A/N
Before anyone starts bombarding me with questions, here are some things I would like to clarify because someone was very angry with my story.
This is a fiction I am writing for my enjoyment and if you don't like it then you can respectfully stop reading my story.
Also Naruto is not a real story but a imagination of one person and this story is my imagination so I will change and use the Naruto world as I see fit and if you don't like it then you can leave.
Sakura took deep breaths as she rested against the tree. She has just finished sparing against Naruto who kicked her ass without mercy and now Sasuke is going against Kakashi and trying his best to win.
Sakura looked at the red hair sitting beside her, eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his face. Naruto could go hours sitting still and not doing anything.
She has seen it with her own eyes how a boy who couldn't even stay still for even a second just closes his eyes and remains still like a statue.
Her hand is still aching from Naruto's punch from earlier even after she applied the healing cream she bought from the hospital.
There was once a time when no matter what Sakura did Naruto never so much as bat an eye in her direction. He always gave her a smile but now he is ready to pummel her into the ground without a second thought.
It is sad and in some inner part of her heart she wants the old Naruto back. She heard a sound and looked ahead to see Sasuke's face kissing the ground while Kakashi sensei had his book out while standing over Sasuke.
This was their norm. For the past 20 days every morning they will gather on training ground seven and do their morning routine which if you ask her was torture.
Kakashi sensei made them run laps around the village then he would instruct them to do some physical exercise like push ups, sit ups etc.
After that they practice their chakra control for an hour. Sakura already learned both the tree walking and water walking while Sasuke is still stuck on water walking but sensei refused to teach her any further untill her stamina and chakra levels rise to an aceeptable level.
So he had her do tree walking while he trows rubber walls to distract her. He makes her run on water while his clone creates small water waves to waver her concentration and some physical exercise.
Everyday Sakura goes home tired and her whole body aching with pain. When their morning routione is complete they have lunch together sometimes in a nice restaurant while sometimes Sensei brings them home made meals.
Then they will go to the mission office to select two to three D-Ranks missions. Sasuke always complained about them, sometimes joined by Naruto.
Sakura on the other hand has no problems with them. They gave her time to rest her body after their morning torture.
Sensei always chooses missions that teach them something.
Like the Torra mission which according to sensei teaches them how to find someone, follow them and catch them.
You have to gather all the information you can, make sure to be as silent and vigilant as possible and have enough control over yourself to use the required amount of force to capture.
The cat seemed to hate her personally.
Everytime they catch her Sasuke refuses to be anywhere near the cat and if Sakura tries to hold her she scratches all over her hands and face.
The cat seemed particularly receptive to Naruto and snuggled up to him.
And that one mission where they have to clean the Naka river while standing on water or that one time where they have to deliver some important scrolls and mails but they couldn't touch the ground until the mission was complete.
Everything with Kakashi sensei was a learning experience. He makes sure to include some type of learning lesson in each one of their D rank missions.
Sensei is also teaching them how to hunt for food, so it might help when they go out of the village on a mission.
He also gave them a book which explains about every edible plant found in fire nation. Sakura has already memorised the book.
After completing their D Ranks mission they would return to their training grounds where Sensei will create two solid clones of himself to work with them separately and improve where they lack the most.
At first he has her practicing how to identify and break out of genjutsu which always reminded her of her failure during the bell test and now he is teaching her some D to C rank illusions.
He is helping Sasuke with his lightning nature and even taught him some basic D ranks jutsu as for Naruto that was a different case altogether.
Sakura has a hard time catching up to her team but even she can feel that she is improving.
She is much faster than before and her stamina levels have increased significantly thanks to all the running and exercises.
Sensei has made it his mission to make sure that everyone eats well and healthy and her dieting days are over not when she thinks she can eat more than her whole family.
Sometimes she thinks Kakashi is watching her to see if she is eating properly at home.
Her chakra levels have also improved and she can now fight a little longer than before. The only area that has yet to show any significant improvement was her taijutsu.
Her form is perfect but she is too slow to catch her opponents off guard or too weak to land a solid punch.
As for Sasuke, his speed has improved the most. His already great taijutsu now looks much more refined and elegant.
Although he is still mastering the water walking his control has also improved. Sensei is working on improving his control and chakra levels the most.
According to him in other areas Sasuke is already close to chunin levels and just needs some experience and Sakura couldn't agree more.
Speaking of Sasuke, Sakura hasn't asked Sasuke on a single date since she joined team 7.
Hearing that he hates the fangirls was a blow to her heart but on their second day of training Kakashi sensei offered to walk her home.
Flashback
On the way to her house Kakashi asked when did she first start liking Sasuke and what is it that she likes the most about him. She told him everything about how when she first saw Sasuke.
How she broke her friendship with Ino for him. How he is the most handsome, talented and mysterious boy in their class. What is there to not like about him?
But after listening to her entire story he only shook his head but didn't speak a word. When they reached her home he bent down to her level and placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke.
