Naruto: Chakra System

Sasuke and Naruto's eyes widened in understanding; they had indeed been working like a team for the last hour of the test. And at the start, Kakashi had also told them the real reason behind the 3-person formation in Genin squads.

They both thought simultaneously, 'So, it's really about teamwork!'

But Sasuke questioned and thought, 'But why is teamwork even needed that much? I want to defeat that bastard alone, not with any team or someone's support.'

Kakashi then sighed heavily, as if he had just completed a strenuous task. "Alright then, congratulations on becoming official ninja from today onwards," he said. "How about I treat you three to a barbecue tonight for a celebration party?"

The three of them looked at Kakashi, a little surprised by his invitation. They hadn't expected Kakashi to be so big-hearted; rather, in their hearts, they had formed an image of Kakashi as a harsh Jōnin who was going to be their sensei for who knows how long.

But they didn't dwell on it further. Their eyes sparkled at the mention of barbecue, especially Naruto. He shouted in joy, "Yay! Barbecue!"

Sakura was also happy at passing the test and getting barbecue as a celebration. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," she said.

Sasuke, though maintaining his aloof facial expressions outwardly, was also happy at passing the test; he just didn't want to show it.

Kakashi smiled at them and thought, 'At last this matter is sorted out well. From tomorrow onwards, their training can begin, and mine as well in Fūinjutsu.'

—

Quite a distance away from Training Ground 3, where the atmosphere had turned joyous, in the Hokage's office, all this was observed by Hiruzen with his Telescope Orb Jutsu.

He smiled and said, "Haha, Kakashi really did a good job here. And using the bell test with only one bell rather than two to force them into understanding teamwork is really a creative idea."

He then closed the Telescope Orb and looked at the high bundle of documents, sighing heavily. "This is really very tiresome, just if Jiraiya agree for this position of Hokage but... Sigh!"

—

Later in the evening, the air carried the mingling scents of grilling meat and sweet rice wine in Yakiniku Q, the Akimichi Clan's renowned barbecue spot. The setting sun in the sky shaded Konoha in an orange hue.

This Yakiniku Q was run by a jovial, rotund man named Akimichi Kenji, whose booming laugh echoed from the kitchen. Kakashi, with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, sat, waiting for their order to arrive.

Naruto's excitement was more palpable than anyone else's here, as his usual diet was ramen. Though he liked it, he couldn't help but be thrilled when there was barbecue for him.

For him, barbecue was a luxury food item. Then Kenji took their order, the aroma hit them first; a rich, savory scent of seasoned beef and sizzling pork.

Naruto's stomach rumbled as he practically roared, "Barbecue!"

Sakura also had a small, gracious smile on her face, lightly nudging him. Sasuke also showed a flicker of interest as Kenji set down platters laden with glistening cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, and bowls of fluffy white rice on their table.

Kenji boomed, "Take your time and enjoy!"

Naruto immediately reached for a thick slice of beef, his chopsticks clattering. "Alright! This is way better than instant ramen!" he said.

Sakura lightly nudged him again. "Hey, take it easy, don't be a hungry beast," she said.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in amusement at Sasuke, who also couldn't control himself, taking over the chopsticks as he arranged the meat. He flipped a piece of chicken perfectly, the skin turning a crisp golden-brown.

Naruto observed. "You're actually good at this, huh, Sasuke?" he said.

Sasuke grunted, and then with a smirk, he said, "It's not rocket science, you dead-last."

Naruto also didn't skip a beat. "Oh yeah, unlike trying to get that bell, huh?"

Sasuke glared at him for once, then focused on his meat. Kakashi and Sakura also started eating, and Sasuke then asked, "Um, Kakashi-sensei, I want to ask you something?"

Kakashi, who was swiftly taking a bite of meat and covering his mask back and forth instantly, was a little surprised at Sasuke. Kakashi then nodded.

Sasuke then asked, "You said that every strong ninja alive was part of a team. Does... does that include anyone?"

Kakashi sighed internally and thought, 'His mind is still on this.'

But he still replied, "Yes, everyone, and yeah, even your brother."

That was enough to take Sasuke's full focus from the barbecue. Sakura asked, "Hm, Sasuke-kun has a brother?"

Sasuke stammered a little. "D-do you know him?" he asked.

Kakashi nodded. "He used to be my junior in ANBU Black Ops," he said. "You might not know about ANBU, though, right?"

Naruto and Sakura shook their heads; they indeed didn't know what ANBU was, nor did Sasuke.

Sasuke stood up. "Do you know where he is now?" he asked.

Though Kakashi indeed knew, he couldn't just tell him right away, so Kakashi said, shaking his head, "Since the time Itachi became a missing-nin, no one in Konoha knows where he is."

Naruto, taking a bite of meat, asked in confusion, "What's a missing-nin? Some kind of ninja abducted kids?"

Sakura immediately smacked him lightly. "Did you not focus in classes?" she said. "Missing-nin are those ninja who are traitors to the village."

She paused, looked at Sasuke, and muttered, "Does that mean Sasuke-kun's brother is a TRAITOR?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head where Sakura hit him and said, "I don't know such things; I usually bunk classes, you know."

Sasuke meanwhile gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, but Kakashi tapped him lightly. "Don't worry about him," he said. "Just like him, you are my junior as well. Train under me, and you will be stronger than him in the future!"

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise, he understood that Kakashi has grasped the idea that Itachi was the 'certain someone' he wanted to kill. But Kakashi's last words calmed him down, making him unknowingly feel a little trusting of Kakashi.