Two days later, Naruto and the others returned to Konoha.
"This is your mission reward."
Kakashi handed each of them an envelope as he walked out of the Mission Hall alone.
"Kakashi-sensei, do we have any new missions coming up?" Sakura asked, sneaking a glance at Sasuke.
"No," Kakashi said calmly. "You're all free to arrange your own schedules for the next week."
"Eh...?"
Sakura blinked. Last time they returned from a mission, they had two days off—and she hadn't even caught a glimpse of Sasuke. Now they were getting a whole week. Would she not see him at all?
Sasuke, however, was secretly pleased. More time to train.
"Kakashi-senpai, can we accept missions on our own?" Naruto asked, frowning as he weighed his envelope. "I already spent most of my money on explosive tags. If I don't take missions this week, this won't last me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke's mood instantly soured. But after a moment, he reconsidered—was Kakashi's plan hiding something deeper?
"With your current rank, you're not eligible to accept missions independently," Kakashi replied, his gaze on Naruto. "If you're short on money, I can lend you some."
"Borrow money from you?"
Naruto looked serious for a moment, then shook his head. "Never mind. I'll manage. If there's no mission, I'll head out now."
With that, he turned and disappeared around the corner.
"I'm heading home too," Sasuke muttered and left in the opposite direction.
Sakura was a bit disappointed. She had wanted to ask Sasuke what his plans were for the week. After saying goodbye to Kakashi, she returned home.
A few minutes later, Kakashi pulled out his beloved Icha Icha Paradise, flipped through a few pages, and then poof!—he vanished.
But moments later, he reappeared right in front of Sasuke. The book was gone.
Sasuke, just walking out of a nearby street, blinked in surprise.
"Drop off your things and meet me at Training Ground #5," Kakashi said, then disappeared again.
"Huh?"
Frowning, Sasuke immediately quickened his pace. He decided to ask Naruto what was going on.
—
Land of Snow, Secret Laboratory
Naruto was overseeing his Shadow Clone performing surgery on Genichi. Suddenly, he formed a hand seal.
In front of him, an image of Sasuke, Sharingan activated, shimmered into view.
"Kakashi asked me to meet him at the training ground. Why?"
"To help you get stronger," Naruto replied.
"What?"
Before Sasuke could ask more, Naruto cut the link.
"Damn it..."
Sasuke stood up, composed himself, and headed out.
Not long after, at Training Ground #5, he met Kakashi.
"You wanted to see me?" Sasuke asked, recalling Naruto's words.
"Here," Kakashi handed him a scroll, then lifted his headband, revealing the Sharingan in his left eye. "Starting today, I'll personally guide you through a new stage of training."
"A new stage?" Sasuke was puzzled, but the sight of the familiar three-tomoe Sharingan startled him.
"You already knew I had this eye?" Kakashi asked, narrowing his gaze.
Sasuke quickly recovered. "Anyone who's read the Academy history logs knows that after the Third Shinobi World War, the village hailed two Sharingan heroes. One of them was the famous 'Copy Ninja Kakashi.'"
"A hero, huh…"
Kakashi gave a self-deprecating smile. "Then I guess there's no need for introductions."
Sasuke relaxed, then changed the subject. "Is the scroll about new jutsu?"
"No," Kakashi replied. "It contains my personal insights on how to use the Sharingan."
"Your insights?" Sasuke fell into thought. "So you brought me here just to teach me how to use the Sharingan?"
"And this."
Kakashi swiftly formed hand signs. A moment later, his right hand glowed with crackling lightning, emitting a high-pitched chirp—the Chidori.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "So he really is the man with the 50/50 win rate..."
That night, Kakashi entered the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage."
He found Yamato already present.
"Kakashi, I heard that the ten-year-old Jinchūriki from the Waterfall Village has already mastered her Tailed Beast's power?"
The Third Hokage asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't see her use it," Kakashi said, glancing at Yamato. "But I did see a young girl take down a group of rogue shinobi without breaking a sweat."
"Hm..."
The Third took a puff of his pipe. "I hear you gave Team 7 a week off?"
"Yes," Kakashi answered evenly. "I plan to use that time to significantly increase Sasuke's strength."
"Well done," the Third said with a nod. Then, with a soft sigh, he asked, "What are your thoughts on Naruto?"
"We need to resolve his training issues soon," Kakashi replied, shaking his head. "And... I'm pretty sure Naruto doesn't like me. He still only sees me as a senior comrade."
"Haha."
The Third Hokage chuckled. "Considering Sasuke calls you by name, I think Naruto is far more polite."
—
Elsewhere, Sasuke used a visual projection technique to contact Naruto.
"Will it be a problem if I master Chidori in just one day?"
"Not at all," Naruto replied seriously. "It's just an A-rank jutsu. For a genius with the Sharingan, needing a whole day is already too long."
"You...!"
Sasuke snorted, and the projection vanished.
Sitting on his bed, Sasuke sighed. He realized he was being too hasty. After all, when Naruto had guided him before, it had taken him three full days to master this Lightning Release jutsu, which combined both chakra nature and shape manipulation.
