Konoha Hypocrite (Part-1)

Chapter 20: Guiding Mina, The Power Of Love

The next day, Uchiha Tonan arrived at the academy early. He didn't meet Uchiha Mina along the way. Presumably, yesterday's face-off with Hyuga Chiryo dealt her confidence a huge blow.

But that had nothing to do with him. If possible, he hoped she would be shamed into training harder. It would be even better if she awakened the Sharingan.

He had barely entered the classroom when he saw Chiryo supporting her face with her hands and staring shyly at him. Tonan immediately nodded warmly at her.

Mina who was sitting at her desk saw this and gritted her teeth. She was trembling with anger. During the break after every class, Chiryo seized every chance to go over to Tonan's side and asked him to help with her schoolwork.

Tonan wouldn't refuse the approach of his ration. It seemed that in this love triangle, the other two considered him as the harmless prey. As for who was the game and who was the hunter, no one would know until the last moment.

After school, Chiryo had no reason to pester Tonan. After all, everyone knew that his time post-school belonged to Kakashi. But on the way to the Hatake household, Mina caught up with them.

"Tonan-kun!"

Tonan and Kakashi turned around at the same time.

"Mina, did you need something?" Tonan adjusted his glasses and asked gently. She took a deep breath, looked straight into his eyes, and said, "I want to become stronger, can you guide me in my training?"

"Troublesome." Kakashi shrugged his shoulders and muttered. He then said to Tonan, "I'll go ahead to train and wait for you."

After Kakashi left, Tonan stared at Mina seriously and said, "We are all classmates. We should help each other. I'd be very happy to help you in your training."

Mina bowed and said, "Thank you, Tonan-kun."

Tonan nodded, then stroked his chin and said, "It's just that I have to practice with Kakashi every day after school. So, every day after dinner, I'll guide you for an hour at the clan's northern training ground. Does this work for you?"

Mina nodded and agreed.

"Alright then, I'll leave now. See you on the training grounds at night," Tonan turned around to leave.

But Mina called out to stop him. He paused and asked with a puzzled look, "Was there something else?"

"Do you like Chiryo?" Mina stared at Tonan with bated breath, waiting for his reply.

"What kind of like do you mean?"

"It's... like between a boy and a girl."

Tonan just smiled, shook his head, and said, "Why would you think so? I see Chiryo as a younger sister. Moreover, we are still very young, how can we fall into things like puppy love? That's wrong."

Puppy love?

Mina was dumbfounded for a moment. This was the first time she heard anyone use this expression. After all, the average life expectancy in the Ninja World was short. Many got married and had kids in their teens.

Wasn't falling in love before marriage the usual way? And they were already six years old. After this year, they would be seven years old! They were not three-year-old kids anymore. What was wrong with falling in love? Absolutely nothing at all.

But as long as Tonan said he had no intention of a romantic relationship with Chiryo, Mina's goal was achieved. She was suddenly full of energy.

She smiled at Tonan and said, "Never mind, see you on the training ground at night."