Chapter no.16 Team 7's introspection part 3

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Kakashi knew that he need to step up the team's training. The chunin exams were coming up and he wanted to enter them, which meant he'd need to work fast. Hopefully, what happened in Wave would be a wake-up call for them too. He'd need to think of how best to nurture their talents. He'd need to get some Litmus Paper to check for their elements.

Sakura was clearly dealing with feelings of inadequacy. Hopefully, her parents would help with that, she was more likely to open up to them. But if it continued on he'd step in. With any luck, it would help push her to actually apply herself.

With her chakra control and her academic prowess, she had the makings of a great medical ninja and genjutsu specialist... but that was something of a problem for him. His genjutsu skills were a step above decent, but he was no master. His proficiency in that art beyond the basics came mainly from his Sharingan. As for medical ninjutsu, that would take too long with the timeframe he was working with.

Well... maybe not medical ninjutsu itself, but the knowledge that came with it could be useful. Anatomy, pressure points, and of course the art of making poisons and antidotes... those were things she could work on by herself that would help her. Not to mention improve her ability to perform handle simple injuries in the meantime. It was a far cry from having a medic on the team, but it could still save lives or turn a potential failure into a success.

He'd also need to pick up some scrolls on genjutsu for her. The only genjutsu specialist he knew was currently leading a team of her own.

She needed a lot of work on the physical aspects of combat. And he'd need to work out what kind of style would best suit her. If she decided to pursue medical ninjutsu later, probably something centered around dodging...

Sasuke... well, in his case he didn't need anyone to push him. Just some more guidance.

And Naruto... well, after thinking about it a bit, he believed he had the perfect idea to take advantage of his natural attributes. And his impromptu plan to save him from Zabuza, not to mention learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu in only a few hours showed that he had untapped talent. He'd need some brushing up in every category, but his strategy should help that immensely. He'd probably want to explore his clan's talent too. He could help with that.

But his eyes... he couldn't help him there. He knew some of the legends surrounding those eyes and he could help Naruto utilize this in the same way he uses his Sharingan but was that the correct approach or should he just let Jiraya-sama come and teach Naruto, he had no idea of how he should teach his blond student about his eyes, and it was all far beyond Naruto's current level anyway. The best he could do there is help improve Naruto's control of chakra, and he'd be doing that for all of them anyway.

And when he thought about it... he really should have been there more for the kid. For his sensei's son. He knew what it was like to be an orphan. Knew how the villagers would treat him in the wake of the Kyuubi attack. But he'd been too busy dealing with his own losses and pouring himself into his work as a coping mechanism. He recalled how Minato-sensei had tried so many different tactics to help pull him from that same mentality after his last teammate's death...

He would be so disappointed…

Right. He had a lot to make up for. So, help with their elements. Push Sakura to train and study the body and poisons. Work on Naruto's knowledge and improve their taijutsu. Help Sasuke with the Sharingan and help Naruto improve his skill with thos eyes as best he could.

Ok, he had a plan.

He made a note of which stores to visit for the supplies he needed. At least tomorrow he'd have a reason to be late.

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Naruto sat on the rooftop of his apartment complex, his gaze transfixed on the stone visage of the Fourth Hokage, his father. The torrent of emotions that revelation had stirred had gradually subsided, replaced by a quiet acceptance. He may not have fully understood or forgiven his father's choices, but he chose to trust in what Hiruzen had conveyed. His father had trusted him, and that was enough.

In his hand, he held a single piece of paper - a photograph of his mother. She was a slender figure with vibrant red hair that, according to Hiruzen, was a characteristic trait of their clan. Her eyes were a stunning violet, and her skin was fair, contrasting with his own tan complexion. Though his features resembled hers, it was her spirit, reflected in the picture, that truly resonated with him. Her smile was broad, her posture confident, fist raised high in the air.

Learning of his parents' love for him was a bittersweet revelation, tinged with warmth yet underscored by a palpable sense of loss. He had been robbed of knowing them personally, of experiencing their affection. Hiruzen had recounted tales of their joy upon learning they'd be parents, of their profound love for each other. And all that, Naruto had missed.

Reflecting on the Fourth Hokage's legacy rekindled another thought that had been troubling him. To be a Hokage meant to protect the village and its people, to be the pillar they leaned on, and to pave the path they followed. His father and the Third had fulfilled these duties impeccably. Hiruzen, who had regarded the entire village as his family, had tirelessly strived to support each of them. His father had sacrificed everything for the village. Naruto realized he had big shoes to fill.

He wondered what his parents would think of him if they saw him now. What kind of example was he setting? He resolved that there was no better time than the present to start improving.

After pocketing the picture and casting one last glance at the Hokage monument, he retreated inside his apartment. The sight that greeted him was disheartening - trash was strewn everywhere, flies buzzed around appliances, and his refrigerator was likely filled with spoiled food. The state of his home was the result of years of neglect, fueled by his own despondency and the absence of visitors, barring Iruka and Hiruzen, who would usually take him out.

Hiruzen had often praised his father's meticulousness. Naruto imagined the disappointment that would cloud his father's face if he saw this mess. And his mother - the fiery, spirited woman nicknamed The Red Hot-blooded Habanero after beating her tormentors at the academy - would probably unleash her legendary temper on him. The thought was motivation enough to set things right.

Summoning his Shadow Clones, Naruto and his replicas set to work, cleaning up the mess that had accumulated over the years.

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Later, Naruto stood in his apartment's bathroom, staring at his reflection. His purple-ringed eyes, a permanent reminder of his unique lineage and destiny, stared back at him. Channeling chakra, he activated his eyes, his vision plunging into stark monochrome. He lifted his arm, observing the chakra flow through it, appearing like blue flames encircling his limb.

Deactivating his eyes, he allowed the world to regain its color. He contemplated the revelations and lessons of the day. His mind wandered back to his days at the academy, his numerous failures, and his confrontation with Haku alongside Sasuke. His facade of confidence fell away, revealing the underlying insecurities. The battle with Haku had brought into sharp focus how outclassed he was. The awakening of his special eyes had been his saving grace; without them, he shuddered to think what would have happened.

Naruto clenched his fists at his sides, his reflection mirroring his frustration. He was sick of feeling helpless, of relying on luck or last-minute power-ups. If he was to follow in his father's footsteps, he needed to be stronger, not just for himself, but for his friends, for his village. He needed to be reliable, trustworthy. He needed to be a protector.

He stared at his reflection, the boy with the dream of becoming Hokage staring back at him. The boy who had promised to never go back on his word. His gaze hardened. He would uphold that promise, no matter what.

"Yes," he murmured to himself, determination creeping into his voice. "I have a long way to go... but I will get there."

Reigniting his resolve, Naruto decided to start with the fundamentals. He would train harder, push himself further. He would learn to control his new powers, understand them better. He would master his chakra, become a better shinobi. He would become someone his parents would be proud of.

With a newfound resolution, Naruto left the bathroom, his apartment now clean and tidy, a testament to his determination. He had a long journey ahead, filled with arduous training and daunting challenges. But he was Naruto Uzumaki, the future Hokage. He was ready to face it all, ready to carve his own path, just like his father, just like the Third.

Naruto was ready to become the pillar of support for Konoha, ready to be their Hokage. And as he stepped out into the cool night, under the watchful eyes of the Hokage monument, he knew he would not waver in his resolution.