The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
A/N: Point out my mistakes.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 3: Pass or Fail! Birth of Shinobi.
12:49pm Friday April 13th, 58SSP.
"He's late!" Sakura complained.
The pink haired kunoichi was standing between an opened doorway that lead into her iconic childhood classroom. While she complain, Naruto and Sasuke be sitting in their seats behind her while reading about the Uzumaki and Hyuga clans.
"I can't stand this! How come everyone else got to leave already?! Why is our teacher the only one that's late?" While complaining, Sakura stomped her right foot atop the floor.
At this moment, a bright twinkle erupted from Sakura's eyes as a mischievous grin spread across her face. Afterwards, she skipped towards the nearby chalk board before grabbing the dust stained eraser.
"Sasuke! Watch this!" After speaking Sakura dashed back towards the open doorway.
Sakura then prompt the door partially opened before planting the eraser on top, a prank for anyone who was foolish enough to enter. This action forced Sasuke to sigh while Naruto was still think about that moment when he saw Kakashi's chakra network.
Soon, Sakura took several steps back to admire her work before a strange hand reached through the door way. This hand pushed the door completely open before Kakashi's head poked in.
Kakashi's hair was then bombarded by the freshly planted eraser that Sakura placed. This action forced Sakura to fall to the ground before rolling from side-to-side with delight.
"My first impression of this group, Sakura is the weak link." Kakashi mumbled.
This statement caused Sakura to jump to her feet while clenching both fists while her inner voice raged with fury. At the same time, Sasuke actually laughed at Kakashi's remark before Sakura was too distracted to notice.
"Naruto where's your headband? You're a graduate now, you have to wear it." While speaking, Kakashi was rubbing the back of his head.
This statement caused Naruto to pull down the raised collar of his purple tunic, revealing his headband tied to his neck, Iruka's headband. This was one of many things that Iruka gave to Naruto, but the blond Uzumaki considered this item to be the most sacred.
"Wearing a headband around your neck?" As Kakashi spoke, Sakura giggled in agreement.
"It just feels comfortable ,ya'know?" Naruto stuttered.
This created a brief period of silence after Kakashi sighed with an exaggerated tone. Afterwards, the elite Jounin pulled his orange book loose before raising it to his face.
"Meet me on the roof." After speaking, Kakashi disappeared with a textbook perfect Body Flicker technique.
This realization forced Naruto to jump over his desk before running out of the room with a smile on his face. Naruto the ran down the hall before scaling four flight of stairs and arriving at the rooftop.
This allowed Naruto to notice that Kakashi was sitting atop a railing while reading from his orange book. Because of this, Naruto ran towards a nearby staircase surrounded by trees before sitting down and smiling.
Soon, Sasuke and Sakura finally arrived on the roof while the young Uchiha held both hands over his eyes. Despite this, Sakura continued to talk to Sasuke as if he was listening.
"First off... Let's introduce yourselfs, one at a time." As Kakashi spoke, he didn't even raise his attention from his book.
"What are we supposed to say." Sakura asked, earning a dramatic sigh in response.
"Your name, things you like, things you hate, dreams for the future, hobbies, things like that." Kakashi mumbled.
"Why don't you talk first, so we can see how it works?" Sakura once again asked, earning another dramatic sigh in response.
"My name is Kakashi Hatake, I'm not telling you what I like or hate, my dreams for the future? Never really thought about it and as for my hobbies? Well I have lots of hobbies." Kakashi muttered
"You, pinky, since you talk so much you can go first." While speaking, Kakashi pointed at Sakura without even looking up from his book.
"My name is Sakura Haruno! What I like... Um... Um I mean the person I like is..." Sakura stuttered while glancing between Sasuke and the floor.
"Uhhh… Uh my Hobby is..." After speaking, Sakura briefly squealed with joy while blushing.
"A... And my dream is..." While speaking, Sakura clapped both hands together before glancing at Sasuke.
"And what do you hate?" Kakashi questioned.
"NARUTO!" Sakura screamed.
This statement forced Naruto to wrap both arms around his knees before staring at the ground. At the same time, Sasuke scoffed with annoyance before looking away from Sakura.
Of course. Girls that age are interested in nothing but boys. Kakashi concluded.
