Several days later, on the Ninja Academy playground.
"Practical sparring—next pair: Uchiha Sasuke versus Uzumaki Karin!"
As soon as Iruka's announcement echoed across the field, a wave of excited murmurs rippled through the watching children.
"It's them again."
"Last time Sasuke totally dominated, right? That red-haired girl couldn't even dodge his fire release."
"Yeah, no way anything changes this time."
Sasuke strode confidently to the center of the sparring area, hands buried in his pockets, his face etched with his trademark arrogance.
Karin drew a deep, steadying breath and stepped forward to face him.
She was a completely different girl from just a few days prior—her posture straighter, her eyes sharper, carrying a quiet determination that hadn't been there before.
"Begin!"
At Iruka's sharp command, Sasuke showed no hesitation. His hands blurred through familiar seals with practiced precision.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A enormous sphere of roaring flames erupted from his mouth, surging forward with blistering heat waves that distorted the air, barreling straight toward Karin once more.
The opening move was identical to their previous encounter.
Yet this time, Karin displayed no trace of panic or disarray.
In the precise instant before the inferno could swallow her whole, her body erupted in a puff of smoke—*poof*—replaced by a charred log tumbling through the flames.
Substitution Technique!
"She's behind him!" one classmate yelped in astonishment.
Sasuke's instincts flared; a chill ran down his spine as he whipped around, simultaneously yanking a kunai from his pouch in a defensive arc.
But he was already a heartbeat too slow.
A flash of red had materialized silently at his rear.
Karin's approach wasn't lightning-fast or elegantly fluid—in fact, it carried a hint of awkwardness—but her timing was flawless, exploiting the exact moment his guard shifted.
Her small fist clenched with every ounce of her newfound strength and, without a shred of hesitation, drove forward like a hammer, connecting solidly with the center of Sasuke's back.
Thud!
The impact sent Sasuke staggering forward, his balance lost as he pitched face-first into the dirt with an undignified sprawl.
The entire playground plunged into profound silence.
The Uchiha clan's unparalleled prodigy—the boy who had always reigned supreme, looking down on his peers from the pinnacle of the rankings—had actually... been floored?
By that newly transferred girl with the striking red hair?
Sasuke lay prone in the dust, his mind reeling blank.
A fiery sting radiated from his back, but it paled beside the sharper, more humiliating burn of disgrace flooding his senses.
Karin remained rooted in place, staring wide-eyed at her own fist—still faintly trailing wisps of smoke from the residual heat—as disbelief washed over her.
I... I won?
I actually... knocked him down?
An explosive surge of euphoric joy crashed through her like a tidal wave, threatening to burst from her chest.
She paid no heed to the sea of shocked stares around her, nor to the humiliated figure scrambling in the dirt.
Spinning on her heel, she bolted from the field without a backward glance.
Right now, only one thought consumed her.
She had to share this incredible victory with the person waiting for her at home!
...
Back at the apartment, Sora reclined lazily on the sofa, idly leafing through a dense, esoteric volume on advanced sealing theory.
The front door suddenly flew open with a forceful bang.
"I won!"
Karin burst in like a miniature projectile, her small face glowing crimson from exhilaration and the sprint home.
"I beat him! I totally beat that stuck-up Uchiha!"
She planted herself triumphantly in the center of the living room, hands firmly on hips, loudly declaring her battlefield triumph.
Sora closed the book with a soft thud, taking in her radiant, victorious expression, and erupted into genuine, hearty laughter.
"Worthy of the little sister I personally trained!"
He rose swiftly, crossed the room in a few strides, and scooped her up into a big bear hug, vigorously ruffling her fiery red short hair with affectionate enthusiasm.
"Outstanding job!"
The sweet fruits of victory required immediate, heartfelt affirmation to fully ripen into enduring motivation.
"As I promised!" Sora set her back down, his face alight with a dazzling, proud grin. "Big brother always keeps his word—victory celebration tonight!"
"Hot pot feast—all you can eat!"
"Yesss!" Karin leaped with pure joy, pumping her fists.
"Oh, wait," Sora added as if suddenly remembering something important. "A celebration's always merrier with more people. Why not invite your friends from school too?"
Friends?
Karin's bouncing halted abruptly.
Flashes of faces crossed her mind: the ever-grinning blond dunce who never seemed discouraged, and the feisty blonde girl who constantly sparred verbally with Sasuke.
After a brief hesitation, she quietly named two.
"Uzumaki Naruto... and Yamanaka Ino."
"Perfect—just those two." Sora snapped his fingers decisively. "On my end, I'll call over the big brother and sisters who examined you before. Let's turn this into a real party."
With that declaration, he brought his hands together in a sharp clap.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Several shadow clones materialized instantly throughout the living room.
"Go inform Yamato, Kaede, and Itachi—hot pot gathering at my place tonight," Sora commanded the clones briskly. "And make sure to prepare those new tomato and mushroom broth bases I developed."
The clones saluted in unison and vanished in puffs of smoke.
One clone appeared directly on the Uchiha clan training grounds.
Uchiha Itachi was in the midst of shuriken practice—each blade embedding perfectly in the bullseye with unerring accuracy.
