Chapter 20: The Road to Sunset Town
That evening, as Naruto relaxed in his apartment, a sudden influx of memories washed over him—his Shadow Clone on Team 8's mission had dispersed. He sorted through the sensory feedback: the scent of soapy water, Hinata's soft laughter, and Kurenai's resigned sigh.
'Huh? A C-rank mission?' he thought, perking up slightly. 'A bandit-clearing job... shouldn't take too long. I suppose I can humor Kakashi and go.'
He understood the jōnin's motive perfectly. This was a ploy to reintegrate him into the team. But with his relationship with Hinata now on solid, affectionate ground, he figured he could spare a few days for a team mission without any real detriment.
The next morning, Naruto arrived at Konoha's main gate right on time. The morning mist was still clinging to the village walls, and the air was fresh with the promise of a new day.
"Yo, good morning," Naruto greeted, his mood noticeably brighter than usual. He even offered a nod to Sasuke and Sakura.
Sasuke returned a curt glance. "Morning." Since the bell test, a fierce, competitive drive had ignited within him, with Naruto as its primary focus. The old label of 'dead-last' had been completely erased, replaced by the image of a rival whose sudden prowess was both infuriating and, begrudgingly, respectable—especially when he remembered Naruto shoving him to safety.
"Naruto, you're actually on time today. That's a surprise," Sakura commented, a genuine, if small, smile on her face. Her perception of him had also shifted dramatically after his actions during the test. He wasn't just the class clown anymore. And, she had to admit, the clean-shaven face and the neatly styled blond hair blowing in the breeze made him look... rather handsome.
"Even Kakashi showed up," Naruto retorted, nodding toward their sensei, who had just materialized by the gate.
Kakashi offered an awkward smile in return before launching into the mission briefing. "Our objective is Sunset Town, within the Land of Fire. A group of bandits has been harassing the locals. According to the client, the targets are ordinary civilians; there are no shinobi among them."
Sakura's face paled slightly. "Are we... are we going to have to kill people, Kakashi-sensei?"
Three pairs of eyes—Kakashi's weary one, Sasuke's analytical ones, and Naruto's calm ones—turned to her simultaneously. The weight of their gazes made her shrink.
"People die on missions, Sakura," Kakashi said, his voice losing its usual laziness and becoming gravely serious. "It is an unavoidable reality. If you hesitate to kill an enemy who intends to harm you or your comrades, you will be the one who ends up dead. I need you to understand this."
Sakura nodded silently, the comfortable illusion of her peaceful Academy life shattering around her.
Seeing her distress, Naruto stepped closer and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don't overthink it. You'll adapt. Just take it one step at a time."
His words, simple and steady, provided an unexpected anchor. Sakura felt a surge of gratitude, reminiscent of his support during the bell test. 'It's too bad he's with Hinata... Wait, no! What am I thinking? I like Sasuke-kun!' She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the traitorous thought, only to see Sasuke's gaze fixed intently on the road ahead, utterly unaware of her internal struggle. A familiar sense of inadequacy washed over her.
"Let's go, Sakura," Naruto's voice cut through her reverie.
"Right!" she replied, a little too forcefully.
As they passed through the massive gates, leaving the familiar sights and sounds of Konoha behind, both Sasuke and Sakura looked around with wide-eyed curiosity at the world beyond the walls. The dense forests and open roads were a novelty.
Naruto, however, felt no such wonder. The outside world held little appeal for him; his focus was internal. He maintained his signature languid pace, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
After a while, Sakura gathered her courage and fell into step beside Naruto. "Naruto-kun," she began, her voice hesitant. "Can you... tell me how to get stronger? I don't want to be a burden to the team."
Nearby, Sasuke subtly slowed his pace, his ears pricked to catch the answer. How had the boy who was once a laughingstock surpassed him?
"Get stronger?" Naruto repeated, not looking at her. "Just train. Every day."
Sakura's face fell. "Oh." It felt like a dismissal, a brush-off from someone who didn't want to share his secrets.
Sensing her disappointment, Naruto elaborated, his tone patient. "I'm not just being difficult. Think back to the Academy. Did you ever push yourself to your absolute limit? Did you train until you collapsed, then get up and train some more?"
"I..." Sakura floundered, searching for a justification but finding none.
"So, you're not inherently weak," Naruto concluded. "You're just undisciplined."
From the front of the group, Kakashi couldn't help but snort softly. 'Undisciplined? That's rich, coming from you, the king of cutting corners.'
"Is that really it...?" Sakura murmured, lost in self-doubt.
"If you're serious about improving, I'll conduct some special training for you and Sasuke after we deal with the bandits," Kakashi interjected, turning his head slightly.
Naruto glanced at him, surprised, then reverted to his bored expression. "I'll pass. That kind of basic training is useless to me."
"Even so, you're not skipping out!" Kakashi retorted, seeing right through him. 'Trying to rush back to your girlfriend? Not a chance.'
Naruto shot his sensei a look of pure, unadulterated annoyance, mentally cataloging a dozen new grievances.
"Special training? Naruto, do you know what he has planned?" Sakura asked, a spark of hope returning to her eyes.
Naruto simply shrugged. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, let's just focus on the road."
As they walked, a familiar chime echoed in the depths of Naruto's mind, a private fanfare for a personal milestone.
*[Ding! The host's physical fitness has increased by 20%. Your physical fitness has reached Kage-level. You can now safely open all Eight Inner Gates.]*
Even in a state of perfect laziness, his power continued its relentless, silent ascent. In a few years, he mused, he might not even recognize the limits of his own strength.
(End of Chapter)
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