Soon, the other students left, leaving only Team 7 behind. Naruto and Sasuke sat quietly in the classroom, each lost in their own thoughts. Sasuke was still processing the information they'd just received, while Naruto was methodically organizing it in his mind.
[Genjutsu +5, Ninjutsu +3, Chakra Control +2...]
The familiar string of notifications echoed in Naruto's head, but by now he was completely used to it.
Only Sakura seemed restless. She kept glancing around, her eyes drifting toward Sasuke from time to time. When she realized neither boy was paying her any attention, her earlier excitement at being in the same team as Sasuke began to fade.
She grumbled inwardly, annoyed that their new instructor clearly had no sense of punctuality.
After venting to herself, she once again looked at Sasuke, her gaze dreamy. Naruto and Sasuke were known as the "Twin Stars" of their class, but Sakura's heart had long since chosen Sasuke—his cool, aloof demeanor and striking looks easily eclipsed Naruto in her eyes.
But as the minutes dragged on, her boredom deepened.
"I'm so bored. How about we chat?" she suddenly blurted, her voice echoing loudly in the near-empty classroom.
Sasuke frowned and opened his eyes, his expression cold.
"Can you be quiet? Instead of wasting time talking, you should focus on strengthening your skills."
His sharp words struck Sakura like a slap, leaving her speechless. A flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks, and she felt a sting of grievance.
But Sasuke ignored her sulking expression and closed his eyes again, sinking back into thought. Inwardly, he wondered why a hothouse flower like her had been placed on their team at all. Right now, her strength was barely even at Genin level.
"Hmph! If you don't want to chat, then fine. No need to snap at me," Sakura muttered under her breath, pouting as she slumped back into her seat.
Naruto, who had been quietly watching, opened his eyes for a moment but said nothing. His earlier disdain for Sakura had faded somewhat, but he wasn't about to act like the lovesick fool he had been in the original timeline. He and Sasuke carried burdens too heavy for trivial distractions. Whether Sakura grew stronger or not wasn't his concern.
Still… if she had the drive and dedication of Rock Lee, then maybe Naruto would take her more seriously.
Time crawled by. Sakura grew more and more restless, and even Naruto began to think Kakashi's games were a little boring.
In truth, Naruto had already sensed Kakashi's presence nearly fifteen minutes earlier. Their Jonin instructor had been observing them from the shadows, deliberately testing their patience and reactions.
Compared to Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke had held themselves well, which pleased Kakashi. But Sakura… she was still just a lovestruck girl with no real sense of discipline.
Finally, the door slid open, and Kakashi Hatake strolled in, his usual laid-back demeanor on display. Sakura's eyes instantly lit up.
'He's finally here!' she cheered inwardly.
"Yo," Kakashi said casually. "I'm Kakashi Hatake, your Jonin instructor. From now on, you'll be under my guidance. Follow me."
Without further explanation, he led them to the rooftop.
"Let's start with introductions," Kakashi announced lazily.
"We'll get to know each other better that way. I'll go first: My name is Kakashi Hatake. I have many likes. As for dislikes… I'd rather not say."
He delivered the words in his typical half-hearted, disinterested tone, his single visible eye curved in a faint smile.
Sakura blinked. That's it? All I learned was his name!
"Kakashi-sensei, do we really need to do this?" Sasuke asked quietly.
Kakashi gave him a sharp look, then flicked him lightly on the forehead. "Introductions aren't for me. They're for your team. You three need to learn about each other if you're going to work together."
Naruto stepped forward first, his grin confident.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. My dream is world peace. I want to protect the people I care about. I like Hinata, the food I cook myself, and Ichiraku Ramen!"
Sakura's turn came next. She hesitated, sneaking a glance at Sasuke before speaking with a shy expression.
"My name is Sakura Haruno. What I like is… well, a certain person." Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"As for dislikes, I don't have any right now."
Her words were almost identical to before, though perhaps subtly influenced by Naruto's earlier changes.
Kakashi sighed inwardly, a trace of helplessness in his eye.
She really is just a girl wrapped up in love. Can she really keep up with these two?
Finally, Sasuke spoke in his cool, clipped tone.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are many things I dislike, but very few I like. My goal… is to restore my clan and kill a certain man."
Kakashi nodded.
"Good. Now listen carefully. Tomorrow at 6 a.m., we'll have a test. If you fail, you'll be deemed unqualified and sent back to the academy. Don't be late."
With that, his figure vanished in a puff of smoke.
Naruto and Sasuke turned to leave as well, but Sakura quickly stopped them.
"Wait! Shouldn't we discuss a strategy? If we fail the test tomorrow, we'll all be sent back to the academy!"
Naruto turned to Sakura with a small smile.
"Don't worry, it won't be too hard. Just remember to eat breakfast before you come tomorrow! Anyone who knows Kakashi-sensei knows why."
With that, Naruto and Sasuke left the classroom, leaving Sakura to sit in thought.
Far away, outside the gates of the Sound Village, a lone figure approached. The sudden presence immediately drew the attention of several patrolling shinobi.
"Who's there?! How dare you trespass into the territory of the Sound!"
One of the Genin shouted, his forehead protector gleaming under the light.
"Wait."
The squad leader raised his hand, stopping his subordinates. There was something familiar about the ragged figure before them. His clothes were torn and covered in dust, but his presence… unmistakable.
"This is… Lord Orochimaru?!"
Shock turned to elation. The leader's eyes widened, and he rushed forward to greet him. Orochimaru had been gone from the Sound for months—his sudden return filled them all with relief and excitement. Every shinobi in the village was a devoted follower; to them, Orochimaru was more than a leader—he was their foundation.
But Orochimaru himself barely acknowledged the state he was in. His pale face was unreadable, though a fleeting trace of satisfaction crossed his lips.
"Bring Kabuto to me."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"
The shinobi scattered, carrying out his command as Orochimaru strode into the heart of the village.
Within the Sound Village, Orochimaru had already changed into fresh robes, his serpentine presence restored. Kabuto arrived swiftly, his sharp gaze fixed on his master. Yet something about Orochimaru's demeanor seemed… different.
"Kabuto," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes flashing with uncharacteristic excitement. "You cannot begin to imagine what I've discovered."
His tone was almost feverish, as though he could no longer contain the knowledge boiling inside him.
"There is a force that permeates the world, always present, yet invisible. Gravity. But what is its true nature?"
Kabuto stiffened at the question, uncertain how to respond. Orochimaru pressed on, speaking more to himself than to anyone else.
"At first, I could not grasp it. But then—I studied a magnet. That discovery inspired me. There is a hidden power in heaven and earth: attraction."
His voice rose, fervor shining in his eyes.
"Gravity itself is born from this attraction! Yet the question remains—what is gravity, and why does it give rise to itself?"
He began pacing, his voice turning almost reverent.
"From the movements of ships… to the rising and setting of the sun… I reached a bold conclusion: this world is a sphere."
His lips curled into a mad grin.
"And the stars above? They are not mere lights. They are other worlds, just like ours. The shinobi world… is nothing more than a speck of dust in the vastness of existence!"
A fanatic gleam consumed Orochimaru's expression.
Kabuto froze, his breath caught in his throat.
What Lord Orochimaru just said… it's unthinkable!
...
TN:
⚒️ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)