Naruto: Thrown Into the Leaf

Later That Evening – Porch of the Uchiha Home

The dishes clinked softly inside. Mikoto had refused help — again — and had sent everyone off after dinner..

Otis stood beneath the lantern at the edge of the porch, stretching his shoulders slowly, arms folding behind his back.

Sayuri leaned against one of the porch pillars, arms crossed.watching him.

"You eat like a bear," she muttered. "I thought maybe it was a fluke. But no. You're really just… built different."

"I get that a lot." (￣ー￣)

A short silence.

Sayuri kicked her slipper heel back and forth against the wood.

"I want to spar with you."

Otis didn't react immediately.

"Why?" he said finally.

"Because you're big and basically immune to the Hyūga girl's taijutsu."

"You were watching?" Otis said, he already knew she was watching, he saw her many times, its not like she can watch undetected, he has more experience in this now because of Hinata.

"Of course I was. You're not easy to ignore." She smirked (¬‿¬)

He sighed. "I'm not a great sparring partner."

"You don't have to be." She stepped off the porch, walking toward the courtyard. "I'm not trying to learn from you."

"Then what are you trying to do?"

"I'm just trying to figure something out."

Otis followed her, slowly.

He stopped under a tree, rolling his neck once.

"Fine. I won't hit you."

"Don't look down on me," she said, stepping into stance. "I'm faster than the Hyūga."

"Speed doesn't help much when you hit a tree."

Sayuri grinned. "We'll see." (≖ᴗ≖✿)

The courtyard was dim — lantern light flickering over her poised, fluid form, and his unmoving, grounded frame.

"No chakra-enhanced hits," he said. "And No sharingan."

"Afraid?"

"I don't hurt little children."

"I'm not a child"

"You are seven"

She scoffed. "Tch. You're impossible." (눈_눈)

Then she moved.

She was fast — faster than Hinata by a margin — but her strikes lacked the same precision. But she was aggressive unlike Hinata.

She landed a solid palm strike to his forearm.

He didn't move.

She struck again — two hits, a spin, and a low kick. He didn't dodge. He just tanked it.

Sayuri stepped back, shaking out her hand, half-grimacing, half-smiling.

"What the hell is your body made of?"

"Effort."

"You're the worst sparring partner I've ever had."

"Good. You're the worst Uchiha I've ever met."

The stone tiles under their feet were still warm from the sun, now slowly cooling under the deep violet sky.

Sayuri stood across from Otis, breathing slightly heavier than before, sweat beading along her brow. Otis hadn't moved much — maybe a shift here, a block there.

She hated that. (¬_¬)

She launched again — a blur of kicks and open palm strikes, weaving low and slicing upward.

Otis caught her final strike — not roughly,— and stepped inward, twisting just enough to tilt her balance.

She landed on her butt with a soft thud.

"Oww— dammit!"

Otis looked down, his face unreadable. "You're fast."

"Shut up."

"And you are not Precise."

"Shut up."

"But you're trying too hard to break something that doesn't bend."

Sayuri stared up at the sky for a moment, panting.

Then she barked a dry laugh.

"You're such a bastard."

Otis offered a hand. She slapped it away and stood on her own.

"I'm not done with you."

"Well, I've decided. I'm going to train with you," she said, like she'd just discovered his greatest weakness.

Otis blinked. "You sure?"

"No," she said, dusting herself off. "But if I don't, you'll just get weirder and stronger out there by that damn river and come back one day twice my size."

"That's a guarantee." ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

She rolled her eyes. "Tch. Let me tell my mother."

Elsewhere on the porch…

As Sayuri landed hard on her back with a muttered curse, a soft breath escaped from behind a wooden pillar nearby.

Sasuke, arms crossed, leaned back

He had been there the whole time—watching.

His dark eyes flicked from Sayuri brushing dirt off her sleeve, to Otis, who barely moved. Then to their mother, quietly stacking dishes inside.

No words.

His eyes narrowed slightly before he turned and walked quietly back into the house.

Inside – Mikoto's Kitchen

Mikoto was rinsing dishes at the stone basin when Sayuri walked in, pulling off her gloves.

"Mom."

"Hm?"

"I'm training with Otis now."

Mikoto paused, still holding a bowl.

"So… who came out on top?" Mikoto said, her smile just a little too knowing.

"He won." Sayuri muttered annoyed

"Obviously."

Sayuri twitched. (╬ಠ益ಠ)

"So, you're training with him out of what—spite?" Mikoto asked without looking.

"Curiosity."

Mikoto dried her hands and looked over her shoulder.

"Just don't come back dead."

Sayuri rolled her eyes, grabbed her sandals, and walked off muttering,.

"Everyone in this house is weird." (－‸ლ)

***

Next Morning – Riverside Clearing

 Near the riverside Otis walked ahead, carrying a sack of river stones slung over his shoulder like it weighed nothing. Sayuri trailed behind, arms crossed, still mildly fuming.

"You really train out here every day?" she asked.

"Unless I'm dead."

They reached the clearing.

Otis dropped the sack and looked at her.

"You'll cook."

Sayuri blinked. "Excuse me?"

"That's the deal."

"I'm not your wife, Muscle Mountain."

"Didn't say you were."

She narrowed her eyes. "...Why?"

"Because if you want to train here, you cook. That's the deal."

Sayuri blinked, momentarily thrown off. (⁠º⁠□⁠º⁠)

"You're out of your giant-ass mind."

"I'm not forcing you. You can always go back and train in your private Uchiha yard," Otis said, shrugging.

"I don't like wasting time. I train. I eat. You want one, you give me the other." 

"You are literally blackmailing me with training."

"Not blackmail. Trade."

Sayuri stared at him for a moment, trying to decide if he was being serious. He was.

Dead serious. (⚆_⚆)

"Fine," she muttered, turning her head.

***

After a few days 

Otis completed his training early that day.

He had to meet the Third Hokage. A few days ago, he'd filled out a request form for early graduation from the Academy. Today, the Hokage had summoned him for the decision.

The sun was barely above the rooftops when Otis tightened the bandages around his forearms and stepped out of his hut. A thin mist still hung over the river behind him.

...

📢 Reader Poll Time! (・ω・)ノ

Hey everyone! I've started adding kaomojis in this chapter to give a little extra expression and charm ✨What did you think of them?

Vote below! 🗳️

1️⃣ I love the kaomojis! Keep them coming! (｡♥‿♥｡)2️⃣ They're nice, but don't overdo it~ (¬‿¬)3️⃣ Meh, I prefer the story without them (￣ヘ￣;)4️⃣ Add more creative or rare kaomojis! (ง •̀_•́)ง

Comment if you have favorite ones I should use!Thanks for reading, as always~ ヾ(＾∇＾)

-Honestly I don't know how to make poll on Webovel.