"Hah!? What about you?" Naruto exclaimed, pointing accusingly at Kakashi, who was already comfortably seated under a tree, his back resting lazily against the bark.
A small book was open in his hand, the one he'd bought just yesterday from a discreet little shop near the market, and he seemed to be enjoying it far more than he should.
"Oh, this?" Kakashi looked up briefly and waved the book slightly. "This mission's for you guys, not for me."
"You expect to get paid for just sitting there?" Naruto demanded, clearly scandalized. "Kakashi-sensei, that's cheating!"
"Of course, I do," Kakashi chirped, his eyes still glued to the page. "Actually, the largest part of the mission payment goes to me."
"What?!" Naruto's jaw dropped.
"Why would that be fair?" Sakura blinked, confused.
Sasuke, as always, said nothing. He leaned against a nearby fence, arms crossed. The thought of Ryo didn't concern him, he wasn't hurting for money.
Kakashi finally looked up, his tone slightly more serious though his eyes still held amusement.
"Well, you see, when the Hokage assigns a Jonin like me to supervise new Genin teams, we're technically taking a pay cut. I could be off doing A-rank or S-rank missions right now, making a small fortune. Instead, I'm babysitting you three and doing D-rank work. So… I get a compensation bonus."
Naruto stared at him like he'd just been told his ramen shop was closing forever. His eyes narrowed as he began to mutter to himself, counting imaginary coins on his fingers.
"Anyway," Kakashi clapped the book shut and stood, stretching a little. "Enough talk. Time to work. If you finish this quickly, you'll have more time to train."
That word 'training' sparked something in Sasuke. Without saying a word, he turned and headed off toward the river they were assigned to clean, his pace quickening.
Sakura followed right after him. "Wait, Sasuke-kun!"
Naruto, still sulking, looked back at Kakashi. "Stupid mission… Stupid unfair pay…"
"Move it," Kakashi said with a casual tone, waving him along.
—
When they arrived at the riverbank, it was worse than expected. Bottles floated lazily in the water. Wrappers clung to branches. An old sandal bobbed gently near the rocks.
"Ugh, this stinks!"Naruto said as he picked up a long stick and started poking at the water with a disgusted face.
"Stop whining and do your part." Sasuke was already at work, pulling out bits of trash with quiet determination.
Sakura tied her hair back and crouched to gather wrappers near the edge. "Try not to fall in."
Which, of course, meant Naruto was definitely going to fall in.
Sure enough—"Waaah!"
Splash!
Water was sprayed into the air. Garbage went flying. Sakura jumped back with a startled yell.
Naruto popped up, soaked from head to toe, with river gunk in his hair and an empty noodle cup stuck to his head.
"Ugh, perfect. Now I smell like garbage."
"Points for full-body commitment," Kakashi called from the shore, looking completely unbothered.
"Nice swim," Sasuke smirked
"Not funny!" Naruto shouted, yanking the cup off his head.
Just then, something squishy and slimy brushed against his leg.
"AHHH! A monster!"
Sasuke and Sakura turned in alarm.
Naruto froze. Then, slowly, he pulled up… a soggy old shoe.
"Oh my god, it's just a shoe!" Sakura burst out laughing.
Even Sasuke let out a small laugh. A rare sight.
"Teamwork and bathing," Kakashi mused, his voice light. "Two lessons in one afternoon."
"I better get a cool mission after this."Naruto finally climbed out, wringing out his shirt.
"You might, if you stop falling in the river." Kakashi gestured for him to come closer. "Come on. I'll clean you up."
Naruto frowned suspiciously but stepped forward.
Kakashi formed a hand seal.
"Water Style: Water Jet."
A focused stream of clean water blasted over Naruto, washing away the worst of the grime. Then Kakashi formed another seal.
"Fire Style: Warm Breeze."
A gentle blast of heat rolled over Naruto's clothes, drying them instantly.
"That's so cool!"Naruto's eyes went wide.
Off to the side, Sasuke was watching with serious focus. The ease with which Kakashi switched elements caught his attention. He filed that away in his mind.
"Teach me, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted.
"No thank you for the cleanup?" Kakashi gave him a sidelong look.
"Hehe… thanks!"Naruto grinned sheepishly.
Kakashi just sighed quietly.
—
Later, Team 7 returned to the Hokage's office, a little dirtier but still in one piece. Naruto was still mumbling under his breath.
"I swear, if the next mission is picking up dog poop, I'm quitting."
Inside the mission hall, Kakashi handed in the completed scroll. The Third Hokage greeted them with his usual calm smile.
"Well done, Team 7," he said, eyes kind. He noted Naruto's frustrated look but said nothing. Let him vent. The boy would learn.
Once outside, Kakashi didn't let them rest.
"We're heading to Training Ground 3," he said, walking ahead.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked. "Aren't we done?"
"Now that we've done some missions," Kakashi said, not even glancing back, "it's time to work on your ninja basics."
"You're serious?" Sakura asked.
"I always am."
When they arrived, Kakashi turned to them and crossed his arms.
"During the survival test, I was watching everything. You all have one major problem in common."
They stared.
"Your chakra control is weak," Kakashi said bluntly.
He reached under his wrist and tapped the underside of his arm.
Without warning, three thin paper slips dropped from his sleeve. Naruto blinked. Sakura gasped.
"Where did those even come from?"
"Chakra paper," Kakashi explained. "When you push chakra into it, the paper reacts and reveals your elemental affinity."
He handed each of them a slip.
"But before we get into learning fancy jutsu, you have to learn to control chakra," Kakashi said. "If your chakra flow is off, even basic techniques can fail. Or worse, drain you dry."
"What happens if we run out of chakra?" Naruto shivered as he thought of it.
"You faint. Or die," Kakashi replied casually.
Naruto squeaked.
"But," Kakashi added with a sly grin, "if you master the chakra control exercise I'm going to give you, I'll teach you something special."
"Really?!" Naruto's eyes lit up like a firework.
"Yes," Kakashi nodded. "The Rasengan."
Sakura and Sasuke both blinked.
"It was my teacher's signature technique. He created it."
"Your teacher?" Sasuke asked.
"The Fourth Hokage." Kakashi gave a smile.
All three Genin stared.
Naruto's mouth hung open. "Wait. The Yellow Flash?! He was your teacher?"
"That's right."
Naruto's brain was visibly melting. "You're telling me you're the student of the Fourth Hokage?"
"And if you do your part," Kakashi continued smoothly, "I'll pass the Rasengan down to you."
Sakura watched Naruto bounce with excitement, but then looked to Kakashi. "What about me?"
"You have very strong chakra control already, Sakura," Kakashi said. "Once you finish this, I'll teach you medical chakra application and a genjutsu technique personally."
Although he knew that she had good control because she didn't have as much chakra as the other two.
Sakura gasped. "Really?"
"I already spoke to Kurenai. She agrees you've got potential." Kakashi nodded.
Then Kakashi turned to Sasuke.
"And you…" He said, voice serious.
Sasuke met his gaze.
"If you complete my chakra control training, I'll teach you my original jutsu."
"The one you're famous for?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"Yes. The Chidori."
Sasuke's expression didn't change much, but his eyes sharpened, and a small smirk curled his lips.
"What! He gets a special jutsu too?!" Naruto spun around.
"You all will. If you prove you're ready," Kakashi said.