Naruto POV
Naruto could hardly believe he was doing this. He sat perched on a tree branch, overlooking a small clearing where Anko repeatedly launched herself at a trunk, either tumbling down or blasting off in a flurry of bark and frustration. He watched her crash into the dirt again and sighed. The sight reminded him of his own training, back when his mother had taught him this same chakra control exercise. He dropped silently from the branch, landing in a crouch before walking over.
"You're still pushing too much chakra into your feet," he said, voice even and flat.
Anko groaned from where she lay on the ground, staring up at his expressionless face. It irked her a little—not because he was wrong, but because he wasn't gloating about it. No smugness, no teasing. Just pure, factual honesty.
"What's your point?" she muttered, cheeks puffed in irritation.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, but didn't respond. His eyes flicked between her and the tree, clearly reevaluating. Whatever his father had taught him wasn't going to work with someone like Anko.
Wordlessly, he offered her a hand. She blinked, then took it. He pulled her up with a grunt.
"Lie down," he said.
Anko stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Next to the tree. Feet flat against the trunk."
Still skeptical, she complied. "Finally admitting you were wrong?"
Naruto barely glanced at her. "No. Just recognizing that people learn differently."
Grumbling, she laid down and placed her feet against the bark. Naruto knelt beside her.
"Now, focus chakra into the soles of your feet. Evenly. Take small steps up. If you start to slip, adjust. Don't push harder."
Anko stuck her tongue out in concentration—a detail Naruto noted with mild amusement. Slowly, she started up the trunk, using her hands for balance until she found her footing. She stumbled once, corrected her chakra flow, and then hesitantly took her hands off the ground.
"Hey, Fishcake! I'm doing it!"
Naruto twitched at the nickname but remained silent, watching as she strained to keep her posture straight.
"Speaking of your dad... shouldn't you be heading home soon?"
No answer.
"Naruto?" She looked around.
He was gone.
Startled, she lost her grip and fell flat on her back. Groaning, she sat up and looked around the clearing.
"Was it something I said?"