Chapter no.23 Naruto

Chapter no.23 Meeting Team 3

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“Now that the morning’s eventful training went well,” Kakashi began. He saw Sakura flinch at his words, her eyes downcast, shoulders tense. She looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

I hope that wasn’t too harsh, he thought, but outwardly, Kakashi kept his expression neutral.

Naruto, by contrast, looked proud. His chest puffed out slightly, a gleam in his eyes showing just how pleased he was with himself.

Sakura glanced between her teammates, a pang of guilt striking through her as she realized that both Naruto and Sasuke had taken the training seriously, and here she was, falling apart. Guess I’m the only one that messed it up, she thought bitterly.

Kakashi decided to keep the atmosphere light. “Remember what I told you,” he said, his voice breaking the silence. “At noon, we’re going to meet another team.”

Sakura’s face tightened slightly, and he noted the flicker of worry there. Please don’t let it be Ino’s team, she thought, her fingers nervously twisting at the hem of her sleeve. The last thing she wanted was for Ino to see her like this.

Naruto asked, “Why?”

“Well,” Kakashi began with a lazy smile, “I wanted you three to learn from your senpais what being a genin really entails. Just a simple social gathering.” He left out his real intention, which was to create a little healthy competition, establishing a team rivalry with Team 3 rather than having them constantly at odds among themselves.

He pulled out a pocket watch, his eyes shifting back to the three as he began the countdown in his usual, unhurried manner. “Ten, nine, eight…”

Sakura exchanged a quick look with Naruto, who mirrored her confusion, and Sasuke’s brow furrowed slightly. As Kakashi reached one, they suddenly felt a shadow looming behind him.

“Kakashi! My fire of youth has allowed me to be here on time!” came a voice, as loud as it was proud. Team 7’s eyes widened, blinking in unison as they took in the man who had seemingly appeared out of thin air.

Standing there was a tall, well-muscled man with a powerful stance. His fair skin and strong jawline were accented by a somewhat large nose and a haircut that defied description—a bowl cut, impossibly shiny, gleaming as though polished. His thick eyebrows were impossible to miss, two bold arcs that framed a pair of intensely focused eyes. He wore a green jumpsuit that hugged every muscle, orange-striped leg warmers, and the standard Konoha flak jacket, left fashionably unzipped. A red forehead protector was tied around his waist, like a belt.

Naruto squinted, then turned to Sasuke. “Is this… some kind of genjutsu?”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but equally baffled. “I don’t know. If it is, it’s a really weird one.”

Kakashi gave a small smile, folding his arms as he looked at the new arrival. “Hello, Guy,” he greeted smoothly.

At that moment, another figure materialized beside the man, standing rigidly in a posture of utmost respect. This boy looked almost like a mini version of the man, down to the shiny black hair styled in a perfect bowl cut. His eyes were round and wide with prominent lower lashes, and he, too, had those same thick eyebrows. He was dressed in a green jumpsuit identical to the older man’s, complete with orange leg warmers and a red forehead protector around his waist. Bandages wrapped around his forearms, up to his fingers, giving him a slightly rugged look.

“Guy-sensei!” the boy exclaimed, “I’m sorry, but I was a second late.”

The older man let out a booming laugh, slapping the boy on the back. “A second late, Lee? Hahaha, then give me a hundred sit-ups as punishment!”

“Yes, Guy-sensei! Thank you, Guy-sensei!” The boy, Lee, immediately dropped to the ground and began his sit-ups, his form crisp and precise as he executed each one with an intensity that stunned Team 7. His face remained determined, his focus unwavering, as he counted each rep with relentless enthusiasm.

Naruto’s mouth hung open slightly, and he leaned over to whisper to Sakura. “Are we… supposed to do that too?”

Sakura just shook her head, wide-eyed. She had no answer.

“Weirdos, am I right?” a female voice called out, breaking the tension as Team 7 turned to look at the new arrival.

A girl with dark hair tied into two buns and sharp grey eyes stood casually off to the side, a kunai balanced effortlessly on her fingertip. She wore a sleeveless pink qipao-style blouse with red sleeve trimmings and yellow buttons, paired with dark green pants. A pouch was strapped to her thigh, and her blue forehead protector gleamed slightly in the sunlight as she gave them a knowing smirk.

“Am I right, Neji?” she asked, tossing the kunai into the air and catching it with ease.

