I don't know man these breaks are crazy, im sorry yall ill try harder lol but seriously yeah it's pretty bad i'm sorry and it's not like the quantity/quality of these chapters are amazing, there's no real excuse it's just writers block is real, and it hits you harddddd
Anyways this chapter is some quick bell test mixed with some idk maybe *forced* SatsukixNaruto but yeah, let's get on with it!
"I didn't even get to say start."
…
"However, that was a good example, you came at me with intent to kill, which I expect all of you three to do."
"Now… Begin!"
All the minds were empty in the training ground.
"Okay! 3…2.. 1."
Shikamaru and Satsuki each dashed into the leaves surrounding the ground. Naruto stood in front of Kakashi, setting into his fighting stance. 'Don't be an idiot.' Satsuki thought to herself with concern as she looked on from the dark bushes.
"Not a good idea." Kakashi took out his book. "You're probably right." Naruto dashed off into the bushes, ending up beside his teammate.
Shikamaru fell to one knee while massaging the sides of his temple, while he started to speak.
"I think I got it."
Naruto swung his head over to him. "Got what?" He asked curiously. "I thought of something." "What?" Naruto replied with a puzzled face.
"I think there's more to it."
"What? … Huh!?"
"Well, think about every team in history.." "Okay… What about it?" "Any two man squads come to mind?"
"Nope." Naruto replied.
… Shikamaru left a moment for Naruto to ponder his words, to which it clicked quickly.
"So you think he's lying..?"
"Yeah, I do. but I don't know why he would lie. Let me think, go to Satsuki."
"Stay here so I can find you again."
BOOM!
"Okay! go help Satsuki, let me think here." With a nod, Naruto was off to aid Satsuki.
—-
Satsuki narrowly threw a kick to dislodge a hand from the ground, narrowly avoiding being dragged along. "Ouch!" Kakashi yelled out sarcastically before jumping out, causing a loud boom.
She fell back onto her back after the ground shook, curtesy a mini earthquake. Naruto quickly leaped out of a group of large plants, landing next to her.
Naruto quickly extended a hand, pulling Satsuki to her feet with a firm grip. Before she could even catch her breath or utter a word, he was already speaking, his voice low but urgent. "Get up, we need to distract him for a second."
Satsuki blinked, her mind racing to catch up. "Why? We need to get the bells!" she countered, her eyes narrowing as she tried to understand his sudden shift in focus.
"Shikamaru needs time!" Naruto insisted, glancing around nervously,
Kakashi's brow furrowed as he struggled to recall the rule. "Rule… what number again..? Never mind that… But never let the enemy hear your plan!" He yelled, intent on teaching the kids a life lesson. And with a burst of speed, he darted off into the trees, intent on finding Shikamaru before the plan could unfold.
"That was way too loud, idiot," Satsuki hissed, shooting a glare at Naruto.
Naruto's eyes widened in alarm. "That's really bad…!" he muttered, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Without wasting another second, he grabbed her wrist, his grip tight but not painful, and took off after Kakashi at full speed. "We have to stop him!" he shouted over his shoulder, determination lacing his voice as they tore through the trees, their feet pounding against the forest floor in a desperate race to outpace their sensei.
As they weaved through the dense forest, their feet now barely touched the ground, as they sped up. Satsuki's mind raced as quickly as their bodies.
"Why does he need time?" she asked, her voice touched with frustration at Naruto's loud mouth and a hint of curiosity.
Her companion's expression tightened, his brow furrowing as he leaped over a fallen log, his movements swift and precise. "Shika thinks he's lying!" he replied, his tone edged with urgency. "Think about it-"
"Watch out!" Satsuki yelled out, as Naruto barely got over a virtually invisible wire set up on two tree branches perfectly parallel.
"How's he so fast?" Naruto asked, not expecting an actual answer, more so an agreement. "He is, but what were you telling me about?"
"Think about it," Naruto urged, his voice hushed but intense as they continued to dash through the thick foliage. "Have you ever seen a two-person team? Shika thinks he's lying."
The words quickly registered in Satsuki's mind, her sharp Uchiha instincts piecing the puzzle together in an instant. Her eyes widened with sudden understanding, and she gave a quick, decisive nod.
