As the sun dipped below the horizon, Team Seven parted ways after their successful test. Kakashi had left with a cryptic comment about meeting again tomorrow, while Sasuke disappeared without a word, as was his habit.
That left Naruto and Hinata walking side by side through the quiet streets of Konoha, the village settling into its evening rhythm.
Naruto's expression was thoughtful, his hands shoved into his pockets. Beside him, Hinata walked with a quiet confidence, her gaze occasionally flickering to Naruto.
"Today went well," Hinata said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that only Naruto ever seemed to hear. "Even with the seals."
Naruto gave a slight nod, his sharp blue eyes scanning the path ahead. "Yeah, but Kakashi wasn't showing his full strength either. He was holding back, testing more than just our abilities."
Hinata glanced at him curiously. "What do you think he was testing?"
Naruto tilted his head thoughtfully. "Teamwork, mostly. But also how far we'd push ourselves under pressure. He wanted to see if we'd break and turn on each other or stick together."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "Then we passed."
Naruto smirked, his tone light but filled with confidence. "Yeah, we passed. But don't think for a second he didn't notice us holding back."
Hinata frowned slightly. "Do you think he suspects the seals?"
Naruto shook his head. "Not yet. He might think we've got untapped potential, but he doesn't know about the gravity seals. As far as he's concerned, we're just skilled genin with good teamwork. That's exactly how we need him—and everyone else—to see us for now."
---
Later that night, Naruto sat at his small, cluttered desk, a single candle illuminating the room. The Scroll of Seals lay open before hi, its forbidden knowledge spread out like a puzzle he was slowly piecing together.
The gravity seals were a deliberate strategy—something he and Hinata had decided on during their training under Jiraiya. They didn't just make them stronger; they masked their true capabilities. Every movement, every technique was made exponentially harder under the constant strain of the seals. To everyone else, it looked like they were ordinary genin struggling to improve.
Naruto's fingers brushed against the edges of the scroll as he muttered to himself. "The longer we keep this up, the bigger the gap will grow between us and everyone else. They won't see it coming until it's too late."
He leaned back in his chair, his sharp mind working through possibilities. Kakashi was observant—too observant to fool forever. But as long as they stayed consistent, their cover would hold.
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga compound, Hinata stood in the courtyard, her Byakugan active as she practiced her strikes against the training dummy. Each movement was deliberate, her strikes layered with precision, as she adapted what she'd learned from the day's test.
She paused, lowering her hands, and looked up at the moon. "Naruto-kun is right. We need to stay under the radar. If people knew what we were really capable of, we'd lose the element of surprise."
She thought back to the look in Kakashi's eye earlier—how he'd seemed to notice something more in their movements, their tactics. It was a reminder to stay cautious, to maintain the balance between showing enough skill to earn respect while hiding their true potential.
---
Back at his apartment, Naruto stepped out onto the roof, the cool night air brushing against his face. He looked out over the quiet village, his thoughts racing.
"Kakashi's test was just the beginning," he murmured. "The missions we'll take on… the enemies we'll face… They'll all underestimate us because of these seals. And when the time comes…" He clenched his fists. "We'll blow past their expectations. No one's ready for what we're capable of—Hinata and me."
For now, they'd stay in the shadows, their strength growing with every passing day. But when the moment came to reveal the full extent of their power, they wouldn't just meet expectations—they'd shatter them.
Naruto's lips curved into a small, confident smirk. "One step at a time. We'll show them all, together."
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Author's notes.
Please give me power stones for extra chapters.
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