Chapter 14: First Impressions
Sakura hadn't expected to be called first.
"My name is Haruno Sakura. What I like… well, rather than saying I like things, it's more like I like a certain person…"
"My hobbies… and my future dream is…"
As she spoke, Sakura kept stealing glances at Sasuke beside her, making it painfully obvious that her only goal in life was him.
Kakashi looked speechless and interrupted, "And then? What do you dislike?"
"Naruto!" Sakura's expression turned cold instantly.
A bead of sweat rolled down Kakashi's forehead. "…Next."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking first, Naruto began:
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. What I like… I'm not even sure if it counts as liking something. Right now, if I had to say what interests me, it would probably be money."
"As for dreams, I haven't decided yet. Maybe make a lot of money and improve my life. Maybe become the strongest ninja. Maybe become Hokage. Who knows?"
"What I dislike… I hate fangirls."
"Especially pink-haired fangirls!"
As if worried Sakura might miss the hint, Naruto deliberately emphasized the last part.
"What did you just say, Naruto?!"
Sakura's face flushed red with anger after understanding his implication.
She clenched her fist, looking ready to punch him right then and there.
Naruto, however, didn't care at all. He even gave her a casual glance and added, "Oh, and I also hate women with bad tempers."
"Damn you, Naruto!"
Sakura couldn't hold back anymore and swung her fist at him, but Kakashi quickly interrupted.
"Alright, last one!"
Sasuke remained completely unaffected by the exchange between Naruto and Sakura. He rested his hands on his chin and said in a low voice:
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I have many things I dislike, but almost nothing I like."
"And I don't just talk about dreams — I have ambition!"
"I will restore the Uchiha clan… and I will personally kill a certain man with my own hands."
The training ground fell silent for a moment after Sasuke's answer.
Sakura looked stunned, momentarily forgetting how angry she was at Naruto.
But only for a second. Soon she was once again lost in Sasuke's handsome profile.
Naruto sat on the steps, one cheek resting on his hand, staring at the sky and wondering whether he should just punch Sakura once.
Kakashi, on the other hand, looked slightly heavy-hearted as he worried about the three members of Team 7.
"Well, all three of you have very… distinctive personalities. Quite interesting!"
Kakashi tilted his head. "Then starting tomorrow, we'll begin missions!"
"Missions? What kind of missions?" Sakura asked, looking at Kakashi.
Kakashi crossed his arms. "A survival exercise."
"Survival exercise? Aren't we supposed to do real missions? We've done plenty of exercises back at the academy!" Sakura said, clearly confused and dissatisfied.
"This isn't a normal exercise…"
Kakashi suddenly smiled at the three of them.
"What's so funny, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura pouted.
"Because if I told you the details of the exercise, I'm afraid you'd get scared."
Kakashi covered half his face with his hand and said seriously, "Out of the 27 graduates, only 9 were recognized as proper ninjas. The other 18 will be sent back to the academy. In other words, this is an extremely difficult test with a failure rate of over 66%!"
"How can that be?!"
Sakura looked resentful. "If that's the case, then what was the point of the graduation exam?"
"That was only to select those qualified to become Genin. It wasn't the real test to become a ninja."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Otherwise, don't you think becoming a ninja would be way too easy?"
"That's not fair~"
Sakura looked dejected. She turned her head and noticed Sasuke also seemed tense, his clasped hands gripping tighter.
Then she looked at Naruto.
He's clearly a dead last, yet he's acting like he doesn't care at all. So annoying!
Hopefully he gets eliminated in tomorrow's test so we can get a new teammate… As long as it's not Ino or Naruto, anyone is fine!
Sakura pouted with clear disgust on her face.
Kakashi also noticed Naruto's indifference.
Is he this confident because he defeated Ebisu?
When the Third Hokage had told him about it yesterday, he had been genuinely shocked.
Although Ebisu was only a Special Jonin, he was from the same generation as Kakashi — an elite ninja who had survived many dangerous missions.
And yet, he had still lost to Naruto.
Reportedly, it had only taken one move.
Looks like I'll need to take tomorrow's exercise seriously.
Kakashi thought to himself, then turned his back to them and said, "Tomorrow at the training ground, I will decide whether you pass or not. Make sure to bring your ninja tools. Assemble at 5 AM sharp!"
"Oh, and don't eat breakfast. You'll throw up~"
"That's all… dismissed!"
With that, Kakashi left.
Sakura immediately tried to walk home with Sasuke, but he rejected her with a single glance and vanished using Body Flicker, leaving only Naruto behind.
Seeing Naruto, Sakura's anger flared up again.
"Naruto!!!"
The frustration from Sasuke ignoring her combined with Naruto's earlier insults finally made her explode.
"What?"
Naruto looked at her with dead-fish eyes, a trace of impatience on his face.
Honestly, he really disliked Haruno Sakura.
"What's with that look?" Sakura clenched her fist and sneered. "About what happened in the classroom and just now — don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
"Explanation? Explain what?"
Naruto put on a mocking expression. "How I graduated has nothing to do with you. Was I wrong when I said it's none of your damn business?"
"You—!"
"Don't get too excited. I'm not done yet."
Naruto continued, "And about what I said earlier — is it wrong that I hate fangirls and women with violent tempers? Did I hit the nail on the head and now you're triggered?"
"Naruto!!!"
Sakura finally lost control and threw a punch straight at his face.
But her fist was easily caught by Naruto with one hand.
"Is that all you've got? Did you skip lunch?" Naruto sneered.
"You—!"
Sakura tried desperately to pull her hand back, but it wouldn't budge.
Naruto loosened his grip at the right moment, causing Sakura to lose balance and fall hard onto the ground.
"N-Naruto, you…!"
Sitting on the ground, feeling the pain in her hand, Sakura looked up at Naruto towering over her and suddenly felt a wave of fear.
"Don't come any closer…"
"Relax, I won't."
Naruto looked down at her and said indifferently, "You're not that likable anyway. I'd rather stay as far away from you as possible."
Sakura's face filled with grievance, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
From childhood until now, she had never been hated like this.
Even the kids who used to mock her big forehead weren't as cold as Naruto.
She could feel it — Naruto genuinely despised her from the bottom of his heart.
But… why?
I haven't done anything wrong, and I'm so pretty!
He used to like me so much before. Why does he suddenly hate me now?
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