Chapter 15: Another Test

"It's been a while since I was in this apartment. It's actually cleaner now."

"It is. How many years has it been? It might be more than five years."

The white-haired man nodded. "Maybe more than that, Hokage-sama."

The two figures, Kakashi and Hiruzen, walked through the front door of Naruto's apartment. Kakashi carried a neatly packed cardboard box filled with fresh new clothes, while Hiruzen held scrolls containing dozens of sealed weapons. These weapons were meant for Naruto's birthday, but collecting and revitalizing them had taken longer than expected. The weapons had been collecting dust and rusting in storage when the old man found it.

The apartment was empty, the clock pointing to nine, suggesting Naruto was likely at the academy where test results would be announced today.

Hiruzen moved toward the kitchen, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "So, what do you think about those two?"

Kakashi paused, considering his words carefully. "Naruto and Satsuki? I'm very impressed by their skills," he replied, recalling the performance he had witnessed during the academy's battle test the previous day.

Hiruzen chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Right? It almost gave me a heart attack to see how quickly they've grown."

Kakashi rubbed his masked chin. "And to think that Naruto managed to defeat a Chunin at his current level," he continued, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. "His progress is far beyond what I had estimated."

He recalled the chaos of the previous night's incident when the forbidden scrolls had been stolen. Kakashi had been part of the search team, and he was well aware of Naruto's role in resolving the crisis.

"I agree, although he did suffer some injuries—" Hiruzen paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Kakashi, there's something I might want to tell you."

"Yes Hokage-sama?" the white-haired man tilted his head in question.

"I haven't talked about this with anyone, but since you'll be his future supervisor, you need to know," Hiruzen said, his serious expression prompting Kakashi to pay closer attention. "Naruto's injuries heal faster than normal. It must be the fox's influence." Hiruzen then filled Kakashi in on the details of last night's accident, from Naruto's injuries to his accidental mastery of the shadow clone jutsu.

"I see, I'll keep that in mind," Kakashi nodded.

After a moment, Kakashi turned his attention to the kitchen cabinets, opening them to reveal shelves stocked with fresh and healthy ingredients. He frowned slightly, noticing the absence of instant ramen. "Hmm, Naruto seems to have gotten rid of all his emergency rations," he mused aloud. Moving to the fridge, he found it surprisingly full of groceries. "And it's well-stocked too. I thought he didn't do any shopping."

Hiruzen chuckled softly as he rose from his seat, heading out of the kitchen with Kakashi following behind. "Satsuki must have done it for him," the Third Hokage suggested. "She's always looking out for him."

"I see, That could be the case, still…" Hiruzen informed him that Naruto and Satsuki were close, but he never imagined them to be this close.

They moved to Naruto's bedroom next, surveying the room. The bedsheet and blanket were disheveled, with stacks of used clothing strewn near the bed. A box of first aid supplies and blood-stained bandages lay on the floor. However, aside from that, the room seemed fairly organized.

"Hmm, his bedroom is a bit untidy, but he is a boy after all. Pretty normal..." Hiruzen remarked, picking up the blood-stained bandages and disposing of them in a nearby trash can. He had expected to find a much messier room.

Kakashi, however, was drawn to the pile of clothes scattered across the floor. "That boy... still neglecting his laundry," he sighed, recalling his first encounter with Naruto.

He was 4 years old at the time, the young Kakashi taught him everything the boy needed to be independent although it was pretty hard at the beginning. Disciplining the four-year-old boy has proved to be quite challenging.

Kakashi knew he wasn't going to be there with the young Naruto forever, He needed to make sure Naruto could survive on his own.

Kakashi knew he wouldn't always be there to guide Naruto and had wanted to ensure the boy could fend for himself. To his surprise, young Naruto had managed to live independently before Kakashi left for another mission, which had eased his mind.

But I guess he could be indisciplined sometimes. The young man smiled.

His attention returned to the clothes on the floor. As he picked up a particularly out-of-place garment, his eyes caught on a shirt with the Uchiha crest embroidered on its back. "Hmm? This crest..." He inspected it closely, realizing the size didn't fit Naruto at all. From the size alone it was clearly meant for someone slender or... a girl.

"Those are... Satsuki's clothes?" Hiruzen asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Instead of responding immediately, Kakashi pulled another item from the pile—a dark-colored women's kimono bearing the same symbol on the back. And Hiruzen recognized it at once, Satsuki had worn it last night.

"Y-yes," Kakashi stammered. They exchanged a look, the unspoken truth hanging heavily between them.

It appeared their suspicions were confirmed. "Did they? It must be my imagination. She must have left it here by chance," Kakashi attempted, rather unconvincingly, to come up with an excuse. His eyes inadvertently caught sight of a pair of underwear that unmistakably didn't belong to a boy, supporting the conclusion neither of them wanted to voice.

