Konoha: The Honored One

"Look, Sakura, Rasengan with elemental flair isn't really your thing," Gojo said, popping a lollipop into his mouth. He looked at her, dead serious. "With your current chakra level, it's just a waste of time."

He didn't sugarcoat it—Gojo wasn't one for softening the truth, especially when it wouldn't help.

Among Team 7, only Sakura's chakra reserves were about on par with a typical Chūnin's. Even if she somehow managed to learn an elemental Rasengan, she'd barely have the chakra to keep it going.

Meanwhile, Sasuke's chakra had spiked ever since awakening his three-tomoe Sharingan. He was getting closer to Jōnin-level reserves, though his power wasn't fully there yet. A solid upgrade. And Naruto? Well, let's just say calling his chakra reserves "infinite" might be underselling it.

"Wait, Gojo-sensei, you're kidding, right?" Sakura's face fell. Her earlier excitement froze into shock. If Rasengan was off-limits for her, why had Gojo just casually whipped it out like it was the latest party trick?

"Nope," Gojo replied, unfazed. "Right now, Sasuke's the only one on the team who could pull off the enhanced Rasengan—if he can actually learn it."

Sakura's jaw dropped. Sasuke, on the other hand, smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Looks like the Uchiha clan's natural talent strikes again," he sneered, folding his arms smugly. "Guess that makes me the top Genin in the team."

Gojo chuckled to himself. Classic Uchiha move.

"But Gojo-sensei, what about me and Naruto?" Sakura asked, her dreams of power now crumbling around her.

Gojo gave a half-smile, glancing between her and Naruto. "What about you? You've got plenty you can work on," he said. For Sakura, maybe she could try the Chakra-enhancing technique Tsunade knew—the Hundred Healings Mark. It would give her the reserves she needed to take on something like an elemental Rasengan.

As for Naruto, Gojo had bigger plans. If the kid could master the Nine Tails' chakra, he'd be unstoppable. And if he wasn't ready for that yet? Well, Sage Mode would work just fine.

Naruto's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he pulled out his frog wallet, stuffed full with his mission pay. "Gojo-sensei! Here, take my mission money!" he said, holding the wallet out like it was a priceless treasure. "Teach me, and I won't even need it! I'll be so busy training!"

Gojo arched an eyebrow, impressed. "Now that's what I call initiative." He took the wallet with a grin. He'd been planning on teaching Naruto Sage Mode eventually anyway, but if the kid was willing to pay up front? All the better.

"Here, Gojo-sensei," Sakura added, shyly offering a small pink purse. "You've been teaching us so much, it's just a little appreciation."

Gojo accepted it with a grin and a wink. "Good students always get rewards." He patted their heads like they were his favorite pupils. "Don't worry, I've got moves that'll blow Mr. Uchiha right out of the water."

Sakura's eyes widened as she watched Gojo casually pocket both wallets. So fast… Is this the dark truth of adulthood?

Sasuke scoffed, glaring at Gojo while patting his empty pockets. All his money had gone into restoring the Uchiha mansion. He crossed his arms and scowled at Gojo, who was still grinning with his pockets full.

"Alright, here's the deal," Gojo said, pointing his lollipop at Gaara, who was still surrounded by sand. "You three want a power-up? Then work together to take down Mr. Sand over there."

"Gaara?" The three of them turned to look at the redhead, still looking menacingly calm as ever.

"Exactly. He's partially transformed with Shukaku's power, which gives him a monstrous amount of chakra," Gojo explained. "Perfect practice material. Gaara and Shukaku have their issues, but one-fifth of a tailed beast? That's a solid warm-up boss."

They all stared, unsure. Gaara wasn't exactly known for being cooperative.

But Sasuke's eyes narrowed in excitement, and his Sharingan flickered to life. "Just what I wanted," he muttered, smirking as he locked eyes with Gaara. Naruto clenched his fist, looking determined. "Time to show him the power of Uzumaki Naruto!"

Sakura, on the other hand, hesitated. She remembered how Gaara had brutally taken down Rock Lee, and worry crept into her eyes. Can we really take him? she wondered.

But Gojo waved them on. "The redhead's on the move. Go get him!"

Sasuke was the first to take off, leaping between tree trunks as he closed the distance to Gaara. Naruto and Sakura followed closely behind.

Gojo watched them go, then let out a sigh of relief. "Good riddance. Finally, some peace."

Floating up into the air, Gojo surveyed the battlefield. "Alright, time to clean up." His eyes zeroed in on the mob of enemies below—around 320 of them, give or take. Among them was Tayuya, still facing off with Kurenai.

"Alright, three minutes. Let's make this quick," Gojo muttered, cracking his neck. His bones popped as he stretched, then he leapt into action.

Within seconds, the battlefield turned into a blur of motion, dust, and chaos. Gojo dashed through the enemy ranks with such speed and precision, it was over almost as soon as it began. His enemies never stood a chance.

When the dust settled, Gojo stood, barely breaking a sweat, having wiped out the mob in record time.

"Clean-up done," he said with a satisfied grin, adjusting his glasses. "Now, let's see how the kids are doing."