The Uchiha dining room was warm and filled with the smell of Mikoto's home cooking. At the head of the table sat Fugaku, stern but relaxed for the evening. Mikoto was seated next to him, smiling with pride. Sasuke quietly poked at his food, his mood darkening by the second. Sitting directly across from him, Itachi had just arrived for dinner after a long week of work and already had everyone hanging onto his every word.

"And then, right as the judge was about to issue the verdict," Itachi paused for dramatic effect, "the defense attorney fumbled with the evidence files, knocking everything over. I kept a straight face, but inside, I almost felt bad for the guy." He chuckled, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Fugaku and Mikoto laughed heartily. "That's my boy," Fugaku said, eyes glinting with approval. "You've got such composure, Itachi."

Sasuke's grip tightened around his chopsticks. He glanced between his parents, who hadn't stopped smiling since Itachi started talking. For the entire dinner, it had been all about Itachi—the big-shot lawyer with perfect grades, a perfect job, and, apparently, a perfect life.

"Speaking of amazing," Mikoto added, "Itachi, how is Izumi doing? I heard she got promoted too."

"Oh, she did," Itachi replied smoothly, stealing a quick glance at Sasuke's frustrated face. "She's been really busy, but we make it work."

Mikoto beamed. "Well, it's a good thing she's patient. You must be such a handful, with how much work you do."

Sasuke, feeling invisible, finally spoke up. "Yeah, you must be—"

"Exactly, Mother," Itachi interrupted effortlessly, talking over Sasuke without even acknowledging him. "I try not to let my work get in the way, but sometimes, it's unavoidable."

Sasuke clenched his jaw, stabbing his rice aggressively. The tension bubbled up inside him, and he shot a quick glance at his brother. Itachi smirked ever so slightly, clearly aware of Sasuke's frustration. He was playing into it—again.

"I-Itachi," Sasuke tried again, forcing himself into the conversation, "I wanted to say that—"

"Sasuke," Mikoto interrupted this time, eyes narrowing. "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's rude."

Sasuke froze mid-chew, then quickly swallowed, embarrassed. His face burned as the whole table turned to him. Before he could recover, Itachi, of course, swooped in.

"I'm sorry on Sasuke's behalf, Mother," Itachi said smoothly, a hand raised in mock apology. "I'm sure he was just very excited to share something with us."

Fugaku turned to Sasuke, his face softening. "Alright, Sasuke, let's hear what you have to say."

Sasuke opened his mouth, but his mind went blank. Every thought he had prepared melted away under the weight of their expectant gazes. He stammered. "Uh… I… I was just…"

The silence stretched painfully as Sasuke failed to form a coherent sentence. His parents waited, eyes dimming with disappointment.

"Well, that was… enlightening," Itachi said with a light chuckle, breaking the tension. "We'll have to remember that gem of wisdom, Sasuke." He shot Sasuke a mischievous look before turning to their parents, continuing, "Sometimes, less is more, right?"

Fugaku chuckled, and Mikoto followed, a soft giggle escaping her lips. The sound of their laughter rang in Sasuke's ears, filling him with shame. He slumped further into his seat, glaring daggers at his brother.

"You know, Itachi," Fugaku said, eyes glowing with pride, "I still can't believe you're my son sometimes. I'm thankful every day."

"And it's a good thing he is," Mikoto chimed in with a smile, "because otherwise, I'd be jealous of Izumi."

The table erupted into another round of laughter, except for Sasuke, who was quietly fuming.

"Even now, I think I might be a little jealous of her," Mikoto added mid-laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He muttered under his breath, "It'd be great if you two got off Itachi's meat every once in a while…"

The laughter stopped instantly. Fugaku blinked, his face darkening with shock. Mikoto gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Sasuke!" Fugaku's voice was low and scolding. "What did you just say? That's vulgar and completely inappropriate for the dinner table."

Sasuke was stunned. He looked between them, baffled. "Wait… you literally just joked about being jealous of Itachi's girlfriend. How is that—"

"Sasuke," Itachi interrupted once again, this time with a calm, almost pitying tone. "I'm sorry for my brother's behavior. He's probably just frustrated."

Fugaku nodded approvingly at Itachi's cool demeanor. He placed a hand on his elder son's shoulder. "You're so level-headed, Itachi. Sometimes I think you're like the second son I never had."

"I'm quite literally right here," Sasuke grumbled, but Mikoto's glare shut him up.

Giving up, Sasuke slumped back into his seat with a sigh. "I'm full," he muttered, pushing back his chair and standing up abruptly. "I'm going to my room."

Before Mikoto could say anything, Sasuke's elbow bumped his glass of water, sending it toppling over onto the table. The water spread across the surface, soaking the tablecloth.

"Sasuke!" Mikoto groaned, glaring at the mess.

"It's fine, Mother," Itachi said quickly, rising from his seat with a napkin. "I'll clean it up for him."

Fugaku smiled warmly at his eldest. "You're such a responsible brother, Itachi."

Sasuke shot one final glare at the entire scene. He grumbled under his breath and stormed off to his room, feeling more like a shadow in his own house than ever before.

