A New Path

After fighting so many people, they could only feel relief when no assassins randomly popped up to attack them. Their journey to the Land of Waves had been quick, thankfully. The mist clung thickly to the air as Team 7 finally crossed the bridge into the Land of Waves. The town itself was eerily quiet, the signs of hardship clear from the shabby homes, empty streets, and distant glances from the few villagers that dared peek out.

Naruto stretched his arms above his head, groaning. “Finally! I thought we’d never get here.”

Tazuna let out a gruff chuckle. “Tch, you brats complain too much. This is the easy part.”

Harry side-eyed him. “We got attacked multiple times just getting here.”

Sakura sighed, tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear. “He has a point.”

Tazuna just grunted and waved for them to follow. Their boots squelched against the damp dirt road as they made their way through the village, passing by rundown shops and sunken faces. It was easy to see just how much Gato’s stranglehold on this place had affected the people.

Sasuke observed the surroundings with a quiet, calculating gaze. “This place is worse off than I expected.”

Kakashi gave a small nod. “Which is exactly why we’re here.”

Eventually, they arrived at Tazuna’s home—a modest, weathered house near the river, surrounded by trees and a small wooden dock. As soon as they stepped onto the porch the door swung open.

“Father!” A dark-haired woman in a simple blue kimono rushed out, her eyes filled with relief.

Tazuna scoffed but couldn’t hide his small smile. “Hey now, what’s with that face? I told you I’d be back.”

Sakura tilted her head. “Is this…?”

The woman turned to the team and bowed gratefully. “I’m Tsunami. Thank you all for protecting my father.”

Naruto puffed out his chest. “Heh, no big deal! We totally handled everything like pros.”

Sasuke snorted. “You almost died.”

“Details, teme, details!”

Before Sasuke could retort, a smaller figure appeared behind Tsunami, peeking out from inside the house. A young boy, maybe around seven or eight, with dark hair and a large hat, glared at them suspiciously.

Tazuna grunted. “Oi, Inari, don’t be rude. Say hello.”

Inari didn’t budge. Instead, he muttered, “You’re all gonna die.”

The entire team froze, all having the same expressions of disbelief, and they stared at each other, then back at Inari.

“…Excuse me?” Naruto blinked.

“You’re all gonna die,” Inari repeated, folding his arms. “It’s stupid to fight Gato. No one can beat him. You’re all just wasting your time.”

A beat of silence.

“…Wow. What a warm welcome.” Harry muttered under his breath.

Sakura sighed, rubbing her temple. “This is going to be a long mission.”

Tazuna huffed, patting Inari’s head. “Don’t mind the kid. He’s just…” He hesitated before grumbling, “He’s been through a lot.”

Kakashi gave his usual eye-crinkle-smile. “Well, since we’re not dead yet, how about we get settled in?”

Tsunami nodded. “I’ll prepare some food. You all must be exhausted.”

As Team 7 stepped inside, Naruto shot a look back at Inari, who was still staring at him with narrowed eyes.

This kid’s got issues.

Naruto glared back, shook his head, and followed his team inside. The inside of Tazuna’s home was surprisingly warm and cozy, despite its worn-down exterior. The scent of freshly cooked rice and fish filled the air as Tsunami busied herself in the kitchen, while Team 7 settled in with varying levels of enthusiasm.

Naruto immediately sprawled out on the floor, letting out a dramatic groan. “Finally! A roof! A real floor! No more wet dirt!”

Sakura huffed, stepping over him. “You’re acting like we were sleeping in the wild for weeks.”

“We basically were!”

Harry sat cross-legged against the wall, casually cleaning his katana. “You didn’t complain this much when we were fighting.”

Naruto shot up. “That’s ‘cause I was busy being awesome, dattebayo.”

Sasuke, who had just leaned against the wall, let out a dry snort.

“Yeah, right. You almost got yourself killed—again.”

“Shut up, teme.”

Before Naruto could lunge at Sasuke, Kakashi dropped onto the floor with a sigh, stretching out like a lazy cat. “Ahh, this is nice. Finally, I can relax.”

Sakura raised a brow. “You’ve been relaxing the whole mission.”

Kakashi just gave her a lazy eye-smile.

Before the bickering could continue, Tsunami called from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready!”

The team perked up immediately, Naruto was the fastest to move. “Food! Finally, something that isn’t ration bars!”

He zoomed to the table, nearly tripping over Inari, who scowled at him before scooting further away.

Tazuna chuckled as everyone took their seats. “Eat up. You’ll need it.”

The table was simple, but filled with a warm spread of grilled fish, rice, and vegetables. It was the best meal Team 7 had seen in days. Naruto was already on his third bowl, shoveling food into his mouth at an alarming rate.

Harry stared at him with slight disgust. “Have you even tasted what you’re eating?”

Naruto swallowed. “Don’t need to, it’s food.”

Sakura sighed, shaking his head. As everyone ate, Kakashi finally spoke, his voice dropping into a more serious tone.

“So. About Gato.”

The table quieted a bit as Kakashi leaned back. “He’s not just some thug who took over the Land of Waves. He’s a businessman—a dangerous one.”

Tazuna grunted. “More like a leech.”

Kakashi nodded. “Gato controls trade routes across multiple countries. Officially, he’s just a shipping magnate. But behind the scenes? Smuggling, extortion, bribery—he owns politicians, warlords, even some shinobi.”

