Naruto: Shadows of the Divine Flame

By the time the sun had fully risen, Naruto had already lost count of how many times he'd fallen on his face. I wasn't keeping count either, but I was starting to think we'd need to build him a new forehead at this rate.

"Damn it!" Naruto shouted as he slid down the trunk again, landing on his back with a frustrated groan. "How are you two making this look so easy?"

Sasuke was making progress. He had gotten halfway up again, but each time, he slipped before reaching the top. His jaw was tight with determination, but I could already see the frustration creeping in.

I leaned casually against my tree branch, watching them struggle.

"Chakra control," I said. "You're either using too much or too little. Find the balance."

Naruto groaned. "Easier said than done."

Kakashi sat nearby, nose buried in that little orange book again. He didn't even glance up when he said, "You'll get it eventually. Hopefully before Zabuza returns."

That got Sasuke's attention. His grip tightened. He took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes, and charged up the tree again. This time, he made it a little further.

Naruto gritted his teeth, determination flaring in his eyes. "No way I'm losing to you, bastard!"

I smirked. This was actually kind of entertaining.

Hours passed, the sounds of Naruto's frustrated yelling and Sasuke's silent determination filling the forest. It wasn't until well past midday that Naruto finally made it halfway up the tree without falling.

"Yes!" he shouted, pumping his fist in victory—right before his chakra flickered and he plummeted back down.

I winced. "You almost had it."

Naruto groaned into the dirt. "I hate this."

Sasuke, meanwhile, had finally reached the top. He landed next to me, breathing hard but victorious. He didn't say anything, just glanced at me before looking away, as if expecting me to acknowledge his progress.

I gave a small nod. "Not bad."

He smirked slightly, then looked down at Naruto. "Hurry up, dobe."

Naruto glared up at him. "Shut up, bastard! I'll get it!"

I just shook my head. At least they were motivated.

Kakashi finally stood up, stretching. "That's enough for today. Get some rest. We don't know when our enemies will make their move."

Naruto groaned. "I wanted to train more."

"You'll just exhaust yourself," I said, hopping down from my perch. "You need rest to recover your chakra."

Kakashi nodded. "Raiden's right. Eat, rest, and we'll continue tomorrow."

Naruto sighed in defeat. "Fine…"

We headed back to Tazuna's house, the air thick with the scent of the sea. It was quiet, too quiet. Even the village beyond looked subdued, people walking with slumped shoulders and tired eyes. Gatō had done a number on this place.

Tazuna greeted us at the door, letting us in with a nod. "Dinner's almost ready. You kids must be starving."

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I smelled the food.

Tsunami set out bowls of rice and grilled fish. We all dug in, the atmosphere quiet but comfortable—until Naruto spoke.

"Inari still hiding?" he asked around a mouthful of rice.

Tsunami frowned slightly. "He's… struggling. He's been through a lot."

Naruto huffed. "Yeah, well, we've all been through a lot."

I glanced toward the hallway. Inari was probably holed up in his room, still convinced we were wasting our time. I couldn't blame him, but that didn't mean he was right.

Kakashi set his chopsticks down. "Zabuza will return soon. We need to be ready."

Sasuke nodded. "I won't lose to that masked brat again."

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, next time, we'll kick their asses."

I didn't say anything. I was thinking about Haku, about the way he'd looked at Zabuza. There was something more to their bond, something deeper. He had saved Zabuza's life. He had thrown himself into the role of a tool, but there was devotion there, not just obedience.

Tazuna sighed. "I hope you're right. If you fail, the bridge—and this village—are doomed."

I met his gaze. "We won't fail."

His expression softened slightly. "You're pretty confident, huh?"

I just smirked. "We have to be."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, believe it!"

Tsunami chuckled. "Well, let's hope your confidence pays off."

As the night settled in, I stepped outside, letting the cool breeze wash over me. The ocean stretched out beyond the bridge, calm and endless.

Zabuza was still out there. Haku was still out there. And soon, we'd be facing them again.

I clenched my fists.

This time, I wouldn't hold back.