"Let's put these away, and then we can head to the academy," Hiruzen said, shifting the conversation as if giving them both an escape from the awkwardness. Kakashi followed his order and proceeded to neatly unpack the clothes into the drawer and leave the scrolls of weaponry on the small desk in the middle of the room.

Eventually, they left Naruto's apartment in silence. The stuff they had uncovered was left unspoken, an unvoiced agreement raised between them. Whatever was going on between Naruto and Satsuki, they chose not to intrude further into the youngsters' personal affairs.

"He is late" Naruto Groaned.

The classroom is now empty, Only Satsuki, Sakura, and himself remain, forming the current Team 7. Their supposed sensei was nowhere to be found. Saying he was 'late' was a generous understatement. Two hours had passed by, and at this point, they weren't sure whether he would show up at all.

Naruto sat slumped at his desk, stretching his arms out to the side and laying his face flat on the table's cool surface. His teammates, Satsuki and Sakura, were seated in front of him, deeply engrossed in a conversation that he couldn't quite join.

Team 7. His new team came as a surprise to him, having Satsuki on his team brought him so much happiness. And having Sakura as a teammate was also nice, mostly because it meant he didn't have to deal with those who openly detested him. She might not have been his first choice, but she wasn't hostile either, and that was good enough for Naruto. He is fine with anyone as long as they are his close friend.

His team stands out as an unusual arrangement. Satsuki who excelled in both written and practical tests partnered with Naruto and Sakura.

Sakura had a high score on written and practical tests but was mediocre in a battle. And Naruto who was mediocre in writing and practical tests but scored the highest when it came to battle. Naruto and Sakura were seen as balancing each other, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. It was a strategic pairing by their instructor, Iruka.

After passing their graduation test, each of them received a brand-new Hitai-ate, a symbol of their status as Genin. In similar styles, Naruto and Satsuki wrapped their Hitai-ate around their foreheads. Sakura, however, tied her Hitai-ate around her hair like a hairband, using it to keep her long, pink locks in place.

"Can you cut that out? I'm chatting with Satsuki-chan here. You've said that for the seventh time," the pink-haired girl replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Didn't know you keep counting" Naruto sat at his desk, resting his head on his palms. Feeling bored out of his mind after the departure of his friends with their respective teams and teachers.

Kiba and Shino had joined forces with Hinata under the guidance of the newly appointed Jonin, Kurenai-sensei. She was formerly a Chunin instructor but had recently achieved promotion, allowing her to lead her own Genin squad.

Shikamaru and Choji were grouped with Ino in Team 10, under the supervision of Asuma from the Sarutobi clan. Naruto was familiar with Asuma, mostly due to his closeness with Hiruzen.

Naruto had hoped that his teammates would include Shikamaru or Shino, both of whom he got along well with. But he didn't want to be greedy. Having Satsuki on his team was more than enough for him, and he was grateful for it.

Satsuki who was already used to their bickering tried to mend the situation, "Relax you two, I'm sure he will be here soon-"

Suddenly, the door slid open and a white-haired man peeked inside. His face was obscured by a mask, hiding any expression he might have had. "Ahh, you must be my team. Alright, all of you, come to the rooftop now." Without another word, the man closed the door.

The room turned dead silent. The three teenagers can only stare dumbly at each other.

"What is up with him?! At least apologize for coming late!" Sakura yelled, smacking the table in front of her. It would be a lie if Naruto and Satsuki didn't feel annoyed, but they tried to keep their frustration in check. The three decided to head up the stairs toward the rooftop.

The spring breeze and the fresh scents of the season welcomed them as they arrived at the rooftop. They saw their new sensei leaning casually against a railing, an orange book in his hand. His relaxed demeanor only added to their irritation. The three students approached and sat on a nearby bench, waiting for further instructions. Minutes ticked by, the silence between them growing increasingly uncomfortable.

Finally, Satsuki, unable to take the silence any longer, cleared her throat. "Um... Sensei..."

"Ah, you're all here already," the white-haired man said, glancing up from his book as if he had just noticed them. "You can start by introducing yourselves."

The trio facepalmed simultaneously.

Is he testing our patience? Sakura thought, trying to keep her anger in check. "I-introduce ourselves? But what should we say?" she asked, forcing a smile despite the veins visibly popping on her forehead.

The older man sighed, "You know, your name, likes, dislikes, dreams, and hobbies... stuff like that"

"Then can you give us an example?" Naruto chimed in, crossing his arms. "You know, since we're your students and all."

"Hmmm, let's see... My name is Kakashi Hatake, I don't feel like telling my likes and dislikes. I've never really thought of my dreams. For hobbies... well I have a lot" The man said without a hint of enthusiasm.

The trio facepalmed simultaneously, for the second time.

"In the end, all we know is his name," Satsuki muttered, shaking her head.

Sakura can't believe what she is about to say to Naruto "You know, I used to hate you but I think I found someone more annoying than you"

Naruto smirked, his eyes glinting with sarcastic amusement. "It's been a pleasure."

