Kakashi's Test

"Then I'll introduce myself first. My name is Kakashi Hatake. There are lots of things I like and dislike, and I have all sorts of interests and hobbies. As for my dreams, well, I don't really have anything worth mentioning..."

So he didn't tell us anything, did he? The three of us silently thought the same thing.

"Okay! My turn to introduce myself. My name is-"

"-There's no need." Kakashi cut Naruto off abruptly.

"What?!"

"I... There's no need for introductions until you pass my test and earn my approval."

An awkward silence followed. Then I asked, "A test?"

"That's right. Tomorrow morning at the training ground, a survival exercise test!"

"This isn't an ordinary survival exercise. This time, your opponent will be me." Seeing our unconcerned expressions, Kakashi continued, "This test has a sixty-seven percent failure rate. Of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine will ultimately be recognized as Genin!"

"Kakashi-sensei, we'll definitely pass the exercise. Tomorrow, you'll definitely hear my name!"

I stood up and declared it without hesitation!

Before Kakashi arrived, in the Hokage's office.

"Kakashi... Naruto is a careless child, and you're more attentive. I'll feel much better leaving him in your hands. The Uchiha Clan's child has been assigned to your team too. You're the only one who can teach him now..."

"That sounds like a lot of trouble." Kakashi looked at Naruto and Sasuke arguing in the crystal ball. "They're like cats and dogs. Can they get along?"

"Don't worry. Sakura Haruno is their friend. She'll help you handle their relationships." The Hokage exhaled a puff of white smoke. "But the real problem child in this group is Sakura Haruno herself!"

"You mean Sakura, the genius who developed a series of S-rank Water Release techniques at ten?" Kakashi felt a drop of cold sweat roll down his face. "I heard she's even more talented than Orochimaru..."

"Actually, there are two... The other should be a super S-rank technique, more powerful than an S-rank one." The Hokage delivered the explosive news in an even tone. "An immensely difficult Ninjutsu that even Sakura Haruno can do nothing about. She developed it at the same time as the Water Blade Technique series and kept it secret. She's made little progress to this day, but still hasn't given up. That tells you how powerful it is. Tame her, and you'll have no trouble keeping the whole team under control!" This technique was likely one with an effect unlike anything that had ever appeared in the Shinobi World. Sakura Haruno thought differently from every other ninja in the Shinobi World...

"If possible, try to help her. This child is used to keeping things to herself. You're well versed in Ninjutsu too, so maybe..." The Hokage sighed.

"...I'll do my best."

Training Ground Seven.

"Much as I hate to say it, Kakashi-sensei only needs one hand to take care of us." I spoke seriously. Our lunch together had paid off; at least the three of us were willing to stand together and discuss a plan. "So if we underestimate him, we'll definitely die horribly and get sent back to school to repeat the year!"

"What?! I don't want to go back to the Ninja Academy!! I finally earned Iruka-sensei's approval...! No matter what, I'm passing this exercise!"

"That's right!" Sasuke voiced his agreement succinctly. Being sent back to the Ninja Academy to repeat the year was something a proud Uchiha could not tolerate!

"Then let's start with some more formal introductions. Kakashi-sensei skipped that step, but we're going to be teammates fighting side by side from now on!"

"My name is Sakura Haruno. I like researching Ninjutsu and chakra, and I hate people who aren't punctual more than anything! I'm good at Water Release and Taijutsu that works with Water Release. My main Ninjutsu at the moment are the Three Basic Techniques, some basic low-level Water Release techniques, and the Water Blade series I developed myself. I also have a powerful Water Release series that's still under development, so it's hard to say how powerful it is. I'll demonstrate."

"Water Release: Super Water Gun Jutsu!" A line of water sliced the rock in front of me cleanly in two, as easily as cutting tofu.

"Taijutsu that works with Water Release, a combination of Ninjutsu and Taijutsu-Nintaijutsu. Sasuke, you've seen plenty of it, but I rarely use its full power." It was that same unfortunate rock. I stepped back two paces, charged with all my might, and threw a straight punch! Chakra reinforced the move both internally and externally. Inside, it strengthened my physical power; outside, chakra water, driven by chakra, propelled my body with tremendous force. For that instant, it felt as if a rocket had pulled me along on a rope. In that single second, I almost felt as though my body was tearing apart!

Boom! The punch reduced the rock to pieces so small it couldn't have been any more shattered.

"I can't move. My whole body went numb after that move; it puts too much strain on me. There's no way I could use it at full power in a real fight, but I should be able to handle half power for a short time." I made a Water Clone to hold me up. Though I could barely move my hands, I could still perform Ninjutsu of this level without seals.

