Chapter 64: Return to the Village
Sakura was the one who could most directly feel Naruto becoming stronger because her strength was the weakest among the four. Although Narutoused to give her a sense of being strong, it hadn't reached the level of fear. Now, Naruto gave Sakuraa sense of oppression—the kind a strong person exerts over the weak.
After Naruto and the others returned to the village, Kakashi handed over the report of this mission and the mission process to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already learned about the mission's progress and knew they had encountered Zabuza the Demon, so he upgraded the mission to S-rank. After giving the reward to Kakashi...
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, looked at Kakashi, and asked, "Does Naruto's current strength already reach that of an Elite Jonin?"
After thinking quickly, Kakashi said, "His raw strength is indeed at the level of an Elite Jonin, but as for combat capability? He's probably only at the level of a Special Jonin!"
"Oh! Is it because of a lack of actual combat experience?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "Alright, you may go!"
After Kakashi left, Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe and muttered to himself, "The new generation of sprouts has finally grown up. Now, as long as we tie up all the loose ends, there shouldn't be any problems."
Kakashi distributed the rewards to Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. If it were in the past, Naruto would have definitely suggested that Sasuke treat them to barbecue.
But today, after Naruto received his reward, he didn't say a word and simply turned to leave.
This left Sasuke waiting for Naruto to say something about him treating, but he waited for nothing.
Seeing Naruto leave, Sasuke gave a tsundere 'tsh' and also turned to leave.
Seeing the atmosphere of Team 7 becoming increasingly strained, Sakura looked at Kakashianxiously and said, "Kakashi-sensei, what should we do? After Naruto and Sasuke talked last time, they haven't said a single word to each other."
Kakashi sighed and said, "I don't have any good ideas either. Naruto is a person with his own opinions, and Sasuke is a person harboring hatred; both have their own thoughts."
"Kakashi-sensei, you're wrong. I can clearly see that Sasuke wants to ease the relationship with Naruto, but Naruto isn't giving Sasuke a chance at all. Can't you talk to Naruto?"
Kakashi shook his head and said, "It's useless. Naruto is already disappointed in Sasuke. No matter how much we talk, there won't be any result."
"Disappointed? Is it disappointment in his cultivation?"
Kakashi smiled and said, "You could say that!"
After all, cultivating one's character is also a form of cultivation.
Sakura said in annoyance, "How can Naruto be like that! Sasuke isn't a freak like him, with such a fast cultivation speed."
Kakashi smiled and didn't explain further. It was better for a civilian Ninja like Sakura not to know some things.
After Kakashi left, a dejected Sakura went to find Ino.
Coincidentally, Ino had also heard that Naruto and the others had returned from their mission and was about to go find Naruto.
Sakura and Ino ran into each other halfway.
Sakura briefly told Ino about the mission during the past six months, and then began to talk about the friction between Sasuke and Naruto.
After listening, Ino pondered for a long while, shook her head, and said, "I advise you not to get involved in this!"
"Why?"
"Don't ask why. Sasuke has the hatred he carries, and Naruto has the responsibilities he carries. Since Naruto is already disappointed in Sasuke, it means Naruto and Sasuke have already become people on two different paths. Even if you force them together, they will only grow to loathe each other."
"But Sasuke still wants to ease the relationship with Naruto."
"The 'easing of the relationship' you speak of is just Sasuke wanting Naruto to continue guiding his cultivation. But in reality, the two have taken different paths; you can't force them."
"Is that so? But if Team 7 continues like this, it will disband sooner or later!"
Ino sighed and looked at Sakura, saying, "Sakura! Except for Ino–Shika–Chō, other teams will gradually disband. Especially after being promoted to Chunin, every Ninja has their own missions. There are even cases where other teams or squads recruit a Chunin from a certain team to join a mission. This is all very normal. You can't be Geninforever, and you can't always have someone leading your team."
"Is that so?"
Ino nodded and said, "Of course it is. After being promoted to Chunin, you have the right to choose missions independently. After completing a mission, you can keep the reward for yourself. For the missions the four of you take now, the Joninleader takes 40% of the reward, and the remaining 60% is split among you three. How much money can you even make that way!"
Sakura now understood what was going on, but thinking about having to separate from Sasuke and the others after becoming a Chunin made her feel uncomfortable.
Ino naturally knew some of Sakura's thoughts. After all, she had been infatuated with Sasukebefore, but with Naruto as a comparison, she realized that Sasuke and Naruto simply couldn't be mentioned in the same breath.
One was the elegant, knowledgeable type, and the other was brainless and only knew revenge. If she had to choose, she would rather choose the elegant, knowledgeable type than the one whose head was only filled with hatred.
However, seeing Sakura's current state, Ino could only offer a bit of advice to prevent Sakura from going down a dead end and doing something drastic.
"Sakura, you should actually be very clear in your heart that Sasuke and Naruto have both had Chunin-level strength for a long time. You'd better not have any other ideas. If you drag down their growth, Naruto might not say anything, but Sasukewill definitely turn against you."
Sakura didn't expect Ino to suddenly say this to her, but she really had entertained such a thought. However, after thinking carefully, Sakura also felt that holding them back from becoming Chunin was indeed inappropriate.
"I understand! I won't do anything reckless."
"It's good that you understand! Where did Narutogo? Do you know?"
Sakura shook her head and said, "I don't know. He left immediately after taking the mission reward."
After Sakura finished speaking, she left in a daze, not even knowing how she got home.
Although Ino saw that Sakura's mood was not very good, she didn't say anything more. Some things Sakura needed to figure out for herself.
After returning to the Uchiha Clan Compound, Sasuke opened the sealing scroll Naruto had given him.
Ever since Naruto gave the scroll to Sasuke, he had wanted to open it while in the Land of Waves, but Sakura was always following him then, and Kakashi would also appear from time to time, so Sasuke had dismissed the idea of opening the scroll.
Now that he was finally back, Sasuke had long been impatient to open the scroll.
After Sasuke opened the sealing scroll, what he didn't expect was that it contained quite a few scrolls and a letter.