"Listen Sakura it is not wrong to like someone but if your crush is bothering the person you like then there is something wrong you are doing.
Sasuke has a goal in mind and he sees everything else as trivial matters. When you see a handsome, talented and mysterious boy I see a lonely boy in pain.
Sasuke doesn't need someone fawning over him, what he needs is a friend.
During your introduction you told us that you want to be a kunoichi that your parents can be proud of but if you keep chasing Sasuke then that is never going to happen.
I read your academy file and know that during the academy you spent all of your time making sure that you look pretty for Sasuke. Instead of training to be strong you were busy doing make up but that stops now.
If you want to remain in team 7 then you have to take your life as a shinobi seriously. Simply doing things to impress Sasuke is not going to work for you.
Look at you, is there anyone you can even call your true friend? You broke your most beautiful connection with someone over a boy."
Kakashi sensei's words shook her. She knows what he is saying is true but it still hurts to listen to them.
He is right. Simply doing things to impress Sasuke is not the right way. She has done everything to impress him and yet he never even looked at her.
Maybe Kakashi sensei is right and instead of a lover she can be a friend to Sasuke first.
Who is her friend? No one. She had Ino but broke their friendship because of a boy who didn't give them a second of his life.
Seeing her silence, Kakashi spoke again, "I am not saying that to belittle you but you are still young. Right now is not the time to do romance, instead you should focus on improving yourself.
I believe that people fall in love with someone they are destined to be together with and if Sasuke is your destiny then he will be yours but don't ruin your life for one boy.
Think about what I said. Take your time and if you need anything I will be there to help you. Okay." He finished and Sakura nodded.
He left her with some more encouraging words but all Sakura could think about was his earlier words.
Flashback End.
Since then she has decided to stop chasing Sasuke and focus solely on her shinobi carrier and Sasuke has responded positively to her new attitude.
She still likes the boy and wants him but she will not waste anymore time chasing him around.
Her thoughts drifted to Naruto. He also once chased her but stopped. She never gave enough thought as to why he stopped but now realising her own failure and pathetic behaviour she can appreciate his former crush on her much more than before.
Kakashi sensei has opened her eyes enough to see the difference between Sasuke and Naruto. Sasuke is smart, talented and hard working but Naruto is different.
She realises now that the boy sitting next to her is the strongest genin in this village. He is even stronger than some chunins. And everyday she learns something new about the redhead.
As for his training. Both Kakashi Sensei and Naruto are still working on that device. They can both hold the liquid for half an hour but that is still not enough.
After learning that Naruto has a natural affinity for both wind and water somehow, Kakashi sensei gave the boy some low level jutsu for both chakra natures.
Naruto mastered them in just a day and now even uses them without any hand signs.
After much probing from Sensei he told them that he uses the shadow clones to train.
Sakura still couldn't believe that Naruto can do such a high level technique with such ease and on such an absurd level but after hearing about his chakra levels from sensei there is nothing she wouldn't believe about the boy.
How can someone this young have more chakra than anyone in the village even more than the hokage and his special status has nothing to do with this.
When Sasuke demanded he be thought the same technique Sensei told him bluntly that right now if he even made a single shadow clone he will die of chakra exhaustion and that also answered what Sakura could do with the jutsu.
Naruto joins them for the morning routine, for missions and evening training but it is clear that he is only putting the minimal effort and that seems to frustrate their sensei a lot.
From day one Kakashi is doing his best to strengthen their bonds, everyone can see it but Naruto apparently doesn't want that.
It is not to say he hinders the team quite opposite of that actually. He will create shadow clones so that they can practice their aim on a moving target without the fear of hurting anyone and his clones would also help them during missions.
During team work exercises he gives his best and their teamwork is much better than before. Whenever sensei asks he will help both his teammates with their struggles.
Kakashi sensei has been working on some seal with Naruto for the team for the last 3 days.So he is giving his best for the team but that is not what Kakashi wants.
Naruto never speaks to them unless absolutely necessary. He always pays for his share during their lunch visits and as soon as Sensei dismisses them for the day he leaves without wasting a second.
Even Sasuke speaks more to her than Naruto and that is saying something.
Even now while he is sitting next to her there is still a carefully placed distance between them and it makes Sakura sad.
After learning Naruto's truth and seeing how the village treats him with her own eyes during the D rank missions she regrets her past behaviour towards the boy.
She once tried to approach the boy so that she could apologise but he left before she could even say a word.
Sometimes she feels that it is her fault that Naruto is so distant.
He works and trains with Kakashi sensei without a fuss. Kakashi has worked on improving his taijutsu which is now as good as Sasuke.
He is faster than Sasuke and according to Kakashi his ninjutsu is even better than any genin in the leaf village.
Sasuke and Naruto still train together every now and then despite their sensei advising them not to.
According to them they only spar together and help each other improve their physical abilities.
Sakura once thought to join them but didn't have the energy to even walk let alone fight someone.
