Given its delicate nature, the Akatsuki matter was kept under strict secrecy. Only a few shinobi were made aware of it.
Kakashi lay unconscious in a hospital bed, slowly recovering his strength, while Asuma, Kurenai, Gai, and even Trunks gathered around him. His condition wasn't ideal—he had lost a great deal of energy—but at least, he was no longer in danger.
"Th-that's awful…"
Trunks went pale as paper.
Since he had shared plenty of information with them before, the jounin decided it was only fair to explain Itachi's connection to Sasuke—and the horrific tragedy surrounding the elder Uchiha. It was, simply put, an abomination.
Trunks didn't have an older brother, but he knew Gohan well—and he couldn't even imagine him committing something as monstrous and atrocious as what Itachi had done that grim night under the full moon.
Now, a lot of things about Sasuke made more sense: his impulsive and aggressive nature, his obsession with becoming stronger, his distant and cold attitude, his near-total lack of social warmth or empathy. Trunks couldn't condone his thirst for revenge, but at least now, he understood it.
He felt guilty for the things he had once thought about Sasuke. He didn't excuse his actions, but he could now see them from a different perspective. Like Gaara and Naruto, Sasuke was just another boy who had endured pain far beyond what he or Goten could ever imagine. His wounds were emotional, psychological—while theirs, after fighting Majin Buu, had long since healed. All that remained were the scars on their bodies, quiet reminders of what they had overcome.
Silence filled the room, heavy and endless. No one dared speak for several minutes. Gai and Kurenai exchanged occasional glances toward the shaken young Saiyan.
"I hate to admit it… but I'm glad you got there in time," Asuma finally said, walking over to the window. He rolled the curtains open before lighting a cigarette—something he never did around anyone else. But every time he lit one near Trunks, he remembered that the boy once mentioned hating it when his mother smoked. Maybe this was Asuma's quiet way of reminding him that this wasn't home.
Trunks shook his head, trying to clear the bitter shock that came from learning the truth about the Uchiha clan.
"I-I'd never just stand by. I came as soon as I felt Kakashi-sensei's chakra vanish."
"That's not what I meant." Asuma exhaled slowly, letting the gray smoke drift from his lungs. "You weren't supposed to deal with things like this. It was our responsibility… but still—thank you."
Trunks' eyes widened. He pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on, surprised. For the first time, his sensei had acknowledged he'd done something right. He'd expected another lecture, as usual.
"Oh, and Trunks," Kurenai added, her crimson eyes gleaming with quiet authority, "tell Goten to take his rest seriously. We'll be testing that fusion technique soon."
Trunks froze—he had completely forgotten! Goten was recovering fast, and the Hokage was eager to see whether they could already perform the fusion dance. By Sarutobi's orders, they'd be demonstrating it at one of the training fields—before the jounin, and maybe even their students.
Trunks' cheeks flushed a deep red. "Damn it! What's Ino gonna think when she sees me doing those ridiculous dance moves?! Lee'll probably think it's awesome—but her…?"
Before anyone could reply, the hospital door burst open. Sasuke stormed in, breathing hard, having sprinted there the instant he heard about his teacher's condition. He was supposed to be training with Kakashi—of course he wanted to know what happened.
"What happened to Kakashi?" His voice cut like a blade—sharp, demanding. "And why are there so many jounin here?" His black eyes narrowed when he spotted Trunks among them. How the hell did he find out before me? And why's he the only one allowed here with them?
"Sasuke, you see…"
That was as far as Kurenai got before a breathless chunin appeared behind the genin.
"Is it true?! Is it true that Itachi Uchiha has returned to the village—and that he's after Naruto?!"
An idiot. A complete fool who should never have been told anything. Someone really should've cut out his tongue.
"Moron…" Kurenai hissed through clenched teeth, while Gai covered his face in exasperation.
The clueless chunin looked around at everyone before his gaze landed on Sasuke—and his skin turned ghost white. He stumbled back two steps, realizing the enormity of his blunder.
