Chapter 30
Chapter 30: Countdown: 7
The week passed swiftly, and before Team 7 realized it, the bridge in Nami no Kuni was finished. Though they encountered a few bandits, the mission had been otherwise peaceful.
“Yawn, this mission was sooo boring. I wish we had some cool ninjas hunting us or something,” Naruto exclaimed, stretching his arms dramatically.
Sakura worked hard not to flinch at his words. If only they knew...
“Naruto, C-Rank missions don’t involve fighting enemy ninja,” Kakashi lectured, his tone slightly amused.
The mist was thicker than usual, but through the haze, the bridge loomed ahead—a perfectly constructed masterpiece. Sasuke stood beside Kakashi and sighed in relief. The mission was over, and soon they would be home. Konoha, with its warm weather and clear skies, was a welcome change from the damp fog of Nami no Kuni.
Tazuna stepped forward, grinning with pride. “Well, my dear ninjas, you’re the first ones to walk on this bridge. And I’ve decided to name it...the Great Sakura Haruno Bridge!”
Sakura’s stomach dropped. “What?!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide.
Naruto pouted instantly. “Why not the Great Uzumaki Naruto Bridge?!”
Sasuke chuckled, unable to hide his amusement. Kakashi gave Sakura a gentle pat on the head. “Makes sense. She’s the only one who did more than just guard Tazuna—healing the villagers and helping wherever she could.”
Or maybe because I secretly killed Gato without any of you knowing, Sakura thought, her eyes flickering to Tazuna. The old man gave her a knowing wink, making her blush even more.
As they began crossing the bridge, leaving Nami no Kuni behind, Sasuke turned to Sakura, a teasing glint in his eye. “So, how does it feel to have a monument named after you?”
“Shut up, Sasuke!” Sakura snapped, burying her face in her hands to hide her blush.
Naruto laughed. “Wow! I didn’t know Sakura could blush harder than a tomato!”
Sakura groaned, enduring the teasing from her teammates and even Kakashi, who chuckled behind his book. Yet, as they walked, a playful idea popped into her head.
“Alright, that’s it!” Sakura declared, hands on her hips. “Whoever gets to the Konoha gates last has to treat me to dinner tonight!”
Her teammates paused, glancing at one another with competitive smirks.
But before they could start running, Sakura raised her hand. “Wait! Kakashi-sensei, you’re a Jonin—you need a handicap. You have to carry Sasuke and Naruto’s backpacks!”
“What?” Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you’ve got way too much of an advantage!” Sakura rummaged through her pouch dramatically. “Do I have chakra weights with me...?”
Before she could finish her thought, Kakashi moved in a blur. In the blink of an eye, Sakura found herself hoisted onto Kakashi’s back, her teammates’ backpacks strapped on behind him. Kakashi hummed cheerfully as if the additional weight was nothing.
Sakura’s eye twitched. Right...he was in the Anbu. She glanced at Naruto and Sasuke, who had already taken their starting stances beside Kakashi.
“Ready...set...GO!” Naruto yelled.
With that, Kakashi dashed forward, creating a massive dust cloud as Naruto and Sasuke tried to keep up. Sakura squeaked, clutching onto Kakashi’s shoulders, instantly regretting her idea.
At the Konoha gates, two Chunin guards leaned against the post, bored out of their minds.
“Man, guard duty is so dull,” Koketsu grumbled, staring out into the distance. “Izumo, why can’t anything exciting ever happen?”
Izumo yawned. “Be careful what you wish for, Koketsu...hey, what’s that? That dust cloud over there—is that Gai? Did his team return early?”
Koketsu squinted. “No way. That’s not Gai. Wait...is that...Kakashi?! Since when does he run that fast?”
As the dust cloud neared, the scene became clearer: Kakashi, sprinting like a blur, with a pink-haired girl clinging to his back and two Genin racing behind him.
“...Isn’t that Team 7? The one with the Police Chief’s kid and the Fourth Hokage’s son?” Koketsu muttered. “Who’s the pink-haired girl? I don’t remember her...”
Izumo shrugged. “No idea, but she’s screaming her lungs out.”
The two Chunin stood slack-jawed as the spectacle barreled toward them. Team 7, as always, never failed to make an entrance.
As Kakashi skidded to a stop in front of the Konoha gates, he leaned over the desk manned by Koketsu and Izumo, gasping for air hands slapped on the wooden table. “Made it...so, who was first?”
Koketsu smirked, glancing at Izumo before pointing at the blond Genin who had just crossed the finish line moments before. “Sorry, Kakashi. The blond kid was faster.”
“Alright!” Naruto whooped, throwing his fists into the air triumphantly.
Kakashi and Sasuke groaned in unison, their heads drooping in defeat.
“Good job, Naruto,” Sakura said, clapping sarcastically. “Looks like you are the second coming of the Yellow Flash.” She turned to Kakashi with a teasing grin. “And you, Kakashi-sensei...I thought you’d win for sure.”
Kakashi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I almost did. But...” He sighed wistfully. “I couldn’t stop thinking about Kushina-san’s cooking. That distracted me. So I lost on purpose.”
Naruto blinked, confused. “Wait, you lost on purpose!?”
Kakashi’s eye crinkled in a smile. “Yep. I mean, the best ramen in the world, hands down.”
Naruto practically glowed with pride, though Sasuke scowled and muttered, “Our teacher is the worst.”
Sakura giggled at Sasuke’s reaction, and together, the team made their way toward the Hokage Tower to report their mission.
As they walked, Kakashi glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eye. His expression was unreadable, but inside, a storm of emotions churned.
I hope I’m wrong about her being a former ROOT agent, he thought. But I can’t ignore the signs. Something’s off.
By the end of the week, he would call in a favor from Ino and her team. He hated himself for it—invading the privacy of one of his students went against every instinct of his better judgment. But the shinobi part of him, the part trained to anticipate and neutralize threats, wouldn’t let it go. Sakura is silently suffering, and it’s slowly affecting her performance.
For now, Kakashi stayed quiet, his internal struggle masked by his usual nonchalant demeanor. He could only hope the answers would bring clarity and not more questions.
“Team 7 reporting in,” he said calmly, addressing the Fourth Hokage. He summarized their stay in Nami no Kuni. After that, it was off to Naruto’s home, where an enthusiastic red-haired woman hugged Sakura tightly.
“Oh, why didn’t you bring her earlier? She is cute! Ah, these boys must have been a nightmare, Sakura. Come in, come in, dinner is ready.”
“Haha, Kushina-sama...they were fine,” Sakura grumbled under the bone-crushing hug. She listened halfway as Naruto excitedly recounted their mission in Wave and how they barely had to fight bandits.
As she slurped her ramen noodles, she stilted, “What the—no wonder you lost on purpose!”
Kakashi shook his head knowingly.
“Kakashi-sensei, you’re the best!” Sakura beamed.
Beside her, Sasuke huffed jealously. “So, which one do you like better: Naruto’s mom’s cooking, mine, or Kakashi’s home-cooked food?”
Sakura tilted her head thoughtfully. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. Your mom’s and Naruto’s are amazing, but...I miss Sakumo-san’s cooking. Not saying this to get brownie points with lazy head over here, but something about Sakumo’s cooking just...hits the spot.”
Kakashi beside her was glowing with happiness. Sasuke, Naruto, and even Kushina pouted.
Sakura giggled at their antics, but within herself, she scolded herself. To get so much attention and love...I have no right.