Preparation (Bonus)

"Tomorrow I'll show you" Chuckling faintly as he noticed his frown deepen even more, Naruto continued "I don't know if this practice is advanced or not, but I know it's infinitely more difficult than walking on water or over trees, and it's certainly useful."

"Alright" Shaking his head, Sasuke continued "For now I'm focusing on my body and Taijutsu, later I'll focus more on my chakra control."

"As you wish" Shrugging his shoulders, Naruto yawned again and started walking towards the forest "Let's go eat, I feel like I'll starve to death any minute now"

"If you consider that you didn't even get up to eat all day, it wouldn't be weird if you died right now"

"I think we could start buying prepared food and then we can avoid going to the village"

"Mn"

***

Knock Knock Knock Knock

"Mmmnh~" Groaning wearily as his door shook from the pounding outside, Naruto grunted in annoyance and got up from the bed, then crumpled his face from the pain and looked down at his shaking hands.

Knock Knock Knock Knock

"Damn it, I'm coming!" Rising angrily, Naruto walked to the door and opened it, then looked at the man behind it and then looked at the two young men at his back "Please don't tell me we have a mission."

"Any problems?" Raising his eyebrows, Kakashi asked.

"My chakra channels are worn out" Showing his trembling hands, Naruto growled "I can't even form a single clone."

"And that's our problem?"

"No..."

"Then get dressed and ready, we'll be gone for several days."

"What mission will we be doing?" sighing, Naruto turned and asked as he began to gather his things.

"C grade mission, escort a person to their country and protect them while they do their job."

Opening his eyes a little wider, Naruto nodded quickly and increased his speed in getting everything ready 'This mission has been on my mind all these days... I didn't know when it started, I didn't know if my change in behavior would affect the possibility of taking it, just like I didn't know how to even ask for it... I never thought Kakashi-sensei would end up taking it out of the blue'

Grabbing his clothes, Naruto laid them on the bed and quickly took off his pajamas, then bent down and pulled out his training weights from under the bed.

Sitting down on the floor, Naruto placed the weights on his legs and then placed them on his arms and slowly stood up to get used to the weight.

"What are you doing?" staring at Naruto's weights, Kakashi asked.

"Getting dressed."

"Why do you use those weights?"

"I train my body."

"We're going on a mission, not training."

"Who says you can't do both?" Snorting as he put on his shirt, Naruto continued "Don't worry, I won't slow down"

"You look like you're lucky to be on your feet."

"This is heavy"

"And you say you won't slow us down?"

"Like you said, it's my problem"

"Sigh" With a tired sigh while shaking his head, Kakashi folded his arms and commented "Then don't complain if you die because of your carelessness."

"How would I complain if I'd be dead already?" Slipping on his sandals, Naruto hid the weights under his clothes and nodded with satisfaction, then hung the forehead protector around his neck and grabbed his bags with kunais and shurikens.

"We're leaving" Turning around, Kakashi put his hands in his pocket and walked quietly down the hallway while Naruto closed the door, then commented "You have one hour before we leave, prepare your own supplies and spare food for the trip, when you're done go towards the south gate of the village and wait for me"

Finishing his words, Kakashi gave them a quick glance at the trio and disappeared from the place, leaving behind the three sleepy young men who looked at each other.

"..."

"..."

"..."

With a few seconds of awkward silence, Naruto looked at the duo beside him and asked, "Shall we go to the market?"

"Mn."

"Yes..." With a somewhat uncomfortable face, Sakura nodded.

"The journey will take months and we don't know if there will be villages along the way to replenish our supplies, so let's take dried meat and bread."

"But bread gets hard" Looking sideways at Naruto, Sakura commented.

"You dip it in a little water and that's it" Shrugging, Naruto continued "It wouldn't hurt to bring some treats either. Although they don't fill the stomach much, they contain a lot of calories that will keep us with the energy we need."

"You're really going on the mission with the weights?" looking at the stiff manner in which Naruto walks, Sasuke asked.

"Of course."

"Not only will it be difficult, it will also be dangerous."

"No pain, no gain"

"..." Standing still for a few seconds, Sasuke formed a clone beside him and kept walking as the clone ran off in another direction.

"Will you bring your weights?" With a slight smile, Naruto asked.

"Yes..."

"It's never too late to take them off if needed for any confrontation" Nodding, Naruto continued "They also serve as a shield, since they're made of metal."

"Mn."

"..." Staring at Naruto for a few seconds, Sakura looked down and fiddled with her fingers, then looked back up at him and asked with obvious hesitation "Naruto-kun..."

"Yes?" Cocking his head to the side without stopping his pace, Naruto looked at the abnormally silent Sakura and asked "Is something wrong?"

"I..." Opening and closing her mouth as the hesitation on her face seemed to grow, Sakura finally clenched her fists tightly and asked with a slight stutter "I-I could train with you?"

"Mmmm..." With surprise in his gaze, Naruto stared at Sakura for a few seconds and replied "I wouldn't have a problem, but I really don't know what to do with you other than the basics... with Sasuke we're focusing on a good physical base and good chakra control, but I think the latter for you will be a bit complicated to teach you."

"W-why?"

"Because your chakra control is monstrous" Noticing the nervousness growing on the usually confident girl's face, Naruto continued with a slight smile "I'm sure the chakra control training that to us can keep us busy for days, for you will be as easy as breathing"

Frowning slightly, Sasuke turned his gaze to Sakura and scanned her closely, then turned his gaze to Naruto and asked "Are you kidding?"