Sakura furrowed her brows. “And no one stops him?”

Kakashi’s expression darkened slightly. “He has connections. Including in Konoha.”

The team stiffened at that. 

“He’s an unofficial ally of the village,” Kakashi continued. “We don’t work for him, but Konoha benefits from his resources. Weapons, rare materials, intelligence. Certain people in high places don’t want to lose that supply chain.”

Tazuna scoffed. “Meanwhile, we’re the ones suffering.”

Sasuke tapped a finger against the table. “So if Konoha benefits, does that mean we’re not supposed to stop him?”

Kakashi was quiet for a moment before his one visible eye curved into a knowing smile.

“We’re here to protect Tazuna. That’s our mission.”

Naruto crossed his arms, frowning. “That’s not an answer.”

Kakashi just continued eating. How was he eating with his mask on? Who knows, but no one questioned it.

Tazuna chuckled. “Hah, you shinobi sure love your loopholes.”

Harry took a sip of water, mulling over Kakashi’s words. “So, if we beat Gato’s forces, Konoha can just say we were following our mission. No politics involved.”

Kakashi smiled. “Exactly.”

Sakura sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?” Sakura wasn’t a fan of politics, never has been, there were

Naruto, however, was grinning now. “Tch, whatever! All I’m hearing is we get to beat up some bad guys, and no one can stop us.”

Sasuke hummed. “Hn. As long as we don’t get killed in the process.”

“That too.”

Tsunami suddenly clapped her hands, her gentle smile returning. “Well, enough of that talk. You all need to rest if you’re going to train tomorrow.”

Naruto perked up. “Training?”

Tazuna nodded. “You’re gonna need it. Gato’s goons won’t stop just ‘cause you won one fight.”

Naruto pumped his fist. “Alright! Time to get even stronger!”

Harry stretched his arms. “A little extra practice wouldn’t hurt.”

Sakura sighed. “I guess I should brush up on my chakra control…”

Sasuke smirked slightly. “Hn. Try to keep up.”

Naruto threw a chopstick at him, hitting Sasuke square in the face. Sasuke deadpanned, his eyebrow twitching.

Tsunami giggled. “You’re all like siblings.”

Sakura groaned. “Don’t say that.”

Naruto gawked. “Ew, no.”

Harry just rolled his eyes.

Tazuna chuckled. “Well, good luck, kids. You’ll need it.”

SLAM!

The sudden sound of Inari slamming his hands on the table shattered the light-hearted atmosphere.

“You guys don’t get it!” Inari’s voice was sharp with anger, his small fists trembling. “You sit here laughing like you’re heroes, but you’re not! You’re gonna die just like everyone else who stood up to Gato!”

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Naruto frowned. “Hey, what’s your problem?”

Inari’s eyes were wet but furious. “You think you’re strong? You think you can just waltz in here and change everything? Gato owns this place! No one’s ever beaten him! No one can! And you—” he pointed an accusing finger at them “—you’re just some shinobi playing pretend! You’ll lose, just like the rest!”

His voice cracked at the end, but he turned and stormed off before anyone could say another word.

Tsunami sighed, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry about that. Inari… he’s been through a lot.”

Tazuna’s expression was dark. “Kid’s not wrong to be scared. We’ve lost plenty already.”

Naruto’s fists clenched, but he didn’t say anything.

The table remained silent, the weight of Inari’s words settling over them.

The night wasn’t so lighthearted anymore.

The night in the Land of Waves was quiet, save for the occasional lapping of the tide against the shore and the distant croak of frogs in the marshes. A faint mist clung to the village, and the dim glow of lanterns barely illuminated the narrow dirt roads.

Naruto had wandered outside, too restless to sleep. He wasn't really sure why—maybe it was the heaviness in the air after dinner, maybe it was the way Inari’s words kept bouncing around his head.

“You’re gonna die just like everyone else.”

Naruto exhaled through his nose, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Tch. Like hell, I will.

Then, he saw him sitting alone, for some reason, it reminded Naruto of himself. He wasn’t sure why his brain made the connection. Inari sat on the wooden dock, legs swinging over the edge, staring out into the water. He was hunched over, his small hands gripping the wood so tightly his knuckles were white.

Naruto sighed. Guess I might as well talk to him. Harry did tell him to be more social.

He walked up, not bothering to hide his presence. The wood creaked under his foot, making Inari glance over his shoulder before immediately scowling.

“What do you want?”

Naruto plopped down next to him, stretching his legs out. “Nothin’ much. Just figured you shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“I’m fine.”

Naruto shrugged. “Didn’t say you weren’t.”

Inari turned away, glaring at the water. The tension sat between them, thick as the mist rolling over the docks. Naruto waited, letting the silence settle before speaking again.

“You don’t like us much, huh?”

“Tch.” Inari’s shoulders tensed. “I just think you’re all stupid.”

Naruto tilted his head. “Oh yeah?”

“You don’t get it.” Inari’s voice shook with frustration. “You don’t understand what it’s like to live here. To wake up every day knowing nothing’s gonna change. That no one’s coming to help. That no matter how hard you try, you’re gonna lose.”

Naruto was quiet, watching the way Inari’s hands clenched into fists.

“Everyone who fights back dies,” Inari muttered. “That’s just how it is.”

Naruto leaned back on his elbows. “...You sound like you know that from experience.”

