At a hot spring inn in the Village Hidden in the Hot Water, Team 7 sat together waiting for Kakashi Hatake's return. Unaware of the spies still hiding in the nearby forest, they discussed the night's harrowing events.
After a life-or-death battle, Sakura Haruno's wounds were bandaged, but she was still visibly shaken. "Failing means you die… that's just too cruel."
"Some truths are crueler than the battles we fight." Sasuke Uchiha was thinking more deeply, his brow remaining furrowed. "Naruto, do you remember what that Cloud ninja, Bukai, said before he died? Did the Third Hokage... really choose to sacrifice one of the village's own ninja because of an enemy's threat?"
"How could that be possible!" Sakura quickly tried to soothe him. "There must be something wrong with that story. Don't overthink it, Sasuke. The Third Hokage is such a kind person! Naruto, hurry up and talk some sense into him!"
"I don't know." Naruto shook his head. He was lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, his gaze a bit vacant. "Maybe there's a hidden story, but based on the outcome, it looks that way…"
Nine years ago, the Hyuga clan had held a funeral. The timing of what the burly Cloud ninja said lined up perfectly. Besides, how would a ninja from the Cloud Village know what happened to Konoha's Hyuga clan if the incident had nothing to do with them?
Thinking of this, Naruto sat up and opened his notebook, jotting down some notes about what happened tonight. When he got back to the village, he could ask about it. He had a pretty good relationship with his classmate, Hinata Hyuga, and also with the older student, Neji Hyuga...
Hinata, Neji, Cloud...
A series of keywords sent a jolt of terror through Naruto. He subconsciously tried to access his past memories, but an intense pain shot through his head, making him clutch his forehead involuntarily.
Sasuke stood by his side, placing a hand on Naruto's back. "Hey, Naruto, are you okay? Is it that recurring headache and memory loss again?"
"Argh…" A pained grunt escaped Naruto's throat. He finally suppressed the urge to dig through his memories, and the painful fragments receded like a tide. Naruto let out a breath, picked up his pen with red-rimmed eyes, and lowered his head. "Sasuke, I'm fine now…"
"Why the sudden headache?"
"I don't remember, and I can't think about it." Naruto frowned and turned to his worried teammate. "But, about what that Cloud ninja said… my gut tells me it's true. We just need to ask Neji when we get the chance, and we should be able to find out the truth."
Sasuke was puzzled. "Neji?"
"Yeah, Neji is a ninja from the Hyuga clan!" Sakura nodded, her voice hushed with admiration. "Just like you, Sasuke, he comes from one of the village's noble clans, and he's the top student every year."
Naruto's mind, however, suddenly flashed to the Hokage's office. He gripped his pen tightly and roughly sketched its likeness in his notebook.
In the daytime, it stands tall and bright. At night, it, too, disappears into the darkness.
Sasuke looked down, watching Naruto draw the Hokage's office with his clumsy skills. He knew his teammate's dream and his fierce desire to become Hokage.
"Hey, Naruto." Sasuke suddenly pressed down on the pen in Naruto's hand and spoke softly. "If you become Hokage in the future, would you sacrifice one of the village's ninjas just because you were afraid of an enemy's threats?"
He spoke stiffly. Clearly, Sasuke Uchiha had realized that besides combat, power dynamics could also decide a ninja's life or death—a danger far greater than any battle.
If the story was true and Hiruzen Sarutobi had sacrificed a Hyuga because he feared the Cloud's threats, who could guarantee they wouldn't be next? After all, they had killed Cloud ninjas.
Instead of questioning the Third Hokage, Sasuke turned to his teammate, hoping for some psychological comfort.
Naruto let go of his pen, glanced at the water cup by the bed, and gestured with his head. "Well, if that ninja is willing to hand the Hokage a glass of water right now…"
Clearly, he was thirsty.
Sasuke couldn't be bothered with him. The Uchiha boy rolled over and went back to his own bed, pulling the blanket over his head. He still couldn't shake the story the Cloud ninja had told.
Naruto could only get up himself. He stood by the table and said softly, "Sasuke, whether you're the Hokage or not, you can't sacrifice an innocent comrade."
"Especially not by yielding to an enemy's pressure. A leader whose power, or ninja way, is that weak…"
As he spoke, he even walked over to Sasuke's bed and patted his blanket. "I'm definitely going to become the strongest ninja. So don't you get scared by my strength!"
When he said 'scared,' Naruto emphasized his tone, and his words instantly infuriated Sasuke.
"I'll become stronger than you!" Sasuke grabbed his pillow and threw it.
This blond brat was so infuriating! Although his current strength wasn't as great as Naruto's, Sasuke believed that as long as he could find the right path, his power would soon surpass his teammate's.
That single joke managed to disperse the gloom in Sasuke's heart, and he was no longer as preoccupied as before.
-----
The next morning, Kakashi Hatake returned with dark circles under his eyes, having been busy all night. After the three genin woke up, they briefly told him what had happened, which only made Kakashi's mood worse.
He was just taking Team 7 on a C-rank mission. First, they encountered 'Root' ninjas trying to ambush them, forcing them to take a detour to find support. On the sea, they ran into Mist ninjas who wanted the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and on land, they met Cloud ninjas who were after Sasuke's Sharingan...
Kakashi glanced at Sakura. At this rate, before they got back to the village, were they going to run into some Stone ninja who was desperately in love with Sakura Haruno?
The life of a jonin instructor is truly torment.
Kakashi let out a long sigh and pulled at his eye patch. "It's a good thing I got news of Master Jiraiya yesterday…"
"Where is he?"
"Is he handsome?"
"Is he strong?"
There were only three genin in Team 7, and they each asked a question.
"Still have to find him, exceptionally handsome, and very strong."
The instructor looked at his subordinates. They were all more or less injured from last night's fierce battle. Even Sakura, the least injured, had all her limbs wrapped in gauze. Kakashi had originally wanted to rest at the inn today and send the three brats out to find Jiraiya, but now that plan was ruined.
"Forget it, I'll go find him myself." Kakashi spread his hands and instructed them softly, "You three just rest well at the inn today."
"Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto stood by his side, looking up at him. "My injuries are almost healed. Let me help you find him…"
"Alright… your Shadow Clones will come in handy." The white-haired jonin nodded. He was well aware of Naruto's powerful life force and casually pointed out a few locations. "The lawn outside the Rose Street Asuka Hot Spring, the rock garden outside the Hanakotoba Hot Spring, the large tree outside the Untei Hot Spring…"
"What's special about these places?"
"Well, I specifically investigated the Village Hidden in the Hot Water last night and found that these places…" Kakashi coughed a few times and explained in a low voice, "are particularly suitable for peeping."
-----
Bonus:
Kakashi Hatake: What did you guys do last night? You're covered in injuries.
Naruto Uzumaki: We got in a fight. What about you?
Kakashi Hatake: Can't tell you.
Naruto Uzumaki: Did you go drinking?
Kakashi Hatake: Do you think I have that much money on me?
Naruto Uzumaki: Look at our injuries! If you don't tell us, we're not going to give up…
Kakashi Hatake: I went to check out the scenic spots from 'Make-Out Paradise'…
Naruto Uzumaki: Did you take pictures?
Kakashi Hatake: Take… take pictures? Isn't that going a bit too far?
Naruto Uzumaki: If you didn't take pictures, what did you go there for?
Kakashi Hatake: ...