That night, Naruto was reminiscing about the pleasant events of the day when his Shadow Clone suddenly dispelled and its memories flowed back into his mind.
“Hmm? A C-rank mission?”
“The Land of Waves mission with Zabuza shouldn’t be happening this soon… Whatever. I’ll go.”
Naruto understood what Kakashi was thinking.
He simply wanted Naruto’s real body to come back and participate in Team 7’s missions.
Besides, his relationship with Hinata had already become quite solid lately.
It wouldn’t hurt to occasionally take part in a mission with his own team.
Early the next morning—
Naruto hurriedly said goodbye to Hinata before arriving at the village gate right on time.
“Yo. Morning.”
Naruto was in a good mood and, for once, actually greeted Sasuke and Sakura.
Sasuke glanced at him.
“Morning.”
Ever since the survival exercise, Sasuke had begun treating Naruto as someone he needed to surpass.
His former view of Naruto as the dead last had long since disappeared.
Normally, someone who had once been an inferior student suddenly surpassing him should have made Sasuke furious.
But whenever he remembered Naruto shoving him out of the way of Kakashi’s jutsu during the exercise, he simply couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
All he could do was make Naruto a target to chase after.
“Naruto, you actually weren’t late today. That’s surprising,” Sakura said.
She still remembered Naruto’s performance during the survival exercise and how he had helped her, so her opinion of him had improved considerably.
Besides, Naruto didn’t look the same as he used to anymore.
There were no whisker marks on his face, and his golden hair swayed gently in the breeze, giving him a rather striking appearance.
In short—
Naruto had gotten handsome!
“Even Kakashi wasn’t late. Why would I be?”
Naruto glanced toward Kakashi, who had just arrived.
Kakashi gave an awkward smile before beginning to explain the mission.
“Our mission this time is to eliminate a group of bandits that have been harassing Sunset Town in the Land of Fire. All of the targets are ordinary people. There are no ninja among them.”
“Do we have to kill people, Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura suddenly asked.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi all turned to look at her at the same time, as though they were staring at some rare animal.
Under their gazes, Sakura’s insecurity immediately resurfaced.
“People die on the battlefield. If you don’t kill the enemy, then the enemy will kill you—or your comrades.”
Kakashi spoke to her earnestly.
Sakura silently nodded.
Clearly, she couldn’t adapt to such a drastic change from her peaceful life so quickly.
At that moment, Naruto walked over and patted her shoulder.
“Don’t think about it too much. Take your time.”
For some reason, Sakura felt touched by Naruto’s encouragement.
It reminded her of the survival exercise.
When she had decided to give up, Naruto had also chosen to give up with her.
It’s a shame Naruto-kun already has Hinata…
Otherwise—
No, no, no!
What am I thinking?!
I like Sasuke-kun!
How could I suddenly fall for someone else?
Sakura shook her head, repeatedly reminding herself that Sasuke was the one she liked.
But when she looked toward Sasuke, she realized that he had never really looked at her.
Even during the survival exercise, his decision had only come after seeing Naruto’s attitude…
Disappointment and insecurity continued rising within her.
“Let’s go, Sakura.”
Naruto’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Mm! Okay!”
It was Sasuke and Sakura’s first time leaving Konoha.
Both of them looked curiously at the scenery around them.
Naruto, on the other hand, had no particular curiosity about the outside world.
He wore the same listless expression as always.
“Hey, Naruto-kun.”
Sakura suddenly walked over beside him.
“Can you tell me how to become stronger? I don’t want to hold you guys back.”
Apart from their final year before graduation, Naruto had always been an idiot in Sakura’s eyes.
Even during that last year, her opinion of him hadn’t changed all that much.
So Sakura naturally assumed that Naruto must have discovered some secret method that allowed him to become stronger!
Sasuke, who overheard her question, unconsciously moved closer as well.
He also wanted to hear Naruto’s answer.
“How to get stronger?”
Naruto thought for a moment.
“Just train every day.” Get faster updates on g.com.
“Oh…”
Sakura sounded disappointed.
She assumed Naruto simply wasn’t willing to tell her his secret.
Noticing her disappointment, Naruto patiently explained,
“Don’t think I’m brushing you off. Think back to your time at the Ninja Academy. Did you ever truly give everything you had to become stronger?”
“I…”
Sakura opened her mouth to argue, only to realize she had nothing to say.
“So you’re not really too weak.”
Naruto glanced at her.
“You’ve just been too lazy.”
Hearing that, Kakashi couldn’t resist turning around and giving Naruto a look.
Lazy?
You have the nerve to call someone else lazy?
You’re the laziest one here!
“Is that really it…?” Sakura murmured, beginning to doubt herself.
“If you two want to become stronger, I can give you some training after we finish dealing with the bandits,” Kakashi suddenly said.
Naruto looked at Kakashi in surprise before immediately returning to his lazy demeanor.
“I’ll pass. That kind of basic training won’t do anything for me.”
“Even so, you’re not allowed to leave early!”
Kakashi immediately saw through Naruto’s little scheme.
Trying to rush back ahead of everyone else to see your girlfriend?
Not happening!
Naruto rolled his eyes at Kakashi and cursed him countless times in his heart.
“Basic training?”
Sakura suddenly caught the key point.
“Naruto, do you already know what kind of training we’re going to do?”
Naruto had no intention of explaining.
“You’ll find out when the time comes. For now, just focus on traveling.”
“Oh~”
[Ding! The host’s body has worked hard and increased its physical quality by 20%. Your current physical quality has reached Kage level. You can now open all Eight Gates!]
Even when Naruto did absolutely nothing, the System never stopped strengthening him.
In another few years, perhaps even Naruto himself wouldn’t know just how powerful he had become.