiba, haven't our topics drifted too far? I feel like what I'm talking about with you is a bit different."

Kiba laughed heartily and said, "So what if we drifted? Chatting is all about having fun anyway. Besides, don't you think this shift in topic is quite natural? Just like our lives, always full of surprises and unexpected turns."

Naruto thought about it and felt Kiba had a point, so he nodded and said, "Alright, then let's keep talking about potato chips. Which flavor do you think is the best?"

Kiba blinked and said, "Personally, I prefer barbecue-flavored chips. That spicy, savory kick is just addictive. How about you, Naruto?"

Naruto rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "Me? I prefer original flavor. Simple and pure; you can taste the authentic essence of the potato in every bite."

Kiba nodded at Naruto's words and said, "Original flavor is definitely good too; you get to taste the ingredients themselves. But sometimes I like to try new flavors, like tomato, cheese, or even wasabi—they all bring different experiences to my taste buds."

Naruto's eyes lit up at Kiba's words, and he said, "Wow, you've even tried wasabi-flavored chips? That must be really intense!"

Whenever snacks were mentioned, Kiba Inuzuka became interested, chattering on endlessly.

Once these two little ones got hooked on talking about potato chips, they seemed to enter a little world of their own.

Kiba chewed on the chips while gesturing wildly, recounting all the various flavors he had tried, while Naruto listened with great interest, nodding along from time to time and grabbing a few chips himself, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement.

Afterward, Uchiha Ruri walked into the crowd of students. Her gaze swept over them one by one, finally resting on Rock Lee and the other.

She smiled slightly and then announced loudly, "Next up is Rock Lee versus Shikamaru Nara!"

The other students began to discuss it, looking forward to the exciting duel about to take place.

Hinata Hyuga was still standing where she had just finished her match. A faint blush lingered on her cheeks, as if she were still feeling a bit embarrassed by that strike to the abdomen she had received from Kiba Inuzuka earlier.

She looked down at her toes, her hands clasped tightly together, as if reflecting on the match she had just fought.

Uchiha Ruri noticed Hinata's unusual behavior. She walked gently to Hinata's side and asked softly, "Hinata, are you alright? Kiba Inuzuka's attack was indeed powerful, but you did well too. Don't take it to heart."

Hinata looked up at Uchiha Ruri, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.

She shook her head gently and said, "I'm fine, Uchiha Ruri. It's just that I feel my strength isn't enough yet; I need to work even harder."

Uchiha Ruri smiled and patted Hinata on the shoulder, encouraging her, "Hinata, you've already done very well. Everyone has their own path of growth. As long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely become stronger. Besides, the result of the match isn't the most important thing; what matters is what you learned from it."

Uchiha Ruri watched Hinata staring in the direction of Naruto and understood a little bit of what was going on. She walked to Hinata's side and asked gently, "Hinata, are you worried about Naruto?"

Hinata was caught off guard by Uchiha Ruri's sudden question. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she answered in a small voice, "Y... yes, Uchiha Ruri. Naruto-kun... he's always so impulsive. I'm worried he'll get hurt."

Uchiha Ruri looked at Hinata's slightly shy and worried expression, and a wave of warmth surged in her heart.

She smiled and patted Hinata on the shoulder, comforting her, "Hinata, don't worry. Naruto is a very smart kid; he knows how to protect himself. Besides, matches are part of their growth, and they will learn a lot from them."

Hinata felt her worry ease slightly after hearing Uchiha Ruri's words.

However, that deep concern did not completely dissipate. She still couldn't control her gaze, casting it toward Naruto's direction again and again.

She knew Naruto was a strong person who could always step up at critical moments, but precisely because of that, she was even more afraid of him getting hurt. That worry was like an invisible thread, tightly binding her to Naruto.

Uchiha Ruri watched Hinata's focused and worried expression and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She understood that Hinata's feelings for Naruto had transcended ordinary friendship; it was a deep fondness and concern.

However, she also knew that Hinata was not good at expressing her emotions and was accustomed to keeping her thoughts hidden in the depths of her heart.