Sasuke wiped the sweat from his brow as he leaned over the SUV's engine, deep in thought. The garage was filled with the clanking of tools and the occasional grunt from Shisui, who was lying underneath the vehicle, tightening a few bolts.

"You good down there?" Sasuke asked, his voice flat.

Shisui's voice echoed from beneath the car. "I'm great! Living the dream, my man. You should join me. The view's fantastic."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned back to the engine. "I'll pass."

Just as Sasuke was about to make some final adjustments, the door to the garage swung open with a loud creak, and in strolled Naruto, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yo, Sasuke! Shisui!" Naruto called out cheerfully.

Sasuke sighed, not even bothering to look up. "What do you want, Naruto?"

Naruto leaned against the side of the SUV, still smiling. "I'm here to make you an offer you can't refuse."

Sasuke stopped mid-adjustment, turning his head slightly toward Naruto. "An offer, huh?" He sighed deeply. "Is this about the tires you ruined when you stole Hiashi's car for that race?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "Yeah... about that. I know I owe you big time for those. But listen, this proposal will more than cover the cost of the tires. In fact, you might even thank me later."

Shisui's voice came from underneath the car again. "You should hear him out, Sasuke. It might be worth your while."

Sasuke grunted, wiping his hands on a rag. "Fine. Let's hear it then."

Naruto perked up, practically bouncing on his heels. "So, for the next stage of the tournament, we're going to need a team. Like, a real team. Four members minimum."

"Why four?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, some of the races are 'team races.' Two cars from the same team have to work together on the track," Naruto explained.

Sasuke crossed his arms, already losing interest. "So, what? You came to ask me to drive? Because that's not happening."

Naruto quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's not that. You didn't qualify, remember? You wouldn't even be allowed to drive. I'll find another driver."

Sasuke sighed in relief. "Good, because I wasn't about to join your little tournament."

Naruto took a deep breath, leaning in slightly. "Actually, I came here because I want you to be my chief engineer."

For a moment, Sasuke stared at him, completely speechless. Then, he scoffed, turning back to the engine. "No way."

"I'm serious!" Naruto insisted. "You're the best mechanic I know."

"Still no."

Naruto crossed his arms, trying to look serious. "Come on, think about the money! When we win, the cash prize will more than make up for those tires."

From beneath the car, Shisui chimed in. "Fifty million, Sasuke. That's a lot of cash."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "There's no way you're going to win, Naruto."

Naruto leaned in even closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "Here's the best part: we're working under Hiashi's sponsorship. That means we're getting paid either way, and we could even score more sponsorships as we go."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Sponsorships, huh?"

"And…" Naruto grinned mischievously, "Sakura's going to be on the team."

Sasuke's spanner slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor. He stuttered her name. "S-Sakura?"

Naruto nodded eagerly. "Yup, she's going to be the team lead."

Sasuke's eyes widened, his mind racing. "Sakura... team lead?"

Naruto leaned even closer, his voice almost a whisper. "Which means she'll be spending a lot of time organizing the team... and supervising the tune-ups after every race."

Sasuke swallowed hard. "The tune-ups?"

"Yeah," Naruto grinned, "which you, as the chief engineer, would be in charge of... alone... in the workshop... all night."

Sasuke's imagination went wild for a moment. He could see it now: Sakura watching him work, her admiration growing as he expertly tuned the cars, her eyes sparkling with appreciation.

But then reality came crashing back, and Sasuke shook his head vigorously. "No, no, I can't."

Shisui slid out from under the car, wiping his hands. "Why not? Sounds like a great gig to me."

Sasuke's face was serious as he glanced at Shisui. "I just can't, okay?"

Naruto looked genuinely confused. "But why? It's the perfect opportunity!"

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "I'm sorry, Naruto. You'll have to find someone else."

Naruto groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Man, I thought this would be an easy sell." He glanced at Shisui. "What about you? You interested?"

Shisui shrugged. "I mean, I'm no Sasuke, but I could give it a shot."

Naruto grumbled. "Yeah, I'll think about it. But still, I'd rather have Sasuke. He's the best."

Sasuke didn't look up, his hands tightening around the wrench he was holding. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I just can't do it."

Naruto sighed, defeated. "Alright, fine. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me." He gave Sasuke one last look before heading out the door.

As the garage door swung shut behind Naruto, Sasuke let out a long breath. Shisui looked over at him, wiping his greasy hands on a rag.

"Why'd you say no? I thought you'd be all over that, especially with that girl Sakura involved," Shisui teased.

Sasuke didn't answer, staring down at the engine. Deep down, he knew why he had said no. It wasn't that he didn't want to work on Naruto's team. It wasn't even about the money or Sakura.

It was because, despite all his skill, he wasn't sure he was up to the task. And the last thing he wanted was to fail in front of the people he cared about.

"Let's just finish the job," Sasuke muttered, his voice quieter than usual.

Shisui gave him a knowing look but didn't push any further. The garage fell into silence again, but Sasuke's thoughts were anything but quiet.

