Chapter 126: Ending (III): Everyone's Path
"Disband?" The three of them repeated in surprise at the same time.
Sakura thought for a moment, and connecting it to the so-called "plot," she quickly realized what was happening.
Naruto and Sasuke, however, were greatly perplexed.
"What's wrong with Team 7? Why is it being disbanded?" Sasuke asked, dumbfounded. The news was so explosive that he could no longer maintain his usual cool expression.
"That's right, Kakashi-sensei, did you misspeak!" Naruto shouted even more agitatedly.
Kakashi waved his hand, signaling for Naruto and Sasuke not to get too excited. "Listen to me, you three."
"Naruto, Jiraiya-sama has already accepted you as his disciple... Starting from tomorrow, he will be taking you away from Konoha to begin a special training that will last for two to three years or more!"
Taking in the expressions of the three, Kakashi continued, "So, Naruto will be leaving us for a period of time. And you, Sakura, Lady Tsunade will have special arrangements for you recently... so you can no longer stay in Team 7 either. In that case, Team 7 can only be disbanded."
"Then what about me?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi gave him a faint look. "You, of course, will be with me, Sasuke. If your future development direction is Lightning Style and the Sharingan, then I can still teach you a few things in that regard..."
"Is that true? But Uncle Jiraiya didn't tell me about this!"
Besides being shocked, the yellow-haired boy was also incredibly dejected. The news that Team 7 was disbanding and that he was leaving Konoha was just too shocking. For a moment, Naruto simply couldn't accept it.
"Jiraiya-sama asked me to tell you this first. He will tell you himself later," Kakashi said, looking at the downcast Naruto and comforting him. "It's only for two or three years away from Konoha. You'll be back soon."
"Naruto, I can't teach you much more... By staying with Jiraiya-sama, accepting his training, and becoming his disciple, you can truly grow up! Don't be reluctant to leave, Naruto. You're a man who is going to become Hokage. To become Hokage, you can't give up on moving forward just because of a little emotion like this!"
"Starting from tomorrow, you will be walking your own ninja path! I hope you remember..."
"Uzumaki Naruto is a student whom I, Hatake Kakashi, have personally acknowledged and am proud of!"
Kakashi smiled faintly and gave Naruto a thumbs-up.
"Keep it up! I look forward to you having surpassed your teacher when you return!"
Kakashi said solemnly.
He really rarely spoke his heartfelt words to his three students like this. It was a bit stiff, but he was sincerely encouraging and blessing Naruto.
And Naruto, that crybaby, was already in tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
Kakashi walked over, patted his shoulder, and said nothing.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Only the sound of Naruto's crying could be heard.
The air seemed to quiet down. This sad atmosphere was really hard to get used to.
This atmosphere was really too solemn, a little hard to adapt to. Sakura felt that the atmosphere of Team 7 should be light-hearted and noisy. Why were her own eyes also getting sore?
It was clearly Kakashi, who had suddenly become sentimental, who had gotten the style wrong. They should be laughing.
She should have thought that this day would come long ago.
Why did she also feel such a strong reluctance to part?
"Kakashi-sensei, why are you being so serious!" Sakura forced a smile, breaking the strange silence. "Really, it makes people very uncomfortable."
Kakashi then turned his gaze to Haruno Sakura, this student of Team 7 with the worst aptitude, yet the highest strength, and the fastest growth.
"Sakura..."
"Speaking of which, I'm quite ashamed. As a teacher, I haven't been able to teach you anything. Your ninjutsu, your training, you've always completed it on your own. I haven't been able to help you much. Fortunately, you weren't affected by a delinquent teacher like me and have instead grown up quickly."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head and said with a wry smile.
"You're already Tsunade's disciple... you have to keep working hard in the future too!"
He patted Sakura's head, feeling a little emotional in his heart.
The first time he had formally met this child, he could easily see the crown of her head. And now, the top of the girl's head could already reach his chin.
She had grown a lot. All three students of Team 7 had!
"You all came from Team 7... you can't tarnish the name of Team 7 in the future!"
