13 Diner with Temari
As Naruto and Temari sat inside Ichiraku Ramen eagerly awaiting their orders, Temari turned to him, curiosity shining in her eyes. "You really think you can beat them all?"
Naruto rested his head on his propped-up arm and sighed with a hint of determination. "I wouldn't say it's going to be easy. There's only one guy who could really shift the balance if it comes down to it."
Temari raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And who might that be?"
"Might Guy's prized student, Rock Lee," Naruto replied, his expression serious.
"Are you serious? That guy in the green jumpsuit?" Temari responded incredulously, a mix of disbelief and amusement flickering across her face.
"I'm not kidding. You remember the kind of destruction he unleashed during the Chunin Exams. Honestly, if Gaara hadn't been a Jinchuriki, I don't think he would have survived," Naruto said, his demeanor shifting to reflect the gravity of the memory. A smirk then crept onto his face as he added, "But now that I think about it, I'm not too worried about him."
Temari's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in closer. "And why is that? You just said he could be a challenge a moment ago."
"It's not that he isn't a challenge. It's just that tomorrow is going to be a team fight, not a one-on-one match," Naruto explained, confidence beginning to radiate from him.
"And how does that make a difference?" she pressed, wanting to understand his reasoning.
"Let me break it down for you," he said, his eyes sparking with conviction. "In a one-on-one match, it might play out like the Chunin Exams—grueling and predictable. I'd have to face each of them one at a time after that. But tomorrow is a whole different ball game; it's ten against one. I can guarantee that everyone will target me first. After all, they've always seen me as the underdog—someone who can't possibly hold his own, no matter how hard I train."
He leaned back in his chair, a new level of confidence in his posture. "But that's where they'll make their mistake. I'm counting on them underestimating me. No matter how much they've trained, deep down, they have that arrogance—an unwavering belief that their clan heritage gives them an edge. Ever since we graduated from the Academy, they've clung to their rankings like they hold any real value."
He paused, a sly grin forming on his lips. "We all know those academic ranks are meaningless compared to the real challenges out there. How can anyone expect them to change now when they've been like this for years? It's what has held them back and blinded them to the truth: what truly matters is whether you can survive and adapt in a world filled with obstacles. It'll only take a few careless words before they start fighting one another. No matter how much Lee proves he can hold me in place, no one will accept that he's stronger than them. That's their flaw."
As he finished his explanation, their steaming bowls of ramen arrived.
"Well, let's eat before it gets cold!" he said cheerfully, a wide grin spreading across his face.
As they dug into their meals, their conversation flowed effortlessly, drifting to how their lives had evolved over the past three years. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air, creating an atmosphere of comfortable familiarity.
The sun rose on a new day in Konoha as the Konoha 10 gathered at one of the village's training grounds. The atmosphere buzzed with a mixture of excitement and curiosity, and Kiba was the first to break the silence.
"Why were we summoned this early in the morning?" he grumbled, stretching his arms.
"I don't know, dumbass," Shikamaru replied with a yawn, his voice dripping with indifference. "It's Naruto's fault. He came back yesterday and said something to Lady Tsunade, and now we're all stuck here."
"What do you mean by that?" Tenten asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're telling me Naruto came back yesterday, told Lady Tsunade something, and we're all being punished for it?"
Ino groaned, rolling her eyes. "Oh no, it's just like the Academy days. Not again!"
"Yosh!" Lee exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his voice. "Finally, I will be able to test my youth against Naruto-kun!"
"I wonder how strong he's gotten," Neji said calmly, though a flicker of intrigue betrayed his stoic demeanor.
"Don't worry, Neji," Kiba added smugly. "You're a Jonin now. You can handle him."
Neji sighed. "I lost to him three years ago, Kiba. Both you and I did."
"But that was three years ago. He got a lucky shot back then," Kiba shot back. "Now he's not the only one who's been training. We've all made progress."
Hinata's cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke softly, "I wonder how Naruto-kun is doing now…"
All eyes turned to Sakura, who was fuming with crossed arms. "Oh, he's just the same dumbass as always," she muttered, irritation clear in her voice.
At the edge of the training ground, the Jonin senseis stood alongside Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune, watching the scene unfold.
"So," Asuma said, lighting a cigarette, "you're telling us your student came back yesterday and challenged all of our students just to get reevaluated?"
"Yeah," Kakashi replied casually, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Isn't that a bit overconfident?" Kurenai asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Maybe," Kakashi said with a shrug. "But we all know better than to underestimate Naruto."
"You are right, my youthful rival!" Guy declared enthusiastically, his eyes shining with anticipation. "I wonder how strong young Naruto has become!"
Asuma smirked. "You could just ask Lord Jiraiya."
"Exactly!" Guy nodded eagerly. "So, Lord Jiraiya, how strong is Naruto now?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath, his expression thoughtful. "If I had to categorize him, I'd say he's currently high A-rank. And if he taps into that chakra… at least S-rank."
"Surely, you're joking," Kurenai replied, her eyes widening in disbelief. "I know Naruto had potential, and he proved that before, but going from a D-rank ninja to an A-rank in just three years? That's too big of a leap. He was the dead last in the Academy."
"I'm not joking," Jiraiya insisted, his tone serious. "That's where I place him. But today, you can all see for yourselves and make your own judgment."
Tsunade interjected, a firm expression on her face. "You won't have to wait much longer. Our challenger is here."
Naruto strode into the training ground, confidence in every step, with Temari by his side.
"Sorry I'm a bit late, Auntie Tsunade," Naruto said, flashing a grin.
"No problem," Tsunade replied, her demeanor relaxed. "You're right on time. And I see you brought Temari with you."
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "I invited her last night to come watch."
As the conversation quieted, the rest of the group turned their attention to Naruto. Several voices called out in a mix of familiarity and curiosity.
Kiba stepped forward with a cocky grin. "So, Naruto, what did you say to piss off Lady Tsunade so badly that we all have to share your punishment?"
"I didn't say anything to piss her off," Naruto replied nonchalantly, shrugging off Kiba's teasing. He looked over at the Hokage. "Are you pissed off, Auntie Tsunade?"
"Nothing like that, brat," Tsunade said, rolling her eyes with a hint of exasperation.
"Oh, by the way," Kiba added with a playful smirk, "we're all Chunins now. Shikamaru and Neji are Jonin. You're the only one who's still a Genin."
"Not for long," Naruto said confidently, his gaze steady. "Shall we start?"
He removed his jacket and handed it to Temari with a grin. "Can you take care of this for me for a few minutes?"
Temari chuckled, "Sure. Just don't make me regret it."
Naruto stepped forward into the center of the field, cracking his knuckles as he faced his former classmates. "Alright! Let's see what you all got!"
Shikamaru exchanged glances with his teammates, a mix of caution and anticipation swirling within him. "We've been training hard. Let's not underestimate him," he said quietly but firmly to the group.
"Don't worry, Shikamaru," Ino replied, her eyes gleaming. "We've got this! Right, everyone?"
An echo of agreement rippled across the group as they all nodded, settling into their battle stances. At the edge of the training ground, Jiraiya watched intently, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Okay! Let's get started!" Tsunade shouted, her voice cutting through the quiet, setting the match into motion.
TO BE CONTINUE