Chapter 57: Infernal Affairs
When Sasuke saw Kakashi's Sharingan, he activated his own without hesitation.
He knew that only a Sharingan could counter a Sharingan.
Thunder rumbled.
As Chakra surged, the thunder fire sword in his hand blazed brilliantly.
From a distance it looked like the true sword of the thunder god, flashing with a blinding light.
His clothes billowed outward.
"Sensei, please be careful."
Sasuke knew exactly how strong Kakashi was, so he showed no mercy.
Hesitation equals defeat.
That was the invaluable lesson he'd learned fighting Naruto.
A moment's hesitation meant a vicious beating.
Hearing Sasuke's invitation to a duel, Kakashinaturally accepted, drawing the ancestral white short blade.
It was a bit shorter than Sasuke's sword.
As the son of Konoha's White Fang, his kenjutsu was superb.
But because of the Sharingan, he rarely used the short blade.
Chakra spread; the short blade in Kakashi's grip erupted with lightning flash just like Sasuke's thunder fire sword.
Two figures vanished and tangled together.
Sparks flickered.
Steel rang against steel.
Raging Chakra formed a storm where nothing existed but lightning flash.
Kunai in hand, Sakura stood stunned.
She'd planned to ambush Kakashi-sensei and help Sasuke.
Now she realized how ridiculous that idea had been.
Was the boy fighting Kakashi-sensei to a draw really Sasuke?
The top student in class, she knew the gap between Jonin and Genin was a chasm no one could cross.
For the first time she saw Sasuke's true level.
And because she understood it, it felt like a dream.
"Naruto… what are you doing?"
She turned to him, slack-jawed.
He'd produced a table, chairs, and a watermelon from a storage scroll.
"Eating melon."
Naruto answered as if it were obvious, palm open. "Hand me your Kunai."
"Oh."
Sakura passed it over automatically.
He used the Kunai as a knife, slicing the watermelon into a dozen pieces.
It was an ordinary large melon, not the mysterious tiny one of legend.
"Aren't we going to help Sasuke?"
She couldn't fathom his antics.
Weren't they in the middle of a survival exercise?
How could they leave Sasuke to fight alone?
"What help could you give?"
Naruto asked, lifting a slice.
"I…"
Sakura froze again.
She couldn't even approach the battlefield, let alone assist.
"But you could help, right?"
She remembered Sasuke's vow to surpass Naruto.
"Me?"
Naruto lifted a hand, thumb and finger an inch apart.
"I'm only a bit stronger. But Sakura, this is just practice. If one day I'm gone or in danger, what could you do as our teammate?"
Sakura's mind reeled.
Right…
What could I do?
Nothing.
She realized she might not even deserve to be their teammate.
"Sakura, I know you like Sasuke, but ask yourself: do you want to be his burden?"
Seeing her existential crisis, Naruto pressed.
She looked at him, instinctively answering no!
But Sasuke didn't need her; she couldn't help and he never asked.
Should she just quit?
She refused.
Her inner self punched her in the head.
Like him? Chase him. Can't chase? Sleep with him. Can't sleep? Drug him!
Wait, no.
Sakura snapped awake. "Starting today, I'll work to catch up to him!"
"Nice, that's the spirit."
Naruto grinned.
Step one of the makeover seemed successful.
How long it lasted depended on her.
If she impressed him, he could always rustle up a cheat.
He wondered if there was a violent healer card lying around.
Naruto munched watermelon.
On the field, Sasuke and Kakashi stopped testing pure kenjutsu.
A giant fireball roared overhead.
Scorching heat rushed at Sasuke.
Sparks rained wildly.
Facing the meters-long inferno, Kakashi formed seals.
Water condensed into a wall.
The two collided, releasing billowing steam.
In that blur, thousands of lightning needles stormed at him.
Kakashi's Sharingan focused, clearly reflecting Sasuke's figure; the true killing blow was in his hand.
Feeling pressure from his student, lightning crackled over Kakashi's body.
He burst away, hurling a spear of condensed lightning.
Needles pinged aside, clattering to the ground.
Sasuke frowned, slicing the spear with Chidori.
The weapon snapped in two.
The spearhead kept coming, crossed two meters, and blasted apart Naruto's table and chairs.
"My melon!"
Naruto could only save Sakura, sacrificing the watermelon.
Damn it!
He'd just been an innocent bystander.
He glared at Kakashi, weighing whether to jump in.
But Sasuke would be furious.
Unless he was half-dead, he'd never allow interference.
That was Uchiha pride.
For now the fight looked even.
Aside from an extra Sharingan, Sasuke mirrored Kakashi.
No victor would emerge soon.
But Kakashi was already panting.
Several A-rank Lightning Release jutsu had drained his Chakra.
Without hesitation he yanked off a bell and tossed it to Sasuke, leaping back. "You pass."
Sasuke blinked.
It's over?
He hadn't had enough.
But Kakashi covered his Sharingan, done fighting.
He winked.
Meaning: it's just for show, don't be so serious.
"Sensei, what about us?"
Sakura asked as the two stopped.
"You pass too, naturally."
Kakashi wanted to clamp her mouth shut.
Sis, please, don't say another word—people could die!
"All right, time's up. Team Seven's survival exercise ends here."
Kakashi coughed and, before Naruto could speak, ended the deadly bell contest.
"Now for our first mission. Let's move; no time to waste."
Sasuke sheathed the thunder fire sword.
Though unsatisfied, he was glad Kakashi would be their captain.
He glanced at his teammates.
Odd—Sakura hadn't glommed onto him this time.
Was my fight not cool enough?
The thought flickered past.
He dismissed it.
"Sensei, what's the mission?"
Sakura fought for composure, shifting focus.
"Post-natal care for sows."
"Huh?"
She almost misheard. "Aren't we Ninja?"
"We are, but only Genin. First missions are like this."
Kakashi held up icha icha paradise and jerked his head. "You three start."
As captain he didn't have to work and still got a cut of the pay.
Hmph, no matter how tough you are, you still follow my orders.
Kakashi felt wonderful.
But while he tuned out the world and read, Narutoslipped back to the Treehouse.
No way was he playing Ninja games.
At most a Shadow Clone could handle it.
[Congratulations, host, for completing the 'Infernal Affairs' achievement. One normal draw awarded.]
Naruto blinked.
Finally.
A Shadow Clone achievement.
Pretty fitting for Infernal Affairs.
I used to have no choice; now I want to be a good guy?
Given the clone's style, Naruto didn't know if it would be good, but it would definitely be outrageous.
Not feeling well tonight, so just one chapter. The company's swamped before the holiday.