Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 17

Uchiha Enzo's eyes flickered briefly as he noticed the figure approaching. His lips curled into a smirk as he casually pushed off the wall he'd been leaning against, arms folded across his chest. His dark eyes scanned the boy with faint air of superiority.

He'd been instructed not to underestimate Ando, but while he looked at the orphan, he quickly disregarded the warning.

"Ando, right?" Enzo called out.

Ando slowed his pace, his gaze locking onto Enzo. A quick glance at the information hovering above Enzo gave him all the explanation he needed to reason the other kid's arrogance.

"Uchiha," Ando replied flatly, keeping his distance. There was no hint of admiration in his tone, something that Enzo clearly noticed but chose to ignore. He had more important things to address.

"I've been sent by the Uchiha clan," Enzo began. "There's been... talk. They've taken an interest in you."

Ando watched him without giving much reaction. He started probing. "Interest? In me?"

"Yes, you. Some people in the clan think you could benefit from Uchiha guidance. You're an orphan, right?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Someone like you could learn a lot from us. If you're willing..."

Ando's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for Enzo to elaborate.

"The clan is offering you a chance," Enzo took his silence in stride and kept going. "To train with us, learn things you wouldn't be able to figure out on your own. You could even spend time at the Uchiha compound, pick up some real skills instead of whatever scraps you're getting at the academy." His eyes swept over Ando. He hadn't bothered to learn the specifics of Ando's abilities, even though he'd been briefed before approaching him. To Enzo, this was just another chore.

Ando kept his expression neutral as he listened to the other kid. But inside, he was keeping his lips from quirking up at the kid's absurdly arrogant attitude. He cleared his throat, averting his gaze while covering his mouth to hide his laugh. "And why's the Uchiha clan so interested in me?"

"You've caught the attention of the clan. That's all you need to know." Enzo glanced away, clearly uninterested in elaborating. "We don't usually extend invitations to outsiders, let alone orphans. But the Uchiha see potential where others don't."

He let the words hang in the air, clearly expecting Ando to jump at the opportunity. "The Uchiha don't normally make these kinds of offers. You should be grateful."

The struggle to keep himself from laughing at Enzo was getting harder for Ando, but he refused to let it show. Instead, he took a deep breath and a step forward, meeting Enzo's gaze. He had always been told to play hard to get, especially with people as arrogant as Enzo.

He could not fold that easily.

"I don't jump at opportunities just because someone waves them in front of me," Ando replied confidently. "If the Uchiha really want me to train with them, they can wait for me to make my decision."

Enzo blinked, taken aback by Ando's boldness. It was clear from his expression that he hadn't expected any pushback. "Wait? Are you dumb?" he voiced, incredulous. "You don't just get offers from us twice. Think carefully about what you're turning down."

Ando folded his arms. "I'm not turning it down. I just want time to think about it."

Enzo's jaw tightened, annoyed. "Fine," he snapped, though the word came out clipped. He spun on his heel, the Uchiha crest on his back catching the light as he stalked off.

Ando watched him go with a wry smile.

Among all the clans in the village, the Uchiha was the last one he expected to make a move this soon. Yet, things took quite an interesting turn for him.