“This is a waste of time,” came a calm voice from the trees. Another figure emerged—a boy with fair skin and long, dark hair that flowed down his back, tied in a loose ponytail. His white, featureless eyes fixed on them with a stoic expression, though they held a slight lavender tint in the sunlight. He wore a beige shirt layered over a dark blue one, with bandages wrapped around his arm, chest, and leg, his black forehead protector completing the look.

“What did you think of my cool hip team introduction, Kakashi?” Guy’s voice boomed as he looked expectantly at his rival, waiting for approval.

Kakashi glanced up lazily from his book, barely acknowledging him. “Did you say something, Guy?”

Guy’s face fell, his fist clenching as he muttered, “Curse you, my cool and hip rival!”

“Rival?” Sasuke echoed, confusion in his voice as he studied the man in green.

Guy reappeared behind them with surprising speed, making Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura flinch. Naruto, however, was the first to turn around, reacting instinctively to the sudden movement. Guy noted Naruto’s reaction with a subtle smile. Did he perceive me? Impressive, he thought, pleased by the young genin’s awareness.

“Yes,” Guy replied, addressing Sasuke’s question with pride. “They call us eternal rivals!”

Tenten and Neji watched the interaction, both sizing up the newcomers with varying degrees of interest. Tenten’s gaze lingered on Naruto while Neji simply glanced at Sasuke.

“By the way,” Guy continued, his voice carrying a hint of smugness, “my record against Kakashi is fifty wins to forty-nine losses. So yes, I am stronger than him.”

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged glances, wide-eyed and incredulous. Had they really heard that right? Stronger than Kakashi? The very idea was hard to believe.

“Sensei,” Naruto yelled, his voice a mixture of disbelief and desperation, “tell me you’re stronger than bushy brows over here!”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, sure,” he replied with a dismissive wave. “I only lost last time because I needed to buy the new Icha Icha book.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Kakashi knew he’d made a mistake. Suddenly, Guy was in his personal space, practically nose-to-nose with him, his eyes blazing with the intensity of a thousand suns.

“Is that so?!” Guy’s voice rang out, equal parts challenge and joy. “Then let’s have a rematch—one thousand laps to Hokage Mountain! Now!”

“Guy, listen—“ Kakashi barely managed to get a word in before Guy turned to his own team, his voice booming like a battle cry.

“Team 3! Socialize with Team 7 while I go secure my victory!” With that, Guy kicked up a cloud of dust and took off in a green blur, leaving Kakashi behind with a tired, resigned sigh.

“Yeah, socialize,” Kakashi said lazily, giving a half-hearted wave before strolling off in the opposite direction, nose already buried in his book. He wasn’t about to let Guy drag him into another one of his “youthful” competitions. Not today.

Neji watched his sensei vanish in a plume of dust and then rolled his eyes, his expression one of disdain. “This is a waste of time. I’m going back to training,” he muttered, his voice cold. “You coming, Tenten?”

But Tenten didn’t seem to hear him. Her gaze was fixed on Naruto, more specifically on the armor he wore—a piece that stood out as far more advanced than the usual flak jackets and basic protective gear of the village. Her eyes narrowed in fascination, examining the craftsmanship and durability of the plating.

Neji noticed her gaze lingering on the armor and narrowed his own eyes, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Fate sometimes plays tricks, giving valuable things to the unworthy,” he muttered before turning and walking off, leaving Team 7 thoroughly confused by his cryptic attitude.

Meanwhile, Rock Lee was still lying on the ground, hammering out sit-ups with the fervor of a man possessed. “Forty-five! Forty-six! Forty-seven!”

Tenten shook her head at her teammates, then turned her attention back to Team 7, giving them an amused smile. “Well, on behalf of Team 3, I’m Tenten,” she said, her eyes flicking over each of them with a confident ease. She gestured to her teammates. “That intense guy on the ground is Rock Lee, and the other one… well, that was Neji Hyuga.”

Then she smirked, taking a slow, deliberate step toward Naruto. “And who are you, handsome?” she asked, her voice turning velvety and flirtatious, a slight tilt to her head as she looked up at him through her lashes.

Naruto’s face went bright red, his nervous chuckle catching in his throat. “Uh, I… I’m Naruto Uzumaki,” he managed, scratching the back of his head and trying to hold onto some semblance of composure.

“Well, Naruto,” Tenten purred, taking another step closer until she was just a breath away from him. She reached out, trailing her fingers lightly along the edge of his armor’s metal collar, her touch lingering.

“This armor of yours… it’s incredible.” Her fingers slid down the front, her gaze locked onto his. “I’d do anything to get my hands on something like this.”

