_PRE-NARUTO SHIPPUDEN ERA_
_TRAINING GROUND 3_
This was a quiet time in Konohagakure. It was a period after the big Chunin Exams, and after many sad things had happened.
Two very important young ninja were not in the village anymore. Uzumaki Naruto, the loud and spirited one, had left to train with the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, hoping to become much stronger. And Uchiha Sasuke, driven by a desire for power, had run away from the village. The village was now led by the Godaime Hokage, Senju Tsunade, a powerful Medical-nin. The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had passed away, bravely killed by Orochimaru during the Chunin Exams.
Life in the village was slowly finding its new normal, but the absence of Naruto and Sasuke was felt by many.
Training Ground 3 was a large, open area, perfect for ninja practice. The ground itself was mostly dirt and packed earth, worn smooth by countless footsteps and jutsu practice sessions. Tall, thick trees stood around the edges, their green leaves providing shade and hiding the area from prying eyes.
In some spots, the ground was uneven, with small hills and dips that could be used for cover or surprise attacks. A few strong, thick logs stood upright, stuck deep in the ground, showing where people often practiced throwing kunai and shuriken. Farther back, a clear, gentle stream flowed through the trees, its soft gurgle adding a peaceful sound to the quiet training ground. The air usually smelled of damp earth and fresh leaves, sometimes with a faint scent of dust from recent training.
On this particular day, the training ground was not empty. Two groups of young ninjas were present, but they were sitting separately from each other, a noticeable distance between them. Each group had three people in it.
The first group was made up entirely of girls. They were Hyuga Hinata, Haruno Sakura, and Yamanaka Ino. All three were 13 years old. Hinata sat quietly, her fair skin and shoulder-length dark blue hair, styled with straight bangs, looking calm. Her pale lavender, pupil-less Byakugan eyes gazed softly at her surroundings.
Sakura, with her fair skin, bright emerald green eyes, and vibrant pink hair cut into a shoulder-length bob, sat beside her. She wore a red, sleeveless qipao-style top over dark navy blue shorts. Ino, slim and fair-skinned, sat near Sakura, her striking light blue eyes and long blonde hair, tied in a high ponytail, catching the light. She was dressed in a stylish purple sleeveless crop top and matching skirt. Hinata's forehead protector was around her neck, Sakura's on her forehead, and Ino's tied around her waist.
A little distance away, the second group sat. This group had one girl and two boys and it was Team Ten whose members were Tenten, Hyuga Neji, and Rock Lee. All three of them were 14 years old. Tenten, with her fair skin and dark brown eyes, had her dark brown hair styled into two distinctive buns on either side of her head. She wore a light pink Chinese-style top and dark maroon pants.
Neji, lean and fair-skinned, had his long, dark brown hair flowing down his back, tucked behind his ears. His pale lavender-white Byakugan eyes held a steady gaze. He wore a light beige shirt and matching shorts. Rock Lee, youthful and energetic, had a lean, muscular build. His round, black eyes and thick eyebrows stood out above his shiny, bowl-cut hair. He was in his famous form-fitting green jumpsuit. Tenten, Neji and Lee, all three of them wore their Konoha forehead protectors on their foreheads.
They were all here for joint training, a common practice among the various shinobi teams to hone their skills together. However, at this very moment, they were taking a much-needed break from their training. They were sitting on the ground, enjoying their midday meal.
The girls in both the groups had brought a beautiful, traditional Jubako – a stacked lunch box with six layers, intricately lacquered in black with delicate golden designs. Each layer held different tasty foods. They also had their water bottles made of bamboo, simple, practical containers, sitting nearby to quench their thirst.
The three girls of the first group—Hinata, Sakura, and Ino—sat comfortably on the ground, the beautiful six-layered Jubako open between them. They carefully picked out pieces of food, enjoying their lunch break from the day's training. The air around them was peaceful, filled with the gentle sounds of the training ground and the soft murmur of the nearby stream.
Sakura, picking up a small rice ball, looked at Hinata and Ino with a curious expression.
"Hey, are your teammates out doing a mission today?" she asked, her voice calm. "I haven't seen Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, or Choji around." 'It's unusual for them to be completely absent from joint training. I wonder what they're up to,' she thought, taking a bite of her food.
Ino, who was just about to take a piece of grilled fish, nodded. "Yeah, they are," she confirmed, then glanced at Hinata. "They went on a mission that needed a four-man squad," Hinata added softly, her pale eyes looking at Sakura. "And Shikamaru kun is a Chunin now, so he was made the captain of the team." She offered a small, gentle smile. 'It's good that they're getting important missions now, especially Shikamaru-kun.
He's so clever,' Hinata mused inwardly.