"And you, Swordboy." Kakashi spoke out while pointing at Kakashi.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I hate waterfalls and people who never shut up and... I like... Naruto" Sasuke mumbled while scratching the bridge of his nose.
"What I have isn't a dream... Because I will make it a reality... I'm going to restore my clan and... Avenge all of them." As Sasuke spoke, his words forced Sakura to groan with delight.
HE'S SO HOT. Sakura concluded.
Figures he'd grow up that way... So sad, I hope it's not to late for him. Kakashi thought.
"And I'll be beside you step by step, we'll restore our clans together!" Naruto exclaimed after finally recovering from Sakura's previous words.
"Alright that leaves you mophead." Kakashi mumbled.
"My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki... An-... And, I hate it when people judge others because of how they were born." Naruto stuttered while rubbing the back of his head.
"I like it when people see others for who they are, not what they look like... And rain, I love rain... And um." After speaking, Naruto glanced up at the sky for several minutes.
"My hobby is reading and my dream...well my dream is..." While he spoke, Naruto's train of thought drifted back over several weeks.
My dream is to protect people... Like how you protected me, I want to protect everyone. The memory of a distant conversation with Iruka drifted through Naruto's mind.
"My dream is to protect everyone." Naruto mumbled..
Sensei... He's grown into a fine shinobi,... Kakashi concluded.
A kind hearted child, please sensei, give me the strength you had... Give me the virtue to teach him as you taught me. While these thoughts progressed, Kakashi dramatically snapped his book shut.
"Good, you're all unique, have your own idea's and your own goals... This is really good, we'll have our first mission tomorrow." Kakashi exclaimed.
"What kinda mission are we going to have, sensei?" Sakura asked with a cheerful tone, happy to be on the same team as Sasuke.
"It's a task, that the four of us... Will do together." Kakashi replied in a dramatic and slow fashion.
"What kind, sensei? What kind?" Sakura pleaded.
"Survival exercise." Kakashi sighed.
"I thought we were supposed to have a real mission, we already did this stuff at the academy thats why we're here." Sakura complained.
"This exercise is different than anything you've done before... Out of the twenty-seven graduates who just came here only nine will fully accepted to become Genin." Kakashi explained.
"The other eight-teen will be sent back to the academy... The chance you fail is 66% and if one of you fail - all of you fail." As he spoke, Kakashi stared intently at Sakura.
"Great, now me and Naruto are going to fail cause we get placed with a 2nd rate Kunoichi." Sasuke mumbled, sending Sakura into depression.
"Actually if you and Naruto fail it's because both of you let Sakura drag you down... Id blame both of you before her." Kakashi remarked before standing up and stretching both arms.
"Be at the designated training grounds at 5 am, bring everything you'll need for a mission." After speaking, Kakashi turned around before walking towards the distant staircase.
"Oh and don't eat anything for breakfast... Or you'll puke." While speaking, Kakashi waved his air through the air for several moments before disappeared in a whirlwind of leaves.
Fine by me, I'm on a diet anyway. Sakura concluded.
I'll just eat before I go to sleep then. Sasuke thoughts.
Iruka always taught me to eat my breakfast... Naruto remarked before staring at the ground.
"Naruto, wanna swing by my house at 3am and we'll do some early training?" Sasuke asked.
"I can come to right, Sasuke." Sakura pleaded.
"Sure, Sakura, we are a team now after all." Naruto replied, eager to make Sakura see him for who he really was.
"We sure are! I can't wait, Sasuke! Well I'm going home to get ready for our date, see you then!" Sakura exclaimed before turning around and running away.
"Really, Naruto?" Sasuke muttered, earning an innocent grin in response.
"Well, she's apart of the team now..." Naruto mumbled.
"Kakashi was right, if she holds us back it's our fault for letting her..." While speaking, Naruto briefly scratched the bridge of his nose.
"Well I'm going home to catch some sleep since we gotta be up so early..." Sasuke sighed.
"I'll see you and Pinky tomorrow." After speaking, Sasuke stood up before lazily strolling towards the distant staircase.
"Later, Naruto!" While speaking, Sasuke waved goodbye before disappearing from view.
"Later, Sasuke! See ya tomorrow!" Naruto exclaimed before an extended period of silence filled the air.
This silence allowed Naruto's thoughts to drifted back to the moment inside the Konoha hospital. The moment when he saw Kakashi's chakra network, something that Naruto still couldn't explain.
