Chapter 55: Sakura's Choice
Ten minutes later.
"Ahh, jeez, what a pain!"
Kakashi looked a wreck.
The glove on his right hand and his flak jacket were both trashed.
Worst of all, when he'd just kicked away Sasuke's ambush, he'd spotted an Explosion Tag stuck to the sole of his shoe; now he was down one shoe and standing barefoot on the grass.
The three of them had Kakashi boxed in a triangular formation.
Sasuke's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun with excitement; Sakura's Kunai glinted coldly; Naruto grinned slyly and slowly pulled a brand-new novel from his ninja tool pouch.
When Kakashi saw the cover of the latest volume of the romantic ninjutsu tales of shimura, his one visible eye bulged.
He'd stashed that book at the very bottom of his pouch—he was sure of it!
"No way…!"
Kakashi threw his hands up in surrender, voice cracking.
"Test over—you pass!"
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged blank looks; they had no idea why the sight of that book had rattled Kakashi so badly.
Only Naruto beamed, waving the novel. The gilt "Limited Edition" on the cover flashed in the sunlight.
Kakashi snatched the book, retreated to the shade at the edge of the training field, then cheerfully pointed at the bento boxes atop a wooden post.
"Bet you're starving—let's eat."
Naruto narrowed his eyes; the real killer move was here.
The tactic of two peaches slaying three warriors.
Three people, two lunches.
Even without the bell test, Kakashi had a way to see their real trial.
Good thing I came prepared.
"Great!"
Starved after two skipped meals and a fight, Sakura hurried for the boxes.
Her stomach growled; she could already taste hot food.
But the moment she saw only two boxes she remembered—three genin, not counting Kakashi!
Her hand froze mid-air, gaze flicking between Naruto and Sasuke.
We can grab food after this— the thought shattered as Kakashi spoke again.
"Oh, right—I picked up a D-rank from the Mission Desk. Eat up; we head out right after."
His voice, soft as a devil's whisper, made Sakura hesitate over handing the boxes to the boys.
Skip the meal and face the mission hungry, or eat and… Her trembling hands held the fragrant boxes that now felt like poison.
Naruto reached into his pouch, about to speak, but Sasuke stopped him.
"Naruto."
Sasuke's low voice halted him, fingers resting on Naruto's forearm.
His dark eyes flicked toward Sakura with meaning.
One look and Naruto understood.
Years of training had left them able to read each other at a glance.
Sasuke wanted to see Sakura's choice.
Though she'd trained with them for years, she'd first joined as Ino's friend.
To Sasuke, trust in her still lagged far behind trust in Naruto.
This simple lunch split was a test of team awareness.
Sasuke had seen Kakashi's intent; so had Naruto. He kept quiet to watch Sakura decide.
Would she put herself first, or show the responsibility of a teammate?
If the former, Sasuke would keep future teamwork between himself and Naruto.
If the latter, he'd finally count her as one of them.
Seeing Naruto hesitate, Sasuke tugged his wrist and pulled him back to Kakashi's side; the three stood in the shade, watching the pink-haired girl decide.
Sunlight filtered through leaves, dappling Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto as though they sat outside an invisible game board.
Kakashi's visible eye slid toward the boys, tone deliberately casual:
"Hey, why aren't you two eating?"
"Ladies first."
Sasuke answered flatly, hands in pockets, eyes never leaving Sakura.
"Doesn't sound like something you'd say."
Kakashi raised a brow; he clearly didn't buy it.
The Third Hokage's files had told him plenty—Sasuke wasn't the type to yield to anyone.
He could also tell the ties among the three weren't strong—at least between Sakura and Sasuke.
Not dislike, just distant politeness.
A makeshift team still short on real cohesion.
But they'd been classmates for ages, practically a clique inside the class.
They'd trained together for five whole years.
That already made things interesting.
From what he'd just seen, Sasuke looked the dominant one, yet every time it mattered he glanced instinctively at Naruto—proof enough of who really held the reins.
Whether checking Naruto's position at the start of the fight or deciding where to eat, Sasuke always looked at him first.
The one calling the shots was the smiling blond.
Kakashi's lips curled behind his mask.
This test was turning out more entertaining than expected.
Naruto looked at Sakura and said with certainty, "Sasuke, care to bet?"
"On what?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"That Sakura will bring the bento."
"Boring."
Sasuke snorted; he knew Naruto wouldn't make the bet without being sure.
His probe had been pointless.
Seeing Sasuke turn away, Naruto's mouth curved in a grin.
He understood trust needed time to settle.
He'd first approached Might Guy to learn the Eight Gates.
Day after day the boisterous teacher poured out everything he knew, wrapping Naruto in blazing sincerity.
Before he noticed, Naruto felt genuine respect.
The same went for Sasuke.
At first Naruto approached him planning for the final battle—Sasuke would unlock the Eternal Mangekyō and, in the last clash, awaken the Rinnegan to seal Kaguya.
That goal never changed, yet every shared moment wove bonds beyond the plan.
Later Naruto realized people mirror each other.
Offer sincerity and you receive it back.
He'd come with a clear purpose, but honest days together gave him far more than expected.
Because Naruto never faked a single moment.
His care was real, his protection solid.
Purpose might start things, but sincerity made the relationship bloom.
As Naruto expected, Sakura came carrying two bento; she handed one to Sasuke, her nervous fingers trembling, crumpling the box edge.
"Sasuke-kun, your lunch…"
She turned to Naruto, cheeks scarlet, ears pink, and offered the other box, voice shrinking: "Naruto… let's share this one?"
The moment the words left her mouth she flushed even deeper.
Sharing with Naruto… he was easygoing, Sasuke was not.
If she kept both boxes, Naruto might go hungry.
She'd overslept and had no breakfast; a hungry teammate could ruin the mission—so she had to share with Naruto.
"Eat yours yourself."
Sasuke spoke up; he'd noticed her attention on the boxes—she really was hungry.
"Naruto and I will share this one."
Better one hungry teammate than a mistake on the mission.
Naruto blinked at Sasuke's move.
He looked at the returned box, then at Sasuke's blank face, and laughed: "You two…"
Dragging the words, eyes gleaming, he said, "I knew the exam menu, so I packed food in advance."
Silence fell.
Sasuke and Sakura stared; even Kakashi, leaning on a tree reading make-out tactics, closed the book and stepped closer, interested.
"I tried to say earlier, but someone cut me off."
Naruto shrugged meaningfully toward Sasuke.
"Right, Kakashi-sensei?"
The silver-haired Jonin smiled. "Exactly."
Sasuke remembered stopping him—he hadn't realized Naruto meant this.
Embarrassed, he coughed and looked away.
Under three stunned gazes Naruto pulled four bento from his ninja tool pouch.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow—how much could that pouch hold?
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP