"Wow!" Naruko exclaimed,"The bridge is huge."
True to the statement the bridge that loomed over the boat was massive. Bigger than anything that either of the Konoha genin had seen they all looked at the enormous structure with varying degrees of surprise.
Naruko's excitement was barely contained and there was point where Sasuke had to pull her back by her pigtails just so that she didn't tip the boat by leaning over the edge to touch the bridge.
"Idiot." Sasuke stated. Naruko simply glared at the boy and brushed his hand away with her bandaged one before continuing to marvel at the bridge.
When they finally reached wave country Naruko was particularly jumpy as they walked ahead and she was determined to not fall behind Sasuke again. She'd show him that she was a great ninja by taking out then enemy before he could even blink.
A rustle in the bushes and Naruko reacted by throwing a shuriken with a loud,"Hiyaah!"
She rushed over expecting to see some super tough ninja lying crumbled on the ground but instead there was a bunny paralysed with fear as the shuriken had missed it's head by inches.
"Naruko!" Sakura scolded,"Stop being so jumpy you're scaring everybody and look what you did to the poor rabbit."
"I'm sorry rabbit." Naruko cradled the small animal in her hands burying her cheek in its fur,"I didn't mean too. You're so cute too and pure white! We only see brown coloured snow rabbits in Konoha."
Kakashi had already realised the strangeness of the snow rabbit whose fur was pure white. Konoha's climate was suspended almost in an eternal spring and the few times it did snow, rabbits were rarely seen. Spring meant a brown shade of fur for snow rabbits and while Naruko didn't know the meaning of her observation it was currently spring in the land of waves which meant that the rabbit that Naruko had almost killed was brought here specifically for substitution purposes.
Sakura on the other hand caught on quickly and was about to open her mouth to point it out when Kakashi yelled.
"Get down!"
Sasuke tackled both the girls to the ground while Kakashi did the same to their client just as a huge sword went spinning by their heads. The sword embedded itself on the tree, the mist around them thickening.
It obscured their vision as all three genin cautiously rose up kunai in hand, eyes flitting around for the source of the attack.
Sasuke was the was the first to spot the threatening figure amongst the three of them but it was Sakura who pointed at him.
"On the sword!" She exclaimed making Naruko whirl around and throw her kunai instinctively in that direction.
Ha! this was her chance to prove to everyone that she was better than Sasuke.
She wasn't going to lose to him.
The figure dodged her kunai easily, landing on the ground, his sword now back in his hands. The mist cleared and the genin' s finally got a better look at their attacker.
"You must be Hidden Mist's Missing-Nin Momoichi Zabusa." Kakashi announced.
Zabusa looked as daunting as ninjas could be, tall and imposing with corded muscles. Half of his face was covered and it only gave them a glimpse at the deadly glint in his eyes. His dangerous aura made even Sasuke step back instinctively.
"You appear to be Kakashi of the Sharingan." The man announced staring at their Jounin sensei,"Sorry bout the old man is mine."
While Sakura could vaguely remember hearing the word Sharingan somewhere Naruko had no idea what it meant. Sasuke on the other hand was a different story.
"Surround Tazuna-San and protect him." Kakashi commanded,"And do not enter this fight Understand?"
Sakura and Naruko stepped back slowly following the command but Sasuke remained ahead of them almost as if he was frozen.
"Zabusa you will first fight me." Kakashi announced raising his headband up to reveal his other eye.
Sakura shivered involuntarily as the Sharingan first came to view, the three tomoe spinning wildly against the red background.
Naruko on the other hand had her mouth open in a sort of fascination that was typical of the blonde haired kunoichi but it quickly faded as she turned to see Sasuke's expression who'd stilled completely, his face losing all colour.
It was a shock seeing Sasuke like that made Naruko actually think out loud,"What is that eye?"
Sasuke replied without taking his eyes off Kakashi, his voice strangely hollow,"It's said to have the ability to read and defeat most types of ninjutsu, taijutsu and genjutsu."
"But that's not the only thing the Sharingan has." Kakashi said.
"Exactly." Zabusa continued,"It has the ability to copy your opponents techniques once you see them. Kakashi the Sharingan's name is in the bingo book where it's said that he's copied over a thousand jutsus."
Both of the young kunoichi couldn't help but grudgingly admire their sensei who they'd previously labelled as a lazy pervert but Sasuke was still apprehensive.
