Sayuri could see.
It was so clear now.
The feint from the clone on the right, the stutter step from the clone on the left, the shadow falling across her shoulder indicating there was a clone trying to jump her from behind.
She took them out in three precise movements, yet Naruto replied by sending some more.
But it doesn't matter much, there is quantity, but not quality, and Sayuri moved more like a dancer than a fighter, weaving around with swift and sharp strikes that burst Naruto's clones into plumes of smoke.
Sayuri sprung forward through the smoke, sending a kick to Naruto's chest with the purpose of upsetting his balance. A step forward, a simple leg hook, and she follows his descent to the ground, sitting on his waist and locking his hips so he can't roll out.
The tip of her kunai rested gently against the skin underneath Naruto's chin.
The Sharingan allowing Sayuri to clearly see Naruto and his clones' movements is great, it gives her the ability to predict and react faster than she's ever done so before.
But the best part is she can burn Naruto's flustered face into her memory.
Face flushed, brow furrowed, and cerulean eyes flashing with disgust.
How beautiful.
Sayuri can't keep her lip from stretching into a taunting grin.
"All that help, and you couldn't even touch me, loser," she drawled pushing off on Naruto's chest to get up and forcing an oof, out of him.
"You cheated! Those freaky eyes are cheating, y'know?!"
Sayuri ignored him and stretched out her back.
Beating up on Naruto was fun exercise, but it did make her peckish.
"Pay up, Naruto, I won against your clones, that's lunch."
"Nuh uh! You said no jutsu, but you used your pink-eye-no-jutsu so you cheeeated!" Naruto flipped off from the ground and stomped his foot to prove his point.
"Sharingan dumbass! It's called Shar—In—Gan, for fuck's sake," Sayuri combed some hair back off her forehead and turned to glare at the loser who dared make fun of her clan's bloodline, "And, by the way, I said I wouldn't use ninjutsu and I didn't. The Sharingan is a dojutsu, indicated by the fact that, duh, it affects my eyes!"
Naruto pushed out his lip in a pout and walked over to where he threw his jacket, fishing out his wallet. He tossed it delicately, feeling the weight of the coins inside.
"I was going to ask Sakura-chan out, though. I won't have enough to get you lunch and then go on a date with her!"
Sayuri snorted, turning off her Sharingan and picking up her belongings under the same tree as Naruto, "I'm sure she will be devastated she won't be able to get lunch with you."
"I know right?" Naruto turned to her, the closeness of their positions allowing him to reach out and tap her on her nose, "You're ruining my love life!"
Sayuri scowled and slapped his grubby hand away.
Who would want to go out with this doofus anyway? Sakura had too much class at least.
"Whatever, I'm hungry, I'm going to get an extra-large bowl," Sayuri sauntered toward the exit of the training ground with Naruto following right at her heels.
"Wait, have some mercy on Gama-chan!"
Sayuri bit her lip to keep her smile down.
Gama-chan. Such a Naruto thing to name your wallet, even if it was a cute little toad.
She almost felt bad when she saw it deflated after lunch.
Almost.
"Oi, oi, Sayuri," she heard Naruto call from behind, his voice teaming with frustration.
Sayuri turned around and gave him simple nod of acknowledgement as he trudged up to her. Naruto's jaw was clenched tight, a twitch running along it.
"Yeah?"
Naruto took in a deep breathe and let it out slowly through pursed lips, an attempt to calm himself she knew.
She almost snorted. What a production.
"… you," he mumbled, staring at the ground.
Sayuri frowned and moved closer to him, flicking him harshly on his forehead, "Speak up, idiot."
Naruto yelped and jumped back, his face blood red in anger as he rubbed his forehead. His mouth twisted in a demented grimace.
"You bitch! I was just trying to thank you," Naruto growled, shaking his fist at her.
Sayuri couldn't help her mouth from twitching into a smile, "No need for thanks, deadlast, I told you Sakura and I were here to save your ass."
"Oh! Oh, you make me so mad," Naruto threw his head back, sucking in another exaggerated breath and letting it out with a loud woosh.
"Naruto," she said seriously, and Naruto's head snapped back down, his eyes catching her own. "You didn't need help with that Suna genin, you needed to be smarter. Not everything is about fighting and winning. Konohamaru was in danger, you must prioritize taking him out of danger, not trying to beat someone else into a pulp."
Sayuri straightened her back, ready for Naruto to lash out and seethe, but instead he regarded her intensely. His eyes never leave her own as beat passed, then another. Finally, he blinked and turned his head to the side, observing the trees, their leaves rustling with the gentle wind.
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," Naruto shuffled closer to Sayuri, and she makes out the blue shirt he wore under his jacket peeking out on top of his collarbone. "The thing is—it's like when I saw him like that, held hostage by some stranger, y'know? I'm not a thoughtful guy, and that made it worse, cause I didn't know what that bastard would do. I just moved. It was like—protect, y'know?"
Sayuri wanted to tell Naruto that he may not be thoughtful, but when it came to fighting, he could be keen. Perceptive and patient when push came to shove, like he showed during their fight with Zabuza. But, before she can say anything, Naruto swung his gaze to her, his eyes burned with determination now and they're mesmerizing; she can't look away if she wanted to.
Sayuri closed her mouth.
"Thanks, but next time I'll do it right. Don't worry, yeah?"
Sayuri stared at him dumbly for a second, Naruto's eyes gleaming like jewels, before she muttered "okay."
Naruto smiled at her, wide, his whisker marks stretching minutely against his skin, and then he nodded once and walked away.
And, like that, the spell was broken.
Wanted a skosh of development before we got in the Chunin Exam and Konoha Crush arc stuff.