Late at Night
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the village of Konoha. The streets were quiet, and most of the villagers had already retired to their homes for the night. However, in a few houses, the lights still burned brightly.
In one such home, Sakura Haruno stood in her yard, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she practiced her ninjutsu. Her forehead glistened with sweat, and her body trembled with exhaustion. Yet, she refused to stop. The events of the day had left a deep impression on her.
"Sakura, why haven't you gone to bed yet?" her mother called from the doorway, concern etched on her face.
"I just want to practice a little longer," Sakura replied, her voice determined. She clenched her fists, her knuckles white as she recalled the battle between Naruto and Kakashi earlier that day. The sheer difference in their abilities had shaken her to her core.
Even though they had graduated from the academy in the same year, the gap between her and Naruto felt like an insurmountable chasm. She hadn't even been able to follow his movements during the fight. How could she, so weak, possibly stand on the same team as someone like him?
Naruto had always been kind to her, never once criticizing her lack of strength. But that only made her feel worse. She didn't want to be a burden. She wanted to be someone who could stand by his side, someone who could fight alongside him and protect him when the time came.
With renewed determination, Sakura resumed her training, pushing her body to its limits.
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha compound, Sasuke Uchiha was also training. The sound of fireballs exploding echoed across the lake as he practiced his Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique. His face was twisted in frustration.
"No, this isn't enough!" he growled, his voice filled with anger. "This level of power is nowhere near Kakashi's. It's useless!"
He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the day's events. If Naruto hadn't intervened and taken the bell, Kakashi might have ended the fight with a single, decisive strike. The thought filled Sasuke with a sense of inadequacy.
"Is this the strength of a Jonin? It's overwhelming," Sasuke muttered to himself. He thought of Kakashi, who had become a Jonin at the age of twelve, and his brother Itachi, who had become a Chunin at ten. Even Itachi, who was slightly weaker than Kakashi, could easily crush him in a fight.
Sasuke's Sharingan flickered to life, its crimson hue reflecting his frustration. "Is my Sharingan really this weak?" he whispered, his voice trembling with anger. He covered his eyes, recalling the night his brother had slaughtered their clan. Itachi's eyes—those strange, powerful eyes—had haunted him ever since.
"Those eyes… Itachi's strength comes from those eyes," Sasuke realized, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. "If my Sharingan evolves further, I can surpass Naruto. I can surpass everyone."
At the same time, in his modest home, Kakashi Hatake sat at his desk, writing detailed notes on the progress of his new team. He meticulously recorded their strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for improvement. As he wrote, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his students, especially Naruto.
The boy had shown remarkable growth, not just in strength but in maturity as well. Kakashi smiled faintly as he recalled Naruto's words during their earlier conversation. The boy had a way of seeing the bigger picture, of understanding the importance of teamwork and perseverance.
The Next Day
True to form, Kakashi arrived late to meet his team. When he finally showed up, he found Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura sharing a bento lunch and laughing together. They greeted him with smiles, seemingly unfazed by his tardiness.
Kakashi felt a pang of guilt. He had expected them to be annoyed, but instead, they seemed to accept his lateness as part of who he was. It was a small thing, but it made him realize how much he had underestimated their patience and understanding.
"Alright, team," Kakashi said, clapping his hands to get their attention. "Today, we're going to take on some missions. Let's head to the mission assignment office."
The trio followed him eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation. However, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when Kakashi selected several D-rank missions for them.
"Finding a lost cat? Farming? This is a waste of time!" Sasuke complained, crossing his arms.
Sakura nodded in agreement, though she didn't voice her thoughts aloud.
Naruto, however, remained optimistic. "Every mission is a chance to grow," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Finding a cat might seem simple, but it trains our observation and tracking skills. Farming builds endurance. These are the basics, and we need to master them."
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled with a smile. "Well said, Naruto. A good ninja understands the value of every mission, no matter how small."
The team completed their missions with surprising efficiency. For the farming task, Naruto created a dozen shadow clones, each one working diligently in the fields. The clones chatted amiably, their enthusiasm infectious.
"Helping the villagers is its own reward," one clone said, wiping sweat from its brow.
"Farming under the warm sun is a kind of romance," another added with a grin.
Sakura couldn't help but laugh at their antics, while Sasuke rolled his eyes.
The second mission—finding a lost cat—proved more challenging. The cat, a feisty little creature, put up a fierce struggle when they finally cornered it. Sakura's transformation technique ultimately lured it out, but the team couldn't help but wonder why the cat had been so reluctant to return home.
Their questions were answered when they delivered the cat to its owner, a woman whose overbearing affection bordered on terrifying. She clutched the cat tightly, cooing and smothering it with kisses.
"My poor baby! You must have been so scared out there! Don't worry, Mommy will always find you, no matter how many times you run away!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill and unsettling.
The trio exchanged uneasy glances, silently agreeing that they might have done the cat a disservice by bringing it back.
As the day came to an end, Kakashi gathered his team. "Good work today," he said, his tone approving. "You've exceeded my expectations. Rest well tonight, and tomorrow we'll focus on your ninjutsu training. Oh, and try not to be late."
Naruto grinned. "You're one to talk, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi chuckled, a rare sound that brought a smile to his students' faces. For all their differences, they were starting to feel like a real team.