Inari tensed even more, his small frame trembling. “My dad… He tried to be a hero. He believed in all that crap about standing up and fighting for what’s right. And you know what happened?” His breath hitched. “Gato had him killed. Right in front of me.”

Naruto didn’t flinch. He didn’t snap back, didn’t argue.

He just… listened. Usually, no one listens to Inari, taking his anger as a way he grieves, they don’t let him spill out what’s been haunting him since the day his dad died.

Inari took a shaky breath, his voice breaking. “I just—I don’t want anyone else to die. You guys don’t get it. You’re acting like this is some game. Like you can just fight and win and everything will be okay.”

Naruto was quiet for a long moment. Then, in a soft voice, he said,

“You’re right.”

Inari blinked, caught off guard. “...Huh?”

Naruto sighed, tilting his head back to look at the sky. “I dunno what it’s like to grow up here. I don’t know what it’s like to lose someone like that. But I do know what it’s like to feel like nothing’s ever gonna change.”

Inari frowned. “You—”

“I grew up alone, y’know.” Naruto’s voice was calm, and steady. “No parents. No family. Just me.”

Inari swallowed, and he listened to Naruto’s tale.

“No one ever told me why. No one ever looked at me like I was worth anything. People avoided me. Glared at me. Like I wasn’t even human.” He exhaled. “I spent years wondering if it was always gonna be like that. If I was always gonna be alone. If I was ever gonna matter.” Once, Naruto thought he was always going to be alone, but his belief was proven wrong when Harry sat next to him that fateful day and introduced himself. Like Naruto was a person. Not a troublesome kid, a class clown, or a prankster—just a person.

Inari stared at him, wide-eyed.

“But I decided something,” Naruto said, finally turning to face him. His blue eyes were fierce, but kind. “I decided that if I wanted things to change, I had to fight for it.”

Inari flinched, looking away.

“I get why you’re scared,” Naruto continued. “Losing people hurts. It sucks. And yeah, maybe we’ll lose. Maybe Gato’s too strong. But…” He grinned slightly. “That doesn’t mean I’m just gonna give up.”

Inari gritted his teeth. “That’s stupid.”

Naruto chuckled. “Yeah. Maybe it is.”

Inari’s hands shook. “I just… I don’t want to hope again,” he whispered.

Naruto’s smile softened. “Hope’s scary, huh?”

Inari swallowed hard, nodding.

Naruto leaned back again, resting his hands behind his head. “Well, you don’t have to believe in me yet. But I’m not gonna lose.”

Inari clenched his fists. “You can’t know that.”

Naruto grinned. “Nope. But I’m gonna win anyway.”

Inari looked at him for a long time, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he turned back toward the water. The mist was slowly fading, the stars peeking through the clouds.

Naruto stood up, stretching. “Welp. I’m heading back. You should too.”

Inari didn’t respond, but as Naruto walked away, he heard a small, hesitant voice behind him.

“...Naruto?”

Naruto stopped, glancing back.

Inari’s grip on the dock had loosened. His face was still hidden, but his voice was quieter now.

“...Goodnight.”

Naruto smiled. “Night, kid.”

And with that, he headed inside, leaving Inari alone with his thoughts.

The air was crisp, the scent of damp earth lingering from the early morning mist. Team 7 stood in a clearing just outside of Tazuna’s home, facing Kakashi, who, as usual, seemed far too relaxed for someone about to put them through training.

“All right, listen up,” Kakashi began, his tone light but firm. “You all did well in the last fight, but let’s be honest… that wasn’t skill. That was luck.”

Naruto huffed. “Oi! We did pretty good—”

Kakashi held up a finger. “Against Zabuza? You barely survived. If we want to make it through whatever comes next, we need to fix that. So, today’s focus is chakra control and sparring.”

Sasuke scoffed. “We already know chakra control.”

Kakashi’s visible eye curved in amusement. “Oh? Then show me. Climb that tree.”

“…With our hands?” Naruto asked.

“Nope. Without your hands.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “That’s absolutely mental.”

“Perhaps. But it’s necessary,” Kakashi said. “You’ll focus chakra into the soles of your feet, controlling the output to stick without overloading. Too much, and you’ll push yourself off. Too little, and you’ll slip.”

Sakura, catching on quickly, walked up to a tree, focused her chakra, and took a step up. She moved several feet before stopping and looking down.

Kakashi gave an approving nod. “Well done, Sakura.”

Naruto’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?! How’d she—?!”

“She has the best chakra control,” Kakashi replied simply.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, stepping toward a tree. He pressed his foot against the bark, focused his chakra, and took a step—only to feel the tree reject him, sending him stumbling back.

“Tch.”

Harry exhaled through his nose. His chakra wasn’t exactly the same as theirs, given the fact he was gifted it, not born with it, but the principles still applied. He placed his foot on the bark, channeling his energy carefully. At first, nothing happened, but then—there. A faint pull.

A smirk tugged at his lips. That’s the trick.

Meanwhile, Naruto ran at his tree full force… and immediately slammed into it face-first, Sakura laughed at him, as she stood on the tree branch.

Sasuke sighed at Naruto’s stupidity.

Kakashi snorted with amusement.

Harry shook his head. “Mate, you’re supposed to stick to the tree, not headbutt it.”

Naruto groaned from the ground, as he felt his nose swell up, but surprisingly it didn’t bleed.

The next few hours were filled with grunts, falls, and the occasional small victory.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the clearing. Team 7 stood in a loose circle, sweat glistening on their skin, each gripping their respective weapons. Kakashi, for once, looked a little more serious as he observed them.