Her voice was teasing, almost daring him to respond, and her smile was enough to make Naruto’s heart hammer wildly in his chest. He was completely out of his element, flustered beyond belief as she leaned in closer, her lips hovering near his ear.

“You wouldn’t mind sharing it with me, would you?” she whispered, her tone low and playful.

Naruto’s reaction, however, was anything but shy. In an instant, his flustered look hardened, and he took a step back, his hand moving protectively to cover the armor. His blue eyes flashed, his voice firm and almost cold. “You’d have to kill me for it."

Tenten’s eyes widened, taken aback by the sudden intensity in his gaze. She raised her hands in mock surrender, laughing lightly but keeping a wary eye on him. “Whoa, easy there, tiger. It was just a joke.”

Naruto’s posture relaxed, though he still seemed a little rattled. Without another word, he walked off to the side of the clearing, pulling out the uzumaki clan book and burying himself in it, clearly shutting himself off from further conversation.

Tenten frowned, still watching Naruto with a mixture of curiosity and mild confusion. She leaned toward Sakura, lowering her voice. “Is he always this… rude?”

Sakura gave an apologetic smile.

“Uh… sorry about that. He just gets really… protective about that armor,” she explained, trying to find the right words. She remembered the way Naruto had nearly attacked Kiba for making fun of it. “It has a special place in his heart.”

“Really?” Tenten’s eyebrows lifted, her curiosity piqued. She crossed her arms, clearly intrigued. “I was just hoping to find out where he got it. I could use something that sturdy myself.”

“His master commissioned it from somewhere,” Sasuke said simply.

Tenten waited, hoping for more details, but Sasuke’s only response was a quiet “Hn.”

She sighed, giving up on getting anything more out of him, and turned back to Sakura with a wry smile. “Boys, am I right?” She extended a hand, her grin widening as Sakura chuckled and took it.

“You can say that again,” Sakura agreed, squeezing her hand in a friendly shake.

As Sakura and Tenten continued talking, the loud count of “Ninety-eight! Ninety-nine! One hundred!” from across the field came to a close, and Rock Lee leapt up, landing with a dramatic pose, his green jumpsuit practically gleaming in the sunlight.

He spotted Sakura out of the corner of his eye, and with a wide grin, he bounded over to her, his eyes sparkling with determination. “Sakura Haruno!” he announced, striking a gallant pose. “Your beauty blooms like a thousand cherry blossoms in spring! Would you do me the honor of joining me for tea? Or perhaps a moonlit stroll under the stars?”

Sakura’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing pink in surprise as Tenten slapped a hand to her forehead with an exaggerated sigh. “Lee…” Tenten muttered under her breath. “We just got here.”

Sakura tried to keep her composure, though she couldn’t quite hide her flustered expression. “Oh, um, that’s really nice of you, Lee,” she said, forcing a polite smile as he proceeded to throw exaggerated heart-shaped winks in her direction. She leaned back a little, trying to dodge them. “But I’m… I’m not really looking to date anyone right now.”

Lee’s face fell briefly, but in true Lee fashion, he quickly recovered, nodding solemnly. “I understand, Sakura! My flames of youth shall burn even brighter for you!” He gave her an intense thumbs-up and a wink so forceful it looked like he was trying to set something on fire. Sakura could only nod awkwardly in response.

“Lee!” came Neji’s voice, sharp and commanding. He was watching from a few feet away, arms crossed and gaze as unflinching as ever. “Come here and show this… rookie… that fate is against him.” He nodded toward Sasuke, who was standing nearby with an equally intense expression.

Lee’s entire demeanor shifted as he turned toward Neji and Sasuke, his competitive spirit igniting. “It would be my honor to challenge you, Sasuke Uchiha!” he declared, running over to stand in front of him, his fists clenched in excitement. Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow, clearly sizing Lee up.

As Lee and Sasuke moved to face off, Tenten gave a small laugh, shaking her head. “I can see why your handsome sensei wanted us to ‘socialize’.

“Does he… always ask girls out like that?”

“Pretty much.” Tenten sighed, rolling her eyes with a fond smile. “Lee’s got a good heart, but he’s, well… let’s just say he doesn’t do ‘subtle.’ He’ll ask any girl he thinks is cute out for tea. Don’t take it personally—he’d probably write you a love letter in calligraphy if you gave him half a chance.”