"Hinata, do you really like Naruto?" Uchiha Ruri asked softly.

Hinata was startled by Uchiha Ruri's words. She quickly withdrew her gaze and answered in a flustered manner, "N... no, that's not it, Uchiha Ruri. I'm just... just concerned about him as a friend."

Uchiha Ruri looked at Hinata's flustered appearance and felt even more certain of her guess.

Uchiha Ruri watched Hinata's flustered state and couldn't help but laugh. She gently patted Hinata's head and said, "Alright, alright, I know. You don't have to worry; I won't tell anyone else. But Hinata, sometimes emotions are hard to control; you have to handle them well yourself."

Hinata felt even more flustered after hearing Uchiha Ruri's words. She felt as if she had been seen through, and that feeling of having nowhere to hide made her feel very uncomfortable.

She didn't know how to answer, so she could only keep her head down, standing silently to the side with her hands clenched, as if trying to draw some courage from them.

Uchiha Ruri looked at Hinata's shy and nervous appearance and realized she might have gone a bit too far.

She knew well that Hinata was an introverted and sensitive girl who was always extra cautious when it came to matters of the heart.

Thus, she decided to change the subject to help Hinata relax.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore," Uchiha Ruri said with a smile. "Hinata, who do you think will win the next match?"

Heh heh heh, teasing a 'three-no' loli—I feel like such a devil!

Hinata looked up, seeing Uchiha Ruri's warm smile, and the tension in her heart eased slightly.

Hinata listened to Uchiha Ruri's question and felt a bit more relaxed. She looked toward the match arena, her eyes shining with a serious light. She thought about it carefully and then replied, "I think... it should be Shikamaru Nara."

Uchiha Ruri was slightly stunned, then revealed an appreciative smile. She hadn't expected Hinata to give such an answer; after all, while Shikamaru Nara was exceptionally wise, he didn't have the advantage in physical strength.

However, this just went to show that Hinata's observation and understanding of the match were deep enough to view the situation from a more comprehensive perspective.

"You are always able to surprise me, Hinata," Uchiha Ruri said softly. "Can you tell me why you are so optimistic about Shikamaru Nara?"

Hinata nodded and began to explain her thoughts, "Although Shikamaru Nara doesn't possess the immense power and speed that Naruto-kun has, he is always able to calmly analyze the situation and find his opponent's weaknesses. His wisdom gives him a great advantage in matches. Moreover, I noticed that his mindset during the match is very stable; even when facing a strong opponent, he doesn't panic. This kind of mindset is very important for a match."

Liuli listened to Hinata's analysis, unable to help but silently marvel in her heart.

The children in the Naruto World were so mature in their thinking; they all seemed different.

Six or seven-year-old Hinata was not only observant but also considered problems very comprehensively.

"You're right, Hinata," Liuli said with a smile. "Shikamaru Nara's intelligence and mindset are indeed his major advantages. However, the outcome of a match is often influenced by many factors, such as the competitors' condition, their mental state, and so on. So, we shall have to wait and see."

Hinata nodded after hearing Liuli's words. She knew that the results of a match were often unpredictable, but she still trusted her own judgment.

She decided to continue observing the match to see if Shikamaru Nara could leverage his advantages to win.

"Shikamaru, let's settle this!" As soon as Rock Lee finished speaking, the atmosphere in the entire training ground instantly became tense.

At this moment, both were only six or seven years old, yet they already displayed remarkable ninja talent.

Rock Lee excelled in taijutsu, while Shikamaru Nara was known for his extraordinary intelligence and strategy.

Sunlight spilled across the training ground as the two figures intertwined. Rock Lee assumed a fighting stance, his eyes locked onto Shikamaru as if trying to capture every one of his opponent's movements.

Shikamaru, on the other hand, appeared relaxed and composed, a hint of cunning in his eyes as if he had already formulated a battle plan in his mind.

Suddenly, Rock Lee moved.

