Chapter 28 Settling matters

The next day, Arata decided to say goodbye to his teammates first. Arata made his way towards the hospital. Since should be resting for now he assumed that Naruto and Sakura would be with him. Arata soon arrived at the hospital and entered the hospital room that Sasuke stayed at. As he entered the room, he saw Sasuke and Naruto glaring at each other. Sensing the energy of the room, Arata knew that this wasn't a regular stand off situation that the two often played in the past. Before he could say anything, the Sasuke got up from the bed and started walking out of the room and towards the roof of the hospital with Naruto following close behind. Being ignored, Arata didn't know what to do or what was going on and walked to Sakura and asked her what's going on.

Sakura replied, " I don't know. Everything was just fine a minute ago but Sasuke just got angry and wanted to fight Naruto all of the sudden."

Arata nodded and thought the situation was interesting and said, " Well let's go watch then."

Sakura nodded hesitantly and followed along. The two reached the top and saw Naruto and Sasuke standing not far from each other. Suddenly, Naruto smiled and laughed excitedly.

Sasuke: " what's so funny?"

Naruto: " Nothing's funny, believe it! I'm happy. When I think I can finally beat you here! I'm not going to be a failure forever!"

Sasuke grit his teeth as he said, " You... A loser like you better not act all high and mighty!"

Naruto: " Hah! It's unlike you to lose your cool and raise a fuss. So uncharacteristic."

Sasuke: " Just bring it on already."

Naruto: " Before that, put on your headband. I'll wait for you."

Sasuke: " I don't need such a thing."

Naruto: " Just put it on."

Sasuke: " You won't be able to scratch my forehead anyways."

Naruto: " You're wrong. It's a testimony of being on equal terms as a leaf ninja."

Sasuke: " Quit acting so high and mighty. You think we're equal?!"

Naruto: " Of course. I've never once thought that I was inferior to you."

Sasuke: " 'tch' quit being so cheeky."

Naruto: " That's because you are so weak, little Sasuke."

Hearing Naruto's words just made Sasuke even angrier and the two ran towards each other and immediately exchanged blows. Sakura heard the words bouncing off them and looked at Arata and said, " Arata, shouldn't you stop them? I know that you are strong enough to stop them."

Arata thought for a moment and said, " Hmm I don't think I should. The two of them have a pretty serious sense of rivalry going on... at least that's what I thought. But it seems Sasuke has other thoughts going on that is making act out. Sometimes boys just need to vent their excessive energy and frustrations through fighting. Plus, I came to visit you guys because I am telling you guys that I am going to be leaving soon."

Sakura thought for a bit about what Arata said. She then had a look of surprise as she said, " What? You are leaving? What does that mean. Can you even just quit the team like that?"

Arata just shrugged his shoulder and said, " I already told Kakashi-sensei. I'll be leaving in two days after taking care of some matters. Telling you guys is my first matter. Or else if I just leave then there might be misunderstandings."

Sakura nodded her head as the two continued to watch the fight. Naruto surrounded Sasuke with several shadow clones as Sasuke maneuvered around the place as he fought off against each one. Four shadow clones managed to hit Sasuke sending him to the air. Another clone jumped high into the air and was about to knock Sasuke down and finish his combo but Sasuke countered the attack with his elbow. Bringing his hands together, Sasuke weaved his hand together with hand seals and used a fire ball jutsu dealing damage and destroying the shadow clones. Sasuke smiled as he thought that he had taken out Naruto but saw that the fire was starting to spiral around the center and soon blew dissipate. Naruto was at its center as he held a chakra ball on his right hand as it started to spin at a rapid pace.

When Arata saw that move, his eyes widened in shock. Looks like he is not he only one who has improved during this time. The sheer amount of chakra that Naruto was holding looked extremely powerful and wanted to study that move a little bit more. He looked up as Sasuke and was wondering what he would do in response and as expected, Sasuke put his hand forward and used chidori. Just as their attacks were about to connect Sakura started to run between them to try and stop them but Arata quickly threw a dagger at her feet, stopping her in her tracks as he continued to watch their moves connect.

However, just as the blows were about to connect, Kakashi appeared and grabbed their wrists and threw them into a water tower.

Kakashi: " What are you guys doing on top of the hospital? You went a bit too far for just a fight, you too." He then looked at Arata, " Why didn't you stop them, Arata."

Arata smiled and said, " I just wanted to see their progress before I leave, that's all. How will they improve if they never get the chance to use everything that they have?"

Sasuke and Naruto looked at Arata with surprised gazes.

Naruto: " Leave? Where are you going?"

Arata looked at the two and said, " I feel like my strength has reached it's peak right now. If I don't go out and experience the world myself, I feel like I'm going to remain at my level right now which is nowhere near the level if I want to find the rest of my clan members."

Sasuke frowned as he heard Arata. While he spent his time playing around, Arata has already improved much further and Naruto had already caught up to his level.

Kakashi looked at Sasuke, " Were you going to kill Naruto, Sasuke? That chidori size wasn't one to be aimed at a comrade."

Sasuke just frowned at Kakashi's words and ignored him as he black flipped and left. Naruto on the other looked down and had a look that wasn't satisfied that the fight had ended so early.

Arata saw that it was time for him to leave so said, " Kakashi, I'll see you tomorrow."

Kakashi sighed as he didn't know what to say. He assumed that Arata wanted to test his own strength against him and felt that it was too early for Arata to leave. Arata should still go on a few more missions and experience more before going out. Or at least take the jonin test to be properly performed and develop more but he knows that Arata may just leave if he wanted to.

Arata waved good bye to Sakura and Naruto before heading to the Hyuga clan.

It was now late evening by the time Arata arrived and saw that Hinata was sitting down outside of her house. She saw Arata arrived and said, " Arata you are late. Why didn't you tell me that you were going to be late today."

Arata gave her a sad smile as he knew that he wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Hinata anymore. Hinata saw the smile and knew that it was already time for Arata to move on. She asked, " Are you going to leave already? Why don't stay in the village longer and develop more before going out."

Arata shook his head and said, " I can't Hinata. Although the chunin exams were interrupted, I was already far above everyone. I had already planned to leave after the chunin exams after I fight against anyone to see where I stood but I can already guess my level after seeing everyone fight. If I stay here, I will just remain stagnant in my current strength. I need to move on and try to see if I can find members of the Uzumaki clan."

Hinata looked down with a sad expression. " I... I understand."

Arata felt his heart sting a little when he saw her expression and walked closer as he pulled Hinata in for a hug. " Hinata... These past few months have been among the greatest experience of my whole life. I know that you had always looked at Naruto but I wanted to get to know you more because you looked so beautiful and couldn't help but try to get closer to you. I wanted to show you that there was also someone who looked at you like you looked at Naruto. I'll be leaving tomorrow and I don't know when I will be coming back. However, I'm going to leave me a seal with your father and it will tell me if the leaf village will ever be attacked again. At that time I will rush over as soon as possible."

Being suddenly held and confessed to, Hinata blushed and panicked a little but soon calmed down as she listened to Arata's words. She slowly nodded as Arata let her go and watched as he went inside for a few minutes before coming out. She stepped forwards and held Arata's hand as she continued to blush, " Be... Be careful. I'll also come running to you if you ever ask for help."

Arata smiled and nodded his head before walking off towards the city and prepared to get anything that he may need during the journey in a few days.