Hatake was caught off guard.
The punch came in a flash—fast, brutal, and completely unexpected.
The force behind it made him question, if only for a moment, whether Caleb was truly human.
Naya and Julia were just as stunned, both caught off guard by the speed with which Caleb had closed the distance.
'No one kisses my girl and gets away without a punch,' Caleb said, flashing Naya a confident smile.
Naya froze. For a second, it didn't register—then his words echoed in her head.
Her eyes widened slightly as a wave of red crept up from her chin, coloring her face like a ripe tomato.
'W-What are you saying?!' she snapped, flustered. But her expression betrayed her, the embarrassment written all over her face.
'I said what I said,' Caleb replied smoothly, locking eyes with her.
Naya went quiet. Her heart was pounding, each beat like a drum in her ears. But looking into his eyes... she felt a sudden calm wash over her. A strange sense of safety.
