Final chapter! Thanks for your patience, readers! Enjoy and leave me a fav/follow/review!
"I won! I won! I knew it all along! See, what did I say? I said I'd win this thing! It wasn't that hard!" Naruto jumped around his teammates and his sensei excitedly as they began the trek home to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kakashi smirked beneath his face mask as he watched Naruto wield his giant golden trophy above his head. The young ninja defeated Yamamoto in a spectacle at the final challenge of the Skills Championship. Naruto utilized his clones to steal Yamamoto's blue crystal and attain his lightning jutsu.
"Well done, Naruto," Kakashi said calmly, contently, "you showed excellent use of strategy throughout the challenges. However, I think you have your teammates to thank for helping you make it so far into the tournament."
"You're right, sensei," Naruto lowered his trophy and walked in stride with Sakura and Sasuke. The two had been released from the Championship's infirmary after they were healed following their grueling trials in the Fearsome Fight, "Sakura, if it wasn't for you taking me to Kakashi sensei when I was hurt early in the tournament, I would've never won."
Sakura blushed slightly and turned away. She recalled the worry in her chest when Naruto was injured and fading fast. He had protected her from those terrifying twins, even with a serious wound. She would never admit how much the possibility of losing Naruto scared her, "It was nothing, Naruto. I-I just didn't want to see you lose to anyone other than me so early."
"However, I think the most valuable asset in this Championship was the fact that you three worked together as a team for as long as you could," Kakashi continued, "without all of your skills, you would never have made it into the final rounds of the tournament."
"Congratulations, moron," Sasuke cracked a smile, "you did good, I guess."
"Thanks, Sasuke," Naruto glowed with pride upon receiving a compliment from his friend and biggest rival, but he tried to hide it.
"Sensei, what will happen to Yamamoto and those twins? They were working with some masters who wanted to kidnap Naruto and steal his chakra," Sakura worriedly eyed the trees, "What if they come back? What if they try to trap Naruto again?"
"I'd like to see them try!" Naruto growled.
"I have taken care of that," Kakashi said coolly, "while the final trial ensued, I contacted the local authorities to arrest Yamamoto, Uneo, and Uraya for illegally interfering in the Skills Championship and deliberately harming other competitors. They'll hopefully track down their masters and stop them from trying to harness powerful chakras for harm."
Sakura seemed to relax slightly. The sun was starting to set as the first day of their trek quickly came to a close.
"We'll make camp here," Kakashi instructed. He and his students unrolled their sleeping bags and laid them on the flat dirt under the shelter of towering trees. Sakura started a small fire while Naruto collected some vegetables and nuts to roast over the flame. Sasuke fashioned makeshift weapons by sharpening branches with a shuriken.
Kakashi eyed him, interested. Sasuke, as lonely as he tried to convince himself he was, needed the help of his teammates more than the others. Though he believed he walked a solo path, the influence of Sakura and Naruto in his life made him a better fighter, ninja, and person. He observed Sasuke's actions throughout the tournament and knew that Naruto was destined to excel out of the three of them. Sasuke would fight hard to win, but never at the expense of one of his friends. And he didn't seem bothered by Naruto's win either.
"Hey, Sasuke," Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted by Naruto who approached Sasuke in the middle of his wood sharpening.
Sasuke looked up questioningly. Sakura tried to angle her ear towards their conversation.
Naruto sat across from Sasuke, looking at the pebbles in the dirt, "Thanks for, um, helping me. You know, in the tournament. I'm really sorry that you got hurt and were disqualified from the competition. I thought you were going to win, actually."
Sasuke was quiet, a slight look of shock on his blank face. Clearly, he didn't expect this.
Naruto continued and pushed the trophy he won in the Skills Championship in his direction, "I want you to have this. I, uh, think you deserve it. Kakashi sensei said teamwork helped us get so far in the contest and you had all the smart ideas to get us there."
Sasuke mulled over the compliments for a moment before taking a breath and pushing it back towards Naruto.
"You won it, Naruto, it's yours. Fair and square"
"But-"
"We're a team, Naruto. We help each other. I didn't do anything neither you nor Sakura wouldn't have done. I was happy to get that far in the tournament, but your victory was worthy of your actions. In the final fight against Yamamoto, you proved your worth alone, and I think it's time you gave yourself the credit. You're a skilled shinobi, Naruto."
Without another word, he continued his carving.
Naruto stared at him, bewildered, "Oh, uh, thanks…you're a great shinobi too."
"Thanks, but really. You don't need to say that."
"No, I really think that. Just take my compliment."
"Just take my compliment and don't pay a compliment to me just because I said one to you."
"Don't tell me what to do. I'll give you a compliment if I want to."
"Stop copying me like you always do, Naruto."
"I do not!"
Kakashi leaned back, smiling, as the bickering began. The fond heart-to-heart disappeared into the boys' normal bickering. Sakura entered the fray, taking Sasuke's side and defending him against Naruto. Kakashi chuckled and pulled his face mask up a little higher and closed his eyes.
THE END!