Chapter 018

"Baka Iruka-sensei," Naruto replied, "As if his lectures weren't bad enough, he had me stay longer for more ridiculous questions I didn't feel like answering."

Naruto saw that both sides of Hinata were occupied by Ino and Sasuke, and he knew that neither would get up nor leave if asked them to. And he didn't want to give the wrong impression by asking Hinata to come with him to another table away from Ino and Sasuke.

"Dobe," Sasuke remarked, "Quit being a bother by not standing around us all day like a wooden statue."

Ignoring Sasuke, Naruto went over and sat at the other side of the table facing Hinata.

"I think sitting at this side of the table is better," Naruto said, "While you two are eating with nothing more but my greatness to look at, I get the privilege of looking straight at Hinata-chan's full moonlight eyes as much as I want."

"Naruto-kun," Hinata giggled and blushed with her hands on her cheeks. Ino snickered at the scene, loving the juicy gossip she could spread from what she was hearing and watching first hand. Sasuke wasn't at all amused as his conversation with Hinata was cut off by Naruto's presence.

"I was talking to Hinata before you interrupted dobe," Sasuke said.

"Really," Naruto replied as he started eating, "Well then, if she feels like whatever you have to say is of any importance, then I won't interfere."

Not giving Naruto any retort, Sasuke turned his attention back to Hinata.

"Like I was saying," Sasuke continued, "Your kunai and shuriken throwing techniques have been rather sluggish lately and your endurance in our practice sessions with the other senseis have been below your normal results. I'm curious to know what happened to cause your decrease in stamina and output."

Ino wasn't at all surprised by Sasuke's demeanor around Hinata as he showed more interest in the Hyuuga heiress than any other female. Naruto ate and stayed quiet, wanting to see how things were going to play out and where Sasuke was aiming the intentions of his questions.

"It's not that my stamina and output decreased Sasuke," Hinata said, "It's just that my new form of training started taking a toll on my body lately. It's realistically to be expected when we seek to adapt to new methods of training and improving to become stronger than before, yes?"

Sasuke nodding in agreement, "It is. I too push myself as hard as I can, trying to go beyond my own limitations and reach new plateaus. Clearly we have something in common. Perhaps we can practice and spar together from time to time."

"I accept the offer of sparring with you," Naruto interjected, "I've been meaning to put you in your place for some time now teme."

Oh this is getting good, Ino chuckled in her mind at the scene unfolding. Annoyed Sasuke remarked, "I wasn't intending that I practice and spar with you dobe and I never invited you into our conversation."

"How about we allow Hinata-chan to decide if I can join these spar sessions or not," Naruto suggested, "That ought to be fair enough, wouldn't you say?"

"I was the one who was extending the invitation out to her," Sasuke replied, "And I'm sure Hinata can handle being and spending her time with me without you around her all the time.

"Besides, it would be refreshing for me to be around a female future ninja who's more concerned about her career as a kunoichi than how she looks like in the mirror. Such a kunoichi would prove to be a true asset and partner to me in the long run."

Naruto saw what Sasuke was doing and it was really pissing him off.

"Is that right," Naruto remarked as he stood up from the table, "You're looking for such a kunoichi, yes?"

Sasuke stood up and was about to give Naruto a retort when…

"HEY EVERYONE!," Naruto shouted so everyone could hear him, "SASUKE IS LONELY AND LOOKING FOR A FEMALE PARTNER TO SPAR WITH RIGHT NOW AND LATER JOIN HIM AS HIS LONG TERM PARTNER! IS THERE NO GIRL AVAILABLE WHO CAN ANSWER HIS CRIES TO SATISFY HIS NEEDS AND END HIS LONELINESS?"

Much to Sasuke's dread, all of the girls, including Sakura and Ino obviously, were in hearing range when they heard Naruto's declaration.

"Sasuke-kun wants a long term female partner," one of the girls exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm that girl," another girl proclaimed.

"The hell you are," Sakura retorted before she and all of other girls ran up to Sasuke begging him to choose them as his sparring partner. In the confusion, Naruto appeared and grabbed Hinata's hand and ran off with her leaving Sasuke alone to deal with the large crowd of girls pleading for his time and attention.

"Damn you Naruto!," Sasuke cursed as he lost sight of Hinata and Naruto.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru, Chouji, Kiba and Shino were watching the scene from another table. They had been doing so the entire time.

"You got to admire the way Naruto deals with Sasuke," Kiba laughed with Akamaru settle inside his jacket, "It's quite entertaining!"

"Somehow I doubt we'll see this issue between Naruto and Sasuke end soon, if peacefully," Shino added.

"…They clearly have eyes on the same girl," Chouji said as he partook of his bag of potato chips.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru remarked, "The top student competing against the worst student over a girl in class. Honestly, I don't see this ending peacefully."

As much as Kiba, Chouji and Shino didn't want to admit, but they had to agree with Shikamaru's conclusion.

(Elsewhere)

Naruto was laughing his ass off as he shuushin'd to a secluded training ground with Hinata at the other side of the academy.

"That was an insane stunt you pull Naruto-kun," Hinata giggled.

"Serves that jerk right," Naruto remarked, "He ought to look for his own sparring partner instead of trying to steal somebody else's."

While Hinata wasn't Naruto's official girlfriend, she wasn't blind to see that Naruto would get jealous when another guy would try to get her attention in a manner that would set off red flags in Naruto's head.

"Well Naruto-kun," Hinata suggested, "Since we're here and alone how about we-"

"ATTENTION EVERYONE!," the announcer said from the loud speaker, "ATTENTION EVERYONE! LUNCH BREAK IS OVER! PLEASE CLEAN UP AND RETURN BACK TO YOUR CLASS! THANK YOU!"

"So much for whatever it was you wanted us to do with our remaining time," Naruto said.

"It's alright," Hinata assured, "I was only suggesting a little exercise to help me adjust to these new seals. It's still difficult adapting to them."

"Don't worry Hinata-chan," Naruto assured, "With me at your side, you'll surpass whatever hindrance you have and then some! Dattebayo!"

Hinata smiled brightly as Naruto took hold of her hand and walked back into the academy building with her.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata asked.

"Yeah," Naruto replied.

"Would you like to become my long term partner," Hinata asked.

"We already are," Naruto grinned, "Remember what I said last week? Our hearts are linked and beat harmoniously as one."

Hinata giggled and replied, "Yes, I remember our private and sacred bonding moment Naruto-kun. And I'll always treasure it."

.

.

.

🎉Subscribe to my Patreon for advanced content🎉

🎉www.patreon.com/Kaneki-kun125🎉