The Sharingan only appeared in a few select member of the Uchiha clan and for Kakashi to have it...
But that thought quickly faded away as Zabusa leaped all of a sudden. Kakashi was just as fast though and managed to stop him from reaching Tazuna and the three genin who surrounded him.
Zabusa instantly disappeared reappearing on the water performing some sort of jutsu.
The Konoha team was plunged into a deep mist hiding the enemy nin completely from their sight.
Without visibility they were at a severe disadvantage and Sasuke couldn't help but shiver at the sudden drop in temperature.
Suddenly something touched the back of Sasuke's hand and he turned to the side to see Naruko had unconsciously reached for both his and Sakura's hands.
On an ordinary day Sasuke would have snapped at Naruko for being so stupid and letting her guard down so carelessly but he couldn't quite voice his opinion this time.
Somehow Naruko's hand which was wrapped around his, gave him a sort of reassurance that he hadn't known he'd needed.
And yet something in Sasuke sunk even further. Naruko and Sakura's lives were also in danger and his fear was crippling him, preventing him from doing anything just like all those years back.
The mist around them was getting thicker so much so that even Kakashi who stood a few feet away could barely be seen.
"Eight options." Zabusa's voice echoed through the mist and Naruko's grip on his hand tightened,"Liver, lungs, spine, clavical vein, neck, brain, kidneys and heart."
Instinctively Sasuke's hand curled aeound Naruko's holding it just as tightly.
"Which one should I choose?"
The mist became even thicker shrouding Kakashi almost completely from their view filling the air with a dangerous aura that almost made Sasuke's knees buckle.
The Mist Jounin's very presence weighed in the air and even if Sasuke would never admit it to himself Naruko's hand in his was the only thing stopping him from going crazy and turning the kunai he was holding with his free shaky hand towards himself.
He wanted to move, needed to move but he couldn't. He couldn't do anything. Just like all those years back he would fail once again.
Naruko and Sakura would die in front of him and he'd still be just as helpless he was when...
"I will not let my comrades die Sasuke." Kakashi's voice carried through the clearing as if he'd read the Uchiha's thoughts,"I'll protect you guys even if it kills me."
Zabusa's malice was clear in his voice as he replied,"We'll see about that."
Behind them!
The genin barely had time to react when Zabusa appeared in the middle of their formation swinging his sword.
The formation broke and Sakura's hand left Naruko's as Kakashi pushed her onto their client making her tackle him to the ground so that they missed Zabusa's blade. Kakashi caught the handle of Zabusa's blade and Naruko just barely managed to dodge the sharp end, it's edge slicing a few of her long blonde strands. This was enough to jerk Sasuke into action and he pulled Naruko to the ground causing them to roll away from the jounin's fight.
Kakashi was a blur and his fight with Zabusa was nothing short of amazing. By using water clones Kakashi managed to pin kunai to Zabusa's throat so fast that Naruko couldn't even begin to understand what had happened.
But Zabusa was smarter and he caught Kakashi by surprise kicking the genins sensei into the water and trapping him in a spherical water prison.
"Now that I have you in my special water prison I'll take care of them." Zabusa announced creating a water clone.
The water clone leisurely strolled back onto the land away from the real Zabusa next to Kakashi's prison.
"Hehe, you guys aren't good enough to be called ninjas. Just because you have a forehead protector it doesn't make you worthy to become a part of my handbook." The clone gloated.
And then suddenly he disappeared.
Naruko must have barely blinked before a strong kick to her stomach sent her flying back away from the group. Her headband fell off and she coughed spitting out blood onto the ground her vision blurry and her body aching and broken.
"Naruko!" Sakura's panicked voice made her look up and her vision cleared a little. Blonde hair spilled on to her face without the headband as she watched Zabusa clone slowly advancing towards her, the broad sword in his hands.
And Naruko could just stare ahead her fear paralyzing her.
I'm really going to die.
"Idiot get up!" This time it was Sasuke who called to her. He wouldn't reach her in time so he threw the lone kunai in his hand in an attempt to deter the Zabusa clone.
It didn't work and the clone dodged. Sakura was smart though she'd predicted this and thrown her kunai parallely to Sasuke's in an attempt to pin the clone down when he dodged.
If it was perhaps a slower and less experienced ninja the method would have worked but Zabusa batted away both kunai's with ease as if he was swatting a couple of flies.
