The new team was starting their missions under Aoba, who had found a relatively easy task for the three genin to start with: hunting down a specific type of herb that grew randomly in the forest north of the village. They had split into two groups, with Ace working directly with Aoba and Kaza partnering with Sakura for the mission that morning.

As warm winds blew from the south, Ace quickly scanned the area between the trees, searching for the herb, which grew in the shade of the monstrously large trees. "So, sensei, what did they need these herbs for back at the hospital again?" Ace asked, glancing at Aoba, who was helping but mostly letting Ace do the work to aid his training.

"Treatment of a poison made from a different herb, I think," Aoba replied. "Not entirely sure, but that's what they told me when I took the mission for you three."

Ace nodded, his expression thoughtful as he continued searching. "Makes sense. It's good to know we're helping out, even if it's just collecting herbs. Every little bit counts, right?"

Aoba smiled at Ace's attitude. "Exactly. Missions like these may seem mundane, but they're essential. It's not always about the flashy battles; a good ninja supports their village in all ways."

Ace chuckled, his eyes still scanning the ground. "I get it, sensei. But I won't lie, I'm looking forward to the more challenging missions. I want to push myself and see what I'm really capable of."

"You'll get your chance soon enough, Ace," Aoba assured him, his tone firm yet encouraging. "For now, focus on mastering the basics and working well with your team. Strong foundations lead to greater heights."

Ace grinned, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Got it. I'll make sure to give it my all, whether it's picking herbs or taking on tough missions."

Meanwhile, Kaza and Sakura were diligently searching their section of the forest. Kaza, usually shy and introverted, was in his element, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of the herbs. Sakura, feeling more confident after their successful training, matched his pace, her own keen observations proving valuable.

As they worked, Kaza glanced at Sakura, appreciating her quiet determination. "You're really good at this, Sakura. I didn't expect you to be so sharp in the field."

Sakura smiled, feeling a warm sense of camaraderie. "Thanks, Kaza. I've been trying to improve. We all have our strengths, and I want to make sure I'm pulling my weight."

Kaza nodded, his serious demeanor softening slightly. "You are. We're a good team. We just need to keep working together and supporting each other."

Sakura's smile widened. "Agreed. Let's find these herbs and show Aoba-sensei that we're ready for anything."

"Can do," Kaza replied as he pressed his hand to the ground, noticing some old tracks. They seemed to be pig tracks. He motioned for Sakura to follow him as he headed in a different direction, figuring the wild boar would have eaten the herbs along its path. He found a group of five herbs and smiled at Sakura. "There we go. Being used to being out in the outdoors helps find this stuff a great deal. It wasn't to hard to find," Kaza commented, giving Sakura a kind and more confident than usual smile.

"Good work. So, you and your brother spent a lot of time in the woods. Now, tell me more about you, Kaza Togusa, and not the generic information either," Sakura asked with a curious look. Kaza had been so quiet during the academy, unlike his brother; she had no clue about him at all. He was still a mystery to her as she had no information about the brown-haired teammate of hers.

"I love the woods, flowers, crafting, and working with my hands. I love to read and learn about the shrine and also history. Nothing too exciting at all, I know. I can cook a bit, and well, you already know about the crush on Ino now," Kaza explained, pausing. "Plus, my family is super important to me."

Sakura listened intently, appreciating Kaza's openness. "That's really interesting, Kaza. It's nice to learn more about you. I think it's great that you have such diverse interests. It makes you well-rounded."

Kaza nodded, feeling more at ease. "Thanks, Sakura. I guess it's just who I am. How about you? What do you like to do outside of training?"

Sakura smiled, feeling the warmth of genuine conversation. "Well, I love studying and learning new things, especially about ninjutsu and medical techniques. I enjoy spending time with my friends, too. And, um, I guess you could say I have a bit of a competitive streak."

Kaza chuckled. "I can see that. It's a good thing, though. It pushes all of us to be better."

"So the obvious question, Kaza," Sakura asked as she looked at him, "why do you have such a big crush on Ino, despite never having talked to her in what, four years?"

"Ace and I have known Ino since we were younger. Our dad and Ino's dad are old friends and war buddies," Kaza began, thinking carefully. "I remember seeing Ino and just thinking she was the most beautiful person alive. She's so different from me—loud, assertive, and strong-willed. She has a strong personality but she cares about others. I think she's like the sun, bright and warm. It's really hard to explain," Kaza said, pausing. "I don't think I'm the right person for her. I think I'm too quiet and plain for someone like Ino. Plus, she has feelings for Sasuke, so why mess with all that when I'm sure she has no interest in me? She's your rival in that area."

At that moment, Kaza heard something and looked around. He heard it again, louder, and a moment later he dove, grabbing Sakura and moving her out of the way of a large, massive boar. If he hadn't moved her, it would have run her over. The two were in the dirt after Kaza's quick save. A moment later, Kaza got up and brushed himself off. "I guess I figured I'm not good enough for Ino Yamanaka. I'm not my brother or dad; I'm just simple old me."

Sakura was still catching her breath, her heart pounding from the sudden close call. She looked at Kaza, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Wow, Kaza... You really saved me there. That was amazing!"

She paused, taking a moment to process everything he had said earlier. "You know, you shouldn't sell yourself short. What you just did was brave and quick-thinking. You have a lot more to offer than you realize."

Sakura smiled warmly, trying to reassure him. "Ino might be loud and assertive, but that doesn't mean she's not interested in someone like you. Sometimes opposites attract. And besides, you never know how she feels unless you give it a chance. You're kind, thoughtful, and obviously very capable. Don't let your self-doubt hold you back."

She dusted off her clothes, still smiling. "And for what it's worth, I'm really glad to have you as a teammate. We're going to make a great team, Kaza. Just remember, you're more than just simple old you. You're Kaza Togusa, and that means a lot."

