As Danny walked hand in hand with Sam, his mind buzzed with conflicting emotions. He had just regained control of his body, but the memory of Naruto's confidence lingered. The kiss he'd witnessed—his kiss—played on repeat in his head, leaving a strange mix of longing and frustration.
It looked so easy when Naruto did it. Why can't I just do that? Danny thought, glancing at Sam's serene expression. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed, her smile warm and content. She seemed completely unaware of his inner turmoil.
And then Naruto's voice echoed in his mind.
"Now it's time for school, Danny. Go and beat up one of your bullies today. Use the weak one and utilize some creativity. Your father's a fountain of it, so you must've inherited something."
The words sent a chill down Danny's spine. He stumbled slightly, his grip on Sam's hand tightening as his legs momentarily faltered.
Sam noticed and turned to him with concern. "Danny? Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Danny said, forcing a smile that he hoped looked genuine. "Just, uh... praying for our success today. You know, school and all."
Sam raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced but too wrapped up in her feelings to press the issue. "You're acting weird today," she said with a soft laugh, brushing it off.
Danny exhaled in relief, but his thoughts were anything but calm. He could already picture the events of the day unfolding—the inevitable confrontation with Dash Baxter and his gang, the relentless taunts, the shoves into lockers.
Piñata day, he thought grimly, his shoulders slumping. And I'm the piñata.
Naruto's voice returned, sharp and teasing. "God won't help you here, Danny. You've got me now. So stop praying and start planning."
Danny grimaced. Naruto's "help" always seemed to come with a dose of chaos. Why do I feel like this is going to be worse than usual?
Sam tugged on his arm, bringing him back to the present. "Come on, let's hurry, or we'll be late."
Danny nodded, his forced smile still in place as he followed her toward the school. Deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that today was going to be anything but normal.
As Danny entered the school grounds, he felt the weight of countless stares. Whispers followed him like an echo, a mix of curiosity and mockery. The students were buzzing with gossip about yesterday—the incident with Pauline and the aftermath of Dash's aggression. But the biggest reason for the attention was Sam. With her hair down and an aura of quiet confidence, she looked striking. Her closeness to Danny, her hand firmly clasped in his, only fueled the intrigue.
Danny wasn't blind to their whispers, but his focus was elsewhere. The day ahead promised tension.
They're waiting for a show, he thought grimly, catching snippets of laughter and murmurs as he walked. And knowing my luck, I'm the main act.
His stomach churned at the thought. A confrontation with Dash felt inevitable, and it wasn't going to end well if history was any indication.
Danny's thoughts wandered to Naruto's instructions. Pick a fight with one of them. Use creativity. Right, because that'll totally stop me from getting my bones broken.
An idea sparked. He turned to Sam, his lifeline in moments like these. "Sam, if I beat one of those jocks today, how do I make sure they keep it to themselves?"
Sam glanced up at him, her sharp mind catching on immediately. "You're planning something, aren't you?"
"Maybe," Danny admitted.
Sam thought for a moment. "You need leverage. If you can remind them they got beaten by Danny Fenton—and you have proof to share with the school—they'll stay quiet. Their reputation would be ruined. Think about it. Who'd want to admit they got taken down by the 'wimp' of Casper High?"
Danny nodded, understanding the logic. It was brilliant and cruel—a perfect plan to keep the jocks in check. "Thanks, Sam," he said with a small smile.
Sam tilted her head, clearly expecting more. Her eyes softened, and her lips parted ever so slightly. Danny's heart raced as he realized what she wanted. She's waiting for me to kiss her again.
Summoning his courage, he leaned in and placed a quick peck on her forehead. It wasn't much, but it was a step.
Sam smiled warmly, hugging him closer. "I love you so much."
Her words sent a pleasant shiver down Danny's spine. For a brief moment, all the tension melted away as he let himself enjoy her affection.
The moment shattered when Dash Baxter bumped into him, hard. Danny stumbled but caught himself before Sam could fall.
"Watch it, fen-turd," Dash growled, his voice dripping with hostility.
Danny clenched his fists, glaring at Dash. Fear might have ruled him before, but Naruto's influence was changing that. The anger and determination he felt weren't his alone—they were borrowed from someone far stronger.
"It's okay," Sam whispered, gently cupping his face. "With time, he'll know his place."
Danny nodded, though the fire in his eyes didn't dim. Together, they walked into class, where more hostile stares greeted him.
Paulina sat in her usual spot, her flawless appearance untouched by the venom in her gaze. She glared at Danny as though he'd committed an unforgivable crime. Her beauty, amplified by her fury, still tugged at Danny's heart.
She's so beautiful, Danny thought wistfully, even as he felt Naruto's voice rumble in his head.
"Just improve, and she'll be between your legs. Trust me, I know all kinds of women."
Danny shivered. The bluntness of Naruto's words was unnerving, but the vision they painted was... tempting.
"You don't mind me doing that, even with Sam here?" Danny asked hesitantly.
"That's your choice. I don't care about relationships like that. But don't get stupid about it. Paulina has looks and charm, sure, but give it time. You'll start to see what others see."
Danny glanced back at Paulina, her beauty a mix of fire and ice. For the first time, he wondered if he could turn his crush into reality.
Maybe Naruto's right. I can get the girls. I just need to believe in myself... and maybe break a few rules.
Danny spent the morning focusing in class, doing his best to take notes and pay attention. Though his motivation was high, the realization that he lacked the knowledge to truly excel gnawed at him. It was frustrating to sit through the lesson knowing he couldn't stand out as he wanted to.