It is only Sakura that has no form of connection to Naruto outside of their team training and missions and she wishes to correct that as soon as possible.
Her attention returned to the present when she heard Sasuke sit beside her and Kakashi sensei in front of them.
"You all have done well in these first 20 days." Kakashi spoke as he looked at his team. Both Naruto and Sasuke are improving as well as he thought but Sakura also showed great improvements.
Seems his previous talk with her has worked and she is taking her ninja life much more seriously than before.
He put the book he was reading away as he continued, "When first starting I didn't think you would improve so fast." He looked at Sasuke and spoke.
"Sasuke we still have much work to do on your affinity but your use of the jutsu I taught you jas improved.
Your taijutsu is much more polished and you have the most accurate aim in your team. Your physical capabilities have also increased but we still have your attitude problem."
Kakashi spoke bluntly. There is no need to sugar coat things here. Sasuke needs to change his attitude soon or Kakashi will have to take some extreme measures.
Sasuke always shows some form of jealousy whenever he sees his teammates doing something better than him.
As the teacher of team 7 competition is something he welcomes but when that competition starts to turn into something ugly he needs to put water on the fire before it becomes lethal.
Sasuke looked down and clenched his teeth. From the first day Kakashi has been hamouring him about his attitude but he couldn't help it.
Naruto is his age and an orphan just like him but somehow he is much stronger than him. Knowing that his brother was much stronger than him at his age also doesn't help.
Sasuke is doing everything he can to become strong and yet here he is not even stronger than his own teammate.
At first he attributed Naruto's strength to being a jinchuriki but that was just anger. Sasuke has seen the way Naruto trains. He has seen the redhead put himself through the grinder just like him.
He is not much affected by Sakura's improvement, in fact he is happy that she is working hard to improve her skills and not bothering him anymore.
He looked up to see Kakashi waiting for him to say something. Kakashi always forces him to speak whatever is on his mind.
He took some deep breaths and said, "I don't have a problem with them improving it just whenever I see Naruto do something that I can't it reminds me that I still have a long way to go before I can face that man and that frustrates me."
Whenever there is something important to talk about, Kakashi always discusses the matter in front of every member of team 7.
He trains everyone together and everyone knows what training their teammates are getting.
Secrecy and favouritism has no place in team 7 and Sasuke couldn't complain. Kakashi has proved himself to be a competent teacher.
In just a short amount of time Sasuke can see his improvements. Not only does he train them, he also joins them. Sasuke has no complaint as far as team 7 is concerned.
Kakashi nodded, hearing Sasuke's words. He knows what Sasuke is going through. Itachi was a once in a generation talent and no matter how much of a genius Sasuke himself is he is not Itachi.
But Kakashi doesn't want him to be Itachi either. Everyone is different and learns differently. Itachi had his strength but he also had his weakness too.
Once Sasuke figured out his own strengths and weaknesses instead of comparing himself to Itachi, he became truly strong.
Strong enough to face the future and Kakashi is working on that but seeing Naruto must bring memories back.
His Sensei's son is a genius. There is no other way to explain his talents. Kakashi has never seen a genin as talented as Naruto. His simple drive to learn new things and improve himself is terrifying
Kakashi is observing everything that Naruto does. The way he listens and then practises his ninjutsu, the way Naruto throws himself into training.
Kakashi has seen the way his eyes light up whenever he figures something out just the way Minato's used to do.
He has seen how Naruto forgets everything around him when he is studying or practicing his sealing just like Kushina.
Everyone needs something to motivate them. Both his parents had loved ones they wanted to protect and dreams they wanted to achieve and that's why they became so strong.
No person can train like Naruto without a solid goal in their mind. It doesn't matter what your goal is, you just have to believe in yourself.
And Naruto believes in himself. He has no shortage of confidence. He has stated without filter what his goals are yet Kakashi thinks that is not the big picture.
The intensity in Naruto's eyes and the way he is pushing himself tells him that the boy is training for something big, something dangerous and Kakashi fears what that danger is.
At first he thought Naruto would be the easiest student to train but now he is the most unpredictable member of team 7.
He does everything with his full heart and yet there is no bonding between him and his teammates.Naruto joins the team to train everyday. He does everything he is told and then goes back to his home and that is not how his parents were.
He has inherited the best of both his parents and yet he is completely different from them. Naruto is his parents' son for sure but he is his own person.
Should he really blame the boy for that?.Naruto doesn't want anything to do with Konoha, that shouldn't be a surprise for anyone. There is a limit to the abuse a child can tolerate and Naruto hit that limit a long time ago.
Kakashi's eyes moved towards Sasuke. The last of uchiha of konoha but that's not the whole truth is it. Sasuke carries a legacy as great as Naruto.
A child shouldering the weight of avenging his whole clan and training to kill his own brother. The very thought makes him want to close his eyes and just forget everything.
Both Naruto and Sasuke should have been raised by their families in the lovely environment they deserved but fate had other plans. For the good of konoha both boys had to suffer a fate Kakashi couldn't even imagine.