"NARUKO GET UP!" This time there was nothing composed about Sasuke voice as he yelled at his blonde teammate. He bounded forward knowing there was no use but he had to try.
He couldn't let there be a repeat of what had happened all those years back.
Naruko's eyes focused onto Sasuke and her senses returned making her fall back. She cried out in pain as she fell on her bad hand and with a start she remembered her declaration.
And then Zabusa made the mistake of stepping on her headband.
Iruka sensei's face flashed in front of Naruko's eyes as he proudly talked about the importance of headband.
I'm a ninja Iruka had said One day you'll wear it and be able to say the same.
It was her turn to be a ninja.
A ninja like Iruka-sensei.
A brave ninja worthy of the title of Hokage.
Without hesitating Naruko got up running straight towards the clone. Surprised the clone kicked her away on instinct and she went flying back.
Sasuke barely managed to catch her before she hit the tree sending both of them tumbling to the ground once again.
"You idiot." He hissed at the blonde girl hauling her up,"What the hell is wrong with you?"
She was bloody and bruised, her lip cut and her one eye half shut but she looked determined as ever. The fire in her eyes were unmistakable and just like that moment in Kakashi's bell test Sasuke felt his wits snap back at the sight of Naruko's sheer resilience.
"I'm a ninja." She said tying her head band proudly and staring Zabusa straight in the eye,"And I will not give up."
Sakura stood up a little straighter unknowingly her confidence returning with Naruko's declaration, her hand no longer shaking as she gripped took out a kunai. Staying alert she made sure Tazuna was behind her. She may not have Sasuke's talent or Naruko's clones but she would protect Tazuna with her life.
"Hey eyebrow less freak who doesn't even own a shirt." Naruko pointed at the man,"Naruko Uzumaki. Put my name in your stupid bingo book because I'm going to be the First Lady Hokage."
Sakura nearly face palmed at that but one look at Sasuke and Sakura knew that no matter how idiotically cheesy that entire speech had been it was what both Sasuke and Sakura had needed. Sakura was sure that looking at the blonde's determination even Tazuna wouldn't be able to call her useless.
"RUN AWAY!" Kakashi yelled from inside his prison,"His clones can't follow you far. You have to protect Tazuna-san that's your duty."
Naruko smirk faltered as she turned around to look at Tazuna.
Tazuna simply shrugged,"I'm not going to stop you. Fight as much as you want."
Sasuke smirked stepping forward to stand next to Naruko,"You hear that?"
Naruko smiled,"I did."
"STOP BEING FOOLISH!" Kakashi yelled.
Naruko started,"Sakura-chan I forgot what Kakashi sensei told us on the day of the bell rest. Can you remind me?"
Sakura smiled her grip on the kunai tightening, her stance ready for the upcoming fight,"Gladly. Those who don't follow the rules are trash but those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."
And that's when Kakashi knew that the team he'd assumed to be a mix of a bunch of misfits who'd never get along were far deadlier than he'd ever imagine.
They were the team his could have been.
"Sasuke I have a plan." Naruko announced.
The Uchiha would have replied but he was suddenly thrown to the ground one of Zabusa's clones landing a hard kick straight in his stomach. Sasuke spat out blood as the water clones feet pressed into his back.
"SASUKE!" Sakura screamed and at the same time Naruko yelled,"DON'T TOUCH HIM!"
Naruko's hands quickly formed the seals and about a dozen of her clones materialised. If Zabusa had eyebrows he would have probably raised them at the sheer number of shadow clones the small genin had managed to form.
Without hesitating the whole army of clones attacked pouncing on the water clone that had subdued Sasuke. One tugged on Sasuke's wrist who rolled out of the way as the Naruko's ensued her barrage.
Despite the numbers Naruko's clones were no match for Zabusa's clone and one by one they popped until the real Naruko was thrown back. But that was okay she'd already taken advantage of the confusion and put her plan into action.
Now it was all up to Sasuke.
Naruko threw the folded demon shuriken at Sasuke who caught it easily.
"Chopsticks." Was all the explanation she gave him.
Sakura looked at the pair confused for that moment, chopsticks?
Sasuke had understood perfectly though. He smirked and not wasting a moment he'd already unfolded it.
"Evil wind shuriken." He announced,"Shadow Windmill."