Kakashi, seemingly unfazed by the chatter between the trio, continued, "Alright, Next is you guys. Starting up with you, yellow-hair" still focused on his book and barely lifting his gaze.

Sitting on the left side of the bench, Naruto tilted his head slightly, noting that Sakura would come next, followed by Satsuki if the order began from the left to right.

"My Name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like Ramen and Curry, specifically Ichiraku ramen and homemade curry. What I dislike is sitting idly on the rooftop waiting for someone who's too busy reading a book." He made sure to emphasize the last part, aiming at Kakashi who was still engrossed in his book. But Naruto knew Kakashi heard him loud and clear. His teammates struggled to suppress their laughter at his remark.

"My dreams... well it's a secret for now. Oh actually, I wanted to be strong, that's counted as a dream right?" he was about to say he wanted to help Satsuki restore her clan, but he refrained from saying that. His eyes stole a glance at Satsuki who tried to hide her smile. "and hobbies... I guess Fuinjutsu?"

"Alright next, pink, go ahead"

Sakura's smile was strained and twitchy as she registered the nickname Kakashi had given her. She took a deep breath before speaking. "My name is Sakura Haruno. I like umeboshi and other sweet foods. I used to dislike Naruto, but right now, I despise a certain sensei who doesn't appreciate other people's time and is incredibly annoying." Her eyes twitched slightly, her forced smile barely masking her irritation.

"I still searching for my dream... Hobbies? I don't know, even though my friend likes to gossip, I like spending time with her, doesn't mean my hobby is gossiping"

"Good, Last one" Kakashi turned a page in his book, seemingly unmoved by Sakura's unhidden criticism, which only fueled her irritation further.

Satsuki sighed, she blamed their bad luck to get this kind of a teacher, "I'm Satsuki Uchiha. I like Onigiri and tomatoes. For the future, I want to rebuild my clan, getting stronger is the first step to achieving that. My hobbies are cooking and uhh, my family used to have a garden so I guess that used to be my hobby too. Speaking of my family, my father always taught me to look people in the eye when talking, so I dislike those who don't make eye contact during a conversation."

Listening to three consecutive jabs toward him, Kakashi sweatdropped. Alright, alright, massage taken you three, finally lifting his gaze from the book and closing it with a soft thud. Despite looking like he doesn't pay any attention, Kakashi listens to his students intently.

Their introductions matched his expectations but he had been particularly curious about Satsuki. He had expected her to harbor a grudge against certain individuals and be vocal about it, given her clan's tragic history. Yet she had managed to hold her composure remarkably well.

She doesn't seem too attached to the past. He had been expecting a brooding, sullen child carrying the weight of her clan's tragedy. Instead, he found a young girl who, despite her history, managed to retain a spark of life within her. I was expecting her to be gloomy, but that's not the case. She's pretty talkative, too.

After shutting his book and storing it in one of his pouches, Kakashi directed his attention toward his students, mainly focusing on Satsuki. He wasn't that well informed of Satsuki's condition, considering her history, one might assume she would have experienced trauma to some degree. But all that expectation was thrown out of the window easily. She experienced the loss of friends and family but still managed to retain that spark of happiness within herself.

He, too, had experienced the pain of losing loved ones. From his father, whose death had been a source of shame and sadness, to his two teammates, whose memories haunted him, and finally, his mentor and someone he swore to protect. It was around the same age as Satsuki that Kakashi's life had begun its descent into a cycle of loss and loneliness. One after another, he lost all of the people he cared about.

These losses led him into a deep depression, where he threw himself into mission after mission, suppressing his emotions and becoming nothing more than a tool for the village.

However, one night, during his duty as the third Hokage's guard, his cold dying heart beat one more time as he encountered a tearful, innocent blond boy, crying on his chair. He was entrusted to take care of him, a mission, a job like the usual. But rather than merely fulfilling his duties, taking care of the boy became a form of rehabilitation for him.

Naruto had unknowingly saved Kakashi from himself, providing him with a purpose outside the battlefield. All his negative thoughts were blown away. If not for the young boy, Kakashi might picture himself dying on the battlefield as a heartless tool. Kakashi wondered if Naruto's presence had done the same for Satsuki, helping her hold onto the lighter parts of her existence despite the darkness that surrounded her past.

Kakashi rubbed his masked chin as if searching for just the right words. "Hmm, how do I put this? My first impression of you guys..." He paused for a moment, then gave a slight shrug. "Well... I hate you."

"Same"

"We hate you too!"

"The feeling is mutual Sensei," The trio said in unison.

Kakashi gave a nonchalant nod, as if their retorts were precisely what he expected. "Good. You're all very interesting," he remarked, his tone as lazy as ever. "Get yourselves ready. Tomorrow, we'll be conducting survival training. We meet at five in the morning at the training field 3." His words hung in the air, but they were quickly punctuated by a warning. "It's a test," he continued, his voice now carrying a hint of seriousness beneath its casual veneer. "Bring your full arsenal. You're going to need it."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, confusion drawn in her current expression. "Wait, what test? We already graduated," she protested.