"Alright," he said, lowering his ever-present book. "You’ve all got your own fighting styles, but right now? They’re sloppy." His visible eye narrowed. "We’re going to fix that."

He pointed at Naruto. "You first. Come at me."

Naruto grinned and spun his Hiraishin kunai between his fingers before lunging forward. His strikes were wild but unpredictable—sometimes slashing, sometimes stabbing, sometimes even throwing the kunai and rushing in after it.

Kakashi easily sidestepped each attack, analyzing.

Minato-sensei’s weapon.

It wasn’t just the three-pronged kunai, it was how Naruto moved with it. It wasn’t identical to Minato’s style, but the foundation was there. It was instinctive, reckless but dangerously fast.

Kakashi barely dodged a sudden upward slash, but before he could counter, Naruto had already kicked off a tree, flipping over his head and aiming for a downward stab.

He’s unpredictable. But reckless.

At the last second, Kakashi caught Naruto’s wrist and twisted it, flipping him onto his back.

"Fast," Kakashi admitted, stepping away as Naruto groaned. "But your footwork is messy. If you want to fight like that, you need control, otherwise, you’re just flailing around."

Naruto sat up, rubbing his head. "Tch. You didn’t have to slam me like that."

Kakashi ignored him and turned to Harry.

"Your turn."

Harry stepped forward, gripping his katana. His stance was relaxed, but there was a sharpness to it, a quiet readiness.

"Begin."

Harry moved, unlike Naruto’s reckless aggression, Harry was fluid. He stepped in with a feint—a downward slash that turned into a quick stab at the last second. Kakashi deflected with a kunai, but Harry didn’t stop. His katana flashed through the air in a flurry of precise slashes, each aimed at a vital point. His movements were calculated, efficient—like a bird weaving through a storm.

Kakashi was actually impressed.

Harry’s a swordsman. Not a ninja trying to use a sword. Kakashi deflected another quick strike, stepping back just as Harry twisted his wrist, seamlessly redirecting his katana into a horizontal slash aimed at Kakashi’s ribs.

Fast. Controlled.

Kakashi ducked, using his kunai to parry the blade upward before stepping into Harry’s guard.

"Too close," he muttered, slamming an elbow into Harry’s gut.

Harry staggered back, but instead of collapsing, he rolled with the hit, flipping back onto his feet. His katana was already raised in a defensive stance, dark eyes locked onto Kakashi.

"Huh." Kakashi tilted his head. "You actually know what you’re doing."

Harry exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. "I try."

"You’re precise," Kakashi acknowledged, "but you hesitate. You think before every strike, and that makes you predictable. Against a real opponent, that’ll get you killed."

Harry frowned but nodded, absorbing the critique.

"Alright, next—Sasuke."

Sasuke didn’t wait for permission. Kunai already in hand, he dashed forward, his movements silent, calculated.

Unlike Naruto’s brute force or Harry’s smooth precision, Sasuke was pure technique. He moved like a shadow, striking where Kakashi was going to be, not where he was. His kunai flashed in a series of rapid feints and redirections, forcing Kakashi to actually focus on dodging rather than just countering.

Smart. Predictive. Lethal.

But Kakashi had seen it all before.

With one swift movement, he caught Sasuke’s wrist mid-attack, twisting the kunai out of his grip and slamming him to the ground. Sasuke barely had time to react before Kakashi’s foot pressed against his chest.

"Too slow," Kakashi said simply.

Sasuke scowled, but his frustration didn’t show beyond the slight tightening of his jaw. He didn’t protest, didn’t argue—just absorbed the lesson like a sponge.

Kakashi let him go. "Last one. Sakura."

Sakura didn’t lunge immediately. Instead, she watched.

Kakashi noted the sharpness in her gaze. The way her fingers twitched, analyzing his movements before even attacking. And then she struck.

Unlike the others, Sakura fought reactively, every strike was a mirror of Kakashi’s own movements. If he feinted left, she copied it. If he struck low, she countered with the exact same technique.

She’s reading me.

Kakashi deliberately changed his tempo, making his movements more unpredictable. At first, Sakura stumbled—but she adapted fast.

Too fast.

Kakashi suddenly switched to a sweep kick, but Sakura was already dodging mid-motion, twisting her body to avoid the attack entirely. She landed lightly on her feet, kunai raised.

Kakashi actually grinned beneath his mask. He saw a bit of himself in Sakura.

"You really do copy fighting styles," he mused.

Sakura exhaled heavily but grinned smugly. "It’s what I do."

Kakashi straightened, glancing at his students. All of them were bruised, sweating, and exhausted. Kakashi leaned against a tree, arms crossed as he watched his students recover from their sparring matches. Each of them had their own style, and their own strengths, but one thing stood out.

They were all fast.

Naruto fought with explosive bursts of movement, using his Hiraishin kunai to create unpredictability in his attacks.

Harry was fluid and precise, quick on his feet, his katana making him dangerous in close-range combat.

Sasuke was measured and strategic, never wasting a movement, his agility making him a hard target.

Sakura was adaptive and reactive, shifting her style mid-fight to mirror her opponent, her sharp mind allowing her to outmaneuver stronger opponents.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Huh."

His students looked up at him, it looked like they had recovered from the mini-sparring.

"You guys have absolutely nothing in common," he said flatly. "Except for one thing—you’re fast. And you rely on that speed in completely different ways."