"Sakura, so you weren't putting any power into it when you hit me before..."

"See? I'm very gentle!"

"..." For once, Naruto and Sasuke both fell silent at that.

Anyway, Naruto and Sasuke introduced themselves next. Aside from the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto's Transformation Technique and Taijutsu were the only things worth looking at. After all, I'd practiced with him for a long time, and his Taijutsu was much better than the half-baked version in the original. But this idiot was completely impervious to verbal instruction; every time, I had to use my fists to teach him right from wrong... As a result, he'd also gotten good at taking a beating.

As for the Transformation Technique, it had always been Naruto's strong suit, and it was also why I judged him to be highly talented. His transformations were so convincing that, at least for a short time, I couldn't tell them from the real thing. In the original, Naruto's Transformation Technique had fooled many people, including a powerhouse of Zabuza's level! That wasn't something just any Genin could do! If he used this Ninjutsu flexibly, maybe we could come up with some good tactics!

As for Sasuke, he had his signature Uchiha Taijutsu, Uchiha Throwing Technique, and the Uchiha specialty, Fire Style. Because he often sparred with me, he had completely corrected his old habit of making movements that were too large and stiff. After taking in some of my strengths, his Taijutsu was beginning to develop a style of its own.

Comparing us like this, I had the greatest combat strength among Team Kakashi's three students. In terms of destructive power, the Water Gun Technique could even reach Kage Level. My Taijutsu wasn't weak either; it was stronger than an ordinary Chunin's. But I was severely lacking in experience, with only as much as a Genin. Overall, I considered myself at the level of a Special Jōnin.

Sasuke ranked second in combat strength. Both his Fire Style and Taijutsu were at Chunin level, but he was similarly lacking in experience. Overall, he should be on the lower end of Chunin level.

However, when sparring with him, I couldn't use the Water Blade series, so his Fire Style gave me some trouble. Trading attacks with Water Release put me at a serious disadvantage, even though Water Release countered Fire Style in principle. So I could only use the speed of Nintaijutsu and the Substitution Technique to dodge. If I couldn't dodge, I gathered a large amount of water around my hand and blasted the attack apart with my fist! Speaking of which, Fire Style was so hot that getting that close was scalding!

Naruto could produce thousands of Shadow Clones at once, allowing him to inflict damage at Chunin level or even a little higher. He was average in other respects, so he should count as an elite Genin.

Of course, this was only a temporary assessment. Now that we had a team leader, our lack of experience would quickly be made up for, and our strength would soon rise to the next level!

Since we didn't know exactly what tomorrow's exercise would involve, we only discussed a few plans for working together. Then we realized that every plan revolved around a combination of Naruto's Shadow Clones and Transformation Technique. His Ninjutsu was just too convenient, and his stamina and chakra were ridiculously strong...

As expected, Kakashi-sensei was extremely late. Ignoring our complaints, he took out an alarm clock.

"I've set it for twelve! Now, I have two bells here." Kakashi looked at us coldly. "Your task is to take them from me before noon!"

"Anyone who fails to get a bell will not only be tied to a post and go without lunch, but will also be eliminated for failing the mission and sent back to school to repeat the year!"

"Come on, now... Come at me prepared to kill me if you want them!"

"Naruto, Sasuke, remember what we said yesterday? If we go at him one at a time, we won't stand a chance. We have to attack together. As for the bells, we'll talk about them once we get them!"

Sasuke and I exchanged a glance! "Water Release: Water Floods the Ground and Sky!" "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A pool of water spread rapidly across the ground, and then a giant fireball shot toward Kakashi!

Boom-

Kakashi leaped into the air, dodging the Great Fireball. The fireball struck the pool, and its intense heat evaporated all the water, creating a thick bank of mist across the clearing!

"I see. You combined Fire Style and Water Release to create mist and block my vision? Then you hid yourselves to wait for a chance to attack. But while the mist blocks my vision, how will you find me?"

Kakashi's voice seemed to come from every direction, making it impossible to tell where he was.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

We had a way to search for the enemy too!

"The Shadow Clones in that direction disappeared! Let's go!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" While Naruto's Shadow Clones kept Kakashi occupied, Sasuke decisively unleashed his finishing move!

When the fireball dissipated, the mist had been blasted away too. There was nothing on the empty ground!

"What? Where did he go?!"

"Down here!" A voice came from underground, and three Kakashis simultaneously pulled the three figures on the ground beneath the earth!

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"

Poof, poof, poof! The three figures pulled underground all turned into white smoke and vanished into the air at once. Shadow Clones!

At the same time-"You took the bait! Water Release: Super Water Line!" The voice came from behind Kakashi. The real me seized the opportunity and finished them off with a watered-down version of the Water Blade Technique.