"I'm right here," The voice belonged to Shikamaru just loud enough for them to hear it, as he came out from a bush, staring at them.
Without a second thought, Naruto immediately tried to rush over to Shikamaru, his instincts driving him to act before he could think. But before he could take more than a couple of steps, Satsuki's hand shot out, grabbing him firmly by the arm.
"Naruto, wait!" she hissed, her grip tightening to keep him in place. Her eyes were sharp, scanning the figure in the distance, her mind racing with caution. "How do we know this is Shikamaru?"
… "You're right."
"Uh.." Naruto stayed frozen. As did Satsuki
"Test him or something." Satsuki demanded without yelling.
"Uhhh.. do the shadow thing on me! Satsuki, Guard up just in case!"
Satsuki gave him a disapproving look. I'm sure Kakashi is strong enough to be able to perform something like that.
Naruto jumped down in front of Shikamaru, who nodded and used his shadow imitation, freezing Naruto in place.
"Good?"
Naruto stumbled forward as he was let free and nodded in response. Satsuki was still sceptical but she needed to take the risk.
"Guys. I figured he wants something outta us.. Something like teamwork."
They stayed silent to let Shikamaru talk.
"He obviously wants something, he can't just sorta take two of us. He definitely wants us to have some sorta conflict and not work together. Let's just work together. And if he does really just take two of us, I'll really stay out I guess."
"You're right." Satsuki said, the realisation hitting her quickly.
"Yeah, Yeah. You're right. There's no way in hell he only takes two of us. You're right." She doubled down as it hit her harder.
"Okay. Naruto and Satsuki, you guys need to go out and make noise. Be loud and distractive. I'll get behind him and catch his shadow. Then we get the bells."
Kakashi smirked behind a tree just a few feet away.
This team is gonna be fun.
Kakashi thought to himself, a hint of amusement running through his mind.
"Alright, let's make it happen," Naruto affirmed to the team, his tone determined and ready
Naruto and Satsuki emerged from the very dense shrub with agility and precision.
Kakashi emerged to confront the Genin, giving them the opportunity to enact their thought out strategy.
"He came out way faster than I thought he would!" Naruto thought out loud as they commenced their plan.
Satsuki began the exchange with a directed fireball towards Kakashi, who effortlessly evaded, retaliating with his own fireball aimed at the Genin. They skillfully dodged, albeit with increased effort, evading the fiery assault.
Naruto put his hands together to perform his recently acquired go-to jutsu, a skill he had acquired through the very illegal act of stealing the scroll of sealing, under the persuasive guidance of his white-haired teacher. Despite him knowing that this 'last test for Genin' was false, Naruto deemed the risk worthwhile in pursuit of expanding his quantity of jutsu.
Naruto swiftly formed the Ram hand seal, his voice ringing out with determination as he exclaimed, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Multiple copies of Naruto emerged in quick succession, spreading out and rushing towards Kakashi, aiming to distract him long enough for Shikamaru to immobilise him with his shadow possession Jutsu.
"Checkmate," Shikamaru declared from behind as Kakashi found himself immobilised, his movements halted by the shadow possession jutsu.
A smile spread across Naruto's face, while Satsuki and Shikamaru gave smirks.
"I'm very impressed. Great work!" Kakashi's voice emerged behind Naruto and Satsuki as the frozen Kakashi turned into a puff of smoke.
They would have to do more with the distraction but for the most part, it really wasn't bad. This only made Kakashi more excited for his new team.
"You've outsmarted me! Being a team, just as I had hoped. I couldn't be prouder," he commended warmly, offering an eye smile.
Is he being sarcastic?
The group couldn't tell.
"Good call, Shikamaru." Naruto said to his now official teammate. "Good job." Satsuki offered her props. "Just as planned." Shikamaru yawned lazily, earning a sarcastic roll of the eyes from Naruto.
"Just like that, Team 7 is now officially a squad," He stuck his thumb up at Shikamaru before continuing to speak. "Great job with that plan, Shikamaru! A couple things can be worked on but that's for later! Be at the Hokage's office by 6:30 AM sharp."