Naruto frowned. "Isn’t that a good thing?"

"Yes and no," Kakashi replied. "You have potential, but the way you fight is… disconnected. You fight together, but you don’t fight as one."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "You’re saying we don’t have strategy."

"You have an improvised strategy," Kakashi corrected. "Against the Demon Brothers, those two rouge shinobis, and even Zabuza, you made things work on the fly—but that won’t cut it against truly dangerous enemies."

Harry sheathed his katana. "So what? You want us to come up with set plays?"

Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. "Exactly."

The team exchanged glances and they looked back at Kakashi.

"So, what?" Naruto crossed his arms. "You wanna tell us how to fight?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No, I want to teach you how to combine your strengths into something better. I want to give you an actual strategy—one you can rely on."

Sakura tilted her head. "What kind of strategy?"

Kakashi’s visible eye glinted. "The kind that will make you an unstoppable team."

Team 7 has the potential to be the greatest ninja team alive, of course, Kakashi was going to build them up and let them fly freely. His students cocked their heads at the sight of their sensei’s rare excitement, something they’d never seen before. Kakashi grabbed a stick and he began to draw in the dirt. 

"Here’s the deal. You’re all fast, but you use that speed differently. We need to build on that."

He pointed at Naruto. "You’re the fastest when it comes to closing the distance. Your Hiraishin kunai gives you unpredictability, and your fighting style is aggressive. You’re our vanguard."

Naruto grinned. "I like the sound of that."

Next, he pointed at Harry. "You fight fluidly—you move through your opponent’s attacks instead of clashing head-on. You can control the flow of battle with feints and redirections. That makes you our disruptor."

Harry nodded, taking in the information.

Kakashi turned to Sasuke. "You’re our assassin. You pick your fights and strike when the enemy doesn’t expect it. You’re precise and you hit hard. Your job is to finish the fight before the enemy even knows they lost."

Sasuke smirked slightly.

Finally, he looked at Sakura. "And you? You’re the foundation. You watch, analyze, and counter. You can predict the flow of battle faster than the others. That makes you our strategist. Your job is to keep everything in sync."

Sakura’s eyes widened slightly at the weight of that responsibility, but she nodded.

Kakashi stepped back. "Alright. Time to put it into practice. Your objective—work together to land a single hit on me." It's just like the bell test, except there isn’t any bell, and they have to hit Kakashi.

Naruto grinned. "Easy."

Kakashi just smiled. "Try me."

Naruto lunged first, exploding forward in a burst of speed, his Hiraishin kunai flashing in his grip as he swung at Kakashi. But Kakashi wasn’t there—he sidestepped, letting Naruto’s momentum carry him past.

Too straightforward, Kakashi thought.

Harry was next, cutting low with his katana in a fluid arc. Kakashi twisted, raising his forearm to redirect the strike away from his ribs. Before Harry could recover, Kakashi kicked his legs out from under him.

Sasuke took advantage of the moment, darting in with a kunai aimed at Kakashi’s back—but Kakashi vanished in a flicker of movement.

Sakura had been watching the whole exchange, analyzing. When she saw Kakashi disappear, she ducked and spun, throwing a kunai right at where he would land.

Smart.

But Kakashi twisted midair, catching the kunai between two fingers before it could reach him.

"Not bad," he said, "but not good enough."

Team 7 regrouped, panting.

Naruto scowled. "Alright, that sucked."

Harry rolled his shoulders. "So what did we do wrong?"

Kakashi crossed his arms. "You fought like four individuals, not a team. Naruto rushed in alone. Harry, you followed without backup. Sasuke, you struck when there wasn’t an opening. And Sakura—"

Sakura tensed.

"You actually did fine," Kakashi admitted. "But you had no one to back you up when I dodged."

Sakura let out a breath, and she rubbed her chin. "So, we need to be smarter."

"Exactly," Kakashi confirmed. 

The second time, Team 7 didn’t rush in blindly.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Alright. Sakura, call the shots."

Sakura’s eyes widened for a split second before she nodded.

"Kakashi-sensei’s strength is in reaction speed. So, we don’t give him a clear movement pattern," she decided. “Naruto, rush him. Harry, mirror Naruto's movements. Sasuke, feint an attack and force an opening. I’ll cover any counters."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Let’s see how this plays out.

Naruto charged first again, but this time, Harry was right there with him, matching his pace, their movements almost overlapping.

Kakashi frowned, instead of dodging the predictable way, he prepared to counter—only for Sasuke to fake an attack from the side, forcing Kakashi to twist his body awkwardly.

And that’s when Sakura threw a kunai—not at Kakashi, but at Naruto.

Naruto caught it mid-motion, adjusted his angle, and slashed at Kakashi’s shoulder.

Kakashi leaned back just in time, but—

A burning sting touched his cheek, a single scratch.

Silence.

Naruto blinked. "Did we—?"

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the thin cut. "Yeah. You got me."

A beat of stunned silence. Then—

"HELL YEAH!" Naruto cheered, punching the air. "WE’RE AWESOME, DATTEBAYO!"

Harry smirked, sheathing his katana. "I gotta admit, that felt good."

Sasuke crossed his arms, but there was a rare, satisfied glint in his eyes.

Sakura exhaled, smiling. "We’re getting better."

Kakashi studied his students for a long moment, his visible eye half-lidded, unreadable as always. They were panting, covered in sweat and dirt, but there was something different now.

