The Test Begins

The next day, Kakashi woke up early, as usual.

At that moment, the sky had yet to fully brighten.

Kakashi was already standing in the middle of Training Ground Three.

The area was quiet. Only the occasional cold morning breeze stirred the leaves, making them rustle softly.

Kakashi looked around, his expression giving nothing away.

The appointed meeting time of five had long since passed, but he didn't seem surprised or angry that the three members of Team 7 hadn't arrived.

The next moment, Kakashi's figure appeared soundlessly in front of the nearby Memorial Stone.

The stone was covered in names, each one representing a hero who had sacrificed their life for Konoha.

Kakashi's gaze eventually came to rest on the name "Obito Uchiha."

Kakashi stood there silently, as if standing day after day could make up for the... regrets of the past.

He stayed until dawn. Only when he heard Sasuke and Sakura arrive one after the other did Kakashi turn and leave.

At exactly ten o'clock, Kakashi appeared at Training Ground Three.

Sasuke and Sakura had arrived a little early and were waiting where they stood, looking somewhat anxious.

After all, the appointed time had been five o'clock. They were already five hours late.

But now, it seemed Naruto had been right.

Teacher Kakashi really hadn't shown up.

As for Naruto...

He arrived at the entrance to the training ground right on time, neither early nor late.

He greeted Kakashi with a cheerful smile.

Kakashi stared at Naruto and asked in a slightly stern voice, "Naruto, why are you late?"

"Sorry, Teacher Kakashi. I got lost on the road of life. I really did get lost."

Naruto answered with complete sincerity, without even blinking.

Kakashi froze. His expression beneath the mask nearly cracked. "Wait, why does that sound so familiar... No, that's my line!"

He couldn't help grumbling inwardly. Did he even dig up the intel on that line?

This Naruto kid's pretty capable. His intelligence network is impressive, too.

Kakashi shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

He walked with Naruto to the center of the training ground and took an alarm clock from his pocket.

"Let's set it for noon."

As he spoke, Kakashi placed a bell on a wooden post. Then he shook the two little golden bells in his other hand. "Today's test is to take these two bells from me. The two people who get a bell will pass."

Sakura asked without thinking, "But there are three of us and only two bells. What happens to whoever doesn't get one?"

Kakashi put on a deliberately sinister expression. "Whoever doesn't get a bell will be tied to that post over there and forced to watch the other two eat their lunches. And then... they'll have to repeat the year at the Ninja Academy!"

"..."

Sasuke and Sakura were both speechless.

Sasuke thought, I was right to listen to Naruto. If I'd really skipped breakfast, wouldn't this be even worse?

Sakura thought, Naruto guessed right twice in a row, but... Teacher Kakashi is so mean!

"Hey, hey, that's a pretty cruel rule!"

Seeing the contemptuous looks the two gave him, Kakashi thought for a moment and added, "You won't get the bells unless you're prepared to kill me."

Only then did Sasuke and Sakura look a little more serious.

Naruto, though, still looked as calm as ever.

I hope he still looks like that when this is over.

"Then, begin!"

At Kakashi's command,

Sasuke and Sakura immediately slipped into the surrounding bushes.

Their movements were swift and clean.

They were both outstanding students at the Ninja Academy, after all.

Kakashi nodded in approval. "Good. They're well hidden. Looks like they learned the basics of stealth at the Ninja Academy..."

But when Kakashi glanced around, he suddenly realized Naruto hadn't moved at all. He was still standing right where he'd been, as if to say, "I'm staying right here. I don't feel like moving."

"Are you always this brave?" Kakashi asked, a little bewildered.

Naruto smiled faintly. "Teacher Kakashi, remember what I told you yesterday? I said I'd give you a surprise."

Kakashi's expression didn't change. "The surprise is that you've forgotten the basic survival rules they teach at the Ninja Academy?"

"No." Naruto shook his head, his tone relaxed but confident. "The surprise is that I'll take the bells from you cleanly and graduate alongside Sasuke and Sakura."

"Oh? Is that so? But there are only two bells. One of you is bound to repeat the year."

Kakashi replied indifferently, though he didn't believe it.

He admitted Naruto might have some skill. Taking down Mizuki was no small feat, but that was all.

In Kakashi's eyes, Naruto's confidence came from having a little talent and never having been beaten down by the harsh realities of the Shinobi World.

He had no idea how big the gap between Kakashi and Mizuki really was.

"There's a way for all of us to pass. Also..." Naruto suddenly asked, "Teacher Kakashi, aren't you going to read Icha Icha Paradise?"

"I was just about to. I'm looking forward to what happens next."

As he spoke, Kakashi really did pull a certain adult novel from his pocket.

As he flipped through it, he thought, This kid's only met me a few times, yet he's already figured out my reading habits.

He's got a good eye...

Still, I'll have to teach him a proper lesson.

Just as Kakashi lowered his head to study the book,

Naruto suddenly moved.

He was as fast as a gust of wind, closing in on Kakashi almost instantly!

His fist shot straight toward the bells at Kakashi's waist.

Kakashi's heart lurched, and he hurriedly raised an arm to block.

Thump!

The impact sent Kakashi staggering back several steps, and the book fell from his hand.

Kakashi managed to steady himself. His gaze finally turned serious. "That attack just now... You're incredibly fast!"

"Teacher Kakashi, do you believe me now? And I still wasn't using my full strength."

Naruto still looked completely at ease.

He wasn't using his full strength?!

Kakashi nearly lost his composure.

That attack had been at the level of an elite jonin, and Naruto was telling him he hadn't even used his full strength?

Hidden in the bushes, Sasuke's pupils contracted. He was deeply shaken. So this is Naruto's true strength? It's completely different from when he fought me. I see... The gap between us is actually this huge...

Sakura covered her mouth, her green eyes wide. Naruto's this strong? No, maybe Teacher Kakashi is just too weak? I remember Sasuke-kun could hold his own against Naruto at school... Could Sasuke-kun and Teacher Kakashi be about the same level, too?

After thinking it over, Kakashi sighed and finally stopped underestimating Naruto. "Looks like I'll have to get serious."

Even so, Kakashi still had no intention of using his Sharingan.

If he had to use his Sharingan against a Genin who'd just graduated from the Ninja Academy, what would happen to his reputation as the Copy Ninja?

Naruto took a stance to attack again and reminded him, "Teacher Kakashi, are you ready? Here I come again."

"Naruto, let me teach you your first lesson after graduating from the Ninja Academy: don't get overconfident."

Kakashi's gaze turned grave, and his voice grew low.