And then Sasuke threw it.
Zabusa clone laughed and easily dodged only to find out that Sasuke hadn't aimed it had him.
"Oh you're aiming at the real me?" The real Zabusa stated preparing to dodge,"That's not enough."
He was about to move when his eyes widened as he noticed the second shuriken hiding in the blind spot of the first.
Zabusa jumped up dodging both and his tone was grudgingly impressed as he said,"That's still not enough."
But Sasuke didn't look the least bit fazed in fact he smirked.
And then the shuriken behind Zabusa poofed and a blonde haired kunoichi appeared in it's place aiming the kunai straight at the Missing nin.
This time Zabusa had no choice but to move releasing Kakashi from the water prison as the kunai grazed the side of his cheek. He turned back to the sputtering kunoichi in the water raising his sword to kill the pesky little thing once and for all.
But before he could Kakashi stopped his blow pushing Zabusa back.
"Naruko that was a great plan." He smiled kindly at the kunoichi afloat in the water,"You guys have grown up."
"Hmmph." Zabusa snorted,"I got distracted and released the jutsu."
"No." Kakashi corrected,"You were forced to release the jutsu."
And then the real fight started.
"Get out of the water, now!" Sasuke yelled and instantly she made swam to the shore where he hurled her back on land while the river raged under the mutiple water jutsu's being cast by the skilled jounins.
Naruko spluttered and coughed as Sakura gently patted her back.
Chopsticks huh, Sakura mused.
It was the same method that Naruko had used when Kakashi had appeared during their bell test and Naruko had ended up throwing her transformed shadow clones at him.
How did Sasuke know instantly though? They were always bickering and fighting and yet their teamwork...
Was perfect.
Sakura's attention shifted back to Kakashi and Zabusa's fight which was truly a marvel to look at. Using the Sharingan their sensei looked almost unbeatable as he copied Zabusa's jutsus and simultaneously put him under a genjutsu.
The fight was over soon enough and just as Kakashi was going to land the decisive blow a storm of senbon caught Zabusa in the throat killing him instantly.
"He's dead." The newcomer announced, the ceramic mask hiding his face from the rest.
Kakashi wordlessly bent down to check Zabusa's pulse and announced,"He really is dead."
"Thank you." The masked figured said,"I've been hunting for him for a long time."
"Who are you?" Naruko shouted pointing at the masked figure. The person sounded only a little older than she did and she couldn't quite wrap her head around how easily the kid behind the mask had killed someone as powerful as Zabusa.
"Relax Naruko." Kakashi said putting a hand on her head,"He's not an enemy. In this world there are ninjas who are younger than you and stronger than me. You just have to accept that."
The hunter nin leaped downwards and grabbed Zabusa's limp body,"The battle is now over. I must dispose of the-"
A kunai flew past Kakashi embedding itself inches away from the hunter nins head who'd deflected it with shocking ease.
"No." It was Sakura who spoke up. Her hands were still up from her stance from when she'd thrown the kunai, her eyes fixed on Zabusa's body,"He's not dead."
Before anyone could react to her claim the masked kid and Zabusa vanished in a swirl of thick mist.
"Shit." said Naruko and then turned to Sakura,"Are you sure?"
Sakura nodded her eyebrows scrunched up and worried," That spot on his neck where he hit him is not a vital spot but rather it paralyses the body for a few moments. The pulse may become so faint that it's almost impossible to detect. I couldn't recognise it from so far which is why it took me so long to figure it out."
"Kakashi sensei we have to go-"
But before Naruko could finish Kakashi's knees buckled under him and he fell to the ground causing the two genin kunoichi to cry out.
"Sharingan overuse." He managed to rasp out before passing out completely.
The fact that Zabusa was alive and Kakashi was bedridden hung over all three genin miserably when they ate dinner at Tazuna's house later that evening.
Sakura probably felt the worse for she was the only one who'd been pretty much useless through out the entire fight against Zabusa and had even failed to recognise that he was alive until it was too late.
Naruko obviously had tried to reassure her constantly saying that now that Zabusa had been weakened they'd definitely get him, her bravado fueled by her success earlier.
Sasuke was quiet for his part (no surprises there) but it was clear that he seemed troubled as he kept glancing at the closed door behind which Kakashi lay.
When Kakashi came to he confirmed Sakura's claims.