They’re getting it.

They weren’t just four talented individuals thrown together anymore. They were learning to move as a unit, to trust one another’s instincts, to fight with strategy instead of impulse. It was only a single scratch on his cheek, nothing serious—but it meant everything.

Kakashi felt something warm stir in his chest. He didn’t say anything, of course. That wasn’t his style.

Instead, he shrugged, completely nonchalant. "Hn. Not bad."

Naruto gawked at him. "'Not bad'?! We just kicked butt!"

Sasuke huffed. "We didn’t even land a real hit."

Harry grinned, nudging Sasuke, who softened slightly. "But we forced him to move. That’s something."

Sakura, ever the keen observer, narrowed her eyes at Kakashi. "You’re proud, aren’t you?"

Kakashi blinked. "Nope."

"You totally are!" Naruto grinned. "You just won’t admit it!"

Kakashi gave them his usual bored stare. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If that had been a real fight, I wouldn’t have gone easy on you."

Naruto opened his mouth to argue, then hesitated. He knew Kakashi was right. But even so, this was the first time they had worked together like a real team, and it felt… good.

Kakashi let them bask in their small victory for a moment longer before stretching lazily. "Alright, that’s enough celebration. Training’s not over yet. You’ve learned how to move together, but you need endurance. If you can’t keep this up for a full battle, it’s useless."

Naruto groaned. "Awww man!"

Harry sighed. "Yeah, that checks out."

Sasuke just rolled his shoulders, as if eager for more.

Sakura gave an exhausted laugh. "We should’ve seen that coming."

Kakashi let the faintest hint of a smirk tug at his lips. Yeah. They’ll be just fine.

Kakashi stood before his students, his usual lazy demeanor replaced by something heavier. The air was still, the weight of the past battles settling into their bones. Team 7 had been through real combat now—not just training exercises, not sparring, but actual fights where lives were on the line.

And two of them had already crossed that line.

Naruto and Sakura.

Kakashi knew what that meant. He had seen it before—how the first kill sat in the soul, how it changed a person.

Sasuke and Harry stood nearby, watching carefully, but they hadn't crossed that threshold yet. Their hands were still clean—for now.

Kakashi exhaled, his tone turning more serious than they had ever heard before.

"Today, I’m going to teach you a new ninjutsu—one meant for ending a fight quickly and efficiently. It’s not a flashy technique. It won’t look impressive. But it’s effective."

He lifted his hand, forming a single seal. In an instant, the air around them grew colder. The pressure shifted, like a storm was about to break.

"This is the Lightning Blade. A technique that strikes so fast and precise that, if aimed correctly, your opponent won’t even realize they’re dead until they fall."

A violent crackle of electricity surged to life in his palm, the bright blue glow casting sharp shadows on their faces. The sheer intensity of it made them step back. Naruto swallowed hard. Even Sasuke’s eyes widened slightly, recognizing power when he saw it.

Kakashi let the technique fizzle out, his tone turning solemn.

"Before I teach you this… we need to talk about something first."

Silence.

Naruto tensed. His fingers twitched at his side, curling as if he wanted to grip something solid. Sakura stared at the ground, her jaw tight.

"You’ve both killed before," Kakashi said. He didn’t sugarcoat it, didn’t soften the words. "And that’s not something you just walk away from unchanged."

Naruto’s head snapped up, his expression a mess of emotions—anger, confusion, guilt, denial. "It was an accident," he muttered.

Kakashi nodded. "I know."

Sakura’s voice was quieter, but steadier. "But that doesn’t change the fact that they’re dead."

"No, it doesn’t," Kakashi admitted. "And it never will."

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

"I need you to understand something," Kakashi continued, his gaze sweeping over all four of them now. "You are shinobi. We live in a world where, sometimes, the mission demands blood. You will kill again. Not because you want to, but because you have to."

Naruto gritted his teeth, his fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t like this. He hated this.

Kakashi softened, just a little. "But that doesn’t mean you stop being human. It doesn’t mean you stop caring." His voice lowered. "You can carry their deaths with you… without letting them consume you."

Sakura exhaled shakily. "How?"

Kakashi was quiet for a moment. Then, finally, he said, "You remember why you fight. Who you fight for."

Naruto’s lip curled, but this time, it wasn’t anger—it was something deeper, something raw. He fought to protect Tazuna, to make sure he lived another day to see his family again.

That was why they were here, why they had fought in the first place.

Kakashi gave them a moment before he stepped back, his usual mask of indifference slipping back into place.

"Now then," he said, clapping his hands. "Who’s ready to learn how to kill someone with a single strike?"

Harry blinked. "You really don’t do transitions, huh?"

Naruto huffed as he wiped his eyes. "No kidding."

Even Sakura let out a breath of something like a laugh.

Sasuke just snorted dryly. "I’m listening."

And with that, the training continued. Kakashi took a step forward, rolling his shoulders as he prepared to dive into real instruction.

"The Lightning Blade is an A-rank assassination technique," he began, his tone sharp and professional. "It’s a refinement of the Chidori—something I developed to correct its weaknesses."

He held up his right hand and, in an instant, the air around them shifted. Lightning erupted from his palm, crackling like a living beast. The energy hissed and sparked wildly, illuminating the clearing in an eerie blue glow.

But something was different from before.

This time, the chakra didn't leak or flare unpredictably. It was controlled. Refined into something far deadlier.

