Naruto: BELIEVE IT

'Chakra overload... he said.'

Recalling what happened during the test, Kakashi thought.

He was thinking of the last blow that Naruto made.

Its magnitude of impact was enough to consider Naruto's technique a B rank at the very least. Knowing that Naruto didn't have a proper trainer until now, Kakashi found himself baffled.

'Not even Sasuke could do that. What he did was to hone and improve what he learned from clansmen prior to the incident.'

Though Kakashi didn't let it out on the outside, he wondered—if Naruto was the genius on the same standard as someone like Uchiha Itachi.

__________

Teamwork.

Such was the requirement of a team that Konoha valued above all. Even if an individual's skills lacked, if other teammates were to make up for them, they could together become a powerhouse.

It was also for this reason that Konoha's ANBU was able to take on dangerous missions of Rank A or above, even with their average level of skill being that of a chunin.

In order to build teamwork effectively, what the newly made genins did following the formation of the team, was to go under D-ranked missions... over and over again.

"Oh, poor Tora... good little kitty-kitty... I was so worried about you, I could have died!"

This was the seventh D-ranked mission that they completed. Among them, five of them involved returning the lost cat named Tora of this woman, lady Shijimi the wife of the Land of Fire's daimyo.

Staring at Shijimi who groped her cat in a crushing grip, Naruto felt like sighing from this deja vu.

'I wonder how long it'll take for the cat to go stray again.'

Hopefully, they won't be receiving this mission again for a while.

During this time, Hiruzen who was looking through the files. As Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood, waiting for their next mission, Naruto noticed Iruka helping Hiruzen in sorting files right by the side.

"Ah? Iruka-sensei. Are you all fine now?"

"Healthy as ever, Naruto. Hope you're doing well too!"

"Well..."

Naruto had to suppress an urge to groan,

"So so, I'd say."

Sakura and Sasuke blinked their eyes, wondering since when Naruto was quite close to Iruka.

"Now then,"

As their converstion ended, Hiruzen spoke up,

"Next assignment for team 7, the options are... hmm, to babysit for the council of elders, to run errands to the neighbouring village, to help dig sweet potatoes, and—"

"..."

Naruto frowned, unable to conceal his expression. By the sides, Sakura and Sasuke were no different.

However, he eventually succumbed, knowing that this was a necessary progress.

Building a teamwork had a prerequisite progress, which was to build a bond. To get to know one another more, of their strengths and weaknesses, and getting to like them personally—that's what village intended to have them do.

That didn't mean he liked it, however. He felt as if he was wasting time, and honestly speaking, he didn't feel closer to his teammates after undergoing these missions.

"Understood, Hokage-sama. We'll take this one."

Receiving the files from Hiruzen, Kakashi glanced them briefly before ordering Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke,

"Let's head for just one more. Afterward, I'll treat you to a nice dinner. How does that sound?"

'Free food?'

Naruto found his face lightening immediately.

...

"And, as for this mission... C-ranked, is it?"

It was a simple escort mission. Even by the standards of C-ranked ones, it was considered quite low in the level of danger.

Hiruzen deduced that it would be better to give this one to a team of genin so that they may have an opportunity to build experience, rather than chunins who have more important uses.

"...Team 9 is away. Team 8 seems to having a clunky time, and team that specializes in tracking doesn't fit for an escort. Team 7... seems to need more time for an effective teamwork building, from what Kakashi reported."

"Hokage-sama, don't tell me that you...!"

As Iruka asked Hiruzen, wide-eyed, Hiruzen nodded,

"You too know, Iruka, that one way or the other, we need to give them chances. It's never too early or too late, it's the matter of when."

In Hiruzen's eyes was one paper, one that listed the profile of team 10, one that was comprised of Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji—under the discipleship of jonin Sarutobi Asuma... who was also Hiruzen's own son.

Having made his thoughts, Hiruzen ordered Iruka,

"Call team 10, Iruka."

__________

"Do you feel closer to each other? After missions that we did together?"

Sitting in a Yakiniku place, Kakashi asked with a humour in his tone.

"It's been a month since our team was formed. We did teamwork exercises and proceeded to take D-ranked missions every Friday of the week. This way, we managed to complete 8 D-ranked missions... quite productive, isn't it?"

"..."

"...How enthusiastic."

Kakashi sweatdropped as none of them replied—though it was mostly due to the mental exhaustion. Sakura especially, she seemed as if she was about to fall asleep any second.

As the meat was being grilled in the middle, Kakashi resumed his words,

"Well then, before we get to enjoy the meal, let me relay to you guys."

Seeing that Kakashi was about to get serious, the three members focused their attention to his words.

"I believe that in terms of missions, we will be taking more D-ranked missions for some time. You probably noticed as well, but our coordination is still off and needs many improvements. However, that's not the point. Starting next week,"

Kakashi smiled as he held his finger up,

"We'll officially start our training! Expect to learn many things!"

Sasuke clenched his hands, delighted by the news.

Sakura gulped.

Naruto grinned in anticipation.

'About time.'

"With that said,"

Kakashi clapped his hands and eye-smiled,

"Let's eat!"

