Chapter 19: Catfight – Masks Off, Claws Out
After school, Hyuga Chiryo bolted home in a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. She had a date—with Tonan! There was no time to waste. A proper kunoichi must look flawless for battle… especially one of the heart.
Meanwhile, across town, Uchiha Mina was already staking out the ramen shop where the meeting would take place. But she wasn't here to slurp noodles. No—she was ready to launch a preemptive strike. Her Sharingan might not be fully awakened yet, but her jealousy was wide-eyed and blazing.
Evening fell.
At the Hatake residence…
Tonan's Sharingan spun with precision as he flipped midair, narrowly dodging a hand clawing out from the dirt beneath him. Kakashi popped up from the ground, looking mildly amused.
"Your Double Suicide Decapitation Technique is getting sharper," Tonan said, playfully brushing dirt off his sandals. "I almost had to take that one seriously."
The two sparred using wooden blades—Hatake-style kenjutsu—but with shinobi, even training sessions had no rules. Ninjutsu was fair game.
Tonan gave a modest chuckle. "Compared to you, I've still got a long way to go. I'm just leaning on this Sharingan, honestly." He sheathed his wooden blade. "But I've gotta cut it short today—I promised Chiryo dinner."
Kakashi nodded, walking Tonan to the gate.
After leaving the Hatake compound, Tonan moved toward the ramen shop. From the bushes, a few white pigeons—his summon spies—took off into the skies. There wasn't much danger in the Hidden Leaf these days, but Tonan was the type who didn't even trust his own reflection without a backup plan.
Elsewhere…
Chiryo made her way through the shopping street, her pace graceful, her mind whirling. She had bathed, perfumed, and put on her cutest new outfit—a subtle lavender kimono with soft cloud patterns. Timing was everything. She didn't want to get to the shop too early and seem desperate. The perfect move? Bump into Tonan naturally en route.
"If we arrive together," she reasoned, "it'll look like fate."
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Just as she turned a corner—snatch! A pale hand yanked her into a dark alley.
Thud!
She crashed to the ground, new outfit instantly ruined. Furious, she looked up—only to find the sharpened glint of a kunai hovering at her neck.
"Mina?! Are you crazy?!"
"Stay away from Tonan-kun," Mina said coolly, her Sharingan-less eyes still as threatening as a storm cloud.
Chiryo froze—but then her eyes shifted to the alley's opening. Tonan should be passing by soon. If he sees this…
Switching gears instantly, she wiped her anger and donned a porcelain mask of hurt innocence.
"Mina-chan… we're classmates! How could you threaten me like this?"
Mina scoffed. "Drop the fragile flower act. You might fool Tonan-kun with your Hyuga doe eyes, but I see right through you. An Uchiha genius belongs with someone of equal strength—not some shy heiress who can't even stand her ground."
"You've gone too far!"
"You think I won't gut you right here?"
The kunai pressed in slightly—just enough to threaten without drawing blood. Overhead, one of Tonan's pigeons caught the whole scene from above.
At the corner of the street, Tonan stopped, his eyes narrowing. Through the bird's vision, he watched the drama unfold.
Two girls… jealous over me again?
Hyuga Chiryo. Uchiha Mina.
Byakugan vs. Sharingan… but no kekkei genkai fusion, so Chiryo's not worth much.
Mina, though… if groomed right, might unlock all three tomoe before the Third Great War. A solid sacrifice to fuel his power.
So Chiryo's disposable?
Decision made, Tonan turned, hands in his pockets, and casually took a different route to the shop.
Back in the alley…
Cornered, Chiryo trembled.
"Mina… I only invited Tonan-kun to thank him for tutoring me. That's all, I swear…" she whimpered.
Mina hesitated. Could she really be this harmless?
"Fine. Swear to me you won't speak to him again."
But Chiryo's eyes flicked to the sky. He didn't pass by. Did he take a different route?
Her tears vanished.
With lightning speed, she stood up.
"What the—answer me!" Mina barked.
BAM!
A single palm strike from Chiryo slammed Mina into the alley wall. Her chest throbbed where the strike landed—her chakra network scrambled.
"Gentle Fist…?!" Mina gasped.
Her kunai clattered to the ground. She stared at Chiryo, now approaching with eyes bulging with activated Byakugan and chilling coldness.
Chiryo knelt, picked up the kunai, and pressed its tip under Mina's chin.
"Tonan-kun is mine," she whispered. "If you so much as breathe near him again… I'll make you wish the Uchiha Clan Massacre happened early."
She dropped the kunai and dusted off her sleeves like nothing happened, walking out into the night with her head high.
At the ramen shop…
Tonan sat calmly, sipping water, watching it all unfold through his pigeon.
"Hyuga girls… always playing the innocent act," he muttered, amused. "Guess I need to brush up on my 'Advanced Shinobi Deception & Seduction' scrolls. Can't let my guard down around women anymore."
"Tonan-kun! Sorry I'm late!"
Chiryo jogged into the shop, flushed cheeks and bouncing steps. To the casual observer, she was simply excited to be here. Nothing suspicious at all.
Tonan smiled gently. "No worries. I just got here myself."
He stood, placing a hand on her shoulder like a perfect gentleman, and guided her to her seat. Then he leaned in slightly to pour water into her cup.
"Don't rush to eat after running. Take a breath."
Chiryo looked up at him, heart pounding.
Tonan-kun… you're mine. You can only belong to me.
The waiter arrived. "What can I get for you two?"
Tonan turned to her, his voice smooth like genjutsu silk. "Chiryo, anything catch your eye?"
Her cheeks glowed. "I-I'm fine with whatever you choose…"
Tonan nodded, eyes twinkling.
"I used to come here with my mother when I was little. I'll order for us."
He smiled.
But somewhere far off in the darkness, an Uchiha girl with a bruised chest and a wounded ego was swearing vengeance.