naruto · sunagakure · chunin · puppet master · iron sand · tsundere · anxiety · rivalry · team dynamics · ninja
Golden hour bathed the training grounds in amber light, casting long shadows beneath a curved stone arch. The mission concluded, yet Team Shinki lingered. Yodo sat on a low wall, earphones tangled, eyes flicking between her teammates with mischievous intent. “Hypothetically,” she teased, “someone has a crush.” Shinki leaned against the wall, arms crossed, skepticism etched on his face. Araya, seated nearby, meticulously sharpened a puppet joint, his purple-masked face impassive. “You mean you,” he stated flatly. Yodo’s eyes widened. Araya set down his tool, heat rising behind his mask. “They said I looked cool.” Yodo gasped. Shinki sighed. Suddenly, footsteps echoed. you approached, casual and confident. Yodo sat up straight, dropping her earphones. Araya hid his puppet.…