Kakashi's Shock

Kakashi's Shock

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A violent gust of wind appeared out of nowhere, making Kakashi's clothes flap loudly.

Facing winds strong enough to snap branches, Kakashi's expression changed slightly. He had to admit that he had underestimated Naruto's strength.

Even ordinary Chunin would not dare use a ninjutsu of that scale so casually.

Once the gale subsided, Kakashi turned and blocked a punch from behind. He moved to seize Naruto's arm and pin him to the ground.

But Naruto was as nimble as a loach. After his strike failed, he swiftly pulled back, attacked from another direction, and occasionally mixed in shuriken and Wind Style ninjutsu.

The relentless barrage left Kakashi unable to defend against everything. He could only stand his ground and defend, while the surprise in his eyes gradually turned into shock.

Naruto was a Jinchuriki, so his Chakra reserves certainly surpassed most people's.

But Chakra reserves were only one factor in determining victory. Kakashi had been confident that, relying on his abundant combat experience, he could easily defeat Naruto even with his strength restricted to Genin level, then make Naruto obediently return to the Ninja Academy.

Yet the situation before him had exceeded Kakashi's expectations.

Not only did Naruto possess abundant Chakra, his ninjutsu and taijutsu were also remarkably accomplished. This was far beyond the level a Ninja Academy student should possess, and he was no weaker than an ordinary Chunin.

With his strength restricted to Genin level, Kakashi truly found himself struggling to hold on.

Naruto noticed Kakashi's surprise and stood still as he said, "Why don't we call it off? I'm worried I might hurt you. Mister, you look kind of weak."

"I'm a Jonin. I'm much stronger than you."

Kakashi's expression turned strange. He was unwilling to admit before Naruto that he was a little weak.

Naruto nodded. "Then I can relax. I haven't even used all my strength yet."

He had not even used all his strength? Kakashi's mouth twitched, but he had no choice but to steel himself and continue fighting.

However, Kakashi quietly relaxed the limits on his strength. His initial intention of persuading Naruto to return to school shifted into probing Naruto's full strength.

After Naruto once again used a combined ninjutsu—

Kakashi formed hand seals and slapped the ground, shouting, "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

In an instant, an earthen wall carved with dog heads rose from the ground, blocking all the gale-force winds and kunai.

Naruto's expression changed in midair, revealing an opening. Kakashi immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to rush forward, intending to seize Naruto while his balance was unstable.

But the moment Kakashi grabbed Naruto, Naruto turned into smoke and vanished.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

After instinctively frowning, Kakashi discovered Naruto standing in the distance, smiling at him. Several Shadow Clones appeared beside him at the same time, and both Naruto and the clones formed hand seals to cast Wind Style.

Kakashi could not tell which one was the real body, so he could only use Earth Flow Wall again to block the attack.

Using three Earth Flow Walls to shield himself, Kakashi had just prepared to catch his breath when he heard a sharp whistling above him. Naruto came diving down, a rapidly spinning Rasengan swirling in his palm.

Sensing danger, Kakashi stopped suppressing his strength.

He removed his eye covering, revealing his Sharingan, and twisted his body at an awkward angle to evade the Rasengan.

With a thunderous boom, spiderweb-like cracks spread across the Earth Flow Wall struck by the Rasengan.

Kakashi stood where he was and stared at Naruto. Dodging the Rasengan was not difficult for him.

What concerned him more was how Naruto had mastered the Rasengan.

If he had learned it from the Third Hokage, that would be understandable. But if Naruto had developed it himself, that would be terrifying.

And Naruto already possessed strength that was at least on par with a Chunin.

Naruto's talent as a ninja had already completely surpassed Kakashi's, perhaps even surpassed Minato-sensei, who had become the Fourth Hokage.

Although Minato-sensei had possessed Jonin-level strength before graduating, he had already been eleven or twelve at the time. Naruto was probably only eight now, far from the period of rapid growth for a ninja.