"I-I'm sorry… I just…"
"Itachi was here?!" Sasuke snapped. His eyes widened, pupils shrinking to pinpoints as his face twisted with rage and madness—pure, terrifying madness.
A storm of hatred and despair erupted inside him, violent and unstoppable.
He bolted. In a blur, he shoved the stupid chunin aside so hard the man hit the floor. His frantic footsteps echoed down the hospital hall as Gai shouted after him, arm outstretched—but it was useless.
That very morning, Jiraiya had already left with Naruto. Sasuke still had time. Finding the blond would lead him straight to Itachi—though he didn't know it yet. He would finally settle the score. He would kill him—with his own hands—for taking everything he ever loved.
And as he ran, consumed by rage and hatred, his crimson Sharingan clouding his sight, one tortured memory ripped deeper into his soul.
"Wh-why did you do it, Itachi?! Why?!" sobbed a small boy through his trembling breaths, standing before the lifeless bodies of his parents.
He would never forget Itachi's reply—spoken in a voice so cold, so detached, it barely sounded human.
"To measure the limits of my power."
Back At The Hospital
"Fine! I admit it! I'm nervous! Happy now?!"
Goten flinched at Sakura's outburst, instinctively pulling the bedsheet up like it might somehow protect him.
"I've never trained as hard as Sasuke or Naruto… and now I have to do it with Trunks?!"
"You'll probably wake up sore all over," Goten said matter-of-factly.
Honest as ever.
If looks could kill, Goten would've been reduced to ashes right there—the pink-haired kunoichi looked ready to vaporize him with her glare. Once again, he reflexively gripped the blanket and tugged it over himself.
Sakura huffed loudly and hopped off Goten's hospital bed. The hospital staff had long since refused to lend another chair for that room—one had gone flying out the window courtesy of Goten, and the other had met a brutal end against the wall, thanks to Sakura. So, sitting beside him on the bed had become her only option during visits.
"Sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean to make you more nervous," Goten said softly. "But you need to do this—how else will you improve? What happened in the forest wasn't good… you could've died."
"Yeah, I know." She bit her tongue repeatedly, remembering the beating Zaku had given her during the Chunin Exams. If not for Goten stepping in when he did, she would've been dead. "The thing is, Trunks has it out for me! You'll see, that jerk's going to go extra hard on me! Ugh, I hate him!"
"And he hates you too."
The grin on Goten's face nearly reached his ears. Sakura's head snapped toward him so sharply it was a wonder it didn't spin full 180 degrees like something out of a horror film.
"Sorry! But it's true!" he yelped.
"Just drop it, will you?" She sighed, shaking her head. Goten's brutal honesty could be painful in large doses. She paced the room aimlessly before sitting again on the edge of the bed, nervously curling pink strands of hair around her finger. "I know I need to do this. I'm done hiding behind everyone else—done being the weak link of the team, the one who never does anything. I need to protect my teammates too! To actually matter on missions!"
With renewed determination, she clenched her fist and furrowed her brow. For a moment, silence filled the room—until she noticed Goten watching her with a wide, cheerful grin.
"What? You trying to make fun of me?"
"No! Not at all!" He waved his hands frantically, trying to dodge her glare. "I just think you're a good person, that's all. You've got a real reason for wanting to get stronger."
"Oh… I see." Her shoulders relaxed, and a faint blush of embarrassment colored her cheeks for snapping so quickly. "By the way, Goten, I know you love training and getting stronger… but is that your only reason? Don't you ever get bored?"
Ugh, why did I even ask that? she scolded herself internally. Nice going, Sakura.
But she couldn't help it—something inside her needed to know. When the Ginyu Force invaded, Trunks had made his reasons for fighting perfectly clear. Goten hadn't. There was something about his simplicity that made her wonder if it was all just muscle and instinct—if he really was that shallow. She couldn't wrap her head around the idea that his motivations could be so… small.