This is the worst part of all this, Danny thought bitterly. But he reminded himself there was a bigger picture—this was just a stepping stone.
When the lunch bell rang, he made his way to the back of the gym. It was a secluded spot, ideal for what he had planned. As he approached, he spotted two jocks lounging, clearly not expecting company.
It was a rare opportunity. These guys usually stuck together in larger groups, making it difficult to catch them off guard. Danny's stomach churned with nerves, but he forced himself to step forward.
"Hello, guys. I hope you're having a wonderful time," Danny said, his voice steady despite his nerves.
The jocks glanced at him, momentarily surprised before smirking.
"Well, look who it is—boy wonder," one of them sneered, getting up. "What, come to offer yourself on a silver platter? Pauline's gonna love this."
The other jock, still seated, took a puff of his cigarette and watched with bored disinterest, expecting an easy beatdown.
Danny felt his instincts screaming at him to run, but he ignored them. As the first jock swung his fist, Danny reacted on instinct. He dodged, his eyes sharper than they'd ever been. Without hesitation, he countered, landing a punch squarely on the jock's nose.
The impact surprised both of them. The jock stumbled back, clutching his face.
But the fight was far from over. The jock retaliated with a wild swing, catching Danny on the cheek. Pain exploded across his face as he fell to the ground.
"Fenton, I'm gonna kill you!" the jock yelled, his voice muffled by the blood now streaming from his nose.
Danny didn't give him the chance. Gritting his teeth, he rolled to the side and kicked upward with all his strength. His foot connected with the jock's face, sending him sprawling onto his back.
Before the jock could recover, Danny climbed on top of him and locked him in a chokehold.
"Do you give up?" Danny asked, panting hard. His body screamed in protest, his stamina nearly spent.
The jock struggled, his fists pounding weakly against Danny's arms. Finally, he tapped the ground in surrender.
Danny loosened his grip and stood up, wobbling slightly. "Good. Now, remember who beat you. Tell everyone. And just in case you forget, I've got it all recorded."
The second jock, who had remained on the sidelines, suddenly looked nervous. "Bro, we were just messing around. No need to take it that far!" He glanced around and spotted Sam, standing a short distance away with her phone raised.
Danny smirked. "Messing around, huh? Then you owe me one. Both of you."
"Okay, okay," the second jock said hastily, raising his hands in surrender.
Satisfied, Danny walked away, his body aching but his spirits soaring. Blood trickled from a gash on his leg, and his back throbbed with pain, but nothing could dampen the thrill of victory.
What a feeling! Danny thought, almost moaning in delight. He had done it. He had taken down one of his tormentors and gained leverage in the process.
Naruto's voice echoed in his mind. Not bad, kid. Just remember—keep your cool, and don't get cocky. You're on your way, but this is just the beginning.
Danny grinned, ignoring the pain as he limped back toward Sam. She greeted him with a proud smile, clearly impressed.
"You're lucky the other guy didn't jump in," Naruto muttered.
Danny nodded internally. The fight could've gone very differently if both jocks had attacked at once. His hesitation to aim for debilitating weak points had been a gamble, but he didn't regret it. Going too far would have had serious consequences.
For now, he'd savor his small victory—and the growing respect that came with it.
As Danny limped back toward Sam, Naruto's voice resonated in his mind, carrying a mix of approval and subtle criticism.
"You passed—and better than I expected since you did it clean."
Danny's lips curled into a small smile. The pain from his injuries was manageable, overshadowed by the pride he felt in finally standing up for himself.
"Thanks," Danny replied silently. "Can I get the options for the rewards?"
Naruto didn't disappoint. A list materialized in Danny's mind, each option tempting in its own way:
Vehicle MasteryMusical Instruments MasteryGeographyHistoryPhysicsBiologyChemistryComputerWeapon MasteryArtsTrapsConstructionLady KillerSexual SkillsTrainerBusiness SkillsMedicineSurgeryMechanics
Naruto's voice added, "You can only gain a piece from one of these, so my advice is to choose traps or weapons. They're the most practical for survival and combat."
Danny studied the list, feeling the weight of the decision. His logical side understood Naruto's reasoning—traps or weapons would offer an edge in dealing with enemies. But another part of him, the side still reeling from awkward encounters and self-doubt, saw another opportunity.
"Give me Lady Killer," Danny said confidently, surprising even himself.
Naruto paused for a moment before replying, "A fine choice." There was an unspoken layer in his words—a subtle hint that other options might have been more beneficial in the grand scheme. But Naruto refrained from pushing, allowing Danny to enjoy his decision.
A rush of knowledge flooded Danny's mind—body language, charm, conversational techniques, and an intuitive understanding of what made interactions with girls flow naturally. Confidence bloomed within him, like a shield against his lingering insecurities.
As the influx of information settled, Danny straightened his posture slightly, the nervous energy that had defined his earlier encounters fading away. Sam noticed the change immediately.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as she took in his injuries.
Danny nodded, flashing her a confident smile. "I'm fine. Just another day for Danny Fenton."
Sam raised an eyebrow but returned his smile, finding his newfound confidence oddly attractive.
Naruto's voice echoed once more in Danny's mind. "Enjoy the boost, kid. But don't let it go to your head. Confidence is good—arrogance will get you in trouble."
Danny smirked inwardly. "Don't worry. I've got this."
And for the first time in a long while, he truly believed it.