Kakashi has been an orphan so he could relate to that. He has also lost loved ones so he can understand that too but his pain is not the same as Sasuke or Naruto.
He don't know what it feels like to know that your own village hates you for something your father did and the same village loved your father for that.
He doesn't understand what it means to lose your whole family in a single night at the hands of your own brother.
Sasuke and Naruto. The two children whose burden is two heavy to carry and yet here they are still surviving.
Kakashi understands Sasuke's frustrations. It is hard not to get frustrated. He closed his single uncovered eye and spoke.
"I understand what you are saying but I told you again and again that it doesn't matter what others can do. Naruto is strong there is no doubt about it but so are you.
You have managed to reach this level of power even without the sharingan and that is something to praise. I told you all that I was in anbu but what I didn't tell you is that Itachi served under me when he was in anbu."
His words have Sasuke looking shocked. He remembers the days when Itachi was still a new anbu recruit following him everywhere.
"I was the one responsible for training him as an anbu. Itachi had the support of his entire clan since birth. He had people who understood the uchiha and sharingan better than anyone training him since he could walk.
As an anbu he received even more specialised training and wealthy experience. What I am trying to say is that you and Itachi have different circumstances and both of you are different people.
Stop comparing yourself to him if you truly want to become strong. Naruto's father was an orphan. He had no family, bloodline or any clan to help him become strong and yet now we know him as one of Konoha's strongest kage.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has their own way of becoming strong. I have a friend who can't mould chakra so he can never use any jutsu but still he managed to become one of the leaf's strongest jonin.
There is no proven path to becoming strong. You just have to wait and figure out what way is best suitable for you and once you have that then there is nothing stopping you from reaching the heights you desire."
Sasuke listened intently to Kakashi. His sensei was right. He doesn't have to follow the same path as Itachi. He can become stronger his own way.
Kakashi sensei, the hokage and even Naruto are all strong and yet they are different from Itachi. Sasuke is an uchiha. The last of them and he will follow the uchiha path. He once looked up to his brother and wanted to be just like him but not anymore.
He will carve his own path and at the end of it Itachi will be at his feets. He nodded his head to show that he understood. Kakashi is right, there is no need to get worked up over something so small.
Kakashi smiled under his mask seeing Sasuke's nod. These children are lost and they need someone to show them the right path. Kakashi will make sure that Sasuke follows the path of light that his brother wanted him for. This is the least he could do for the rogue uchiha.
Naruto listened to everything with his eyes still closed. It doesn't matter to him how fast Sasuke is improving or if he is getting jealous of him. Naruto has worked hard for his powers and nobody has the right to question his abilities.
Kakashi is a good teacher. Naruto accepts that but he is focusing too much on building bonds between his team. Naruto has no need for them. He is just buying himself time and when he thinks he is ready Naruto will be out of this hellhole.
Hiruzen already gave him the key to his chains. Soon the time will come and he will be free from his cage. There will be nothing anyone in Konoha could do about it. No matter how much Hiruzen or Kakashi try, nothing will chain him down to Konoha. Not the hokage, not his team, certainly not their words of empty promises.
After two hours of more training, sparring and chakra control exercises Kakashi finally decided to call it for the day. Once a week he will let them take a break from D rank missions and just focus on training them.
Naruto has no complaint whatsoever. He was just about to leave when he sensed a familiar presence entering the training field. He didn't react physically but his eyes moved towards the way they were coming.
Kakashi might have noticed his eyes because he too started looking in the same direction and soon one Ino Yamanaka entered the training ground 7.
Ino has been a welcomed presence in his life. He still remembers to maintain a safe distance between them but ever since the graduation something has changed.
He met Ino only twice since graduating and both times were in the flower shop. As usual Naruto went there to pick flowers for his mother's grave but this time something different happened.
Instead of taking his order and just leaving, Naruto had to stay there to listen to the girl whining about the intense training she is going through and how lazy both of her teammates were.
He didn't want to listen to any of that but the girl wouldn't let him go. He saw the small smirk on Ino's mother's face when the girl caught his hand and wouldn't let go as she told him all about her troubles.
Ino's mother was also a surprise. Ever since he started going to the shop not once he sensed anything negative from the women. As far as he can tell she has no ill feelings towards him. It was a refreshing thought to finally meet someone who treated you like an ordinary boy.
During the academy Naruto never paid much attention to the girl even though he met her during his visits to the flower shop very often.
He carefully kept a safe distance from everyone in Konoha and yet when the girl insisted that he listen to the tales of her team while looking at him with her big beautiful blue eyes he melted.
The next time he met Ino she followed him to the graveyard despite his protests. Naruto had to suffer through various questions on his way to the grave field.
Normally he would have gotten angry and yelled at the girl for her intrusion in his life but Naruto feels lonely too. Kurama is still there but not like before and Devi is already gone.