Naruto walked into the sleek, glass entrance of Hiashi's company building, his mind going over everything he had to report. As he made his way through the lobby and toward the elevators, he mentally counted the members of his team. So far, the only person he had managed to recruit was Sakura.

"Not bad," he muttered to himself, thinking back to how it had taken him a solid day of pestering her before she finally gave in. But surprisingly, she had agreed to join as the team lead. He still couldn't get over it. Sakura said something about "looking out for him" and "I get 40%," but Naruto had tuned most of that out. All he heard was that she was in.

He chuckled under his breath. A part of her had to believe he could actually win. That thought kept him optimistic as he stepped into the meeting room.

The door opened, and there was Hiashi, as expected, but seated next to him was a blonde girl, around Naruto's age. Naruto blinked in surprise, glancing at her. She didn't notice him—too engrossed in whatever was on her phone.

"Take a seat, Naruto," Hiashi said, gesturing toward the chair next to the girl.

Naruto hesitated for a second, then plopped down beside her. "Uh, hey," he greeted awkwardly, trying not to sound like a dork.

The girl raised an eyebrow, barely glancing up from her screen to look him over, then went right back to scrolling. Naruto immediately felt self-conscious. Did he look unsightly or something? He nervously patted his hair, wondering if he had food on his face.

Hiashi broke the silence, "Naruto, meet Ino Yamanaka."

Naruto's eyes widened. That name. He knew that name. "Ino?" He tilted his head, trying to place it. "Wait a sec… Isn't that the girl Sasuke dated?" The realization hit him. "Oh man, this is awkward."

Hiashi didn't seem to care for Naruto's internal drama and continued. "Ino, you'll be part of Naruto's team. You're going to be the second driver."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? Hiashi, I thought I was putting the team together! You said I was in charge!"

Hiashi fixed him with a stern look. "I did, but I believe I said I'd intervene if necessary. And trust me, this is necessary. Ino is a talented driver. You'll need her."

Naruto turned to Ino, who had finally looked up from her phone and was now sizing him up, a critical gleam in her eye. He stared back, wondering just how good she was for Hiashi to put her on the team without consulting him.

Hiashi pulled up a recording on the screen. "I've been keeping an eye on both of you. Watch."

Naruto watched as footage played of a sleek purple Porsche zipping around a track with surgical precision. His eyes widened as recognition hit him. "Wait… That's you?!" He pointed at the screen, then at Ino, incredulous. "You were the lead car in Group A during the qualifiers! No way!"

Ino smirked. "Duh. And now you're supposed to impress me."

Naruto blinked, taken aback. "Huh?"

"I already know I'm a skilled driver," Ino said, crossing her arms. "You're the one who needs to prove himself. Convince me why I should care about this whole team thing."

Naruto shot her a look of disbelief, but before he could reply, Hiashi stepped in. "Naruto won Group B in the same qualification race. He's proven himself, Ino. You two will work well together."

Ino glanced at the footage of Naruto's Chevelle, the car that had dominated Group B's race. "Oh yeah, I think I vaguely remember seeing that hunk of metal."

Naruto, slightly offended, muttered, "Hey, that hunk of metal got me the win."

Hiashi clapped his hands, interrupting the banter. "Good. I expect you two to get along and work as a team. Naruto, introduce Ino to the rest of the members in the coming days."

Naruto nodded reluctantly. "Got it."

The scene shifted to Naruto and Ino walking out of the building together. Naruto was trying—unsuccessfully—to make meaningful conversation. "So, uh, Ino, I was thinking maybe we could meet up later to, y'know, discuss strategy and stuff?"

Ino barely acknowledged him, staring ahead as if he wasn't even there. "Yeah, sure," she said flatly. "Whatever."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, grumbling to himself. This was going to be harder than he thought. As they stepped outside, he hesitated for a moment before awkwardly clearing his throat. "Hey, uh… Can I get a ride?"

Ino finally looked at him, narrowing her eyes. "A ride?"

"Yeah… You know… Like in your car?" Naruto clarified, feeling more foolish by the second. "I just, uh, didn't want to spend money on a cab."

Ino raised an eyebrow. "I didn't drive here. I came with a friend. But I can ask if they're cool with it."

Naruto sighed in relief. "Thanks! I'd really appreciate it."

Ino walked toward a white BMW parked by the curb. Naruto followed, his hopes rising. "Sweet ride," he muttered, admiring the sleek car.

Ino walked up to the passenger door, leaned into the window, and started chatting with the driver, who Naruto still couldn't see clearly. After a brief exchange, Ino waved him over. "You're good. Come on."

Naruto walked up, about to thank whoever was driving, when he opened the door and froze.

Sitting in the driver's seat, hands on the wheel and a look of mild surprise on her face, was none other than Hinata Hyuuga.

Naruto's jaw hung open. "Hinata?!"

Hinata blinked, equally shocked to see him. "Naruto…?"

Naruto stood there, speechless, his mind racing. Out of all the people who could've been Ino's friend, it just had to be Hinata.