__________

"C-ranked? You two?"

During the weekend, Naruto managed to meet Shikamaru and Choji. Upon the meet, it was the details regarding their mission that they spoke before all things.

Frankly speaking, Naruto found himself surprised.

"Huh, now that's quick."

"Eh, it won't be much different from a D-ranked one."

Choji shrugged.

"Says that it's just an escort of some drunk guy. Like, man was barely awake by the time we met him! Ta... Tazuna? I think that was his name!"

"...Yeah, watch your mouth, Choji, casually leaking the information of your client like that..."

Naruto sweatdropped.

"Huh? But saying this to you is fine, right, Naruto?"

"Still, mission is mission. If there is someone who seeks to kill or harm your client, this may have raised the danger level of this mission to B-rank or higher—though that's extremely unlikely. Besides, Konoha isn't entirely protected. There's bound to be a hole somewhere, when the village is this big."

"Naruto is right, Choji..."

Sighing numerous times from the fact that he won't get to enjoy a lazy life for a while, Shikamaru said weakly,

"Though I doubt that there's much to this mission."

As they conversed and hanged out in a park, someone approached them.

"Hey! Shikamaru! Choji!"

And eventually, a girly voice interrupted them. Turning to the source, they were met with the sight of the blonde girl, Ino.

"What are you two doing there—Naruto?"

Ino immediately frowned before taking one step back.

"Why are you two hanging out with him?!"

"Why not?"

Choji raised an eyebrow. Shikamaru groaned.

Naruto stared at Ino, chuckling lightly in amusement.

"What are you laughing at?!"

"I mean... why do you dislike me anyway?"

"Because Sasuke-kun doesn't like you! You took his first place!"

"He seems fine with me though? I'm in the same team as him, you know."

"Er..."

Ino stuttered,

"You trash-talked my friends and me in the past!"

"Ino, there's no way."

Shikamaru groaned again,

"That's from five years ago. You still hold onto that?"

"S-Shut up, Shikamaru!"

On that, Naruto added,

"Sakura seems fine with me as well."

Ino snorted at that,

"Lies!"

"Truths!"

Everyone paused and looked at Naruto.

"...What?"

"Did you really think that that's funny?"

Choji rubbed his arms,

"Dude, I grew goosebumps from that. Why are you making me cringe?"

"..."

Naruto was at loss of words.

__________

Weekend passed, and team 7 has met again in the training ground.

"YOU'RE LATE!!"

After Kakashi's 3-hour-late arrival and Sakura's shriek, they have started their training as he promised.

"Today... let's first have an accurate assessment of your stamina and endurance."

He had the three of them run around the training ground in circles. After just one, Sakura was already exhausted, resorting to walking. Sasuke persisted for a lot longer, going over five laps before his speed notably slowed.

What fascinated all of them, however, was Naruto. Though Sasuke was initially ahead with a superior speed, he continued to run at a consistent pace even after ten laps, and although winded up, he seemed able to go for more.

"Alright, stop."

After the examination, Kakashi called them to come to a stop. Sakura immediately fell to the ground, panting heavily. Sasuke huffed as he placed his hands on his knees. Naruto, wiping the sweat off his forehead, breathed out.

"Sakura will definitely have to work on her stamina. Stamina is a basis to everything, one that dictates all the way from a physical prowess to chakra amount."

"Sasuke, you aren't that different. It seems that you know the way to run in a way that minimizes the air resistance, but your basal stamina isn't at genin's standard either."

"And for you, Naruto..."

Kakashi hummed, seeing that Naruto was at a sufficient level if not more.

"Let's do some weight training for you meanwhile."

...

Really, there was no shortcut to raising one's stamina.

One of the best ways was to strengthen one's heart and lungs via aerobic exercises, and that meant... more running for Sakura and Sasuke.

"Huff... huff..."

Sakura's long hair was flying everywhere as she swayed. Running as she sweated profusely, she seemed about to pass out at any second.

Sasuke, though just as exhausted, held on while biting his lips. His eyes were looking at Naruto, angered by the fact that the blonde was ahead of him in terms of progress. Persisting on, he continued running.

And Naruto,

"Weight bands, huh?"

"I managed to snatch some from my friend. Try them."

Without much thoughts, Naruto put on the four weight bands on his wrists and ankles—with a little difficulty. He realized that each one of them were quite heavy, enough to take a toll on him simply by standing.

"Think of stamina as chakra. What do you do with chakra? You use it to pull out a variety of jutsus, right? Stamina is no different. If there is no sufficient jutsu to use, what's the point of stamina?"

The point that Kakashi was trying to make was that Naruto had to raise his physical strength. In other words, power.

"You seemed to be training on your own. However, I can make it faster for you, Naruto."

Naruto grinned,

"I like the idea of that, Kakashi-sensei."

After that, Kakashi had Naruto join in the running session of Sakura and Sasuke, before he went on to read his favourite book, 'Icha Icha Paradise'.

"Ohoho, you are such a genius, Jiraiya-san."

Every once a while, his three students gave him a weird look, not that he cared.