"Well… that's kinda complicated," he said, scratching his cheek as he looked up at the ceiling. "Earth's at peace, so there's no real need to fight. I just… like training more than studying. Dad's fine with that—he thinks studying's overrated. But Mom says it's the most important thing ever. Since my brother Gohan's already some kind of researcher, I guess she lets me do what I want."
"Fascinating," Sakura muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. He was even dumber than she thought.
"There's also Trunks. His dad makes him train—he's a really grumpy guy. We spar all the time, and I think we've just gotten used to it. We both want to be as strong as our dads."
Sakura sighed dramatically. She really should've just kept her mouth shut. What started as a half-decent reason had devolved into "we fight because it's fun." Ridiculous.
"But… lately it's different," Goten continued, his tone softening. "Training feels more important now. I feel great doing it—but honestly, I'm scared."
Sakura blinked. Scared? Goten? It was almost hard to believe. Then she remembered—he was still just a boy, no matter how strong. He must have been terrified, facing real enemies as a child.
"Don't worry," she said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her smile was warm, genuine. "You and Trunks will beat him. You'll be fine—nothing bad's going to happen. I know you'll win."
Goten frowned slightly, looking almost offended. He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. After a second of silent conflict, he brushed her hand off his shoulder, eyes dark and unreadable.
"You're smart, Sakura," he said quietly, "but sometimes you're really dumb. I'm not scared for myself."
"Th-then… what?" she asked, startled.
"If someone really strong ever came to Earth—someone evil—I couldn't let you or anyone else get hurt. I have to get as strong as I possibly can. That's the only way I can make sure I always win. And if I win… then everyone stays safe." His gaze drifted to the floor. "It's not just about that guy who might show up someday. Ever since Trunks and I arrived, we've known we need to be ready—just in case. At least while we're here."
Sakura was speechless. Completely floored.
She always misread him. Always.
It was like reading a question that looked easy—so easy you rushed to answer it, only to realize later you'd completely misunderstood it. That was Goten in a nutshell. She never took him seriously because she thought he was too simple-minded to deserve that level of thought. And every time… she ended up looking foolish for it.
"I'm scared of losing," he said softly. "If I lose… everything falls apart. It'll be my fault."
And for the first time, Sakura saw him smile differently. It wasn't his usual carefree grin. It was bittersweet, heavy with guilt. His bright, curious eyes seemed dim, shadowed by something deep and painful.
"Everyone here's been so kind to Trunks and me," he continued. "I could never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you."
She couldn't meet his gaze anymore. Her hands gripped the fabric of her red dress, knuckles white. Her eyes fell to her dangling feet, swinging just above the floor.
"Sakura, you're so silly," he said suddenly.
She jumped at the sound of his laughter—bright, honest laughter that filled the room with warmth. It made her heart ache in a way she couldn't quite describe.
"Why do you get like that? Come on, cheer up! You've got to wake up early tomorrow. If you're late, Trunks'll double your training—and trust me, for your first day, that's way too much. You'd quit before lunch!"
Her pink hair swayed gently as she shook her head, glancing at the wall clock. It was already late—great. Her mother's scolding would be brutal… though not nearly as bad as her father's corny jokes about her "boyfriend."
"You're right. My mom'll freak out if I'm late," she sighed, hopping off the bed. Without looking back, she walked toward the door. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal doorknob, and for a brief second, she hesitated.
"I'll tell you how it goes tomorrow," she said softly, before leaving.
On her way home, Sakura stared down at her hands. She clenched them into fists, frustration burning through her. Next to a Saiyan, she felt like an insect—weak, insignificant… nothing. And yet, he thought she was worth protecting? Worth sacrificing himself for?
She wasn't stupid. She knew full well that someone born that strong shouldn't be that humble or kind. In fact, it made less sense. Power like that usually corrupted—but Goten… he was different.
"Goten's an idiot," she muttered to herself, trying to push away the strange feeling building in her chest. "He doesn't get it. He's never been close to death. He doesn't know what it really means—how terrifying it is. With power like his, everything must seem so easy."
