*Chapter 30: What a Coincidence!*
Added 2024-12-02 01:43:04 +0000 UTC---
Clap, clap, clap…
Sasuke patted Inuzuka Kiba's shoulder a few times, each pat firm enough to leave Kiba wincing slightly.
"I'm having such a hard time," Sasuke said with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the girls surrounding them, Sasuke slowly stood and began walking toward the classroom door.
+1
Kiba blinked, utterly bewildered.
A hard time?
Where's the hard time in your life?
If this is hardship, then what are we even doing here?
…
Sasuke glanced back at Kiba's baffled expression and nearly chuckled but managed to keep it together. Better not ruin the act, he thought.
Messing with people is unexpectedly entertaining...
Sasuke had to admit that playing the troll came naturally. Maybe he could weave some mischief into his "acting cool" routine—spice things up a bit. After all, keeping the same stoic façade all the time could get boring.
With that, Sasuke strode out of the crowd.
The girls who had been fawning over him moments earlier instinctively stepped aside to let him pass, as if intimidated by an invisible barrier of aloofness.
Many had never even exchanged a proper word with Sasuke.
He's so handsome but so cold!
This enigmatic distance only added to his appeal, making him seem even more unattainable.
---
Sasuke made his way across the room toward Naruto, who sat at his desk, looking like he was seriously questioning his life choices.
"Naruto again?"
"Sasuke-kun has been so close to Naruto lately!"
"We need to do something!"
"If this keeps up, Naruto will hog all of Sasuke's time!"
The girls whispered amongst themselves, united by an inexplicable sense of competition with Naruto. To them, he was an interloper, threatening their chance to bask in Sasuke's presence.
Meanwhile, Sasuke reached Naruto and casually dropped into the seat beside him—the one Sakura had occupied earlier.
"Sakura, what's wrong with you?"
"Why did you leave?"
"Now Naruto's hogging Sasuke again!"
Subtle complaints rippled through the group, and before long, the blame shifted squarely onto Sakura.
Sakura, still fuming from earlier, clenched her fists. She shot daggers at Naruto with her glare.
"This is all Naruto's fault!"
If Sasuke weren’t there, she might have already landed a punch squarely on Naruto's head.
"Sakura, calm down," Ino whispered, tugging at Sakura’s sleeve.
"Naruto just has to stick around! If he’d left the classroom, this wouldn’t have happened!" Sakura snapped.
Ino hesitated, unsure how to respond.
---
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered excitedly, leaning closer, "are we training this afternoon?"
"Yeah. Same spot as always," Sasuke replied quietly. "I’ll teach you a new jutsu."
Naruto’s face lit up. "What kind of jutsu?!"
"You’ll see," Sasuke said with a smirk. Then, standing abruptly, he left without another word, his retreating figure radiating quiet confidence.
+1
---
It was now lunchtime.
Sasuke stepped out of the Ninja Academy. The last time he’d eaten a bento prepared by the academy, it hadn’t suited his taste. Today, he wanted something better.
As he reached the academy gate, a familiar figure in pink caught his eye.
"Sasuke!"
Tenten waved cheerfully from a distance, her smile as bright as the midday sun.
"You again?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Surprised?" Tenten asked, walking closer.
"I thought you left earlier," Sasuke said, genuinely curious.
"Of course, I left," Tenten replied playfully. "Did you think I’d been standing here all morning waiting for you?"
"Then why are you here now?"
Tenten grinned mischievously. "What a coincidence!"
Sasuke sighed. "Just say it—what do you want?"
"Let’s have lunch together. My treat," Tenten offered, patting her chest proudly.
"Don’t you have missions?" Sasuke asked.
"I just handed one in yesterday, so I’m free today," Tenten said, her eyes gleaming as she studied him. He looked even better up close—calm, confident, and utterly captivating.
"I see," Sasuke said flatly before stepping past her, walking away without hesitation.
"Sasuke, are you sure you don’t want to eat together?" Tenten called after him.
"No." Sasuke waved dismissively, not even turning around.
+1
Tenten stomped her foot in frustration as she watched him go.
"What's with this guy?!"
"I apologized, and he brushed me off!"
"I offered him lunch, and he refused!"
She glared at the Uchiha crest on his back, as if challenging it.
"You just wait!" Tenten muttered. "If I can master kunai techniques, I can figure you out, Uchiha Sasuke!"
---
After grabbing sushi at a small shop, Sasuke returned to the academy. Thankfully, Tenten wasn’t lingering by the gate anymore.
He headed to the training ground, where Naruto was already waiting for him.
"Sasuke, what jutsu are you teaching me?!" Naruto asked eagerly, practically bouncing with excitement.
Sasuke pulled out a scroll from his bag and tossed it over.
"What’s this?" Naruto asked, unrolling the scroll. His eyes scanned the text and diagrams, but the more he read, the more his head spun.
"‘Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu’?" Naruto mumbled, his face scrunching up in confusion.
"You’re giving me this to learn on my own?"
Sasuke nodded. "You can do it."
"But—can’t you teach me?"
"I don’t know it myself," Sasuke admitted. "You’ll have to figure it out."
Naruto stared at the scroll, then back at Sasuke.
"A jutsu even you don’t know?" he muttered, his self-confidence wavering.
Still, he sat down, spread the scroll on the ground, and started studying it earnestly.
---
(End of Chapter)