He rushed toward Shikamaru like an arrow released from a bow, his fist whistling through the air as he swung it fiercely at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru had been prepared; he nimbly dodged Rock Lee's attack and quickly reached out to grab Rock Lee's arm.

Rock Lee tried to break free, but Shikamaru's strength was surprisingly great; he held onto Rock Lee's arm firmly, leaving him no chance to move.

The two remained deadlocked for a moment until, suddenly, Shikamaru pulled hard, dragging Rock Lee toward him.

Rock Lee stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. He quickly steadied himself and charged at Shikamaru again, but this time, Shikamaru was ready.

He quickly extended a foot and tripped the charging Rock Lee. Rock Lee fell to the ground, wailing in pain.

Shikamaru looked at Rock Lee on the ground, smiled slightly, and said, "Rock Lee, your taijutsu is indeed impressive, but you are still too impulsive. Combat isn't just about strength; it requires strategy and wisdom."

Rock Lee climbed up from the ground, rubbed his sore backside, and said somewhat unconvinced, "Hmph, I just didn't perform well. Next time, I will definitely beat you!"

Shikamaru smiled and said, "Sure, I look forward to our next duel. But before that, I suggest you study combat strategies and techniques. Only then can you become a true powerhouse."

Although Rock Lee was still a bit unconvinced after hearing Shikamaru's words, he understood that he indeed had much to learn. He nodded and said, "Thanks for the advice, Shikamaru. I will work hard to improve my strength."

The two shared a smile and returned to the center of the students. Although this duel ended with Shikamaru's victory, both gained a great deal from it.

"Shikamaru won. Hinata, you guessed right—not bad judgment." Liuli gently stroked Hinata's head, her face beaming with an appreciative smile.

A warm current instantly surged into Hinata's heart, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

She lowered her head shyly, twisting her hands together as if trying to hide her inner excitement. Her heart raced as if a little deer were bumping around inside; the feeling made her both excited and nervous.

"T-Teacher, I was just guessing..." Hinata stammered, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

She didn't dare look up at Liuli, fearing her inner thoughts would be seen through.

Seeing Hinata's shy appearance, Liuli couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Haha, Hinata, your 'just guessing' is truly accurate! It seems we could open a fortune-telling shop together in the future."

Hearing Liuli's teasing, Hinata became even shyer. She bit her lip gently and whispered, "Teacher, please don't make fun of me..."

Liuli shook her head with a smile, not continuing to tease Hinata. She knew that Hinata was an introverted and sensitive girl who needed more encouragement and support.

Therefore, she gently held Hinata's hand and said, "Hinata, your judgment is very accurate; this is your strength. Don't be afraid to express yourself. Believe in yourself, and you will become even more outstanding."

Hinata felt Liuli's warmth and encouragement, and a surge of courage rose in her heart.

She lifted her head and looked bravely at Liuli, her eyes sparkling with a firm light: "Thank you, Teacher, I will work hard!"

Seeing Hinata gradually becoming more confident, Liuli felt very gratified.

Ah! Just finished coaching a kuudere loli, and now the guilt is gone!

Liuli turned to look at Shikamaru, her eyes revealing a touch of admiration: "Shikamaru, your performance this time was truly excellent. Not only was your strategy sound, but you remained calm under pressure. You are a ninja with great potential."

Shikamaru scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Teacher is too kind; I just did my best."

"Haha, doing your best is also an attitude!" Liuli said with a smile, patting Shikamaru on the shoulder. "After all, you are all very excellent children."

Hearing this, Shikamaru laughed: "Don't worry, Teacher, I will never forget that!"

At this moment, Rock Lee also came over, looking at Shikamaru with envy: "Shikamaru, you are amazing! Next time I will learn from you and strive to win a match too!"

Watching Rock Lee's high-spirited appearance, Liuli couldn't help but laugh: "Sure, Rock Lee. As long as you are willing to work hard, I believe you will definitely achieve great results."

Rock Lee nodded, his eyes shining with a firm light: "Mm, I will definitely work hard!"