There was no secret meaning to untangle, no hidden layers, no cryptic subtext. What Goten had said was exactly what he meant. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sakura was smart—brilliant, even. She could ace an exam most chunin couldn't handle without cheating.
But as contradictory as it sounded, she could also be incredibly foolish. She liked complex problems… because she was the one who made the simple ones complicated.
And unfortunately for her—Goten was very simple.
.....
"I believe you already know this," Trunks began, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, "but I'll say it again — as a warning."Lee and Tenten stood side by side, watching him closely, like two soldiers receiving their commander's orders."This training will be tougher than anything you've done before. Don't doubt that for a second. Now then… do you still wish to continue?"
"YESSSS!" Lee roared, fists raised high, eyes burning with literal flames of determination.
Tenten, a bit more reserved, simply nodded. Beads of pearly sweat glistened on her forehead — a mix of nervous anticipation and the scorching heat inside the cramped gravity chamber.
"Good," Trunks continued. "I told you the door would close at exactly seven. Anyone who's still outside after that won't be allowed in — not today, not tomorrow, not ever—"
"Yeah, yeah, we get it," Tenten interrupted, one hand on her hip, shifting her weight onto her right leg as she fixed him with a firm look. That stare actually made Trunks flinch a little — he'd developed a mild phobia lately… of Konoha's hot-headed girls."No offense," she went on, "but I'd say you don't have much experience training others, do you?"
Trunks didn't answer — mostly because he couldn't. Tenten smirked, amused to see him swallow hard. "My point is," she said, "don't let this power trip get to your head. Just because it's a tough session doesn't mean you have to act like a jerk. Got it?"
The two boys froze. Lee looked between them nervously, and Trunks looked utterly dumbfounded — she was challenging him in front of his trainees? He was supposed to be the damn sensei here! He couldn't just let that slide!
Lee tensed up, a bead of sweat sliding down his face as Trunks' calm expression began to twist into something else entirely.
Tenten shivered slightly as his sharp, heavy gaze bore down on her. When Trunks started walking toward her, eyeing her from head to toe, her throat went dry. His spiky golden hair and strong build didn't help her nerves either.
"O-of course… sorry if I overstepped," she muttered.
Both Lee and Tenten ended up on their backs a moment later, metaphorically speaking — Saiyans were clearly a race without chill. And this was only the beginning.
"Alright, time to close the door. Tough luck for Sakura."
"But Trunks, it's not seven yet — we still have five minutes," Lee pointed out, glancing at the small digital clock on the control panel.
"Doesn't matter. You two got here early. Clearly, your sensei trained you well."
Lee puffed up his chest in pride. Tenten just sighed, remembering Gai's brutal "training sessions."
"Can't be worse than Gai-sensei," she said. "That's why I agreed to Goten's recommendation. For Lee, this'll be a walk in the park… I think."
"WAAAIT!"
Trunks closed his eyes in frustration. That shrill, high-pitched voice was exactly what he wanted to avoid.
"The door! Lee, press the button!" he barked, pointing to the control panel as Sakura sprinted toward them like her life depended on it.
"Which one?" Lee asked innocently, trying to buy her time.
"The green one! Hurry up!"
"This one?"
"NO! That's red, you idiot! What's wrong with you!?"
"I'm colorblind," Lee said with fake embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head.
Trunks facepalmed. No way in hell was he buying that. If Lee were really colorblind, he was a lunatic for wearing that skin-tight "red" suit through enemy territory.
"I… made it… before seven…" Sakura wheezed, hands on her knees, gasping for air.
"Good for you," Trunks grumbled, slamming the button to seal the chamber shut. "Did you eat breakfast?" He raised a hand before she could answer. "And no — I'm not asking because I care. I just need to know."
"Too bad for you. No, I didn't. I'm not stupid," she replied smugly, arching a pink eyebrow as if she'd just scored a victory. "Don't think I'll puke, jerk."
Her triumph died instantly when Trunks' smirk turned dark — a flicker of Vegeta's attitude flashing through.