A line of water swept rapidly across the three Kakashis on the ground!

Poof, poof, poof! All three Kakashis turned into white smoke and vanished at the same time.

Shadow Clones again!

Seriously, Kakashi-sensei? Did you have to be this cautious against three kids?!

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. We'd used every card we had in that attack: two Great Fireballs from Sasuke, Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and two Water Release techniques from me. Hiding, searching for the enemy, luring him in, ambushing and eliminating him-all of it had gone according to plan. Yet in the end, we'd only taken out three of Kakashi's Shadow Clones.

To put it bluntly, we were too weak to face him head-on. We'd expended that much just to attack safely from hiding. I decided that Kakashi, as an elite Jonin, had Taijutsu skills that newly graduated Genin like us simply couldn't withstand.

I'd already exposed myself, and Sasuke needed a breather after using two Great Fireballs. Naruto had plenty of stamina and could come support me, but they were still hidden. Until support arrived, it looked like I'd have to face Kakashi alone.

As soon as I realized that, I felt my hands and feet begin to tremble.

No, I wasn't afraid. I was trembling with excitement!

For the first time in my life, I could fight at full strength without worrying about other consequences. When I sparred with Naruto and Sasuke, I always had to hold back. Nintaijutsu and even the Water Gun Technique were too dangerous for them. I'd held myself back for too long. Today, I could finally enjoy a proper fight!

"You don't need to look for anyone else, Kakashi-sensei," I called out to the clearing. "I'm the only one here."

"Since this is a test, let's have a proper one and see if I'm qualified to be your student!"

"Sakura Haruno, I hear you got perfect scores in both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu at school." Kakashi's voice came from behind me without warning. It was the Body Flicker Technique! "Let me see if you live up to that reputation!" A vicious roundhouse kick came at my waist from behind!

Water splashed everywhere! This Nintaijutsu incorporated Ninjutsu into Taijutsu, imitating the automatic defense of Gaara's Sand Release, and now it showed exactly what it was for! The chakra-filled water, created using the principle by which the Water Prison Technique restricted a person's movements, was extremely viscous. Under its protection, even a Jonin-level sneak attack failed to land!

Splitting my attention, I controlled the Water Release to protect myself while forming hand seals:

Tiger, ox, monkey, bird, ox, horse, dog!

"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"

A line of water swept past behind me! A moment of silence followed, and then, amid a rumbling crash, a stretch of woodland over a hundred meters across was reduced to a field of meter-high stumps!

I let out a long breath. This was the first time I'd unleashed so much chakra in such a short time in battle. My whole body felt as though it were burning!

"That's a dangerous technique, Sakura Haruno!" Kakashi landed in front of me with a grave expression, blood clearly visible on his thigh. "It only grazed me for an instant, yet it left a wound like this... Its power is on a completely different level from that Water Line Technique just now!"

Kakashi had heard about the Water Blade Technique series long before it was truly complete. A Water Release Ninjutsu with low consumption and tremendous power was a technique every Water Release ninja dreamed of. Even the well-informed Lord Third had praised it endlessly. But though Kakashi had heard that people were practicing it, he had never heard of anyone mastering it-

"The principle is extremely simple; completing it is extremely difficult." Everyone who had practiced it agreed on that.

The core of the technique was using chakra to generate high pressure, and the hardest part was using chakra to create a nozzle. In principle, the narrower the nozzle, the more powerful the technique. It was a Ninjutsu with no upper limit to its power. The person who had created it had set the standard for completion at a nozzle diameter of 0.05 millimeters—the thickness of a hair. If the diameter failed to reach that value, the technique's power fell off quadratically. At a diameter of one centimeter or more, there was no point to the technique at all.

Having finally witnessed the power of this Ninjutsu firsthand, Kakashi didn't know whether to feel honored or pained.

"It isn't just unbelievably sharp. More importantly, you absolutely can't wait until the Ninjutsu is complete to dodge, because there's no way you can!" Before he knew it, Kakashi had begun to take this seriously. This was no ordinary test anymore. In this fight, a moment of carelessness could get him killed!

"So the key to this fight is to keep you from locking on to me-"

Kakashi's figure reached me even faster than his voice, attacking with a kunai that gleamed with a dangerous chill!

"-Speed!"

Even my Nintaijutsu, which responded as soon as I saw something, only managed to cover my body in a thin layer of water for defense. I was defending with everything I had, but he was too fast. There was no time to react-

In the next instant, I was going to die here!

(Sorry for the wait. The fight was hard to get right, so I wrote it a little slowly. Please bookmark, recommend, click, and comment. Please, everything~~~ Boo-hoo.)