Kakashi's eye curved hinting at a smirk hidden beneath his mask. "Oh, you didn't hear? That 'graduation test' was just a selective method to identify potential Genin. Now you'll need to pass this test to make it official." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before delivering the finishing blow. "And let's just say, this test is hard. At least one of you might be returning to the academy."

As if on cue, the three students said in unison, "WHAT!?"

"Alright, see you tomorrow morning" He waved, "Oh, if I were you, I would skip breakfast, don't wanna throw up in the middle of the training" With that, he vanished, leaving the trio to process the unexpected challenge that awaited them.

Beneath a moonlit sky, deep within the forest inside the village, a narrow path wound its way through the forest. Barely discernible in the soft light, the path led deeper into the heart of the woods. At the end of this hidden trail lay an open area, bathed in a soft lunar glow.

There, sitting in silence, was Naruto seated on a tree stump. The night air around him filled with the whispering rustle of leaves. A few scrolls and a book lay spread out before him, their pages illuminated by the gentle light of the moon. He leaned over his reading, absorbed in the words written across the parchment.

Satsuki was currently attending the clan meeting, which had been ongoing for three consecutive days. The clan meetings typically occurred once a week or two, or even just once a month. She hadn't revealed the purpose of the meeting to him, claiming it was a secret. Given her position, the information was likely too confidential for him, a regular ninja.

That didn't bother him though.

He had other matters on his mind. What their sensei had told them that afternoon still echoed in his thoughts. He decided to do some research and headed to the archive and library in search of specific information.

With his brand new hitai-ate, the mark of him becoming an official ninja, there is no way they will chase him away like they used to. And now the copy of those documents lay in front of him.

Suddenly, his mind was flooded with a torrent of new information. Moments earlier, he had summoned several shadow clones to stand guard around the vicinity, hoping to test his hypothesis. The first time he used shadow clones, his mind had momentarily frozen when he dispelled hundreds of them at once. It wasn't the usual chakra exhaustion or the rush of chakra returning to him.

Information.

His shadow clones transmitted their experiences to him upon dispelling. Everything they saw, heard and felt—every detail of their surroundings and their thought processes—all transferred seamlessly into his mind. He had read that one of the purposes of this jutsu was information gathering. He had always assumed this meant the clones would gather intel and then return to report. But he had never realized it could be this instantaneous.

The details were clear in his mind: the chirping of birds nestled in nearby branches, the enveloping darkness of the forest night, one clone's idle humming of a TV tune, one of his clones thinking of what he should eat for dinner, and the soft murmur of the river nearby. These details, though in a span of several minutes, were etched into his memory in an instant.

The forest was empty at this hour. Yet, one clone standing guard on the path caught sight of a figure hurrying, clutching her kimono to move more swiftly. It was Satsuki, even through darkness, he could see her face lit up with a bright smile.

Realizing she was coming, Naruto quickly packed away his scrolls and book. He moved to greet her, preparing to meet her in the clearing. Moments later, Satsuki's figure emerged from the shadows, her smile unmistakably warm under the moon's glow.

"Welcome bac—whoa!" he exclaimed, stopping short as she leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. He hugged her tightly, using her momentum to spin her around, her laughter echoing through the dark forest.

"Hahaha, Naruto, I made it!" she cried out, her voice bubbling with excitement as she clung to him.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down," he said, still holding her close as she bounced on her toes with excitement.

"I made it! I made it!" she repeated.

"Calm down, what is it—" Naruto began, but before he could finish his question, Satsuki rolled up her kimono's sleeve to reveal her sealing bracelet.

With a puff of smoke, a scroll materialized in her hand. She eagerly handed it to Naruto, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Naruto unrolled the scroll and scanned it quickly. His eyes widened as he read aloud, "—hereby appoint Satsuki Uchiha as the Chief of the Police Force—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Satsuki hugged him tightly once more. Now it made sense why she was so happy, almost childlike in her excitement.

The last few clan meetings must be discussing about the police forces.

The police force had once been her family's duty. When the Uchiha clan had been 'disbanded', the police force had dissolved with them. Since then, the Hokage had maintained village security using shinobi and several ANBU as substitutes. It looked like the Third Hokage had reinstated the police force and appointed Satsuki as its head.

"C'mon, c'mon, we've got a lot of work to do," Satsuki said, pulling Naruto by the arm and leading him to her apartment. Her chuckles echoed through the back alley as they hurried along.

At the entrance, a few boxes stood tall. Satsuki and Naruto carried them inside, placing them in one of the vacant rooms. Changing their clothes to something easy to move, they began unboxing each box, turning the once bland bedroom into a chaotic workroom filled with files and documents.

Naruto kneeled and opened the last box, he noticed the label on the cardboard: 'Recruits.' As the name suggested, it contained potential candidates for the police force.