"The biggest issue with Chidori," Kakashi continued, his voice steady despite the volatile energy in his hand, "is tunnel vision. You move so fast that you can’t properly react to counterattacks. That’s why it’s usually a death sentence for anyone without a Sharingan."

His lone eye flickered to Sasuke for half a second before refocusing on the group.

"But with enough experience, enough refinement, you can minimize that weakness. The Lightning Blade is the result of that refinement. More power, more control, more precision."

Naruto eyed the jutsu, eyes narrowing. "But… how do you even make it?"

Kakashi let the jutsu fade out, shaking his hand slightly before answering.

"First, you need to have a strong grasp of Lightning Release. Since you all have different chakra natures, only Sasuke and Harry will be able to use this technique without serious drawbacks."

Harry and Sasuke exchanged a glance.

"However," Kakashi continued, "that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something from it. The principles behind this technique—speed, control, and focus—apply to every fighting style, every jutsu. And the rest of you will eventually develop your own signature techniques."

Sakura frowned. "So how exactly does it work?"

Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. She was asking the right questions.

"It’s a combination of two things—shape transformation and nature transformation."

He raised his hand again, this time without activating the jutsu. "Shape transformation is the act of molding your chakra into a specific form—like this blade of lightning. Nature transformation is changing the very nature of your chakra, in this case, into the Lightning element."

He let that sink in before continuing.

"The hard part? You have to do both at the same time."

Naruto blinked. "That sounds… uh… difficult."

"Understatement of the century," Harry muttered.

"It requires absolute focus," Kakashi said. "No hesitation. No second-guessing. One mistake, and you waste all your chakra for nothing."

He looked at Sasuke and Harry now.

"If either of you want to learn this technique, you’ll need to work on refining your chakra control to an extreme degree. It’s not about dumping raw power into it—it’s about shaping it into something precise."

Sasuke’s eyes gleamed with challenge. "How long did it take you to master it?"

Kakashi tilted his head. "A while. And I had a Sharingan to compensate for the flaws."

Sasuke’s expression twitched, but he didn’t say anything.

"Point is," Kakashi continued, "this isn’t something you just learn overnight. You need to practice Lightning Release first. Build a strong foundation. Once you have that, then you can think about a technique like this."

Naruto crossed his arms, a little miffed. "Man, sucks I can’t use it."

Kakashi ruffled his hair, much to Naruto’s irritation. "You’ll develop something just as powerful in time."

Sakura nodded thoughtfully. "And even if we can’t use it, we can still work on applying the principles behind it."

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.

She gets it.

"Exactly." He crossed his arms, shifting his weight onto one foot. "Now, before we get into any practical training, any other questions?"

Silence.

Then—

"Yeah," Naruto grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "When’s lunch?"

Kakashi sighed. "Of course, that’s your question." Kakashi exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, since none of you are quite ready for the Lightning Blade, we’ll focus on something similar—but more manageable."

His lone eye swept over the four of them. Each of them was fast. Each of them had a different styles. If they could combine their speed with a jutsu that didn’t demand the same level of risk as the Lightning Blade, they’d have something deadly in their arsenal.

"We’ll be working on something I’ll call the Lightning Step."

Harry raised a brow. "That sounds… ominous."

Kakashi smirked. "Good. It should be."

He pointed at Sasuke and Harry first. "You two, being Lightning-natured, will have an easier time with this. But Naruto and Sakura, you’ll be able to apply similar principles to your own elements."

Sakura’s brow furrowed. "And what exactly is it?"

Kakashi stepped back, raising his hands. "The basic concept is infusing your body with a controlled burst of chakra, amplifying your speed and reaction time. Unlike the Body Flicker, which is just a short-range movement technique, this will enhance your reflexes mid-fight. And unlike the Lightning Blade, it doesn’t require as much chakra to maintain."

Naruto squinted. "So, basically, it makes us faster?"

"More than that." Kakashi took a step forward, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished. A crackle of energy flickered where he had stood, and before they could react—

He was behind them.

A sharp chill ran down Harry’s spine as he spun, only to see Kakashi standing completely relaxed as if he hadn’t just moved faster than they could track.

Sasuke’s eyes widened slightly. "That… wasn’t just speed."

"Good observation." Kakashi nodded. "The key here isn’t just moving fast—it’s controlling that speed. A single, well-placed attack is better than a hundred wild swings."

Sakura nodded slowly. "And this doesn’t require a specific element?"

"Correct," Kakashi confirmed. "But Lightning naturally enhances speed, so Harry and Sasuke will have an easier time. Naruto, you’ll need to compensate with chakra control. And Sakura, you’ll be working on reaction time and redirection."

Harry exhaled, gripping the hilt of his katana. "Alright. Where do we start?"

Kakashi gestured toward the trees. "Step one: tree running. This isn’t about just climbing anymore. I want you to use chakra bursts to propel yourself up, then control the descent just as smoothly. You need to learn to regulate how much chakra you’re outputting at any given moment."

Naruto groaned. "More tree running?"

Kakashi gave him a pointed look. "Would you rather I throw you into the ocean and make you water-walk for hours?"

Naruto paled. "…Tree running it is."

Kakashi clapped his hands. "Good. Get moving."

As they sprinted toward the trees, he watched closely.