"Don't worry," he said. "When you pass out, I'll make sure to carry you to the hospital safely. I'll even fly slowly so you don't fall."
Sakura's eyes went wide with horror. "You arrogant, pompous, conceited bastard!"
"Anyway," Trunks said, ignoring her, "training under gravity is different. You might be used to weights, but this is on another level. We'll start at five times Earth's gravity."
"Goten told me yesterday that it's better to start at three times gravity," Sakura interjected, that know-it-all tone in her voice that grated on Trunks' nerves.
He glared at her. "Goten's not here. If you want to train with him, there's the door." Their eyes locked — a battle of sheer stubbornness. "And don't even think of complaining. He already knows the plan. One word out of you and you're banned from this chamber tomorrow."
"Since when is Trunks so strict?" Tenten whispered to Lee. Then her eyes widened. "Wait—maybe Trunks likes Sakura! That would explain everything! The thing with Ino might just be to throw people off!"
If Jiraiya had been there, he'd have muttered something like: 'Those who fight, end up in bed.'
Neither Trunks nor Sakura would have taken that rumor well. Especially Trunks.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The entire chamber shook under the pounding on the door.
"Who the hell is it now?" Trunks growled, stomping toward the entrance hard enough to rattle the floor. "I made it clear—no one else gets in after I close the chamber!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Lee, open it," he ordered, face darkening. Whoever it was, they were about to regret it. Probably Anko again, here to bother him. He stood on his toes to peek through the small circular window—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"STOP THAT ALREAD—"
He froze. He'd rather face a demon than this. His blood ran cold.
"I-I-Ino! Wh-what a… nice surprise!"
If looks could kill, there'd be nothing left of Trunks but a smoking crater. Ino stood there, arms crossed, tapping her foot, her narrowed blue eyes radiating righteous fury.
"Why didn't you tell me you were starting training today?" she demanded. Then she noticed Sakura behind him. Her jaw clenched so tightly Trunks could almost hear the muscle in her cheek twitch. "Are you avoiding me, Trunks Brief?"
"M-me? N-no, of course not!" he babbled, laughing nervously, tugging at his hair. "I-I just f-forgot to t-tell you, th-that's all! Honest!"
"Wow," she said coldly. "Back to stuttering again. Impressive progress."
She was furious — not because she enjoyed seeing him flustered, but because he'd actually been avoiding her.
Tenten's "Trunks-likes-Sakura" theory died instantly. Nope. It was Ino who turned him into a blushing wreck.
"I'm sorry, Ino," Trunks said, looking down at the floor to regain composure. "I didn't want to expose you to this yet. I planned something easier for your first day."
"Something easier!?" she snapped, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him against the wall. "Then what's she doing here, huh? You think she's tougher than me!?"
"N-no! I mean—uh—well—"
"Yes, that's exactly what he said," Sakura murmured with a wicked little grin.
"You'll pay for that," Trunks hissed under his breath, glaring at her before Ino let him go and stepped into the room.
"I'm training too," she declared, hands on hips, chin lifted high. "And I don't give a damn what you think about it. Got that?"
Behind that bold, fiery attitude, though, she was trembling inside. Standing this close to Trunks was frying her nerves. She pretended to study him critically — when in truth, she was desperately searching for a single flaw. But damn it, everything about him was perfect.
"Why do you have to be so stupidly attractive?" she thought, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
"Alright, enough stalling," Trunks said, closing the door and turning to the control panel. "Let's begin."
Tenten nearly bit her tongue trying not to laugh. "Didn't you say you weren't letting anyone else in?"
"Very funny," he muttered, flipping a few switches.
The effect was immediate. All four genin gasped as their knees buckled, their bodies suddenly several times heavier. Even their hair felt like it weighed a ton.
"W-what the hell is this!?" Sakura gasped, collapsing to her knees. "I can barely breathe! You two train like this all the time!?"
"Three times Earth's gravity," Trunks said casually, ignoring the accusing glares from Tenten and Lee — they knew perfectly well he'd lowered it for Ino's sake. "As I said, it's different from any weight training you've done. You'll adjust soon enough."
