❝ramen, ramen. ❞

easier than Shizuka had thought. The girl was very obedient and determined in her practice. Maybe because her intention to change is very big.

"Ah, it works again!"

The girl turned to Sakura who was trying to recover a fish. Yes, Shizuka thought maybe Sakura would be good in medical ninjutsu. Because her chakra control is pretty good.

"That's enough for today," Shizuka stood up. "It's late."

Shizuka walked first, past the shady trees. Her steps were stopped when someone stands in front of her. She looked up, "What is it?"

"You taught Sakura medical ninjutsu, huh?" Kakashi asked, putting his hand in his pocket then walking beside her.

"Yeah," she answered simply.

"I'm actually surprised that she really wants to become a ninja," Kakashi admitted. "I mean, at least not this fast."

"I know. But her chakra control is quite good, so I thought maybe she can become one," Shizuka folded her arms. "Besides, it would be good if this team had a medical ninja."

The man next to her nodded in agreement. "I'm the teacher, but you act more than me."

"Hmph! Then stop reading that obscure novel, nanodayo!" Shizuka scolded, raising her glasses up. "That's why you don't pay attention to them."

"Literacy is important," Kakashi said in his bored voice. "At least it's better than your Oha-Asa."

"Kakashi!"

○○○

"What?"

Shizuka asked once again, thinking that what she had heard earlier was just her imagination. Her eyebrows wrinkled and she slowly lowered the chopsticks to the table.

"I want you to stay here and take care of Naruto," said Kakashi once again. "Zabuza may still be around here. So I asked you to stand guard here."

She huffed. Her bandages fingers pushing her glasses up. "Alright."

"Good," Kakashi stood up then looked at his two students. "Sasuke, Sakura. Come on."

"Alright, looks like I'll be leaving too," Tazuna stood up, putting on his hat.

"Please be careful .."

After they left, Shizuka went straight to Naruto's room. Sitting in the corner of the room, staring at the boy with a blank gaze. This kid uses too many of his chakra to practice that he doesn't wake up in the morning, even though Kakashi had appointed him to guard Tazuna.

It's been half an hour, and Naruto has still slept soundly. Too soundly even, to the point that he was drooling while muttering 'Ramen, ramen' in his sleep. Not only that, but he also muttered all kinds of ramen. Gosh, he likes ramen so much that he brings it in his dreams.

"--ramen, miso ramen, tonkatsu ramen. Ichiraku~ Argh!!!" finally he woke up, gasping, looking forward.

"You're awake," Shizuka said, observing how Naruto was turning to his side.

"Shizuka?" Naruto asked. "What are you doing here, ttebayo?"

"Waiting for you to wake up, nanodayo," Shizuka stood up and walked toward the door. "Do you want to come or not?"

"Don't tell me! They left us?!" Naruto exclaimed, hastily wearing his clothes. "Come on, Shizuka!"

Both of them immediately rushed to the bridge, passing through the forest while listening to Naruto's nagging about how they're so late and why Shizuka didn't wake him up. How could she wake him up if he was having such a sweet dream? Kakashi also advised Naruto to stay rested.

"We have to go back to Tazuna-ojiisan's house!" Naruto ordered, turning around.

Shizuka looked at him with a surprised look, she was surprised to find Naruto noticing the cut. The cut in the trees and the boar they passed earlier. And true to what Naruto said, Tazuna's house was surrounded by several people with a sword in their belt.

He was not that stupid, apparently

With Naruto saving Inari and his mother, Shizuka deals with those people. Defeating them is very easy because none of them use chakra.

Finally, they went again to the bridge. With Naruto who foolishly entered the glass cage of Haku —the fake ANBU who had saved Zabuza— and Shizuka who was beside Kakashi.

"Do you think that having two more genins will make you easily defeat me, Kakashi?" Zabuza asked arrogantly.

"Don't underestimate me, nanodayo," Shizuka answered, she leaned slightly and pulled out her jutsu. "Fire release: Fireball!"