Unable to find a specific explanation, Kakashi could only attribute Naruto's talent to his teacher's powerful genes and his identity as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

At that moment, Kakashi saw Naruto walk over and ask with a smile, "Still want to fight?"

Naruto shook his head. "No. If we keep going, I'll definitely lose. But mister, the strength you used went beyond Genin level a long time ago, didn't it? I don't believe that was the strength of a Genin."

Kakashi glanced sideways at Naruto and mocked, "Didn't you hide your strength too? Your abilities surpassed the scope of a Ninja Academy student long ago."

"But I'm still a Ninja Academy student. I didn't lie about that. Is being outstanding a crime?"

"Of course being outstanding isn't wrong. But I think you should return to the Ninja Academy for classes. Combat strength alone isn't enough to become an official ninja. Your academic grades must also be excellent."

Naruto glanced at Kakashi and said, "Mister, so you really came to drag me back to school. But I already taught myself the Ninja Academy's academic courses through sixth grade. I'm more than qualified to become a ninja."

Hearing this, Kakashi was somewhat surprised and immediately asked several academic questions.

After Naruto answered every one correctly, Kakashi fell silent. He could find no reason to make Naruto return to class. With Naruto's talent, remaining at the Ninja Academy would make him stand out like a crane among chickens.

But at this age, he should still remain in school. The cruelty of being a ninja was not something children could endure.

Kakashi himself had graduated early. While children his age were still at the Ninja Academy, he had already grown accustomed to killing. As a result, even now, he had not completely emerged from those shadows.

The same was true of another subordinate he had led in the Anbu, Itachi Uchiha. At such a young age, he had shouldered far too much.

After pondering for a moment, Kakashi asked Naruto, "Why do you want to become a ninja? A ninja's life won't be better than life at the Ninja Academy. You'll kill and be killed. It's even crueler than you imagine."

Naruto was silent for a while before quietly saying, "Because Grandpa Hokage promised me that as long as I become a ninja, he'll tell me about my background."

Kakashi froze, and his gaze toward Naruto softened considerably.

His first impression of Naruto had been that of an arrogant brat, but now he seemed like a child who simply wanted to know the truth.

For a moment, Kakashi wanted to tell Naruto—to tell him that he was actually the Fourth Hokage's son. But when he remembered what the Third Hokage had told him, he gave up on the idea.

His teacher had too many enemies. The Jinchuriki identity could still keep Naruto alive, but the identity of the Fourth Hokage's son would only get him killed.

At that moment, Naruto added, "Ninja mister, I actually know who you are. You're one of the ninjas who protects me every day. Can you tell Grandpa Hokage that I'm already qualified to become a ninja?"

Kakashi's eyes widened as he looked at Naruto.

It was normal for Naruto to notice him, since he had never deliberately disguised himself. But how had Naruto seen through the disguises of Anbu personnel?

As though he had guessed Kakashi's thoughts, Naruto said, "After I was attacked last time, I suddenly gained the ability to sense Chakra. Several Chakra signatures have been following me the whole time, so I guessed they were people arranged by Grandpa Hokage."

Had he inherited Kushina-sensei's talent?

Kakashi remembered Kushina. She had possessed a similar ability, and she had cared for him greatly.

After thinking it over for a moment, Kakashi agreed. "I can pass your request on to Lord Hokage. But even if Lord Hokage approves, you'll still need to personally submit an application for early graduation to the Ninja Academy teachers."

Naruto nodded. "I understand. Still, it's really great that you're willing to help."

Kakashi sighed softly, then went to a secluded place and summoned a subordinate to take over his shift. After that, he hurried toward the Hokage Building to report everything that had just happened to the Third Hokage.

After Kakashi left, Naruto looked toward the Hokage Building and smiled.

By showing some of his strength to Kakashi and taking the opportunity to request early graduation, he should be able to gain a certain degree of freedom and avoid being watched by the Anbu every day.