A small smile touched Sakura's lips, a mix of slight relief and a hint of sadness. "That's good," she said, nodding slowly. "Because if they were here, then I would be all alone with no teammates." She looked down at her food, a shadow crossing her emerald eyes. "Naruto and Sasuke... both of them aren't here in the village anymore." 'It still stings, thinking about them. Naruto, far away training, and Sasuke... Sasuke is just gone. A part of me feels so empty without them here.'
Ino noticed the shift in Sakura's mood immediately. Being so close to Sakura, she could feel her friend's unspoken sadness. Ino put a hand gently on Sakura's shoulder, her expression turning worried. "Sakura, you don't have to worry yourself so much about Sasuke and Naruto," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You should only focus on your training with Tsunade-sama right now."
Ino gave Sakura's shoulder a gentle squeeze, trying to reassure her. 'Sakura works so hard, too hard sometimes. She carries so much on her shoulders. She needs to remember to breathe.' Ino then quickly tried to change the topic, aiming to lighten the mood. "And honestly, we're really glad that today you were actually free! You could do training with us!"
Ino's smile brightened. "You're always so busy training with Tsunade-sama, we never get time to hang around with you anymore!"
Sakura looked up at Ino, her worry fading slightly as she saw her friend's genuine concern and effort to cheer her up. A small, grateful smile returned to her face. "It's true,"
Sakura admitted, a slight sigh escaping her.
"Training with Tsunade-sama is very difficult.
It's really tough and exhausting." She paused, her gaze hardening with resolve. "But I have to do it. I want to be strong." Her eyes held a fierce determination. "I need to be strong enough to walk beside Naruto and save Sasuke with him." She looked at both Hinata and Ino, her sincerity shining through. 'I won't be useless anymore. I won't just stand by. I will get strong.'
Hearing Sakura's determined words, both Hinata and Ino smiled warmly. Hinata's smile was gentle and understanding, 'Sakura-chan is truly amazing. She's so strong, even when she's sad.' Ino's smile was proud, 'That's my best friend! Always pushing forward!'
Ino then reached for her water bottle, feeling a little thirsty from their conversation. She picked it up, but as soon as her fingers closed around it, she realized how light it was. She shook it slightly, hearing no sloshing sound. Her eyes widened in dismay. "Oh no!" she cried out, a small gasp escaping her lips. "I've run out of drinking water!"
Hinata, ever thoughtful, immediately offered. "I'll bring it for you, Ino-chan," she said, already starting to shift her weight, preparing to get up from the ground where she was sitting.
Ino, however, tried to stop her friend. "No, Hinata, you don't have to—"
But in the meantime, Sakura, who had been listening keenly, moved even faster. She quickly got up from the ground in one smooth motion, her eyes already on Ino's empty bottle. "Give me the bottle, Ino!" Sakura said, her voice firm and decisive. "I'll go fill it up for you!" She held out her hand.
Relieved, Ino immediately handed the empty bottle to Sakura. "Oh, thank you, Sakura! You're a lifesaver!" she exclaimed gratefully. With the bottle in hand, Sakura quickly turned and left towards the water stream, her steps brisk, ready to fill it up.
As Sakura left towards the water stream, the attention shifted slightly to the second group. Hyuga Neji sat calmly, carefully picking food from his Jubako with his chopsticks. He held a small, dark piece of food up, examining it.
"Is this an octopus?" he asked, his voice even and thoughtful, looking at the food item.
Tenten, who was sitting across from him, instantly frowned. Her dark eyes narrowed slightly. "No, Neji! That's a squid, not an octopus!" she corrected him sharply, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Neji simply nodded, showing he understood, and put the piece of squid into his mouth.
While they ate, Tenten's eyes kept darting towards Hinata's group. She was constantly glaring in their direction, a clear look of disapproval on her face. Rock Lee, sitting cheerfully next to her, noticed her intense gaze. His round black eyes, full of his usual energy, looked from Tenten to Hinata's group, then back to Tenten. "Tenten, what is the matter?" Lee asked, his thick eyebrows rising in confusion. 'Tenten looks upset. Is something wrong over there?'
Tenten quickly turned her glare from Hinata to Lee. "The matter is that Hinata should be sitting here with us!" she stated firmly, her voice sharp. "Not over there with Sakura and Ino!" She crossed her arms, a clear sign of her irritation.
Lee's eyes widened, and his cheerful expression instantly turned into one of mild anger. He respected Sakura greatly, and hearing someone speak ill of her, even indirectly, bothered him. "What is wrong with Hinata-san sitting with Sakura-san?" he asked, his voice rising slightly in defense. 'Sakura-san is a wonderful person! There's no reason for Tenten to speak like that!'
Neji, always the calm one, spoke up, his voice smooth and clear. "Perhaps Hinata-sama wishes to sit with Sakura and Ino," he suggested, his eyes turning briefly towards Hinata's group. His tone was neutral, suggesting understanding rather than judgment. 'Hinata-sama has her own choices. It's not for us to decide where she sits.'