He doesn't want to be miserable like before he met Devi. He would have liked to open up to his team but wouldn't because of Hiruzen's hidden agendas but Ino is different.
The girl is loud and always speaks her mind but also knows when not to overstep her boundaries. When they visited the graveyard she didn't say a word during his entire stay at the gravestone of his mother.
Naruto knew she also noticed how the villagers looked at him and the various things they say about him but the girl never questioned the environment surrounding Naruto.
During their return she asked him many things but didn't ask who he was visiting. She is a very curious girl but knows when not to cross the limit. She is smart and perceptive for her age.
Of everyone that has graduated with him. Ino has become the most welcoming presence in his life despite his own denial. It also helps that she is pretty as hell.
So despite him being him, as soon as he saw the girl enter his field of vision a small smile graced his lips which seemed to shock Sakura very much.
Ino has been waiting for Naruto for two whole days. She thought he would visit the shop but he hadn't come and so now after her mother insisted she has to come to find him herself.
After completing her training session with her team she went straight to the address that was mentioned in the flower shop customer dairy but the apartment was empty.
Then she went to the ramen shop everyone knows he often goes to but didn't even find him there.
She walked around the village for some time hoping she might bump into him and when that didn't happen the only place left to check was his team's training ground.
She entered the training ground and saw Naruto's eyes already on her along with his sensei.
Naruto didn't tell her much about his team, only telling her the name of his sensei and that the team was better than expected. Ino asked her father about Kakashi Hatake and got the information that he was probably the best jonin in Konoha.
Well Sasuke was on team 7 so it was no wonder they got the famous jonin as their sensei, that is not to say Asuma sensei wasn't famous. According to Shikamaru he used to serve directly under the daimyo and he is also the son of their Hokage.
Her feets stopped just a few meters away from team 7 as her thoughts came to a halt. She looked at them and saw them tired and bruised, probably from the training Kakashi sensei is giving them.
Asuma sensei is also running them to the ground everyday and even if Ino wants to become strong like her father it still hurt as hell everyday.
She looked at the only Uchiha on the team. He looked as handsome as Ino remembered. She took her steps towards him and said, "Hello Sasuke, long time no see. Did you miss me?" She asked but it was Sakura who answered instead of Sasuke.
"No he wasn't Ino pig. Happy now you can go back to where you came from." The pink haired girl spoke but Ino ignored her which seems to make her even more angry. Victory for Ino.
She looked back at her crush and spoke again, "It's so sad that you got stuck with your forehead here instead of a beauty like me. Don't you think so?" And just as she expected there was no response.
Would it kill the boy to speak even two words to her. To any girl who is chasing after him. She can understand if he didn't want a relationship with someone but it didn't cost him anything to say something nice, sime at them or do anything.
He just looks at them as if they were the most troublesome things in the world and ignores them. Ino didn't have the energy to pursue this matter any more. She has come here to do something and should focus on that.
Sakura seems happy seeing Sasuke ignoring her. One day Ino will show the Uchiha what he is missing, being all cold to her. Before she could say anything, Sasuke's Sensei spoke.
"What can I do for you, Miss Yamanaka?" He asked her.
"Hello Kakashi sensei. Sorry to interrupt you but I have something to discuss with Naruto so I came to talk to him." Ino replied as she looked at the boy in question.
Ino will never say it out loud but since the day of the graduation when Naruto decided to tease her she couldn't forget his beautiful laugh or his smiling face. Everytime she thinks of that day her face will glow red with embarrassment.
She has been busy with her team and only got to meet Naruto twice since graduating. But both times were memorable experiences. The first time they met Ino had to hold his hand to stop him leaving so early.
She told him everything about her team while he listened to her talk. And if Ino saw the boy staring at her face or her mother teasing her about it after he left, well that's no one's business.
The second time Ino decided to tag along when he went to visit the graveyard. It is supposed to be something you do alone but Ino wanted to know for so long who he visited. She had an idea but she just wanted to be sure.
During their trip she asked many things but Naruto only answered a few of the questions she asked. Everytime she asked something personal he would not say a word to her.
As they reached their destination. Her questions were answered when she saw the name on the gravestone that read Kushina Uzumaki.
That can only be Naruto's mother. She remained silent the whole time Naruto was there and didn't ask anything about the women he was visiting. She knows when to push someone and when to stop her questions.
It is not a secret to anyone in their academy that Naruto was an orphan just like Sasuke. But where Sasuke lost his family while he was in the academy as far as Ino knows Naruto didn't have any since he was born.
She asked her father about Naruto after her graduation but he closed the topic immediately which was very unusual for him to do. Most of the time he tells Ino about anything she asks but the Naruto topic seems taboo for some reason.
Speaking of taboo, how can she forget the stares she got or more correctly Naruto got while they visited the graveyard. She knows enough to tell that those were not friendly stares.
Naruto seemed unaffected by them, meaning he is already used to it. Even in the academy no adult seems to like Naruto much but she didn't pay any attention to it then.