"Not at all" Shaking his head, Naruto continued "Although her chakra reserves are not as crazy as mine, and her talent for ninjutsu is not as good as yours, Sakura has an advantage that neither of us have, and that is a great understanding in techniques and a good handling of chakra naturally."

"I... have good chakra handling?" looking at her hands quizzically, Sakura looked up at Naruto and asked "How do you know?"

"Because I watch you" Bringing her hands to the back of her neck while walking nonchalantly, Naruto continued "On the way I will continue training, if you want I can give you some tips on what I know about chakra control, but more that I can't help you since the path you can take is very different from mine."

"The path I can take?"

"There are many ways to gain strength by having good chakra control, but if you were to ask my opinion on what to do... I think the physician path would be great for you."

"Being a medic?" frowning slightly, Sakura murmured.

"Don't think a medic is someone weak" Shaking his head noting her slight displeasure, Naruto continued "Don't forget that one of the three legendary Sannin is a kunoichi who specializes in the medical arts."

"..."

"And I would really take comfort in knowing that there would be someone on our team who could save our lives if the inevitable happens on every mission" Smiling towards Sakura, Naruto continued "Not everything in the ninja world is death and destruction, don't forget that"

"..." Nodding after a few seconds, Sakura continued walking while lowering her gaze to her hands with a deep look.

"Mn?" Feeling oddly as if a gaze was digging into his back, Naruto looked sideways and frowned slightly, then quickly turned his gaze towards one of the light poles and noticed a small body trying to hide.

"Something wrong?" Scanning his surroundings, Sasuke asked.

"Nothing" Smiling slightly as he shook his head, Naruto continued walking as he thought 'I was already saying something was missing'

"..."

"Since we have an escort mission, why don't we think about how we'll distribute ourselves?"

"Distribute?" with confusion, Sasuke continued "How will we position ourselves?"

"Exactly" Nodding, Naruto continued "If our client is attacked, we can't just surround him and be on the defensive at every turn. Ideally, at least two of us will attack and one will defend, or two will defend and one will attack, all depending on the level of our enemy-"

Instantly cutting off his words, Naruto raised his arm and quickly covered his face with his training weights.

Clang

Quickly pulling his kunai from his pocket, Sasuke took a defensive stance and looked sideways cautiously, while Sakura quickly followed his footsteps and covered the duo's back.

"It's okay" Shaking his head while patting the duo's shoulders, Naruto continued walking calmly as he commented "It was just a rock."

Frowning deeply, Sasuke asked "You don't plan to stop it?"

"I told you, I wouldn't change a thing" Shaking his head, Naruto formed a seal and ran his hand over his face, instantly changing it to a slightly more aged and featureless one "This happened because I forgot to change the face"

"That stone obviously came from a ninja, he can be sanctioned by the village."

"And what sanction would they give him?" with a smirk, Naruto continued "A couple of days suspension? Salary reduction? None of those punishments would do, since the problem lies not only with one ninja or two, but with the whole village, or at least most of it"

"..."

"..."

Watching the relaxed back walking away, Sakura turned her gaze to Sasuke and asked with confusion "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Shaking his head while putting away his kunai, Sasuke resumed walking, but this time with his gaze constantly wandering around.

"Sasuke-kun" After a few seconds of silence, Sakura continued with a slight hesitation "Have you noticed how weird Naruto's been acting lately?"

"If I hadn't noticed it I wouldn't be training with him."

"But don't you think it's weird?" staring at Naruto's back, Sakura continued "He used to be so cheerful and loud...but now he's so...I don't know, quiet and creepy"

"He's in a bad mood."

"In a bad mood?" turning her gaze to Sasuke quizzically, Sakura asked "How do you know?"

"When he's in a bad mood he talks the least and is more serious, but when he's in a good mood he's back to being just as loud and annoying."

"You seem to know him well..." Nodding with compression, Sakura murmured.

"I train with him every day, whether I want to or not, I'd end up knowing him" Shrugging, Sasuke replied.

"Naruto... he's strong?"

"Yes."

"Stronger than you?"

"..." Frowning slightly, Sasuke stared at Naruto for a few seconds and shook his head "I wouldn't know."

"I see..."

"I'll give you 2000 Ryo for all your balloons!"

"..."

"..."

Turning their gaze towards the source of the voice, the duo quickly noticed Naruto with a large toad purse fully stuffed with money as he conversed with an old woman in front of him.

"3000!"

"What!?" With indignation, Naruto pointed to the large purse next to him and exclaimed "You said one balloon for every two ryo and there are no more than 1000 balloons here!"

"Of course there are!" angrily, the old woman continued "There are exactly 1300 balloons in here!"

"Then why are you charging me 3000!"

"Because I don't like you!" Snorting, the old woman took the bag and snorted "If you want to buy them, pay the 3500 or get out!"

"Wasn't it 3000!?"

"4000!"

"Tsk" Clicking his tongue, Naruto pulled the money out of his purse and set it on the counter, then picked up the bag and grumbled to himself.

"4000 ryo for those balloons?" Arriving next to the annoyed Naruto, Sasuke asked mockingly.

"Some 'idiot' bought up all the balloons in town and stocks are low, now it's more expensive."

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