"That box…" Satsuki said, her tone suddenly serious.

"Hmm? Any problem?" Naruto asked, concerned as he saw her happy face turn sour.

"Well, the recruits who are on stand-by are there and can be drafted as soon as I give the word. All of them are either Chunin or Jonin. But I'm just a Genin, do you think..." she trailed off, rubbing her side nervously.

"I see… don't worry about that now," Naruto said, trying to comfort her. He knew it wouldn't be easy. Even if she could enforce the Third Hokage's decree to draft them, earning their respect was another matter entirely.

Even a child knew that Jonins were far superior to Genin.

How could a Jonin be subordinate to a Genin? If Satsuki relied solely on her position as head to command respect, some might mock her behind her back. They didn't know how hard she had worked to get where she was, reading law books and other stuff like 'How to be a Great Leader' until past midnight. all that to prepare herself when the time comes.

Most people only saw that the Uchiha clan had traditionally led the police force, and her sudden appointment might make them think she was given the position merely because of her lineage. Some might see it as nepotism rather than merit.

What could he do to help her?

A gentle poke on his cheek and Satsuki's chuckle pulled him from his thoughts. "Why the long face? Don't worry, I'll manage," she said, her smile warming his heart. She cupped his cheeks and turned his face toward hers. "You don't always have to overthink things. The Third Hokage said I can take my time. I'll earn their respect in my own way. No need to rush."

Naruto shook his head. "Right. Just tell me when you need anything. I'll do my part to help you."

Chuckling, she tried to change the topic "Anyway, did you find what you were looking for in the archive?" she asked.

"Plenty of information," he nodded.

"Do you really think we will fight him?"

Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Most likely. I doubt 'Survival Training' just means camping in the wild."

"Do you think we can win?" she asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice. Their opponent would be a Jonin after all. Three fresh Genin against an experienced Jonin—the odds were against them.

"I'll think of something," he assured her. Unknown to her, he had already summoned five clones in the living room, instructing them to continue glossing over the information and come up with a strategy that could help secure their victory.

He pulled a book from the recruit box, flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

This is it. He stood up and then used the box as his seat. Their sensei's names were listed among the potential recruits. Satsuki, noticing his discovery, came closer and stood behind him to have a look.

He skimmed through the file. "Nothing new here," he sighed, hoping for more detailed information but finding it similar to what he had already gathered.

"Hmm? Kakashi-sensei… Too bad he's already filled a post," she said, noting the status freshly stamped under his name, 'Genin team leader.' She could only recruit those with a 'standing by' status, not those who were already assigned.

"Wow, look at all his achievements," Satsuki said, standing behind Naruto and skimming through the documents he was holding. As she read, looking at how many missions he had accomplished, her respect for Kakashi grew. If only he were more serious, she would fully acknowledge him as their sensei.

"Leave the planning to me. Go get some rest, we need to get up early," Naruto said, turning to Satsuki.

"Do you think he will be there on time?" Satsuki asked, recalling how late their sensei had been last time.

"Nah, I doubt it," Naruto shrugged. "We might as well have breakfast. If we're really going up against him, fighting on an empty stomach won't do us any favors." Realizing no more new information can be obtained he closed the book and rested it on his lap.

Satsuki wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her head on his shoulder. "Then I'll prepare something for breakfast, something we can microwave quickly. And might as well make bentos for lunch."

"Sounds good. If you're done, go rest. I'll join you as soon as I finish my planning."

"Mm-hm," she nodded, gently kissing Naruto's cheek. "Good night."

Naruto smiled. "Good night."

Dawn arrived, the night wind swaying in the darkness, bringing sakura petals along its path. The village still slept, but one window was lit brightly, standing out from its neighbors. The name Haruno was displayed in front of the house.

A figure emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a pink towel that matched the color of her hair, which was tied up in a ponytail. She made her way from the bathroom to her room, the towel absorbing the last remnants of warmth from her bath. Undoing her hair, she grabbed her usual hairdryer and began drying her hair. Her vibrant face reflected in the mirror she facing.

"Sakura," called the voice of a middle-aged woman from the kitchen below. "Your bento's ready. Don't forget to bring it with you!"

"Alright, thanks, Kaa-san," Sakura replied, closing her door and letting the towel fall to the floor. The chill of the early morning air made her shiver. She had never bathed so early before, but the warm water was just what she needed to shake off her anxiety and prepare for the survival training ahead.

She glanced at the clock—4 AM. There was still time before their scheduled meeting. Sakura opened her drawer and pulled out her clothes: black bike shorts, a sleeveless red top with a white circular logo on the back, and a light pink apron skirt with matching elbow warmers. She dressed quickly, trying to ward off the cold as each piece of clothing fit her body nicely. Once finished, she picked up her hitai-ate, which she had customized to match her outfit color, and wrapped it around her hair that reached her back.