Sakura laughed, glancing at Lee, who was now bouncing on his toes in preparation to face Sasuke. “What is it with this team and asking people out?” she muttered under her breath, then snorted at a ridiculous thought that popped into her head. “Just imagine if Neji asked Sasuke out…”

Tenten burst into laughter, clapping her hands as she doubled over. “Oh, please, that would be priceless! I don’t think Neji’s ever asked anyone out in his life. The guy practically thinks romance is a weakness!”

With a sudden blur of movement, Lee launched forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. Sasuke barely had time to raise his guard before Lee’s fist collided with his forearm, the force sending a shock up his arm. Before he could recover, Lee twisted his body, delivering a powerful kick to Sasuke’s side that sent him skidding backward across the ground.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, planting his feet firmly as he slid to a stop. He couldn’t deny it—Lee was fast. Too fast. Before he could fully catch his breath, Lee was on him again, darting around with a speed that made him almost impossible to track.

Lee’s punches and kicks came at him like a storm. Sasuke tried to block, but each impact made his muscles ache, and a few strikes slipped past his defenses. Lee’s fist found its mark, landing a punch squarely against Sasuke’s jaw. Sasuke staggered back, tasting blood in his mouth.

Lee paused, his gaze unrelenting. “Is that all you’ve got, Sasuke?”

Sasuke wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes narrowing as he felt his pride stinging just as much as his jaw. He steadied his breathing, feeling a fire ignite in him. His hand instinctively went to his face, his fingers brushing against the bruise forming there. He couldn’t keep up with Lee’s movements—not with his eyes alone.

But there was something he could do.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke focused, allowing his chakra to surge as he finally activated his Sharingan. His eyes turned a vivid red, one tomoe in each eye spinning to life as he met Lee’s gaze.

“So…” Tenten continued, turning back to Sakura with a curious gleam in her eye. “What’s it like being on a team with Sasuke Uchiha? All I’ve heard is that he’s a genius, and judging by his form right now… I can see why.”

Sakura gave a small, wistful sigh, watching Sasuke’s focused expression as he prepared to face off against Lee. “Yeah, he’s… well, he’s Sasuke. Top of the class, good at pretty much everything, and totally out of everyone’s league. He’s intense, though. Always pushing himself harder than anyone else.”

“Sounds like Neji,” Tenten said, nodding. “I mean, he has the Byakugan, so he has this… perception advantage that no one else can match. And it’s not just that—he’s got these techniques that only someone from his clan could even attempt. It’s almost unfair.” Her gaze softened. “But I guess that’s why he’s my benchmark. He’s always ahead, and I’ve always been playing catch-up.”

Sakura’s face lit up in recognition. “I feel the exact same way! No matter how hard I study, no matter what I do, Sasuke’s always miles ahead.”

And then there’s…” She trailed off as her jaw dropped as she saw Sasuke crumpled against the base of a tree, clearly knocked out cold.

“Sasuke-kun… lost,” she whispered, almost unable to believe her eyes.

Tenten crossed her arms, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Of course he did. Lee isn’t…” Her voice trailed off as something else caught her attention—a flash of silver cutting through the air as Naruto charged forward, his Zweihander sweeping low with intent. Lee sprang back, narrowly evading the massive blade as it cleaved into the ground with a powerful thud, leaving a fresh scar in the earth.

“Well then, bushy brows,” Naruto called, clearly itching for his turn, “looks like it’s my time to avenge Sasuke.”

Lee, unfazed, stepped forward with a serious expression. “I am Rock Lee,” he introduced, his voice respectful yet focused.

“Name’s Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar.” With a flourish, Naruto slapped his helmet shut, his whole body practically vibrating with excitement.

Lee’s eyes sparkled as he observed Naruto’s stance. “So cool!”

And then they moved—a blur of green and silver as Naruto and Lee clashed in a flash of motion. Naruto swung the Zweihander with impressive speed, aiming for Lee’s shins, the massive blade slicing through the air with a whistle. Lee, his reflexes razor-sharp, deflected the blow with a well-timed kick to the flat of the sword, the sound of metal against metal ringing out like a gong.

“Is he wearing armor on his legs?”

“Those are weights,” Tenten replied, her gaze momentarily dreamy as she watched Naruto’s Zweihander cut through the air. She couldn’t help herself; the craftsmanship of the blade had her captivated.

Sakura noticed and raised an eyebrow.

“Do you… want that sword?”

Tenten didn’t even hesitate.