Her attention was brought to the present with Sakura's words as she spoke, "When did you become close with him?"
Ino looked at her. The girl seemed genuinely curious to know what her relationship with Naruto was. As if she would tell her anything.
Again she ignored the girl which made her even more angry than before. Point 2 for Ino.
She looked at team 7. Everyone seemed interested in listening to what she had to say to Naruto. Even Sasuke was looking at her waiting for Ino to say something.
She looked at Naruto. The boy appeared bored just standing there. She couldn't stop a small smile gracing her lips. Whenever she saw the red head her heart would race. She didn't want to think too much about that but she couldn't deny that he was good in the eyes.
"Well since you all seem so interested to know." She started addressing everyone. "I just came here to tell him that the order he gave to my mother 2 weeks ago is ready and he can come and get that whenever he wants." She finished.
Everyone was silent for some moments before Sakura spoke, "That's it. You came all the way here just to tell him that."
Ino didn't like the expression on Sakura's face. It did look like an lame excuse to come here but they didn't get how important it was.
She took in the expressions of everyone. Kakashi's face was hidden behind his mask but she could tell from his lone eye how amused he was.
Naruto was looking at her waiting for her to continue so was Sasuke.
She felt her face get heated from embarrassment. She took some breaths and spoke to justify her visit.
"Well if you really want to know why this is important so listen. Naruto ordered some special plants for himself along with some flowers. His special plants" she air quoted the words as she spoke to Sakura and continued.
"Are not something you just grow in your backyard. They need special care with an equally special soil to plant and grow them so that they can later be planted in any soil you want.
Mother has to get them from a special place where they are grown near the fire capital and that took time.
His order was ready three days ago but he didn't come to visit the shop and if his special plants didn't get planted in the next 24 hours they would lose their special ability and die within a week.
We waited for him to come and when he didn't mother insisted that I go and find him to inform him of this. I went to the ramen shop he visited but he was not there and then I went to his apartment and it was completely empty, which reminds me, did you change your home after graduation."
She questioned Naruto. Ino knows he used to live there because they have made some deliveries to his apartment in the past but now it is just an empty place with no sign of someone living there.
Everyone except Kakashi looked surprised hearing her news. It seems no one knows that Naruto has recently changed his home.
Naruto looked at the girl in front of him. Naruto has been busy with training and he even visited Uzushio yesterday to meet with Kuaram that he forgot all about his order.
He saw her eyes and the question hanging in them. She would not let this topic go unless he told her the truth.
Everyone else also seems interested in hearing his answer. Everyone except Kakashi who probably already knows where he is currently living.
Naruto decided what to do and started walking away from his team to leave. He knows that Ino will follow him. He can share his news with the girl but not with the team.
He wants to show Kakashi and Hiruzen that their little scheme has non effect on Naruto.
"Hey wait where are you going all of a sudden?" Ino asked as she ran behind to catch him.
"I am going to your shop to receive my order. My training is over for the day and I was just about to go home when you came." It was true he was just about to leave when he sensed her.
"You still didn't answer my question. Did you change your home?" Ino wouldn't let it go it seems.
"Yes I did now stop your questioning and tell me more about my plants." He asked.
"Not before you tell me where you are living now and why you suddenly changed your house without even telling me."
Naruto groaned as Ino finally caught up to him. Seems the walk to the flower shop won't be as peaceful as he thought.
"Please tell me I am not the only one who is shocked by what just happened." Sakura asked but as expected no one answered her.
Sasuke too left without saying a word and Kakashi sensei just gave her an eye smile and left.
She too started to walk towards her home but the memory of Naruto's small smile when he saw Ino and how Ino's eye lit up when she talked to Naruto and how easy she seemed with him was in the forefront of her mind.
Naruto never smiled when he was with them. Sakura couldn't even hold a conversation with him if it is not related to their training or missions.
When did Ino become so close to her teammate? So many questions and no answers seems an investigation is in order.
Kakashi entered the Hokage office some time after he dismissed his team for the day. Every once in a while he comes to her to inform the hokage the ongoing events of his team.
The hokage was buried under a mountain of paperwork. Every time Kakashi comes here he always gets greeted by the sight of the hokage doing paperwork.
He is glad that he rejected his offer to take the hat from him. Kakashi couldn't even imagine sitting all day in a chair doing nothing but reading and signing boring papers and scrolls.
The third looked up from where he was sitting and smiled as he saw Kakashi standing in front of him. He motioned for Kakashi to take a seat as he finished reading the document in hand.
Once he placed the document down he took his smoking pipe out, "Do you mind?" He asked Kakashi and he shook his head.
At his age, smoking is dangerous for his health but still the hokage showed no signs of quitting it.
"What is it, Kakashi?" The third asked, breaking the silence between them.
"It's about Naruto." Kakashi Replied.
Hiruzen sighed. He hoped that Naruto would be able to create new bonds with his new team but according to Kakashi the boy has made it perfectly clear that he wants nothing to do with his team outside of training and missions.