"We have to be prepared for another attack." Kakashi stated,"Naruko, Sasuke your teamwork was thank you helping me. You did well protecting Tazuna-san."
Sakura knew that Kakashi was giving her a concession prize more than anything else but she'd have to accept it.
Next time she'd do better.
She owed that much to her team.
"I'm going to give you all extra training." Kakashi declared,"So that the next time we meet the mist nin you'll be better prepared."
Naruko blinked highly unimpressed the next day when she found out what their extra training was.
Climbing trees.
The whole night Naruko had imagined what it could have been from learning a new jutsu to Kakashi teaching them how to get their very own sharin-thingy.
But it was climbing trees.
"Seriously?" Even Sasuke sounded kind of disgusted while Sakura looked ahead in plain disbelief.
"Controlling your chakra at the soles of your feet is highly challenging." Kakashi stated,"If you can master this then you can use other techniques far better and with much more accuracy without draining too much chakra."
"Cool. This will be easy." Naruko declared bracing herself while Sasuke smirked.
The both of them ran towards the tree Naruko choosing the taller one to prove that she was better than Sasuke.
However she barely took two steps up before she fell down rather ungracefully. Sasuke didnt really fair better and he managed to take around four steps before he too came crashing to the ground.
Both got up, enrage and disbelief sketched on to their faces and when they tried again they faired only marginally better.
Sakura on the other hand just stood there staring at her teammates, Her mouth open.
"Sakura aren't you going to join them?" Kakashi prodded.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" She deadpanned.
Inner Sakura's words had slipped through Sakura's mouth and if this had been a few days ago she'd have immediately covered her mouth but today she didn't care.
She'd spent the entire night agonising over if she'd actually be able to keep up with the rigorous training and if she'd be able to prove to everybody that she too belonged on the team.
And all of that tossing and turning had been for the most basic of chakra control exercises that even ten year olds aspiring to become medics could do.
This was just insulting.
Without another word brushed past both her struggling teammates climbing up the tree without even blinking. She even hopped for a few feet for dramatic effect and once she reached a branch that was high enough to make everybody look at her wide eyed and shocked she took out a kunai and balanced it's tip on her little finger and then turned her hand upside down so the weapon dangled from her finger with only it's tip touching her skin.
You show 'em, Shannaro! Inner Sakura whooped.
The kunai dangling had been a risk because it was an extremely high level technique that even Sakura had been struggling for the past few days. In fact this was the first time she actually managed to pull it off.
"WOHOOO YOU GO SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruko cheered from down below. Sasuke on the other hand stared at her with an expression that was as close to disbelief as he could get.
In fact he tried climbing up again almost expecting to magically be able to do it this time but he fell down after a couple of steps.
Sakura climbed down her hands on her hips. She stopped in front of their sensei.
"You've done well Sakura." Kakashi acknowledged,"Your chakra control is flawless. Nothing less to be expected from an aspiring medic. I can't teach you anymore."
"No." Sakura corrected,"You can."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"A new jutsu perhaps?" She hoped wide eyed ,"Both Naruko and Sasuke have their signature jutsu's but I have none. I- I come from a civilian background and I-"
She stammered towards the end looking down. It had taken all her courage to admit her weakness in front of her teammates and actually ask for help accepting her spot as the weakest amongst their team.
Kakashi stared at her thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded,"Very well Sakura. For today accompany Tazuna-san around the village and tomorrow I'll think of a new jutsu for you as a reward for excelling in your chakra control training. Meanwhile you two need to perfect this tree climbing exercise."
"YAAAS!" Sakura pumped her fist in the air and Kakashi let out a faint smile as Naruko bounded forward to whine about how it was totally not fair and how jealous she was of the pink haired kunoichi.
He'd been surprised how forthcoming Sakura had been with him and he had no doubt that it was the inevitable effect of having Naruko on the same team as her.
Naruko wasn't a typical kunoichi and seeing how tirelessly she worked to achieve her dream even when she failed constantly inspired the other two almost unconsciously.
In a span of few months Sakura had gone from love sick teenager to a kunoichi who knew what she wanted and how to get it. Her determination to not be a burden to her team and catch up with them was clear and she'd started the process by accepting that she was weaker than Naruko and miles behind Sasuke and had to work really to catch up.
But the most important thing was she'd decided to start now.