Naruto then walked towards the nearby railing before glancing out at Konoha from behind his bangs. During this, Naruto was mentally reading scrolls about the Hyuga clan, a scrolls that detailed how to activate or deactivate the Byakugan.
These moments forced Naruto to closed both of his violet rippled-patterned eyes while pressing both hands into the Ram Seal. At the same time, Naruto began to relive all those hours he spent on the Leaf Concentration technique.
Soon, Naruto began to funnel a Jounin-level amount of chakra into each of his violet eyes. While this occurred, Naruto lazily opened his eyes both each of their black pupils began to expand and bulge.
These pupils then pushed each of the ripple patterned rings inside Naruto's eyes to the edge. This action forced Naruto's vision to abruptly shifted into the chakra filled world, a world only visible to the Rinnegan and Byakugan.
Naruto's mouth then fell open with shock after noticing hundreds of chakra networks that walked through Konoha. Some of these chakra networks belong to trained shinobi while others belong to normal citizens.
Naruto then continued to stare out across the village of Konoha for what felt like hours. Afterwards he closed both eyes before releasing the chakra he had stored in them.
A brief silence the filled the air before Naruto opened both eyes only for confusion to swell inside of him. Each of Naruto's hands then began to touch and search around his eyes, searching for bulging eye veins, a prominent trait of the Byakugan.
After searching for several moments, Naruto sighed with defeat before lowering both hands in front of his face. This forced Naruto to gasp with shock after noticing his own chakra network that pulsated through his hands, a violet chakra network.
Why... Why me, why am I always different. Naruto asked himself.
Soon, Naruto's thoughts began to shifted and contort back to the first day he ever met Konohamaru. By default, this was also the first day that Naruto ever met Ebisu.
-Flashback-
A 12 year old Naruto was walking down a narrow and dirt-filled road on his way home. This road lead to a desolated and abandon section of houses that rested on the northeastern outskirts of the village.
Before Naruto moved in, this entire street was once a vibrant and beautiful neighborhood. However, after Iruka adopted Naruto, many of his neighbors moved away out of fear and no one took there place.
This meant that Naruto not only lived in an empty house by himself, he basically lived on an empty street by himself. However, Many villagers actually preferred it this way because at least they could avoid him.
Soon, Naruto finally approached his house before walking past a set of bushes on his journey towards the front door. Naruto then pulled out the key that Iruka gave him before unlocking the door and swinging it open.
At this moment, a tense and awkward silence filled the air as Naruto realized he didn't have the strength to enter the house, not without Iruka. Because of this, Naruto closing the front door before running around the house and entering the backyard.
Naruto's gaze then fell upon the nearby swing set in the backyard before his pulsated and throb with pain. This was the result of summoning so many clones against Ebisu, clones that gave Naruto an extended field of view.
However, when Naruto summoned these clones, he could only keep four eyes open in total, and even that hurt his head. Despite this pain, Naruto was genuinely confused and interested to practice with his clones.
"Forbidden art: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto's voice pierced the air before pressing both hands into the iconic clone seal.
This declaration created five puffs of smoke that erupted into existence all around Naruto before five separate clones came into view. Once these clones appeared, they each forced Naruto's head to throb with pain before they all closed their eyes.
After several seconds of rest and rubbing both hands against his head, the orginal Naruto with a dramatic sighed. During this, the sound of nearby frogs and crickets could be heard as Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose.
At this moment, each of Naruto's clones erupted into a puff of smoke before disappearing from view as Naruto stood up. Naruto then stretched for several moments before rushing inside, making a mental note to work on this later.
-Flaskback ends-
"Forbidden art: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto proclaimed before pressing both hands into the iconic clone seal.
This declaration created two identical clones of Naruto that erupted into existence behind him. Each of these clones instinictvely closed their eyes after erupting into reality.
Soon, Naruto began to stretch before each of his clones began to mimic his movements. Naruto was about to practice seeing through the eyes of his clones, a unique ability that was only available through the Rinnegan.
One day later. 6:55am Saturday April 14th, 58SSP.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!" Sakura complained.
"How can he be so late, this is crazy?" While complaining, Sakura was sitting on the ground next to several ninja tools and flowers she brought, for Sasuke.