"Water release: Water Wall!" Zabuza exclaimed, blocking Shizuka's fire. "Not bad."

"Want to work together like before?" asked Kakashi, glancing at Shizuka. His Sharingan already activated.

"All right," said the girl. "But I have to get rid of this fog first, Boil release!" The fog blocking their eyesight disappeared due to Shizuka's hot water jets.

And then, they charged. The fight was only physical, Zabuza with his sword, and Kakashi and Shizuka with their kunai. Even so, the three of them are both already exhausted.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bomb!"

Kakashi and Shizuka's combination attack managed to make Zabuza far-flung. But she could see the man standing back and pulling out his jutsu. "Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!" creating a spiraling vortex of water that proceeds to explode from the top in the form of a wave.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" she expelled a fire who shaped into a literal sea of flames. The fire collided with Zabuza water and then it was turned down.

DEG!

Shizuka can feel it. A large chakra and demonic aura emerge from Haku's glass cage. Don't tell me—

After the glass broke and Naruto with a body covered in orange chakra came out with Haku in his hand. Even though the current Naruto might benefit them, if it is out of control it will be difficult later.

Shizuka quickly jumped away, leaving Kakashi with Zabuza, and putting her hand on Naruto's back. Luckily the seal worked and Naruto was back to normal.

"What the—" Naruto gasped in shock. Then he looked at the girl beside him and smiled broadly. "Thank you, Shizuka!"

"Hmph! Why would I want to save you, nanodayo!" Shizuka said, raising her glasses.

"You're so mean!" Naruto exclaimed while pouting. "Oh yeah, Shizuka, can you please heal Sasuke?" Naruto's voice narrowed, making the girl wonder. What happened to Sasuke?

Inevitably, Shizuka nodded. Turning her body to walk into the ice cage of Haku which eventually broke. Inside the glass cage, there was Sasuke lying there. With needles piercing his body. She can also see the blood coming out of him.

Could he be the reason for Naruto releasing that chakra?

Slowly, she pulled out all the needles. Then the vines came out of the ground and covered Sasuke's body. Of course, to cure it. This healing technique belongs to the Midorima clan. And different from the usual healing techniques, this technique heals until there are no scars at all. Like Hashirama Senju's healing.

"Shizuka?" Sasuke's call made Shizuka's eyes turn to him. If you look closely, the wound has healed.

"You're awake," she said flatly, looking down at him.

Sasuke sat up, and he realized that the pain had disappeared. The wound too, leaving only blood on his shirt. Then his gaze at Shizuka, did she heal him?

"What about ... Naruto?" Sasuke asked, looking around at the place. "Where is the masked kid?"

"He's dead," Shizuka pointed at someone lying in front.

"Dead?!" he widened his eyes. "Did Naruto kill him?"

"No," she answered him. "He died protecting Zabuza."

Sasuke stood up, followed by Shizuka and the two of them walked forward to stand with the others. "Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed happily, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, hey, hey!" a few dozen feet ahead of them, a crowd broke their peace. "You guys are too at ease! Damn ninjas ... you killed our meal ticket! you guys are dead! Now, we're gonna pillage this city. And take anything of value!"

"What are we going to do, ttebayyo!" Naruto exclaimed in panic. "Kakashi-sensei!"

"Shizuka!" called Kakashi, looking at the girl while smiling —it didn't look like that, but at least his eyes were smiling— making her sighed defeatedly. Ever since she became a student in Team 7, Kakashi has become arbitrary toward her. It really annoyed her, but she never complained.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall!" A large volume of water is directed from a preexisting source or expelled high into the air from the mouth. Once high enough, it cascades down onto the targeted area, resembling a giant waterfall. The force of this waterfall is great enough to hollow out the ground, washing away everything in the area.

"Yey!!" Naruto exclaimed happily, "Finally it's over, ttebayyo!"