Back on the ground, Yamihibi slithered forward, facing Naruto and Hikaribi.

"Hikaribi," he said in a low rumble, "you're being too loud again."

"Oh, shut it, gloom face." Hikaribi flicked her tongue out in mock offense.

"They even bicker like us!" Naruto burst out laughing.

Sasuke rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smirk tugging at his lips.

Kakashi dropped down from the tree. "Alright, Naruto, Sasuke, it's not enough just to summon them. You have to prove you can fight alongside them. Your summons are living beings, not weapons. Show them you're worth it."

"Bring it on!" Naruto pumped his fist.

Sasuke simply nodded, focusing his chakra. Yamihibi responded instantly, sliding into a fighting position, his body almost invisible against the shadows of the training field.

"Ready, boss!" Hikaribi reared up, her scales flashing with excitement.

Without warning, two wooden training dummies shot up from underground, animated by Kakashi's chakra strings.

"Targets incoming!" Kurenai called out.

Naruto moved first.

"Let's go, Hikaribi!"

"On it!"

Naruto charged a Rasengan in his hand while Hikaribi slithered alongside him, releasing a burst of blinding light from her scales. The dummies staggered, momentarily stunned by the flash.

Naruto leaped into the air, Hikaribi coiling up to launch him even higher.

"Rasengan Barrage!" Naruto yelled, slamming into the first dummy, and blasting it apart.

Meanwhile, Sasuke moved like a shadow. Yamihibi melted into the ground, appearing behind the second dummy. In one swift motion, he wrapped around it, his black scales snuffing out any movement.

Sasuke threw a Chidori-empowered kunai, and Yamihibi tilted the dummy's body into its path. The kunai struck dead center, sending sparks flying.

Within seconds, both dummies were nothing but splinters.

Hikaribi and Yamihibi returned to their partners' sides, heads held high.

"Not bad," Yamihibi said, his tone approving.

"You're crazy strong, Naruto!" Hikaribi cheered, nuzzling against him playfully.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, laughing. "You're the crazy one, Hikaribi! That light blast was awesome!"

Sasuke crossed his arms, but there was a spark in his eyes. "Efficient," he said quietly.

Kakashi walked up, hands in his pockets. "Good teamwork. But remember they are not your tools but, partners. In dire situations, they may be your best support."

Naruto grinned. "No problem! We're gonna be best buddies, right, Hikaribi?"

"Besties for life!" she agreed with a wink.

Sasuke looked down at Yamihibi, who merely gave a slight nod.

"…We understand each other," Sasuke said simply.

Yamihibi's golden eyes glowed. "That is enough."

In the distance, Garaga watched from the shadows, unseen by all but Kakashi. His massive head tilted slightly in approval.

"Hmph," Garaga muttered under his breath. "Those little hatchlings finally found their partners. Not bad… not bad at all."

Kakashi felt that Garaga had returned and smiled. After visiting the Snake from time to time they became good friends.

He even summons him from time to time to breathe some fresh air here.

'And those two.' Kakashi thought as he looked at the two Snakes near Naruto and Sasuke.

I didn't expect that there were strong Snakes other than those he knew. It was a pleasant surprise when Garaga told him about them when he asked for a summons for his students.

Nevertheless Snakes with special abilities like Garaga. With them teaching Naruto and Sasuke learning senjutsu may be easy for them in the future.

….

On the final day of training, as the sun dipped behind the hills, Kakashi gathered them once more.

"You've all grown beyond my expectations," he said.

"You're not just genin anymore," he said, voice low. "You're my proud students."

Naruto grinned so wide it nearly split his face.

Sasuke allowed himself a rare, small smirk.

Sakura beamed, eyes glittering.

Kakashi's eyes crinkled warmly as he looked at them.

"Tomorrow," he said. "Show Konoha how strong you've become."

"But, today let's go have a good meal at home. I have already told Kurenai." Kakashi said as they stayed together at Kakashi the whole month and Jiraiya would pop up from time to time.

Naruto instantly lit up like a firecracker. "Food? Real food?!" he cheered, punching the air.

Sasuke smirked faintly. "Hn. Finally something normal after a month of Kakashi's crazy training."

Sakura giggled. "I hope it's not just instant ramen."

Kakashi just chuckled and motioned for them to follow. "You'll see."

They made their way through the evening streets, the warm lights of Konoha glowing all around them. Soon, they arrived at Kakashi's house, familiar after their month of living there. The moment they stepped in, the smell hit them.

Naruto's nose twitched violently. "Is that… meat?!"

Inside, the small kitchen was busy. Kurenai, Anko, and Karin were there, setting dishes on the low table.

Karin waved at them. "Yo! You guys survived!"

After a month of staying with everyone, she had become more cheerful.

Anko grinned widely, a skewer in her mouth. "Tch. About time you got back. I'm starving."

Kurenai smiled warmly. "You've all grown a lot. Sit down, relax."

The table was covered in food, not the usual plain stuff either.

There were plates of beef kushiyaki (grilled skewered beef and vegetables), spiced yakisoba noodles stir-fried with chicken, sweet-and-sour eggplant, bowls of clam miso soup, rice balls stuffed with pickled plums, and even a big platter of simmered pork belly with soft-boiled eggs.

In the middle sat a sizzling plate of spicy teriyaki chicken wings, their glaze thick and shiny.

Naruto practically drooled.

"This is heaven," he whispered.

Kakashi sat down, pulling off his forehead protector lazily. "Dig in."

They didn't need to tell twice. Naruto piled his plate high with noodles, pork belly, and wings.

Sakura tried a little of everything, and Sasuke, after a quiet moment, reached for the simmered pork with a small nod of approval.

Karin and Anko joked loudly with Naruto, arguing over who could eat more spicy wings without crying.

Kurenai and Kakashi talked quietly, their conversation was full of smiles and soft laughter.

For a while, the world outside didn't exist, just the warmth of food, family, and safety.

As Naruto leaned back, stuffed and happy, he looked around the room.

Team 7, Kakashi, Kurenai, Anko, and even Karin… they felt like home.

He grinned brightly, stomach full and heart even fuller.

"Tomorrow," Naruto said aloud, a fierce light in his blue eyes.

"I'm gonna show them all what Team 7's made of!"

Everyone laughed even Sasuke.

Kakashi just closed his eyes,