Lee bent down to remove his weights, but Trunks stopped him. "No. You're the one most used to extreme training. Keep them on."
"We'll start with 100 push-ups. Lee, Tenten — you're warmed up. Sakura, you ran all the way here, so that counts. Ino, stretch for five minutes, then join them."
"100 push-ups!?" Sakura shouted, staring as Lee dropped to the ground with a battle cry, followed by Tenten, trembling but determined. "I can barely move, and you want 100!?"
"Too few? Want 200?" Trunks teased, smirking.
"NO! 100's perfect, you sadistic jerk!" she snapped internally. "CHA! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS SOMEDAY, TRUNKS! CHA CHA!"
Trunks raised a brow, amused by her shaking arms.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Ino asked, still stretching, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Why would I? I'm supervising. My warm-ups are usually around 150 to 200G. I train at 500G with my weighted suit."
Everyone froze. Even Lee stopped mid-push-up.
Sakura stared at the floor in disbelief, her sweat splattering like rain.
"Liar," Ino said between laughs and labored breaths. "You're just trying to impress me, aren't you?"
"Think what you want," he replied coolly, suddenly appearing in front of her. "But I don't see you doing push-ups yet." For all his awkwardness around her, when it came to training, Trunks was dead serious — just like his father drilled into him (sometimes literally). "If you're here to mess around, you're wasting your time. Even Sakura's trying, and all you've done is talk and show up late."
Ino's mouth opened, but no sound came out. He'd just put her in her place — and she couldn't even argue back.
"You think being sensei gives you the right to talk to me like that?" she growled, poking him in the shoulder.
He caught her wrist.
"Not here, Ino," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched. He wasn't hurting her, but the firm grip and that intense gaze made her heart pound. She hadn't realized how close he'd gotten until now — close enough that she could feel his breath on her forehead.
"Everyone's here to get stronger," he continued, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. "It won't be easy, but I promise — in two weeks, you'll see a difference. You won't regret it. But you have to give it everything."
"I'm done, Trunks-sempai!" Lee shouted proudly, standing tall and saluting. "What's next?"
"Excellent," Trunks said, snapping out of it. "Two hundred squats. Tenten, Sakura — same for you once you're done. Then we'll move on to strikes."
"HAI!" they chorused.
Trunks couldn't help smiling a little. Being a sensei actually felt pretty good. Maybe telling them about his own training made them realize he wasn't just being strict for fun.
"HAI!" Ino echoed, surprising him with her sudden enthusiasm as she dropped down to start her push-ups.
He turned away, allowing himself a small grin.
They were all amazing in their own way. Lee was obviously the strongest physically, but each of them was pushing beyond their limits — and that's what mattered most.
"Come on, Sakura. You're almost there."
"Hai!" she gasped. Her arms trembled, sweat dripping like rain, but she refused to quit. Goten was waiting for her next session, and she wouldn't let herself fall short.
"Good, Tenten. Keep it up — you might even catch up to Lee."
Lee's eyes widened, and he immediately picked up the pace, determined not to let that happen.
Trunks chuckled softly.
Life in Konoha hadn't been easy for the Saiyans. Between the destruction they'd caused and the endless missions that barely paid enough to eat, things were rough. Saiyans needed a lot of food. That morning, Trunks had barely managed a small breakfast and had no idea what he'd eat later.
He missed home — the comfort, the peace, his mother, his father. A year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber had been nothing compared to this kind of struggle.
Yet, despite it all… a part of him didn't want to leave. Goten was right. These people — these ninja — were incredible.
He didn't know how, but he'd make it happen. If reaching Super Saiyan 3 was what it took to stop that bastard Cooler, he'd do it. He wouldn't let any monster harm his new friends — not while he still drew breath.
As dusk began to settle, Trunks decided that was enough for the day.Yes — he'd made the four genin train from morning till evening, giving them only a miserable thirty-minute break at noon to eat.