"Itachi—Captain's orders: hot pot at his apartment tonight," the clone relayed in Sora's characteristic lazy tone.
"Understood." Itachi ceased his throws and nodded calmly.
Nearby, Sasuke—who had been aggressively pummeling a training post to vent frustration—caught the key phrases with his keen hearing.
Captain.
His place.
Hot pot.
He abandoned the post immediately and dashed over, suspicion etched on his face.
"Brother, you're going to *that guy's* house?"
"Yes."
"The house of... that red-haired girl?" Sasuke's fixation remained laser-focused.
"Yes."
"I'm coming too!" Sasuke declared without a second thought.
He absolutely could not allow his brother to venture alone into that girl's territory.
Itachi regarded his brother's puffed-up, overtly distrustful expression and found himself unable to decline.
"Very well."
On the receiving end of the invitation, Sora's lips curved into a deeply amused smile.
One more guest.
This dinner table was about to become delightfully chaotic.
...
By evening, the apartment brimmed with tantalizing food aromas.
For the first time in history, the dining table hosted an unprecedented trio of pots.
One: the classic red oil broth, rolling vigorously with bold, domineering spice—dried chilies and peppercorns dancing in a sea of crimson heat.
One: vibrant golden-red tomato broth, rich with sweet-and-sour depth that teased the appetite.
One: clear, elegantly savory mushroom broth, fragrant with an assortment of fresh fungi bobbing gently on the surface.
The table groaned under the weight of ingredients: whisper-thin slices of marbled beef and lamb, neatly rolled; luncheon meat; bouncy fish balls and tender shrimp dumplings; crisp radishes and leafy greens; plump fresh prawns; silky tofu blocks. Bowls of sesame paste dip and garlic-infused fragrant oil stood ready for personal customization.
Karin arrived first, leading Naruto and Ino.
"Wow! It smells incredible! What is all this stuff?!" Naruto's eyes widened the instant he stepped inside, saliva practically pooling as he gawked at the spread.
"Tch, such a country bumpkin." Ino crossed her arms with a scoff—but her gaze locked greedily on the tomato pot all the same.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell chimed.
Sora opened it to find Yamato and Yamanaka Kaede waiting outside.
"Captain."
"Yo, perfect timing—come in, come in."
Yamato had traded his Anbu uniform for casual civilian clothes, appearing slightly ill at ease in the domestic setting.
Kaede maintained her usual sharp, efficient demeanor. She stepped inside, surveyed the lavish table setup—and her eyes abruptly fixed on Ino.
In the living room, Ino—who had been mid-verbal spar with Naruto—noted the newcomer.
"Sis?!" Ino cried out in delighted shock.
"Ino?" Even Kaede's perpetually stoic face betrayed a faint crack of surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Ding-dong.
Before the sisters could properly reunite, the bell rang again—most inopportunely.
Sora opened the door once more.
Uchiha Itachi stood there with his customary serene calm.
Trailing just behind him: a black-haired boy striving valiantly to maintain an air of cool detachment—hands shoved deep in pockets—yet unable to conceal the curious, probing glances darting everywhere.
Uchiha Sasuke.
His sharp gaze sliced past the crowd, landing with pinpoint accuracy on Karin standing in the living room center.
It carried unmistakable notes of reluctance and defiant challenge.
Karin met his stare head-on, unflinching—her own eyes flashing with triumph.
Naruto glanced back and forth between Sasuke and Karin, scratching his head in total bewilderment.
Sora leaned casually against the doorframe, his impeccable cheerful smile absorbing every detail of the scene.
He finally spoke, shattering the peculiar standoff.
"Everyone's arrived—time to dig in."
The apartment filled with rising steam and lively warmth.
The three pots commanded the table's center, each radiating its unique allure. The traditional red oil broth churned fiercely—chilies and peppercorns swirling in a bold, spicy-numbing storm that assaulted the senses. The tomato broth glowed invitingly golden-red, its sweet-and-sour richness teasing the appetite irresistibly. The mushroom broth offered refined, fresh elegance—various fungi drifting delicately in clear, savory depths.
Every conceivable ingredient piled high: wafer-thin marbled beef and lamb rolls glistening with freshness; thick slices of luncheon meat; springy fish balls and plump shrimp dumplings; crisp carrot and daikon rounds alongside vibrant greens; succulent whole prawns; silky cubes of tofu. Bowls of creamy sesame paste and pungent garlic oil dips waited invitingly for individual mixing.
Naruto could restrain himself no longer—his chopsticks plunged eagerly toward a beef slice in the tomato pot. Sasuke's chopsticks struck at the exact same moment, targeting the identical piece.
"That's mine!" Naruto bellowed.
"I grabbed it first." Sasuke countered coolly.
Their chopsticks locked in tense combat within the broth. The beef slice tumbled helplessly in the golden-red liquid, threatening to overcook.
"Let go!" Naruto growled.
"You let go." Sasuke's tone remained icy.
Sora stood nearby, observing the childish tussle with mild amusement. He stepped smoothly between them, hands flashing outward.
Smack. Smack.