Tenten threw her hands up slightly in frustration. "Maybe she didn't want to sit with us, Neji!" she argued back, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Maybe she thought she would disturb us or meddle between us!" She sighed, looking at Neji with a critical eye.
"You just don't understand, do you? Girls are like that only!" She shook her head. "Especially girls like Hinata who think hundreds of times before doing something!"
Tenten paused, her voice softening slightly with a hint of concern, though still colored by her frustration. "You didn't even offer her to sit with us, Neji! That's why she wasn't coming and sitting with them! Maybe she was thinking that we are not talking to her!" 'It's so obvious! Hinata is shy, she needs an invitation! We should have invited her!'
Neji listened to Tenten's words, giving them a careful thought. His eyes became a little distant as he considered her points. 'Perhaps she is right. Hinata-sama is indeed very thoughtful, sometimes overly so. And I did not offer her to join us.' After a short moment of reflection, he decided. "Then I will go and call Hinata-sama over to join us," he stated, beginning to shift his weight to stand up.
But before Neji could fully rise, Tenten quickly put a hand on his arm, stopping him. "No, there's no need for you to!" she said, her voice firm. "I'll go and call Hinata!"
Meanwhile, on Hinata's side, both Ino and Hinata were starting to feel a little worried. Ino glanced around, her eyebrows furrowing. "Where has Sakura gone?" Ino asked Hinata, a hint of concern in her voice. "It's taking too long for her to come back here."
'She should be back by now. Is she okay?' Hinata looked around nervously, her eyes scanning the edges of the training ground. "I... I have no idea," Hinata whispered, her voice reflecting her own growing worry. 'Sakura-chan is usually so quick. I hope nothing happened.'
As they worried about Sakura, Tenten suddenly appeared. She walked straight up to them, her posture stiff. Tenten looked at Hinata, then her eyes darted to Ino with a look of clear disapproval. "With whom do you even sit with, Hinata?" Tenten asked, her voice laced with a subtle mock, clearly looking down on Ino. 'Hinata should know better that she should not hand around with someone like her.'
Ino's eyes immediately flared with anger. She was never one to back down from a challenge, especially when she was indirectly insulted. "What did you say, Tenten?!" Ino shot back, her voice sharp and loud. "Don't you dare look down on me!" Tenten answered back just as quickly, her own voice rising in a quick argument. "And what if I did?! What will you do? Sit inside your flower shop!"
"Please both of you stop...." Hinata quickly intervened, her soft voice gaining a rare firmness as she tried to stop the fighting. She looked between the two girls, her eyes wide with dismay. "Tenten-chan, what... what are you doing here?"
Tenten ignored Ino, turning her attention fully to Hinata. "Hinata," she said, her tone becoming slightly softer, though still direct.
"Come here and join us." Tenten gestured towards her group. "Neji was calling you, and we're also about to resume training, so you should come and join us." 'That's a good way to put it. It sounds urgent and important.'
Tenten was actually lying at this point. Neji had only invited Hinata to have lunch with them, and he never actually called her for training. He just wanted her to join them for lunch.
Hinata looked at Ino, then at Tenten, her thoughts racing. 'Neji-niisan called me? And they're about to resume training? I shouldn't disobey him but still Ino chan...' She said softly, "I... I'm alright here." But then Ino, seeing Hinata's hesitation and wanting her friend to feel comfortable, offered a warm smile. "It's okay, Hinata. You can join them if you want. I have no issue with it," Ino said gently, letting Hinata know she wouldn't be offended.
Hinata, thinking that Neji had indeed called her and wanting to respect his wishes, decided not to disobey him. She gave a small, apologetic glance to Ino, then slowly got up from the ground. "Okay, Tenten-chan," she said, her voice still quiet. She then left with Tenten, her mind still wandering, wondering where Sakura had gone and why she was taking so long.
----
QUIZ QUESTION:
What was the primary reason Tenten expressed frustration regarding Hinata's seating arrangement during the lunch break?
Options:
A) She believed Hinata was not focusing on her training.
B) She thought Hinata should be sitting with her own team, Team Guy.
C) She was jealous of Hinata's close bond with Sakura and Ino.
D) She disagreed with the food choices Hinata had brought in her Jubako.
Share your answers in the comments down below!
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Phew! 🌪️ And just like that, another dynamic chapter comes to a close! Hope you enjoyed the sharp words and underlying tensions at Training Ground 3 in "A Kunoichi's Grudge." It's clear that not all conflicts are fought with jutsu, right? 😉
But the story keeps moving! ✨ In the very next chapter, we're going to shift focus and follow Sakura's journey directly. Where did she go to fill that water bottle? 🌲
Get ready, because some exciting new characters are about to step into our evolving timeline, bringing fresh challenges and unexpected turns! You won't want to miss what unfolds next! 🚀
Thank you as always for reading and being a part of this adventure! 🙏 Catch you in the next one! 👋