Chapter 5

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as Team Tsunade stood at their training grounds, their breaths visible in the crisp morning air. Tsunade, her arms crossed and her expression stern, eyed her new team critically. It was just past 4 a.m., and she had dragged them out here for one purpose: to figure out what made them tick in battle—and how to break their weaknesses before anyone else could.

"Alright, listen up," Tsunade began, her voice sharp. "Today, we're going to find out what each of you is capable of. No more holding back, no excuses. If you think you're tired, push harder. If you think you can't go on, you're wrong."

Naruto grinned widely, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "No problem, Tsunade-sensei! I can do this all day!"

Shizune and Rin, though less enthusiastic, nodded determinedly. They understood the importance of this training. The test yesterday had shown them how much they needed to improve, and neither wanted to be the weak link in the team.

For hours, Tsunade pushed them to their limits. The training consisted of sprints, obstacle courses, chakra control exercises, and sparring. While Shizune and Rin began to falter under the relentless pace, Naruto seemed unfazed, his boundless energy and stamina on full display.

Tsunade's sharp eyes took in every detail, from the way Naruto instinctively dodged attacks to his raw determination to keep going even when others would have collapsed. This kid's got something special, she thought. He doesn't just have stamina; he's got heart. That's going to be the foundation of his growth.

Meanwhile, Shizune and Rin were struggling to keep up. Their movements were slower, their strikes less precise, and Tsunade wasn't letting it slide.

"Shizune! That senbon throw was weak. If you can't even put force behind it, don't bother!" Tsunade barked.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama!" Shizune gasped, her hands trembling as she prepared another throw.

"And Rin!" Tsunade turned her attention to the other girl, who was on one knee, trying to catch her breath. "If you don't have the stamina to keep up, you're dead weight. Medics can't afford to be liabilities in the field!"

Rin gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I won't let you down, Tsunade-sama!"

As the morning wore on, Tsunade started to see what needed work. While Shizune and Rin had the technical skills and precision befitting medics, they lacked the physical stamina and endurance to last in extended battles. On the other hand, Naruto was the opposite—a powerhouse of energy but wildly unrefined in his techniques.

By mid-morning, both girls were barely able to stand, their legs shaking and breaths coming in shallow gasps. Naruto, however, was still bouncing on his toes, grinning from ear to ear.

"You guys okay?" he asked, his voice cheerful despite the intensity of the session. "Come on, you can do it! Just a little more!"

Shizune shot him a weak glare. "How… are you still… so energetic?"

Naruto laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I'm just used to getting beaten up a lot. You know, falling down and getting back up again!"

Rin gave a small smile despite her exhaustion. "I think… I hate that you're so positive right now…"

Tsunade, watching this interaction, smirked. Perfect. He's not just their teammate—he's going to be their motivation. If anyone can push these two to their limits, it's him.

Clapping her hands, she called them to attention. "Alright, that's enough for now. Take ten minutes to rest and rehydrate. Then we're going to focus on teamwork exercises. You three are going to learn to rely on each other in battle, because out there, it's do or die."

Naruto grinned and gave his teammates a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei! We've got this!"

As Shizune and Rin collapsed onto the ground, panting and gulping down water, they couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. Naruto's boundless energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and with Tsunade's guidance, they were starting to believe that, together, they really could become an unstoppable team.

As Naruto eagerly wolfed down the bento Rin had prepared for him—an assortment of rice balls, grilled fish, and vegetables—Tsunade stood off to the side, watching her team closely. The midday sun cast a warm glow over the training grounds, but her focus was razor-sharp. She noted how Shizune and Rin sat close to Naruto, both laughing at his antics as he complained about the lack of ramen but still finished every bite.

"They're coming along," she muttered to herself just as Kakashi appeared beside her, his signature orange book tucked under his arm.

"Looks like they're settling into the team dynamic," Kakashi observed, his lone visible eye crinkling in amusement as he watched Naruto enthusiastically offer Rin a rice ball in exchange for one of her dumplings.

Tsunade nodded. "They are, but those girls have a long way to go. That seal kept them preserved physically, but it didn't preserve their stamina. They're out of shape compared to their old selves." She smirked, crossing her arms. "Thankfully, Naruto has enough energy to make up for ten of them combined. He's relentless."

Kakashi chuckled. "He's always been like that. You'd think the energy came out of nowhere, but…" His expression darkened slightly. "He's had to be that way. Growing up as the jinchūriki wasn't easy. A lot of the village didn't treat him kindly, so he needed that endurance just to survive."

Tsunade's gaze flickered to Naruto, who was now dramatically recounting a story to Shizune and Rin about one of his pranks on Iruka. Her lips pressed into a thin line. She'd heard about Naruto's struggles from Hiruzen but seeing the boy in action made it hit differently. "It's no wonder he's such a fighter. That kind of determination doesn't come from nowhere."