Sasuke was the fastest out of the gate, his movements sharp and efficient. Harry wasn’t far behind, his agility refined by his swordplay. Naruto was slightly reckless but made up for it with raw endurance, while Sakura, though not as naturally fast, was already showing signs of mastering the precision needed.

They’re learning fast, Kakashi mused. And if they could master this?

They’d be nearly impossible to stop.

The dimly lit hideout reeked of salt and damp wood, the scent of the ocean mixing with the coppery tang of blood. Zabuza sat against a rough stone wall, arms crossed, his body wrapped in bandages. The pain in his chest was dull now, numbed by time and sheer willpower. Across from him, Haku knelt, carefully tending to the last of his wounds.

A few feet away, five figures loomed over a crude map of the Land of Waves, speaking in hushed tones. They weren’t just mercenaries—they were terrorists. Renegades. Shinobis whose very names sent whispers through the underworld.

One of them, a burly man with jagged scars across his face, glanced at Zabuza. "You’re sure about this? Invading under the Mist’s banner?"

Zabuza let out a low chuckle, shifting slightly. "Sure? I think it’s brilliant."

Another kunochi, a tall woman with ink-black hair and piercing violet eyes, smirked. "A few corpses draped in Mist insignia, a couple of witnesses left alive to spread the tale… Konoha and the Mist will be at each other’s throats in no time."

Haku’s hands stilled against Zabuza’s arm. "And The bridge builder?"

Zabuza exhaled. "Gato wants him dead." He grinned beneath his bandages. "And the fool thinks he’s still calling the shots."

As if summoned by his own idiocy, the doors slammed open. Gato waddled in, flanked by a few nervous-looking bodyguards. His beady eyes darted around the room before landing on Zabuza.

"You!" he barked, jabbing a finger forward. "I don’t pay you to sit around licking your wounds! You were supposed to kill the old man days ago!"

Zabuza didn’t move. Didn’t blink.

Gato sneered, stepping closer. "I don't care what the plan is—get up and finish the damn job! Now!"

A slow, amused chuckle rumbled in Zabuza’s throat.

The room went still. Gato hesitated, realizing—too late—that every single shinobi in the room was staring at him with something between amusement and contempt.

The air grew thick with silent menace.

Then, in a blur of motion—

Steel flashed, aiming for Gato’s neck.

SHHK!

Blood splattered across the walls.

Gato’s body hit the ground before his brain could process what had happened. A single clean cut had severed his throat, blood spilled out of the wound like a water fountain

His bodyguards froze in terror—until the tall woman flicked a knife, and one crumpled to the ground, gurgling. The others bolted for the exit.

Zabuza stood slowly, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off a minor inconvenience. "Haku."

"Yes, Zabuza-sama?"

"Get rid of the trash."

Haku nodded, stepping over Gato’s twitching corpse as if it were nothing more than a spilled drink. Zabuza turned back to the others, gaze sharp. "Change of plans." He smirked. "The Land of Waves is ours."

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the small clearing where Team 7 had been training all afternoon. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and sweat, but for the first time in hours, it wasn’t filled with the sounds of sparring or Kakashi’s lazy drawl giving instructions. Instead, laughter rang out, echoing through the trees.

Naruto lay sprawled out in the grass, arms behind his head, staring at the sky with an exaggerated groan. “I’m so hungry I could eat an entire feast!” He turned his head towards Sasuke. “Hey, emo, you got any food on you?”

Sasuke, sitting with his back against a tree, scoffed. “Like I’d share with you, dobe.”

Naruto sat up with a dramatic gasp. “Wow. Heartless.”

Sakura, who had been wiping sweat from her forehead, rolled her eyes. “Naruto, you just ate half my lunch while we were training.”

“Exactly! And now I’m hungry again.”

Harry, sitting cross-legged with his katana balanced on his lap, smirked. “You do realize food doesn’t magically appear when you whine about it, right?”

Naruto flopped back onto the grass with a loud groan. “Man, you guys are so cruel.”

Sakura giggled, shaking her head. “Honestly, I think we deserve this break. Kakashi-sensei has been putting us through hell all day.”

Sasuke hummed in agreement. “At least we’re improving.”

“I’d hope so,” Harry added. “Otherwise, all this training would be pointless.”

As they sat there, the exhaustion of the day settling into their limbs, the mood shifted into something more comfortable, more normal. Despite everything—being shinobi, fighting for their lives, the harsh reality they were quickly coming to understand—right now, they were just four kids enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Naruto propped himself up on his elbows and looked around at them. “You guys ever think about stuff? Y’know, outside of training?”

Sakura blinked. “What kind of ‘stuff’?”

Naruto shrugged. “I dunno. What we’d be doing if we weren’t ninja.”

That caught everyone off guard.

Sasuke scoffed. “That’s a pointless thought.”

Harry, however, tilted his head, considering it. “Not really. It’s a fair question.”

Sakura frowned. “I don’t know... I’ve never thought about it before.”

“I’d probably own a ramen stand,” Naruto declared with confidence.

“Of course you would,” Sasuke muttered.

Sakura giggled. “I think I’d want to be a doctor. I mean, I already patch you guys up half the time.”

Harry grinned. “I could see that.”

Naruto grinned. “What about you, Harry?”

Harry hesitated for a moment before shrugging. “Dunno. Maybe something with books. Or swords.”

Naruto nodded sagely. “A sword-wielding librarian. Got it.”

Harry groaned. “That’s not what I meant.”

The group burst into laughter, the tension and weight of their training fading away, if only for a little while.