Lee shared his bentō with Sakura, while Tenten did the same with Ino. The two diet-obsessed kunoichi hadn't even thought about bringing lunch, and with Trunks granting so little time, there was no way they could've gone home to eat.
"Is it just me, or does my hair hurt?" Ino groaned, trying to lift a hand to her head — only to let out a pitiful whimper. Her arms refused to obey her. The moment she stepped out of the gravity chamber, her legs began trembling uncontrollably, barely able to hold her upright.
"Don't even think about whining, pig. Tomorrow's going to hurt even worse," Sakura muttered, grimacing. "Ugh… same here…"
Lee, though visibly better off than the rest, even with his weights still on, could feel every muscle screaming with each step. Now he understood — this training truly was unlike anything he'd ever done before.
Gai's students said their goodbyes for the day. Tenten looked ready to collapse, while Lee, despite his exhaustion, was practically glowing, eager to tell his thick-browed sensei every detail about their session.
"I recommend you rest as much as you can," Trunks advised, raising an eyebrow at the two kunoichi's wrecked appearance. "Tomorrow's going to be even tougher. And don't panic if you feel like you could eat for five people tonight — that's normal. Training like this really spikes your appetite. Eat well, give your body what it needs."
He tried to sound serious, but honestly, it was hard not to laugh. Both girls were filthy, sticky with sweat, and looked like they'd just crawled out of a war zone.He could've sworn Sakura even smelled a little bad — something she probably never imagined could happen to her. After all, she barely trained half as much as Sasuke did on his laziest day.
His attention drifted fully to the pink-haired girl, who was grimacing and rubbing her sore muscles, oblivious to his gaze.
"I suggest a hot bath," he said. "It'll relax your muscles and help you sleep better. Tomorrow morning, though… well, that's another story."
"Thanks… I guess…" Sakura mumbled. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't — her body was too dehydrated for tears. She was so out of it that she didn't even question Trunks' unusual kindness.
"I'll tell Goten how you did," he added with a sly grin, glancing at her slumped, lifeless posture. "You probably don't have the strength to face him today anyway.Remember — tomorrow, seven sharp."
Sakura just turned away and waved a limp hand in farewell, too drained to utter another word beyond the dragging shuffle of her feet in the dirt.
When Trunks turned his head, he noticed Ino walking off alone. He jogged to catch up, just before she turned the corner.
"D-do you want me to walk you home?" he asked awkwardly.
To his surprise, she didn't even look at him. "I can handle myself," she said coldly, distant.
"Yeah, I know… I just wondered if you'd mind if I—"
"I don't care," she cut in, still refusing to glance his way.
They walked in silence for a full ten minutes before Ino suddenly stopped, making Trunks nearly bump into her back. She sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose between trembling fingers.
"Trunks… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things so tense. I don't know what the hell I was thinking." She had thought about it — all day, in fact — and reached the painful conclusion that she, the so-called self-proclaimed most beautiful kunoichi in all of Konoha, had completely lost her mind over a guy.
"And maybe that's the worst part," Ino continued softly. "I've been thinking about it, Trunks — about us…" The emotions in her eyes shifted, merging into one — sadness. "You don't belong here. You'll be leaving soon, and you'll never come back. It's not just about what we could be or do… I'm just really going to miss you." Her lips curved into a bittersweet smile as she blinked fast, fighting back tears. "Konoha's a small village. I've grown up here — played and trained with everyone you've met. It feels unfair that I only got to know you now. Honestly, it would've been better if I'd never met you at all."
Trunks opened his mouth, but no words came out. He just stood there, mouth opening and closing uselessly. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but Ino stepped back, hugging herself tightly.
It hurt. They'd grown so close in such a short time, only for it to end in a matter of weeks, with no chance of ever seeing each other again.
"You should've been born here," she whispered, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. "Everything would've been easier. You'd be just another genin like us. You'd have gone to the academy with me, chased cats after class, played ninja with paper shuriken…"
That confession hit them both harder than they wanted to admit. Ino realized, before Trunks did, that they could never truly have anything. Not a commitment — not even a silly, teenage kind of romance. They were from two different worlds.