Two palms landed precisely atop Naruto and Sasuke's heads—not painfully hard, but sharp enough to sting and command attention.
"Even eating turns into a battlefield with you two." Sora's voice carried wry helplessness.
Naruto and Sasuke clutched their heads, glaring indignantly.
"Keep bickering—no meat tonight. Just plain noodles boiled in water." Sora added as a final warning.
Both fell silent instantly. They shot mutual glares but withdrew their chopsticks.
Ino tugged excitedly at Kaede's sleeve, mouth already stuffed with meat.
"Sis, try this—it's amazing!" She enthusiastically pointed toward the tomato pot.
Kaede delicately picked up a leafy green, swished it briefly through the golden-red broth, and tasted. She nodded faintly.
"Quite good." She murmured softly.
"See?!" Ino beamed with pride.
Sora produced several bottles of sake, placing them prominently on the table. He turned to Yamato and Itachi with a mischievous glint.
"A celebration without drinks? Unthinkable." Sora lifted a bottle invitingly.
Yamato looked momentarily uncomfortable. Itachi simply sat in tranquil silence.
"Come on, Senior Yamato—Itachi! Tonight we drink until we drop!" Sora urged with infectious enthusiasm.
Yamato and Itachi exchanged a brief glance. When the captain issued such a directive, compliance was inevitable. They accepted the offered bottles.
"Everyone—eat heartily and drink merrily!" Sora announced grandly to the room.
Karin sat directly beside Sasuke; she fixed him with a pointed stare.
"My brother's the strongest!" Karin suddenly proclaimed.
Sasuke paused mid-reach for a vegetable. He turned to her.
"My brother is." Sasuke fired back without missing a beat.
"I beat you fair and square!" Karin pressed.
Sasuke set his chopsticks down deliberately.
"That was pure luck." He retorted dismissively.
"It was not!" Karin's cheeks flushed with renewed indignation.
Ino, catching the exchange, leaned in with a smirk.
"Pfft—what do your brothers even matter?" Ino scoffed dramatically.
Karin and Sasuke whipped their heads toward her in unison.
"My sister's the absolute strongest!" Ino declared loudly, chin raised.
Kaede, calmly enjoying her meal, cracked the faintest amused smile at her little sister's boast.
Sora surveyed the boisterous scene with deep contentment.
He poured a cup of sake and offered it to Yamato.
"Senior Yamato—bottoms up!"
Yamato accepted with a helpless sigh.
Itachi raised his own cup silently. His gaze rested briefly on the clear liquid, expression as serene as ever.
Sora drained his cup in one go, then turned to Itachi.
"Itachi—no holding back tonight."
Itachi followed suit, downing his drink cleanly.
Karin and Sasuke's verbal sparring continued unabated.
"My brother's fire release is way stronger than yours!" Sasuke insisted.
"My brother could blow out your brother's fire release like a candle!" Karin shot back fiercely.
Ino couldn't resist jumping in again.
"My sister can read your brother's mind!" Ino crowed triumphantly.
Sasuke froze mid-motion. He turned sharply to Ino.
"What did you say?" Sasuke demanded, voice edged.
Ino lifted her chin even higher, smug.
"My sister's from the Yamanaka clan—she can dive into people's memories!"
Sasuke's expression shifted noticeably. His gaze darted to Kaede—who continued eating with unruffled calm, as if the claim concerned someone else entirely.
Sora caught Sasuke's reaction; the corner of his mouth curved upward in subtle amusement. He gave a light shake of his head.
"Alright, alright—enough arguing." Sora interjected mildly.
Karin and Sasuke completely ignored him.
"My brother has the Sharingan!" Sasuke declared proudly.
"My brother mastered Sage Mode!" Karin countered without hesitation.
Naruto watched the escalating boasts, scratching his head in utter confusion.
"Uh... what are you guys even talking about?" Naruto finally asked.
No one spared him a response.
Sora lifted his chopsticks and deftly dropped a shrimp dumpling into the tomato pot.
"Shrimp dumpling's ready." Sora announced casually.
Karin and Sasuke's attention snapped instantly to the pot. Their chopsticks shot forward in perfect synchronization.
"This one's definitely mine!" Karin exclaimed.
"In your dreams!" Sasuke snapped.
Once again, chopsticks clashed and tangled amid the golden-red broth. The dumpling bobbed precariously in the swirling liquid.
Sora watched the renewed skirmish, shaking his head with a wry smile.
His own chopsticks flashed forward—deftly and precisely plucking the contested dumpling from the fray.
"This one's mine." Sora declared calmly.
Karin and Sasuke's chopsticks met only empty broth. They stared at Sora in stunned disbelief.
Sora dipped the dumpling generously in sesame paste.
"Delicious." He said with satisfied relish.
Karin and Sasuke's faces twisted with frustrated indignation.
Naruto watched Sora savor the dumpling, swallowing hard.
"Big Bro Sora—I want one too!" Naruto called out eagerly.
Sora laughed warmly. He selected a prime beef slice and placed it directly into Naruto's bowl.
"Dig in."
Naruto's face lit up as he happily devoured the meat.
Karin and Sasuke watched Sora for a long moment.
Their bickering, at last, fell silent.