The moon hung high in the night sky, casting silvery beams over Training Ground 7. The quiet hum of crickets filled the air, a stark contrast to the exhausted groans of Team 7, who stood in the middle of the clearing, bleary-eyed and disheveled.
It was 9:00 p.m., and instead of being tucked into their beds, they were dragged out for an unexpected training session.
Raven Kamizuki stood at the center of the clearing, her violet eyes gleaming with relentless energy. She paced in front of her team like a drill sergeant, her signature grin wider than ever.
"Alright, listen up, losers," Raven announced, clapping her hands together. "I wasn't satisfied with our training earlier today, so we're doing it again."
Naruto Uzumaki groaned loudly, flopping onto the grass. "Are you serious?! It's the middle of the night!"
Raven shot him a look that could melt steel. "You think Tora is sleeping right now? That cat is out there plotting our downfall. We're not resting until we're strong enough to catch it."
Sasuke Uchiha crossed his arms, his usual brooding expression now tinged with mild annoyance. But deep down, he knew Raven was right. They weren't ready.
Sakura Haruno rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the fatigue. "But… we've already been training all day…"
Raven's grin didn't falter. "And we're going to train all night if that's what it takes. Now, on your feet."
Even Kakashi Hatake, who had shown up out of curiosity, stood by with his book in hand, raising an eyebrow at Raven's unrelenting energy. Where does she get this from? he wondered.
Once the team begrudgingly assembled, Raven began.
"You've all seen the Pizza Clone Technique," she started, summoning a few clones with a flick of her wrist. The clones materialized with that familiar oregano-scented aura, perfectly mimicking Raven's every move.
"But what you don't realize," she continued, "is how versatile these clones are."
With a snap of her fingers, the clones shifted, morphing into grotesque pizza monsters—stretchy mozzarella limbs, pepperoni eyes, and marinara dripping from their mouths.
"They can be perfect duplicates for stealth…" Raven said, as the clones morphed back into flawless copies of herself.
"Or they can be chaos incarnate," she finished, the clones snapping back into their monstrous forms.
Naruto stared in awe, his jaw practically on the ground. "That's… amazing!"
Raven turned to Naruto, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Your turn, ramen boy."
Naruto groaned but stood up, summoning a horde of Ramen Clones. The clearing filled with the faint scent of miso broth and noodles, but the clones were still unstable, flickering at the edges.
"You're getting better," Raven admitted, circling him like a hawk. "But you're still relying too much on brute force. You need to focus on stability."
She crouched beside him, tapping the side of his head.
"Think of the ramen as your chakra flow. Smooth, consistent, and perfectly cooked. Not over-boiled."
Naruto blinked, nodding slowly. He reformed the hand signs, focusing on control rather than quantity. This time, the clones appeared solid and stable, their forms holding without flickering.
Raven clapped him on the back. "Not bad, ramen boy. Soon, you'll be able to summon a noodle army without breaking a sweat."
Naruto grinned, his confidence restored. "I'm gonna make the Ramen Clone Technique the best in the village!"
Next, Raven turned to Sakura, her expression softening just a bit.
"Alright, pinkie. Your turn."
Sakura straightened, determination flickering in her tired eyes.
"You're smart, but you need to get stronger physically," Raven began. "And the best way to do that is with the Shadow Clone Technique."
Sakura blinked in surprise. "But… I thought that was more of Naruto's thing."
Raven grinned. "With my help, you can learn it without the usual side effects."
She gestured for Naruto to step in. "Naruto, teach her the basics."
Naruto puffed out his chest proudly. "Alright! Watch and learn, Sakura!"
Sakura followed his instructions, and after a few frustrating attempts, she managed to summon a small, slightly wobbly clone.
Raven nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Keep practicing, and you'll be summoning clones in your sleep."
But Raven wasn't done.
"You've also got potential in Genjutsu," she added. "Once we're done here, you should ask Kurenai for guidance."
Sakura's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You really think so?"
Raven nodded. "With my help and Kurenai's expertise, you'll be terrifying in no time."
Finally, Raven turned to Sasuke, her grin widening.
"And you, broody boy," she said, "it's time to refine your signature move."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Your brooding glare," Raven explained, stepping closer. "It's already pretty good, but with a little refinement, it can be a psychological weapon."
Naruto snorted with laughter. "You're serious?!"
Raven nodded. "Dead serious. Intimidation is a powerful tool. Imagine walking into a room and having your enemies freeze just because of a look."
She positioned Sasuke in front of a makeshift mirror.
"Alright, now brood. But silently. Less 'I'm angry,' more 'I know something you don't, and it terrifies you.'"
Sasuke reluctantly followed her instructions, adjusting his posture and glare until even Naruto felt a chill run down his spine.
"…Okay, that's actually kinda scary," Naruto admitted, shivering.
Raven clapped her hands. "Perfect. You've mastered the Art of Silent Brooding."
By the time 1:00 a.m. rolled around, Team 7 was exhausted but stronger. The clearing was filled with the lingering scents of ramen and pizza, a testament to their unique training methods.
Raven surveyed her team, her arms crossed and her grin as wide as ever.
"Well," she said, "you're not complete disasters anymore."
Naruto flopped onto the ground, panting. "I'm gonna sleep for a week…"
Sasuke simply nodded, his brooding glare now a finely-tuned weapon.
Sakura stretched, a satisfied smile on her face. "I feel stronger already."
As the team dispersed into the night, Kakashi remained behind, staring at the spot where Raven had stood.
She's more than just a student, he thought. But what exactly is she a human shaped pizza?
His mind drifted to Sayuri Arata, Naruto's mother, and the subtle hints Raven had been dropping all day.
Kakashi shuddered, tucking his book back into his pouch.
Better not think about it too much.
As Team 7 disappeared into the shadows, their laughter echoing through the trees, Tora watched from a distant branch, its eyes gleaming with smug amusement.
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