Naruto sat slumped in his chair, staring at his breakfast as if it had personally wronged him. Across the table, Sakura sat, casually sipping her coffee, eyes half-focused on her laptop. She raised an eyebrow as Naruto let out a dramatic sigh, poking at his food like he was trying to make it disappear.

"God, I'm such an idiot," Naruto muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Sakura didn't look up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, yeah? And why's that? You won a car last night, Naruto. You should be ecstatic."

"Yeah, sure," Naruto mumbled, sighing again. "Temari's car is cool and all, but… I didn't mean to piss off the whole team just to get it."

Sakura coughed, hiding a smirk as she muttered, "Right, and let's not forget, you also trashed your girlfriend's car in the process."

Naruto grimaced, rubbing his temples. "I know, okay? Believe me, I know."

She rolled her eyes, unable to resist a jab. "Honestly, it's a wonder Hinata even gave you the time of day to begin with. You're an insensitive jerk."

Naruto let out another groan, slumping further into his chair. "It's not just that I messed up… it's how she broke up with me that's got me feeling like crap. She said something about me still being the same guy who only wants her around when I need something from her."

Sakura scoffed, tapping her fingers on the table. "Well, she's not wrong. You practically use people like gas money—only reach out when you're running on empty."

Naruto pushed his plate away and dropped his head onto the table. "Ugh…"

Sakura raised an eyebrow, watching him with mild amusement. "What, lost your appetite already?"

Naruto let out a miserable hum of agreement.

"Good." She folded her arms, giving him a look of mock satisfaction. "No food for the wicked."

Naruto groaned, lifting his head just enough to meet her gaze. "I hate to say it, but… maybe you're right for once."

Sakura grinned, clearly enjoying his suffering. "Haven't seen you this depressed since you found out your deadbeat dad didn't just head out to 'buy cigarettes' back in middle school." She leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "So… do you actually like Hinata?"

Naruto reluctantly lifted his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. I do."

Sakura gave him a sharp look. "Then maybe you should've thought about that before acting like a complete asshole. I'm only glad she's sticking around for the last race, or you'd be in even deeper crap."

He sighed, staring at his hands. "What am I gonna do, Sakura? I feel like I just royally screwed this up." He shook his head, muttering to himself. "And I probably won't even end up using Temari's car in the next race, anyway. Just seems pointless." His voice dropped, desperate. "Please, just help me patch things up with her, yeah?"

Sakura chuckled, closing her laptop. "Hate to break it to you, but I'm afraid I can't help you with that, champ."

Naruto shot her a look, clearly not getting the answer he'd hoped for. "Come on, Sakura, I'm really into her, and I know I screwed up, but I feel awful about it." His shoulders slumped, and he looked genuinely miserable. "I haven't been able to sleep since she broke up with me."

Sakura shrugged, completely unmoved. "And? Not my problem." She took a sip of her coffee, her tone indifferent. "Maybe don't be a dick next time?"

Naruto dropped his head back to the table, grumbling something unintelligible into the wood.

After a moment of watching him sulk, Sakura set down her coffee and folded her arms. "When you're done moping, you might want to start getting ready for the next event in Iwa. It's the finals, remember? This is what we've been working toward for ages. So you better get your head straight and start focusing."

She stood up, her laptop tucked under her arm, and reached over to pat him on the back. "And… don't worry. It'll get better. Eventually." With a casual wave, she left the cafe, leaving Naruto alone at the table, still moping.

The afternoon buzzed with the clinking of trays and the aroma of fries in the fast-food joint. The group huddled around a laptop, watching Hiashi's grinning face on the screen as he looked over them all proudly.

"Team, you've come so far," Hiashi commended, his voice beaming through the screen. "I couldn't be prouder of each of you. Reaching the finals is no small feat, but remember, you can do this." His gaze shifted to Hinata. "And Hinata, how's the experience been so far?"

Hinata's smile was warm, but a little glint of annoyance crept in as she glanced toward Naruto. "It's been… exciting. Definitely memorable—" she paused, her gaze sharpening, "—for better or for worse."

Naruto squirmed uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at her, pretending to be fascinated by the untouched soda in front of him.

Hiashi chuckled, clearly not picking up on the tension. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Who knows? Maybe you'll even decide to go pro!"

Hinata let out a long-suffering sigh and muttered to herself, "You're never going to give up on that, are you, Dad?"

