After nma's work reached a temporary conclusion, Naruto's life in Konoha Village returned to its usual rhythm. There was still so ti before the next major plot point—the Chunin Exams.
On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, Team Seven had just finished a hybrid D-rank mission involving harvesting crops and helping walk several large ninja hounds.
After the mission ended, all three were covered in dust and the scent of grass.
Kakashi held his usual copy of "Make-Out Paradise," his visible eye lazily scanning the three of them before speaking slowly. "Alright, everyone worked hard today. I'll go to the Hokage building to submit the mission report. That's it for today—dismissed."
However, unlike usual, the other three didn't imdiately leave. Sakura seed particularly dissatisfied as she vigorously brushed dirt and dry grass from her legs, complaining.
"I say, Kakashi-sensei! We already have those kinds of records in our ninja files, so why are we still only doing these D-rank missions of catching cats, walking dogs, and helping with farm work after coming back! This is too unreasonable!"
The "those kinds of records" she referred to was the final rating of their last Land of Waves mission. Having faced off against a rogue ninja of Zabuza's caliber and experienced real life-and-death combat, that mission's actual difficulty and danger level would have warranted an A-rank rating at minimum.
The intelligence Kakashi brought back—regarding another Ember organization operation, confirmation that Momochi Zabuza and the Ice Style bloodline ninja Haku had joined that organization, and most shocking of all, that leader nma possessed abilities that could seemingly "restore all things" and reverse life and death—had imasurable strategic value.
Although nma hadn't attacked Team Seven this ti, bringing back such crucial intelligence about the ninja world's most feared organization, combined with the mission's unique contributions and special nature, ultimately led Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen to personally upgrade the Land of Waves mission's final rating to S-rank.
Genin with records of completing S-rank missions? While Naruto wasn't sure about other villages, in Konoha Village, this was absolutely unprecedented.
Kakashi closed his book and explained with a slightly helpless tone. "What are you thinking, Sakura? That S-rank evaluation for the Land of Waves was due to encountering completely unexpected circumstances—an extre special case. Under normal conditions, missions for genin should primarily be D-rank for your safety."
"Then... at least give us so C-rank missions!" Sakura argued unwillingly. Her strong desire for C-rank missions was largely because they usually involved leaving the village.
This would an more ti spent with Satsuki away from her parents' nagging.
Due to Naruto's intervention changing so aspects of fate, strictly speaking, the only true "orphan" in Team Seven besides Kakashi was now just Naruto, which gave Sakura more reasons to feel they shared similar circumstances.
Kakashi scratched his silver hair and finally said vaguely, "Well... C-rank missions... I'll ntion it to the Hokage. But until then, you'll have to obediently complete the assigned D-rank missions."
Since Kakashi had spoken, Naruto felt sowhat helpless but decided to head ho, knowing the Chunin Exams weren't far off anyway.
"Alright then, since there's nothing else today, I'll head ho first." Naruto brushed the dust from his clothes and said cheerfully to his companions, "Satsuki, Sakura, and Kakashi-sensei, if you want to find , just co to my house!"
With that, Naruto turned and headed toward his ho. He needed to quickly settle his "treasure" from his backpack—that Pokemon egg still needed "travel" to hatch. Every ti they went on missions, Naruto carefully carried it with him, anticipating the day life would break out of its shell.
Now that the mission was over, he needed to quickly return the egg to its little nest at ho.
Watching Naruto's departing figure, Satsuki instinctively reached out her hand, lips slightly parted as if wanting to say sothing, but ultimately those words stuck in her throat, becoming an almost inaudible sigh as her arm dropped powerlessly. Seeing this, Sakura thought Satsuki seed a bit strange but didn't think much of it. She just wanted to hurry ho and take a hot bath to thoroughly wash off the mud and dog hair from farm work.
"Well, I'll head back too, Satsuki. See you tomorrow!" Sakura waved and turned to leave.
Only Satsuki and Kakashi, who was preparing to submit the mission report, remained. Kakashi had originally planned to go train after submitting his report, but he noticed Satsuki still standing there, staring blankly at the end of the street where Naruto had disappeared.
"What's wrong, Satsuki?" Kakashi stopped and asked with concern. "Aren't you going ho? Standing here spacing out."
"...Hm? Ah... that... I understand..."
Satsuki snapped back to reality, responding sowhat flustered, but her eyes remained unfocused, clearly absent-minded and preoccupied.
Seeing her like this, Kakashi couldn't help but rember when they first returned to the village, how he had seriously lectured Satsuki about ninja rules against harboring killing intent toward clients.
At that ti, Satsuki's explanation was that "Tazuna had pulled Naruto into foreseeable danger." This intense, almost obsessive protectiveness and concern had long exceeded the scope of ordinary teammates or even friends.
Combined with Satsuki's overly focused gazes on Naruto in daily life, her unconscious movents closer to him, and her current lost state, Kakashi naturally saw through the situation.
At this mont, Satsuki's heart was in turmoil from strange and overwhelming emotions. She couldn't understand what was happening to her. Why did her heart feel inexplicably restless every ti she saw Naruto? Why did she feel indescribable loss every ti she watched him leave?
During the Land of Waves mission, repeatedly witnessing Naruto in danger had triggered and accumulated that protective urge that nearly burst from her chest, bringing it close to a breaking point.
Simply put, that increasingly expanding emotion in her heart never found true satisfaction or release... A vague but intense longing grew within her—she wanted her relationship with Naruto to go further, not just teammates, not just friends.
But... why did her courage disappear like a punctured balloon every ti the words reached her lips? Why did she retreat every ti? This internal struggle made her incredibly frustrated.
"Satsuki."
A calm call suddenly sounded beside her ear, interrupting Satsuki's chaotic thoughts. She turned her head, sowhat surprised to find Kakashi hadn't left but had co to her side.
"What is it?" Satsuki asked instinctively.
Kakashi looked at her, his visible eye slightly curved with knowing understanding, speaking in a calm tone.
"You like Naruto, don't you?"
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