With that, Another Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Well guys, I'm gonna head home." Shikamaru trailed off.
"Celebration?" Naruto glanced at Satsuki, waiting for an answer.
"Okay.. Whatever I want though." She half smiled, very aware Naruto was dying for ramen.
That, in Naruto's mind, was far from the ideal response, he was already lost in thoughts of the tantalising aroma coming from the boiling ramen broth. Looks like that was going to have to take a backseat.
"Fine.." Naruto hung his head down, knowing he wasn't gonna get to eat the one thing he loved most.
…
To Naruto's shock. He asked a question, bewildered at her choice.
"You wanted Ramen?"
-0-
Early in the morning, Satsuki stirred awake, the quiet stillness of the early morning wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. She moved slowly, slipping out of bed and starting her usual routine.
She glanced over at the little gloves her mother knitted for her as a toddler resting on the little desk in the corner, a small frown tugging at her lips as she remembered the day her mother first taught her to knit, grabbing her chest after the pain of remembrance came.
The dark moon barely gave light through the curtains in Naruto's room, casting a dark glow across the room as the outside was dead quiet in the fine Konoha morning.
That was a gooood sleep! Naruto thought to himself as he sat up, reaching his arms high for the ceiling.
His eyes shifted towards the clock, noticing the bright red 5:30 occupying the clock, Time to start the day! First day for missions, I wonder what we're gonna do!
Surveying the room, it wasn't nearly as cluttered as it might have been a couple of years ago thanks to Satsuki's lecture on how he needed to keep his place clean and livable.
However, it still lacked tidiness, with scattered clothes strewn across the floor.
These need a wash,
Naruto muttered to himself and he gathered up the clothes and deposited them into a nearby laundry basket.
He put on his clothes before walking from his room to the bathroom, then grabbed his toothbrush, squeezed on toothpaste, vigorously brushed, spat into the sink, rinsed, and flashed a quick grin in the mirror before dashing off to eat his breakfast.
He boiled water, then poured it into the instant ramen cup. Waiting eagerly, he savoured the enticing smell of the broth.
As it finished, he clasped his hands together, and shut his eyes before yelling "Thank you for the food!" As he indulged into the pork flavoured instant ramen.
Noodles devoured and broth slurped, he slipped on his sandals and swiftly exited the house.
-0-
Naruto and Satsuki met unplanned outside the Hokage's building precisely at 6:05, each trying not to be late to their first mission.
After just a bit of silence on a bench, Satsuki mumbled out a question.
"What?" He asked back and then leaned in with eyes shut, in an attempt to catch her words. "I didn't hear you," he followed up as he leaned in even closer.
As her head descended into her arms, overwhelmed by embarrassment, her face adopted a hue akin to a ripe tomato, she inquired.
"D-Did you like those gloves.."
"Gloves?" Naruto shot a puzzled look her way.
I guess he forgot..
"N-Never mind that question!" she stammered, attempting to brush it off as if she'd never said anything.
Naruto thought long and hard in the silence. "Oh! Those gloves you ma-"
Shikamaru turned the corner and arrived.
"Shhsh!" Satsuki's hands covered Naruto's mouth. "Mmf!" Naruto's muffled voice struggled to emerge from behind his covered mouth.
"Okay..." Shikamaru said aloud, heightening the awkwardness of the odd situation he had just walked into, Satsuki's cheeks flushed a vivid red almost instantly.
Satsuki slowly lifted her hands from Naruto's mouth, her black eyes locking onto his blue eyes with a glare so fierce, it silently promised dire consequences if he dared to speak about what she had just asked him. "Uhmm, hey, Shikamaru!" Naruto waved awkwardly.
"Hey, Naruto," Shikamaru replied with a lazy wave, raising an eyebrow at the strange scene before him. "What's going on here?"
"Nothing!" Satsuki interjected hastily, cutting off Naruto before he could respond. Just then, Kakashi arrived on the scene.
"Thank you, Lord," Satsuki silently prayed in relief as Kakashi's arrival rescued her from the brink of this awkward moment.
