"Of course I do," Naruto said confidently.
The clash between two formidable opponents immediately drew the entire class's attention toward Naruto. Even the usually indifferent Sasuke listened closely to their conversation.
"Good. Beating you too easily would be boring. I hope your skill matches your arrogance." A rare spark of interest appeared in Shikamaru's eyes.
Endgame puzzles were among the harder types of chess problems. Both red and black had advantages, but they also faced enormous risks. Precise positioning was essential; one wrong move could cost a player the initiative and lead to defeat.
At that, Naruto swiftly removed piece after piece from the board, revealing a brutal endgame position to everyone.
A flicker of surprise crossed Shikamaru's face when he saw the position Naruto had arranged.
His father had taught him endgame puzzles, but this was his first time attempting one this difficult.
"Well? You can choose either red or black."
To head off any suspicion that he was stacking the odds, Naruto gave them the choice up front.
"No need. I'll take black."
"All right."
Naruto and Shikamaru stood facing each other, surrounded by classmates watching the game.
"You first?" Naruto offered. "Ladies first."
Shikamaru was speechless. "Red moves first according to the rules, so let's stick to them. I don't want people saying I had an unfair advantage when I beat you."
Naruto didn't argue. He picked up a red piece between two fingers and placed it without the slightest hesitation.
A fierce showdown over the endgame immediately began.
At first, both sides picked up and placed their pieces with almost no hesitation.
As time passed, however, both tacitly slowed down.
By now, nearly all the spectators were baffled. Shikamaru's slightly furrowed brows seemed to suggest that he was finding it increasingly difficult.
It was astonishing.
Shouldn't Naruto have crumbled under Shikamaru's attacks in a matter of seconds?
Why... did Naruto seem increasingly relaxed instead, while Shikamaru, on whom everyone had pinned their hopes, looked grim, as though he were treading on thin ice?
"Come on, Shikamaru!"
"Shikamaru, I know you can win!"
"You can do it, Naruto, Older Brother!"
As the red and black pieces dwindled, everyone knew the outcome was approaching. The crowd grew increasingly excited, though most supported Shikamaru. Hinata alone cheered for Naruto.
Sasuke had initially remained seated, quietly listening. Now, with the excitement reaching its peak, he couldn't help getting up to watch the two players battle over the endgame.
Clack!
Naruto set down a piece. Shikamaru's expression changed sharply. The position was beyond saving.
Seeing Shikamaru take so long without moving, the spectators anxiously urged him on.
But Shikamaru merely sighed and spoke.
The words from his mouth plunged the classroom into deathly silence.
"I lost."
Shikamaru stared at Naruto in astonishment. "You're really good. If I hadn't made that one wrong move, I might have managed a draw. But one mistake led to another. Ah..."
[Ding! Received 3,000 Shock Points from your classmates!]
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Shikamaru took out his wallet and pulled out a 2,000-tael banknote.
"Put the extra 200 taels toward our next game. We're not done with this yet."
Shikamaru dropped the 2,000 taels and left without looking back.
Ino and Choji hurried after him, worried that he might take the defeat badly.
With Shikamaru himself admitting defeat, the surrounding classmates now looked at Naruto with a little more awe.
Naruto smiled as he packed away the pieces and board. Only then did the dazed spectators begin to leave, one after another.
"Naruto, Older Brother, you're amazing!" Hinata's wide eyes brimmed with delighted surprise at his victory.
Even the headstrong Kiba Inuzuka, who was with Hinata, and the easily overlooked Shino looked a little stunned.
"Hmph. Who knew you were this good? You actually beat Shikamaru?"
Hearing Kiba Inuzuka's voice now that he had become a girl, Naruto looked up with interest and said smugly, "What, don't tell me you're into me?"
Hinata gasped, and Sasuke frowned.
"W-what are you talking about?" Naruto's remark left Kiba Inuzuka flustered. He grabbed Shino. "Let's go. This is so boring."
Hinata felt awkward too. She was close to Kiba and Shino, and with both her deskmates leaving, she gave Naruto an apologetic look. "Naruto, Older Brother, um, I should head back too. See you this afternoon."
Naruto smiled and nodded without saying anything more.
By then, the classroom was almost empty apart from a few students cleaning up.
Of course, the twin-tailed girl seated near the front still seemed to be waiting.
After quickly packing up, Naruto walked over to Sasuke with a smile, grabbed his small hand, and declared smugly, "Come on. Lunch is on me."
Sasuke was visibly flustered, but he soon settled down. After all, their agreement made him Naruto's school girlfriend now. Holding hands didn't seem to be going too far.
And so, under the astonished gazes of a few classmates, Naruto led Sasuke out of the classroom by the hand.
Since Ichiraku was closed that morning while they worked on a new recipe for the competition, Naruto splurged a little and took Sasuke to a barbecue restaurant instead.
It was an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant, charging just 500 taels per person, or 1,000 for two. Children paid half price, so the two of them got in for a total of 500 taels.
"Aren't you short on money? Why eat somewhere like this?" Sasuke asked, puzzled.
"Would you believe me if I said I wanted to get on your good side?" Naruto asked, watching Sasuke with interest.
Sasuke's little face flushed faintly, and he turned away. "No."
"Hehe, good, because that's not it. I wanted barbecue. Besides, I only made all that money because you lent me 100 taels this morning, so..."
"So you just brought me along while you were at it?" Sasuke frowned.
"Women are such a pain. If I say I came here especially for you, you're not happy. If I say I didn't, you get mad." Naruto was speechless.
"Hmph. I'm not mad."
Naruto gave a wry smile. "Come on, let's get the food. We've got to eat our money's worth."
They went together to the display shelves to gather all kinds of ingredients, soon returning with basket after basket.
Seeing how much food the two little girls had taken, a server reminded them with a smile, "Since this is a buffet, please don't waste any food. There's a penalty if you do."
Indeed, Naruto was considered a jinx in Konoha. Apart from Aunt Ichiraku and Ayame, who didn't look at him differently, almost no one thought well of him, much less welcomed him openly dining in an upscale restaurant like this.
He probably would have been sternly chased away before even reaching the entrance.
And so...
To avoid any unpleasantness, Naruto transformed into a girl as cute as Sasuke whenever he was outside school.
That was also the direct reason Sasuke had rolled his eyes at Naruto so many times along the way: Naruto's girl form was actually even cuter than his. ─=≡Σ(((つ•̀ω•́)つ
"Thanks for the reminder, miss! We'll eat it all!"
Once the server left, Naruto cleared his throat, then grinned without a care. "Sasuke, hurry up. Let's dig in."
Before you continue