Sasuke was even more unable to speak.
He was so flustered and embarrassed that his body even trembled slightly.
"Th-that…"
"What?"
"C-can you tell me the trick to tree climbing training?"
Hinata's heart stirred.
This seemed to be the first time Sasuke had initiated a conversation with her… She paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
"Of course."
"Th-thank you."
Sasuke lowered his head, feeling a bit lost for words. He could be ruthless, but asking for help was harder than killing him.
Hinata, being perceptive, guessed his feelings and didn't say much, directly sharing her insights, experiences, and lessons learned.
Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief, listening intently. He quickly had an epiphany and understood many things.
"I understand."
He turned to leave, then paused and added another sentence.
"Thank you."
Hinata smiled slightly: "You're welcome, Sasuke. We are not just classmates, but also teammates in Team 7…"
Sasuke's figure paused again, but he eventually nodded.
Hinata watched his retreating back and couldn't help but smile.
She knew that Sasuke wanted to surpass Naruto, which was why he was willing to ask her for guidance.
For him, this was a rare and significant event.
"Naruto-kun, Sasuke…"
"As a member of Team 7, I can't fall behind either…"
Hinata quickly resumed her training.
Soon, the sun set in the west, and night gradually fell.
The three members of Team 7 had pushed themselves to their limits and were utterly exhausted. It was only at the urging of Tazuna and his daughter Tsunami that Kakashi called them back for dinner.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata quickly devoured their food.
Especially Naruto and Sasuke, who even turned eating into a relentless competition, bowl after bowl, frantically replenishing their lost stamina.
"Another bowl!"
They both said in unison, then intense sparks flew between their gazes.
Naruto huffed, "I need to finish eating quickly and go back to training!"
Sasuke also said, "Me too!"
Kakashi sighed: "Naruto, Sasuke, while it's important to train hard, rest is equally important, especially at your age…"
Naruto immediately said: "Kakashi-sensei, I already train until midnight every day before sleeping!"
"Besides, now that I have such a difficult mission, it's even more impossible to sleep early!"
Sasuke snorted: "Midnight, huh?"
"I train until one or two in the morning."
Naruto: "…I even train in my sleep!"
Kakashi and Hinata exchanged glances, both shaking their heads, clearly not believing him.
However, they couldn't stop the two, who went out to continue training after dinner.
Hinata also refused to be left behind: "Then, Kakashi-sensei, I'll go continue my training too…"
"Alright."
Tazuna frowned: "Kakashi-sensei, is it alright for them to go out late at night?"
"What if…"
Kakashi said: "Don't worry, their current strength means they won't easily get into trouble."
"Protecting you is the key to the mission."
Tazuna couldn't help but feel guilty: "S-sorry… I privately concealed the mission rank, and as a result, I've kept dragging you all down…"
Kakashi smiled slightly: "Since we decided to accept your mission, Team 7 will see it through to the end."
Tsunami suddenly said: "Inari, where are you going?"
Inari didn't look back.
"Just going for a walk."
Kakashi and Tazuna exchanged glances, knowing he was going to watch Naruto and the others train again.
Tazuna said: "Then let's go too, I'm still worried…"
Kakashi could only say: "Alright."
That night, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata indeed trained until late into the night.
It wasn't until Kakashi said, "If you don't sleep, Mr. Tazuna and his family won't be able to rest."
Reluctantly, the three stopped their training and went back to their rooms to sleep.
The next day was the same.
By the third day.
Sasuke was gradually approaching the top of the large tree.
Hinata's water walking training was also almost complete.
Only Naruto seemed to be far from finishing… In the afternoon, Sasuke and Hinata both passed Kakashi's inspection, proving their talent in training.
The two then went together to Naruto's side.
"Th-that's…"
Sasuke frowned tightly, looking at Naruto's special training, and was instantly stunned.
Hinata was also dumbfounded.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
Seeing Naruto roar, creating a howling gale, and then picking up a leaf, gently releasing Chakra, carefully trying to cut it, both of them watched in confusion and shock.
Hinata couldn't help but ask: "K-Kakashi-sensei, what kind of training is Naruto-kun doing?"
Kakashi explained, but the two were even more surprised.
"C-can that really be done?"
Kakashi said calmly: "Of course ordinary people can't do it."
"However, Naruto doesn't want to be an ordinary person…"
Hinata and Sasuke both felt a slight tremor in their hearts.
Kakashi even added fuel to the fire: "Hey, Naruto, time's almost up…"
Naruto was panting, but his eyes were still resolute.
"It's, it's not over yet…"
"Before the end of today, I will master both of these Ninjutsu simultaneously…"
Tazuna and Inari, the grandfather and grandson nearby, also shook their heads and sighed.
Suddenly.
The make-out paradise in Kakashi's hand felt a little heavier.
His visible right eye looked up into the distance.
A strange mist rose and was rapidly spreading towards them.
His heart jolted, snapping out of his lazy state, and he shouted sharply.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Hinata!"
"Enemy attack! Protect Mr. Tazuna!"
The three froze. Sasuke and Hinata reacted faster, as they weren't in the middle of training, and immediately took positions to Tazuna's left and right to protect him.
Naruto, however, hadn't reacted yet, and his main body and Shadow Clones were gradually being swallowed by the mist… Kakashi immediately moved to rush forward.
The instant his body sped forward—
A blade flashed fiercely!
Its sharp edge fully exposed!
It slashed down viciously towards Tazuna!
This blade appeared out of thin air, silently. Although Sasuke and Hinata were guarding Tazuna, they were completely unable to react to such a strike!
"Got him!"
A sinister, terrifying voice said.
In a flash of lightning.
Clang—
The sound of clashing metal rang out, sparks flew, and Kakashi Hatake's figure instantly appeared between the enemy and Tazuna, using the Kunai in his hand to block the massive, heavy, yet chillingly sharp executioners blade!
"Hm?!"
The enemy was startled, looking up at Kakashi Hatake before him.
"I see…"
"No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. I didn't expect it to be Konoha Village's Copy Ninja…"
"Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan!"
Kakashi Hatake also frowned tightly.
"The Hidden Mist Village's rogue Ninja, once one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist…"
"Zabuza Momochi, the Demon!"
Both names were renowned in the Ninja World. At their first encounter, their hearts tightened, and neither dared to be negligent. They both put force into their weapons and were simultaneously sent flying backward.
"Kakashi Hatake, your reaction is indeed quick, but…"
"While protecting your client is your mission, is it really alright not to save your student in the dense fog?"
"He might already be dead!"
Kakashi Hatake smiled slightly.
"Zabuza Momochi, don't underestimate Naruto too much…"
"Whether it's a clone or your comrades, it won't be that easy to take down Naruto."
"Because…"
"He is Konoha's top graduate this year, a truly gifted Ninja recognized by me!"
Following Kakashi Hatake's impassioned praise