Kakashi's eye widened slightly.
The idea of an already exhausted Team 7, a weakened Zabuza, and a wounded Haku all getting slaughtered by Gatō's men sent an unsettling feeling through him.
Sakura, arms crossed, muttered in disgust, "…Tch. What a rat."
Naruto's expression turned serious for a moment, his eyes gleaming with something calculating. "But then I thought… why not use that against him?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Use it against him? How?"
Naruto's mischievous grin returned. "Simple. I used Genjutsu."
Sasuke blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you used Genjutsu?"
Naruto huffed. "Oi! I can use Genjutsu too, you know! You think only you can do it with your Sharingan!... It's just that I don't rely on it much."
Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "…So, you cast Genjutsu on Gatō and made him act earlier than planned?"
Naruto nodded. "Exactly. I made him believe it was the perfect time to act, so instead of waiting until we were all at death's door, he waltzed onto the battlefield like an arrogant fool, thinking he had the upper hand."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "Which means… you manipulated the entire battle from the shadows."
Naruto snickered. "Kinda cool, huh?"
Kakashi let out a low whistle, his visible eye curving into an approving arc. "That's… quite the strategy, Naruto."
Naruto grinned smugly. "Hehe, well, I am pretty amazing."
Kakashi, however, suddenly turned serious. "Still… it was a risk. If Gatō had realized what was happening, he could have changed his plans. And if Zabuza hadn't turned against him, things could have gone differently."
Naruto shrugged. "That's the thing, Kakashi-sensei. I knew Zabuza wouldn't stand for being treated like a tool."
Kakashi's eye widened slightly, an image of Minato flashing in his mind.
'That confidence… That ability to predict human behavior… That wasn't just instinct. That was strategy.'
Naruto's voice broke through his thoughts. "Besides, Tazuna and the villagers weren't fighting Zabuza. Their real enemy was Gatō. So I gave them what they needed... the chance to end it with their own hands."
Sasuke stared at Naruto, a bit jealous in his heart. "You… really thought that far ahead?"
Naruto smirked, his blue eyes glinting. "Of course! I mean, I do have a brain, y'know?"
Kakashi chuckled softly before glancing up at the sky. "Looks like you're growing into quite the shinobi, Naruto."
Naruto blinked. "…Huh?"
Kakashi's gaze softened just a fraction. "…You remind me of someone."
Naruto chuckled and said. "My dad!"
Kakashi simply smiled behind his mask. "Yeah. You will definitely surpass him in the future. For now, let's keep moving."
And with that, Team 7 continued their journey home, each step carrying them forward, but their minds still lingered on what had been left behind in the Land of Waves.
----
It took them a few days to arrive in Konoha.
In the Hokage's office
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The rhythmic sound of knuckles against wood echoed through the office.
Behind his grand desk, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lifted his gaze from the piles of paperwork in front of him. His wrinkled hand slowly reached for his pipe, taking a slow puff of smoke as he exhaled deeply.
"Come in," He called out.
The door creaked open, revealing a man with unruly silver hair, his ever-present mask covering the lower half of his face.
Kakashi Hatake stepped inside with his usual relaxed posture, hands stuffed in his pockets, but his visible eye carried an unmistakable sharpness.
Hiruzen raised a brow. "Kakashi…? You rarely report in person unless something requires my immediate attention."
Kakashi gave a short nod. "I am here to provide details about the C-rank mission you assigned us."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed slightly. "Oh? From what I understand, the mission was completed successfully. Normally, you would have submitted a written report. Since you're here in person… I assume there is something unusual."
Kakashi's tone remained calm, but there was a certain weight behind his words. "Yes, Hokage-sama. There were… a few developments that I believe require further discussion."
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, taking another puff from his pipe before gesturing for Kakashi to continue.
"Start from the beginning."
Kakashi took a moment to gather his thoughts before recounting the entire mission in detail—from their arrival in the Land of Waves, their encounter with Zabuza and Haku, to the shocking battle that unfolded on the bridge.
He spoke of Naruto's astounding growth, his ability to stand toe-to-toe with an elite swordsman, and most importantly, the fact that Naruto strategized and manipulated the battlefield far beyond what any Genin should be capable of.
Hiruzen listened carefully, his expression unreadable. But as the story unfolded, a spark of interest flickered in his wise old eyes.
When Kakashi finally finished, a heavy silence filled the office.
The Hokage blinked twice, as if processing the weight of the report, before speaking.
"…So, you are telling me that Naruto not only defeated an elite rogue ninja—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist with a single punch… but he also orchestrated the entire battle, manipulated Gatō, and ensured there were no casualties?"
Kakashi nodded. "That is correct, Hokage-sama."
A thick cloud of smoke curled from Hiruzen's pipe as he remained deep in thought.
Then, after a long moment, he slowly lifted his gaze.
"Kakashi… tell me… what do you really think of Naruto?"
Kakashi's visible eye lowered slightly, as if in contemplation.
He placed a finger on his chin, tilting his head in thought before finally answering.
"Naruto… is an enigma."
Hiruzen raised a brow, silently urging him to continue.
"On the surface, he seems a bit brash and impulsive. But beneath that, he is incredibly sharp. His instincts in battle are… remarkable. His taijutsu and ninjutsu are already near the level of a Jonin, not to mention his ability to analyze situations and manipulate his opponents. His genjutsu might not be far behind either."
Kakashi paused, his gaze darkening slightly.
"To be perfectly honest… keeping him as a Genin feels like a waste. I don't think he needs to take the Chunin Exams like the others."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, watching Kakashi's expression carefully.
After a moment, Kakashi gave a small shrug. "But… the final decision is yours, Hokage-sama."
The old man took another long, slow puff of his pipe, the ember within glowing faintly. His mind was already turning.
'Well, well, now what to do... Let's play it safe… no need to make Kakashi suspicious...'
Naruto was going to resemble Minato after all; he had inherited his good genes. But his actions were also making him gain lots of attention.
---- ✦ ✦ ✦ ----
Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 137: An Insatiable Kunoichi (1)
Chapter 138: An Insatiable Kunoichi (2)
Chapter 139: An Insatiable Kunoichi (3)
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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