"Well," Ino said casually from the backseat, oblivious to the awkward tension. "You getting in, or what?"

Naruto stood there for a second longer, trying to process the situation. Then, slowly, he climbed into the car, his face burning with embarrassment.

Hinata glanced at him shyly before focusing on the road. "It's… nice to see you."

Naruto managed to stammer, "Yeah… You too."

And with that, they drove off, the awkwardness hanging thick in the air.

Naruto sat awkwardly in the passenger seat of Hinata's car, trying desperately to think of something—anything—to say. The silence between them was thick, almost suffocating. How did I end up here? He cursed his luck.

They had just dropped off Ino at some bakery, and she had waved off Hinata, telling her to leave without her. Now, it was just him and Hinata. His ex, if you could even call it that. They'd gone out exactly once back in middle school before he dumped her. Naruto cringed at the memory. She hadn't taken it well, and after that, they'd drifted apart when high school started.

And now, here they were. Alone. In her car.

Naruto's mind scrambled for something to say. He couldn't just sit there like an idiot. He cleared his throat. "Uh, so... how do you know Hiashi?"

Hinata's grip tightened on the steering wheel slightly, and she glanced at him. "He's... my father."

Naruto's heart sank as he realized his dumb mistake. "Oh, crap. Right. I knew that! I just… I mean, it slipped my mind. Sorry, it's been a while, you know, and I'm kinda nervous," he stammered. "I didn't know if you were, you know… still mad or something, since, well… how we ended."

Hinata didn't say anything for a moment. Naruto felt like he was sinking into the seat. Great job, dipshit. He glanced sideways at her, noticing her slight smile.

Then, out of nowhere, she giggled. It was soft at first, but quickly grew into a full-blown laugh.

Naruto blinked. "What's so funny?"

"It's just... that was seven years ago," Hinata said, her voice light with amusement. "We were kids."

Naruto stared at her, wide-eyed. "You're not mad?"

Hinata smiled, shaking her head. "Honestly, I'd forgotten all about it. And you." She shot him a teasing glance. "I'm surprised to see you, though. With Ino, no less."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Oh, uh, no! I mean, Ino's just a teammate! Nothing's going on between us or anything."

Hinata looked at him, slightly amused. "I didn't say there was..."

"I just wanted you to know!" Naruto added quickly, feeling the heat rise in his face. "You know, since you're her friend and all. I mean, you deserve to know..."

Hinata's amusement only grew, her smile turning into a grin as she watched him dig himself into a hole.

"I mean," Naruto continued, feeling the desperation clawing at him, "it's just—uh—I didn't want you to think I was... you know... with her."

He finally sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, I'm just gonna shut up now before I make this worse."

That did it. Hinata started laughing again, and Naruto couldn't help but chuckle along.

"You're still as goofy as ever," she said between laughs, glancing at him.

Naruto blinked, then chuckled along with her. "Yeah, some things never change, huh?"

She smiled at him, then focused back on the road, her laughter lingering in the air between them.

Naruto shifted in his seat, feeling the tension ease just a little. He watched Hinata drive, then remembered something. "Hey, you know, Ino's a pretty great driver. She'd be awesome on my team."

Hinata nodded. "Yeah, I think you'd really like having her on your side. She's quite skilled."

"Seen her in action before," Naruto added. "She's damn good."

"She is," Hinata agreed with a small smile.

Naruto nodded, thankful for the change in topic. He paused for a moment, then asked, "Why's she even doing this tournament, though? Seems kind of random."

Hinata sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. "That's just Ino. She's always looking for something exciting, an adrenaline junkie, if you will."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Adrenaline junkie?"

Hinata sighed. "She loves the thrill more than anything. That's why she keeps getting into these things."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I get it. Everyone's got their thing, right?"

Hinata glanced at him again. "And what about you, Naruto? Are you racing for fun?"

Naruto scratched his head. "Eh, I guess I'm just trying to get out of the house, you know? Clear my head. You get it, right?"

Hinata's expression softened. "Yeah, I do."

The conversation lulled, leaving a comfortable silence between them for a moment. Naruto found himself watching her out of the corner of his eye. She looked different from the shy girl he remembered in middle school. More confident, more composed.

Man, I was such a jerk back then, Naruto thought, guilt creeping in. He remembered agreeing to go to the movies with her just because he wanted free food and thought her eyes were pretty. And then he dumped her for some stupid reason, probably something immature.

He debated bringing it up, maybe apologizing or something, but luckily for him, they reached his stop. He let out a small sigh of relief. Saved by the stop.

Naruto unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. "Thanks for the ride, Hinata."

Hinata smiled gently. "You're welcome, Naruto."

They waved goodbye, and Naruto watched her drive off, the sound of the car fading into the distance. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his mind drifting to other things—his team now having three members... one more, and he'd be eligible for the next round of the tournament by the weekend.

His mind wandered to Ino Yamanaka—his new teammate… and Sasuke's on-and-off girlfriend back in high school. He chuckled, remembering how Sasuke used to swing from complaining about Ino to sneaking out with her within the same week. Typical Sasuke.