The boy followed all orders given to him like an excellent soldier but that was it. He never took intiative to do something with the team. He never asks for Kakashi for any kind of help.
Sasuke and Naruto had somewhat of a relationship even before they graduated but has remained the same with no sighns for improvements. It was a massive headache that Hiruzen wished could go away.
Seeingh Hiruzen's sudden change in behaviour Kakashi thought to relieve the hoakage. The topic of Naruto was a sensitive one for the Hokage and he doesn't want to add any more pressure to it.
"No need to worry my lord today I came with positive news." Kakashi told him cheerfully. From where he was standing it was positive news.
"O really. Did Naruto finally took a intiative to open up to his teammates?" Hiruzen asked with some hope in his words.
Kakashi shook his head as he spoke, "Nothing like that. His behaviour remains the same" He said and seeing Hiruzen's dissopointment he spoke again quickly.
"But today I saw something that gave me some hope that maybe things could work out for us." Hiruzen was now interested about what Kakashi has to say. He motioned for the jonin to continue.
"After I finished today's session with my team. Inoichi's daughter came to visit Naruto to tell him that his order was ready and he needs to pick it up soon.
This isn't the main news but the real news is how Naruto reacted to her presence.
First Naruto knew of her arrival before she even arrived which means he is some kind of sensor than as soon as he saw her Naruto's face gained a beautiful smile one that I have never seen on his face before.
As soon as Ino arrived she started talking to Sasuke. Now here I might be getting ahead of me but to me it seems to annoy Naruto that she was talking to the other boy.
After that she delivered her news and asked the boy about his change in residency but Naruto decided to duck the question and left the field but the Yamanaka chased him asking her questions which seemed to annoy the boy but in a positive way.
During this whole ordeal I observed that Naruto sees Ino in a much more positive light than his teammates and when she was around he acted according to his age.
When Ino was around he behaved how a 13 years old boy should behave and I see it in a positive light."
Kakashi was right. This is good news for them. Hiruzen's mind is already running a million thoughts per second on how to capatalise on this but Kakashi broke his thought process.
"I know what you are thinking Lord Hoakage but I think we should leave this matter alone. Naruto doesn't like anyone dictating things for him.
Even after my many efforts he has kept his heart closed from his team and if he is developing a positive relationship with this girl then we should leave them alone and hope for the best."
Kakashi raised a valid point. Didn't he already control much of the boy's life? When will he act normally like a person and not like a Hokage.
He should be happy hearing this news but his first thought was to use this in a way that will benefit them. When did he start thinking like this?
"You are right Kakashi." Hiruzen conceaded his mistake. "We should leave this matter alone but keep observing them and keep updating me.
"Understood my lord." Kakashi replied. "There was one more thing I would like to discuss."Kakashi spoke and Hiruzen nodded his head showing his approval.
"My team has been active for 20 days only but in these 20 days we have completed fifty plus D rank missions. I know this is very unusual for genin teams this fresh to do this but I would like to go on a C rank mission with them."
Hiruzen processed his words. Yes it was unusual but it was not a rule that genin teams cannot take high ranking missions this early. Hiruzen knows about the skills of team 7 and if Kakashi beleives they are ready then he will trust his judgement.
"I understand your thoughts Kakashi and you have my permission. You can choose a suitable mission for you team to take but I have one condition."
Hiruzen stated his own thoughts and Kakashi asked him what that condition is. Hiruzen has been thinking about this ever since the genin teams graduated. Konoha has always been the most powerful village because of its teamwork.
Konoha always believed in the collective strenght instead of individual strenght and that's the secret of their successs and if they have to face the future they need to have the same comradry that has always carried them.
"Before you choose any high ranking mission for team 7 they have to fight against both team 8 and 10.
I am not saying they have to win but they have to show me that they are ready. Every genin team that has graduated this year has to do this.
Before they take any high ranking mission they have to fight against the two other genin teams that graduated with them."
Seeing kakashi's confusion and silence Hiruzen clarified.
"These matches will mainly serve two purposes.
When any team will fight against the other two it will show all the genins what their strengths are and where they lack and not only that it will greatly improve teamwork between them.
Team 7 is the strongest genin team this year and if they perform well against the other two teams it will surely motivate them to do better than before.
The other purpose is to prepare them.
Training is one thing but what happens in the real world outside of this village isn't in anyone's hands.
This way they will slowly learn to face overwhelming power. Learn how to work with those outside of their teams and show them what having a team actually means.
For example some like Shikamaru or Choji cannot defeat Sasuke in a one on one fight in their current state but if they work as team along with Ino surely they will be victories against Sasuke.
You, Asuma and Kurenai should discuss this and make it even more interesting. It dosn't have to be team vs team but you can mix it up like Naruto going against Sasuke, Kiba and Hinata.