Kakashi knew she was at a disadvantage, her chakra reserves were nowhere near Sasuke's large reserves and Naruko's amount of chakra was in par with ungodly amount that all Uzumaki's possessed.
But if Sakura started now she'd surely catch up with her teammates in no time with her high intelligence, flawless chakra control and her new found determination inspired by her teammates.
In the next two days the entire team was improving slowly and surely.
Sakura was given the task of protecting Tazuna and simultaneously work on her stamina by trying to lift up heavy material at construction site and run around the length of the bridge one hundred times.
She'd been disappointed at first but Kakashi had told her point blankly that she was weak with no muscle which is why she lagged behind Sasuke and Naruko in almost all physical aspects.
After she came back he did though go over some basic genjutsu exercises with her to measure her affinity for making illusions.
She was a genjutsu type and she conquered the weak genjutsu he'd used on her during the bell test in two seconds flat during one of his exercises.
It was a testament to how far she'd come as well as her natural affinity towards making and breaking genjutsu.
Since Kakashi relied heavily on his Sharingan for genjutsu he made a vow to himself that after strengthening her basics he'd request Kurenai or Anko to help her excel furthur in the field.
Naruko and Sasuke on the other hand were struggling with controlling their chakra.
Both their chakras were wildly violent and taming them was no easy task. The Uchiha's had always struggled with chakra control for their shraringan required them to focus chakras in an entirely different way and Sasuke was no exception.
Naruto's chakra on the other hand was clearly disrupted by the presence of the nine tails and controlling it would be a matter of will more than technique and Naruko had plenty of the former.
She'd asked for Sakura's help of course while Sasuke had remained aloof his pride not allowing him to accept advice.
In the end of the day though he buckled and asked Sakura for help directly, unable to bare seeing Naruko catching up to him at an alarming pace.
Kakashi wondered if he'd have been able to do the same when he was a kid and he concluded no.
He supposed this was yet another effect of Naruko's presence in the team.
Without even trying she had the ability to drag the lone Uchiha out if his own world in a way that he was forced to leave behind his highly rigid beliefs.
During the night in Tazuna's house both Naruko and Sakura would engage in a highly emphatic conversation about things both Sasuke and Kakashi couldn't even begin to understand but it would always end with Naruko passing a snide comment on Sasuke, Sasuke retorting back and Naruko proceeding to leap at Sasuke to fight him.
At the end of the night they'd be pulled apart and get a sound lecture from Sakura side about behaving in front of their clients. While Naruko didn't look genuinely apologetic she'd still stop and Sasuke would just stalk away silently.
"Sakura-Chan! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruko waved as they both appeared in the clearing after one of Sakura's more trying genjutsu training. She was improving faster than he'd expected and Kakashi was almost proud to see her determination.
"Look I can climb half way up the tree now!" Naruko exclaimed as she started running up the tree.
Naruko reached halfway and dangled upside down from the high branch grinning and waving at the both of them below.
And then Naruko's concentration slipped.
Her foot came free from the branch and she was falling to the ground, head first arms flailing while all Sakura could do was watch horrified.
A quick flash of blue and black with the rustling of fabric Sasuke ran up the tree and jumped off the side and caught Naruko, his one arm underneath her knees while the other supporting her back and landed perfectly on the ground.
For a moment all Team seven could do was gape at Sasuke, Naruko in his arms staring at him wide eyed. Sakura frankly thought it was cute and she'd love to be in the same position with Hinata-kun but that all faded away as Sasuke abruptly dropped Naruko with his signature,"Tch, idiot."
She landed with a thump glaring at Sasuke and Sakura made no attempt to hide her giggles.
Naruko rubbed her back and glared at the Uchiha from her position on the ground,"Bastard."
And despite all the insults they proceeded to throw back and forth with Sakura jumping in to moderate every few seconds there was something about watching the three of them bicker that made Kakashi smile widely underneath his mask.
Note:
Don't worry Inari will appear soon enough. I'm really enjoying writing this new Sakura and I feel like she's developing well. I mean imagine her potential if Kakashi had actually trained her well.
I feel terrible now that Naruto isn't a girl in canon because Naruko is an absolute delight to write because she can be portrayed as far more real this way with actual vulnerabilities than this happy go lucky boy who can show no real emotions.
Honestly I enjoy writing Sasuke and Naruko together and I've inevitibly put a few more moments to develope their relationship in the next chapter.