He had to admit, Ino was quite a looker, and Sasuke had been envied by a lot of guys in highschool for landing her. Seeing her again today, Naruto couldn't deny she'd gotten even more gorgeous.

But then, Naruto's thoughts wandered back to Hinata. Another person puberty had been kind to. In fact, she'd grown up to be pretty stunning in her own right. He figured it made sense she and Ino were friends now—both of them had turned into these super attractive young women.

Naruto chuckled to himself as he walked toward home. "Man, pretty much every girl I know is a total hottie, and here I am—still single."

Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks, a realization hitting him like a brick to the face.

"I didn't get Ino's or Hinata's numbers!" he exclaimed, smacking his forehead. "Fuck! Now I'll have to ask Hiashi for their contact info… That's gonna be so awkward."

He sighed and resumed walking, shaking his head at his own misfortune. As much progress as he'd made today, it looked like he still had a long way to go.

At least one thing was for sure—this team was going to keep things interesting.

And with that, Naruto continued his walk home, silently hoping his next encounter wouldn't be quite so nerve-wracking.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out, glancing at the screen. His stomach dropped.

Mom.

"Oh, crap..." he muttered under his breath, knowing exactly what was coming.

He hesitated for a second but quickly accepted the call. "Uh, hey, Mom. What's up?"

"What's up?" Kushina's voice rang in his ear, sharp and fiery. "Where the hell have you been, Naruto?"

Naruto flinched. He had barely said two words and she was already pissed. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Kushina repeated, her voice rising. "I went by your job today, and guess what? You weren't there!"

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. Oh, crap. Here we go.

"I thought you were supposed to be working, huh? But no, I get there and they tell me you haven't shown up in days! Days, Naruto!"

Naruto grimaced, holding the phone slightly away from his ear to avoid going deaf. "Uh... yeah, about that..."

"You better have a good explanation for this," Kushina snapped. "Don't tell me you've been skipping work to hang out with your dumb friends again!"

"No, no! I wasn't skipping!" Naruto said quickly, trying to calm her down. "I, uh... I quit."

The line went dead silent for a few seconds.

"You what?"

Naruto swallowed nervously. "I... quit. You know... the job."

"You quit your job?" Kushina repeated, her voice dangerously low, which Naruto knew was never a good sign. "Naruto Uzumaki, are you telling me you just up and quit your job without telling anyone?!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, wincing. "Well... yeah. Kinda."

"Kinda?!" Kushina's voice shot up again. "Why the hell would you do that? You need that job, Naruto! What's gotten into you?!"

Naruto scratched his head, his mind scrambling for an excuse. He couldn't tell her the real reason—that he was busy preparing for the upcoming tournament and working with Hiashi's team. That would just lead to a whole new argument.

Think, think, think...

"I, uh... got a new job!" Naruto blurted out.

Kushina paused. "A new job? Where?"

Naruto panicked. He needed to think of something fast. "At, uh... Hyuuga enterprises!" he said quickly, cringing at the blatant lie.

Kushina's tone shifted immediately. "At Hiashi Hyuuga's company? No way! That's... actually impressive, Naruto!"

Naruto blinked. "Uh... yeah! Yeah, it's a great opportunity. I'm, uh, really excited about it."

Kushina sounded genuinely surprised, which wasn't something Naruto heard from her often. "Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? I was worried sick, thinking you were wasting time. But if you're working for Hiashi's company, then that's fantastic! Congratulations, Naruto!"

Naruto let out a nervous laugh. "Thanks, Mom. Yeah, I've been, uh, really busy with it. You know, just... lots of work."

"Of course! That place is no joke. You better make the most of this opportunity!" Kushina said proudly. "I always knew you had it in you."

Naruto smiled awkwardly, feeling the guilt settle in. "Yeah... well, I'm glad you're proud."

"I am," Kushina said. "But don't forget to call your mother once in a while, alright? I was worried when I didn't hear from you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll call more," Naruto promised quickly, hoping to end the call before he slipped up again. "But, uh, I gotta go now. I'm, uh, super busy with... work stuff."

"Alright, alright. I'll let you go this time," Kushina said. "But you better not disappear on me again, got it?"

Naruto exhaled in relief. "Got it, Mom. Talk to you later."

"Love you, Naruto."

"Love you too, Mom."

He quickly ended the call and shoved his phone back into his pocket, letting out a long breath. Whew, that was close.

As he continued walking home, his mind swirled with everything that had happened today. From the awkward conversation with Hinata to lying to his mom about his job... this day had been a whirlwind.

"Well, at least she bought the Hiashi story," Naruto muttered to himself.

His thoughts wandered back to the tournament. He now had three members on his team, and all he needed was one more. If he could pull it off, he'd be eligible for the next round by the weekend. And after everything that had gone down today, he needed to focus.

Naruto groaned. "Man, I'm really batting a thousand today."

He kicked a stray can down the street as he continued walking home, shaking his head with a smirk. "Gotta get it together, Naruto."

