Chapter 25
Chapter 25: Teacher and Student Affection
Kakashi decided to spend their days in Nami teaching the team water walking. Two members would guard Tazuna and his crew at the bridge to fend off bandits. According to Tazuna, the borders of Nami were rife with them.
Sakura knew the truth behind his "sweet, sweet lies," but she kept silent, allowing Kakashi and the team to remain unaware.
Today, Naruto and Sasuke guarded Tazuna. Naruto, ever enthusiastic, created shadow clones and stationed them along the shore and near the half-built bridge. Some clones even ventured across the water to scout the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Sasuke balanced on a half-finished railing, staring down at the water below with the poise of a seasoned ninja. His eyes, now tinged red, held a lone tomoe spinning in each iris.
When did he awaken his Sharingan? Sakura wondered, glancing up at him from below the bridge. He was as silent as ever, his demeanor matching that of a hardened police officer.
Sakura, on the other hand, was with Kakashi, further from the boys and Tazuna’s bridge-building crew. They walked along the shoreline until Kakashi stopped, the ever-present orange book conspicuously absent from his hand.
Nonchalantly, he channeled chakra to his feet, stepping onto the water's surface as if it were solid ground. He turned to her with a characteristic eye smile.
“Water walking is an advanced version of tree climbing,” he said. “Go ahead and give it a try.”
“Yes, Kakashi-sensei!” she responded enthusiastically.
Though she could perform the technique flawlessly—having been trained to perfection under Danzo—she decided to feign ignorance. She didn’t want to draw more attention to herself than she already did.
Cautiously, Sakura channeled chakra to her feet. She placed one foot on the water, pressing it down until she felt stable, then brought her other foot forward. Her steps were slow and deliberate, creating ripples with each movement. Kakashi stood a few meters away, his one visible eye beaming with encouragement.
Sakura advanced toward him, trembling slightly as if struggling to maintain her focus. After a few unsteady steps, she stumbled and fell forward—right into Kakashi’s arms.
“Mah, it’s like watching a baby take its first steps!” he teased, his voice laced with warmth.
Sakura pressed against his chest and snorted. “That’s corny, Hatake-san.”
But she didn’t pull away.
Even if she didn’t deserve it, she wanted to be held—just for a little while longer.
Kakashi chuckled softly, his grip tightening as he picked her up and spun her in the air. She giggled, her laughter light and genuine for the first time in what felt like forever. Her pink hair fluttered in the breeze.
As Kakashi finally set her down, Sakura’s gaze wandered to the bridge. There, she caught Sasuke’s crimson Sharingan eyes meeting her own green ones. For a moment, his usual stoicism melted away, replaced by something that almost looked like admiration. Or was it something else? She couldn’t tell.
Returning her attention to Kakashi, Sakura smiled faintly. He continued teaching her, demonstrating techniques she already knew but pretended to learn for the first time—propelling herself from unstable surfaces, clinging water to her body, even gliding across the water like a surfer using pure chakra.
Sakura found herself wishing these peaceful moments could last forever.
But she knew better.
In just one day, she was set to meet Zabuza in secret. They had a plan to take down Gato, the tyrant choking Nami’s life. She had already prepared a blood clone to stay with her team and avoid suspicion.
Meanwhile, on the Bridge
The sounds of hammers, saws, and the movement of workers buzzed around. Tazuna’s voice echoed as he barked orders to his crew. A crane moved steel beams into place, each clanging loudly as they settled into position.
Sasuke sighed, watching the retreating figures of Kakashi and Sakura. “I knew she was Kakashi’s favorite student,” he muttered with a hint of amusement.
Naruto, beside him, rubbed imaginary tears from his eyes and wailed, “Boohoo, Kakashi-sensei never loves us! Boohoo!”
The boys snorted in laughter.
Sasuke turned to Naruto, his expression suddenly serious. “Have you noticed it? Sakura’s been... different lately.”
Naruto nodded solemnly. “I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but yeah. Something’s off with her. I mean, is it normal for someone to smile like that all the time? It’s so... fake.”
Sasuke shifted, leaping off the railing as he pondered. When he had been assigned to Team 7 with Naruto and Sakura, he had been relieved. Sakura wasn’t a kunoichi obsessed with being a fangirl. Both he and Naruto had suffered through their fair share of those, girls who were more interested in their status and backgrounds than anything else.
But as time passed, Sasuke noticed things about Sakura that didn’t quite add up. She never talked about herself at all. She didn’t wear the skin-tight or short outfits typical of kunoichi. She kept her distance from her teammates, emotionally and physically.
Naruto scratched his head. “Now that you mention it, what are her hobbies? I mean, she’s good at medical ninjutsu, but... does she even do anything else?”
Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. “She’s a good sensor ninja, too. Did she tell Kakashi she’s a sensor? That’s impressive for someone without a clan.”
Naruto stilled, his face uncharacteristically serious. “Sakura’s hiding something.”
Sasuke didn’t respond immediately, his dark eyes fixed on the water below. Finally, he muttered, “Maybe she doesn’t trust herself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Naruto asked, his confusion evident.
Before Sasuke could answer, Tazuna shouted from his position on the scaffolding, pulling their attention back to the task at hand. “Oi, you two slackers! Keep your eyes open! Bandits don’t send a memo before showing up!”
Naruto groaned, stomping off to check his clone patrols. Sasuke remained where he was, his mind swirling with unease.
The boys continued their shift, deep in thought.