Sasuke had been quiet for a while, but Arata's words had clearly struck a chord.
When he finally looked up, his eyes were burning with a new kind of resolve — the raw hunger for strength.
He believed now that if anyone could make him stronger, it was Kakashi.
Sakura, meanwhile, couldn't help glancing between the two of them.
How does Arata even know all that about Kakashi-sensei?
Her lips pursed slightly.
"Kakashi-sensei," she asked with a teasing edge in her tone, "did you tell Arata all that about your past?"
Kakashi blinked.
Arata's faintly amused smile told him this was deliberate — he'd definitely done this on purpose.
The jōnin sighed.
"Not exactly," he said. "Most of it, he probably found out himself."
"Hmph," Sakura puffed out her cheeks. "Sure, sure. I bet you just tell him everything.
Guess we're not that important to you, huh, sensei?"
Naruto immediately joined in, glaring dramatically.
"Yeah! Sakura's right! You totally play favorites, Kakashi-sensei! You told Arata cool stuff but not us!"
Sasuke didn't say anything — but the faint frown on his face said enough.
He wasn't jealous, not really… but he didn't like the idea of being left out either.
Kakashi rubbed his forehead helplessly.
He knew exactly what Arata was doing — stirring things up on purpose.
Even Tazuna, walking behind them, chuckled.
"Being a teacher looks pretty tough, huh, Kakashi?"
"Tell me about it," Kakashi muttered under his breath.
Then, more loudly, "It's not favoritism. We just haven't had time to get to know each other yet.
And most of what Arata knows, he figured out on his own."
The three genin clearly didn't buy it.
Naruto crossed his arms. "Nope! Doesn't matter! You're still gonna teach us something cool too!"
He grinned eagerly. "I wanna learn that move Arata used to destroy those two ninja!"
Sakura nodded in full agreement. "Yeah! Me too!"
Sasuke just sighed. Idiots.
Kakashi gave a small, tired smile. "Arata didn't use a jutsu. That was pure taijutsu."
"Eh?!" Naruto's jaw dropped. "You mean— no ninjutsu at all?"
"None," Kakashi said simply. "And for the record, I didn't teach him that either."
Sakura frowned. "That's impossible! How could someone be that strong without your help?"
Kakashi glanced sideways at Arata, who said nothing — only shrugged slightly.
The jōnin exhaled in defeat. "Fine. Once we've got the time, I'll train all of you together."
That promise instantly brightened their faces.
Naruto's grin returned, wide and reckless.
Sakura's eyes sparkled.
Even Sasuke looked interested — just slightly.
For him, training under Kakashi meant closing the gap between himself and Arata… and maybe, one day, Itachi.
After several hours of walking, the group finally crossed into the Land of Waves —
a small, mist-covered country on the edge of the Fire Nation.
There were no ninja here, no military, just villages clinging to survival.
The people were poor, but the land itself… was beautiful.
Forests, clear lakes, quiet shores.
If not for the poverty, it might have been a paradise.
"Your country's not bad at all, Tazuna-san," Arata remarked as they walked along a dirt path.
The old bridge builder blinked, thinking Arata was being sarcastic.
"Hah. The Land of Waves is weak and poor, boy. Nothing to be proud of."
Arata shook his head.
"I'm serious. Your country's small, sure — but the landscape is perfect for tourism. And with all this water, the fishing industry alone could make it thrive."
Tazuna frowned, uncertain. "Tourism? Here? Who'd come to a place this poor?"
"You'd be surprised," Arata said calmly. "All it takes is showing the world what's here.
There are plenty of people with money who'd come just to see something peaceful for once."
Tazuna rubbed his chin.
It sounded far-fetched, but maybe… maybe not impossible.
Still, he muttered, "First I have to finish the bridge. Without that, nobody's coming here."
Arata nodded. "Then we'll make sure that bridge gets built."
Kakashi watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction.
Most ninja never thought about economics — only missions, jutsu, and wars.
But Arata was different. He was thinking like a leader.
A strong ninja could win battles.
But a wise one could change nations.
That insight alone made Kakashi even more confident about the boy's potential.
Naruto, on the other hand, couldn't care less about trade routes or tourism.
He was on edge the entire way, scanning the trees.
It wasn't fear — it was embarrassment.
He still hadn't done anything useful since they left Konoha, and now he was desperate to redeem himself.
So when he heard a faint rustle in the bushes near a lake, his eyes lit up.
"There! An enemy!"
Before Kakashi could even open his mouth, Naruto whipped out a handful of kunai and hurled them at the sound.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
The projectiles tore through the leaves — and a soft, high-pitched squeal followed.
Naruto's face broke into a grin. "Ha! Nailed it! I got one!"
He dashed forward proudly, ignoring Kakashi's sharp "Naruto—wait!"
Pushing through the brush, Naruto froze mid-step.
There, lying limp on the ground, was a small snow-white rabbit.
The kunai were lodged deep in its side, crimson blood staining its fur.
Naruto's grin vanished instantly.
"Oh no…"
Sakura caught up behind him — and immediately smacked him on the head.
"You idiot! What's wrong with you?!"
Her voice trembled slightly. The sight of the wounded animal made her stomach twist.
Naruto winced, scratching his head. "I thought it was an enemy, okay? Honest mistake!"
Behind them, Kakashi, Arata, and Sasuke stayed by Tazuna's side, watching from a distance.
Kakashi sighed, palm on his forehead.
"That boy never changes…"
Sasuke muttered, "Idiot."
Arata only chuckled quietly.
Yeah… that's Naruto for you.
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