Sasuke sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly into a cup of tea he hadn't touched in over ten minutes. He wasn't really in the mood for it, but his mother had insisted before rushing off to run errands. The Uchiha household was quiet, peaceful even. And boring.

The faint sound of footsteps coming down the stairs echoed through the kitchen. Sasuke didn't even need to look up to know who it was. His mood immediately soured.

Itachi strolled in, casual as always, wearing his stupid calm expression that never left his face. Sasuke could feel the air around him shift just from his brother's presence, a feeling of inferiority creeping in like clockwork.

"Good morning, little brother," Itachi said smoothly, not a single trace of real warmth in his voice.

Sasuke grunted, barely acknowledging him, his eyes still fixed on the swirling tea.

Itachi, oblivious or perhaps purposely ignoring the lack of enthusiasm, made his way over to the counter and began making himself a cup of coffee. Every movement he made seemed perfectly measured and graceful, as though even pouring water required some kind of zen-like mastery.

Sasuke hated it.

"What are you up to today?" Itachi asked, in the tone of someone who already knew the answer. "Another day of... quiet reflection?"

Sasuke's eye twitched. "I've got plans," he muttered, sounding less convincing than he intended.

Itachi didn't look back, but Sasuke could hear the faint hint of amusement in his voice. "Oh? Plans, huh?" Itachi paused, stirring his coffee. "Like what?"

Sasuke opened his mouth, but no words came out. What was he doing today? Hanging out with Naruto? Maybe wandering around the village pretending to look busy? His hand clenched around the cup as the silence stretched on.

Itachi finally turned around, leaning casually against the counter, his face as serene as ever. "I'm just asking because... well, you've seemed a little uninspired lately."

Sasuke's jaw tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Itachi shrugged, the most infuriatingly nonchalant shrug in the history of mankind. "Nothing, really. It's just that... some people your age are out there pushing their limits, achieving things. You know, living up to their potential."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I'm not wasting my potential."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, but the look on his face made it clear that he wasn't convinced. "Of course you're not. You're just... taking your time. Which is fine, I suppose."

Sasuke could feel his blood pressure rising. There it was. The casual, condescending Itachi tone that he knew all too well.

"I'm not taking my time," Sasuke snapped, a little more defensive than he meant to sound. "I'm doing plenty."

Itachi gave him a patronizing nod. "Oh, I'm sure you are."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He was so sick of that tone, the way Itachi made everything sound like some kind of subtle dig at him. And worse, Itachi always managed to do it without even trying.

Itachi took another calm sip of his coffee, staring at Sasuke over the rim of his cup. "I just thought... maybe you'd want to try something new. You know, to challenge yourself. To show everyone what you're really capable of."

Sasuke's hand clenched into a fist under the table. "I don't need to prove anything to anyone," he said through gritted teeth.

"Of course not," Itachi replied smoothly. "But it couldn't hurt to remind them." He smiled, a small, infuriatingly smug smile. "But then again, you're probably comfortable where you are. Some people don't feel the need to compete."

Sasuke could feel his eye twitching again. "I'm not comfortable, Itachi."

Itachi's gaze softened, as though he were trying to placate a child throwing a tantrum. "There's no shame in it, Sasuke. Not everyone is meant to be... well, like me."

That was it. Sasuke's blood boiled. His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white. He didn't even remember standing up, but suddenly he was on his feet, glaring daggers at his brother.

"I'm actually in a racing tournament," Sasuke declared, his voice louder than he intended.

Itachi blinked, momentarily surprised, before that same serene smile slid back onto his face. "A racing tournament? Oh... I didn't know you were even considering that." He nodded slowly. "Well, that's... good, I suppose. It'll be nice to see you out there, giving it your all. You always did like cars."

Sasuke's jaw tightened. "I'll do more than give it my all. I'll win the whole thing."

Itachi's smile didn't waver. If anything, it looked like he was amused. "Of course you will, Sasuke. I'm sure you'll do great." He took another leisurely sip of coffee. "I'll be cheering for you. If you need any tips... well, you know where to find me."

Sasuke practically growled under his breath. He didn't need tips. He didn't need Itachi's condescending approval. All he needed was to wipe that stupid, smug smile off his brother's face.

Itachi gave him one last nod before turning to leave the kitchen. "Good luck, little brother. I'm sure you'll make it past the first round."

Sasuke's eye twitched again. "I'm going to fucking win."

Itachi paused at the doorway, glancing back with a gentle, infuriating smile. "I'm sure you will."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Sasuke standing there, seething with rage. He didn't even know why he had said it—joining Naruto's team hadn't even crossed his mind until now—but there was no backing out. Not after that conversation.

Sasuke stared down at his untouched tea, his mind whirling. He was going to join Naruto's team, and he was going to win the whole damn tournament—not because he particularly cared about racing, but because he absolutely refused to let Itachi have the satisfaction of thinking he was anything less than the best.

This wasn't about proving something to the world. It was about proving something to Itachi Uchiha.

And Sasuke wasn't going to lose.

