"Then it's settled! Let me know whenever you're ready! I'll be on standby!"
Naruko waved a little fist at Sasuke in encouragement. Before he could say anything else, she turned and skipped back to her friends like a happy little bird. Sakura and Ino immediately crowded around her, and the three of them launched into some new gossip.
Sasuke stayed where he was, watching Naruko disappear into the group with a bright smile. Then he glanced down at the arm she had hugged so tightly. He could almost still feel her warmth.
He shook his head and muttered, a faint note of indulgent amusement in his voice that even he failed to notice:
"A kid's still a kid. No matter how absurdly smart she is, she still loves to play around and make a fuss."
Sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, stretching his solitary shadow across the floor.
He might have complained about Naruko acting like a child, but somehow, the weight of their plan to steal the technique had eased a little.
He turned and walked in the opposite direction, thought settling once more in the depths of his dark eyes.
Now he needed to work out the details. After all, he had agreed to be in charge. He couldn't let her laugh at him.
Late that night, the Uchiha Compound lay silent. Moonlight spilled like quicksilver across the old stone paths, edging the traditional buildings on either side in cold silver. The crisp scent of night-blooming plants hung in the air, and the occasional chirp of an insect only made the grounds feel more secluded.
Dressed in dark clothes that allowed him to move freely, Sasuke Uchiha slipped soundlessly toward the entrance where he had agreed to meet Naruko.
He was concentrating on the Chakra around him, making