Naruto's Awkward Moment

At the edge of Konoha's Training Ground, Sarada stood alone, hurling Shuriken at a wooden post in the water again and again. Her technique was sound, but her frustration showed.

The sharp thud of a Kunai sinking deep into the wood sounded like an outlet for her hurt feelings.

Just then, a figure appeared silently behind her.

A second Shuriken struck the one Sarada had thrown, knocking it off course.

"Your Shuriken's path is too straight, Sarada."

Sarada froze. Without turning around, she retrieved her Shuriken and asked stiffly, "Did you come to tell me more of those boring things, Dad? Like 'little peanut'?"

To her surprise, a remarkably gentle chuckle came from behind her.

"No." Sasuke Uchiha stepped forward and stood beside her, his gaze on the distant post. "I came to train with you."

Sarada turned in surprise. On her father's usually stern face, she saw a clear trace of softness.

For the rest of their time there, Sasuke said little. Whenever her movements strayed, he corrected her with brief instructions: "Lower your wrist a little more." "Focus your Chakra in your toes."

Sometimes he demonstrated himself. His movements flowed effortlessly. Even without activating his Sharingan, the precision and grace honed through countless battles held Sarada's gaze.

Sweat dampened her bangs, but the gloom had vanished from Sarada's face. When her next sequence of attacks finally traced the exact path her father had shown her, she cheered and turned to him with a radiant smile.

"I love you, Dad!"

Sasuke Uchiha paused. As he looked at his daughter's bright smile, the hardest corner of his heart seemed to melt.

While they rested, Sasuke asked, "Sarada, what's your dream?"

"My idol is the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki!" Sarada adjusted her glasses, her eyes resolute and her voice clear. "My