The next morning, Naruto sat at the small desk in his room, papers scattered everywhere like some kind of chaotic battlefield of half-baked ideas. In the middle of it all was a large picture of the race track for the upcoming tournament, half crumpled from the number of times he had shoved it into his bag, pulled it out, and shoved it back in again.

A pencil hung loosely between his lips as he scribbled some notes in his barely-legible handwriting:

"Turn 3: Tight. Don't crash here."

He stared at the note for a second, then frowned, erasing the last part.

"Turn 3: Still tight. Don't die here."

Satisfied, he leaned back in his chair and nodded at his masterpiece of strategy. So far, his plan mostly consisted of "don't crash" and "go fast," but hey, a plan was a plan.

He was halfway through another brilliant insight about cornering speeds when his phone buzzed loudly on the table, nearly making him jump out of his skin.

"Gah! What the—" Naruto grabbed his phone, blinking in surprise at the name on the screen. Sasuke.

He furrowed his brow. Sasuke? What did he want? They hadn't spoken since... well, since Naruto had begged him to join his team and Sasuke had flat-out refused. His thumb hovered over the green icon for a moment before he finally answered.

"Yo, Sas—"

"I'm joining your team."

Naruto blinked, the greeting still stuck halfway in his throat. "Wha—"

"I said I'm joining your team. Don't make me repeat myself."

Naruto's brain scrambled to catch up. He opened his mouth, but all that came out was a weird, strangled, "Huh? Y-You are?"

"Yes," Sasuke replied, his voice flat and businesslike, as if joining the team was the same as ordering takeout. "We'll talk later. I don't have time for this right now."

"Uh, yeah! Sure!" Naruto sputtered, still trying to process what was happening. "We can meet later and—"

Click.

The line went dead.

Naruto stared at his phone in disbelief. He hadn't even said goodbye. That was... well, that was Sasuke for you. But still, Sasuke was joining his team!

For a few seconds, Naruto just sat there, dumbfounded, as if his brain had short-circuited. Then, suddenly, he shot out of his chair, nearly knocking over the desk in the process.

"YES!" He pumped his fist in the air, practically bouncing on his toes. "I've got Sasuke! I've actually got Sasuke!"

The pencil that had been hanging from his mouth fell to the floor as he broke into a wild grin. His team was finally coming together.

He paced around his small room, talking to himself in a giddy rush. "Okay, okay, let's think. I've got Sasuke now. That's huge. And with Shisui as co-engineer, I've got the best crew around." He tapped his chin, excitement bubbling up in his chest. "Sakura's on board as team lead, Ino's my co-driver... we're set! We're totally set!"

Naruto glanced down at the track picture on his desk again, feeling an unusual surge of confidence. Things were looking up. With Sasuke, his cousin Shisui, Sakura, and Ino, his team was stacked. They had all the pieces to be a serious contender.

But as he stared at the map, another thought hit him, one that deflated his excitement just a little bit.

"Wait a sec..." He frowned. "What the heck are we gonna call ourselves?"

Naruto slumped back into his chair, scratching his head. A name. They needed a name for the team. Something cool. Something that screamed victory and power. Something that would strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.

He scribbled down a few ideas in the corner of the track picture:

"The Speed Demons."

"Meh, too cheesy," he muttered, crossing it out.

"Furious Five."

"Sakura would think it's lame," he sighed, erasing it.

Naruto stared at the blank space where his ideas had once been and let out a small groan. Naming a team was harder than it looked.

"I'll figure it out later," he said, waving a hand dismissively at the paper. There was no rush... except for the fact that he needed to register the team today.

He let out an exaggerated sigh and slumped deeper into his chair. "Man, why is it always the little stuff that's the hardest...?"

But even as he complained to himself, Naruto couldn't help but smile. The team was coming together, and the tournament was just around the corner.

They had the talent. They had the drive.

Now all they needed was a name.

"Team 7?"

Sakura's voice echoed through the open air as she held up the ID card Naruto had just handed her, eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.

Naruto, standing in the middle of the group with his usual cocky grin, was already bracing himself for the incoming heat. Present around him were Sakura, Sasuke, Shisui, and Ino. They were all gathered at the venue for tomorrow's race, where other teams were already buzzing with last-minute preparations, but clearly, the name situation was a priority.

"What do you think?" Naruto asked, grinning nervously.

Ino didn't miss a beat. "What do I think? I think it's a terrible name," she declared, crossing her arms. "I mean, seriously, Naruto? Team 7? Could you be any less creative? You should've asked us. We could've voted on it or something."

Sakura nodded in agreement, clearly irritated. "She's right, Naruto. 'Team 7'? That's literally just the number of our registration slot. You put zero effort into this!"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, trying to defend himself. "Hey, it sounded cool in my head, okay? It's simple, it's clean, it's—"

"Boring," Shisui cut in, sighing with disappointment. "It sounds like the name of a group project you don't care about. Uninspired."

Naruto groaned. "C'mon, guys, it's not that bad!"

"I don't mind it," Sasuke spoke up, shrugging nonchalantly. His voice, calm as ever, carried through the group like a sudden breeze.