It will improve their bonds and grow comradery between them. It will also give the genin a platform to showcase their skills. Nothing gives a newly graduated genin as much motivation as defeating other genins does.
This is just what I have thought. Talk with Asuma and Kurenai and once you have reached a decision how you three wants to do this come back to me. Understood."
"Understood Lord Third." Kakashi got up from his seat and left the office in search of Asuma and Kurenai.
The third has given him a brilliant idea and if the other two agreed then in the upcoming chunin exams Konoha will blow up the competition.
—--
Outskirts of Sound Village.
She knelt down in front of her master. She owed her life to her leader, the one who saved her from a horrible fate.
She remembered the day like it was yesterday when she first saw the person that will change her life, give her purpose to fight for, to live for and to die for.
She was being sold by a traitorous shinobi from kiri. Once the village found out that she was a bloodline user like her father.
The village is killing everyone like her. They killed her parents in front of her eyes and then kidnapped her to sell for the highest bidder. She was a girl and a bloodline wielder, the perfect cash cow for them.
That was when she first saw her master. She tried to fight her captors but couldn't. She was small, untrained and weak against the experienced shinobi.
They easily defeated her and as she lay there bruised and body aching all over. Tears flowing from her eyes waiting for her fate when she came along with her allies.
A girl who used golden chains like a part of her body and summoned snakes from the sleeve of her dress.
A girl with red hair like blood and eyes like ruby and saved her. That was when she first met her saviour and swore her life to her and for the last 3 years she has been serving the girl.
She was inside an underground training ground on the outskirts of sound village. There were only two people present here.
When not busy with missions only training seems to interest her master and friend.
Guren looked up to see her master sitting on the throne situated in the hidden training ground.
She wore a full sleeved black battle kimono with dark red borders that matched her hair and it was tied around her waist by a purple coloured obi.
The Kimono was open in the front showing her cleavage which was covered by white bandages. A necklace shaped in the form of an Uzumaki swirl is resting against her chest.
Her red hairs were tied in a ponytail by a flowered pattern hair cloth. Two small snake shaped earrings were hanging in her ears.
Her sword was resting just next to her and a small white snake was making its way to her neck.
All in all she was the picture of a perfect female warrior in Guren's eyes. A girl forged by the harshness and tragedy of this world yet remained so soft that you could get lost in her beauty.
"Are you sure about this information Guren?" She spoke with a soft tone. Her voice was like a melody.
Guren has never seen her yelling at someone. She always treated everyone like they were her equal.
She was kind, understanding and loving but equally dangerous and fierce and that is why she swore herself to her. That is the reason why Guren chooses to follow her until death comes for her.
"Absolutely my lady. After getting the news from our spies I myself went to confirm the news and saw with my own eyes.
There are three uzumaki children living with their grandparents. I would have approached them myself if I was not with his men."
Guren spoke the last words with as much venom as she could muster. She still doesn't know how someone like her master is associated with someone like him. It was a relationship like oil and water. Two equally opposite working together.
While her master was loving and kind towards her followers he was like a manipulative snake who would speak words dipped in honey only to stab you in the back. She was lucky to have a master like hers instead of that bastard.
Her master got up from her throne and took her sword in her right hand. The snake that was trying to get around her neck fell off from her and disappeared into his realm.
She walked towards her and motioned her to stand up and Guren did and as soon as she stood up she was engulfed into a tight hug.
"I was worried about you, Guren. Everytime you go out I worry. I am so glad to see you return to me without any injury." Guren smiled as she hugged her master back.
She never treated Guren like a subordinate even if Guren insisted she was. For her master all her subordinates were family and she loved her family so much.
She broke the hug to look at her master. What Guren wouldn't do for this person. Guren always comes back to her master. The only person who has loved Guren for her and not for her powers.
"Return to our base and rest because tomorrow we will leave to save some Uzumaki." Guren nodded her head as she took her leave to return to the base.
"The time is near. I can feel it in me. Soon we will find the choosen one and return to our home." Karin Uzumaki spoke to herself as she rembered the promise she made to her dying mother.
The End.
Notes :
You might think that Naruto is so cold towards his team but react positively to Ino. This is because he is doing that on purpose.
Kakashi revealed his parentage when he didn't wanted it, Hiruzen cornered him into signing those contract with the leaf so he figured that Hiruzen is trying to tei him with the leaf with this team and to that he goes fuck off.
As for Ino, remember Naruto doesn't want to be miserable. He has a good relation with Iruka, Ichiraku family, Hiruzen and even Sasuke and Ino just got added to the list so there is nothing new.
We got a small scene with Guren and Karin. I didn't forget about our female Uzumaki who was training under Orochimaru. Just to clarify something, Orochimaru found Karin when she was only 7 right after her mother died so it was before Naruto met Devi.
In this fic Guren is only 2 years older than Naruto and is from Water Country. She was orphaned during the bloodline purges and Karin saved her from some kiri shinobi who wanted to sell her for her bloodline.
That's all for now. Take care.
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