The pink-haired girl opened her drawer and took out several kunai, shuriken, and other ninja tools, items that starkly contrasted with her pink, girly room. Well, she is a bonafide kunoichi now, so this stuff was something normal. Placing kunai, shuriken, and other tools into her backpack, she noticed her tense reflection in the mirror. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. Today was a crucial day. She had thought the test was behind her, but it seemed another test awaited.

Walking to her nightstand, she opened the drawer and pulled out a piece of black fabric—a black cloak. She hugged it tightly, and as if it were a ritual, her fast-beating heart gradually calmed. Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, she sighed in relief. This was her go-to comfort whenever she felt stressed, tense, or had trouble sleeping.

The floral scent of the cloak filled her senses, clean and fresh like all her other clothes due to the same detergent. But this fabric held a different calming effect for her.

She remembered the first time she found the cloak.

Around ten years ago, one morning she woke up hugging it. Neither her mother nor father knew where it came from. Only her close friend, Ino, offered a cheesy explanation, saying that it belonged to a prince who saved princesses and left it behind so they could find him.

A fairy tale.

Her friend was a romantic at heart, obsessed with fairy tales and romance novels, so Sakura knew she was just babbling nonsense to tease her. In the end, the cloak's origin remained a mystery. But one thing for certain, it radiated a warmth she had never known existed.

Descending the stairs to the kitchen, she saw the bento box waiting on the dining table. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, likely having gone back to bed. Still, Sakura appreciated the gesture. She slipped the bento into her backpack and headed for the front door. Removing her slippers, she sat down and put on the knee-high boots with low heels she had bought a while back.

Wearing gloves in each hand, she was ready to leave until she heard footsteps coming behind her.

"Sakura," a middle-aged man with dull pink hair approached her. "You're heading out now?" his expression a mix of concern and disapproval.

"Y-yes," Sakura replied, trying to mask her nervousness by rubbing her side.

Her father, Kizashi Haruno, was one of the most successful businessmen in Konoha. His wealth might not compare to the big shots in the capital or the Hokage, but everyone knew his name and wealth. Kizashi and his wife had once enrolled in the shinobi academy, though they didn't pass.

Fate took a turn, leading them to make a fortune as traveling merchants before they decided to settle down in their home village Konoha. Their failure at the academy made them dream that their child would one day become a shinobi.

Now, their prized daughter was finally achieving that dream. One would think they would be elated, sending her off with wide smiles on her first day as an official kunoichi. But the current situation says otherwise. Her mother hadn't even seen her off, and her father wore a dissatisfied look.

It wasn't because Sakura failed to be the Kunoichi of the Year. Her parents knew that battle tests were her weakness, and with the famous prodigy Satsuki Uchiha in her grade, they had accepted that she wouldn't stand out. They embraced her flaws like any loving parent should.

What dissatisfied them was with whom she had teamed up: Naruto Uzumaki, the rumored Nine-Tailed orphan despised by the village.

The Kyuubi disaster that struck the village more than sixteen years ago had left the Haruno family in total loss, destroying their assets and wealth. It wiped out everything they had built and left them starting from zero. If not for that cursed Nine-Tailed Fox, the Haruno family would have been the leading economic force in Konoha.

Sakura knew well her parents' stance toward her yellow-haired friend. Just last night, without consulting her, they had met with the Third Hokage and requested a team rearrangement, even going so far as to prepare a 'gift' for him. To Sakura's relief, their request was promptly declined.

She understood the history of the Haruno family and their losses during the Kyuubi disaster, but she didn't agree with making Naruto a scapegoat. She couldn't hold Naruto responsible for something beyond his control. After all, it was just a rumor. How could something as mighty as the Nine-Tails be compressed into a small child?

Naruto might be annoying and tease her a lot, but she didn't hate him. Well, she did hate him but not in a hostile way.

"...Alright, remember, whatever it takes, you must succeed in this test." Kizashi said, his tone heavy with unspoken expectations before turning and walking away.

Sakura sighed deeply. Her parents still had hopes for her to succeed as a kunoichi. Whatever it takes, huh? She closed the door behind her and walked her way through dimly lit streets.

Sakura is smart, she knew what her parents wanted from her becoming a successful kunoichi. Her father's business mind was probably passed down to her. Beyond fulfilling a long-held family dream, becoming a kunoichi presented an opportunity for her to be entrusted with critical missions—such as escorting influential figures like businessmen or even daimyo. Such responsibilities offered more than just duty; they promised the chance to forge personal connections with them.

In the world of business, access to such connections was invaluable and highly coveted, often demanding a steep price. Moreover, a relationship with a daimyo was a treasure that money alone could never buy.

When she arrived at the training ground, she saw that she was ten minutes early. The sun was beginning to rise, bathing the area in a warm, golden light. Sakura sat on one of the tree stumps set up as practice dummies, placing her backpack beside her. She leaned back against the stump, letting the morning sun warm her.

She waited and waited.

It was six now, and even her teammates were nowhere to be found. Looking at the time, she realized her sensei was unlikely to come on time. Maybe her teammates had figured that out and decided to come late as well.