“Of course I do! That thing is amazing. Just imagine all the things I could do with it…” She paused, catching the wary look on Sakura’s face. “Wait… don’t look at me like that! I wasn’t actually going to steal it or anything.”

Sakura crossed her arms. “Good. Because if you tried, you’d probably die,” she said flatly, shivering at the memory of Naruto’s killing intent.

Tenten chuckled, her eyes finally tearing away from the Zweihander. “You’re probably right,” she admitted with a laugh. “Still, I can’t help but find it funny.”

“What’s funny?”

“The similarities between our teams,” Tenten explained, glancing over at Sakura with a small smile. “Both teams have the top student and kunoichi from the graduating class. And then, of course, the ‘dead-last’ who’s now somehow managing to rival the top student.”

Sakura blinked, a look of surprise crossing her face. “Wait… you mean… Lee was…?”

“Yep.” Tenten smirked. “Lee was the one who couldn’t perform a single jutsu, not even the basic Clone Technique. He couldn’t do ninjutsu, couldn’t do genjutsu, and academically, he was way behind. But…” She paused, her gaze growing warm as she looked over at Lee, “he trained like his life depended on it. And now, he’s the only person who can challenge Neji.”

Sakura stared, unable to mask her disbelief. She glanced at Naruto, who was battling Lee fiercely, then looked down at her hands. “At least you’re strong, Tenten-senpai,” she murmured, her voice tinged with defeat. “I’m… just weak.”

“Hey,” Tenten nudged her, her voice gently encouraging. “Don’t sell yourself short. You were the top kunoichi, right?”

Sakura’s smile faded, her shoulders slumping slightly. She traced a pattern in the dirt with her toe, frowning. “Does that matter when I’m practically the weakest link in my team? I feel like I’ll never catch up to Sasuke and Naruto…”

“Why do you have to keep up with Sasuke and Naruto?”

“Well… isn’t that what being on a team is about? I mean, I thought we were supposed to all be equal…” Sakura’s voice trailed off, uncertainty creeping in.

Tenten crouched down, drawing three circles in the dirt in front of her. She looked up, waiting for Sakura to follow her gaze. “Think of a team like a machine. Each team member is a cog in that machine. What do you think happens if all these cogs are spinning at different speeds or if they’re just trying to outdo each other?”

Sakura frowned, leaning down to examine the circles. “The machine… doesn’t work?”

“No,” Tenten replied, meeting Sakura’s gaze. “The machine might work, but it won’t last long. All those cogs, pushing against each other, competing for speed, will wear each other down. Our team went through that.” She sighed, a small, wry smile on her lips. “I tried to keep up with Neji’s natural talent and Lee’s relentless drive. I was so busy trying to match their strengths that I wasn’t focused on what I could bring to the team. And, honestly, we were a complete mess. We actually failed last year’s Chunin Exams because of it.”

Sakura looked at her, surprised. “You failed the exams?”

“Yep.” Tenten shrugged. “And honestly, our team would have been split up after that if things hadn’t changed.” She paused, a determined look coming into her eyes. “Instead of trying to compete with them, I started looking at what they lacked and where I could fill the gaps. I stopped trying to outdo Neji’s precision or Lee’s stamina. Instead, I focused on being adaptable, finding ways to support them with my own skills. I became the cog that helped bring them together.”



Sakura was silent for a moment, processing Tenten’s words. She’d spent so long focused on her lack of combat skills, her feeling of inferiority to Sasuke and Naruto, that she hadn’t stopped to consider her place within the team from a different perspective.

“So… I don’t have to be like them?”

Tenten shook her head with a smile.

“Not at all. You need to be you. There’s nothing wrong with being weak if it pushes you to find your strengths. But if you keep trying to be something you’re not, you’ll never figure out where you truly belong.”

Sakura looked down, her hand brushing against the dirt as she took in Tenten’s advice. “So… I should try to find my own place in the team instead of trying to compete with them?”

“Exactly.” Tenten gave her a supportive pat on the shoulder. “And you’ve got more potential than you think. You were the top kunoichi, right? There must be something you were especially good at back in the academy.”

“Well…” Sakura hesitated, her mind going back to her studies. “I’ve always had great chakra control. And I guess I have a really good memory. I could memorize stuff almost instantly.”

Tenten’s eyes lit up.

“Sakura, that’s perfect! Do you know how rare that combination is? There’s an entire branch of ninjutsu—Barrier Ninjutsu—that requires both pinpoint chakra control and a strong memory. Hardly anyone has the skill for it, but with your abilities, you might be naturally suited for it.”

