"Then, according to the agreement made by the previous leader and Lord Jiraiya, Lord Naruto and Lady Shizuka will fight with their marriage pact at stake!" Tokiwa stood between Naruto and Shizuka, her expression solemn as she spoke.
As Tokiwa said this, Nadeshiko Shizuka still wore an icy expression, showing none of the reaction one would expect upon meeting her fiancé. Naruto, on the other hand, wore a faint smile. Having already learned the general details of Shizuka's past from Tokiwa, he did not take her attitude too much to heart.
"Wait. Before we begin, there's something I want to say to Sister Shizuka!" Naruto raised a hand, stopping Tokiwa's right hand just as she was about to lower it to signal the start of the duel. His expression was resolute.
A trace of confusion appeared on Tokiwa's face. To be reasonable, there had been two reasons why she had told Naruto about Shizuka's past the night before. First, she wanted Naruto to fight Shizuka rather than make excuses or avoid the battle outright. Second, she hoped that perhaps Naruto could help Shizuka find some relief through this fight...
After all, this was an agreement made by Jiraiya and the previous leader. For Shizuka, it had once been an unbearably heavy burden.
Tokiwa had never really entertained the thought that Naruto could influence or change Shizuka. Changing a person was easier said than done. Still, Naruto pulling this stunt before the duel was rather beyond her expectations.
However, Nadeshiko Shizuka's brows furrowed slightly as she said coldly, "Whatever you have to say can wait until after the duel!"
The moment her words fell, before Naruto could say anything, Shizuka lowered her body slightly and shot forward like a cannonball, charging straight at Naruto. Her clenched fist sliced through the air