Her stomach growled in protest, she hadn't had breakfast as her sensei suggested. The watch ticked to seven in the morning.

Thirty minutes later, she saw a figure walking toward her. "Huh, Sakura? You're early."

"Satsukiiii…" Sakura cried, finally getting some company.

"Don't tell me you waited since 5?" Satsuki asked, to which Sakura nodded. Satsuki didn't carry a backpack, but Sakura knew she often sealed her belongings in her bracelet, including her bentos.

"Ughhh! Where is that stupid sensei?" Sakura complained. Clenching her fist, thinking of sending a few punches at her sensei when he decided to come.

"You haven't had any breakfast?"

Sakura's stomach growled again. "…Yeah."

"Well, I think you should. I doubt our sensei will come before noon. And practicing with an empty stomach will hinder your performance."

"But this is for my lunch. What if the practice takes longer than that?"

Satsuki smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that. I packed enough lunch for four people."

"Satsuki, you are an angel," Sakura said, opening her bento and offering some to Satsuki before eating.

The two chatted as they waited. Resting their back against the tree stump.

"Ino wouldn't have a problem skipping breakfast. She's been doing that since the academy. I don't know who she's trying to impress."

Satsuki chuckled. "Well, she might just want to maintain her figure."

"Yeah, I guess. You know there are a bunch of guys who approach her, but she never accepts even one of them." Sakura wasn't the gossiping type, but when it came to her close friends, she tended to talk about them whenever she was with Satsuki. With Ino, however, Sakura tended to be the listener.

"Well, well, well. Someone likes gossiping."

As if on cue, Sakura and Satsuki looked behind them to find Naruto approaching.

"Naruto! You're late!" glancing at her watch, "IT'S 10! YOU'RE FIVE HOURS LATE!" Sakura yelled.

"Okay, okay, geez, no need to yell. Even our sensei isn't here yet." Naruto tried to cover his ears, which were ringing from Sakura's loud screams.

Satsuki tried to suppress her laughter, her hands over her mouth. She and Naruto had agreed to arrive at different times to avoid drawing suspicion, but she hadn't expected Naruto to be this late.

Sakura continued to nag, but Naruto shrugged. "Hey, we can't do anything about Kakashi-sensei being late."

Satsuki nodded in agreement. "He is right. Let's just relax and wait together."

Sakura sighed, with her stomach filled, her frustration melting away as she settled back down. "Fine."

Settling down on the last tree stump, Naruto grinned. "Now, what were you two talking about?"

The three of them continued to chat, the tension easing as they waited for their time-indisciplined sensei. The sun climbed higher in the sky, warming the training ground. As they checked their watches again, it was just five minutes before eleven.

A figure walking casually towards them, waving his hand innocently "Hey ya. Sorry, a black cat crossed my path, so I need to find another route-"

"YOU ARE FUCKING LATE!" the three erupted at once.

A/N

And done... I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter. Not because it deviated from my draft or turned out poorly, but simply because it's longer than I anticipated. Chapter 15 was meant to cover the bell test, and I already had the fight scene completed a year ago with about 3.5k words. However, it lacked a solid plot, so I kept writing and writing without realizing the word count had reached 9k words. Thus, I decided to split the chapter and save the battle for the next chapter, I don't even know what title I should use for this chapter lmao.

I've also 'reintroduced' Sakura's family with a different angle compared to the canon. In the original series, they mostly served as comic relief, but I want them to play a more significant role in this fanfic. and I also hint Sakura's attachment.

Right now, I have a lot of free time and motivation to write, which is why I've been able to update new chapters in less than a month. But now I'm facing a different problem.

I've forgotten many details about Naruto, not the main canon stories, but the little details. The last time I watched the entire series was as it aired, with all the movies and fillers, back in 2017. Then, during the COVID-19 worldwide event in 2021, I rewatched the series (canon only) since I had plenty of free time at home. That's when I started reading fanfic and writing the outline for this story.

Now, as my memory of the series fades, I'm worried I might overlook something crucial. I don't feel like rewatching it again, though. But don't get me wrong, I'll manage. The essential plot is already in my draft, but to ensure I capture all the details, I'll be using the Naruto fandom wiki as a reference from now on.

My target now is to finish the Wave arc before Chapter 20, which means I'll skip some stuff or just oversimplify it.

Anyway let's address some reviews and PMs I received

Ultimate Nevermore: Thanks for pointing this stuff, from now on I'll include who the review is from. Although I won't put all the reviews here as it will add more words to the word count, but I'll write it if it is a question. I am planning to skip the unmodified canon and skim over it. Don't worry I'm not the kind of person who is easily discouraged and I accept all criticism. (somehow I can't write your name correctly, it keeps disappearing as I click save)

RyomenSukunaa: Personally I don't think I made Satsuki as a crybaby, I think giving her a chance to express her feelings of sadness and make her cry adds to her character.