The three of them nodded vigorously.
Kakashi silently extended his hand.
Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke also tacitly placed their hands on top of his.
Just like the posture he had had them make during their first mission, when he had emphasized the importance of teamwork to them.
Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto looked at each other.
"Team 7 will definitely gather together again in the future!" Sakura said, wiping the corner of her eye.
"Hmph, of course! We'll just wait a few years for Naruto to come back, and then Team 7 will be reformed!"
Sakura clasped her hands behind her head and looked up at the sky.
The sky was exceptionally blue.
There were no clouds, and the sun was brilliant.
It was a good day for a farewell.
Her thoughts were unsettled.
Naruto's departure? This is the last "plot point" before Shippuden, isn't it? Sure enough, with my disturbance of the Naruto world, this kind of thing still wasn't changed by my butterfly effect.
However, there were still many things that had been changed. For example, in the Konoha Crush plan, the Third had not died, and Orochimaru's hands had not been sealed, his soul not damaged, so he did not need to be in a hurry to change bodies.
The curse mark that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke had been handled very well, so he was not affected by that dark chakra, let alone resonating with the curse mark as in the original story. Thus, Orochimaru was not sure he could lure Sasuke out.
Finally, the Sound Four had not been forcefully sent by Orochimaru to Konoha to abduct Sasuke—the Konoha here was not the heavily damaged Konoha of the original story. Not to mention the Sound Four, even a Sound Forty would probably not be able to complete such a mission.
The Sound Four had thus picked up a dog's life. Sakura sneered.
Then what about the places she couldn't see? The Akatsuki duo who had once attacked Kakashi and the others in the original story?
Sakura had not seen or heard of them. Things seemed to have passed peacefully. She did not know that Itachi and Kisame had once observed Konoha from a close distance, nor did she know that the two of them had, just by taking a glance, discovered that Konoha had not been seriously damaged, and had therefore canceled the action from the original story.
Because the Third had not died, Itachi also did not need to use that action to warn the now-powerful Danzo not to lay a hand on Sasuke.
But other than that, the gentle breeze that this little butterfly Sakura had stirred up for now could not yet blow upon the "Akatsuki."
The Akatsuki's plan was still proceeding step by step and had not changed because of some differences in Konoha from the original story.
Jiraiya, still as in the original story, had taken on the responsibility of monitoring and investigating the Akatsuki, as well as training Naruto.
And the "plot" that Sakura knew, at this point, had basically ended.
The road of the future, which way should she go?
Naruto and Sasuke already had their own paths to walk. Then what about her?
After Kakashi announced the disbandment, Sakura and the others had a farewell party for Naruto.
Although none of them were of drinking age, everyone made an exception and had a few drinks with Naruto.
At the time of parting, even the simplest reminiscing of shared past events was filled with a sentimental and touching atmosphere.
The few who had gotten drunk were even more emotional, one moment crying, the next laughing.
By the end of the party, Sakura was slightly tipsy, her face flushed red. She had probably already forgotten what she had said.
A night passed without a word.
The next day at noon, the sun was bright. It was a good day for a long journey.
At the Konoha main gate, a group of people was bidding a reluctant farewell to Naruto.
"Naruto, say goodbye to everyone!" Jiraiya said, patting Naruto's shoulder and pushing him forward.
"Hmph, you dead-last... don't let me leave you too far behind. I won't wait for you!" Sasuke said, giving him a firm high-five.
"Take care, Naruto!" Sakura gave him a big hug.
"Do your best, Naruto-kun!" Hinata smiled demurely and waved her hand.
"Have a safe trip, Naruto!" Kakashi ruffled Naruto's messy hair.
The words of farewell had already been said yesterday. Naruto smiled brilliantly and said no more.
He just raised his right hand and gave a thumbs-up.
"Goodbye!"
Goodbye is for the sake of meeting again.
They kept watching as Naruto and Jiraiya departed, until they disappeared from sight.
Kakashi turned his head. "Let's go!"
Sakura nodded.
Everyone then dispersed, each walking their own path.
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