With one last wave, Hiashi ended the call. Sakura stretched, turning back to the group, a determined look on her face.

"Alright, listen up," she said, slapping her hand on the table. "We've made it to the final stage in Iwa, and we're going all out. The budget cap's increased, so we're going to deck out the cars to the max."

Sasuke leaned back, arms crossed. "We've already started on his Chevelle, but…" He cast a side-eye toward Naruto, barely hiding his irritation. "Still don't know what we're supposed to do with that Corvette he dragged in. It's just sitting there."

Naruto shrugged. "We could bring it as a backup car to the event? Just in case, y'know?"

Shisui nodded. "Sure, whatever."

Sasuke sighed and continued, "But Hinata's car… It's pretty banged up. Damage is mostly superficial, but it's extensive. We don't want to blow the budget on patching it up, but showing up with a wrecked car isn't exactly ideal."

Shisui snorted. "We could just give her the Corvette." He glanced at Hinata. "Not that it'd do much good. No offense, but any car you're not familiar with… your driving is, uh—let's call it… abysmal dogshit."

Hinata chuckled and nodded. "No, you're right. It's true."

Sakura leaned back, arms folded and eyes fixed on Naruto with a look that screamed 'I told you so.' "Well, we wouldn't be in this predicament if 'he-who-shall-not-be-named' hadn't royally screwed up our entire schedule."

Naruto bristled, clearly uncomfortable. "I already apologized, alright? How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Funny, because I don't remember anyone mentioning your name."

Hinata raised her hand calmly, glancing at the group. "If it helps, I can… get a new car." She added with a small, sarcastic smile, "Might free up more funds for his car." She cast Naruto a look so pointed, he visibly shrunk in his seat.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Really? We're doing this? Not even saying my name?"

Sasuke turned to Hinata, looking slightly alarmed. "Are you sure about just getting a new car? That's kind of drastic."

Shisui nodded, scratching his head. "Yeah, not to mention you'll need something that can actually stand up to the competition. You can't just grab any car off the lot."

Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but Sakura cut him off, deliberately raising her voice. "Exactly. The competition's only getting tougher, like in the last stage. We can't just slap a bunch of decals on any old car and hope for the best."

Hinata nodded thoughtfully, absorbing their words. Suddenly, a spark of determination lit in her eyes. She whipped out her phone, tapping away furiously. After a few seconds, she thrust it toward Shisui, her eyes bright. "How about any of these?"

Shisui squinted at her screen, his brow furrowing as he scrolled. "Uh… did you just Google 'fastest cars in the world'?"

Hinata blinked, tilting her head innocently. "But Sakura said we need to win. And the competition is tough."

Shisui looked like he was about to say something but paused, glancing at Sasuke for help.

Sasuke held up a hand. "You know what? Just… go for it, Hinata. It's your car. Do whatever you think is best."

Hinata's expression firmed with new resolve. "Alright. I'll do my best!" She tucked her phone back into her bag, smiling confidently at the group. "I'll get back to you all later." With that, she stood, grabbed her bag, and made her way out of the fast-food joint.

As the door swung shut behind her, the group sat in silence, processing the unusual turn of events.

Naruto jogged after her, catching up to Hinata just as she reached her car in the parking lot. "Hinata, wait!" he called out, a hint of desperation in his voice. She paused, hand on the car door, glancing over her shoulder with a sigh.

"What do you want, Naruto?" she asked, her voice flat, her gaze unreadable.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, looking a bit like a lost puppy. "I just… I wanted to say I'm sorry. For, y'know, basically stealing your car. And not listening to you. I didn't think—"

Hinata cut him off, folding her arms across her chest. "I've already heard this. And I already told you it's fine." She gave a shrug, her face impassive. "What's done is done, Naruto."

Naruto straightened up, hope flickering in his eyes. "So… we're cool now?" he asked, a bit of his usual grin breaking through.

A lazy, almost teasing smile crept across Hinata's lips. Naruto's face lit up, thinking she was telling him it was all behind them. He took a step closer, smiling. "You don't know how relieved I am to hear that. I was, like, seriously worried you were really about that whole 'we're breaking up' thing."

Hinata's hand came up, pressing firmly against his chest to stop him. She looked him squarely in the eyes, her expression serious. "I was serious, Naruto."

His smile faltered, replaced with a look of pure confusion. "W-wait, what? You… you mean…?"