At hearing this, Ino's attitude suddenly did a complete 180. "Oh, well, you know what? Maybe it's not that bad after all," she said quickly, offering a wide, forced grin. "It's, uh, kinda catchy, actually. Right, Sasuke?"

Sakura shot Ino a deadpan look. "Oh, sure. Now it's 'catchy' eh?"

Before they could descend further into bickering, Naruto waved his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, alright! Look, we're not here to argue about the name—"

"Which is trash," Ino muttered under her breath.

"—we're here to practice!" Naruto continued, ignoring Ino's jab. "We need to get some laps under our belt, learn to work together, see what we can improve. Tomorrow's race is a big deal, guys. We gotta be ready."

Sakura stepped forward, taking charge. "Exactly. Which is why I'm organizing this practice session. As team leader," she added with emphasis, casting a stern look at Naruto, "I've already drawn up a plan for today."

Naruto blinked. "Wait, you already planned everything out?"

Sakura shot him a flat stare. "Yes, Naruto. Some of us prepare."

She pulled out a small notepad, flipping through pages as if it were some military briefing. "Naruto, you and Ino will start with practice laps around the track to get a feel for it. Sasuke, Shisui, and I will observe and take notes on your progress. After two laps, we'll time your third lap to see how you're doing."

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Hell yeah, I'm ready for this!"

Ino, on the other hand, looked thoroughly unimpressed, her arms crossed as she leaned against her car. "Ugh, boring. I know how to drive, Sakura. I don't need a warm-up. I should be doing actual laps, not this beginner crap."

Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose, already sensing the headache forming. "Ino, it's not about whether you know how to drive. It's about getting used to the track and coordinating with Naruto. You know... teamwork?"

"Besides," Naruto chipped in with a grin, "it's about you learning how to work with me, Ino."

Ino gave him a sharp look, her expression daring. "Work with you? Please, Ramen-breath. I don't even have to do that, I can just beat everyone."

Naruto raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You're the expert I guess."

At this point Sakura handed over headsets for communication, clipping one to Naruto's shirt. "You'll need these. I'll be talking to both of you while you're on the track. Don't ignore me. If I say something, it's because I see something you're screwing up."

Ino, still grumpy, rolled her eyes. "I bet Sasuke would guide me better." She shot Sasuke a flirty look. "Don't you think, Sasuke?"

Sasuke sighed deeply, not even bothering to look at her. "I don't care."

"Good to know you're paying attention," Sakura muttered, glaring at Ino. "Sasuke can speak up if he thinks there's something worth adding, but right now, you're following my instructions."

Ino scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Whatever. I'm already perfect. There's nothing to improve."

Sakura's eye twitched, and she pressed her fingers to her temple. "It's protocol, Ino. And you do need to improve. Especially when it comes to working with Naruto. You're driving as a team, not solo."

"Might as well be working solo cause this guy doesn't exactly look like champion material to me..."

"Speaking of self-improvement, why don't we start by helping you learn some fucking manners?" Sakura snarled at Ino, her eyes narrowed with frustration.

Shisui, who had been watching the whole exchange with mild amusement, clapped his hands together before the situation could escalate. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's get to work. Sasuke and I will be in the booth observing and taking notes. Let's see if you two can actually work together without killing each other."

He turned to Sasuke. "Come on, let's get to the booth and get this over with."

Sasuke nodded and followed Shisui with Sakura trailing behind, leaving Naruto and Ino to head towards their cars.

Naruto flashed Ino a grin. "Ready to roll?"

Ino gave him a sharp look. "Don't slow me down, Naruto. If you even think about lagging behind, I'll leave you in the dust."

Naruto chuckled. "We'll see about that."

Ino rolled her eyes and strutted over to her car, the sleek purple Porsche 911 she'd used in the qualifiers. She slid into the driver's seat like she was born for it, revving the engine just to show off. The sound roared through the venue, turning a few heads from nearby teams.

Naruto, now left alone for a moment, took a glance around. Several teams were already hard at work, some of their cars already sporting polished team logos and fresh paint jobs. His own car, the black and white Chevelle, still lacked any branding.

"Damn," he muttered. "We'll need to get some logos on these bad boys before tomorrow."

Just then, Sakura's voice crackled in his earpiece, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Naruto, stop daydreaming and get in your car. Let's get this started."

Naruto grinned, jogging over to the Chevelle and hopping in. "Alright, alright, boss lady. Keep your eyes sharp, I'm on it."

As he buckled in and started the engine, the sound of Ino's Porsche peeling out of her parking spot filled the air. She was already speeding toward the track, clearly eager to show off. Naruto couldn't help but shake his head as he watched her go.

"She's confident, I'll give her that," he muttered to himself, gripping the steering wheel.

"Get moving, Naruto," Sakura's voice crackled again, more insistent this time. "You've got a lot of work to do."

Naruto smirked. "Alright, alright! Let's show 'em what we've got."

He revved the Chevelle's engine, feeling the rumble beneath him, and shot off toward the track, ready to tackle the practice session ahead.

Tomorrow's race was gonna be one hell of a ride.