As Sakura complained, Sasuke was laying across a nearby tree branch while Naruto was sitting in front of a kunai shaped black marble memorial stone. This was the same stone that Kakashi and Naruto visited the first day they met, the same memorial that Iruka's name was carved into.
"Morning everyone, ready for practice?" The spiky gray haired lated Sensei of the 3 young shinobi in training stated, while throwing his right hand up in a friendly greeting.
"HEY, YOU'RE LATE!" Sakura bellowed.
"Well a black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way." Kakashi explained before innocently winking at Sakura.
"Morning, sensei." Naruto cut in with a wide smile across his face.
"Morning, Naruto... So let's gets started, this alarm is set for noon." Kakashi mumbled before pulling out a pair of two bells.
"Your assignment is very simply, you just have to get these bells from me..." While speaking, Kakashi jingled the bells several times.
"If you can't get them by noon, you won't get lunch, and you'll be tied to those posts and watch me eat my lunch." After speaking, his words forced Sasuke to snort in response.
He told us not to eat breakfast to make it harder on us... Sakura's inner dialogue asserted.
So that's why... Damn Kakashi... Sasuke's thoughts boomed.
I wonder why he would lie to us. Naruto pondered, he felt something the other two didn't, he actually felt betrayed.
"Wait a minute, there's three of us so why are there only two bells, sensei?" Sakura questioned.
"That's a great question Sakura, that's because atleast one of you will fail and be sent back to the academy." Kakashi remarked with a joyful tone.
I'm not failing, I'm going to prove myself to Sasuke and win his love! Sakura concluded.
I must pass, not an option. Sasuke remarked.
If he lied about eating... Could he be lying about this? What all does he lie about? Naruto asked himself.
"Then again all three of you could flunk too, I fail a lot of students." Kakashi spoke out with a carefree tone.
"You can use any weapons at your disposal, including shuriken. If you're not prepared to kill me, you'll never get the bells." While speaking, Kakashi continued to jingle the pair of bells through the air.
"But those weapons are too dangerous, sensei! You couldn't even avoid that class eraser." Sakura protested before laughing.
"Class clowns are always the weakest links. You can safely avoid them, lowest scores, losers." Kakashi proclaimed before pulling his iconic orange book loose.
"HELL NO!" Sakura retorted before hurling three separate shuriken through the air at Kakashi.
As these shuriken approached, Kakashi casually managed to grab each of him between his fingers in midair. This action forced Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke to all gasp with shock.
"Don't be so hasty, I haven't even said start yet." Kakashi mumbled
"But I'm impressed, you threw those with the intent to harm me... There maybe hope for you, Pinky." While speaking, Kakashi continued to read from his book.
"Ready... Set... Go." After speaking, Sasuke and Sakura each rushed towards the nearby forest at Genin-level speed.
However, Naruto somehow managed to disappear in a blur of speed that was easily Kage-level, shocking Kakashi. This realization forced Kakashi to briefly pull his gaze away from his book before staring at Naruto's previous location.
That technique... It wasn't a body flicker. Kakashi concluded.
"Ninja must know how to conceal their movements and hide effectively." Kakashi spoke out before glancing from side-to-side.
Well, at least they know that much. After these thoughts progressed, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto each came into view from a nearby tree-line.
This revelation forced Kakashi's visible eye to narrow after noticing that the real Sakura ran in the opposite direction. This filled Kakashi with interest as all three of his students rushed towards him in unison.
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura then each pulled loose a kunai both slashing out at Kakashi from several different angles. Despite this concentrated barrage of attacks, Kakashi managed to casually evade each of them while reading his book.
Kakashi then caught Sakura's left wrist before hurling her left knee up towards her stomach. At the last moment, Sakura managed to dodge this attack without even looking, forcing Kakashi to audibly gasp.
Naruto then dropped to the ground before swiping his right leg out in a counter clockwise fashion. This forced Kakashi to jump into the air before preforming a backflip and landing behind Naruto.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke's voice pierced the air before he loudly clapped both hands together.
"WHAT!? Genin can't use Fire Style, it takes to much chakra!" Kakashi concluded before grabbing Sakura and Naruto both by the wrist and throwing them aside.
"Boom!" The distant voice of Naruto pierced the air.
This declaration forced dozens of explosive tags to spread out across, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura with igniting. Afterwards, these explosive tags erupted into a fierce explosion on all sides around Kakashi.