"What's the point in trying?" she thought bitterly.
"I hadn't thought of it like that," Trunks said quietly, then straightened, determination flickering in his eyes. "But I don't regret coming here." Before she could move away again, he grabbed her by both arms — firm but gentle. She needed to hear this. "Yes, I'll have to leave soon, and maybe we'll never meet again. But I'll never forget what I learned here, or the people I met. I'll remember you every single day."
"Please… don't," she whispered.
But it was too late. Before she realized it, her feet were off the ground again, her body pressed against his in a tight embrace. His chin rested on her shoulder, and the moment his breath brushed her ear, two warm tears slid silently down her cheeks.
"You can regret it if you want," he murmured, voice low and hoarse. "I wouldn't blame you. Maybe you're right. But I can't regret any of this. Meeting everyone — Kakashi, Asuma-sensei, Naruto, Lee, Hinata… hell, even Sakura and Sasuke — I'll remember them all."
For some inexplicable reason, forming words became almost impossible — he felt like he was losing his mind.
And maybe he was.
There was a reason for it, though — a Saiyan reason. His species, bred for battle, had incredibly sharp senses — especially smell. When females released certain pheromones, it triggered instincts meant to ensure the survival of the race. Ino's sweat only intensified that scent. And since Saiyans shared similar biology with humans, he wasn't immune to its effects. His senses blurred, his judgment faltered — just like it had with Sakura. Saiyans were still part beast, after all.
He suddenly released her. Ino staggered, dazed, her muscles screaming for rest.If not for her father, she might've asked Trunks to carry her home — walking felt like torture.
"S-see you tomorrow," Trunks stammered. "Seven sharp. Don't be late again, or I'll lock you out."
Leaving her stunned and speechless, he turned and hurried off toward the hospital. Better to leave now than question what the hell had just happened.
"W-wait… what about me?" she sputtered, heart pounding so hard it hurt. That idiot — saying all those sweet things and then just running off! What did he think she was, some fangirl to be left swooning in the street!?
"You didn't even mention me, you jerk!" she yelled after him. "So you liked meeting everyone but me, huh!? Is that what I mean to you!? You know what — I wish you'd never come at all!"
Trunks stopped dead in his tracks with a firm tap. Ino was going to drive him insane. She was utterly bipolar.
"You idiot!" he snapped, spinning around to point at her. His face was as red as a sunburned tomato. "I don't have to mention you! Why are you so damn egocentric? You're impossible, Ino! You think you can always get your way, but not this time. I'm warning you — before I leave, you won't be able to hold back. You'll be the one to kiss me. Got it?"
"Me!?" she gasped, feeling faint — it hit like a slap to the face. "Ha! Dream on, idiot! You're the one dying to kiss me! I don't blame you — I'm the most beautiful girl you've ever seen! I bet where you're from, all the women are ugly! You're just not used to beauty like mine, hahaha!"
For a split second, he could've sworn he heard his mother's voice coming out of her mouth. He shook his head violently. That image almost made him gag.
"You haven't met anyone like me either!" he shot back. "I can do things nobody else can — and it's obvious you like me!"
"Oh yeah? Liar!" Her face was even redder than his — and given how pale she was, it showed ten times more.
"You'll kiss me first, Ino!"
"Ha! Not a chance — you'll kiss me first, admit it!"
"You're talking nonsense! Just look at yourself — you're crazy about me!"
"What? Sorry, can't hear you! Maybe it's because you're mumbling through those lips that clearly want to kiss me!" she taunted, puckering them mockingly.
"You'll kiss me first!"
"No, you'll kiss me first!"
"WILL YOU TWO JUST KISS ALREADY!?" yelled a random voice from a nearby apartment window, furious that the pair of idiots were shouting loud enough to wake the neighborhood.
Both of them nearly died from embarrassment. Shoulders hunched, they exchanged one last awkward glance — then bolted in opposite directions, faces burning, without saying another word.