The academy lunch bell rang like a sweet symphony to Kenta Madoka's ears, freeing him from another morning of mind-numbing lectures.
He sauntered towards the courtyard where the third-years scattered to eat. The air was thick with the usual smells—rice, grilled fish, sweaty kids—but then something hit him. A whiff of pure, sugary bliss.
His nose twitched, eyes narrowing as he sniffed the breeze like a stray dog on a mission. 'What in the name of all things noble is that heavenly scent? he thought, his stomach growling in betrayal. 'It's calling me—the great Kenta Madoka, lord of taijutsu and soon-to-be dessert king!'
He prowled the courtyard, head high but snout low, following the aroma with the grace of a bloodhound and the arrogance of a peacock.
'Some peasant's hoarding a delicacy worthy of my palate—unacceptable!' He dodged a gaggle of chattering kids, nearly tripping over an Inuzuka pup, and muttered, "Outta my way, mutts—this nose is on a noble quest!" The smell grew stronger—sweet, rich, maybe caramelized?—and his mouth watered despite his best efforts to look dignified.
'I'm no common beggar—I'll sniff this out and claim it like the conqueror I am!'
His hunt led him to a quiet corner of the yard, where Kushina Uzumaki sat alone on a bench, her red hair a fiery beacon. She was hunched over a lunch box, nibbling delicately, and there it was: a golden, glistening mochi ball, oozing with some divine filling.
Kenta froze, his serious eyes locking onto the prize, drool dribbling down his chin before he could stop it. 'Jackpot,' he thought, wiping his mouth with a sleeve.
'Red's got the goods—but me, ask her? A noble begging a peasant? Never! She'll offer it up when she sees my majestic aura.'
He planted himself a few feet away, staring at the mochi with the intensity of a hawk eyeing a mouse. His arms crossed, his posture screamed 'I'm too good for this', but his stomach was staging a full-on rebellion.
Kushina, sensing the creepy vibe, turned slowly, her chopsticks pausing mid-air. Her green eyes met his, then flicked to the drool puddle forming at his feet. She blinked. "Oi, jerk-face—what're you staring at? Do you want some of this, ya know?"
Kenta's noble facade cracked for a split second, his hand twitching before he waved it dismissively. "Pfft, as if I'd stoop to asking, Red. I'm merely… observing your lowly meal. Carry on." His voice was haughty, but his eyes never left the mochi, practically begging it to leap into his mouth.
Kushina tilted her head, smirking faintly. "Are you sure? You look like a starving dog, ya know. Last chance." She dangled the mochi between her fingers, taunting him.
Kenta's face twisted into a constipated grimace, pride and hunger waging war in his gut. He clenched his fists, then forced a scoff. "Since you're 'insisting', peasant, I'll oblige as a gracious noble—only to spare you the embarrassment of begging me to try it!" He reached for the mochi, fingers inches from glory, when Kushina's smirk turned downright evil.
With a wicked giggle, she popped the whole thing into her mouth—chomp!—and chewed with exaggerated delight. "Oopsie, Mr. Noble—I was hungrier than I thought!"
Kenta's jaw dropped, his hand hovering uselessly. "You—you savage! That was an act of war!" he bellowed, storming forward as his noble cool shattered. "You red-haired goblin! Dessert thief! I'll have your head for this treachery!"
Kushina swallowed, licking her fingers with a grin. "Treachery? You're just mad 'cause you're too stuck-up to ask, ya know! Go drool somewhere else, you pompous toad!"
"Toad?!" Kenta sputtered, pointing at her. "You're a barbaric troll with the manners of a pig! I'll wipe that smug grin off your ugly mug!"
"Ugly?!" Kushina shot back, leaping to her feet. "You're a snotty little prince with a face like a squashed dumpling! I'd crush you if Sensei wasn't such a buzzkill!"
The courtyard turned into their personal shouting match, kids peering over bentos with wide eyes. "Duel me, then!" Kenta roared, slamming a fist into his palm. "I'll claw you into next week!"
"Bring it, ya know!" Kushina snarled, cracking her knuckles. "But Sensei'll stop us—let's take it to the Senju compound! My cousin Tsunade or Great-Aunt Mito can watch. They'll love seeing me trash you!"
Kenta paused, then grinned viciously. "Fine, Red. Senju compound it is—I'll thrash you under a legendary banner. Let's go!" He spun on his heel and stormed off, Kushina hot on his tail, both fuming as they headed to the Senju Compound.
---
Kenta stomped through Konoha's streets. 'That red-headed menace—stealing my dessert and calling me a toad? Unforgivable!' He flexed his fingers, claws itching to pop out. 'I'll defeat her even if I have to reveal my Boogie Woogie. Tsunade and Mito'll be so impressed they'll beg me to join the Senju! Not that I would need to use the Boogie Woogie, my Taijutsu should be enough for the likes of her.' His arrogance swelled, picturing Kushina flat on her back, crying for mercy. 'She's got chakra, sure, but her taijutsu's sloppy—predictable punches and kicks. I'll dance circles around her and carve my name into her ego!'
Kushina marched a few steps behind, her fists clenched, her thoughts a roaring furnace. 'That arrogant little snot—drooling over my mochi like some noble vulture! I'll pound him into the dirt, ya know!' She cracked her neck, grinning at the mental image of Kenta eating dust. ' I'll smash his smug face. Big Sis Tsunade'll cheer, and Great-Aunt Mito'll say, 'That's my girl!' He's toast!' She glared at his back, plotting every punch. 'Thinks he's hot stuff 'cause he's Daimyō spawn? I'll show him—nobody messes with an Uzumaki!'
They reached the Senju compound, a sprawling estate of wooden halls and manicured gardens, its gates flanked by towering trees. Kenta strutted in like he owned it, Kushina shoving past him with a huff. Inside, the training yard stretched wide—a perfect stage for their showdown. Kenta cracked his knuckles, turning to face her. "Ready to lose, Red? I'll make it quick—noblesse oblige and all that."
Kushina smirked, planting her hands on her hips. "Lose? I'll bury you so deep they'll need a shovel to find you, ya know! Bring it, squashed-dumpling!"
Their shouts echoed, drawing curious Senju towards them.
--Author Notes-------
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters of the novel on my pat*reon. It would also motivate me to write more and well pay for my tuition. But I would continue to write with or without you joining my pat*reon. Your support even here on Webnovel means a lot! Thankyou!
https://pat*reon.com/BoogieWoogie266
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