Herach: I agree with your opinion, when I reread the chapter when editing I do feel like it's not fit for their character. But then again, what I remembered from the canon all the kids seem mature in some shape or form, Kakashi or Itachi for example. I think someone already pointed this out. They live in a world where 6-year-olds are trained to be killing machines, sent to the front line, and legalized to kill. even in canon, I see more characters as a kid growing too fast or acting like an adult so I just kinda do the same(?).

Panyrr: Yes, I write him as he is to show some development, so in short: At the age of four, when he was living on the streets, he was afraid of everything and emotionally unstable. Meeting Hiruzen and Inu helped him become braver, though he still remained somewhat of a loner (if that makes sense). After meeting Satsuki, Naruto began to resemble his canon self more closely. However, the Uchiha massacre had a significant impact on him, and I toned him down to reflect on the trauma he experienced. Although he tries his best to hide it for Satsuki's sake. After the time skips, I blend his canon traits with a calmer demeanor, showing his growth and maturity. Maintain his bratty persona at the academy to serve the plot. As he continues to develop, he will draw closer to Minato. I can't reveal more without giving away spoilers XD.

Scarease: Well personally I don't plan to write it that way, at some point, I was planning to make every clan hate him, but I scratch that. lmao yeah, Stupid Danzo who leaked it to the masses, it's as if telling any newcomer that has a chance to be a spy, "You see that kid? yeah he is the nine-tailed fox"

Draconian: I'm sorry that the team arrangement was not to your liking, but I decided to be closer to canon to make things simpler. I'm, planning to add Ino to the harem after the Konoha crush arc. although her development began after the wave arc, before the Chunnin exam.

freedomringer: ayy, I didn't think of that XD. I'll try to include that scene if it fits with my draft.

InfiniteNexusofChaos: Thank you hope you enjoy it as the story goes :)

Unanswered Little Q: Oh shit, I didn't realize it. Thank you for pointing that out I'll fix it immediately. I think it happened because I edited that chapter using the mobile app, it had built-in grammar correction. and all I needed was to click the prompt and it changed the grammar automatically, I think it left an underlined on each fixed grammar.

raelarial1: Why not :) joking aside, no it's not femdom, first I don't have that kink so I wouldn't know how to write one, I need to do some research which I'm too lazy rn. but if it means dominant as the female character becomes dominant in everyday life, yes I'm planning to do that. Satsuki will become clan head and the rest of the girls will have a significant role I'm planning to give them.

dreadix: As you mentioned, how the next line of Uzumaki will be written after Ino joins Naruto. The political marriage will focus on clan princesses and Temari (I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned her before), while the rest of the plot will take a different direction. The political marriage aspect will be a bit complicated, but I'll strive to keep it straightforward. A simple example would be Temari, I've read fanfics where the political marriage revolved around the Konoha Crush arc, and I plan to recycle that idea, of course, modifying it to fit my story. What's really holding me back from writing at the moment is my real-life stuff. When it comes to ideas, I've already outlined and drafted how the story will go, so I just need to expand on the draft. Freetime I need Freetime.

Guest: Personally, I quickly drop a fanfic if it's too short or rushed, but I also lose interest if it becomes too wordy or overly descriptive about unnecessary details like the weather, making it too poetic. I believe my writing sits somewhere in the middle of these examples. at least, that's how I see it. Maybe it's my lack of writing skills that makes Naruto not Naruto, or maybe I've made him this way to fit my plot. If I were to describe Naruto's character in full detail, it would take two or more chapters to cover everything, which would only prolong the story's progress. I doubt you'd want that, considering you already think the story is slow enough. His character will be revealed as the story progresses. One of my readers sent me a PM suggesting I don't give too much hand-holding in the story and instead let readers understand each character themselves. Of course, I promise to keep improving.

Xerzo LotCN: I'll let you read the rest of the chapter first :) As I write this author's note, I've noticed that you're actively reviewing the story, but you haven't reached the latest chapter yet. I hope you enjoy my story and give me your thoughts on my story. the plot will unfold as you read. but here are some questions I can answer that are not written in the chapters. I don't plan on giving Naruto any Dojutsu because his skill set is already set on my draft, and him having the eye will conflict with the theme. Satsuki will be the main girl, which means she will have most spotlight but doesn't mean Naruto will neglect other girls, he will try to make an equal effort for all of them. Why was Naruto fine after Itachi used Tsukiyomi on him? Well to be frank I didn't think that far lmao, well if I would add details, maybe because of his fast healing factor, or Kurama prevented him from experiencing the full effect? I don't know as I said I don't think that far XD. But the traumatic experience was there. thank you for pointing editing error in chapter 6, I'm fixing it now.

Holyshit, A/N alone took 1.5k words. Anyway, Let's wrap this up. Thank you for all the reviews and PMs, Follow and Favorite. All of it encourages me to continue to write. Expect more in the future. I await your Review CIAO.