If Sasuke ever learned what happened tonight…
Arata thought wryly, he'd probably cling to him for training every single day.
At this point, even Sakura had begun to believe that Arata's strength had already surpassed Kakashi's.
And while Arata didn't see it that way — it wasn't entirely untrue.
Kakashi might not be the most destructive shinobi, but he was one of the most dangerous.
He was the kind of man who could make even superior opponents lose.
"Jutsu power doesn't equal strength," Arata reminded himself quietly.
In the ninja world, raw power meant nothing without experience and tactical intellect.
And when it came to strategy — to battlefield intuition — few could compare to Hatake Kakashi.
Arata knew he still lacked both.
That's why he couldn't bring himself to believe he'd actually surpassed him.
But if one compared their pure power — their chakra reserves, the magnitude of their ninjutsu, their control —
then yes, Kakashi would struggle to keep up.
Sakura certainly thought so.
She had seen Arata unleash power on a scale that dwarfed anything Kakashi had ever shown.
The golden dragon of thunder and sea still lingered in her mind — something even Kakashi's Chidori couldn't compare to.
Chidori might pierce through anything, but it was still a single-target technique.
Arata's jutsu, in contrast, had reshaped the very sea.
So in her eyes, Arata was already beyond him.
And Sasuke, hearing that, would definitely shift his ambitions.
He'd want to learn from Arata — the way he once idolized Itachi.
Kakashi could see it coming, too.
But rather than being envious, he found himself smiling.
He glanced at Arata, who was carrying Sasuke effortlessly.
The boy's eyes were calm, not a hint of arrogance in them.
That, more than anything, reassured him.
"Most kids," Kakashi thought, "would've lost themselves after gaining that kind of power."
He remembered himself at that age — prideful, sharp-tongued, and easily agitated.
That was before everything went wrong… before Obito and Rin.
Arata wasn't like that.
He had power beyond his years, but his heart remained grounded.
That was rare.
And precious.
When they brought Sasuke back beside Naruto, Sakura ran up at once, gasping at the sight of him.
"Arata! What happened to him? He's covered in bandages!"
Arata set Sasuke down gently.
"Relax. He's fine. Just some weapon wounds and blood loss. No vital damage."
Sakura's eyes softened as relief washed over her.
Then Arata looked at her thoughtfully.
"Sakura," he said suddenly, "you should consider studying medical ninjutsu."
"Huh?"
"Naruto and Sasuke are both frontline fighters. Your chakra control is better than both of them, but you're not suited to pure combat."
"Learning healing techniques would make you essential to your team."
He turned to Kakashi.
"What do you think, sensei?"
Kakashi folded his arms, considering.
He had originally planned to steer Sakura toward genjutsu — her control and focus made her a perfect fit.
And Kakashi's own genjutsu skill was respectable enough to guide her.
But Arata's point made sense.
A balanced team always needed a medical-nin.
After all, back in his own squad, Rin Nohara had filled that exact role.
Even the thought of her made him quiet for a moment.
"You're right," Kakashi said finally.
"A medical-nin could make all the difference in this squad."
Sakura looked from one to the other, uncertain — then nodded slowly.
"I… think you're right. I'll try."
"Good." Kakashi smiled faintly.
"Once we're back in the village, I'll introduce you to some of the medical-nin who can train you."
If Kakashi could convince Ebisu — the tutor personally approved by the Third Hokage — to train Naruto,
then finding a few healers to guide Sakura would be simple.
Sakura hesitated only a little.
She wanted to be strong like her teammates, but… she knew her limits.
Her chakra reserves weren't like Naruto's or Sasuke's.
Watching the two of them — and now Arata — she'd realized how far behind she was.
So, maybe healing was the right path for her.
At least it would let her protect them.
She smiled faintly.
"Then it's settled. But Arata, you better not make me mad — because when you get hurt, I'll be the one patching you up."
Arata blinked.
"Wait, we're not even on the same team."
He gave her a teasing grin.
"When Sasuke and Naruto wake up, you can tell them the bad news yourself."
"Oh, please," Sakura pouted. "You're definitely coming with us again. Right, Kakashi-sensei?"
She turned toward Kakashi — who suddenly looked… awkward.
"Ah…" Kakashi rubbed his neck, averting his eye.
Even Arata noticed.
"Wait. You actually were thinking that?"
Kakashi coughed lightly, but said nothing.
The truth was — yes, he had.
Ever since he'd met Arata, Kakashi had felt something uneasy stirring inside him.
It wasn't distrust.
It was fear.
Not of Arata himself — but of what might happen to him in the village.
He'd spent too long in the ANBU not to understand how politics worked in Konoha.
He trusted the Third Hokage… mostly.
But Hiruzen was old, and far too willing to compromise.
And Danzo Shimura had never been one to let talent grow outside his control.
A boy like Arata — powerful, unique, and carrying an unknown chakra nature — would be an irresistible target.
If left alone in the village… Kakashi feared what the elders might try.
He'd seen things like that before.
Children weaponized. Bloodlines harvested. Promises broken.
So yes — he wanted Arata close.
If he took the boy with him on missions, he could protect him.
To everyone else, it would seem like mentorship.
But to Kakashi, it was shielding a spark from the wind.
"I can't take that risk," Kakashi thought silently.
"If something happens, Toichi won't be able to stop it. He doesn't have the influence."
"And if the worst comes to pass… I'd rather they target me than him."
Years in the shadows had made Kakashi cautious — maybe even paranoid.
But he couldn't help it.
To him, Arata wasn't just another promising genin.
He was a potential game-changer — for Konoha, or against it.
And that was exactly the kind of power the village always sought to control.
Meanwhile, Arata had his own thoughts.
He didn't mind following Kakashi sometimes, but… he missed his real team.
Toichi-sensei, Benihiko, and Yamada — he'd barely seen them since the academy mission.
"If I keep tagging along with Kakashi's squad," he mused, "they'll think I've switched teams."
It wasn't that Arata was ambitious — far from it.
But he cared about people's feelings.
Even for someone as quiet as him, loyalty mattered.
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