Hinata nodded, her tone calm but firm. "Things can't just go back to the way they were between us. You hurt me in more ways than just stealing my car. Sure, we're still partners for the race, but right now? I don't think we can be anything more than that."

Naruto's mouth opened, but no words came out. She turned to go, but he couldn't just let her walk away like that. "Hinata!" he called after her.

She stopped, looking back at him expectantly. "Yeah?"

"I…" He swallowed, struggling to find the words, but they just wouldn't come. After a moment, he looked down, defeated. "Nothing. Never mind."

Hinata's expression softened a bit. She sighed, almost sadly. "I'm sorry, Naruto." She climbed into her car, shutting the door without another word.

He stood on the sidewalk, watching as she pulled out and drove off, her taillights fading into the distance. With a groan, he ran a hand through his hair, muttering to himself.

"Great. Just great, Naruto," he said bitterly. "Only you could manage to gain and lose a girlfriend on the same damn road trip." He paused, his lips twisting into a rueful smile. "Hell, that's gotta be some kinda record."

He shoved his hands in his pockets, staring down the street, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world.

3 days later...

The café in Iwa was buzzing with people, but Team 7 had staked out a corner table, a pile of menus abandoned as they waited. Sasuke checked his watch, drumming his fingers on the table impatiently. "What's taking Hinata so long?" he muttered.

"She said she was going to get a delivery," Shisui pointed out, not looking up from his phone.

Naruto perked up. "Wait, delivery? I didn't know about that."

Sasuke gave him a side-eye. "She mentioned it in the group chat. You know, the one everyone reads."

Naruto squinted in confusion. "What are you talking about? I didn't see any message like that."

Sakura gave a short laugh. "Really, Naruto? Even Neji knew about Hinata's delivery."

Shisui's eyes widened in sudden realization, and he let out a casual, "Oh, right. Naruto's not in the new group chat."

Sasuke and Sakura both nodded, a simultaneous "Oh, yeah," passing between them as Naruto's jaw dropped.

"Wait—what?!" he demanded. "You guys made another group chat without me?"

Before anyone could answer, the roar of an engine filled the air, and a sleek, fiery red Ferrari LaFerrari pulled up just outside the café. The whole table went silent, eyes glued to the car as it parked right in front.

As the engine shut off, Hinata stepped out, effortlessly stylish in casual jeans and sunglasses. The group stared, speechless, until Sakura muttered, "Damn… she wasn't playing."

Hinata strolled over and gave the group a bright smile. "Hey, everyone!"

Shisui blinked, shaking his head as if snapping out of a trance. "Hinata… when you said 'delivery,' this was not what I was picturing."

Hinata's face lit up with excitement. "I know, isn't it amazing? With this car, we'll definitely perform well in the next stage!"

Sakura leaned in, still eyeing the Ferrari. "What made you go for that car, of all things? It looks… pretty exclusive."

Hinata tilted her head, blinking innocently. "Well… it was the prettiest car on the list."

The table fell silent as everyone exchanged glances, then looked back at Hinata, who seemed completely oblivious.

"So, uh…" Hinata continued, turning to Shisui, "when can we start painting it in our team's colors?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I mean, that car's gotta cost, what… a gajillion bucks?"

Hinata waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine—"

Before she could finish, Sakura cut her off, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we know. You'll just get a new one." She glanced around the table, her expression turning serious. "But before we get too carried away, we need to start preparing for the next event. It's gonna be the most dangerous by far."

She turned her laptop around, showing an image of track going through a rocky wilderness. Naruto sipped his drink, raising an eyebrow. "That looks… pretty straightforward, actually. Not a lot of sharp turns. Doesn't even look like a circuit."

Sakura's expression was flat. "This track has a 40% crash rate and a 9% fatality rate."

Naruto did a double-take, spitting out his drink in shock. "WHAT? What the hell kinda track are we racing on?!"

Sasuke leaned in, eyeing Sakura's screen with disbelief. "Are you kidding me? Is this a death race or something? Are we driving over a minefield?"

Sakura nodded grimly. "That's why the tournament organizers are giving every team a chance to drop out now and go home with a 'participation' prize." She looked around the table, raising an eyebrow. "So… what's it gonna be? Are we crawling back with a 'you tried' award, or are we going for gold?"

The table was silent as everyone looked at each other, hesitating.

Shisui finally raised his hand, shrugging. "Eh, screw it. For fifty million bucks, I'll risk it."

