Sasuke glared at Sakura.
In the past, when facing her, his reactions were usually limited to impatience or outright ignoring her. Rarely had he shown anything else.
This time—
It was the first time his attitude had changed.
But if given the choice, Sakura absolutely didn't want this kind of change.
She stood there, stunned, eyes welling with tears, on the verge of crying.
Yet under Sasuke's furious shouting, she swallowed everything back.
The atmosphere at the school gate instantly turned stiff and heavy.
Someone wanted to step in and ease things, but the killing intent radiating from Sasuke made them hesitate.
He was genuinely angry.
And at that moment—
"Sasuke, hearing you say that really comforts me. Looks like my efforts haven't gone unnoticed after all."
A voice with a hint of amusement sounded.
Uchiha Kuro walked over with a smile, casually rubbing Sasuke's head like a pet.
"But when it comes to girls, you should be a bit more generous. As a man, don't be so serious about everything."
Then he turned to Sakura and smiled gently.
"It's okay. Like you said, I'm not exactly a good person anyway. After all—bad boys are more attractive, right?"
"Hmph."
Sasuke tried to maintain his cool demeanor.
But with his face being squished around by Uchiha Kuro's hand, there was no way he could look intimidating.
The tense atmosphere instantly eased.
Everyone let out a breath of relief.
Sakura lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Brother Uchiha Kuro… I shouldn't have spoken badly behind your back."
She simply didn't want Sasuke to become a playboy. It wasn't that she had anything against Uchiha Kuro himself.
"It's alright." Uchiha Kuro smiled warmly. "In fact, I think you're a good girl, Sakura."
"You're willing to point out the flaws of someone you care about, even if it might affect your relationship…"
"That's honesty. Not hypocrisy."
"That's a very good quality."
Eh… I just didn't want Sasuke to become a flirt, I didn't think that deeply…
But still—
"Brother Uchiha Kuro, you're a good person!" Sakura suddenly felt a bit of goodwill toward this handsome older brother.
"…I really didn't expect to get a 'good person card' from someone your age." Uchiha Kuro laughed at himself. "At least wait until you're older before giving me that."
Pfft—
Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others couldn't help but laugh.
Sasuke's brother was actually pretty interesting.
Even Hinata, standing nearby, couldn't help but take another look at Uchiha Kuro.
And that one glance made her freeze.
Then she looked more closely.
Her pale eyes gradually brightened, gaining an unusual sparkle.
This big brother… he seemed like the one who had helped her before…
Meanwhile, Uchiha Kuro continued speaking with wit and ease, making the girls laugh happily.
Just a few little girls—no matter how precocious they were, could they compare to adults?
Uchiha Kuro was a battle-hardened veteran—someone who could maintain a perfectly harmonious harem.
If he could make adult women happy and compliant—
Handling a few young girls was effortless.
Naruto was completely stunned.
"This Brother Uchiha Kuro… he's so good with words!" Naruto said in amazement. "Even Sakura and Ino are smiling so happily?"
This guy—
was an expert!
Sasuke watched Uchiha Kuro interacting with the girls, thoughtful.
"…Is Uchiha Kuro picking wives at my school now? Though… starting young might actually be better. People always talk about childhood sweethearts…"
But that wasn't the main point.
"Brother Uchiha Kuro, why are you here?" Sasuke asked.
"To take you home." Uchiha Kuro sighed, spreading his hands. "That's the responsibility of your guardian."
After the recent assassination incident, Uchiha Kuro had caused quite a bit of trouble for the Third Hokage, restored some reputation for the Uchiha, and even gained some benefits.
But—
He also gained some trouble.
As Yukino had put it:
"Uchiha Kuro, you and Sasuke are the future of the Uchiha. If someone dares to target you, who's to say they won't target Sasuke too?"
And so—
Uchiha Kuro had no choice but to start picking Sasuke up from school.
Even though he clearly knew that with Itachi's deterrence, Danzō wouldn't dare act against Sasuke.
And that the Third Hokage had already arranged ANBU to secretly protect Sasuke at all times—
He still had to fulfill the duties of a guardian.
Just like parents in his previous life who suddenly started escorting their children after a school fight incident.
"Tch, I can go home by myself," Sasuke muttered.
But in the end, he still left with Uchiha Kuro.
…
Over the next few days—
Uchiha Kuro continued picking Sasuke up.
And Sasuke continued to complain.
"Uchiha Kuro, I can go home on my own."
"I'm a mature Uchiha ninja. What kind of ninja needs to be picked up?"
"This is practically ruining the Uchiha's reputation!"
He was clearly unhappy about it.
To him, it made him look like a child who had just started school.
In ninja clans, except for the very first year of the academy, children weren't usually escorted.
After all, Konoha's security was good, and "ninja students" were still ninja.
They weren't raised delicately like in Uchiha Kuro's previous life.
Sasuke, with his pride, found this even harder to accept.
Eventually, after Sasuke's persistent resistance—
They reached a compromise.
Uchiha Kuro would follow from a distance, keeping watch.
Sasuke would walk ahead, staying within Uchiha Kuro's line of sight.
A kind of long-distance "escort."
"…This just makes him look even more like a kid pretending to be an adult," Uchiha Kuro thought.
Trying to prove maturity by refusing protection—
Wasn't that even more childish?
Well, whatever.
I'm just going through the motions anyway.
Just then—
A small hand tugged gently at Uchiha Kuro's sleeve.
"Brother Uchiha Kuro… Brother Uchiha Kuro… do you know me? I'm Naruto, Sasuke's classmate."
Naruto, with his bright blond hair, looked around sneakily.
"Oh, Naruto." Uchiha Kuro smiled. "I know you. In fact… I might have known about you earlier than you think."
Naruto immediately assumed Sasuke must have talked about him at home.
So that guy acts cold, but he actually talks about me behind my back?
But that wasn't important.
Naruto suddenly straightened up, then bowed deeply.
"Brother Uchiha Kuro, teach me how to pick up girls!"
"Please!"