These explosions creating a house-sized pillar of dust and debris while a distant Sakura was snorting . At the same time, the real Sasuke slowly came into view behind Naruto as they both stood atop a tree branch.
After the dirt and smoke settled from the previous explosions, Naruto noticed a large dug hole that was dug into the ground. A brief silence filled the air as team 7 waited for Kakashi to come back into view.
"Naruto, where i-...?" Sasuke asked after jumping to the ground.
Naruto attempted to reach out and grab Sasuke, but he was to late. Because of this, Sasuke fell to the ground before instantly sinking neck-deep into the earth.
"Need to be more aware, Sasuke." Kakashi spoke out after popping out from the ground.
"Forbidden art: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto's voice pierced the air before five separate puffs of smoke erupted into existence.
I see... It looks like the rumors are true, after that last distraction, and now this, there's no doubt about it, he can create shadow clones... Kakashi concluded.
Nar-... Naruto, what are you planning? Sasuke asked himself.
All five Naruto's then charged towards Kakashi in unison while the elite Jounin continued to read from his book. Kakashi then dropped to the ground before sweeping his right leg out in a count clockwise fashion, forcing two Naruto's to jump back.
Kakashi then rose from the ground before directing his left foot towards a nearby clone. As this foot approach, the clone managed to dodge Kakashi without even looking before grabbing his ankle and throwing him into the air while Sasuke crawled out from the ground.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke exclaimed clapping both hands together.
Sasuke then weaved through the Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse and Tiger seals before inhaling a significant breath of air. While this occurred, Kakashi quickly snapped his book shut before pressing both hands together and weaving through the Tiger, Rabbit, Boar and Dog seals.
Sasuke then exhaled a condensed spray of chakra-filled flames that erupted towards Kakashi. As these flames advanced, nearby portions of earth and grass were scorched under its heat.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall Jutsu." Kakashi mumbled with a carefree tone.
This declaration forced an impressive amount of dirt, mud and stone to instantly erupt from the ground in front Kakashi. This wall was then bombarded by Sasuke's chakra-filled flames, creating a fiery shockwave on impact.
While Kakashi stood behind this wall, all five Naruto's charged towards him behind jumping into the air. Afterwards, dozens of explosive tags spread across their bodies before they each ignited.
"Boom!" Naruto's voice once again pierced the after before preforming the Seal of Confrontation with his left hand.
Suddenly, Sakura finally entered the clearing before Naruto's wrapped his right arm around her waist while grabbing Sasuke. Naruto then appeared atop a nearby shallow stream with an impressive display of speed, easily Jounin-level.
"Fighting like this, you'll never get the bells before noon, as failures." Kakashi mumbled with a carefree tone.
Failure?! Hell nah, Sasuke will be mine! Sakura concluded.
Failure...Failure? I AM the Uchiha! Sasuke protested.
But I truly believe that a day will come when all the pain and hatred can be put aside... The distant voice of Iruka pierced Naruto's mind.
And then, everyone will live in love and happiness... As these memories progressed, Naruto downcast his face before staring at the rippling water that he stood on.
A tense silence then filled the air as Sakura and Sasuke entered a Taijutsu stance while Naruto continued to stare at the water. Afterwards, Naruto appeared behind Kakashi in a Kage-level blur of speed before casually poking the bells on his back.
"Na-... Naruto!?" Kakashi gasped.
"How did you do that Naruto?" While speaking, Kakashi dramatically turned around.
"I-... I don't know...I just didnt wanna fail again..." Naruto stuttered as the blood-stained face of Iruka drifted through his mind.
Is...Is this Genjutsu? What did Naruto do? No way Naruto could do it, he had even worse grades than me. Sakura asked herself.
Na-... Naruto...What are you hiding. Sasuke pondered.
No doubt about it Sensei...that's your technique...but how? Kakashi wondered.
"So uh... Do... Do we pass?" Naruto stammered before once again starting at the ground.
"Yes, you and Sasuke pass, Sakura fails just as predicted." Kakashi replied with an eye wink.
Kakashi then instantly appeared behind Sakura in a textbook perfect body flicker before reappearing beside a nearby wooden post. Kakashi then tied a squirming Sakura to this protest with no effort at all.
