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Chapter 32: Naruto and Sasuke’s Invitation
🕑 Added 2025-05-06 20:27:54 +0000 UTCThe development of Reverse Eight Gates was a matter for the future.
Having just enrolled in the academy two days ago, she was still far from mastering ninjutsu—let alone modifying an S-rank secret technique.
While her taijutsu skills already rivaled those of an average jōnin, and she could even hold her own against elite jōnin with the Eight Gates activated, her understanding of ninjutsu and chakra control was still lacking compared to even Shikamaru and the others.
For now, her priority was to solidify her foundation in ninjutsu.
The twelve hand seals for jutsu activation.
The seven chakra natures: Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, Fire, Yin, and Yang.
The countless variations of chakra shape transformation—all of these required extensive training.
Though they wouldn’t immediately boost her combat strength, mastering them was essential for overcoming her weaknesses and, ultimately, achieving Kekkei Mōra.
With her next goal clear, Hikari decided:
For now, I’ll ease up on taijutsu training and focus on ninjutsu fundamentals and chakra nature transformation.
The Reverse Eight Gates required mastery of Yang Release.
But since she had no way to train Yang Release yet, she’d start with Wind Release.
Hmm…
After class, I’ll grab some leaves from that crooked tree in the training field.
Recalling how Naruto had trained his Wind Release chakra nature in the original series, Hikari figured she’d begin with the basics—slicing leaves.
Ding-ding-ding!
The bell rang right on cue.
Iruka, mid-sermon on the Will of Fire, reluctantly swallowed his enthusiasm and dismissed the class.
Soon, the classroom erupted into noise, louder than a marketplace.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Hikari glanced at her seatmate.
Naruto was still lugging around his heavy backpack, unfazed—not even a drop of sweat on his forehead.
Clearly, she’d underestimated his endurance. The Uzumaki clan’s physique was just that formidable.
Hikari: "Looks like you’re handling it well. You can switch to leg weights now—no need to keep training with the backpack."
Naruto: "Hehehe!"
Naruto beamed, his bright blue eyes sparkling with pride.
Shikamaru/Chōji/Kiba (from behind): "Morning, Hikari."
Hikari: "Morning."
She exchanged casual greetings with them, knowing full well that her Yin and Yang Release training might eventually rely on their help.
As they chatted, Kiba suddenly brought up some gossip.
Kiba: "Hey, you guys hear about last night? A house in the eastern residential district caught fire."
(The night before, he’d told his father, Tsume, about Hikari’s skills. The advice? "Be friendly, don’t antagonize her." Now, Kiba was testing the waters—both to bond with Hikari and to flex his intel network as the future head of the Inuzuka clan, who controlled Konoha’s stray dogs.)
Chōji/Naruto (worried): "Was anyone hurt?!"
Kiba (shrugging): "Dunno. The strays don’t give detailed reports."
(Truth was, the dogs only gave fragmented info. He’d just wanted to impress Hikari.)
Hikari (flatly): "No casualties. A passing water-style ninja put out the fire. The house was completely gutted—just a shell left."
Her smile faded as she spoke, the joy of mastering the Eight Gates evaporating.
The pain of losing nearly a billion ryō came rushing back.
Pain. So much pain.
What hurt even more? As a Konoha Academy student—a future shinobi—she couldn’t leave the village freely. And all the gambling dens in Konoha required ID. Minors weren’t allowed.
Rumor has it, a Hyūga once used the Byakugan to cheat at gambling… and got caught.
No idea how the casino spotted them.
Either way, she’d lost her best money-making scheme.
Kiba (surprised): "Wait, how’d you know the details?"
Shikamaru (smug): "Duh. Hikari obviously lives in the eastern district too, right?"
The others nodded, convinced by Shikamaru’s logic.
Only Hikari stayed silent.
Hope Might Guy sells my intel to the Hokage for a good price. At least then I’ll have food money this month.
To make the report seem more valuable, she’d put way too much effort into embellishing it.
Meanwhile, across the classroom…
Sakura: "Hey, Ino—where are you going?"
Ino (hiding snacks behind her back): "Huh? Oh, nowhere!"
Her eyes darted toward Sasuke, who was silently scribbling notes by the window.
After getting wrecked by that freakish transfer student who caught a fireball with her bare hands yesterday…
Sasuke’s pride must be shattered.
And as his #1 fan, it’s my duty to comfort him!
Sakura (blocking her path): "Sasuke’s studying. Don’t bother him."
(Inner Sakura roared: "I won’t let the Ino-pig sneak in!")
Ino (glaring): "Shut it, forehead girl!"
Seeing Sakura guarding Sasuke like a hen protecting her eggs, Ino dropped the act. Clutching her snack box, she prepared to force her way through.
Sakura: "Ino-pig!"
Ino: "Forehead monster!"
The two girls clashed—one trying to break through, the other blocking—like a pair of basketball players fighting for possession.
And Sasuke? He was the hoop.
Sasuke (coldly): "You’re in the way. And loud."
The "hoop" had spoken.
He stood up, his expression icy.
Sakura and Ino froze, instantly deflating. This… wasn’t the right time for a "shot."
They meekly stepped aside as Sasuke strode past them—heading straight for the group at the back.
Naruto/Shikamaru/Chōji/Kiba (shocked): "Wait—your house burned down?!"
Turns out, the victim of last night’s fire was Hikari herself.
Kiba winced, realizing he’d just rubbed salt in her wound.
Chōji suddenly understood why Hikari hadn’t brought the snacks she’d promised him yesterday.
The boys rushed to console her.
Naruto (earnestly): "Hey, Hikari—if you need a place to stay, my apartment’s pretty big!"
The others gaped at him.
But Naruto’s blue eyes were pure, filled only with concern.
Hikari’s lips twitched.
Either I’ve been corrupted by the internet, or Naruto’s just that clueless from growing up alone.
Before she could politely decline, her Byakugan twitched.
A figure approached.
In the aisle stood a pale, stiff-faced boy gripping a tennis racket, his knuckles white.
Sasuke (awkwardly): "…Hikari. I need to talk to you. Alone."
Silence fell.
Every head turned toward him.
Even the classroom’s usual chaos seemed to hush.
