Your legs trembled slightly beneath you, the cold mist of the Land of Waves licking at your skin like a warning. This wasn't a training mission anymore. It hadn't been for a while now, ever since Zabuza Momochi appeared and nearly carved through your team like paper. But now… now there was blood. Real blood. Naruto’s hand still shook from where he stabbed himself to overcome his fear.

You stood a few feet away, trying to breathe through the iron scent in the air. Naruto had taken a hit for Tazuna, he hadn't hesitated. And even now, as his arm bled from the kunai slash meant for the old bridge builder, he was grinning like an idiot.

"Heh... I told you, didn’t I?" he laughed breathlessly, looking at you, "I’m not gonna let fear stop me anymore."

You crouched down beside him, gently reaching for his wounded arm. He flinched at first but didn’t pull away. There was dirt smeared on his cheeks and sweat stuck to his forehead protector, but his blue eyes were lit with something new, determination. Something hard-earned. Real.

"You're going to get yourself killed one day if you keep jumping in like that," you muttered under your breath, tying a makeshift bandage around his arm. It wasn't the first time you scolded him like that, and apparently it won't be the last.

You weren't exceptionally close to Naruto, but seeing his pain, how he would always be left out, ignored, even hated on, it pained you too. You were sensible on such matters and no child deserved to go through what he had to endure. So yes, Naruto was already stronger than anyone you knew, stronger than Sasuke, stronger even than Kakashi, because his spirit was strong, it wasn't his physics or ninja ability, his soul was constant, disciplined.

He winced but chuckled again, his voice softer this time. "Then you better be there to yell at me after. ‘Cause that means I’ll still be breathing."

You didn't answer. But your hands lingered on the bandage just a second longer. You didn’t want to let go. And Naruto, looking at your softened eyes toward him felt like he found the closest image to family he could ever get from someone of the village.