"Unfair! I'm the best Kunoichi of my class!" Sakura shrieked, earning a dramatic sigh in response.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto interrupted, garnishing everyone's attention.
"Is there a way Sakura could pass?" While speaking, Naruto's words created a smile across Kakashi's concealed face.
"Well, okay, in there hours, we'll have round two... But if Sakura drags the two of you down again, then all three of you will fail." After speaking, his words forced Sasuke to scoff in a hostile fashion.
"Awesome, just let me eat, then nap befo-" Sakura was cutoff mid sentence by Kakashi.
"You're not going anywhere, and you're not eating anything, you're going to stay right there tied to the post, a punishment for being useless." Kakashi barked out.
"Also, if anyone tries to feed her, you fail." While speaking, Kakashi lazily scratched the bridge of his nose.
"I make the rules, you follow them." After speaking, Kakashi disappeared into a whirlwind of leaves.
Naruto and Sasuke then each grabbed one of the food containers and opening then. At the same time, Sakura's stomach began to growl with hunger.
"Rice, pork, chicken, dried baby corn and a fried egg, not bad... But I have a certain love for fish." Naruto proclaimed.
After speaking, Naruto put his tray of food down before reaching into the shuriken satchel on the back of his waist. Afterwards, Naruto pulled out three separate scrolls before unrolling and unsealing each of them, creating three small clouds of smoke.
"He's some cups we can use for the stream over there." Naruto exclaimed before four wooden cups came into view.
"Na-... Naruto." Sakura choked out shyly.
"How did you do that?" While speaking, Sakura was almost speechless, surprised that Naruto knew so much.
"Just something I've been working for on, ya'know?" Naruto mumbled.
"Here, have some fish." After speaking, Naruto grabbed a freshly made roll of sushi before shoving it in Sakura's mouth.
This action forced a dense tornado of chakra-filled wind to erupted into existence in front of the nearby tree line. After several moments, an imitdating Kakashi came into view with both arms crossed in front of his chest.
"YOUUU!" Kakashi screamed.
"You broke the rules, I hope you're ready for the punishment." While speaking, Kakashi clapped both hands together before weaving through the Ox, Boar and Rat Seals.
"Any last words?" After speaking, these words forced Sakura to twitch with fear.
"I wont' let my teammate go hungry. Iruka-sensei always taught me to eat 3 times a day, especially breakfast." Naruto remarked.
"You've been setting us up to fail since the very start haven't you?" While speaking, Naruto's amount of knowledge forced Sakura and Sasuke to both gasp.
"You pass." Kakashi mumbled in a carefree toon.
"Bu-... But what do you mean? How did I pass? All I did was hide, feint and fall over, do I get points for that?" Sakura stuttered.
"You're the first squad that ever succeeded. The others did exactly what I said and fell into the trap, they couldn't think for themselves..." Kakashi remarked before pulling his iconic book loose.
"A Ninja must see through deception. In the shinobi world, those who break the rules are scum, true... But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." After speaking, Kakashi cheerful smile towards team 7 from behind his mask.
"So... So we're shinobi?" Naruto mumbled.
"Yes, you're all offically members of team 7,everyone passes. Squad 7 starts it first mission tomorrow." Kakashi replied.
"Yes!" Naruto cheered while raising both hands into the air..
"I did it, I did it! I'm a ninja! I'm a ninja!" Sakura screamed.
"About time." Sasuke scoff.
"Now, lets go home." Kakashi suggest before turning around and walking away.
"Hey wai-" Sakura attempted to protest before Naruto cut her loose from the wooden post.
"Oh-... Uh, thanks Naruto... HEY SASUKE WANNA GO GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT!" Sakura shrieked after dashing past Naruto.
Sakura then caught up with Sasuke and Kakashi before the all walked beside each other. During this, Naruto was staring at each of them before the transparent image of Iruka slowly faded in view between them.
"Naruto... Catch up, I'm buying you all ramen to celebrate, all you can eat." Kakashi spoke out before turning around.
This statement forced, Sasuke, Sakura and even the transparent image of Iruka to all turn around before smiling at Naruto. At the same time, the distant setting sun was illuminating each of these figures, creating a beautiful image in Naruto's mind.
A real and genuine smile then stretched across Naruto's face before he began to giggle. Naruto then ran towards his friends as a moment of happiness spread across his life, finally overwhelming the void that was left from Iruka's death.