Naruto's head whipped toward him, his eyes wide with sarcasm. "Oh, wow, thanks, Shisui. Your bravery is truly inspiring. For a second there, I almost thought you were gonna be the one driving on the Road of Death."

Ignoring him, Naruto turned back to Sakura, his voice still tinged with disbelief. "Wait, what's the name of the track again?"

Sakura's voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Manda Pass... also known as the Road of Death."

Naruto gestured wildly to the group, exasperated. "Do you all hear how insane this sounds?"

But Hinata surprised everyone by speaking up. "I'm for it," she said, her tone unexpectedly confident. "I think we have a chance to win."

Sasuke sighed, slumping back in his chair. "Well, I'm in too."

Naruto let out a groan, rubbing his temples. "Oh, my god… you people are all nuts."

Sakura snapped her laptop shut with a satisfied smile. "Alright then, it's settled. We're driving in the finals."

Hinata raised her hand hesitantly, drawing Sakura's attention. "Um… I was thinking we could add more details about the event in the group chat. You know, strategize, talk about communication… and discuss what to do with my new car."

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. "Good idea."

Naruto's hand shot up. Sakura sighed, rolling her eyes. "What now, idiot?"

"Add me to the group chat!" he exclaimed, pointing dramatically at the whole table.

Shisui snorted, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Oh, here we go."

Sakura glanced around, then sighed. "Alright, fine. Let's vote. All in favor of adding he-who-shall-not-be-named to the group chat, raise your hand."

Only Naruto raised his hand, looking around hopefully. He held it high for a moment before his smile started to fade. Just when he was about to drop his hand in defeat, Sasuke sighed heavily and raised his hand, grumbling under his breath. Naruto blinked in surprise.

And then, Hinata shyly raised her hand too, a small smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Sakura. Naruto's eyes widened, a smile breaking out on his face.

Sakura groaned, muttering a few choice words under her breath. "Fine," she huffed. "I'll add this guy or whatever. But now can we get back to the plan?"

With a quick glare at Naruto, she continued. "We're visiting a track tomorrow to help Hinata get a feel for her new car."

Naruto gave her a thumbs-up, trying to look serious but failing miserably. "Got it. I'm on board. And hey, maybe if I'm really nice, you guys can even keep me in the next new group chat."

Shisui chuckled, shaking his head as the group braced themselves for the wild ride ahead.

Naruto strolled down the empty street that night, his eyes glued to his phone screen. The dim glow of the screen illuminated his scowl as he tapped impatiently, refreshing his messages for the umpteenth time.

Finally, a notification popped up: Sakura added you to the group.

"Finally," he muttered, exhaling in relief. He quickly opened the chat and typed his message.

Naruto: "Hi"

The screen stayed silent. The rest of the team kept typing away, ignoring his message like he didn't even exist. Naruto's brow furrowed.

Naruto: "Hey guys, what're we talking about?"

This time, Sakura responded.

Sakura: "Oh, forgot to mention, I added #him to the chat."

And then… back to ignoring him.

Naruto blinked at the screen, incredulous. He gripped his phone tighter and shot off another message.

Naruto: "Seriously?! Guys, come on! It's been, like, five days since I did that stupid thing! Can you stop ignoring me already?"

The silence dragged on for a second, then Sasuke's name lit up.

Sasuke: "Anyway, as I was saying, Shisui and I managed to squeeze close to 1500 horsepower out of #his car. Should be good to go."

Bae (Hinata): "That's amazing!"

Sakura: "Are we sure #he can even handle it?"

Naruto's jaw dropped. They're using hashtags instead of saying my name now? Grinding his teeth, he furiously typed out a response.

Naruto: "You cowards could at least say my name instead of hiding behind your hashtag nonsense!"

The chat froze. Naruto waited, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. Then, a message appeared from Shisui.

Shisui: "Who does this guy think he is? Just barging in, yapping about 'say my name' or some bullshit. Acting like he's some kind of celebrity."

Sasuke: "Oh yeah, he thinks he's fucking Beyonce now. 'Say my name, say my name,' huh?"

The chat exploded with laughing emojis. Naruto stared at his phone, his face flushed with rage.

Naruto: "You guys are the worst—absolute trash! Why did you even add me back if you're just going to ignore me?"

Before he could finish typing his next rant, Shisui tagged Sakura.

Shisui: " Sakura Yo, admin, can you please do something about this jackass blowing up the chat?"

