Immortal's Prophecy (1)

"You've all passed."

"Huh?" Hinata was startled, a mix of confusion and unexpected joy washing over her.

Kakashi explained, "The purpose of this exercise was to test your teamwork as a squad. Grabbing the bells was the first step in working together, and how you handled their distribution was the even more critical second step... I'm glad to say you all managed it, choosing the team's interests over your own in that situation."

He paused, his tone turning serious. "Missions are usually carried out in squads... Sure, individual skill is important for a ninja, but acting alone without teamwork can put your comrades in danger—even lead to disastrous consequences."

"Anyone who breaks the rules and iron laws of the ninja world is called trash. But those who don't value their comrades are worse than trash!"

Kakashi shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky, a breeze ruffling his silver hair.

Hinata stared blankly at Kakashi; Sasuke listened quietly, then lowered his head to sheath his short sword back into the holster at his waist; Naruto just stood there grinning like an idiot.

"Anyway, this is awesome!"

Naruto scrambled to his feet, laughing as he walked over to high-five Sasuke and Hinata in celebration. But Sasuke just closed his eyes, snorted "Idiot," and sidestepped away. Hinata, like a startled deer, blushed and stared at Naruto's raised hand, completely at a loss for what to do.

Kakashi watched from behind, a pleased smile crinkling his eyes. After a moment, his gaze dimmed slightly—he was thinking of his old squad. Back then, there were three of them, but now only he remained.

Obito, you were supposed to be Konoha's hero. How did it come to this...

Kakashi touched the headband over his left eye, thinking to himself, I'll stop you, no matter what.

Naruto felt awkward and was furious at Sasuke for embarrassing him, especially in front of Hinata. He sheepishly lowered his hand, rubbed his nose, and took the lead in suggesting, "To celebrate passing the exercise, let's go eat barbecue! Teacher Kakashi's treat!"

What's this kid going on about on his own? Kakashi was already getting a headache. Having such a willful subordinate... But as their instructor, he'd expected to treat them to a meal sooner or later. It wasn't so much an unspoken tradition in Konoha as it was that the kids here never acted like outsiders.

"Alright, I'll treat you all to barbecue then... Starting tomorrow, Team 7 begins missions!"

At least there's no one from the Akimichi Clan in my squad...

"Yeah!" Naruto perked up and headed out with Kakashi. The Nine-Tails' chakra had drained his stamina, and he was starving.

Hinata quickly followed. Sasuke went to grab his bag from under a tree, dusted it off, and leisurely trailed the three ahead.

When Team 7 arrived at Q BBQ, Team 10 was already inside.

"Yo, Asuma." Kakashi lifted the curtain and raised a hand in greeting.

Asuma turned around, a forced smile plastered on his face. "It's Kakashi, huh... Heh heh heh..."

Kakashi wondered why Asuma's laugh was so fake. Taking a closer look, he saw that little fatso Choji had already stacked two piles of plates in front of him and was frantically grabbing more grilled meat. So that's where the Akimichi kid is. A huge sweatdrop rolled down Kakashi's forehead.

"Hey, Shikamaru? You guys are here too..." Naruto's head popped out from behind Kakashi.

Shikamaru smiled back. "It's Naruto..." He still had that lazy, terminal-slacker look. Judging by the marks on his chopsticks and bowl, he was even too lazy to eat much barbecue.

Thanks to his memories of his seventeen-year-old self, Naruto had an oddly good impression of Shikamaru. After all, that laid-back guy was the only one—and the first—among them to pass the Chunin Exams and become a chunin. He'd also shone during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

So Naruto had liked him since their Ninja Academy days, and the two were fairly close.

"Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Teacher Asuma, hello..." Hinata came in from behind and greeted Team 10 one by one. Even though she didn't know Asuma, she addressed him by the name Kakashi had used. As a well-bred young lady, she'd been taught manners from a young age.

Sasuke wasn't so polite. He just walked in and stood silently to the side.

"Sasuke! You're here too!" Ino waved enthusiastically from her seat, but Sasuke only gave her a cold glance with no reaction. Ino felt deflated, but then thought, Well, that's just how Sasuke is.

"Boss, four servings of barbecue." Kakashi ordered and sat down next to Team 10's table.

Hinata and the others took their seats. As Naruto set his bag aside, he muttered to Sasuke, "Hey, hey, a girl greets you so warmly, and you just ignore her? That's way too cold, don't you think?"

Sasuke sat down beside Naruto, shot him a glance, and said coldly, "Idiot."

Naruto's veins bulged.

The barbecue came quickly. The server lit the grill and set the meat on the table, while Kakashi had already pulled out a little book from somewhere and was reading it with great interest.

"Speaking of which... Did you guys finish your exercise this morning too? That was fast," Naruto asked Shikamaru.

Shikamaru lazily poked at the meat slices on the grill with his chopsticks. "It was alright..."

Asuma, smoking nearby, looked a bit awkward. Kakashi glanced up from his book at Asuma's stiff expression, then at Shikamaru's lazy demeanor. Given Asuma's laid-back style, this outcome isn't surprising.

Just then, there was movement at the door.

"Kiba, why are you running so fast..."

A gust of wind blew in as Kiba, with a little dog on his head, laughed, "Gotta be quick—Akamaru's starving, right?" He looked up, and the dog barked twice.

Sakura, Shino, and Kurenai Yuhi walked into the shop.

"Sasuke—" Sakura's eyes lit up, and she waved. But Sasuke, sitting at his seat, acted as if he hadn't heard, completely unmoved. Sakura drooped her hand in disappointment, while Naruto shrugged helplessly beside Sasuke.

This year's elite genin are all gathered here... Kurenai smiled to herself. Asuma's gaze drifted vaguely toward her.

Team 8 ordered five servings of barbecue and sat down. By then, Team 7's first batch of meat was almost done.

Naruto couldn't wait any longer. He clapped his chopsticks together and shouted, "I'm digging in—"

Poof. He vanished on the spot.

Everyone looked around at each other... What just happened? Where's Naruto?