Kakashi's gaze shifted to Rin, a faint smile crossing his lips. "I'm glad he's with her. Naruto's optimism reminds me so much of Obito. I think it's good for her to be around someone who carries that same kind of hope. It'll help her heal in ways she doesn't even realize yet."

Tsunade turned her attention to Shizune, who was giggling as Naruto accidentally spilled some tea on himself. "Shizune too," she said softly. "He reminds me of Nawaki in a lot of ways. That unshakable drive to protect what's precious to him, the way he wears his heart on his sleeve… It's no wonder Shizune has taken to him so quickly. She cared deeply for Nawaki, and I can see her wanting to nurture that same kind of spirit in Naruto."

Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "It's rare to see him connect so easily with people his age, especially girls. Most of them either ignore him or, well…" He gave a sheepish chuckle. "Hit him."

A spark lit in Tsunade's eyes at that comment, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Is that so? Seems like he's got his hands full with these two, though. And knowing Naruto, he'll probably end up making them stronger just by being himself."

Kakashi nodded. "That's what he does best—makes people better without even realizing it."

As they watched the team laugh and share their meal, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for the future. These three were already forming bonds that could stand the test of time. And while there was much work to be done, she knew they were on the right path.

"Alright, break's over!" Tsunade's voice rang out across the field, snapping the trio back to attention. "Back to training! If you've got energy to laugh, you've got energy to work!"

Naruto groaned but stood up quickly, grinning. "Bring it on, Tsunade-sensei! I can handle anything you throw at me!"

Shizune and Rin exchanged a look, both smiling despite their tiredness. With Naruto leading the charge, they knew they could face whatever challenges came their way.

As the day's grueling training came to an end, Tsunade dismissed her team with a satisfied smirk. Rin wobbled slightly on her feet but managed to stand, while Shizune was sprawled on the ground, utterly spent. Naruto, though visibly winded, still radiated energy as he turned to the girls.

"Hey! How about we go grab some dinner?" he asked, his grin as bright as ever.

Shizune let out a weak laugh, her voice laced with exhaustion. "Naruto, I'd love to, but I don't think I can even move right now. I'm pretty sure I'm stuck here until morning."

Without hesitation, Naruto crouched down beside her. "No problem! I'll carry you. It's no big deal!"

Shizune blinked at him, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. Rin, standing a few feet away, stared at Naruto in disbelief, her own cheeks dusted with color.

Shizune hesitated for a moment, considering his offer. "Well," she began, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "if you're going to carry me, it's only fair you treat me to dinner too. It's an old rule Tsunade-sama taught me—if a man carries a woman, he has to buy her a meal. Agreed?"

Naruto blinked, clearly unaware of any subtext. "Deal! Let's go!"

With surprising ease, Naruto scooped Shizune onto his back, her arms loosely draping around his shoulders. Rin watched, her stomach twisting with a twinge of jealousy she couldn't quite place.

As they started walking through Konoha, Shizune's exhaustion began to fade as she relaxed against Naruto. She couldn't help but smile, her head resting lightly against his back. Rin, walking beside them, tried to ignore how at ease Shizune looked and instead struck up a conversation with Naruto.

"So, Naruto," Rin began, "what's your favorite thing to do when you're not training?"

"Easy—eating ramen!" Naruto exclaimed without missing a beat, grinning widely.

Rin laughed softly. "I should've known. But you know, you really should expand your tastes a little. Maybe tonight we can try something different?"

"Sure! As long as it's good, I'm in," Naruto replied cheerfully.

Before Rin could respond, Shizune's soft breathing caught their attention. They both glanced back to see her sound asleep, her face peaceful as she unconsciously snuggled closer to Naruto.

Naruto's face flushed slightly, and he turned his head toward Rin, looking slightly panicked. "Uh, what do we do? She fell asleep!"

Rin couldn't help but smirk at his reaction. "Looks like she's done for the day. Let's just take her back to the hotel. She'll need her rest for tomorrow."

Naruto nodded quickly, clearly relieved to have a plan. "Good idea. Lead the way!"

Rin guided Naruto through the village streets to the hotel where Shizune was staying. By the time they reached her room, Shizune stirred slightly but remained mostly asleep. Naruto carefully laid her down on the bed, pulling a blanket over her.

"She's really out, huh?" he whispered, scratching the back of his head.

Rin nodded, a small smile on her face. "She gave it her all today. We all did."

Naruto straightened up, his grin returning. "Guess it's just the two of us for dinner then, huh?"

Rin's cheeks flushed, but she quickly composed herself. "I suppose it is. Let's go before you change your mind!"

As the two of them left the hotel, Rin couldn't help but feel a little excited about spending time alone with Naruto, even if it wasn't exactly what she had expected when the day began.