Sakura: "I see it, Shisui. And yeah, #he's already exceeded his character limit for the day."

"What?" Naruto muttered, as he typed, "What character limit? I'm not even—"

But just as he hit send, a new notification flashed on the screen:

You have been muted by the admin.

Naruto's face went blank as he watched the chat continue without him. The team moved on, chatting about Hinata's new car and their strategies for the next race, as if he'd never even been there.

"Those… those jerks!" Naruto snapped, shoving his phone into his pocket. Muttering curses under his breath, he picked up his pace, practically stomping down the quiet street towards his hotel.

Naruto kicked a pebble as he walked, still grumbling about the group chat drama. He was halfway through muttering another insult about Sasuke when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning as he read the caller ID.

Mom.

Naruto's expression softened, and he quickly answered, putting on a polite voice. "Hey, Mom!"

"Naruto!" Kushina's voice was as bright as ever. "How are you, sweetie? How's your big racing whatever going?"

"Oh, it's, uh… going great, Mom. We're at the last stage now. Just one more race to go." He tried to keep his tone casual, but his mom's enthusiasm was infectious.

"Just one more? That's amazing!" Kushina beamed at him through the screen. "And hey—someone's here to talk to you. You won't believe who it is!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Who…?"

Kushina shifted the phone, and the image blurred before settling. Naruto's jaw dropped.

"Dad?"

Minato gave him a small wave. "Hey, kiddo. How you doing?"

Naruto blinked, disbelief washing over him. "Uh… good. Good." He managed to find his voice. "Wow, uh, hi… Dad?"

Kushina's beaming face took over the screen again, as she hugged Minato with a radiant smile. "He just stopped by this afternoon, Naruto! Isn't that just the best surprise?"

"Yeah… surprise," Naruto muttered, his smile barely hanging on.

Minato cleared his throat, gently taking the phone from Kushina. "You know, Naruto, I was just… minding my own business, one day, when I saw you on TV. Racing, with that amateur tournament stuff for the fifty mil, and I thought to myself, 'Wow, I really miss my son… and his mother.'"

Kushina gasped and clutched at Minato's arm. "Oh, Minato!" She pulled him into a dramatic kiss, right there on the screen.

Naruto sighed, crossing his arms. "Uh-huh. So you disappear for seven years, and suddenly you miss us because you saw me racing for a pile of cash? Real touching stuff, Dad."

Minato's face flickered with a hint of guilt. "I was… in a rough place mentally, Naruto. Needed some time to clear my head, y'know?"

Kushina pulled back from Minato, eyes wet with emotion. "Naruto, listen to your father. He's here now. He misses you."

Minato took over the screen again, giving his best serious look. "Look, Naruto… I miss you, alright? And I'm here now to support you, to see you achieve your dreams, to, uh… win that fifty millio— I mean, the tournament."

Kushina dabbed at her eyes, voice trembling. "Sweetheart, we're so proud of you. I'm going to be watching the whole thing, cheering you on."

Minato's hand squeezed Kushina's shoulder, his expression solemn. "Yeah. Make us proud, Naruto. And… bring home the money—I mean, the trophy."

Naruto softened as he looked at Kushina's hopeful smile. "I'll make you proud, Mom. I promise."

As the call ended, Naruto pocketed his phone, taking a long, deep breath. He shook his head, muttering to himself as he resumed his walk.

"Unbelievable. Seven years gone and she still falls for his crap." He chuckled wryly, glancing up at the night sky. "Guess I really gotta win that race now."

2 days later...

The race venue was buzzing with energy, packed to the brim with roaring engines, blaring music, and shouting fans. Cars rolled in one after the other, pulling into team corners like gladiators entering the arena. Above them, a helicopter circled, capturing every moment for the TV coverage that seemed to be as hyped as the drivers themselves.

Naruto and Hinata stood in front of their cars, doing their best to smile as a swarm of journalists and fans hounded them with questions and cameras. Naruto glanced over at the competition pulling in. His heart thudded as he counted each one. McLaren-bunch of numbers, Lamborghini... whatever, Audi R8. The best of the best.

"You good, Naruto?" Hinata asked, nudging him.

"Yeah, totally." He swallowed. "I mean, those cars could buy a small country, but who cares, right?" He gave a nervous chuckle.

Hinata smirked, gesturing at her own sleek, modified supercar. "Don't worry. We're not exactly rolling in with lawnmowers."

