Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 171 A Slow Start and an Awkward End

On the training ground, sunlight filtered through the lush foliage, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Naruto and Sasuke, as usual, went to the familiar grove on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan compound to train.

But... the atmosphere was completely different.

Naruto was 100% certain that this was absolutely the most awkward time he had ever spent with Sasuke since they met! The air seemed to freeze, and every breath was filled with an indescribable awkwardness.

After Naruto managed to get away with the embarrassing nickname "Little Sun" earlier, he thought things would return to normal today.

However, after arriving at the training ground, Satsuki's behavior became even more... bizarre? Naruto was completely baffled as to what was wrong with Satsuki.

As usual, he began practicing ninjutsu. He formed hand seals, gathered chakra, and released it—

Just then, Sasuke's clear voice rang out beside him, "As expected of Naruto! His proficiency in ninjutsu and his control over chakra are both so excellent! He's truly amazing!"

Naruto was taken aback when he heard this. He saw that Satsuki was standing straight, his hands clasped tightly in front of him, with an extremely serious... even "devout" expression of praise on his face.

"Ah...oh, thank you." Naruto felt it was a bit unusual for such a straightforward compliment to come from Satsuki, but considering that her attitude towards him had indeed softened a lot since the system notified him of her extremely high favorability rating, it wasn't impossible for her to give him a compliment now and then. He accepted it with a smile.

However, this is just the beginning.

Next, Naruto began warming up with taijutsu by running around the training ground.

He'd barely taken a few steps when Zuo Yue's enthusiastic commentary and praise followed. "Naruto's running style is so cool! Every step is full of power and rhythm! Amazing!"

Naruto stumbled, nearly losing his balance. He barely managed to steady himself; it was just running... what's so cool about that?

After Naruto finished practicing climbing trees and controlling his chakra, he sat on a branch to rest and couldn't help but open his mouth and let out a big yawn.

"Naruto is amazing! Even his yawning is so energetic! It's full of vitality!"

Naruto choked on his own saliva. He was so surprised and coughed that he swayed violently and almost fell off where he was sitting.

His disheveled appearance once again elicited a genuine exclamation of amazement from Satsuki. "What amazing balance! He almost fell, but he managed to regain his balance instantly! As expected of Naruto!"

Naruto, "…………"

He finally couldn't hold back anymore!

What's wrong with Zuo Yue?! Why has she become so strange after just a short absence? This constant, exaggerated praise from every angle makes him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Naruto lunged forward and grabbed Sasuke's wrist.

"!?!" Satsuki was startled by his sudden movement, her cheeks instantly turning red. "Naruto, Naruto?"

Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he frowned, mobilized his own chakra, and carefully probed a wisp of gentle chakra into Sasuke's meridians, carefully sensing the condition inside her body—the chakra flow was stable, and although her spiritual energy was somewhat abnormally active, there was no trace of it being interfered with or controlled by external forces.

You weren't under an illusion?!

Naruto withdrew his hand, even more confused. He looked at Satsuki, whose face was flushed and whose eyes were flickering, yet who was trying hard to show that "I am praising you normally," and finally asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time.

"Satsuki! Are you...are you alright? What's wrong with you? Why have you been acting so strange since just now?"

A terrifying thought suddenly flashed into Naruto's mind, causing his expression to change. Could it be... that Satsuki had come into contact with some strange person? Or that she had been influenced by something bad?!

Now, perhaps it was Naruto's offhand remark of "strange" that jolted Satsuki awake, or perhaps it was a profound blow to her. Satsuki finally stopped her suffocating barrage of exaggerated praise and fell silent.

She began to train in silence, throwing her shuriken faster and harder, and her fire-style ninjutsu became more intense than usual, as if she wanted to pour all her confusion, grievances, and frustrations into her training.

Why? Why did we fail again?!

Satsuki was screaming inwardly. Kakashi's voice was still echoing clearly in her mind.

"According to Chapter 2, Section 3 of 'The Art of Intimacy,' most boys are completely defenseless against sincere compliments from girls! This greatly satisfies their vanity and sense of being needed! All you have to do is express your true feelings in the most direct and undisguised way!"

"Remember this: whenever Naruto does something you think is cool, amazing, or excellent, don't keep it to yourself like you used to! Immediately and loudly praise him! Overwhelm him with your praise!"

That's right! This was Kakashi's idea again—a direct praise beam attack! But obviously, Satsuki seems to have gone a bit too far, turning it into a mindless "brainless flattery" that makes people's scalp tingle.

Strange? Why? Where did things go wrong?! Satsuki was completely baffled. In her own eyes, almost every move Naruto made was captivating, making her heart race. Her praise just now was even the "essence" she had carefully selected and restrained! Wasn't that "sincere" enough?

That lousy book... and that unreliable teacher... are they even useful?!

Zuo Yue was furious. A strong sense of powerlessness and shame overwhelmed her, making her want to hide somewhere immediately.

Just then, Naruto's hesitant and cautious voice came from beside him.

"Um... Satsuki," Naruto scratched his dazzling blond hair, his face showing a hint of apology and embarrassment, "Shall we take a break first? Let's catch our breath."

As he spoke, he handed over a water bottle with the cap already unscrewed.

Satsuki paused, silently took the water bottle without looking at Naruto. The two walked without a word to the simple wooden bench at the edge of the training field and sat down.

The atmosphere became awkward and somber again, with only the sound of the wind in the woods and the faint chirping of birds in the distance.

Naruto sat beside him, stealing glances at Satsuki's tense profile and tightly pursed lips, feeling increasingly guilty. He clasped his hands together and broke the silence first.

"I'm sorry, Satsuki."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yue moved slightly, but still did not turn her head.

Naruto continued, his tone filled with sincere apology. "Just now... I went too far. Suddenly saying you were weird and stuff... I'm sure that made you very unhappy."

He scratched his cheek, trying to find the right words: "I was just... just a little startled, because you were acting a bit differently than usual... so I blurted out something I shouldn't have. I'm really sorry!"

He turned to the side, looking intently at Satsuki's lowered profile. "I hope... I hope you can forgive me. I actually... I don't actually dislike it when you praise me..."

Naruto wisely swallowed those words back—he simply couldn't bear the praise.

"So, don't be angry anymore, okay?"

------

(Kakashi had another trick up his sleeve.)

(Thanks to konoDiorda for the two gifts, the author really doesn't know what to say, I'm so glad you supported the author.)

(Based on the gift value, the author needs to add 36 chapters, two more chapters per day, for a total of four chapters over 18 days.)

(Bonus chapters starting tomorrow! Chapter will be posted tomorrow afternoon. I've been working all week and want to sleep in.)