"Damn it! I was so close to mastering Storm Release... and now this."
Kakashi demonstrating the Chidori had triggered his suspicions, and sure enough, after sharing the training secrets, Kakashi ordered Sasuke to report every morning for personal instruction.
Now Sasuke understood what Naruto had meant—"Showing the Sharingan will earn you benefits."
But something still puzzled him—why was Kakashi avoiding training the other two?
No... it wasn't about the team.
"It's not that he's avoiding my teammates—it's that he's avoiding Naruto!"
Sasuke suddenly realized this, but immediately fell into confusion again.
Why would Kakashi go out of his way to avoid Naruto?
Five Days Later – Noon – Land of Waterfalls
Naruto, in disguise, arrived at the bounty exchange. He had prepared this whole setup during the return trip from the Waterfall Village.
Today was the day Kirisame was supposed to meet Kakuzu.
In a private room, Naruto expanded his sensory range while casually flipping through a hunter-nin recommendation guide. Outside the room, in the main hall, "Kirisame" was waiting.
Ten minutes passed.
Naruto's expression shifted. He tossed the guide aside and pressed a button on the chair.
Clack—
The door opened. A friendly-looking middle-aged man entered—the exchange's manager.
"Honored guest, were none of the hunters to your liking?"
This guest had conducted several high-value transactions in the past five days.
Naruto nodded slightly. "My goods were hijacked in this country. I need real experts. Seems I'll have to issue a bounty."
The manager bowed. "I apologize. I'll fetch the contract forms immediately."
"I'll go with you," Naruto said and stood up first.
They exited together into the main hall. Besides "Kirisame," only a few bounty hunters were casually browsing job listings.
Naruto sat at a table with his back to the door. The manager retrieved a form from behind the counter—but just then, the doors opened.
Two figures in red-cloud-on-black cloaks walked in.
One wore a hood and face mask, revealing only piercing green eyes. The other had a slicked-back purple hairstyle, a strange symbol on his chest, and an enormous triple-bladed scythe on his back.
Kakuzu and Hidan.
The manager glanced at them but proceeded toward Naruto. The other patrons paid no mind—except "Kirisame," who abruptly stood.
"Please state the details and bounty for your mission."
"I need someone captured. The reward is 80 million ryō. Here's the dossier."
Naruto handed over a packet of documents, then unsealed a scroll—POOF!—two chests appeared.
"Here's 20 million up front."
The room froze. Even Kakuzu narrowed his eyes at Naruto. Hidan looked disgusted.
The manager was ecstatic. "Sir, we only require 10 million as a deposit—"
"The extra 10 million is an advance for whoever accepts the mission. If they complete it, I'll add another 20 million."
Naruto tapped the cash. "I'll be staying in the Land of Waterfalls. If someone wants the job, send them to the inn I used for delivery—after I evaluate them personally."
"That's over 100 million total!"
The manager quickly tucked the dossier into his sleeve and said, "Please take your contract copy."
"I hope you find someone truly capable," Naruto said, standing.
Suddenly, a figure blocked his path—Kakuzu.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, amused.
"I'll take your mission," Kakuzu said.
The manager rushed between them. "Sorry, sir, the request hasn't been filed yet—"
"I said, this mission is mine," Kakuzu snapped, never taking his eyes off Naruto.
"Hey hey hey~"
Hidan strolled up. "You just can't resist money, can you? Don't forget why we're here in the first place."
"Shut it," Kakuzu growled, tossing a card to the manager.
The manager's face changed upon reading the name card. He handed it to Naruto. "Congratulations, sir. This is Kakuzu—our top-performing bounty hunter."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What a coincidence."
"Not coincidence," Kakuzu replied, eyes gleaming. "Fate. I'm destined to meet money."
Even Hidan rolled his eyes.
"You sure he's the one I'm looking for?"
"Yes," the manager said solemnly. "He's completed more than half of all missions above 30 million on the list. His organization took two-thirds of them, and Kakuzu himself completed half of those."
"His ID and group information are all on record."
"I trust the exchange's credibility."
Naruto glanced at the card, then smiled and extended a hand. "Kakuzu, nice to meet you. If this job works out, I may consider a long-term partnership."
"We'll see," Kakuzu said, gripping his hand. "Now hand over the 10 million advance."
Naruto chuckled, withdrew his hand, and lifted one of the chests onto the table.
Kakuzu accepted it, then turned to the manager. "Give me the dossier."
"Of course."
The manager retrieved it from his sleeve and handed it over.
"Can we go now!?" Hidan was getting annoyed. "We came here for business, not this side hustle!"
"Wait. I need to count the money."
Kakuzu opened the chest, pulled out a stack of bills—and right there in the middle of the hall, he started counting.
Author's Note:
Someone said I'm too long-winded. They're not wrong—my writing sucks. If I had to simplify this chapter:
Naruto returned to Konoha, scouted the bounty station, Sasuke had to humble himself, and in the end, Naruto shook hands with Kakuzu.
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