Sasuke stood frozen, unable to get a single word out. His usually calm expression was nowhere to be seen—his eyes flickered nervously, and even his shoulders trembled ever so slightly. For someone as proud as him, this was a rare sight.
"T-this…" he began awkwardly.
Hinata looked at him with gentle surprise. "What is it?"
Sasuke clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "…Can you teach me the trick to tree-climbing training?"
Hinata blinked, taken aback for a moment. Her heart skipped. Not because of the question itself, but because—after all this time—Sasuke was finally asking her something directly.
She smiled softly. "Of course."
"Thank you…" Sasuke muttered, bowing his head ever so slightly. The gesture, coming from him, was almost harder than a life-or-death battle. Asking for help was not in his nature—especially not from a classmate.
But Hinata understood him better than he realized. She didn't tease him or make it difficult. With her Byakugan-sharpened perception and calm personality, she simply shared her understanding, insights, and the mistakes she learned from during her own training.
Sasuke listened intently. Relief washed through him as Hinata explained things clearly and concisely. Her perspective helped fill in gaps he'd missed.
Soon, he nodded. "I understand now."
He turned to leave, hesitated, then looked back. "…Thank you."
"You're welcome, Sasuke," Hinata replied warmly. "We're not just classmates—you, Naruto-kun, and I… we're teammates in Team 7."
Sasuke paused again before walking off, this time with a subtle but genuine nod. Hinata watched him go, unable to stop a small smile from forming.
She knew his pride. She knew his goal to surpass Naruto. And she knew that asking someone for guidance—anyone—was monumental for him.
"Naruto-kun… Sasuke…" she murmured.
"As a member of Team 7, I can't be left behind."
With that determination burning in her chest, Hinata immediately returned to her own training.
---
Evening at Tazuna's Home
The sun dipped behind the western horizon. Darkness washed over the small house by the sea. After an entire day of pushing themselves to their limits, the three young shinobi were exhausted. Sweat soaked their clothes and their breathing was ragged.
But thanks to Tazuna and Tsunami's warm insistence, Kakashi led his team inside for dinner.
Naruto and Sasuke attacked their plates with frightening intensity, shoveling mouthful after mouthful like starving wolves. Even eating had become yet another competition.
"Another bowl!" both shouted at once.
Their gazes clashed, sparks erupting instantly.
Naruto growled, "I have to finish eating fast so I can get back to training!"
Sasuke shot back, "Me too!"
Kakashi sighed. "Naruto, Sasuke… hard work is good, but resting is important too—especially at your age."
Naruto raised a hand immediately. "Kakashi-sensei! I already train until midnight every day before sleeping!"
"And now that we're on a high-risk mission, sleeping early is impossible!"
Sasuke scoffed. "Midnight? I train until one or two in the morning."
Naruto slammed a hand against the table. "I train even while I'm asleep!"
Kakashi and Hinata exchanged a look—one filled with disbelief.
Of course he didn't.
But the pair couldn't be stopped. After dinner, both immediately shot out to continue training. Hinata followed with a polite bow.
"Kakashi-sensei… I'll train as well."
"Alright," Kakashi replied.
Tazuna frowned deeply. "Kakashi-sensei… is it really safe for them to be out late at night?"
Kakashi reassured him, "With their current power, trouble won't find them easily. Besides, protecting you is still our mission priority."
Tazuna lowered his head. "I'm… I'm sorry. I hid my mission rank and dragged you into danger…"
"We chose to continue," Kakashi said with a small smile. "Team 7 sees a mission through."
Just then Tsunami called out, "Inari? Where are you going?"
"I'm just… taking a walk," the boy replied without looking back.
Tazuna sighed and exchanged glances with Kakashi. "Let's go check on them. I'm still worried."
Kakashi nodded. "Let's go."
And so, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata trained deep into the night—until Kakashi gently told them that Tazuna's family couldn't rest if they didn't stop. Reluctantly, the trio returned indoors.
The next day was the same.
And the third day…
Sasuke finally climbed nearly to the top of the tall tree. Hinata's water-walking mastery was also nearly complete.
Only Naruto seemed nowhere close to finishing…
By afternoon, Sasuke and Hinata had completed their training and passed Kakashi's inspection. Filled with pride, the two walked together to check on Naruto.
Sasuke frowned the moment he saw the scene. Hinata gasped softly.
"W-what…"
Naruto stood in the clearing like a small hurricane generator.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A roaring blast of wind tore across the training field.
"Wind Release: Cutting Breeze!"
Sharp slicing winds followed immediately after.
Naruto alternated between massive, destructive wind techniques and delicate leaf-cutting chakra control—his face a mixture of exhaustion and burning determination. Every breath was heavy, but his eyes were fierce.
Hinata whispered, "N-Naruto-kun… what kind of training is this?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Even he was impressed.
Kakashi explained calmly. The more he spoke, the more stunned Sasuke and Hinata became.
"This… this is even possible?" Hinata asked in disbelief.
Kakashi shrugged lightly. "Of course, ordinary people can't do it."
"Ordinary people," he emphasized, "but Naruto doesn't want to be ordinary."
Both Sasuke and Hinata felt something tighten in their chest.
Naruto, panting heavily, still didn't stop.
"I'm… not done yet…" he gasped. "Before today ends… I'll master both techniques… at the same time!"
Even Tazuna and Inari, who had come to watch, could only shake their heads in awe.
Then—
Kakashi suddenly stiffened.
The small romance novel he was reading—"Make-Out Paradise"—dipped in his hand.
His visible eye sharpened, staring into the distance.
A cold, unnatural mist began spreading rapidly across the forest.
"No… this presence…"
Kakashi's entire demeanor changed in an instant.
"!! Naruto! Sasuke! Hinata!"
"Enemy attack! Protect Tazuna!"
Sasuke and Hinata immediately moved—fast, precise, instinctual. They placed themselves at Tazuna's sides in a defensive stance.
Naruto, however, was still catching his breath and didn't react fast enough. His body—and his countless Shadow Clones—were swallowed by the thickening fog.
Kakashi lunged forward—
A gleaming blade slashed out from the mist.
A massive, brutal executioner's sword.
It flew straight toward Tazuna with murderous intent.
Even though Sasuke and Hinata were guarding him, the strike was too sudden, too heavy, too lethal.
"Got you," a chilling voice hissed.
Then—!
CLANG!
A thunderous metallic clash split the air. Sparks exploded as Kakashi appeared between Tazuna and the monstrous blade, blocking it perfectly with a single kunai.
The attacker's eyes widened.
"Well, well…" he said with a low voice. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. I didn't expect him to be the one protecting the old man."
"Konoha's Copy Ninja…"
"Hatake Kakashi. The man of the Sharingan."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"Zabuza Momochi. Rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist. Former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Both men's names were infamous across the entire shinobi world. Even Sasuke and Hinata felt their hearts tighten at the sight of the two monsters facing off.
Zabuza smirked. "Your reaction time is impressive… but shouldn't you be more worried?"
"Your student—lost in this mist—may already be dead."
Kakashi's voice remained calm.
"You underestimate Naruto."
"Whether it's clones or teammates—nothing about beating Naruto is easy."
"Because…"
"He's this year's number one Konoha graduate."
"And he is… a true ninja I acknowledge."
Kakashi's words echoed with pride.
And with that—
The battle truly began.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)