Sakura’s eyes widened. “Barrier Ninjutsu… I never thought about that.”

“See?” Tenten grinned. “You already have a unique advantage. It’s just about finding the right place to use it. And hey, if you ever want to work on taijutsu, kenjutsu, or even just spar with someone, I’m here. We kunoichi have to stick together.”

Sakura felt a warmth bloom in her chest as she looked at Tenten, the older girl’s confidence and encouragement lifting her spirits. “Thank you, Tenten-senpai. Really… I needed to hear that.”

A sudden bang interrupted Tenten and Sakura’s conversation as they turned to see Guy-sensei standing between Naruto and Lee, his hand outstretched to stop Naruto’s Zweihander mid-swing and Lee’s kick mid-air. His expression was stern, more intense than either girl had seen before.

“Lee!” Guy barked, his voice thunderous. “You’ve dropped your weight!”

Lee flinched, his eyes widening in shock and shame. “Sensei! Naruto-kun here accidentally sliced it off during our sparring!”

“No excuses!” Guy’s eyes blazed with fiery determination. “If you’re truly dedicated to the path of youth, you will accept the consequences of your failures. Now, give me a thousand laps around the forest!”

Lee’s eyes widened, but he didn’t protest, taking off into the trees without hesitation. Naruto gave a disappointed look as if he wanted to fight some more, but Guy just shook his head and turned back to Kakashi, who waved lazily from his spot under a tree, clearly entertained by the whole ordeal.

As the dust settled, Sakura turned back to Tenten, feeling a rush of admiration mixed with a touch of uncertainty. The words just slipped out before she could stop them. “Senpai… what’s your dream?”

Tenten’s face softened, and her gaze drifted as if she was picturing something distant. “I want to become a legendary kunoichi—someone young kunoichi all over the world can look up to. Like Tsunade,” she said, her voice filled with a quiet yet unwavering determination. “She’s a symbol of strength and beauty. I want to be that for others someday.”

Sakura felt a pang of self-doubt in her chest, Tenten’s words making her feel… small. Tenten had a vision, something bigger than herself, while Sakura couldn’t even picture her own future beyond her infatuation with Sasuke. Was that all she had? Was he all she was reaching for? Was that all she wanted to amount to? She swallowed hard, her voice soft.

“That’s a beautiful dream, Tenten-senpai…”

Tenten glanced at her, eyes filled with understanding. “What about you, Sakura?”

Sakura hesitated, her gaze dropping. She felt… embarrassed, almost ashamed. What could she say? That her only dream was wrapped up in a boy who barely noticed her? “I… I don’t know,” she finally whispered, barely meeting Tenten’s gaze.

“Are you… ashamed of your dreams, Sakura?”

Sakura’s head jerked up, her face coloring. “N-no, it’s just… I don’t really… have anything important,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “Not like you.”

Tenten chuckled, surprising Sakura. “You know… my dream used to be to get Neji to notice me.” Her voice was light, but there was a hint of something deeper, something she’d left behind. “Back then, I thought if he did, I’d feel important—like I was achieving something.”

Sakura’s eyes widened, not expecting that confession. “What… what changed?”

Tenten paused, looking out into the distance as if searching for her answer in the horizon. “One day, I realized I didn’t want to spend my life defined by someone else’s shadow. I wanted to stand on my own, to have something that was truly mine. So, I found a new dream, a bigger one—something I could hold onto for myself.”

Sakura felt a twinge in her heart, her mind spinning with questions she didn’t know how to ask. “But… what if I don’t have anything like that?” she murmured, her voice tinged with frustration. “What if… I’m just… empty?”

Tenten reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Sakura’s shoulder, her grip warm and steady. “Dreams aren’t always there waiting for you, Sakura. Sometimes, they’re things you have to go out and find.”

Sakura’s throat tightened, her vision blurring slightly. “But… how? I don’t even know where to start.”

Tenten’s smile was gentle, her voice soft yet full of encouragement. “Start by listening to yourself. It’s okay if you don’t know what you want yet. You’re allowed to feel lost, to explore. Just don’t be afraid to try things, to challenge yourself. You’ll figure it out in time.”

Sakura bit her lip, fighting back the sudden surge of emotions, the weight of her insecurities pressing down on her.

“Thank you, Tenten-senpai.”

Tenten gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Remember, Sakura. One step at a time. And remember—dreams aren’t about what anyone else wants for you. They’re about what you want for yourself.”