Kurallara uygun şekilde; anlatımdaki "sensei/chan/kun" eklerini temizledim, diyalogları karakterlerin ilişkilerine göre korudum ve metnin akışını daha doğal hale getirdim.
"Naruto, we meet again."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses, his smile flawless.
"It seems you and Kiba-kun get along quite well."
"Ah, Kabuto-senpai."
A hint of perfectly timed surprise appeared on Naruto's face, which then shifted into an equally gentle smile. It was as if he were seeing a senior worthy of respect.
"What a coincidence, senpai. Are you volunteering here?"
Yakushi Kabuto pushed a dressing cart into the room, his gaze behind the lenses lingering on Naruto for a split second.
In truth, it wasn't a coincidence at all.
After discovering Naruto had come to the hospital, he had specifically applied for the dressing changes on this floor. It was all to observe this "Demon Fox" up close—the one who had been making quite a stir lately.
"Yes, Naruto."
While skillfully changing Kiba's bandages, Kabuto replied with a smile: "I heard you became the top graduate. Congratulations. I wonder, have you had a chance to look at that book list I gave you?"
Yakushi Kabuto asked as if in passing.
"It's all thanks to you, senpai."
Naruto pushed up his own glasses, his tone humble. "I've already read most of the books you recommended. I've benefited greatly."
"Oh? Do you have any thoughts after reading them?" Yakushi Kabuto asked curiously.
"After reading them, I realized... the human body is truly fragile."
Naruto's tone grew slightly heavy.
"Even a tiny cellular lesion or a nervous system disorder can easily destroy a powerful shinobi. The more I know, the more I feel this world is truly terrifying. Accidents and dangers are always everywhere."
Kabuto's hand paused for a moment before returning to normal.
One couldn't voice such insights without a certain understanding of Iryo Ninjutsu and human anatomy. Moreover... this view on the fragility of life seemed to coincide perfectly with Orochimaru-sama's thoughts.
Is this what they call... a kindred spirit?
Kabuto turned to look at Naruto, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"Indeed. It is precisely because of danger that we must remain vigilant at all times. By constantly pursuing the truth to arm ourselves, right?"
He pushed up his round-framed glasses.
"You're right, senpai." Naruto replied with a smile, also pushing up his black-framed glasses. "In order to survive, one can never be too cautious."
"Heh, a very interesting perspective."
Kabuto packed up the dressing cart, preparing to leave. As he passed by Naruto, he whispered a single sentence:
"If there's a chance, we could have an in-depth exchange... on the topics of truth and survival."
With that, he waved his hand and walked out of the ward.
Watching Yakushi Kabuto's departing back, the smile on Naruto's face gradually faded.
"Yakushi Kabuto..."
His sharp intuition told him that beneath this senior's gentle skin lay a cold, venomous snake. Those words just now were both a probe and an invitation.
It seems I've already attracted quite a few people's attention, Naruto thought to himself.
However, he wasn't worried; being noticed was better than being ignored. Only by demonstrating value does one earn the right to participate in the game.
You are either at the table or on the plate. This was the lesson Aizen-sama had taught him.
"Boss Naruto, what are you looking at?"
Inuzuka Kiba asked curiously, seeing Naruto lost in thought.
"Nothing."
Naruto turned around, his face once again wearing a smile.
"I was thinking... what kind of surprise I should give Kakashi-sensei for tomorrow's exercise. By the way, Kiba-kun, come find me once your injuries are healed. I need to properly train my first lackey."
Looking at Naruto's face filled with a gentle smile, Inuzuka Kiba suddenly felt his hair stand on end for some reason and shivered.
He had a feeling... that his future days would be very "fulfilling"...
The next day, 5:00 AM.
The sky was just beginning to brighten, and a light mist drifted over Training Ground Three.
The three members of Team 7 had gathered on time.
Sakura was yawning incessantly, her dark circles quite heavy, clearly having slept poorly due to overexcitement. Sasuke leaned against a tree trunk, resting with his eyes closed.
As for Naruto...
"Naruto, what have you been digging in the ground since just now?"
Sakura rubbed her eyes, looking curiously at Naruto and his Kage Bunshin, who were as busy as a construction crew.
Naruto held a Kunai as a shovel, lifting a piece of turf. With practiced movements, he carefully tucked a Kibaku Fuda inside. Then he covered it with soil and scattered some dry grass and leaves for camouflage.
The whole sequence was fluid and smooth—the mark of a repeat offender.
"Nothing, just making some preparations," Naruto said without looking back, his expression unchanged.
Sasuke opened his eyes, glanced at Naruto's actions, and his mouth twitched.
"Are those... Kibaku Fuda? And exactly how many have you buried?"
From the moment they gathered until now, Naruto had been like a hardworking gardener, leading his Kage Bunshin to "loosen" every inch of soil within a hundred-meter radius.
"Not many, just about two hundred. Consider it a small greeting gift."
Naruto clapped the dirt off his hands, his tone as calm as if he were mentioning what he'd just eaten.
"Just... two hundred?!" Sakura cried out in shock. "Naruto, are you trying to blow sensei up?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Naruto stood up and pulled two gas masks from his pocket, handing them to the two.
"What's this now?" Sasuke frowned.
"Gas masks," Naruto explained. "Besides the Kibaku Fuda, I've also buried 50 specially made high-potency chili powder smoke bombs and 20 stench bombs I formulated myself. To prevent accidental injury, these are essential."
"By the way, let me go over the possible situations and plans that might arise in a bit..."
Sasuke and Sakura looked at the masks in front of them and fell into silence.
They suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for the yet-to-appear Kakashi.
Time passed minute by minute.
6:00... 7:00... 8:00... 9:00...
The sun rose higher and higher, and the mist had long since dissipated.
Sakura, her stomach growling, no longer had the strength to stand. To lose weight, she hadn't eaten since last night, and as a result, she had been waiting on an empty stomach for half the day.
So she sat weakly on a rock and complained: "Why isn't sensei here yet! Didn't we agree on five o'clock?"
Sasuke was also looking irritable, his brow furrowed.
Only Naruto remained calm.
He had completed all his arrangements. Whether Kakashi came, left, or changed locations, he already had contingency plans in mind.
Therefore, he could focus his energy elsewhere.
At this moment, Naruto was sitting on the ground, holding a book titled Basic Principles of Fuuinjutsu, reading with great interest.
Finally, when the clock struck eleven, Kakashi arrived late.
"Yo, everyone, morning."
He strolled over leisurely, one hand in his pocket and the other raised in greeting. His signature dead-fish eye curved into a crescent shape, his tone light:
"Sorry about that, I got lost on the path of life..."
Although he was apologizing, not a hint of genuine regret could be heard.
"Liar!" Sakura shouted, pointing angrily at Kakashi.
Sasuke also gave a cold snort, his gaze hostile.
"Now, now, don't be so hot-headed at such a young age."