... delicious.
Kakashi stared blankly at the clean and empty plate in front of him. Although he did have high expectations for Naruto's cuisine - that confidence was by no means groundless - the delicious taste that burst out at the entrance, with rich layers to the extreme, far exceeded his expectations.
It was an almost overbearing taste experience, with each bite accurately hitting the most pleasant point of the taste buds, making it impossible to stop the chopsticks and could only instinctively keep eating until the plate was empty.
He didn't even remember how he finished eating. When he came back to his senses, he realized that the plate in front of him was empty.
Naruto and Satsuki were clearing away the dishes and chopsticks on the table in tacit agreement. While Naruto was wiping the table, he couldn't help but glance at Kakashi with his weird eyes.
So how does Kakashi manage to eat while wearing a mask? Won't it get rubbed everywhere? Doesn't he find it troublesome?
However, Naruto is not curious about Kakashi's true appearance. Because he has known the handsome face under the mask through the character [Hatake Kakashi Phantom True Face] in the Hokage mobile game.
"I'm full, thank you for the treat." After reacting, Kakashi finally put down his chopsticks, with a hint of unnoticeable aftertaste and surprise in his tone. He solemnly thanked Naruto, "This is really... a very good dish. It's impressive."
"Well, that's good." Naruto came back to his senses and responded with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, as long as the teacher likes it."
Kakashi stood up and adjusted his vest. "Then I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." He looked at his three subordinates, his tone returned to his usual lazy tone, but with precise instructions, "Remember, we gathered at the same place this morning to prepare for our first mission of Team 7."
His eyes stayed on the three of them for a moment, and finally said:
"Team 7, we will be disbanded today."
After saying that, he waved his hand, dialed Body Flicker Technique, and disappeared from his seat.
He is going to a place, a place where he will always go. He wanted to personally bring the news that he had finally become a teacher to the cold building Memorial Stone, and tell it to his companion named Uchiha Obito who would always stay in his youth.
"Hey, Naruto, what are your plans for this afternoon?"
After clearing away the dishes, Satsuki asked extremely self-consciously. For her, Naruto's next answer was equivalent to her entire schedule for the afternoon.
"Now that I have officially become Ninja, in order to cope with various dangers that I may encounter in the future, let's go practice in the afternoon. We must seize the time to improve our strength." Naruto replied while wiping his hands.
"Well, then I'll go prepare some water and towels for the afternoon." Satsuki nodded, and skillfully began to prepare the supplies needed for practice. This kind of tacit understanding between the two of them, which needs no words, has lasted for many years.
On the side, Sakura looked at the tacit atmosphere that it was difficult for others to intervene, and felt a little envious in her heart, but she understood that if she wanted to truly integrate into this group, instead of always being a "drag" who needs to be protected, she must muster the courage to take the first step.
"Um... can I, can I come with you?"
When the two people's eyes turned to her at the same time, Sakura mustered up all his courage and said, "Through today's exercise, I completely understand... Although Kakashi-sensei finally agreed." It's our team spirit, but... the gap between my strength and yours is really too big. I really don't want to hold you back in future missions... So, please, please let me practice with you!"
Her eyes were full of determination.
Naruto looked at Sakura's serious look, with a gentle and encouraging smile on his face. "Well, that's enough! Welcome, Sakura. But let's talk first, my training is very strict, so don't complain when the time comes."
"Yes! I will try my best to keep up and I will never complain!" Sakura saw Naruto agreeing readily, and immediately promised happily, feeling full of motivation in his heart.
However, watching this scene silently from behind, Satsuki felt a little complicated. At present, it seems that... it is basically certain that Sakura does not have the kind of love between men and women for Naruto.
To be honest, Satsuki doesn't want this. She knows better than anyone else how strong and terrifying her possessiveness towards Naruto is in her heart. Because of this, in the past few years, she has been desperately restraining the desire that almost completely envelopes Naruto, forcing herself to accept that Naruto, besides her, should also have normal lives and have normal interactions with other people.
But even so, she still unconsciously became extremely clingy. Wherever Naruto went, her eyes and footsteps would follow. In the past, she was very afraid that Naruto would be bored and exhausted by her excessive dependence and following, and eventually alienate her.
It wasn't until this clingy state lasted for a long time, and Naruto had a consistent attitude towards her, and even occasionally moved and ruffled her hair, that she finally slowly let go of her worries.
... However, contact and getting along with teammates is inevitable. Moreover, a three-person team is the rule, and I can't change this...
She looked at Sakura in front of her with great interest, and after some intense weighing in her heart, she finally made a difficult decision.
... Forget it, that's it. From now on, I will forcefully treat Sakura as a boy.
This should be able to barely control my emotions...
However, if she dares to show Naruto the feeling of going beyond the boundaries of teammates in the future...
Satsuki's eyes darkened imperceptibly for a moment, and his fingertips tightened unconsciously.
Sakura, who had no idea that he had just wandered around the edge of some kind of danger, was still immersed in the joy of being able to practice with the longing Satsuki and the reliable Naruto, and was full of pure expectations for the future.
(There is another update, currently being written)