Afternoon.
Nadeshiko Shizuka and Naruto arrived at Konoha's training field. Quite a few people had gathered there — the Konoha Twelve and even Kakashi and other jōnin were present. They'd all come for one reason: to watch the show.
Kiyosuke sat on a tree branch, clearly in high spirits. Since Jiraiya was overseeing this match, he clapped his hands together excitedly.
"Alright, alright! Everyone get ready."
The two combatants took their positions.
Nadeshiko Shizuka removed her cloak, revealing the form-fitting outfit beneath and her curvaceous figure — which immediately drew whistles from the group of onlookers.
The crowd stepped back to clear the area.
Naruto said, "Honestly, I really don't want to fight you."
"Sorry, but those are the rules. I'll defeat you and fulfill my teacher's promise," Shizuka replied coldly.
"Alright! Get ready—begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Shizuka darted forward, fast as lightning. Chakra flared around her palms as she struck toward Naruto.
Naruto barely managed to dodge. The spot where Shizuka's attack landed cracked apart, the earth shattering from the chakra shockwave.
"She's strong," Tenten commented from the sidelines.
Even among Konoha's kunoichi, Nadeshiko Shizuka's power was formidable.
"That was close, that was close! I told you, I don't want to fight!" Naruto yelled.
"Show me your true strength!"
Shizuka flicked a kunai between her fingers and hurled it straight at him.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a flash, more than ten shadow clones appeared. Shizuka responded by unleashing a storm of kunai, her throwing speed like a torrential downpour.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The clones vanished one after another. Naruto barely dodged, looking completely overwhelmed — it was as if he was about to lose.
"That guy… he's not even trying to fight," Sasuke muttered, deactivating his Sharingan. He didn't see the point in watching anymore.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Another swarm of clones appeared. Shizuka spun rapidly, kunai flying in every direction.
The clones were wiped out again — but the chaos allowed Naruto to close the distance.
She exhaled a fierce gust of wind. Naruto leapt up to dodge, but as soon as he landed, a kunai pressed against the back of his head.
"It's over," Shizuka said.
Then came a voice from behind her.
"Yeah, it is."
The real Naruto appeared behind her, his finger gently pressing against her back.
"I didn't expect to lose like this… a double feint, huh? I lost," Shizuka admitted without hesitation.
Jiraiya clapped his hands.
"Excellent! Very good. Keep training like this, and I'm sure one day you'll reach the level of your teacher."
He remembered his battle years ago with Shizuka's teacher. Though he'd held back, her strength had still been remarkable — beyond most ordinary jōnin of Konoha. It was a shame, really...
"My teacher is very strong," Shizuka said, "but I'll keep getting stronger. One day…"
Her gaze swept toward Naruto, who was being congratulated by his friends. She said nothing more.
Jiraiya chuckled. "That kid's slow when it comes to things like this. Truth is, quite a few girls in Konoha like him. Kiyosuke's already planning to arrange his engagement."
"So soon?"
"I'm just afraid he'll end up single forever," Kiyosuke said as he walked over. Honestly, with Naruto's personality, that wasn't an impossibility. Despite unintentionally charming a bunch of girls, the kid was still completely oblivious.
Shaking his head, Kiyosuke added quietly,
"Once this is over, I'll talk to the Hyūga family about the engagement."
He kept his voice low so no one else could hear.
"I'll challenge him again before he gets married," Shizuka said firmly.
"Sure," Kiyosuke replied with a smile. It didn't matter — Naruto's strength would skyrocket soon enough. He could already win, and before long, he'd be unstoppable.
Shizuka and Tokiwa left Konoha afterward. As for the man who'd been following them, he was thrown into Konoha's prison.
A wandering puppet master was valuable material, after all.
Yes, that man had been a puppet master — though his creations looked more like mechanical dolls.
Still, for Konoha, such skills had their uses.
...
The next morning, at Kiyosuke's house.
"Ready, Jiraiya-sama?"
"Of course. This is the kid's big day, after all."
"Let's go."
"Uh… what are you guys talking about?"
That day, Kiyosuke and Jiraiya were dressed surprisingly formally, both carrying large gift boxes. Naruto, wearing a confused expression, followed behind them all the way to the Hyūga estate.
Hyūga Hiashi and his brother Hizashi were already waiting at the entrance to greet them.
The previous day, Kiyosuke had sent an official letter announcing his visit, which had shocked the brothers. Normally, Kiyosuke came to their house by hopping over the wall and acting casual — and now he was sending a formal invitation?
Still, the Hyūga clan never neglected their manners. Early that morning, the two brothers waited at the gate. When they saw Kiyosuke and Jiraiya arrive, they straightened up and greeted them properly, taking their gifts and leading them to the sitting room.
All four knelt on the tatami floor.
Hiashi spoke first.
"Jiraiya-sama, Kiyosuke-sama — may I ask what brings you both here today with such formality?"
Jiraiya replied, "This is more Kiyosuke's business than mine. I'll let him explain."
He handed over the floor to Kiyosuke.
Kiyosuke said, "Clan Head Hiashi, Hizashi — we've known each other for over ten years. No need for pretense. I came today to discuss Naruto's engagement."
"What?!"
Naruto shot to his feet, eyes wide.
"Wait, Kiyosuke-san! Pervy Sage! I'm only sixteen! Why are we talking about marriage already? And Hinata—"
He grabbed his hair, completely lost for words, his mind spinning.
"...Naruto?" Hiashi's expression darkened. He knew his daughter would one day marry Naruto — that much was inevitable. But this soon?
Hinata had liked Naruto since she was a child and still did to this day. Hiashi knew his daughter well — gentle, even timid — but once she decided on something, she never wavered.
"Hold on, hold on!" Naruto said quickly. "Kiyosuke-san, you can't just decide this on your own! And besides, I'm way too young for marriage!"
Kiyosuke glanced at him.
"If it weren't for everything that's happened, do you think I'd still be single now? You think raising you was easy? This engagement will settle things. Two years from now, when you're both eighteen, you'll marry — and I can finally give your parents some peace. Don't you like Hinata?"
"I do, but not like that! I mean, I don't even know if Hinata really likes me — what if I'm wrong and just ruin things for her?"
No, Naruto — the only person in the entire world who doesn't know Hinata likes you... is you.
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