"So brother this is where you managed to get, nice work Sakura, bro, you found the herbs," Axe said with a couple he found as well. "Sensei, is this enough to have this mission done with?" Ace asked walking up with Aoba having found the pair of them.

"Yep, these are the ones," Sakura confirmed, holding up the herbs she and Kaza had gathered. "Kaza did most of the work though, he found them just in time."

Kaza nodded in agreement, acknowledging Sakura's compliment with a grateful smile.

Aoba inspected the herbs for a moment before nodding. "These should suffice. Well done, both of you. Looks like the mission is complete."

Ace grinned, patting Kaza on the back. "Great job, little brother. Looks like we make a pretty good team, huh?"

Kaza returned the smile, feeling a sense of pride at his brother's praise. "Yeah, I guess we do."

"How about some barbecue then?" Aoba said with a smile as he looked at his team, eager to try something new and to treat his teammates. He had a feeling the other teams might be enjoying barbecue at that time too.

"Sounds good. Hunting for those herbs really built up my hunger," Ace commented, while Sakura and Kaza nodded in agreement. The three of them headed to the local barbecue place.

Once there, Aoba secured one of the last two tables near the back of the restaurant. "Okay, so meat is on the menu tonight. Protein is good for building up strength, after all," Aoba reasoned as he placed the order for meat and some sides.

A moment after he ordered, another team arrived - Team 10. They ended up at the table next to theirs, across the way. Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and Asuma all sat down, and Aoba waved over to them.

"Hey, how are things going, you guys?" Aoba called out to them.

"Hey, Aoba," Asuma replied with a nod. "Things are going alright. Just finished up a mission and decided to grab a bite to eat. How about you and your team?"

"Asuma, old pal," Aoba commented, "How about I join you over there and we let the kids all eat over hear a chance for cross team communications and such."

"Sure thing, Aoba," Asuma replied, gesturing for Aoba to join them. "Always good to catch up. Besides, the kids could probably use some space to chat amongst themselves."

Aoba smirked as he arranged things so that on one side poor Kaza was sitting right between Sakura and Ino. Then the three other boys, Ace, Choji, and Shikamaru were on the other side. Aoba smirked as he sat across from Asuma. "I am glad you're as predictable as ever. You see one of mine has a long hidden crush upon one of yours and the boy needs to get the confidence up to talk to her. So the toss in the water method I think might work best."

Asuma chuckled, nodding in understanding. "Ah, I see what you're up to. Well, let's hope it works out for the best. Kids can use a little nudge in the right direction sometimes." He glanced over at the genin, who seemed engrossed in their own conversations, unaware of the subtle matchmaking going on around them.

"Thinking of genin needing a push in the right direction, how is Kurenai?" Aoba said with a grin on his lips.

Asuma's smile softened at the mention of Kurenai. "She's doing well. Busy with her own team, as usual. But she's a great sensei, always looking out for her kids. Thanks for asking." He appreciated the concern for Kurenai's well-being, knowing that Aoba and he shared a deep bond of friendship and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, at the table, Kaza found himself sandwiched between two rivals as Ace and Choji engaged in a battle over who could eat more, while Shikamaru lounged in his typical laid-back manner. Kaza searched for something to say, mustering up the courage to address his one-sided crush. "Um, Ino... Sakura and I found a lot of herbs. She's getting pretty good. How... um, how are you doing?" It was the first time he had ever directly spoken to her.

Ino shifted slightly in her seat, her competitive nature still evident as she responded to Kaza. "Oh, you found a lot of herbs, huh? That's nice, I guess," she said casually, her tone tinged with a hint of indifference. "I'm doing fine, just working on my techniques and missions, you know." She glanced briefly at Sakura before returning her attention to Kaza, her demeanor guarded and distant.

" Yes, and Kaza even managed to save my life from a rampaging boar, did you send that one Ino-pig," Sakura teased as she stuck her tongue out at Ino.

Sakura's playful tease earned a scoff from Ino, who rolled her eyes in response. "As if I would waste my time sending a boar after you," she retorted, her competitive spirit flickering to life. "But good job, Kaza, I guess you're not completely useless after all." Her tone was laced with sarcasm, but there was a begrudging acknowledgment of Kaza's actions beneath her words.

Sakura's retort was sharp, a flicker of irritation in her eyes as she defended Kaza. "He's proven himself today, unlike some people," she shot back, her tone firm and unwavering.

Ino's response was a mixture of surprise and defiance. "Well, we'll see about that, Sakura." Ino commented before she turned her attention to Kaza. "saving Sakura's life doesn't change the fact that you're still way behind me in like ever area. I am sure that you're the weak link of your team." she retorted, her competitive streak showing a not so nice side of her.

"No, I am not, Ino Yamanaka," Kaza said finding his voice, "I am far better than you know, and if you're going to think yourself better than me, then I challenge you to a match you versus me, tomorrow, training ground number four."

Kaza's declaration caught both Sakura and Ino off guard. Ino's initial response was a mix of surprise and annoyance. "You? Challenging me? Don't make me laugh, Kaza. But fine, if you're so confident, I accept your challenge. Tomorrow, training ground number four. We'll see who comes out on top," she replied with a determined glint in her eyes. "I will show you that you have a long way to go to be an even okay ninja."

"Sure, show me that you're more than just talk and fangirlisms," Kaza retorted, his anger palpable. He was fed up with being looked down upon by someone he cared for. He couldn't remain shy, and he wasn't going to let someone think so low of him.

Ace looked over at his adopted brother, surprised by his boldness. He had just challenged his crush to a fight, which was so unlike him. Even Sakura was taken aback by it, realizing she had inadvertently sparked this confrontation by defending her teammate.