The next morning, Kakashi gathered Team 7 early for a new training session. The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, casting a pale orange glow across the village of the Wave Country. The air was fresh, with a light breeze rustling the trees and carrying the scent of the ocean. Kakashi, always up before everyone else, was already standing near a large tree with his arms crossed, waiting for his students to arrive.
Sasuke was the first to arrive, his usual scowl present as he adjusted his headband. Naruto, ever enthusiastic, was next, his loud voice ringing through the quiet air. Sakura, determined as always, came shortly after, her pace steady and sure.
"Alright, everyone," Kakashi said, his voice casual but firm. "Today, we'll be doing a bit of a test. I want to see how well you can adapt to different challenges. We'll start with climbing trees."
The team looked at him curiously. Tree climbing wasn't exactly an unheard-of exercise for ninjas, but there was always something strange about Kakashi's approach.
"How are we supposed to climb trees?" Naruto asked, scratching his head. "I mean, just... like, climb?"
Kakashi nodded, his tone nonchalant. "That's right. You'll be using chakra to stick to the tree's surface. Just like I showed you with walking on water. First, I want to see who can get to the top of the tree the fastest."
With that, the team scrambled to begin. They all turned toward the large tree, its bark thick and sturdy, and placed their hands on the trunk to begin the climb. Kakashi stood back, watching as the team focused on their task.
Sasuke was the first to make significant progress, his movements swift and precise as he channeled chakra to his feet. His natural talent for ninjutsu made this exercise seem easy. He reached the halfway point before anyone else.
Naruto, as expected, struggled, his foot slipping as he tried to climb up. "Ugh! This is stupid!" he complained, but he didn't give up. His determination to prove himself kept him pushing through, trying again and again.
Sakura, on the other hand, was surprisingly efficient. She focused on maintaining her chakra control, making steady progress. Before long, she was nearly at the top, faster than even Sasuke.
Kakashi watched with mild interest. As expected, Sakura had a natural aptitude for chakra control, something that had been clear in their earlier training. But this wasn't just a test of chakra control—it was also a test of resolve, adaptability, and endurance.
Soon enough, the first person to reach the top was Sakura. She stood proudly at the peak of the tree, breathing heavily but with a sense of satisfaction.
"Well done, Sakura," Kakashi said with a small smile, though it was hidden behind his mask. "But that's only the beginning. Now, I'm going to show you something special."
Sakura blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Kakashi turned, walking down to the water's edge nearby, where the river flowed gently through the village. The cool water sparkled in the morning light, rippling gently in the breeze. "Follow me," he said, his voice carrying a touch of intrigue.
Sakura, still unsure of what was going on, glanced at Sasuke and Naruto, both of whom were still trying to scramble up the tree. She followed Kakashi, her curiosity piqued.
When they reached the edge of the water, Kakashi turned to her. "Alright, now watch carefully. I'm going to show you how to walk on water, just like we did during our mission." He paused, making sure Sakura was paying attention. "You've already shown good chakra control with the tree climb. Now, I'm going to push that control even further. You'll need to concentrate harder this time, but I think you're ready for it."
Sakura nodded, determined. "I'll do my best."
Kakashi glanced out at the river, where the surface seemed almost too peaceful for what was about to happen. He stepped forward, his foot hovering just above the water for a moment before he placed it on the surface. With a light tap, his foot stayed firmly on the water, and he slowly moved forward.
"You see, it's all about maintaining a steady flow of chakra to your feet. The key is control. Too much, and you'll crash through. Too little, and you'll fall. But just the right amount…" Kakashi turned, looking back at Sakura with a smirk that was barely visible. "The right amount will keep you walking on water."
Sakura nodded and concentrated. Her hands reached down to form the hand seals for chakra control, just as Kakashi had instructed her before. She exhaled slowly, focusing on her chakra flow.
Kakashi was silent, watching her every move carefully. He could tell she was getting frustrated with the challenge, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to maintain her balance.
"Focus," Kakashi said. "Don't let your mind wander. This is a test of your willpower. You've got the chakra control already. Now use it to push past your limits."
Sakura took a deep breath, her mind clearing. With one final push of chakra, she took a step forward—and then another. Slowly but surely, she was walking on the water, her feet staying perfectly balanced on the surface. It wasn't as graceful as Kakashi, but it was enough.
Kakashi gave her a nod of approval. "Not bad. You're doing well."
Sakura looked down, surprised. She was actually walking on water! Her excitement bubbled over, but she quickly controlled it. "I did it!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah," Kakashi replied, his voice neutral. "But that's only the start. The real challenge comes when you have to keep your balance while moving quickly."
Sakura didn't argue, already feeling the exhaustion of the challenge. But she was still determined to push forward. "I can do it!"
As Kakashi continued to guide her through the movements, he noticed Sasuke and Naruto both finally making their way to the edge of the water, their frustrations from the tree climb still visible. Kakashi, however, was focused on Sakura, watching as she steadily improved her technique.
He knew the road ahead would be full of challenges. They had yet to face the real dangers of their mission. But this—this was important. The toll system was in place, and the mission was still ongoing. Kakashi needed them to grow, to learn these skills for what would eventually come.
Sasuke, now on the ground after a few failed attempts to climb the tree, finally looked over at the scene with a quiet, almost reluctant approval. "Sakura's doing better than I thought."
Naruto, meanwhile, still couldn't figure out how to climb the tree, let alone walk on water, but Kakashi knew that was a process. He was a stubborn one, that kid.
But for now, Kakashi let his thoughts drift back to Sakura. She's improving fast. Maybe faster than even the original Kakashi ever saw. This is going to be important later. I'll need all the help I can get.