Suien aimed his Water-cutting Sword, a thick but razor-sharp blade of swirling water, at Kakashi. "You are as strong as the rumors I heard about you, but don't underestimate me, Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja!"
Kakashi's thoughts about the Reverse Summoning of Konenmaru under his Genjutsu control faded. He looked back at Suien, raising his own small Tantō, which glinted brightly in his right hand. "So, this is how you want to fight, huh? A Kenjutsu, a Swordsmanship battle, alright, let's see what you have got."
Suien smirked, buoyed by the ease with which Kakashi agreed. His confidence was already high in his own swordsmanship skills, and the sight of Kakashi wielding only a small tantō against his large Water-cutting Sword boosted his ego even further. He charged at Kakashi with a speed that belied his size. His blade moved in a blur, delivering a wide, horizontal slash at Kakashi's neck. Kakashi, his Sharingan reading the trajectory of the sword, responded with a simple, almost lazy step to the side, allowing the blade to pass within inches of his face.
A short distance away, Sasuke watched the battle unfold, his own Two-Tomoe Sharingan spinning in both eyes. He focused on every movement and technique. Suddenly, he held his right hand forward, channeling chakra into his palm. With a soft hiss, a Water-cutting Sword identical to Suien's, though smaller in size, formed in his grip.
"Hey! Did you just copy that bear-looking enemy's Jutsu?!" Naruto's voice was filled with shock at how easily Sasuke had created a similar water blade.
Sakura was equally surprised, and her voice was filled with admiration. "Wow! Sasuke-kun, you are really amazing."
"What's so amazing about it? It's only because of his Sharingan..." Naruto scoffed, crossing his hands behind his head.
"Someone's jealous..." Sasuke smirked at Naruto before the Water-cutting Sword in his hand vanished in a puff of water vapor.
"Huh! I don't even need a Sharingan, I can still defeat you in our Real Battle, Believe It!" Naruto declared, once again crossing his arms over his chest and fixing his gaze on the battle ahead.
"Hmm... Real Battle? What do you mean by 'Real'? Don't you two spar every weekend?" Sakura asked, clearly confused.
"Oh, that! Kakashi-sensei told us that the Chūnin Exams will be held in the next two months, and he wants us to join. He said we should use it to improve our strength," Naruto explained enthusiastically to Sakura.
"Hmm, so... Sensei also told me about the Chūnin Exams and wants me to join as well, saying a full team is needed. But what about that Real Battle you spoke?" Sakura asked again, not fully grasping Naruto's explanation.
"Let me explain this to her," Sasuke said, shaking his head and placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder. He knew Naruto, the knucklehead, wouldn't be able to explain it properly, rather confuse Sakura further.
"Kakashi-sensei told us last week, after I beat him in a spar... Again!" Sasuke said, "He told us that our current strength is nothing to be proud of, and after this mission, he will teach him Fūinjutsu and me the art of Genjutsu. Then, he wants us to use the Chūnin Exams to gain combat experience and further improve our strength. Once that happens, he'll let us have a proper ninja battle, as he expects both of us to be easily at the Jōnin level by then."
"Oh!" Sakura nodded, her mouth forming an "O" as she finally understood. Then her shoulders slumped slightly as she mumbled, "Hah, Kakashi-sensei is really teaching you so much, and for me, it's just Medical Ninjutsu."
Seeing Sakura's look of sadness, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances and nodded to each other. Sasuke was the first to speak, tapping her shoulder. "Ahem... You shouldn't be sad, Sakura. Kakashi also wants you to be strong, don't you remember that he said you will be the pillar of Team 7, as the Healer?"
"Yeah, Sakura-chan, and your medical ninjutsu training has also improved. After all, you were able to heal Shizuku's mother earlier." Naruto added, both of them trying to cheer Sakura up.
Sakura smiled and said, "Thanks, I'm not actually sad, it just feels like Kakashi-sensei sees more potential in you two than in me."
Naruto and Sasuke once again exchanged glances, with Sasuke nodding to Naruto, who then turned back to Sakura. "Um, Sakura-chan, actually Kakashi-sensei told us about it once, and he said not to mention it to you before the Chūnin Exams."
Sakura suddenly tilted her head and looked at both Naruto and Sasuke. "What?" she asked.
"I asked Kakashi-sensei why we couldn't all just train together, and he said that he couldn't teach Sakura what she is truly capable of by himself alone," Naruto said.
"And he told us that he plans to have Tsunade Senju, one of the legendary Sannin, the Sandaime's student, and the Shodaime Hokage's granddaughter, teach you further personally." Sasuke added.
Hearing this, Sakura's expression shifted from general confusion to a mixture of expectation and complete bewilderment. "WHAT?!" She flinched in surprise. "T-t-tsunade-sama, the best Medical Ninja in the world? I've heard a lot about her, especially in the Medical Department. Does sensei really plan to request her to teach me? But isn't she out of the village for a long time?"
"We don't know about that!" Both boys shook their heads, having no knowledge of how or when Kakashi exactly planned to approach Tsunade.
"Sakura-chan, don't mention it to Kakashi-sensei, okay? He told us not to tell you about it." Naruto requested, with Sasuke also nodding.
Sakura's face lit up with a bright smile this time. "Don't worry, I won't say a word to Kakashi-sensei. A... and thank you both, for telling me this."
Sasuke gave a light cough and said, "Ahem, well... we are T... Team after all."
Sakura let out a small laugh before all three of them resumed their gazes back on Kakashi's fight against enemy Leader Suien.