Uzuki Yugao's Little Thoughts

Time passed quickly, fleeting in an instant.

By the time Sasuke had stabilized his newly improved swordsmanship, the sun was already hanging high, casting warm light into every corner of the training ground.

"Hehe, Sakura, are you hot?"

"How about you walk behind me? It won't be good if you get a tan..."

"No need..."

"Sakura, how about we go grab some ramen after the test today?"

"I heard Old Man Ichiraku just released a new item..."

"No, I'm on a diet lately..."

Naruto and Sakura's voices drifted from afar into Sasuke's ears.

Perhaps due to practicing the Dance of the Crescent Moon, Sasuke's five senses had been significantly enhanced. Even though the two were still some distance away, Sasuke could hear them clearly.

Sigh... a simp, a total simp, simping until the end only to end up with nothing...

Crown Prince, with such a great background, how can you be so spineless?...

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes again and rose to his feet.

"Huh? Sasuke! Sasuke! So you came here so early!"

Just as Sasuke stood up, Sakura shouted toward him from a distance.

"Oh, I was just too excited to sleep last night. You and Naruto aren't late either..."

Sasuke didn't bother explaining to Sakura that he had already been waiting here since last night. As Sakura approached, he responded calmly.

Having her warm face met with a cold shoulder didn't embarrass Sakura. Instead, she blushed and asked weakly:

"Sa... Sasuke, after we finish the test today, would you like to go eat some ramen to celebrate?..."

She stammered, her face full of shyness.

"Huh?..."

Naruto, standing to the side, was struck as if by lightning upon hearing this!

Isn't she on a diet?

How come it's a no for me, but it's fine for this annoying guy?

Damn it!...

Sasuke didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at the shy Sakura, then glanced at Naruto, who was standing to the side looking utterly dejected.

Turning back, he asked the blushing Sakura with a strange expression:

"Is it a group meal?..."

"No... no, just... just the two of us. I... I'll treat..."

It was as if she had used every ounce of her strength just to finish that short sentence. Sakura didn't dare look up, her eyes fixed on the ground, and her heart raced even faster after she finished speaking.

Smirking inwardly, Sasuke replied with a deadpan expression:

"Then I won't go."

"I didn't sleep well last night, I'm going back to sleep."

"Sleep? Then I can..."

"Can what?..."

"I... I..."

Sasuke acted as if he hadn't heard her, deliberately teasing her.

Why? Why is it that even though I know he's deliberately teasing me?

Not only am I not angry, but I actually think Sasuke looks more and more handsome...

Sakura thought to herself.

But no matter how thick-skinned she might be, at this age, she still couldn't bring herself to say the words "I can accompany you to sleep," as they sounded a bit too suggestive.

She turned her head, burying it even lower in an even greater display of shyness...

Ding! Affection received from Sakura, Charm +1

"Sigh..."

Hearing the sudden notification in his mind, Sasuke let out a faint sigh:

It turns out that being too handsome is also a burden...

Just then.

Swish! Swish!

Two familiar figures appeared out of thin air right in front of Sasuke.

Seeing this, Su Jian was startled, then quickly stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Why have you two seniors come here?"

"Are you just passing by on a mission?..."

These two were none other than Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao.

Hearing this, Gekko Hayate smiled and responded:

"Of course we came to see for ourselves just how heaven-defying the absolute genius in my eyes really is!"

"Sasuke, you wouldn't believe it, but even after I told her that, your sister Yugao didn't believe me."

"So, I brought her here to see for herself that my judgment is absolutely correct!"

"You had better not let me down!..."

It was as if he had become a different person.

Or perhaps, as if he had resolved some inner conflict.

Gekko Hayate was exceptionally cheerful today, and a bright smile remained on his lips as he spoke with Sasuke.

A person should not have arrogance, but they must have a backbone!

Since a Jonin had put it that way, if Sasuke were to remain humble, wouldn't he be slapping the man in the face?

Thinking of this, Sasuke did not stand on ceremony; he bowed and responded:

"Rest assured, Senior. I will certainly not let you and Senior Yugao down during today's test."

"Hahaha! That's good! You are worthy of being the one I have my eye on!"

"Keep it up! The future of Konoha will open up for you!..."

Gekko Hayate continued to speak with great passion.

In truth, there was one thing he did not say aloud.

That was, Sasuke seemed to be radiating an indescribable sword intent today, one that swirled around him and refused to dissipate!

This sword intent was something others could not perceive; only Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao, who had practiced Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, could sense a hint of it.

They simply chose not to mention it.

Unlike Gekko Hayate's sudden change in temperament.

Uzuki Yugao, who had remained silent the entire time, had a completely different focus.

Although she was shocked by the sword intent radiating from Sasuke today.

Her attention had shifted to Naruto the moment she arrived.

How did Naruto end up in the same squad as Sasuke?...

Naruto's background.

Others might not know it.

But as a former substitute member after Uchiha Obito was killed in action.

Uzuki Yugao knew Naruto's background inside and out.

After all, before Kakashi left the Anbu, the three of them had been colleagues.

I suppose it must be because of Sasuke's heaven-defying talent...

Once she thought of this, Uzuki Yugao understood instantly.

One takes on the attributes of those they associate with.

For a genius like Sasuke to be placed beside Naruto as a spur to his growth would be highly beneficial.

Thinking this, Uzuki Yugao shifted her gaze to Sakura, who was standing to the side looking bashful.

She couldn't help but frown, thinking:

Looking at the unremarkable chakra fluctuations around this girl, how did she end up in the same squad as Naruto too?

"Given Naruto's unique status, even if he were to choose from the Ino-Shika-Cho families, it wouldn't be this girl's turn, would it?..."

A girl's gossip... oh, no, her intuition was always sharp.

Soon, her eyes lit up. Looking at Sakura, then at Naruto, who was stealing glances at Sakura from time to time, she concluded with certainty:

"Oh! So that's how it is. I suppose this brat Naruto must have secretly approached the Third Hokage in private."

"This kid!"

"He's not even grown yet, and he's already picked out his future wife..."

Thinking of this, Uzuki Yugao couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake her head.

Back then, when she and Gekko Hayate were both in the Anbu, their relationship had been so difficult.

The sweetness they enjoyed today had only come after years of compromise and adjustment.

She hadn't expected that Naruto, at such a young age, would have already found his true love with the Third Hokage's secret matchmaking.

Although Uzuki Yugao didn't say it, and could never say it, she felt a small twinge of jealousy in her heart.

Being the Second Hokage really was too comfortable...