"Good morning, little Genin!" Kakashi greeted them cheerfully, offering a small wave before retrieving a scroll from his pouch.
"We're cleaning!" Kakashi attempted to get the group happy, in a sarcastic manner. "Really?" Naruto asked in disappointment.
"I figured," Shikamaru remarked with a yawn. Satsuki, her cheeks still flushed a deep crimson with embarrassment, remained silent, keeping her mouth shut.
"What happened to you!?" Kakashi exclaimed, his gaze fixed on Satsuki.
"N-Nothing!" Satsuki said as she smiled, not making the situation any better for herself. Odd, very odd.. Kakashi mused, pondering the normally quiet girl's actions.
9:30AM.
-0-
3:25PM
"I didn't sign up to be a janitor, Y'know." Naruto said to the group as he picked up another piece of trash from a public park.
"Every squad starts somewhere right?" Shikamaru added as he too picked up garbage. "Well complaining isn't gonna help time pass, will it, Naruto?" Kakashi asked his student.
"Why are half of the wrappers I pick up dripping wet…..?" Naruto asked, as the group's timed mission ended.
"It hasn't rained for a bit too, gross." Shikamaru chimed in.
3:30PM.
Kakashi looked at the sun lowering in the west and the shadows stretching to the east, realising it was time for the squad to end the day.
"It's time to wrap it up!" Mutters of 'finally' and 'long enough' came out from all the kids, over the moon about the boring chores being finished.
Drops of sweat trickled off Naruto's forehead and he wiped it, speaking.
"Finally!"
Naruto ran his hand through his damp blond hair, feeling the moisture from sweat and the humid air clinging to the strands. He grimaced slightly, mentally noting that today was definitely a hair wash day.
With that thought in mind, he glanced over to where he expected Satsuki to be slumped against a nearby wall, catching her breath. But instead of seeing her familiar form, the spot was empty. Naruto blinked, confusion settling in as he scanned the area. Weird.
Kakashi gave them a final nod before turning on his heel and walking away at his trademark slow pace. "I'll see you two tomorrow at the same place, same time. Relay the message to Satsuki!" he called back over his shoulder.
Naruto glanced at Shikamaru, who had already started to walk off briskly, eager to avoid anything boring. "Alright, Naruto, you handle that," Shikamaru said quickly, his tone nonchalant as he made his escape. "I'll catch you later."
Naruto sighed, watching Shikamaru's retreating figure before turning his head to the four Hokage monuments.
With a sigh, he began.
It was a hefty walk, granted the Uchiha residence was placed on the outskirts for reasons Naruto didn't know, he opted to walk to it slowly, allowing her to be sure she was home so he wouldn't have to run into her or something on his walk. He also figured he could spend a bit there with her, talking and such.
The thought of the four stone heads lingered in his mind, he so desperately 'needed' to be another head up there as soon as possible.
He stopped at Ichiraku's ramen on his way, saying a greeting and politely refusing their attempts to give him free ramen. He figured Satsuki would feed him something… right? Well. He was showing up uninvited. And she left quickly for a reason. Maybe she didn't wanna talk that day. Maybe he should've accepted the ramen.
With a sigh, he lowered his head and sped up his slow pace as he kept walking, almost there.
-0-
He knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer.
Satsuki jumped from her couch in response to the unexpected visit, relaxing when she looked out the little peak hole and realised it was just Naruto.
She looked extremely tired, probably had just gotten home a couple minutes ago.
"Hey Satsuki." Naruto spoke first, his tiredness apparent in his voice. "What's up…?" Satsuki asked Naruto, full of suspicion.
"Kakashi wanted me to relay a message, he said same time tomorrow same place,"
"I'll be there." She attempted to close the door, in an attempt to not deal with the awkwardness of the day. Naruto quickly grabbed the door before she could close it.
"Do you have any sort of food you can give me?" He asked
She sighed in response, knowing she should probably let him in and fix some sort of food for him, he made the journey right?
"Stay outside for a sec." She closed the door and quickly hid her knitting tools before returning to the door and opening it, allowing Naruto to enter.
"Sit, sit, what do you want?" Satsuki asked, unusually warm and nice.