Naruto managed a grin, glancing back at his own car. The Chevelle gleamed under the sun, transformed and stripped down to the essentials, with a massive blower sticking out from the hood and a roll cage ready to withstand whatever hell this "Road of Death" might throw at them.

As they returned to Team 7's corner, Sakura was busy laying out the race details. "Alright, listen up. This isn't some fancy lap circuit. It's one way. Two lanes. Rocky mesas on either side. We're talking winding death traps and zero room for error."

Naruto's face fell. "Who the hell designed this track?"

"Sadists, clearly." Sakura shook her head. "They call it the Road of Death for a reason."

Naruto sighed. "Great. Nothing like a death wish to make things interesting."

Nearby, the announcer's voice cut over the noise. "And here we have Pain, from the best-performing team of the tournament so far, Akatsuki."

Naruto glanced over as the announcer turned to Pain, the legendary driver, dressed head to toe in black and red. The guy looked like he'd just stepped out of a horror movie, and his serious expression did nothing to help.

The announcer, grinning, held up a mic. "Pain, my man, word on the track is you're a classics guy. What are you running under the hood today?"

Pain took the mic from the announcer, fixing him with a stern, commanding look. "You want to know what my Mustang is running on?"

The announcer nodded eagerly. Pain let the pause linger, adding just enough tension.

Pain's intense gaze settled on him. "If you open the hood, do you know what you'll find?"

The announcer hesitated, looking ready to stammer out, "An engine?" but before he could speak, Pain leaned forward.

"A supercharged V8," Pain's voice was deep and authoritative, echoing over the crowd. "Over 1,000 horsepower."

The announcer let out a low whistle, wiping his brow in relief. "Now that's power."

Pain wasn't done. He glared at the crowd. "But the engine isn't what makes the car. It's the driver. And when I'm behind the wheel, do you think there's excitement? Fear? Rage? No."

He paused, then delivered his line with chilling calm. "All you'll find in my mind… is Pain."

The crowd gasped in awe, and even the announcer dabbed at his eyes as if he'd heard the most moving thing in the world. Pain dropped the mic and strode off, his blue-haired teammate, Konan, following behind him.

Shisui leaned back, nodding thoughtfully. "You know, Naruto, he's got a point. Racing isn't just about the car. It's about mindset."

Naruto gave him a blank look. "Mindset? He just gave a speech about 'Pain.' That's not 'mindset,' that's—" He threw his hands up, "I don't even know what that is. It's nonsense!"

Sasuke gave Naruto a dry look. "You wouldn't get it."

Naruto turned to him, exasperated. "What's there to get? He said a whole lot of nothing!"

Before Sasuke could fire back, a deep rumbling filled the air, and the team turned their heads.

Two sleek muscle cars rolled slowly by their booth. First came a red-and-black '69 Ford Mustang BOSS 429, its powerful V8 throbbing as if alive. Soft orchestral music wafted from its open windows, creating an eerie, almost theatrical vibe. Close behind was a jet-black 1970 Dodge Charger, its rumble lower but just as menacing.

Team Akatsuki

Naruto crossed his arms, eyebrows raised. "Gee, I sure wonder who the main antagonist of this arc could possibly be..."

Hinata shrugged innocently. "Could be anyone, Naruto. Everyone here is incredibly skilled."

Naruto shot her a look. "Really, Hinata? Because those two might as well have neon signs over their cars saying, 'Final Boss.'"

Sakura clapped her hands to get their attention. "Alright, focus up, guys. This is the big one. Remember, it's not just about winning. Finishing this track is going to be half the challenge."

Naruto rubbed his temples. "Great. Not just winning—a suicidal finish line. Exactly what I signed up for."

He glanced over at Hinata, who looked a little pale as she fiddled with her gloves. His own nerves faded as he saw her face.

Naruto squared his shoulders and straightened up, clapping his hands together. "Listen, we've got this. Team 7 isn't going out here just to screw up and go home."

Sasuke leaned back, the faintest of smirks on his face. "Yeah, you'd better be right. I didn't come all this way just for Itachi to laugh at me to the grave if I screw this up."

Naruto snorted. "Wouldn't want to ruin your reputation, Uchiha."

"Focus, you two!" Sakura said, rolling her eyes. "We're not here to roast each other. We're here to win."

The team geared up, every member knowing full well they only had one shot. This was the Road of Death, and winning wouldn't just take skill or courage—it'd take every damn ounce of luck they had.