Chapter 36: Sakura and Sasuke
As the mentor of Team 7, Kakashi could only watch as Sasuke and Sakura flaunted their affection for each other.
This feeling—only an old single man like Kakashi would understand.
...
Kakashi deliberately avoided looking at Sasuke and Sakura.
On one hand, to spare Sakura any embarrassment.
On the other, because he simply couldn't stand it.
...
When he finally found Naruto, the boy was still lazing around, asleep.
There was no helping it. With his enthusiasm for life drained, all he could do now was sleep.
In the original story, at least Naruto still had the drive to catch up with Sasuke, and he could pursue Sakura.
Now, there was no hope for either.
"Uzumaki Naruto, the Genin squads have been assigned. The genius Sasuke, the dead-last Naruto, and the kunoichi Sakura—you three have been placed in Team 7."
"I, Hatake Kakashi, will be your team leader."
Kakashi couldn't stand watching Sasuke and Sakura act lovey-dovey, so he came over to inform Naruto personally.
Originally, it should have played out the same as in the original story, with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura waiting together for their perpetually late and overly lazy sensei, Kakashi.
But!
The current Uchiha Sasuke had changed far too much.
Kakashi had no choice but to seek them out first.
Just earlier, Kakashi had his first meeting with Sasuke—it was only a preliminary test. They hadn't truly fought yet.
During the upcoming Team 7 exam, Kakashi would finally get to see Sasuke's real strength.
For that reason, Kakashi was impatient.
"Kakashi, Team 7... Me, Sasuke, and Sakura?"
Naruto was initially happy to hear he was grouped with Sakura.
But then, his heart sank.
'Does this mean I'll have to watch Sasuke and Sakura flaunt their relationship every day from now on?'
'God, I can't take this anymore!'
"Kakashi-sensei, can I apply for a team reassignment?"
Naruto really didn't want to be in the same team as Sasuke and Sakura.
Even though Sasuke had helped him during the Mizuki incident.
"Why?"
Kakashi was confused but still rejected the request. "No, this assignment was personally arranged by the Third Hokage."
"You and Sasuke complement each other perfectly."
"And Sakura, with her strong theoretical knowledge, balances the team seamlessly."
While Kakashi was explaining, Sasuke and Sakura arrived at Naruto's place.
There was no doubt about it—Naruto's home was a complete mess.
Expired food was scattered everywhere.
Sasuke had reincarnated into this world with the goal of building his own harem while playing the role of the underdog.
But seeing Naruto living in such poor conditions, he couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy.
"From now on, we're in the same team. I'll cover your living expenses."
"Take this pocket money and spend it however you like. If you want Ichiraku Ramen, go ahead and buy as much as you want."
Now that Sasuke had money, he was more than willing to share it with people he cared about.
"Sasuke—"
Naruto snapped out of his grogginess, staring at Sasuke in disbelief.
Even the monthly allowance from the Third Hokage was barely enough to scrape by.
Naruto had to save up discount coupons just to afford a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.
The Third Hokage had always been stingy with money.
"Sasuke, you're giving me money?"
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
Sasuke responded casually, "Because from now on, we're in the same team. We're comrades."
"…"
Naruto felt conflicted.
However, when he glanced at Sakura...
…
Naruto suppressed his foolish thoughts, accepted the situation, and said, "Sasuke, I can't take your money."
Naruto had his pride.
If he accepted Sasuke's money, what would that make him in the future?
Sasuke's lackey?
Sasuke didn't insist. "I'll leave the money at your place. Use it whenever you need it."
"If you don't need it, just save it."
…
Seeing that everyone was getting along, Kakashi said, "Alright, from this moment on, Team 7 is officially established."
"However, as your team leader, I need to understand your true strength."
In the original story, this was a test.
If they failed, Kakashi wouldn't accept them as his students.
But this time, due to Sasuke's uniqueness, Kakashi had already decided to establish Team 7.
The test had now turned into a way for them to understand each other.
"Kakashi-sensei, what do you want us to do?"
Sakura asked curiously.
Now that Sasuke had allowed her to return to a normal life, she cherished it.
After all, aside from wanting to become Sasuke-kun's wife, she also aspired to be an excellent kunoichi.
Love? Now that she was with Sasuke, who had a growing harem, she had that covered.
From now on, Sakura's main focus was her career!
Her parents were mediocre ninja in Konoha, but Sakura didn't want to be mediocre.
Of course!
Besides that...
Sakura also wanted to maintain an important position in Sasuke's harem.
Deep down, she still hoped that even decades later, Sasuke-kun would remain obsessed with her body.
That way, Sasuke-kun would always stay by her side.
To make Sasuke-kun happy, Sakura was willing to do anything.
…
Seeing how Sakura was still focused on her ninja path even while being openly intimate with Sasuke, Kakashi couldn't help but sigh.
If Sasuke applied as much effort to his missions as he did to women, with his strength, his future would be unimaginable.
"I plan to use three small bells, tied to me. Your task is to attack me in any way possible and steal one bell. If you succeed, I will acknowledge your abilities."
In the original story, there were only two bells. Kakashi deliberately set it up so that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura would betray each other for their own benefit, testing their bonds.
But here, now that Kakashi knew how powerful Sasuke was...
There was no need for that.
He simply prepared three bells to individually test their actual strength.