"Ram-"
"Other than that." She cut him off.
"Whatever is fine.." Naruto mumbled in defeat as Satsuki walked down to the large kitchen.
She called him over to the dinner table, as she placed down two plates of curry.
"Curry…?" Naruto asked surprisingly, how did she have it ready so fast?
"Yeah, it's leftovers. Eat up. God knows you need something nutritious." She gave him a disapproving look, visibly showing her disapproval of his practically ramen only diet.
"I eat normal stuff!" He complained, not necessarily in actual offence, in playful mock offence it seemed.
She giggled lightly and softly at his response, an unnatural sight for Naruto, and it clearly stunned him.
Weird? Unnatural. …Cute…? No! Weird. He battled his own thoughts.
It was clear Satsuki realised she had sounded maybe a bit too unnatural and cute, as she quickly hid her flustered face.
"Stop staring at me and eat you idiot!" She yelled out from behind her hands, snapping Naruto right out of his own mind.
"- Right! Sorry!" He quickly started eating his food, noting the nice hint of spice.
They ate in silence after the embarrassing moment.
Right after Naruto finished his plate, Satsuki asked him another weird question.
"Was it good..?" Not like *I* care about his opinion though. right? She had already hammered in her mind that if Naruto didn't like it, she wouldn't care. And that she cooked the meal yesterday for herself, not him.
"It was really, super good!" Naruto responded, almost too enthusiastically. His way of attempting to lighten the overall vibe and mood.
"Really…?" Satsuki asked, a hint of shock in her voice, she thought the curry was good, but she didn't think the Ramen eating *idiot* would think so.
"Really really," Naruto doubled down on his statement.
"Thank you.. i guess," She responded, back to her normal state.
"Yup, just being honest!" It was like he wanted to flatter her or something.
A not uncomfortable but not comfortable silence fell over them before Naruto talked.
"It's getting late now. I should go."
"Alright." Satsuki looked over to the clock, completely countering Naruto's words, but she wouldn't stop him.
As Naruto walked out the door in a rush, she sighed and walked straight towards her shower. She needed one. bad.
-0-
The scent of fresh hot tea was the only strong smell coming from inside the Nara residence, Shikamaru and his father sat across from each other, a Shogi board separating them.
"Ready, Son? This won't be like the last time we played." Shikaku spoke first after their board got set up.
"We'll see about that." Shikamaru responded as he looked down at the board.
Midway through the game, Shikaku spoke again, clearing on the losing side at that moment. "Not bad, Shikamaru. Not bad at all. You're pushing me."
"It's troublesome, but I can't let you win so easily."
More and more strategic thinking went on as they got to the ending parts of their game, Shikaku gave a proud smile as he tipped over his king in a sign of resignation, mentally noting his son's clear skill and iq.
"You got me good, great work." Shikaku praised his son. "It was pretty difficult," Shikamaru responded, stretching his arms.
"Maybe your old man's still got it!"
"I wouldn't go that far."
Shikamaru and his dad laughed together as Shikaku's wife called them in for dinner.
-0-
Kakashi laid on his bed, his mask off as he flipped through a new 'normal' book he had recently picked up.
I think this team might do something. Something special.
He sat up, his mind set on taking an afternoon stroll, he slipped his mask on and left, his book still in hand.
Yay!
So yeah that was the new chapter, somewhat short but we're getting there, wanted to get out a chapter asap after the very long absence, and yeah guys I'm sorry when that happens it's super annoying i know.
Also, I'm sure some have noticed but I definitely have some inspiration from Uzumaki, Into the Abyss and even Legacy Undone, if you haven't checked these out please do so, they're all very good stories!
Also, i'll be honest, i'm not a super creative mind, it's hard thinking of ways to make chapters like these not necessarily boring, and it's all the same throughout every fic i swear, anyways as you know the land of waves should be next chapter but once again, it's all the same and boring, i'll probably change it up. Or not? I don't know, give me some time to think, I'd hope to get a new chapter out within 2 weeks but no promises lol I said a week last chapter I think and took about half a year but yeah my bad for the break lol im trying i promise
I'll see you guys hopefully soon lol
Stay safe!