Naruto bursts through the training ground gates, arms raised high, his orange jacket flashing in the late afternoon sun.
“Hey! Kakashi-sensei, I’m not late, believe it!”
he shouts, skidding to a stop. Sasuke stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed, as Sakura sighs, hands on her hips. Kakashi looks up from his book, only one eye visible, and gives a lazy wave. Behind them, battered wooden posts mark the site of last week’s sparring. The air smells of cut grass and sweat.
“We have a new mission,”
Kakashi says, snapping his book shut.
“It starts outside the village. Real danger this time.”
Naruto’s heart hammers; he clenches his fist, grinning at Sasuke, who doesn’t return the smile. The sun dips lower, casting long shadows over Team 7 as the village gates loom in the distance. Sakura tightens her headband.
“Let’s go. I’m not letting you two show me up.”
Naruto’s stomach growls, but for once he barely notices. Today, the path to Hokage runs straight through danger, and he’s ready to sprint down it.