Chapter 23: The Glasses of Invisibility and the Sand Defense Glitch part-3
A figure emerged. It was Naruto. He looked battered and bruised. He was carrying a bucket of water.
"Oh, hey," Naruto said, squinting. He looked right through me. "Is anyone there?"
(The glasses. He can't see me.)
"Naruto-kun," I whispered, taking off the glasses.
Naruto jumped. "Whoa! Hinata! Where did you come from? You just popped out of nowhere!"
"I was sitting here," I said. "Are you... okay?"
"Yeah," Naruto grinned, though he looked exhausted. "Just thirsty. We got attacked by a weird grass ninja. Sasuke is... sleeping. Sakura is watching him."
He sat down next to me. "This forest is crazy, huh?"
"Yes," I agreed. "Very crazy."
Naruto looked at me. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating my face.
"You know," Naruto said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Back in the first exam... thanks. For offering to let me copy. And for the... uh... chair distraction."
I blushed. "You are welcome."
"You are pretty tough, Hinata," Naruto said earnestly. "Everyone thinks you are just shy, but... you keep doing crazy stuff. Like the bandages. And the ramen."
He laughed. "You are funny. I like that."
My heart soared. He liked that. He thought I was funny.
(He doesn't think I'm a freak. He thinks I'm funny!)
"Here," Naruto said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped candy. "I saved this from lunch. You want it?"
He held it out.
I reached for it.
[System Alert: Romantic Moment Detected. Glasses are OFF. Rito Effect is ON.]
(No. Not now. Please not now. Just let me take the candy.)
I grabbed the candy.
But my finger brushed his palm.
[Ding!]
[Skill Activation: "Accidental Counter-Attack" (Glitch).]
My body misinterpreted the touch as an attack. My reflex kicked in.
I jerked forward. My forehead slammed into Naruto's forehead.
BONK.
"Ow!" Naruto fell backward.
I fell forward.
My lips landed on... his cheek.
It was a peck. A soft, accidental kiss on the cheek.
We both froze.
Naruto sat up, holding his forehead, his face turning bright red. He touched his cheek.
"Did you...?"
I was paralyzed. I had kissed Naruto Uzumaki. Even if it was his cheek. Even if it was a headbutt-induced accident.
"I... I..."
Steam erupted from my head. The "Blush Concealer" skill (which I hadn't bought, but the System simulated anyway) failed. I turned a shade of red that defied the color spectrum.
"I have to go check on Shino!" I squeaked.
I shoved the glasses back onto my face.
"Hinata?" Naruto blinked. "Where did she go? She disappeared again!"
I sat in the darkness of the tree hollow, clutching the candy to my chest. My heart was beating so fast it felt like a hummingbird.
[System Update:]
Shy Points: 3,400 (Earned 2,000 from Gaara).Achievement: "First Kiss (Sort of)."Status: Overheated.
"System," I whispered. "That was... not terrible."
[System: Don't get used to it. Tomorrow we find Orochimaru. Or maybe giant leeches. Sleep tight, Host.]
....................
The next morning, we moved out early. We still needed an Earth Scroll.
"Target sighted," Shino whispered. "Three o'clock. A team from the Hidden Rain."
"Let's get 'em!" Kiba growled.
We engaged. It was a messy fight. The Rain Ninja used umbrellas to shoot needles.
"Needle Jizo!" one shouted.
"Rotation!" I tried to shout, but I realized I didn't know that move yet.
Instead, I tripped on a root.
[System Alert: Combat Trip. Initiating "The Human Bowling Ball."]
I rolled. I curled into a ball to protect my head. My momentum increased unnaturally.
I smashed into the legs of the three Rain Ninja.
Strike!
They flew into the air like bowling pins. They landed in a heap, groaning.
Their Earth Scroll rolled out of their pouch and landed directly in front of my face.
I picked it up.
"I got it!" I yelled, holding it up.
"Nice work, Hinata!" Kiba cheered. "You are lethal when you fall down!"
"We have both scrolls," Shino noted. "We must proceed to the tower."
We ran toward the center of the forest. The tower loomed ahead.
But as we approached the entrance, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was not a ninja. It was a snake. A white snake.
And standing on top of it was Orochimaru (disguised as the Grass Ninja).
He licked his lips. His yellow eyes fixed on me.
"My, my," Orochimaru hissed. "What an interesting specimen. The Hyuga girl... with the strange luck."
He extended his neck. His head flew toward me, mouth open, fangs dripping with venom.
"I want to see... what happens if I bite you."
[System Alert: Boss Event. OROCHIMARU. Threat Level: EXTREME.]
[Active Skill: "Indestructible Leotard" - Useless against bites.]
[Option: RUN.]
"Fang Over Fang!" Kiba yelled, attacking the neck.
Orochimaru swatted Kiba away like a fly. Kiba crashed into a tree.
"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!" Shino shouted.
Orochimaru blew fire, scattering the bugs.
He was coming for me.
I stood there, paralyzed. The "Notice Me Not" glasses were useless; he was a predator. He could see me.
(I am going to die.)
[System: No, you are not. You are going to do something incredibly stupid. Check your inventory. You have 'The Lucky Coin'.]
(I didn't buy the Lucky Coin!)
[System: I bought it for you with the Gaara points. Flip it. NOW!]
I reached into my pouch. I felt the cold metal of a coin.
Orochimaru's fangs were inches from my neck.
I flipped the coin.
It spun in the air. Time slowed.
Heads. (Good Luck).
The coin flashed in the sun. It reflected a beam of light directly into Orochimaru's sensitive snake eyes.
"Gah!" Orochimaru hissed, flinching back.
In his moment of blindness, he retracted his neck. But he retracted it too fast.
His long neck whipped back like a rubber band. His head smacked into the heavy iron door of the tower.
CLANG.
The sound vibrated through the forest.
Orochimaru's head wobbled. His eyes spun.
"That... was... unexpected..." he slurred.
.....
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